Stories from Friday, September 2, 2016

The Humane Society of Blytheville could grow five-fold following an assist from the airport authority. The Blytleville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority board of directors on Thursday voted to lease roughly eight acres to the humane society -- at $1 a year -- to the humane society. The 25-year lease will give the humane society five times as much space in which to operate than the roughly two acres currently used by the animal shelter...

The city of Blytheville is considering banning feeding waterfowl inside the city limits in hopes of eliminating health hazards at the local parks. Feeding the geese and ducks has been a staple of Walker Park for many years, but Parks and Recreation Director Elroy Brown noted their feces covering the walkway around the park pond is a health issue...

During a brief special meeting Thursday evening, the Blytheville City Council voted to fund Thunder Bayou Golf Links through the end of 2016. The board approved the use of $31,000 from a parks and recreation fund to pay for TBGL expenses, including an $18,000 environmental study. The state requires the study before it decides whether Thunder Bayou could be repurposed into Bayou Park, a proposed recreational area with a walking/bike trail, splash pad and ponds...

Both men wanted in an aggravated burglary at Capri Apartments are now in custody. Austin Nicholson, 22, was taken into custody in Gregg County, Texas on Friday, according to Capt. Scott Adams, the Blytheville Criminal Investigations Division Commander...

Mildred "Milly" Long Dailey, 87, of Blytheville, passed away Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at Crestpark Nursing Home in De Witt, Arkansas. Milly was born in Blytheville to Robert and Anna Jewell (Burnett) Meador. She graduated from Blytheville High School in 1947 and received her BSE from Arkansas State University, an MSE from the University of Central Arkansas, and did additional studies at Southeast Missouri State University...

The Second Judicial District Drug Task Force arrested Felix Kennedy on gun and drug charges late Friday morning. According to DTF's Bobby Ephlin, officers seized an ounce of methamphetamine, 6.3 grams of cocaine, one gram of crack, two firearms and $3,000 cash during the bust around 11 a.m. Friday in the 100 block of East Vine...

In his debut, Coach Brandon Barbaree led the Gosnell Pirates to a 20-14 season-opening win over the Newport Greyhounds at J.W. Rea Field on Friday night. The Pirates finished with 263 total offensive yards and the Greyhounds finished 214 total offensive yards on the night...

For the second straight season opener, Blytheville blew out its south end county rival. The Chicks cruised to a 40-6 victory over the Osceola Seminoles Friday night in front of a large Haley Field crowd. Blytheville has beaten Osceola a combined 84-6 during their last two meetings...