Stories from Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Monday afternoon, Blytheville City Councilman Matt Perrin, Blytheville Assistant Police Chief Ricky Jefferson, Public Works Director Mark Keys and a few others gathered at the Ritz to take part in the July City Council committee meetings while other members of the council - John Mayberry, John Musgraves and Barbra Brothers - attended via Zoom...

Blytheville Superintendent Bobby Ashley was a guest during Blytheville Mayor James Sanders’ Monday press conference and he discussed the latest update on the 2020-2021 school year. According to Ashley, the last few weeks have been “extremely busy” with the school...

The Blytheville School Board held a special meeting Monday evening to discuss a policy regarding face masks and other COVID-19 preventative measures for students, staff and campus visitors. The board approved the measure, which will now go to the personnel policy committee for review...

Monday night, the Armorel School Board accepted the resignation of Theresa Lawrence as high school principal. Board members Eldon Carter and Angela Finley were not present at the meeting; Carter has tested positive for the COVID-19 but according to board members he is feeling better after coming home from the hospital...

Chester Arthur Baldon, Jr., 51 of Tampa, Fla., passed away at his home on June 26, 2020. He was born May 2, 1969 in Stockton, Calif., to Chester and Doris Joshaway Baldon Sr. Chester served his country as a member of the United States Army. He was a member of Life Spring Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Patton...

Robert Ray "Coach" White, 81, of Leachville, died Monday, July 13, 2020, at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. Born in Blytheville, he was the son of the late Ray and May Hooper White and was a 1956 graduate of Blytheville High School. Following high school Bob attended Arkansas College at Batesville and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Arkansas Teachers College in Conway. ...

Jessie Lee James, Sr. 64, of Jonesboro, died July 12, 2020, at Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House. He was a master welder and of the Baptist faith. Mr. James was born Jan. 31, 1956, in Osceola to Eddie B. and Christine Williams James. He was preceded in death by his father, Eddie B. James; two brothers, Willie James and Larry James; two sisters, Rose Mary Dunn and Matilda Jefferson...