Stories from Thursday, December 23, 2004

The Clay County Quorum Court passed a motion that allows Sheriff Ronnie Cole to handle the compensation time for his deputies and jailers for a period of one full budget year. Because the jail is in operation 24 hours a day, all of the jail's employees will not be able to use their compensation time during the holidays. ...

The Junior Rebels of Riverside are ranked number one in the conference. The Junior Rebels showed the Piggott Junior Mohawks why they have that ranking when they played at Piggott on Tuesday, Dec. 14. Riverside defeated Piggott, 51-28. "The Junior Rebels have a kid who is 6-8 and he is hard for us to handle," coach Matt Sutfin said...

Despite having two players in double digits and four players with seven rebounds each, the Piggott Mohawks fell to the Riverside Rebels at home Tuesday of last week, 67-48. During the first quarter of the game, the Mohawks were having difficulty in rebounding the ball, which allowed the Rebels to double the score. Chris Wegel hit a free throw with the seconds running out of the clock on the first quarter. The score at the end of the quarter 14-7 in favor of the Rebels...

The Seventh Grade Mohawks were in action against the Riverside Rebels on Tuesday, Dec. 14. Although the team has yet to achieve a victory, the team members continue to get stronger in their game. The final score was 37-29 with the Rebels defeating the Mohawks. Jonathan Smith was in double digits with 15 points. Jarrod Davis had eight points. Alex Massey had four points and Trent Edwards had two. The Mohawks have an overall record of 0-7...

With Hillary French and Penny McCluskey bringing in almost two thirds of the score, the Junior Lady Mohawks stampeded the Junior Lady Mustangs of Buffalo Island Central with a final score of 49-15 on Monday of last week. "This was a good win for us," coach Jeff Priest said of the victory...

With 1:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, Logan Ballard stepped to the free throw line. While the first attempt rattled out, Ballard connected on the second, giving the Piggott Mohawks a 43-40 lead over the Rector Cougars in their opening round game of the NEA Tournament at Arkansas State University last Saturday...

Despite having three players hitting double digits in a conference game Monday of last week against the Lady Mustangs of BIC, the Piggott Lady Mohawks were outscored 78-69. The Lady Mohawks were hoping to win this game to tie the Lady Mustangs for first place in the conference, as well as having the knowledge of having been bested by this team earlier. ...

Roxie Mae Moore Brent, 109, of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Pollard, died Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004, in the Cedar Gate Nursing Home in Poplar Bluff. She was born June 2, 1895, in Mississippi, the daughter of the late John T. and Eunie Floyd Hughes. She married J.A. Moore on January 15, 1915. To this union four sons were born. He preceded her in death on Nov. 22, 1969. She married C.L. Brent and he also preceded her in death...

Walter Anthony Hall, 43, of Rector, died Saturday Dec. 18, 2004, in Lexington, Tenn. He was born March 15, 1961, in Oceanside, Calif., to the late Virgil O'Neal Hall and Audrey Adalia (Boucher) Hall and was married April 3, 1978, to Angela Kay Walton Hall, who survives...

Sarah L. Hollis McGann, 84, of Northville, Mich., died Nov. 30, 2004. She was born June 24, 1920, in Piggott. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert McGann; and one son, Grover Shepard. She is survived by two sons, Larry Shepard and wife, Jary, and Dave Shepard and wife, Judy; one daughter, Jeanne Parlette and husband, Jim; daughter-in-law, Janice Shepard; brother, Bill Hollis and wife, Gwenie; 13 grandchildren and 22 great-granchildren...

From Our Readers... As I grew up, Christmas was always a time of year to spend with my family and get a lot of new presents. Over the past few years, I have spent more time focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. This year, I was able to help purchase gifts for several needy children in our community. Doing this, I was faced once again with the true meaning of Christmas...

The Piggott City Council visited at length with representatives of the Piggott Public Schools regarding the proposed closure of an alley to facilitate construction at Piggott High School. The district was represented by School Board President David Moody and Superintendent Barry Scott. Moody and Scott addressed the Council after the Council expressed that it wi shed to speak with representatives of the district about the alley during its November meeting...

