Stories from Thursday, February 14, 2008

The Piggott Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners in the fourth annual "Proudest Kid in Piggott" essay contest. This year's first place entry was submitted by Grayson Murray, daughter of Kevin and Amber Murray. Grayson is in Kathy Coyle's homeroom class, and all the essays were submitted in Ethel Mohler's class. A copy of the winning essay can be found elsewhere in this week's copy of The Times...

Lady Mohawk captain Jordan Engle's last home ballgame at PHS was a memorable one, as the senior point guard paced the Tribe with 27 points as they rolled over the Maynard Tigers 59-49 last Friday night. Engle's excellent night included three three-point baskets and an 8 for 10 evening at the free-throw line. Friday night's contest also marked the final home appearances by Lady Mohawks Dana Emerson and Natalie Branscum...

The Piggott Mohawk's roller coaster of a season drew to a close Monday night as they fell to Harrisburg in the first round of the district tournament at Corning. The game was quite a contrast to last Friday's senior night contest at PHS, which saw the Tribe pound the Maynard Tigers 75-37 in their home finale...

Louise (Allman) Willey, 76, of St. Charles Mo., died Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008, in St. Charles. She was born Oct. 7, 1931, in Piggott, the daughter of the late Selby and Ira Elizabeth Allman. She married Randall F. Willey June 16, 1951, in Piggott. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Fuller, and a brother, James Allman...

Vivian Ilo (Hale) Raney, 88, of Rector died Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Mrs. Raney was was born May 7, 1919, to the late Charlie and Bithie Jane (Brannon) Hale. After the death of her mother in 1921, she was raised by her mother's sister, Mary Brannon Ellis, from the age of 21 months until she married Jimmie Raney on Oct. 5, 1935. Her husband preceded her in death on Oct. 17, 1988...

Cledis Maddux, 80, of Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott died Jan. 27, 2008. He was born Nov. 18, 1927, in Boydsville, the son of the late Cleve and Mary (Townsell) Maddux. He was a five-year Army veteran and was an avid camper. He was married to Ruby Burdin in 1952. They divorced and were re-married in 1994...

Leland D. Johnson, 84, of St. Charles, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 25, 2008. He was the son of the late Ed and Clara Johnson of Piggott. He was the devoted husband of Blanche B. (Presley) Johnson, the father of Carl E. Johnson and Jennifer Pierce, the grandfather of Karen Pierce and the father-in-law of Jeff Pierce...

Wanda Brent, 84, of Pollard died Tuesday, February 12, 2006. Visitation is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Hoggard and Son's Funeral Home in Piggott. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14 in the Hoggard and Son's Chapel. Burial will follow in the New Hope Cemetery at Pollard...

Limuel Oscar Blurton, 67, of Ellsinore, Mo., formerly of Wardell, died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008, at his home. He was born Sept. 15, 1940, in Swift, Mo., the son of Oscar Blurton and Ella Mae (Petty) Blurton. He married Martha Blurton on July 16, 1966, in Wardell, and she preceded him in death April 15, 2006...

Grover Baker, 74, of Pollard, died Monday, February 11, 2008 at Pollard. Visitation will be held beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Hoggard and Son's Funeral Home in Piggott. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 in the Hoggard and Son's Chapel with burial to follow in New Hope Cemetery at Pollard...

1968 Both Piggott and Greenway schools were seeking millage increases 40 years ago this month. Greenway patrons were being asked to approve a 5-mill increase while the Piggott district was seeking a 6-mill bump. If Greenway's was approved it would raise their millage rate from 40 to 45, while Piggott was seeking an increase from 36 to 42 mills...

A fixture of law enforcement in northeast Arkansas for the past several years, Senior Special Agent (SSA) Allen Earnhart is known by many in the area due to his role as a highway patrolman for the Arkansas State Police. Earnhart has been with the ASP for 23 years, the past 16 of which have been in service to Clay County and the surrounding areas...

Rector High School's award-winning drama troupe 4089 soon will present a unique and dramatic production that follows two Jewish families living in fear under the reign of the Nazis in World War II. Repeatedly ranked as one of the top drama programs in the Arkansas, Rector's troupe already is at work on "And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank," described as "a stunning play" which breaks new ground and has been acclaimed by audiences and critics in worldwide productions.. ...

The Lady Cougars improved to 26-5 overall last Thursday with a 60-51 road win over the Valley View Lady Blazers. Rector maintained the advantage throughout: 23-11; 33-25 and 41-35. Amber Haynes led all scorers with 20 points. Hannah Parsley and Hillary Calhoun added 16 and 11, respectively. Also scoring for Rector were Allison Smart 7 and Sarah Fannin 6...

A thrilling new edition was penned in the bestselling tradition that is the basketball rivalry between Rector and Marmaduke last Friday night in Rector. The Cougars and the Greyhounds met in what was a hard-fought, back-and-forth struggle filled with ups and downs for each squad. In the end, it was Marmaduke coming away with the win, pulling out the 70-68 victory...

Vivian Ilo (Hale) Raney, 88, of Rector died Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Mrs. Raney was was born May 7, 1919, to the late Charlie and Bithie Jane (Brannon) Hale. After the death of her mother in 1921, she was raised by her mother's sister, Mary Brannon Ellis, from the age of 21 months until she married Jimmie Raney on Oct. 5, 1935. Her husband preceded her in death on Oct. 17, 1988...

David Keith Price, 51, of Paragould, formerly of Rector, died Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008, at his home. Keith was born March 30, 1956, to the late John and Lavern Price at Paragould. He was married to Robin Wheatley in 1975. He was a loving father, grandfather and friend to many...

Brenda Kay Newman McEntyre, 54, of Paragould died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born July 16, 1953, in Kennett, Mo., to the late George and Sarah Newman, she was a homemaker and a member of First Assembly of God Church...

Democrat News Staff The Valley View School District has received a great deal of recognition in recent years, thanks in large part to the efforts of Rector graduate Radius Baker. Baker, the school's superintendent, has been an integral part in Valley View's success, as the school has been awarded the prestigious Golden Apple award in all four years it has been presented...

Tickets are now on sale for a community fish fry to help raise funds for maintenance and repair of the Rector Community Center. The event will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25, at the Community Center. Tickets are $7 each and may be purchased at the Community Center, the Rector Water Department or the Clay County Democrat. Only a limited number of tickets will be sold at the door the day of the event, so those who wish to buy a ticket that day should plan to arrive early...

A fixture of law enforcement in northeast Arkansas for the past several years, Senior Special Agent (SSA) Allen Earnhart is known by many in the area due to his role as a highway patrolman for the Arkansas State Police. Earnhart has been with the ASP for 23 years, the past 16 of which have been in service to Clay County and the surrounding areas...

Both Rector teams advanced Tuesday night in opening action of the District 2A-3 basketball tournament at Monette -- but the manner wasn't necessarily as anticipated. The Rector senior boys were expected to have a relatively-easy time against Marked Tree, but not quite to the extent as occurred in an...