Stories from Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

The mayor's statement, "anger won't solve the IRS problem" is true, and neither will the 1/4-cent sales tax. It is ridiculous to not investigate the situation to determine what is happening to the taxpayers' money and to find out "the who, what, where, when and how" the money is disappearing...

As the son of a high school history teacher, I can't help but have an affinity for a good quotation from time to time.

Mrs. Cindy Kay Houser Smith, 34, of Gosnell, passed from this life Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville.

Mr. Randy Santana, 47, of Kenosha, Wisc., died Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, at his home.

Mr. Billy Joe Howell, 81, of Hermondale, Mo., died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, at his home.

The National Wild Turkey Federation and the Blytheville Beards and Spurs will be hosting their second annual Hunting Heritage Banquet.

The Blytheville School District's Board of Education on Monday night approved a Freshman Academy at Blytheville High School that task-force members believe will prepare students for the transition from the middle school to the high school level.

The Ritz Civic Center is going back to its roots with the Arts Council of Mississippi County's "The Ritz Classic Movie Series," an event that has been in the making for the better half of a decade.

Mississippi County ended 2011 "under budget on both income and expenses," according to Justice Michael White, chairman of the Quorum Court's Finance Committee during the Court's first meeting of 2012, which took place at the Osceola Courthouse.

During a special two-hour meeting Tuesday night, the Blytheville City Council dissected the 10-page proposed rules of order and procedure, taking out several lines, including one that gave the mayor sole discretion of whether or not there would be a public comment period at Council meetings.

Brookland led the entire game and by as many as 12 in the third period before the Pirates made their comeback. Howe led the Pirates with 30 points and McKinney added 24. GHS improves to 5-4 in the 3-4A and heads to Highland Friday night...

JONESBORO -- For a little more than three periods Tuesday night, the Blytheville Chickasaws continued their strong play from Friday night's win at Wynne. Harold Beverly's bucket with four seconds left in the third gave the Chicks a 10-point lead over the host Nettleton Raiders at 39-29 heading into the fourth. Beverly's bucket would be the last score for the Chicks until the 3:30 mark in the fourth as Nettleton stormed back and pulled out a 45-44 win at Raider Gym...

EDITOR'S NOTE: This letter was written prior to Tuesday's meeting, in which proposed changes to Council rules of order were modified. I am appalled at the proposed ordinance establishing rules of order and procedure concerning public comments and getting on the agenda of the City Council meetings...

EDITOR'S NOTE: This letter was written prior to Tuesday's meeting, in which proposed changes to Council rules of order were modified. For details, click here. On Jan. 17, 2012, two days after the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., I saw our mayor defy all that Martin Luther King Jr. fought and died for...