Stories from Thursday, April 14, 2005

The rainy weather has slowed down much of the area's baseball action. The Marmaduke Greyhounds have been among the hardest hit, playing in just one game last week. Marmaduke overpowered Crowley's Ridge Academy by the score of 5-1 last Monday in their only game of the week...

The Rector School Board offered a contract for high school principal to Mike Hunter of Kennett after interviewing several applicants at Monday night's board meeting. Hunter has 28 years of experience and is currently the principal at Armorel High School in Mississippi County...

Christina Marie McDonald, 5, of Malden, Mo., formerly of Rector, died Wednesday, April 6, 2005. She was born Sept. 3, 1999, in Hot Springs. She was a kindergarten student and had lived her life in this community. Survivors include her parents, Windell Matheney and Jessica Leigh McDonald of Malden; one brother, Austin Thrasher of Malden; grandparents, David Laxton and Katrina Laxton of Rector and Teresa Morgan of Malden; great-grandparents, J.D. ...

Edward Eugene Hamm, 78, of Lafe, died Wednesday, April 6, 2005, in the V.A. Hospital at St. Louis. He was born March 5, 1927, in Cash to the late William Robert Hamm and Minnie (Broadway) Hamm Priest. He was a construction worker, a veteran of the Army, a member of VFW Post 3516 in Kinghan, Ariz., and of the Baptist faith...

Robert G. O'Dell, 97, of Rockford, Ill., died on Saturday, April 9, 2005. He was born May 31, 1907, in Columbus, Ky., the son of the late George Roland O'Dell and Floridia Hamilton O'Dell. He was united in marriage to Leona Bishop on Oct. 14, 1933. They had one son, John George O'Dell, who was born on Nov. 6, 1934...

Louvea Jeanne Pratt, 71, of Rector, died Friday, April 8, 2005, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born April 8, 1934, in Rector to the late Joe Gilkison and Julie (Layne) Gilkison, she was a special education teacher, an antique dealer, a member of the Chruch of Christ and had lived most of her life in this community...

Roy Steed, 70, of Marmaduke died Saturday, April 9, 2005, at his home. Born Sept. 5, 2005, in Hartselle, Ala., to the late Emmett Steed and Ruby (Woods) Steed, he was in maintenance with Rockford Tool and Die, a Navy veteran and a member of the Stonewall Community Church...

Verneal Thompson, 88, of Greene Acres Nursing Home in Paragould, formerly of Marmaduke, died Friday, April 8, 2005, at Greene Acres Nursing Home. Born Oct. 1, 1916, in Greene County to the late Moses Starnes and Nancy Bell (Staires) Starnes, she was a homemaker, a member of Ramer's Chapel United Methodist Church and a lifelong member of the community...

Dorothy Aline Jones, 75,of Oak Grove died Saturday, April 9, 2005, at Oak Grove. Born Sept. 6, 1929, in Parkin to the late Jewell and Henry Fahr, she was retired from Brown's Shoe Factory and of the Baptist faith. She also was preceded in death by two brothers, Roy and Denver Fahr; one son-in-law, Dennis Robertson, and one great-granddaughter, Molly Robinson...

Ethel Marie Cruce, 86, of Harrison, a native of Marmaduke, died Monday, April 4, 2005, at the Hilltop Nursing Center in Harrison. Born Feb. 26, 1919, in Marmaduke, Mrs. Cruce was a homemaker and of the Southern Baptist faith. Survivors include one daughter, Nika Cruce of Harrison, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren...

Lottie Mae Blackshear, 87, of Paragould, died Friday, April 8, 2005, at Paragould. Born April 7, 1918, in El Paso, Ark., to the late Emma and Walter Cordell, she was a retired nurse and of the Pentecostal faith. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Robert O. Blackshear; one brother, Bill Cordell, and three sisters, Virgie Sumler, Mammie Grigsby and Charlene Long...

Wanda L. (Austin) Schultz, 74, of Perryville, Mo., formerly of Piggott and Greenway, died Sunday, April 3, 2005, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born Oct. 22, 1930, in Greene County, Ark., the daughter of Nelson W. and Lillie (Mofield) Austin Sr...

Joe Wesley Hosier, 63, of Lafe died Thursday, April 7, 2005, at his home. Born April 26, 1941, in Harrisburg, he was a truck driver, an employee of Southern Bank of Commerce and a Catholic. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Violet Hosier...

The Rector Lady Cougars traveled to Doniphan, Mo., this weekend to take part in an area softball tournament. The tourney featured solid softball teams from Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois. In the first round of play, Rector blanked the team from East Carter, Mo., 4-0. Tara Shepard picked up her 10th win of the season with a complete-game shutout. She allowed just two hits while striking out six and walking four in seven innings...

After advancing earlier in the day, the Rector Cougars faced Armorel in the second round of the Crowley's Ridge Academy Tournament this past Saturday. Rector fell to Armorel, 6-3. Defensive miscues troubled the team from Rector on the day. Armorel picked up three runs in the fourth inning when a bases-loaded roller went between the legs of the Cougar outfielder...

