Stories from Thursday, September 14, 2006

The first annual Freedom Walk was held in Piggott on Monday, Sept. 11. The walk, which began at the Elementary School, circled the town square and continued back to the Elementary School for the annual Public School Board meeting. Mike Patterson, Alderman for the city of Piggott, estimated 300-400 participants in the walk...

Following the first annual Freedom Walk, The Piggott School Board held its annual public meeting. Superintendent Bruce Evans thanked the Freedom Walk board for working with them in conjunction with the annual public meeting of the Board. The desire was that the walk would generate more public participation in the public meeting. Board member Robert Jackson added that the maintenance department should be commended for their work on preparing the parking lot for the walk...

Area cowboys will have the opportunity to showcase some of their skills, as the Cowboys for Christ team roping event will be held at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Piggott on Saturday, Sept. 16. The event will begin at 9 a.m. and is likely to last until early Sunday morning. A free barbecue lunch will be provided to everyone. Admission is free for spectators...

William Samuel Ross, 24, of Poplar Bluff, died Sept. 4, 2006, in Piggott. He was born Dec. 13, 1981 in Doniphan, Mo. and was the son of Richard Lee Ross and Mary Wilson Stone. He is survived by his fiancee, Rachelle Wilkinson and son Logan of Poplar Bluff; his parents, Mary and Ronnie Stone of Piggott and Richard and Vicky Ross of Poplar Bluff; grandparents Rayburn and Dixie Ross of Kennett and Lula Mae Wilson of Lamesa, Texas; two brothers, Lee Ross of Cape Girardeau, Mo. ...

J. W. "Sonny" Grubbs, 68, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006 at his residence after a brief illness. Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2006 in the chapel of Osborn Funeral Home in Shreveport, LA. Officiating will be Monsignor Carson LaCaze. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Greenwood, LA...

On Friday, Sept. 8, the Senior Mohawks football team traveled to Walnut Ridge to face the Bobcats for the second game of the 2006 season. The stands were packed with fans of both teams, ready for football action. Neither team disappointed their fans in a close game that saw the Mohawks come out on top, 42-39, behind a dominating running performance by T.J. Harris...

The Junior Mohawks put a victory under their belts on Thursday, Sept. 7, when the team hosted a county rival, the Junior Cougars of Rector. The Junior Mohawks defeated the Junior Cougars with a final score of 6-0. "It was ugly, but we'll take it," coach Michael Harrell said of the victory...

The need, or lack thereof, for four-way stop signs along Woodland Heights was once again an area of concern for the Rector City Council during its meeting Monday evening at city hall. Mayor Ron Kemp, aldermen Cam Cate, Mac Manchester, David Freeman and Glenn Leach and city attorney Kim Dale were present...

There seemed to be a special magic in the air for this year's annual Labor Day Picnic in Rector. And while the event is always charged with energy and excitement, several people commented on that "certain feeling" which seemed to make this year's event the most spectacular ever...

Internationally-known musician Tony Melendez, whose unique ministry has inspired millions worldwide, will return to Rector for a free concert at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, at the First United Methodist Church's new Wesley Fellowship Hall. The program is open to the entire community. A freewill offering will be received...

Take a day of celebration, multiply it by three, and add a grand finale, and, well, people at the First United Methodist Church of Rector think Sunday, Sept. 17, will be a day many will long remember. In a special service Sunday morning, church members will not only dedicate the church's new 8,000 square-foot activity building (to be designated as Wesley Fellowship Hall), but they also will celebrate 125 years of Methodism in Rector and the 90th birthday of the main church building. ...

The Cougars played their first home game of the young season, as they hosted the Blazers of Valley View this past Friday night. The game got out of hand quickly, as Valley View rattled off four touchdowns in the first quarter en route to downing Rector 41-8...

If there is one game Rector players find an inner strength they did not know they possessed, it is likely to be the yearly meeting with county rival Piggott. Last Thursday's junior high game was no exception, as the visiting Junior Cougars battled the hosting Mohawks for the entirety of the game before ultimately falling 6-0...