Stories from Wednesday, February 1, 2006

David Houston Reagan, 48, of Fort Smith, walked out of a Paragould courtroom Thursday a free man following his retrial and conviction of second degree murder on Wednesday, in the 1989 death of Sarah Binkard, 2. Special retired Judge Gerald Pearson sentenced Reagan to the maximum 20 years in jail, but he was given credit for the more than 14 years he had already been incarcerated, and released him saying "good luck and stay out of trouble."...

The Piggott Junior Mohawks faced the Junior Hornets of Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 24, in nonconference action and added another win to the victory column. The Junior Mohawks dominated the court, with quarter scores of 32-3, 46-9, and 57-9 and the final of 62-14. "This was a good night for us, everyone got to play," coach Paul Seegraves said. "We were able to establish a big lead early with our press in the first quarter, which allowed us the victory."...

The Piggott Junior Lady Mohawks seized a victory from the Junior Lady Bobcats of Walnut Ridge on Thursday, Jan. 26, with a final score of 44-40. The Junior Lady Mohawks trailed the Junior Lady Bobcats through the first half of the game, ending the first quarter down 15-10 and the second 22-19...

The Piggott Mohawks hosted the Harrisburg Hornets on Tuesday, Jan. 24, for a nonconference game. The Mohawks saw their best playing of the night during the first half, only trailing the Hornets by one at the end of the first quarter, 12-11, and four at the half, 34-30...

The Seventh Grade Mohawks defeated the Hornets of Harrisburg on Tuesday, Jan. 24, with a final score of 34-20. Leading scorer for the Mohawks was Colby Lovelace with 14 points. Also scoring were Alek Samples with six, Tanner Murray with five, Kyle Hardin with four, Hayden McMillon with three and Jonathan Perkins with two. The win brought the Seventh Grade Mohawks' record to 7-1...

The Piggott Lady Mohawks rolled over the Lady Bobcats of Walnut Ridge on Thursday, Jan. 26, with a final score of 66-29. The Lady Mohawks dominated the court throughout the game, with quarter scores of 15-4, 41-11 and 59-14. "We played well defensively and were able to get a lot of turnovers off our press," coach Jeff Priest said. ...

Jewell J. Johnson-Brunsden, 81, of Linden, Mich., died on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006, at Riverbend, Mich. She was born Aug. 23, 1924, in Piggott, the daughter of Doc and Julia (Horn) Lingle. She was united in marriage to Sidney E. Johnson on Feb. 21, 1942. He preceded her in death on Nov. 24, 1996...

Dorothy Jean Goodman, 66, of Armes Chapel Community, Tenn., died on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006, at her home after months of illness. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Maggie Lee Clemons; a sister, Mary Ann Myres; and two infant sons, Larry and Barry Thrasher...

Loleda Allen, 88, of Gideon, Mo., died on Monday, Jan. 30, 2006, at the Gideon Care Center. She was born on Dec. 2, 1917, in Wardell, Mo., the daughter of the late Grover and Leah Haywood McDaniel. Mrs. Allen was formerly a cook at the Gideon Schools...

With the change of this year's Relay for Life date from April to June, area volunteers shared their excitement as the 2006 Relay for Life Kickoff dinner was held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30, at Donna's Country Kitchen in Piggott. Representatives of the American Cancer Society (ACS), members of the Clay County Relay for Life Steering Committee and team captains and members gathered to begin planning for the eighth annual event...

Recent jumps in energy costs have area residents feeling the pinch. Mayor Gerald Morris said he has been contacted by several concerned citizens about their rising bills. "Yes, the electric bills are very high. All energy costs have jumped beyond our control," Morris said...

Reva Graddy, 88, of Piggott died Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006, at the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. She was born Oct. 2, 1917, in Morganton, the daughter of the late David Washington and Mary Ellen (Pike) Whaley. She was united in marriage to Jerald Graddy on Oct. 7, 1939. They had one daughter...

Harley Abraham Russell, 88, of St. Francis died on Monday, Jan. 23, 2006, at his home. He was born Jan. 17, 1918, in St. Francis, the son of the late Rex and Nellie (St. Clair) Russell. Mr. Russell was of the Baptist faith. He served his country in World War II. He retired from the United States Air Force and later retired from a civil service job...

Thelma (Harris) Flynt, 88, of Rector died Friday, Jan. 27, at the Piggott Community Hospital. She was born in Senath, the daughter of the late Virgil and Lula Jane (Rogers) Harris. She was a member of the Church of Christ for many years, attending at Greenway during her later years. Flynt was a school teacher, teaching business and English...

