Stories from Wednesday, May 12, 2004

Rector Healthcare defeated the Rector Police and Fire Department, 37-35, in a benefit softball game Saturday afternoon at Rector. This was one of those things that small towns do so well. The chief aim of the game was to raise funds for the nursing home but the camaraderie during and after the game, combined with perfect ballgame weather, equaled a memorable day that will be recalled for many years...

Hugs, tears and smiles were shared by the 35 members of the Rector High School Class of 2004 during the commencement ceremony at 8 p.m. Friday, May 7. The graduates entered to "Pomp and Circumstance," which was performed by the RHS Concert Band. Senior class sponsors were LaVonda Benson, Carolyn Caldwell, Belinda Matheney and Dawn Sims...

Voters will decide who will be the next Clay County Judge during the Preferential Primary on Tuesday, May 18. Shelly Odell Elkins of Piggott has most recently worked as a computer technician/record keeper for the Clay County Road Department. Incumbent Gary Howell will be seeking re-election...

Voters will go to the polls for the May Preferential Primary and Nonpartisan Judicial general election on Tuesday, May 18. Polls will open at 7:30 a.m. and will close at 7:30 p.m. Early voting is now underway and will continue through Monday, May 17. Early voting hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, May 15...

With Memorial Day approaching and Labor Day not far away, the Rector Beautification Committee hopes those who wish to honor or memorialize someone will purchase a brick for the sidewalk in the Rector Downtown Park. "The beautiful brick sidewalk is the perfect way to honor or remember someone with ties to Rector," said committee chairman Steve Crancer. ...

Local pastor Dr. Jimmy Anderson is retiring after 42 years in the ministry. Dr. Anderson, who was born in Eastern Texas and raised in Dallas, began his work in the ministry as a Southern Baptist minister, but he later became a United Methodist minister. He has been the pastor of the Rector First United Methodist Church for the last four years...

Mother Nature cooperated as the City of Marmaduke celebrated its 16th annual Mayfest Saturday and the weather couldn't have been better. Although the turnout was a little down from previous years, it wasn't the fault of the weather as this day turned out to be one of those perfect spring days that we sometimes get in Arkansas...

A new math and reading recovery program is in the works for Rector Elementary students next year. Superintendent Rob Lauder told school board members Monday night that the school will be receiving new funds for its free and reduced lunch students. "I think we should hire full time personnel for the elementary," Louder said. He explained that the $147,000 must be...

The Rector High School Honors' Day Program was held at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 5, in the high school gymnasium. The welcome was given by Mr. Bill Rabjohn. The invocation was presented by senior Aaron Parsley. Entertainment was provided by Layla Phillips, Maggie Sain, Jessica Hill and Will Mobley as they performed the number "Dentist" from "Little Shop of Horrors"...

Carl Dean Tyson, 65, of Marmaduke died Monday, May 10, 2004, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born April 28, 1939, in Tuskegee, Ala., to the late Curtis Tyson and Sarah Kilpatrick Tyson. He was a non-denominational minister and had lived in the community for 12 years...

Last Thursday the Rector senior boys and girls journeyed to the campus of Greene County Tech to participate in the 3AA District track meet. The Rector girls successfully defended the crown that they won last year as they took first place by accumulating 101 points overall to Crowley's Ridge Academy's 95...

The Clay County Saddle Club will hold their first rodeo at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at the Clay County fairgrounds in Piggott. There will be events for all ages and types of horses. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. A current negative coggins is required on all horses, mules and donkeys...

Piggott elementary and high school Special Olympics teams traveled to Green County Tech High School on April 30, to participate in area one track and field events. The following are the athletes, events and medals that were awarded. Cody Whitten, softball throw, silver; standing long jump, bronze; Janna Corter, softball throw, gold; 100-meter run, gold , Steven Tate, softball throw, gold; 100-meter run, gold; Shellie Sweaney, softball throw, bronze; standing long jump, silver; April Speer, 100-meter race, gold; standing long jump, bronze; Autumn Crawford, 100-meter race, gold; running long jump, gold; Scottie Corter, 100-meter race, silver; running long jump, silver; Kris Shipman, softball throw, bronze; 100-meter race, silver; David Commuso, running long jump, gold; shot put, silver; Zac Winberry, tennis ball throw, gold; 100-meter race, silver; Autumn Wade, softball throw, silver; 100-meter race, silver; Joey Crites, 400-meter race, bronze; shot put, gold; Cindy Jordan, tennis ball throw, gold; 100-meter walk, gold; John Hedrick, 100-meter race, silver; running long jump, gold; and Tyler Davis, 100-meter race, bronze; running long jump, silver.. ...

