Stories from Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Laura "Ashley" Metheny of Etowah and Justin Michael Smith of Stuttgart will united in marriage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 11, 2011, at Metheny Farms in Etowah.

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department.

The Belles and Beaus Buffalo Island American Cancer Relay for Life team sponsored a Poker Run on Saturday starting at the Melody Theater. In addition to the Poker Run, a bake sale was held. The riders were patient as they waited on the rain the go through. They were scheduled to leave at 10 a.m. but they got on the road at 11:25 with Mark Johnson leading the way...

Regina Lee Bandy, 70, of Jonesboro, died Wednesday, April 11, 2011, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born May 31, 1940, at Nettleton, she was the daughter of the late Lonnie and Kitty Josephine Knight Holt and was a longtime area resident. Mrs. Bandy was a member of the Southside Apostolic Church in Jonesboro...

Billy Ray Files, 77, of Monette, former longtime Marked Tree area resident, died Sunday May 8, 2011, at the Monette Manor Nursing Center. Born June 6, 1933, in Clinton, Ark., he was the son of the late Otto and Martha Bench Files, had been a Monette resident since 1985 and was retired from Akins Farms in Monette...

Ms. Beulah Mae Steen, 72, of Trumann, died Friday, May 13, 2011, at her home. Ms. Steen was born Nov. 7, 1938, in Harrogate, Ark., to the late Vernie and Dolly Sharp. Ms. Steen was of the Pentecostal faith, enjoyed playing bingo, and spending time with her family and friends...

The Manila Redbirds won the 2011 Manila Invitational Machine Pitch touranmant May 13-14. Pictured are, from left, front --Front Coby Hollis, Zachary Morris, Connor Jackson, Joshua Evers, Billy Morris, Connor Milligan. Middle -- Ty Wagner, Matthew Gipson, Brayden Mattingly, Sawyer Crowell, William Carmichael, Austin Harmon. Back -- coaches Jeremy Jackson, Brian Hollis...

It did not take much persuasion to get Tim Bassing, Manila GT Coordinator, to accept the challenge of starting track and field and cross country in the Manila junior and senior high school. Manila School has not participated in track since the mid 1990's...

Little Rock, AR -- Manila family physician, Tommy Wagner, MD, will be working alongside physicians from across the state as an Arkansas Medical Society district trustee to protect the interest of patients and improve the health of Arkansans. Dr. Wagner will be representing patients and physicians in Mississippi county and surrounding counties...

Funeral services for Mrs. Bertie Lee Wilbanks, 67, of the Rover Community, will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Doak-Howell Funeral Home in Shelvyville, Tenn., with Donnie Rader officiating.

Carole Daughhetee Taylor, 62, passed away Friday, May 13, 2011, at Pocahontas Nursing & Rehab.

Marquita Denise Brown, 28, of Blytheville, died Saturday, May 14, 2011, in Blytheville.

Dale Barber, 89, of Blytheville, died Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at his home.

County officials and employees are holding down expenses for the year, but county revenues are lagging behind.

Mississippi County's Election Commission met Monday morning to begin discussions about the county's upcoming redistricting process.

Participants in the Junior BLI program of the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce received their diplomas Monday during the Chamber's monthly luncheon at the Holiday Inn.

There's an old saying in the sports world, "Winning, like a fever, is contagious." If this is true, than Armorel's Katelyn Brown is burning up.

Recent floods forced residents living in the Mallard Lake area out of their homes for about 10 days. The evacuation was fast and many did not have the opportunity to save any of their belongings. The water has receded and residents have been able to return to their homes to begin clean up...

Jackie Wallis is no stranger to Buffalo Island or the American Cancer Relay for Life. Wallis serves as the Community Representative and serves Buffalo Island, Piggott, Corning, Jonesboro, Paragould, and Newport...

Judy Perrin and Paulette Watson, Riverside teachers, are getting ready to say goodbye as they make their plans for retirement at the end of the school year. Both have spent their teaching careers at Riverside. Mrs. Perrin is a junior high English teacher and Mrs. Watson teaches junior and senior high art...

BASEBALL Bay 4, Bradley 3 Jake Martin scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth as Bay crawled back down, 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh, to defeat Bradley, 4-3, in extra innings. Zac Cramer struck out 15 batters and allowed just five hits over eight innings pitched for the Yellowjackets who moved to the quarterfinal round...

The Armorel Tigers advanced to the state semifinals for the fourth consecutive year Tuesday afternoon with a 13-1, 5-inning win over Scranton in the Class 1A state tournament, being played at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex.