Stories from Tuesday, February 17, 2015

What a busy weekend this has been, and what a busy week this continues to be.

The Act 2! community theater group recently announced the cast for its upcoming production of "Mary, Mary" by Jean Kerr, under the direction of Tonya Harris and Ken Jackson.

Tuesday night, the Blytheville City Council is expected to consider an agreement with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration regarding the excise tax debt.

Tommie Jean Loftin, 87, of Leachville, former longtime Arbyrd, Missouri, area resident and widow of Wayne Loftin, died Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro.

Dolores Sharp, 89, of Leachville, widow of Robert Sharp, passed from this life Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, at her home.

Bill Taylor of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, announces the passing of his wife of 51 years, Patsy Ruth McGhee Taylor, on Monday, Feb. 16, 2015.

The 3-4A District Tournament in Cave City has been postponed until Wednesday. Weather permitting, the Gosnell Lady Pirates will play Harrisburg at 2 p.m. followed by the boys game against Highland at 3:30 p.m.

Donnie Ray Croom has passed into our eternal world, Feb. 4, 2015, at the age of 76. He died at home in Murfreesboro, Tenn., while being cared for by loved ones. He was born Sept. 15, 1938, in Manila, Ark. ...

John Dwayne Barnes, 57, of Dyess died Feb. 8, 2015. John was a blessing to all. Local survivors include one son, John Brent McGhee (Barnes) and two grandchildren, John Bradin McGhee and Autumn Shay McGhee...

Melvin Eugene Hale, 71, of Monette, died Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Grubbs, he was the son of the late John Herbert and Gertie Mae Stice Hale and had lived much of his life in California. ...

Tommie Jean Loftin, 87, of Leachville, former longtime Arbyrd, Mo., area resident and widow of Wayne Loftin, died Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. ...

Doris Stella Ingram, 93, of Manila, passed from this life Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, at the Monette Manor Nursing Center. Born in Blytheville, she was the daughter of early Clear Lake settlers, Walter David and Lela Victoria Riggs Deason. ...

Eleven area players were named junior high all-conference Saturday in Rector. Making the girls team were: Riverside -- Bailey Fisher, Brittney Sain, Hannah Shinall and Carson Smith; BIC -- Heather Sipes and Molly Hart...

Buffalo Island Central completed its regular season with a 65-47 win Thursday night over Manila at the Mustang Athletic Complex in Monette. The Lady Mustangs held a slim 10-9 edge after the first quarter, but outscored the Lady Lions 22-8 in the second period to take a 32-17 advantage into the dressing room at the half. BIC held a 42-29 lead heading into the final frame...

Buffalo Island Central seniors Austin Pike, Alan Carmichael and Seth Eatmon put on quite a show in the final regular season game of their careers Friday night at the Mustang Athletic Complex in Monette. ...

Abraham Lopez buried seven three pointers and finished with 23 points to power Buffalo island Central to a 46-30 victory over Earle in the semifinals of the 2A-3 Junior High District Tournament Thursday night at Rector...

Osceola used a smothering defense, forcing numerous Manila miscues, propelling the host Seminoles to a 60-38 victory Saturday afternoon in the finals of the 3A-3 Junior High District Tournament...

Riverside geared up for this week's 2A-3 District Tournament, closing out the regular season with a convincing 54-41 victory over Manila in senior girls basketball action Monday night at Lake City...

Manila's Junior Lady Lions routed Piggott 36-17 in the first round of the 3A-3 District Tournament Monday night at Osceola. Jordan Tyler led the Lady Lions with a game high 12 points. Jalyn Cates scored eight, Andi Baker tallied six while Madison Bibbs and Meg Gifford chipped in four points apiece. Sydney Adcock added two points...

Senior guard Caleb Reinhart scored 10 fourth quarter points, including a seven of eight performance from the foul line down the stretch, to help lift Manila to a come from behind 53-48 victory over Riverside in senior boys nonconference basketball action Tuesday night at Lake City...

The Junior Mustangs capped off a 29-2 season by capturing the 2A-3 district title this past Saturday in Rector. They finished as runner-up in conference play. BIC raced out to an 8-0 lead as Chayse Carmichael canned a three-pointer to open the scoring followed by baseline jumper from Andrew McFarlin. ...

Riverside outscored Earle 10-0 in the fourth quarter to turn a 29-22 deficit into a 32-29 win giving the Junior Lady Rebels the 2A-3 district title this past Saturday in Rector...

Riverside Rebel Devon Austin is looking forward to getting back on the mound for his team his senior year. He will not be stopping there as he will be taking his baseball to the college level. Devon signed a letter of intent Thursday, Feb. 12, to play baseball at Lyon College...

Caraway City Council approved a $1 increase per household on trash pick-up at the Thursday, Feb. 12 meeting...

The Buffalo Island School Board voted at its regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 10, to go back to patrons to ask for a 9 mill increase in May. The purpose of the millage increase is to build a new K-6 grade school on the Leachville campus and a 7-12 building on the Monette campus. ...

Douglas Electric HVAC, Inc. has relocated at 306 Cobean Boulevard in Lake City in the former Masonic Lodge building. Formerly housed in Manila, the business, owned by Greg Douglas, serves the Buffalo Island and surrounding area in Northeast Arkansas...

Southworth employees in Manila were treated to a barbecue luncheon, catered by Strawberry's, celebrating an accident free year. The luncheon was held on Tuesday, Feb. 10...

It has been a time of rebuilding for the town of Caraway as the community recovers from the tornado and storm damage of Oct. 31, 2013. Most of the main street businesses and buildings were destroyed. ...

James and Peggy (Roush) Lisk of Lake City, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married on Feb. 19, 1965, in Lake City. The couple will be honored with a drop in reception from noon until 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Community Building, 305 Cherry Street, Bay...

Sawyer Dale Jameson, son of David and Christy Jameson of Leachville, was born Feb. 2, 2015, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital. He weighed six pounds and nine ounces and measured 19 inches. He has a big brother, Ashton Ellis...

Dorthy Crouch was crowned the 2015 Manila Senior Citizen Valentine Queen on Friday, Feb. 13. Each senior present cast a vote for the queen. Mrs. Crouch turned 90 on Dec. 12. She received a crown, a rose and a box of chocolates. (Town Crier photo/Revis Blaylock)...

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas head football coach Bret Bielema will speak at the Mississippi County Razorback Club Banquet Monday, March 2, at the Manila Airport Center, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ...

Haven Bohannan and Sahara Jacobs, Manila High School students, have undertaken a project they named "Transforming Cinderella." They have worked hard to get the project underway in time for this year's prom. ...

Donnie Ray Croom passed into our eternal world on Feb. 4, 2015, at the age of 76.

Dolores Sharp, 89, of Leachville, widow of Robert Sharp, passed from this life, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, at her home. Born in Monette, she was the daughter of the late Clyde and Jewell Goss Metcalf and was a graduate of Leachville High School. She was a lifelong Leachville resident and member of the First Baptist Church...

The city of Blytheville is looking strong in the face of adversities, according to Mayor James Sanders, who said during his "state of the city" address that for the city to continue forward, community members and leaders alike must continue to foster unity, cooperation and a persevering spirit in order to spur growth and change.