Stories from Tuesday, September 6, 2011

On Monday, Aug. 29, 2011, agents of the second judicial drug task force met with agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service in reference to a package which was found to contain a large amount of suspected marijuana.

Mr. Michael Gene Sims, 46, of Blytheville, passed from this life Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, at the Great River Medical Center in Blytheville.

Mrs. Olivia K. Riley, 74, of Blytheville, died Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, at Advanced Medical Care Hospital in Searcy.

Mr. Jeffrey Lynn Halbrook, 60, died Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Creve Coeur, Mo.

Mr. Dennie Fay Green, 53, of Blytheville, passed away Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, at his home.

The 2011-2012 school year is off to a successful start in the Blytheville School District. Special services director Jean Cole expects equally successful results from the district's Child Find Committee.

Friday, Blytheville students were treated to an afternoon of fun as a reward for scoring well on last year's standardized tests.

Preparations are being made for groundbreaking on a new industry for Mississippi County.

The Blytheville Police Department is investigating a shooting which occurred at the Dodge Store on South Division during the early morning hours Sunday.

Jaclyn Strand of Nashville, Tenn., and Blake Belford of Nashville, Tenn., formerly of Blytheville, are planning an Oct. 1 wedding at The River Church of God in Nashville.

Mrs. Ruby Rudeen Lloyd, 67, of rural Wynne, died Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, at her residence after a long illness. She was born Jan. 14, 1944, in Cross County, Ark., to the late Presley Smith and Lorene Cooper Smith...

Trumann used a strong second half to break open a close game and pull away for a 24-6 victory over Manila in junior high football action Thursday night at Wildcat Field. The Wildcats got on the scoreboard first with an eight yard touchdown run by Willie Moore with 1:49 left in the opening quarter. Moore tacked on the two point conversion run, giving Trumann an 8-0 lead...

McCrory's size and speed proved too much for Manila as the Jaguars used big plays to spoil the Lion's home opener under new head coach Jerry Castor, running away with a 51-26 victory Friday night before a large crowd at Lion Field...

Mississippi County Farm Bureau hosted its annual meeting Monday, Aug. 29, at Arkansas Northeastern College, Burdette. Guests were welcomed by Benton Felts, president. The barbecue/fish dinner was catered by Big Butts of Leachville. Entertainment was provided by Buddy GoDair on the keyboard...

Manila School Board members met in a special meeting Tuesday, Aug. 30, to consider personnel matters. The board voted unanimously to approve the recommendations of Superintendent Pam Castor to hire Brandi Harmon as kindergarten aide and Traci Hicks as second grade teacher for the 2011-12 school year...

Mayor Jon Milligan called the Lake City council meeting to order on Aug. 25. Councilmen Harold Barker, Tommy Eakins, Ann Davis, Jeffery Wisham, Danny Dunigan and Brenda Hutcheson were present. Also present for the meeting was City Clerk Linda Simpson...

The Manila Fire Department held their second annual barbecue fundraiser over the Labor Day weekend. Volunteer firemen and retired firemen started the grill on Thursday and were ready to fill orders, feed the dine-in supporters, and the carry-out orders on Friday noon...

The new monument to be added to the Buffalo Island Veteran's Park in Leachville has arrived. The committee hopes to have engraving complete and the monument placed at the park before Veteran's Day 2011...

Brett Hickman, 24, of Black Oak escaped injury Monday evening as his biplane crashed into a cotton field, about 200 yards east off Highway 139, north of Monette. On Tuesday, Hickman related to Monette Police Officer Brandon Womack that he had taken off from a landing strip west of Highway 139, belonging to Jim Steele, about 5:30 p.m. ...

Today is the day after Labor Day, and since grandmas deserve to have some time off for the holiday as well, I did not do any research and am not writing a long-winded column about bugs or patriots or any other such thing.

Jamie Jo Ray Lawrence, 35 of Jonesboro, Ark., died Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, at his home. Born Aug. 28, 1976, in Jonesboro, he was the son of Paul Lawrence and Kathy Morris. Mr. Lawrence was an arborist and an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting and fishing...

Paragould Ms. Connie Jean Reed, 64, of Paragould, Ark., died on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, at St. Bernards Medical Center after a sudden illness. Ms. Reed was born on Jan. 7, 1947, in Sikeston, Mo., to the late Joseph Roy and Mary Black Ainley. Ms. Reed was a long time area resident, of the Baptist faith, loved horses and donated her free time to volunteer work at area nursing homes...