Stories from Saturday, April 13, 2013

On occasion, I am asked what "exactly" is an animal hoarder. This usually comes up when someone is accused of being an animal hoarder.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Arkansas' House speaker says lawmakers will take final action next week on Gov. Mike Beebe's proposal to provide Big River Steel with $125 million in state financing to help build a steel mill in Osceola. House Speaker Davy Carter said Friday that he plans a vote on the bill Monday. The House voted 78-17 for the proposal earlier this week but still needs to OK a budget bill to fund the Senate-backed plan...

Mrs. Tillie "Essie" Norman, age 88, of St. Charles, Mo., former Leachville resident and widow of Mr. Delmar Norman, passed from this life Friday, April 12, 2013 at the Park Lane Care Center in Wentzville, Mo. Born at Powe, Mo., she was the daughter of the late John C. ...

Mrs. Stacy Caviness, 54, of West Memphis, died Wednesday, April 10, 2013. She was born April 29, 1958, in Blytheville, to Jimmy Gee and Gracie Morris. She was a member of Victory Fellowship. Survivors include her husband, Curtis Caviness of West Memphis;...

Mr. Gregory Hale Atkins passed away peacefully in his sleep Monday, April 8, 2013, having lived a full and active life as a husband, father, grandfather, brother, educator and school administrator, World War II Navy veteran, good neighbor and friend...

Mrs. Betty Sue Robertson, 84, of Searcy, died Thursday, April 11, 2013. She was born Nov. 30, 1928, in Joiner, to the late Thomas and Lettie Davis Haile. She was the former owner of Betty and Lettie's Cafe at 108 E. Main Blytheville. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, R. D. Robertson; and one brother, Charles Haile...

The Northeast Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross is wrapping up a month of grassroots fundraising activity, according to chapter executive director Pam Knapp-Carver. As the final event in its Every Red Cent Counts fundraising campaign, the local chapter will welcome a nationally known hero...

To say Blytheville Parks and Recreation Director Elroy Brown is satisfied with the results of the "Away With Geese" devices would be an understatement. Brown said the four devices, installed in January and February, have shooed away most of the geese at the Walker Park pond...

Coy Crihfield and his wife, Jennye, have lived at Westminster Village in Blytheville for less than a year. On some days, their new friends and acquaintances might see Coy walking with a cane, and he wants everyone he meets to know that the story behind his limp is not one of defeat, but of triumph over illness that he hopes will serve as an inspiration to others...

Nucor-Yamato Steel is planning a $115 million expansion that would allow it to produce a new product known as wide sheet piling. The company is requesting the city of Blytheville's assistance in securing Act 9 bonds for the project. Tuesday night, the Blytheville City Council is expected to consider a resolution entering into an agreement for the issuance of the bonds...

Blytheville freshman sensation Taylor Tiffany added another pitching gem to her resume. Tiffany struckout an eye-popping 20 Riverside batters and took a no-hitter into the fifth inning as the Lady Chicks blanked the Lady Rebels, 3-0, Friday in make-up game...