Stories from Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

Ova Laverna Farmer, 94, of Monette died Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice Home. She was born Nov. 16, 1916, in Marmaduke to the late Harvey and Pearl Clary. She lived in the Childress Community for most of her life moving to Monette in 2001. ...

Mr. William Harold Hartley, 53, of Benton, Ark., died Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton. Mr. Hartley was born Aug. 5, 1958 in Trumann, Ark., to the late Herschel and Virginia Hartley. Mr. Hartley was an automotive mechanic, loved working on cars and spending time with family and friends...

Dickie Dewayne Miller, 58, of Paragould, Ark., died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at his home after a long illness. Born in Paragould, he was the son of Andrew and Eva Pickens Miller and had been a long time area resident. Mr. Miller enjoyed hunting and playing pool and was of the Baptist faith...

Mrs. Linnie Rice, 97, of Manila died late Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. Born at Manila, she was the daughter of the late Claude and Frances Russell Mifflin and was a lifelong area resident. She worked many years at the Manila Nursing Center and the Shaneyfelt Medical Clinic. She was a longtime member of the Soul's Harbor Pentecostal Church...

Beulah Spencer, 92, of Asheville, N.C., formerly of Manila, died Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, at the Pisgah Manor Health Care Center in Candler, N.C. Born in Myrtle, Miss., she was the daughter of the late John and Florence Tucker Perkins and had lived much of her life in St. ...

Mr. Earnest Leonard Simmons, 60, of Osceola, Ark., died Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, at NEA Baptist Hospital, Jonesboro, Ark. Mr. Simmons was born Nov. 5, 1951, in West Ridge, Ark., to the late Joseph and Alma Simmons. He was a lifelong area resident, of the Church of God faith, enjoyed fishing, hunting, riding four wheelers, and spending time with his family and friends...

Manila High School football players Shane Lee, Damon Clapp, and Trey Walker were named All Conference for the 2011 season. Senior Lion Damon Clapp has played football for seven years. Damon played center offense, deep snapper and defensive end position...

stelle Stark, 88, of Gosnell, died Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville.

Buffalo Island Central swept a pair of non-conference home games to improve to 7-2 on the season, defeating rival Manila 53-50 Tuesday night before downing Crowley's Ridge Academy in a come from behind 60-50 win Thursday night in senior boys basketball action...

Manila opened the 2011-12 basketball season, splitting a pair of senior girls games last week. The Lady Lions dropped a heartbreaking 58-56 decision to Rector Monday night before coming back to take a 65-56 victory over Brookland Thursday night at Manila...

Riverside's Lady Rebels fell twice last week, losing 50-40 Monday night at Brookland and 59-43 Thursday night at Gosnell in senior girls basketball action. Samantha Flowers led three Brookland players in double figures with a team high 19 points while teammates Kayla Kee and Jordan Maynard scored 12 and 11 points respectively. ...

Mrs. Imogene "Gene" Quinn Robinson passed away peacefully Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, at Osceola Therapy and Living Center.

Manila scored the first eight points of Friday night's game against rival Riverside and went on to post a 55-47 victory over the Rebels at Lake City. The win evened Manila's record at 1-1 on the season while Riverside fell to 5-2 on the year...

Mrs. Rebecca Jackson, 92, of Memphis, died Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at her home.

Mr. Karl Arthur Anderson, 90, of Memphis, was welcomed into heaven Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at Caring Estates in Arlington, Tenn.

I had intended to do something on part of the wonderful address presented at the Mississippi County Veterans Day Ceremony at the courthouse Friday, but that was going to involve some research.

Jennifer Miller and Colton Bice, both of Jonesboro, announce their engagement and plans for a Nov. 19 wedding, at 6 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Jonesboro.

Members of the Mississippi County Election Commission met Monday to certify the highway bond issue special election, which was overwhelmingly passed.

The Ministerial Alliance in Blytheville is having its 21st Annual Community Service at 4 p.m. Sunday.

As of Monday afternoon, the Finance Committee of the Mississippi County Quorum Court has a completed budget for the county for 2012, and will be ready to present it to the full Court at its next meeting on Nov. 22.

Rodney Lancaster, alternative learning environment teacher at Manila High School, has received recognition for a journal article he has written entitled, "A Place Where Teens Have a Choice."...

The Armorel School District was officially removed from the state's Fiscal Distress list Monday.

Strong winds Sunday and Monday whipped up plenty of minor damage around the Blytheville area. Pictured is damage done by the wind at Capri Apartments in Blytheville, where the awning was blown off the mailboxes.

Caraway City Council set dates for public town meetings and formed a search committee to study budget cutbacks at the meeting held Thursday, Nov. 3. Town meeting dates were set to discuss the city sales tax, and include Tuesday, Nov. ...

Manila City Council members met for a short special session on Wednesday passing a millage resolution leaving the millage the same as before at for 5 mills. The millage is divided with 4.6 mills for maintenance and operation and .4 mills for firemen pension...

Senior Citizen's Activity Center will open in Manila at the Airport Community Center on Thursday at 9 a.m. Lunch will be served Monday through Friday. The first lunch will be served on Thursday. Sign-ups started Monday and will continue from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the airport center on Tuesday and Wednesday...

Leachville Mayor Sheila Spurlock placed a wreath at the Buffalo Island Veterans Park on Friday, Veterans' Day, in honor of all veterans. The third monument with names of area veterans was placed earlier in the week...

Jim Cheadle of Manila was among the honored guests attending the dedication celebration of Letterman's Plaza in Norman, Okla. Cheadle grew up in Norman and is a four year football letterman of Norman High School. ...

Veterans were honored in Manila starting at the Herman Davis Monument at 11 a.m. on 11-11-11. Craighead County Honor Guard presented the colors for the opening ceremony at the Herman Davis Park following an opening prayer by Rev. Waymon Holt...

Manila elementary school welcomes veterans Manila elementary school honored Veterans on Friday afternoon with a veterans musical presentation under the direction of Rodney Cooper. Veterans arrived with a special welcome from students lining both sides of the walkway from the front door to the auditorium in the cafeteria. ...

Riverside East Elementary staff has created a cookbook filled with favorite recipes. The cookbook, Rebels in the Kitchen, should be available the week of Thanksgiving. Flyers will be sent home with students...

Terrie Shephard, district manager of Post Office Operations, conducted a public meeting at Black Oak City Hall on Thursday, Nov. 10, to discuss the possible closure of the city's post office...

It's time to choke down some nasty crow. I contemplated going against one of my life-long principles and calling in Monday. But I manned up and came in anyway. Low and behold, one of the first sights on Monday morning was Herb Smith strutting around the office with a Burger King crown on his head...

ARMOREL -- The Armorel Lady Tigers are still looking for their first win of the season after a 56-35 loss to the Rector Lady Cougars Monday night at home. Armorel stayed close to the Lady Cougars for 2 1/2 periods but Rector pulled away midway through the third on its way to the victory...