Stories from Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Times News Staff Piggott's annual ChristmasFest, sponsored by the Piggott Area Chamber of Commerce, will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. on the courtsquare. A spokesperson for the organizing committee said everyone in the community is encouraged to shop locally this holiday season...

Paragould took a 22-15 first quarter lead Monday night and cruised to a 72-55 victory over Piggott in non-conference senior high basketball action. The Lady Rams led 45-27 at the half and 62-39 at the end of the third quarter. Kelsey Stephens led Piggott in scoring with 18 followed by Jennifer Wallace and Lauren Hickson also in double figures with 11. Kristen Wallace added eight, and Briana Lucie tossed in two along with Lora Latimer...

Piggott, coming off an impressive victory over Rector in the season opener, couldn't overcome a slow start last Thursday night and fell to unbeaten Valley View, 63-52, in a non-district girls' high school basketball game at Piggott High School Gymnasium...

NEWPORT -- Piggott's hopes of advancing to the second round of the state football playoffs were dashed last Friday night as the Newport Greyhounds ran past the Mohawks for a 56-7 win ending Piggott's season with an overall record of 5-6 (4-3 in 3AAA conference play)...

Although Piggott first-year head coach Ken Shumate was at a temporary loss for words after falling to Newport last Friday night in the state playoff, he had nothing but praise and admiration for this players and coaching staff for the efforts in the 2003 campaign...

Paul "Shorty" Belton, 92, of Memphis died Friday, Nov. 7, 2003, at Baptist Hospital East. He leaves behind two daughters, Gloria Elder of Colierville, Tenn., and Glenda Henley of Memphis; two sons, Paul D. Belton of Memphis and Glenn Belton of Tampa, Fla.; a sister, Louise Jackson of Piggott; a brother, James O. Belton of Arcadia, Fla.; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren...

William G. Story, 70, of Caldwell, Idaho, died of cancer Sunday at West Valley Medical Center. Mr. Story was a native of Arkansas. He had lived in Caldwell since 1960, and previously lived in Waterford from 1943-51 and in Modesto from 1955-56. He was a pharmacist. He attended Modesto Junior College and was a graduate of Idaho State University. He was master mason of the Mount Mirah Masonic Lodge 29 in Caldwell. He served in the Air Force from 1951-55. He enjoyed the outdoors...

Timothy Keller, 39, of Little Rock, formerly of Rector, died Monday, Nov. 10, 2003, in Little Rock. He was born Nov. 27, 1963, in Rector. He was of the Baptist faith. He is survived by one son, Tyler Keller of Piggott; his mother, Sonja Elliott and husband, Willard, of Shelbyville, Ind.; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Joey and Charlotte Keller of Shelbyville, Ind., Jason and Tammy Keller, also of Shelbyville, Ind., and Jerry Don and Jewell Keller of Rector; and one sister, Shelia Keller of Calif.. ...

George Franklin Jordan, 70, of Piggott died Monday, Nov. 17, 2003, at his home in Piggott. He was born Nov. 1, 1933, in McDougal, the son of the late Dorris and Lena Easley Jordan. He was united in marriage to Nancy Jo Helton on May 30, 1953, to this union one son was born...

Personal and real estate taxes will increase slightly in the Eastern District. The Clay County Quorum Court adapted the ad valorem millage for the tax year 2003, payable in 2004, Monday night during its monthly meeting at the courthouse in Piggott. Patrons in the Piggott and Rector school districts will pay most of the increase after approving millage hikes at election earlier this year...

Piggott residents, despite the ever changing weather situation, need to take precautions for a safer winter season. Clay County Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Jenny Hancock said the perfect time is this week when "Winter Weather Awareness Week" is recognized statewide...

Marine Lance Corporal Chris Taylor visited two classes at Piggott Elementary School on Monday, Nov. 17. He spoke to the children in Mrs. Julia Winberry's kindergarten class and Mrs. Kristi Fuller's first grade class about the similarities and differences between American children and Iraqi children...

Kathleen G. Belton, 88, died Sept. 4, 2003, at Baptist Hospital in Memphis. She was the wife of Paul Belton for 67 years. She leaves behind two daughters, Gloria Elders of Collierville, Tenn., and Glenda Henley of Memphis; two sons, Paul D. Belton of Memphis and Glen Belton of Tampa, Fla.; and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren...

