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Astronomical numbers of cicadas emerge in Arkansas (5/18/24)By Mary Hightower U of A System Division of Agriculture LITTLE ROCK — Maybe you haven’t seen them, with their dark green hard-shell bodies and large red eyes, but you may be hearing the trademark buzzsaw sound of the cicada. The insects have made headlines for months because of the emergence of two broods — an occurrence two centuries in the making — is expected to bring astronomical numbers of these insects above ground. ...
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Committee approves $750,000 for Galactic Holdings (5/18/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— The Mississippi County Planning and Development Committee met Tuesday afternoon for a brief meeting to hear a proposal, which was successful, from Economic Developer Cliff Chitwood on broadening businesses in Mississippi County to the aerodynamic field...
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Blytheville man faces animal cruelly charges (5/18/24)A Blytheville man has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty. On May 13, 2024, Blytheville Animal Services, along with Officers of the Blytheville Police Department, responded to the 1100 block of Broadway in reference to two dogs that were found deceased inside of a truck...
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Officers to participate in Torch Run (5/18/24)The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics will be held May 20. The Torch Run will be in the Blytheville-Gosnell areas. The public is asked to line the route to cheer on the officers running. The route is beginning at 8:30 a.m. will be from Blytheville Police Department to Blytheville Primary School then at 9 a.m. the route will be at Village Avenue/Memorial Drive to Gosnell Schools...
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- Gosnell Pirates - Like father, like son (5/18/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Sports Connection Saturday morning when the 2024 Gosnell Pirates take the baseball diamond at Estes Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas will mark the Pirates first trip back to a state title game in 34-years. That appearance back in 1990 saw the Gosnell Pirates crowned champions. ...
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Manila board elects officers for the coming year (5/18/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier The first order of business at the May Manila School Board meeting on Wednesday evening was to elect new officers. Following the nominations, new officers elected include Monte Middleton, president; Casey Wells, vice president; and Dennis Crosskno, secretary...
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Manila City Council fills positions/discusses clean-up (5/18/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Manila City Council met Tuesday evening discussing fire department bids, progress on the new water well, water tower repairs, hiring new employees and discussing laws pertaining to SXS/ATVs. Mayor Tracey Reinhart informed the council that the city advertised for bids for the plumbing and electrical work at the new fire station but did not receive any bids. ...
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Manila Lions Club discusses gun show (5/18/24)The Manila Lions Club met on Wednesday discussing plans for the second annual gun and knife show. The event will be held at the Manila Airport community Center, 855 Airport Road, Friday and Saturday, Jun 14 and 15. Open hours will be 5-9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday. Admission will be $10 and 14 and under free...
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Caraway Council recognizes Roger Williams with plaque (5/18/24)Caraway Mayor Bo James and council members recognized Roger Williams, presenting him with a plaque, for his work and dedication to the city of Caraway. Williams has volunteered for the annual Fourth of July Picnic, Pickin’ on Main Street, the annual toy drive for Santa, and other community activities. He is stepping down from those duties...
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Upcoming Events... (5/18/24)Sunday, May 19: –The annual Decoration Day at Bassett Cemetery will be held with the program beginning at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 21: The Mississippi County Library System will hold its regular, bi-monthly board meeting. The meeting will be held at 4 p.m. at the Manila Public Library...
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Allen Hurt to perform at Melody Theater (5/18/24)Allen Hurt, country music artist who is performing at The Melody Theater in Leachville on Saturday, June 1, at 7 p.m. has announced that he wants to invite all elected officials in the area, all active or retired police officers in the area, and all paid or volunteer firefighters in the area to attend his concert for free...
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Library Summer Schedule (5/18/24)Blytheville Library schedule, 200 North 5th Street: June 3 – MCEC Electrical Arcs & Safety at 10 a.m. June 4 – Arkansas Game and Fish Mobile Aquarium will be at Blytheville at 10 a.m. (Arky Scoop will be available to purchase ice cream that day. They will accept cash, cash app or cards.)...
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Buffalo Island Central - Board works to complete guidelines (5/18/24)By NAN SNIDER Special to the NEA Town Courier Buffalo Island Central School Board of Directors met Thursday evening and completed guidelines for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. “Our revenues are up since last year,” Superintendent Gaylon Taylor said. “Even though the electricity has been up, at least gas expenses are down. This has been our sixth year using solar energy. We hope to eventually buy the solar site and own it outright.”...
