Stories from Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The promise of the future met with past remembrances Friday night, as the Rector High School class of 2008 gathered a final time before making the transition from students in a small community to young adults seeking to find their place in the world...

The new PHS gymnasium was the site for commencement exercises for the Class of 2008 Friday night, as 68 students received diplomas and thousands of dollars in scholarship money was distributed. This year's event also marked the first in the new gym, which easily handled the huge crowd that turned out for graduation...

For the 10th year in a row, the city of Piggott came to life this past weekend, as the town hosted the annual Rod Run and SuperCruise. And thanks to an increase in prize money, this year's event attracted a record number of participants and spectators. This year also brought with it the news that the members of the organizing committee are stepping down, but that the local Chamber of Commerce will be taking over the reins for next year's event...

The results were mixed for incumbents in the Democratic Preferential Primary Election held Tuesday in Clay County. Incumbents won two of the county-wide races and challengers captured two, while one other race featured two candidates seeking the office for the first time...

A Rector man was acquitted of eight federal charges Friday, May 16, in federal court at Little Rock. Jack Pipkin was found innocent on the remaining eight charges he faced on a federal indictment stemming from alleged heavy machinery thefts...

Weighted down with a 72 percent disapproval rating from the American people, President Bush tries to establish something that might represent the "Bush legacy." During these waning months of his term in office he has made akward and likely futile tries to settle some of the chaos his administration has wreaked upon the people of Israel and the mid-east Muslim states. ...

Life is getting serious. It's possible we will elect a black man or a white woman for President of the United States. It's also possible we won't be able to afford gas to drive to the polls. We may have to park gas-guzzlers and use our walking shoes...

Hundreds of loved ones gathered in the Chester Barner Sr. gymnasium at Marmaduke Friday, May 16, to celebrate one of the most important events in the lives of those who took part: the graduation of the Marmaduke High School Class of 2008...

The annual Memorial Day Service at the Piggott Cemetery will be held at 2 p.m. this Sunday, May 25. Royce Williams, President of the Piggott Cemetery Board, will conduct the opening ceremony and offer the welcome address. This year's opening prayer will be offered by Danny Self, Pastor of the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church of Piggott, and the flag ceremony will be under the direction of VFW Commander Charles Wright and American Legion Commander John Harmon...

Jenny R. Hancock, 69, of Knobel died Monday, May 19, 2008, at NEA Baptist Medical Center in Jonesboro. Hancock was widely known for her work as the Emergency 911 coordinator for Clay County. She took the position in June 1995, and served until her death. She was the first person to hold the position in the county...

Dora Elizabeth McKenney Causey, 91, of Piggott, died Tuesday, May 13, 2008, in the Evergreen Nursing Home in Rector. She was born June 20, 1916, in Carryville, the daughter of the late James Onia and Elizabeth Fox McKenney. She was united in marriage to Homer Causey on Sept. 26, 1931, and the couple had six sons and three daughters...

Ralph Hardin, 83, of Rector died Saturday, May 17, 2008, at Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation in Rector. He and his twin brother, Ray, were born to the late Hollie and Cecil (Davis) Hardin in Greene County. His first love was his church and gardening was his passion. ...

Life is getting serious. It's possible we will elect a black man or a white woman for President of the United States. It's also possible we won't be able to afford gas to drive to the polls. We may have to park gas-guzzlers and use our walking shoes...

1968 Greenway High School held graduation ceremonies 40 years ago this past week, this year's valedictorian was Ronnie Benson and the salutatorian was Ricky Smart. Meanwhile, the PHS cheerleaders for the coming year have been introduced, they are--Donajo Cluck, Rhonda Wiley, Brenda Cate, Barbara Featherston, Linda Stidham and Donetta Hughes...

Ralph Hardin, 83, of Rector died Saturday, May 17, 2008, at Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation in Rector. He and his twin brother, Ray, were born to the late Hollie and Cecil (Davis) Hardin in Greene County. His first love was his church and gardening was his passion. ...

Dora Elizabeth McKenney Causey, 91, of Piggott, died Tuesday, May 13, 2008, in the Evergreen Nursing Home in Rector. She was born June 20, 1916, in Carryville, the daughter of the late James Onia and Elizabeth Fox McKenney. She was united in marriage to Homer Causey on Sept. 26, 1931, and the couple had six sons and three daughters...

Glen Floyd Herrell, age 87, formerly of Rector, died Sunday, May 18, 2008. He was born March 18, 1921, to the late Rollen and Della (Gaddis) Herrell. Survivors include his children and their spouses, Glenda Wayne and husband Farrell, Delbert Herrell and wife Debbra, Patricia Clifton and husband Ron, Jim Herrell and wife Mary, Roberta Wolas and husband Ted, Cloyce Herrell and wife Sharon, Sandy Zalac and husband Jon, Phyllis Horton and husband Norman, Cathy Phillips and husband Mike and Debbie Downing and husband Chuck; 21 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and brother Flavel Herrell.. ...

Orville Henderson Allison, 83, of Rector died Tuesday, May 13, 2008, at Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation in Rector. Born Jan. 4, 1925, he was of the Assembly of God faith, a retired body and fender repairman, an avid fisherman and a member of Dannelly Masonic Lodge...

Jenny R. Hancock, 69, of Knobel died Monday, May 19, 2008, at NEA Baptist Medical Center in Jonesboro. Hancock was widely known for her work as the Emergency 911 coordinator for Clay County. She took the position in June 1995, and served until her death. She was the first person to hold the position in the county...

The 15th Annual Boy Scout Classic Golf Tournament was held at the Paragould Country Club on May 15. A total of 72 golfers participated in the event sponsored by corporate sponsors, Focus Bank and Ritter Communications, and 96 hole sponsors. Hole prizes were donated by another 15 businesses. ...

Several Piggott residents attended a Cliff Richey tennis clinic at Allen Park in Jonesboro on May17, accompanied by PHS tennis coach Paul Seegraves. Richey was named the MVP of the Davis Cup National Team in 1970, and was the World Points Champion that same year. He is also the author of the instructional book, "Set Up, Break Down"...