News

The Blytheville City Advertising Tourism Promotion Commission has established new guidelines for organizations seeking support for local events and activities. Beginning in 2023, the commission will operate in two revolving grant cycles. The first application deadline will be each April 1, with notifications to applicants by April 30. ...

By DAVID PIERCE - NEA Town Courier The Mississippi County Quorum Court Insurance Committee has met four times recently in sessions that lasted as long as two hours each. The purpose was to recommend a county insurance broker to the full court and the group vetted four prospective insurance companies...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Attorney Tucker Brackins with Mullenix & Associates, LLC, a state lobbyist firm working on behalf of Mississippi County, met with the county American Rescue Fund committee on Thursday afternoon. Justice Molly Jackson, chair, opened the meeting turning the floor over to Brackins...

A fall fair will be opening in Blytheville on Wednesday, Oct. 5, and run through Saturday, Oct. 8. Carnival rides and the midway will be at the Walker Park for four fun days. The gates will open at 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Armband every night for $20...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Mississippi County finance committee worked on the budget Monday, Sept. 26, reviewing 2023 projected revenues. Justice Michael White, chair, said some of the numbers will be reviewed again and changes will be made as needed in the smaller or special funds...

Memphis, Tenn. – The Memphis Grizzlies announced today the Big River Steel Edge, a newly renovated space on the Terrace level of FedExForum that will provide an enhanced fan experience. In addition, the Terrace Level of FedExForum will now be known as Big River Steel Terrace...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier The seven candidates vying to be the next mayor of Blytheville hit the stage Thursday night at the high school auditorium. The candidates presented their ideas on a number of pressing issues within the city including blythe, street repairs, education and much more...

Manila native Greg Smith, retired FedEx professional, local airport manager, and longtime community volunteer, has announced his candidacy for mayor of Manila, seeking to implement a three-pronged leadership plan on behalf of his hometown. Smith’s plan focuses on three areas for development in Manila, including enhancing public safety and private property values, improving city infrastructure, and guiding city growth...

CHICAGO — Zekelman Industries recently announced construction will begin in December on its new state-of-the-art inline steel tube galvanizing factory in Blytheville. Similar to the company’s most recent expansion in Rochelle, Illinois, this factory will utilize best-in-class manufacturing technology and a fully automated Matter warehouse system. This facility is designed to set industry-leading benchmarks for safety, product quality and service...

Craighead County Highway Department will close CR 940 on Monday, Sept. 26 at 8 a.m. It will remain closed approximately two months, or until the work is completed. The Highway Department will be building a bridge. CR 940 will be closed between CR 960 and CR 931. Detour signs will be posted to alert the public and motorists are asked to use caution in the area. Commuters should allow for additional travel time...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier The Blytheville City Council unanimously approved a resolution with Pollution Management Inc. continuing improvements for the city wastewater collection system in its Sept. 20 meeting. In the previous utility committee meeting, Brad Wingfield of PMI’s engineering division detailed the next steps for further progress...

With the encouragement of family and friends within the Manila community, Pamela A. Chipman, has officially filed as a candidate for the mayor of Manila. Graduating from Manila High School is a strong source of pride for Pam and her husband, James. Their children, Josh and Seth, are also proud graduates of MHS. Pam and James’ grandchildren, Eden and Lawson, are current roaring lions. Pam looks forward to further developing unity between the city and school, school board, and school stakeholders...

LITTLE ROCK—Former Craighead County Clerk Jacob Kade Holliday was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison Wednesday, Sept. 21 for taking more than $1.5 million in county money for his personal use. Holliday, 34, of Jonesboro, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge James M. Moody, Jr., who also imposed three years of supervised release after Holliday completes his prison term...

The U.S. Air Force was officially formed in September 1947. In conjunction with its 75 years of service, a reflection of the Blytheville Eaker Air Force Base will be remembered. The base located in Mississippi County played a major role in the U.S. defense for almost four decades during the Cold War, Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier The county finance committee received an update from Cliff Chitwood of Great River Economic Development Foundation during their Sept. 19 meeting. Justice Neil Burge conducted the meeting in committee chair, Michael White’s absence...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier The community will have the opportunity to hear directly from mayoral candidates on Sept. 22. A debate has been scheduled for Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at the Blytheville High School auditorium. Local media members will assist in moderating the debate. Additionally, questions will be fielded from the community leading into the debate. Time will be designated for both opening and closing statements from each candidate...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Mississippi County Courthouse in Blytheville officially reopened on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. The historic building received extensive renovations restoring the 100-year-old building as well as a new expansion which doubled the square footage of the entire complex...

