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Leachville Beautification Corp. has a busy day (5/4/24)“Last Saturday was a great day for the community.” The Leachville Beautification Corporation presented a $2,500 paint job to The Leachville Foundation, Inc.’s Food Bank. Jo Ann Puckett Cardin accepted the donation and even posed for a picture! “We’d like to thank Board President and LBC Founder Jerred Price and Board Members Whitlee Adams McDermott and Brannah Bibbs for stepping up to help paint,” Cardin said. ...
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Cinco de Mayo celebrated at ANC (5/4/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier ANC Center for Allied Technologies hosted a drop-in celebration in conjunction with Cinco de Mayo on Thursday, May 2 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Guests enjoyed food, music and had the opportunity to meet with several agencies offering information on available services. ...
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BIC Journalism students receive numerous awards (5/4/24)BIC Journalism students under the direction of Emily Carter received numerous awards from the 2024 Arkansas Scholastic Press Association. Students and their awards are: Christa Austin: Business Manager of the Year-1st Runner Up; Yearbook Writer of the Year;...
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OEM works to improve radio communications (5/4/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— John Willard, Director of the Mississippi County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and E911, was the guest speaker Tuesday at the Blytheville Lions Club weekly meeting at the Blytheville Country Club. Willard gave an update on the department since he took the position last October. ...
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June 3 trial date set in Hammett case (5/4/24)By SANDRA BRAND - NEA Town Courier Editor Blytheville School Board President Desmond Fredric Hammett is facing a misdemeanor criminal trespass charge in Crittenden County. He appeared in West Memphis District Court on April 16 with District Judge Fred Thorne presiding. The judge set Hammett’s trial for June 3 at 1:30 p.m. in the same court...
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Blytheville School Board draws standing room only crowd (5/4/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier The Blytheville School Board of education meeting on Tuesday night drew a large, standing room only, crowd. All board members, Barbara Wells, Ricky Jefferson, Tobye Johnson, Billy Fair, Desmond Hamlett, Judy Beaugard, Venita Nichols and Erin Carrington, were present...
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Author greets visitors/ holds first book signing (5/3/24)E.B. Haverly, a young author, greeted visitors at her booth at Manila’s Blazin’ BBQ. Haverly lives in Manila and recently published her first book of the Vespera series. Vespera is a fantasy adventure story. Haverly has been writing since she was 15 and actually wrote Vespera several years ago. She said she was reluctant to have it published and waited three years. She has had a very good response and is happy to have it out to the public. She recently held her first book signing in Jonesboro...
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Youth group growing learning skills for life (5/3/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier The Naked Truth Training & Empowerment Center youth group is learning more than just book knowledge. They are getting their hands dirty as they work beside an experienced gardener, Mr. Ronald Mathis, to learn about raising vegetables...
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Annie The Musical comes to ANC (5/3/24)Annie the Musical will be presented live at the ANC Adams/Vine Auditorium at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5. Tickets may be purchased at the door for general admission or VIP tickets on the website. Annie is being directed by Kaitlyn Woodall with Studio 42 & Co. ...
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Upcoming Events (5/3/24)Saturday, May 4: –Leachville Fire Department will host a TNR Championship wrestling fundraiser, “Fight for the Fourth,” at the Leachville ballpark. Gates will open at 5 p.m. All proceeds will go to help fund the Fourth of July fireworks display. –A Summer soiree 2024, a dinner, auction and live entertainment fundraiser benefiting The Butterfly House Transitional Living Home. ...
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Farmers Bank announces new community program (5/3/24)Randy Scott, President and CEO of Farmers Bank, recently announced a new initiative aimed at fostering community involvement and philanthropy among its employees. With a commitment to supporting the local community, Farmers Bank launched a donation matching program, empowering employees to contribute to the Mississippi County nonprofit organizations of their choice...
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Humane Society offers spay program (5/3/24)The City of Blytheville Animal Services in collaboration with the Blytheville Humane Society has proclaimed May as the city’s official Spay and Neuter month. Blytheville City Ordinance 1743 states that all animals are required to be spayed or neutered unless a breeder’s license is obtained from the city collector’s office...
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Manila Healthcare Center breaks ground on new center (5/3/24)MANILA — Manila Healthcare Center broke ground on Wednesday morning on the Manila Nursing Center in Manila. Located along Highway 18, this 84-bed facility will offer skilled nursing, as well as inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services to surrounding communities...
