Stories from Wednesday, January 7, 2009

It was yet another intense meeting between rivals as the Rector Lady Cougars played host Monday night to the Lady Greyhounds of Marmaduke. The two teams continued the tradition of memorable contests between the two schools, as Marmaduke came away with a hard-fought 60-51 victory...

Last week we were filling the quiet, holy night with songs of rejoicing at the birthday of the Prince of Peace. Just at the turn of New Year, gruesome, hateful war brought its grisly images of dying and wounded men, women and children, the usual casualties. ...

I like bumper stickers and certain sayings. Recently I read one that sticks in my mind. It reads, "Look through the windshield, not through the rearview mirror." That seems fitting in the new year. Instead of looking back we need to look forward...

In looking at the state of our society moving into 2009, there certainly are lots of reasons for concerns about the future of our nation -- this is especially true when one considers the challenges to be faced by our children and grandchildren...

Mary Magaline McDaniel, 79, of Jackson, Mich., a native of Clay County, died Nov. 28, 2008, at her home in Jackson, Mich. Mrs. McDaniel was born April 22, 1929, in Piggott to the late William Jess and Ollie May (Hunt) Rickman...

Mary Jo Elsass Pruett, 83, of Florissant, Mo., formerly of Rector, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008. She was born in Rector and had lived in Florissant since her marriage to Duane Bill Pruett, who also was a native of Rector. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Grace Elsass, and one sister, Aline Bullock...

Charles Robley Champ, 92, of Piggott, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008, at his home. He was born Oct. 16, 1916, in Kennett, Mo., and was the son of the late Charles W. and Lucy Viola (Case) Champ. He was married May 9, 1943, to Dovie Scott...

Leon W. Underwood, 90, of Little Rock, died Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008. He was a native of Piggott, a World War II veteran, a recipient of the Purple Heart and had a storied history as both an athlete and coach...

With the arrival of 2009, the Rector City Council continues to keep an eye toward the future. During a meeting Monday night at the Rector courtroom, the council discussed the potential for future improvements to the city...

The future of funding for the upkeep and operation of the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Education Center in Piggott is expected to be a hot topic for discussion in the upcoming Arkansas legislative session. ...

Clay County has a new sheriff and collector this week, along with a new county clerk and district court judge. The trio of newly-elected officials, and the incumbents who were re-elected in last year's election, were sworn-in Thursday, Jan. 1, at the courthouse in Piggott...

Work is moving ahead on the proposed Northeast Arkansas Innovative Training Center (NEAITC) in Rector. The program, envisioned with the goal of offering educational and employment opportunities to not only the people of Rector, but also those in surrounding northeast Arkansas communities, has been a main goal of City of Rector business/industry specialist Jacinda Welch since she joined the city staff in 2008.. ...

Topping news stories in Rector for the second half of 2008 was a fabulous concert sponsored by the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation. The event brought to the Rector stage six of gospel music's most talented artists and raised about $8,000 for the Foundation's work in assisting disadvantaged Rector students. ...

Rector is getting international attention since Rolling Stones lead guitarist Keith Richards donated a unique Zemaitis pearl front electric guitar soon to be auctioned online to benefit the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation...

Leon Underwood, a former star athlete and later a coach for the Piggott Mohawks, died Sunday, Dec. 28, at Fayetteville. In recognition of his contributions to, and support of, past Piggott sports teams former Mohawk athletes are being asked to make a donation to the Mohawk Booster Club in his memory...

Piggott Mohawk senior Rob Rice was chosen to the NEA Invitational All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the annual event in Jonesboro recently. Rice had 21 points in just two quarters of play in the Mohawk's first round win over Crowley's Ridge Academy, and finished with 16 points in the Tribe's loss to Rector in the second round...

1969 The Piggott City Council held their first meeting of the year 40 years ago last week, and friction is already developing between several new members and Mayor Buck Thomas. In other news, Stephen Crowson of Greenway, a member of the Piggott FFA, was one of only 17 members of the organization to be given the coveted American Farmer Degree in the state. ...

I like bumper stickers and certain sayings. Recently I read one that sticks in my mind. It reads, "Look through the windshield, not through the rearview mirror." That seems fitting in the new year. Instead of looking back we need to look forward...

Mary Magaline McDaniel, 79, of Jackson, Mich., a native of Clay County, died Nov. 28, 2008, at her home in Jackson, Mich. Mrs. McDaniel was born April 22, 1929, in Piggott to the late William Jess and Ollie May (Hunt) Rickman...

Charles Robley Champ, 92, of Piggott, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008, at his home. He was born Oct. 16, 1916, in Kennett, Mo., and was the son of the late Charles W. and Lucy Viola (Case) Champ. He was married May 9, 1943, to Dovie Scott...

Essie M. (Burkheart) Grubb, 86, of Shreveport-Keithville, La., died Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008. She was born Dec. 22, 1922, in Clay County and was a resident of the Shreveport-Keithville area for 50 years. She was a member of the Apostolic Faith Tabernacle...

Marlene Sue Conder, 63, of Kennett, Mo., died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, at her home. She was born March 6, 1945, in Coldwater, Mo., the daughter of Cecil and Dorothy (Kegley) Holifield. She was preceded in death by her father and a brother, Clifton...

Shirley Wright Schoettlin, 70, of Kansas City, Mo., formerly of Piggott, died December 30, 2008 from complications of pancreatic cancer at the home of her son in Kansas City. Born May 3, 1938 in Piggott, she was the daughter of the late Raymond Andrew and Sylvia Virginia (Hughes) Wright. She was the second of seven children and a 1956 graduate of Piggott High School...

Leon W. Underwood, 90, of Little Rock, died Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008. He was a native of Piggott, a World War II veteran, a recipient of the Purple Heart and had a storied history as both an athlete and coach...

The future of funding for the upkeep and operation of the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Education Center in Piggott is expected to be a hot topic for discussion in the upcoming Arkansas legislative session. ...

A group of around 60 local residents, elected officials and representatives of various agencies gathered Tuesday night, Dec. 30, for a "town hall" style meeting in Piggott. The meeting, hosted by the city and the Piggott Economic Development Commission, offered an opportunity for a free exchange of ideas on the future of the local economy and a chance to ask questions of local lawmakers and a representative of Gov. ...

Clay County has a new sheriff and collector this week, along with a new county clerk and district court judge. The trio of newly-elected officials, and the incumbents who were re-elected in last year's election, were sworn-in Thursday, Jan. 1, at the courthouse in Piggott...