Stories from Tuesday, October 13, 2015

County Assessor Harley Bradley proposed Monday to the Quorum Court's finance committee that the county enter into contract with Tax Management Associates (TMA), a business personal property reappraisal group that he says could quadruple the amount of business personal tax funds being collected...

The Blytheville City Council held a special session Monday afternoon and unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the city to retain the Des Moines, Iowa law firm of Ahlers & Cooney to represent the city in the matter of Greatamerica Financial Services Corporation v. City of Blytheville...

Fall is my favorite time of year. Sometime between the last week in September and the last week in October, it is as if everything in nature heaves a big sigh of relief and begins to settle in for a long winter's nap. The mornings are crisp, the afternoons warm and lovely, and the evenings shorter and just made for taking an after supper walk...

America continues to defy God in many ways as it heads towards the inevitable judgement. A recent example of this defiance happened when a young educated TV Analyst, out of the blue, said, "I have the right to choose, the Supreme Court gave me that right." That unscripted statement did not trigger a reaction, much less a discussion...

Sharron and Howard Joy are celebrating 50 years of marriage on Oct. 16. Sharron (originally Sharron Houston of Manila) served as the executive director of the Greene County Community Fund for more than 20 years and she also served the city of Paragould as an alderman...

Kori Ann Davis and "Kip" Grason Webb Kelly exchanged wedding vows Saturday, Oct. 3, at Sasafras Vineyards in Springdale. Vivie Allen officiated. The bride is the daughter of Jodie and John Hickman and Mike Davis, all of Little Rock. The groom is the son of Kerrie and Mike Smith of Pea Ridge and Mike Kelly of Rogers...

Parker James Austin, son of Lee and Tricia Austin of Caraway, was born at 3:46 p.m. Oct. 2, 2015, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital. He weighed six pounds and 10 ounces and measured 20 inches. He is the baby brother of Shayna and Annabelle Austin...

Osceola came into Friday night's 3A-3 conference football showdown at Manila as a slight underdog. But the Seminoles put together their most complete game of the season, sparked by a stifling defense, to shut out Manila 21-0 on rain soaked Lion Field...

Manila senior Jake Helton, quarterback for the Manila Lions, was named Player of the Week by NEA Sports. Jake has played football at Manila for seven years. Jake received the award following his 170 yard, three touchdowns game against Brookland. He said it was his best game so far. His goal is for the team to make the state play offs this year. Jake was presented a certificate and gift certificate. Pictured with Jake is Dean of Students at MHS Tony Crowell.

Riverside boys and girls continued to dominate area tennis, bringing home yet another 2A-3 District Championship Thursday, Oct. 1, at Allen Park in Jonesboro. The defending 2A State Champion boys team overwhelmed the field, claiming both the singles and doubles titles for the second consecutive year. ...

Buffalo Island Central dominated the Class 2A State Golf Championship, firing a winning score of 246 to claim the state title Tuesday at the Holiday Island Golf Course in Eureka Springs. It marked BIC's second state championship in the past three years...

It was a full house for the 2015 Wrestling for a Cure on Friday, Oct. 2. Wrestlers volunteered their time with the proceeds going to the Buffalo Island Relay for Life. The fans got a full night of wrestling, the opportunity to win a 50/50 drawing, bid on tee shirts from Son of a Legend James Lee and the K9s, and other items...

J.R. Stanford of Blytheville and Cecil Langston of Blytheville are this week's Pigskin Payoff winners. Stanford and Langston will split the $50 prize after both correctly picked 13 of the 16 games scheduled and were within one point of the tiebreaker game of 54 points between Utah and California (30-24). Stanford guessed 53 points while Langston guessed 55 points...

Members of the Riverside School Board re-elected Greg Douglas as president for the upcoming year at the Oct. 5 meeting. Other officers elected were Mike Brown, vice president, and Lynn B. Nall, secretary...

Flying into the Manila Municipal Airport is safer for night landing thanks to a lit windsock, placed at the north end of the airport property. Members of the Pilot's Association expressed their appreciation to Kody Gallent and Mississippi County Electric Co-op for installing the post and power to provide the lighting...

Lela Ashley, wife, mother and teacher, is sharing her journey through breast cancer in hopes it will help others. She never wanted the attention cancer brought, but she learned people just want to help and be supportive. She said everyone will help you get through the process if you will let them. Fighting cancer together is easier than standing alone...

Tonnie Moore, owner of TM Taxes and Bookkeeping in Manila, is a 23 year breast cancer survivor. She wad diagnosed in October 1992 and had a mastectomy in December the same year. She took six months of chemotherapy...

2015 might go down as "The Year of the Running Back" around the Blytheville area. Less than a month after Gosnell's Carlos Blackman rushed for 377 and six touchdowns against Rivercrest, Blytheville's Demekko Clark had a huge night of his own. After watching film, the official stat line for Clark was 447 yards and five touchdowns. ...

Anfernee Xavier Wells, 25, is in police custody, according to Capt. Scott Adams, Blytheville Criminal Investigations Division Commander. Adams said Wells was apprehended by U.S. Marshals, Tuesday, in Detroit, Mich., and he is currently in the Wayne County Jail, awaiting extradition...

Phyllis Eugenia Hess, 62, of Manila, passed away Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, at St. Bernards Medical Center. Mrs. Hess was born Sept. 9, 1953 in Hammond, Ind., to the late Charles and Tressie Gates McFadden. Mrs. Hess was of the Baptist faith, enjoyed spending time with family and doing crafts...