Stories from Friday, September 11, 2015

Shirley Jean Levins, 78, of Paragould, died Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015, at the Greene Acres Nursing Home in Paragould. Born at Paragould she was the daughter of the late Robert and Mathel Tennison Brummett and had been a lifelong Paragould resident. ...

Timely use of a newly developed smartphone application saved the life of a Blytheville High School employee Wednesday. All Arkansas schools were mandated by the State of Arkansas to install a "panic button alert system". In Blytheville's case it is delivered via the app. The mandate occurred when House Bill 1653 of 2015, sponsored by Rep. Scott Baltz, D-Pocahontas was passed by the entire General Assembly in March of this year...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. Wednesday, Sept. 9 -- Police took a terroristic threatening report in he 600 block of East Walnut. -- Officers investigated a criminal mischief report in the 800 block of South Ruddle. A vehicle window was broken...

Armorel BREAKFAST Monday: Cereal, pop tart, banana, juice and milk Tuesday: Breakfast bagel, applesauce, juice and milk Wednesday: Muffin, yogurt, fruit cocktail, juice and milk Thursday: Mini French toast, sausage link, peaches, juice and milk Friday: No School...

The following are citations written by the Blytheville Code Enforcement office from Aug. 1-31. The offender is listed, followed by current mailing address, the property in violation and the violation. -- Brooke Aldridge; PO Box 1316, Blytheville; 2340 Carolyn; weeds and grass...

The Fifth Annual Alex Johnson Memorial Benefit for Literacy will be held Saturday, September 12th at the historic Ritz Civic Center in Blytheville. The evening will begin with a catered hors' dourve reception and silent auction at 5 p.m. followed at 7 p.m. by a concert...

Keith Leroy Hitchcock, 49, of Pocahontas, formerly of Manila, died Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015, at his home. Born in Blytheville he was the son of the late Lodi Shields and Shirley Hitchcock and had been a former resident of Imboden before making his home in Pocahontas six months ago...

On Friday, Blytheville police arrested three juveniles in connection with Tuesday's aggravated robbery in the 1900 block of Westgate. Three juveniles --two black females, ages 16 and 17, and one black male, age 17 -- were arrested at Blytheville High School, according to Capt. Scott Adams, the Blytheville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division commander...

The Blytheville Finance Committee was informed Thursday night that spending thus far for the year is within acceptable limits, but that revenue is down approximately $185,000. "Our city sales tax revenue was up $2,200 dollars after a $7,300 adjustment and our county tax revenue is down $18,000," Finance and Purchasing Committee Chairman Stan Parks said...

Kenneth Louis Deason, 57, of Blytheville, passed away September 9, 2015 in Hope, Ark. Mr. Deason born April 23, 1958 in Dyersburg, to the late Robert Louis Deason and Sadie Frame Deason. He was a truck driver, a U.S. Army veteran and of the Baptist faith...

Bobbie Gean Franklin, 74, of Blytheville, passed away September 5, 2015 at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. She was born March 11, 1941 in Arkansas to the late E.P. Franklin and Viola Mason. She was a homemaker. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by brother Frank Franklin...

Keith Leroy Hitchcock, 49, of Pocahontas, formerly of Manila, died Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at his home. Born in Blytheville he was the son of the late Lodi Shields and Shirley Hitchcock and had been a former resident of Imboden before making his home in Pocahontas six months ago...

Alma Sue Holmes McGruder, entered Heaven's gates Thursday, August 27, 2015 at the age of 88. Sue was born in Reyno, Ark., the daughter of James and Allie Holmes. Sue was a lifelong resident off Blytheville and raised her family on Promiseland Road. Most recently, she was a resident at Huntington Place, assisted living facility in Rockledge, Fla. ...

Ms. Tammy Dugger Brady, 55, of Blytheville, passed away Saturday, September 5, 2015 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Strong, Ark., Tammy was raised in Osceola and moved to Blytheville in 1995. She was the Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Nursing at Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville. Tammy enjoyed fishing, baking and gardening. She was preceded in death by her parents: Paul and Sarah Inez John Dugger...

Charles "Bill" Payne - Sunrise October 5, 1955 and Sunset August 31, 2015. One of his favorite scriptures was Matthew Chapter 6 versus 9-13. Bill went home to be with the Lord in the early morning of August 31, 2015. He was preceded in death by his wife Andrea M. Payne, his father and mother Rev. Charles H. Payne and Ora Postell-Payne, his grandparents Mr. Shirley Turner and Willie Ann Turner, and Mr. Braize Postell and Myrtle Postell...

Shirley Jean Levins, 78, of Paragould, died Wednesday, September 9, 2015 at the Green Acres Nursing Home in Paragould. Born at Paragould, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Mathel Tennison Brummett and had been a lifelong Paragould resident. She was a former bookkeeper/accountant for several area car dealers and had retired from Walmart after 15 years of service. She was a longtime member of Finch Baptist Church near Paragould...