With 2:04 remaining in the fourth quarter, Nathan Wyatt dropped in a layup despite being fouled. Wyatt sank the free throw for the Cougars, cutting the Piggott Mohawk advantage to 42-40 in their opening round game Saturday of the NEA Tournament at Arkansas State University...

Abbe' McCarroll came out on fire Saturday in the fourth quarter of the game between the Rector Lady Cougars and the Black Rock Lady Zebras in the opening round of the NEA Tournament at Arkansas State University. McCarroll made the first three baskets of the period for the Lady Cougars, propelling Rector to a 45-41 lead. ...

The Marmaduke Greyhounds fell 66-44 as they hosted the Earle Bulldogs on Monday, Dec. 20. The guests had the advantage at every quarter break -- 15-13, 30-23 and 45-40. Marmaduke trailed by five at the start of the fourth quarter, but Johnny Williams scored 11 of his 21 points in the period, propelling the Bulldogs' victory. Earle outscored the Hounds 21-9 in the final frame...

The Cougars journeyed to Riverside on Friday, Dec. 17, to face the Rebels. Riverside won the game 64-44. The home team held leads at the end of each quarter 15-9, 34-18 and 48-28. Missed free throws hurt Rector on the night. The Cougars shot 54 percent from the charity stripe, making 14 of 26...

The Rector Lady Cougars played host to the Lady Greyhounds of Marmaduke on Thursday, Dec. 16. The Lady Cougars were victorious, winning 44-34. Rector was able to hold off Marmaduke surges, maintaining small leads after the first two quarters, 6-5 and 17-16, before widening the gap in the third, 35-21...

The opening round of the NEA Tournament at Jonesboro was unkind to the Marmaduke Lady Greyhounds. The Lady Hounds were eliminated by the Lady Screamin' Eagles from Hillcrest, 48-39, in opening action Saturday. Marmaduke was in front the majority of the first half, leading 12-5 and 20-18 after the first two quarters, respectively. Hillcrest rallied, taking a 33-22 lead after three...

Walter Anthony Hall, 43, of Rector, died Saturday Dec. 18, 2004, in Lexington, Tenn. He was born March 15, 1961, in Oceanside, Calif., to the late Virgil O'Neal Hall and Audrey Adalia (Boucher) Hall and was married April 3, 1978, to Angela Kay Walton Hall, who survives...

Herman Calvin (Terry) Kirkpatrick, 79, of Rector died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born Oct. 29, 1925, in Rector to the late Herman Terry Kirkpatrick and Eva (Bearden) Kirkpatrick. He was a truck driver, a lifelong member of the community and a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church...

From our readers.... Lowell McKenney, retired school administrator -- Christmas is my favorite time of the year. It's a time that we receive Christmas cards from friends that we haven't heard from since last year. We also send Christmas greetings to friends and family, letting them know some of the things that have happened in the past year and wishing them a blessed and merry Christmas...

Flor Margarita Villanueva-Hernandez has made her way from Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, to represent the International Student Exchange program in Rector. Flor, 18, is staying with her host family, Mark and Jodie Watson and their children Hadleigh and Case...

The Clay County Quorum Court passed a motion that allows Sheriff Ronnie Cole to handle the compensation time for his deputies and jailers for a period of one full budget year. Because the jail is in operation 24 hours a day, all of the jail's employees will not be able to use their compensation time during the holidays. ...

The Cougars traveled to Walnut Ridge on Tuesday, Dec. 14, to face the Bobcats. Rector fell in the game by the score of 54-46. The hosts managed a lead throughout the contest, having the advantage at the end of each quarter -- 7-3, 23-14 and 35-31. The first half put Rector in the hole early, but the team did not quit. Trailing by nine at the half, the Cougars fought back in the third quarter, outscoring the home team 17-12 to cut the lead to four at the start of the final quarter...