Stories from Wednesday, March 8, 2006

Rector Cougar baseball is underway and coach Nathan Henderson and his squad are hoping for another successful season on the diamond. Fans familiar with recent teams will notice several new faces taking the field, as 11 players departed after last season...

A small group of citizens voiced their concerns during a public meeting with officials from Cebridge Communications, the local cable provider, at 6 p.m. Monday evening at city hall. The meeting was scheduled prior to the Rector City Council meeting at 7 p.m. due to the fact the city is currently in the process of renewing its franchise agreement with Cebridge...

The impact of floodwaters may seem like wishful thinking to many, given the drought this region has undergone in the past year. However, the ramifications of run-off water coming down from Crowley's Ridge have long been a concern of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and local citizens alike...

Federal authorities now have responsibility for what had been a state investigation of the Marmaduke School District. Special Prosecutor Jack McQuary of Little Rock and Arkansas State Police Sgt. Jerry Digman began the probe last fall after District Prosecutor Brent Davis stepped aside to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest...

Lindol Burns, 71, of Tampa, Fla., a native of Boydsville and formerly of Flint, Mich., died Saturday, March 4, 2006. Mr. Burns was born Jan. 23, 1935, in Boydsville to the late Blanche and Tolbert Burns. He also was preceded in death by a daughter, Darlene Gillmore. He retired from Chevrolet Manufacturing and loved raising horses when he was younger...

Beulah May Summers, 93, of Dexter died Saturday March, 4, 2006, at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Born Nov. 17, 1912 in Bernie to the late John Neal Murphy and Elizabeth Robinson Murphy, she was a member of the First General Baptist Church in Dexter, where she taught Sunday School and was a member of the choir and Ladies Aid Society...

Mavis M. Evans, 87, of Rolla, Mo., formerly of Marmaduke, died Thursday, March 2, 2006, at Rolla Manor Care Center in Rolla. She was born Sept. 27, 1918, in Rector to the late Clarence I. and Mary Ida (Wheat) Grubb and was married Jan. 29, 1938, to John Ray Evans, who preceded her in death on July 7, 1990...

The Rector Cougars were downed 6-5 by host Cross County in baseball action Monday at Cherry Valley. Tony Loveless got the start and the loss for the Cougars. Loveless' case was hurt by two Rector fielding errors, as three of Cross County's six runs through his four innings were unearned. Jacob Hester and Jake Holcomb each worked an inning in relief. Neither allowed any hits...

The Rector Lady Cougar softball team is primed to continue tits successful ways from the past two seasons. The team returns eight starters from a year ago. Among the returnees are three all-state players from a year ago. Handling the bulk of the work on the mound for coach Matt Rabjohn will be senior Tara Shepard. The most dominant pitcher in the area the past two seasons, Rabjohn looks for her to maintain her level of excellence...

The Rector City Council agreed to support the projected utility costs as presented by the Rector Museum Committee, pending approval of the library board, during its meeting Monday evening at city hall. Mayor Ron Kemp, aldermen Cam Cate, Mac Manchester, David Freeman and Glenn Leach, city attorney Kim Dale, recorder-treasurer Lowell McKenney and city superintendent Todd Watson were present...

The Piggott Lady Mohawks softball team opened the 2006 season with a 1-0 win over the Lady Bobcats of Corning on Monday, March 6. Jessica Ingram was the opening pitcher for the Lady Mohawks, with Erica Rickman finishing up the game. The only score of the game came during the third inning when Lauren Hickson stole home, with Natalie Branscum bunting to put her into the scoring position...

Angel Food Ministries, a faith-based non-profit organization that serves the public through the low-cost distribution of boxes of food, is now operating in the Piggott area. Angel Food Ministries began in February 1994 in Monroe, Ga., and has since grown to serve communities in over 32 states and helps distribute hundreds of thousands of boxes of food each month. ...

For nearly a century the block of buildings parallel to city hall, on the corner of Court and Front Streets, were home to various Piggott businesses. Over the years the stretch has been home to Wood's Butcher Shop, Silas Real Estate and Marie's Cafe just to name a few...

The Clay County Democratic Central Committee will open filing for countywide offices at noon on March 21. Filing closes at noon on April 4. Any candidate interested in runninf for office in Clay County as a Democrat must file with the Clay County Democratic Central Committee and pay the applicable filing fee...

The impact of floodwaters may seem like wishful thinking to many, given the drought this region has undergone in the past year. However, the ramifications of run-off water coming down from Crowley's Ridge have long been a concern of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and local citizens alike...

Joe McMillon, 71, of Frisbee, Mo., died Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at Heritage Nursing Center. He was born on March 9, 1934, the son of the late Floyd Grover McMillon and Thelma Pearl Dabbs McMillon. He was united in marriage to Dortha Mae Huffman on May 6, 1950, in Paragould...

Bill Reagan, 78, of St. Peters, Mo., died on Sunday, March 5, 2006, in O'Fallon, Mo. He was born Dec. 24, 1927, in Patton, Mo., the son of the late George Henry and Della Crites Reagan. He was united in marriage to Pauline Davis on Nov. 17, 1951. They had two children...

He was born Nov. 9, 1934, in Blytheville, the son of Enloe Donaldson Bomar and Milie Hatley Bomar. Mr. Bomar retired from the Piggott Police Department in 1996 after 24 years of service as a police officer in Missouri and Arkansas. He attained the rank of Lieutenant before retiring. Always a proud American, he served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict. While in the Navy, he served on the U.S.S. Merrick, the U.S.S. Bayfield and L.S.T. 1048...

Despite the calendar reading February, the 2006 Mohawk baseball season opened with a victory. The Mohawks faced East Poinsett County on Tuesday, Feb. 28. The Mohawks outscored the EPC Warriors in the opening game with a final score of 5-3. The Warriors managed to score two runs during the first inning. ...

Long-term solutions to high energy costs were the focus of a public and subsequent special meeting held by the Piggott City Council last Tuesday. The meeting allowed residents the opportunity to raise questions about the proposed Plum Point power agreement. Mayor Gerald Morris, aldermen Tommy Risinger, Carl Birmingham and Mike Patterson, city attorney John Lingle and city clerk Judy Parker were present. Alderman Jim Poole was absent...