Stories from Thursday, February 4, 2016

Westminster Village officials expressed confidence that the Blytheville Fire Department will provide adequate fire overage to them, after the Blytheville City Council's passage of the 2016 city budget which includes the de-manning of Fire Station Three on the Aeroplex. ...

Sometimes a person's quick wit isn't funny at all, in fact, sometimes it is down right proof of ignorance and quite offensive. Mr. Blant Hurt, a "businessman and resident of Jonesboro" and respected writer opined an opinion piece in the Feb. 2 edition of the Jonesboro Sun entitled "Our Sun King Mayor."...

Albert Einstein said, "The world is not dangerous because of those who do harm but because of those who look at it without doing anything." On Jan 29th, the City Council voted 4-2 in favor of the original budget which would cut 4 firemen and not fill 2 opened positions. ...

The weather in Arkansas is unpredictable at best, and once again we have proved that by jumping from ice storms and weather in the teens to a chance of tornadoes in less than two weeks. As you know, I have to write this column a couple of days before it runs, and as with all things weather in Arkansas the forecast may change back to snow in that time period, but since as I am writing the forecast calls for a good chance of severe weather tonight (Tuesday), I thought maybe it was time to dust off the old tornado/severe weather safety tips.. ...

Act 2! Community Theater Group will hold auditions for its production of The Dixie Swim Club, a Jones Hope Wooten Comedy. Auditions will be held Friday, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. and again on Saturday, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Ritz Civic Center in Blytheville...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. Wednesday, Feb. 3 -- Police took a general information report. The victim said someone used his name to file taxes. -- Officers took a report of missing prescription medication in the 1200 block of Holly...

Mississippi County Sheriff's Department Intake Report -- 1/25/16 through 1/31/16...

A female Gosnell Junior High student accidentally called 911, causing a lockdown of the junior high, high school and elementary campuses Thursday afternoon, according to Gosnell Police Chief Daryl Watkins. Watkins said there was never a threat to the students during the lockdown...

Edna Sue Welch Swanner, 77, passed away Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, at St. Bernards Medical Center. She was born May 18, 1938, to the late Jarrett Welch and late Florence Welch Crowell. Mrs. Swanner, a long-time resident of Jonesboro, grew up in Monette. She attended Community Fellowship Church...

Ted Johnson, 62, of Leachville, passed from this life Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, at the Siloam Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Siloam Springs. Born Nov. 29, 1953, in Manila, he was the son of the late Billy Mack Johnson and was raised in the Buckeye community. ...