Stories from Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Mississippi County, and in fact all dual judicial district counties within the state of Arkansas, can now go back to the way they have always collected, recorded and spent tax revenue. HB 1743, passed by the Arkansas House and Senate since March 13, with its included emergency clause is now immediately enforceable law. The bill is now known as Act 751 of 2017...

Local state legislators Sen. Dave Wallace (R-Leachville) and Rep. Monte Hodges (D-Blytheville) have both sponsored Senate Bill 688 (SB688) in the Arkansas General Assembly in order to help Mississippi County compete more effectively for the second phase of the Big River Steel project...

During their monthly meeting on Thursday, the Blytheville Board of Education discussed plans for gymnasium renovations, the need for purchasing an additional vehicle and personnel recommendations. During the monthly "superintendent’s report", Superintendent Richard Atwill discussed the process of selling and purchasing vehicles by the district...

After transitioning from moving from Cross County to Blytheville in his senior year, Blytheville Chickasaws forward Josh Richardson(6’6, 230 lbs) signed a letter of intent to play basketball for ASU Mid-South Greyhounds in West Memphis on Friday. The Greyhounds are coached by Chris Parker, and Parker says what stuck out about Richardson is his versatility...

A truck driver was not injured when his 18-wheeler caught fire at the Interstate 55 65 mile marker around 10 p.m. Monday, according to Blytheville Fire Chief Mike Carney. Carney said when firemen arrived the cab was fully involved with fire that started in the trailer, which was carrying a large quantity of paint...

An ordinary water snakes ate an ordinary fish in the Walker Park Pond this week as two other ordinary water snakes attempted to get in on the kill. Ordinarily, this would not have caused much public concern in Blytheville. However, a video of the act was shared many times locally on a social media site, precipitating inordinate attention to the issue, as is custom with social media posts...

Officers from the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department were called out to County Road 54 (Skyline Drive), just north of Gosnell, Tuesday afternoon around 4 p.m. in response to a violent incident that occurred, leaving two men injured and both men eventually transported a Memphis hospital. Neither man lives at the residence...

Payless will close nearly 400 stores, including its Blytheville location, according to the company’s website. On Tuesday, the company released a press release announcing that it has filed a voluntary petition for reorganization pursuant to Chapter 11 of the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code “to facilitate the financial and operational restructuring necessary to strengthen its balance sheet and position the Company for long-term success.”...

A truck driver was not injured when his 18-wheeler caught fire at the Interstate 55 65 mile marker around 10 p.m. Monday, according to Blytheville Fire Chief Mike Carney. Carney said when firemen arrived the cab was fully involved with fire that started in the trailer, which was carrying a large quantity of paint...

Ms. Amanda Herring, 33, of McCrory, Arkansas, formerly of Blytheville, went to be with the Lord on Monday, April 3, 2017, as the result of an automobile accident. She was born on June 26, 1983 in Monroe, Louisiana to Vester Louis Watt and Nancy L. Person Watt. She died at Unity Health Center in Newport...