Stories from Wednesday, June 1, 2005

The next generation of area boys basketball standouts gathered at the Marmaduke gym last week, working together to improve their basketball skills. The camp was under the direction of Marmaduke boys basketball head coach Steve Richey and assistant coach Shane Robinson. Several current and former Greyhound players were onhand to assist in the process...

Rectorites gathered Sunday afternoon at Woodland Heights Cemetery to honor veterans who served the country and to hear an address on duty and sacrifice by 1st Sgt. Charles Cagle of Walnut Ridge, a member of the Arkansas Army National Guard. Sgt. Cagle knows his subject first-hand as he has completed tours of duty in the Sinai and in Iraq...

Rector's Operation Dad Bags program has been a huge success since it first was established in June of last year to send care packages to soldiers serving overseas, but, according to organizer Ruth Wimberley, it is in danger of ending if workers do not receive help in gathering names of soldiers and items for the boxes...

"I am very proud to announce that Piggott Community Hospital has been named one of the top hospitals ranked for the value it provides to the community," James Magee, chief executive at the facility, said. On Thursday, Magee learned that the 2005 State of the Hospital Industry report recognized PCH among the top 100. ...

Now and then you come across a very special store -- and Now & Then in Rector is special indeed. When members of the Gamblin family -- Russ and Sharon and married daughters April Lindsey and Barbi Terry -- opened their antiques, gifts and collectibles store on Main Street in 1996, they hit the ground running with a marketing plan that has propelled their business into the spotlight statewide and put their products in great demand all over the country...

Polly Ursa Bishop, 93, of Memphis, Tenn., a native of Rector, died Saturday, May 28, 2005, at Methodist South Healthcare in Memphis. Born July 11, 1911, in Rector, she was a homemaker and a member of the Providence Presbyterian Church in Southaven, Miss...

C. Marie Rippy, 84, of Marmaduke died Thursday, May 26, 2005, at the Senath (Mo.) Nursing Home. A homemaker, she was born Aug. 31, 1921, in Greene County to the late "Toby" Clarence Reddick and Alice Belle (Williams) Reddick. She was married Oct. 4, 1940, to Merl Rippy, who died March 27, 1986. She also was preceded in death by a brother, Ralph Reddick...

James William "Jim" Wooldridge, 91, of Pocahontas, formerly of Marmaduke, died Monday, May 30, 2005, at Randolph County Hospital in Pocahontas. A retired farmer and railroad brakeman, he was born Sept. 30, 1913, in Thayer, Mo., to the late William Dolphus Wooldridge and Sarah Elizabeth (Huff) Wooldridge. He was married Oct. 14, 1933, to Lola Mae Dortch Wooldridge, who died in December 1976, and later married Mabel Smooth Wooldridge, who died in December 1995...

There were a total of 63 participants in the basketball camp last week at Rector School conducted by coaches Matt Rabjohn and Mark Manchester. They were assisted by members of the senior high boys and girls basketball teams. Outstanding campers in the various age groups, grades 3-9, were Mitchell Weber, Sarah Hester, Garrett Evers and Kelly Fowler...

The Piggott High School senior track team participated in the Class AA State Track Meet on May 19 at Dardanelle. "I'm very proud of how we competed and I appreciate the efforts of all of the track athletes this year," coach Ken Shumate said of the event...

The members of the Mohawk football team recently participated in a weight-a-thon to raise money for the Mohawk Booster Club scholarship program, as well as for other purchases needed throughout the year. "We raised a total of $1204.32 through the event," coach Ken Shumate said. Most of the team members participated in the event which consisted of four different lifts and raised money through donations...

Oliver F. Craig, 69, of O'Fallon, Mo., died Saturday, May 21, 2005. He was born on Oct. 13, 1935, in Pollard, the son of Lucy Craig and the late Louie Craig. He was preceded in death by his father, Louie Craig; one daughter, Deborah Sue Sims; and one brother, Roland (Brenda) Craig...

Sunshine and a cool breeze greeted Piggott residents attending the annual Memorial Day Service at the Piggott Cemetery at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Piggott Cemetery Board President Royce Williams welcomed the crowd to the service and Bro. Mike Book of Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church delivered the opening prayer. Members of the Det. 1, Co. B, 875th Engineer Battalion of the Arkansas National Guard performed the flag ceremony...

Elementary music teacher and high school choir director Sandra Routszong is retiring from the Piggott School District after 38 years of service. Routszong made the decision to retire after returning to her hometown of Covington, Tenn., this past Christmas...

The Piggott Radio Control Modelers (PRCMC) will sponsor their 10th Annual Spring Fun-Fly Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5. Pilots will be bringing their planes from Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Alabama, Illinois, Tennessee and Oklahoma. Some of the planes will be unique, such as Snoopy's Dog House and a John Deere Lawn Mower flying. ...

Arvalla Gordon of Pollard is known for her skill in the kitchen, after a total of four years owning and operating Aunt Wheezer's Chuck Wagon BBQ. Many area residents are familiar with Gordon and her delicious food. Now, they will have the opportunity to see her skills as a painter...

Frances Arends Brannan, 92, of Columbia, Mo., died Wednesday, May 25, 2005, at Bluff Nursing Home in Columbia. She was born Nov. 30, 1912, in Malden, the daughter of the late Elwood D. Johnson and Ima Moore Johnson. She was married to Joseph N. Arends II, he preceded her in death on Nov. 25, 1965. Her second husband was Dr. Lloyd Brannan, he also preceded her in death...

Jean R. Vancil, 77, of Holcomb died Saturday, May 14, 2005, in the Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock. He was born Dec. 18, 1927, in Cape Girardeau, the son of Ernest Randolph Vancil Sr. and Maude Mae Loyd. He was united in marriage to Jackie Ann Watson on Dec. 19, 1953, in Beech Corner, Mo. She preceded him in death...

Cloyce W. "Hank" Golden, 92, of Piggott died Friday, May 27, 2005, in the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. He was born Oct. 6, 1912, in Greenway, the son of the late William Henry and Rhoda Jane Jewell Golden. He was united in marriage to Mamie E. Lovelady on Oct. 23, 1937. They had three children...

Brenda Kay Smart, 54, of Marked Tree died Sunday, May 29, 2005, in Marked Tree. She was born Sept. 28, 1950, in Detroit, Mich., the daughter of U.L. and Charlene Wilma Lawerence Watson. She was preceded in death by her parents, U.L. and Charlene Wilma Watson; and one sister, Angie Whitehorn...

"I am very proud to announce that Piggott Community Hospital has been named one of the top hospitals ranked for the value it provides to the community," James Magee, chief executive at the facility, said. On Thursday, Magee learned that the 2005 State of the Hospital Industry report recognized PCH among the top 100. ...