Stories from Wednesday, August 2, 2006

The annual Greenway Picnic will be held on Saturday, Aug. 5. Area residents are encouraged to attend the event and enjoy the food and fun while helping support Mitchell Cemetery. Clean-up days at the Greenway Picnic Grounds will be Wednesday (today), Aug. 2, Thursday, Aug. 3, and Friday, Aug. 4. All interested persons are asked to come and help...

As the 2006 Clay County Fair approaches, the second Miss Clay County crowned, Betty (Williams) Bell, visited the Times office to share her memories of the 1946 Queen's contest. Some area residents probably remember the fair, at that time, was not only held where the annual Piggott Fourth of July Picnic is held, but was also substantially later in the year. Festivities were slated Thursday, Oct. 3, through Saturday, Oct. 5...

It is time to sign up for Piggott peewee football. For the past two weeks, parents have had the opportunity to enroll their children in the sports program. At this time, there are approximately 30 children signed up. Beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. ...

The 2006 Piggott Summer Tennis League had eight participants this year. Those involved were Mercedes Arnold, Ambra Carman, Caitlin Davidson, Hillary French, Amanda Howell, Haley Lambert, Kiley Mode and Whitney Redmon. The league was divided into two division, the red and the black. French won the red division, while Howell won the black division. The summer league completed over the course of three weeks, with the tournament being the last night of the league...

The Lady Mohawks volleyball team has begun practice for the 2006 season. The Senior Lady Mohawks take the court from 8 to 10 a.m. each day, while the Junior Lady Mohawks begin at 10 and practice until noon at the high school gymnasium. Practice is scheduled for each weekday morning. ...

Donald G. Edwards, 55, of Campbell died Thursday, July 27, 2006, in the General Baptist Nursing Home at Campbell. He was born Jan. 24, 1951, in Rector, the son of the late John Henry and Helen (Crews) Edwards. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Junior Edwards and Dennis Ray Edwards...

Lonnie E. Starks, 57, of Idalia, Mo., died Wednesday, July 26, 2006, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. He was born May 1, 1949, in Piggott, the son of the late Joseph Lonnie and Sarah Lee (Holifield) Starks. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Josie Lee Mauldin; and a nephew, Jackie Wayne Mauldin...

Bobby J. Stewart, 73, of Lemay, Mo., died on Thursday, July 20, 2006, in Lemay. He was born July 15, 1933, in Greene County, the son of the late W.F. Stewart and Floye Light Stewart. Mr. Stewart was the former owner of three Kwikway Restaurant's and four Stewart bars, Lemay Bowl and was a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker Realtors...

R.A. Simpson, 89, of Casa Grande, Ariz., died on Saturday, July 8, 2006. He was born Sept. 24, 1916, at Greenway, the son of the late Elmer and Laura Cox Simpson. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, and a 50-year Mason. He was a lifelong farmer and...

Bernice Moore, 95, of Piggott died Sunday, July 30, 2006, in the N.H.C. Healthcare Center in Kennett. She was born Jan. 29, 1911, in Morganton, the daughter of the late Omer and Bessie Allison Graddy. She was united in marriage to Hudson Moore on Jan. 10, 1932. They had five children...

Local businessman Ronald L. Settlemoir, 59, of Piggott died unexpectedly on Monday, July 24, 2006, at his residence. Settlemoir operated heavy equipment for 35 years after joining his father's business, Settlemoir Construction. He served his country in Germany during the Vietnam Conflict, was a 25-year veteran of the Piggott Volunteer Fire Department and a major supporter of the Piggott SuperCruise...

Filing for municipal offices is now underway. Filing opened Thursday, July 20, and will close at noon Wednesday, Aug. 9. The first step in the process is obtaining a petition with signatures of registered voters. All petitions must be returned to the Clay County Clerk's office by noon Aug. 9...

The Piggott School Board rejected all bids for the preschool remodeling project during a special meeting at the Piggott High School Library Monday evening. Superintendent Bruce Evans, academic advisor Joan Gossett and board members Cliff Winberry, Robert Jackson, Neil Morgan, John Rodery and Shawn Parker were present...

Filing is underway for position one on the Piggott School Board. Candidates must obtain a petition from the Clay County Clerk's office and return it with the signatures of 20 registered voters within the school district. As of press time Tuesday, incumbent Cliff Winberry and Jeff Benbrook were the only candidates filing...

Ernest Lee "Dick" Hall, 78, of Piggott died Thursday, July 27, 2006, at his home. He was born Jan. 12, 1928, in Morrilton, the son of the late Andy and Claudia Cook Hall. He was united in marriage to Patti Casper on Sept. 18, 1959. He was a member of the First General Baptist Church in Piggott...

The Edward Jones Regulators eight and under all-star team recently took part in the United States Specialty Sports Association's eight and under state tournament at Burns Park in Little Rock. The team arrived in Little Rock on Friday, July 7 and began play on Saturday. The lengthy trip paid off, as the Edward Jones squad brought home third place from the competitive tourney...

Joseph Michael Jones Jr., 30, of Paragould, formerly of Rector, died Friday, July 28, 2006, at his home. He was born Dec. 22, 1975, at Paragould. He was a member of Brown's Chapel Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his mother, Linda Thomas Griggs...

Donald G. Edwards, 55, of Campbell, Mo., died Thursday, July 27, 2006, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. He was born Jan. 24, 1951, in Rector, to the late John Henry and Helen (Crews) Edwards. He also was preceded in death by two brothers, Junior Edwards and Dennis Ray Edwards...

Francis Pauline Morris, 61, of Rector, died Friday, July 28, 2006. Born July 13, 1945, in Rector to the late Arthur and Pauline Morris, she was a member of Rector First General Baptist Church. Also preceding her in death was one brother, A.L. Morris...

Joan (Mallet) Jenkins, 63, of Paragould, died Sunday, July 30, 2006. Born Oct. 17, 1942, she was a retired high school teacher and was active in the Center Hill Church of Christ. She taught 17 years at Rector, 16 years at Crowley's Ridge Academy and two years at West Memphis Christian School...

The process of restoring the damaged structures of the American Railcar Industries (ARI) factory in Marmaduke following the tornados of April 2 is well underway. Outside contractors have been brought in to make repairs as the facility closes in on a return date...

Shelley Applegate will be among new faculty members at Rector School District for the start of the 2006-2007 school year. Applegate will take the reins as the new seventh and eighth grade math teacher. This will be her first teaching job since earning her degree from Arkansas Tech University at Russellville in May...

New second grade teacher Candy Williams will bring years of experience to Rector Elementary when school starts later this month. Prior to this year, Williams had spent the entirety of her 16-year career in education at the Piggott School District. She began teaching in 1990, following the completion of her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Arkansas State University. ...

Marmaduke and Greene County law enforcement officers were involved in a stand-off Wednesday night, July 26, after officers received a call that a man was armed near a local residence. Marmaduke Police Chief Steve Franks responded to the report, arriving at 605 East Industrial around 11 p.m. Two Greene County Sheriff's Department deputies already were at the scene...

Rector native Bill Carter will be on hand to greet Rector residents and sign his new book "Get Carter: Backstage in History from JFK's Assassination to The Rolling Stones" at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at Rector's beautiful new museum, located in the back of the Rector Public Library on West Fourth Street...

The NEA Moving Up girls softball tournament will be held at the Trumann Sports Complex on Saturday, August 12. The tourney is ASA sanctioned and will be separated into the following divisions: Eight and under; 10 and under; 12 and under; 14 and under and 16 and under. The eight and under division will be coach-pitch, whereas the others are fast-pitch...