News

The Blytheville Police Department received a report of a possible fraud attempt today. A white male subject driving a smaller white pickup was attempting to sell what was described as social security insurance door to door. The BPD has new information that the person has in fact violated any laws. If you have contact with a person fitting this description or any person under what you feel are suspicious circumstances please contact the Blytheville Police Department...

A barricaded suspect surrendered to police peacefully Wednesday morning at Robindale Apartments on North Hollywood. Taurus Crawford, who is suspected of aggravated assault, walked out of the apartment around 10:15 a.m. Wednesday after the Blytheville Police Department Special Response Team had been waiting guns drawn outside the building...

Leadership from the Blytheville School District and Blytheville High School went before the Arkansas State Charter Authorizing Panel on Tuesday for a scheduled hearing concerning the school’s recent ESSA rating.

The Airport and Utilities Committee met on Monday for a special meeting to review bids for repairs to the sewer main at Moultrie and 7th Street. Only one company, Lining and Coating Solutions, LLC of Olive Branch, Miss., submitted a bid for the project. ...

In a special called Manila Council meeting held Friday, Jan. 11, Officer Chris Hill was named new chief of police. He assumed the position of chief on Tuesday, Jan. 16. All council members, Dale Murphy, Donnie Wagner, Wendell Poteet, Jason Baltimore, Steven Milligan and William Barnhart, were present for the meeting and the decision was unanimous...

Members of Moving Manila Forward, a non-profit organiztion, are looking forward to a new year and have several events to be held throughout the year. Andrew Fleeman serves as event coordinator for the group. "We are very excited about 2019 and the progress MMF is making in the community," Fleeman said. "We hope more people are interested and get involved to help change our community for the better."...

Blytheville’s hospitality was on display Monday as several Blackhawk helicopters stopped for fuel at the Arkansas Aeroplex. Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority officials fed the Army crews from Kentucky a nice breakfast and thanked them for their service...

Blytheville police are investigating shootings on Stemac, Summit and Chickasawba, all occurring within a week. According to a report from the Blytheville Police Department, around 11 p.m. Sunday, police responded to 300 Stemac. “I spoke to the victim (Lakesha Jackson) who stated she heard several gunshots outside,” Sgt. ...

Kelli Kurth, 51, of Harrisburg lost her life Saturday night during a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 55 in Crittenden County. According to the Arkansas State Police report, Kurth swerved her 2017 Lexus to avoid hitting a 2012 Freightliner, but struck the rear of the semi around 8:16 p.m. Saturday near the 13-mile marker. Road conditions were wet...

On Monday, Christopher Aldridge, Sr., 45, pled guilty to raping an 8-year-old in Blytheville in August 2014. Aldridge was sentenced to 25 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and 10 years suspended imposition of sentence. He must serve 70 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole...

The Gosnell City Council approved a $1,297,811 budget for 2019 during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night.

On Tuesday, the Blytheville Planning Commission met to vote on two issues. The first issue was the rezoning of a property at 1401 South Division near the Social Security Office for the purpose of some new apartment buildings being constructed on the property...

CARAWAY — Newly elected Caraway Mayor Bo James opened the first meeting of the 2019 year welcoming new council members Diane Powell and Jordan Adcock. He also recognized the returning members Jerry Martin, Marvin Browning, Mitchell Tipton and Roger Williams...

Blytheville Chief of Police Ross Thompson reported to the Police and Fire Committee on Monday and heard a few requests from some concerned citizens about excessive speeding on city streets. Two concerned citizens said that a speed bump should be considered in an area around their homes due to excessive speeding, though both citizens lived in different areas of town. ...

Scott Ellington, Prosecuting Attorney for the Second Judicial District, announced today the creation of the Second Judicial District Organized Criminal Activity Task Force (OCATF). The OCATF is comprised of law enforcement officials from the Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Jonesboro Police Department, the Blytheville Police Department, the Osceola Police Department, the Craighead County Sheriff’s Department, the Craighead County Juvenile Department, the Mississippi County Juvenile Department, the Poinsett County Sheriff’s Department, the Paragould Police Department, and the Arkansas Department of Community Corrections. ...

Big Lake Wildlife Refuge Headquarters is closed due to the government shutdown. A notice on the front door reads: Due to the lapse in federal appropriations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is unable to fully staff the properties under its management...

According to Mississippi County Sheriff Dale Cook, the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department and members of the Blytheville Police Department Special Response Team executed a search warrant at 400 Summit Street in Blytheville, arresting two Blytheville residents on drug and weapon charges...

