Stories from Friday, April 10, 2015

Mississippi County Sheriff Dale Cook released the identity of the man presumed to have drowned in the Mississippi just south of Osceola early Tuesday morning. Aaron Lane, 36, of Blytheville is still technically listed as only "missing" and not deceased, even though that possibility is most likely...

Doris L. Robertson, 88, of Manila, widow of Thomas Robertson, died Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at the Manila Nursing Center. Born Aug. 18, 1926, in Walnut Ridge, she was the daughter of the late Monroe and Thelma Houston Holder, and was also raised by her stepfather, Virgil Cunningham. ...

Jessie Raymond Hill, 69, of Manila, died Thursday, April 9, 2015, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Manila he was the son of the late James Byron Lee and Lois Lorene Murphy Hill and had been a lifelong area resident. He was a retired bus mechanic for the Manila School District for 20 years...

ARMOREL -- Trailing by a run, 3-2, with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, the Harrisburg Lady Hornets scored four runs on their way to a 6-3 win over the Armorel Lady Tigers. Somer Carter's infield hit scored Keely Curtis with two outs to tie the game, giving the Lady Hornets new life...

GOSNELL -- The Gosnell Lady Pirates picked up a 5-4 win over Mississippi County rival Manila Thursday night in non-conference action. Gosnell scored a run in the first, three in the third and the winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Ciara Watson's walk-off single scoring Ke'Asia Kuykendal was the difference as the Lady Pirates have now won two out of their last three games...

The Blytheville Lady Chickasaws picked up their first win of the season in a 12-4 victory over the Cooter, Mo. Lady Wildcats. Brianna Dunham was the winning pitcher for the Lady Chickasaws. Blytheville scored three runs in the first, three in the second, two more in the third, three in the fourth and a run in the fifth...

GOSNELL-- The Gosnell Pirates gave 5A-East Nettleton Raiders all they could handle Thursday. The Pirates took Nettleton to extra innings before losing, 10-8, in 10 innings. Gosnell scored two in the second, one in the third and three in the sixth to tie the game at 8-8...

The Blytheville Chickasaws won their first two games of the season Thursday sweeping a non-conference double-header against county rival, Osceola, at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex. Blytheville 7, Osceola 2 Blytheville hurler Cody Hearyman allowed just two runs on two hits while striking out eight as the Chicks won their first game of the year, 7-2, over Osceola...

Southern Bancorp's non-profit Delta Bridge Project recently completed the demolition of a Blytheville landmark, the Pilgrim Rest Church on Ash and Fifth. Delta Bridge has funded the demolition of 29 abandoned houses across Mississippi County in its first grant cycle, as well as Pilgrim Rest...

The Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual Great Arkansas Cleanup from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 25. The Chamber will provide all supplies needed for the cleanup. People are encouraged to apply as a group but singles can register and be added to a group...

Former NFL star and current Director of Football Development for the league, Matt Birk, was the guest speaker Friday at CTE Completer Event "Graduating To College And Career," which was hosted by Arkansas Northeastern College in partnership with Crowley's Ridge Educational Service Cooperative...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. -- Officers took a forgery report from an individual who said someone forged his deceased wife's name on a change of address document at the Blytheville Post Office. -- Police investigated a theft in the 2100 block of West McHaney. Missing were a bathtub and two glass windows from the home, which is being remodeled...

Carol Ann (Carr) Ladner, 75, passed away the evening of April 1, 2015. Born in Springfield, Missouri in 1939, Carol lived an amazing life. At Arkansas State College she was at the top of the Business Administration program graduating in 1961, Who's Who among Students in American Universities & Colleges 1960 -- 1961, the treasurer of her Phi Mu sorority, Captain of the cheerleading team and the Homecoming Queen. Her most cherished role was as beloved wife, mother, grandmother...

Patrick Edward Reed, 72, of Blytheville, died Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Before his death, Patrick elected to be a donor for the Genesis Legacy Program at the Medical Education and Research Institute, a medical teaching and training facility in Memphis that provides educational and research opportunities for physicians from around the world...

Jessie Raymond Hill, 69, of Manila, died April 9, 2015 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born Feb. 3, 1946 in Manila to James Byron Lee and Lois Lorene Murphy Hill, he was a lifelong area resident. He was a retired bus mechanic for the Manila School District, having served 20 years...

Doris L. Robertson, 88, of Manila, widow of Thomas Robertson, died Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at the Manila Nursing Center. Born in Walnut Ridge, she was the daughter of the late Monroe and Thelma Houston Holder, and was also raised by her step-father, Virgil Cunningham. ...

So in the past two weeks I've demonstrated an impressive ability for getting flat tires. And I don't mean just kind of flat, or low, or hey-look-your-tire-needs-some-air. I mean FLAT. As in, not driving anywhere at all. Last week I had a flat in front of the beauty shop and this week I had one in front of the dollar store, and if the fact that I hang out at those two places doesn't give away that I'm a woman living in a small southern town, then I don't know what does...