Stories from Saturday, March 30, 2019

I know that I usually take this space as an opportunity to talk about some local goings-on in our community; however, I will instead be writing about what I would like to see in our community. We need to stand together to change to outlook that everyone else has about Blytheville...

The second annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans parade is scheduled for today. I am writing this before press time on Friday so I hope we have a good day with pleasant weather to honor the veterans throughout the area. Last year was a great success and I am hoping for the same this year...

Manila traveled to Piggott Thursday and brought home an 18-4 victory over the Lady Mohawks in 3A-3 conference softball action. Olivia May earned the victory, working six innings, allowing four unearned runs on just four hits. May struck out five and did not walk a batter...

The Gosnell Pirates are 3-0 on the week as they have defeated three conference opponents in Rivercrest on Tuesday and then Hoxie twice in a doubleheader on Thursday. The Pirates defeated the Rivercrest Colts 5-1 Monday at home. Thursday, they traveled to Hoxie where they defeated the Mustangs 10-0 in the first game and 15-0 in the second game...

Manila exploded for 10 runs in the sixth inning to rally past Piggott 16-8 Monday afternoon at Piggott. The Lions pounded out 16 hits on the day compared to Piggott’s eight. Michael Parker picked up the win in relief, working two and 2/3 innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on four hits. ...

Buffalo Island Central rallied past Marmaduke, scoring five times in the sixth inning to pull out an 11-8 victory over the Lady Greyhounds in 2A-3 softball action Tuesday at Monette. Marmaduke led 8-6 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning before the Lady Mustangs struck for five runs to post the come from behind win...

Riverside slipped past Sloan Hendrix 6-4 in 2A-3 conference play Monday at Lake City to remain undefeated in league play with a perfect 3-0 mark. The Rebels trailed 4-3 entering the bottom of the fifth inning but plated three runs to take a two-run lead. Riverside shut out the Greyhounds the rest of the way to secure the victory...

Riverside scored in every inning and went on to clobber Sloan Hendrix 14-3 in 2A-3 softball action Monday at Lake City. Katie Towery went the distance to pick up the victory for the Lady Rebels. Towery threw five innings, allowing three runs, none of which were earned. Towery gave up two hits, fanned seven and walked two...

Riverside used a seven run sixth inning to break open a close game and handed Melbourne a 10-4 defeat Wednesday afternoon on the road. The Lady Rebels scored single runs in the first, second and fourth innings to take a 3-1 advantage before their seven run sixth inning outburst...

Monette City Councilmen heard of potential land development involving 46 lots north of the Finch Addition during Monday evening’s meeting. Property owners Clay and Kima Stewart, of Monette, own 40 acres north of the Finch Addition and are investigating the possibility of developing the land into a new housing development...

Taylor Marshall of the Friday Firm in Little Rock and Michael McBride of Stephens Inc. were in Blytheville this week going over the bond ordinance with county leaders. County officials said Pam Colbert of Bancorp South in Stuttgart will be the bond trustee during a two-hour meeting Wednesday afternoon. Four Mississippi County Quorum Court justices participated in the meeting, including Rick Ash, Molly Jackson, JoAnne Henton and Michael White...

The Mississippi County Hospital Systems Board of Governors met on Wednesday, hearing reports from various staff members. Chief Nursing Officer Felicia Pierce started her report by commending the emergency room departments at both hospitals. “We’ve been working really hard to maintain our level four trauma designation at both hospitals. ...

Though there were not the required number of Mississippi County Quroum Court justices to vote on ordinances Tuesday night, the board did have enough in attendance to pass two resolutions and accept the 2017 legislative audit. Absent were justices Fred Fleeman, Neil Burge, Betty Hepler and Slyvester Belcher...

Manila School Board members got a firsthand showing of the Manila Middle School robotics team project that qualified for international competition, accepted several resignations, hired new personnel, discussed salary and farm contracts at the March meeting held Tuesday...

A local church is leading a campaign to raise money for the backpack programs at Blytheville and Gosnell Schools, as well as Healing in the Hood. Dr. Terri Brassfield, pastor of h.i.s. ministries in Blytheville, said this is the sixth year that her church has organized a “Forget the Frock Campaign.” In the past, the program has provided funding for cancer patients and feeding programs...

Blytheville police are looking for two suspects in Saturday night's slaying of 20-year-old Malik Holliman on South 21st Street. According to Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson, first degree murder warrants have been issued for Rakeem Harris, 26, and Renaldre “Dre” Harris, 25, in connection with the shooting...