Stories from Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Alicia Rounsavall, new executive director of the Mississippi County Literacy Council, is excited about the program and the opportunities it will be offering to the citizens throughout the county. Rounsavall, a retired educator, moved to Mississippi County from Hot Springs. ...

BLYTHEVILLE - Arkansas Northeastern College has chosen Ryan Perkins as its new Chief Academic Officer/Vice President for Instruction. Perkins has served as ANC’s Dean for Arts and Sciences for the past three and a half years. Perkins holds a bachelor of science degree in Early Childhood Education, a master of science degree in Education Leadership, and a specialist degree in Educational Leadership, all from Arkansas State University...

The Family Movie Night at The Melody Theater, 301 S. Main St, Leachville, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22. Theater manager Kevin Reagan said the distributor of this film does not permit them to announce the title in print, but they can tell you that it is an animated Christmas favorite. Call 888-7-MELODY (888-763-5639) for complete details...

The Arts Council of Mississippi County invites the public to attend an evening of Christmas melodies presented by classical guitarist Peter Fletcher on Dec. 15. The Christmas concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the Adams/Vines Recital Hall on the Arkansas Northeastern College Blytheville campus...

Chicago – December 4, 2023) – Ryerson Holding Corporation (NYSE: RYI), a leading value-added processor and distributor of industrial metals, announced its acquisition of Hudson Tool Steel Corporation (“Hudson”), a supplier of tool steels and high-speed, carbon, and alloy steels. Hudson is headquartered in Cerritos, California, with additional locations in Loves Park, Illinois and Dover, New Hampshire...

Approximately 350 Arkansas Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to 2-153 Infantry Battalion, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat team returned home to Arkansas Saturday from a nine-month deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Spartan Shield...

Several Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department deputies were awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration for their outstanding contributions to the DEA Little Rock District Office for Operation Icequake. Pictured are (from left) Lt. Chris Griggs, Sgt. Elonzo Cummings, Cpl. Austin Griffin, Sheriff Dale Cook, Sgt. Jeremy Sharp, Cpl. Loyd Danner, and Major Robb Rounsavall...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Manila City Council held the last regular meeting of 2023 on Monday night awarding property bids, amending an ordinance and accepting the resignation of the city clerk. Mayor Tracey Reinhart opened the meeting with council members Monte Middleton, Jason Baltimore, Steven Milligan, Dale Murphy and William Barnhart present. Councilman Bobby Tate was absent...

Mark Key, director of Blytheville Public Works has announced the Christmas/New Year sanitation schedule. The week of Dec. 18 through Dec. 22, all routes will be picked up on the regular schedule. Dec. 25-26 – Closed for the Christmas Holiday. Wednesday, Dec. 27 – Monday and Tuesday routes will be picked up...

The Blytheville Police Department recently congratulated Lt. Jason Simpkins and Lt. Carle Treadway upon their completion of the Criminal Justice Institute School of Law Enforcement Supervision. SLES is a distinguished four-week program that focuses on leadership and advanced management education for Arkansas law enforcement supervisors...

A new U.S. Government Accountability (GAO) study released in response to a request from U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Congressman Chris Smith (R-N.J.) reveal that nearly $2 billion in federal taxpayer funding has been funneled to big abortion providers between FY2019-FY2021...

Bay 63, BIC 56 In Gerald Jennings Tournament action Monday at East Poinsett County, 3-2A conference rivals Bay and Buffalo island Central battled for all four quarters, but the contest went to the Yellowjackets 63-56. Justin Brannen scored a game-high 22 points, while grabbing four rebounds, dishing out three assists and recording three steals to pace Bay. Drew Long added 14 points, while also grabbing three rebounds. Long also assisted on four buckets...

In a game that was state championship worthy, Marked Tree held on to beat EPC 49-46 in the semi-finals of the Gerald Jennings Tournament this past Thursday in Lepanto. Landon Lewis got the scoring started for Marked Tree with a coast to coast layup and Tyrus Reel answered for EPC with a basket in the paint to make 2-2 early in the opening quarter. ...

