Stories from Saturday, October 2, 2021

Monday night’s failure of the Blytheville School District to choose a superintendent exposed the fatal flaw of an eight-member board, particularly one so divided. Four board members voted for Dr. Gabriel Jackson; the other four raised their hands for Dr. Zrano Bowles...

Manila School Board met Wednesday night with principal reports being given, positions filled, resignation accepted and budget adopted for the 2021-2022 school year. Board president Jeremy Jackson opened the meeting starting with principal reports from Sherry Mason, elementary principal, followed by LeeAnn Helms, high school principal...

A downward trend of COVID-19 cases continued in the past week for Mississippi County. Blytheville Mayor James Sanders reported 262 active cases in his Sept. 29 briefing, the county’s lowest total in over a month. “We called on you guys during these last holidays and let you know what we were starting to see. And from the numbers we’re looking at now, you stepped up to the plate and I want to personally thank you for that,” Sanders said...

The East Arkansas Planning and Development District made two appointments to the board Sept. 23, with one including Blytheville Mayor James Sanders. Sanders will serve as the new secretary, while Crittenden County Judge Woody Wheeless will serve as the district treasurer...

The traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall will be in Blytheville Nov. 4-7 at the Arkansas Aeroplex’s Flag Plaza. According to Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority president Barrett Harrison, crews will set up the wall on Nov. 4 and take it down on Nov. 7...

The National Cold War Center project received some good news as it has been awarded a total of $1 million in funding from Mississippi County and the state of Arkansas. During Tuesday night’s meeting, the Mississippi County Quorum Court agreed to appropriate $500,000 of economic development funds for a roof project at the future National Cold War Center, which will be housed at the Arkansas Aeroplex in Blytheville, the former Eaker Air Force Base...