Stories from Tuesday, June 5, 2018

The City of Leachville was awarded a grant in excess of $13,000 at the Arkansas Rural Services Convention held May 24 in Little Rock. The funds will be used to upgrade police and fire department radios. During the grant presentation, Amy Fetcher of Arkansas Rural Development and Governor Asa Hutchinson presented the check to Leachville Mayor Rodney Robertson, Senator Dave Wallace and Representative Johnny Rye. Also representing Leachville was Leachville Councilman Paul Wildy...

A special Memorial Day service was held at the Herman Davis Monument in Manila honoring the men and women who sacrificed their lives for their country. Arkansas Representative Johnny Rye sang America the Beautiful, Scout Leader April Palmer and Troop 32 presented the Colors for the service held Monday, May 29...

Monette American Legion Post 136 hosted a Memorial Day tribute to veterans on Sunday, May 27, at the Monette Cemetery. Post Commander Brandon Decker welcomed the veterans and their families in attendance. Former Post Commander Jerry Reed led the opening prayer and placed an American flag in the soil, signifying the beginning of the special tribute...

A ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion and opening of the Manila Bypass, State Highway 18, was held Thursday morning near the intersection of Mississippi County Road 330 and Highway 18. City, county and state officials, along with highway workers and representatives of the Arkansas Department of Transportation, attended the milestone event and were welcomed by Scott E. Bennett, P.E., director of ARDOT...

Mr. Camilo Martinez, Jr. of Blytheville was born March 17, 1949 in Santa Rosa, Texas to the late Camilo Martinez, Sr. and the late Martha Martinez. He was a farm worker for Langston Enterprises for many years. Mr. Martinez passed away on June 1, 2018 at his home in Blytheville at the age of 68. ...

Lorene M. Smith was born in Blytheville on February 27, 1965 to Rennie Gray and Georgia Gibson. She met Christ at an early age at First Baptist under the leadership of Reverend Green then moved her membership to Prince of Peace church under the leadership of Reverend T.J. ...

Cayden Jace Covington, stillborn, of Frayser, Tenn. died June 1, 2018 at NEA Baptist in Jonesboro. He is survived by his parents, Cedric Covington and Jessica Hood of Frayser, one brother, two sisters, grandparents Ronald and Deshay Hood of Earle, and Delois Tate of Tennessee, great grandmother Peggy Head of Parkin, and Dorothy Collins of Memphis, great great grandmother Katherine Young of Smithville, Ark., great great grandfather Ed Gann of Tyronza. ...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. — Police arrested Robert Young on possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine and pills) during a traffic stop in the 1900 block of Chickasawba. — Police took a theft report ($660) in the 500 block of North Franklin...

Local residents joined the fight against cancer in a big way over the weekend. Ashley Kroll, the coordinator for the North Mississippi County Relay for Life, anticipates donations to total $155,000 from Friday’s Relay for Life and Saturday’s Cars and Cycles Against Cancer, which were held at the Arkansas Aeroplex...