Stories from Thursday, June 20, 2002

The Rector Babe Ruth team pulled out a heart churning 8-7 win over Walnut Ridge at Rector Monday evening. Rector trailed 7-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning when Coach James Parrish decided to try something different. Coach Parrish said, "They were throwing a left hander against us and we were not making good contact off him at all. ...

Longtime Marmaduke School Board member Ronnie Robinson, 50, and Marmaduke resident Mark Boyd, 28, were fatally injured in a two-vehicle accident at 2:12 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, on U.S. Highway 49 about one mile south of Marmaduke. Arkansas State Police Cpl. Todd Harris said Boyd's 1998 Pontiac Firebird was northbound on Highway 49 on Slavens Creek bridge when it crossed the center line, striking Robinson's southbound 1990 Geo Tracker...

Summer fun at its best will abound at Rector's annual June Fest, to be held Saturday, June 22, at Rector Memorial Park. The event will include games, beauty pageants and good food and, this year, also will feature a car show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Toy Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Rector Community Center, located at the edge of the park...

The First General Baptist Church in Rector recently has been enjoying beautiful music thanks to Gayle Benson, Genny Burns and their enthusiastic hand bell choir. "The kids are really having fun ringing the bells, and they produce such a lovely piece of music," she said. Benson first got the idea for a hand bell choir from her daughter, a music teacher at Searcy...

The Clay County Quorum Court agreed to conduct another survey among employees to determine how to set payroll time periods. At Monday night's meeting in Corning, several western district employees said they favored keeping the once-a-month pay period while other departments favor either twice per month or bi-monthly. The county road department is the only group currently paid twice a month...

Ronnie Robinson, 50, of Lafe died Wednesday, June 12, 2002, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould following an automobile accident. Born Nov. 14, 1951, in Paragould to the late Virgil and Zelva Robinson, he was a tool and die worker at Emerson Electric for 31 years. He also served in the National Guard, was a member of the school boards at Lafe and Marmaduke for 25 years, and was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Lafe...

Gladys Marie "Renis" Thomas, 88, of Rector died Wednesday, June 12, 2002, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born Jan. 9, 1914, in Marmaduke, she was a homemaker and a member of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church. Survivors include two sons and a daughter-in-law, Bill and Garnetta Thomas of Rector and Jimmie Joe Thomas of West Alton, Mo.; a daughter and son-in-law, Anna Lou and Carl Dodds of Rector; a brother, Robert Earl Vangilder of Ocala, Fla.; 12 grandchildren, Terry Simpson, Edie Thomas, Bradley Thomas, Mark Thomas, Denny McKay, Gary McKay, Steven McKay, Robert Thomas, James Thomas, Mitch Thomas, Diane Tate and Deborah Thomas, 31 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.. ...

Harold Leroy Sonney, 73, of Hawkinsville, Ga., a native of Rector, died May 2, 2002, of a heart attack. He was married Aug. 10, 1947, to Avis Hopper of Rector, who died Oct. 29, 2000. Mr. Sonney also was preceded in death by his parents, O.C. and Mae Sonney; two brothers, Doyle Jr. and Charles, and one sister, Mary...

J.W. Keeling, 73, of Paragould, died Saturday, June 15, 2002, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born July 4, 1928, in Russellville, he was a retired mechanic and Assembly of God minister. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Keeling; his parents, Finis and Lavada Keeling; one brother, Connie Keeling, and three sisters, Charlene Steele, Janell Tapp and Ethelene Widemon...

Mark Allen Boyd, 28, of Marmaduke died Wednesday June 12, 2002, in an automobile accident near Marmaduke. Born May 29, 1974, in Paragould, he was an employee of Anchor Packaging in Marmaduke and of the Baptist faith. He is survived by his wife, Jessica Hale-Boyd of the home; one son, Tristan Boyd of Paragould; one daughter, Taylor Boyd of the home; his father, Mark Boyd of Paragould; mother and stepfather, LaDonna and Arlie Broadaway of Atlanta, Ga.; two brothers, Joseph Boyd of Jonesboro and Bradley Boyd of Paragould; one half-brother, P.J. ...

Rector Little League player Trey Hamm has already had a very exciting summer. He has been a member of the Rector Little League Champion Sportswear team. He has been a member of an Arkansas Athletic Union (AAU) team that has been involved in six tournaments in four different states; nevertheless the peak of this summer's baseball experience still lies in the future as his AAU team, the Arkansas Rockets, based out of Paragould is gearing up to play in the nationals at ........ Disney World!...

Several Piggott Lady Mohawks received basketball awards for their play during the 2001-2002 season. Leading with six awards was Lori Russell who recently signed a national letter-of-intent to play basketball at South Arkansas University in Magnolia. Russell was named All-NEA, All-Region, All-State and All-District and also won team awards for leading scorer and leading rebounder...

