Stories from Friday, April 1, 2005

The Clay County Fairgrounds will be buzzing with activity on Saturday, April 2. The Ag Expo, which is being held in conjunction with the 31st annual FFA farm sale, will feature 14 booths reserved to date with more signing up every day. The Expo booths will be set up in and around the Commercial Exhibit building from 9 a.m. -- 2 p.m. A booth rents for $100 and can be reserved by contacting the Chamber office...

The 2005 Mohawk track season officially began on Monday, March 21, when the junior high team traveled to Malden for their first meet. Malden, Kennett, and Dexter were the other teams participating in the event. "I'm very pleased with our performance this early in the season," coach Ken Schumate said of the meet. ...

The Piggott Lady Mohawks hosted the Doniphan Donnettes on Monday, March 21, and were outscored in the end 7-5. Chelsey Grimes, pitcher for the Lady Mohawks, took the loss. Grimes struck out three and walked two for the game. Grimes also hit two singles and a double. Laura Jardeen hit a triple and a single. Kasey Hicks and Casey Mauldin each hit doubles...

The Piggott Mohawk baseball team put their first win behind them on Monday, March 21, when the Mohawks took on the Greyhounds of Marmaduke in conference action. The Mohawks outscored the Greyhounds, 17-12. "This was our best game offensively and defensively for the season so far," coach Brock Swann said of the game...

She was born May 25, 1910, in Rector, the daughter of the late William Walker and Della Irby Smith. She was united in marriage to Elbert Druie Rogers on Oct. 24, 1931. They had one son. She was preceded in death by one brother and four sisters. She is survived by her husband, Elbert Druie Rogers; one son, Joe Rogers and wife, Melba, of Jonesboro; three grandchildren, Preston Rogers and Melissa Rogers, both of Jonesboro, and Clifton Rogers of Racine, Wisc.; three great-grandchildren, Kyle, Joseph and Connor; and other relatives and friends.. ...

Oscar Conley Speer, 85, of Rector, died Saturday, March 12, 2005, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born June 20, 1919, in the Campground Community near Paragould to the late Joseph Speer and Amanda Ramer Speer, he was a mechanic, farmer, a World War II Army veteran, of the Methodist faith and had been a member of this community for 66 years...

William Clare Marris, 90, died Monday, March 24, 2005, in Fort Myers, Fla. He was born July 7, 1914, in Piggott, the son of Rev. William H. and Oma Gilbert Marris. After graduating from Piggott High School, he attended the University of Arkansas receiving his degree in chemistry in 1936...

Yellow ribbons wave in the breeze as Piggott prepares to welcome home area soldiers with the Arkansas Army National Guard's 39th Infantry Brigade who have been serving in Iraq this week. According to a local National Guard spokesman, Justin Berry of Rector arrived home Monday night, March 28...

It was truly a joyous occasion as approximately 300 people attended the 75th anniversary celebration at Piggott State Bank from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March. 22. The evening was opened with prayer by Bro. Joe Payne of Piggott First General Baptist Church. ...

Virgie M. Rogers, 94, of Piggott, died Thursday, March 24, 2005, in the Jonesboro Health Care in Jonesboro. She was born May 25, 1910, in Rector, the daughter of the late William Walker and Della Irby Smith. She was united in marriage to Elbert Druie Rogers on Oct. 24, 1931. They had one son...

John O. Gordon, 88, of Milan, Tenn., a native of Clay County, died Saturday, March 26, 2005, at his home. He was born June 30, 1916, in Clay County to the late Ernest Simpson Gordon and Nannie Ruth Overton Gordon. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Milan and a member of the Wylie Brewer Sunday School Class. He was a World War II U.S. Air Force veteran...

Glenna (Sigsby) Bookout is admired in the Rector community for a number of reasons -- perhaps first because of her amazing musical talent, but also for her quick wit and ability to find humor in almost every situation and for her extensive community involvement and her willingness to jump in and help wherever she might be needed...

Singing cowboys and a meal catered by Strawberry's will be featured at the annual Rector Area Chamber of Commerce banquet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at the Rector Community Center. Family-friendly entertainment will be provided by The Sons of the Western Bootheel of Kennett. Members of the group are Scott Andrews, Matthew Mobley, Dr. Everett Mobley and Ron Roberts...

A parole hearing for convicted felon Delwin Mouser Jr. of Rector has been set for Thursday, May 26, though, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections' Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) system, he is not actually eligible for parole until Sept. 4, 2006...

Flags will be flying in Rector this week to welcome home area soldiers with the Arkansas Army National Guard's 39th Infantry Brigade who have been serving in Iraq. According to a local National Guard spokesman, Justin Berry of Rector arrived home Monday night, March 28...

Reminiscing and time to share a few laughs and catch up with old friends were the orders of the evening Saturday, March 19, as the third annual Rector website reunion was held at the VFW Building north of Rector. Forty-one people attended this year's reunion from areas across the United States...

The Marmaduke Greyhounds were outdone 17-12 by the Piggott Mohawks last Monday in the only area baseball game played during the week. Piggott had a high-powered fourth inning, scoring 13 runs en route to taking a 16-3 lead. Marmaduke refused to quit, however, scoring nine runs over the next three innings. A big boost to the Greyhound comeback campaign was a grand slam by John Clark in the fifth inning. The damage already done was too great for Marmaduke to find a way around, though...