Stories from Friday, December 7, 2018

Rachel Ann Avery, 75, of Blytheville died December 5, 2018 at her home. She was born October 31, 1943 in Waynesboro, TN to J.W. and Willie Jane Huckabee Matlock. Mrs. Avery was a retired accounts payable clerk for American Greetings and a member of New Liberty Baptist Church in Blytheville. ...

Rossie Bell "Robin" Meacham, 62, of Manila, passed from this life Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, at her home. Born in Manila, she was the daughter of the late Robert Charles Meacham, and was a 1975 graduate of Manila High School. She had worked as a machine operator for Crompton Company in Osceola, and was of the Baptist faith...

Bobbie Jo Mason, 58, of Caraway passed from this life Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. Born in Osceola, she was the daughter of the late John Felkner and Clara Carpenter Reynolds and was raised in the Wilson and Grider communities. She was a retired certified nurses aid having worked for the former Lanes Nursing Home of Caraway, and Monette Manor Nursing Home in Monette...

According to Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson, several suspects were arrested as local and federal authorities served arrest warrants early Friday morning. Thompson said around 6 a.m. Friday, agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), 2nd Judicial District Drug Task Force (DTF) and officers of the Blytheville Police Department served several federal arrest warrants...

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Agriculture Department’s State Plant Board met Thursday to discuss changes to the current rules regarding the use of dicamba for “over-the-top” applications on dicamba-resistant cotton and soybean during the 2019 growing season...

Charlie “Figgie” Whirl, 50, of San Antonio, TX, a former resident of Blytheville, died Monday December 3, 2018 in San Antonio. He was born in Blytheville, the son of Charlie Whirl, Sr. and Ocie B. Stewart Whirl. Before moving to Texas, “Figgie” was a lifelong resident of Blytheville. While living here he was a member of True Light Missionary Baptist Church where he sang in the choir...

Bryan Mosley, 41, of Marmaduke and formerly of Blytheville, passed away Wednesday, December 5, 2018. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced when complete. Cobb Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.

The Blytheville Chickasaws and Gosnell Pirates will not play in the 72nd Northeast Arkansas Invitational as scheduled after Gosnell pulled out of the tournament. The coaches meeting was held Wednesday at First National Bank Arena, and the bracket was released for the two-week tournament...

Crews should be erecting steel on the $9.4 million Blytheville gymnasium in mid-January, and the project is on track to be completed by Oct.1, according toBlytheville School District director of facilities Randy Jumper. “We are actually in good shape,” Jumper said Friday morning. ...

GOSNELL — The Gosnell Pirates drilled 10 three-pointers in their highly anticipated 3A-3 conference battle with the Rivercrest Colts Friday night, pulling away in the second half to thump the Colts, 78-51. The Pirates (5-1, 4-0 3A-3) shot a sizzling 58.8 percent beyond the arc, connecting on 10 of 17 from long distance...

FAYETTEVILLE— The Blytheville Chickasaws had a huge fourth quarter to edge the Springdale Bulldogs, 45-44, Thursday in the Fayetteville Tournament. The Chicks trailed 20-19 heading into the half but outscored the Bulldogs 26- 24 in the second half. Senior forward Winston Peace led the Chicks with 15 points. ...