Stories from Wednesday, November 27, 2024

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier A little rain did not dampen the opening of the Lights of the Delta Grilling with Santa on Monday, Nov. 25. A large crowd gathered on the first night, filling guests with Christmas spirit as toys, non perishable food items, and money were accepted for admission and given to a local food pantry and the Ignite program, non-profit groups helping the community...

Riverside students took one day of their Thanksgiving vacation to return to the school for the community. Students, staff and volunteers prepared and delivered 400 meals on Tuesday. Ashley Ziegler organized the event. Butterball donated the turkeys and the food backpack funds and the high school library paid for the food...

By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— Thursday’s Rotarians’ guest program was informative and helpful for Rotarians and Mississippi County Crisis Coalition president Katie Sparrow and vice-president Robin Haught-Angel. According to Sparrow, the Mississippi County Crisis Coalition’s mission is to help people going through crises reach the appropriate resources and, after reaching the appropriate resources, ensure their stability...

Manila City Council heard a presentation from Michael McBride with Stephens Investments at the Monday, Nov. 18, meeting. McBride provided the council with information on Sales & Use Tax Bonds. The 1.00 percent sales & use tax collected by the city has generated more totals in the past years which will pay off the bond sooner. McBridge explained the city can redeem more bonds in 2025 to help with infrastructure throughout the city. It will have to be approved in the May or November election...

By Joseph Fondren Sports Connection Team ARMOREL— The Hillcrest Screamin’ Eagles jumped out to a fast start on 1A-3 conference foe the Armorel Tigers Friday night as the Screamin’ Eagles cruised to an 81-62 victory. HHS (6-6, 2-0 1A-3) went on 15-0 run to build a 25-8 lead after the first quarter. The Tigers (1-7, 0-2 1A-3) outscored Hillcrest in the second quarter, 16-15, but trailed 40-24 at the half...

By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team WILSON – Things couldn’t have gone much better for the Rivercrest Colts in the first 24 minutes of the Friday’s playoff game against Rison, the team’s second round playoff opponent. The offense scored 30 points and the defense limited the high-scoring Wildcats (10-2) to six points and 125 yards of offense, while collecting three turnovers – two fumbles and an interception...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team The East Poinsett County Warriors (9-3) will host the Mt. Ida Lions (9-3), the second place team from the 2A-1 Conference in the first of two Class 2A semi-final games Friday night. The winner, of course will advance to the State final at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. EPC is, of course, looking to make its second consecutive trip to the 2A title game...

Trumann rallied to defeat Pocahontas 50-45 in overtime last Tuesday (Nov. 19) in senior girls’ basketball. The Lady Wildcats (1-2) trailed 22-11 at halftime and 31-23 after three before coming back to tie the game at 39 at the end of regulation. Chelsy Jones scored 19 points and Zacharra Postell added 11 for Trumann. Olivia Matos finished with eight points, including five in overtime...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team Sporting second round victories over Atkins and Charleston the undefeated Bismarck Lions (11-0) will host Osceola (10-1) Friday, Nov. 29 at Lion Stadium in Bismarck. The Lions dispatched Atkins 55-14, while the Seminoles knocked off Charleston 50-28. The Lions have scored 520 points (47.4 ppg.) this season while surrendering only 199 (18.1 ppg.)...

By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team The Rivercrest Colts won’t be home for the holiday break – or least part of it – as they travel to Salem for their 3A quarterfinal matchup against the Salem Greyhounds Friday The trip won’t be quite as far as it could’ve been as Salem’s 6-6 Cole Stemen hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass while being triple covered in the waning moments of Friday’s game against Prescott. The catch turned a 10-8 deficit into a 16-10 Greyhound win...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Trumann’s Faith Muntz signed her letter of intent to play softball at Crowley’s Ridge College in front of family, friends, coaches, and teachers this past Friday at Wildcat Gym. Muntz was a versatile player for the Lady Wildcats last season seeing time in the circle, at third base and at second base for the Lady Wildcats. Muntz said she wants to try out for second base for the Lady Pioneers but will play wherever she is needed to help the team...

Journi Versie scored 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds last Tuesday night to lead Marked Tree to a 67-42 victory over Gosnell in senior girls’ basketball at the Judy Watson Classic. Zyonna Anderson added 15 points and seven assists for the Lady Indians. Alyssa McGuire finished with 13 points and five assists with Amya Nesbitt netting 10 points for Marked Tree...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team EPC let a late lead slip away as Westside hit three of four free throws with less than a minute left to hang on for a 60-57 win over the Lady Warriors last Tuesday (Nov. 19) in Lepanto. Westside scored inside and canned a three-ball around an Allison Gaines basket to take an early 5-2 lead before back to back baskets from Gaines gave EPC a 6-5 lead with 5:36 left in the opening quarter. ...

