Stories from Wednesday, January 31, 2007

In an effort to ensure a better future for generations to come, a group of local and regional mayors and civic leaders met in Piggott Thursday night to establish an economic development coalition. Piggott Mayor Gerald Morris hosted the meeting, which was also attended by mayors Ron Kemp of Rector, Mike Gaskill of Paragould, Dwayne Phelan of Corning and Byron Phillips of Marmaduke. ...

Construction has begun on the new railroad crossing guards on Castleberry in Piggott. The guard will include gate arms with bells and lights. Lights will also be placed to face traffic coming from North Thornton. The crossing at Castleberry will be hooked together with the others in Piggott and will be synced so that when a train approaches, all guards will activate at the same time...

"It was a slow week in terms of legislation actually being considered," State Senator Robert Thompson commented from his Paragould office on Friday. "There were a lot of bills being introduced this past week, and considerable work in committee, but things are just starting to get rolling."...

Dorothy Graddy, 84, of Piggott, died Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007, at the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. She was born Aug. 15, 1922, and was the daughter of the late Oda Thomas and Ethel Hollis Canfield. She was united in marriage to Hullon Graddy. To this union three children were born. She was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Piggott...

John Ray Howard, 77, died Jan. 16, 2007, in Piggott. He was the son of the late George Washington Howard and Blanche Edna McCarroll Howard. He was born July 10, 1929 in Stella, Ark. He was united in marriage to Betty Sue Finley on April 19, 1951, in Batesville. To this union six children were born...

Donald Milde, 67, of Hardy, Ark. passed away Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007 in the White River Medical Center in Batesville, Ark. He was born Dec. 13, 1939, the son of the late Carl J. and Flora E. Jones Milde. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Barbara Milde of Hardy; one daughter, Debbie Milde of Brookland, Arkansas; two sons, Donnie Milde and wife Donna and Doug Milde and wife Kim both of Brookland; three granddaughters, Dana Latty and husband Alex, Jamie Brown, and Deanna Bass and husband Paul; three grandsons; Daniel Milde, Shawn Milde, and Brent Milde; one great granddaughter, Madison Bass; six sisters, Carlene Iberg and husband Will of Piggott, Gwenda Hatcher of Woodstock, Ill., Barbara Marks and husband Loren of West Frankfort, Ill., Mary Loveless and husband James of Sycamore, Ill., Brenda Presson and Richard Tippitt of Piggott, and Linda Gearhart and husband Jim of Piggott; two brothers, David Milde and wife Ruthy of Marietta, Georgia and Dale Milde and wife Alma of Piggott; and many other relatives and friends.. ...

Myron Rogers, 86, died Jan. 29, 2007. His funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 1, at the First Christian Church in Piggott. Visitation will be at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the World Mission Fund, P.O. Box 456, Piggott, and AR. 72454...

Late in the third quarter of the Piggott Mohawk's 78-71 win over Brookland last Tuesday night, senior Logan Ballard set a pick that rattled the bones of a young Bearcat. The Tribe had come to play, and to avenge a road loss at Brookland back on Dec 12...

Going into last Thursday night's game against Harrisburg, at the Piggott High gym, senior Erica Rickman needed just one point to reach 1,000 for her high school career. The senior center hit that mark early in the contest, and tacked on an extra 35 in the Lady Mohawk's 74-55 win. For her efforts Rickman was recognized, and given the game ball by coaches Jeff Priest and Nikki Speer...

Mary Helen Cary, 77, daughter of the late Willie Lee Mullins and Allie Lee Peacock Mullins, died Jan. 28, 2007. She was born Aug. 9, 1929 in Lepanto. She is survived by one son, Michael Lynn Cary and wife Renee of Piggott; three grandchildren, Joshua Cary, Felicia Roberts and Emily Morrisett; three great grandchildren, Brooke Roberts, Cody Roberts and Emma Morrisett; one brother, Marvin J. ...

John Robert Brown, 78, of Piggott, died Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007, in the Piggott Community Hospital. He was born Nov. 10, 1928 in Piggott and was the son of the late Carl and Ruby Parker Brown. He was united in marriage to Kathaleen Morris on May 22, 1953. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Piggott...

Seven inspiring young mothers were present Thursday night, Jan. 25, at the Rector Community Center to receive $500 scholarships through the Clay County Single Parent Scholarship Fund. They are: Laura Johnson and Heather Johnson of Piggott, Jennie Janes of Knobel and Jennifer LaRue, Michelle Arnold, Kassie Smith and Shala Amiker of Corning...

