Stories from Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Among the business discussed at the July 12 Caraway City Council meeting were park improvements, water well repairs, property bids and an addition to the police department. Mayor Barry Riley said water superintendent Terry Couch could not be at the meeting to report on the water well problem, but he informed the council sand had been pulled up from the well. ...

Manila School Board met in a short special session Monday, July 9, to consider purchases and personnel issues. Superintendent Jason Evers recommended the board approve building supply purchases for the new high school as presented, which passed unanimously...

Riverside School Board filled several positions, accepted resignations, approved student handbook changes, elected officers and approved a new gymnasium floor at the June 9 meeting. Superintendent Jeff Priest read three letters of resignations including Rhandi Lomax, elementary teacher; Renee Brickell, elementary teacher; and Linda Boatman, custodian manager. Priest explained Boatman wants to remain as custodian but does not want to be manager...

Nucor-Yamato Steel gave a donation of $13,829.80 to the Leachville Volunteer Fire Department for new radios. Leachville Mayor Rodney Robertson (left) and Fire Chief Drake Brown expressed their appreciation to Nucor for the generous donation. (photo provided)...

An open house and ribbon cutting was held at Access Medical Clinic in Caraway on Thursday, July 12. Access Medical Clinic is one of 20 family practices owned by Dr. Brad Bibb. Dr. Bibb, a Lake City native, is a 1996 graduate of Riverside High School. He is familiar with Caraway where he attended Riverside Junior High...

Long time Riverside basketball coach Buster Campbell was inducted into the Arkansas Activities Association Coaches Hall of Fame Friday night in a ceremony held at the Bank of the Ozarks Arena in Hot Springs. Joined by a host of family and friends, Campbell accepted his honor, along with four other coaches from around the state, as well as five officials and three administrators...

Johnny Gann, 72, of Lepanto, passed away July 15, 2018. He was born October 30, 1945 to Luther and Flaudie Mae Gann. Survivors include his daughter: Regina (Harvey) Roach of Lepanto; grandchildren: Harvey (Megan) Roach, Jr. of Lepanto, and John Roach of Jonesboro; great grandchildren: Casen Roach and Emma Roach of Lepanto; and brother: Winston “W.D.” (Sharon) Gann of Lepanto. ...

Inez Vera (Henderson-Bragg) Wildy, age 88, died at home on Saturday, July 14, 2018. She was born March 3, 1930 in St. Louis to the late Fay Helen Kent Henderson and Will Rocket Henderson. They moved to Osceola when she was 2 years old and she lived there until her death...

Fred Junior Smith, 90, of Monette died July 15, 2018 at Monette Manor in Monette. He was born May 8, 1928 in Mississippi County to Fred and Lily Brannon Smith. Mr. Smith was a construction worker, a US Navy veteran and of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his parents. ...

Johnny B. Franklin of Blytheville was born April 09, 1949, to E.P. Franklin and Linnie Armour Franklin, in Blytheville. He departed this life on July 12, 2018 at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis at the age of 69. He was preceded in death by his wife Julia Mae Franklin; his, parents, E.P. Franklin and Linnie Armour Franklin; and his daughter Angela Franklin...

While the jury panel was out for lunch Tuesday, Montarris Raiford pled guilty to the 2015 murder of Joseph Anderson, Jr. Raiford was sentenced to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections, with an additional 10 years suspended imposition of sentence...

Robert Oneal "Bud" Davenport, 75, of Manila passed away Monday, July 16, 2018, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Manila, he was the son of the late Claude and Pearl Files Davenport and had been a lifelong area resident. Bud farmed for several years before joining the maintenance department at American Greetings in Osceola. Among his many hobbies he enjoyed hunting, fishing and raising quail. He was a longtime member of the Blackwater Baptist Church near Manila...

Lean Cola Mayweather, 64, of Osceola died July 16, 2018 at Osceola Health and Rehab in Osceola. She was a retired factory worker and a member of Tabernacle MB Church in Osceola. Lean was born August 18, 1953 in Osceola to Martha Lou Mayweather. She was preceded in death by her mother and is survived by her companion: Terrance Wilson of Osceolal her cousin: Diane (Roy) Pugh of Osceola; her best friend: Mary Thomas of Osceola; and many special cousins and other relatives.Visitation will be Saturday, July 21, 2018 from 1-2 with the funeral following at 2 p.m. ...

Rosie Louella Morris of Leachville was born December 30, 1958 in Kennett to the late James Morris and the late John Hancock Morris. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. Ms. Morris passed away on July 14, 2018 at the Great River Medical Center in Blytheville at the age of 59. ...

Leonard Moseley, Jr. was born May 26, 1950 in Frenchman’s Bayou to the late Leonard Moseley, Sr. and the late Bertha Clowers Jones. He was a farmer and a member of Mt. Nebo. Mr. Moseley passed away on July 11, 2018 at his home in Osceola at the age of 68. ...

Walker Park is gearing up for its first Discover Blytheville Festival this weekend. The Festival in the Park will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Walker Park. Blytheville city workers and Sierra Group and Associates LLC have been doing repairs and painting and trimming at Walker Park...