Stories from Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Sixty-four members of the Piggott High School Class of 2007 took part in commencement exercises Friday night at the PHS gym. Co-valedictorians Hayley Stephens and Melloney Dunlap delivered the keynote speeches. As the seniors prepared to enter the gym for the final time as students, the class song "Upside Down" by Jack Johnson played. The Piggott High Wind Ensemble then performed Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" as the graduates marched to their seats...

They were incredibly attentive during Piggott State Bank's vice president and cashier Jim Poole's description of the 1863 battle of Chalk Bluff. But once Poole opened up for questions, they wanted to know about the bodies. On May 17, Poole spoke to the fifth grade class of Holcomb, supervised by teachers Allison Spencer, Jennifer Rahn, and Cindy Long. ...

Dissatisfaction with the current gym/classroom building project brought members of the Piggott Schools Board of Education together once again Monday night, as they continue to face problems with the effort. Board members also rescinded a vote taken last fall that prohibits Piggott students from attending summer school in Missouri...

This week in 1967 marked a crossroads in Piggott newspaper history, as both the Piggott Banner and The Piggott Times went to press. The first issue of The Times came out on Thursday, May 25, followed by the weekly issue of The Banner on Friday. For over a year the two would both report on the news of the day in the Piggott area...

I have heard for years and years from Mom and Dad about how everyone in Piggott used to cruise the strip or cruise the main drag. I've always had a hard time understanding just what was so exciting about that, and just what it was that made "cruising the strip" entertaining. After this year's Rod Run and SuperCruise, I think I might have a pretty good idea just what the heck they've been talking about all this time...

In December, twenty-eight seventh graders were notified that they had won computers for having passed both parts of the Benchmark tests and for maintaining a 95 percent or better attendance for grades 2 -- 6. Elementary principal Kevin Reddick noted that the winners were nearly one third of the entire grade...

A brief meeting of the Clay County Quorum Court at the county courthouse in Piggott Monday night yielded a positive note: the County General fund currently has an estimated balance of $161,000. In stark contrast, County General had a negative balance of $116,000 at this time last year...

Piggott Mayor Gerald Morris announced to the city council that Fred's has said they are getting ready to build and build quickly. In the regularly scheduled meeting of the Piggott City Council, Morris said that Fred's currently plans to build a 16,000 square foot building, one of the largest Fred's stores around...

Times News Staff Over the course of the first eight years of the Heritage Park Rod Run and SuperCruise, rain started to become a tradition, as most of the earlier events were hampered by at least one day of showers. That was not the case this past weekend; the weather was near perfect as over 300 vehicles of all ages and descriptions made their way to Piggott and Heritage Park for what has become a true local tradition...

Gillis Neeley, 72, of St. Francis, died Saturday, May 19, 2007 in the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. He was born October 22, 1934 in Malden, Mo., the son of the late Herman Curtis and Dessie Mae Hoots Neeley. He was married to Peggy Lou Province on Jan. 19, 1957 and to this union two children were born...

Several members of the Piggott Lady Mohawk softball team were honored at the recent Spring sports awards assembly at Piggott High School. Coach Nikki Speer, along with assistant Melissa Williams, handed out post season honors to several members of the team, a squad that finished with a record of 14-8, and third in conference...

Post season honors were awarded to members of the Piggott Lady Mohawk basketball team recently, as the annual Springs Sports Assembly was held. Coaches Jeff Priest and Nikki Speer recognized the members of their seventh grade team, which had a record of 3-7 this year. Priest also noted that several members of that squad gained valuable playing experience with the junior high team during the course of the season...

Members of the Piggott Lady Mohawk junior and senior volleyball teams, along with their coaches, conducted a volleyball camp at PHS last week. The camp wrapped-up last Wednesday afternoon with a final workout and a brief awards ceremony for those who took part...

Members of the young Piggott Mohawk baseball team were recognized at last week's spring sports assembly at PHS. The team, and assistant coach Shawn Hearn, also took the opportunity to show their appreciation for long-time coach Brock Swann who is leaving the squad after 18 years...

Nominations continue to trickle-in for my proposed PHS Gym Dream Team, from the fall of 1964 to the spring of 2007. I say trickle because most ballots are still out, but some nominations have been coming in by way of email. I've also had a few verbal nominations, such as one from former Brinkley Tiger standout Danny Baldwin. ...

R.W. Williams, 86, of Piggott, formerly of Rector, died Thursday, May 17, 2007, at Piggott Community Hospital. Mr. Williams was an Army veteran who just recently received his Purple Heart. He was a General Baptist minister and a retired welder. He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Luella (Hoil) Williams; four brothers, Roy, Ben, Granville and Henry Williams; four sisters, Reba Smith, Dora Watson, Ruth Stevens and Wilma Shelton, and one grandson, Craig...

One of life's greatest transitions is rapidly approaching for members of the Marmaduke High School Class of 2007. The 47 graduating students will receive diplomas and bid farewell to high school days in commencement ceremonies set for 7 p.m. Friday, May 25, at the high school gymnasium...

More than 100 people gathered at the Rector arena this past Saturday to watch in anticipation as students in Jason Murray's small engine class met to race their modified riding lawnmowers. The day operated much like a reward for the students, allowing them an opportunity to not only enjoy themselves, but also show off their hard work before a crowd of family and friends...

The faith and devotion required to serve as a missionary cannot be measured by numbers. It is difficult for many to understand the life changes missionaries undertake when they turn their existence toward sharing their love of God with those who have never experienced that love...

A brief meeting of the Clay County Quorum Court Monday night at the county courthouse in Piggott yielded a positive note: the County General fund currently has an estimated balance of $161,000. In stark contrast, County General had a negative balance of $116,000 at this time last year...

Mildred Jernigan Gray, 84, of Rector, formerly of Paragould, died Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. She was retired from Ely & Walker Shirt Factory and was a member of East Side Baptist Church in Paragould. She was preceded in death by her husband, Garland Gray; a baby daughter, Janie Carolyn Gray; her parents, James G. ...

Russell E. Carmickle, 88, of Imboden, formerly of Rector, died Saturday, May 19, 2007, at Randolph County Medical Center. A retired carpenter, he was of the Pentecostal faith. He was born April 14, 1919, in Shirley to the late Louis and Eve Anna King Carmickle and was married May 6, 1977, in Blytheville to Mary (Gage) Carmickle, who survives...

R.W. Williams, 86, of Piggott, formerly of Rector, died Thursday, May 17, 2007, at Piggott Community Hospital. Mr. Williams was an Army veteran who just recently received his Purple Heart. He was a General Baptist minister and a retired welder. He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Luella (Hoil) Williams; four brothers, Roy, Ben, Granville and Henry Williams; four sisters, Reba Smith, Dora Watson, Ruth Stevens and Wilma Shelton, and one grandson, Craig...

Marmaduke High School held a senior-faculty basketball game Monday, May 14, in the high school gym. This found the 2006-2007 seniors competing in a game of basketball against the Marmaduke faculty. On the faculty team were members Tim Noel, Shane Robinson, Ashley Hardin, Marty Vallance, Laramie LeQuieu, Bill Muse, Nikki Robinson, Lorie Long, Misty Drope, Lindsey Brummet, Kelly Clayton, Breta Dean and Shelby Beck...