Stories from Wednesday, October 15, 2008

It has long been said that marriage is a partnership. As such, there are few partnerships which can rival that formed more than six decades ago by Rev. James and Nell Dortch of Rector...

Last week marked the end of the voter registration period for this year's general election, and based on records at the Clay County clerk's office more people will be eligible to go to the polls. The records show that a total of 10,770 Clay County residents were registered to vote as of the end of August this year, and that number has since climbed to 10,869...

Rector residents and businesses are encouraged to show their support for members of the 39th Infantry Battalion as they soon make their way home after serving a year in Iraq. Preparations are being made to provide a heroes' welcome for the soldiers. ...

The Clay County Relay For Life will hold its annual kickoff dinner for the 2009 effort at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, at The Piggott Diner. All teams are urged to have a representative in attendance at the kickoff and anyone that is interested in starting a new team should also attend...

Justin Southerly, 22, of Marmaduke and Christopher Beasley, 21, of Paragould were killed Saturday night, Oct. 11, in an ATV accident near Marmaduke. The two young men died when the Suzuki four-wheeler they were riding overturned into a ditch after failure to negotiate a curve on Greene County Road 823. The accident occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m...

Rector School District officials are fully aware of the potential difficulties currently faced following a decline in enrollment. During a meeting Monday night of the district's school board, the difficulties surrounding the problem of maintaining a school in a small district was discussed as part of the board's approval of the required annual Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (ACSIP).. ...

Justin Albert Southerly, 22, of Marmaduke died Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, in an accident near Marmaduke. He was born Aug. 13, 1986, to Albert and Vickie (Isaac) Southerly at Arkansas Methodist Hospital in Paragould. He was a 2005 graduate of Marmaduke High School and was employed four years by Emerson Electric in Paragould...

Ernest J. Hollis Jr., 74, of Rector died Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born Jan. 20, 1934, to the late Ernest and Tessie (Cosby) Hollis. He had retired as a barber after 46 years of service to his customers. He was in the Navy four years, serving on the U.S.S. Iowa during the Korean War...

Norman Clarence (Jack) Calvin, 72, of Rector died Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008, at his home. He was born April 4, 1936, in Marmaduke to the late Everett (Slats) and Blanche (McLain) Calvin. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by...

How can senator McCain relate to me as a senior? He was guaranteed lifetime healthcare as a senator, he does not have to worry about gas or food prices or rent or house payments since he owns eight houses. ...

Democrat News Staff The Cougars put forth a valiant effort Friday night, but ultimately fell short to conference foe Cross County in Cherry Valley, 35-20. Rector entered the night riding a wave of emotion, having won their previous three contests...

Before the invention of the fathometer, when a ship's captain or pilot needed to find out how deep the channel was for safe navigation, he would call for sounding, using a weighted line marked with the divisions of a fathom - six feet in landlubber terms...

We may all die broke. That's a radical concept but that's what financial advisor Stephen M. Pollan says we should do. In his book Die Broke he lists four maxims we should aim for in the new world. They are quit today, pay cash, don't retire, and die broke. The book is co-authored by Mark Levine...

The Northeast Arkansas Regional Solid Waste Management District, of which Clay, Greene, Lawrence and Randolph counties are a part, soon will consider a proposal to expand the landfill at Paragould...

"Hats off to Piggott" is the theme for next Tuesday's 2008 Piggott Area Chamber of Commerce banquet and business meeting. The annual event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Piggott Community Center and all members are encouraged to attend...

Retiring Clay County Clerk Sharon Williams Recognized Secretary of State Charlie Daniels recently honored all of the state's retiring county clerks with a Capitol Citation at the Arkansas Association of County Clerks autumn continuing education conference in Eureka Springs...

Last week marked the end of the voter registration period for this year's general election, and based on records at the Clay County clerk's office more people will be eligible to go to the polls. The records show that a total of 10,770 Clay County residents were registered to vote as of the end of August this year, and that number has since climbed to 10,869...

Lee J. Holifield, 81, of Pollard, died Monday, October 13, 2008, at his home. He was born October 6, 1927, at Crockett, and was the son of the late Thomas and Vernia (Cole) Holifield. He was united in marriage to Loretta Holifield on October 6, 1945...

Judith Dees, 55, of Piggott, died Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008, at the Piggott Community Hospital. She was born June 29, 1953, in Cape Girardeau, Mo., the daughter of J.C. and Jane (Worley) Larsen. She was united in marriage to Terry Dees on Aug. 31, 1974...

Scottie Eugene Robertson, 78, of Piggott, died Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, at St. Bernard's Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born in Caraway on Jan. 26, 1930, the son of the late Walter and Viola (Kirby) Robertson...

Catherine Jane Reeder, 79, of Camden, Ark., died Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008, at her home. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Camden and a member of the Hospital Auxiliary, having joined the organization Feb. ...

Carolyn June (affectionately known as "C.J.") Simpson, a beautiful gift from God, was born June 12, 1942, and returned to live with Him forever Oct. 5, 2008, after a brief and courageous battle with cancer...

Bessie B. Mead, 93, of Petaluma, Calif., formerly of Piggott, died Sept. 17, 2008. She was born May 12, 1915, in Patterson, Ark., the daughter of the late William Wesley and Ollie Mae Taylor of Piggott...

Ernest J. Hollis Jr., 74, of Rector died Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born Jan. 20, 1934, to the late Ernest and Tessie (Cosby) Hollis. He had retired as a barber after 46 years of service to his customers. He was in the Navy four years, serving on the U.S.S. Iowa during the Korean War...

Kenneth Earl Abney, 65, of N.H.C. Nursing Home in Kennett, formerly of Piggott, died Friday, Oct. 10, 2008, at the Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett. He was born Oct. 2, 1943, in St. Louis, the son of the late George Willard and Flora Mildred (Miller) Abney...

We may all die broke. That's a radical concept but that's what financial advisor Stephen M. Pollan says we should do. In his book Die Broke he lists four maxims we should aim for in the new world. They are quit today, pay cash, don't retire, and die broke. The book is co-authored by Mark Levine...

1968 Due to requests for more specialized offerings the Clay County Cooperative Extension Service announced that they would be supplementing their services with more specialists in the near future. In other news 40 years ago this week, there was a "get out the vote" effort for the upcoming general election...

The Piggott Mohawk tennis teams will once-again be well represented at the annual 3A state tournament in North Little Rock this month. The squads qualified members from both the boys and girls team to the tournament, which is set for next Monday and Tuesday, at last week's district tournament at Jonesboro...

The Piggott Lady Mohawk volleyball squad closed out the home portion of their season Tuesday night, hosting a non-conference tune-up set with the Paragould Lady Rams at PHS. Tuesday night the Tribe was scheduled to visit league-leading CRA with a chance at first place on the line...

Last Friday night the Piggott Mohawks traveled to Harrisburg for a conference game with the Hornets, and suffered a 34-6 loss as they found themselves unable to shut down the home team's passing attack. ...