Stories from Saturday, January 5, 2019

The Courier spoke with both mayors about their plans for their cities going into 2019. Sanders said, “What our concerns are, and it is the same concerns that we have had, and that is the quality of life issues...over the past eight years we have already worked hard to get our finances and to try to make sure our finances in order and I believe we are moving in the right direction...at this point we have been able to develop tools that we need to develop a cleaner and a safer Blytheville. ...

Manila Mayor Wayne Wagner took the oath of office as he begins his third term as mayor. Presiding over the swearing-in ceremony held at Manila City Hall is Justice of the Peace Michael White. Justice White has served on the Mississippi County Quorum Court for 33 years...

In a special meeting Thursday night, the Gosnell City Council discussed adjusting the proposed 2019 budget to make room for equipment needs. Gosnell Mayor Teresa Walker proposed cutting line items in the $1,297,811 budget to allow for capital purchases of a used backhoe and police vehicle...

Bobby Alan Austin joined the Leachville Police Department Jan. 2 as the new police chief and is looking forward to the year ahead working for the community which is also his hometown. Chief Austin, son of Bobby and Deloras Austin, grew up in Leachville and was among the second graduating class of Buffalo Island Central High School in 1986...

January 1 was more than just the start of a new year as elected officials in Mississippi County took the oath of their respective offices that morning. County Judge John Alan Nelson was sworn in at roughly 11:10 Tuesday morning with nine of the 11 JP’s sworn in later in the ceremonies...

In Blytheville, Mayor Sanders says we will see infrastructure improvements and that the nuisance abatement board will finally be set up. In Gosnell, Mayor Walker wants to see more community involvement in town and says she wants to get a grip on the city's spending. Across the county, the QCs want everyone to extend a tax for a number of years to pay for the renovations of the Blytheville courthouse. It is sure to be an interesting year...

We are in the first week of a new year so I will start out on a positive note. I am sure we can all make a long list of negatives. The not so positive list could include: our government can't seem to agree on much of anything; statements for our Christmas spending are already arriving; car payments come more than once a month; the weather is not suitable; people are not nice; our team didn't win; my washing machine went out; I gained too much weight over the holidays; and I have to go back to work. ...

To the editor: I am writing on behalf of Antonio Knox, Jr. family members. I wish to give our deepest gratitude for the love, hard work, and concern for my son. January 5, 2018 is a day I will never forget. My son had just left me less than 10 minutes. ...