Stories from Friday, January 10, 2014

Spend one hour per month to improve health in 2014 Get started now on your new year's healthy lifestyle resolutions by carving out an hour in your schedule to join an Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) class. The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, Great River Charitable Clinic and Aldersgate Community Services announce a new collaboration to kick-off the series of eight monthly EFNEP classes to help Mississippi County residents start making the lifestyle changes they want in 2014.. ...

The local basketball season is in full swing with a full schedule of games on tap for Friday night. The Blytheville Chickasaws open the 5A-East season at Beebe Friday night with girls beginning at 5:30 p.m. followed by boys. The Gosnell Pirates are hosting the Valley View Blazers at the Gosnell Physical Education Center. ...

CARDWELL, Mo.--The Armorel Tigers senior and junior high basketball swept a two-game set at Southland, Mo. Thursday night. The senior boys defeated the Southland Rebels, 55-32, Thursday night. Armorel led 14-8 after the first period, 30-11 by halftime and 46-26 heading into the fourth...

Mr. Johnny Griffen, 79, passed away late Thursday, Jan. 9. 2014, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Carney Funeral Home, www.carneyfuneralhome.com

Carolyn Jeanette Hall, 64, of Manila, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at her home. Born in Manila to the late Thurman Earl and Wonnie Bell Palmer McMinn, she was a lifelong Manila resident, a 1967 graduate of Manila High School, and later received an Associate's Degree from Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville...

The Blytheville Ministerial Alliance and pro-life supporters will hold a March for Life event this weekend, in commemoration of the upcoming anniversary of the Roe V. Wade Supreme Court decision. "This is a significant time, certainly an opportunity for us to highlight the Biblical message of the church and bring our faith to bear on the issue of abortion," said Mike Welch, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church. ...

Public Works may soon charge the different city of Blytheville departments for use of its personnel. Currently, the Public Works budget is absorbing expenses that the Streets and Drainage Committee believes should be coming out of other city budgets...

After a slow year for 2013 as a result of down time for runway upgrades, the Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority is looking at a much smoother 2014. Operation numbers are rising for the BGRAA after the runway opened back up on Nov. 14. The runway had been closed for a large portion of last year while upgrades were made, particularly to the runway's lighting system...

The Blytheville City Council's Finance and Purchasing Committee continued work on the 2014 budget during Thursday night's regular monthly meeting. At this point, revenue is now projected at $15,346,435.04 for 2014, after the board increased anticipated income for Waterworks by about another $100,000. Waterworks is now projected to take in $3,099,905 this year...

The county is pushing forward with its lawsuit against the City of Blytheville for overdue jail fees, according to Mississippi County Judge Randy Carney, who told Rotarians on Thursday that it's his job to make sure the debt is collected. During a state of the county address during this week's Rotary Club meeting, Carney was blunt about the city's failure to pay its due jail fees and lack of leadership in getting the debt taken care of by the entire city government...

I've only ever had one mother-in-law, and now I don't have one at all, at least not a living one. I know lots of people who have racked up several different mothers-in-law over time, but I've never had that opportunity (if you want to describe it as an opportunity), and I would have to say that there is virtually nothing imaginable that could occur that would add another one to my list...

17-year old Christopher Sowell of Gosnell was released from custody Thursday morning on a $25,000 bond payment, handled by Prunty Bail Bonds and ordered by Mississippi County Circuit Court Judge Barbara Halsey. His release comes just two weeks before his next scheduled court date on Jan. 27...