Stories from Saturday, December 18, 2021

Caraway Mayor Bo James opened a special called meeting on Tuesday night with the city council approving the county landfill budget, clarifying a timeline for employee raises and giving a bonus. Council members present included Jerry Vaughn, Chris Kelems, Jeff Rea, Jerry Martin and Marvin Browning. Mitchell Tipton was absent...

Before the start of the Mississippi County Quorum Court’s Personnel and Insurance Committees Tuesday afternoon, Mississippi County Judge John Alan Nelson gave an update on the tornado damage in the county and the clean-up efforts underway. Judge Nelson said Gov. Asa Hutchinson flew in on Saturday to survey the damage and calls had come from the federal and state levels offering assistance...

In a special Zoom meeting on Dec. 17, the Blytheville Parks and Recreation committee motioned to approve a lease agreement for Ritz Civic Center with the Ritz Foundation. In the regularly scheduled meeting Dec. 13, chairwoman Katie Thomason explained that the Ritz had previously acquired temporary alcohol licenses for special events. However, the commission is seeking the license so funds generated through alcohol sales can go directly back to the Ritz...

Blytheville City Councilman John Mayberry introduced a draft resolution during the Dec. 14 Finance Committee meeting supporting $1,000 bonuses for city employees. The funds would draw from the American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law during March. The proposed resolution was motioned and received a second, sending it to the full council for approval in their Dec. 21. meeting...

Eight of the 11 Mississippi County Justices of the Peace met for a Planning and Development meeting Wednesday afternoon discussing an increase in investment and hiring a lobbyist firm. Justice Michael White explained the two items on the agenda included increasing the amount appropriated to the Big River Steel/US Steel expansion and hiring a lobbyist firm to work toward federal grants for needed projects in the county...