Stories from Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Roy W. Austin, 73 of Waynesville, North Carolina, formerly of Blytheville, departed this earth to be with his Savior on Saturday, August, 2018 at the John F. Keever Solace Center in Asheville, North Carolina. Roy was born July 27th, 1945 to Rev. Jim P. and Dorothy Austin of Blytheville. He was a graduate of Blytheville High School, class of 1964. He served his country as a member of the National Guard...

Several area athletes were honored at the third annual City Youth Ministries Best Under the Sun Sports Banquet held Tuesday evening at the First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro. Manila’s Bradey Woodall and Joel Burrow were honored for boys basketball while Riverside’s Haven Robertson was a girls basketball honoree...

Emmie and Bryton Sanders, children of Shannon and Jerri Lynn Sanders, won third place in the youth division in the 2018 World Championship Cardboard Boat Races. The Saturday, July 28, event was held at Sandy Beach on Greers Ferry Lake. The Caraway siblings, along with their family, attended the races last year as spectators. Emmie and Bryton decided last year they wanted to do more than watch, they wanted to compete and Granddad Larry Sanders helped make it happen...

Monette city council met in special session Tuesday, July 31, to discuss hiring a fourth full-time police officer in order to provide resource officer coverage for the Buffalo Island Central High School campus in Monette. Mayor Chub Qualls, City Clerk Vickki Carroll, all six councilmen were present along with Police Chief Brian Carmichael and officers Anthony Petty and Kevin Bond...

Sonic celebrated 18 years in Manila on Saturday, Aug. 4. General Manager Tiffany Mott and employees decided to celebrate the day by giving back to the community. A large birthday cake in recognition of 18 years was shared along with activities to benefit the school held throughout the day...

Farm Bureau claims adjuster Gary Baugher (center), of Manila, was named the 2018 District Four Adjuster of the Year during the 65th annual Farm Bureau Claims Conference held recently in Little Rock. Kevin McKenzie (right), vice president of claims, and Brad Burk (left), district four claims manager presented the award. The award is given annually to the adjuster who shows the most proficient job skills, outstanding leadership, professionalism and dedication during the previous year...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. — Police took a criminal mischief report in the 1200 block of Hearn. A vehicle was vandalized. — Police investigated a burglary in the 900 block of North Ruddle. — Officers took a theft report (2002 Chevrolet TrialBlazer in the 300 block of Laclede...

Bertha Ann Coleman of Osceola was born September 3, 1946 in Armorel to the late Emmitt Coleman, Sr. and the late Mary Nickerson Coleman. She was a Wal-Mart cashier, a missionary for C.O.G.I.C. and attended Promiseland C.O.G.I.C. in Osceola and Miracle Temple in Luxora...

Four were injured in a shootout at the “Blue Building” in the 200 block of South First Street early Saturday morning, according to Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson. Thompson said at approximately 2:30 a.m. police responded to the “Climax Entertainment” business commonly called the “Blue Building” in reference to shots fired...

Blytheville firemen were busy early Tuesday morning, battling four fires in about a five-hour period. The final of the four fires was at Yank's Famous Barbeque on Main Street, causing damage to the roof. Firemen were able to keep the inside of the building from being damaged, according to Fire Chief Mike Carney...

Francisca Monroy de Mendez, 72, of Blytheville, passed away at home with her family surrounding her. She was born in Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas (Mexico) on October 4, 1945. Ms. Mendez was a full-time Pioneer as an active Jehovah’s Witness. She volunteered 70 hours a month preaching from door to door the Good News of God. ...

Frederick Bernard Stewart of Blytheville was born April 7, 1961 in Blytheville to Samuel Stewart, Sr. of Memphis, and the late Lafalene Perloat Stewart. He was a retired manager for Kroger and a retired substitute teacher. Mr. Stewart passed away on August 6, 2018 at Heritage Square Nursing Center in Blytheville at the age of 57...

Wayne Allen Sims, 47, of Trumann, passed away Monday, August 6, 2018 at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Wayne was born in Blytheville to Billy and Carol (Stadtmiller) Sims. He attended University of Central Arkansas and was a member of Phi Lamda Chi Fraternity. Wayne loved computers, camping and going to the renaissance faire...

Blytheville businesses have been hit hard by a rash of robberies. Over the past six days, since August 1, the Blytheville Police Department has investigated six commercial armed robberies/attempted armed robberies and, on Tuesday, officers arrested a 16-year-old male...