Stories from Thursday, January 15, 2009

Off into the mists of history will shortly pass the administration and its memorable figures. To them we bid a most hearty farewell, glad they will no longer bring chaos to a country which has been sorely used by them and their shenanigans. ...

The homecoming court consisted of, from left: Front--maid of honor Sarah Hester, queen Hillary Calhoun and senior maid Bethany Sisneros. Back--eighth grade maid Kelly Fowler, seventh grade maid Kristen Smart, junior maid Rebecca Dodd, sophomore maid Rhoda Classen and freshman maid Kelsey Wynn...

The 2009 Rector High School Spelling Bee featured 20 bright young students all coming together to take part in one of the most widely recognized word-based competitions. The event, held Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the elementary multi-purpose room, is designed to find the top three spellers in grades 5 to 8 to represent Rector in the county spelling bee...

The Clay County Humane Society is trying to take an important step forward in the organization's goal to find homes for area dogs. These measures include signing a lease agreement with the City of Rector granting the Humane Society the use of land near the city shop. ...

A lot of my friends have the post-holiday blues, including me. After all the rush of Christmas and New Year's, the sudden lull of activities leaves me at loose ends...

Floyd W. Rhew, 92, of Columbia, Tenn., a native of Rector, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009, at Maury Regional Hospital. He was the son of the late Newt Rhew and Daisy Marvin Smith Rhew and was the husband of the late Beatrice A. Toone Rhew, also formerly of Rector...

James McKuin, 73, of Rector died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, at his home. He was born Sept. 18, 1935, in Plumerville to the late Joe Henry and Lou Virgie (Cates) McKuin. He was of the Baptist faith, an Army veteran and a truck driver...

Jerry Don Keller, 46, of Rector died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, near the Alexander community on Highway 139. He was born July 4, 1962, in the Blue Cane community near Rector and was employed at Asco Steel in Blytheville. He was of the Baptist faith...

Albert Richard Faughn, 71, of Paragould, died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, husband, sibling and friend and loved the outdoors. He was a member of Center Hill Church of Christ...

Rector senior Dalton Shaw has long been known as a stellar athlete. Now, the football, baseball and martial arts star is being recognized for his character. Shaw was the recipient of the Brendan Burlsworth High School Football Award. ...

The Lady Cougars were victorious in their first game under interim coach Mark Manchester on Monday night, topping Buffalo Island Central, 64-61, at Monette. Rector led throughout: 17-10; 28-23 and 38-35...

Friday night's homecoming game was a memorable one for the Cougars and their fans. With the game on the line and time quickly winding down, senior Blake McCarroll, who had been crowned basketball king earlier in the evening, had possession of the ball following a Rector timeout with 10.8 seconds left to play. ...

State Representative Mike Patterson of Piggott was sworn-in this week, as he begins service in the 87th General Assembly at Little Rock. This year's legislative session will include a number of hot issues, including the repeal of more of the grocery tax and formation of the new state lottery. (photo provided)...

At a Dec. 30 town hall meeting in Piggott, local residents heard sobering news concerning the continued funding of the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Education Center. The museum, owned and operated by Arkansas State University, is one of three museums operated off-campus by the university, along with facilities at Lake Village and Tyronza...

Piggott Schools recently held its annual spelling bee and qualified three participants and an alternate for the upcoming Clay County bee. Piggott Elementary School will hosting the county event at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, in the school library...

A lot of my friends have the post-holiday blues, including me. After all the rush of Christmas and New Year's, the sudden lull of activities leaves me at loose ends...

1969 In the news 40 years ago this week; the staff of The Piggott Times was pictured as they attended the 97th annual Arkansas Press Association meeting in Hot Springs. Also in the news, former Piggott resident Terry Max Meade was severely burned in an accident in Illinois; and Marvin Grissom, 21, of McDougal was sentenced to five years in prison for assaulting his 20 month old son.. ...

Former Piggott school board member Cletis Leon Barlow, 76, of Piggott, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, at the V.A. Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Barlow, a longtime Piggott resident, served on the school board in the mid 1980's and at one time ran for mayor. ...

Leonard Michael Fuller, 68, of Piggott, died Thursday January 8, 2009, at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. He was born December 4, 1940, in Piggott, and was the son of the late Curtis and Virginia (Allman) Fuller...

Randy Lynn Hoskins, 49, of Jonesboro, son of retired Piggott Postmaster Bobby Hoskins and retired Walcott Postmaster June Hoskins of Piggott, died Thursday, Jan. 08, 2009, at his home of natural causes...

Jerry Don Keller, 46, of Rector died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, near the Alexander community on Highway 139. He was born July 4, 1962, in the Blue Cane community near Rector and was employed at Asco Steel in Blytheville. He was of the Baptist faith...

Doise Winfred Lack, 85, of Corning, formerly of Piggott, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2009, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born Nov. 17, 1923, in Clay County to the late Tom Lack and Bertha (Brawner) Lack. He was married Oct. 23, 1943, to Vernie Ratliff. She preceded him in death Jan. 12, 2006...

Attrice Aulene Thornton, 88, of Poplar Bluff, died Sunday, January 11, 2009 at the Cedar Gate Nursing Home in Poplar Bluff. She was born April 3, 1920 at Center Ridge, Ark. the daughter of the late Lee Ernest and Margaret (Bryant) Holloway...

The short-handed Piggott Mohawks split conference games in the past week, getting drubbed by the Hoxie Mustangs last Tuesday on the road and then posting a home win over Brookland on Monday. Tuesday night they were scheduled to visit the Corning Bobcats as the conference schedule continues...

The Piggott Lady Mohawks gained a rare conference sweep Monday night at PHS, beating the Brookland Lady Bearcats decisively in both junior and senior girls action. For both teams it marked just their second win of the year, as the two squads continue to show improvement for Coach Natalie Stricklin...

The Piggott junior Mohawks split conference games in the past week. Last Tuesday they traveled to Hoxie and dropped a 28-45 decision to the Mustangs, then Monday night they cruised to an 11 point home win over the Brookland Bearcats...