Stories from Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Robert Oscar Swedholm, 80, of Mineral Point, Mo., former Leachville area resident, passed from this life Friday, April 28, 2017, at the Mercy Hospital in Festus, Mo. Born in the Buffalo Township community of Old Town Ridge to the late George and Lois Towell Swedholm, he had lived in Mineral Point for the past 40 years. He was retired from Old Judge Coffee, which later became Sara Lee, and was a member of the Riverside Church of Christ in St. Louis...

Dr. Dennis Parten Jonesboro A great physician, Dr. Dennis Parten, 62, of Jonesboro was called home by The Great Physician in Heaven on Sunday, April 30, 2017. He was born in Jonesboro on March 26, 1955 to Bill and Inez Parten. Dennis graduated from Monette High School in 1973 and attended college at Arkansas State University. ...

Due to the excessive rainfall, the Saturday, May 6, youth fishing derby and the Sunday Veteran's afternoon fishing derby has been postponed. A new date will be announced later.

Riverside saw its post season hopes dashed Tuesday afternoon at Corning in the first round of the 3A District Tournament. The Lady Rebels fell to Hoxie 10-7 in nine innings on a gusty afternoon. Riverside, who had beaten Hoxie just a week earlier, came in as the favorite, but couldn’t overcome the underdog Lady Mustangs...

Riverside rode the strong right arm of senior Gavin Stone, defeating Corning 3-1 in the finals of the 3A District Tournament Thursday at Lake City. The win gave the Rebels their third district championship in the last four years and sends them into this week’s regional tournament at Manila as a number one seed. Riverside will begin tourney play Thursday at 3:00 against fourth seeded Mountain View...

It took two days to decide a winner between Manila and Corning in their first round matchup of the 3A District Softball Tournament at Corning. The Lady Lions and the host Bobcats began play Tuesday afternoon and battled to a 3-3 tie before darkness halted play after five innings. ...

Michael Jorgensen fired a one-hit shutout to lead Manila to a 10-0 whitewash over Walnut Ridge in the first round of the 3A District Tournament Tuesday at Lake City. The five-inning victory sends Manila into this week’s regional tournament beginning Thursday at Lion Field...

Buffalo Island Central built a 4-0 lead before holding off a middle inning Sloan Hendrix rally to squeeze out a 5-4 win in the finals of the 2A District Baseball Tournament Friday afternoon at Marked Tree. The victory gave the Mustangs their first district title since 2005...

Mr. Jimmy Wayne Morris, 63, of Lepanto, passed away on April 29, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was a mechanic who loved street cars and hot rods and was of the Baptist faith. Mr. Morris is survived by his daughter, Jamie (Ted) Weaver of Paragould; one brother, Scott Morris of Jonesboro; one sister, Patricia Branch of Clarkedale, Ark.; three grandchildren, Jacie Malone of Keiser and Tana and Zander Weaver both of Paragould; and two great-grandchildren, Austin and Decara Malone both of Keiser...

Monette Base Bandits, 10 and under softball team, were runner-up in the Monette Invitational Tournament held Saturday, April 29. Members of the team are Jaylyn Cagle, Autumn McGhee, Abi Knight, Kensley Hamilton, Kallie Lambert, Lindsey Davis, Coby Nichols, Rachel Garcia, Alerie Anderson and Keira Wilbanks...

Manila Golden Chaos, 10 and under softball team, won first place in the Monette Invitational Tournament held on Saturday, April 29. The team went undefeated in the tournament. Pictured from left are: Kneeling – Caitlin Cole, Makayla Milligan, Hadley Cohn, Kinley Moore, and Brooke Booth. Standing, Ashlyn Cossey, Ryleigh Smith, Madysen Deeds, Malorie Booth. Back – Coaches Steve Milligan and Heather Cohn. Not pictured is Autumn Dent...

Mr. Will Edward Woody, 73, of Steele passed away Saturday, April 22, 2017, in Steele, Missouri. He was born to the late Joe and Verna Woody on Jan. 3, 1944, in Manila. He was one of 13 children raised in the Huffman, Mo. area. He was united in marriage to Rita Hillhouse on June 30, 1992, in Paris, Tenn. ...

Monette Dugout Divas, 12 and under softball team, were runner-up in the Monette Invitational Tournament held Saturday, April 29. Pictured are, from left: Back -- Alivia Waltrip, Presley Gathright, Hallee Wells, Ella Schlenker, Abigail Croom, Kendra Towell. Front -- Riley Parker, Arabella Oliver, Whitley Hawkins, Alexis Franklin. Not pictured -- Gracie Beck...

Andi Jo Baker, 11th grade art student, and Ryan Cole, 12th grade art student, under the instruction of Candice Dunigan, have received art awards. Andi Jo's water color on paper, “Espadon,” has been chosen as a finalist in the 2017 Congressional Art Competition...

Lake City Mayor Jon Milligan introduced Grahm Agee to the City Council at the April 24 meeting. Agee asked council members to consider amending the city’s ordinance that refers to keeping chickens within the city limits. He read an amendment he had written that would limit the amount to six hens, no roosters, the size and location of the pen on the owner’s property and stated that as an agri teacher at Manila this would be a benefit for the students in FFA at Riverside as well...

Manila Wayne Wagner introduced Mississippi County Sheriff Dale Cook prior to the April 24 city council meeting. Sheriff Cook expressed his appreciation to Manila officers and Chief James Skinner for working with his department on a recent drug bust south of Manila...

