Stories from Wednesday, September 28, 2005

An emergency situation management meeting was held this past Thursday at the Piggott city hall. The meeting was scheduled to help local town leaders lay the groundwork for developing a county-wide emergency plan. With the recent devastation in states south of us due to hurricanes, the Clay County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) wanted to gather mayors and representatives from the towns of Clay County together to exchange ideas and for what the county should do if the unthinkable happens here.. ...

Clay County residents have a reason to be proud. Last weekend at Arkansas' Relay University in Little Rock, Clay County's Relay for Life and its teams collected several awards - including being named in the "Top 12 Per Capita" in the state. The ranking was determined by dividing the net total from the 2005 Clay County Relay for Life by the county's population of 17,573. ...

On Thursday, Sept. 22, the Piggott Mohawks vs. the Cross County Thunderbirds game was featured in the Mascot matchup in the Arkansas-Democrat Gazette. In his report, the reporter, Nick Walker, said that he had called the local high school, the superintendent's office, the public library and its genealogy section, The Piggott Times and two members of the Clay County Genealogical and Historical Society, but had not been able to find anyone who knew where the school's nickname came from...

Following the tradition set forth by Paul Pfeiffer many years ago, a large number of quilts were on display at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Education Center. Pfeiffer would buy quilts year-round from area ladies in an effort to provide area residents with assistance instead of handouts. This practice is honored today by the yearly "Celebration of Quilting" event. This is the fifth year the celebration has been held...

Derick Stephen Robertson, 21, of Rector died Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005, at Piggott Community Hospital. Born March 8, 1984, in Paragould to Terry and Barbara Robertson, he was a jailer for the Clay County Sheriff 's Department and a member of Hargrave Corner Evangelical Methodist Church...

Jewell McCullough, 95, of Piggott died Friday, Sept. 23, 2005, in the Mark Twain Caring Center in Poplar Bluff. She was born Jan. 25, 1910, in Earle, the daughter of the late Joe Robert and Irene Sumner Scott. She was united in marriage to Wilson McCullough on Aug. 11, 1928. He preceded her in death on May 3, 1978...

The Junior Mohawks traveled to Salem on Thursday, Sept. 22, to square off against the Junior Greyhounds and brought home a victory, advancing their season record to 4-0. The Junior Mohawks defeated the Junior Greyhounds with a final score of 36-14. The Junior Mohawks made their mark by getting on the scoreboard first, with 1:26 to play in the first quarter. ...

The Piggott High School Mohawks traveled a long road to Cherry Valley on Friday, Sept. 23, to face the aggressive Thunderbirds of Cross County. The Thunderbirds were ready for the Mohawks and defeated the embattled Mohawk team 46-0. "Too many big horses that were way too fast," was how coach Ken Shumate described the loss...

The Lady Mohawks traveled to Hoxie on Tuesday, Sept. 20, to face the Lady Mustangs in conference action. The evening began with the Seventh Grade Lady Mohawks losing a pair to the Seventh Grade Lady Mustangs. The Junior Lady Mohawks then took the court, winning both matches, 25-7 and 25-11. ...

James Morgan, 79, of Piggott died Monday, Sept. 26, 2005. He is survived by his wife, Maxine Morgan; and daughters, Ann Carman, Nancy Hyde, Phyllis Richey, Mary Burton, Paula Morgan, Jill Midkiff and Connie Baker. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday (today), Sept. 28, 2005, in the Hoggard and Sons Chapel in Piggott...

Billy Wayne White, 76, of Rector died Monday, Sept. 26, 2005, at Jonesboro. He was born June 23, 1929, in Cardwell, the son of the late Sherman and Dora White. He was a farmer and a member of the Rector General Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death was one son, Gary White; and five brothers...

James Ray Chadwick Moore, 63, of Rockford, Ill., died on Sept. 19, 2005, at his home. He was born Feb. 24, 1942, in Rector, the son of Claude and Opal (Johnson) Moore. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Opal (Johnson) Moore; and his stepfather, Ernie Dorris...

