Stories from Wednesday, September 4, 2002

Stabilization work, under the directive of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has begun on the bank of the St. Francis River at St. Francis. For the past several years, the river has caused sloughing along the bank and, in one area, was within a few yards of the levee that protects the town whenever the river reaches or exceeds the flood stage...

The Piggott and Rector peewee football programs kick off their season Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in Rector. Piggott's full schedule is as follows: Sept. 7 at Rector Sept. 14 vs. Harrisburg Sept. 23 vs. Rector (5:30 p.m.) Sept. 28 vs. Westside (TBA)...

9/4 - Walnut Ridge - Away - All Teams 9/6-7 - Bartlett Tournament - Away - Sr. High 9/10 - Brookland - Home - All Teams 9/12 - Pocahontas - Away - All Teams 9/16 - MacArthur - Home - 7th, Jr. A&B 9/17 - Doniphan - Home - Sr A&B 9/24 - Hoxie - Home - All Teams...

The Piggott Mohawks' first regular season game Friday night at home against Highland will be the team's first real test of the year, and, according to head coach Scott Morgan, will be a very tough test at that. "I'm very familiar with them (Highland)," Morgan said in his office Thursday afternoon while watching a video tape of Tuesday night's preseason scrimmage against Rector. ...

The hot, dog days weather was on the wan when the Piggott Mohawks met the Rector cougars in a pre-season scrimmage game at Piggott Tuesday evening, August 27. There would be two games on the agenda this night. The junior high teams of both schools met in a two-quarter game with the senior high teams meeting in another two-quarter game shortly thereafter...

Harry G. Helton, 79, died Aug.26, 2002, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis. He was born May 26, 1923, near Pollard, to the late Edd and Dovie Helton. He is survived by his wife, Myra (Presley) Helton; two daughters, Phyllis Ann Rich and Darla Afflick; four grandchildren, Matthew Bazzill, Tyler, Mitchell, and Hope Afflick; three sisters, Vivian Throgmorton, Sue Jordon and Jo Jordon, all of Piggott; and a host of other relatives and friends...

Hazel Lorene Winton Thornton, 91, died July 9, 2002, at the Clearview Nursing Center in Sikeston. Born Oct. 20, 1910, in Piggott, daughter of the late Minnie Bell Hardin Winton and Orlum Russell Winton, she was raised in Piggott with her four brothers and one sister, Ray, Garland, Orlum, Paul Sims and Neva. ...

Piggott Community Hospital, in conjunction with area businesses, churches, civic organizations and individuals, will host a kick-off for "Paint the Town Pink" on Monday, Sept. 16. The location will be announced at a later date. Suzie Countzler, head of PCH's Radiology Department, will be the coordinator...

Larry Featherston has announced he will run for the Piggott City Council in the November General Election. He is seeking the north ward, position two. "Your vote and support will be appreciated," Featherston said.

Mike Patterson, alderman for north ward, position one, will seek re-election to the Piggott City Council in the November General Election. "I have enjoyed serving as alderman on the city council, and I would like to continue working for the people of Piggott," he said...

Alderman Jim Poole will seek re-election to south ward, position one, on the Piggott City Council during the November General Election. "Piggott is a wonderful town," he said. "Thank you for all the support you have given me as your alderman."

Filing for municipal offices in the November General Election opened Saturday, Aug. 17, and will close at noon Friday, Sept. 6. As of Tuesday morning, these candidates had filed for city offices (denotes incumbent): Piggott Mayor Garland "Bud" Holcomb, Gerald Morris...

The 2002 Great Arkansas Clean-up, Clay County campaign, will kick off at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Piggott's Heritage Park. This year's theme is "Take It Back." The county coordinator is Sarah Wruck of Piggott, who also serves as state co-chairman of the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism...

Clay County has received $12,331 in state funding to battle the dreaded West Nile Virus. The grant is the county's allotment from $1 million in emergency funding released by Gov. Mike Huckabee on Aug. 7 in response to the growing threat of West Nile Virus infection...

Rector was the place to be on Labor Day as thousands enjoyed watching a colorful parade and participating in a full day of picnic festivities at Rector Memorial Park. Picnic proceeds benefit Woodland Heights Cemetery, which is having its centennial this year. Preliminary gross revenues are estimated at $61,620...

After many months of hard work and planning, Rector has been recognized as an Arkansas Community of Excellence (ACE) by the Arkansas Department of Economic Development (ADED). The official announcement was made Monday morning during the annual Rector Labor Day Picnic. Gov. Mike Huckabee and Becky Reinhardt of ADED presented ACE certificates to Mayor Ron Kemp and Rector Chamber of Commerce president Ron Benson...

With the General Election rolling around in a little over two months, Arkansas Democratic and Republican candidates were out in force as they continued to build on their campaign platforms during Rector's annual Labor Day Picnic. Appearing on-stage were gubneratorial candidates Gov. ...

Clay County has received $12,331 in state funding to battle the dreaded West Nile Virus. The grant is the county's allotment from $1 million in emergency funding released by Gov. Mike Huckabee on Aug. 7 in response to the growing threat of West Nile Virus infection...

Mildred Bernice Brannum, 73, of Jonesboro, a native of Rector, died Monday afternoon, Sept. 2, at her home. She was born in Rector and lived in Osceola before moving to Jonesboro in 1964. She was a member of the Southwest Church of Christ and a homemaker...

The hot, dog days weather was on the wan when the Rector Cougars met the Piggott Mohawks in a pre-season scrimmage game at Piggott Tuesday evening, August 27. There would be two games on the agenda this night. The junior high teams of both schools met in a two-quarter game with the senior high teams meeting in another two-quarter game shortly thereafter...