Stories from Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Blytheville police have arrested Antonio Harris in connection with the Feb. 23 shooting death of Jonathon Mitchell, 49, of Blytheville. Upon arrival on the scene of the shooting in the 1300 block of Sarah Street, police reported three 9 mm shell casings were discovered around the victim...

The National Cold War Center announced on Feb. 23 that it received a $400,000 grant from the Division of Arkansas Heritage Cultural Institutions Trust Fund. Awards of the esteemed grants were announced on Feb. 22 at the Arkansas Heritage headquarters in Little Rock....

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune Marked Tree (27-3) outscored Shirley 26-9 in the fourth quarter to take a 65-46 win over the Blue Devils (31-6) in the finals of the 1A-2 Regional Tournament his past Saturday in Calico Rock. Landon Lewis gave Marked Tree the early 2-0 lead with two free throws as Shirley hit two free throws to tie the game. ...

By DAVID PIERCE Osceola Times MT. VIEW – The Osceola Seminoles repeated as 3A Region 2 champions outlasting Newport, 63-58, in overtime Saturday in Mountain View. Osceola earns the top seed from Region 2 and travels to Lamar Tuesday to face Region 3 four seed Riverview (22-6) at 8:30 p.m...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune In a tale of two halves, Marked Tree (23-9) led at the end of first two quarters only to see Rural Special return the favor and lead at the end of the next two quarters to take a 50-46 win over the Lady Indians this past Saturday in the consolation game of 1A-2 Regional Tournament Calico Rock...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune EPC (13-12) went 0-10 from the free throw on the night as the Warriors fell to Bay 53-46 in the semi-finals of the 2A North Regional Tournament this past Friday in Monette. Bay took an early 2-0 lead before Jamarkius Garrett and Dennis Gaines, Jr. ...

By COSMO COSSEY Poinsett County Democrat Tribune Riverside (29-8) led from start to finish as the Lady Rebels beat Rector 50-33 in the semi-finals of the 2A North Regional Tournament this past Friday in Monette. The Lady Rebels win set up a finals match-up with Des Arc...

By DAVID PIERCE Osceola Times MT. VIEW – The Manila Lady Lions won their ninth consecutive game as they opened the 3A Region 2 Tournament with a 45-36 win over Tuckerman Feb. 22. After a sluggish start, Manila (20-9), the top seed from the 3A-3 District, outscored the Lady Bulldogs 28-12 in the second half to post the nine-point win...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times Manila and Salem battled for four quarters and in the end the Lady Greyhounds would post a 54-47 win over a tough Manila squad Friday at the Region 2 Tournament at Mountain View High School. The teams would trade the lead for most of the first quarter after the Lady Lion’s Madison Hitchcock hit a long three-pointer to give her team a 3-0 lead. ...

By DAVID PIERCE Osceola Times MT. VIEW – If ever a team needed a mulligan, it was the Osceola Lady Seminoles basketball team. In the opening round of the 3A Region 2 Tournament, Osceola fell behind 21-4 in the first quarter and couldn’t quite rally in a 61-52 loss to Salem Feb. 23...

By DAVID PIERCE Osceola Times MT. VIEW – The Manila Lions seemed to be the odds-on favorite, to not only defeat Newport in the 3A Region 2 semifinals, but capture the regional crown, too. The Lions were riding a nine-game win streak which had seen them win by an average margin of 20 points. In addition, MHS had defeated this same Greyhounds squad by 30 points earlier in the season...

