Stories from Thursday, July 24, 2008

With the start of the new school year less than a month away, the Piggott School Board handled a variety of financial and personnel matters at the regular meeting Monday night. The meeting, which had been postponed from the previous Monday, was attended by all members of the body along with superintendent Ed Winberry, district bookkeeper Sheila Mayberry and campus principals Leean Mann and Barry DeHart.. ...

The period for candidates to file for the September school election ended at noon Friday, and just one individual filed for the open seat on the Piggott School Board. Trent Holcomb, owner of Holcomb Insurance in Piggott, filed his petition and will be the only candidate for the seat being vacated by Shawn Parker. ...

One of the hottest days of the years was an insufficient deterrent Saturday, as hundreds of people gathered at the annual St, Francis Picnic. The event is held each year to help raise the necessary funds to preserve both the Hall and Gravel Hill Cemeteries...

The annual Greenway picnic, to benefit the Mitchell Cemetery, will be held Saturday, Aug. 2, in that community with a full day of activities scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m. Following the opening ceremonies, and speeches by area politicians, the first of several contests and pageants will be held on the stage. ...

James Everett Van Gordon, 70, of Piggott died Friday, July 18, 2008, at the Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott. He was born June 19, 1938, at Crockett, the son of the late Clyde and Miriam "Sherrill" Van Gordon. He was of the Methodist faith, was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a master electrician by trade. Prior to his illness, he was employed at Aerial Bouquets in Piggott...

O. Louise Harmon, 71, of Kennett, died Friday, July 18, 2008, in Kennett. She was born Sept. 21, 1936, in Piggott, and was the youngest daughter of Riley and Lottie Parton Book. On May 5, 1955, she married her late husband Aldon O. "Sonny" Harmon, Sr...

Mildred Rhea Duke, 86, of Piggott, died Saturday, July 19, 2008, in the St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Feb. 22, 1922, in Franklin, Ark., the daughter of the late Victor Green Redman and Mae Rose Royles...

Life is not the same. The paraphernalia is different too. I realized that last night when I was taking my blood pressure with my new blood pressure monitor. Seems I am collecting gadgets that are associated with aging. And so are many of my friends...

1968 Carolyn Campbell of Piggott was named Miss Pollard 1968 at the annual pageant in that community, first alternate was Diane Hughes and second was Barbara Batey (now Carrens). Lee Davis won the baby contest, David Brown won the bubble gum contest and Steve Welty finished second.. ...

Northeast Arkansas will once-again this year be represented in the regional senior Little League tournament, after the local team claimed the state title Monday night at Blytheville...

The Trim Gym Bouncing Aces tennis team from Jonesboro finished fourth in the eight-and-under state tournament recently at North Little Rock's Burn's Park. Team member Emilee Seegraves of Piggott, daughter of Heather and Paul Seegraves, won four matches to help the cause...