Stories from Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

Snow is seen in a lawn south of Blytheville Wednesday morning. Photo submitted by Pat Lendennie.

Mr. George Friedman (Bill) Aufrecht, 55, of Blytheville, went to be with the Lord Dec. 2, 2011, as the result of an automobile accident.

They start putting up Christmas decorations before Halloween. Why? So the merchants can get all the money they can from people. I guess they think that if they don't start early enough, they won't get all the money they need. There is not enough money in the world for some people...

As is normal this time of year, I've been listening to a lot of Christmas music. I've always loved Christmas music; I think the fact that you only tend to hear it for a few weeks a year makes it especially appealing.

"Dashing Through the Snow," the latest production from the Act 2! community theater group, begins Friday night at the Ritz Civic center.

Wreaths Across America will be pulling into Blytheville Thursday as the convoy heads to the Fayetteville National Cemetery.

Volunteers for the Northeast Arkansas chapter of the American Red Cross will be repeating their tradition this holiday season of delivering "singing Christmas cards" as a fundraiser.

Members of the Blytheville Kiwanis Club are assisting Santa and Mrs. Claus in arranging for local youngsters to receive a personal phone call from the North Pole, just in time for Christmas.

Today is the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese military. While for some this may just be an event read about in books, for Larry Katz it's a very real memory.

William Coin, 80, of Trumann, Ark., died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. Born Sept. 16, 1931, in Portia, Ark., he was the son of the late Robert and Ola Willis Coin and had been a long time area resident. ...

Hugh Joseph "Joey" Brooks, age 54 of Manila, passed from this life Saturday evening, Dec. 3, 2011, at his home. Born at Blytheville he was the son of the late Cohen and Margaret Burke Brooks and was a lifelong Manila resident. He was a 1975 graduate of Manila High School and served in the U. ...

Mr. Floyd Gilbert Henry, 94, of Manila, passed from this life early Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Manila he was the son of the late George L. and Mary Frances Johnigan Henry and had been a lifelong area resident. He was a retired farmer and longtime member of the Brown's Chapel Baptist Church...

Paislee Nicole Womack of Monette was born and passed away on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, at St. Bernards Medical Center. Survivors include her parents, Brandon and Shona Johnson Womack; a sister, Lynlee Rose Womack, all of the home; her grandparents, Mark and Teresa Stacy Johnson of Leachville, Kenny and Michelle McClain Womack of Jonesboro, Tracy Krech of Monette and Jeff Ammons of Osceola; great-grandparents, James and Marilyn Clark and Norma Stacy, all of Leachville, Robert and Nina Womack of Hamburg and Margaret Lehman; four uncles, Kyle Ammons and Kelley Ammons, both of Osceola, Ken Womack and Dalton Womack, both of Jonesboro.. ...

Billy Ray Kinder, 69, of Brookland, Ark., died Monday, Nov. 28, 2011, at the NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro, Ark. Born Sept. 2, 1942, at Charleston, W. Vir., he was the son of the late Isom and Melvina Kinder. Mr. Kinder was retired from the United States Navy after 30 years of service and 15 years of civil service. He enjoyed bowling and spending time with family and friends...

Buffalo Island Central captured the White County Invitational Tournament championship with a 69-51 victory over Pangburn in the finals Saturday night at Bradford. BIC improved to a perfect 13-0 on the season. ...

Riverside defeated Batesville Southside 56-46 Thursday night, giving Head Coach Buster Campbell his 750th career victory in the quarterfinals of the Williams Baptist College Tournament...

Buffalo Island Central lost a 55-51 heartbreaker to Des Arc in overtime Thursday night in the semifinals of the White County Invitational Tournament in Bradford. The Mustangs, who dropped to 11-4 on the year, trailed 31-21 at the half before fighting back to pull within 37-35 at the end of the third period. The two teams were tied 47-47 at the end of regulation...

Gosnell rallied from a 28-27 third quarter deficit to pull out a 47-40 victory over Riverside in the first round of the Gerald Jennings Holiday Tournament Wednesday night at Valley View...

Lake City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance, reviewed and accepted the proposed budget, approved the purchase of equipment and discussed upcoming events at the Nov. 29 meeting. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jon Milligan with councilmen Harold Barker, Tommy Eakins, Ann Davis, Jeffery Wisham, Danny Dunigan and Brenda Hutcheson present. ...

"Christmas At The Melody," a gospel singing to benefit local food pantries, will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Melody Theater in Leachville. The admission is free. Everyone is asked to bring a canned good and/or non-perishable food item...

Officers, seven state board members also re-elected LITTLE ROCK -- Randy Veach and Rich Hillman will continue as president and vice president, respectively, of Arkansas Farm Bureau following their re-election Friday. ...

Teachers and staff at Buffalo Island Central East arrived on Monday morning to find Santa (by the name of PTO) had arrived early. Members of the PTO proved to be quite the little elves as they did an extreme makeover in the teacher's lounge at BIC east...

The third time is a charm and it was the perfect night for a Christmas parade in Leachville on Thursday, Dec. 1. The parade had been postponed twice due to inclement weather. The streets were lined with people of all ages to enjoy the 2011 Christmas parade...

The annual Manila Christmas Parade, "The Colors of Christmas," was held Saturday, Dec. 3, with the streets lined with spectators of all ages. The parade line-up included members of the Manila Police Department and fire department, Emerson Ambulance Service, Mississippi County Sheriff's Department and the Burdette Fire Department...

Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011, is the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, a U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack by the Japanese was an effort to cripple the Pacific Fleet and it came as a shock to the American people. The attack led to America entering World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Dec. 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy."...

Family, friends and business associates of Craighead County Farm Service Agency Executive Director Larry Ladd attended a retirement reception last Wednesday held in his honor at his Jonesboro office on Caraway Road...

The Monette Christmas parade has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, due to inclement weather. Line up will be at 5:30 p.m. at the American Legion building. Judging will be at 6 p.m. and the parade will begin at 7 p.m...

Caraway Christmas in the Park has been rescheduled for 5-7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Caraway Park because of the weather. The park will come alive with the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas...

An open house and reception was held at the Caraway Senior Activity Center from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, from 2-4 p.m. "This is our way of saying thank you to the people in our community," Site Director Cleffie Gipson said. ...