Stories from Wednesday, April 1, 2015

I want to shout out a giant "thank you" to the Gosnell Police Department. Imagine my surprise on March 9, 2015, when I woke up to all of the snow blocking the exits of my home. I called two businesses that were unavailable to come remove the snow. I am in a wheelchair, so I was unable to get out of the house in case of a fire. I'm not claustrophobic, but I do not like feeling trapped, so I began to panic...

Phone scamming is alive and well! My wife answered a call from a man claiming to represent Reader's Digest, telling her she had won a million dollars and a new Mercedes car. She "baited" the caller and started asking questions like what do I have to do to get the prizes. She was first told "nothing" except to give a bank account number so they could process the money. She told him she didn't have a bank account; then the story began to change...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department.

Pearlie Mae Bell, 71, of Blytheville, died Tuesday, March 24, 2015. at her home.

Arkansas Northeastern College hosted "Believe in Yourself" -- a women in leadership event Wednesday on the Blytheville campus.

Carl Hardy Avery, 72, of Blytheville, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at his home.

GOSNELL --The Gosnell Pirates improved to 5-1 in the 3-4A conference after sweeping a conference double-header over Trumann Tuesday. The Pirates won the first game, 12-2, and took the nightcap, 10-3. Gosnell 12, Trumann 2 The Gosnell Pirates scored nine runs over the third and fourth innings on their way to a 12-2 win in five innings in the first game of a conference double-header against the Trumann Wildcats...

ARMOREL -- The host Armorel Lady Tigers clinched the 1A-3 East conference championship on the last day of March thanks to a two-game sweep of the Bay Lady Yellowjackets Tuesday night. Armorel 10, Bay 0 A seven-run second inning helped propel the Armorel Lady Tigers to a 10-0 shutout of Bay in five innings Tuesday...

The Blytheville Chickasaws are still looking for their first conference win after dropping both games of a 5A-East double-header Tuesday to Paragould at the Blytheville Youth Sportsplex 3-1 and 15-0. In game one, Paragould plated three runs over the first two innings and it was just enough to edge the Chicks, 3-1...

Local city and business leaders joined with representatives of the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce Monday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at The Station, a new business on Main Street in downtown Blytheville. Owned by Diane Moss, The Station will offer a variety of party services and products. Sandra Jackson is the store's manager...

The half-cent hospital sales tax passed by Mississippi County voters in October of last year began collections on April 1.

Blytheville area residents were startled late Wednesday night by a mild earthquake that struck the area, shaking homes and waking many people up.