Stories from Saturday, November 20, 2021

The Osceola City Council approved two measures Thursday night aimed at securing an unnamed company that is expected to invest up to $65 million and provide 200 jobs by 2025. Unnamed because the city is under a confidentiality agreement with the business, the city council agreed to sell the company the old Fruit of the Loom building for $2.5 million. ...

The Blytheville City Council approved a resolution for the code enforcement office to enter an agreement with EFS Geotechnologies in their Nov. 16 meeting. The Code Enforcement committee, along with the council members, have expressed their desire to place city maps on the website. In the previous committee meeting, code enforcement officer Janice Smith explained the benefits of utilizing this program...

The high point of the Buffalo Island Central School Board meeting Thursday evening was having two kindergarten students read to the directors. “We are thankful to have Superintendent Gaylon Taylor come to our classroom each Tuesday and Thursday to listen to our kindergarteners read,” said BIC teacher Faith Rolland. ...

Manila School Board approved policy changes, accepted a resignation, increased reimbursement for meals and mileage, approved assets deletion list, and approved classified salary updates at the Thursday, Nov. 18, meeting. Superintendent Jason Evers presented policy add-on/changes including:...

When Blytheville Code Enforcement condemnation/demolition coordinator Janice Smith took on her role in May 2019, she had a goal of removing 350 dilapidated structures. She hit the ground running and began a program of eliminating blight in August 2019...

Active Covid-19 cases in Mississippi County have increased for a second week after seeing a steady decline in the previous month. Blytheville Mayor James Sanders reported 139 active cases in his Wednesday report, up from 84 in the previous week. Sanders and Mississippi County health officer Dr. Valencia Andrews-Pirtle urged the community to be mindful as numbers increase, despite cases being down previously...

Osceola took a 78-62 junior varsity win over Blytheville Thursday night at Seminole Arena. The back and forth game featured big plays on both sides with leads growing and shrinking throughout the night. The score was tied early in the game before Osceola began to create an advantage after the first timeout. A four-point play from guard Terrance Nimmers pulled the crowd from their seats, and that momentum carried the Seminoles for the first quarter...

The Gosnell Pirates showed signs of improvement Thursday night, keeping it close for much of the first half against the Class 5A Paragould Rams, before falling 71-52. Paragould 6-foot-7 standout Isaiah Jackson had another big night, scoring a game-high 25 points, including three dunks that came in the first half...