Stories from Tuesday, September 1, 2015

The inaugural KJ's Back to School Kickoff was held Saturday on the grounds of the Holy Tabernacle Church of Blytheville, located at 200 S. Lake. The event was organized by Ken Daniels, Sr. and his wife Stephanie, the parents of Kennon "DJ" Daniels, who was the 20 year old young man that was killed around 10 a.m. on Monday, June 22 in the 700 block of East McHaney. KJ's Back to School Kickoff is in honor of their son and in support of the Healing in the Hood Stop the Violence Movement...

Early voting for this year's Mississippi County school elections will begin Tuesday, September 8 and will go through Monday, September 14. Voters can cast their early ballots at the Moore Center in Blytheville, The Depot Center in Manila and the Osceola Courthouse. There are contested school board races in Blytheville and Osceola as well as a millage election in Manila...

The first day of the 2016 Relay for Life begins today, Sept.1, 2015. "Northeast Mississippi County Relay for Life is ecstatic to start the new Relay year off right!," said Ashley Woods. "We are recruiting new teams and volunteers. We have already put together new strategy for the year including new ideas for fundraisers and community involvement!...

Only three more sleeps until football season. It's hard to believe the high school football season is already upon us. It seems like yesterday Mark Brasfield and I were working on the 2015 baseball tab and now we're selling the 2015 Missco Football magazine. Which, by the way, if you haven't already gotten one, is on sale now for just $1 at the Courier News office...

A local man was shot in the lower right leg, Monday, on McHaney. The victim, Chavis Goodwin, told police he was walking in the area of McHaney, near the old Robinson school, when he was shot by an unknown offender. Goodwin ran to Edwards Street, where he was when police arrived...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. -- Officers investigated a burglary in the 2400 block of Carolyn. Copper wiring was stolen. -- Police took a terroristic threatening report in the 1300 block of Lee Circle. -- Officers took a breaking and entering report in the 500 block of South Lake...

Lake City Mayor Jon Milligan and Clerk Linda Simpson welcomed Medic One Ambulance Service to Lake City with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Ryan Kible, Medic One president, thanked Mayor Milligan, city officials and the fire department for providing the staff space to work. ...

Did you know that the Monette Buffaloes hold the honor of being Junior High State Champions? In fact, the Buffaloes won the title in 1972, the last year the tournament was held, so the Monette Buffaloes are technically the reigning Junior High State Champs!...

The Monette City Council set construction fees, amended ordinances, heard a report from police chief, discussed placement of a military monument and conducted other business at the Aug. 24 meeting. Present were Larry Bibb, Tom Carroll, Brandon Decker, Bob Hurst, Dick Pace, Aaron Uthoff, Recorder Vickki Carroll and Mayor Jerry "Chub" Qualls...

Leachville Mayor Ralph Wells and city staff hosted the Mississippi County Mayor's meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Mayors and county officials meet on a regular basis rotating the locations giving county and city leaders the opportunity to share information from their own towns and work together for the betterment of the citizens throughout the county...

Manila School Board members reviewed building designs at a special called meeting Thursday evening. The working meeting was scheduled to get input from board members on any changes or suggestions on the exterior of the new proposed high school...

Leachville City Council members welcomed Mayor Ralph Wells at the Aug. 24 meeting. Mayor Wells has been recuperating from heart surgery and was absent at the July meeting. "I've missed you all," Wells said. "I hope to get back in full force soon. I...

Terry Granderson, interim director for the Arkansas Department of Education Facilities and Transportation, along with representatives from Beardsley Public Finance, Nabholtz Construction and Cromwell Architects, were in attendance at a public meeting held Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Manila High School auditorium...

Manila, Buffalo Island Central and Riverside all enjoyed a measure of success on the golf course last week. Manila captured a five team match at Piggott Tuesday afternoon after finishing second to Corning Monday at the Big Lake Country Club. ...

Riverside High School teacher Meagan Priest was excited to receive notice Riverside had been approved for a Lowe's Educational Toolbox Grant in the amount of $3,000. The grant was written to provide outside picnic tables and benches. The excitement continued as the items were delivered to the school on Wednesday...

Olivia Gracie Wilson, Riverside FFA Chapter and band member, will be on stage and in the spotlight Oct. 28-31 during the 2015 National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, Ky. Wilson, a junior at Riverside and daughter of Eddie Wilson and Trina AuBuchon, has been selected to play clarinet in the National FFA Band...

The annual quilt show at the Buffalo Island Museum in Monette will be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. There is no entry fee. Free admission to the quilt show includes a visitor's choice ballot for judging the best in several divisions including quilt of age (50 years or older); hand quilted, machine quilted, baby quilt, and art quilt. ...

Emery Kaylynn Foley was born at 1:59 a.m. Aug. 2, 2015, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. She weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. She is the daughter of Spencer and Morgan Foley of Lake City...

The Mississippi County half-cent sales tax began collection on April 1 but the hospital system just began getting monies from it in June. Although the Mississippi County Hospital System has collected approximately $726,000 in its sales tax fund, hospital CEO, Ralph Beaty says they are not in a hurry to spend it...