Stories from Monday, May 9, 2016

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. -- Police arrested Robert Wallace and Ashley Davis on criminal trespassing charges at Relax Inn on South Division. Wallace also faces a criminal mischief charge, after he allegedly removed a screen from a window...

Blytheville police are investigating a shooting early Monday morning. According to CID Capt. Scott Adams, Demetrius Crutchfield was shot in his lower right leg, but refused to provide police with details of the incident, when questioned at Great River Medical Center...

Larry Perkins, 49, was arraigned in Blytheville District Court Monday for the May 5 robbery of Mailboxes and Beyond. Perkins faces charges aggravated robbery. Perkins was arrested by Mississippi County deputies near Luxora, as a passenger in a vehicle described by the victims, shortly after the robbery. Judge Shannon Langston set bond at $75,000. His next court date will be June 30 in Circuit Court...

Shanna Massey, 31, is accused of shooting her father on April 30 at 412 East Kentucky Street. According to Capt. Scott Adams, the Blytheville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division Commander, the victim, Shannon Massey, sustained a wound to his upper right shoulder...

Patricia Ann Renfro, 62, of Cooter, Mo., passed away Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Peters, Mo. Born to Charlie and Penetha Stevens in Blytheville, Patricia was a homemaker. She loved to cook and spend time with her grandchildren. Patricia also loved to sing and play piano. Old TV shows, especially westerns, is what she liked to watch. She loved to collect angels, purses, and cookbooks. No matter what, Patricia always had a smile on her face...

Bruce Gann, 64, of Blytheville, passed away Friday, May 6, 2016 at the VA Hospital in Little Rock. Bruce was born to John Edward and Bettye Jean (Gaines) Gann in Little Rock. He attended Blytheville High School, and enlisted in the Navy after graduating. Bruce was an avid animal lover. After retirement, Bruce enjoyed being back on the family farm and spending time with his family...

Mamie Christene Alexander, 86, of Gosnell, died May 2, 2016 at Gosnell Therapy Center. Born June 15, 1929 in Half Moon, she was a homemaker and a Pentecostal. She was preceded in death by her parents, Tom Widner and Ludie Wallace Widner, and her husband, John Alexander...

Elizabeth Shaneyfelt-Akin, 83, longtime Manila resident, went to meet Jesus on Mother's Day, May 8, 2016, as she passed from this life at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. Born Feb. 1, 1933, in Memphis, Tenn., she was the daughter of the late A.T. ...

Buffalo Island Central gained its first state tournament berth since 2005 with a 3-1 upset victory over top seeded Walnut Ridge in first round action of the Class 2A North Regional Thursday at Marked Tree...

Manila rode the strong pitching performance of Brett Sweatman to defeat Valley Springs 4-1 in first round action of the 3A-3 regional baseball tournament Thursday at Harrison. The win gives the Lions a spot in this week's state tournament at Smackover where Manila will face off against Greenland in first round action Thursday at 12:30...

Manila scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to rally back from a two-run deficit, and went on to defeat Rivercrest 7-5 in the finals of the 3A-3 district softball tournament Monday afternoon, May 2, at Manila. The win gave the Lady Lions the district title and a number one seed in the 3A regional tournament...

Manila Lady Lions punched their ticket to the Class 3A State Softball Tournament with an 8-5 victory over Flippin in Thursday's first round regional action at Harrison. The Lady Lions scored a run in the second, tacked on five more in the third and put two more on the board in the fifth to build an 8-1 lead. ...

Riverside claimed its second consecutive 2A regional baseball title, defeating rival Buffalo Island Central 9-6 Saturday afternoon at Marked Tree. The victory gives the Rebels a number one seed in this week's state tournament, which begins Thursday at Parkers Chapel. Riverside will open state tournament play against the fourth seed from the East, Palestine Wheatley, at 10 a.m. Thursday...

Blytheville Courier News VIOLA-The Armorel Tigers won their fifth straight 1A Region 2 title Saturday with a 6-3 win over the host Viola Longhorns. The last time the Tigers didn't take have a number one seed in the 1A state tournament was 2011. That year, they finished fourth in their region but went on the win the state championship anyway...

Blytheville Courier News LONOKE-The Gosnell Pirates fell in the 4A East regional finals, 7-3, to Central Arkansas Christian Saturday. CAC broke a 3-3 tie with four runs in the bottom of the fourth and held the Pirates scoreless over the final three innings on their way to the win...