Stories from Wednesday, August 29, 2018

The Gosnell Pirates (0-1) were inches away from tying the bigger, 5A-East power Nettleton Raiders in the Week 0 matchup last Friday night. Now the Pirates will look to bounce back after the 14-6 loss to the Raiders as they host the Kennett Indians Friday night...

The Blytheville Chickasaws had no problem in their AAA benefit game two weeks ago as they routed the Mountain Home Bombers 50-7. However, this week’s opponent, the rivals from the south end of Mississippi County, the Osceola Seminoles, will be a lot better than the Bombers...

A couple weeks ago, thanks to the assistance of a few good-hearted local residents a goose that had its legs wrapped in fishing line was freed. The goose in question, later named Ihop, was originally seen by John Alan Nelson and his wife, Angie Nelson around Birchwood. They contacted Connie Ash about the goose, who contacted Hannah Hopper who lived in the area. Hopper then called her friend Summer Stracener and the mission to free the Ihop began...

Members of the local Knights of Columbus spent Saturday morning building a wheelchair ramp for Linda Byrd of Gosnell. “I think it’s good, thank you so much, guys,” Byrd said. “I appreciate it so much.” She said the ramp will help her tremendously. “It was hard to get up these steps without it,” said Byrd, who has to use a walker to get around...

Monday night’s monthly Blytheville School Board meeting was moved to the high school cafeteria because the air conditioning went out in the Blytheville Administration Building. “ The air conditioner in the admin went out, I guess last night,” Blytheville superintendent Bobby Ashley said. ...

Barbara Friedley, 49, and Phillip Paine, 50, of Blytheville face animal cruelty charges, after an animal control officer found burn marks and other injuries to dogs in the 200 block of West Kentucky around 5 p.m. Friday. “The injuries to the white/tan pit are as follows: burn marks and scabs on body; injuries to the lab mix puppy are as follows: injured right back leg due to being hit by a car, has what appeared to be burn marks as well; injuries to the black dog are as follows: laceration to his face and head and hurt paw, and possibly burn marks to his body,” the Blytheville Police Department report reads. ...

Ruby L. Shields, 89, of Memphis, TN passed away on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at St. Francis Hospital - Memphis. Mrs. Shields worked all of her adult life in various positions. She was born in Selmer, TN to the late Carrol and Denna Smith. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Fred D. ...

Virginia McClure, 89, of Blytheville, passed away Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at Gosnell Therapy and Living. Virginia was born in Roseland to William “Bob” and Lucille Baughman and was a member of North Tenth Street Baptist Church. She was retired from Southwestern Bell as a telephone operator after 30 years, and also retired after 14 years as operator #7 at Blytheville Air Force Base. ...