Stories from Wednesday, January 14, 2004

The budget for the new building project was discussed at the Piggott School Board meeting Monday night. Superintendent Barry Scott presented the board with a copy of a letter he had been asked to write to the architects for the project. The board asked Scott to place the letter on hold and check into the possibilities of building a new multi-purpose facility instead of renovating the present gym. ...

With honors including being named Class AAA All-State in football, a member of the Best Under the Sun team and to the KAIT Channel 8 Coaches' Super Team, Piggott High School senior Lee Whittley clearly excels at the sport he loves. Football is Whittley's favorite sport. When asked why, he replied "It's due to the friendships formed on and off the field. I've played with the same guys for nine years."...

SENATH -- The Piggott senior boys traveled across the state line last week to participate in an area basketball tradition -- the 40th Annual Senath-Hornersville Lions Invitational Tournament. The Mohawks put up a good fight Thursday night against the Hayti Indians in quarterfinal action, but fared less well in a tough contest Saturday against the other Indians from the area, Kennett...

The Piggott Lady Mohawks showed a lot of heart Monday night at Marmaduke in a 64-56 overtime defeat against the Lady Greyhounds. Over the past four seasons the Lady Greyhounds have been nearly unbeatable at home. Their record at home over that time span stands at 75-5...

Versa M. Davis, 97, of Clio, Mich., died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, in Flint, Mich. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, 2004, at Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16, 2004, in the Hoggard and Sons Chapel with Dale Davis officiating. Burial will be in the Piggott Cemetery...

Donald Rex Causey, 75, of Blytheville died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, in the Baptist Hospital East in Memphis. He was born Sept. 9, 1928, near Piggott, son of the late James Riley and Addie Keith Causey. He was united in marriage to June Marie Piland on Jan. 16, 1951. To this union three children were born...

Charley Jones, 93, of Piggott died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004, in the Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett. He was born Nov. 14, 1910, in Paragould, the son of the late Sam and Maggie Riggs Jones. He was united in marriage to Marjorie Lucille Neighbors on Sept. 10, 1932. To this union three daughters were born...

William Giles "Billy" Whiteaker, 22, of Las Vegas, died Jan. 3, 2004, at his residence in Las Vegas. He was a graduate of Green Valley High School in Henderson, Nevada and worked as a waiter. Mr. Whiteaker was a member of Southaven General Baptist Church...

Of all the valuable things that one person can do, being there for another in their time of need is very valuable. This is the philosophy of HopeCircle, a non-profit organization in Jonesboro, which is funded by the NEA Clinic Charitable Foundation...

"Jenny" seemed like an average teenage girl. She was a 14-year-old girl who modeled and shared exciting news about her modeling career and how other girls could join in the fun. Eventually she arranged for the girls to meet a photographer and have test shots taken...

The Piggott City Council unanimously voted to close the section of Court Street between South Taylor and Monroe Streets during its' regular meeting Monday night. The closing of the street will facilitate the proposed construction project at Piggott High School. Alderman Carl Birmingham was absent...

Jewell T. Duckworth, 76, of Mesa, Ariz., formerly of the Rector area, died Monday, Jan. 5, 2004, at Hospice of the Valley in Mesa. He was born April 15, 1927, in Clay County to the late David and Lizzie Duckworth. He was an entrepreneur and a veteran of World War II...

Larry Don (Jesse) Cossey of Hamburg, Mich., died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at Angela Hospice in Livonia, Mich. He was born in Greene County July 26, 1942. Larry worked at Ford Motor Co. Rouge Plant as a power electrician for 36 years. He was preceded in death by his father, Ora (Tom) Cossey; one brother, Joe Cossey, and one sister, Barbara Cossey Holden Springston...

Barbara Lee Cossey Holden Springston, 53, of Cardwell. Mo., died Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003, at her home. She was born March 22, 1950, in Detroit, Mich. She was preceded in death by her father, Ora (Tom) Cossey, and one brother, Joe Cossey. Survivors include her husband, William Springston; children, Shelley and Kevin Davidson, Stacy Holden, John and Peggy Holden and William Springston; four grandsons and one granddaughter; her mother, Aline Cossey; two sisters, Shirley Adkins and Alberta Lewis; two brothers, Larry Cossey and William Cossey, and many nephews and nieces.. ...

It was a split in 3AA-North conference games for the Rector senior girls this week as they eased past host Buffalo Island Central on Friday night and then suffered a solid setback to Riverside at home on Monday. BIC jumped ahead 17-13 after one period but the Lady Cougars began to assert themselves, moving to a 27-25 advantage at the halftime break and 43-36 after three frames...

Orpha Irene Hamelback, 81, of Rector, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. She was born July 15, 1922, in Rector to the late Marion Evans and Ella Little Evans. She was a homemaker, a lifelong member of the community and a member of the Marmaduke Church of Christ...

Boyd Waylan Pickler, 65, of Rector died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, in Paragould. He was born Oct. 31, 1938, in Knob to the late Benard and Luna Pickler. He also was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Mae Pickler, and one brother, Hershel Pickler. He was a Dallas Transit bus driver and of the Baptist faith...

Debra Lynn Faries, 45, of Rector died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, at her home. She was born Dec. 28, 1958, in Corning and was married Aug. 27, 1977, to Herbert Faries, who survives. She was the director and a teacher at James W. Graves Head Start Center in Rector and was a member of the Corning Y Pentecostal Church...

Of all the valuable things that one person can do, being there for another in their time of need is very valuable. This is the philosophy of HopeCircle, a non-profit organization in Jonesboro, which is funded by the NEA Clinic Charitable Foundation...

The Marmaduke City Council approved several incentives at its meeting Monday night that could help the city keep its police officers for a longer period of time. Accordingly, the council voted to upgrade the salary of certified police to $23,000 a year, plus benefits...

A late Tuesday evening fire destroyed the home of Dennis and Billie Banks on East Fifth Street in Rector. Steven Sigsby, administrative officer for the Rector Fire Department, said the fire call was made by Mrs. Banks at 10:39 p.m. "By the time we responded, the fire had spread from a back bedroom to the hallway," Sigsby said...

Although the news changes weekly, the activity of the State Legislature was the main concern for members of the Rector School Board at a meeting Monday night at the school. Superintendent Rob Louder told board members that because a state funding formula has not yet been passed, Arkansas Public Schools are in jeopardy. ...

Rector's senior boys had one of their best games of the season here last Tuesday night against Brookland, but the Cougars fell just short in a 61-55 overtime decision. That game preceded a tough visit to Monette on Friday night when the Cougars were pounded by an outstanding Buffalo Island Central team...

The Marmaduke Greyhounds started fast Friday night against the Maynard Tigers and maintained the upper hand the remainder of the game as they eased to a 71-36 win. After Dane Boggs batted the opening tip to John Clark, he quickly passed the ball to Brian Potter for a Greyhound lay-up and the Hounds led 2-0 just seconds into the game...