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Manila Schools send two OM teams to world (5/1/24)Saturday April 13 was a big day for Odyssey of the Mind in Manila. The program, which is only three years old, is sending two teams to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals in Ames, IA this year. The program had teams competing from Manila Elementary school and Manila High School in this year’s Arkansas State Finals...
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Upcoming Community Events... (5/1/24)Thursday, May 2: –The Blytheville Ministerial Alliance invites the community to a prayer walk in recognition of the National Day of Prayer. The event will be held starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2. It will start at the New Mt. Olive MB Church, 534 Maple and West Rose Street, Blytheville. For more information contact Pastor Willie D. Williams, Jr., at 870-740-8489...
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Chickasawba Masonic Lodge annual barbecue sells out (5/1/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— The Chickasawba Masonic Lodge #134 held its annual barbecue at the lodge hall at 200 E. Davis Street over the weekend and sold out for the second straight year. Members of the lodge began preparing Thursday night; on Friday they cooked 250 Boston butts; and finished Saturday morning cooking 150 ribs before opening to the public...
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AWS launches new chapter at ANC event (5/1/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Lexicon, Inc. hosted the American Welding Society (AWS) Leadership luncheon in conjunction with National Welding Month. The event was held on April 29, at the ANC Center for Allied Technologies at the Blytheville campus...
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Author comes to Blytheville (5/1/24)There will be a meet and greet the author Frank Thurmond at Blytheville Book Company on Saturday, May 4, starting at 10 a.m. Thurmond’s books include Before I Sleep: A Memoir of Travel; Reconciliation; Ring of Five; A Novella and Four Stories; and Remember and Other Poems...
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Change in location announced for Blytheville Prayer Walk (5/1/24)The Blytheville Ministerial Alliance will host the National Day of Prayer with a prayer walk beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2. There has been a change in the starting location. The prayer walk will begin at the New Mt. Olive MB Church at 534 Maple and West Rose Street in Blytheville. Pastor is Doug Echols. It was originally announced it would start at the Pentecostal Power Church, Inc...
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Malik Dority found guilty (5/1/24)By SANDRA BRAND NEA Town Courier Editor In what could be called a very emotional trial, a jury of his peers found Maleke (aka Malik) Dority, 27, of Blytheville guilty of first degree murder in connection with the Jan. 17, 2023 shooting death of his cousin, Dandre Whitfield, 25, also of Blytheville...
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Area Drug Courts receive financial assistance (4/30/24)Administrative Office of the Courts officials presented a $105,025 award to the Adult Drug Courts in the Second Judicial Circuit on Tuesday, April 23. A check for $28,899 was presented to Judge Melissa Richardson for Craighead County; $21,782 - Judge Charles Mooney, Jr.; $21,727 - Judge Mary Broadaway; $16,448 - Judge Dan Ritchey; and $16,169 - Judge Charles Mooney, Jr. for Poinsett County...
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Three men sought in Cherry Tree Mart Robbery (4/30/24)By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times BLYTHEVILLE - The Blytheville Police Department is seeking three back males in connection with the Sunday evening robbery of the Cherry Tree Mart. BPD officers responded to a call about an aggravated robbery at approximately 6:30 p.m. and spoke with the store clerk...
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Terry Hall to stand trial for murder of Dandre Whitfield (4/30/24)By SANDRA BRAND NEA Town Courier Editor Terry Lamont Hall, Jr., 29, of Blytheville, was set to stand trial for the Jan. 17, 2023 murder of Dandre Whitfield this past week, but he received a continuance until July. Hall is now scheduled for a motion and plea day on July 1 and a jury trial July 22-26...
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Blytheville Lions Club - Ministerial Alliance president shares mission (4/27/24)The Blytheville Lions Club welcomed guest speaker Pastor Willie D. Williams, Jr., president of the Blytheville Ministerial Alliance, at the Tuesday, April 23 meeting. Lion Danny Pankey introduced Williams, two term president of the Blytheville Ministerial Alliance, commending him for the job he does with the Ministerial Alliance and the community...
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Monette council accepts policeman’s resignation (4/27/24)By NAN SNIDER Special to the NEA Town Courier Monette City Council met Monday evening and accepted the resignation of policeman Ryan Kelems effective April 19. Lance Davis was hired as the third full-time police officer, at a starting salary of $38,000. Davis is not certified but will soon be attending the Police Academy for training. Benefits will be increased after certification...
