Stories from Wednesday, July 23, 2003

RONNIE HARDIN Democrat Sports Staff When the essays titled "What I did on my summer vacation" are assigned after school starts this fall, three local young men should have the fodder to write essays heads above the rest. These three young men: Nathan Tuberville and Justin Wright of Marmaduke and Jake Holcomb of Greenway, plan to travel to the high country of Colorado, the centennial state, the last part of the month...

Work is beginning on the reconstruction of New Life Christian Fellowship in Rector. The church was destroyed by fire on Feb. 25, and the congregation has been holding services in the church building that once housed St. Henry's. "We're still working with an architect to get our final drawings," pastor Phil LaRue said...

After 10 years as the Rector High School principal, Rob Louder has moved into a new phase in his career as the new superintendent of the Rector Schools. Louder has worked a total of 25 years in education and all of them have been in the Rector School District. Prior to serving as principal, he was the band director for 15 years...

Arkansas Western Gas Company (AWG) announced last week that it has executed a joint stipulation and settlement agreement (settlement agreement) with the general staff of the Arkansas Public Service Commission and various consumer groups that will resolve all outstanding issues relating to AWG's rate increase request pending before the public service commission...

Orlan E. Lee Johnson, 19, of Rector died Saturday, July 19, 2003, at Pierce Landing near Hornersville, Mo. He was a 2002 graduate of Rector High School and was employed by Black River Contracting of Paragould. He was also a member of the Arkansas Army National Guard...

Pauline Hartsfield, 79, of Rector died Sunday July 20, 2003, at Piggott Community Hospital. She was born Sept. 17, 1923, in Craighead County, the daughter of the late Doyle Hood and Lee (Drafton) Hood. She was a homemaker, a member of Rector Extension Homemakers Club, and was of the Baptist faith...

Malinda Lucille (Lucy) Brewer, 88, of Fenton, Mich. , formerly of Marmaduke, died July 15, 2003, at Hurley Medical Center. She was born Nov. 15, 1914, in Marmaduke, the daughter of the late George Herbert and Mary Anna Webb French. She had been a resident of Fenton since 1953. Mrs. Brewer was employed by D & C Store for 20 years, where she made many friends selling penny candy...

Earl James "Cotton" Howell, 81, of Corning died Sunday, July 20, 2003, at his residence. He was born March 23, 1922, in Piggott, the son of the late Robert James Howell and Olla Marie (Harper) Howell. He was a farmer, and a member of Morris General Baptist Church...

After practicing together for a mere one week, the Tri-County All-Stars won the state tournament title in the senior division of Little League and earned a berth in the Southwest Regional tournament which will be held beginning July 31 in Grand Junction, Colo...

Courtesy of the Daily Dunklin Democrat HORNERSVILLE, Mo. - Two Arkansas men drowned over the weekend when their boat capsized in the Floodway Ditches near Pierce Landing at Hornersville. Sheriff Bob Holder identified the victims as John R. Ball of Leachville and Orlan Johnson of Rector, both 19 years of age...

Preseason practices for the Piggott Lady Mohawk volleyball team will begin on Aug. 4. The senior high team will practice from 8-10 a.m. while the junior high team will follow at 10 p.m.-12 noon.

After practicing together for a mere one week, the Tri-County All-Stars won the state tournament title in the senior division of Little League and earned a berth in the Southwest Regional tournament which will be held beginning July 31 in Grand Junction, Colo...

Arkansas Western Gas Company (AWG) announced last week that it has executed a joint stipulation and settlement agreement (settlement agreement) with the general staff of the Arkansas Public Service Commission and various consumer groups that will resolve all outstanding issues relating to AWG's rate increase request pending before the public service commission...

The Big Slough Watershed Project has been placed on a federal priority list for funding by the U.S. Congress. Clay Conservation District chairman Richard Simmons received word from the office of U.S. Rep. Marion Berry last week, confirming the funding approval...

Orlan E. Lee Johnson, 19, of Rector died Saturday at Pierce Landing near Hornersville, Mo. He was a 2002 graduate of Rector High School and was employed by Black River Contracting of Paragould. He was also a member of the Arkansas Army National Guard...

Pauline Hartsfield, 79, of Rector died Sunday July 20, 2003, at Piggott Community Hospital. She was born Sept. 17, 1923, in Craighead County, the daughter of the late Doyle Hood and Lee (Drafton) Hood. She was a homemaker, a member of Rector Extension Homemakers Club, and was of the Baptist faith...

Earl James "Cotton" Howell, 81, of Corning died Sunday, July 20, 2003, at his residence. He was born March 23, 1922, in Piggott, the son of the late Robert James Howell and Olla Marie (Harper) Howell. He was a farmer, and a member of Morris General Baptist Church...

Mattie (Doris) V. Ball, 81, of Holiday, Fla., died July 17, 2003, in Florida. She was born July 4, 1922, in Piggott. The daughter of the late William L. and Hazel Lee Farmer Turner. She was united in marriage to W.L. Ball on Oct. 29, 1937. To this union four children were born. He preceded her in death in 1990...

Shirley Byrd, 86, of Pocahontas, formerly of Pollard, died Tuesday, July 15, 2003, in Randolph County Medical Center in Pocahontas. He was born May 18, 1917, in Pollard, to Sam and Mamie Brown. He was united in marriage to Norene Conley on Feb. 27, 1934. To this union one son was born...

Lewis E. Haywood, 84, of Mt. Carmel, Ill., died July 13, 2003, in Piggott. He was born in Piggott on Nov. 26, 1918, to the late L.W. "Sam" and Susan Haywood. Mr. Haywood was a WWII Navy Veteran and a retired tool and die specialist. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Victoria...

A Knobel man is being charged with manslaughter after a two-vehicle collision during a police pursuit resulted in the death of a Piggott man. According to the Clay County Sheriff's Department, Jerry Len Dodd, 39, is also facing charges of first degree battery, felony fleeing with physical injury, possession of meth, aggravated assault and DWI-drugs and will be charged under the Habitual Offender Act...