Stories from Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Former Blytheville Courier News (now NEA Town Courier) publisher David Tennyson passed away Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021 at his home in Columbia, Mo. David was born August, 16, 1952 in Ironton, MO to R.C. Tennyson and Robbie Sue Tennyson. Soon after the family moved back to Steele and began operating the Steele Enterprise newspaper in 1956. ...

Members of the Mississippi County Quorum Court Insurance Committee met Thursday to discuss arbitration plans and legal action taken against the former insurance company for unpaid claims in 2019. Mississippi County joined with several other claimants including Clay County, Crittenden County, Cross County, Hot Springs County, Jefferson County, Lawrence County and Synergy HR, LLC in a suit against Underwriting Management Experts, LLC, et al and Gerber Life Insurance Company, over defaulting on insurance claims.. ...

Greg Smith, Manila Airport Director, addressed the Manila City Council at the February meeting on Monday night, presenting a $250,000 matching grant check from the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics. The check is for reimbursement to the city for construction of the aprons to the new avionics business. He went on to say construction of the  new avionics business is receiving funding through the Mississippi Economic Development group...

The annual ESA St. Jude Children’s Hospital radio/cable-thon fundraiser will look a little different this year. The event will be Friday, March 5, and Saturday, March 6. The radio-thon will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. that Friday, while the cable-thon will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. that Saturday on Ritter Channel 21, tubetownonline.com, and Ritter’s Facebook page...

In their monthly meeting, Blytheville’s Public Works committee discussed the need for exit ramp lights on I-55. Councilman Matt Perrin presented a quote from Shelby Electric to complete the underground work needed to get the lights back functional. Exit 67’s would cost $80, 923 while Exit 63’s would cost $71,293 through Shelby Electric...

Blytheville is famous for its barbecue. Two of the big reasons are local staples Kream Kastle and Dixie Pig. Both restaurants are finalists for the 2021 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame. Other finalists include: AQ Chicken House, Springdale; Colonial Steak House, Pine Bluff; Dairy King, Portia; Feltner's Whatta-Burger, Russellville; Herman’s Ribhouse, Fayetteville; K Hall & Sons Produce, Little Rock; Monte Ne Inn, Rogers;...

Blytheville, Gosnell, Armorel and KIPP Blytheville closed their facilities Wednesday because of inclement weather, pivoting to virtual for the day. The Mississippi County Courthouse also closed Wednesday because of road conditions, and all Quorum Court committee meetings schedule for Wednesday have been canceled...