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BIC Principal Kima Stewart announces retirement (4/27/24)By NAN SNIDER Special to the NEA Town Courier Buffalo Island Central Elementary Principal Kima Stewart announced her retirement to the school board Thursday evening stating, “I am not leaving the work force as I plan to assist my daughter Savannah as she realizes her professional dream with the opening of her private orthodontic practice, Stewart Orthodontic Studio, in Jonesboro.”...
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Green energy still powers quorum court discussions (4/27/24)By DAVID PIERCE NEA Town Courier Nearly 60 days into a 180-day moratorium halting new construction of solar fields in Mississippi County, the quorum court unanimously passed an ordinance allowing Next Era Energy to move forward with its three projects...
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Dority found guilty (4/26/24)A jury of his peers has just found Malik Dority, 27, of Blytheville, guilty of first degree murder in connection with the Jan. 17, 2023 shooting death of his cousin, Dandre Whitfield, 25, also of Blytheville. There is a co-defendant in this case and the jury did not find that Dority was in possession of or used a firearm during the incident...
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Farmers in the Dell to hold sale (4/26/24)Farmers in the Dell Relay for Life team will hold a garage and bake sale on Saturday, April 27, at 149 Highway 18, Dell, from 7 a.m. until noon. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. There will be lots of great bargains and delicious baked goods all for a good cause...
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Prayer Walk set for May 2 (4/26/24)The Blytheville Ministerial Alliance invites the community to a prayer walk in recognition of the National Day of Prayer. The event will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2. It will start at the Pentecostal Power Church, Inc. Everlasting Truth, 1905 West Main, the former Save-A-Lot building in Blytheville. Pastor is Bishop Johnson Stone...
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– Mississippi County Regional Chamber Banquet – Barrett Harrison honored with Lifetime Community Achievement Award (4/26/24)By SANDRA BRAND NEA Town Courier Editor The Mississippi County Regional Chamber of Commerce held its annual banquet Thursday evening honoring the best of the community including the 2024 Lifetime Community Achievement Recipient Barrett Harrison. Seth Holifield, chamber president, said, “Some people make the world go around, others watch the earth turn.”...
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Roger Williams to sing at Manila Music at the Museum (4/24/24)Well known local guitarist and singer Roger Williams will be the featured guest at the Thursday, April 25, Music at the Museum in Manila. The show will begin at 7 p.m. Williams of Caraway sings rock and roll, country and gospel. There will be a drawing for free groceries compliments of Farmers Market of Manila. Two $25 gift cards will be given away after the performance. Must be present to win. $1 donation per chance...
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NARCAN training held (4/24/24)Manila Resource Officer Sgt. Jarred Camp organized a NARCAN training course at Manila High School on Friday, April 19, with several staff members attending. NARCAN is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist. The training course teaches how to recognize the signs of an overdose and how to administer the reversal drug...
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Chamber hosts ribbon-cutting for Mor Storage (4/24/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Mor Storage was welcomed with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Mississippi County Regional Chamber of Commerce on Friday, April 19. Family, friends and city and state officials were on hand for a tour of the new state of the art storage facility located on Fleeman Street in Manila. The new business is owned by the Irvin Morris Family who is well known throughout the area...
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Leachville man honored with top awards (4/24/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Michael Webster of Leachville, a 20 plus year route salesman for Frito-Lay, received several top awards for 2023. Webster was named the District Route Sales Rep of the Year and Route Sales Rep of the Region and received the world-wide Ring of Honor, the sixth out of 10,000 in the nation...
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Health Dept. to host open house (4/24/24)The Blytheville Health Department will host an open house from 1-3 p.m. Monday, May 6. The public is invited to join the staff as they celebrate returning to their newly renovated, modernized unit. Guests will be able to tour the facility at 1299 North 10th Street and learn more about the clinic and the services provided...
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City and County Youth Program to celebrate 40 years of service (4/23/24)The City and County Youth Program, a non-profit organization, will soon celebrate 40 years of service to the community. The director and founder of C.C.Y. Shannon Duck Sims said the program has been successful due to the community support which has a heart to make sure all children have school supplies, coats, etc...
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Dority murder trial continues in Blytheville (4/23/24)By SANDRA BRAND NEA Town Courier Editor The first degree murder trial of the State verses Malik Dority began in Mississippi County Circuit Court Monday with Judge Scott Ellington presiding. Maleke (aka Malik) Dority, 27, of Blytheville is charged with the Jan. 17, 2023 shooting death of Dandre Whitfield, 25, also of Blytheville...
