Stories from Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

Jordynn Ceanna Young was stillborn May 12, 2013, at The Regional Medical Center in Memphis.

Mrs. Loretha Blackburn Phillips, 81, passed away Friday, May 17, 2013, at Greenleaf Health Campus.

Mr. Gary Nathaniel Morris, 53, of Manila, died Sunday, May 19, 2013, at St Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, from injuries received in a motorcycle accident.

Mr. Larie Weslie Crouse, 87, of Manila, passed from this life Sunday, May 19, 2013, at the Manila Nursing Center.

Before I dive into a recollection of recent events guided by clever anecdotes or sci-fi references that fly over most people's heads, I need to say something I should have said two weeks ago, but forgot.

Majestic mountains, deserts of gold and red and bronze, elk and deer and endless herds of buffalo roaming the Western plains. This is the picture of the old West painted in Richard S. Wheeler's Western novel "The Far Tribes."

The Armorel school board approved a one-time bonus to all full-time and part-time licensed and classified employees during a special board meeting Monday night.

The Blytheville School Board met Monday to discuss the district's plans for moving forward as the school year comes to an end and summer approaches.

The voters of Osceola passed a reinstatement of the city's 1-cent sales tax in an election on May 14, which the Mississippi County Election Commission certified on Monday morning.

Dr. James Shemwell, president at Arkansas Northeastern College, spoke Monday during the monthly luncheon of the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Mississippi County Hospital System experienced a significant drop in patient volume over the past few months, which has resulted in a financial slump.

The Blytheville City Council is expected to consider a resolution tonight (Tuesday) that aids the Blytheville Airport Commission in securing a $240,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration.

A group of local parents and grandparents have filed a federal lawsuit against the Blytheville School District, claiming the district exercised "unlawful and unconstitutional refusal" to allow their children to transfer out of the district under the state's recently adopted school choice law.

Here's a wrap up of action from Saturday and Monday at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex. FROM 5-20 CAL RIPKEN MAJOR LEAGUE Precision Tech 8, Holiday Inn 7 Pre Tech scored seven runs over the first two innings and held on for the 8-7 win over Holiday Inn in five innings Monday night...

Mr. Gary Nathaniel Morris, 53, of Manila died Sunday, May 19, 2013, at St Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, from injuries received in a motorcycle accident. Born and raised at Manila, he had lived several years in Mountain Home before returning home to Manila in 2008. He was a retired farmer and motorcycle enthusiast...

Mr. Jack L. Morris, 70, of Leachville, died Sunday, May 19, 2013, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Howard Funeral Service of Leachville...

Mr. Larie Weslie Crouse, 87, of Manila, passed from this life, early Sunday May 19, 2013, at the Manila Nursing Center. Born at Manila, he was the son of the late Charlie and Mary Parker Crouse and had been a lifelong area resident. ...

Mrs. Ruth Elizabeth Gibbs, 89, of Manila, widow of Mr. Claud Gibbs, passed from this life, Thursday May 16, 2013, at the Manila Nursing Center. Born at Camargo, Ill., she was the daughter of the late Charles and Amanda Feeler Dyke and was a 1941 graduate of Villa Grove High School in Camargo. ...

Charles H. Ridgeway, Jr. Temecula, Calif. Charles H. Ridgeway Jr. of Temecula, Calif., passed away at the Loma Linda University Medical Hospital in Murrieta, Calif., on Thursday, May 16. After many years of illness, his body finally gave up the fight. ...

Members of the Buffalo Island Central School Board interviewed a boys basketball coach, heard a request for the agri department, accepted resignations, and renewed contracts at the Monday, May 13, meeting...

Buffalo Island Central East Elementary student, Haleigh Jackson, wrote an essay for the DAR History Essay Contest about forgotten patriots who supported the American struggle for independence. Her essay won first place in Craighead County for the fifth grade. ...

North East Arkansas Transit (NEAT) announced it has been selected as a recipient of the Mississippi County Giving Tree grant. The funds for the grant are made possible in part by the Mississippi County Community Foundation, an affiliate office of the Arkansas Community Foundation, Inc...

Mr. and Mrs. Trent Fletcher of Jonesboro and Steve Timms of Lake City announce the upcoming marriage of their daughter, Tiffany Timms, to Kelby Drennan, son of Randy and Patty Drennan of Hot Springs Village...

A sunset wedding at Cape San Blas, Fla., is planned for Carla Kemp and Kam Ashabranner on June 16. The bride is the daughter of Danny Kemp and Ruth Light. She is the granddaughter of the late Erma Ferrell of West Ridge...

Emmalenn Rose Townsend, daughter of Belinda and Scott Townsend, Jr., of Manila, was born at 11:46 a.m. Feb. 20, 2013, at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. She weighed nine pounds and 13 ounces...

Danny Dunigan was the guest of honor as family and friends joined him for a retirement reception Saturday at Riverside High School. Dunigan has given 44 years to education in the public schools with 43 years in the Caraway/Riverside District...

The annual Memorial Day Service will be held at Garden Point Cemetery at Etowah at 11 a.m. Monday, May 27. The speaker will be Steve Jernigan with the Lepanto VFW. Refreshments will be served after the service...

The Monette American Legion will host the Annual Memorial Service at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 26, at the Monette Memorial Cemetery.

The Food Pantry at Manila Senior Center located in the Manila Community Center, Airport Road, will be open Wednesday, May 29, from 9 a.m. until noon. Must be 60 years old or older to be eligible for food...

Manila School Board members interviewed representatives from four construction companies at the regular May 16 meeting. The board was interviewing for a construction manager for a new high school building project. The board agreed the construction manager team needed to be on board at the beginning plans of the project...

The first ultra-light/small aircraft fly-in at the Manila Airport on Saturday, May 18, was successful once the fog lifted and allowed the planes to fly...