Stories from Tuesday, May 27, 2014

A record 39 teams have signed up for this weekend's Sports Hall Thunder Bayou Blowout at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex. The games begin Friday evening and conclude Sunday. There are five age divisions: 7-8 year olds; 9 year olds; 10 year olds; 11-12 year olds and 15 and under...

Mrs. Karla Mays, 94, of Blytheville, passed from this life Monday, May 26, 2014, at her home.

George Alvin Hutchens, 61, of Tyronza, died of heart failure Sunday, May 25, 2014, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro.

"The Quarry," the final novel by author Iain Banks, is the perfect example of why you should not purchase a book based solely on its online reviews.

Members of the Mississippi County Election Commission are planning a meeting to certify the May 20 primary by the end of this week.

Members of the Blytheville Emergency Squad rescued a group of stranded boaters off of the river late Monday night.

Blytheville Parks and Recreation Director Elroy Brown is reminding local citizens that there is no fishing at the Walker Park pond until June 18.

Perry Lynn Cude, Sr. 76, of Leachville, died Thursday, May 22, 2014, at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. Born in Leachville he was the son of the late Johnny Cude and was a 1956 graduate of Leachville High School. ...

Violet Elizabeth Alexander, 92, of Manila, died Thursday, May 22, 2014, at the Manila Nursing Center. Born in a log cabin near Greenville, Tenn., she was the daughter of the late Lawrence and Addie Mae Collins Waddell. ...

Buffalo Island Central won the NEA Junior High District Baseball Tournament played in Trumann on May 18. The district consisted of 12 schools which included BIC, Manila, Rector, Sloan Hendrix, Pocahontas, Trumann, Harrisburg, EPC, Corning, Ridgefield Christian and Walnut Ridge. Buffalo Island was the #1 seed and ended the year with a perfect 12-0 record...

Foreman scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning and went on to defeat Buffalo Island Central 8-4 in the semifinals of the Class 2A State Softball Tournament Monday afternoon at Marked Tree. The Lady Gators (28-4) remained unbeaten this season against 2A competition with their win over the Lady Mustangs...

Rebel Canon Walling watches a pitch sail by during the 8th grade championship game against Jonesboro Thursday night at Arkansas State University. (Town Crier photos/Trent Fletcher) Riverside pitcher Charlie McClure prepares to fire a pitch Thursday night at ASU...

Leachville is one step closer to expanding its city limits and population with voters approving the city's proposed annexation 124 for, 53 against during the Tuesday, May 20, Primary Election...

Jerry McCain addressed the Manila City Council at the May meeting about streets on property he is planning to develop located on Olympia Extended. McCain said he is interested in building houses on the property...

Manila School Board and administrators received good news at the Monday, May 19, meeting following the 2014 graduation, as Superintendent Pam Castor reported the District had been accredited in all schools by the Department of Education. This includes elementary, middle and high school...

Larry Bibb and Aaron Uthoff were both sworn in as new aldermen at the Monday, May 19, regular Monette City Council meeting. Bibb was appointed by the council last month to fill the unexpired term of Alderman Philip Duffel, who moved outside of Monette. At the beginning of the meeting Mayor Chub Qualls swore in Bibb as alderman of Ward 1 Position 2...

A joint effort is underway with the University of Arkansas, Arkansas State University, USDA, local farmers, and the city of Manila all working together on a 30 acre cotton test plot on the airport land in Manila...

The Monette American Legion held its annual Memorial Day tribute to veterans both past and present on Sunday, May 25, at the Monette Cemetery. Legion member Jerry Reed welcomed the large crowd of veterans, the families and community members to the annual tribute. Reed led the opening prayer and placed the U.S. flag...

The Monette High School class of 1964 celebrated its 50th anniversary on Memorial Day weekend with two parties in Monette. Classmates gathered Friday, May 23, for an evening meal and fellowship at the home of Bob and Doris Blankenship, on 208 N. Reves Street...