Stories from Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Mississippi County Sheriff Dale Cook presided over a promotion ceremony for four Mississippi County Sheriff's Department (MCSD) personnel Tuesday morning in the MCSD conference room. Quorum Court Police, Fire and Safety Committee Chairman Justice Ken Kennemore "pinned" the officers as the Sheriff read the individual proclamations. Fellow committee member Justice Benton Felts also assisted...

By TOM HENRY Blytheville Courier News Blytheville Police (BPD) Chief Ross Thompson told the Police and Fire Committee of the Blytheville City Council Monday night that his department is budgeted for 41 officers, but currently is staffed with only 36. He also alerted the committee that two additional officers have discussed resigning by the first of the year...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. Monday, Nov. 9 -- Police investigated a burglary in the 100 block of West McHaney. Three computers were reported missing. -- Police took a criminal mischief report in the 300 block of North Hollywood...

A large crowd gathered Wednesday morning at 11 for the Annual Veterans Day ceremony held in front of the Mississippi County Courthouse in Blytheville. The event honored all those that have served in the U.S. armed forces both past and present. Mississippi County Veterans affairs officer, Jim Dixon, welcomed everyone to the annual event and gave a brief history of Veterans Day. ...

The Blytheville Finance Committee met in a very extended special session Monday evening, after concluding three departmental committee meetings that immediately preceded, to discuss ways to cut over $1.23 million from the "rough draft" 2016 budget. Their objective, however, was not fully accomplished. ...

I want to take this opportunity to thank the citizens of Blytheville for getting out and voting during this last special election. I also want to thank the City Council for allowing the measure to be brought before the people for a vote. I recognize that some hard lines were taken when it came to the support or non-support of the proposed tax, but I want to assure the people of Blytheville that we are all wanting the same thing...for Blytheville to prosper...

Mrs. Thelma Elizabeth Bennett, 99, of Greenville, Mississippi died Monday, November 9, 2015 at her home. Born Thelma Elizabeth Tate on August 17, 1916, in Blytheville, to the late Albert Milton Tate and the late Ada Keeling Tate, she was a graduate of Blytheville High School...

Rachel "Chickie" Elliott, 61, of Blytheville, passed from this life Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at her home. Born to Melvin Lee and Ardis Mae Ray, she was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. Rachel was an accomplished seamstress. She loved to make quilts and blankets for babies. She also liked to do crafts. Her greatest love was her sons, along with family and church...

Carolyn Evon Jones, 51, of Blytheville, died Nov. 9, 2015 at her home in Blytheville. Born June 27, 1964 in Armorel, she was a homemaker and a Baptist. She was preceded in death by her parents, John Henry Jones and Bertha Clowers Jones, and brothers Isaiah Clowers and L.C. Clowers...

Ray Alan Gill, 64, of Steele, passed from this life Wednesday, November 11, 2015 at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced at a later time. Cobb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Interim Public Works director Mark Key told Blytheville's public works committee Monday night that the city's new street-sweeper has only half the capacity of the old sweeper used six years ago and therefore requires more trips to the 'yard' than in the past...

Ronald Thacker, Sr.,67, of Gosnell, passed from this life Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at his home. Born to Belton V. and Mavis (Lawson) Thacker, he was a retired custodian for Blytheville School District. Ronald liked to hunt and fish. He was very artistic and loved to draw. He enjoyed carpentry work and building things...

In a grievance hearing held by the Mississippi County Quorum Court's personnel committee on Oct. 28, former landfill deputy director Cathey Byrd said that she felt she was terminated from her position because she "knew too much," and had talked to the Arkansas State Police regarding their ongoing investigation into county landfill spending...

Donna Hughes, 67, of Muskogee, Oklahoma and formerly of Blytheville, departed this life, Monday morning, November 9, 2015 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Cobb Funeral Home.

Maurice Greene, 64, of Osceola died Friday, Nov. 5 at his home. He was born in Fordyce, Arkansas to Walter Greene and Gertha Frost Greene Giles. He was a graduate of Harrison High School and had attended Arkansas State University. After college and Tech School, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was a veteran...

Charles Edward Howard, Sr., 64, died Wednesday, Nov. 11 at Great River Medical Center. Howard is survived by his wife, Shirley Howard of Blytheville; Daughters, Tonya Jones of Luxora and Robin Cobb of San Francisco, California; Sons, Charles Howard of Hernando, Mississippi and Martin Howard of Jacksonville, Arkansas;...

Junior Brown "J.B." Smithey, 82, passed away on Monday, Nov. 9 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He was born on Dec. 5, 1932 in Shelford, Arkansas to Dave and Alberta Davis Smithey. He served his country in the United States Army. J.B. enjoyed being surrounded by his family and friends. ...

I start by applauding the Mayor's office for including more people in the budgeting process than was originally anticipated. This includes input from the City Council, and if rumor holds true, by some groups in the business community. Sometimes more heads really are better than just one...

Mr. Zeak Lacy, 78, of Blytheville, died November 7, 2015 at Great River Medical Center, Blytheville. He was born May 21, 1937 to John Lacy and Pammie Granger Lacy in Macon, Miss. The family moved to West Memphis where he graduated from Wonder High School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from AM&N College, Pine Bluff. He was a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and served as the chapter treasurer. He was a Mason and member of St. Andrew Lodge #131...