Four Piggott Lady Mohawks were recently honored for their play during the 2002 softball season. Those receiving awards were Mandy Cale, Lauren Watson, Heather Bricker and Stephanie Hoggard. Cale was honored by being named All-Region and All-Conference...

In a tournament held at Campbell on June 1, the D&G softball team took second place out of a total of six teams participating. Players on the D&G team were Skylar Matheney, Kevin Blascoe, Darrin Johnson, Neal Davis, John Cavaness, Scotty Dunlap, Tim Blascoe, Phillip Blascoe, Shawn Matheney, Andy Parrish, Keith Poole, Steven Blascoe, David Burgess and Joe Blascoe...

PIGGOTT -- Athough the notches in the win column don't show it, this year's Piggott 14-15 year old Junior Babe Ruth team has the talent and potential to be real threat on the diamond. "In my eight years as head coach, this group of kids have the most potential of any group I've ever coached. However, we just haven't gotten it all to come together," head coach Fred Hicks said...

PIGGOTT In a small corner of Fred Hicks' office at the Piggott bus garage is a growing collection of Piggott High School sports memorabilia. Ranging from photos of Piggott's 1936 Clay County Champion football team to past game programs and photos, Hicks' collection began with just a few pieces from his high school days. With donations from several PHS alumni and area residents, the collection has been steadily growing...

Walter Marion Calvert, 70, died Tuesday June 11, 2002, at his home in Clarkton. He was born on Feb. 3, 1932, in Blytheville, the son of the late Lucian Foster Calvert and Minnie Belle Powers Calvert. He married Lola Cook on March 21, 1957. He was preceded in death by one brother, C.L. Calvert, and one sister, Jewell Carper...

LaWanda Virginia Turner Broadway, 71, of Piggott, passed away June 17, 2002 in the Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born Nov. 17, 1930 near Piggott, the daughter of the late Richard Earl and Irene Augusta Ellis Turner. She was united in marriage to Harold Jr. Broadway Dec. 13, 1947. To this union four children were born...

James W. "Jim" Harmon, 59, of Greenway, died Wednesday, June 12, 2002 in the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born March 30, 1943, in Piggott, the son of the late Glen Winslow and Ruby R. Parker Harmon. He was united in marriage to Joyce Braman on Nov. 18, 1962. To this union, one son was born...

Richard N. Holbert, 52, of Wickes, Ark., died Thursday, June 13, 2002, in De Queen Regional Medical Center. He was born to Walter and Dorothy Holbert in Stuttgart, on Nov. 13, 1949. He received his BSE from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia and his EDS from Arkansas State University. He was superintendent of Wickes Schools, and was active in community affairs. He enjoyed traveling, reading, and spending time with his family...

Freedom...the sweet freedom riding your bike on the wide open road. Motorcycles have always been a popular form of transportation and enjoyment, and they are gaining popularity in the area. Many are getting together for rides on the weekends. "If you've got a motorcyle and you want to go, you're welcome," Jack Parrish said...

It's the pursuit of enjoyment with a mission. "Our main goal is to spread the gospel," said Bill Scaggs. Scaggs is a member of Bikers For Christ, which has a small chapter in Piggott. A love of motorcycles, coupled with love for the Lord, is what motivates them. They are also co-associate members of the Christians Motorcyclists Association...

Arkansas legislators headed off a state budget crisis with the passage of two Senate bills during special session last week. Senate Bill 1 establishes the immediate transfer of $56 million to the state general fund for distribution during fiscal year 2002 that will end on June 30...

Veda Mildred Wilburn, 90, died at her home on June 15, 2002. She was born March 12, 1912, in Stella, Ar., the oldest child of Troy and Effie Felts Davidson. She moved with her family to Clay County in 1932. She was united in marriage to Malcolm Finley in 1931. To this union three children were born. She was preceded in death by her husband, Malcolm, son, David Ray, and grandson, Danny Finley. She later married Archie Wilburn who preceded her in death in 1981...

Magaline Yancey, 69, of Greenway, died Tuesday, June 11, 2002, at her home. She was born May 15, 1933, in Lake City, Ar., the daughter of the late Edgar and Margie Ellison Gipson. She was united in marriage to Doyn Yancey on June 25, 1960. To this union, four children were born...

The Clay County Quorum Court agreed to conduct another survey among employees to determine how to set payroll time periods. At Monday night's meeting in Corning, several western district employees said they favored keeping the once-a-month pay period while other departments favor either twice per month or bi-monthly. The county road department is the only group currently paid twice a month...

The first shipment of the Streetscape Enhancement Project's etched historical walkway bricks have arrived and are being installed on the south side of the courtsquare in Piggott. Piggott Landscape began tearing out the old sidewalk Monday and will have the new bricks in place over the next few weeks...