By DAVID PIERCE Osceola Times MT. VIEW – The upstart Rivercrest Colts ousted 3A Region 2 top seed and host Mountain View from the regional tournament Feb. 22. The Colts (10-16) punched their ticket to 3A State Tournament with the 62-55 win over the 3A-2’s regular season and district champion. The Yellowjackets were riding a nine-game winning streak entering the tourney but failed to qualify for the state tourney with the opening round loss...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times Manila converted 11-of-12 free throw attempts in the final four and a half minutes and held on to defeat the Rivercrest Colts 52-45 in the Class 3A, Region 2 third place game Saturday at Mountain View High School. This game, as many were this week, was tight from the get go. ...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times Rivercrest’s return to post season girls basketball ended all to quickly as the Lady Colts fell to Melbourne 58-30 in the first round of the 3A Region 2 Tournament at Mountain View High School. The top-seeded Lady Bearkatz came out and grabbed an 9-2 lead midway through the first quarter, drawing a time out for Lady Colts head coach Ronnie Dye. ...

Loni Jean Harvell Cole of Luxora was born March 15, 1953, to Lonnie Joe Harvell and Charlene McDonald Harvell in Luxora. She transitioned from her earthly life on Feb. 17, 2023, in Jonesboro, at the age of 69. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Janice Washington...

Wanda Joyce Holt Downing, 72, of Blytheville, passed away Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Wanda was born in Hohenwald, Tenn., to Louis and Hazel Davis Holt and retired from Milwaukee Tool. She was a very kind and sweet person. Wanda loved to cook and was always ready for a Sunday drive...

Evelyn Ruth Wyers Maness, 61, of Marked Tree, passed away Feb. 25, 2023, at her home in Marked Tree. She was a homemaker and of the Pentecostal faith. Ms. Maness was born July 16, 1962, in Parkin to Paul and Vernell Wyers. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Robert Maness; and one brother, David Wyers...

Malinda Mae Martin was born May 1, 1931, in Shreveport, La. She was the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Martin. Education for Colored people (as they were known, at the time in the rural south) was limited. Therefore, Malinda received her childhood education, life experiences, and religious upbringing in her hometown. Her strong determination led her to leave her immediate family and begin her own life at 16 years old...

Lona Lee Merryman, 69, of Osceola, formerly of Blytheville, passed away on Feb. 19, 2023, at her home surrounded by family. Lona was born June 2, 1953, in Blytheville to Max Dalton Curtis and Georgia Lee Walker. While growing up and living in Blytheville, she would meet the love of her life, Jack D. ...

Professor Michael Nash was born Oct. 28,1959, and passed away Feb. 22, 2023, in Pine Bluff. Memorial service will be held at Wilson Funeral Home Chapel in Blytheville March 11, at 10 a.m.

Tyres Rogers of Jonesboro was born Aug. 3, 2003, in St. Louis, Mo., to Terry Rogers, Sr. and Robin Moore Rogers. He was employed by Peco Foods, Inc. Tyres was an aspiring rapper and singer who loved spending quality time with his family and friends...

DeQuan Juanyae Sims was born June 4,1998, to his parents, Rosemary Hill and Paul B.Sims Sr., in Blytheville. DeQuan was a CNA. He passed away Feb. 10, 2023 in Blytheville. He is survived by his parents, Rosemary Hill and Paul B. Sims of Blytheville; two brothers, Paul Sims Jr. and John Sims of Blytheville; and two sisters, Shakira and Terrica Sims of Blytheville...

Don E. Wagner, 79, of Manila, passed from this life Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. The son of the late Oscar Bryan “O.B.” and Bertha Griffin Wagner, he was a lifelong Manila resident, a 1961 graduate of Manila High School, and had served in the U.S. ...

The road to Hot Springs is officially underway, and its number one checkpoint is through Blytheville and the Chickasaws. The Chicks are riding high on their way back to the Arena after earning a number one seed following Saturday’s 62-59 win over Little Rock Christian. The 4A East Regional crown didn’t come without being tested however, as the Chicks were pushed to reach their new heights. But when those moments came, they were prepared to lift their level of play...

Wendell Ray Poteet, 83, of Manila, peacefully passed from this life Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Hubbard, Texas, to the late Raymond and Gladys Danford Poteet, Wendell was a 1958 graduate of Hubbard High School. ...