By Joseph Fondren Sports Connection Team GOSNELL— Thursday night on the campus of Gosnell High School in the loud basketball gymnasium the clock turned back just slightly as two Pirate alumni took the court coaching their respective teams as Gosnell Pirates head coach and alumnus Deantra Scott was the winning coach over Tuckerman Bulldogs head coach and Pirates alumnus Josh Longino...

By Joseph Fondren Sports Connection Team GOSNELL— DeAntra Scott’s Gosnell Pirates improved to 2-0 Thursday night after defeating Scott’s former teammate at Gosnell Josh Longino’s Tuckerman Bulldogs 71-57. The Bulldogs (8-5) scored first with a three-pointer from sophomore Zeke Church, but Gosnell’s scoring got hot as they led 26-10 after the first quarter...

By Joseph Fondren Sports Connection Team MANILA— Manila Lions senior guard Rex Farmer’s half court shot at the end of regulation sent the Lions into overtime against their county rival, the Gosnell Pirates. However, the Pirates outscored the Lions 11-2 in overtime to escape the Lions Den with a 77-68 victory. The Lions (0-3) edged the Pirates in the first quarter 17-16 and led 31-30 at the half. Gosnell (1-0) tied the game at 53 at the end of the third quarter...

By JOSEPH FONDREN Sports Connection Team GOSNELL— Monday, Nov. 18 will be a day that Gosnell Lady Pirates first year Head Coach Monroe Carr will remember for the rest of his life as he watched on as his sophomore forward Laneishia Lincoln stepped to the line and drained a free throw to give the Lady Pirates a 59-58 victory over the Wynne YellowJackets to give Carr his first professional win in their inaugural game of the 2024-‘25 season...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team OSCEOLA - Much like the victory over CenterPoint in the opening round, Osceola was dominant from the opening moments in rolling over the visiting Charleston Tigers 50-28 Friday night at Seminole Stadium. The Seminoles (10-1) jumped out to a commanding 34-0 lead less than two minutes into the second quarter, as they rolled to their 10th consecutive victory...

Brian Jay Goodmon passed away Nov. 23, 2024, at his residence in Blytheville, at the age of 54. He was born Jan. 25, 1970, to the late J.C. Goodmon and the late Francis Dunkin Webber in St. Louis, Mo. Brian worked as a concrete worker. Brian was preceded in death by his parents, J.C. Goodmon and Francis Dunkin Webber...

Cynthia Jane Huggins, 61, of Osceola, passed away Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at Heritage Square Nursing Center. Cynthia was born in Clovis, New Mexico to Ralph Wesley and Dora Mae Dean Hill. She enjoyed working crossword puzzles and adult coloring books...

Dana “Dan” Eugene Davis, 70, of Paragould, passed away Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. Born to Iulas and Emma Jean Helms Davis, Dana was retired from the United States Army. Dana was preceded in death by his parents...

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Robert “Rob” Fox, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and a true pillar of his community. Rob passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, leadership, and service that touched countless lives...

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas-based Lexicon, Inc. has announced its advancement in Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) prestigious 2024 Top 600 Specialty Contractors rankings. Lexicon rose from No. 34 in 2023 to No. 33 nationally in 2024, demonstrating its continued growth and influence in the construction industry. In the Steel category, Lexicon rose from No. 4 in 2023 to No. 3 this year. ...

The City of Keiser recently announced the receipt of a $3,264,947 grant and a $1,088,316 loan from the Arkansas Natural Resource Commission (ANRC) to address one of the community's pressing infrastructure needs—its aging sewer system. According to Mayor Rick Creecy, this funding represents a major milestone for Keiser, providing the resources necessary to overhaul and modernize the system, ensuring it meets the needs of our residents today and for decades to come...

Alisha Williams, human resource director for the city of Blytheville, was among the 25 women completing the inaugural class of the Arkansas Delta Women’s Leadership Academy, hosted by Arkansas State University. The women have spent the last 11 months working toward a goal of becoming better leaders in the communities they serve...

A tractor-trailer over-turned on the curve entering the City of Gosnell Wednesday morning causing quite a disturbance. According to County Emergency Management Director John Willard, the truck, which was hauling cotton seed to 9th Street, lost its load and also spilt approximately 75 gallons of diesel. ...