Stories from Saturday, April 25, 2020

April showers bring May flowers….We should have a lot of flowers in May because I think we have had our share of rain this month. The grass and leaves are getting greener every day and the flowers are beginning to bloom. With the coronavirus keeping us home it seems we have a little more time to take notice and “smell the roses.”...

This past Wednesday was Earth Day. When I was in grade school, I never paid much attention to Earth Day, nor did I realize how important it actually is to do my part in protecting the planet. Usually for Earth Day, we would learn about different ways to recycle and how to be resourceful with things the Earth produces naturally. These efforts were often short-lived and I’m not even sure of whether or not they made any substantial impact on the environment...

The Armorel School District announced recently that Grayson Seibert and Anna Simmons took home two national awards - Fay Jones Architectural Challenge and Sketchup Competion - from this year’s EAST Conference, which was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic...

Coach Greg Wilson recently announced via social media that he had been hired as the next Blytheville Lady Chickasaws basketball coach. Coach Melissa Young, who has led the program for more than 20 years, will remain on the staff as an assistant coach...

Riverside Elementary students are utilizing the PBS AMI program. Riverside East Principal Steven Sanders and West Principal LeeAnn Harrell have been working together, along with teachers and parents, in an effort to ensure students continue with their studies during the corona virus pandemic...

Editor’s Note: The NEA Town Courier has partnered with Arkansas Northeastern College and several local businesses to highlight ANC students. This is the latest in a series titled ANC Student Snapshot. Arkansas Northeastern College would like to announce Darrius Nichols of Blytheville as one of its Student Snapshot recipients for April. ANC Instructor in Construction Technology Josh Chipman nominated Nichols...

Manila Fire Chief Brandon Bollinger announced sirens in Manila will be tested every Wednesday at noon if the weather is clear. “We want the public to know when we are testing so they will not be alarmed,” Chief Bollinger said. Chief Bollinger said Manila presently has three tornado sirens - one near the old water tower behind the former fire house, one at Big Lake Golf Course and one west of town. ...

During Wednesday’s press conference, Blytheville Mayor James Sanders reiterated what Governor Asa Hutchinson discussed related to the timeline of the possibility of reopening restaurants, beauty and barber shops, gyms and places of worship. The mayor also discussed recyclying,which has come to a halt in Mississippi County because of COVID-19...

The Blytheville City Council held its regular meeting Tuesday via Zoom video conferencing. Blytheville Mayor James Sanders said, “We are trying to be respectful to the COVID-19 declarations that have been put out by our governor. Speaking with the Arkansas Municipal League, they have discussed the procedures we have put in place during these unprecedented times to establish a way to conduct our meetings.”...

Blytheville police are investigating a fatal shooting in the 400 block of Tennessee, according to Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson. Demarcus Daniels was reportedly killed in the incident. More details will be released as they become available.