Stories from Friday, May 21, 2004

The seventh annual Dr Pepper-Pepsi Bash will be held on June 11, 12 and 13 in Rector. The "Bash" is a girls softball tournament. Registration fee for girls eight and under teams will be $85. This age group will be coach-pitch softball. Girls ages 10, 12 and 14 and under will be playing fast-pitch softball. The registration fee for the girls teams in this group will be $125...

A late-night Wednesday shooting at 705 West Eighth Street in Rector resulted in the death of one man and the serious wounding of another. Jewel Cavaness, 31, who lived at the address, was dead at the scene, according to the Rector Police Department...

Since the first of the year, Rector Parks and Recreation has had the responsibility for all the basic financial operations involving the baseball and softball leagues that play at Jeremy McDaniel Sports Complex and Holt Field. All revenues from the concession and sponsorships are handled by the Parks and Recreation Commission and are audited by the state...

Lyric Aalyiah Martinez, 7, of Rector was riding her bicycle home from school at 3:10 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, when she was struck by a light blue pickup truck. The youngster was taken to the hospital in Paragould by her mother where x-rays were taken of her left leg, right knee and pelvis bone. A CAT scan of her head was also taken...

In an effort to help restore Memorial Day to its true purpose, the White House Commission on Remembrance is asking all Americans to pause in and act of unity at 3 p.m., local time, wherever they are on Memorial Day, for a moment of reflection honoring America's fallen...

Approximately 22 Rector High School students were selected for a Teen Leadership and Role Modeling Training program held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, April 5, at the Rector Community Center. The program is called Teens Coaching Kids (TCK). The number one drug problem is alcohol. TCK will also focus on the effects of alcohol, nicotine and marijuana...

Jewel Cavaness, 31, of Rector died Wednesday, May 12, 2004, at his home. He was preceded in death by his father, Jerry Cavaness, on Feb. 10, 2000; his maternal grandfather, R.C. Weber, and his paternal grandparents, Raymond and Pearl Cavaness. Survivors include a daughter, Emerald Paige Cavaness of Paragould; his mother and step-father, Debbie and John Graue of Bragg City, Mo.; his step-mother, Debbie Cavaness of Paragould; a brother and sister-in-law, Rocky and Tina Weber of Rector; a sister and brother-in-law, Diamond and Kevin Lowe of Paragould; his grandmother, Ruby Weber of Rector; three nephews, Jade, Casey and Jerrod Lowe of Paragould; his step-grandparents, Delno and Joyce Sandefer of Campbell, Mo., and a host of aunts, uncles and other relatives and friends.. ...

John William Beaver, 72, of Piggott, died Tuesday, May 11, 2004, in the St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born June 26, 1931, in Rector, son of the late Everett Raymond and Eva Lillian Kreigle Beaver. On Dec. 21, 1955, he was united in marriage to Mildred Angeline Belyew. To this union five children were born...

Henrietta Young Willis, 90, of McDougal, died Friday, May 14, 2004, in the Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott. She was born June 14, 1913, in McDougal, the daughter of the late Henry J. and Anna Hudspeth Young. She was united in marriage to Harve Willis and to this union one son was born...

The Rector High School cafeteria was the setting for the annual Cougar Athletic Banquet and accompanying awards ceremonies last Tuesday evening. This special night that evokes both laughter and tears has always been an anticipated event at RHS. Following Coach Wade Williams' opening remarks, the awards were handed out sport by sport...

A long-standing tradition continued Tuesday, May 3, at Marmaduke High School when the school held its annual athletic banquet and awards ceremonies. There was much laughter - the coaches had an abundance of funny anecdotes accumulated for the occasion - and a few somber moments as those gathered remembered others who were no longer with us...

Rector's Jessica Hill has been honored as a selection for the Arkansas All-Star Softball Team. She will play on the East team in action Wednesday, June 15, at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. A standout athlete and student at RHS, she is the daughter of Keith and Jan Hill of Rector...

Pictures for T-ball, Minor, Little, Jr. and Sr. league teams will be taken on May 22 at the baseball field. The following teams will need to be at the baseball field to have their group pictures taken: American Legion,8:30 a.m.; Country Mart,8:45 a.m.; Arkansas Western Gas,9 a.m.; Farm Credit,10 a.m.; Jones Furniture,10:15 a.m.; Razorback Tire,10:30 a.m.; Homecare Medical,10:45 a.m.; Hoggard and Sons,11 a.m.; Fry Equipment,11:15 a.m.; Regions Bank,11:30 a.m.; State Farm,11:45 a.m.; McElvoys,12:30 p.m.; 13 year-old Jr.League,12:45 p.m.; 14 year-old Jr. ...

The 13 year-old Junior League schedule for May 20 through June 11 is : May 20--at Marmaduke, 6 p.m.; May 21--vs Piggott 14, 6 p.m.; May 25--vs Walnut Ridge,6 p.m.; May 27--at Corning, 6 p.m.; May 28--at Rector, 6 p.m.; June 3--vs Marmaduke, 6 p.m.; June 7--at Walnut Ridge, 6 p.m.; and June 11--at Corning, 6 p.m....

A late-night Wednesday shooting at 705 West Eighth Street in Rector resulted in the death of one man and the serious wounding of another. Jewel Cavaness, 31, who lived at the address, was dead at the scene, according to the Rector Police Department...

There were many tears shed and hugs exchanged in the Piggott High School gym, Friday evening, May 14, when 66 seniors were presented with their high school diplomas at the PHS 2004 graduation. Valedictorians were Sara Graves, daughter of Melinda Graves and the late Rocky Graves, and Heather Johnson, daughter of Dickie and June Johnson...

Everyone is invited to join the Piggott Library staff this summer as they explore trails of all kinds through programs, books, and activities at the Piggott Public Library. The 2004 Summer Reading Program, "Discover New Trails @ Your Library," is open to young people, preschool age and up, with programs of stories, songs, poems, skits, music, puppets, prizes, reading, and special guests...

John William Beaver, 72, of Piggott, died Tuesday, May 11, 2004, in the St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born June 26, 1931, in Rector, son of the late Everett Raymond and Eva Lillian Kreigle Beaver. On Dec. 21, 1955, he was united in marriage to Mildred Angeline Belyew. To this union five children were born...

Leroy French, 82, of Piggott died Sunday, May 16, 2004, at Poplar Bluff Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was born on Dec. 20, 1921, in Piggott, the son of the late Barney and Arabell Doty French. He was united in marriage to Anna Mae Fisher on Jan. 26, 1946, to this union three children were born...

Mary Ruth Birmingham, 75, of Columbia, Mo., died Friday, May 14, 2004, at Boon Hospital Center. She was born Feb. 22, 1929, in Clay County to Ray and Loretta Sanderfer Turner. On June 7, 1945, she married Edward J. Birmingham in Piggott. She was employed with the University of Missouri for 21 years...

Clifford Gerald Mayo, 73, of Henderson, Ky., died at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, 2004, at Methodist Hospital. He retired from Sears in Evansville, Ind. He was a Korean War, U.S. Army veteran and a member of the American Legion. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arbra and Sidney Edwards Mayo; one sister, Ramey Lee O'Neal; and one brother, Kenneth Mayo...

Fern Tompkins, 68, of Pollard died Saturday, May 15, 2004, in the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center North. She was born Oct. 21, 1935, in Qulin. She lived around Qulin and Pollard all of her life. She was united in marriage to Ray Tompkins on Sept. 1, 1951...

Henrietta Young Willis, 90, of McDougal, died Friday, May 14, 2004, in the Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott. She was born June 14, 1913, in McDougal, the daughter of the late Henry J. and Anna Hudspeth Young. She was united in marriage to Harve Willis and to this union one son was born...

Elizabeth Elaine Bomar, 70, of Piggott died Tuesday, May 11, 2004, at the Piggott Community Hospital. She was born Feb. 25, 1934, in Piggott, the daughter of the late Claude Otis and Vera Mae Braden Montgomery. She married Gene Bomar on Feb. 21, 1959, to this union three children were born...

The senior Mohawk track team traveled to Pocahontas on April 8. The boys division 3,200-meter relay team placed second at 9:29.48 Team members were Brandon Mann,Aaron Householder, Chad Allen and Chad Emerson. Others placing in events were: 110-meter hurdles, Brad Graves finished sixth,20.06; 100-meter dash, Derrick Harris took sixth place, 12.10; 1,600-meter run, Householder,5:36 and Britton Wofford, 7:17; 400-meter relay, Mann, John Midkiff, Graves and Harris took third place, 48.55; 800-meter run, third place, Emerson, 2:18;fourth place, Allen,2:22;fifth place,Householder,2:23; Mann,eighth place,2:30; and Alec Watson, eleventh place, 2:45; discus, Burns and Corrales; shot put, Burns and C.Gregory; 100-meter hurdles, Smart,20:55; 800-meter run, T.Gregory,3:00 and Nagy,3:02.. ...

The sixth annual Heritage Park Rod Run and Super Cruise could possibly be the biggest and best yet. It will be held Friday, May 21, through Sunday, May 23, at Heritage Park in Piggott. Admission is $2 per person at the gate. Approximately 400 cars and motorcycles are expected for the event...