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Governor receives FGA honor (4/23/24)LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders received the "Governor of the Year" award at the Arkansas Policy Recognition Dinner hosted by the Foundation for Government Accountability on Thursday, April 18. "I’m honored to receive this award – and even more honored by what it represents. ...
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County sponsors Spring Clean-up (4/23/24)The Spring County-Wide Clean-up will be Saturday, April 27. This is a time where each city/town that would like to participate can rally together and encourage residents to do some “spring clean-up". The how’s are left up to each municipality. The County Landfill is free that day to individuals. Any municipality will receive a 50 percent discount. Landfill hours will be from 7 a.m. -noon on Saturday...
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Blytheville police seek suspect in Sunday shooting (4/21/24)On Sunday, April 21, 2024, Officers with the Blytheville Police Department responded to the 100 Block S Division St in reference to a male subject being shot. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the victim, Kohnali Hunt (18, Caruthersville, MO). ...
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Manila School Board fills positions (4/20/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier The Manila school board filled several positions, renewed contracts and accepted one resignation at the Thursday, April 18 meeting. Following an executive session, Superintendent Jason Evers recommended hiring several teachers with the board voting unanimously for each one...
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Concerned citizens voice thoughts on next police chief (4/20/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— Thursday night, roughly 30 citizens attended the Community Forum at the Ritz Civic Center concerning the selection of the next chief of police for the city of Blytheville. The forum was hosted by Blytheville mayor Melisa Logan and the city council. Five of the six city council members were in attendance...
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Blytheville seniors place in bean bag baseball (4/19/24)Members of the Mississippi County Senior Citizen Center, the Blytheville Chickasaws, won fourth place in the 2024 NEA Bean Bag baseball tournament on April 12. Members of the team include Daryl Johnson, Idell Jenkins, Donita Woolsey, Sammie Hayes, Joe Pope, Tom Hayes, Eddie Mae Purdue, Charles Rodgers, Mary Burton, Tobey Johnson, Dance Burge, Bernice Jenkins and Alberta Pritchett. ...
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Ribbon-cutting welcomes new Manila bakery (4/19/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Small Town Treats in Manila was welcomed with a ribbon-cutting hosted by the Mississippi County Regional Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, April 16. The new business is located at 305 Highway 18 in Manila and is owned by LaDonna Harvey...
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ANC Board approves 2024-25 operating budget (4/19/24)Members of the Arkansas Northeastern College Board of Trustees gathered for their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 17, where members approves the College’s operating budget for the 2024-2025 year. Based on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, the Board passed the College’s Operating Budget for 2024-25. ...
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Regional Chamber to host banquet (4/19/24)Thursday, April 25, will be a big night for the Mississippi County Regional Chamber of Commerce when it holds its annual banquet at the Arkansas Aeroplex. The theme is “Chamberitaville,” a take-off on Jimmy Buffett’s famous “Margaritaville.” According to Chamber President Seth Holifield, it will be fun and festive, but he notes it will be more than that. ...
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Zekelman Industries unveils $120 million investment Partners with Arkansas Northeastern College on Workforce Training Initiative (4/19/24)BLYTHEVILLE – Zekelman Industries, the largest independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America, will invest up to $120 million to expand the manufacturing capabilities and product offerings of its subsidiary, Atlas Tube, in Mississippi County. The project will bring Zekelman’s total number of employees in the area to more than 300. During the unveiling, the manufacturer also announced it will partner with Arkansas Northeastern College on a new workforce training initiative...
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Suspects arrested in Wynne Block Party shooting (4/17/24)WYNNE, Ark. — On Tuesday, April 16, Special Agents from the Arkansas State Police (ASP) arrested four individuals in connection with a block party shooting that resulted in the death of one person and injuries to at least nine others. “I’m proud of how Arkansas State Police personnel worked with the Wynne Police Department to swiftly apprehend the suspects in this case,” said ASP Colonel Mike Hagar...
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Chickasawba Lodge to hold annual barbecue (4/17/24)Chickasawba Masonic Lodge #134 will hold its annual fundraiser barbecue April 27. The fundraiser will be held at 200 East Davis Street (Franklin and Davis) in Blytheville. Tickets may be purchased by contacting Francis Lewis or any other Lodge member...