By Marcus McClain NEA Courier Council members revisited a discussion on both draft ordinances for special events and block parties within the city in the Tuesday police and fire committee meeting. In previous months, councilman Matt Perrin introduced a draft pertaining to special events alone. ...

By Marcus McClain NEA Courier Blytheville city officials continued discussion of the animal shelter in their Monday and Tuesday committee meetings. Councilman Matt Perrin re-introduced a draft memorandum of understanding, a document outlining how the city-owned animal shelter and the humane society will coordinate responsibilities of the shelter. Perrin reiterated his desire to improve animal control and his belief that the department is not performing at a satisfactory level...

The newly renovated Mississippi County Courthouse in Blytheville will open at 9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 19. The only public entrance is located on 2nd Street at the north side of the building. The county clerk’s office will remain at the Burdette facility until a future date...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier The Blytheville Police Department has made an arrest in the Sept. 11 homicide of 37-year-old James Franklin Brehm. Investigations led to the arrest of a 17-year-old juvenile. The juvenile was a student at Blytheville High School and was removed from campus on Wednesday, Sept. 14 in coordination with the Blytheville School District Security...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Representatives of the Osceola/South Mississippi County Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director Megan Owens and Vice President Michael Ephlin, welcomed Hope House Healthcare with a ribbon-cutting on Monday, Sept. 12...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier The Journey of the All American Red Heads was brought to life at the book signing and 86th team reunion held at the Arkansas State University Student Union Auditorium on Thursday, Sept. 8. Sherry Eskridge, outreach librarian for the ASU Dean B. Ellis Library welcomed guests and expressed and introduced the guest speaker, Coach Destinee Rogers, the eighth all-time head coach of the Arkansas State women’s basketball program...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Members of the Manila Volunteer Fire Department made the “Walk of Honor” on Sunday morning. Manila firefighters were joined by a few members of the Leachville Fire Department for the Sunday morning walk in honor of all those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Mississippi County retired school personnel met at the Blytheville Public Library on Thursday, Sept. 8. President William Wiley welcomed members. The group discussed insurance options for retired school personnel. Marcia McClain with the legislative committee shared information she had received on the drug plans for both insurance options...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier Water and sewer rates could be on the rise in the coming year for the city of Blytheville. On Monday the city received results on a rate study performed by Raftelis, a consulting company that assists local governments in managing their utilities...

At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 11, Blytheville officers responded to the 600 block of North Tennessee in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, police found 37-year-old James Franklin Brehm and 35-year-old Elizabeth Alvarado had both been shot. Both victims were transported to the Great River Medical Center for treatment. Alvarado was later released, but Brehm died as a result of injuries from the scene...

United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) (“U. S. Steel”), through its Big River Works facilities, on Wednesday presented $1 million in donations to organizations in Osceola and Mississippi County, to help equip the community for the future by strengthening infrastructure and essential services...

Phillip White, of Blytheville, and supervisor at Nucor-Yamato Steel, was one of 54 individuals from throughout Arkansas selected for Leadership Arkansas Class XVII, a program operated by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas...

According to Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson, “At approximately 2:30 p.m. the Blytheville Police Department responded to a call of gunshots fired in the 600 block of East Walnut. During the response, officers discovered two people had been shot.”...

By STEVE KNOX - Osceola Times With the political season upon us, political signs have been popping up in yards, fields and on buildings all across Mississippi County. Candidates have been knocking on doors, canvasing neighborhoods, attending festivals, etc. Those candidates, more than likely are handing out cards or flyers espousing their reasons for being “the” right person for office...

By Nan Snider Monette First Baptist Church, at 912 West Drew Avenue, will be presenting the live drama “Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames” for three performances Sunday-Tuesday, Sept.18-20. “This drama is life changing,” Monette pastor Dr. Stan Ballard said. “During my ministry, I have been a part of this presentation twelve times. I have seen the message presented in this drama change the lives of many people who came to see it.”...

WYNNE, AR (Sept. 6, 2022) - Cross County Bank of Wynne today announced a plan to unify the organization under a new name – Cross Bank. Currently, Cross County Bank operates four offices in Cross County under the Cross County Bank name and six offices in Craighead, Monroe, and Mississippi Counties under the First Commercial Bank name...

