Stories from Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Octavia Christina McKinney, 47, of Blytheville passed away Jan. 30, 2024, in Steele, Mo. She was born Dec. 4, 1976, in Osceola to John McKinney and the late Teresa Burrage. Octavia was a homemaker and of the non-denominational faith. She was preceded in death by her mother, the late Teresa McKinney; two brothers, Terry Armstrong and John McKinney Jr.; and one grandchild, Cecil Sincere Rainey...

Levita J. Mathis was born April 3, 1979, to J.D. Mathis and Florida Mae Grice in Blytheville. She departed this life Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, at her residence in Jonesboro at the age of 44. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Robert Williams; two daughters, Kurlonda Mathis and MyKaila Williams; one son, Keontae Williams, all of Jonesboro; one brother, Gary Grice of Osceola; one sister, Naomi Irvin; one brother-in-law, Lydell Irvin, both of Kansas City, Mo.; eight grandchildren and a host of other family members and friends.. ...

Maxine Furlow was born in Blytheville on Jan. 20, 1959, to R.D. Mullins and Betty Jones. She was preceded in death by both parents; two sisters, Evelyn Jones and Bernice (Bonnie) Jones; and nephew, Darron Williams, Sr. She departed this life Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro...

Devontae Johnson, 18, of Blytheville, passed away Jan. 30, 2024, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville. He was born Oct. 15, 2005, in Blytheville to the late Main Webb and Vicky Johnson. Devontae was preceded in death by his father, the late Main Webb...

Bishaara A. Clark was born Sept. 26, 1954, to Samuel Clark and Lula Barton Clark in New York City. He departed this life on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, at NEA Hospital in Jonesboro at the age of 69. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Taylor Clark of Blytheville; one daughter, Chale Clark of Goose Creek, S.C.; two sons, Khy Clark of Goose Creek, S.C., and Richard Worley of San Leandro, Calif.; one sister, Fawn Clark of New Port News, Vir.; one brother, Sam Clark of Charston, N.C.; five grandchildren and a host of other family members and friends.. ...

Ora Lee Sipes, 85, of Tyronza, passed away Feb. 3, 2024, at her home. She was born Feb. 13, 1938, in Calhoun, Miss., to Edward and Cora Hollins Roach. She was a homemaker and a Jehovah Witness of Marked Tree. Ms. Sipes was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers, Robert Roach, L.T. Roach, Henry Roach, Gerald Roach and Howard Roach...

One suspect is in custody following a police chase that began on Franklin Street in Blytheville. On Feb. 2, a vehicle refused to stop for Blytheville police officers who were trying to make a traffic stop on Franklin Street. The vehicle fled into the residential area...

The Blytheville Police Department is offering a six-week course allowing the public to learn about their local police department. The Citizen Police Academy allows participants to learn more about the BPD and the officers who serve the citizens. It will be held one day each week for a few hours...

By SANDRA BRAND - NEA Town Courier Another young man has lost his life in a Blytheville shooting and a second has been arrested and charged with his murder. Devontae Johnson, 18, of Blytheville suffered a gunshot wound on Jan. 30 and later succumbed to his injuries at the Great River Medical Center...

The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas was awarded a $25,000 grant by Farm Credit Mid-America to provide fresh produce in the 12 counties served by the Food Bank. The USDA recently named Arkansas as the nation’s most food insecure state with 16.6% of Arkansans reporting low or very low food security. While fresh produce is an important part of a healthy, balanced diet, it is often too expensive for families with limited resources to purchase on a regular basis...

By Pamela Pruett, CEA-FCS ppruett@uada.edu There is good news this year for childcare providers and foster parents in northeast Arkansas! University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Agents – Family and Consumer Sciences will once again be hosting in-person training for The Best Care...

The Humane Society of East Arkansas (HSEA), outside of Lepanto, suffered a loss on Jan. 26, when its more than 100 year old horse barn, office and storage building caught fire and burned to the ground. The fire left seven horses, three mini horses, three donkeys and five dogs without shelter. The society also had just purchased all their animal feed for the month and lost it all, along with more than 300 bales of hay. They also lost their med room and storage room...