Cora Woolf Jackson, 86, of Piggott died Sunday, Sept. 17, 2005, in Pontiac, Mich. She was born Oct. 23, 1918, in Greenway, the daughter of the late James Edgar and Anna Erin Mack Woolf. She was united in marriage to Tommie Jackson on Feb. 24, 1940. They had four children...

The Seventh Grade Mohawks football team moved to 7-0 on the season with road wins at Salem and Corning this past week. The Mohawks have yet to be scored on and have outscored their opponents 110-0 in their seven games. The young Mohawks have three games, all of which are at home, remaining in their season. ...

Times Sports Staff The Piggott High School Tennis team, girls' division, faced a tough Caruthersville team on Monday, Sept. 19, at Caruthersville. In singles', Hillary French defeated Kendra Bradley, 8-3. Other Piggott victories included Victoria McDaniel outscoring Candice Cobb, 6-2, and Alfea Crenshaw, 6-3. ...

Prominent Gospel singing group and native Rector family, the Dooleys, will perform a free, CD debut concert at the Rector Community Center at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15. The event represents the first time the group will perform all the songs from their new album, which is entitled "Everyday Miracle."...

A high-octane offense and a punishing defense propelled the fourth and fifth grade Rector peewee team to a 24-14 victory over visiting Cross County this past Saturday at Paul Temerian Memorial Field. The mini Cougars got to work quickly, scoring on their first play when Denver Knight broke free for a 35-yard touchdown run, thrilling the gathered fans. Though the try for two more points was unsuccessful, the young team had all the momentum they would need for the remainder of the contest...

The Cougars played host to the defending 3AA champion East Poinsett County this past Friday at Paul Temerian Memorial Field. Rector was downed in the contest 38-15. EPC held leads at each quarter break; 8-0, 22-0 and 30-0. The conference leading Warriors got off to a quick start, as senior standout wide receiver Ked Madden returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The Cougars wisely kept the kickoffs from Madden for the rest of the game...

Billy Wayne White, 76, of Rector died Monday, Sept. 26, 2005, at Jonesboro. He was born June 23, 1929, in Cardwell, the son of the late Sherman and Dora White. He was a farmer and a member of the Rector General Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death was one son, Gary White; and five brothers...

James Ray Chadwick Moore, 63, of Rockford, Ill., died on Sept. 19, 2005, at his home. He was born Feb. 24, 1942, in Rector, the son of Claude and Opal (Johnson) Moore. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Opal (Johnson) Moore; and his stepfather, Ernie Dorris...

Derick Stephen Robertson, 21, of Rector died Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005, at Piggott Community Hospital. Born March 8, 1984, in Paragould to Terry and Barbara Robertson, he was a jailer for the Clay County Sheriff 's Department and a member of Hargrave Corner Evangelical Methodist Church...

As Hurricane Rita approached the Texas Gulf Coast last week, millions of people in the Houston area suffered through a long and strenuous evacuation process into parts of northern Texas and Arkansas. One of these families made its way to Rector to seek shelter from the storm...

The Rector City-wide Yard Sale will be held on Saturday Oct. 8. The sale will begin at 7 a.m. Yard sale permit fees will be waived for Saturday only. Residents may use Rector Memorial Park during the sale as long as nothing is destroyed and everything is cleaned up afterwards. Space will be first come first served. The use of the family pavillion is prohibited due to family reunions...

In a 3-2 vote the Rector City Council set a cap on building permit fees during a special meeting Thursday night at city hall. Mayor Ron Kemp, aldermen Cam Cate, Mac Manchester, David Freeman and Glenn Leach, recorder-treasurer Lowell McKenney and city superintendent Todd Watson were present...

The Junior Cougars journeyed to Turrell this past Thursday to face the Rockets. Rector fell in the contest, 40-22. The Cougars trailed 8-6 after the first; led 14-8 at the half and trailed 24-14 after three quarters. Rector got off to a quick start, recovering an onside kick in the game's opening. The Cougars marched 52 yards on their opening drive, capping it off with a 35-yard touchdown run by Arron Spears. The try for two was no good, giving Rector a 6-0 advantage in the early going...