The Strong Women strength training program began in Clay County at the Rector Senior Center with 15 participants. Over a year later the program is still going strong with over 114 women and two brave men having participated in the program offered by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. Two groups in Piggott meet on a regular basis: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9 a.m. at the Piggott Community Center and Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the General Baptist Church...

Many of you said you liked "The Week Before Christmas," so I decided to try my hand at something similar. You should know up front, though, that I'm not a Johnny Cash fan. Don't hate 'im, but don't really like 'im either. I do however, like his song "Folsom Prison Blues."...

1967 The fifth week of the year brought the news that Arkansas State College, at Jonesboro, officially became Arkansas State University on Wed Jan 25. The Piggott Post Office and Postmaster Gerald "Jerry" Sale received a citation of excellence, while the Lion's Club heard from world champion fisherman Glen Anderson of Rogers at their regular meeting...

Homer Lee Williams, 82, of Piggott, died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007, in the St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was the son of the late David Lee and Minnie Rose "Earl" Williams. He was married on Nov. 17, 1942, to the late Viola May "Harper" in Steele, Mo. He was of the Pentecostal faith and spent his working years as a mechanic/car dealer...

Polly E. Barks, 83, of Piggott, died Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007, in the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. She was born Jan. 25, 1924, in Nimmons, and was the daughter of the late Elaine and Evalena Crow Gattis. She was united in marriage to Norman Owen on June 13, 1939, and to this union two children were born. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman in 1993...

The Cougars had a rough night at home on Friday, as they fell to conference foe Buffalo Island Central, 62-38. Rector was in the hunt during the first half, trailing 12-10 and 23-16 after the first and second quarters, respectively. However, the third quarter proved to be the difference maker, as the Cougars were outscored 28-9, giving BIC a 51-25 advantage going into the final stanza. ...

The Rector Lady Cougars battled their way back from a seven-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to claim a 55-52 victory over the Lady Mustangs of Buffalo Island Central in Rector on Friday night. The win put Rector in a three-way tie with BIC and Riverside for first place in 2A-3 conference play...

Ronald Dale Jones, 63, of Rector died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born Aug. 8, 1943, in White Oak to the late Clarence Jones and Earline McGue Jones. He was a lifelong member of the community, a farmer and a member of White Oak General Baptist Church...

Billy Carl Fielder, 78, of Marmaduke died Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007, at his home. He was born March 24, 1928, in Brighton, Ark., to the late Myrle and Beatrice Shatley Fielder. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean conflict. He was a retired farmer and truck driver and was a member of Solid Rock non denominational church in Kennett...

Harold Duane Dickinson, 63, of Marmaduke, died Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born Dec. 8, 1943, in Marmaduke to the late Harold and Lorene (Rodgers) Dickinson and was married July 10, 1965 to Lynda Jean Stahl of Rector. He was a tool and die maker and retired owned of Dickinson Custom Tooling in Marmaduke. He was a lifelong resident of Marmaduke and a member of the Union Central Church of Christ...

Flu season has arrived. Anyone skeptical about such an announcement need look no further than area schools, where absenteeism is running rampant. During the week of Jan. 22-26, Rector Elementary School had a large number of students absent due to the onset of flu and flu-like symptoms. On Monday, Jan 22, 61 RES students were either absent or had gone home during the day. By Tuesday, Jan. 23, the number had ballooned to 81...

One of the nation's most highly respected organizations now has a chapter in Rector, following the formation of Boy Scout Pack 38 last September. Chartered by the Rector Lions Club, the pack already has grown to include 20 members in four different dens, or divisions...

In an effort to ensure a better future for generations to come, a group of local and regional mayors and civic leaders met in Piggott Thursday night to establish an economic development coalition. Piggott mayor Gerald Morris hosted the meeting, which was also attended by mayors Ron Kemp of Rector, Mike Gaskill of Paragould, Dwayne Phelan of Corning and Byron Phillips of Marmaduke. ...

The Marmaduke Greyhounds collected a big conference win at home last Tuesday, rolling over Corning, 80-58. Both teams battled through halftime, with Marmaduke holding a 37-34 advantage. However, the 'Hounds shifted to another gear in the third, outscoring Corning 20-11 en route to moving ahead 57-45 heading into the final frame...

The Lady Greyhounds topped Harrisburg, 61-43, Monday night in Marmaduke. The Lady 'Hounds led 29-14 at halftime and 44-29 heading into the final frame. Three players finished in double figures for Marmaduke. Jade Brinkley led the way with 14 points. Shawna Spurling and Brittany Drope finished with 12 each, as the Lady Greyhounds moved to 18-10 overall and 8-7 in 3A-3 conference play. Jamie Ricker and Sarah Potter added four and two points, respectively...