Stories from Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Guy Junior Robinson, 71, of Leachville, passed from this life Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. Born at Rodman’s Hospital in Leachville, he was the son of the late Muriel and Berniece Hill Robinson. He was raised in the Buckeye Community and was a lifelong area resident. ...

WASHINGTON – Family Dollar Stores LLC pleaded guilty Tuesday to holding food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics under insanitary conditions, related to a rodent infestation at the company’s West Memphis, Arkansas, distribution center. A criminal information unsealed today in federal court in Little Rock, Arkansas, charged Family Dollar with one misdemeanor count of causing FDA-regulated products to become adulterated while being held under insanitary conditions. ...

By Joseph Fondren NEW Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— The Mississippi County Quorum Court’s Planning and Development Committee met Thursday afternoon in the Annex Building where several topics were discussed in the lengthy hour and near 40 minute long meeting...

By SANDRA BRAND NEA Town Courier Editor The son of a sharecropper, the Rev. Johnny Lee Williams was destined to be a preacher from a young age. Born on Feb. 7, 1955 at 3:30 in the morning, Williams was assisted into the world by great-grandmother Jossie Hughes, the local midwife...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Blytheville native Lieutenant Colonel Jacqueline K. Taylor made groundbreaking history in her military career as the first African American woman to become a commander in the Arkansas Air National Guard. She assumed command of the Air Force Detachment for the National Guard Marksmanship Training Unit in 2020...

BLYTHEVILLE— Friday night, the Holiday Inn Ballroom was the center of remembering  Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson’s retirement after 32 years of service to the citizens of Blytheville with more than 50 people in attendance.  Thompson became the interim chief of Police in 2006 and gained the full title in 2007. ...

Buffalo Island Central Drama Department is back again with another breathtaking show, capturing the charm and emotions of the enduring classic Anne of Green Gables. The play begins with two elderly siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert (Emery Green and Vylan Walls) who are looking to adopt a boy from an orphanage in Nova Scotia. ...

Beginning March 7 a weekly fitness class will be held at the Blytheville Public Library. The class, Get Active, will be led by Rhoda Yost. Every Thursday from 6-7 p.m. participants will be doing aerobics and yoga in the multi-purpose room. Some materials will be provided...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Author Eric Vickrey was in Blytheville on Thursday for a book signing event at Blytheville Book Company. The book titled Runnin’ Redbirds is a must read for St. Louis Cardinal fans. It is a play-by-play recap of The World Champion 1982 St. Louis Cardinals...

The Manila School Board accepted several resignations and adopted the 2024-2025 calendar at the Feb. 19 meeting. All board members, Jeremy Jackson, Monte Middleton, Brooke Chipman, Dennis Crosskno, Jackie Hill, Casey Wells and Tracey Reinhart, were present...

MANILA - The Rivercrest Colts certainly have rival Osceola’s number and that number is four. For the fourth time this year and the third time in just a little over two weeks, the Colts (27-3) defeated Osceola, 72-50, thereby capturing the Class 3 Region 2 championship Saturday...

MANILA – Osceola bounced back from its 3A-3 District Tournament title game loss with a pair of double-digit victories over Gosnell, 67-56, and Melbourne, 68-47, in the semi- and quarterfinals of the Class 3 Region 2 Tournament at Manila. The Seminoles only trailed for a total of 2:31 in both games and that came in the early first quarter of each contest. They were dominant on the glass, especially with offensive boards...

By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team MANILA – Although all three teams earned berths in the 3A State Tournament this week in Elkins, it will be the Manila Lady Lions entering the tourney as a three seed, while the Rivercrest Lady Colts and the Gosnell Pirates will be four seeds in their respective 16-team fields...

MANILA – The Rivercrest Colts proved to be a second half team in their semifinal and quarterfinal wins over Corning and Walnut Ridge in the Class 3 Region 2 Tournament at Manila last week. They outscored both their opponents by an average of 15 points in the final two quarters of play in their 71-52 win over Corning and a 68-47 rout of Walnut Ridge...

Rivercrest junior guard Destiny Burks surpassed the 1,000 point mark for her career during the 3A, Region 2 Tournament at Manila. She is pictured with Lady Colts head coach Ronnie Dye.

MANILA – The Gosnell Pirates have been faced with two win-or-go home scenarios this postseason. The first was the 3A-3 District Tournament against Manila. The second was in the quarterfinals of the Class 3 Region 2 Tournament where they drew one-seed Tuckerman...

By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection MANILA – Entering their Class 3 Region 2 semifinal matchup with the defending state champion Salem, the Manila Lady Lions knew it would be an uphill task. Despite the youth of the team, the Lady Lions put themselves in a position to conquer the Lady Greyhounds but just couldn’t get the rebound they needed or the shots to fall to upend Salem...

MANILA – It had been nine years since the Rivercrest Lady Colts last appearance in the state tournament, but with a convincing 49-34 win over Cave City in the quarterfinals of the Class 3 Region 2 Tournament the drought is over. “That was the one we needed to get,” said Rivercrest head coach Ronnie Dye of the one win to qualify for state. “Nine years in the making and we’re happy to get back.”...

Marked Tree (31-3) led from start to finish to take home the championship trophy with a 54-38 win over Concord in the 1A-2 boys' regional basketball tournament his past Saturday in Greers Ferry. The title was third regional title in a row for the Indians. Marked Tree played Jasper in the opening round of the Class 1A state tournament on February 27 at North Arkansas College in Harrison...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Marked Tree (28-7) played Mammoth Spring toe to toe in the first quarter only to see their offense go south the next three quarters, as the Lady Indians lost 62-25 in the consolation game of the 1A-3 Regional Tournament this past Saturday in Greers Ferry. ...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection RIVERSIDE - The East Poinsett County Warriors held Riverside to only two points over the final 3:12 of the game to claim a 54-49 victory and the 2A - North Regional championship Saturday at Riverside. In what was a tight game for the final two and a half quarters, the Warriors would ride some timely free throw shooting and smothering defensive effort to gain the victory...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team LAKE CITY - The Riverside Lady Rebels used a strong second half effort to overcome rival Buffalo Island Central 58-37 in the championship game of the 2A- North Regional Saturday at Riverside High School. The Lady Rebels second half effort seemed to be a near 180 degree turn from the first half when the Lady Mustangs controlled the temp and pace of the game. ...