Stories from Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Mrs. Violet Jean Sullivan, 80, of Marked Tree, died Sunday, May 5, 2013, in Jonesboro.

Mr. Frank Vaughn, 77, of Bassett, died Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at Crittenden Regional Hospital in West Memphis.

After attending the public ward meeting on Saturday, April 27, 2013, hosted by Councilman R.L. Jones, I've learned that many of the citizens are not satisfied with some of the actions or lack thereof on the part of the Blytheville city government. Contrary to what the "State of the City" address indicated, all is not well, and according to most attending, their efforts to make their concerns known have been either hampered or ignored completely with false promises...

Five years ago, my wife and I made a major life decision. We bought a house. We looked at maybe a dozen houses (at least it felt like a dozen, but it may have only been three) and settled on a decent little house on the north end of Gosnell.

I know a lot of you saw that snake photo of mine on the cover of the Courier News a couple of weeks ago. That is, by the way, a spotted king snake, although I have been calling them rock snakes for years.

Four men from Blytheville appeared in Circuit Court Monday after being arrested last week on firearms and drug charges, including possession of methamphetamine and crack cocaine.

Members of the Gosnell City Council recently noticed an uptick in the city's amount of jail fees, and said at Monday's Finance Committee meeting that this was a good problem to have.

A potential $12 million-$18 million supplemental treatment plant, a radio read meter program and a main line replacement strategy are among several projects planned by Blytheville Waterworks in the next five years.

Buffalo Island Central's Lady Mustangs brought home the 2A-3 district softball crown with a 10-0, five inning victory over Marked Tree Tuesday afternoon at Rector. Madison Greathouse fired a three-hit shutout to earn the win. ...

Manila Lions basketball camp for boys and girls will be held May 29-31. Boys and girls entering grades 2 through 4 will be 8:30-11:30 a.m. Boys and girls entering grades 5 through 8 will meet from 1-4 p.m...

Manila earned the third seed in this week's regional tournament with a 9-0 shutout victory over Piggott Tuesday afternoon in the 3A-3 District Tournament at Manila. Zach Reinhart picked up the win, throwing six innings of two-hit baseball. Reinhart fanned six while issuing four walks. The senior helped himself at the plate with a single, a double and three runs scored...

Riverside defeated Marmaduke 6-4 Monday afternoon to earn a trip to this week's 2A Regional Tournament at Tuckerman. Devon Austin earned the win, going six innings, giving up six hits and three earned runs. Austin fanned eight and walked two. Kollin Stone picked up the save, pitching the final inning for the Rebels...

Brothers Landon and Aiden Massey had a good week of fishing stating with the fishing rodeo at Mallard Youth Lake on Saturday, April 27. They caught 18 of their 50 head of channel catfish on Saturday. They returned on May 2 and caught 19 fish which weighed between two to five pounds each. The largest ones weighed seven to 10 pounds...

The Buffalo Island Relay for Life team asks golfers to mark their calendars and plan to be part of the tournament to help fight cancer. It will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 13, beginning at 8 a.m. at Big Lake Country Club in Manila...

Adleigh Ann Harrell, daughter of Brian and Elizabeth Harrell of Monette, was born at 8:49 a.m. Feb. 20, 2013, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital. Adleigh weighed nine pounds and 15 ounces. She measured 21-1/2 inches ...

Brett and Rachel Hickman of Black Oak announce the birth of their son, Henry Van Hickman, on April 11, 2013. Henry weighed six pounds and 14 ounces and was born at St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro...

Collier Ministries will host a free Southern Gospel Concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at the Melody Theater in Leachville. The featured group will be Sheila Collier and Vickie Hill of Leachville and Paul T. Ross of Jackson, Tenn. Also performing will be "Dowel Rod Team" of the First Baptist Church, Steele, MO., and other local artists...

A drop-in retirement reception will be held for Danny Dunigan from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the Riverside High School. Dunigan has taught for 44 years with 43 years being in the Caraway/Riverside School District...

National Nursing Home Week begins on Mother's Day, May 12, and continues until May 18. "Many nursing home residents are the people who planted the seeds that have made our community grow stronger," Marla Layne, Monette Manor administrator, said. ...

The Arkansas Northeastern College Foundation announces the 15th Annual Wayne Taylor Memorial Golf Tournament is scheduled to be held at the Big Lake Country Club in Manila on Tuesday, June 4. This tournament is open to everyone who wishes to enter...

The annual Tales from the Cemetery program will be Thursday, May 9, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Depot for the fifth grade. They will tour the museum after the program. Then at 1 p.m. at the Herman Davis Monument the sixth grade will hear about Herman Davis from "Granny Davis" played by Sherry Pratt...

The former Caraway High School and Riverside Junior High School building demolition started on Monday. Several former students came by to take pictures and share a few memories of their high school years. ...

OSCEOLA - It is almost time for the annual Osceola Heritage Musicfest. This year's event, the 15th, will be held Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, in downtown Osceola. The Osceola Heritage Musicfest was established to promote downtown Osceola as the center of cultural activities, to preserve and pay homage to the community's heritage and to revitalize community pride and spirit...

April Ramsdill has been selected as May employee of the month at Monette Manor. April is a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and has worked at Monette Manor for eight months. She lives in Kennett, Mo. Family members include Alfred Mahan, Chelsey Mahan, Madison Mahan and Andrew Taylor...

Benny Marr of Manila is organizing the first Light Sport and Ultra Lights Fly-in at the Manila airport from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Rain-out day will be June 1. Marr has visited several fly-ins and is excited to be organizing one in his hometown. ...