Stories from Friday, September 13, 2013

GOSNELL -- The Gosnell Junior Pirates improved to 2-0 on the season after a 28-14 victory over the Rivercrest Junior Colts Thursday night at J.W. Rea Field. It didn't start out too well for the Pirates as Rivercrest took the opening kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown giving the Colts a 7-0 lead right off the bat...

The Blytheville Junior Chickasaws keep rolling right along. The Junior Chicks blew past West Memphis East, 42-14, Thursday night to up their season record to 2-0 and continue a winning streak dating back to last year at 11 in a row. The Chicks scored all of their points in the first half and scored the first 34. ...

Once again, I, The Great Fitzini, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, Sage of Sages and Sports Prophet Extraordinaire, am back for another day of predicting this week's prep football games. I did a little better in my Fantasy League last week (Thank you Anquan Boldin) than I did picking real games. But, it will not stop me from giving my unconditional 100 percent guarantee of being either right or wrong...

The first planning meeting for the Blytheville Christmas Parade, coordinated by the Greater Blytheville Chamber of Commerce, will be held Wednesday at the Chamber office. Anyone wanting to participate in the parade can sign up starting Thursday. The theme for this year's parade won't be released until after the meeting, but the date for the event has already been set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6...

Family members and high school athletes from across the state will be in Blytheville for several days in early October for the Class 4A State Golf Tournament. Thunder Bayou Golf Links will host the girls and boys 4A State Golf Championships, making it the fourth year in a row the state's third ranked golf course is involved in a state championship...

The city of Gosnell's 2013 Cotton Festival will be held Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11-12. Friday night's event will feature a live band and food vendors, and will run from 6-10 p.m. Saturday's festivities will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and will feature food vendors, live music, hog calling, a dance contest, 50/50 raffle tickets, games, and a kids' corner with blow-ups and train rides...

Walker Park is getting a much needed new drive/walkway in front of the park's gazebo. The project, which will make the handicap ramp in front of the gazebo more accessible, started Friday morning and should wrap up Monday, according to Parks and Recreation director Elroy Brown. ...

"The tax goes off at the end of September for the IRS payment," he said, "and hopefully in the next few weeks we'll be able to get a payoff number from the IRS. In October the tax rate will go back to 9.75 percent. I just want everyone to know and appreciate that we're trying to stay on top of that and keep them informed."...

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department: Sept. 11 Loretta King, 43, of Blytheville was taken into custody and charged with shoplifting. cpinkard@couriernews.net

Mr. James G. Davis Jr., 78, went home to be with his Lord Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, at Bright Glade Convalescent Center. He will be joining loved ones who preceded him in heaven including his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Davis Sr.; two sisters, LaVerne Greer and Marie Armstrong; and a and brother, Hale Davis...

Mr. Mildred Ruff, 83, of Blytheville, died Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, in Osceola. Mr. Ruff leaves his wife, Elizabeth Ruff of Blytheville; Three sons, Melvin Ruff of Tupelo, Miss., Odis Spencer of Forrest City, and Larry Ruff of Tulsa, Okla.; One godson, Keith Robinson of Parkin;...

When I first turned in my Pigskin picks to Brasfield last week, I had EPC over Rivercrest and BYU over Texas. Then I did a little research and changed my mind on both of those, changed my picks, and lost them both which pushed me down to the bottom of the pile of last week pickers...