By STEVE KNOX Osceola Times The most recent report from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (ADWS) shows unemployment in the state at 3.2 percent. The jobless rate nationwide currently stands at 3.5 percent. According to an ADWS report titled, Long-Term Industry and Occupational Projections, Arkansas will add 124,387 new jobs by the year 2030. That’s a 9.05 percent increase and good news for residents of the Natural State....

The Second Judicial District Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 805 East Rose Thursday in collaboration with the Blytheville and Osceola Police Departments. The warrant was drafted following a four month investigation of controlled substances being sold from the residence. ...

By Rep. Monte Hodges and Rep. Johnny Rye Labor Day is a time to reflect on the social and economic achievements of American workers. The labor force in Arkansas and its forecasted potential is worth celebrating. The most recent report from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (ADWS) shows unemployment in our state at 3.2 percent. The jobless rate nationwide stands at 3.5 percent...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier Chimes Solutions is continuing their plans to place roots in the city of Blytheville. CEO Mark Wilson met with area leaders, including numerous local pastors, in an effort to further spread the word on opportunities with the company...

By MARCUS McCLAIN NEW Town Courier The Blytheville School District is expanding its measures to ensure children are prepared for a successful school year. Administration staff and social worker Teresa Miner detailed how the district converted an old storage area into the district’s first Care Closet...

LITTLE ROCK - Mississippi County Chief Economic Developer Clifton R. Chitwood, of Osceola, was one of four individuals honored for excellence in economic development. Chitwood, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Kirkley Thomas and Bryan Scoggins were given the Maria Haley Lifetime Leadership for Economic Development award during the 2022 AEDCE annual conference in Little Rock...

By STEVE KNOX - Osceola Times COVID-19 case counts in the Natural State have declined for the second straight week, according to numbers released by the Arkansas Department of Health Monday. While Arkansas had 452 new cases reported, that is a sharp decrease for the second consecutive report...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Mississippi County Insurance Committee members, Justices Reggie Cullom, chair; Cecil McDonald and Neil Burge, met with insurance representatives as the county prepares to make a decision on the coming year’s employee coverage...

The Mississippi County Regional Chamber has announced it will hold a chamber clean-up Sept. 9 in Blytheville and in Manila. The chamber clean-up will be from 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. in both cities. The public in Blytheville may bring their e-waste, paint cans, and tires to the chamber for disposal...

A Blytheville man has been murdered and police are looking for the shooter, according to Capt. John Frazier, CID commander of the Blytheville Police Department. At approximately 3:30 p.m.,August 27, 2022, officers of the Blytheville Police Department responded to the 1100 block of East Cherry in reference to a subject who had been shot...

By DAVID PIERCE NEA Town Courier Continuing to forge ahead in its efforts to boost Mississippi County’s economy, the Quorum Court unanimously approved an incentive package for FrigorTec, a German-based company specializing in heating and cooling technology...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier Following the November election, Blytheville will have a new mayor for the first time in 12 years. Candidates Melisa Logan, John Mayberry, John Musgraves and Ronnie Hayes have been previously featured in the Town Courier, detailing their vision for the city moving forward. The remaining candidates are current city council member Barbara McAdoo-Brothers, Juanita Jackson and Jacqueline Welspom...

By Marcus McClain NEA Town Courier The Blytheville School Board voted unanimously to expel two students in separate expulsion hearings following Thursday's regular meeting. One incident resulted in hearings for both students violating policy 4.22 concerning weapons and dangerous instruments. The board followed superintendent Veronica Perkins’ recommendation to abide by instructions of the policy, resulting in expulsion for the reminder of the school year...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Carol Hearn and Terry Parker have volunteered for over five years at the Orphan Annie’s Thrift Shops in Blytheville. They worked with the managers working a few hours a week where they were needed. The thrift store, with three locations, supports the Blytheville Humane Society...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Mississippi County Insurance Committee met Friday, Aug. 19, with Mark Miller, Sunstar Insurance. Justice Reggie Cullom, chair, introduced Miller of Paragould. He said he had talked to Miller and explained to him what the county is looking for in an insurance representative...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Bishop Randy Crenshaw has been spreading the Stop the Violence message throughout Blytheville for 12 years. Anti-bullying is part of the overall program and Bishop Crenshaw took that message to Blytheville Elementary School last week...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Mississippi County Planning and Development Committee discussed progress on Chime Solutions training and recruitment through Arkansas Northeastern College at the Tuesday, Aug. 16 meeting. Justice Michael White, chair, welcomed Dr. James Shemwell, ANC president, and Gene Bennett, ANC vice president for workforce development...