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The third round of loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is underway and applications may be accepted until March 31, 2021. PPP was originally  launched in the Spring of 2020 as part of the federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to provide economic relief to American small businesses impacted by the global Covid-19 pandemic...

In the Jan. 20 COVID-19 report, Blytheville Mayor James Sanders reported 197 active cases in Mississippi County, down from 261 in the previous week. At press time Friday, there were 210 active cases in the county and 4,992 total cases, with 103 reported deaths...

Rep. Monte Hodges (D-Blytheville) has been elected president of the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus. Hodges is in his fifth term in the Arkansas House. “I’m honored to have been elected as President of the ALBC,” Hodges said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and building on the already great work started by past leadership.”...

Mississippi County Hospital System CEO Chris Raymer said, like most healthcare facilities, the hospital has faced challenges with staffing and transportation during the Covid-19 pandemic. During his report to the MCHS board Monday, Raymer said since the onset of the pandemic, there have been 40 employees miss time with Covid-19, and the hospital has admitted 472 patients who were positive...

Blytheville celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with its second annual car parade starting at the city’s historic Greyhound Bus Station and going through downtown Blytheville. The parade personified King Jr.’s famous words, “Hate can not drive out hate, only love can do that.”...

In their Jan. 19 Zoom meeting, the Blytheville City Council voted to amend the resolution passed giving city employees bonuses. Originally the resolution would give full-time employees a one-time bonus of $1,000, while the part-time employees would receive $500. Realizing that only seven employees make up the city’s part-time staff, the council decided to lift their bonus to $1,000 as well...

Manila Mayor Wayne Wagner is starting his 11th year in office serving as mayor of Manila and said 2020 was a challenging year. “2020 was a strange and different year, but all employees pulled together,” Mayor Wagner said. “Those who were full-time got paid if they were out with the virus.  Everyone covered for each other and the work got done.”...

Mississippi County Personnel and Finance Committees met on Tuesday afternoon prior to the first 2021 regular quorum court meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 26. Personnel committee chairman Rick Ash opened the first meeting with only one item on the agenda, an  ordinance allowing the county to conduct business with Mailboxes and Beyond...

Buffalo Island Central School board addressed issues with virtual learning Thursday evening and formulated plans for a special called open board meeting soon. “Our students are struggling,” said Assistant High School Principal Mark Hurst. “Many parents won’t send the students back. We need them back and they need to be here. We have come to value the importance of teachers more and more.”...

In their Jan. 12 meeting the Blytheville finance committee agreed to grant a $1,000 bonus for full-time city employees and a $500 bonus for part-time city employees. These checks were made possible through the CARES Act for coronavirus relief. City finance director John Callens said the act reimbursed the wages of first responders, due to them being on the front line against COVID-19, adding a total of $618,000 to the city’s general fund...