Stories from Friday, January 15, 2016

Tenaris confirmed Friday to the CN that it has permanently laid off approximately 100 employees at the Hickman facility. Tenaris Media Relations Specialist Carolina Mendoza said, "Tenaris values their people and their contributions. This was certainly a very difficult decision...[but] it was due to the prolonged economic downturn."...

Billy Eugene Taylor, 79, of Monette passed away Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, at his residence. He was born April 21, 1936, at Caraway. He was the son of the late Bill Henry and Edith Ballard Taylor. ...

Tony Darren Hamilton, 49, of Leachville, passed from this life Jan. 12, 2016, in Little Rock. Born at Union City, Tenn., he was the son of the late Shirley Ann Manus and had been a Leachville resident most of his life. He was a U.S. Army veteran and had been employed as a carpenter...

Brenda Joan Metheny, 72, of Leachville, widow of Mr. Ben Metheny, passed from this life Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Gideon, Mo., she was the daughter of the late Omar and Pauline Harris Atchley and was a 1961 graduate of Gideon High School. ...

Members of the Mississippi County Election Commission met Friday afternoon to make plans for the upcoming election season. According to new election law, all poll workers, even those with experience, must attend training before working the March 1 prior and its early voting, or the general election in November...

A budget for 2015 was passed Thursday by the Blytheville/Gosnell Regional Airport Authority. According to director Barrett Harrison, the budget contains few changes, with the exception of increases in line item appropriations for building maintenance, which is up to $75,000...

Ms. Betty Ann Lancaster, 72, of Woodridge, Ill. died Sunday, January 10, 2016 in Woodridge, Ill.. Born November 19, 1943 in Osceola to the late Raymond Lancaster and the late Violet Buzzard Lancaster, she was a retired factory worker and of the Baptist faith...

Virgil Lee Helms, 58, of Leachville died Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 in Memphis. Born on Nov. 26, 1957 in Lincoln, Neb. To the late Arlis Helms and Martha Wilson Helms of Cardwell, Mo., Virgil was a farm hand. He was preceded in death by a sister, Judy Kramer...

Ms. Jonna Lee Paramore, 53, of Gosnell died Friday, January 8, 2016 at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. Brown August 3, 1962 in Osceola to the late Darrell Paramore and the late Enogene Lancaster Paramore, she was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith...

Mrs. Lillie Bell Braswell, 87, of Pascola, Mo. died Saturday, January 9, 2016 at the Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti. She was born March 24, 1928 in Malden, Mo. to the late John and the late Jennie Snider Thrasher. She was united in marriage to James (Joe) Braswell on December 9, 1949 in Piggott, Ark. and to that union was born three children...

Warren Nelson, 67 of Hot Springs, passed away Thursday, January 14, 2016 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced at a later time. Cobb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

GOSNELL -- The Gosnell Pirates pulled out another close one on their home court Thursday night. Brandon Partee's three-pointer with 5.5 seconds left broke a 46-46 tie and ultimately lifted the Pirates to a 49-46 win over the Trumann Wildcats. Trumann's Jay Jones got a decent look at a three-pointer from the top of the key, but the ball bounced off of the rim, sealing the Pirates' fourth conference victory in the last five games...

MONETTE -- The Armorel Lady Tigers dropped a close, non-conference affair, Thursday night, losing to Buffalo Island Central, 40-36. Armorel led 13-2 after one period, 19-9 at halftime and 26-22 going into the fourth period. Ayrielle Appleton led all scorers with 16 points and nine boards for the Lady Tigers. McKinley Carr added eight points, 10 rebounds and six assists, Rachel McKuin scored 10 points and swiped four steals, and Emily Southern scored two points and pulled down seven boards...

2016 has been an unkind year to the Blytheville Chickasaws to this point. With losses in their first two 5A-East games of the season, the Chicks hoped to turn things around in the winning direction Friday night against another 0-2 opponent, Batesville...