Stories from Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Larry William Roach, 59, of Trumann, formerly of Lepanto, died of natural causes on Monday, July 25, 2011, at his residence. Born august 28, 1951, in Caraway, Ark., he was the son of the late Elizabeth Rose Roach and had been a longtime Lepanto resident before making his home in Trumann 15 years ago. ...

Grace Era Noble, 87, of Kennett, Mo., went to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 24, 2001. She was born April 25, 1924, in Monette, Ark. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Noble; her parents, Effie and Ransom "Doc" Simpson; three sisters, Mildred Armstrong, Ona Boston, and Vera Cates; three brothers, Orville Simpson, Elliott "Gilley" Sims, and Freddie Simpson...

Frances Burnett Hodges, 79, of Osceola entered into rest Wednesday, July 20, 2011 in Memphis, Tenn. Born Jan. 6, 1932 in Booneville, Miss., to the late Frank and Mary Mann, she was of the Pentecostal faith, attended Keiser Chapel and was a homemaker. She loved gardening and fishing...

Mr. Ronald Junior Maggard, 59, of Jonesboro, died Monday, July 18, 2011 at NEA Baptist Hospital. Mr. Maggard was born on Dec. 2, 1951, in Ava, Mo., to the late Woodrow and Gertie Maggard. Mr. Maggard worked for Hedger Brothers Concrete Products for many years and he loved to hunt, fish, and spend time with his family...

Betty Lynn Gist Stephens, 82, of St. James, Mo.,formerly of Cardwell and Cuba, Mo., widow of Thomas E. Stephens, died Monday, July 18, 2011, at the Hospice Care Center in Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Mo. ...

The Caraway City Council revised the city budget, addressed proposed sales tax, took reduction in salary and welcomed new business inquiries at the council meeting held Thursday, July 14. Mayor Barry Riley reviewed his proposed revision to the city budget...

The Monette City Council met Monday, July 18, and again addressed Community Center rentals, Monette Housing Authority expansion, and special city events. Mayor Qualls continued discussion of the proposed rental of the city's Community Center. A request from the Monette Housing Authority was for a chaperone to be present and responsible for rental of the center...

Manila Mayor Wayne Wagner opened the regular July city council meeting, following the swimming pool public meeting, held at the Manila Airport Center. He discussed the work underway at the airport including the lighting and hangar projects. He talked to the council about looking into a grant for the terminal building located across from the Airport Community building...

Manila School Board filled positions and approved several transfers at the July meeting held Thursday, July 21. Following the approval of the minutes and review of the financial report, school board members approved the athletic handbook. According to Pam Castor, superintendent, the athletic handbook approved is the same as last year...

Buffalo Island Central School BIC will open for classes Thursday, Aug. 18, at 7:55 a.m. The route buses will run at approximately the same time as last year. Bus routes will remain the same. Lunches will be served each day. Prices are: paid lunch $2; reduced price lunches 40 cents; free lunches to those who qualify...

Several Manila residents, along with city officials, heard facts and figures on a pool/water park facility Monday night prior to the regular city council meeting. A proposed pool/water park facility has been a topic in Manila for over 10 years...

The Manila Class of 1971 gathered for a 40 year reunion on Saturday, July 23, at the Manila Depot. It had been 30 years since their last reunion so they had a lot to catch up on. Thirty-two classmates and guests reminisced and got reacquainted with non-stop conversation and eating from 4 to 10:30 p.m. ...

A.J. Bandy of Leachville was one of six officials and seven coaches receiving the prestigious honor of being inducted into the 2011 Arkansas High School Coaches Association-Arkansas Officials Association Hall of Fame...

Evan Gray Wilson, infant son of Brian Keith Wilson and Katie Brooke Skipper, was born and died Sunday July 24, 2011, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould.

Mr. Larry William Roach, 59, of Trumann, formerly of Lepanto, died Monday, July 25, 2011, at his residence of natural causes.

Mr. Willie Ralph Hall, 82, of Blytheville, died Sunday, July 24, 2011, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro.

Mr. Darren Duane Flie, 36, of Osceola, died Friday, July 22, 2011, at Osceola Hospital.

Barbara Ann "Cookie" Spinks Fields, 54, died at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville on July 23, 2011.

The Blytheville Courier News won six total awards, including three first-place nods at Saturday's Better Newspaper Contest, sponsored by the Arkansas Press Association.

Construction continues on the north and the southbound lanes of a 5-mile stretch of Interstate 55 between the Blytheville exits 67 and 63.

Members of the Blytheville School Board participated in an extended discussion regarding the school system's uniform policy during their Monday night meeting.

The Gosnell school district is seeking the approval on an election resolution from the Mississippi County Election Commission for the 2011 election cycle.

One of Blytheville's most anticipated games may not be a game at all. It's believed other than the occasional 7 on 7, Blytheville and Gosnell have never played one another in a high school football game. Fans will get an opportunity to see the schools clash next month...

Evan Gray Wilson, infant son of Brian Keith Wilson and Katie Brooke Skipper, was born and died Sunday July 24, 2011, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould, Ark. He is survived by his Parents: Brian Wilson and Katie Skipper; two Sisters, Brianna Wilson and Jillian Wilson both of Jonesboro, Ark.; his grandparents, Ray and Sharon Wilson of Leachville, Ark., Randy and Linda Foutch of Leachville, Ricky and Dena Skipper of Tyronza, Ark., and Karen Willis of Marked Tree, Ark.. ...

There has been so much happening this week, it was really hard to pick one topic for a column. After looking at all the things about which I was receiving emails and other communications, I decided to come out in defense of Fox News Network.

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

Like many other Americans, I can't help but feel a little melancholy at the end of the space shuttle program.

The Quorum Court of Mississippi County voted 7-6 against the appropriation of county economic development tax funds to St. Bernards Healthcare during its Tuesday meeting. The proposed amount of $750,000 would have served as incentive for the hospital to build an ambulatory care clinic in Manila.

Mr. Bill J. Griggs of Steele, Mo., formerly of Dell, Ark., died July 16, 2011, at the Baptist East memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., at the age of 70 years and 13 days. He was born July 3, 1941 in Dell. ...