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“Adventure” begins at your library (5/18/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Branches of the Mississippi County Library will begin their summer reading program and activities in June. This year’s theme is Adventure begins at your library. Billie Bowman, assistant director of the Mississippi County Library system, said the summer activities and reading programs will be held at the main branch in Blytheville as well as branches in Manila, Leachville, Osceola, Keiser and Wilson...
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Dixie Pig nominated for 2024 Ark. Food Hall of Fame (5/15/24)Finalists have been announced for the 2024 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame and Blytheville’s famous Dixie Pig is on the list. Launched in 2016 by the Division of Arkansas Heritage, the program celebrates Arkansas' unique culinary heritage by recognizing its best restaurants, proprietors and food-themed events...
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Boxing event comes to Trumann (5/15/24)Jeromy Guy, boxing coach, is announcing a USA Boxing sanctioned event to be held in Trumann on Saturday, June 8. It is sponsored by the USA Boxing and Trumann Boxing Club. The Throw Down in T-Town event will consist of 25 bouts with participants from across Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia and Mississippi...
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Blytheville Fishing Rodeo set (5/15/24)The City of Blytheville will hold its annual Fishing Rodeo Saturday, May 18. The fishing rodeo will be held from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at Walker Park. It is open to ages 15 and under. Participants should bring a fishing pole, bait, a chair and some snacks...
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Chamber of Commerce to host Front Porch Party (5/15/24)The Mississippi County Regional Chamber of Commerce, 300 W. Walnut St., Blytheville, will hold a Tamale and Crawfish Front Porch Party May 16. The event will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. on the chamber’s porch. Take-outs are available. Tickets may be purchased online at mississippicountychamber.com or at the chamber...
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Harrisburg man arrested for video voyeurism (5/14/24)Arkansas State University police arrested a Harrisburg man that allegedly took videos of various people in bathrooms at Arkansas State University. Trintin Ray Drum, 18, was charged with 82 counts of distributing, possessing, or viewing matter depicting sexual conduct involving a child and 35 counts of video voyeurism on Wednesday, May 8 by Craighead County District Court Judge Tommy Fowler...
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Plain and Fancy Quilters (5/14/24)The Plain and Fancy Quilters held their monthly meeting May 7 at the Blytheville Public Library. The quilters presented to Phyllis McClendon, director of the Haven, handmade pillowcases and donated pillows, sleeping bags, quilts, and blankets. Other projects done by the group this year include a quilt donated to the St. Jude Telethon, quilts of Valor for Veterans and a bookshelf quilt for the library...
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Concert to be held at Melody (5/14/24)Allen Hurt and the Music Showmen will be live in concert at the Melody Theater in Leachville at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 1. The theater is located at 301 South Main Street in Leachville. Hurt is a country music artist and a member of the Hall of Fame. There will be a Meet and Greet from 6:15 to 6:45. The show includes some old-style traditional country music as well as new country and even a little bit of rock and roll...
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Veterans Justice Outreach set for May 21 (5/14/24)The Veterans Justice Outreach will host the Craighead County AR Veterans Legal Clinic, 12-2 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, at the Elks Lodge: 2113 West Washington, in Jonesboro. The Veterans Justice Outreach program aims to assist Veterans with Legal issues by offering free consultation visits with legal counsel. The events will focus on helping with criminal expungements, estate planning for those in AR, business law, and landlord/tenant issues...
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Blytheville man arrested in connection to Thursday shooting (5/14/24)By STEVE KNOX - Osceola Times BLYTHEVILLE - A 27-year-old Blytheville man has been arrested in connection with the May 9 shooting of another Blytheville man. Blytheville officers found 51-year-old Danny Casey wounded Thursday when they responded to a shooting call in the 1700 block of Chickasawba...
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Acts of Hope reopens facility in Blytheville (5/14/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Acts of Hope, pregnancy resource center in Blytheville, reopened on Monday, May 13, at the same location, 525 North 10th Street. The center was closed almost a year ago for building repairs. Board member and founder Stacey Harris, said during the rain and flooding last spring, the sewer backed up in the building requiring a lot of work including floor replacement...
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Little Rock author visits Blytheville Book Company (5/11/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier Little Rock author Frank Thurmond held a meet and greet book signing at Blytheville Book Company on Saturday, May 4, with his historical fiction novel, “Lottie Deno: A Novel of the Civil War and the American Southwest”. It is set in the reconstruction-era Texas and is based on a true character. Thurmond discovered Lottie Deno while doing research on another historical figure that shares his name...
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Clay Walker to perform May 18 in Osceola (5/10/24)Country music star Clay Walker will headline the 24th Annual Osceola Heritage Musicfest slated for May 17-18. Walker will take the stage Saturday night at 8:30! There's more to the duality of Clay Walker's debut Show Dog Nashville album Texas To Tennessee than the title. ...
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Five arrests made in April 21 shooting (5/10/24)Five Hayti men have been arrested in connection with the April shooting death of a Caruthersville teenage in Blytheville. On Sunday, April 21, officers with the Blytheville Police Department responded to the 100 Block South Division Street in reference to a male subject being shot. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the victim, Kohnali Hunt,18, of Caruthersville, MO...
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Arkansas natives honored at U.S. Capitol (5/10/24)By Senator John Boozman The U.S. Capitol is home to many historic artifacts and unique works of art. It is sometimes referred to as a shrine to America, and for good reason – from the architecture to the work that takes place inside, it embodies the story of our country like nothing else could...
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Tenaris awards $112,000 in scholarships to Miss. Co. seniors (5/10/24)Houston, Texas - Tenaris has awarded $112,000 in scholarships to Mississippi County high school seniors on the 10th anniversary of the company’s Merit Award program. The company recognized 45 high school students from Armorel, Blytheville, Gosnell, KIPP, Manila, Osceola and Rivercrest high schools for their academic performance during a ceremony held May 8 at the Arkansas Northeastern College Center for Technology...
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Summer Food Service program announced (5/8/24)Blytheville Community Samaritan Ministry is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. There will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service...
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Dr. Jones given national honor (5/8/24)Dr. Matthew Jones with Family Eye Care in Blytheville and Osceola has been named the “2024 Optometrist of the Year” by the American Optometric Association.
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New business welcomed with ribbon-cutting (5/8/24)Madilynn’s Scholar Academy was welcomed to Manila with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Mississippi County Regional Chamber of Commerce. The new daycare is located at 217 Concord Ave. in Manila and is owned by Brandi and Joshua St. Laurent, newcomers to Mississippi County. The couple moved their family to Manila in September. They are originally from South Carolina. Joshua is employed by Thompson Construction and is working on the new facility for Big River Steel...
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Blytheville Main Street business gets new look (5/8/24)Dave Russell, owner of Russell’s Sales at 203 West Main Street, Blytheville, has had new awnings placed across the front of his business. The two-month project was recently completed. Russell has been at the same location since 1987. Through the years he expanded and purchased the two adjoining buildings, Pastime Pool Hall and Guard’s Jewelry...
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Monette observes third annual National Day of Prayer (5/8/24)Monette observed its third annual National Day of Prayer at 12 noon on Thursday, May 2, at the Monette Senior Center at 504 S. Williams Avenue. Site director Jerrie Stewart led the program, which consisted of special prayers from city leaders and special music...
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National Day of Prayer celebrated in Blytheville (5/8/24)Blytheville Ministerial Alliance partnered with the city of Blytheville to celebrate the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 2. The event was organized as a “Prayer Walk” but due to the rain, the Blytheville Ministerial Alliance decided to move the prayer event inside the Education Center of New Mount Olive M.B.C. which is under the leadership of Rev. Doug Echols, Sr...
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Blytheville Health Department holds open house (5/8/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier The Mississippi County Blytheville Health Department staff held an open house on Monday, May 6, welcoming guests to join them in the celebration of the newly renovated unit. Christine Smith, administrator for the Blytheville and Osceola Health Departments, along with the Blytheville staff welcomed guests and gave tours of the facility...
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Blytheville School Board spends nearly three hours in executive session (5/8/24)By JOSEPH FONDREN NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— The Blytheville School board held a special meeting Monday night at the Blytheville Administration Building where board president Desmond Hammett began the meeting calling for an executive session for the purposes of “an employee matter”...
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New hotels to build in Blytheville (5/8/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE — Blytheville’s building inspector Rick Ash announced several upcoming business additions to the city, including three new hotels, at Tuesday Lion’s Club meeting Ash explained citizens often hear rumors of businesses “six months” before he finds out...
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Blytheville banker appointed to National Council for Community Bank Leaders (5/7/24)American Bankers Association has selected Randy Scott, President and CEO of Farmers Bank and Trust to serve on ABA’s Community Bankers Council. ABA’s Community Bankers Council, which meets twice a year, is made up of approximately 100 bankers from across the country from institutions with generally less than $5 billion in assets. Members are appointed by the ABA chair...
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Acts of Hope to host grand reopening (5/7/24)The Acts of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center, 525 N. 10th St., Blytheville will hold a grand reopening Monday, May 13. The event will be held from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Participants will be able to meet the new director Nicole Eskin. The center is now accepting new baby clothes and diapers size zero-3T...
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Small business workshop planned (5/7/24)Small business owners and those who are interested in starting their own small business in Mississippi County will have an opportunity to attend a free consulting session through the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Center (ASBTDC) at Arkansas State University...
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MCAEOC hosts leadership conference (5/7/24)Mississippi County, Arkansas, Economic Opportunity Commission, Inc. (MCAEOC) hosted their second annual Blytheville High School Leadership Conference on May 2, 2024. Guest speaker, George Purnell, owner of Geofastfit, gave a warm speech on persevering through tough times in life...
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TNR to hold Battle for the Chickasaws (5/7/24)By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team BLYTHEVILLE - Saturday night the lights will illuminate Historic Hailey Field in Blytheville as TNR Championship Wrestling will present the Battle for the Chickasaws. The wrestling event is being presented to benefit the Blytheville Chickasaws Baseball program...
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2024 Mayfest set for Saturday (5/7/24)Main Street Blytheville will present the 2024 Mayfest on Saturday, May 11. The festival will be held in historic downtown Blytheville from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. There are more than 80 vendors signed up for this year’s festival. Food trucks, live music, karaoke and petting zoo will be on hand...
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Leachville Beautification Corp. has a busy day (5/4/24)“Last Saturday was a great day for the community.” The Leachville Beautification Corporation presented a $2,500 paint job to The Leachville Foundation, Inc.’s Food Bank. Jo Ann Puckett Cardin accepted the donation and even posed for a picture! “We’d like to thank Board President and LBC Founder Jerred Price and Board Members Whitlee Adams McDermott and Brannah Bibbs for stepping up to help paint,” Cardin said. ...
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Cinco de Mayo celebrated at ANC (5/4/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier ANC Center for Allied Technologies hosted a drop-in celebration in conjunction with Cinco de Mayo on Thursday, May 2 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Guests enjoyed food, music and had the opportunity to meet with several agencies offering information on available services. ...
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BIC Journalism students receive numerous awards (5/4/24)BIC Journalism students under the direction of Emily Carter received numerous awards from the 2024 Arkansas Scholastic Press Association. Students and their awards are: Christa Austin: Business Manager of the Year-1st Runner Up; Yearbook Writer of the Year;...
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OEM works to improve radio communications (5/4/24)By Joseph Fondren NEA Town Courier Contributor BLYTHEVILLE— John Willard, Director of the Mississippi County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and E911, was the guest speaker Tuesday at the Blytheville Lions Club weekly meeting at the Blytheville Country Club. Willard gave an update on the department since he took the position last October. ...
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June 3 trial date set in Hammett case (5/4/24)By SANDRA BRAND - NEA Town Courier Editor Blytheville School Board President Desmond Fredric Hammett is facing a misdemeanor criminal trespass charge in Crittenden County. He appeared in West Memphis District Court on April 16 with District Judge Fred Thorne presiding. The judge set Hammett’s trial for June 3 at 1:30 p.m. in the same court...
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Blytheville School Board draws standing room only crowd (5/4/24)By REVIS BLAYLOCK NEA Town Courier The Blytheville School Board of education meeting on Tuesday night drew a large, standing room only, crowd. All board members, Barbara Wells, Ricky Jefferson, Tobye Johnson, Billy Fair, Desmond Hamlett, Judy Beaugard, Venita Nichols and Erin Carrington, were present...