Stories from Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Leona Mae Halpain, 63, of Leachville, widow of Albert Lee Halpain, passed from this life Saturday, March 28, 2020, at the Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. Born in Ravenden Springs, she was the daughter of the late Espen Campbell and Anna Marie Barger.  Leona was raised in Ravenden Springs and Thayer, Mo., and was a 1975 graduate of Thayer High School. Leona cherished time spent with her family especially her grandchildren. She was a devout Christian, enjoyed watching the Hallmark Channel, reading and working puzzles. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Johnny Barger, one daughter, Anna Barger and a special friend, Troy Burrow.. ...

Sam McCanless, 92, of Paducah, Ky., died Saturday, March 28, 2020, at Parkview Nursing and Rehab Center. Sam was a retired pipefitter welder at Local 155 in Little Rock. He was a member of the congregation of Jehovah’s Witness. Mr. McCanless is survived by his son Sammy McCanless and wife Sue of Owensboro; four grandchildren, Crystal Ford of Owensboro, Ky., Tonia Kerr of Bella Vista, Tasha Garza of Twin Lakes, Wis., and Micah Hamlett of Jonesboro; and seven great-grandchildren, Stevie Ford, Castle Kerr, Corbin Kerr, Ty Garza, Preston Hamlett, Ellana Hamlett, and Ava Hamlett.. ...

Mrs. Bessie Woodson, 78, of Osceola passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2020, in Marion. Born on Jan. 21, 1942 in Crawfordsville, she was the daughter of CD and Ophelia Johnson Hampton. Mrs. Woodson was a retired employee on American Greetings in Osceola and was a member of St. John Full Gospel Church where she sang in the choir and served on the Hospitality Committee...

Virginia Manning, 97, of Blytheville, passed away Thursday, March 26, 2020, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Virginia was born in Ripley, Miss., to Nat and Vera Scott Caviness. She worked as a waitress and was a member of North Tenth Street Baptist Church. Virginia was a lifelong area resident and she enjoyed quilting...

Phillip Wayne Maupin, 66, of Blytheville, passed away Monday, March 30, 2020, at River Oaks Nursing Home in Steele, Mo. Phillip was born in Blytheville to RC Maupin and Estelle McCanless Burchfield. He was a retired electrician and he loved music. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Dickerson Maupin; his parents; stepfather, Bob Burchfield; stepson, Jimmy Dople; brothers, David and Sam Maupin; sister, Ann Kennedy and niece, Tammie Deason...

Carlos Wells, Jr., 17, of Blytheville was arraigned in Chickasawba District Court Tuesday on first degree murder charges. Wells is accused in the slaying of 19-year-old Tadarius Daniels Friday in the 300 block of Walls Street in Blytheville. Daniels was shot in the head and his right hand...

The 41st Annual Mayfest has been canceled because of COVID-19. Main Street Blytheville officials made the announcement Friday on Facebook. “Due to the current situation of our State, Country and World with COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the Board members of Main Street Blytheville will be cancelling our Mayfest event as of today, Friday, March 27, 2020,” the statement reads...

Blytheville Mayor James Sanders held a press conference Monday on the third floor of the Blytheville Water Tower where he provided an update on local impact of COVID-19. Sanders also continued to express that the city of Blytheville is not under curfew...