Stories from Thursday, March 1, 2012

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department:

Mr. Harvey J. Rabey, Jr., 74, of Manila, Ark., died Feb. 27, 2012, at the Manila Nursing Center. He was born March 10, 1937, in Heber Springs, Ark., to the late Harvey and Alice Rabey. He was a member of the Westside Baptist Church, enjoyed hunting, fishing, drinking coffee at Roadmart, and loved his grandchildren...

Marsha Diane Toler, 65, died Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Mrs. Elnora Smith, 89, of Blytheville, died Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville.

Mrs. Fairy Ann Sanders, 58, of Luxora, died of heart failure Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012, in Jonesboro.

Shemike McChristian, 36, of Blytheville, died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, at Baptist Hospital-East in Memphis.

Mrs. Geneva Hill, 77, of Osceola, died Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012.

Economic development tax, who is it really for? We have industry that want our tax incentives to come here, but do not have very many employees that live here. I also realize that all of these industries' employees may not come from our county. But these industries' management should respect the local taxpayers enough to buy homes and become part of the communities that are supplying the taxes...

This is reference to the first murder in the city this past week. Why was it deemed an act of self-defense? Arkansas has no law on the books that says that you can wait in your house for someone to get into your house then kill them when you didn't try to leave your house when you were threatened, didn't try to call police to let them know your house was being broken into by someone that had threatened you with a gun upon his return to your house...

On Nov. 11, 2011, Joshua Sean Goodman and Chelsea Ann Smith were united in marriage at Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.

March of Dimes representative, Robin Ward (left), held a March for Babies kickoff luncheon Wednesday at the Blytheville Public Library. This year's March for Babies walk will be held on Saturday, May 12, at Walker Park. For more, call, 1-870-932-0300, or visit www.marchforbabies.com

After the passing of her mother, local artist Sherri Phelps decided she wanted to preserve the pleasant memories of those close to her in life.

For the last several weeks, the Courier News has been delving into a mountain of city of Blytheville financial records.

The Gosnell Pirates open the 2012 season at 4:30 p.m. today with a home game against Piggott. The Pirates are coming off of a 12-7 2011 season and a 7-3 record in the 3-4A conference. "We're excited about starting the season," said longtime Pirate head coach Bret Jackson. "These kids have worked hard all year and now it's time to play and try to get better each day and peak by the end of the season."...

MARKED TREE -- The Armorel Tigers started the 2012 baseball season in the right direction Wednesday afternoon thanks to a 15-5 win over 3A Rivercrest in five innings in the opening round of the Tri-County Tournament at Marked Tree. Trailing 4-1 in the third inning, the Tigers (1-0) exploded for five runs in the third before scoring nine more runs over the next two innings to come away with the win...

Mary Kay Wren, 71, of Blytheville, passed from this life Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, at Great River Medical Center in Blytheville.