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Gosnell Board approves milk and bread contractBy Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor GOSNELL— The Gosnell School Board met Tuesday night to discuss bids on milk and bread and prepare the student handbook for the upcoming 2024-25 school year. The school board unanimously accepted the bid from Turner Dairy for milk at $0.45. According to Child Nutrition Director Judy Herron, Sysco Memphis, who was previously used, did not give a bid. ...
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Blytheville School Board meeting draws crowd/member controversyBy Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— Thursday night’s Blytheville School Board meeting in the Administration Building drew a standing-room-only crowd, and there were plenty of fireworks. Eventually, board members got into an argument with President Desmond Hammett after he called for the school board to not go into executive session to discuss personnel. ...
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Rotarians pay visit to municipal airportRotarian Billy Curl led a Rotary After Hours meeting at the Blytheville Municipal Airport sharing progress and upcoming improvements including a longer runway, a new 110x110x20 hanger, and tank upgrades on Thursday evening. Industry leaders, private pilots, agricultural teams, and medical teams are all found in the aircraft that regularly use the airport. ...
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Monette City Council reviews legislative audit/approves rezoningBy NAN SNIDER Special to the NEA Town Courier Monette City Council met Monday to review the legislative audit, approve rezoning and adopt the revised 2024 employee handbook. The council voted to accept the 2023 legislative audit, which reported zero reportable findings...
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Veteran Donald Hatcher honoredVeteran Fred Greathouse of Leachville with Veterans Helping Veterans of NEA honored Vietnam veteran Donald Hatcher posthumously with a plaque and a bronze statue for his service. Accepting the award was Hatcher’s daughter, Molli Palmer, of Manila. It was presented on Wednesday at the World War I monument of Herman Davis in Manila. Hatcher passed away on April 4, 2024...
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Manila Homegrown, Homemade Market draws crowdLocal growers and craftsmen were in Manila on July 12 with a variety of Homegrown Homemade items for the annual event. Several food vendors and food trucks were on hand as well as talented artists with handmade jewelry, canvas art, a variety of crafts, homegrown vegetables, homemade honey and jellies and much more. ...
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Matt Jones honored as “Optometrist of the Year”LITTLE ROCK - The American Optometric Association (AOA) recently recognized Matt Jones, O.D., of Blytheville, as the organization’s 2024 Optometrist of the Year. AOA cited the tireless advocacy work Dr. Jones has led in Arkansas to expand access of care to patients throughout the state by allowing optometrists to practice to a fuller extent of their training. ...
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Marcos Sierra named as member of Future IconsBy Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor Marcos Sierra, General Manager of Sierra Group Roofing and Solar, was recently honored by Arkansas Money and Politics as a ‘Future Icons’ in their July edition. Sierra, along with his wife Victoria, founded his business in 2017 in his garage where he expanded to a 35,000-square-foot headquarters in 2022 with 30 full-time employees...
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Gosnell native shares Indonesia story (7/26/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor The Blytheville Lions Club learned incredible facts about life in Indonesia Tuesday through the words of Gosnell native Michael Davis and his wife Alithia. The Davises and their four girls moved to Indonesia roughly six years ago due to teaching opportunities. ...
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Tiny Miss pageant to be held at Ritz (7/26/24)A Tiny Miss Northeast Arkansas pageant will be held Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Ritz Theater in Blytheville. The pageant is an official Tiny Miss of Arkansas State Preliminary. Pageant categories include: Gown ($100 entry), Photogenic ($15 entry), Fun fashion ($15 entry) and Stage introductions ($15 entry). If you wish to enter all events, the cost is $125 if your enter before Sept. 15. The deadline to enter is Oct. 1...
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Shrek musical to be presented (7/26/24)Studio 42 & Co. will present DreamWorks Shrek JR, the Musical, at the Manila High School Auditorium. Director is Kennedy Baker. Dates and times will be: Thursday, Aug. 1, 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 3, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Aug. 4, at 2 p.m...
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Former officer pleds guilty in court (7/26/24)David Paul Cross, 26, of Blytheville, pled guilty in Mississippi County Circuit Court in Blytheville on Thursday with Second Judicial Circuit Judge Scott Ellington presiding. Cross pled guilty to 19 counts of distributing, possessing and/or viewing material depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child. Ellington sentenced Cross to 36 months in the Arkansas Department of Corrections...
