Stories from Saturday, August 13, 2011

A good friend and animal advocate, Mr Lampley, called me the other evening regarding his concern for the loving care of our animals and the need for it.

For Chau Stone, traveling has become almost second nature. As a successful entrepreneur, licensed Medical Aesthetician and director of education for Spa Source USA, she spends much of her time traveling the country promoting and training others on the benefits of her line of skin care products and health spas...

Teachers left their "comfort zone," in the words of Blytheville superintendent Richard Atwill, and visited their students' neighborhoods on a bus tour Friday. With summer break winding down, Blytheville school teachers gathered together Friday for the last general session before the beginning of the new school year. Then they took a bus ride...

Federal funding for drug interdiction on the county level may possibly be headed for a downturn, according to Charles Easterling, coordinator and deputy prosecutor for the drug task force of the second judicial district. During a meeting of the Drug Task Force's Board of Governors, which took place at the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department Friday morning, Easterling said it seems as though grant funding on a federal level, which has bankrolled a large portion of DTF operations in previous years, may be coming to an end.. ...

Tuesday night, the Blytheville City Council will consider an $87,500 offer of compromise with Northeast Mississippi County Water Association, which did not pay for water in 2010. Blytheville Mayor James Sanders told the Finance and Purchasing Committee Friday that the city and Northeast Mississippi County Water Association have been in negotiations since early the year...

Nucor Steel Arkansas is considering a $40 million expansion to its Hickman facility, Blytheville Mayor James Sanders told the City Council's Finance and Purchasing Committee Friday. Tuesday night, the Council is expected to consider a resolution, recommended by the committee, that paves the way for the potential expansion...

The neighbor of three-year-old Breann Rodriguez has been formally charged in the child's disappearance and death. According to Prosecuting Attorney for Dunklin County, Stephen P. Sokoloff, who spoke at a press conference around 1 p.m., Saturday, Shawn Morgan, 34, of Senath has been charged with the felony counts of First Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action and Tampering with Physical evidence in connection to the missing child case that has been covered by local and national media since Saturday, August 6, the day little Breann was reported missing by her family.. ...

Mrs. Judy Diane Robertson, 56, of Dell, died Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011 at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Mrs. Robertson leaves her husband Jimmy Robertson of Dell. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced at a later date...

Mrs. Thelma Rice Putman , 81, of Hot Springs, died Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011. Born Jan. 27, 1930 to Louis Rice and Naomi Rice, she was a retired staff accountant for various firms and a charter member of the Lakeshore Heights Baptist Church. Mrs. Putman leaves one daughter, Tina Kuntz of Hot Springs;...