News

The Manila Lions Club has hosted the annual pancake supper for over 60 years. It is a holiday tradition and proceeds from the event are given back to the community. The money raised helps fund the Goodfellow Christmas baskets each year. The club averages distributing 100 food baskets and toys to local families each year. ...

An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held at the Great River Medical Center, 1520 North Division St., Blytheville and at the Tyronza Senior Center, 135 S. Main St. Tyronza on Thursday, Dec. 14. The blood drive in Blytheville will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Senior Center blood drive will be held from 1:30-5:30 p.m...

Blytheville Ministerial Alliance recently sponsored the annual Blytheville Thanksgiving service. This event's purpose is to gather the churches and community together to offer prayers of gratitude to God while acknowledging that “He is the giver of all good gifts.”...

Black Hills Energy filed a rate review application with the Arkansas Public Service Commission requesting a base rate increase to recover the necessary capital infrastructure and operational costs required to deliver safe, reliable natural gas service for over 184,000 Arkansas customers...

The Championship Wrestling will hold a Holiday Havoc Toy Drive Dec. 9 at the Leachville Gym. Doors open at 6 p.m. Santa will be there.

Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol”, adapted by Charles Ludlam, will be presented live at the Melody Theater, 301 Main Street in Leachville. There will be four shows. Productions will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 15-17. A matinee will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday...

The Family Movie Night at The Melody Theater, 301 S. Main St, Leachville, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22. Theater manager Kevin Reagan said the distributor of this film does not permit them to announce the title in print, but they can tell you that it is an animated Christmas favorite. Call 888-7-MELODY (888-763-5639) for complete details...

Can you have happy holidays without overspending? Yes, you can! America Saves (save@americasaves.org) has some tips that can help. Saving during the holidays doesn’t just mean saving by bargain shopping. It also means sticking to more long-term savings goals and avoiding new debt. Here are some tips to help you plan for a fun and fulfilling holiday season without sacrificing your savings goals.   ...

Manila Class of 2025 held a Biscuits with Santa event on Saturday morning at the Manila Airport Center. Santa was joined by Buddy the Elf who also visited with the children and helped Santa greet and meet the children In addition to breakfast, pictures with Santa and visiting with Buddy, children enjoyed creating Christmas ornaments. Face painting was also a popular stop of the morning...

Barry Zekelman, Executive Chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries, recently announced a new Loyalty Awards program to celebrate the contributions, knowledge, and experience of company teammates. Under the new Loyalty Awards, employees of all Zekelman Industries companies will receive special payments when they complete their 5th, 10th, 20th, and 30th years of employment without a break in service...

The Giving Tree, one of the 10 trees sponsored by businesses and individuals, is sponsored by Me & My Sister and the Union Mission. Gifts of gloves are on the tree for those who need them. Everyone is invited to vote for their favorite tree on the Main Street Blytheville page...

On Friday, Dec. 1, Elbert Thomas, Jr., 34, was taken into custody for warrants that stemmed from the Nov. 22 shooting death of Erica Chew, 42, of Blytheville. Thomas was arraigned in Blytheville District Court on Dec. 4, where Judge Shannon Langston set bond at $500,000 cash and set a circuit court date for Jan. 18, 2024...

Local teen wins pageant - Hayden Jenkins, of Gosnell, was recently crowned 2024 Miss Northeast Arkansas Outstanding Teen. Jenkins has chosen “Get Empowered with Special Olympics” as her Community Service Initiative. Jenkins stated she has chosen this platform because she believes in creating a more unified community where everyone, regardless of abilities or disabilities, can feel included...

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders toured the NUCOR-Yamato Steel Mill Thursday morning along with her staff, Blytheville Mayor Melisa Logan, State Senator Dave Wallace and State Rep. Joey Carr. (Photo By Joseph Fondren)

Little Rock, AR- State Representative Johnny Rye from District 36 presented checks to community organizations in his district in November. Nettleton Schools, Bay School District, Trumann Schools, and East Poinsett County School all received a grant from the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance...

In a significant stride towards promoting workplace safety and enhancing the skills of its workforce, Arkansas Northeastern College Solutions Group recently announced three of its instructors have earned certification as OSHA General Industry trainers. ...

Retirement celebration was held at the Blytheville Public Library for its branch manager, Mary Razor, on Thursday morning. Razor has been at the Blytheville Public Library for 43 years.

In a special called meeting on Tuesday, Leachville City Council members discussed purchasing a new truck for the police department and a pump for the water department. Mayor Rodney Robertson called the meeting to order informing the council that a 1500 Ram SSV, crew cab 4x4 is available at Red River Dodge at a cost of $40,015...