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Upcoming Community Events - (7/26/24)Saturday, July 27: – Main Street Blytheville will hold its last Splash on Main. The event will be held in the Southern Bancorp parking lot from 1-3 p.m. –10 a.m.- 12 p.m. a Blytheville Community town meeting at the Blytheville Public Library. The public is encouraged to attend...
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Replacing I-55 Southbound lanes (7/26/24)The ongoing construction between Blytheville and the Marie exit at mile marker 44 on Interstate 55 has recently entered a new phase. Refurbishing and resurfacing of the northbound lanes of the highway were completed in late June and now both north and southbound traffic are using what will be the northbound lane. ...
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ANC receives $75,000 grant which will enhance technical programs (7/26/24)Arkansas Northeastern College has announced its selection as one of 18 nationwide recipients this year to join the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). This honor comes as part of the largest expansion of the initiative to date, supported by a generous $75,000 grant aimed at enhancing the technical programs offered by ANC to better prepare citizens for the growing workforce in the region...
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Jonesboro Man Who Instructed Young Girls to Self-Harm, Drink Toilet Water, and Film Child Pornography Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison (7/26/24)LITTLE ROCK—Justin Lee Palmer, who “coached” young girls who were anorexic and encouraged them to self-harm and film child pornography, will spend 30 years in federal prison for production of child pornography. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on Thursday by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker...
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Trooper TVI ends high-speed pursuit of stolen vehicle (7/24/24)WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — On Saturday, July 20, 2024, at approximately 11:36 p.m., Arkansas State Police (ASP) pursued a black 2021 Ford Mustang that witnesses reported driving recklessly and nearly causing collisions. The pursuit occurred as the vehicle disregarded the motoring public, passing through the Broadway Boulevard and Martin Luther King Drive (MLK) intersection in West Memphis at speeds over 100 miles an hour...
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Master Millwright inaugural class graduates (7/24/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Senior leadership from Lexicon, Inc., Arkansas Northeastern College and Mississippi County came together to recognize the state’s first graduates from Lexicon’s master millwright program. The celebratory luncheon and ceremony was held at the Holiday Inn in Blytheville on Friday, July 19...
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President Biden ends re-election effort (7/24/24)By STEVE KNOX and JOSEPH FONDREN President Joseph Biden issued a statement via X on Sunday he was ending his bid for re-election to the nation’s highest office. Biden, who had already wrapped up a sure first ballot nod to be the Democratic Party nominee for the office he currently holds, made the move just over three weeks after what has been called “a poor performance” in the June 28 debate in Atlanta, Ga. between he and Republican nominee Donald Trump...
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Gosnell principal arrested on DUI (7/24/24)Tina Diane Godsey, 53, of Manila, was arrested on suspicion of DWI, careless and prohibited driving, running a stop sign and refusing to submit to a chemical test. Godsey is the elementary principal at the Gosnell School District. According to an incident report, Manila officer Kaitlyn Inouye stopped Godsey at approximately 11:30 p.m. ...
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Health Dept. to hold student vaccine clinic (7/23/24)The Blytheville Health Department will hold a Back-to-School Vaccine Clinic Tuesday, July 30. The vaccine clinic will be held from 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 870-763-7064. No appointments are necessary. Hot dogs and refreshments will be served...
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“Splash on Main” set for Saturday (7/23/24)Main Street Blytheville will hold its last Splash on Main Saturday, July 27. The event will be held in the Southern Bancorp parking lot from 1-3 p.m.
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Blytheville church to host community health screenings (7/23/24)Blytheville – Residents living in and around Blytheville can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic, serious conditions with affordable screenings by Life Line Screening. First Baptist Church will host this community event on Aug. 15. The site is located at 715 West Walnut St. in Blytheville...
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Arkansas delegation recruits industry in London (7/23/24)By SANDRA BRAND NEA Town Courier Editor Aerospace has surpassed agriculture as the state’s number one export and an Arkansas delegation in Lon-don, England this week is working to make sure it remains that way. John Newcomb, of Osceola, who serves on the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, joined Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and U.S. ...
