Stories from Wednesday, January 3, 2024

By STEVE KNOX Times Staff A number of new state laws took effect Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Those laws impact a variety of issues from reductions in personal and corporate tax rates to criminal justice. During the September 2023 special session, the legislature approved tax cuts that benefit Arkansas residents in two ways. ...

Luxora, like most small Delta towns, is a shadow of its former self, but you can’t convince Warren Barbee it’s not the place to be. “I love Luxora,” he exclaimed. “I love the people, the kids, everything about it.” And you know, Luxora loves him, too...

Robert Lee Kelley, 68, of Holland, Mo., died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023, in Blytheville. Born to Linel and Evelyon Herron Kelley, he was a retired sanitation truck driver for Blytheville Public Works. Robert was a devoted family man. He loved spending his time with his wife, daughter and grandson. His hobbies included working on cars, watching wrestling, and he loved to fish...

The Riverside Lady Rebels came up a little short losing to ICC 60-57 in the finals Division 2 bracket of the NEA Invitational Tournament Saturday at First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro. Ryley Eakins got Riverside on the board first hitting one of two free throws before ICC got a basket inside to make it 2-1 Lady Cougars, early in the opening quarter. ...

Marked Tree saw a six point lead after the first quarter turn into a six point deficit at halftime before ICC outscored the Lady Indians 29-25 in the second half to take a 60-50 win over Marked Tree in the semi-final round of the NEA Invitational Tournament Friday at First National Bank Arena...

Ladarrius Brown hit a jumper just inside the free throw line with 1.7 seconds left to give Marked Tree a 54-52 win over Riverside Friday in the semi-finals of the Division 1 boys' bracket of the NEA Invitational being played in Jonesboro. Brown put back an offensive rebound to give Marked Tree the early 2-0 before Harrison McAnally scored in the paint for Riverside to tie the game at two. ...

BIC scored the first 20 points of the game and never looked back as the Mustangs beat Marked Tree 62-43 in the Division 2 boys' bracket of the NEA Invitational Tournament this past Saturday at First National Bank Arena in Jonesboro. Max McCord got the Mustangs out to a 5-0 lead as he scored in the paint and then followed with a three-pointer before Leo Contreras hit a jumper and triple twine to push the BIC lead to 10-0. ...

Above: Tommy and Linda Malone of Fisher were honored as Friends of the NEA for having attending the NEA Invitational Tournament for 60 years. The first year the Malones attended was their senior year in high school. Presenting the award is David Daniel. (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)...

The Manila senior girls basketball team improved to 12-4 overall this season by winning all three games in the Big River Steel Lion Holiday Classic held at Manila High School. The Lady Lions defeated Forrest City 61-42, East Poinsett County 46-43 and Trumann 66-31 to give them six wins in their last seven games this season...

MANILA - East Poinsett County road the wave of a decisive fourth quarter as the Warriors knocked off the Manila Lions 58-44 on the second day of action in the Big River Steel Lion Holiday Classic at Manila High School. The Warriors broke open a tight game by winning the final period 17-8. The two squads played to a 17-17 deadlock after one quarter and EPC took a 31-29 to the locker room...

Blytheville came out the gates strong in their NEA Invitational game with Brookland leading 17-16 after the opening period. Single digit outputs the next three quarters proved costly for the Chickasaws as they lost to the Bearcats 58-41 Thursday in Jonesboro...

JONESBORO – The fifth-seeded Rivercrest Lady Colts fell victim to a poor field goal shooting in their opener of 76th annual Northeast Arkansas Invitational Tournament and bowed out of the holiday classic in the first round. Their 28 percent clip was well off Pocahontas’s 47 percent as the Lady Redskins (7-5) posted the 58-46 win and advanced to play Greene County Tech Friday in the tourney semifinals...

Rivercrest couldn't find a way to stop Brookland's offense as the Colts were handed a 63-45 loss in the finals of the boys' Division 1 bracket in the NEA Invitational Tournament this past Saturday in Jonesboro. Kash Span gave the Colts the early 3-0 lead with a three-pointer. ...

JONESBORO - It wasn’t a question of if, but when the Rivercrest Colts would awake from a slumber which saw them trail Batesville by 15 points in the quarterfinals of the 76th annual Northeast Arkansas Invitational. The Colts (7-0) rallied to upend the upstart Pioneers, 52-48, and advanced to the semifinals of the Division I Boys bracket. ...

HIGHLAND - The Osceola Seminoles knocked off the Cedar Ridge Timberwolves 87-82, in overtime, to win the Maverick Division of the Bad Boy Mowers Ronnie Brogdon Classic at Highland High School Friday. The Seminoles led for most of the game taking an 18-12 advantage after one period and a 34-27 lead to the half. The Timberwolves would close to within five points 52-47 after three quarters. Cedar Ridge would tie the game to send it to overtime...

Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska has gained a commitment from Rivercrest High School trap shooting standout Gil Palmer. The Warriors announced Palmer’s commitment Dec. 20. Palmer is a member of the Trap & Field Magazine 2024 ATA All-American Junior Second Team. ...

Mountain View (Ark.) -- A Stone County Sheriff’s Deputy was shot and killed while on duty at approximately 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 2, 2024. A suspect is in custody. Stone County Sheriff Brandon Long asked the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division to conduct an investigation and for the Arkansas Department of Public Safety to field media inquiries...

Arkansas State Police has named Aaron T. Watson, 35, of Hot Springs as the suspect killed in an officer-involved shooting that occurred the afternoon of Monday, Jan. 1. ASP’s Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the incident. Watson died after leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit from Benton to Little Rock...

Ruthie Mae Brooks was born Aug. 28, 1946, in Blytheville, to Henry and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Brooks. She was a member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church where she gave her life to Christ at a young age and volunteered her time as a choir member. After relocating to Georgia, she became an avid listener of Bishop G.E. ...

The December 18 Lake City Council meeting was held with Council members Brenda Hutcheson, Kate Wells, Harmony Cash, Jake Emery and Jay Davis, present. Mayor Cameron Tate presided over the meeting. Following the approval of minutes and review of the financial statements, the council approved the Craighead County Landfill 2024 budget, discussed an in-home business, promoted a police officer, and declared a vacancy in the council...

Mountain View (Ark.) — On Tuesday, Jan. 2, at approximately 4 p.m. Stone County Deputy Justin Smith was fatally wounded while attempting to serve suspect Clinton Hefton, 52, with a misdemeanor Terroristic Threatening warrant at a home in the 300 block of Sawmill Road...