Stories from Wednesday, May 8, 2002

The 60th annual Marmaduke High School athletic banquet and awards presentation took place Tuesday April 30. After a rather savory meal of pork chops, baked potatoes, salad, black-eyed peas and strawberry shortcake, the center of action moved from the cafeteria to the auditorium for the awards presentation...

Evelyn Louana Banks, 68, of Paragould, a native of Leonard, died Thursday, May 2, 2002, at Rector Healthcare. Born Dec. 17, 1933, at Leonard, she was a Baptist and a homemaker. Survivors include her husband, Frank Banks of Paragould; two sons, Danny Banks and James Banks of Paragould; two daughters, Cheryl L. Banks of Union Grove, Ala., and Susan Jean Murphy of Paragould; one sister, Peggy Sue Riales of Rector, and one aunt, Marguerite French of Rector...

Wilma Louise (Pickens) Buchanan, 72, of Modesto, Calif., formerly of Paragould, died Saturday, April 27, 2002, at Crestwood Manor in Modesto. A homemaker, she was born May 15, 1929, in Paragould and was of the Pentecostal faith. She is survived by two sons and one-daughter-in-law, Anthony Buchanan and Rick and Jane Buchanan, all of Tulare, Calif.; one daughter and son-in-law, Shelia and Bill Champion of Rector; one brother and sister-in-law, Bobby and Anita Pickens of Paragould; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Eva Miller and Barbara Sue and Jake McBroom, all of Paragould; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; three aunts and one uncle, Naomi and L.V. ...

Ulyss William Hancock, 93, formerly of this area, died Thursday, April 25, 2002, at the Hardin County Nursing Home in Savannah, Tenn. He was born July 8, 1908, in Clay County to the late Columbus and Sadie Williams Hancock and was married June 30, 1929 to Beatrice Gilkison, who preceded him in death May 8, 1998...

Mable Lorriean Stanfill, 79, of Marmaduke died Friday, May 3, 2002, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. A homemaker, she was born May 12, 1923, in Manila. She was married March 7, 1945, in Benton Harbor, Mich., to William J. Stanfill, who died July 26, 2000. She was of the General Baptist faith...

Rector artisan and longtime businessman Aubrey "Floppy" Clarida, who made distinctive knives after retiring from years of work in downtown Rector, died Sunday, May 5, at Piggott Community Hospital at age 87. He served four years in the Air Force during World War II, and became half owner of the Whiteway Service Station in Rector. He then worked as parts manager of McNiel Auto and Home Supply for 25 years, and was parts man at Bucy Implement Company until his retirement...

The Lady Hounds of Marmaduke came up short 10-5 against the Lady Mustangs of Hoxie in the regional finals last Monday at Black Rock, a week after the Lady Mustangs had beaten the Lady Hounds in the district finals at Pocahontas. The Lady Mustangs started fast in this game. ...

After a horrendous start Marmaduke battled back against a highly regarded Walnut Ridge team before falling 8-6 in AA North Regional action last Tuesday at Monette. "We really started off on the wrong foot," Coach Larry Willis said, "Andrew Dodd started the game for us. ...

In Monday, April 29, baseball action at Marmaduke, Smoots beat Banning's Welding 8-3 as Morgan Hawley hit a home run in Jr. Little League action. In Little League action Andrew Mitchell hit a home run as Action One beat Delta 11-2. In Friday's Little League action The Pharmacy topped Delta 7-5. ...

CORNING -- Some 75 residents of Clay County and the surrounding area made their views known here Tuesday of last week concerning the future route for Highway 67 from Walnut Ridge to the Missouri state line. The public involvement session was sponsored by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department and was one of two -- the other was held previously at Walnut Ridge...

Niel Crowson of Jonesboro, a native of Rector, has been elected by members of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission as chairman of the commission. Steve Edwards of Marianna, son of Rector native Oral Edwards, now of Forrest city, was chosen as vice chairman...

A blinding sandstorm near the Hargrave Corner area, north and east of Rector, frightened drivers and resulted in two accidents at midday Monday before Arkansas Highway Department officials closed a portion of Highway 49 until about 4:15 p.m. "It was the worst I'd ever seen," said Cpl. Allen Earnhart of the Arkansas State Police. "In front of the Clay County Electric Cooperative office, you couldn't see your hand in front of your face."...

The 38 members of the Rector High School graduating class of 2002 will say goodbye to high school days and take a step into the future when they receive diplomas in ceremonies at 8 p.m. Friday, May 10, at the RHS gymnasium. Graduates will enter to a processional played by the RHS concert band, directed by Blake Marsh. The invocation will be given by senior Don Henry Ward II, and Honor Student Jacqueline Nichole Sears will sing "Go Light Your World."...

The fourth annual Heritage Park Rod Run and SuperCruise is just around the corner, and car enthusiasts in several states are shining up and tuning up their vehicles. The event will be held Friday, May 17, through Sunday, May 19, and is being sponsored by the P.R.O.G.R.E.S. Council...

CORNING -- Some 75 residents of Clay County and the surrounding area made their views known here Tuesday of last week concerning the future route for Highway 67 from Walnut Ridge to the Missouri state line. The public involvement session was sponsored by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department and was one of two -- the other was held previously at Walnut Ridge...

A blinding sandstorm near the Hargrave Corner area, north and east of Rector, frightened drivers and resulted in two accidents at midday Monday before Arkansas Highway Department officials closed a portion of Highway 49 until about 4:15 p.m. "It was the worst I'd ever seen," said Cpl. Allen Earnhart of the Arkansas State Police. "In front of the Clay County Electric Cooperative office, you couldn't see your hand in front of your face."...

Grace Mae Rowland Cox, 98, of Piggott died Wednesday, May 1, 2002, at Piggott Community Hospital. She was born Nov. 13, 1903, in Pocahontas, the daughter of the late Joseph and Ellen Banning Scott. She married Charles Lester Rowland on July 30, 1922. to this union eight children were born. He preceded her in death on May 22, 1962...

Opal Garrard Pullum, 84, of West Palm Beach, Fla., died April 12, 2002. She was born Dec. 15, 1917, in Greenway, the daughter of the late William and Judith Garrard. She attended Greenway Schools, graduating at 16-years-old and as valedictorian of her class. She attended Arkansas State University and taught three years in the Greenway School System and three years in Kensett, Ark., before moving to Florida...

Dolores Haley Brewer, 73, of St. Peters, Mo., formerly of Piggott, died Sunday, May 5, 2002, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. She was born May 2, 1928, in Detroit, the daughter of the late Carl and Viola Mae Fuller Haley Sr. She married Walter Brewer...

Former Razorback football player Josh Foliart was recently named the winner of the Brandon Burlsworth Scholar-Athlete Award. Foliart received the award for his academic achievement and community service while competing for the Razorback football program...

The Piggott High School Class of 2002 will graduate at 7 p.m. Friday, May 10, in the high school gymnasium. This year six valedictorians will be honored Brooke Cole, Lori Russell, Morgan Tanner, Meagan Swann, Megan Dunlap, and Lindsey Sutfin. All have a 4.0 grade point average...