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Suspects arrested in Wynne Block Party shooting (4/17/24)WYNNE, Ark. — On Tuesday, April 16, Special Agents from the Arkansas State Police (ASP) arrested four individuals in connection with a block party shooting that resulted in the death of one person and injuries to at least nine others. “I’m proud of how Arkansas State Police personnel worked with the Wynne Police Department to swiftly apprehend the suspects in this case,” said ASP Colonel Mike Hagar...
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Chickasawba Lodge to hold annual barbecue (4/17/24)Chickasawba Masonic Lodge #134 will hold its annual fundraiser barbecue April 27. The fundraiser will be held at 200 East Davis Street (Franklin and Davis) in Blytheville. Tickets may be purchased by contacting Francis Lewis or any other Lodge member...
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Leachville City Council hires police chief (4/17/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Leachville City Council voted unanimously to promote Officer Steven Pearson to serve as Chief of Police at the April meeting on Monday evening. Pearson had been serving as interim police chief in the absence of former Chief Alan Austin. Austin has been on medical leave for several months following a vehicle accident...
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Local police host Blytheville Citizen’s Academy (4/17/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier The Blytheville Police Department is holding the first of two citizen’s police academy programs scheduled for 2024. The spring academy is underway. The academy, a six-week program, is held on Thursday nights for three hours. In addition to the classes, those participating will have a day at the firing range...
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NextEra makes appeal for solar panel projects (4/17/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— Thursday afternoon, inside the standing room only meeting room at the Mississippi County Annex Building, NextEra Energy brought a team to plead its case for the continuation of its three solar panel projects...
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Main Street Blytheville to host Mayfest Pageant (4/16/24)Main Street Blytheville will hold a Little Miss and Mister Mayfest pageant at 1 a.m. May 11. There are five divisions in the pageant. Mr. Mayfest will be for ages newborn-five years. Tiny Miss Mayfest is newborn to two years. Little Miss Mayfest is for ages three-five...
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Deadline draws near for Mayfest discounts (4/16/24)Main Street Blytheville has announced Friday, April 19 is the end for discounted rates to participate in the 2024 Mayfest. Arts, crafts and informational booths may register online at https://forms.gle/3KyMGD7ZnwavPpkZ9. Food and beverage booths/vendors may register online at https://forms.gle/tEFAMj7GVeJ3Xjkz7...
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Manila High School to host parent meeting (4/16/24)Manila High School will hold a parent meeting for ninth-11th grades Thursday, April 25 or Thursday, May 2. The meetings will be held at 6 p.m. in the MHS cafeteria. Topics include new graduation requirements, career focus opportunities, high school student resumes, free resources available to MHS students...
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Chamber Banquet planned (4/16/24)The Mississippi County Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Chamber Banquet Thursday, April 25. The banquet will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Arkansas Aeroplex.
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Finance Committee sets up line item for traffic study (4/16/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— The Mississippi County Finance Committee held a brief meeting Monday afternoon at the Annex Building in Blytheville where they agreed to send a new line item created in the road department budget for a traffic study reimbursement grant to the full quorum court for approval...
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The American Pickers to return to Arkansas (4/16/24)The American Pickers are returning to Arkansas. They plan to film episodes of The History Channel hit television series throughout the area in June 2024. AMERICAN PICKERS is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on The History Channel. The hit show follows skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques...
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One dead, at least 9 injured in Wynne Block Party shooting (4/14/24)WYNNE, Ark. – One man was killed and at least nine people were injured April 13, 2024, when shots were fired at about 10 p.m. at a block party near the corner of Williams Avenue and Martin Luther King Street in Wynne. Two victims were run over by vehicles at the scene. The Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the incident at the request of the Wynne Police Department. Investigators have identified multiple people of interest and encourage anyone with information about the incident to call Troop D at (870) 970-6082.
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Hammett faces charges in Crittenden County (4/12/24)By Sandra Brand - NEA Town Courier/Osceola Times EditorDesmond Fredric Hammett, 43, of Blytheville, is scheduled to go to trial in West Memphis on Tuesday on charges of criminal trespass. Hammett serves on the Blytheville School Board and is a registered candidate on the democrat ticket for the District 34 seat on the State House of Representatives...
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Work Release Center plans expansion (4/12/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier ContributorBLYTHEVILLE— The Mississippi County Quorum Court’s Energy and Property Committee met Wednesday afternoon at the Annex Building where a variety of topics were discussed including an increase of 100 beds at the ADC Work Release Center. Nine justices— Chairwoman Molly Jackson, Rick Ash, Michael White, Betty Hepler, Cecil McDonald, Neil Burge, Tobeye McClanahan, Drake Brown, and Harbans Mangat— were present and all but one committee member, Melinda Martin, were absent. ...
