Stories from Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Riverside scored seven runs in the second inning and went on to post a 14-4 ten-run rule victory over Buffalo Island Central in girls softball action Friday afternoon at Lake City. The Lady Mustangs took a 1-0 lead, scoring a run in the top of the first inning, but Riverside answered with three of its own in the bottom of the frame to grab a 2-1 edge. ...

Kaitlyn Jackson’s walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted Westside to a 7-6 victory over Manila in the Lady Lions’ season opener Tuesday afternoon at Warrior Field in Jonesboro. Each team scored two runs apiece in the first inning before the Lady Warriors went ahead 4-2 with a pair of runs in the second frame. ...

Manila plated an amazing 55 runs while posting three victories last week in high school baseball action. The unbeaten Lions opened the week by hammering Nettleton 19-9 Tuesday at Lion Field. Manila crushed Osceola 17-0 Thursday at home before finishing the week by outslugging Armorel 19-11 Friday at Tiger Field...

Riverside picked up three victories on the diamond last week to move to 3-1 on the young season. The Rebels battered Harrisburg 10-3 Tuesday before doubling up Rivercrest 8-4 Thursday afternoon at Lake City. Riverside closed the week by routing Rector 9-1 Friday at home...

Jeff Presley, 911 emergency coordinator and candidate for Craighead County Judge, addressed the Caraway City Council on Thursday, March 8. Mayor Barry Riley introduced Mr. Presley. City officials discussed re-instating a park commission to oversee the ball park in an attempt to get it up and running for ball games and other activities...

Manila Superintendent Pam Castor submitted her resignation at a special called meeting Thursday, March 8. Mrs. Castor said it was with mixed emotions she leaves the school that has been a very large part of her life from a student, teacher, principal and superintendent...

This year is the start of one of the largest planned events in Manila, the Manila Fire Department's first annual Blazin' BBQ Festival. The event is a joint effort by the Manila Fire Department and community organization Moving Manila Forward. This year's event will be packed with events such as Blazin' 5K and 10K; the Manila Business Women's Craft Fair; the Blazin' Pepper Eating Contest; live music throughout the day with a rocking concert that night...

Classmates from the Monette High School graduating class of 1964 presented a check for $200 and two photos to the Buffalo Island Museum on Sunday, March 11.        “Our class wanted to give something back to the community that has meant so much to us,” said 1964 classmate Linda Morris. “We have always loved the museum and thought this would be the best place for a lasting remembrance.”...

Rodney Dale Gilpatrick, age 53 of Millington, Tennessee, former Leachville resident, died Sunday, March 11, 2018 at the V. A. Medical Center in Memphis. Born in Leachville, he was the son of the late Jack and Alma Nance Gilpatrick and had lived in Michigan for several years before returning to Leachville as a teenager. ...

Billy “Bill” Glisson Simmons was born December 28, 1930, in Kenton, TN to the late George Brown Simmons and Velma Mae Glisson. He was a long-time member of the Christian Church, had a great faith in God and Jesus as his Savior. He departed this life on Monday, March 12, 2018...

Rodney Dale Gilpatrick, 53, of Millington, Tenn., former Leachville resident, died Sunday, March 11, 2018, at the VA Medical Center in Memphis. Born in Leachville, he was the son of the late Jack and Alma Nance Gilpatrick and had lived in Michigan for several years before returning to Leachville as a teenager. ...

Charles Ed Minyard of Blytheville was born April 18, 1937 in Dell to the late Magadline Peterson Minyard and the late Eddie Minyard. He was a U.S. Army Veteran and a retired heavy equipment operator. Mr. Minyard passed away on March 8, 2018 at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville at the age of 80. ...

Marc Anthony “Tony” Connealy, 63, of Blytheville, passed away Saturday, March 10, 2018 at his home. Tony was born in Bay Town, Texas to Michael and Frankie Fleeman. He was a well-known business man in the Blytheville community. He was the former owner and operator of Tony’s Express, a licensed real estate agent and property manager of Connealy Rentals. Tony attended Bethany Baptist Church and loved to cook and fish...

Donald Anthony Sing was born June 7, 1958 in Memphis to Everette and Josie Lujan Sing. He was an auto glass technician and of the Catholic faith. Mr. Sing passed away March 11, 2018 at his home in Tyronza at the age of 59. He is survived by his wife: Marolyn Sing of Tyronza, two daughters: Shannon (Brian) Hosman of Tyronza, and Teri (Lavon) Butler of Jonesboro, three brothers Norman Sing of Orlando, Fla., Kenneth Sing of Bartlett, Tenn. ...

Maerine Tippitt Martin was born February 1, 1972 in Newport to Perry and Evenlyn Stephens Whitehead. She was a factory worker and of the Baptist faith. Maerine passed away March 10, 2018 at her home in Lepanto at the age of 46. She is survived by her companion: Carl Martin of Lepanto, one stepson: Ken Martin of Brookland, one brother: Lynn Carmen of Mississippi, four sisters: Catherine Renfro, Deborah Burk and Wilma Payne of Trumann, and Etta Long of Harrisburg, two step grandchildren. ...

Helen Jean Suttles of Blytheville was born April 4, 1961 in Memphis to the late Willie Wiley and Ruthie Mae Jones. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist Faith. Ms. Suttles passed away on March 7, 2018 at Heritage Square Nursing Home in Blytheville at the age of 56. ...

Elbert Lee Biggs of Blytheville, born January 15, 1940 in Blackfish, Ark., passed away on March 6, 2018. He is preceded in death by his wife Bobbie Jean Biggs and his son James Bernard Biggs. He worked for Stevenson Farm in Dell for thirty years and moved to Blytheville where he worked for the city of Blytheville for twelve and a half years. ...

The jury was selected Tuesday in a double homicide case and the trial continues Wednesday. Avante Lawshea is one of the defendants accused in the murders of 62-year-old Bahadur “Bob” Dhillon and 56-year-old Anthony Tramble at Cherry Tree in November 2016...

At the 2018 Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet Monday night, the annual Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Bill Kenner. Former Chamber President Randy Lemmons, who presented the award to Kenner, gave a little backstory on the man before letting Kenner give a speech of his own. Lemmons said that at the Chamber of Commerce the phrase, “one person can make a difference,” is something the organization believes in and Kenner is a perfect example of the phrase...

ARMOREL — The Armorel Tigers dropped their first game of the 2018 baseball season to the Manila Lions, 19-11, Friday. The Lions jumped out early on the Tigers as they put seven runs on the scoreboard before the Tigers ever touched a bat. The Tigers clawed their way back by adding three runs to the board before Manila junior pitcher Ethan Navarro struck Armorel senior right fielder Monroe Carr out swinging...

The Blytheville Chickasaws (0-4) were defeated, 13-3, Friday by 5A-East opponent the Paragould Rams. The Rams lead the Chicks 2-0 after the first inning. The Rams added another run to their lead in the top of the third and four runs in the fourth. The Chicks, however, put two runs on the board to trail 7-2 after four innings. The Rams added three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to lead 13-2...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. — Police took a criminal mischief in the 100 bock of East Walnut. — Police investigated a breaking or entering report in the 900 block of West Walnut. A tablet was reported missing. — Officers investigated a burglary in the 2300 block of West McHaney. A television was stolen...