Stories from Friday, February 26, 2016

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. -- Officers investigated an assault in the 1100 block of Byrum Road. -- Police investigated a domestic battery report in the 800 block of East Main. The victim said her ex-boyfriend slapped and pushed her, then grabbed her mouth and threw her to the ground...

Blytheville police are investigating a domestic battery report in the 1000 block of West Moultrie. According to the police report, around 12:30 a.m. Friday, two juveniles fled from the home to escape domestic abuse, with one and his mother being hit with a bat...

The Southern Bancorp 5th Annual Hope Concert raised an estimated $22,500 for St. Jude Children's Hospital Friday night at the Blytheville Holiday Inn. Craig Wayne Boyd, winner of NBC's The Voice, headlined the event, which was presented by Mississippi County Electric Cooperative...

The Blytheville Fire Department (BFD) responded to a structure fire at 110 East Clinton Street around 5:19 p.m. Thursday evening after originally being dispatched to the wrong location. It is unclear at this time whether it was a caller error or something else that caused them to be given the incorrect Knowles address...

SEARCY -- The Gosnell Pirates lost a heartbreaker to Helena Central, 80-79, Friday night in the semifinals of the 4A East Region Tournament at Riverview. The Pirates jumped out to a 24-14 lead in the first quarter, but Helena rallied to trim the lead to 43-41 by halftime...

Glenda Ellen Carpenter Gill, 62, of Steele and formerly of Blytheville, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016 at her home. Born to Lloyd and Mary Elizabeth (Phillips) Carpenter, Glenda was the owner/operator of River City Spice Company and Razorback Carry Out. She loved plants and barbequing. Along with her husband, Ray Alan Gill, they won numerous awards for their barbeque and were nationally and internationally known Pit Masters...

Elnora Guy, 83, of Osceola died Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 at Osceola Nursing Home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McDonald-Horne Funeral Home.

Mr. James Arthur "Jim" Chitmon, Sr., 73, a resident of Blounts Creek, NC, died unexpectedly Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 at his home. Mr. Chitmon was born in Blytheville on Feb. 9, 1943 to the late Arthur Lee and Annie Summers Chitmon. On May 1, 1964 he married Barbara "Bobbi" Jean Morgan who survives. ...

Beloved husband, father and grandfather, Harold Alford, Sr., 79, of Hot Springs, went home to be with the Lord on Feb. 25, 2016. He was born Oct. 23, 1936 in Blytheville to the late James and Annie Mae Alford. Loving survivors include his wife of 57 years, Dotta Alford, of Hot Springs; daughter, Patty Lynn Harston and husband, Perry, of Hot Springs; son, Harold Alford, Jr. ...

The Finance Committee of the Blytheville City Council met before a full house in special session Thursday evening and approved $39,016 to extend funding for Thunder Bayou Golf Links (TB) through March 31. Tempers flared, sharp tongues wagged and misinformation was both spread and corrected as a coordinated showing of TB supporters spoke en masse during the public forum section of the meeting before Councilman John Musgraves surprised the room by making a motion to adjourn...