Stories from Friday, July 2, 2021

I’ve already written my Fourth of July column but again I do hope everyone has a safe holiday and we all have the opportunity to enjoy barbecue and fireworks. Those are the two things I associate with the day. Most of us will have a day off work on Monday since the Fourth of July falls on Sunday this year...

The Blytheville School District is at the proverbial fork in the road. Superintendent Bobby Ashley abruptly retired in June, leaving a vacancy at the top leadership position. Blytheville High School principal Jennifer Blankenship has taken on the role of interim superintendent, but indicated she will not be applying for the permanent position...

The NEA Town Courier received a call from a Gosnell resident requesting a warning note about the dangers of large-type fireworks being shot in residential areas. “With the Fourth of July coming up, I just think people should be cautious about shooting off the commercial-type fireworks in residential areas,” the caller said. ...

The Mississippi County Energy and Property committee met Tuesday with Justice of the Peace Molly Jackson, chair, reporting she had attended the owner/architect/contractor meeting Tuesday morning for the Blytheville courthouse project. Justice Michael White said, “We are looking at mid-September before it will be functional.”...

Ashley, a Mississippi County native, was raised in Dyess, the youngest of 11 siblings. He was among the fifth graduating class of Rivercrest High School. After graduation from Ouachita Baptist University, he became a well-known, successful girls basketball coach with a couple of NEA Tournament titles and a state championship in the late 1980s...

Secure Vision of America District Manager Pat Flowers addressed the Monette City Council Monday evening concerning benefits of using Kamstrup ultrasonic water meters for transmitted reading. “All features of our water meter system are geared toward increasing revenue or saving money for utilities,” Flowers said. ...