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Work Here - Live Here “The light bulb has come on” (4/12/24)By Sandra Brand - NEA Town Courier/Osceola Times Editor“The light bulb has come on that we need housing in Mississippi County,” Randy Scott recently told a room of industrial leaders. Scott, who serves on the board of the Great River Economic Development Foundation, explained there have been 72 new home owners take advantage of the county’s new “Work Here, Live Here” program in its first 18 months...
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Blood drive to be held at Ruddle Road Church (4/10/24)During National Volunteer Month in April, the American Red Cross asks donors to help protect the blood supply by making and keeping blood donation appointments in the weeks ahead. Donors of all blood types - especially type O blood donors and those giving platelets - are needed now to keep the blood supply strong enough to support critical patient care this spring...
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ANC to offer diamond art class April 20 (4/10/24)The Department of Community Education at Arkansas Northeastern College will offer Intro to Diamond Art Saturday, April 20. The class will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. in Room A101 on the ANC Blytheville campus. Rhoda Yost will instruct the class, which will show students the diamond painting technique. Students will create a decorative coaster that they will be able to keep, as well as trays and tools to make their own projects...
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Gamma Beta Phi attends the GBP 2024 National Convention (4/10/24)The Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) chapter of Gamma Beta Phi (GBP) attended the 2024 Gamma Beta Phi National Convention in Knoxville, TN, on March 1. ANC GBP members Whitni Mangum, Cheron Hunter-Wright, and Lacey Rogers with GBP Chapter Advisor Tonya Harris, attended the conference. ...
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Chamber welcomes 1st Choice (4/10/24)The Mississippi County Regional Chamber of Commerce welcomed 1st Choice Home Care to their new location in Blytheville with a ribbon cutting on Friday. The new location is at 510 West Main Street in Blytheville. An open house with refreshments and drawings was held as guests toured the new, renovated office and gathered information about the home care company...
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The Great River Charitable Clinic serves residents of Miss. County for 15 years (4/10/24)Fifteen years ago, on Feb. 16, 2009, The Great River Charitable Clinic opened its doors to begin registering people for care. Guided by the vision of Methodist Minister Chris Cooper, the Great River Charitable Clinic was born out of need and a desire to serve others. The Mississippi County River Delta, including Mississippi County, has long earned recognition for having poor health outcomes and a shortage of healthcare resources...
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ANC Career Fair draws large crowd (4/10/24)Arkansas Northeastern College hosted the 19th annual Career Fair on Thursday with area businesses, industries, colleges, military, medical centers, banks, fire departments from Blytheville and Osceola, law enforcement departments, and others participating. It was open to the public with over 60 booths available distributing information. Several were accepting job applications. Space was available for interviews. (Photos By Revis Blaylock)...
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Anita Moore to be honored (4/10/24)Promiseland Church of God in Christ, 2141 S. US Highway 61, Osceola will present First Lady Appreciation Day on Sunday, April 21. The public is invited to honor First Lady Anita Moore. Morning services begin at 10:30 a.m. The guest speaker will be Lady Niki Nelson with Life Changing Outreach Ministry in Jonesboro...
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Fundraiser to benefit Osceola cancer patient (4/10/24)Family and friends of Jimmy Wright, of Osceola, will be holding a Bake sale Fundraiser Saturday, April 13 at 10 a.m. at Faith Chapel, 555 Ermen Lane, Osceola. Wright is battling cancer and is unable to work. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to Wright to help pay travel expenses for he and his wife as they make trips to Little Rock for his doctor appointments and soon to begin chemo treatments...
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60 Plus commodities to be distributed (4/10/24)Mississippi County Arkansas EOC will distribute CSFP 60 Plus commodities to people who are already receiving the food. Everyone is asked to remain in their vehicle and show identification. The food will be placed in the vehicles. The following times and locations:...
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National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program - Local businesses to install electric vehicle charging stations (4/10/24)The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) has announced the award recipients for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program in response to the 2023 Request for Proposals (RFP). In Mississippi County awarded was Francis Energy Charging, LLC at the Blytheville Holiday Inn and Jordan’s Kwik Stop, Inc. in Osceola. Francis Energy will receive $1,016,000 and Jordans will receive $1,068,000...
