Stories from Thursday, July 19, 2007

The 75th edition of the annual Pollard picnic couldn't have been much better. This year's event, which benefits both the New Hope Cemetery and the Pollard Picnic Grounds, featured excellent weather and a great crowd throughout the day. The day kicked-off with the usual opening ceremony, hosted by Charles Carrens, and included comments from State Rep. ...

The House of Carnage fight team and Master Instructor Rusty Ort invites all friends and fellow MMA Fans to a night of the nation's best cage fighting action at 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 21, at the Back River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff. Local cage fighter John Midkiff will be fighting in the main event of the evening. ...

The regional Tri-County Junior All-Stars won their district tournament last week at Blytheville, and in the process qualified for this coming weekend's state tournament at Ashdown. The team will be competing with other 13-14 year old teams from around the state, with the winner advancing to the National-Regionals in Colorado...

Mary Alma Binkley, 71, died Friday, July 6, at her daughter's home in Crystal Lake, Ill. Mary was born on July 10, 1935, in Piggott, to Carl Marcus and Lucille (McLeod) Binkley. She was born in the same house where her mother was born. She was the sister of Charles Ray (Maggie) Binkley of Tulsa, Okla., Wilma (Jack) Wilson of Murray, Ky., Jane (Jerry) Webster of Piggott and Robert Daniel (deceased infant)...

Cassie Carmaleda Kilbreath Tyler, 76, of McDougal, died July 14, 2007, in the Northeast Arkansas Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born July 15, 1930 in Pollard. She was preceded in death by her mother, Pearlie Kilbreath; three husbands, one daughter, four grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and two brothers...

The 75th annual Pollard Picnic featured six pageants, with eleven titles up for grabs, and participation was good. Most of the early pageants featured at least a dozen in each age group, while twenty-five young ladies competed for the title of Miss Pollard that evening...

A new part-time position of election coordinator was created by the Clay County Quorum Court Monday night. Since the court was informed last month that County Clerk Sharon Williams can no longer handle the excess duties of elections in addition to her standard responsibilities, justices contemplated the possibility of a new position...

Spam. It used to be that when we heard this word we thought of a canned meat. The makers of spam should sue the internet, probably Al Gore since he created it. Who turned this word into a bad one? Spam is the internet word for junk email. The main thing I think of when I hear spam is the Monty Python skit that features the Vikings singing "spam, spam, spam, wonderful spam," frequently. I think you have to be a Monty Python fan to appreciate that...

Earthquakes were once again the main subject at the Local Emergency Planning Committee Council (LEPC) meeting held on July 11 at the Piggott City Hall. Former State Rep. Travis Boyd is temporarily filling in for Jeff Puckett as the Clay County Office of Emergency Management coordinator until the end of this year when Puckett plans to return...

A special meeting of the Piggott Schools board of education was held last Thursday evening to handle a variety of personnel matters. On hand for the meeting was a "skeleton crew" of three board members, Superintendent Ed Winberry and Elementary Principal Leean Mann...

The Annual St. Francis Picnic is this Saturday, July 21. The picnic is put on by the Hall and Gravel Hill Cemetery Association to raise money for the upkeep of the Hall and Gravel Hill cemeteries. The festivities start bright and early at 9:45 with a welcome address by Randy Dalton, youth pastor at First General Baptist Church of Rector...

The city's proposed livestock ordinance brought about some spirited questions during Monday's regularly scheduled meeting of the Piggott City Council as concerned citizens showed up to express concern. Piggott mayor Gerald Morris asked city attorney John Lingle to address some of the issues Lingle found in reading the draft of the ordinance. Lingle expressed that the grandfathering portion of the clause would be in effect regardless of ownership of the property...

Once again this week I am allowing the recently-compiled list of Dream Team nominees to age like a fine wine, or cheese. A lot of thought and effort went into coming up with our list of nominees, and I am taking my time in trying to determine the best path to follow. I am still getting a few votes on starters, but I think most voters feel they spoke their mind with the nomination process. This is going to take a bit more consideration, but I'll keep you posted...

A new part-time position of election coordinator was created by the Clay County Quorum Court Monday night. Since the court was informed last month that County Clerk Sharon Williams can no longer handle the excess duties of elections in addition to her standard responsibilities, justices contemplated the possibility of a new position...

Those fortunate enough to have enjoyed the Clay County Central drama productions of the mid 80's may have sensed there was something special about Tim Ingram. Little did they know the skills they were witnessing him develop in the little Rector drama department eventually would enable him to take command of the television station they went home to watch after the plays...

A fire of undetermined origin caused damage Saturday afternoon to a house located at 1120 West Second in Rector. The one-story brick house is owned by Ms. Bert Morris of Fayetteville and was until recently the home of the Tim Morris family. According to Capt. Steven Sigsby of the Rector Fire Dept., the local dispatcher received a call from neighbor Marva Slaven at 5:13 p.m. She reported seeing smoke pouring out of the attic vents of the structure...

An amazing group of talented local singers shared their love for Christ and raised more than $900 for the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation in a Gaither-style singing held Saturday, July 7, at the Rector Community Center. Those performing included The Dooleys, who sang a song from their soon-to-be-released CD, Bill Martin, Scott Wheeler, Lindsey Ford, Nate Henderson, Kailyn and Jon Conley, RFBC Mixed Trio, Cole Thomas, Perfect Peace, Ashley Williams, Randy Book, The Elkins, Candy Williams, Thankful Heart, Shani Barnhill and Doran Thompson.. ...

Betty Joyce McDonald, 75, of Hensley, formerly of Rector, died Saturday, July 14, 2007, at UAMS in Little Rock. The daughter of the late Gilbert and Opal Garrett, she was born March 23, 1932, at Liberty Hill. She was a Methodist. She attended licensed practical nursing school in Jonesboro and later studied at Arkansas State University to become a registered nurse, choosing to serve the Lord in the medical field. ...