Stories from Saturday, December 21, 2019

We are not talking weeks, we are talking only a few days until Christmas is here, and all of the hustle and bustle will come to an end. Christmas is a special time of year and if we are not careful it can pass right by us and we will miss the joy of the season...

I would first like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope that everyone enjoys their family and is safe throughout the holiday season. It’s crazy to me how in this area people that share some of the same beliefs and celebrate the same holidays are still so divided...

Trumann put together a ferocious fourth quarter rally to overtake Manila, snatching an improbable 62-57 victory over the Lions in a key 3A-3 conference battle Tuesday night at Lion Gymnasium. Trumann, who trailed by as many as 19 points in the first half, found themselves down 45-30 following Austin Harmon’s three pointer with 3:17 left in the third quarter. ...

GOSNELL— The Gosnell Pirates snapped their two-game losing streak Tuesday night as they defeated the Corning Bobcats 68-40. The Pirates (8-2) were defeated last Friday night by the Rivercrest Colts and then by Trumann last Saturday in the finals of the Gerald Jennings Invitational...

The host Gosnell Lady Pirates led the majority of the game Thursday night against the Trumann Lady Wildcats but were outscored by the 4A-3 league foe 13-3 in the final quarter and lost 52-43. The Lady Pirates led most of the first quarter but a three-point basket at the buzzer gave the Lady Wildcats a 14-13 lead...

BIC raced out to an 11-2 lead after one and never looked back on their way to a 55-46 win over EPC in the opening game of the NEA Invitational Tournament this past Thursday at First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro. Jesse Kinard scored five of his 15 points in the first quarter as Brayden Carmichael and Nathan Brinkley each netted a three-pointer to give BIC an 11-2 lead at the end of one...

CAMPBELL— The Armorel Tigers (3-14) lost sophomore forward Jayce Fondren early Thursday night as he dislocated his kneecap again after having the same injury last season against the same opponent the Tigers played Thursday, the Delta C-7 Chargers. The Tigers, however, went on to defeat the Chargers 72-59. The Tigers jumped out to a 15- 14 lead in the first quarter but the Chargers tied the game at the half at 28...

BIC beats Salem Jesse Kinard drilled seven three pointers on his way to a 31-point outburst, helping Buffalo Island Central down Salem 58-46 in 2A-3 conference action Tuesday night at Monette. The Mustangs trailed 18-16 after the first break before fighting back to grab a 29-22 halftime advantage. ...

Manila City Council approved several part-time officers if needed, increased the mayor's salary, approved playground equipment purchase, approved the buy-back vacation days, discussed an alcohol permit for LaCascada Restaurant, heard a report about a violation of a subdivision covenant, and discussed the possibility of outside trash pick-up at the December meeting held Wednesday...

When speaking on agenda items, Mississippi County Judge John Alan Nelson presented to the Blytheville City Council a request to close a section of Chickasawba Street as part of the new Mississippi County courthouse landscaping plans. Nelson explained,“We’ve all been aware that this building is going to move from this facility to another one across town. ...

Editor’s Note: The NEA Town Courier has partnered with Arkansas Northeastern College and several local businesses to highlight ANC students. This is the fourth in a series titled ANC Student Snapshot. Shannon Dover of Lepanto has been named one of Arkansas Northeastern College’s Student Snapshot Recipients for December. Dover was nominated by ANC Instructor in Office Management Tamatha Dudley and Assistant Professor in English Lanice Samford...

Tuesday afternoon, the Mississippi County Quorum Court’s Energy and Property (EP) Committee met with architect Aaron Ruby to discuss plans for the courthouse project and the landscape around the courthouse. Justice Slyvester Belcher was slotted to chair the EP Committee but Belcher has been out all year, and Justice Molly Jackson has chaired the committee in his absence. However, Jackson was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting so Justice Rick Ash chaired the meeting...

Just before the Mississippi County Quorum Court unanimously overrode Mississippi County Judge John Alan Nelson’s veto Tuesday night, Justice of the Peace Michael White and Judge Nelson offered public apologies for comments they made following a move of the finance director’s office from under the county judge to under the treasurer...

Mary Lee Burns, 64, of Luxora, formerly of Wilson, died Dec. 17, 2019, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was a retired factory worker, member of Promiseland COGIC in Osceola and a Minister of the Gospel. Miss Burns was born July 2, 1955 in Osceola to John Wesley and Bertha Davis Burns. She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Frances Windmon...

Patricia Ann Dabney of Blytheville was born Sept. 3, 1952 in Osceola to the late Walter McFarland, Sr. and the late Earlene Estell McFarland. She was a retired factory worker and was a member of and on the Motherboard for New Mount Olive M.B. Church in Blytheville. Mrs. Dabney passed away on Dec. 18, 2019, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro at the age of 67...

Violet Jane Walker Pannell was born June 16, 1940, in St. Louis, Mo., to the late George K. Politte and the late Patricia Wooten Politte. She was a factory worker and a member of Keiser First Baptist Church in Keiser. Mrs. Pannell passed away on Dec. 19, 2019, at Arkansas Continued Care Hospital in Jonesboro at the age of 79...

James William Brooks, 63, of Blytheville, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019 at his home. James was born in Chicago, Ill., to John William and Mary Ennis Brooks. He was a retired sales rep for Motion Industries and affiliated with First Assembly of God Church in Leachville. When James was in good health, he was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a very family oriented man who loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much...

Viola Brown, 77, of Joiner, died Dec. 12, 2019, at her home. She was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church in Frenchman Bayou. Miss Viola was born March 26, 1942, in Frenchman Bayou to XL and Willie B. Johnson Brown. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Sammie McNeal and Billy Brown, and one sister Leola Turner...

Charles Edward Crigger IV, 65, of Blytheville, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019, at his home. Charlie was born in Fort Benning, Ga., to Charles Edward III and Patricia McKenzie Crigger. He was a lifelong Blytheville resident and a member of First United Methodist Church. ...

Beulah Hardesty Thompson, 90, of Brentwood, Tenn., and formerly of Blytheville, passed away at Brighton Gardens in Brentwood, Tenn. Beulah was born in Blytheville to Cairl and Mattie Walker Nunnery. After 44 years of teaching, Beulah retired from South Pemiscot County School District. She attended First Baptist Church in Steele from 2005 until 2012. Beulah was a former member of the Blytheville Women’s Club and the Steele Book Club...