Stories from Thursday, April 18, 2002

Cancer is a devastating, life-altering diagnosis to receive and is a reminder of just how precious life is. "I had no symptoms, other than a spot on my stomach that looked like a blood blister," Sharon Tillman said. Tillman was diagnosed with melanoma in June 1999 and almost didn't get the medical care she needed when two separate doctors told her "not to worry about it."...

PIGGOTT The Piggott boys tennis team improved to 4-5-1 on the year with a 3-1 win over Corning last Thursday. In singles play, Joe Blascoe defeated John Cline, 6-1. Jake Jones fell to Lindell Lucy, 5-7. In doubles, Philip Hamilton/Danny Wilson defeated Pitt Wehr/Eric Reed, 6-1 and Daniel Parker/Matt Small defeated Jeremy Barber/Alex Lane, 6-1...

PIGGOTT The Piggott baseball Mohawks, improved to 5-5 on the year last week after winning the nightcap doubleheader last Tuesday at Brookland and defeating Corning twice at home on Thursday. Last weeks action started off slow for the Mohawks, losing a road game to Gosnell on Monday and falling to Brookland on Tuesday...

PIGGOTT Thomas Harris and Meagan Swann, both seniors at Piggott High School, were recently named as two of Arkansas' 20 Wendy's High School Heisman state finalists. The Wendy's Heisman honor is awarded to those high school students who excel in athletics, academics and community service...

Norman R. Salyards, 57, of St. Francis died Wednesday, April 10, 2002, at his home. He was born Nov. 13, 1944, in Shafter, Calif., the son of Albert and Pauline Buckner Salyards. He married Joann Williamson on Aug. 26, 1966. He was preceded in death by his father, Albert, and one brother, James Salyards...

Leroy Bell, 55, of Rector died Monday, April 15, 2002, at Twin Rivers Medical Center in Kennett, Mo. He was born May 6, 1946, in New Madrid, Mo., to the late Monroe Bell Sr. and Francis Louise Owens Bell. He also was preceded in death by one brother, Monroe "Bo" Bell, on June 29, 1981, and one sister, Shirley Pfieffer, on Dec. 3, 1997...

The Clay County Quorum Court dispensed with a short agenda during regular session Monday night in Corning. Justices approved an ordinance to appropriate monies received from disaster funds for the roads in the amount of $49,549.59. Also approved were amendments to the employee handbook, concerning safety policies for the road department; to include sheriff's department employees under public employees drug and alcohol testing; and 40-hours pay being used as deposit on road employee uniforms...

Legislation that will increase federal funding for 39 rural hospitals, including Piggott Community Hospital, was signed last week by Congressman Marion Berry, who is an original co-sponsor. "Rural hospitals are a critical but often overlooked component of our nation's health care system, and this bill would make sure rural patients receive quality medical care by adequately reimbursing hospitals for the money they spend to treat Medicare patients," he said...

Facing cancer head-on is a daunting experience. While some need the outreach of support from loved ones, some face it alone. "I think it would have helped me if I had known someone who had had it," said Joanna Besserman. "I dealt with it by myself."...

PIGGOTT Two Piggott Lady Mohawks have signed letters of intent to play collegiate basketball. Last Thursday in the Piggott High School library, Lori Russell signed with the South Arkansas University Riderettes of Magnolia, while Somer Swan signed with the Shawnee College Lady Saints of Ullin, IL...

Arkansas maintains 52 state parks under the Department of Parks and Tourism, according to director Richard Davies. He said the department has 600 fulltime employees and 600 part-time employees with an annual budget of $100 million. Davies was the guest speaker at the annual Rector Chamber of Commerce banquet Thursday evening at the community center. He was introduced by parks and tourism commissioner Danny Ford of Rector...

From the standpoint of both attendance and enthusiasm, a meeting hosted by the Marmaduke Picnic Association Thursday night, April 11, on the future of the Marmaduke Fourth of July picnic, was a rousing success. For more than an hour and a half, the two dozen Marmaduke residents in attendance bandied about a seemingly inexhaustible supply of ideas designed to breathe new life into the floundering annual event...

Mildred Dorris sat in the porch swing last week at her Rector home with friends Ken and Lydia Bozych of northern Minnesota, reliving a special time when Ken and her late husband, Doyle, shared more than three years together as best friends and fellow soldiers during World War II...

The Clay County Quorum Court dispensed with a short agenda during regular session Monday night in Corning. Justices approved an ordinance to appropriate monies received from disaster funds for the roads in the amount of $49,549.59. Also approved were amendments to the employee handbook, concerning safety policies for the road department; to include sheriff's department employees under public employees drug and alcohol testing; and 40-hours pay being used as deposit on road employee uniforms...

Mary Lee Cox, 91, of Rector died Thursday, April 11, 2002, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. She was born Sept. 11, 1910, in Kennett to the late William S. Read and Willie Ann Meharg Read. She worked as a school teacher and a nurse, and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Rector. She was married May 10, 1937, to Doyle W. Cox, and had lived in the community 29 years...

Gale Kluge, 59, of Marmaduke died Thursday, April 11, 2002, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Jan. 16, 1943, in Leachville to the late Clay and Beatrice Gibson. Mrs. Kluge was a schoolteacher at Southland School in Cardwell, Mo. She graduated from Greene County Tech High School and Arkansas State University with a degree in elementary education. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Marmaduke...

Leroy Bell, 55, of Rector died Monday, April 15, 2002, at Twin Rivers Medical Center in Kennett, Mo. He was born May 6, 1946, in New Madrid, Mo., to the late Monroe Bell Sr. and Francis Louise Owens Bell. He also was preceded in death by one brother, Monroe "Bo" Bell, on June 29, 1981, and one sister, Shirley Pfieffer, on Dec. 3, 1997...

Danielle Rose and Lyndsey Bell both went 4-for-4 at the plate last Monday as the Rector Lady Cougars trounced Maynard, 16-7. Rose picked up the win. Kocaina Lyles had two RBIs while Jessica Hill burned up the base paths with three stolen bases. Tuesday afternoon, Rector continued thier winning ways with a 13-0 shuout over Riverside. Beth Copeland had three RBIs as she was 2-for-3 at the plate. Lyles also had two RBIs. Rose earned her third win of the year...

Marmaduke's Lady Greyhounds defeated Corning last Tuesday, 6-2. Brooke Grigsby and Tiffany Wallace both had three hits for the Lady Hounds in the win. Sarah Rogers, Lauren Wright and DaRae Howe all had two hits. Erica Smith picked up the pitching win...

The Rector boys fell to BIC, 9-1, in high school baseball action last Monday. Tuesday afternoon the Cougars improved to 5-6 with an 8-1 win over BIC. Derek Carter fired a three-hitter and led the offense with a home run in the win. Carter also had three hits. Tyler Scott and Billy Scott each had two hits and two runs batted in...