Stories from Saturday, March 20, 2021

“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody,” Thomas Paine said. Friends I have tried to completely stay out of local government problems...I have really, really tried! This will be my twenty-fifth column since I have returned and not one...I repeat not one of them was about Blytheville City government...

Gas prices are going up; we had the threat of bad storms earlier in the week; we are still wearing masks and social distancing but today is the first day of spring and that should make us all just a little more optimistic. We had a tornado in the area last year at the end of March (March 28) which took down many businesses, including many located at the Turtle Creek Mall in Jonesboro. ...

For the first time, the Blytheville High School Senior Prom and Grand Senior Walk will be held outdoors April 24 on Haley Field. Blytheville High School principal Jennifer Blankenship told the Blytheville School Board Thursday evening that officials will have Covid safety protocols in place, including mask wearing, temperature checks, and social distancing as much as possible. Students will not be able to bring dates from other districts...

Manila School Board members voted Thursday night to accept resignations, fill positions, approved the purchase of Chromebooks and adopted a calendar for the 2021-2022 school year. Following an executive session, Superintendent Jason Evers recommended the board accept resignations from: Dorothy Penix, custodian, effective immediately; John Parrish, assistant high school principal and athletic director effective May 11; John Parrish, bus driver, effective immediately; Kasey Cobb, high school math teacher, effective at the end of the school year; and Jenni Cobb, elementary math teacher, effective at the end of the school year.. ...

In its March 16 meeting, the Blytheville City Council approved the purchase of nine custom dispatch desks for $34,301.50 at the new justice center. The purchase with Inracks was passed through the council with only councilman Matt Perrin opposing the decision...

Lake City interim mayor Lisa Sitz presented an ordinance increasing sewer rates at the regular session of the city council held March 15. The ordinance is to help with the improvements to the sewer facilities of the system. Such an ordinance cannot be adopted until after a public hearing concerning the proposed rates, notice of which must be given by one publication in the newspaper at least 10 days before the date fixed in the notice for the hearing. ...

A suspect in the shooting of 64-year-old Dale Devers has been captured by police. According to Blytheville Police Department Capt. John Frazier, 26-year-old Cody Ward was arrested Saturday morning in the county by the Sheriffs Office. He said a BPD shift lieutenant got a tip and passed it along to deputies and they arrested him...