Stories from Wednesday, November 16, 2016

The Mississippi County Election Commission met Monday morning in order to rule on provisional ballots (absentee and otherwise), county overseas absentee ballots and to certify the election results. After two meetings that lasted 3 ½ hours, all were accomplished except for the certification. The Commission was unable to certify the results Monday due to irregularities that occurred on Election Day in the city of Dyess...

It's that time of year again. With the drop in nighttime temperatures, one can begin feel the electric hint of the holiday season approaching. With the approach of the holiday season, comes the opening of this year's Lights of the Delta season. The 22nd Annual Lights of the Delta will open at 5:30 p.m. ...

Aaron Brassfied wasn't quite sure what to expect six years ago when he organized a free Thanksgiving meal for folks in and around Blytheville who normally would not have one. Food was gathered for hundreds of meals. The names of people who would most benefit from a free holiday meal were gathered. ...

After a 35-6 commanding win against the Huntsville Eagles in the first round of the 4A playoffs last Friday night, the Gosnell Pirates prepare for a second round matchup with the Ozark Hillbillies, who will be coming into Friday's second round contest after a 23-22 win over the Ashdown Panthers...

Two Osceola men have been arrested in connection to the Oct. 12 murder of Osceola resident John Williams. Shakur Bingham, 21, was arrested Saturday and Ashton Clark, 20, was arrested Monday, according to Osceola Police Chief David Gladden. Bingham and Clark are both charged with capital murder and aggravated robbery...

Ms. Laura Ann Nichols, 56, of Osceola died October 29, 2016. Born October 14, 1960 at Turrell she is preceded in death by her parents J.D. and Ivy West Nichols and one brother, Arthur Nichols. Survivors include sons James Brown III and Arthur Brown both of Osceola, Brother Jerry Nichols of Marked Tree, Sister Samantha Holmes Elliott of Long Island, NY and four grandchildren. Her memorial service was held Saturday, November 12, 2016 at Bethlehem M.B. Church in Osceola at 2:00pm...

Ms. Mary Jane Martin, 81, of Blytheville, AR, passed on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. She was born February 10, 1935 to Richard and Alice Trudel. She was an active member of the Blytheville Senior Citizens Center and retired from DePaul Rehabilitation Center in Milwaukee, WI. ...

A serious of ordinances and resolutions were introduced to the full Mississippi County Quorum Court (QC) that would have called for a special election to be held on March 14, 2017 so that Mississippi County voters could decide whether or not an ordinance should be approved that would change the current 0.5 percent hospital tax, due to sunset in 2020 be changed to one that would be equally split by the hospital and the county for the purpose of building a new Blytheville Courthouse and would continue until the year 2047. ...

The Mississippi County Quorum Court (QC) met in regular monthly session Tuesday night at the Osceola Courthouse, but on a special day due to the upcoming holidays. The court waded through an unusually long agenda as they approved the county's 2017 budget, levied taxes, increased Landfill tipping fees and declared an emergency and repealed the ordinance that called for a special election on August 9. ...