Stories from Wednesday, January 15, 2003

The Piggott City Council approved a hiring freeze on fulltime employees at Monday night's regular meeting. Mayor Gerald Morris said a hiring freeze will help ease the financial strain on the city. "I believe we do not need to hire anymore fulltime employees," he said, noting some employees could be shifted if needed, depending on circumstances...

SENATH, MO - The Senath Hornersville Lions came out sluggish, but got on track late in the second period to down the Piggott Mohawks, 69-54, at the Senath Hornersville Invitational Tournament Thursday night. The fourth seeded Lions (5-4) were down 13-8 to the fifth seeded Mohawks (1-12) at the end of the first period. SHHS was down by eight, 28-20, before putting together an 8-0 run to close out the half and even the score at 28...

The Piggott Lady Mohawks' overall season record dropped to 5-8 on the year this past week after suffering losses to Pocahontas and Jonesboro Westside. Last Monday, the Piggott girls could only tally 5 first quarter points against a strong Pocahontas squad en route to a 55-32 defeat...

Marcia Gail Pollard, 46, of Piggott, died Monday, Jan. 13, 2003, in the St. Bernards medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born May 23, 1956, in St. Louis, the daughter of George and Blanche Martin Street. She was united in marriage to James Pollard on Aug. 27, 1977. To this union three children were born...

Rev. Olen Morris, 80, of Corning, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2003, in the St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born Dec. 19, 1922, in Broseley, the son of the late Harry and Idessa Sadler Morris. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Bergren on Jan. 8, 1947. To this union, four children were born...

Amie Moore, 89, of Piggott, died Dec. 28, 2002, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born April 7, 1913, in Rector, the daughter of the late Alexander Parker and Myrtle May Tinsley. She was united in marriage to Warren Moore, who preceded her in death...

Bettie Stow Herring, 67, of Peach Orchard, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, in the Rector Health Care in Rector. She was born April 23, 1935, in Franklin, Ohio, the daughter of the late Lester Fredrick and Eva Elizabeth Ridenger Thorn. She was united in marriage to James Weldon Stow, he preceded her in death in 1978. She was united in marriage to Herrill Herring, he also preceded her in death in 1999...

Gladys Loreda Foster, 84, of Kennett, died Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003, in the NHC Health Care of Kennett. She was born July 21, 1918, in Pollard, the daughter of the late Randal and Flora Davidson Hayes. She was untied in marriage to Charley Poyton Foster, who preceded her in death...

The Clay County Parent Center is currently in its second year, and a grant is being written seeking funding for a third year. The grant would be approximately $15,000, director Penny Poole said, and would be issued through the state Child Abuse and Neglect Prevent Board in Little Rock. She said the center has received the same amount from the board for the past two years...

Clay County Circuit Clerk Janet Luff and County Clerk Sharon Williams took office on Jan. 1. Both said they are enjoying their new jobs. "I love it," Williams said. "I'm really enjoying it," Luff agreed. As county clerk Williams is responsible for marriage licenses, probate, elections, the county's bills, payroll and is the official secretary to the quorum court, equalization board and county court...

RECTOR -- Spurred on by a 28 point outburst by Brandon Ballard, the Buffalo Island Central (BIC) Mustangs, currently ranked no. three in the state in class AA, ran past a game bunch of Rector Cougars 82-47 at Rector Friday night in a 2AA North Conference game...

A wild conference showdown was decided in the third overtime as the Maynard Tigers outlasted the Marmaduke Greyhounds 114-109 at Maynard Friday night. The game was tied 83-83 at the end of regulation, 89-89 at the end of the first overtime and 102-102 at the end of the second overtime. Maynard led at the quarter breaks 21-19, 41-39 and 63-58...

Zora Dean Gibbs, 66, of Jonesboro died Friday, Jan. 3, 2003, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born in Rector, she had lived in Jonesboro since 1968. She was a homemaker and a member of Salem Missionary Baptist Church at Boydsville...

The Clay County Quorum Court met for the first session of the new term Monday night, Jan. 6. It was also designated as the regular meeting for the month. The quorum court approved the 2003 HUD administrative plan and annual plan as were presented by administrator Bea Asmussen. The court also gave her permission to cancel out outstanding checks...

The Marmaduke city council met for its first session of the year Monday night. Dean Wooldridge, a justice of peace from Paragould, was on hand to swear in this year's council. The aldermen for the city of Marmaduke are Steve Dixon, Roy Newsom, Chuck White, Stan Booth, Byron Phillips and Jack Pollock...

Carla Powell of Rector has assumed duties as lead city attorney for Rector, deputy prosecutor for Clay County and adviser to the Quorum Court. City attorney Joe Calvin will continue to maintain his private practice in Rector and will assist Powell as needed...

"I love it. It's going great." Nileane Drope took office as Marmaduke mayor Jan. 1 after previously serving on the city council. She said she is learning the responsibilities of the job. "I told them (employees) we're just one big family," she said...

After 35 years with Rector Schools, Kelly Scobey retired from his position as superintendent at Monday night's school board meeting. In a letter he presented to each school board member, Scobey wrote, "I want to express to you and the patrons of the Rector School District my appreciation of the 35 years that I have been associated with this school. ...

SWIFTON -- Brooke Grigsby erupted for 12 first quarter points as the Lady Greyhounds easily romped past Mt. Pleasant 62-28 in an opening round game of the George Kell Classic at Swifton Saturday afternoon. A short jumper by Grigsby at 7:09 made it 2-0. After another short jumper by Grigsby, she passed to Sarah Rogers who hit the lay-up to increase the Lady Hound lead to 6-0...