Stories from Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Tuesday night, the Gosnell City Council passed ordinance 289, which will allow the city to purchase a four wheel drive vehicle for emergency use by the police department, such as during snow storms when roads become inaccessible to cars. "I believe this will be a good investment for the police department, we can afford this purchase, so I'm glad we could make it happen and I appreciate everyone's support," said Mayor Don Marshall...

The Blytheville Archeological Station will close to the public at the end of this week. The weeks following will be used to move all of the artifacts in the building to Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. Michelle Rathgaber and Marion Haynes are the only employees of the station, with Rathgaber being the only full-time employee. Rathgaber will be leaving for grad school in the fall to pursue her doctorate in archeology...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. Monday, July 13 -- Police took a report of a stolen riding lawn mower in the 300 block of Industrial Road. Machine and Repair Services reported the missing mower. -- Police took a domestic battery report in the 900 block of Webster...

There are numerous events being planned this year, in conjunction with the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. More accurately, these events do not celebrate the war, but rather the veterans that answered their nation's call to fight in it. One such event is planned for 2 p.m. this Sunday at the Blytheville Courthouse...

Ms. Constance Houston, 59, of Blytheville died Sunday, July 12, 2015 at her home. Ms. Houston leaves two daughters, Valencia Houston and Antionic Houston, both of Blytheville; Two sons, Tony Houston and Fabian Houston, both of Blytheville; One sister, Mary Ray of Chicago, Ill.;...

Donald Carl Holt, 61, of Blytheville, passed away Sunday, July 12, 2015 at Great River Medical Center. Donnie was born and raised in Humboldt, Tennessee and attended Memphis State University. Donnie loved Mustangs, science fiction books and movies, discussing his political views and collecting guns. Donnie was a Maintenance Manager of PACO Steel Corp for 15 years...

Mrs. Mary Lee White Kelly, 52, of Osceola, died Monday, July 6, 2015 at her home. Mrs. Kelly leaves her husband James Kelly of Osceola; Two daughters, Evette White of Shreveport, La. and April Thomas of Osceola; Two sons, Zachary Ewing and Jeremy James White, both of Shreveport, La.;...

Mrs. Georgia Anna Hardin, 70, of Blytheville died Saturday, July 11, 2015, at Heritage Square Nursing Home in Blytheville. Born June 23, 1945, in Coldwater, Miss., to the late Weldon Hardin and the late May Newson Hardin, she was a retired R. V. worker and a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church in Blytheville...

Local Blytheville industry Motor Appliance Corp (MAC) suffered a devastating fire due to an explosion in March, which resulted in total loss of the building. Since then the company has leased a new building at 301 Industrial Drive across the street from the old building...

Children went door to door Wednesday morning collecting canned goods for the local food pantry as part of a three day Community Mission Project through the First United Methodist Church. Monday, the children cleaned up the grounds of the Red Cross and Tuesday they painted fire hydrants as part of the project...

The Armorel School Board met Monday evening, and district reports were given indicating that the district is currently in the middle of conducting general upkeep, painting, carpet replacement and installation of new lockers. Other work mentioned was the addition of a new computer lab in the high school, supplementally funded by an earlier grant...

Blytheville Chief of Police Ross Thompson told the CN that the severe thunderstorm that moved through the Blytheville area Tuesday afternoon blew a large tree and some power lines across portions of South Division in the vicinity of Rabin Tire. The massive downed tree and multiple power lines, as well as other damage around the area, caused power outages and traffic problems. Traffic lights were out at Chickasawba, Main, McHaney, and Byrum as they bisected Division...

George Richard Smith, age 79, of the Milligan Ridge community near Manila, died Monday July 13, 2015 at St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock. Born in the Shady Grove community, he was the son of the late Claud and Mary Edna Simpson Smith and had been a lifelong Manila area resident...

Hershel Lollar, 74, of Blytheville passed from this life on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at the St. Bernards Regional Hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced when completed. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.cobbfuneralhome.com...

Ova Dean Meacham Bearden, age 84 of Blytheville, passed from this life on Monday, July 13, 2015 at her home. Born to William and Jessie Perry Vasser in Manila, Arkansas, she was a lifelong area resident, retired employee of Bush's Canning Company and of the Baptist Faith...

Mr. Alvin "Al" Merle Bynum, Sr., 77, of Hardy passed away at home. He was born on April 3, 1938 to Samuel Bennett Bynum and Eva Mae Glass Bynum. His usual occupation before becoming disabled was a sheet metal worker. He also served in the United States Army...

Isaac Edgar Covert, age 74, of Vilonia, AR passed from this life Monday July 13, 2015 at St. Vincent Hospital in Little Rock. Born in New Brighton, PA he was the son of the late Isaac Herbert and Inez Swan Covert and was raised in the Georgetown, PA area...

The Blytheville/Mississippi County economy has taken a number of hits this year, with approximately 600 layoffs announced since January 1. Most of these layoffs are tied to the pipe industry. During the same time, approximately 600 new construction jobs have been created with the construction of Big River Steel in Osceola...

Mississippi County Sheriff's Department Intake Report - 7/6 through 7/12 Johnathan L. Alexander, 23, of Osceola - petition to revoke; Shadondre Kejaun Black, 19, of Osceola - contempt of court-fines, engage in continuing crime gang or enterprise, terroristic act-shoots at to cause physical harm;...

Ida Lee Tate, 92, of Blytheville passed away on Tuesday, July 14th at Heritage Square Nursing Home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by McDonald-Home Funeral Home.