Stories from Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

Mrs. Bessie Mae Smallwood, 94, of Blytheville, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Sept. 26, 2011. She was born Dec. 7, 1916, to Charles Calvin Cobb and Maggie Gill Cobb.

Mrs. Melinda Faye Kelley, 36, of Keiser, died of heart failure Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, at St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro. Born Dec. 1, 1974, in Osceola, she was a homemaker and a member of Bassett Church of God.

Dorothy Jean Ficklen, 57, of Osceola, died of heart failure Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011, in her home. Born July 23, 1954, in Osceola, she was a Pentecostal and was retired from the retail clothing industry.

Mr. Douglas Deen, 82, of West Memphis, passed away at his residence Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011, in West Memphis.

Mr. John Ray Bell, 69, of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., passed away Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, at Hospice of Charleston.

The Blytheville Intermediate School Boys and Girls Club of Mississippi County, Unit II is gearing up for its fifth annual Lights-On-Afterschool event to be held at the Blytheville Intermediate School's cafeteria on Friday, Oct. 28, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. We are writing to solicit the support of our community through volunteers and attendees...

Rev. and Mrs. Jackie Uselton will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at Amazing Grace Fellowship in Lincoln.

Throughout the next few months I am probably going to be passing along information about various local organizations which do great work in our community and that need the help of the community to continue those efforts.

The Gosnell School District held its annual public meeting Monday night, and parents and school administrators, as well as the school board, were in attendance to discuss and hear presentations on the progress of each school.

Blytheville Public Schools are continuing their after-school programs, funded by Tenaris, after the success of the program that started last year and carried on into this summer.

The field-size crew cuts in the Arkansas Delta mean the rice harvest is moving along, but growers are seeing the shadow of this summer's high heat show up in yields.

Members of the Mississippi County Election Commission decided with a 2-1 majority in their meeting Monday afternoon to delay once more the process of voting in the new JP district map for the county.

Douglas Eugene "Jack" Walker of Manila, 87, passed away Sept. 21, 2011, in Columbus, Miss. The son of the late James Arthur and Dora Mae Kent Walker, Jack was born May 28, 1924, in Meridian, Miss. Jack was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Manila. ...

Mr. Ralph Elmer Thomas, 70, of Trumann, Ark., died Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, after a brave battle with cancer. Mr. Thomas was born Feb. 22, 1941, in Jonesboro, Ark., to the late Drew and Gwendolyn Thomas. Mr. Thomas retired from Roach Conveyors after 35 years and was a lifelong area resident and an avid fisherman...

Teresa Diane Davis, 46, of Trumann, Ark., died Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, at her home. Born March 31, 1965, she was the daughter of Floyd and Elsie Delassus Montgomery. Mrs. Davis was a member of the Trinity Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Trumann, and she enjoyed reading and spending time with her family...

Doris Dale Gunn, 83, of Mountain View, Calif., former longtime Manila resident and widow of Mr. L.B. Gunn, passed from this life Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 at her home. Born at Manila, Doris was the daughter of the late Doyle and Olive Thompson White and had lived most of her life in Manila. ...

Roy Edwin Rosten, 81, of Paragould, Ark., died Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, at the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould, Ark. Born Dec. 31, 1929, in Negaunee, Mich., he was the son of the late John and Ida Rosten. ...

Sarah Roddy fired a 45 to take home medalist honors, helping Buffalo Island Central to its fourth straight girls District Tournament title last week at the Turkey Mountain Golf Course at Horseshoe Bend. Twin sister Lauren Roddy shot a 48 while Brittany Stockton completed the scoring for the Lady Mustangs in the nine hole event shooting a 54...

MIDLAND, Texas -- The Paragould-based Arkansas Heat softball team tied for 13th in the 103-team ASA 14-and-under A national tournament that wrapped up on Sunday, Aug. 7...

Lady Lion golfer Mikayla Shedd earned her fourth trip to state competition at the district tournament held at Piggott Tuesday, Sept. 20. Mikayla, senior at Manila High School, shot a 60 finishing in the top four in individual scores in the 3A-3 District Tournament...

Manila High School golf team finished first in the 3A-3 District tournament for the second consecutive year. The Lions traveled to Sugar Creek Country Club in Piggott on Sept. 20 and claimed the championship title with a 293 team score...

Harrisburg remained undefeated, rallying from an 8-6 halftime deficit to defeat Manila 30-16 Friday night at Lion Field. The Hornets (3-0, 1-0 3A-3) overcame four turnovers, three in the first half to pull out the win. ...

Manila City Council members worked through a lengthy agenda Monday, Sept. 19, at the regular September meeting. Council members present included Jason Baltimore, Tony Hawkins, Donnie Wagner, Linda Donovan, and Larry "Whiz" Davis. Councilman Dale Murphy was absent...

Monette City Council met Sept. 19 and welcomed new councilman Jason Stewart, accepted the resignation of alderman Perry Wood and appointment of alderman Phillip Duffel. Monette Mayor Chub Qualls administered the oath of office to new councilman Stewart, who will fill the unexpired term of office for former alderman Billy Watson. ...

The Legendary Drifters and Tina Turner Review will be coming to the Melody Theater at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. Advance tickets are available by calling Moba Lee Miller at 539-6996; Teresa Young 573-654-9670; or Bill and Darlene Hetler 539-2298...

Boyd Estes, chairman for the annual Lost Cane School and Lost Cane, Little River, Whistleville, and Roseland community reunion, welcomed people from several states to the 12th annual reunion. ...

Manila Lions Club will sponsor the annual Big Lake Chili Cook-off Saturday, Oct. 1. Chairman Tony Crowell said the chili will be ready to serve at 10 a.m. Teams will start setting up at daylight or before. The booths will be set up on Dewey Street, just off main street...

Monette will hold the annual Clean Sweep Oct. 3-7. Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners must have the compressor removed. No gasoline, oil or toxic substances can be picked up. Brush will be removed by the city during the week. Citizens are asked to separate brush from other clean sweep items...

Incumbent Brandon Veach was re-elected to the Manila School Board, Position 1, with 256 votes. Opponent Jackie May received 136 votes. Manila's new board member, Dr. Tommy Wagner, ran unopposed for Position 7. Position 7 was held by Steve Metheny who had served on the board of Missco and Manila for 28 years and decided not to seek re-election...

A St. Jude Buffalo Island barbecue, music night and auction to honor Scout Lyerly will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Buffalo Island Central West Elementary auditorium in Monette...

An old fashioned sorghum harvest and cooking was like a step back in time on Saturday as a large group gathered at the Poor Boy's Garden in Caraway. Everyone was invited to watch or participate...

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

Recent reports from the Second Judicial Drug Task Force:

Two high-ranking but currently unnamed employees of the Mississippi County Work Release Center have been relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave, pending investigation.