Stories from Wednesday, February 8, 2006

An investigation into the death of an infant in Clay County is underway following a 911 call for an ambulance Saturday morning, Feb. 4. A Clay County Sheriff's Department spokesman said the office received a call at approximately 8:45 a.m. that an ambulance was needed at 722 County Road 308, northwest of McDougal. The caller said a baby at the residence was not breathing and was thought dead...

The Piggott Mohawks suffered a defeat at the hands of sixth ranked Maynard Tigers on Friday, Feb. 3, with a final score of 74-58. "I'm proud of these kids," said Piggott coach Paul Seegraves. "They played hard and I like what I am seeing. I don't think the scoreboard really reflects what these kids have done. Hopefully it will work out in the tournament."...

The Piggott Lady Mohawks crushed the Lady Camels of Campbell on Thursday, Feb. 2, with a final score of 79-51. The Lady Mohawks led the game by almost 20 points throughout the entire game, as evidenced by the quarter scores of 29-7, 54-25 and 69-38. The Lady Camels were unable to score effectively against the powerful Lady Mohawks...

Dorothy Evalene Grubb, 76, of Peach Orchard died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006, at Piggott Community Hospital. She was born Oct. 14, 1929, in Knob to the late Thomas Edward and Tollie Jane Moore. She also was preceded in death by her husband, John C. Grubb...

Harry Thomas Highfill, 73, of Rector died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born Oct. 26, 1932, in Paragould to the late Everett and Audie (Walker) Highfill and was married Sept. 18, 1965 to Clara Ann Greenway...

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...

Sgt. James Edward "Jim" Rainbolt, 58, of Austin, Ark., died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006, at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. He was an Army veteran, having served during the Vietnam era, and was employed with the Arkansas State Police for 27 years. He attended the Beebe First Baptist Church...

Loyd Benson, 78, of Piggott died on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006, at the Piggott Community Hospital. He was born on Boydsville, the son of the late Loyd and Opel (Irby) Benson. He was a fireman, retiring from the Pontiac Fire Department in Michigan. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Louis Ann (Victor) Benson; and one brother, Velus Benson...

The Piggott Economic Development Committee heard that several projects are currently underway in the city in a mostly positive report Thursday, Feb. 2, at the Piggott Community Center. Those in attendance included committee chair Bill Irby, mayor Gerald Morris, and committee members Gaylon Burns, Alan Morris, Lisa Mikel, David Gregory, Chuck Schulte, Dan Gossett and Shirley Schoettlin...

Area residents were treated to quite a show last Friday evening at the Piggott Community Center as Jamie Richards and his band took to the stage for two big shows. Richards was born and raised in Oklahoma. Following time spent in Oklahoma's honky-tonks, he headed to Nashville in 1987. Richards told the audience he cut some songs for RCA, but none of them were ever released. He joked he was too country for them and said Andy Griggs was selected by the label instead...

It was another successful competition for the Piggott High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) as 19 of its members competed at the District II Spring Leadership Conference at Nettleton High School in Jonesboro last Saturday. The 19 students competed in 17 events. One event the school competed in, Website Development, is entered by a team of three students...

The Piggott Junior Mohawks put the clamps down defensively in the second half of their Junior District Tournament meeting with Walnut Ridge this past Monday night at Monette. Piggott walked away with a convincing 50-16 win. The Junior Mohawks got out to a 17-6 first quarter lead and led 25-14 at the half. That lead grew to 35-14 after three quarters of play...

The Junior Mohawks took out another conference rival when the team defeated Riverside on Tuesday, Jan. 31, with a final score of 57-22. With the one-sided score, all players for the Junior Mohawks were able to see court time. Daniel Baldwin and Casey Booth led the scoring for the night with 10 points each. ...

The Junior Lady Mohawks put in a decisive victory to end their regular season play on Thursday, Feb. 2, when the team hosted the Junior Lady Camels of Campbell. The Junior Lady Mohawks outscored the Junior Lady Camels, 48-27, and had led the through the entire game with quarter scores of 11-0, 26-12 and 40-17...

The Seventh Grade Mohawks basketball team wrapped up their 2005-06 season with a pair of victories to end their overall record as 10-2. On Tuesday, Jan. 31, the Mohawks outscored Riverside with a score of 29-18. "We avenged an earlier loss to Riverside with this win," coach Paul Seegraves said of the victory. ...

