Stories from Thursday, August 5, 2004

It was close to dusk when it was discovered that ricin, a deadly chemical agent, had been spread on the ball field at Independence Park. Nine people were contaminated; three left the scene and reported to the Piggott Community Hospital. The others were decontaminated on the spot and then taken to the hospital...

The Piggott Mohawk Volleyball teams have been working on getting ready for their season opener in September. All members of the volleyball team were able to meet at the gymnasium each Monday night to play and keep in contact. Assistant coach Mathis from Arkansas State University provided three days of individual assistance during a camp at Piggott High School this summer. ...

Zora M. Watson, 95, of Piggott died Saturday, July 31, 2004, in the Westwood Hills Health Care in Poplar Bluff. She was born Sept. 26, 1908, in Pollard, the daughter of the late Lenzey Vard and Lula Belle Johnson Underwood. She was united in marriage to Loy Roosevelt Watson on Dec. 24, 1924, and they had three children...

Joey Fry, 39, of Piggott died Wednesday, July 28, 2004, in Little Rock. He was born Nov. 14, 1964, in Piggott, the son of James Dallas and Genetta Parks Fry. He is survived by one son, Chad Allen Fry of Hardy, Ark.; his mother, Genetta Fry of Piggott; his father, James Dallas Fry and wife, Sharon, of Campbell; three brothers, Benny Fry and wife, Susan, Lynn Fry and wife, Pam, and Todd Fry, all of Piggott; and many other relatives and friends...

Dencial E. Crews, 71, of Piggott, died Tuesday, July 27, 2004, at his home. He was born Dec. 2, 1932, in Boydsville, the son of the late Virgil and Flossie McElyea Crews. He married Norma Harrell on Nov. 9, 1951, and they had three children. He was preceded in death by one sister, Sue Staggs...

The Piggott City Council held a special meeting at noon on Friday, July 31, to deal with several issues including resolutions concerning construction and improvements at Piggott Community Hospital and purchasing land for the airport. The council also heard a request from the Piggott Cemetery Association for a donation to help with its electric bill and made appointments to the Economic Development Commission...

Area young people have toiled in the hot sun this summer raising and harvesting vegetables that are distributed free of charge to Piggott's senior citizens in Piggott's Community Garden. The garden is located on the right immediately before reaching Hitt's Chapel General Baptist Church on the outskirts of town...

The 2004 Clay County Fair will be held Aug. 23-28, at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Piggott. Fair catalogs are available at various locations in Piggott, Rector and Corning. Catalogs may also be picked up at the Clay County Extension Office in Piggott at 148 East Main, or at 508 Vine Street in Corning...

The Rector City Council agreed to take out a loan to complete the work on the new Little League baseball field during its regular monthly meeting Monday evening. Voting unanimously for the resolution were aldermen Glenn Leach, Mac Manchester, Cam Cate and David Freeman...

Eighteen-year-old Tyler Andrew Scott of Rector died Friday, July 30, at The Med in Memphis from injuries sustained in a one-vehicle accident Wednesday night, July 28, near Halliday. Investigating officer David Carter with the Arkansas State Police said Scott was traveling south on Highway 49 when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a culvert, causing the vehicle to overturn...

The annual Greenway Picnic and Homecoming will be held Saturday, Aug. 7, at the picnic grounds on Highway 49 in Greenway. Entertainment is scheduled throughout the day. The opening will be given at 9 a.m. by Mike Hill, president of Cemetery Board. Contestants are needed for pageants to be held Saturday, Aug. 7, at the annual Greenway Picnic...

Local resident Hughey Linam recently celebrated his 90th birthday on July 28. "I never thought about living to be 90," Linam said with a smile. "My mother lived to 94 and all my dad's folks died in their 70's. I never dreamed of being 90 years old and still able to do what I want to."...

Mary Fry (nee King), 92, of Cahokia, Ill., a native of Rector, died Saturday, July 31, 2004 at Belleville Memorial Hospital. She was born April 18, 1912, in Rector to the late C.H. and Solphi Burford King. She was a 50-year member of the Eastern Star of Rector, a former member of the White Shrine of Jerusalem of East St. Louis, Ill., and a member of the Maplewood Church of Christ in Cahokia...

Dencial E. Crews, 71, of Piggott, died Tuesday, July 27, 2004, at his home. He was born Dec. 2, 1932, in Boydsville, the son of the late Virgil and Flossie McElyea Crews. He married Norma Harrell on Nov. 9, 1951, and they had three children. He was preceded in death by one sister, Sue Staggs...