Stories from Wednesday, September 24, 2003

The results are in for the final year of the Stanford 9 exam, which was given in April of 2003. Piggott Public Schools Testing Coordinator Barbara Carrens said the Arkansas Department of Education is currently accepting bids for a new norm-referenced test. The school expects news from the department within the next couple of months. Carrens explained that a norm-referenced test compares students with others from across the nation...

Prior to Friday night's football game against Corning, a special ceremony was held honoring the 1963 undefeated season of the Piggott Mohawks. Attending Friday night's game from the 1963 team were Sam Williams, Bill Veal, Jack Crittenden, Shannon Mann, and assistant coach Sam Ward...

As of Tuesday afternoon, the 2003 Sugar Creek Country Club Championship has yet to be determined. The annual tournament was held Saturday and Sunday with a three-way tie for the Club Championship and overall tournament third place. Those tied with cards of 143 are Barry DeHart, David Lyman, and Daniel Gossett...

Determination, ambition, and love for the game of choice for an athlete sometimes is all that is needed for an individual to continue on after a high school career and onto a higher level of play. Just ask Piggott's Shannon Taylor. Taylor, who has been playing basketball since the fourth grade, did not see a large quantity of playing minutes for the Piggott Lady Mohawk basketball team, but her will, and love of the sport along with her talent has secured her a spot playing collegiate basketball for Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff.. ...

PIGGOTT Behind a 205-yard rushing performance by senior Cory Godwin, the Corning Bobcats improved their season record to 3-0 with a 34-0 win Friday night here at Parker Field against the Piggott Mohawks in one of Arkansas' fiercest gridiron rivalries...

Deborah Lynn Nelson, 49, of Paragould died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Dec. 18, 1953, in Flint, Mich. She worked at Darling Store Fixtures. Mrs. Nelson attended Liberty Church of Christ...

Madeline Virginia Lack Bell, 82, of Piggott died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003, at Auburn Hills Nursing Home in Mountain Home, Ark., after suffering a stroke two years ago. She was an active member of the First General Baptist Church in Piggott as long as her health permitted...

Lloyd Edward Besserman, 32, of Piggott died Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003, at his home in Piggott. He was born Aug. 31, 1971, in Kennett, the son of Stephen M. and Mildred Dees Besserman. He was united in marriage to Katie Latimer on Oct. 23, 1999. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Steve Edward and Helen Hatala Besserman; maternal grandfather, Lloyd Dees; and one sister, Lola Besserman...

Arkansas Western Gas (AWG) announced last week that it had receive regulatory approval of a rate increase totaling $4.1 million annually, exclusive of costs to be recovered through its purchased gas adjustment clause. In the order issued by the Arkansas Public Service Commission, the Joint Stipulation and Settlement Agreement previously filed on July 17 was approved but made certain modifications which included the recovery of certain items to be recovered over a two-year period from $2.9 million to $2.3 million, according to AWG officials.. ...

Piggott School District voters a 6.24 mill increase last Tuesday that will help the school meet a state mandate as well as generate revenue for proposed construction at the high school. Approved was 6.24 mill increase to bring the district's property millage to 35.44. The Piggott district needed 10.19 mills to meet the state-mandated 25 for maintenance and operations, according to Supt. Barry Scott...

Street paving, budget and personnel issues were discussed when the Piggott City Council met during a special meeting Thursday, Sept. 18. Alderman Carl Birmingham was absent. Mayor Gerald Morris said two heavily-traveled alleys had been added to the city's paving list...

Members of the PHS FCCLA gathered in Mrs. Sandra Little's Room at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18, to hear the national president of the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America speak. Jonathan Wichman is a junior at Walnut Ridge High School. ...

Sheila Kay Pounds, 57, of Piggott died Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003, in the Three Rivers Health Care North in Poplar Bluff. She was born Aug. 15, 1946, in Poplar Bluff, the daughter of R.C. and Fayeon Hill Pounds. She was preceded in death by her father, R.C. Pounds in 1991; and a nephew, Ryan Pounds in 1993...

The Rector junior Cougars were defeated 22-6 on the road by Palestine-Wheatley last Thursday night. The Cougars kicked off to Palestine-Wheatley to start the game and stopped them as they held them to three-and-out. After Palestine-Wheatley punted, the Cougars moved in for a touchdown to take a 6-0 lead. Lewis Lopez scored the touchdown on a 2-yard run. The PAT came up short...

Sarah Rogers is just happy to be playing basketball for the Marmaduke Lady Greyhounds again this year. Midway through last year's season it looked like her career as a Lady Greyhound might had come to an end as she was severely injured in a game at the Kell Classic in Swifton...

The Hughes Blue Devils overcame the Rector Cougars 55-0 in a game played at Hughes Friday night. Despite the final score, early on the Cougars didn't play badly. After the Cougars were forced to punt on their first possession, Hester recovered a fumble for the Cougars at their own 36-yard line on Hughes' first possession of the game...

Deborah Lynn Nelson, 49, of Paragould died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Dec. 18, 1953, in Flint, Mich. She worked at Darling Store Fixtures. Mrs. Nelson attended Liberty Church of Christ...

Lois Irene Ward, 87, of Kirkwood, Mo., died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003, at Saint Agnes Home in Kirkwood. She was born Aug. 12, 1916, in Indiana, the daughter of the late George and Cora Kathrine Shaw. She was a homemaker and seamstress and was of the Methodist faith...

A.B. Huggins, 72, of Rector died Monday, Sept. 22, 2003, at his home. He was born Sept. 1, 1931, in Clay County, the son of the late James Thomas Huggins and Bessie (Parsons) Huggins. He married Mary Kay Mays on Nov. 26, 1959, in Leonard. He was a Methodist and was retired from Emerson Electric in Kennett...

Arkansas Western Gas (AWG) announced last week that it had receive regulatory approval of a rate increase totaling $4.1 million annually, exclusive of costs to be recovered through its purchased gas adjustment clause. In the order issued by the Arkansas Public Service Commission, the Joint Stipulation and Settlement Agreement previously filed on July 17 was approved but made certain modifications which included the recovery of certain items to be recovered over a two-year period from $2.9 million to $2.3 million, according to AWG officials.. ...

The Marmaduke School District made a good showing in the recent statewide efficiency study. "We ranked 34th statewide out of the 309 school districts that were ranked," Supt. Jerry Don McIntosh said. Piggott was 38th, Greene County Tech was 54th, Rector was 61st, Paragould was 93rd, Corning was 133rd and Delaplaine was 243rd...

The Rector Lions Club will holds its first annual Fall Festival from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at the National Guard armory in Rector. Tentative events planned include pick up ducks, cake walk, face painting, basketball shooting, spin the wheel and a dunking booth...

As the new school year began, there were not only new faces among the students at the Rector Schools, but the faculty as well. Some familiar faces also changed positions within the district. Amber Bucy has worked as a substitute in the Rector Schools for the past five years while staying at home with her children. This year she has joined the Rector Elementary School staff full-time as a Kindergarten teacher...

As of Tuesday afternoon, the 2003 Sugar Creek Country Club Championship has yet to be determined. The annual tournament was held Saturday and Sunday with a three-way tie for the Club Championship and overall tournament third place. Those tied with cards of 143 are Barry DeHart, David Lyman, and Daniel Gossett...