Stories from Wednesday, November 22, 2023

WILSON - Rivercrest scored four first quarter touchdowns and the Colts defense registered its second consecutive post-season shutout in a 40-0 victory over the Gravette Lions in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs Friday at Cortez Kennedy Field...

BOONEVILLE - In a highly anticipated second-round 3A football playoff game, the Bearcats clashed with the Seminoles in an intense matchup at Bearcat Stadium. Unfortunately for the Seminoles, the Bearcats would come away with a 52-20 victory. Booneville’s fourth straight victory over Osceola since the 2019 state championship game ended the Seminoles season...

Rivercrest improved to 10-2 on the season with a 40-0 shutout of Gravette in the second round of the Class 4A State Playoffs Friday. Their reward, a trip to Arkadelphia, 7-3, for the quarterfinals for the second consecutive season. The Badgers ended the Colts season on their home field last with a 48-13 win...

GAME PREVIEW EPC (11-1) will host Carlisle (11-1) this coming Friday in the semi-finals of the Class 2A state football playoffs. EPC is coming off a 34-20 win over Conway Christian and Carlisle beat Hector 27-20 this past Friday night. The winner will advance to play the winner of Marked Tree and Bigelow in the state finals...

EPC (11-1) held off a Conway Christian charge in the fourth quarter to come away with a 34-20 win to advance to the semi-finals of the 2A state playoffs next Friday. The Warriors will host Carlisle (11-1) who beat Hector 27-20 this past Friday. EPC won the toss and elected to get the ball first. ...

MONETTE - The Buffalo Island Central senior girls basketball team earned their third win of the 2023 portion of their schedule Thursday with a decisive 57-19 win over Osceola. The Lady Mustangs raced to a 20-1 lead after one quarter as all five Lady Mustangs starters scored at least two points in the frame. Osceola, meanwhile, went without making a field goal over the first eight minutes. Tykeriah Harris’ free throw was the only scoring for Osceola in the first frame...

MONETTE - The Buffalo Island Central Junior Girls basketball team led 13-3 after one period and went on to defeat visiting Osceola 47-17 Thursday at BIC. Freshman Chandler Gathright poured in eight points in the opening period to pace BIC. LeiMah Hooks scored two points and Kaitlyn Kuykendall added a free throw for Osceola in the opening frame. Osceola was only 1 of 8 from the line in the first period. BIC meanwhile hit only 1 of 4 attempts...

Harrisburg (3-0) got 26 points from Liz Green and 14 points from Cassie Carlson as the Lady Hornets beat Cross County 61-50 this past Thursday night at the Hornets Nest in Harrisburg. Green got the Lady Hornets on the board with a jumper to make it 2-0 before the Lady Thunderbirds scored the next five points to go up 5-2 with just over four minutes left in the opening quarter. ...

Rivercrest hosted the third annual Judy Watson Classic Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at Rivercrest Gymnasium. Teams from Bay, Blytheville, East Poinsett County and Brookland took part in the three-day event which honors the long time former Lady Colts head coach...

Marked Tree (9-2) got four touchdowns, two pass and two rushing, from Ken Carter as the Indians beat Murfreesboro 28-14 in quarter-finals of the Class 2A state football playoffs this past Friday in Murfreesboro. Carter completed 12 of 20 passes for 129 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while adding two rushing touchdowns for the Indians. ...

Marked Tree (9-2) will hit the road for the third week in a row as the Indians will travel to face Bigelow (12-0) in a semi-final contest with the Panthers. The winner will square off with the winner of the EPC-Carlisle game for the Class 2A state title...

HIGHLAND - The Manila senior girls traveled to Highland Saturday for a non-conference game against the Class 4A Lady Rebels. The Lady Lions would come out on top holding off a fourth quarter comeback attempt by the hosts in a 70-63 victory. Manila would get balanced scoring with Madysen Deeds and Lucy Farmer leading the way with 12 points each. ...