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President Biden withdraws from race! (7/21/24)
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ASU receives bomb threat (7/20/24)Overnight, A-State received a bomb threat against the Dean B. Ellis Library and the Reng Student Union. Police and K-9 units are working to clear the buildings so they can return to normal operations. Over the past week, the Jonesboro E-911 center has received an unusually high number of swatting reports, but in the name of campus safety, we take these threats very seriously. The Student Union has been cleared at this time...
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Jaws comes to Melody Theater (7/20/24)The Melody Theater, 301 S. Main St, Leachville, will be showing the classic suspense thriller, “Jaws”, in remastered high-definition at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 27. Don’t go swimming until you’ve seen this movie. Admission for one is $5, or for $10 bring the entire family or any size group of friends. That’s not $10 per person, that’s $10 for the entire group. Free admission and concessions are available upon request...
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Manila Lions Club plans chili cook-off (7/20/24)Manila Lions met on Wednesday discussing plans for the annual chili cook-off. A tentative date for Oct. 5 was selected. The chili cook-off is one of the clubs fundraising events that help fund the service projects which includes Goodfellow baskets during the Christmas holidays, scholarships for high school graduates and eye-care for those in need...
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Blytheville High School named National Beta School of Distinction (7/20/24)Blytheville School District is recently announced that Blytheville High School is a 2023-2024 National Beta School of Distinction. The school earned this recognition by increasing their club’s membership by at least 10% from last year. National Beta School of Distinction is an honor for Beta clubs striving towards academic achievement, exemplary character, demonstrated leadership and service to others. ...
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– Blytheville City Council – Utility easement tops meeting (7/20/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— The Blytheville City Council met Tuesday night at the Justice Complex for its monthly meeting. A lengthy discussion was held before the meeting in a public hearing concerning vacating a public utility easement that runs through the property of former city council member John Mayberry and his wife Margaret in Fox Crossing Subdivision...
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Mississippi County Finance Committee - Lexicon proposal goes to full court (7/20/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— The Mississippi County Finance Committee met Monday afternoon where the committee rediscussed an ordinance concerning Prospect Steel/Lexicon which failed during the June 25 meeting when it did not acquire eight votes. ...
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Blytheville VBS set (7/19/24)The First Baptist Church, 715 West Walnut Street, Blytheville, will host Vacation Bible School Monday through Wednesday, July 28-31 from 6-8:30 p.m. The kickoff registration will be on Saturday, July 27, from 11 a.m. -1 p.m.
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1st Choice to host back-to-school back-pack event (7/19/24)1st Choice Home Care of Blytheville will host a back-to-school event. They will have hot dogs, a bouncy house, music and snow cones. Back-to-school backpacks will be given away. The event will be from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at 510 Main Street in Blytheville...
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Blytheville community meeting to be held (7/19/24)A community meeting will be held from 10 a.m. -12 p.m. Saturday, July 27, at the Blytheville public library, 200 North 5th Street. Blytheville citizens are encouraged to attend the meeting. The topics will include getting the community involved in cleaning up the town along with what can be done to lower the crime...
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Manila School Board remembers student who lost life in fire (7/19/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier The Manila School Board began their July 18 meeting with a moment of silence in memory of high school student, Brylee Crews, who lost her life in a house fire on Saturday, July 13. Later in the meeting, Superintendent Jason Evers said they had reached out to the family to let them know “we are here if they need anything.”...
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Lexicon, Inc. Celebrates Inaugural Class of Master Millwright Program Graduates (7/19/24)BLYTHEVILLE, Ark., (July 19, 2024) – Today, senior leadership from Lexicon, Inc., Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) and Mississippi County recognized the state’s first graduates from Lexicon’s master millwright program during a celebratory luncheon and ceremony at the Holiday Inn in Blytheville. The program is the only one of its kind in the state...
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9-year-old boy has been found safe (7/19/24)
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CONSUMER ALERT: Beware Fraudulent Callers Claiming to be Law Enforcement Officers (7/18/24)LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following statement warning Arkansans about a common scam in which callers claim to be a law enforcement officer and demand payment to resolve an alleged criminal matter: “I have received reports of an uptick in fraudulent phone calls to Arkansans involving scammers representing themselves as law enforcement officers. ...
