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In the middle of Teacher Appreciation Week, on Wednesday evening, the Blytheville School Board approved a $30 per day additional pay plan for all 285 Blytheville School District staff members in a special meeting. The maximum reimbursable amount of $2,116,000 will come from a portion of the district’s $17.8 million in ESSER funds — federal aid related to the Covid-19 pandemic...

The Mississippi County Energy and Property committee met May 4 to discuss the possibility of purchasing the current Blytheville Police Department building. With the police department expected to transition over to the new Justice Center soon, the committee discussed if the county has purpose for the building. County Judge John Alan Nelson introduced the idea and Justice Michael Wallace thought that the county could use the structure to help solve one of their problems...

The Blytheville Street Crime Unit and Drug Task Force executed a warrant at 513 1st Street, recovered several firearms and a “large amount of marijuana and ecstasy,” according to special agent Bobby Ephlin. When police arrived, they encountered several people outside and one person fled the residence by jumping out of the back window, Ephlin said...

The City & County Youth Program is gearing up to help ensure the success of Mississippi County children in the following school year. Program director Shannon “Duck” Sims has spearheaded the program since 1986, helping provide the youth with backpacks and the supplies needed to succeed in the classroom. With the help of the community, the program is also looking to add a nutritional element to this year’s anniversary...

In their May 10 meeting, the Blytheville City Council’s Airport and Utilities committee discussed issues surrounding the city’s wastewater collection system. With the wastewater treatment plant construction scheduled to be completed in early 2022, the next step is to eliminate overflows due to inflow and infiltration. Currently, storm water seeps into the sanitary and collection systems, overwhelming the infrastructure...

During its May 3 meeting, the Riverside School board approved additional pay for staff for Covid-19 related duties. Board member Greg Smith motioned for $30 an hour up to 50 hours per semester for all certified staff to be paid with ESSER funds and a one-time $750 bonus for all classified staff to be paid out of operating funds. Board member Rob Kinkade seconded the motion and it carried 5-0...

During Monday night’s meeting, the Armorel School Board approved a $638,750 HVAC and lighting project with Entegrity, which is expected to save the district between $50,000-66,500 annually. Along with the lighting project that had been previously approved, the money will be used for 40 new, high efficiency HVAC units, including multiple units in the high school, in the elementary cafe, in the elementary library, in the gym, in the administration building and one residential. ...

Delta Gateway Museum received a $10,000 grant from Blytheville’s City Advertising and Tourism Promotions Commission (CATPC). The funds will be used to complete the permanent Delta Agriculture exhibit already in progress. The Delta Agriculture exhibit is part of the museum’s long term plan and will recount the history of farming in the region, with several interrelated topics such as the lumber boom and swamp drainage...

Delta School junior Ally Ephlin hosted a reading of her adaption of the classic novel "Don Quixote” Thursday at Blytheville Book Company in downtown Blytheville. Her book is entitled "Mary Anne Holmes." Ephlin said, “My passion for writing took off when I was a freshman in high school. ...

Former Mississippi County Judge Steve McGuire was known to say at the numerous events he attended, “It’s a great day in Mississippi County.” For local leaders, today is a sad day in Mississippi County as they mourn the loss of the beloved former county judge who died Sunday in Little Rock at the age of 80...