Stories from Wednesday, March 19, 2003

Chiropractic physician Dr. John Rabern Howell, 30, died Friday, March 7, 2003. He had been in private practice in Piggott and enjoyed caring for the community. He attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and was named to the Dean's List in 1994. He was also inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma national honor society in 1996...

The Piggott High School Booster Club will be sponsoring a Weight-A-Thon on Saturday, April 26 beginning at 9 a.m. Proceeds from the event will help support the Piggott football program. Pledges will be based on total weight lifted. If a player does not lift the total weight on the pledge sheet, the donor is not responsible for paying...

Starting the 2003 baseball season off to a sluggish start, the Piggott Mohawk baseball team suffered two more defeats this week, putting their season at 0-5. "We're playing very sluggish right now," said Brock Swann, Piggott head baseball coach. "We're trying to straighten some things out and get things going our way."...

Off to a flying start, the Piggott Lady Mohawk softball team is swinging a hot bat, blistering the basepaths and leaving all of their opponents, so far, in the dust. Racking up three more wins this week, the Piggott girls remain undefeated with an overall record of 5-0...

William Lane Wagster, the infant son of Phillip and Carla Wagster, died March 13, 2003, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center. He is survived by his parents, Phillip and Carla Wagster of Piggott; his maternal grandparents, Shirley and Tom Metlow of Chicago and Carl Lewis of Nimmons; his paternal grandparents, Boyce Wagster of St. ...

Mae M. McGuire of Piggott died Sunday, March 16, 2003, at Piggott Community Hospital at the age of 88 years. She was born on January 16, 1915, in Clay County, the daughter of Andrew and Janie (Winford) Williams. She was one of seven children, five of which have preceded her in death...

Melissa Ann Thomas McAfee, 40, of Caraway died Wednesday, March 12, at St. Bernards Medical Center. She had lived in Monette prior to moving to Caraway three years ago. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Meagan McAfee; her father, Alvin Thomas; her paternal grandparents, Lloyd and Opal Thomas and her maternal grandparents...

The Clay County Quorum Court voted 7-2 Monday night to table a review of deputy office personnel salaries until budget meetings later in the year. Clay County Clerk Sharon Williams said one elected office among the collector, assessor, county clerk and circuit clerk is making $462.72 more on total employee salaries but did not specify which one. She said the total should be the same for all offices...

Longtime Clay County Sheriff and Collector Cloyce Pierce, 65, of Corning died on March 13, 2003, at his home after a brave battle with cancer. He served as sheriff and collector from 1974 and 1986 and was serving as chief of police with the Corning Police Department at the time of his death...

(Editor's Note: This press release was recently issued by Pinnacle Frames and Accents, Inc., in Pocahontas. The company maintains two branch operations in Piggott that were formerly known as Magee Company and Woodhall.) Exciting new changes are underway at Pinnacle Frames and Accents, Inc., one of Piggott's long-standing factories known for its value-priced frames and decorative accessories for sale to retailers...

Ruby Rachel Chadwick, 87, of Rector, died Monday, March 17, 2003, at Greene Acres Nursing Home in Paragould. She was born Feb. 3, 1916, in Caruthersville, Mo., the daughter of the late E.L. and Josie Mullins. She was a dedicated wife and mother and in-home babysitter. She was a member of the Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Rector...

Billy Wayne West, 71, of Kennett died Friday, March 14, 2003, at his home. He was born Nov. 16, 1931, in Osceola, Ark., the son of the late James G. and Pearl Spawrr West. He married Ruth Gibbs on Aug. 23, 1968, in Boydsville. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Kennett and was a salesman for Striegel...

The Rector Cougars posted a huge 7-0 shutout win Monday night over the Marmaduke Greyhounds. Derek Carter (1-2) fired a complete game four-hitter for Rector in the win. Carter had 12 strikeouts giving up only one walk on the night. The senior blasted a two-run homerun in the first inning. ...

In their first week of baseball the Marmaduke Greyhounds are finding the going a little tough as they are off to a 1-4 start. Hound Coach Larry Willis said, "Because of the success of our basketball team their season was extended to the regional and state tournament. Since we had to hold off practice until their season ended, this is the first week we have been on the field."...

Williams Baptist College basketball players Jeremy Bell and Matt Mills have received All American Midwest Conference honors for the 2002-03 season. Bell is a first team All AMC selection, while Mills was chosen honorable mention All AMC, as well as Academic All Conference...

Ada Louise Clayton, 75, of Rector died Friday March 14, 2003, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. She was born July 1, 1927, in Boydsville, the daughter of the late Henry and Hallie Garrett. She was a homemaker and had been a substitute teacher at Rector and McDougal...

Clay Bernice McMahan, 77, of Rector died Friday, March 14, 2003, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born Dec. 15, 1925, near Rector. He was a truck driver, a veteran of WWII, and of the Baptist faith. He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Timothy and Angela McMahan of Cantonment, Fla., and Don and Sidney McMahan of Naperville, Ill.; one daughter and son-in-law, Charlotte and Dave Hammack of Holly, Mich.; three brothers, Granville McMahan of Florida, Homer McMahan of Michigan, and Wayne McMahan of Indiana; four sisters, Katherine F. ...

Edith Pauline Evans, 88, of Rector died Monday, March 17, 2003, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. She was born Oct. 25, 1914, in Greene County, the daughter of the late Charlie and Emma Beaton Williams. She was married to Leonard "Boots" Evans, who preceded her in death on Dec. 25, 1981...

The Clay County Quorum Court voted 7-2 Monday night to table a review of deputy office personnel salaries until budget meetings later in the year. Clay County Clerk Sharon Williams said one elected office among the collector, assessor, county clerk and circuit clerk is making $462.72 more on total employee salaries but did not specify which one. She said the total should be the same for all offices...

Longtime Clay County Sheriff and Collector Cloyce Pierce, 65, of Corning died on March 13, 2003, at his home after a brave battle with cancer. He served as sheriff and collector from 1974 and 1986 and was serving as chief of police with the Corning Police Department at the time of his death...

Construction bids for a new Wise Co. industrial building were reviewed during a special meeting of the Rector City Council Thursday night, March 13. Alderman Mac Manchester was absent. The low bidder was Big M Construction of Jonesboro with a base bid of $2,249,000; mezzanine, $275,000; and paving, $28,000...

Arkansas' debate over educational reform continues to dominate the state legislature, local lawmakers said Saturday morning. State Sen. Tim Wooldridge and State Rep. Travis Boyd addressed the issue of education during a town meeting at the Parkside Restaurant in Rector...

The City of Rector will conduct a ceremony to honor members of the Rector National Guard at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 26. Details on the ceremony will be announced later this week. Rector is the headquarters for Co. B 875th Engineering Battalion. A National Guard spokesman said 11 guardsmen will be mobilized March 27 with the 875th Engineering Battalion in Jonesboro and will be shipped to Ft. Lewis, Wash., for training...

Freshman Mike Dobbins pitched a four-hitter and struck out 10 as the Marmaduke Greyhounds won their first baseball game of the year by defeating Newark 4-2 at Newark Friday afternoon. A Kenneth Boone groundout RBI made it 2-0 in the second inning. After the Hounds had scored an unearned run, Justin Wright came up with a RBI double in the sixth inning for the Hounds fourth run...