Stories from Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Despite losing two firemen to budget cuts in February, the city of Blytheville maintained its Class 3 fire rating and prevented insurance rate hikes in the area. Fire Chief Mike Carney said the city's score actually rose from 73.3 in 2011 to 77.7 in the 2016 evaluation, progressing closer to the second best rating, a Class 2, which would lower insurance rates for the majority of citizens...

Blytheville police have released the name of the man slain in the 400 block of South First Wednesday morning.

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. -- Police took a terroristic threatening report in the 700 block of Northeast Parkway. -- Officers investigated an aggravated domestic assault in the 3700 block of Kacey Lane. The victim said when he put his key in the door, to pick up his medication and crutches, his brother-in-law opened the door and struck him across his left leg and arm with a piece of iron. The offender then pointed a gun at the victim, the report said...

The following Failure to Appear warrants were issued from May 1-31 in Blytheville District Court. -- Donald Adamson, 48, Blytheville; -- Nathan Askue, 23, Blytheville; -- US National Bank -- Donald Jay Boesen, 49, Memphis (two counts); -- Shaylynn Boozy, 23, Blytheville;...

The completion of a new railroad overpass requires a new traffic pattern in Mississippi County, according to Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) officials. Westbound State Highway 18 (Walnut Street) traffic in Blytheville will be moved to the new location utilizing the new railroad overpass this week, weather permitting. The new traffic pattern will be in the area from approximately State Highway 61 (Division Street) to Holland Street...

Two local teenagers plead guilty mid-May to reduced charges stemming from the June 22, 2015 shooting death of Kennon Daniels, who was killed in the 700 block of East McHaney. Randen Caruthers, 18, and Desmond Patton, 18, both plead guilty to aggravated robbery, and they were sentenced to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and 10 years suspended imposition of sentence, meaning if they violate probation they could serve the full punishment...