Stories from Saturday, May 15, 2021

Well known BIC basketball star Brooks Taylor is now the co-owner of the fast-growing Taylor-Made Ballers, which teaches basketball, baseball and softball skills for kids age 4-19. Brooks was one of the outstanding players at BIC, when the team won back-to-back state championships in 2005 and 2006. ...

While still expressing interest in future plans for the current Blytheville Police Department building, the Mississippi County Energy and Property committee eliminated the idea of purchasing the building. In their May 11 meeting Justice Rick Ash stated that the city is looking to sell the building. With asbestos and black mold among the issues with the building, the committee did not want to purchase and still be responsible for repair...

During Tuesday night’s meeting, members of the Gosnell City Council vowed to correct the sewer issue that led to a home being flooded. “We all agree as a council this is unacceptable,” Councilman Josh Trapp said. “We just need to figure out a way to fix it and make sure this doesn’t happen.”...

After a quiet year at the Walker Park fair grounds due to COVID-19, the Spring carnival will be returning May 25-29. While still advising the community to wear masks and social distance, the gates will open at 6 p.m. throughout the week and at 3 p.m. on the final day. Sanitizing stations will be set up throughout the fair grounds and rides will be deep cleaned throughout the day...

Divorces Jordan Belknap v Brittany Belknap Mallory D Darby v Cade G Darby Shelby Herron v Andrew Massey Jason Scott v Ashton Scott Tony Austin v Lee Ann Austin Cody Slay v Mark Slay Nicecell Davis v Tyrone Davis Wayne Wilson v Pamela Wilson Samantha Deason vs Gerrod Deason...

Blytheville city attorney Chris Brown is recommending that the Blytheville Planning Commission revote after he says the board did not have a quorum Tuesday night when it endorsed a food truck draft measure and denied a request for an in-home daycare...

Nine new personnel additions and 20 new students were unanimously approved during Manila Public School regular board of director’s meeting on Tuesday evening. New faculty members hired include: Angela Johns, elementary teacher; Danna Mattingly, elementary teacher; Makala White, cheer coach; Cody Edgar, senior high girls basketball coach; Sarah Moore, head volleyball coach; Megan Mathis, assistant volleyball coach; Sherry Morgan, high school secretary; Sarah Brown, parapro; and Charlie Keener, parapro. ...

Members of the Blytheville City Council voiced their grievances with the police department May 11 in the police committee meeting at the Ritz Civic Center. Following the settlement of a court case in 2018 involving the Blytheville Police Department’s arrest of Deon Vernon, councilman John Mayberry posed the question, “Who is policing the police?”...

Mississippi County Judge John Alan Nelson had little interest in bicycle trails until a trip to Desha County two years ago opened his eyes to the opportunities they offer. The Desha County judge showed an impressed Nelson his bike trail on the Mississippi River levee...