Stories from Wednesday, January 29, 2020

During the 10th budget meeting Monday night, Main Street Osceola and the town’s homeless shelter both lobbied the Osceola City Council for funding in 2020. The five council members present — Sandra Brand, Tyler Dunegan, Gary Cooper, Greg Baker, and Stan Williams — voiced support for the programs, along with some concerns...

The Gosnell School Board extended the contract of superintendent Bonard Mace for an additional year, Monday night, during its regular monthly meeting. Mace’s three-year contract now expires on June 30, 2023. “You do a great job; we appreciate you — all of you,” Gosnell School Board president Donnie Wright said, while looking at Mace and the leadership team. ...

Monette Mayor Bob Blankenship gave his State of the City address Monday evening portraying 2019 as a progressive year for the city with expectations for an even better 2020. “We were able to update some of our Sanitation Department equipment,” Blankenship said. ...

There was no fire at Blytheville High School Wednesday afternoon when students and faculty were evacuated for about 10 minutes as firemen investigated. According to Blytheville Fire Chief Mike Carney, there was an electrical short in the hot water heater...

Eugene Chew, Sr., 69, of Luxora, died Jan. 21, 2020, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was a former employee for the City of Luxora and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Chew was born April 5, 1950 in Dell, to Willie and Evie Lee Warner Chew, Sr. He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Marengia Williams; two brothers, Percy Chew and Willie Chew, Jr.; and one sister Carol Hill...

Mamie Loudean Huddleston, 87, of Manila, widow of Tommie Huddleston, passed from this life Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, at the Monette Manor Nursing Center. Born in Manila, she was the daughter of the late Orval and Vera Harmon Needham and was a lifelong area resident. She enjoyed gardening, spending time with her family, and going on shopping trips with her grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Shirley Dean...

Eesha R. Humphrey, 24, of Blytheville passed away Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. Eesha was born to Elisa Humphrey in Memphis on Feb. 19, 1995. She attended the Blytheville Public Schools and studied at Arkansas Northeastern College...

Joe M. Jolley of Bono passed away Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, at the age of 73, at his home in Bono. He lived in Blytheville as a child and teenager and also lived in McKinney, Texas, for many years, before retiring in Bono. Joe was born in Blytheville on Nov. ...

Bettye Sue Richardson, 82, of Manila, widow of Mr. Carl Richardson, passed from this life Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. Born in Manila, she was the daughter of the late James Samuel and Macie Lee Johnson Murray and had been a longtime Manila resident. Bettye was a 1956 graduate of Manila High School, was a homemaker and a member of Blackwater Baptist Church near Manila...

Mr. Robinson Socrates Nunn, 75, of Blytheville passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, after a swift battle with cancer. Born Sept. 29, 1944, in Blytheville, he was son of Dr. King H. Nunn, III and Dr. Helen Robinson Nunn. Rob was a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps and life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the National Bar Association. Rob retired from the Small Business Administration (SBA) as Chief Counsel for Ethics after over 45 years of service. ...

Blytheville School Board worked through a lengthy agenda Monday night at the January meeting. The board was recognized in conjunction with National School Board Appreciation month. Board members received several tokens of appreciation from elementary, middle school and high school staff and students...