Kimberly Rhodes of Nucor Steel Hickman and Ashley Kroll of Nucor Yamato Steel attended this week’s Gosnell School Board meeting along with Gosnell Elementary’s 5th grade students Graden McGuirt, Wendoly Lara and Eli Johnson. The young Pirates read essays about their experiences on their recent Arkansas 4-H Center trip and presented thank you cards for Nucor’s sponsorship of the trip for the last 25 years. (School District Photo)...

Main Street Blytheville was presented a Public Art Grant from Marty Rawl, Director of Arkansas Heritage, and Debra Fithen, Arkansas Heritage Grants Manager. The mural will be painted by Sabrina Shourd and placed on the outside wall at Grass Roots Salon, owned by Adria Belford, this spring...

BLYTHEVILLE — Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, several members of the cabinet and state legislators Sen. Dave Wallace and Rep. Joey Carr toured the facilities at Nucor-Yamato Steel Thursday as her first stop of the day as she pronounced Thursday, Nov. 30, as Blytheville the state capital of Arkansas...

New members for the Arkansas Northeastern College chapter of Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society were inducted on Nov. 5. Gamma Beta Phi (GBP) is a national collegiate honor society and service organization with chapters in colleges and universities throughout the United States. ...

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders presents Blytheville Mayor Melisa Logan with a proclamation declaring “Blytheville the state capital of Arkansas” on Nov. 30, 2023.

Members of the Manila Lions Club are getting ready for the Christmas parade and the Lions Pancake Supper on Saturday, Dec. 2. They plan to serve pancakes and march in the parade. Pancakes will be served from 5-8 p.m. at the Manila Elementary School cafeteria. Tickets can be purchased at the door. All proceeds will go to the Goodfellow Christmas baskets distributed throughout the community. Pictured are Christy Patterson, Brian Hollis and Alicia Rounsavall, all dressed up for the upcoming events...

Manila Performing Arts will present a Christmas Concert Sunday, Dec. 3. The concert will be held at 2 p.m. in the Manila High School auditorium. Performing will be the junior high choir, beginning band, senior high choir, high school band and advisory choir...

Watoto, children’s choir, will present Better Days, There is Hope, at the Ritz Civic Center, in Blytheville, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12. All the way from Uganda, East Africa, the Watoto Children’s Choir is performing songs from their brand-new album, “Better Days – There is Hope”...

Farmers Bank and Trust is collecting toys for its annual Toy Drive. The toys will be given to children in the Mississippi County Foster Care, The Haven and the Union Mission. Toys may be dropped off at the Blytheville, Manila or Wilson locations. To make a monetary donation, call LaRay White at 870-763-8101...

Buffalo Island Central School Board met Thursday, Nov. 30, to elect board officers, hire employees, accept staff resignations and discuss Mustang Club organizational meeting. BIC Superintendent Gaylon Taylor welcomed Drake Brown of Leachville as a new school board member...

Monette Council met Monday, Nov. 25, to revisit previously tabled ordinances regarding vicious dogs and selling of fireworks and concerns for possible closures of the Monette Senior Center and Kohn Memorial Library. Mayor Bob Blankenship brought up the ordinance regarding vicious dogs. ...

After weeks of reviewing budget numbers, the Mississippi County Quorum Court adopted the county’s 2024 budget Tuesday evening. With projected expenditures totaling $45 million, the financial plan is the largest in the county’s history. That’s an increase of $6 million from 2023...

Blytheville – According to a Blytheville Police Department release, a shooting has resulted in the death of Erica Chew, 42, of Blytheville. According to the report on Wednesday, Nov. 22, at approximately 11:06 p.m., officers with the Blytheville Police Department responded to the area of Willow and Madison due to hearing shots fired in the vicinity...

A two-vehicle accident has shut down I-55. The accident occurred at mile marker 50.1 north of Osceola, according to ArDOT. The accident occurred at 1:47 p.m.

ARKADELPHIA - Rivercrest’s second consecutive visit to Arkadelphia for a Class 4A quarterfinal matchup with the Badgers was all Colts after the opening quarter in a 36-12 victory. The field which was a “House of Horrors” for the Colts in 2022 was quite the opposite this time as after surrendering a first quarter touchdown, the Colts scored 36 unanswered points to win going away...

The Manila High School Theater presented Bye Bye birdie, a musical comedy by Michael Stewart, on Nov. 9-12. Candace Hawkins, MHS Theatre and choir Director, was the director of the show with Heath Hawkins, assistant director. Candace Hawkins said the show was a testament to the dedicated performers who put in the time to accomplish something great...