Mississippi County Sheriff's Department deputy's are investigating two break-ins at Fastenal in Blytheville in the last two months. If anyone has any information, please contact the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department at 870-658-2242 or 870-762-2243...

Blytheville police are investigating two shootings believed to be in retaliation to a 2017 homicide probe. According to Blytheville Police Department CID Commander Lt. John Frazier, around 9 p.m. Tuesday police investigated a house being shot, finding evidence of a shooting at the scene...

The Manila Police Department and the Arkansas Crimes Against Children Department worked together in a recent rape investigation and arrest. According to the Investigating Officer, Manila Police Captain Delbert Carter, a parent came forward to file a complaint. Captain Carter said the alleged incident involves a juvenile...

Grandmaster Anthony Smith of Blytheville has been selected to the World Paralympic team to compete in Taekwondo. Smith recently returned from the World Federation of Elite Martial Arts, a state tournament in Texas, where he won championship rings in traditional forms, weapons and sparring...

The Blytheville City Council committees had their first meetings for the year on Monday, excluding the Finance and Purchasing committee meeting. Sewer director Garry Carr reported on the street cave-in on Moultrie Street, saying that it could take as long as the spring for the damages to be repaired if the weather is good. Carr also reported that the UV system at the north wastewater treatment plant has been completely installed.

Manila School District resumed classes on Monday after a two week break. Superintendent Jason Evers said everything went very smooth. “We are glad to be back after the holiday break and we are looking forward to another great semester,” Evers said. It will be busy with Homecoming set for Jan. 18. Manila will host...

The first Riverside School Board in 2019 was held Monday, Jan. 7, the first day of school after the holiday break. Following an executive session, the board voted unanimously to extend Superintendent Jeff Priest’s contract for a year, taking it back to three years...

With the start of a new year in Blytheville city government and the election of two new city council members, many of the Blytheville City Council committees have changed members in 2019. Of the six committees, only one of them, the Parks and Recreation Committee, has retained the same members as it had in 2018. The selection of who serves on which committee is a decision that is made solely by Blytheville Mayor James Sanders...

The Mississippi County Quorum Court’s Fire, Police and Safety (FPS) Committee and Personnel Committee met Tuesday afternoon to discuss the county providing a uniformed officer to the Armorel School District, as it does with the Rivercrest School District...

Blytheville Assistant Police Chief Ricky Jefferson warned motorists of a cave-in in the 700 block of West Moultrie. City crews and a representative of Black Hills Energy were at the scene around 7:45 a.m. Monday. The area has been blocked off for the last several weeks as crews work on the sewer. Westbound traffic has been diverted north on 7th Street. Also, 7th Street between Moultrie and Dixie will be closed until repairs are complete, Jefferson said...

Monette city councilmen hired new policeman Toby Rand during a called meeting Thursday night at city hall. Certified officer Rand formerly worked at Monette, leaving in 2006 to take a job as a paramedic. He will replace police officer Logan Olsen. His salary of $30,000 comes as reimbursement from Buffalo Island Central Schools for supplying a resource officer...

January 1 was more than just the start of a new year as elected officials in Mississippi County took the oath of their respective offices that morning. County Judge John Alan Nelson was sworn in at roughly 11:10 Tuesday morning with nine of the 11 JP’s sworn in later in the ceremonies...

Bobby Alan Austin joined the Leachville Police Department Jan. 2 as the new police chief and is looking forward to the year ahead working for the community which is also his hometown. Chief Austin, son of Bobby and Deloras Austin, grew up in Leachville and was among the second graduating class of Buffalo Island Central High School in 1986...

In a special meeting Thursday night, the Gosnell City Council discussed adjusting the proposed 2019 budget to make room for equipment needs. Gosnell Mayor Teresa Walker proposed cutting line items in the $1,297,811 budget to allow for capital purchases of a used backhoe and police vehicle...

Manila Mayor Wayne Wagner took the oath of office as he begins his third term as mayor. Presiding over the swearing-in ceremony held at Manila City Hall is Justice of the Peace Michael White. Justice White has served on the Mississippi County Quorum Court for 33 years...

The Courier spoke with both mayors about their plans for their cities going into 2019. Sanders said, “What our concerns are, and it is the same concerns that we have had, and that is the quality of life issues...over the past eight years we have already worked hard to get our finances and to try to make sure our finances in order and I believe we are moving in the right direction...at this point we have been able to develop tools that we need to develop a cleaner and a safer Blytheville. ...

— Police arrested Anthony Coleman on possession of a defaced firearm during a traffic stop on North Second. — Police took a report of a counterfeit $100 bill in the 600 block of Parkway. — Officers investigated a shooting in the 1200 block of Thompson. ...

