Stories from Tuesday, October 16, 2018

A group of community volunteers, wishing to remain anonymous, have gone about creating and stocking the Mustang Corral Clothes Closet. The new clothes closet is located in one of the rooms at the former Buffalo Island Central East Elementary building on the Leachville campus. It officially opened Monday, Oct. 8...

Refuge Church in Lake City celebrated its 129th anniversary with a special western themed Homecoming on Sunday, Sept. 30, with over 300 in attendance. The special day began with music by guest musicians The Good Time Country Classic Gospel Band followed by worship and a message by new pastor Steve Hinkle challenging everyone to honor their past as well as embrace their future together...

Riverside Lady Rebels captured their fifth state tennis championship, winning the Class 2A title Tuesday at Memorial Park in Bentonville. The Lady Rebels brought home the crown, thanks to runner up finishes in both singles and doubles play. Abby Brickell made it to the finals with a straight set 6-1, 6-1 victory over McKenna Vaught of Conway Christian. Brickell fell in the finals, 6-1, 6-0 to champion Jenna Berry of Ridgefield Christian...

Newport flashed its superior speed and went on to run past Manila 55-6 in 3A-3 senior high football action Friday night at Greyhound Field. Speedsters Tharon Davis and Monquel Cox combined for 303 yards rushing on the night. Junior Clemmie Akorn added four touchdowns, two rushing, while also catching a pair of touchdowns passes. Newport’s sixth straight win improved their overall record to 6-1 and their conference mark to a perfect 4-0, keeping them tied with Osceola atop the league standings...

Caraway Council discussed water issues, police issues and park needs at the Oct. 11 meeting. Mayor Barry Riley and all council members were present. Caraway presently does not have a working water well and is purchasing water from Buffalo Island Rural Water services...

Arvest Bank hosted an open house event in Monette on Oct. 8 for current and prospective customers to learn more about the bank’s products and services. As part of the open house, Arvest associates presented a donation to Judy Birdo, executive director of local nonprofit organization Secondhand Serenity, for $1,000...

The grand opening of the new West Mississippi County Senior Citizen building in Manila was well attended with an estimated 125 guests. The event was held Tuesday, Oct. 9, with a ribbon cutting, tour of the new facility and a luncheon. Manila Mayor Wayne Wagner welcomed everyone...

Riverside boy’s basketball coach Buster Campbell was getting ready for the annual Rebel Maroon/Gray games Friday afternoon and had no idea he was about to be honored. Coach Campbell had been nominated and selected to receive the Arkansas Diamond Award for his commitment and love for his community, school, players and all students...

Joyce Mildred Lloyd, 76, of Blytheville, passed away Sunday, October 14, 2018 at her home. Joyce was born in Blytheville to Clarence and Erma Adkins Starnes. She was a homemaker and a member of Jesus Name Tabernacle in Caruthersville. Joyce loved being a housewife and working in her yard...

Jeffrey Ross McCutchen, 55, of Steele, passed away Saturday, October 13, 2018 at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Jeff was born in Modesto, California to Gerald McCutcheon and Patricia Jones Edmondson. He was a graduate of Christian Schools of Springfield, as well as Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. ...

Mary Bogard, 85, of Jonesboro, died October 11, 2018 at her home. She was a retired factory worker and a member of Willis Chapel Church in Harrisburg. Ms. Bogard was born July 17, 1933 in Healing Springs, AR to Clarence Frank and Learly Mae Horton Haggard...

Charley Lee Taylor, 69, of rural Bono, passed from this life on Friday, October 12, 2018, at his home of natural causes. Charley was born in Osceola and lived much of his life there. He then lived in Harrisburg and Jonesboro before moving to the Bono area 20 years ago. He was a 1968 graduate of Osceola High School and attended Arkansas State University and Mississippi County Community College where he earned an Associates degree...

Rhonda Sue Hinton Morgan, 59, of Blytheville, passed away Friday, October 12, 2018 at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Rhonda was born in Blytheville to Waylon and Donna Besharse Hinton and was a lifelong resident of Blytheville. She was a homemaker and a member of Trinity Baptist Church. ...

Clay Jones, Jr., 68 of Blytheville entered into the presence of the Lord at his home on Friday morning, October 12, 2018. Born September 12, 1950 in Steele, Clay was the son of Clay, Sr. and Helen Franklin Jones. He was a retired United States Navy Veteran and a member of New Galilee Baptist Church in Burdette...

Hubert Leon Green, 61, of Blytheville passed away at home on Monday morning October 15, 2018. He was born on May 13, 1957 in Blytheville to Hubert Columbus Green and Clarice Bell Kentchen Green. He was a life-long resident of Blytheville. He attended Ruddle Road Church of God. He retired as Warehouse Manager from Hubbard and Hoke...

Luther “Son” Collins Sr., 76 of Osceola died October 12, 2018 at NEA Hospital in Jonesboro. He was a retired gin worker of 55 years at Delta Products and was a member of St. John Full Gospel Church. Mr. Collins was born September 6, 1942 in Rotan, AR to Johnny and Ruby Dean Harden Collins...

W.D. Jackson, 86, of St. Louis died October 8, 2018 at Lakeland Nursing Center in Effingham, IL. He was a yard worker and butler. Mr. Jackson was born January 18, 1932 in Wilson to Simon and Elmether Stevenson Jackson. He was preceded in death by his parents and five sisters Margaret Reynolds, Myrtle Cooper, Beauty B. ...

GOSNELL — The Gosnell Pirates (3-4, 2-2) travel for the second straight week Friday, when they face 4A-3 conference foe the Highland Rebels. Highland head coach Adam Carter and the Rebels (1-6, 0-4) will come into the matchup with GHS still seeking their first conference win...

The Blytheville City Council met on Tuesday with only two ordinances on their agenda and four resolutions. After hearing the committee reports, the council voted to have the first reading of an ordinance to create a Ritz commission. The commission would have seven members and would be appointed by Blytheville Mayor James Sanders and approved by the City Council. The terms for the commissioners will be set for five years...

The Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce held its monthly luncheon on Monday and the program was led by Vice President/General Manager of Nucor-Yamato Steel Thad Solomon. After an introduction by Chamber director Liz Smith, Solomon spoke to the large crowd about the steel industry and the economy...