Stories from Saturday, December 28, 2013

William Marvin Whitten of Brookland departed this life Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013, at the Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro at the age of 92. He was born March 15, 1921, in Monette, the son of Hubert N. ...

Felisha S. Bell, former executive assistant to Blytheville Mayor James Sanders, is scheduled to appear in Mississippi County Circuit Court Tuesday to face charges of theft of property and second-degree forgery, stemming from investigations by the Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas Division of Joint Legislative Audit...

The city of Blytheville's 2014 budget process continues Monday night as the Finance and Purchasing Committee plans to meet at 5 p.m. in the Municipal Courtroom. The Finance Committee is expected to finalize revenue numbers as well as look at budgets for Blytheville Waterworks, Wastewater and Parks and Recreation, which are all self-funded, separate from the General Fund. ...

The Ironman Triathlon race is an ultimate test of human endurance and perseverance. The daunting 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and full marathon, a whopping 26.2 miles, would make most weak at the knees and send them in the opposite direction. But not Phil Hawkins, who competed in the Tempe, Ariz., Ironman race in November...

Arturo Gonzalez Garcia, 20, of Manila, died Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, from injuries received in an auto accident near Manila. Born in Blytheville, he was a lifelong Manila resident and a 2012 graduate of Manila High School where he played football and baseball. He was currently a student in the aviation maintenance program at Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville and was a member of the 7th Day Adventist Church in Jonesboro...

Sylvester Hodges, 64, of Blytheville, died Monday, Dec. 23, 2013, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. He was born in Crawford, Miss., the son of Jimmy Hodges and Marie Evans Hodges. He enlisted in the United States Army. After leaving the Army, he lived in several states. ...

The Rev. Oscar O'Neal Nesler, 84, of Hickory Ridge, formerly of Blytheville, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013, in Hickory Ridge. He was a minister and member of Feltner Assembly of God in Cherry Valley. He was the minister at First Assembly of God Church in Blytheville for 50 years...

Mr. Calvin Stevens, 89, of Blytheville, passed from this life Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Born in Huffman to Clayton and Katie Simpson Stevens, he proudly served in the United States Army Air Force and was a member of Pathway Church of God. Mr. Stevens retired from Blytheville Public Works. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan...