Stories from Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Even though the University of Arkansas' cinderella season came to a disappointing end Sunday afternoon at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., Razorback fans can be proud of the outstanding year the underdog Hogs put together. The Razorbacks, picked to finish 11th in the 12-team Southeastern Conference by the coaches in the preseason, surprised the college baseball world by claiming the Western Division championship and a share of the overall league title with Georgia...

The new junior and senior girls basketball coach at Marmaduke High School is Spencer Hoffman, who previously was the girls coach at Obion County High School in Northwest Tennessee. Coach Hoffman was hired June 2 in a special session of the Marmaduke School Board to take the place of long-time Lady Greyhound coach Matt Dean, who resigned to become the head girls coach at Ozark High School, so as to be closer to his family...

The 2004 Little League District 4 Tournament of Champions was completed at Marmaduke Thursday night after being delayed several days because of inclement weather. The team sponsored by the Marmaduke Family Pharmacy won first place in the 9-10 year old bracket when it defeated the team sponsored by Turner Dairy, 9-5. Cody Taylor was the winning pitcher in this game and Morgan Hawley smacked three home runs for Family Pharmacy...

Graveside services for 56-year-old Michael Lynn Davis of Marmaduke were held at 2 p.m. Sunday June 20, 2004, at Woodland Heights Cemetery in Rector with Ronnie Stevens officiating. Mr. Davis died Thursday, June 17, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould...

Donald (Slim) Taylor, 93, of Rector died Monday, June 21, 2004, at Pocahontas Nursing and Rehab Center, where he resided with his wife of 73 years, Elma Mae (Morrow) Taylor. Born Sept. 8, 1910, in the Boydsville area near Rector, Mr. Taylor was the son of the late Luther Taylor and Elizabeth (Batemen) Taylor. He lived 85 years of his life in the Rector area and 18 years, 1942-1960, in Detroit, Mich. He was a retired farmer...

At 10:38 p.m. Sunday, June 20, the Rector Fire Department was called to the home of Ed and Carolyn Long at 521 West Seventh Street. Neighbors saw smoke coming from the attic and called the fire department. Upon the firefighters arrival at 10:45 p.m., smoke was venting from all the attic gables. ...

In 1948 a group of young women from the area, most of whom were married with children, decided to form an Independent Basketball League due to their love of the game. Mrs. Marguerite (Cossey) French was a member of the Conoco Triangles. French said that most of the girls had played basketball in high school and several lived in the Leonard area...

William Alfred "Al" Sparks, 73, of Rector died Thursday, June 17, 2004. He was born May 20, 1931, in Post, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Ara (Robinson) Sparks, and two grandchildren, Jeffrey Scott and Shelby Raylene Ward...

Gene Bullinger, 64, of Rector died Sunday, June 20, 2004, in Rector. He was born June 16, 1940, at Lafe. He worked as a truck driver and was of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Opal Bullinger; a son, Gary Bullinger, and two brothers, Wayne Bullinger and James Bullinger Jr...

Willyne Thompson has been chosen to be the grand marshal of the Marmaduke Independence Day parade that will be held June 26. She said, "Robin Hargrove told me about a week ago that I had been chosen to be this year's grand marshal if I wanted to accept it. I was surprised that they had chosen me, but as I felt it to be a great honor, I said I would."...

Marmaduke is again set to celebrate America's Independence Day in grand style with its annual picnic Friday and Saturday, June 25-26. There will be concessions, a carnival and continuous entertainment. A fish fry at 5 p.m. Friday, June 25, will kick off the fun, followed by music by Guided By Grace at 7 p.m...

Hopes are high as the city of Rector and the Rector Public Schools set their sights on constructing a pre-school facility at the elementary school campus. The city and the school will work together in applying for an Arkansas Department of Economic Development grant. Superintendent Rob Louder said the school has been authorized to complete the grant application...

Piggott Schools hired three new teachers in a special meeting held Monday at the high school library. In a unanimous vote, Natalie Griffith was hired as high school reading and English teacher, Rose Delene Blansett as high school English teacher, and Lee Ann Dickson as high school science teacher...

Six talented high school writers came together at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center (HPMEC) in Piggott June 7-11 to pursue their literary interests. "All This...and a Bag of Chips" is a collection of writings by students enrolled in the third annual "Creative Writing Day Camp."...

Virgil Wagster, 88, of Harviel, Mo., died Wednesday, June 9, 2004, at the Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center North Campus. He was born June 30, 1915, in Clay County, the son of Rev. John and Rilley Boyd Wagster. He was united in marriage to Nancy Dunbar in 1952. She preceded him in death on Jan. 25, 1991...

Neva Cox Bradford, 89, died June 21, 2004 at St. Bernards Regional Medical center. She was born July 9, 1914, in Piggott, daughter of William Orley and Alda Hennager Cox. She was united in marriage to Glover Bradford on Feb. 9, 1935. They had five children. She was a member of the General Baptist Church and a longtime member of the Ladies' Aid. She was employed by the Piggott School system for 16 years in the cafeteria...

Winard Steward, 64, of Piggott died Sunday, June 20, 2004, in the Piggott Community Hospital. He was born Oct. 5, 1939, in Holcomb, son of the late Herman and Dimple Lennie Hicks Steward. He was united in marriage to Gearldean Tankersley on June 19, 1958. They had three children...

Even though the University of Arkansas' cinderella season came to a disappointing end Sunday afternoon at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., Razorback fans can be proud of the outstanding year the underdog Hogs put together. The Razorbacks, picked to finish 11th in the 12-team Southeastern Conference by the coaches in the preseason, surprised the college baseball world by claiming the Western Division championship and a share of the overall league title with Georgia...

The second annual Trumann Lions Club baseball invitational will be held July 9-11 at Fleming Fields and Sports Complex in Trumann. The tournament is open to ages 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U. Entry fee is $75 and 2 baseballs. All proceeds go to the Lions Club sight and hearing programs. Interested persons may contact Sharron Turman at 870-483-1098, Larry Wilson at 870-483-3042 or Jerry Halsell at 870-240-4926...

"Don't Hurry Past Papa - The Words Are Not Beyond You," is a collection of writings by authors attending the second "Creative Writing Retreat" held at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center (HPMEC) in Piggott. Eleven talented writers came together June 14-18 to pursue their individual interests in creative writing...