Lake City News

Skip Layne, area operations manager for CenturyTel, said the recent merger with CenturyTel and EMBARQ forming CenturyLink is a major merger for CenturyTel.

A groundbreaking celebration was held Friday, Oct. 16, for the Riverside School District's new junior and senior high school building, on Highway 18 in Lake City.

R Rodger Pierce and Zona L. Harrington were united in marriage on October 15th, 1949 at the Lake City courthouse in Lake City, Arkansas.

A Jonesboro man was killed early Saturday morning in a single car accident just north of Lake City.

We've shown you how the rain has stopped the harvest, stopped home construction and now what about large construction projects like highways or schools? The official groundbreaking for the new Riverside Junior and Senior High School was held Friday in Lake City.

By Sherry F. Pruitt

JONESBORO — Years ago, Sherry Carter, co-owner of Carter’s Corner, was asked to volunteer at the Greene County Miracle Rodeo.

She did, and she was hooked.

“I was one who took a child around to the events. I fell in love with it,” Carter said.

The Jonesboro native was so enthused with the program that she wanted to start one in her home county of Craighead. She asked the Craighead County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol to sponsor it.

“They fell in love with it,” and she joined the mounted patrol as member and Miracle Rodeo chairwoman, she said. “It’s a calling we all have. The CCSMP believes it’s something the community wants and needs.”

In its 11th year, the CCSMP has continued to support the event, a type of a simulated rodeo that caters to children with special needs and adult cowboys and cowgirls.

This year, the Miracle Rodeo will be 1-3:30 p.m. on Oct. 24 at the Craighead County Fairgrounds. No Miracle Rodeo was held last year because of illness.

One of the major items on the planning agenda, Carter said, is securing enough volunteers to operate the event, which draws its clientele from school districts in Craighead County, preschools that work with special-needs children and facilities that serve special-needs adults.

“People will see special-needs adults with severe physical disabilities, and some have learning disabilities that may not be seen,” she said.

So far, members of the Arkansas State University men’s and women’s basketball teams and some civic organizations have volunteered labor.

“There is a need for 500 volunteers,” Carter said. “There are usually 150 children, and they bring 300 to 500 family members.”

In particular, Carter said she needs volunteers who can help lift the cowpokes and let them enjoy the rodeo-like activities.

While the Miracle Rodeo and ASU Homecoming will be held on the same day, the rodeo will end before pre-game tailgating begins, Carter said.

JONESBORO — A 30-year-old man died early Sunday from injuries sustained in a 1-vehicle accident on Parker Road, Jonesboro police said. Matthew Bibb, 2008 Boundary Oaks Drive, Jonesboro, was eastbound in a maroon 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe on the 1200 block of Parker Road at about 12:20 a.m. Sunday when the accident happened. “The vehicle was approaching Southwest Drive, failed to negotiate a curve, struck a culvert and the vehicle flipped onto its top,” Jonesboro Patrolman Joe Robinson said. Robinson said Bibb was partially ejected from the vehicle. Bibb was taken by ambulance to St. Bernards Medical Center, where he later died, Robinson said. —Michael Wilkey, Jonesboro Sun

The Lake City Council met Sept. 21 and approved a variance request that had been tabled on Aug.

Lakeside Nursing Center veterans in Lake City were honored on Wednesday, Sept. 9, by representatives of American Legion Pickett Post 21 of Jonesboro.

Annette Lippert was crowned Miss 2009 Lakeside on Friday afternoon. Miss Lakeside Royalty are, from left: Mildred Short, first runner up; Annette Emison, second runner up; Queen Annette Lippert; Gyneth Price, third runner up; Goldye Hale, fourth runner-up. Cathy Stout, activity director, welcomed guests and contestants to the annual event.

Robin Rea joined the staff at the Hair Loft in Lake City on July 7. She said she has received a warm welcome from her co-workers, Linda Hanson, owner/stylist; Donasue Rose and Debra Davis.

Henry Edgar "Eddie" Dunigan, 58, of Black Oak has announced plans to run for state representative in District 76 as a Democrat.

The Lake City Council met Monday evening, Aug. 17, and reviewed the 2009 city audit, purchased storm sirens, and confirmed the Employee Handbook.

Lake City Council accepted bids on street overlay, hired a new water/wastewater employee, and approved a new fireman when the city council met Monday, July 27.

Survivors take the first victory lap kicking off the 2009 Buffalo Island American Cancer Relay for Life.

Lake City Mayor Billy Anderson and City Clerk Linda Simpson welcomed five businesses to Lake City with ribbon cuttings on Monday afternoon.

Lake City Mayor Billy Anderson gave several updates at the June 15 city council meeting.

A proposal to rename a section of West Main Street in honor of the late police chief Larry Blagg was voted down by the Trumann City Council at its monthly meeting Tuesday, June 9. The council deadlocked 4-4 against the honorary name change with one member abstaining.

Environmental Officer George Johnson, of Jonesboro, has made several illegal dumping site discoveries in eastern Craighead County this month and is determined to penalize offenders.