Stories from Wednesday, September 30, 2020

The Gosnell School Board provided several updates in their Monday night public meeting in the Gosnell High School library. Superintendent Bonard Mace said there is currently one positive student case of COVID-19, one positive faculty case, 15 students placed under quarantine and six faculty members placed under quarantine...

ECTA, llc will be hosting the ‘Horsepower Harvest’ motorsport events this weekend at the Blytheville Aeroplex from Friday through Sunday, with NASCAR driver Jennifer Jo Cobb expected to be in attendance. ECTA.llc President Steve Strupp said, “The ECTA Arkansas Mile is bringing 80 of the fastest cars and motorcycles in the world. They will be competing to break and set world speed records.”...

Monette aldermen met Thursday evening to discuss fall and winter plans for the city. “The State Health Department approved plans for the Highway 18 bypass project this month,” Mayor Bob Blankenship said. “Jordan (Woods) and Clay (Stewart) are sitting on go, and plan to start as soon as the crops are harvested. ...

Mississippi County Justice Michael White, the Finance Committee chair, along with committee members justices Neil Burge and Molly Jackson, met on Monday reviewing budget comparisons with preliminary figures for the 2021 proposed budget for five departments. Also present were Justices Rick Ash, Alvin Clay and Jo An Henton...

The September Blytheville School Board meeting was held Monday, live on YouTube. Board president Erin Carrington opened the meeting. Kris Williams, director of technology, and Sally Cooke, director of curriculum, gave reports to the public. Williams said all of the Blytheville District Schools were accredited by the Arkansas Department of Education for 2019-2020 school year...

During Blytheville Mayor James Sanders’ Monday COVID-19 press conference, Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson warned citizens that charges may be made against those that host residential gatherings irresponsibly. Thompson said, “Unfortunately, this weekend we experienced several large, I’m going to call them obnoxious, residential house parties that were not only a breach to the peace but put several hundred people at risk for COVID-19. ...

Shirley Andrews, 77, of Blytheville, passed away Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis. Shirley was born in Manila to Barley and Ruby Schlueter Riggs. She was a retired nurse’s assistant and was of the Baptist faith. Shirley was an avid reader and loved baking, especially red velvet cake...

A jury sentenced Andra Crockett to a total of 130 years in prison in the March 2019 slaying of 37-year-old Priscilla Aldridge, who was shot to death over a fast food order on West Ash in Blytheville. On Wednesday, the Mississippi County Circuit Court found Crockett guilty of the crime, which also included the shooting of Crockett's brother, Kelvin Thomas, who survived...