The Armorel School District reconvened Thursday following a two- week break for the Christmas holidays. Armorel Superintendent Jennifer Barbaree said that the first day back went wonderful and that everything is off to a great start. “Wonderfully, we seem to have everybody here. ...

Al Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame will be the guest speaker at the ESA/Mid-South Bayou Club’s Hunt for the Cure — a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital — on Friday, Jan. 18 at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center in Blytheville...

A pizza delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint, Wednesday, in the 1100 block of Ohio. According to the Blytheville Police Department report, the Domino's driver told police that once he arrived at the vacant house he observed a male juvenile that he recognized wearing a black beanie...

Rick Sparks of Manila shares his story in an effort to tell others to never give up hope, even when things seem hopeless. Sparks survived a heart attack and major heart surgery at the age of 43. Ten years later he seemed to be doing well. He had his own insurance business and was enjoying life with his family and friends...

Markus Gentry of Blytheville was arrested by Jonesboro authorities around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in connection with the shooting death of Lewis Gamble, who was shot multiple times. Around 1:30 p.m. New Year’s Day, officers of the Jonesboro Police Department were called to 1120 W Huntington in reference to a shooting. ...

Repairs to the sewer line and road on Moultrie Street have begun. According to Blytheville Assistant Police Chief Ricky Jefferson, westbound traffic will now be diverted north on 7th Street. Also, 7th Street between Moultrie and Dixie will be closed until repairs are complete, Jefferson said...

County Judge John Alan Nelson is making the rounds, pitching the proposed $14 million in renovations to the Blytheville courthouse and $2 million to the Osceola courthouse. Nelson spoke to the Rotary Club of Blytheville, Thursday, making a case for voters to approve extending the hospital tax, which is set to sunset in 2020. If extended 30 years on Feb. 12, the tax would be split between the hospital and courthouse renovations...

Manila Mayor Wayne Wagner is expecting growth. The city now has a population of 3,300. He said hopefully the population will increase to 3,700 to 3,800 after the 2020 census. Mayor Wagner is starting his ninth year as mayor. He served 20 years as city attorney...

Police have recovered an ATM stolen from Gary's Food Mart in Memphis and arrested two suspects in the case. According to Blytheville Police Department Lt. John Frazier, Blytheville detectives received a call form Memphis authorities on Friday advising they had recovered the ATM...

At this month’s Blytheville City Council meeting there were several items on the agenda. Of those important items was the adoption of the 2019 budget. The budget was originally presented to the Blytheville Finance Committee in November where it was reviewed and adjusted for some slight errors that were made...

Blytheville Police Assistant Chief Ricky Jefferson said that the Blytheville Police Department will be bringing in extra shifts on New Year's Eve and will be strictly enforcing the ban on celebratory gunfire within Blytheville city limits. Blytheville Ordinance 1622 sets the punishment for those convicted of "willfully and intentionally discharging any firearm within the corporate limits of the city of Blytheville at "no less than $500 and not exceeding $1,000 for each such offense."...

Often lost in any negative discussion about Blytheville are those who are committed to not only discussing the positives here but doing whatever they can to make it the best place that it can be. Cody Wyatt is one such person and has been dedicating her time this year to improving the city of Blytheville, most notably in the city's many parks. For her efforts, she has been named CN Headliner of the Year...

A portion of Franklin Street is closed because of a water main break, according to Blytheville Assistant Police Chief Ricky Jefferson. The water main break is near the Franklin and Coleridge intersection.

Monette City Council approved the $710,700 budget for 2019 during the Dec. 17 meeting at the Buffalo Island Museum. The council passed Ordinance 2018-5 to approve the 2019 budget. Individual department budgets include: General Fund $710,700; Water $306,000; Sewer $273,500; Sanitation $131,000; Street $161,750; Park $34,550; Memorial Cemetery $30,100; Beautification $10,050; Buffalo Island Museum $5,155; Fire Department $35,100; and Veteran’s Park $3,100...

Manila Wayne Wagner welcomed members of the Mississippi County Election Commission to the Monday, Dec. 17, council meeting. Members included Melisa Logan, election coordinator, Tom Wiktorek, chair, and Anthony Thomas, commissioner. Wiktorek spoke to the council requesting a new voting site. ...

Leachville Council worked through a busy agenda at the Dec. 17 meeting hiring a new police chief. Following a discussion of the police department's needs with Officer Kasey Shepard, the council went into executive session. Mayor Rodney Robertson said he had been in contact with Allen Austin about the position. Council members voted to offer Austin the position of chief of police with a salary of $43,000. Councilwoman Teresa Johnson made the motion adding he be hired with a six month probation...