Stories from Saturday, January 28, 2012

After years of begging for stricter legislation, we now have stricter laws in place that disallows abuse of any sort. Mind you, abuse continues to go on and will for years to come.

I am writing this to let people in Blytheville know about what happened during the month of December at the cemetery. Wreathes and floral arrangements were stolen off of the graves at the cemetery there at Willow and Division. I had taken wreaths for those in our family early so that they could be pretty throughout the season. I took them around Dec. 1...

This letter is about the outstanding award that Blytheville Main Street non-profit corporation won concerning the Greyhound bus station. There are some facts pertaining to this accomplishment that have not been told. This letter is an attempt to reveal the other side of the story. The data contained in this article were taken from Blytheville Courier newspaper articles over time...

The Forrest City Mustangs brought their perfect 5A-East conference record to Chickasaw Gym Friday night and showed why they are the team to beat this season. Leading by eight points after one period, the Mustangs outscored the Chicks, 23-13, in the second period and took control of the game on their way to a convincing, 65-47 win...

National Wear Red Day is set aside for Americans nationwide to wear red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. Susan Saunders, Women's Health Advance Practice Nurse/ Nurse Mid-Wife will discuss what women need to know about protecting themselves from heart disease...

Mississippi County saw a decrease in revenues from tax collections for the month of December, according to the office of the county treasurer's reports, released on the county's website, www.mcagov. com. The half cent economic development tax collected $258,423.84 in December 2011, down from $306,250.58 in November 2011 and $274,773.43 in December of 2010...

While it may be small in numbers, the muslim community in the Blytheville area has a new place to congregate. Masjid Tawheed is a newly established mosque at 111 N. 2nd St. in Blytheville. Director Hamzah Goodson established the mosque not just as place for muslims to gather and pray but to educate the community about the Muslim religion...

The Blytheville Fire Department recently honored two of its employees for their service during 2011.

HD offers a widescreen format, similar to a movie theater, with distinctly sharper images and better sound quality than standard definition television. With the addition of these channels, customers can watch everything from NASCAR races and news updates to science fiction and reality TV -- all in a wide-screen format that allows for a crisper, clearer picture...

While out fishing one day in 1989 along the banks of the Mississippi, local John Buchanan stumbled across an interesting find. It was a large object that looked a great deal like a big molar -- like a giant tooth. He took it home along with some of his other interesting finds and placed in on a shelf where it sat for more than 20 years until just recently when he decided he would like to find out exactly what it was...

Wastewater's $146,386 under-budget in loans stemmed from a loan that didn't belong to the department, Finance director LaVera Kuykendall told the City Council's Finance and Purchasing Committee, Friday. The department budgeted $8,614, but spent $155,000 on loans in 2011, according to financial records...

Mrs. Mary Catheline McCormick, 84, of Campbell, Mo., formerly of Piggott, died Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, at her home. She was born Jan. 12, 1928, in Humbolt, Tenn., to the late Albert and Flora Speer and was a member of Calvary's Call Church in Campbell...

Mr. Charles Hubert Warren, 68, of Osceola, entered into rest Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, in Osceola. Born Aug. 15, 1943, in Baltimore, Md., to the late Hubert and Ora Warren, he was of the Baptist Faith, a farmer and a U.S. Army Veteran. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Freda Prelitz...

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

Three men face drug charges after being arrested recently by local authorities. Jeremy Taylor, Gary Johnson and Clinton W. Harris all face charges of possession of controlled substance with the purpose to deliver-methamphetamine (1.3 grams) and possession of instrument of crime...

In the red $288,940 in 2011, Thunder Bayou Golf Links' 2012 proposed budget is about $100,000 less than last year's, but that may change. During a lively discussion Friday night, Golf Facilities board president Jim Vincent told the Blytheville City Council's Finance and Purchasing Committee that the $179,150 salary figure doesn't account for a new golf course superintendent...

Mr. Bobby Joe Tenison, son of the late Roy and Beulah Nunnery Tennison, was born Oct. 4, 1931, in Braggadocio, Mo., and died Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, at his home in Denton, Mo., at the age of 80. Bob served his country in the U.S. Army and while stationed in England was united in marriage with Patricia Ayers Tenison, who preceded him in death on May 16, 2005...