In a game that was state championship quality, Marked Tree held on to beat Bay 70-62 in the finals of the Gerald Jennings Tournament this past Saturday in Lepanto. The Indians (7-1) got on the board first as Josh Rand scored inside and Ken Carter hit a three-pointer to make it 5-0 Marked Tree early in the opening quarter. ...

Armorel (3-8) fell behind early and never recovered as the Tigers lost to Marked Tree (4-1) 74-24 in the Gerald Jennings Tournament his past Wednesday in Lepanto. Cam Marshall's three-pointer and steal and layup but Marked Tree up 5-0 early before Ben Braswell canned a three-ball for Armorel to make it 5-3. ...

Trumann (0-5) couldn't find an answer for EPC (2-0) this past Wednesday as the Wildcats lost to the Warriors 70-46 in the opening round of the Gerald Jennings Tournament being played in Lepanto. Omar McCuiston hit a jumper to give EPC the early lead before Coda Cameron drilled a three-ball to make it 3-2 Wildcats. ...

MAMMOTH SPRING - The Manila senior girls dropped to 6-2 on the season with a 61-36 loss at 1A power Mammoth Spring. Manila trailed 33-16 at the half and were never able to seriously threaten the Lady Bears in the second half. Manila got 18 points from freshman guard Lucy Farmer. Farmer also hauled down four rebounds and assisted on five of her teammates made field goals. Madysen Deeds chipped in with 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds...

MARMADUKE - Buffalo Island Central went on the road Monday to Marmaduke and would take an 81-77 victory over the Lady Greyhounds in Conference 3-2A action. The Lady Mustangs would get four players in double figures to over come Marmaduke’s three. Marmaduke (6-6, 0-2) was paced by MaKenzie Hampton’s game-high 30 points. Baylie and Justis Joiner added 19 and 14 points each for the Lady Greyhounds...

MARMADUKE - The Buffalo Island Central senior boys won their first 3-2A Conference game of the season, 70-56, Tuesday on the road at Marmaduke. Jax Whitley poured in 26 points to pace the Mustangs, (8-5, 1-1). Nicholas Patterson added 21 points and Riley Whitehead finished with 15 points...

TRUMANN -The Westside senior girls opened 3-4A Conference play with a 48-20 victory over the Trumann Lady Wildcats Tuesday. The Lady Warriors jumped out to an 11-5 lead and pushed that advantage to 30-7 at the half. Westside led 42-11 heading to the final period...

Marked Tree stayed unbeaten in senior girls basketball with a 3-1A Conference opening 66-20 win over the Lady Falcons. The Lady Indians (6-0, 1-0) got 18 points and three steals from Tink Brown, while Alesia Rand and Alyssa McGuire both scored 12 points. Zyonna Anderson scored nine points, picked up seven steals and had four assists, while Journi Versie had seven points, seven steals, seven rebounds and four blocked shots...

Gosnell could not find a way to slow Bay down in the third quarter as the Yellowjackets exploded for 33 points to turn a two deficit at halftime into a 15 point lead after three quarters on their way to a 85-73 win over the Pirates in one semi-final game of the Gerald Jennings Tournament this past Thursday in Lepanto...

OSCEOLA - Memphis-Hillcrest ventured across the Mississippi River Monday (Dec. 4) to face the Osceola senior boys at Seminole Arena. After a one hour delay in the start time (the Vikings had some travel issues) the teams would finally get in what would prove to be an entertaining and competitive game. In the end, the visitors would hold off the Seminoles fourth quarter charge to claim a 76-74 win...

JONESBORO - The Osceola Seminoles fell to 0-7 overall this season with a 63-56 loss to the Cedar Ridge Timberwolves in the seventh place game of the Barry Pruitt Classic at Jonesboro High School. In a game that was tight throughout, the Timberwolves led the Seminoles 19-17 after oner period and 35-30 at the half. Cedar Ridge would lead 47-43 heading to the fourth quarter...

