Stories from Monday, September 1, 2014

Carl Owen Beck, Jr., 62, of Manila, passed from this life Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, at his home. Born in Alton, Ill., he was the son of the late Carl Owen and Dorothy Robinson Beck and had lived most of his adult life in Wichita, Kan., before making his home in Manila. ...

Flora Louise Mooney of Caraway, departed this life Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, at the St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro, at the age of 89. She was born March 11, 1925 in Center, Miss., the daughter of Joseph Raymond Kelley and Eva Mae Ballard Kelley. ...

Phillip (Doc) Nuckols Norfork Phillip (Doc) Nuckols, 74, of Norfork passed away Monday, Aug. 25, 2014, at the Baxter Regional Medical Center. Phillip was born April 25, 1940 in Lost Cane, to the late Trumon Harrison and Lois Lee (Ingram) Nuckols. ...

William Van Riggs, Jr., 89, of Leachville, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, at Monette Manor Nursing Center. Born in Kennett, Mo., he was the son of the late William Van Riggs, Sr. and Eula O'Neal Riggs and was raised in Leachville. ...

Bertie Lou Wolfe, 86, of Osceola, died Friday, Aug. 29, 2014, in Jonesboro.

Jimmy R. Gill, 76, of the Half Moon community, passed from this life Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.

Peggy June Jackson, 80 of Blytheville, passed from this life into her glorious eternal life on Monday, Sept. 1, 2014, at her home in Blytheville.

One of the most beautiful visitors to any garden is the butterfly. The Mississippi County Master Gardeners have planted a butterfly garden next to the Extension Office for the sole purpose of attracting these lovely insects.

Ben Fisher (left), head coach of the Blytheville Chickasaws, had only great things to say about his team and staff during his talk about the Chickasaws at Wednesday's Blytheville Kiwanis Club meeting. Fisher relayed a couple of experiences from his high school days at Wynne, and then discussed the 2014 Chickasaws' season and outlook. The Chickasaws played Friday against Helena-West Helena Central in an exhibition game at 6 p.m. Club member Jack Goodman sponsored Fisher's program...

August was a busy and exciting month for the Plain and Fancy Quilters. Regular meetings resumed after a summer break, and everyone was thrilled to be back together and talking quilts. Eleven members were present, and the question for roll call was, "What have you been doing all summer?" Making bowls and watching ballgames, cutting out quilt pieces, working on a T-shirt quilt, binding quilts, babysitting grandkids (too busy to even look at thread!), recovering from a cracked foot, and travelling with a grandchild were the varied answers.. ...

Humane Society volunteers attended the Westminster Village monthly coffee. A very handsome and gentle Yellow Lab who was found on the streets as a puppy was our main attraction. Several goals were discussed: spay/neuter to stop unwanted animals and recruiting more volunteers to walk dogs or be entertained in our roam free cat room...

Mississippi County tax revenues in July were higher this year than in any other July since 2005, according to a recent report from County Treasurer Peggy Meatte.

A Blytheville toddler was air-lifted to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis after being struck by a car Monday.

A Sept. 22 date has been set for the official ground-breaking ceremony for Big River Steel, being constructed south of Osceola.

Several county school districts will have contested races in September's school board elections.