Stories from Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Recent reports from the Mississippi County Drug Task Force.

Mr. Oliver Gene Marcum, 60, of Holly Springs, Miss., died Sunday, May 8, 2011, at his residence.

Mr. Billy Ray Files, 77, of Monette, former longtime Marked Tree area resident, died Sunday May 8, 2011, at the Monette Manor Nursing Center.

Mr. Louis Glen (Ben) Corona, 60, passed away Saturday, May 7, 2011, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro after a long illness.

Cal Ripken League, Junior Babe Ruth League and youth softball leagues continued to try to catch up on last week's canceled games Monday night at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex. Here's a wrap up of the action from Friday and Monday. MONDAY COACH PITCH...

Blytheville head coach Maurice Moody held Blytheville's first spring practice of 2011 Monday afternoon. Blytheville returns the bulk of its team from last season as Moody enters his second year at the helm.

Just over a year to the date the district was put on fiscal distress by the state, the financial health of the Armorel School District is improving, according to district Superintendent Bruce Young.

It's been almost a year since the city of Blytheville's 1/4-cent infrastructure bond retired, bringing in money to the city for projects rather than using the money to pay off previous work.

This year's Mayfest celebration was a reported success, in spite of a sudden downpour which threatened to shut things down.

California -- Gaylon C. Castleman passed to his eternal life on April 28, 2011. He was born in Manila in 1936. Gaylon was preceded in death by his parents Inez and Elmer, and his brothers, Laudell, Ell, Clell, Carl, James Elmer Jr., and Billy Jean...

Billy Files, age 77, of Monette, died late Sunday, May 8, 2011, at Monette Manor Nursing Center. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced by Howard Funeral Service of Leachville...

Max Henrichs Schrader, age 82, of Manila, passed from this life early Thursday, May 5, 2011, at his home. Born at Scotch Grove, Iowa (Wayne Township) he was the son of the late Albert and Mabel Henrichs Schrader and had been a Manila resident for most of his life. ...

Monette -- Mrs. Myrtle Necie Cornish Smith, 90, passed away Saturday, April 30,2011 at the Manila Nursing Center. She was a life-long resident of Monette, born on October 2, 1920, to the late Harve and Necie Townsend Cornish. ...

Bettye Wallace, age 80 of Manila, widow of Wayne Wallace, died Thursday, May 5, 2011, at Manila Nursing Center. Born at Manila she was the daughter of the late Clyde and Mae Allen Parker and had been a lifelong Manila resident. ...

Cedar Ridge scored five runs in the fifth inning and went on to claim a 7-1 victory in the opening round of the Class 2A North Regional Softball Tournament Friday afternoon at Marked Tree, ending Riverside's season and hopes of gaining a state tournament berth...

Riverside took home the 2A District Track Championship April 29 at Paragould and in the process qualified 14 athletes for the Class 2A State Track and Field Meet in Fort Smith...

Manila punched its ticket to the 3A State Baseball Tournament next week in Harrison, pounding out a 19-5 victory over Flippin Friday afternoon. Manila sent 13 batters to the plate in a 10-run fourth inning to break the game open. The Lions finished with 18 hits on the afternoon, including six batters with multiple hits...

The Buffalo Island Classic Cruisers hosted the annual car show on April 30 in Caraway showing a variety of old, new, and unique cars and trucks. This year marked the 19th annual car show hosted by the Buffalo Island group...

Plans are well underway for the first annual Johnny Cash Music Festival benefit concert, set for Thursday, Aug. 4, at Arkansas State University's Convocation Center...

The Manila Nursing Home kicked off National Nursing Home Week (May 8-13) with a balloon release on Monday. The residents will enjoy activities daily. Monday was pajama day. Cookies and milk were served...

In observance of National Nursing Home Week, May 8-14, Monette Manor will host a series of events designed to enrich the relationships and contacts between residents, youth, community members, family and staff...

Eddie Joe Barker, Army veteran, was the guest speaker for the Manila seventh and eighth grade students on Wednesday, April 20. Barker, a 1967 graduate of Manila High School, was introduced by Paula Poag, Middle School teacher...

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

In recognition of the positive economic, social and cultural impact of the travel and tourism industry in Blytheville, the Arkansas Welcome Center in Blytheville will observe "See America Week/See Arkansas Week" on Thursday.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This letter is in response to a column by Pat Ivey, titled, "It's only farmland, right?" Ms. Ivey, I have just read your column, and while I do share most of the sentiments you express, I do have to take issue with a few thing you said...

Mrs. Peggy Brown, 78 of Manila, formerly of Gosnell, passed from this life on Sunday, May 8, 2011, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro.

There's one local asset that has stood out over the past week or so. And local residents ought to be thanking their lucky stars we have it.