Stories from Wednesday, May 16, 2001

Two young Rector girls will receive help for medical expenses when Memphis Championship Wrestling holds a special show at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 9, in the Rector National Guard Armory. The event will benefit Emilea "Emmy" Vangilder and Ariel Dooley. Proceeds from the event and drawings will go to help pay medical expenses for the two girls...

A five-year-old Rector girl was killed early Tuesday morning in a one-vehicle accident on Highway 90 three miles west of Rector. Investigating officer Cpl. Allen Earnhart of the Arkansas State Police said Cecily D. Fortenberry was pronounced dead at the scene by Clay County Coroner Paul Hoggard. She was a kindergarten student at Marmaduke Elementary School...

Members of the Rector High School Class of 2001 received diplomas and shared a special time together Friday night, May 11, at the school gymnasium. Many then headed for Fayetteville to support nine classmates and other members of the RHS baseball team in their bid Saturday for the Class AA state baseball championship...

After more than 60 years of combined teaching experience, Larry and Ann French are ready to say goodbye to the classroom. Ann said she sees the opportunity to retire together as a blessing, although both have truly enjoyed their teaching experiences...

A St. Francis man is in critical condition at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro following an altercation early Sunday morning in St. Francis. Clay County Sheriff Ronnie Cole said James Cantrell, 18, was transported to Piggott Community Hospital and then transferred to Jonesboro, where Cantrell underwent surgery...

Rector High School students were recognized for their hard work and achievements in the school's annual Honors Day program held Wednesday morning, May 9, in the school gymnasium. A welcome was given by RHS teacher Bill Rabjohn, followed by the invocation by Marshall Sigsby...

Reba J. Boyd, 84, of Paragould died May 5, 2001 at the Arkansas Methodist Hospital in Paragould. She was born March 10, 1917 in Beech Grove, she was a homemaker and of the Methodist faith. She was preceded in death by her husband; Olen Boyd, one son; Joe Boyd, and two sisters; Ouida Williams and Rada Owens...

Lisa Thornton, 22, of Tampa, Florida passed away Saturday May 12, 2001. She was preceded in death by her grandfather Lester James Edwards, Sr. and a cousin Aaron Owens. Survivors include her parents; Tracy and Bena Edwards of Tampa, one brother; Joseph of Tampa, grandmother; Marcia Cowgill of Rector and a grandmother in Panama, great-grandmother; Ollie Kunkleman of Rector, and a host of uncles, aunts, and other relatives...

John Henry Edwards, 75, of Piggott died Tuesday, May 8, 2001, at his home. He was born Oct. 28, 1925, in Rector, the son of the late John Henry and Viola Roofe Edwards. He married Helen Crews on Aug. 23, 1947. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; two sons, Dennis Ray Edwards and Junior Edwards; and two brothers, J.W. Edwards and Everett Edwards...

Elizabeth Bratcher, 71, of Marmaduke died Wednesday, May 9, 2001, at Arkansas Methodist Hospital in Paragould. She was born January 13, 1930, in Greene County, the daughter of the late Frank and Rebecca Hyde Cupp. She married Raymond Bratcher in 1950...

Bernice A. Clark, 82, of Marmaduke, died Thursday, May 10, 2001, at Arkansas Methodist Hospital in Paragould. She was born September 6, 1918, to the late Hallie and Laura Josephine Watton Crouch. She married Clines Ben Clark March 30, 1940 in Monette...

FAYETTEVILLE - Expectations for this year's Rector Cougar baseball team were high, and the boys of summer followed through. Sweeping through the regular season, taking the district and regional titles, the Cougars rolled all the way to their goal...the state championship game. While the ultimate goal of winning the state title proved to be just out of reach, the Rector boys can claim the title of state runner up...

Michael Hoggard and Joel Coomer of Piggott fired a 59 in Sunday's round of the annual two-man scramble golf tournament at Sugar Creek Country Club to take first place with a two-day total of 122. C.W. Knauts/Terry Wilson placed second with a 126.Van Bowden/Treece finished third with 126. Barry DeHart/Mike Williams placed forth in the championship flight with a 128...

Members of Piggott's 13-year old Junior Babe Ruth squad are Brad Graves, Tyler Pike, Joe Rouse, Craig Dollins, Chet Vaughn, Dillon Cate, Brandon Smart, Jordan Norred, Shane Eslahi, Johnathan Johnson and Eric Coleman. Members of the 14-15-year old team are Justin Welch, Kevin Johnson, Josh Hicks, Jared Vaughn, Carey Rau, James Cox, Joe Blascoe, Jake Jones, John Midkiff, Nick Wallis, Shawn Matheny and Wesley Geatreaux...

The following are members of Piggott's T-ball teams. American Legion Ashley Catterton, Drew Adams, Allison Gurley, Kayla Morgan, Dylan Howell, Cameron Conley,Chase Midkiff, Sidney Tarno, Peyton Haley, Dustin Smith, Killin Taylor and Anthony Jones. The team is coached by Tracy Gurley...

The following is a list of team members for the Piggott 8-9-year old peewee division. McElvoy's Lance Stanislaus, Trent Edwards, Adam McLoy, Joseph Miller, Jacob Massey, Matthew Ballard, Will Daffron, Tanner Murray, Matt Cole and Luke Yount. Kevin Murray is the head coach of the McElvoy team...

The following are this years rosters for Piggott's 10-12-year old little league teams. Farm Credit Services Brian Seal, Brice Swann, Andrew McElvoy, Blake Holifield, Trey Sutfin, T.J. Harris, David Perkins, Tyler Grubb, Wesley Wood, Lance Conley, Michael Morgan, Zachary Smart and Curtis Brewer. The team is coached by Brock Swann...

The Piggott City Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday afternoon for the city to enter into a lease and service contract with the Piggott Cemetery Association. Alderman Jim Poole was absent. Under the agreement, the city will lease a concession stand at the picnic grounds as part of a settlement over a dispute concerning a state appropriation made to the city...

Piggott school board members spent the first hour and a half of Monday night's regular monthly meeting participating in a financial workshop given by Scott Beardsley of Raney and Beardsley, Inc., a financial advisory firm from Little Rock. Beardsley discussed school district financial structures with the board members and answered questions regarding state funding...

A Campbell, Mo., man was arrested in St. Francis following an anhydrous ammonia leak that forced the evacuation of some residents in Campbell. According to the Delta News Citizen, the Campbell Police Department received calls on Saturday, May 5, from residents about the odor of anhydrous ammonia from the area around John's Produce...

Fifty-nine members of the Piggott High School Class graduated Friday night in the high school gymnasium. "This class is one of the most academically talented classes I've seen," high school counselor Phyllis Morgan said. Eight valedictorians with 4.0 grade point averages were recognized Rebekah Householder, Ashlie Simmons, Mandi Thomas, Marc Yount, Phil Pollard, Amanda Lovelace, Lauren Cole and Courtney Carrens...

A five-year-old Rector girl was killed early Tuesday morning in a one-vehicle accident on Highway 90 three miles west of Rector. Investigating officer Cpl. Allen Earnhart of the Arkansas State Police said Cecily D. Fortenberry was pronounced dead at the scene by Clay County Coroner Paul Hoggard. She was a kindergarten student at Marmaduke Elementary School...

Richard "Dick" Hosey Worthington, 60, died May 1, 2001, at his home of small intestine cancer. He was born Feb. 14, 1941, in Memphis to late Dr. Victor Worthington and Dr. Ora Worthington. Richard grew up in Piggott and attended military school at Junior Military Academy in Knoxville, Tenn. at the age of five. He graduated from Piggott High School in 1959. He was in the Air Force for two years and received an honorable discharge...

John Henry Edwards, 75, of Piggott died Tuesday, May 8, 2001, at his home. He was born Oct. 28, 1925, in Rector, the son of the late John Henry and Viola Roofe Edwards. He married Helen Crews on Aug. 23, 1947. To this union nine children were born. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; two sons, Dennis Ray Edwards and Junior Edwards; and two brothers, J.W. Edwards and Everett Edwards...

Edith Rosealtha Lusk, 87, of Black Rock, Ark., died Saturday, May 12, 2001, at Lawrence Hall Nursing Home in Walnut Ridge. She was born Nov. 4, 1913, in Greenway, the daughter of the late Dow and Daisy Francis Moore Simpson. She married Robert Wayne Lusk on Sept. 26, 1934. To this union one daughter was born...

Margaret Latta, 79, of North Little Rock, formerly of Piggott, died Friday, May 11, 2001. She was born May 26, 1921, in Greenway, the daughter of the late John Adam and Sophie Reiman Schmidt. She married E. Jack Latta on July 1, 1951. To this union one daughter was born...

Akery Kenneth Presley, 89, of Grandin, Mo., died Monday, May 7, 2001, at his home. He was born Sept. 26, 1911, in McLeansboro, Ill., the son of the late Christopher and Dora Presley. He married Joyce Spieler on May 7, 1949. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; 10 children, Kenneth Lee Presley and Peggy Thompson of Missouri, Betty Presley and Linda Presley of Michigan, Dora Presley of New Mexico, Kenneth Robert Presley and George Presley of Massachusetts, Dorothy Myers and Carol Presley of Florida, and Mary Lou Heckert of Tennessee; numerous grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.. ...

Jo Ann Thrasher, 60, of Piggott died Monday, May 7, 2001, at her home. She was born May 30, 1940, in McDougal, the daughter of the late Joseph and Bonnie Bennett Higdon. She married Bruce Thrasher on Feb. 13, 1969. She was preceded in death by one son, Timothy Higdon, in 1984...

Friday was much more than high school graduation for senior Lady Mohawk Rebecca Whittley. It also marked the day she became a Lady Raider college basketball signee. Friday morning in the Piggott High School library, Whittley signed a national letter of intent to attend and play basketball for Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff...

Michael Hoggard and Joel Coomer fired a 59 in Sunday's round of the annual two-man scramble golf tournament at Sugar Creek Country Club to take first place with a two-day total of 122. C.W. Knauts/Terry Wilson placed second with a 126.Van Bowden/Treece finished third with 126. Barry DeHart/Mike Williams placed forth in the championship flight with a 128...

A St. Francis man is in critical condition at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro following an altercation early Sunday morning in St. Francis. Clay County Sheriff Ronnie Cole said James Cantrell, 18, was transported to Piggott Community Hospital and then transferred to Jonesboro, where Cantrell underwent surgery...