Robbie Sue Tennyson Glover, of Columbia, Mo., celebrated her 96th birthday this past week with family and friends. She lives with her husband of 34 years, Carl Glover, at the Solstice Senior Living Center. Robbie Sue spent most of her life in Steele, Mo. ...

The Lepanto Fire Department will hold a Polar Express Breakfast Saturday, Dec. 16. The breakfast will be held from 8-11 a.m. at the fire department, 728 Greenwood Ave. Plates are $10 each. Santa and Ms. Claus will make a special appearances. Proceeds will go towards LFD Fourth of July show...

Main Street Blytheville will present The Historic West Main Parlor Tour again this year. The tour will be held Friday, Dec. 8 from 6-9 p.m. There will be six historic homes for tour with libations, music, food and holiday fun. Tickets are $100 and may be purchased at the Bus Station. Main Street accepts cash, check, card or PayPal @MSBlytheville ($3 charge for card and PayPal payments)...

Mississippi County had four farms inducted into the Arkansas Century Farm Program. Monday, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders was joined by Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward to induct 36 farms into the Arkansas Century Farm Program. The four farms added from Mississippi County are Baxley Farm (established in 1922), C.W. Ramey Farm-Section 8 (established 1923), C.W. Ramey Farm-Section 9 (established 1923) and Halfmoon Sisters Farm, LLC (established 1919)...

Attorney General Tim Griffin recently recognized Chief Glen Austin as Mississippi County’s Officer of the Year, a tribute to his distinguished career in law enforcement, culminating with his retirement as Keiser's Chief of Police on October 31, 2023...

The Mississippi County Library System will offer children a chance to give a gift to their loved ones. The library system will give children an opportunity to personalize an oven mitt. Gifts for Loved Ones events will be held Dec. 7 at the Osceola Public Library at 3 p.m...

A baking class will be offered Saturday, Dec. 9 for Mama Cash chocolate and pineapple pies. The class is being offered by Visit Wilson, AR and will be held at The Grange at Wilson Gardens at 5 p.m. For tickets visit www.eventbrite.com/e/mama-cash-pie-baking-class-tickets-752575151537...

The Arkansas Department of Health has announced its Viral Respiratory Diseases report ending with the week of Saturday, Nov. 18. The report provides information on Influenza, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) activity in the state. The report also compares activities in Arkansas to the U.S. ADH receives reports of only a fraction of COVID-19 cases and flu cases since it only requires reports of flu hospitalizations, deaths, and outbreaks. RSV is not a reportable disease in Arkansas...

WHEREAS: Blytheville grew from a lumber mill town into one of the centers of Arkansas' cotton industry in the 1880s. Serving as the state's gateway in Northeast Arkansas, it also welcomed travelers and tourists to the Natural State; WHEREAS: Blytheville's role as a center of forestry grew significantly after Chicago's Great Fire of 1871. Many of the city's buildings were rebuilt using lumber harvested in Arkansas;...

It can be difficult to find the perfect gift for loved ones, family and friends on the Christmas list. One has to take into consideration the likes of the recipient, age appropriateness, what the budget will allow and the availability. Sometimes the most popular gift items can run in short supply. It is always a good idea to shop early and then rest easy...

BLYTHEVILLE— The City of Blytheville held a public forum Tuesday night 15 minutes before the monthly city council meeting to allow public input on an agenda item to issue industrial development revenue bonds to assist in the financing of certain industrial facilities— Nucor Yamato, Nucor Steel and Nucor Steel Arkansas. ...

BLYTHEVILLE— Tuesday night the Blytheville City Council met for their monthly meeting at the Ritz theater where they passed six resolutions and four ordinances.  Three of the four ordinances dealt with the “issuance of a taxable industrial development revenue bond” for Nucor-Yamato Steel, Nucor Steel Arkansas and Nucor Steel. ...

The Leachville gym committee sponsored its annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 18. Vendors had holiday gift items, food items, jewelry, arts and crafts and much more for a great day of shopping. Santa was there to greet the guests and pose for pictures. ...

Despite the rain, the Lights of the Delta kicked off the Christmas season Monday night. The display will be open Sundays-Thursdays from 5:30-9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30-10 p.m. The last day for the lights will be Dec. 27. Santa will be available for photographs and visits every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. ...

The City of Manila is hosting “Holiday on Main” before the Christmas Parade on Dec. 2. The city is looking for local businesses to set up (tailgate style) across from city hall to pass out holiday treats, marketing items, letters to Santa, etc. Manila Ice will be serving hot cocoa, arts and crafts will be a block over at Oak Hall Event Space and the city’s Christmas tree will be lit...