Paul Gardette Griffith Sr., 90, of Mt. Ida died on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Hot Springs. He was born Dec. 12, 1915, in Greenway, the son of the late Samuel Kenneth Griffith and Cora Malone Griffith. Griffith was a long-time member and deacon of the First Baptist Churches in Piggott and Mt. Ida. He was one of the original co-owners of the Home For The Golden Years in Piggott and Paragould...

The Cougars ran into a high-powered Yellowjacket offense as they journeyed to Bay last Tuesday. Rector fell 77-48. Bay jumped to an early 25-6 advantage in the first quarter and never looked back. The hosts led 42-16 at the half and 61-33 going into the fourth...

The Rector Lady Cougars and the Marmaduke Lady Greyhounds met in Rector last Thursday in part of an evening of basketball consisting of four games featuring both the girls and boys teams from the two schools. Marmaduke took the victory in senior girls action, 52-34. Rector trailed throughout: 19-11, 30-17 and 37-24...

Walnut Ridge outscored the Greyhounds 23-17 in the fourth quarter to pick up the 72-64 win in Marmaduke last Tuesday night. Walnut Ridge led 16-9 after the opening frame, but Marmaduke cut it to a one-point game, 31-30, going into the half. The Hounds trailed 49-47 after three quarters...

The Cougars faced the Greyhounds at Rector this past Thursday in an evening packed with basketball, as both schools' boys and girls teams paired off in a night filled with action. In senior boys play, Marmaduke squeaked by Rector, 62-55. Rector held the lead early, going into the second quarter ahead, 12-11. Marmaduke countered, holding the lead for the rest of the way: 29-22 and 48-40...

Harley Abraham Russell, 88, of St. Francis died on Monday, Jan. 23, 2006, at his home. He was born Jan. 17, 1918, in St. Francis, the son of the late Rex and Nellie (St. Clair) Russell. Mr. Russell was of the Baptist faith. He served his country in World War II. He retired from the United States Air Force and later retired from a civil service job...

Frank (Bud) Ketner, 70, of Corcoran, Calif., formerly of Rector, died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006, after a 15-year battle with Parkinson's disease. Mr. Ketner settled in Corcoran in 1951 and was a member of the Corcoran Assembly of God Church. He was born June 14, 1935, in Rector, the son of the late Floyd and Pauline Ketner...

Thelma (Harris) Flynt, 88, of Rector died Friday, Jan. 27, at the Piggott Community Hospital. She was born in Senath, the daughter of the late Virgil and Lula Jane (Rogers) Harris. She was a member of the Church of Christ for many years, attending at Greenway during her later years. Flynt was a school teacher, teaching business and English...

Former Rector School Board member Doyle Raymond "Tuffy" Bishop, 75, died Monday, Jan. 27, 2006, at his home in Powhatan. He had been a teacher at Rector High School and later worked as a state sales tax auditor. Born July 11, 1930, in Memphis, Tenn., to the late Earl Ray and Hazel Lee Bishop, he was a veteran of the Korean conflict, a Methodist and a Master Mason with Rector Dannelly Lodge 300...

Those who enjoy laughter are sure to want tickets for the 2006 Rector Area Chamber of Commerce spring banquet. The event will feature Desha County Judge Mark McElroy, known as one of the funniest men in Arkansas. The banquet will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at the Rector Community Center...

Rev. James Henry Dortch of Rector accepted Christ in a small country church. He had just taken as his wife a beautiful young woman, Wynell Seay, who stole his heart -- and then urged him to give his heart to the Lord. Sixty-three years later, he speaks with great tenderness and affection of his "other half," but says she actually is two-thirds of what he is today. Together, they have given their lives to a ministry to which he committed himself only two years after their marriage vows...

David Houston Reagan, 48, of Fort Smith, walked out of a Paragould courtroom Thursday a free man following his retrial and conviction of second degree murder on Wednesday, in the 1989 death of Sarah Binkard, 2. Special retired Judge Gerald Pearson sentenced Reagan to the maximum 20 years in jail, but he was given credit for the more than 14 years he had already been incarcerated, and released him saying "good luck and stay out of trouble."...

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! The circus is coming to town! There will be lions and tigers, performing dogs, aerial artists and lots more to provide fun for the whole family when the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus stakes its huge tent in Rector for two performances Sunday, April 23...

The Lady Hounds fell to conference champion Buffalo Island Central, 57-49, on Monday night in Marmduke. The first quarter, in which BIC finished ahead 9-8, was a battle between Marmaduke's Amber Haynes and BIC's Jessica Shepard. Both players scored seven points in the opening frame. BIC held a 23-15 advantage at the half and was up 38-32 going into the fourth...