Stories from Wednesday, March 20, 2013

GOSNELL -- The Gosnell Pirates made quick work of the visiting Highland Rebels and improved to 3-1 in the 3-4A conference after a 10-0 win in five innings Tuesday afternoon. Gosnell hurler Blake Sullivan tossed a no-hit shutout, striking out nine of the 16 batters he faced in five complete innings of work. ...

Blytheville Police Department Chief Ross Thompson, spoke to the Blytheville Lions Club about recent department-wide equipment upgrades and the multi-agency raid that happened last week as a result of a year-long investigation. Last year the Blytheville Police Department switched over to a new digital radio system after the Federal Communications Commission set some new guidelines in an attempt to "free up" some airway clutter, according to Thompson...

An arrest was recently made in connection with several copper thefts which took place at the Mississippi County Electric Cooperative last year and early in 2013. The two burglaries, which occurred in October 2012 and February 2013, resulted in a combination of about $28,500 in lost property and damage for the Co-Op. Investigators were provided with security camera photos of the perpetrator but were unable to make an identification at the times of both robberies...

Blytheville Mayor James Sanders outlined several goals for this year during Tuesday night's annual State of the City Address. During the 13-minute speech that concluded the Blytheville City Council meeting, the mayor said the city will continue to clean up neighborhoods and build stronger Code Enforcement and Public Works departments...

Tuesday night, the Blytheville City Council voted 5-1 to approve a 10 percent wastewater rate hike. The measure, whose only dissenter was Councilman R.L. Jones, sets wastewater rates for both 2013 and 2014. Last year, the City Council suspended the automatic wastewater hike. The ordinance implements the original 2012 rates for 2013 and the original 2013 rates for 2014...

John Correnti visited with Mississippi County officials Tuesday regarding his upcoming Big River Steel project. At the regular county mayor's meeting, which was held in Blytheville at the Delta Gateway Museum, Correnti said that he did not blame Nucor for their recent "saber-rattling," but that the project is moving forward, pending an upcoming vote by Arkansas legislators on Amendment 82 funding...

The Blytheville Police Department is still searching for seven individuals who are still at large after last week's raid that led to the seizure of severals firearms, drugs and some cash. Over 100 people were arrested in connection with the High Intensity Trafficking Suppression operation last Wednesday. ...

Recent reports from the Blytheville Police Department: March 17 Catheryn Carroll, 40, of Blytheville, was taken into custody and charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct. March 16 Brian Jackson, 23, of Blytheville, was taken into custody for disorderly conduct...

The Caraway City Council made plans for improvements on the city arena and Fire Department and promoted two employees, with pay increases at the council meeting held Thursday, March 14...

Manila to participate in development efforts, residents encouraged to attend town hall meeting to voice opinions on March 25 MANILA -- A local steering committee of Manila officials and leaders will participate in a strategic planning initiative during the week of March 25 and residents are invited to attend a town hall session to voice opinions on local and regional opportunities...

Little Rock, AR -- Governor Mike Beebe and Department of Rural Services Director John Andrews presented $152,741.10 to 16 rural communities selected for Fiscal year 2013 Cycle II funding through the Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program at an awards ceremony on Feb. 27, 2013, held at the State Capitol in the Governor's Conference Room...

Southworth International Group has acquired a small start-up company located in Fargo, N.D. The name of the company will be Lift'n Buddy and it will operate as a separate division of Southworth International Group very much like Southworth Products and Presto Lifts do...

Mark Cave, Jr., of Pollard, grew up singing in church and his love for gospel music continues.. His favorite gospel group was The Cathedrals, his inspiration for someday becoming a southern gospel singer...

New Hope Baptist Church in Caraway would like to invite the community to a Spring Revival. Church pastor Heath Hawkins and members are thrilled to welcome guest preacher, Phillip Brown -- the cowboy preacher. Brother Brown is the pastor at Higher Trails Cowboy Church in Paragould. Music will be led by Worship leader, Steven Sanders...

The Leachville Volunteer Fire Department will now be able to better serve the community, thanks to the support of local farmer, Wanda Lyerly, and America's Farmers Grow Communities. Sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, which is the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, Grow Communities provides eligible farmers the chance to win a $2,500 donation for a local nonprofit organization of their choice...

Easter crafts at McAdams Library Children are welcome to visit McAdams Library in Lake City from 4-7 p.m. Monday, March 25, to make Easter crafts. Easter crafts at McAdams Library Children are welcome to visit McAdams Library in Lake City from 4-7 p.m. Monday, March 25, to make Easter crafts...

Manila seniors up and going Manila Senior Citizens enjoyed a fun day on Monday, March 11, with a beanbag baseball tournament and hot dog buffet. Manila seniors had planned to host a group from Blytheville for the tournament but they were unable to come so the Manila teams divided up for the game...

BIC Junior High Quiz Bowl Team were the Regional Runner-up with Gavin Anderson being elected to the All Regional and All State team. They competed at Marked Tree and placed second in the District. They also went on to Regional competition in North Little Rock. Frankie Turner serves as Quiz Bowl sponsor...

LITTLE ROCK - Governor Mike Beebe and DRS Director John Andrews presented $711,500 to 12 rural communities selected for funding through the Rural Services Block Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2013. The grant awards were distributed at a Feb. 27 awards ceremony held in the Governor's Conference Room at the Arkansas State Capitol...

Blytheville Chief of Police Ross Thompson opened a Wednesday afternoon press conference calling the H.I.T.S. (High Intensity Trafficking Suppression) operation monumental. State and federal investigators joined forces with the local law enforcement agencies resulting in nearly 100 people arrested on drugs and weapons charges in southeast Missouri and northeast Arkansas early Wednesday morning...