Stories from Wednesday, May 30, 2001

An American Softball Association sanctioned mens and womens softball tournament will be held Saturday, June 9 at the Southside Complex in Jonesboro. Entry fee is $100 per team. First through fourth place will receive trophies and t-shirts. Deadline for entry is Wednesday, June 6...

Clay County ranked sixth in the state for reported methamphetamine lab arrests in 2000, according to Arkansas State Police's Office of Investigative Support. Clay County Sheriff Ronnie Cole said he expects this year's total to be lower. "We're not seeing as many labs, and what's we're seeing now is what they're bringing in from other counties," he said...

Charles Delaine Davis, 76, of Rector, died Saturday, May 26, 2001, in Paragould. Born Aug. 16, 1924, in Carryville, he was the son of the late Charles and Opal Adkison Davis. He was a Navy veteran, a lifetime member of Michigan Teamsters #299 and retired from 33 years at Dearborn Releasing Co...

Dorothy Autumn Haywood, 88, of West Memphis, formerly of Piggott, died Friday, May 25, 2001, in West Memphis. She was born Jan. 15, 1913, in Rector, the daughter of the late Frank and Angeline Davis. She married Leslie W. Haywood on Aug. 15, 1937, in Rector. He preceded her in death...

Juanita Lucille Stewart, 70, of St. Louis, died Wednesday, May 23, 2001, at St. John's Hospital. Born July 12, 1930 in Rector, she was the daughter of the late Odie Len and Lola Belle Brannon Huggins. A resident of St. Louis for 48 years, she was a housewife and a member of the Westside Baptist Church...

Marjorie B. Mouser, 84, of Rector, died Friday, May 25, 2001, at Arkansas Methodist Hospital in Paragould. Born Jan. 16, 1917, in Joliet, Ill., she was the daughter of Willis and Mable McAllister Brown. She was a secretary in the food industry and a member of the Methodist faith...

Elizabeth Bratcher, 71, of Marmaduke died Wednesday, May 9,2001, at Arkansas Methodist Hospital in Paragould. She was born Jan. 13, 1930, in Greene County. She was a homemaker and of the Church of Christ faith. She also was a member of Marmaduke Housing...

Tommy Johnson, 58, of Piggott, formerly of Rector, died Thursday, May 24, 2001, at the Regional Medical Center of Northeast Arkansas in Jonesboro. Born Dec. 28, 1942, in Rector, he was retired from Cox Lumber and of the General Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Phyllis Johnson, and a brother, Bobby Howard Johnson...

Edna Lavonda Mason, 66, of Rector, died Tuesday, May 29, 2001, in Searcy. She was born Aug. 13, 1934 to the late Frank and Sadie Burns Edwards. She was married Dec. 13, 1948 to the late Amyel Mason. She is survived by one son, Joe Mason of Rector; one daughter, Joan Jeffery of Searcy; three grandchildren, Nicholas Mason, Joseph Mason and Andrew Mason of Rector; one brother, Aubrey Edwards of Paragould; and one sister and brother-in-law, Corene and Don Dowdy of Hayti, Mo...

Floyd Strong, 87, of St. Francis died Saturday, May 26, 2001, at his home. He was born Oct. 20, 1913, in Holcomb, the son of the late Elmer and Isabelle Barker Strong. He married Moria Pinkston on March 10, 1934, in Clay County. He was of the Baptist faith and was a farmer...

L.J. Dale, 80, of Piggott died Wednesday, May 23, 2001, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born April 11, 1921, in Rector, the son of the late Woodie and Gladys McLeskey Dale. He married Ruby Groves on Oct. 28, 1945. To this union three children were born...

Henrietta Eagle Dortch, 88, of Paragould, died Monday, May 28, 2001, at Arkansas Methodist Hospital in Paragould. Born Oct. 5, 1912, in Knob, she was a homemaker and a member of the Griffin Memorial United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Dortch; her parents, Robert E. ...

Vernett Franks, 83, of Paragould, died Monday, May 28, 2001, at Greene Acres Nursing Home in Paragould. Born March 26, 1918, in Marmaduke, she was a homemaker and a member of the Marmaduke Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband Marlon "Pete" Franks; one brother, Hollis Gossett; and two sisters, Francis Gossett and Marginia Franks...

A Rector native has just finished his junior year of eligibility as a pitcher for the Williams Baptist College Eagle baseball team. Matt Rabjohn, a standout pitcher and shortstop for the Clay County Cougars, graduated from high school in 1997 and joined the WBC Eagle pitching staff on a scholarship the following fall...

Marmaduke athletes recently received year-end awards from the Greyhound coaches. Bo Tuberville was the recipient of the Chester A. Barner Sr. Award while Ashley Hardin, Shelly Priest and April Bridges were all honored with the Mary Thorne Award. Junior high girls basketball awards were given to Mary Humphries and Michelle DeFries for most improved; Katie Christian, most versatile; Fallon Robins, most dependable; Terri Graham, best attitude; Heather Johnson, best free throw shooting; Lauren Wright, most three-pointers made; Sarah Rogers, tip award; Heather Johnson, most field goals; Lauren Wright, most steals; Cassie Wallace, hustle award; Lauren Wright, most assists; Sarah Rogers, best defense; Lauren Wright, rebounds; Heather Johnsom, best offense; Felicia Bass, Lady Greyhound Award.. ...

Free Fishing Days of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission this year will be from noon Friday, June 8, through midnight Sunday, June 10, said Mike Gibson, chief of fisheries. No sport fisherman, resident or non-resident, will need a fishing license or a trout permit to fish anywhere in Arkansas during this time...

A two-man scramble golf tournament will be held at Piggott's Sugar Creek Country Club on June 16. The event will be a one-day long tournament consisting of 27 holes. Persons may contact Sugar Creek Country Club for more information.

Although she may be retired, Barbara Hamilton leads a busy life. She devotes a large part of her days to flower gardening, one of her hobbies. Hamilton has numerous gardens, including a large garden to the side of her house featuring pink roses and other beautiful perennials. She recently added cedar arbors and pillars, which will show off beautiful climbing roses...

June will literally be "busting out all over" with fun for everyone when the Rector Parks and Recreation Commission holds its first-ever June Fest Saturday, June 23, in conjunction with the Rector Area Chamber of Commerce's fifth annual Toy Show...

J.W. "Soapy" Thompson, longtime owner and operator of Mounds Neighbors Gin near Rector, died Wednesday, May 23, at Baptist Hospital East in Memphis. He was 75. Thompson was on the board of the St. Francis Drainage District and was a past member of the St. ...

Fallen American soldiers were remembered Sunday at the 12th annual Memorial Day service at Woodland Heights Cemetery in Rector. Special guests for the event were Congressman Marion Berry and Speaker of the House Shane Broadway. Bright sun illuminated nearly 600 American flags decorating the graves of veterans, while a gentle breeze lifted them into full view...

For the past 17 years, students at Piggott Elementary School were greeted by school secretary "Mrs. Mildred" whenever they visited the office. This was Mildred Beaver's last year working for the Piggott School District as she has now retired. She worked in the superintendent's office one year before moving to the elementary school...

It's out with the old and in with the new regarding the Piggott school district's bus garage needs. With help from bus mechanic Fred Hicks and maintenance supervisor Rodney Crossfield, Piggott schools now have a much-needed new 60' x 70' bus garage...

Clay County ranked sixth in the state for reported methamphetamine lab arrests in 2000, according to Arkansas State Police's Office of Investigative Support. Clay County Sheriff Ronnie Cole said he expects this year's total to be lower. "We're not seeing as many labs, and what's we're seeing now is what they're bringing in from other counties," he said...

Piggott Parks and Recreation Department's annual fishing rodeo is normally a catfish-catching event, but Saturday morning at Heritage Park, it was a bass that took catch-of-the-day honors. About midway through the two-hour event, Brittany Parish hauled in a 5 1/4 pound bass with her rod and reel...

Joseph Curtis Wilkes, 87, of Piggott died Saturday, May 26, 2001, at Piggott Community Hospital. He was born Feb. 14, 1914, in Bernie, Mo, the son of the late Jim and Annie Williams Wilkes. He was saved an early age and became a minister. He retired from Wanderers Home Missionary Baptist Church. He was faithful to the Lord's cause for the remainder of his life...

L.J. Dale, 80, of Piggott died Wednesday, May 23, 2001, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born April 11, 1921, in Rector, the son of the late Woodie and Gladys McLeskey Dale. He married Ruby Groves on Oct. 28, 1945. To this union three children were born...

Clyde Leno Gookin, 69, of Jewett City, Conn., died Tuesday, May 8, 2001, at his home after a lengthy illness. He was born July 13, 1931, in Luxora, Ark., the son of the late Virgle E. and Ethel Pauline Anglin Gookin. He married Jeanne A. Guimond on July 26, 1969, in the Chapel on the Thames in Groton, Conn. She survives...

Tommy Johnson, 58, of Piggott, formerly of Rector, died Thursday, May 24, 2001, at Regional Medical Center of NEA in Jonesboro. He was born Dec. 28, 1942, in Rector, the son of the late Howard and Phyllis Johnson. He was retired from Cox Lumber and was of the General Baptist faith...

Dorothy Autumn Haywood, 88, of West Memphis, formerly of Piggott, died Friday, May 25, 2001, in West Memphis. She was born Jan. 15, 1913, in Rector, the daughter of the late Frank and Angeline Davis. She married Leslie W. Haywood on Aug. 15, 1937, in Rector. He preceded her in death...

Floyd Strong, 87, of St. Francis died Saturday, May 26, 2001, at his home. He was born Oct. 20, 1913, in Holcomb, the son of the late Elmer and Isabelle Barker Strong. He married Moria Pinkston on March 10, 1934, in Clay County. He was of the Baptist faith and was a farmer...

Margie Vivian Turner, 94, of Thebes, Ill., died Monday, May 28, 2001, at Day Star Nursing Home in Cairo, Ill. She was born June 26, 1906, in Greene County, Ark., the daughter of the late Marion Wesley Birchett and Liza Belle Eagle. She married Robert Claude Turner on June 19, 1924, in Greene County...

The Piggott Mohawk and Lady Mohawk basketball teams recently received awards for their achievements and outstanding play over the past season. Senior Boys From the senior boys team, Alex Baldwin and Phil Pollard both were named as Players of the Year by head coach Steve Wilson...

The Piggott seventh grade football team recently finished their official off-season spring practices. The top three finishers in the following events were: Bench Press Kyle Redmon, 190 lbs; Derren Parrish, 170 lbs; Wesley Mills, 155 lbs. Squat Redmon, 370 lbs; Parrish, 350 lbs; Mills; 290 lbs...

Current standings for Piggott's 10-12 year old little league division: Farm Credit 6-0 John Deere 3-3 Cole Oil 2-4 Fry Equip. 1-5.

A two-man scramble golf tournament will be held at Piggott's Sugar Creek Country Club on June 16. The event will be a one-day long tournament consisting of 27 holes. Persons may contact Sugar Creek Country Club for more information.

Departed military veterans and other loved ones were remembered Sunday during the annual Memorial Day service at Piggott Cemetery. Bro. Kevin Short, pastor of the First Christian Church, said the ceremony was being held to honor the memory of "those who risked and gave their lives."...