Stories from Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Mr. Calvin White Sr., 55, of Joiner, died Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, in Jonesboro.

Mrs. Betty L. Sailors, 70, of Blytheville passed from this life Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, at Flo and Phil Hospice House in Jonesboro.

Unfortunately, I have some news the citizens of Blytheville wish not want to hear. We as citizens are responsible for the financial predicament in the city. WE ARE, ALL OF US. We live in a democracy, where public meetings and disclosure is present every month at our City Council meetings. ...

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that Mitt Romney gets the Republican nomination for president this year.

The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) recently announces that Cobb Funeral Home of Blytheville has earned the 2011 Pursuit of Excellence Award.

The Delta Gateway Museum in downtown Blytheville will honor Black History Month at the "Heirloom Saturdays at the Museum" event on Feb. 11.

Arkansas Northeastern College is preparing for its Tomorrow's Outstanding Professionals Skills (TOPS) Challenge, which is being hosted Friday at the main campus and the Burdette Center.

The Wiley Center is getting ready to open its Black History museum provided by museum coordinator Vera James. Though the exhibit is only in its second year at the Wiley Center, its been in various locations across town over the last decade.

Theft, closely followed by residential burglary and breaking and entering, are by far the largest crime problems in Blytheville, according to report summaries released by the Blytheville Police Department for the years 2009 through 2011.

A Blytheville man became the city's first homicide victim of 2012, Tuesday night.

Though unable to pinpoint its exact usage, a deputy legislative auditor doesn't believe the city of Blytheville's $2,344,004 unremitted payroll taxes were stolen, but instead supplemented various city services.

Rededicating current sales tax money is not a viable option to resolve the multi-million dollar payroll tax debt to the IRS, Blytheville city attorney Mike Bearden said Tuesday night.

GOSNELL -- The Gosnell Junior Lady Pirates exited the 3-4A Junior District Tournament after a 29-19 loss to the Westside Junior Lady Warriors Tuesday night at Gosnell Gym. Gosnell led 6-2 at the end of one before Westside took a 12-11 lead into halftime. The Lady Warriors led 20-15 heading into the fourth. Daelyn Bingham and Krishon Hill each scored six a a piece to lead the Lady Pirates. Brook Hill scored four and Lauren Rogers added two...

PARAGOULD -- The road to the 5A state playoffs just became a little longer for the Blytheville Chickasaws thanks to a 56-44 loss to the Paragould Rams Tuesday night at Paragould Gym. With the win, the Rams (5-15, 3-6 5A-East) sweep the season series (2-0) over the Chickasaws (11-12, 3-5 5A-East)after beating them in mid January...