Stories from Saturday, July 10, 2021

(Note: I wrote the following column for the July 17, 2012, edition of the Town Crier newspaper. Sometimes I go back and look at what was in the news years ago at the same time of year. I was amazed at this column which is as timely as if I had written it yesterday. History really does repeat itself from time to time so just read along and see what we were talking about nine years ago. We live in a world of change, but there are some things that never change.)...

July 1 began the 100th year of the Rotary Club of Blytheville’s existence. Rotary’s mantra is “Service Above Self,” and the club has certainly been dedicated to serving the Blytheville area for a century and counting. Each year the civic organization provides scholarships to students — usually five scholars receive $1,000 apiece to assist with college expenses...

Blytheville High School girls basketball assistant coach Melissa Young has been “reassigned out of basketball,” according to Blytheville High School interim principal and athletic director Donald Davis. Davis said officials have not decided if she will coach another sport, though, according to Young, her 2021-22 contract lists assistant coach as part of her duties and pay...

During a special meeting Wednesday evening, the Blytheville School Board set a salary range of $125,000-145,000 for the next superintendent and established an application deadline of July 23 for the district’s top leadership position. The board reviewed superintendent salaries of several other districts before settling in on the range. Former superintendent Bobby Ashley’s salary was $125,000; he retired June 30...