Stories from Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Buffalo Island Central closed its regular season by whitewashing Riverside 14-0 in 2A-3 conference baseball action Saturday at Lake City. The Mustangs, who avenged an earlier season loss to the Rebels, out-hit Riverside 14-3. Caleb Suiter shutout the Rebels over three and 1/3 innings, allowing just three hits to earn the victory...

State-mandated testing begins this week for several of the local school districts. How the students perform on the ACT Aspire will determine their school’s grade issued by the state in the fall. In the past, local schools’ letter grades have ranged from A-F, with Armorel, Manila, Gosnell, BIC, Riverside and Rivercrest typically fairing best, followed by Blytheville, KIPP and Osceola...

We have had our share of rain in April but it could be much worse. We hear almost daily of the damage left behind due to tornadoes in Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama and other places. We recently passed the 21st anniversary of a tornado that left Manila in a mess. It hit in the early hours of the morning of April 16, 1998 (if my memory serves me correctly)...

Leachville City Council agreed on fees for water services at the Monday, April 22, meeting. Mayor Rodney Robertson and the council discussed the ongoing problem of unpaid water bills. A disconnect date after the 20th of each month was set at last month’s meeting. Water bills are due on the 15th of each month. Bills can be paid from the 15th to the 20th with a late fee added but after the 20th water services will be cut off...

Gosnell residents can get rid of old furniture or any other bulk items without the hassle and expense. It’s easy and it’s free. Just place your items neatly on the curb by 7 a.m and no later than 10 a.m. on Saturday City workers will come by and pick it up. Saturday is the county cleanup day...

The Spring Community Cleanup for Mississippi County will be Saturday. Mississippi County Judge John Alan Nelson said the landfill will be open from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m. and dumping will be free for individuals and 50 percent off for businesses and municipalities...

Gosnell Water Association will begin an expansion to its facility in the coming weeks that will be completed, weather permitting, around August. The expansion will extend the building towards Park Street and will be adding a drive-through drop-off for users to pay their bills without having to exit the vehicle...

Annabell Mitchell was the spokeswoman for several senior citizens attending the Manila City Council meeting Monday, April 22. Mrs. Mitchell discussed the indoor therapeutic pool at the water park. “This pool is very important to us for our health,” she said. “Most of us have tried medications, pain clinic, and physical therapy and nothing works as well as the warm therapeutic pool.”...

Monette City Council worked through a busy schedule during the meeting Monday evening involving several purchases and contracts. Mayor Bob Blankenship reported on two discussions with the Arkansas Department of Transportation. “They are almost finished installing driveway entrances and highway aprons on North Edmonds Street,” Blankenship said. ...