Stories from Friday, November 20, 2015

The Blytheville City Council met with a light agenda, but the meeting turned long as council members discussed details of each ordinance. An amended ordinance waving the competitive bid process for the purchase of two 2016 Dodge Ram 2500 4-wheel drive Crew Cab trucks by the Wastewater Department was passed by the council after a 5-1 vote. Councilman Tommy Abbott was the sole "no" vote. The trucks, with a combined cost of $54,326, will be purchased from Landers Auto Group in Benton...

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. Wednesday, Nov. 18 -- Police took a theft report at El Puerto on East Main. The two offenders didn't pay for their meal, which was $73. -- Officers investigated a domestic assault in the 2100 block of Peabody...

Armorel BREAKFAST Monday: Cereal, pop tart, banana, juice and milk Tuesday: Breakfast bagel, applesauce, juice and milk Wednesday: No School Thursday: No School Friday: No School LUNCH Monday: Cheese pizza, tossed salad, corn, fresh fruit and milk Tuesday: Salisbury steak, potatoes, gravy, carrots, roll, peaches and milk...

Blytheville Mayor James Sanders delivered, as mandated by Arkansas law, a balanced proposed budget for fiscal year 2016 to the Blytheville City Council Thursday evening. The proposal included large cuts in city operational expenses. Some of these cuts include the closure of Thunder Bayou Golf Links, the loss of six firemen, resulting in the de-manning of Fire Station #3 at the Aeroplex, a reduction of three civilian employees and two police officers at the Police Department, the reduction of 15 other city employees and more.. ...

Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin visited Blytheville Schools (BPS) Thursday at the invitation of Tommy Bennett, Jr., BPS Board of Education President. He visited all the BPS campuses and interacted with many students, teachers and administrators. After touring the schools, he attended a luncheon in the BPS Administration Office, catered by the "Porkchop Mafia", where he made various remarks and answered questions...

FAYETTEVILLE -- Coming off Wednesday's first-round NIT Season Tip-Off loss to Akron at Walton Arena and with tough third and fourth round NIT Tip-Off games upcoming in Brooklyn, N.Y. with Georgia Tech Thursday and either Villanova or Stanford next Friday, the Arkansas Razorbacks really needed a confidence-building second-round victory Friday night over the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at Walton...

Friday's Playoff Scores The Associated Press Bentonville 28, North Little Rock 21 Fayetteville 30, Bryant 24 FS Southside 35, Cabot 25 Har-Ber 20, Conway 17 Quarterfinal Benton 20, El Dorado 12 Greenwood 42, Marion 3 Jonesboro 34, Alma 27 Pine Bluff 42, Russellville 21...

WILSON -- Rivercrest advanced to the Class 3A quarterfinals by winning a shoot-out with Little Rock Episcopal, 62-52, Friday night. Colts star running back Cecil Langston had a record-setting night on the big stage. He scored a school record seven touchdowns and rushed for an eye-popping 437 yards in the win...

A familiar face is on the University of Memphis athletics website, gotigersgo.com. Former Blytheville High School standout receiver Greg McKillion was honored by the school as a Scholar-Athlete of the Month. Along with his talent on the field, the 6-foot-6, 235-pound speedy McKillion is getting it done in the classroom...

Blytheville firemen rescued a 7-year-old girl from a smoke-filled home on South 8th, Wednesday night. Firemen then banged on the door and windows while yelling "Fire Department". "The smoke detector was still going off so we knew there had to be smoke inside the apartment even though none was visible on the outside". ...