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Miss. Co. awards $720,050 in infrastructure grants (4/10/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier MISSISSIPPI COUNTY, AR, (April 5, 2024) Mississippi County Government has announced the recipients of its 2024 infrastructure grant program, awarding $720,050 to support seven critical water and sewer infrastructure improvements and projects...
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MHS Lion Theatre presents The Outsiders (4/6/24)The Manila High School Lion Theater presented The Outsiders, a dramatic play, March 28, 29 and 30. The live production was adapted by Christopher Serger. It was directed by Manila’s MHS Theatre and choir director Candace Hawkins, assisted by Heath Hawkins...
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“Follow That Dream” (4/6/24)The Melody Theater at 301 S. Main St, Leachville, will be showing the 1962 classic film, “Follow That Dream”, starring Elvis Presley at 4 p.m. on April 13. Movies are free to the public, but a voluntary donation of $5 to help over the cost of the event is appreciated. Concessions are available...
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Blytheville Police Chief to be focus of public meeting (4/6/24)ill hold a community forum to gather public input in regards to what they want in Blytheville’s new police chief to keep the neighborhoods safe and the city moving forward. The public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at the Ritz Civic Center...
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– Arkansas Aeroplex – 238 abandoned duplexes to be removed (4/6/24)Mississippi County has secured $2 million in federal funding to initiate a comprehensive clean-up effort at the Arkansas Aeroplex, formerly known as the Eaker Air Force Base, in Blytheville. This funding, approved by Congress in March as part of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, is allocated for the "North End Clean Up" project, a pivotal step toward ongoing revitalization efforts at the aeroplex. ...
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The Delta School to close/Property donated to ANC (4/5/24)WILSON, AR (April 5, 2024) – The Wilson Works Foundation has agreed in principle to donate The Delta School property to the Arkansas Northeastern College Foundation. Once terms of the agreement are approved by the Arkansas Northeastern College Board of Trustees, the donation is expected to create an opportunity for the college to further support the region by offering affordable education pathways to college and career readiness...
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The Celebrate! Maya workshop held at ANC (4/5/24)The second Celebrate! Maya Youth Writing & History Immersion Workshop was held Saturday, March 23 at the Governor’s Ballroom of Arkansas Northeastern College. Students from the area interviewed residents who grew up in Mississippi County in the mid to late 1900’s...
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(Untitled) (4/5/24)Melody Theater to host date nightDate night will be held at The Melody Theater at 301 S. Main St, Leachville at 7 p.m. on April 13. They will be showing the 1987 hit, “Dirty Dancing”, rated PG-13, starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Movies are free to the public, but a voluntary donation of $5 to help cover the cost of the event is appreciated...
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(Untitled) (4/5/24)Music at the Museum heldJoe Chipman of Manila kicked off the Music at the Museum in Manila on Thursday night performing several of his original songs. Music at the Museum is a free concert featuring local talent. It is held at the Manila Main Street Museum on the last Thursday of each month from March through October. The shows start at 7 p.m. and the public is welcome...
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Blytheville Ministerial Alliance hosts Holy Week services (4/5/24)The city of Blytheville once again participated in Holy Week led by the Blytheville Ministerial Alliance. There were five churches who hosted the sacred event that depicted the last five days of Jesus's life before his divine resurrection. There were different speakers each day and the host church served dinner afterwards...
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Ritz exhibit features mother/daughter artists (4/5/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— Tuesday night at the Ritz in Blytheville the mother/ daughter art duo of Amber and Willow Sharp hosted an exhibit of their original art-work. When asked about their art-work being on display the young artist Willow said, “It feels cool,” and her mom added, “ It’s such an exciting opportunity to show people my passion for painting.”...
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Elvis and More comes to the Melody Theater (4/5/24)The young and talented Rockabilly and Blues artist, Finley Watkins, from Bernie, MO, will be performing his live music show “Elvis and More” at the historic Melody Theater in Leachville at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 20. Finley plays eight different instruments, has written five original songs, and has appeared as a tribute artist on NBC's Little Big Shots with Melissa McCarthy. He appeared on The Ellen Show in 2017 and was invited back again in 2021...
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Additional arrests made in robbery of Manila business (4/5/24)Two additional arrests were made in connection of the Feb. 14 robbery of Road Mart in Manila. According to a police report, officers with the Manila Police Department served arrest warrants for Vince Bollinger, 26, and Charles Gould, 27, of Manila for their involvement in the Valentine Day robbery of the Manila business. Arrests were made on Wednesday, April 2...
