Stories from Wednesday, March 6, 2002

Watching the Olympic games on television is exciting, but it doesn't compare to actually getting to see it up close. David and Janice Copelin of Piggott spent four days at the Olympics in Salt Lake City last month. "We saw seven events while we were there," Janice said...

Longtime Piggott businessman William Edgar Irby, 88, died Monday, March 4, 2002, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. He was in the grocery business from 1937 to 1946 in Pontiac, Mich. He started Irby Butane Gas Company in Piggott, Rector and Corning in 1947 and sold to a major oil company in the early 1960's. He was a former member of the Arkansas L.P. Gas Company...

BEEBE After upsetting Region 4 champion Fordyce last Tuesday afternoon at the Class AAA State tournament, the Piggott Lady Mohawks (24-9) found themselves pitted against the Pulaski Academy Lady Bruins in quarterfinal action on Thursday evening. The Piggott girls were also up against a freshman nemesis by the name of Jessica Berry...

Mary E. Moore, 76, of Charlotte, Tenn., formerly of Rector, died Friday, Feb. 28, 2002, at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. She was born May 22, 1925, in Crockett to the late Lon and Lillian Kilbreath. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She was preceded in death by her parents, and two sisters, Betty Lee and Emmer Jean...

William Henry Harmon, 66, died Feb. 26, 2002, at Hardin County Health Care in Savannah, Tenn. He was born Oct. 19, 1935, in Nimmons, the son of the late Echlee and Elsie Harvill Harmon. He is survived by four daughters, Joy Lynn Douglas of Scotts Hill, Tenn., Sandra Shankles and Cindy Weeks of Adamsville, Tenn., and Jessie Crowder of Savannah; one son, Tracy Harmon of Saltillo, Tenn.; two brothers, Glen Harmon of Linden, Tenn., and J.D. ...

Mary Spicer Wolner Graham, 89, of Corning died Thursday, Feb. 28, 2002, in Corning. She was born June 7, 1912, in Rector, Ark., the daughter of the late Cyril O. and Gertrude McDonald Spicer. She married Harry J. Wolner on Sept. 10, 1952. He preceded her in death in 1989...

Clay County Treasurer Carolyn Morrisett has announced she will seek re-election, subject to the May Democratic Primary. "I have enjoyed serving as your county treasurer," she said, "and I look forward to continue serving the people of the county."...

Clay County Sheriff and Collector Ronnie Cole will seek re-election to office, subject to the May Democratic Primary. "Since I have taken office, we have seen the number of drug cases decrease in Clay County," he said. "We want to continue our war on drugs and other crime in the county. We appreciate the tremendous support we have received from the public."...

Clay County Judge Gary Howell has announced he will seek re-election, subject to the May Democratic Primary. "I'm looking forward to continuing my service to the people of Clay County," he said. "Thank you for all your support that you have given me and continue to give me."...

Longtime Piggott businessman William Edgar Irby, 88, died Monday, March 4, 2002, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. He was in the grocery business from 1937 to 1946 in Pontiac, Mich. He started Irby Butane Gas Company in Piggott, Rector and Corning in 1947 and sold to a major oil company in the early 1960's. He was a former member of the Arkansas L.P. Gas Company...

Raymond Floyd Hale, 86, of Marmaduke, died Feb. 19, 2002, at Arkansas Methodist Health Center in Paragould. He was born June 25, 1915, in Clay County to the late Charlie B. Hale and Bibhie Hale. He was a general contractor, a member of Ramer's Chapel Methodist Church and a lifelong member of the community...

Ramona Kay Adams, 51, of Rector died Friday, March 1, 2002, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Born Aug. 14, 1950, in Poplar Bluff to the late Raymond Lock and Rosemary Barnett Lawson, she was office manager of Home Health Care, a member of the Eastern Star of Corning and a member of Rector First General Baptist Church...

Charles Henry Simpson, 65, of Phoenix, Ariz., died on Jan. 29, 2002. He was born in Rector, where he grew up before moving to Arizona in 1957. He spent over 40 years working with his family in the concrete construction industry completing many remarkable projects while changing the landscape throughout Arizona and Las Vegas...

Mary E. Moore, 76, of Charlotte, Tenn., formerly of Rector, died Friday, Feb. 28, 2002, at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. She was born May 22, 1925, in Crockett to the late Lon and Lillian Kilbreath. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She was preceded in death by her parents, and two sisters, Betty Lee and Emmer Jean...

Jeremy Daniel Banks, 22, of Rector died Thursday, Feb. 28, 2002, at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau. He was born Dec. 8, 1979, in Paragould to Dennis Ray Banks and Billie Jean (Bell) Banks, and was of Methodist faith. He is survived by his parents; one daughter, Danyell Renae Banks of Rector; his maternal grandparents, Agnes Bell of Rector and the late Billy Bell; paternal grandparents, Magelene Banks of Carryville and the late James Banks; two brothers, Damon Ray Banks and Matthew Alan Banks, both of Rector; three sisters, Melissa Jean Walker of Dardanelle, Andrea LyNette Escobar of Rector and Pamela Renee Banks of Crawfordsville; one special nephew, Alex, and a host of aunts, uncles and other relatives and friends.. ...

The goat operation at the Austin farm near Paragould is one shared by all members of the family. A.J. and Tyler, along with their parents, Joey and Carol Austin, tend to 30 does, a buck and 25 babies of the Boer breed. "They'll act and train just like a dog," Joey said, noting Boers will not jump fences like other breeds...

Clay County Treasurer Carolyn Morrisett has announced she will seek re-election, subject to the May Democratic Primary. "I have enjoyed serving as your county treasurer," she said, "and I look forward to continue serving the people of the county."...

Clay County Judge Gary Howell has announced he will seek re-election, subject to the May Democratic Primary. "I'm looking forward to continuing my service to the people of Clay County," he said. "Thank you for all your support that you have given me and continue to give me."...

Clay County Sheriff and Collector Ronnie Cole will seek re-election to office, subject to the May Democratic Primary. "Since I have taken office, we have seen the number of drug cases decrease in Clay County," he said. "We want to continue our war on drugs and other crime in the county. We appreciate the tremendous support we have received from the public."...

Woodland Heights Cemetery has been a great source of pride and a lasting tribute for many members of the Rector community. Now in its 100th year of operation, it continues to provide a beautiful and well-maintained resting place for deceased loved ones with ties to the Rector community...

The tentative date for the annual Rector Area Chamber of Commerce banquet has been set for Thursday, March 28. That decision was made in a meeting last week conducted by new Chamber president Ron Benson. U.S. Sen. Blanche Lambert Lincoln is being invited as the guest speaker, Benson said...

Matt Hollis of 609 West Third Street in Rector attended the Rector City Council meeting Monday night to inquire about removing the sidewalk from in front of his house. "The sidewalk is all broken up and looks really bad. I've busted up and removed the part that goes down to the street -- that's mine," Hollis explained, "but I'd like to know about the part that runs along the street...

Alva Lee "Happy" Thomas, 71, of Rector died March 3, 2002. He was born Aug. 10, 1930, at Rector to Ott and Hinda Thomas. He was a retired farmer and a Methodist. Survivors include his wife, Peggy Thomas of the home; his parents, Ott and Hinda Thomas of Rector; two daughters, Wilma Osbon of Paragould and Judy Thomas of Oakdale, Calif.; a step-daughter, Mary Pribow of Ashippun, Wisc.; three step-sons, Keith Graves of Jonesboro, Mike Graves of Marmaduke and Larry Jones of Bay City, Texas; four grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.. ...

JESSIEVILLE -- The Marmaduke Lady Greyhounds' dream season came to an end here Friday night at the hands of a very strong Greenland team -- a group of Lady Pirates who have been ranked first in the state most of the year in Class AA. Greenland featured an aggressive man-to-man defense that hampered the Lady Hounds throughout the game, the result being a 51-32 victory for the Lady Pirates...