Stories from Wednesday, April 10, 2002

Recruiting and keeping good teachers was found to be one of the most important factors in improving education in Arkansas when a group of Clay Countians met Thursday night at Corning for a SPEAK UP, ARKANSAS! forum sponsored by the state's Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education...

With a winning smile and gentle demeanor, Jean Cole may not seem like someone who has recently been through a battle with cancer. She has fought the disease, however, and has been in remission since February of this year. Cole suffered from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the stomach, and first felt the symptoms in July 2001. ...

A number of the topics discussed at the Marmaduke city council meeting Monday night were of an upbeat nature. That is fortunate because it tended to temper the disheartening news that a Marmaduke institution of longstanding could be discontinued. The Marmaduke Fourth of July picnic, founded in 1965 to help with the upkeep of Hartsoe, Harvey's Chapel, Cudd and Starnes cemeteries, is teetering on edge of extinction. ...

Tickets still are available for the Rector Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet, set for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Community Center. A solid program is planned with guest speaker Richard Davies, director of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, highlighting the agenda...

The 2002 Hertitage Park Rod Run and Super Cruise will be held May 17-19 in Piggott. This year marks the fourth consecutive year for the ever-growing event. "We already have more cars pre-registered for this year's event than in the years past," event spokesman Jeff Peace said. ...

The Piggott girls tennis team impoved to 4-1 on the year with a 4-3 win over Pocahontas and a 5-3 win over Corning last Monday. In singles play against Pocahontas, Meagan Swann defeated Rebekah Prince, 8-1; Rebecca Hickson defeated Alicia Johnson, 9-7; Krystal Bedwell lost to Kristen Wilson, 8-4 and Lacey Grammer fell to Wilson, 8-3...

Marvin Woods, 80, of Piggott died Saturday, April 6, 2002, at Piggott Community Hospital. He was born Dec. 26, 1921, in Kennett, the son of the late James Marshall and Janie Hart Woods. He married Genevie Nettles on May 22, 1948. To this union one daughter was born...

Mable Horton, 90, of St. Peters, Mo., died Thursday, April 4, 2002, in St. Peters. She was born May 22, 1911, in Darnell, La., the daughter of the late Elick and Minnie Smith. She married Bethel Horton on Dec. 24, 1955, in Hernando, Miss. He preceded her in death...

James William Early, 41, of Piggott died Thursday, April 4, 2002, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born Nov. 2, 1960, in Ottawa, Ill., the son of the late Ernest R. and Faye Miller Early. He was preceded in death by one sister, Patricia Early...

Piggott Elementary is one step closer to having a new cafeteria built. Board members met with an architect from TRC in a special session Thursday evening to open sealed bids. Two bids were received. Robinson Electrical Corp.of Paragould submitted a bid of $620,000. The low bid was $575,000 from Cooper Construction of Jonesboro...

Longtime Piggott businessman Howard Crews, 88, died Wednesday, April 3, 2002, at Piggott Community Hospital. He was the owner of the Alaska Queen Dairy Bar and the Rustic Inn Motel in Piggott for many years. He was a faithful member of Trailers Chapel General Baptist Church in Pollard and was a veteran of World War II...

Corporate sponsors for the 2002 Clay County Relay For Life have been announced. They are: Gold Piggott State Bank Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home Inc. Silver Piggott Discount Drug. Aerial Bouquets-Budget Balloons Inc. Wise Co. Seal's Pharmacy...

Local officials listed several areas of development they would like to see within the community during an Arkansas Department of Economic Development public meeting held Thursday evening in Piggott. Barbara Sisco, BRAD Head Start director from Pocahontas, said she supports continued funding for child care facilities...

The proposed disbursement of $39 million in anticipated federal funding for designated priorities in the state was reviewed during an Arkansas Department of Economic Development (ADED) public meeting Thursday evening at the Piggott Community Center...