Stories from Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Once again this year, as it has countless Christmases in the past, the Clay County Department of Human Services will spearhead an effort to spread holiday cheer to those less fortunate. In fact, director Duane Dutka has been purchasing toys for the effort throughout the past year using donations from last Christmas...

The Traditional Ladies of Today are continuing their Christmas project, and are still seeking donations for the area's less fortunate. Recently the effort got a shot in the arm in the form of a $300 donation from the Arkansas State Police Association's "Cops for Kids" program. They're also still offering angels from their angel tree at Piggott State Bank...

At 9 a.m. Friday, pharmacist Jim Seal and his staff were scheduled to take over operations of the pharmacy in the new Fred's store. Seal noted that all patient prescription files from Seal's will be at the new location, and that for the customers nothing will change but the location...

1967 Work was completed 40 years ago this past week on the new Piggott Fire Department sub-station on East Main. The facility, which is still in use today, was acquired to eliminate the possibility of a passing train delaying firefighters. The Strategic Air Command has announced that they'll be doing low-level training flights over the region beginning Dec. ...

The Piggott Lady Mohawks split a pair of conference games at PHS last week, beating the Harrisburg Lady Hornets Thursday and then losing to Hughes on Friday night. Last Thursday night the Lady Hornets came to town, and the Mohawks rode a 24-6 fourth quarter to a 59-37 win. Three members of the Tribe were in double figures, led by Hillary French with 17, Dana Emerson with 12 and Jordan Engle with 10 points on the night...

The Piggott Mohawks rode a wave of emotion to their first win of the season Friday night, as they beat the defending class 3A state runner-up Hughes Blue Devils 73-66 at PHS. The following night the Tribe traveled to Jonesboro and notched an exciting 54-51 overtime win over non-conference Ridgefield Christian, a team which had beaten the Mohawks at PHS less than two weeks earlier...

Charles Moore Williams passed away suddenly at his home in Texas on December 5, 2007. He was born in Madison County, Tenn. on March 16, 1943, the eldest son of Hazel and Emmett Williams. He attended schools in Madison County and graduated from Lambuth College and Southeast Missouri State University...

Joy Sherfield, 96, of Piggott, died Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007, at the Piggott Community Hospital. She was born Sept. 9, 1911, in Corinth, Miss., and was the daughter of the late Robert Osborn and Lula Mae Barnett Wicker. She was united in marriage to Willis Parker on July 11, 1930. He preceded her in death. On March 25, 1946, she was united in marriage to Benny Luther Sherfield. He preceded her in death in 1970...

Ivory Owens, 92, of Nimmons, died Monday, Nov. 10, 2007, at the Heritage Nursing Center in Kennett, Mo. She was born March 1, 1915, in Vinemart, Ala., and was the daughter of the late Frank and Effie Gibson Johnson. She was married May 6, 1935, to Vernie Owens, who preceded her in death...

In an effort to bolster local business activity and job creation, the Rector City Council has approved the formation of a community development program as part of the city budget. The timing of the decision is in keeping with increased recent activity in this area, including the participation in the Economic Coalition of Northeast Arkansas. That coalition consists of Rector, Piggott, Corning, Marmaduke and Paragould, with initial input from Jonesboro, as well...

A premiere showing of a new Gaither Homecoming video which includes an interview with 13-year-old Ariel Dooley of Rector will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, at the Rector Community Center as a fundraiser for the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation...

Sitting face to face with 85 members of the 39th Infantry Combat Brigade soon headed to Iraq, Rector residents attending a farewell ceremony Monday night searched the faces of the uniform-clad men and women, trying both to understand the emotions they might be feeling and to convey the sincere concern and care this community feels in sending yet another group of soldiers overseas...

Lt. Col. (ret.) Allen Ray Earls of Rector, a decorated Air Force fighter pilot and longtime member of the Rector School Board, died Friday, Dec. 7, at St. Elizabeths Place in Jonesboro at age 65. In nine years of active duty with the U.S. Air Force, he served two tours in Vietnam, flying 253 combat missions. He served 12 years with the Arkansas Air National Guard...

Jerry Clayton, 68, of Rector died Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007, at his home after a courageous battle with cancer. His loving family was around him. Born March 29, 1939, to Noah and Rachel Clayton, he had retired from Uniroyal as a shift manager. He loved fishing and hunting with his family and spending time with his grandchildren, who were his pride and joy...

Jack Seegraves, 65, of Rector died Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007, at his home. He was born July 6, 1942, in Clay County to the late Dean and Olive Seegraves. He is survived by his wife, Glenda Bess. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday, Dec. 12) at the Irby Funeral Home Chapel in Rector with Paul Seegraves officiating. Visitation was to begin at 10 this morning. Interment will be at Woodland Heights Cemetery in Rector...

Dennis Earl Thrasher, 57, of Rockvale, Tenn., formerly of Rector, died Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Born Aug. 26, 1950, in Rector to Revelle "Tweet" Thrasher of Rector and the late Denzil Thrasher, he was an executive sales manager for Tire Express and a member of Cappadocia Baptist Church...

Ivory Owens, 92, of Nimmons, died Monday, Nov. 10, 2007, at the Heritage Nursing Center in Kennett, Mo. She was born March 1, 1915, in Vinemart, Ala., and was the daughter of the late Frank and Effie Gibson Johnson. She was married May 6, 1935, to Vernie Owens, who preceded her in death...

After advancing to the second round of the Pre-Holiday Tournament at Westside in Jonesboro last Monday, the Cougars would earn the right to face their second seeded host on Friday. It was a tough meeting for Rector against their larger opponent, compounded by a big third quarter from their foe. Westside outscored the boys in blue 30-14 heading into the final frame, going out in front 66-55 en route to a 78-54 victory...

The Lady Cougars fell to rival Buffalo Island Central, 58-51, Monday night in conference play in Monette. It was a close contest all throughout the evening, as the always tough Lady Cougars met the conference-leading Lady Mustangs in what has consistently been one of top-tier matchups in girls basketball over the past three years. ...