Stories from Saturday, May 4, 2013

What a week! Lotsa good things, positive things happening and we are so much the better for it.

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

VIOLA -- The Class A Region 2 baseball and softball games at Viola High School are scheduled to begin Monday and continue Tuesday, after being delayed by rain over the weekend. In the baseball bracket, the 1A-3 East champion Armorel Tigers will play 1A-2 North fourth seed Izard County at 5 p.m. Monday, while the 1A-3 East champion Armorel Lady Tigers will play 1A-2 North fourth seed Mammoth at the same time in the first round of the softball tournament...

OSCEOLA -- It's almost time for the annual Osceola Heritage Musicfest. This year's event will be held Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, in downtown Osceola. The Osceola Heritage Musicfest was established to promote downtown Osceola as the center of cultural activities, to preserve and pay homage to local heritage and to revitalize community pride and spirit...

Students from 10 school districts throughout Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri participated in the TRiO Educational Talent Search "Mad City Money" life simulation. Students are given a salary and family situation and must then budget for groceries, mortgage payments, entertainment and more as well as facing the "Fickle Finger of Fate", which could hit them with an unexpected hospital stay or lottery winnings. ...

Cathy Hopper has a story to share, one that she said she hopes and prays will bring "smiles and faith" to everyone who hears it. Hopper and her husband Walter have lived in the Blytheville area "always," according to them, and each had 23-year-long careers -- she as a nurse and him at Nucor, before they settled into retirement together. But it wasn't long until trouble came to disturb the calm of their lives...

This year's Mayfest celebration is just around the corner, and as always the day will be filled with Gospel performances from artists both near and far. Headlining this year's gospel event will be singer Guy Penrod, who organizers say is expected to attract a big crowd...

Four of the five Parks and Recreation departments have submitted their five-year plans to the Blytheville City Council's Finance and Purchasing Committee.

Mrs. Kathy Bobo, 49, of Blytheville, died Thursday, May 2, 2013, at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis.