Stories from Thursday, December 13, 2012

Lisa Rhoades, editor and general manager of the Steele Enterprise in Steele, Mo., passed away suddenly in early October this year. According to David Tennyson, publisher of Village News Inc., which encompasses the Blytheville Courier News, the Osceola Times, the Democrat-Argus and the Steele Enterprise, Lisa has worked at the Steele Enterprise for over 10 years. ...

Monette Manor selected Kristina Shirley for December Employee of the Month. Ms. Shirley works in housekeeping and laundry. She has been employed at Monette Manor for six years. She is married to Robbie Shirley and they have four children, Andrea, 16; Jared, 13; Ethan, 11; and Abigail, 3...

Mrs. Ruthie Mae Jones, 70, of Blytheville, died Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012, at Doctors Hospital in Augusta.

Mr. Roy Millard Cook, 85, of Etowah, died Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, in his home.

Betty Lou Bray, 81, of Manila, passed from this life early today at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro.

I would like know why the streets in south Blytheville are not being repaired. There are potholes on my street that need to be fixed. I've lived on Parkway 22 years and I pay my taxes, but the city has done nothing to repair the broken streets in my neighborhood...

I saw the article in the Blytheville Courier about the IRS accepting the Blytheville offer of $3.8 million or so to pay off the debt of $2.2 million that the ex-mayor blessed the city with. Sounds to me like another line of fools was involved in the negotiations -- $1.6 million in penalties and interest? When the truth comes out about how much attorneys made off this case should really let us know how we got our money's worth. ...

Typing up Santa letters got me thinking just how different Christmas wish lists are now than when I was growing up.

The Blytheville City Council's Code Enforcement Committee has scheduled a public hearing for 3:30 p.m. today (Thursday), in the Municipal Courtroom to discuss a proposed ordinance that puts several requirements on rental property owners.

Main Street Blytheville will be hosting its Holiday Open House 6-8 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at the Greyhound Bus Station, located at 105 N. Fifth Street.

The Blytheville Leadership Institute toured the Blytheville School District and KIPP Blytheville Wednesday.

The county's economic development office is still working on a "large project," a big industry which, according to developer Clif Chitwood, could potentially locate in Mississippi County in the near future.

The Arkansas Northeastern College Board of Trustees has selected Dr. James Shemwell as the institution's new president.

The awards and accolades continue to pile up for Armorel's Ty Wagganer. Last year's Courier News Player of the Year for baseball will be playing baseball at the college level next year. Wagganer recently penned an athletic scholarship with Henderson St. University in Arkadelphia...