Monette City Council discussed the possible installation of a new water meter reading system during the regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Monday, April 24. Dan Pasternak of Zenner Metering Company presented a new system that would change the manner in which meters could be read for the city...

James Murphy of Little Rock, former Manila resident, has been appointed by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson to serve on the Arkansas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board. Murphy, vice president, real estate evaluations manager for Onebanc & Trust in Little Rock, has a background in insurance, real estate appraising and banking...

Emilee Ann Hook and Brandon Paul Ballard will exchange wedding vows at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at First Baptist Church of Lake City. Emilee is the daughter of Mike and Karen Hook of Lake City. She is the granddaughter of the late Roy and Kathryn Clark of Monette and the late Bill and Reba Hook of Lake City...

Four Blytheville businesses were burglarized on Monday. According to Blytheville Police Department reports, thieves broke into AFLAC Insurance on North 5th, Larry’s Grocery on South Ruddle, Terry Abstract on North Broadway and a former business at North Broadway and Hutson...

Mr. Samuel Hister, 76 of Osceola, passed away on April 25, 2017 in Jonesboro. He was a farmer. Mr. Hister is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Hister of Osceola; six sons, Russell, Samuel, Jr., Michael and Eric Hister and Frederick and Dedrick Rattler; one daughter, Idella Hister; four brothers, Isaac, Charles, Nate and Cleo Otis Hister; three sisters, Geraldine, Mildred and Jeanette Hister; and a host of grandchildren; great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren...

Margaret Jackson, 72, of Manila, passed away on April 29, 2017, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born April 2, 1945, in Manila, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Daisy Emrick Parsley. She was of the Baptist faith, and her past time was staying on the computer...

Geneva Joan McMinn, 70, of Manila, widow of William Keith McMinn, Sr., passed from this life Sunday, April 30, 2017, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Born in Manila she was the daughter of the late Vernon Richard and Geneva Woolard Douglas and was a 1964 graduate of Manila High School. She was a retired beauty operator and had been a lifelong Manila area resident...

The Blytheville Fire Department responded to a carbon monoxide alarm activation in the 1100 block of David Lane Tuesday. Responding personnel investigated the apartment that had alarm activation and noticed an adjoining apartment had blackened, melted window shades that were visible through its front window indicating a fire inside the apartment...

Charles E. Givens, 92, passed away Friday, April 28, 2017 at his home in Weiner, Arkansas. He is survived by one daughter, Vicki Jo Scivicque, and son-in-law, Chip of Auburn, Ala.; four grandchildren, Daniel Scivicque and Anna of Opelika, Ala., Joseph Scivicque and Lily of Atlanta, Ga., Amy Scivicque Edwards and Stephen of Atlanta, Ga., and Amber Scivicque of Florence, Ala.; seven great grandchildren...

Robert Oscar Swedholm, 80, of Mineral Point, Mo., former Leachville area resident, passed from this life Friday, April 28, 2017, at the Mercy Hospital in Festus, Mo. Born in the Buffalo Township community of Old Town Ridge to the late George and Lois Towell Swedholm, he had lived in Mineral Point for the past 40 years. He was retired from Old Judge Coffee, which later became Sara Lee, and was a member of the Riverside Church of Christ in St. Louis...

When severe thunderstorms pounded the county and an F-1 tornado that hit Dell early Sunday morning brought dangerously strong straight-line winds into the Blytheville/Gosnell area, the community was rocked by a destructive force in the form of wind, flying debris, and tossed vegetation/trees that brought extensive damage to the community and its power infrastructure...

Early voting for the special election regarding the City of Blytheville's proposed 10-year, one-half of one percent Public Safety Tax and the proposed $2.75 million Justice Center Improvement Bonds began Tuesday, May 2 at the Mississippi County Election Center (former Moore Center)...

BAY— The Armorel Lady Tigers took home their fifth consecutive 1A-3 District title on Monday after defeating host the Bay Lady Yellowjackets, 6-1. Brooke Trout led the Lady Tigers to victory by striking out 15 Bay batters and gave up six hits. Leading the Lady Tigers offense was Olivia Luttrell ( 1-4 with an RBI), Abby Kennedy (two RBIs and a run scored), Trout (three runs scored and two RBIs), Beal ( three runs scored), Rylee Nelson ( 3-3 with five RBIs), McKinley Carr (1-3 with an RBI), Alyssa Benefield ( run scored), Emily Jo Gentry ( 2-3), Amanda Allison ( run scored) and Madison Ciepela (run scored).. ...

The first round of the 5A-East District tournament matched the host Blytheville Chickasaws with the second-seeded Greene County Tech Golden Eagles on Saturday. The Golden Eagles came away with a, 10-0, win in four innings. Leading the Chickasaw offense was Chris Pugh (1-2) and Garrett Cloud (1-2)...

Top-seeded Greene County Tech Lady Golden Eagles defeated the host Blytheville Lady Chickasaws, 15-0, on Saturday in the 5A-East Tournament opener. However, first year head coach Angie Burnside commended her team as one of the best teams the softball program has had in a long time...

Billy Wayne Benham, 73, of Manila, passed away Monday, May 1, 2017, at UAMS Hospital in Little Rock. He was born Dec. 3, 1943, in Lake City to the late Joe and Thelmalene Benham. Billy was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a United States Army veteran who proudly served his country and a truck driver for many years...