A large crowd is expected for Thursday night's Rector Area Chamber of Commerce banquet at the Rector Community Center. The casual night of fun, fellowship and good food will begin at 6:30 p.m. and feature a fine menu by Strawberry's of Holcomb, Mo., and musical humor by Kennett's Sons of the Western Bootheel...

Personnel issues were once again the main point of discussion at the Marmaduke School Board on Monday night, including the hiring of a new superintendent. After a brief open session, interim superintendent Debbie Smith and Board members Kim Bridges, Al Ryan, Eugene Bennett, Stacy Speer and Steve Bateman began an almost three-hour period of executive session to discuss personnel matters...

Five-year-old Christina Marie McDonald was killed Wednesday night, April 6, in a shooting incident at 1011 South Fordyce Street in Rector. The fatal wound was caused by a single shot to the head from a 12-gauge shotgun. An 11-year-old boy was taken to the Rector Police Department for questioning in the shooting...

Wanda L. (Austin) Schultz, 74, of Perryville, Mo., formerly of Piggott and Greenway, died Sunday, April 3, 2005, at Perry County Memorial Hospital. She was born Oct. 22, 1930, in Greene County, Ark., the daughter of Nelson W. and Lillie (Mofield) Austin Sr...

Charles Bare, 83, of Hilmar, Calif., died Friday, Feb. 4, 2005, at Emanuel Medical Center. He was born Sept. 9, 1921, in Arkansas, the son of John Harry Bare and Margaret Jane "Jenny" Templeton Bare. He retired from the United States Navy Military Sea Transportation Service after 28 years at sea. He was in World War II in the South Pacific, also in the Korean War and Vietnam War, taking troops and supplies around the world...

Robert G. O'Dell, 97, of Rockford, Ill., died on Saturday, April 9, 2005. He was born May 31, 1907, in Columbus, Ky., the son of the late George Roland O'Dell and Floridia Hamilton O'Dell. He was united in marriage to Leona Bishop on Oct. 14, 1933. They had one son, John George O'Dell, who was born on Nov. 6, 1934...

Raymond Wright, 88, of Piggott, died Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at the Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott. Arrangements were incomplete at press time. A complete obituary will appear in next week's paper. Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home of Piggott is in charge of the arrangements...

The Piggott Lady Mohawks put another victory in their win column this past week when they outscored the Lady Indians of Marked Tree on Tuesday, April 5, with a final of 16-4. Chelsey Grimes was the winning pitcher for the game. She struck out four Lady Indians. Laura Jardeen had two doubles for the game, while Natalie Branscum had a double and a single. Kasey Hicks had two singles and a double and Casey Mauldin had a triple and a double...

Just when it seemed as if the Piggott Mohawk baseball team was finally on track, the Mohawks have allowed errors to drain their games. The Mohawks hosted East Poinsett County on Monday, April 4, and were outscored 13-5. Jeremy Lemmons took the loss in pitching, only giving up four earned runs. The Mohawks committed seven errors in the game against the Indians...

The Piggott junior high track team participated in the Greene County Tech Junior Relays. There were 18 other teams participating in the event. "The level of competition could possibly be the best we will see all year in grades seven, eight, and nine," coach Ken Shumate said. "The boys and girls gave a good effort today," Shumate continued...

Family-friendly fun and food will be featured at the seventh annual Clay County Relay for Life on Saturday, April 30, at Heritage Park. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will kick off with the annual Cancer Survivor's Walk. On Thursday, April 7, team captains meant with members of the Steering Committee and Martha Smith, Community Representative for the American Cancer Society for Northeast Arkansas, to plan the layout of the team campsites on Relay day as well as announce plans for their tents.. ...

Students in Mrs. Pam Morris' eighth grade literature class were treated to tales of the second World War by three local residents who experienced the war and its repercussions. The guest speakers also fielded questions asked by the gathered students...

The Piggott Chamber of Commerce welcomed their new secretary on March 14. Lora Winberry, a 2000 graduate of Piggott High School, received her B.A. in English from Arkansas State University this past December. There are many duties Winberry performs in her role. ...

James R. Staples, former Arizona Southern Baptist leader and retired president of California Baptist University, died Monday, Jan. 3, 2005, in Dallas. Staples served two stints (1960-1962, 1970) as editor of the Baptist Beacon, newsjournal of the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention (The Beacon was succeeded by Portraits magazine in 1997.)...

Joan A. Libby Greaney, 72, of Piggott, died Tuesday, April 5, 2005, at Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott. She was born April 20, 1932, in Scarborough, Pine Point, Maine, the daughter of the late Leon Stanley and Oletta June Skillings Libby...

Charles W. Tyler, 66, of McDougal, died Sunday, April 10, 2005, at Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. He was born Dec. 9, 1938, in Knobel, the son of the late James Howell Tyler and Hazel Fay Floyd Tyler. He was united in marriage to Carmaleda Kilbreth on June 24, 1989...

Several concerned citizens -- including students, teachers, parents and coaches -- attended the Piggott School Board meeting held Monday night to discuss the district's building plans. The School Board has contended the project of building a new gymnasium, cafeteria, kitchen, four new classrooms, a science lab and administrative offices has been delayed due to the Zoning Board of Adjustment denying a variance in February...