Stories from Thursday, March 19, 2020

Shari Jean Bennett, 54, of Paragould, passed from this life Wednesday, March 11, 2020, at her home. Born in Modesto, Calif., she was the daughter of the late Larry Wade and had been a Paragould resident since 1997. Survivors include her husband of 33 years, Timothy Bennett of the home; three sons, Nathaniel Bennett, Robert Bennett and Matthew Bennett, all of Paragould; two daughters, Gabrielle Bennett and Alicia Bennett, both of Paragould; her mother, Jean Wade of Modesto, Calif.; her sister, Dena Ayres, of Modesto, Calif. ...

Nathan Campbell, Jr., 96, of Luxora, died March 14, 2020, at SMC Regional Medical Center in Osceola. He was a Navy veteran, retired farmer and of the Baptist faith. Mr. Campbell was born May 18, 1923, in Armorel to Nathan and Lucy White. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Clara Mae Campbell; three sons, Baron Campbell, Alvin Mallard and Nathan Campbell III; two daughters, Deborah Whiteside and Bernice Campbell Smith; four sisters, Beverly Richardson, Lottie White, Lucille White and Pecolia Diggs.. ...

Marshall Colan Green, 78, of Blytheville passed away at home on Tuesday, March 17. He was born in Hickory Ridge on Jan. 27, 1942, to Marshall Henry Green and Cathryn Eilene Kelly Green. His family relocated to Armorel when he was a child. He graduated from Armorel High School. He lived in the Blytheville/Armorel area for approximately 66 years...

Bill Haney, 79, of Hot Springs and formerly of Blytheville, passed away Thursday, March 12, 2020, at his home. Bill was born in Blytheville to P.T. and Demetra (Dee) Haney. Bill was a renowned entertainer, known for doing his Elvis impersonation along with Jerry Lee Lewis style piano. He played rock and roll shows from coast to coast, including a show in Las Vegas...

Tenaris will be reducing its workforce in the US due to the abrupt, sharp decline in the price of oil, and subsequent decrease in market activity. Employees at Tenaris’s Koppel and Ambridge, Pennsylvania, facilities have been informed that operations at the two plants will be suspended effective March 31, 2020. Operations at its threading plant in Brookfield, Ohio, will be suspended as of April 17, 2020...

Farmers Bank and Trust announced Thursday that it would be closing its lobby. "With the ever-changing environment surrounding the coronavirus (Covid-19), Farmers Bank and Trust has made the decision to close all bank lobbies effective Friday, March 20, 2020 for the safety of our customers and employees," Farmers Bank president Randy Scott wrote in a press release. ...

The COVID-19 virus is officially in Northeast Arkansas. Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin and Craighead County Judge Marvin Day issued a joint press release today announcing the county had been notified by the Arkansas Department of Health that a person tested in the county has been found to be infected with the virus...

The number of coronavirus cases continues to grow nationwide, with Dyer County reporting its first two confirmed cases on Thursday morning. While Tennessee officials have not released the ages of the individuals, the State Gazette confirmed one individual is currently self-quarantined at home, while a second individual has already been quarantined and released after it was determined the individual was no longer contagious...

Leroy Gifford of Blytheville was born Sept. 17, 1937, in Tomato to the late Luther Gifford and the late Bessie Altom Gifford. He was the owner of Gifford Moving Service, had retired from Bush Canning Company after 44 years as the maintenance supervisor, was a lifetime resident of Mississippi County and was a member of Ruddle Road Church of God in Blytheville. ...