There will be a Piggott High School Sports Cookout sponsored by the Mohawk Booster Club, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 13, at Independence Park (baseball field), or in case of rain, the high school cafeteria. This will be a casual meal for all athletes and their families. Participants are asked to bring lawn chairs and appetites, everything else will be provided. Games have been planned so participants may want to bring ball gloves...

On May 3, the Clay County Sheriff's office received a call that Scott Corter had taken his wife hostage in their home on County Road 461. According to the caller, there had been shots fired at the residence. The Sheriff's Department and Piggott Police Department responded to the call. ...

Sixty-seven seniors will be awarded their high school diplomas during the Piggott High School graduation ceremony at 7 p.m. Friday, May 14, in the Piggott High School gymnasium. Co-valedictorians of the Class of 2004 are Sara Elizabeth Graves, the daughter of Melinda Graves and the late Rocky Graves, and Heather Renee Johnson, the daughter of Dickie and June Johnson...

Bright sunshine greeted guests at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center's annual "Luncheon on the Lawn" at noon on Monday, May 10. This year's luncheon was to honor the grand opening of the Matilda and Karl Pfeiffer Museum and Study Center (MKPMSC) in addition to the usual reason for the celebration, the anniversary of the Paris wedding of Ernest Hemingway and Pauline Pfeiffer on May 10, 1927...

The long wait has paid off for the Piggott Police Department as the Piggott City Council heard from police chief Bill Alstadt that the department has been granted a thermal imaging camera at no cost to the city. The camera, which retails for $11,000, is being provided through a grant from the U.S. Army Technological Transfer Program Office of National Drug Control Policy. The program will also pay for three days of training in Baltimore, Md., the chief will have to attend for the unit...

The sixth annual Heritage Park Rod Run and Super Cruise seems to get better and it looks like it will be the biggest and best ever this year. It will be held Friday, May 21, through Sunday, May 23, at Heritage Park in Piggott. Admission is $2 per person at the gate...

In a regular meeting held at the high school library on Monday, May 10, the Piggott school board accepted resignations from high school English teacher Amy Castleberry and custodian Teri Vaughn. After a prayer led by board member Shawn Parker, the school board approved the minutes from the April 19 meeting...

Lyman Sneed, 94, of Piggott died Monay, May 3, 2004, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born Dec. 2, 1909, in McLeansboro, Ill., to the late Arthur and Iva Knight Sneed. Mr. Sneed married Miriam Latta on Jan. 22, 1937, in Pollard. She died on Oct. 24, 1997...

Imogene Phyllis Little, 63, of McDougal died Saturday, May 8, 2004, in the St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Feb. 13, 1941, in Campbell, Mo. The daughter of the late James F. and Cora Thomas Ray. She was united in marriage to Owen Lee Little on Nov. 1, 1956, to this union six children were born...

Maedelle Johnson, 83, of Corning, died Sunday, May 9, 2004, at the St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born June 2, 1920, in Halliday, Tenn., daughter of G.V. "Bud" Ellis and Ethel Erten Bond Ellis. She married E.C. Johnson on Dec. 23, 1939, in Kennett...

The annual Sugar Creek Country Club 2-man Scramble was held May 8-9. The SCCC championship titlebattle was very close as the team of Mangold-Liebhaber shot a blistering 13 under par 59 on Saturday to lead the field of 66 teams. Seven teams were within three shots of the lead going into Sunday's round...

Voters will decide who will be the next Clay County Judge during the Preferential Primary on Tuesday, May 18. Candiddates will be Shelly Odell Elkins of Piggott, and incumbent county judge Gary Howell of Piggott. Both candidates will run on the Democratic ballot...