Stories from Thursday, June 25, 2015

Wanda Lee Stutts, 85, of Manila, died Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro. She was a lifelong Manila area resident. Wanda was a member of Little River Baptist Church and was a former VBS teacher and Sunday school teacher. She graduated from Manila High School in 1946 where she valedictorian. Wanda loved farming and spending time with her family. She and her family were the Arkansas State Farm Family of 1976 and a former member of the FHA board...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. Wednesday, June 24 -- Police investigated a forgery complaint. The victim's daughter, who has power of attorney over her, told police that the offender wrote four checks totaling $1,225...

The National Weather Service in Memphis (NWS) has issued a number of heat advisories over the past few days, as very hot and humid conditions have blanketed Mississippi County. Heat has been in the mid to upper 90s with heat indices rising from 105° to 108° daily. While cooler temps may move in temporarily next week, residents know that this will not be the only heat wave of the year and it is prudent to be prepared...

By Tom Henry/Blytheville Courier News Vera James and volunteers of the New Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, 1425 S. Elm St., Blytheville are giving away free sack lunches daily from 11 a.m. until noon. The program is funded by the Mississippi County Community Foundation and the church and is scheduled to run through July 10th. Over 100 sack lunches were given out in the first twenty minutes Thursday morning...

Tom Henry/Blytheville Courier News The Mississippi County Senior Citizens Center, 1101 David Lane in Blytheville, held a free health fair Thursday morning for area seniors. Free medical screenings and information was provided by Southern Eye Associates, Absolute Care Management Corp., The Diabetic Shoppe, Dierksen Hospice, East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging and United Healthcare Medicare Solutions...

Tax revenues for Mississippi County defied expectations and rose during the month of May, despite concerns that the mass layoffs in the area would cause a sharp decline over the summer. County general's share of the one cent sales tax for May was $113,806, up from $104,081 in April, and also up by more than $5,000 from May of 2014...

A state championship coach in his own right, David Hixson can now add 5A Athletic Director of the Year to his extensive resume. A 31-year employee of the Blytheville Public School District, Hixson is Athletic Director and head golf coach at Blytheville High School, served as the school's head boys' basketball coach for 26 years, winning a state championship as head coach in 2006, served as an assistant coach on two state championship teams and led his 2012 golf team to the state championship as well. ...

Blytheville Courier News JONESBORO - The Blytheville Hardy Sales and Service Casons dropped a zone contest to the Jonesboro Riceman, 4-3, Tuesday night. The Casons led, 3-0, heading into the bottom of the seventh but the Riceman plated four in their final at bat to steal the ball game...

A lawsuit has been filed in Circuit Court against the City of Blytheville, Blytheville Waterworks and former Waterworks General Manager Gary Phillips. De Lage Landen Financial Services Company (DLLFS), through its attorneys Nixon & Light of Little Rock, has filed suit against the City of Blytheville, Blytheville Waterworks and former Waterworks General Manager Gary Phillips in the Civil Division, Blytheville District of the Circuit Court of Mississippi County...