Stories from Thursday, February 25, 2016

OSCEOLA -- A new steel related industry, currently under construction just south of Osceola, has made an official announcement that it will bring some 50 new jobs to the area. Arkansas Steel Processing LLC is installing a heavy gauge slitter at the Osceola facility that is currently ramping up, the company said.␣The slitter, from Newmarket, Ontario-based Alcos Machinery Inc., will cut steel coils in thicknesses from 14 gauge (0.075 inch) up to five-eighth-inch thick, weighing up to 100,000 pounds and up to 78 inches wide, the Osceola-based company said in a news release early this week.. ...

Wonder of wonders and miracle of miracles, how terrific it is to live in the "Land of the Free!" This very column proves that in America there still exists, though less than at other times in our nation's history, the right of free speech. Many of my news articles each month prove that freedom of the press still exists. Now, you and I voting on or before March 1 will prove that we still possess the right to choose our democratically elected representative government leaders...

Ladonna Jane Sneed, 53, of Caraway passed away Feb. 22, 2016, at her home. Born Dec. 2, 1962 in Lepanto, she was the daughter of Earl Eugene and Eula Belle Barrett Cobb. Mrs. Sneed was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church in Black Oak and loved crafts, shopping and spending time with her husband, kids and grandkids...

Donald "Wayne" Pierce, 78, of Leachville, former longtime Manila resident, passed from this life Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. Born in the Blackwater community near Manila, he was the son of the late Dorsey and Cordie Johnson Pierce and attended the Blackwater School. ...

William "Buddy" Albert Knight, 74, of Gosnell, died Feb. 24, 2016, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. He was born Sept. 21, 1941, at Morrow, Ark. He was the owner of Knights Disposal and was of the First Christian faith...

Blytheville Courier News SEARCY-The Gosnell Pirates qualified for the 4A state tournament after a 77-60 win over eStem High School Wednesday night in the first round of the 4A East Region at Riverview High School. Carlos Blackman got the top seeded Pirates going by hitting four three pointers in the first period as Gosnell jumped out to a 19-11 lead after one. ...

A "potential threat" apparently led to a lock- down at Rivercrest Schools Tuesday morning. Rumors began to fly as parents received text messages from school officials. The administration then released a statement stating, "There was a potential threat on campus this morning that resulted in schools going into lockdown. The incident was handled quickly and efficiently by our security team and administration. There were no weapons involved, and all students are safe."...

OSCEOLA -- Two local residents have been arrested in a murder-for-hire plot, according to records supplied by the Second Judicial District Prosecutor's office. On Jan. 26, 2016, Norman Cockrell, of Lepanto, received information that Charles Murphy, also of Lepanto, new boyfriend of his estranged wife, Susie Cockrell, of Osceola, was conspiring to kill him...

Manila boys fall in first round to Bobcats