The Lady Greyhounds used spectacular perimeter play to pick up a convincing 72-50 win over Riverside this past Thursday at Marmaduke. The Lady Hounds led 14-7 after the first quarter before going up 38-18 at the half. Marmaduke was in front 49-31 after the third quarter...

The final homecoming in the current gymnasium was a difficult night for Rector, as the Cougars fell to the Bay Yellowjackets, 73-35. Bay jumped out to a 19-5 advantage after the opening quarter and was never threatened from that point, going ahead 41-12 at the half and 64-20 heading to the fourth period...

The Rector gymnasium is a building with a deep history. Built in 1951, the site has over 50 years worth of classic high school sports moments that have added a level of mystique to the atmosphere. From the classic teams of the past to the players stepping on the court for the first time this season, there is a great deal of tradition and dreams resonating from the sounds of the basketball bouncing on the hardwood and the swish of the net...

Loyd Benson, 78, of Piggott died on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006, at the Piggott Community Hospital. He was born on Boydsville, the son of the late Loyd and Opel (Irby) Benson. He was a fireman, retiring from the Pontiac Fire Department in Michigan. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Louis Ann (Victor) Benson; and one brother, Velus Benson...

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...

Sgt. James Edward "Jim" Rainbolt, 58, of Austin, Ark., died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006, at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. He was an Army veteran, having served during the Vietnam era, and was employed with the Arkansas State Police for 27 years. He attended the Beebe First Baptist Church...

Dorothy Evalene Grubb, 76, of Peach Orchard died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006, at Piggott Community Hospital. She was born Oct. 14, 1929, in Knob to the late Thomas Edward and Tollie Jane Moore. She also was preceded in death by her husband, John C. Grubb...

Ely Demetress Rojas, five months old, died Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born Aug. 8, 2005, he was the son of Laura Rojas of Paragould and Albert Rojas Jr. of Knobel. Other survivors include his maternal grandparents, Danny and Linda Knuckles of Marmaduke; paternal grandparents, Albert and Irene Rojas of Marmaduke; great-grandparents, James and Martha Lane of Marmaduke and Don and Jannie Clayton of Pocahontas; great-great grandfather, Melbourne Gilbee of Marmaduke; one brother, Cameron Morato of Paragould, and one sister, Alyssa Rojas of Paragould.. ...

Harry Thomas Highfill, 73, of Rector died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born Oct. 26, 1932, in Paragould to the late Everett and Audie (Walker) Highfill and was married Sept. 18, 1965 to Clara Ann Greenway...

Nettie Belle Toombs Romine Clayton, 90, of Rector died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006, at Rector Healthcare. She was born Jan. 11, 1916, in Boydsville to the late George Albert and Sara Caroline Toombs. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Louie Toombs, Delbert Toombs and Lonzo Toombs, and two sisters, Anna Toombs and Lena Settlemeyer...

Elementary students share Valentine's Day thoughts In celebration of Valentine's Day, the Clay County Democrat recently asked Rector Elementary School third graders to write letters telling what they love most about someone special to them. Here are their touching letters:...

An investigation into the death of an infant in Clay County is underway following a 911 call for an ambulance Saturday morning, Feb. 4. A Clay County Sheriff's Department spokesman said the office received a call at approximately 8:45 a.m. that an ambulance was needed at 722 County Road 308, northwest of McDougal. The caller said a baby at the residence was not breathing and was thought dead...

There used to be a stoplight in Rector. And while residents probably will never again see it hanging on Main Street, it hopefully will soon be up and running at the new Rector Museum, to be located in a large room at the back of the Rector Public Library...

The Rector City Council during its monthly meeting Monday to use the $35,000 General Improvement Fund grant the city received last year to construct a new restroom facility at Memorial Park. Mayor Ron Kemp, aldermen Cam Cate, Mac Manchester, David Freeman and Glenn Leach, recorder-treasurer Lowell McKenney, city attorney Kim Dale and city superintendent Todd Watson were present...

The Greyhounds ran into difficulties in the second half of their matchup with Riverside this past Friday at Marmaduke, falling 79-67. The Hounds were in front 18-14 and 32-30 after the first and second quarters, respectively. The Rebels responded, taking a 54-44 advantage heading into the fourth quarter...