Stories from Friday, August 21, 2015

Two brothers are facing contempt of court charges after an incident at Blytheville District Court, Thursday. According to assistant police chief Ricky Jefferson, Travon Weeden was in court on domestic battery charges and, from the audience, his brother, Danterra Weeden, made some comments, disrupting the court...

John David Correnti, age 68, of Blytheville, passed from this life Tuesday, August 18, 2015 in Chicago. John was born to Nicholas and Sara Correnti in Mount Morris, New York. He had been a resident of Blytheville since 1987. John spent his life in the steel industry. ...

Larry Gene Betts, age 69, of Blytheville, died Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at his residence. Born in Gosnell, he was the son of the late Nelson and Etta Elder Betts and had been a lifelong Blytheville area resident. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, a retired dispatcher for the Mississippi County Sheriffs Office and a member of the American Legion. ...

Mary Ann Wynne, 65, of Blytheville, died Aug. 19, 2015 in Blytheville. Born Oct. 14, 1949 in Tampa, she was a homemaker and a Pentecostal. She was preceded in death by her parents, J.C. Davis and Molly Patterson Davis, husband Paul Wynne, son John Edward Oakes, sisters Debbie Perez and Margaret Wilson, and brother John Timothy Davis...

Participants in the "Southern Board Retreat" visited KIPP Blytheville College Preparatory School and KIPP Blytheville Collegiate High School during a site visit to Mississippi County Thursday, Aug. 13. The group included members of the Southern Bancorp Executive Board, the Southern Bancorp Community Partners, Southern Bancorp Bank and the holding company, Southern Bancorp Inc. ...

First term Republican State Representative Dave Wallace of Leachville announced this week that he is running for the District 22 State Senate seat currently held by a Democrat, Senator David Burnett of Osceola. The District 22 State Senate seat will be on the Nov. 8, 2016 general election ballot...

Darlene Rodgers of Osceola is proud to announce the release of her CD titled, "Jesus is the Only Way". The CD includes seven songs written and composed by Rodgers in the praise and worship genre of Christian Inspirational music. This is her first CD and includes songs such as: "I'm working for Jesus", "God gave His only Son", "Jesus is the only Way", "I know Jesus", "I have joy", "I'm watching and waiting", and "I'm standing on the Rock"...

Keith Allen Davidson, age 56, of Jonesboro died Friday August 21, 2015 at St.Bernard's Medical Center. Born in Kennett, he was the son of the late Vernon A. Davidson and had been a longtime resident of Jonesboro. He was a certified welder and a retired heavy equipment operator for the City of Jonesboro...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. -- Officers took a report of a stolen Arkansas license plate in the 500 block of Stemac. -- Police investigated a domestic assault in the 300 block of Dougan. -- Officers arrested Pamela Smith on assault charges and resisting arrest, following an incident in the 100 block of Hollywood...

With such a buzz going around town regarding the City Council sending a new 1 cent Sales and Use Tax to voters Tuesday evening, I feel it impossible to not weigh in. It needs to be said that I honestly like every member of the Council as well as the Mayor, personally. While I have absolutely nothing to gain from taking a position regarding the tax, as a member of the fourth estate I believe it is my responsibility to protect the citizens and explain (when I can) their leaders...