Buffalo Island Central (BIC) pitcher Nicholas Patterson made it official Thursday and signed his letter of intent to play baseball for the Trailblazers at Arkansas State University in Mountain Home in 2024. “Nicholas has been a very valuable member of our BIC team,” said athletic director Tyler Herring. ...

Rivercrest baseball standout Conner Vaughn made good on his commitment to the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Friday, signing scholarship papers with the Trojans before a room full of teammates, schoolmates, travel ball teams, family and friends at Rivercrest High School...

The Mississippi County Finance Committee held its monthly meeting Monday and a variety of issues were discussed. Justice Michael White, chairman of the Finance Committee, opened the meeting by informing the committee that the county budget for 2024 is already at a $2.6 million deficit before discussions were held Monday...

Filings for the preferential primary to be held March 5, 2024 include: Justice of the Peace District 2: Michael L. White District 3: Neil M. Burge District 4: Tobye McClanahan District 5: Molly Houseworth Jackson District 6: Cecil V. McDonald District 7: Melinda Martin...

Guests arrived on the red carpet for the showing of “The Unconquered” on Saturday night at the Melody Theater. It was the first feature film shown in 1948 when the theater opened.

Blytheville Police Department’s K9 Csoki has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Csoki’s vest was sponsored by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. and embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of K9 Gabo, Jonesboro, AR - EOW 1/16/20”...

BLYTHEVILLE— Monday afternoon, the Mississippi County Personnel Committee briefly met to continue the discussion on the Peer Recovery Specialist position which stems from a $50,000 grant that Circuit Judge Dan Ritchey received. The Peer Recovery Specialist slot is slated for $54,909.88...

Leachville City Council discussed new vehicles, heard department reports and approved year- end bonuses for employees at the Monday night November meeting. Mayor Rodney Robertson opened the meeting with all council members, Lisa Baldridge, Paul Wildy, Michael Webster, Robert Ballard, Mark Wheeler and Keith Evans, present...

The Mississippi County Regional Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting for the grand re-opening of Mailboxes & Beyond on Friday at noon. The business is located at 103 West Main Street in Blytheville. Mailboxes & Beyond opened for business on Sept. 26, 15 years ago. The business which started primarily as a shipping business now has much more to offer. The recent remodeling of the building included taking a wall down and opening up the entire store...

The historic Melody Theater turned 75 years old and was filled with activities throughout the weekend. Entertainer Jerred Price, Almost Elton, performed on Friday night. Former Leachville students gathered for an all school reunion at the community gymnasium on Saturday morning and the Melody Theater in the afternoon...

Jerred Price, a native of Leachville, returned home on Friday, Nov. 17, bringing his talent to the stage at the Historic Melody Theater. Price, as Almost Elton, and the Rocketmen Band have played from coast to coast. He now resides in Memphis but holds on to strong ties to the Leachville community where he has family and friends...

The City of Manila is hosting “Holiday on Main” before the Christmas Parade on Dec. 2. The city is looking for local businesses to set up (tailgate style) across from city hall to pass out holiday treats, marketing items, letters to Santa, etc. Manila Ice will be serving hot cocoa, arts and crafts will be a block over at Oak Hall Event Space and the city’s Christmas tree will be lit...

Despite the rain, the Lights of the Delta kicked off the Christmas season Monday night. The display will be open Sundays-Thursdays from 5:30-9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30-10 p.m. The last day for the lights will be Dec. 27. Santa will be available for photographs and visits every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. ...

The Leachville gym committee sponsored its annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 18. Vendors had holiday gift items, food items, jewelry, arts and crafts and much more for a great day of shopping. Santa was there to greet the guests and pose for pictures. ...

Donald Wayne Master, 75, of Manila, walked into Heaven Nov. 21, 2023, healed after a 17-year battle with Parkinsons. Born in Leachville to the late Walter Lee and Bessie Meeker Master, he was a 1967 graduate of Leachville High School, then went on to serve his country in the United States Army and served in Korea. ...