Stories from Wednesday, June 19, 2024

MORRILTON, Ark. — Arkansas State Police and other local law enforcement agencies are working to apprehend a Birmingham, Ala., man wanted in multiple homicides. Stacy Lee Drake, 50, was last seen on foot outside a motel in Morrilton and is believed to be armed and dangerous...

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation...

The First United Methodist Church in Blytheville has launched a Summer Feed & Read program, offering free lunches and books to children up to age 17. This program, available on the front lawn of the church at 701 West Main every Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., is designed to make a difference in the summertime lives of our children...

Manila Lions Club held their second annual Gun and Knife Show on Friday and Saturday, June 14-15 with 23 vendors offering a variety of items on 63 tables. The event was held at the Manila Airport Center. Lion President Mark Wheeler expressed his appreciation to the vendors, food trucks, the visitors and members of the Lions Club and Tony Hawkins (organizer) for making it successful. ...

Mississippi County Library System will hold Movie Nights. During the month of July, the library system will show the movie “UP”. The movie will be shown at 4 p.m. July 9 at the Manila Public Library. At 2 p.m. July 15 at the Leachville Public Library. Keiser Public Library will hold its movie night at 4 p.m. July 16. Movie night will be held July 18 at 5 p.m. at the Osceola Public Library and at 5 p.m. July 23 at the Blytheville Public Library...

Sen. Dave Wallace, of Leachville (center), brought constituents and members of the Leachville City Council to visit the State Capitol in Little Rock on Thursday, June 13. Pictured are Lisa Baldridge (bottom left), Karen Wallace, and Vanessa and Mark Wheeler; and Michael Webster (top right). The group met with Auditor of State Dennis Milligan (top left) during their visit...

The Blytheville Chickasaws were a perfect 9-0 on the day Saturday in a 7-on-7 tournament hosted by the University of Tennessee-Martin. The winning Chickasaws were coached by Head Coach Jett Howard and new Chicks and former Osceola assistants, Bodie Stane and Mitchell Fryer...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Riverside's Klaire Womack was honored with her second straight selection to the Class 2A all-state softball team after leading the Lady Rebels back to the state title game this past season. Riverside finished the season with a 26-2 overall record while going 12-0 in 2A-3 conference play. ...

Harrisburg's Addi Williams is competing in the Breakaway Roping at the Bonus Race Finals in Shawnee Oklahoma. She won this buckle for her session and that win moved her into the final round. (Courtesy photo)

By Senator John Boozman I’ve talked with farmers, ranchers and agriculture industry stakeholders in our state and across the country to gather their input and priorities for the next farm bill. Now we’ve put those ideas on paper and are making progress toward passage of this crucial legislation...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier The Blytheville Board of Education met Monday with Desmond Hammett, president, welcoming the interim superintendent Jennifer Blankenship. Blankenship has served as high school principal. The board appointed her as interim superintendent to fill the position of Dr. Veronica Perkins who is currently on leave...

Joan Lavonne Farmer, 69, of Little Rock, passed from this life Sunday, June 16, 2024, at the Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock. Daughter of the late Floyd Benny and Willie Lorette Starkey Stone, she was born and raised in Manila and was a graduate of Manila High School. ...