Stories from Friday, December 2, 2016

Mr. Ray Cruz was born October 9, 1997 in Blytheville, Arkansas to Adan Cruz and Adelina Lara. He was employed at Hays Supermarket as a grocer and a stockman. Mr. Cruz departed this life on November 30, 2016 at his home in Gosnell, Arkansas at the age of 19...

Mr. Harold Bigham, 61, of Blytheville, passed away Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. Harold was born in Blytheville to Harold and Virginia Bigham. He was a mechanic and loved to work on cars. He served his country in the United States Air Force. Harold loved to play the drums and was a proud member of the band "The Next of Kin". He also loved to hunt and fish...

Ms. Rachel Lee Pate, 86, of Lepanto, AR passed away on November 30, 2016 survivors include three sons, Johnny, Curtis and Kenneth Pate all of Lepanto, AR, two daughters Barbara Gossage of Mulberry, AR and Linda Gossage of Lepanto, AR one sister Gracie Davis of Harrisburg, AR, ten grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be held at Potter Cemetery in Lepanto, AR at 2:00pm on Monday, December 5, 2016. Wilson Funeral Home Tyronza, AR in charge...

The Mississippi County Election Commission met Friday morning for the purpose of certifying the three municipal runoff elections held in the county on Tuesday. A total of seven provisional ballots were presented to the board and all were counted as valid votes. ...

The Blytheville Code Enforcement and Animal Control Committee met Thursday afternoon for their regular monthly meeting and announced the hiring of a new animal control officer, Bobbie Davis. It was announced that Davis had previously worked for the city in animal control and that she had been sworn in Thursday morning, before completing her first animal adoption later that afternoon...

County Judge Randy Carney has lifted the burn ban in Mississippi County. Carney made the move on Tuesday. The burn ban was in effect for about two weeks.

The following are reports from the Blytheville Police Department. -- Officers took a criminal mischief report in the 1000 block of West Moultrie. A vehicle was scratched. -- Police took a criminal mischief report in the 400 block of South First. The offender caused $10,000 in damages to the apartments...

By JOSEPH FONDREN Blytheville Courier News GOSNELL-- The Gosnell Lady Pirates defeated a 3-4A rival, the Trumann Wildcats, Thursday night, 59-48. Junior guard Zkiah Kuykendall was injured earlier in the week with a knee injury so Gosnell relied on sophomore guard Destiny Smith- Batchelor who shined down the stretch and also left three Wildcat defenders on the ground before making a layup to help the Pirates go up, 51-41, late in the fourth quarter. She would end up with nine points on the game...

The Blytheville Fire Department responded to a fully involved structure fire near 15th and Sycamore Streets around 8:45 p.m. Friday evening. It appears that the structure was competely destroyed, but confirmation has yet to be received from officials...

Ms. Patsy Darlene Payton, 61, of Marked Tree, AR passed away on December 1, 2016. She is survived by four brothers James, Terry, Benny and David Payton, one sister Judy Payton. She is preceded by her parents Carter and Clara Payton, four brothers Vernon, Lonnie, Donald and Jimmy Payton and two sisters Patricia and Diane Payton...

Ms. Janice Jones, 59, of Truman, Ark. passed on November 29, 2016. She is survived by five sons Curtis Mitchell, Jeremy Brooks, Kevin, Cory and Cornelius Jones, two daughters Robin Jones and Roseanne Blake, four brothers Terry Lloyd, Rickey Mitchell, Jimmy Mitchell and Barry Rossell, two sisters Cora McGuire and Barbara Turner and a host of grandchildren. She is preceded by her parents, two brothers and one sister...