The field is set for the annual Northeast Arkansas Invitational Tournament which will be held Dec. 18-20 and Dec. 27-30 at First National Bank Arena at Arkansas State University. The top seeds for the boys 76th annual event, voted on by the coaches, are Brookland in Division 1 and Bay in Division 2...

BIC (7-4, 3-0) went on the road to EPC (2-5, 0-3) and came away with a 61-57 win this past Friday night in 2A-3 conference action. Jalyn Constant got EPC on the board first with a three-pointer as Kendra Towell answered for BIC with a basket in the paint to make 3-2 Lady Warriors. ...

OSCEOLA - Forrest City won its ninth game of the season over the winless Osceola Lady Seminoles, 52-21, Thursday at Seminole Arena. The Lady Mustangs were on the Lady Seminoles from the jump as they raced to a 21-5 lead. Osceola managed only two field goals in the period. A three-pointer by Neveah Jones and a two-point basket by Arionna Dolton. The Lady Mustangs, meanwhile, got 13 points from Kylei Bailey and six points from Josilynne Scott to build a 16-point advantage...

HELENA - Rivercrest gave up a five-point halftime lead, then rallied for a 55-52 victory at Helena Central Thursday. The Lady Colts raced out to a 17-11 lead after one period and led 25-20 at the half. The hosts would outscore the Lady Colts 19-4 in the third quarter to turn a five point deficit into a 10-point lead (39-29)...

BATESVILLE - Manila freshman Bailey Wilson scored four points in the final 6.7 seconds to propel the Lady Lions past Wynne 55-54 Monday in the Lyon College Invitational Tournament in Batesville. Wilson buried a baseline three-pointer to tie the game at 54 with 6.7 seconds left in regulation. After a Lady Yellowjackets timeout, Wilson stole the inbounds pass and was fouled with 2.9 seconds to play. Wilson hit the second of two free throws to give her team the win...

MARIE - Rivercrest hosted Armorel for three games Tuesday at Rivercrest Gymnasium and the host team won all three games. Rivercrest won the seventh grade game 21-11, junior high game 49-35 and the senior girls game 68-27 to complete the sweep. Rivercrest 7th grade 21, Armorel 11...

BLYTHEVILLE - Manila would follow up its victory over host Blytheville with a pair of losses in the Chickasaw Classic at Chickasaw Arena in Blytheville and a loss at Mammoth Spring. Dyersburg 68, Manila 39 Friday, the Lions were defeated by Dyersburg, Tenn. 68-39. The Trojans had four players score in double figures in the game, paced by Jeffery Cobb’s 18 point effort. Ace Mahaffey added 12 points, while Thadd Hill and Breyden Turnage both scored 10 points for the Trojans...

Mercuriah Vance, a senior at Rivercrest High School, was recently presented the 2023 School Winner for the Heisman High School Scholarship by The Heisman Trophy Trust. Thousands of high school senior scholar-athletes graduating with the class of 2024 from 4,129 different schools across the country applied for the scholarship earlier this fall. ...

Kevin Morris, Jr. was awarded the Heisman High School Scholarship. Thousands of high school senior scholar-athletes graduating with the class of 2024 from 4,129 different schools across the country applied for the scholarship earlier this fall. From this group of accomplished, community-minded young men and women, more than 4,878 have earned the honor of becoming School Winners in the Heisman High School Scholarship competition awarded by The Heisman Trophy Trust. ...

LITTLE ROCK – The Rivercrest Colt run-thru sign foretold what the squad would require to bring home a fourth state football championship. Among the words were “Never Quit”. Facing a 40-14 third quarter deficit, the Colts (12-3) could’ve easily folded but they didn’t quit and rallied to within eight points at 43-35. However, with opportunities to tie, Rivercrest couldn’t find the end zone on its final two possessions and fell to the Harding Academy Wildcats by that same score...