Stories from Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Earlene M. Dickerson, 92, of Piggott, died Monday, Feb. 26, 2007 at the Northeast Arkansas Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Feb. 15, 1915 in Rector, Arkansas, the daughter of the late James Riley and Josiphene Graves Price. She was united in marriage to Everett Dickerson on Oct. 5, 1934, to this union two sons were born...

"Never in 30 years have I covered a more important issue than renewable fuel," said Jim Wiesemeyer, vice president of Informa Economics and longtime agriculture journalist. Wiesemeyer was one of several speakers at the 2007 Agribusiness Conference held Wednesday, Feb. 14, at Arkansas State University. Farmers and members of the agriculture community crowded the auditorium at the Fowler Center to hear about a hot topic in the industry -- biofuel...

A local convenience store was literally "shaken up" Friday morning, Feb. 23, when it was struck by a vehicle. At approximately 5:30 a.m. Friday, the Flash Market convenience store located on Highway 49 in Rector was hit by a 1976 GMC pickup driven by Jamie Lamar of Rector...

The Clay County Arts Council and Northeast Arkansas Educational Cooperative will hold a local student art contest in April in partnership with the Winthrop Rockefeller Center of the University of Arkansas system's second annual "Arts in the Air" statewide art contest...

Basketball fans from all over Arkansas flocked to Rector last week for the 2A North Regional Tournament. Games were held Wednesday through Saturday, as 16 teams from 12 different schools competed for the opportunity to take part in this week's state tournament at Danville...

Internationally acclaimed illusionist André Kole is coming to Rector for one show at 7 p.m. Friday, March 16, at the Rector Community Center. David Copperfield, the world's greatest magician, said of Kole, "Through the years, André has not only been one of my closest friends but also has collaborated with me on each of my television specials. ...

Glenn Holland, 81, of Rector died Monday, Feb. 26, 2007, at his home. A retired farmer, Mr. Holland was born March 15, 1925, in Clay County to the late Fred and Eardie Townsend Holland. He was of the Baptist faith. Mr. Holland is survived by a host of friends...

Cassie Martin, 82, of Rector died Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007, at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born Oct. 8, 1924, in Brookland to the late Benjamin Wilbur Cox and Bessie Mae Wilson Cox, she was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church in Rector...

Bessie Evelyn Highley, 92, of Corning, died Monday, Feb. 26, 2007, at Paragould. Born March 14, 1914, in Island, Ky., to the late Clark and Ada Vinson, she was retired from Caterpillar Inc. and of the Pentecostal faith. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Ira Highley; three daughters, Virginia Dickerson, Pearly Mae Highley and Betty Jene Highley; four sisters, Aletha Rouse, Milidean Dodd, Verna Graves and Daisy Reynolds; one son-in-law, John Barker, and one great-great-grandchild...

Going into last Thursday night's regional contest at Bergman, Piggott head basketball coach Paul Seegraves knew his team had their work cut out for them. As the fourth-seed from 3A-3, his Mohawks would have to take on the host Bergman Panthers, one of the top three teams in the state, on their own floor. ...

Opal A. Whitehorn, 86, of Arab, Ala. formerly of Piggott, died Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007, in Arab. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Whitehorn; one daughter; Brenda McLeod and one brother. She is survived by three sons, Teddy Whitehorn and wife Linda; Jimmy Whitehorn and wife Sarah; Leon Whitehorn and wife Julie; two daughters, Stella Whitehorn and Mary Bozark; son-in law; Paul McLeod; eleven grandchildren; twenty three great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; also several step grandchildren and great grandchildren; one sister Mildred Floyd and other relatives and friends.. ...

The Piggott city council approved a recommendation from the Zoning and Planning department to change the way building permit fees are calculated. The recommendation was presented by Van Winton with additional information from Brian Haley. Under the old system, fees were calculated based on an estimated value of a building. ...

Piggott, Arkansas February 20, 2007 (ed. note-this address was given at the City Council meeting on Feb. 20, 2007) As I ponder where we've been in 2006 and where we are going in 2007, I can't keep from thinking how fast the last four (4) years have past. We have accomplished a great deal. However, I will talk about the State of the City as it is today...

State money, and how to spend it, continues to dominate the current session of the Arkansas legislature according to State Representative Robert Thompson of Paragould. "The big issues have been the current budget surplus, and distribution of the so-called 'general improvement funds,' or GIF money." Thompson noted Monday morning...

When it comes to the weather and mother nature, one never knows what to expect, but we all take a lot for granted, until we don't have it. No one knows better than David Finley, city power plant supervisor. Finley is the man, leader, and rescuer, the one who has the ability to save the day, and just maybe your toes, when the electricity has been knocked out due to downed power lines, whether from a bad summer thunderstorm or to a wintry icy storm...

My left shoe always comes untied. Yeah, I know that I talked about shoes last week, but I'm gonna do it again this week. Last week I was talking about my "nicer" shoes, the black ones that I wear with my slacks and all. I don't have a problem with them coming untied--they just squeak. Although, someone did write in to ask if maybe they weren't squeaky because they were "squeaky clean."...

This week we look back at the ninth week, or ninth newspaper edition, of the year. And as we do, thanks to everyone on your positive comments about this feature. 1967 Efforts to establish a second bank in Piggott continued, as the directors of the proposed People's Bank of Piggott announced the purchase of a pre-fabricated building. The structure was expected to be delivered by March 6. The charter for the new bank was the subject of an ongoing court battle for nearly a year...

Olive Easterwood Boyd died on Feb. 20, 2007, at her home in Campbell, Mo. Born in Piggott, Ark., on May 20, 1918, she was the daughter of T.C. Easterwood and Florence Fitzgerald Easterwood of Piggott. Mrs. Boyd was a graduate of Piggott High School, where she was valedictorian of her class...

Earlene M. Dickerson, 92, of Piggott, died Monday, Feb. 26, 2007 at the Northeast Arkansas Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Feb. 15, 1915 in Rector, Arkansas, the daughter of the late James Riley and Josiphene Graves Price. She was united in marriage to Everett Dickerson on Oct. 5, 1934, to this union two sons were born...

Two juvenile suspects broke the glass on a door at Piggott Elementary School Saturday night and spent the next several hours wreaking havoc in the building. "I'm guessing several thousand dollars worth of damage," said Piggott Police officer Sam Williams, "mostly in cleanup." Williams and officer Kurt Williamson assisted officer in charge Scott Redmon answering the call on Saturday...