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Man injured from bullet fragment (7/17/24)Blytheville, AR – On Tuesday, July 16, officers of the Blytheville Police Department were notified by Great River Medical Emergency Room staff that a subject had arrived at the ER stating he had been “shot” in the head. Upon further investigation it was discovered that the victim was outside his home in the 2400 block of Carolyn with his dogs. ...
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Leachville City Council works long agenda (7/17/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Leachville City Council discussed grants, relocated one of the planned city storm shelters, discussed an adjustment in the clean-up ordinance, agreed to water testing and set hourly pay for the new police officer, Jacob Ford, at the July meeting held Monday...
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Manila continues work on water project (7/17/24)Manila Mayor Tracey Reinhart updated the city council on the water well project at the July 8 meeting. The paperwork is ready for the city to finalize. Plans are for the project to begin in mid-August. Mayor Reinhart said the governor has released $60 million to ANRC for water and sewer projects and the city is eligible for these funds and they will be working on a grant application...
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Personnel Committee quickly takes care of business (7/17/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— The Mississippi County Personnel Committee met for a little over four minutes Monday afternoon to change a job title and position in the County Assessor’s office from mapper to real estate assessor...
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Leaders react to assassination attempt (7/17/24)By STEVE KNOX and JOSEPH FONDREN The response to the attempt on the life of Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump Saturday evening in Pennsylvania as drawn reaction from leaders from across the region. “Our hearts are heavy with the news of the tragic shooting at the rally in Butler, PA. ...
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Studio 42 & Co. to hold car wash (7/16/24)Studio 42 & Co. will hold a summer car wash Saturday, July 20. The cast of Shrek the Musical Jr. will be on hand. The car wash will be held at Towell and Sons Car Wash, 3453 West AR 18 in Manila from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. A Shrek The Musical Jr. Pizza Fundraiser will be held Monday, July 22...
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Free Extreme Hip Hop workshop to be offered (7/16/24)Instructors of Arkansas Northeastern College Community Education Xtreme Hip Hop classes will host a free one day Xtreme Hip Hop workshop on Saturday, July 20. The workshop will be held from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. in the Wellness Center on the Blytheville campus...
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Police saturation in Blytheville leads to multiple arrests (7/16/24)Increased law enforcement presence leads to multiple arrests in Blytheville. Saturday, July 13 an increase of law enforcement presence throughout he city limits of Blytheville resulted in multiple arrest. This operation placed extra officers in known gang areas and areas where violent crime has occurred within the last year...
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Reunion in Blytheville celebrates 35 years of freedom (7/16/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier It was a reunion celebrating 35 years of freedom and gratitude with lots of hugs and tears of joy as members of the Truong family and friends gathered in Blytheville. Blytheville was their home after their incredible escape from Vietnam that rejoined them with their father, David Truong, after a 10-year separation...
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Manila house fire claims life (7/16/24)A house fire in Manila has claimed the life of one. The Manila Fire Department was dispatched at 11:50 a.m. Saturday to a house fire at 202 Nancy Street in Manila with a report that someone was still inside. According to the fire report, on arrival, flames were showing on the Alpha/Delta (front/right side) of the front room with heavy smoke throughout the house...
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Biden asks the nation for unity, promises security review after Trump shooting (7/15/24)By ARIANA FIGUEROA States NewsroomWASHINGTON — President Joe Biden Sunday called for unity and pledged an independent review following the campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday where former President Donald J. Trump was shot and injured. “An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation,” Biden said in remarks from the White House, adding that “there is no place in America for this kind of violence or any violence for that matter.”...
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Trump is injured but 'fine' after assassination attempt leaves rally-goer and gunman dead (7/14/24)By JULIE CARR SMYTH, JILL COLVIN, COLLEEN LONG, MICHAEL BALSAMO, ERIC TUCKER and MICHELLE L. PRICE~Associated PressBUTLER, Pa. (AP) — On the heels of an apparent attempt to kill him, former President Donald Trump called Sunday for unity and resilience as shocked leaders across the political divide recoiled from the shooting that left him injured but "fine" and the gunman and a rally-goer dead...