Stories from Saturday, February 2, 2013

Karla Wilson of Manila received three awards at a company meeting in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 9. She received most activations and sales; most equipment sold; and employee of the year. Wilson works for Retriever Payment Systems, the third largest credit/debit card processor. She has been with the company since March 2006...

How does one measure love or happiness -- a good friend, a good meal, laughter of a child? I do know that too often when love is suppressed, the hate settles in. Pick up the paper, watch TV, and it is all laid out before us.

Earlier this month, my two sisters came for a short visit. One day, as we were driving north on First Street from Main Street, they saw several falling, rotting houses. One sister commented, "What a sad looking area of town this has become." I suggested they close their eyes while driving up the street because I am so ashamed for them to see the condition this part of Blytheville has become...

Elizabeth Nadine Crotts, 92, of the Clear Lake Community, passed from this life Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at her home. Known to everyone as Nadine, Mrs. Crotts was born in the Huffman community near Armorel, to Walter and Lillian Hatley Kirk. She was a homemaker who, along with her husband, Algie Crotts, worked their farm diligently to provide for their family. ...

LaMartha Welborn Griggs, 71, of Paragould, formerly of Dell, passed from this life Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born in Blytheville to Lamar "Doc" and Clementine Welborn, she was a homemaker, a teacher for Head Start, a volunteer for the Red Cross and PTA and was a member of the Dell United Methodist Church...

Mrs. Marjorie Robertson Poff, 87, of Demopolis, Ala., died Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at Marengo Nursing Home in Linden, Ala. Marjorie was a lifelong resident of Blytheville until March 2012, when she relocated to Southern Oaks Assisted Living in Demopolis to be closer to family. She was born in Blytheville July 15, 1925, and graduated from Blytheville High School...

Mr. Russell Morries Rhodes, 81, of Caraway, died early Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Poplar Ridge, he was the son of the late Clarence and Flora Thomas Rhodes, a lifelong Caraway area resident, and a retired farmer. Mr. Rhodes was an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman...

Ronald Wayne Riggs, 75, of Manila, died Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, at his home. Born in Leachville, he was the son of the late Thelmar "T.L." and Noma Stutts Riggs and the grandson of Manila pioneer Flenord Riggs. He was a lifelong Manila area resident, and was a retired printing press operator for the Blytheville Courier News. ...

Mrs. Mary Lois Scrape, 91, of Blytheville, died Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Cobb Funeral Home of Blytheville.

Mr. Charles E. Wigtion, 68, of Winnebago, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Jan. 26, 1945 in Blytheville, to Eldridge and Annie Mae (Dhority) Wigtion. He graduated from Dell High School and soon after went on to marry the love of his life, Verdia Simmons, July 31, 1965, in Rockford Ill...

Tuesday's news of Big River Steel's intention to locate in Mississippi County has area leaders buzzing about the myriad economic opportunities which 525 strong new jobs are bound to bring into the area, and while elected officials have been quick to give credit to both governmental agencies and the "can-do" attitude of the local workforce, the project would not have been possible without the existence of the perfect patch of land: the Great River Super Site. ...

The Blytheville City Council's Personnel Committee is scheduled to hold its first meeting of the new year at 4 p.m. Monday in the Blytheville District Courtroom. The board is expected to tackle the proposed rules of order and procedure for Council and committee meetings...

Local artist Ken Jackson is the featured artist for the month of February at the Ritz Civic Center, located in downtown Blytheville. Jackson attended Rivercrest High School where he worked at the school's newspaper doing editorial cartoons. After high school Jackson joined the Air Force where he frequently did editorial cartoons and cover pages for his squadron's newsletter while stationed in Okinawa, Japan...