Stories from Tuesday, May 19, 2020

There will be a free Covid19 drive-through screening/testing from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at the First Baptist Church, 715 West Walnut Street, Blytheville. There will be a free box lunch. Testing is available to anyone with or without COVID-19 symptoms. No physician referral needed...

John Watkins, Jr. was born April 24, 1955, to the late John Watkins, Sr. and Clydie White in Luxora. He departed this life Wednesday, May 13, 2020, at NEA Hospital in Jonesboro at the age of 65. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Stephanie Watkins; a son, Johnathan Watkins; three brothers, Calvin Watkins, Alvin Watkins and Eddied Charles Watkins...

Curtis L. Walters was born Jan. 15, 1955, in Osceola to the late Allen Walters Sr. and Hattie Rhines. He departed this life Sunday, May 17, 2020, at NEA Hospital in Jonesboro at the age of 65. He was preceded in death by his parents. Curtis leaves to cherish his memories four sisters, Mae Wimbley, Mable Garrett, Judy Jacobs and Rebecca Whaley all of Osceola; five brothers, W.L. ...

Kurt K. Sawyer, 39, of Conway, went to be with the Lord Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. He was born May 10, 1980, in Blytheville to Kenneth and Brenda Noggle Sawyer. Kurt was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth J. Sawyer. Kurt was a 1998 graduate of Gosnell High School and attended UCA in Conway. He professed Christ as his Saviour while still in his early youth. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Blytheville...

Gwen Frazer Williams, 59, of Blytheville, passed away Sunday, May 17, 2020, at her home. Gwen was born in Memphis, Tenn., to Kenneth and Ruth Ann Davis Frazer. She was a former flight attendant for Delta Airlines and was of the Baptist faith. Gwen was a member of the ESA Sorority and she enjoyed cooking and crafting. ...

Donald R. Mayerski of La Puente, Calif., husband of Anita Sykes Mayerski formerly of Blytheville, passed away Feb. 16, 2020, surrounded by his loving family. Anita was a graduate of Blytheville High School class of 1949. Donald and Anita were married for 62 years, and raised their three children in the Los Angeles area. ...

BURDETTE— More than 30 people gathered Monday at the highly-anticipated Mississippi County Finance Committee meeting at the courthouse, where the board agreed to take $200,000 out of courthouse renovation fund to buy the Emergency Squad’s building from the Emergency Squad. The motion was passed unanimously and sent to the full court for approval next Tuesday night...

Mississippi County has its first reported COVID-19 death. Blytheville Mayor James Sanders told the Blytheville City Council Tuesday night that he was unsure which area of the county the death was in. “We don’t know where, but according to our statistics Mississippi County has had its first death from COVID-19,” he said...