Clifton Harold "Sam" Copeland died Nov. 13, 2003, after a long illness. He was born in Greenway, the son of Singleton and Jane Copeland. He was retired from Memphis LGW and served in the Navy during World War II. He was a long time member of Wells Station Baptist Church...

William Dennis "Perk" Gribble of Charlotte, North Carolina, formerly of Pollard, died in Charlotte on Nov. 7, 2003. He was born near Crockett on Jan. 30, 1924, and retired from Seimans Pelton and Crane after 31 years. His favorite activities were fishing and rabbit and squirrel hunting...

Ronnie Hardin Democrat sports staff The Lady Greyhounds beat Crowley's Ridge Academy 62-25 at Paragould last Thursday night. They could easily have scored 100 points. After the game one of the CRA boosters came up to Lady Hound Coach Matt Dean, shaking his hand and saying, "I want to thank you for calling off the dogs."...

Ronnie Hardin Democrat sports staff Having the good fortune to watch some of the better Lady Greyhounds in Marmaduke basketball history play the game, Heather Johnson has had no shortage of Lady Hounds to pattern her game after. She said, "I learned a lot from watching Ashley Hardin play. ...

The Rector Cougars fell to Harrisburg 57-44 on the road in their first game of the year last Thursday night. The Cougars started out well, leading 10-5 after one quarter and holding a 24-17 advantage at halftime. They were behind 37-33 at the end of three quarters...

Kathleen G. Belton, 88, died Sept. 4, 2003, at Baptist Hospital in Memphis. She was the wife of Paul Belton for 67 years. She leaves behind two daughters, Gloria Elders of Collierville, Tenn., and Glenda Henley of Memphis; two sons, Paul D. Belton of Memphis and Glen Belton of Tampa, Fla.; and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren...

Timothy Keller, 39, of Little Rock, formerly of Rector died Monday Nov. 10, 2003 at Little Rock. He was born Nov. 27, 1963 in Rector and was of the Baptist faith. He is survived by one son, Tyler Keller of Piggott; his mother and her husband, Sonja and Willard Elliott of Shelbyville, Ind.; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Joey and Charlotte Keller of Shelbyville, Inc., Jason and Tammy Keller also of Shelbyville, Ind., and Jerry Don and Jewell Keller of Rector; and one sister, Shelia Keller of Calif.. ...

Enos Gibbs, 85, 0f Marmaduke, died Nov. 12, 2003 at Paragould Nursing Center. He was born June 17, 1918 in Greene County to the late Charles Henry Gibbs and Millie (Williams) Gibbs. He was a farmer, a life long member of the community and a member of Ramer's Chapel Methodist Church...

Lillie Ester Clements, 79, of Marmaduke died Friday Nov. 14, 2003 at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born April 20, 1924 in Greene County to the late Clarence Cole and Bessie Pearl (Parker) Cole. She was a homemaker and had been a life long member of the community...

David Gerald Benson, 49, of Marion, formerly of Rector, died Nov. 7, 2003 in Dallas. He was born March 4, 1954 in Paragould to Glessner and Ann Benson. He worked 31 years in the automotive industry, working the last 10 years as an Automotive consultant for Atcon, Inc., out of Birmingham, Alab...

The Rector Area Chamber of Commerce is rolling out the red carpet for local residents Friday night, Dec. 12. In lieu of the annual Christmas parade, the Chamber this year decided to make its party at the Community Center even bigger and better. "We hope everyone will mark their calendars now for 6:30 that night and plan to be with us to help celebrate the Christmas season," said Chamber president Ron Benson...

A Rector native might not be on the battle front in Iraqi, but he is contributing in an important role away from United States soil and protecting Americans. Terry Robertson, a member of the 216th Military Police of the Arkansas National Guard in West Memphis, will return soon to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and Camp Delta...

City, state agree to arrangement By JENNIFER VERNON Democrat News Staff In a two to one vote in a special meeting on Monday, Nov. 17, the Rector City Council approved an agreement with the State of Arkansas to maintain the revenue office in Rector. Voting for the proposal were aldermen Cam Cate and Mac Manchester, while alderman Glenn Leach opposed it. Alderman Steve Ward was absent...

The Marmaduke boys lost two games last week to even their record at 4-4. Last Monday they fell to Riverside 67-56 at Lake City. The Hounds were down 32-30 at halftime. Dane Boggs topped all scorers with 17 points. Brian Potter had 16 points. Jordan Gott had 8 points and John Clark and Justin Gilbee had 7 points apiece. Nathan Haynes had 1 point...