Stories from Thursday, July 16, 2009

Nine people have been arrested on various drug and gambling charges as the result of two search warrants being served by the Second Judicial Drug Task Force, Mississippi County Unit, according to the task force. Tuesday at 6:20 p.m., the task force, in cooperation with the Blytheville Police Department, executed a search warrant at the home of Eldridge Buckley, 32, at the 500 block of West Hardin, in Blytheville...

Some area residents awoke to darkened homes and business today, as a result of power outages brought on by thunderstorms passing through the area. Paul Brewster of Entergy said at its peak, the power outage left about 4,500 Entergy customers without electricity, most in the Blytheville area. By later in the morning, that number had been whittled to 1,900. Shortly after 8 a.m., all but about 200 customers had power restored...

"Reading is the magic key to take you where you want to be," was the motto of this year's Summer Reading Program at the Boys and Girls' Club of Blytheville. More than 20 children, ages 5 to 15, participated in the program, according to St. Clair Parks, director...