Stories from Friday, October 26, 2012

Manila 2012 Christmas parade will have a veteran's theme. It will be held the first Saturday in December. Members of the parade committee invite all veterans from Northeast Arkansas to participate in the parade, bring their banners, and represent their Posts...

Bettye McCollum, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Monette Manor, was honored with a retirement reception Monday, Oct. 15. Marla Layne, Monette Manor administrator, worked in the office when the home opened in May 1975 as Lanes Nursing Home. Mrs. Layne remembers when Bettye applied at Lanes Nursing Home and started to work Aug. 27, 1976...

For the seventh year in a row, BIC Robotics hopes to keep its winning streak alive. They have been fortunate enough to win either the BEST Award or the robotic competition, which has allowed them the opportunity to compete at the regionals in Ft. ...

Mr. Calvin Elliott Vandergriff, 41, of Salem, son of Betty (Thomason) Statler and the late Benton Vandergriff, was born Dec. 30, 1970, in Osceola.

Mrs. Bonnie Sue Minor Shannon, 61, of Wilson entered into rest Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012 in Jonesboro.

Mr. Robert Vernon McClish, 87, of Manila, passed from this life Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro.

Has your party left you out? My grandfather was a staunch Democrat. He was chairman of the party in his county. My dad followed suit as did our whole family. The pentacle of their pride and support was Roosevelt and John Kennedy. As I grew up, I saw their support waiver under Johnson's term and falter under Carter's tragedy. Some hope arose under Clintons second term, then faded with his lack of morals...

I've never been one to take the weather too much to heart; it is what it is. I'm not particularly afraid of storms or anything like that. But this morning I woke up about 5, a couple of hours earlier than necessary.

The Arkansas Northeastern College Department of Music will present "Musical Majesty" at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church in Blytheville.

Blytheville City Councilman John Musgraves is reminding everyone about the fall Cleaner, Safer Blytheville cleanup set for Saturday.

PARAGOULD--The Blytheville Junior Chickasaws remained perfect on the season after a 46-22 win over the Paragould Rams. The Chicks led 37-0 at halftime and cruised to the victory. Blytheville (8-0, 5-0 5A-East) will finish out the season with a home game next Thursday night against Forrest City at Haley Field...

Harsco Metals and Minerals celebrated a safety milestone Thursday after achieving 10 years without a lost time accident, making the company one of only two Harsco sites in the country to achieve this.

GOSNELL -- The Gosnell Junior Pirates captured the 3-4A conference crown without winning Thursday night. The Pirates tied the Valley View Blazers, 20-20, on a touchdown with :11 on the clock in the fourth quarter at J.W. Rea Stadium. Ronnie McShan scored on a reverse as time ticked down in the game with the Pirates trailing 20-12. ...

The initial meeting of a new project for county economic development took place Wednesday morning and began what economic developer Clif Chitwood says could be a groundbreaking program -- unique even on the national level.

The Great and Powerful Fitzini -- Seer of Seers, prognosticator of prognosticators -- will now give you his predictions for this Friday's prep football games. Please keep in mind, these predictions come with a 100 percent guarantee of being right or wrong...

Blytheville native Pam Hicks has lived since 1993 with the ups and downs of losing her son, 8-year-old Stevie Branch, to murder -- and the consequent turmoil that has since surrounded the case of the West Memphis Three.