Stories from Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Probably the most ignored sign in Blytheville is the one setting a 30 miles per hour speed limit on the stretch of the new Highway 18 overpass. As a four-lane highway, the speed limit should be 40 or maybe even 45 between the Division and Franklin traffic lights, in my opinion. Because it is a state highway, the Arkansas Highway Commission — not the city — would have to increase the speed limit following a study...

Most of us have experienced life in the fast lane. Those are the days when we have children/teenagers at home and they are involved in lots of activities. I can remember the days when we had at least one place to be and sometimes two places every night of the week...

It took three overtimes before top seeded Bay finally overcame host Buffalo Island Central in Thursday night’s semifinal action of the 2A-3 district tournament at Monette. When the dust had settled, the regular season conference champion Yellowjackets escaped with a 49-43 victory...

Melbourne’s quickness and depth proved too much for Riverside to handle as the Lady Bearkatz captured the 2A-3 district championship, rolling to a 47-27 victory over the Lady Rebels Friday night at Monette. Riverside took its only lead of the game, 2-0, on an early Briley Douglas bucket...

The Armorel Lady Tigers have a big test right off the bat in the 1A Region 2 Tournament at Calico Rock. Seeded fourth in the 1A-3, the Lady Tigers drew Class 1A top-ranked and 1A-2 champion Norfork in the opening round. AHS has gotten contributions from two freshmen, Abby Simmons and Allison Carter, the last few games as it adds depth to the bench...

The Blytheville Chickasaws (19-5) conquered a feat that hadn’t been done since 2001 Saturday, winning both the conference and district championships. The Chicks defeated the Westside Warriors in the 4A-3 District Championship game, 66-60, at Pocahontas...

Tuesday afternoon, the Mississippi County Quorum Court Finance Committee discussed a property the county previously purchased with the intention of building a new courthouse in Blytheville. Justice of the Peace Rick Ash, chairman of the Personnel Committee, updated the Finance Committee on the two fuel tanks on the South Division property purchased in March of 2015. The fuel tanks were left when the former Road runner gas station closed several years ago...

The Mississippi County Union Mission provides a multitude of services to the local community, including services outside of simply aiding the homeless within Mississippi County. Mission director Lisa Willard was hired in October of last year and would like for the community to know more about what the mission does and what it has to offer...

The Blytheville City Council met on Tuesday with a lengthy agenda concerning multiple purchases and appointments/reappointments to various city commissions. Other important items included the passage of two separate resolutions offerings bonds to finance different projects within the city. The first concerned the offering of bonds to finance the justice center improvements. The second concerned the offering of sewer revenue bonds...

Though county offices were closed for Presidents Day on Monday, Mississippi County Judge John Alan Nelson and his team were hard at work in his office, strategizing how to handle the logistics of the Blytheville courthouse renovation project. Last Tuesday, voters approved a referendum that extends the ˝-cent hospital tax for 30 years, with 1/3  of those funds going towards $14 million in renovations to the Blytheville courthouse and $2 million in work at the Osceola courthouse...

Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson confirmed that an individual suffered fatal gunshot wounds during an incident on East Cherry, Wednesday night. Police have not released the name of the victim. The incident is the fourth homicide in Blytheville in the last three weeks...

The 4A-3 top-seeded Blytheville Chickasaws punched their ticket to the Class 4A State Tournament on Wednesday night, cruising past Forrest City, 74-56, in the opening round of the 4A East Region Tournament at Highland High School in Hardy. Behind 10 first quarter points from Tedrick Washington, the Chicks led 19-15 going into the second quarter. They were ahead 37-32 at halftime. Blytheville outscored Forrest City 16-15 in the third quarter...

Blytheville police have arrested Eric Bragg, 37, of Blytheville in the shooting death of 26-year-old Brittney Sims. According to Lt. John Frazier, the BPD CID commander, around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Blytheville officers responded to the 1200 block of Hearn to investigate the domestic-related shooting...