Stories from Friday, September 30, 2011

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

The Courier News has attracted more than 1 million page views to its website since launching the new site earlier this year.

Blytheville enters tonight's homecoming game with Nettleton a little shorthanded. All-state receiver Greg McKillion, who suffered a mild concussion last Friday night at Wynne, isn't expected to play, nor is one of Blytheville's leading rushers, DeMarko Clark, who is hampered by a hand injury...

JONESBORO -- The Blytheville Junior Chickasaws are still searching for their first win of the season after a 46-8 loss to the Nettleton Raiders Thursday night in Jonesboro. The Raiders jumped out to a commanding, 28-0, lead in the first half and never looked back...

Here is a wrap up of the "Fall Ball" action on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex. MINOR LEAGUE Black 20, Blue 16 Black held Blue to just two runs over the second and third innings and that was the difference in a 20-16 win. Pedro Bautista, Trey Fikes, Daniel Sullivan, Kalob Beltran, Landon Wrinkles, T.J. ...

GOSNELL -- The Gosnell Junior Pirates defeated the Trumann Wildcats, 44-12, Thursday night at J.W. Rea Field but lost their starting quarterback for one game in the process. With 31 seconds remaining in the half on a kickoff, following his 12-yard touchdown run to put the Pirates up, 22-6, Gosnell quarterback Dwight Griffin got into an altercation with Trumann linebacker Patrick Pagan...

Mr. Hilton Keen, 86, of Hot Springs, was born July 28, 1925, in Vicksburg, Miss. He went to be with his Lord Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011.

Mr. Tommy Gilley, 42, of Tyronze, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011, in his home.

Mrs. Ruth McCarroll Ballard, of New Orleans, formerly of Holland, Mo., died Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, in her home.

Sometime Thursday night somebody took a look at one or more of the pages on the Courier News website, and our little counting process bumped up over 1,000,000 in the "page views" category.

Blytheville High School hosted a tailgating party Thursday night. The band and cheerleaders were there to keep school spirit high as the Chicks prepared for the Homecoming game Friday night. BHS Principal Bobby Ashley said the party was a good chance for the parents to come out and get involved in what's happening at the school and that they hope to have more events like this in the future...

The Northeast Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross will be holding its annual murder mystery dinner theater fundraising event at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. The event will be held at the Holiday Inn and will be catered by Bistro Eleven21.

Collections of sales taxes in Mississippi County were up in the month of August in comparison to last year, but are expected to decline in September and October, according to county officials.

Jacob Bradley Morgan was born to Brad and Shaina Morgan of Blytheville on Aug. 13, 2011, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. He wighed 9 pounds and was 20 1/2 inches long.

This week's Pet of the Week at the Blytheville Humane Society is Deamon, a large, Tortoiseshell cat. Don't let the name fool you -- Deamon is a sweet and playful cat who is up-to-date with routine shots. For more information, call the Humane Society at 870-838-5512 or send e-mail to humanesociety1@earthlink.net.

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

An East St. Louis, Ill., man is in custody after leading area law officers on a vehicle chase on Interstate 55, which ended only with help from a truck driver, according to Hayti Police Chief Paul Sheckell.

I respectfully disagree with Mark Brasfield's assertion in Thursday's paper that "the Delta Gateway Museum was doomed from the start." Yes, the museum effort has faced some major challenges. And yes, it was underfunded from the beginning. But progress is being made every day toward the city's goal of a quality museum and I hope the people of Blytheville won't give up on it...