Stories from Wednesday, April 20, 2011

A strong but short-lived storm blew through Mississippi County Tuesday night, causing heavy damage in isolated areas, and leaving cleanup crews and electrical workers with a heavy amount of early morning work.

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department.

I have 12 first cousins. Six are on the Weld side; six on are the Fields side. For a number of reasons, ranging from age to geography to common interests, I've never been particularly close to any of them.

Etta Surprise, 87, of Blytheville, died Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at Baptist Hospital-East in Memphis.

Thelma Cathey, 92, of Blytheville, died Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at Heritage Square Nursing Center in Blytheville.

The Blytheville Police Department is joining other state and local law enforcement agencies though April 24 conducting additional patrols looking for all drunk drivers with an emphasis on teenage drivers.

The city of Blytheville is in the process of hiring an attorney as the Internal Revenue Service investigates for alleged delinquent payroll taxes.

A stalemate that has lasted for years came to an end Tuesday night. The Blytheville City Council voted unanimously to enter into a two-year contract with the county, seemingly putting to rest the jail fees issue.

GOSNELL -- Blake Sullivan pitched four scoreless innings and Gosnell took advantage of eight Pocahontas errors to win its final home game, 14-6, Tuesday afternoon. The Pirates broke a scoreless tie by exploding for six runs in the second inning and four more in the third for a 10-0 lead...

Wilford C. Sullinger, 71, of Pocahontas, died Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at the Five Rivers Medical Center in Pocahontas. Born Jan, 22, 1940, in Dalton, he was the son of the late Lee Ora and Lorrell Rice Sullinger and was a longtime area resident...