Stories from Thursday, December 19, 2013

Ernestine Mathis, 92, of Blytheville passed from this life Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013, at Gosnell Healthcare.

Mamie Horton, of Blytheville, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.

Mr. Troy Farris, 79, of Judsonia, Ark., died Monday, Dec. 16, 2013.

Mrs. Cora Bell Armstrong, 83, of Blytheville, died Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in Blytheville.

After several months, the city of Blytheville has come up with a clear definition of "infrastructure" acceptable by auditors, allowing leaders more options in spending the 1/4-cent infrastructure tax money.

Grants issued to the Mississippi County Regional Solid Waste Management District for the purpose of recycling will now be dispersed according to the new grant program rules, which were adopted by the SWM board Wednesday.

Arkansas Northeastern College is looking to add new ACT Academy preparation courses for local students, thanks to being awarded nearly $40,000 in funding for the school's Arkansas Career Works Coach Program.

The Blytheville and Osceola Police Departments carted a massive amount of confiscated weapons out to Nucor-Yamato Steel Wednesday to be destroyed.

Wednesday night, the Blytheville City Council's Streets and Drainage Committee discussed replacing the city's tornado siren system, as well as the need for equipment to tackle icy roads.

Main Street Blytheville Executive Director Megan Atzert said the local organization is holding strong, adding that it "can and will" continue to be a major part of the Blytheville community.