Stories from Saturday, April 10, 2021

County leaders have begun pushing the extension of the ½-cent economic development tax, which has played a major role in bringing in industries and good-paying jobs to Mississippi County. The numbers are quite staggering. According to Mississippi County economic developer Clif Chitwood, since its passage in 2003, the tax has helped create 4,100 jobs —with 3,600 still in existence today — and an annual payroll of $130 million...

Newly elected Lake City Mayor Cameron Tate is presently assuming triple duties including the mayor’s seat, code enforcement officer, and water/wastewater superintendent. Tate recently won the mayoral run-off election. Former Mayor Jon Milligan stepped down at the end of the year after winning his bid for Arkansas House of Representatives, leaving two years of the four year term. City Clerk Lisa Sitz has been serving as interim mayor through the election and the run-off election...

Thursday morning, members of the Great River Economic Development Foundation board learned a 130-acre site in Osceola has earned Entergy Arkansas’ Select Site certification, which officials say show it is ready for development should a prospective industry choose it...

With a decrease in the number of active cases in Mississippi County, Mayor James Sanders announced that his weekly COVID-19 updates will be reduced to monthly reports on April 7. Sanders assured that additional vaccine clinics will still be announced by the city through its Facebook account and live announcements would be made for any pressing coronavirus related issues...