Stories from Wednesday, July 3, 2002

The 75th annual Piggott Fourth of July Picnic is just around the corner. The day will kick-off with the annual parade at 9 a.m. This year's grand marshal is longtime parade chairman George Forrest. The parade, with the theme "God Bless America, begins at the First Baptist Church, travels along Main and ends at the elementary school...

Around 40 years ago, the St. Francis River was rechanneled, cutting off an estimated 17-mile winding stretch of waterway. Today, an effort is underway to restore that section to its glory days of yesteryear. Charles Isbell of Kennett is helping lead a group seeking to improve what is known locally as "Old River." Old River emcompasses a section in Clay County, in the Nation Bend area just north of Chalk Bluff. ...

LITTLE ROCK The two top Arkansas legislative slots will be undergoing significant transitions at the first of the year. Due to voter-approved term limits, House of Representatives Speaker Shane Broadway of Bryant and Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Beebe of Searcy, both Democrats, will be stepping down from their current offices and as leaders of their respective branches. ...

Lorine Tompkins O'Neal, 87, died Monday, June 24, 2002, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. She was born Aug. 28, 1914, the daughter of the late Van Zalma and Sadie Alma Vincent Tompkins. She was married to Cleatus "Red" O'Neal on Feb. 15, 1940. She was of the Pentecostal faith...

Pearl Miller Hitt, 94, of Piggott, died Thursday, June 27, 2002, in the Piggott Nursing Center. She was born Feb. 12, 1908, in Rector, the daughter of the late Charles and Delia Armstrong Miller. She was united in marriage to Hood Hitt Jr. in 1926. To this union two sons, Charles and Jack, were born...

PIGGOTT -- C.W. Knauts of Piggott successfully defended his Arkansas State Golf Association Super Senior Championship held June 18-20 at Pine Bluff Country Club. Knauts captured the Super Senior title in 2001 held at Fayetteville Country Club. Knauts posted rounds of 75-76-71-221 to best runner-up Sam McAllister of Bryant at 225, George Branch of Camden at 226 and second round leader Paul Albers of Hot Springs Village at 227...

Foye A. Speer, 66, of Rector died Tuesday, June 25, 2002, at Arkansas Methodist Hospital in Paragould. She was born Aug. 14, 1935, in Piggott to the late Troy and Veda (Bess) Bricker. She was married Sept. 1, 1957, to Doyle Aaron Speer, who preceded her in death Aug. 7, 1994...

Allen Deringer of Rector announced this week he will seek the District 5 Justice of the Peace position, as well as a seat on the Rector City Council, in the November general election. The JP position currently is held by Mac Manchester, who announced in May that he is seeking re-election. Deringer has not yet said which of two West Oak Bluff City Council positions he will seek...

Eternitei Lindsey may seem like any other three-year old little girl happy, outgoing and full of life. However, one thing sets her apart from her peers she's a miracle. "Eternitei was born with Down Syndrome and a congenital heart defect," said her mother, Becky Lindsey. "Although they didn't tell me until later, the doctors thought when she was born that she only had about 24 hours to live."...

Clay County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joe Calvin of Rector will retire Jan. 1 from that position, which he has held for 28 years. Taking over as Deputy Prosecutor will be Carla S. Powell, a Greene County native who grew up in the Marmaduke area. Calvin first was appointed as Clay County Deputy Prosecutor in Jan. ...

Rector City Hall was full during Monday night's monthly council meeting. Several Rector-area residents attended the meeting to voice their views on a proposed large livestock ordinance. At last month's meeting, neighbors Darrel Dale and Quentin Copeland presented opposing viewpoints on whether or not large livestock should be allowed within city limits...

Melani Bridges was crowned as Marmaduke's Miss Liberty Bell 2002 in a pageant Saturday night which highlighted the city's annual Independence Day Celebration at Legion Park. The 18-year-old daughter of Kim and Lana Bridges, Melani will enter her first year of college in the fall at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. ...

Hattie L. Graves, 86, of Taylor, Mich., a native of this area, died Friday, May 31, 2002. She was born Sept. 17, 1915, in Greene County to the late John and Allie Mae Shelley. Survivors include one son, John Graves of Belleville, Mich.; two sisters, Aline Cossey of Michigan and Bernice McCord of Paragould, nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren...