Stories from Wednesday, December 17, 2003

The yearly influenza season in Arkansas normally strikes towards the end of December or in early January, but this year the virus has afflicted citizens of Clay County -- and all 75 counties in the state -- early, and has spread rapidly. Strains of the virus were detected in many states as early as mid-November and area doctors' offices have been reporting a record number of patients...

LITTLE ROCK - So much to do, so little time to do it. That must be the feeling of State Rep. Travis Boyd and other legislators in the Arkansas General Assembly as they face a Jan. 1 deadline for reaching a solution to the impasse on the court-ordered requirement to formulate a new educational plan and funding formula for state public schools...

Geraldine White, 72, of Piggott, formerly of Risco, Mo., died Saturday, Dec. 13, 2003, at Three Rivers Health Care South. She was born Oct. 9, 1931, in New Madrid County, Mo., to the late John Wesley Williams and Arbie Murphy Williams. She attended Pleasant View General Baptist Church in Risco...

Dorothy Sanders, 67, of Jonesboro, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003, at her residence. She was a housewife and was of the Jehovah Witness faith. She was born Sept. 8, 1936, in Greenway to the late Johnson Cato and Ader (Potts) Cato. She was married May 6, 1960, in Caruthersville, Mo., to Billy George Sanders. To this union one daughter was born...

Brosia B. Malone, 85, of Piggott died Sunday, Dec. 14, 2003, in the General Baptist Nursing Center in Campbell. She was born Feb. 1, 1918, in Rector to the late Porter and Dollie Eldridge Brashear. She was united in marriage to John C. Malone on Feb. 3, 1966. He preceded her in death on Nov. 16, 1999...

Joyce Marie Hartgroves, 57, of Piggott died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003, in St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born April 22, 1946, in Paragould, the daughter of the late Garfield and Stella Mae Davidson Douglas. She was preceded in death by one son, Thomas Wesley Hartgroves; and two sisters, Ida Mae Simms and Magaline Douglas...

George Leonard Harmon, 85, of Paragould, formerly of Nimmons, died Dec. 11, 2003, in Paragould. He was born May 3, 1918, in Nimmons , the son of the late George W. and Emma Head Harmon. Preceding him in death were his first wife, Ida Lewis Harmon; six brothers, Charlie, Robert, Raymond, Welby, Thomas and Ezra; two sisters, Carrie Ramsey and Ruthie Schnell...

James Ryan "Jimmy" Graddy, 20, of Noble, Okla., died Dec. 5, 2003, in Noble from injuries he sustained in an automobile accident. Services were at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8, 2003, at Lakeside Church of God, with Chad Byrd and Rev. James Kim officiating. Burial was in Noble 100F Cemetery. Memorial Chapel Funeral Services of Noble was in charge of arrangements...

The daunting task of writing to a third grade class in each of the 50 states is part of a project that is currently being undertaken by Ms. Tammy Henderson's third grade class at Piggott Elementary. The project began when a letter addressed to "any third grade class" at "any school" arrived at Piggott Elementary School from Mr. Bolin's third grade class at Pullman Elementary School in St. Paul Park, Minnesota...

The Clay County Quorum Court passed two resolutions at their regularly slated meeting in Corning on Monday, Dec. 15. After sharing a Christmas meal, the Court unanimously passed Resolution 2003-12, authorizing the County Judge to apply for a Law Enforcement Block Grant in the amount of $5,000 to be used for purchasing vests and other safety items. ...

The Good Vibes Jazz Quartet provided the entertainment at Night of Chocolate III held Saturday night at the Rector Community Center. The event is part of the arts entertainment program sponsored locally by the Clay County Arts Council. The group provided music during a dinner prepared by Cavaness Catering Service and then performed additional numbers to close out the evening...

Jimmy West Greenway, 63, of Rector died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born Feb. 12, 1940, in Walcott, he lived in the Rector area all of his life and served the community as a mechanic and service station operator for many years. He was of the General Baptist faith. He was married Jan. 11, 1963, to the former Joan Evans...

The Piggott senior high girls basketball team lost a 3-AAA North conference game to the Corning Lady Bobcats last Tuesday night on the road, 59-51. The loss comes shortly after Piggott fell to Corning in the championship game of the Clay County Tournament...

The Piggott senior high Mohawks suffered a heartbreaking defeat last Tuesday evening to the Valley View Blazers with a 72-71 loss in overtime. With Piggott leading 63-60 in the final seconds of regulation, Valley View's Brett Williamson drained a three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game and force overtime...

Glenda L. Randleman Mitchell, 77, of St. Peters, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 14, 2003, at her home. She was born June 14, 1926, in Jonesboro to the late Hugh A. and Pearl E. Walker. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Gene Randleman, and one sister, Laverne Rigsby...

Warren Walker, 37, of Peach Orchard died Saturday, Dec. 13, 2003, at his home. He was born Sept. 16, 1966, in Paragould to Larry and Angie Walker and was married Feb. 22, 1999, to Barbara Ellen Fortner. He was a farmer, a member of the Masonic Lodge and attended the United Methodist Church in Corning. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, E.J. Walker...

Dorothy Sanders, 67, of Jonesboro, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003, at her residence. She was a housewife and was of the Jehovah Witness faith. She was born Sept. 8, 1936, in Greenway to the late Johnson Cato and Ader (Potts) Cato. She was married May 6, 1960, in Caruthersville, Mo., to Billy George Sanders. To this union one daughter was born...

It was an excellent week for the Rector girls basketball teams as the Lady Cougars of coach Shane Robinson won five of six games. Two victories boosted the senior girls to 2-7 for the season, 2-1 in conference play. The Junior Lady Cougars continued their winning ways, sweeping three games to move to 9-1 overall, 3-0 in league play...

Last Tuesday the Marmaduke Greyhounds fell 88-74 on their floor to a Crowley's Ridge Academy (CRA) team that operated offensively with such precision that seemingly they could do no wrong. Time and time again CRA's offense would pull the Greyhound defense out of position with precision passing that would enable them to score an easy basket off of a final pass into the paint...

Rector's Cougars played a strong early game against an outstanding Weiner team on Tuesday of last week in the Pre-Holiday Tournament on the Cardinals' home court dropping back at the end. The strong showing gave coach Mark Manchester hope for the rest of the week of action, but he expressed disappointment with the Cougars' effort against Bay and CRA...

Grady Thomas Arnold, Sr., 63, of Rector, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2003, at his home. He was born Oct. 23, 2003, in Kennett to the late George Wesley Arnold and Victory Hazel (Self) Arnold. He was a press operator for Emerson Electric, had lived most of his life in the community, and was of the Assembly of God faith. He was married to Barbara Weatherspoon on Feb. 19, 1962...

Jimmie Wayne Jennings, 53, of Paragould, formerly of Rector, died Monday, Dec.15, 2003. He was born Aug. 29, 1950, in Decatur, Ill., to the late Earl Wayne Jennings and Esta Mae (Jackson) Jennings. He was a deli-bakery manager for Wal-Mart and had lived in the community for 25 years...

Jimmy West Greenway, 63, of Rector died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born Feb. 12, 1940, in Walcott, he lived in the Rector area all of his life and served the community as a mechanic and service station operator for many years. He was of the General Baptist faith. He was married Jan. 11, 1963, to the former Joan Evans...

Hinda Tinsley Thomas, 92, of Rector died Friday, Dec.12, 2003, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. She was born Sept. 8, 1911, in Leonard to the late George and May Tinsley. She was a homemaker and of the Methodist faith. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, A.L. "Happy" Thomas, and one brother, Gilbert Tinsley...

Marmaduke Police Chief Steve Franks announced last week that the Marmaduke Police Department and the City of Marmaduke are having their Adopt-A-Family program again this Christmas. He said, "We plan to adopt three local families this Christmas season. We need toys for both boys and girls and any type of present. You can bring your gifts already wrap up, if not we can wrap them ourselves...

The Good Vibes Jazz Quartet provided the entertainment at Night of Chocolate III held Saturday night at the Rector Community Center. The event is part of the arts entertainment program sponsored locally by the Clay County Arts Council. The group provided music during a dinner prepared by Cavaness Catering Service and then performed additional numbers to close out the evening...

LITTLE ROCK - So much to do, so little time to do it. That must be the feeling of State Rep. Travis Boyd and other legislators in the Arkansas General Assembly as they face a Jan. 1 deadline for reaching a solution to the impasse on the court-ordered requirement to formulate a new educational plan and funding formula for state public schools...

The Rector Fire Department has received a grant of $29,126 from the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program administered by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency. The award, part of $750 million being distributed to more than 7,000 fire departments in 2003, will be used by the Rector Fire Department to purchase equipment for the safety of firefighters and citizens...

With four of their members scoring in double figures the Marmaduke Lady Greyhounds shocked conference leader Bay 77-61 at home Monday night giving them their first conference defeat of the season. The Lady Hounds started fast in this game and were ahead 23-8 after the first quarter. Sarah Rogers and Danielle Vincent scored 8 and 7 points respectively in the first quarter, providing the main impetus behind the Lady Hounds quick start...