Stories from Wednesday, November 8, 2023

WILSON – It seems only fitting that on Rivercrest’s senior night the upperclassmen shined in the Colts 31-12 win over north Mississippi County rival Blytheville Friday. The victory clinched a 3-4A Conference title for the Colts – their 35th in program history...

The Conference 3-4A champion Rivercrest Colts (8-2) will host Conference 7 fifth place finisher Mena (5-5) in a Class 4A first round playoff game Friday at Cortez Kennedy Field. The Colts completed their perfect run through conference games with a win over Blytheville last Friday while the Bearcats punched their ticket to the playoffs with a 42-6 win over Waldron...

GAME PREVIEW Osceola (3-7) earned a home playoff game Friday when they defeated Manila 40-18. The Seminoles will host the Fouke Panthers, the third place team from Conference five. Fouke is 6-4 overall this season with non-conference wins over Dierks (40-28), Waldron (40-0), Foreman (61-12) and conference wins over Horatio (34-7, Gurdon (35-6) and Smackover (21-18)...

Osceola overcame a tough start and an early deficit to defeat the Manila Lions 40-18 in Conference 3-3A football action Friday at Seminole Stadium. The win gave the Seminoles the third seed from the conference and a home playoff game this week against the Fouke Panthers...

Trumann (5-5, 3-4) clinched a spot in the Class 4A state playoffs with a 47-6 win over Harrisburg (0-10, 0-7) this past Friday at Jordans Stadium in Harrisburg. The Wildcats will travel to Warren (10-0) for the first round of the playoffs. Harrisburg won the toss and elected to get the ball first only to see Trumann's Efrain Garcia recover his own onside kick to give the Wildcats the ball on Harrisburg 49-yard line. ...

GAME PREVIEW Trumann (5-5) will travel to Warren (10-0) for an opening round game in the Class 4A state football playoffs this Friday. The Wildcats beat Harrisburg 47-6 this past Friday to finished tied for the final spot in the 4A-3 conference. Trumann got the final spot with a head to head win over Gosnell. Warren is coming in off a 42-28 win over Hamburg...

GAME PREVIEW Marked Tree (7-2) will travel to Hazen (8-2) for their first round game in the Class 2A state playoff. The Indians lost to the Hazen 46-6 in the second round of the playoffs last year. Marked Tree lost 38-32 to EPC in a double overtime thriller this past Friday to drop to the third seed after tying with Des Arc in the conference but losing to them 66-64 in double overtime during the season...

MONETTE— The BIC Mustangs (4-0) and Lady Mustangs (2-1) defeated the visiting Armorel Tigers and Lady Tigers Thursday night. The Mustangs defeated the Tigers 71-49 in the senior boys contest and 63-16 in the senior girls contest. The Mustangs led 37-18 at the half...

GAME PREVIEW The Blytheville Chickasaws finished runner up in the 3-4A but don’t tell head coach Jett Howard his squad isn’t a top seed in the 4A Playoffs that begin Friday. Yes, the Chicks (6-4) have dropped their last two regular season games but Howard suggests Blytheville’s best football may be ahead of them...

The EPC Senior High Cheer Team took first place in the 1A-2A Division of the  Southern Spirit Federation cheer competition this past Saturday in Brookland. Team members are: (front row, left to right) Cali Davis, Amber Biddle, Avah Wiggins, Cameron Argo, Gabby Weathers, Jaylynn Randall, Mary Wilson, Rylee Greene; and (back row) Lillie Smith, Kelly Ann Lucas, Aryanna Myrick, Kylee Henderson, Kyla Harston, Reagan Holloway, Jalyn Constant, and Raegan Greene. (Courtesy Photo)...

Dennis Gaines, Jr. had to run close to 50 yards to score the game winning 13-yard touchdown Friday night as the Warriors (9-1, 7-0) beat Marked Tree 38-32 in double overtime to win the 2A-2 conference title. Gaines, Jr. took the direct snap and tried to run left only to reverse his field and run back to right outracing the defenders to the corner of the end zone. ...

GAME PREVIEW The EPC Warriors (9-1) will host the Bearden Bears (4-6) in the Class 2A state playoff opener for both team this Friday at Warrior Field in Lepanto. Warriors are the number one seed from the 2A-2 conference and the Bears are the fourth seed from the 2A-4. EPC is coming off a 38-32 double overtime win over Marked Tree and Bearden is coming off a bye week after losing 30-12 to Hazen on Oct. 27...

The City of Monette held a town hall meeting Friday evening at the American Legion Post building to discuss a proposed 1 percent sales tax vote scheduled for a special election on Nov. 14. Mayor Bob Blankenship, treasurer Terry Thomas and several city councilmen were on hand Friday to answer questions from citizens about the three ballot items. ...

The City and County Youth program will hold their third annual coat give-a-way from 12 noon -3 p.m. at the Mississippi County Union Mission, Walnut Street, in Blytheville on Saturday, Nov. 11. The event was originally scheduled for Osceola on Nov. 4, but had to be relocated...

BLYTHEVILLE— The Mississippi County Finance Committee met Monday afternoon and heard several budget proposals for the 2024 budget; including the 2024 budget for the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and 911 from newly hired coordinator John Willard...

– According to a report from Officer Jayden Archer of the Blytheville Police Department, a traffic stop was initiated at the intersection of Ash and 16th around 11 a.m. Oct. 16. As Archer approached the vehicle, he observed three occupants in the silver Toyota Corolla and the passenger in the back seat appeared to have a firearm. Once Archer neared the rear of the vehicle, the driver accelerated and vehicle sped away...

Johnny Tolley will return to the stage of Adams/Vines Recital Hall on the campus of Arkansas Northeastern College on Saturday, Nov. 11. The fun begins at 7 p.m. as Johnny shares selections from his latest album “Last Call,” as well as some of his earlier favorites. Johnny has performed at the Grand Ole’ Opry and received a Country Music award for his recording “She’s Still There...