Stories from Tuesday, December 31, 2002

It's out with the old and in with the new as the world says good-bye to the year 2002. Here is a look back at the year from January to June from the pages of the Piggott Times: January Work progressed on the tourist information center on West Main in Piggott. The building is a portion of what was once the Cotton Belt Railroad depot...

Clay County Assessor Jerry Williams will retire from office on Dec. 31 after serving in that capacity since 1989. "I've enjoyed meeting and working with the people," he said. Williams was elected 1988. "That was the year we had early election. It was in March," he said...

Clay County Clerk Charles Pollard will step down from the position on Dec. 31 as he retires from office. He was elected in 1989, succeeding County Clerk Erbadell Smart, who was appointed to the remainder of the term of her late husband, Sonny Smart...

William Louis Throgmorton, 78, of Piggott, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002, in the St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born Oct. 3, 1924, in Piggott, the son of the late Louis Daniel and Mary Corzine Throgmorton. He was united in marriage to Xelen Julie Lingle on July 12, 1947. To this union six children were born...

Mary E. Ford, 79, of Delphi, Ind., died Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2002, at her residence. She was born Oct. 18, 1923, in Piggott, the daughter of the late Jeff and Verna Payne Edwards. She was united in marriage to Herbert D. Ford on June 8, 1946, in St. Louis...

JONESBORO -- The Trumann Wildcats got past a pesky Piggott Mohawk team in the first round of boys action at the NEA tournment, 67-59, however, were eliminated in the second round by Blytheville. Trumann commanded a 14-point lead midway through the second half, but gutsy play by the Mohawks pulled them to within five with less than 60 seconds remaining in regulation...

JONESBORO After defeating Brookland in the first round of the NEA tournament the Piggott Lady Mohawks were eliminated for further play in the event with a 47-37 loss to Nettleton on December 23. "We got ourselves into some early foul trouble and that hurt us," Piggott head coach Jeff Priest said. "We palyed them better this time than we did earlier in the season, so that's a plus."...

Eugene Carroll, 71, of Paragould, died Dec. 26, 2002, in the St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born June 10, 1931, in Piggott, the son of the late Joseph and Pearlie Maglothin Carroll. He was preceded in death by one son, one brother and two sisters...

Flossie Mae Greene, 90, of Rector died Saturday, Dec. 28, 2002, at Paragould. She was born Aug. 22, 1912, in Leonard to the late Theoffie and Sally Guthrie. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Greene; one daughter, Barbara Nell; five brothers, Silas Guthrie, Denzil Guthrie, Robert Guthrie, Calvin Guthrie, and Luther Guthrie; and four sisters, Rachel Fisk, Littie Goldsmith, Imogene Murray and Panzy Shroud...

Clay County Assessor Jerry Williams will retire from office on Dec. 31 after serving in that capacity since 1989. "I've enjoyed meeting and working with the people," he said. Williams was elected 1988. "That was the year we had early election. It was in March," he said...

Longtime Clay County Circuit Clerk Pat Williams will retire at the end of the year. She was elected to the office in 1992, previously serving as a deputy circuit clerk to Circuit Clerk Gary Magee. "I think he was a very good circuit clerk," Williams said...

Clay County Clerk Charles Pollard will step down from the position on Dec. 31 as he retires from office. He was elected in 1989, succeeding County Clerk Erbadell Smart, who was appointed to the remainder of the term of her late husband, Sonny Smart...

Bill and Ruth Ann Vanlandingham are retiring from the insurance business. The insurance office will close on Dec. 31. Bill will continue to do real estate appraisals from the same location at 116 West Fourth in Rector. The Vanlandinghams have maintained the Shelter Insurance office in Rector since 1977. Ruth Ann began working at the office in 1976 after former Shelter agent Lester Benson died...

With the end of 2002 comes the appearance of the bright light that is the new year of 2003. It was a year Rector lost some of its beloved community leaders and suffered a substantial loss when fire destroyed the Wise Co. on Highway 49. Despite it all, the community has remained strong and vibrant...

Lois Ellis, 66, of Rector died Dec. 23, 2002, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. She was born May 7, 1936, in Huntsville, Ala., the daughter of the late Levi P. Morton Bozarth and Josie Phillips Bozarth. She was a member of the Antioch Baptist Church...

JONESBORO -- Jessica Hill's outside deuce from beyond the freethrow line just before time expired gave the Rector Lady Cougars a dramatic 44-42 win over the Lady Indians of Delaplaine Friday, Dec. 20 in a first round NEA Tournament game. The first quarter was a prelude of things to come. ...

JONESBORO -- Despite a strong start the Rector Cougars fell 72-54 to third seeded River Valley in a second round NEA Tournament game played on Mon., Dec. 23. A driving layup by Jared Jones gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead at 7:57 of the first quarter. Ryan Carpenter then answered with a 3-pointer at 7:45 that put the Cougars ahead 3-2...

JONESBORO -- Fueled by the pinpoint passing of Josh Bateman and the steady inside workmanship of John Clark, the Marmaduke Greyhounds outdistanced the Parkin Tigers 67-58 in finals of the A-AA boys division of the NEA Tournament at Jonesboro's Convocation Center Saturday night...

JONESBORO Anticipation was running high for East Poinsett County fans Saturday night at the finals of the boys AAA-AAAA-AAAAA NEA finals following the Warriors' thrilling Friday night semifinal win over Jonesboro. EPC did not disappoint as the top-seeded Warriors held on to defeat the second-seeded Batesville Pioneers, 54-48...

Mary Ruth Melrose, 70, of Rector died Sunday, Dec. 29, 2002, at Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock. She was born May 7, 1932, in Rector, the daughter of the late Herbert Melrose Sr. and Clara Garrett Melrose. She was retired from the assembly line at Emerson Electric and was of the Methodist faith...

Doyle Raymond Easterwood, 75, died Sunday, Dec. 29, 2002, in Sun City, Ariz. His loving wife of 55 years, Nina Winona (White), was with him at his passing. They were married March 20, 1948, in Piggott. Their children, Ann Faye Hughes of San Diego, Calif., Doyle Ray Easterwood Jr. of Phoenix and Theresa Kaye Dresser of Necedah, Wisc., were also present. A fourth child, Kirby Lee, preceded him in death...

JONESBORO -- The Lady Hounds of Marmaduke saw their unbeaten season come to an end Friday in a semi-final game of NEA Tournament action as Turrell came from behind to inflict a 46-44 defeat on them. The Lady Hounds were leading 39-31 going into the final quarter when their shooting suddenly went cold. They missed their first 10 shots of the quarter as Turrell went on a 10-0 run to take a 41-39 lead...