Stories from Friday, August 13, 2021

Lola Louise Womble, 77, of Blytheville, formerly of Dyess, died Aug. 10, 2021 at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was a twice retired school teacher and of the Methodist faith. Ms. Womble was born Feb. 14, 1944, in Leachville to William Thomas and Lola Ussery Sharp. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Thomas Wayne Womble; two brothers, O.T. Sharp and Dale Sharp; three sisters, Bonnie Sharp, Helen Willard and Evelyn Sharp; and one grandchild, Ashley Bartlett...

Cathey Byrd, 61, of Blytheville, passed away Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced when complete. Cobb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Richard King, 76, of Blytheville, passed away Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced when complete. Cobb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Huey Stigall, 83, of Mountain Home, formerly of Blytheville, passed away Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, at his home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced when complete. Cobb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Roller skating is like riding a bicycle -- once you learn, you never forget. A group of seasoned skaters, along with some new skaters, are enjoying what they call “old school” skating on Sunday nights at Skateland in Blytheville. They skate to their favorite music of the 1970s through 1990s including Disco, Soul and more of the old-time skating music...

Buffalo Island Central school board met Thursday evening to prepare for school starting Aug. 18. Superintendent Gaylon Taylor addressed how the district would address employees who miss because of Covid for the 2021-2022 school year. The board passed a resolution that all employees, vaccinated or not vaccinated, will be allowed eight Covid sick days, and if longer, employees will need to use their personal sick days...

According to interim Blytheville superintendent Jennifer Blankenship, the Blytheville School District’s mask mandate is no longer in effect. “With the law that was passed by the state legislature this policy is no longer in effect and was not included in the policies approved on July 26th,” Blankenship wrote in an email to members of the Blytheville School Board on Thursday...

Gosnell, Armorel, Manila, and Riverside will not require face coverings this year. Gosnell superintendent Bonard Mace said while the district is not mandating masks, Gosnell Schools is strongly recommending students and staff wear them. The first day of school is Monday...