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PTCOA welcomed to Blytheville with ribbon cutting (4/5/24)Pain Treatment Centers of America opened their newest clinic in Blytheville and was welcomed on Thursday with a ribbon cutting and open house. The ribbon cutting was hosted by the Mississippi County Regional Chamber of Commerce. PTCOA is the region’s largest fully comprehensive pain management practice with 16 locations throughout Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas...
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ANC’s Gamma Beta Phi holds spring induction (4/3/24)New members for the Arkansas Northeastern College chapter of Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society were inducted on Sunday, March 17. Gamma Bets Phi (GBP) is a national collegiate honor society and service organization with chapters in colleges and universities throughout the United States. The new members of Gamma Beta Phi are Justin Branch, Alicia DePriest, X’Adrian Flowers, Peyton Gestring, Tabitha Hendrix, Zachary Kovarna, Tinnasha Pittman, Lasharia Smith, Gracie Tillman, ad Aurelia Williams...
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Work+Life Balance “You must have a village” (4/3/24)By SANDRA BRAND NEA Town Courier Editor The message was clear... Women need a village! LaKristen Spiller, a maintenance clerk at Nucor-Yamato Steel, was the keynote speaker at last week’s Arkansas Northeastern College women’s luncheon and she drove home the message...
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ANC hosts industrial appreciation breakfast (4/3/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town CourierArkansas Northeastern College and Great River Economic Development Foundation hosted the annual industry appreciation breakfast on Thursday morning. The event was held at the ANC Center for Allied Technologies. Guests were welcomed by ANC President Chris Heigle and President GREDF Clif Chitwood. Guest speakers discussed the partnership programs joining local industries and ANC employee training and preparing future employees working with area high schools...
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Manila park renamed to honor former mayor (4/3/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Manila city officials honored former Mayor Wayne Wagner renaming the city park in his memory. Family, city officials, city employees and friends gathered at the park gate on Friday at noon for an unveiling ceremony of the monument placed by the new entry gates...
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40 Guardsmen report to Texas (4/3/24)A departure ceremony for 40 Guardsmen from the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade was held Monday at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center near Barling, Ark. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on March 19 ordered 40 Arkansas National Guardsmen on state active duty to the Southwest border to support the Texas National Guard and Operation Lonestar...
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Art class project to raise funds for kiln (4/2/24)Manila Elementary art students, under the direction of art teacher Brooke Aguilar, are working on a project with a goal to purchase a kiln for the art department. The project included art, research and economics. The students first studied work by artist Stella Baggott. ...
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Blytheville shooting is under investigation (4/2/24)By SANDRA BRAND NEA Town Courier Editor A Blytheville man was transferred to the Regional One Medical Center in Memphis after suffering gunshot wounds. According to Sgt. Robin Haught-Angel with the Blytheville Police Department, Trevon Jones was shot on Monday, April 1. The incident occurred in the 1000 block of South Parkside...
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Stone to pitch Sunday Night Baseball against Cardinals (3/30/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier ContributorSunday night’s National League contest between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers live from Dodger Stadium will be a must watch game for baseball fans in Northeast Arkansas. Why? You might ask. The reason is simple... toward end of Spring Training, the Dodgers named Lake City native and 2016 Riverside High School alumni Gavin Stone as the fifth starter in their rotation.
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ANC president encourages Lions to speak with children about life goals (3/30/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE—Dr. Chris Heigle, president of Arkansas Northeastern College, was the speaker at the Blytheville Lions Club Tuesday afternoon. Heigle is a member of the Blytheville club. “I love (talking to the Lions Club),” explained Heigle. ...
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Upcoming Community Events (3/30/24)Thursday, April 4: 19th annual Career Fair at Arkansas Northeastern College, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the ANC Briggs/Sebaugh Wellness Center, 2501 S. Division, Blytheville. It is open to the public. Friday, April 5: –Thrilla II in Manila, a wrestling event, will be held at the Manila High School gymnasium. Doors open at 6 p.m.; belltime 7 p.m. Admission is $10; students $5; and children 4 and under free. The match is a benefit for Manila Elementary...
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Tammy Clowers honored with a retirement reception (3/30/24)A retirement reception for Tammy Clowers, Mississippi County Chief Deputy Clerk, was held Thursday afternoon. Clowers was recognized for her 24 years of service to the county. Cindy George, administrative secretary, presented Clowers with a proclamation from Mississippi County Judge John Alan Nelson in appreciation of her dedicated service to the citizens of Mississippi County...