Stories from Saturday, April 5, 2014

Sometimes I find myself feeling my way in this darkness. It seems I am going in circles. A younger me, always impatient, this older version of me is often reminded that my time is running out to fast.

Mrs. Maxine Reid Rector, 89, of Blytheville, died March 28, in Mustang, Okla. She was born to the late Max B. Reid and Patsy N. Reid. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Robert Rector of Okeene, Okla. Mrs. Rector leaves two brothers, Richard A. Reid of Blytheville and Jere N. Reid of Memphis;...

Longtime Gosnell head baseball coach, Bret Jackson, is stepping down after the 2014 season. After 21 years as the Pirate skipper, Jackson said it's time to hang up his cleats and watch from the grandstand. "My health has not been good the past few years," said Jackson. "It's just gradually getting worse. I felt that this would be a good time to end it. Plus, we're hosting the district tournament this year. That would be a great way to go out."...

The newest Blytheville police officers were sworn in Thursday morning by Judge Shannon Langston.

The Blytheville Housing Authority was given a failing score on a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report, mostly due to the occupancy rate, according to BHA executive director Sue Alexander. Recently, Blytheville Mayor James Sanders received a letter from Johnny Wooley, director of the office of public housing, and distributed copies to members of the Blytheville City Council...

Robert Johnson, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, acts as a drill sergeant while putting the third grade participants of "Gloria Richardson's Benchmark Boot Camp" through their paces at the pep rally prior to the Benchmark Examination, which begins Monday morning and lasts through Friday. The rally at the Blytheville Elementary School gym also included the Blytheville High School Band members and cheerleaders...

"The King" performed to a packed house at the Ritz Theater Friday night as people from all across the region came out to support the "Bucks for Chuck" benefit held to help raise funds for Chuck Wilder, who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer...