Stories from Friday, February 6, 2009

Prior to last week's devastating ice storm in Northeast Arkansas, which has left much of the region still crippled and dark, computer models indicated that portions of Clay County could see the worst of the system. By early Wednesday all experts agreed that no one could have predicted how bad the storm would be, and the impact it would have...

Work is continuing as efforts to restore power to customers of Clay County Electric is underway. According to manager of member services Nick Manatt, approximately 280 additional workers from Missouri, Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi and Louisiana are in the area lending their assistance in replacing downed power poles and lines...

Last week's ice storm forced thousands of families from their homes, as downed lines and power poles left the entire region without electricity. The lack of power, and in some rural areas water, left many residents looking for shelter...

As Rector reeled from the impact of the ice storm, the call for assistance went out. On Saturday, additional help arrived in the area in the form of the Arkansas Army National Guard's 875th Engineer Battalion...

Work is continuing as efforts to restore power to customers of Clay County Electric is underway. According to manager of member services Nick Manatt, approximately 280 additional workers from Missouri, Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi and Louisiana are in the area lending their assistance in replacing downed power poles and lines...

A viscous ice storm has paralyzed much of the northern part of Arkansas, as dangerous weather has again taken lives, ravaged communities and left hundreds of thousands of residents without power. Heavy ice accumulated on tree branches, bringing them down on power lines and knocking out power to more than 600,000 customers before the storms blew out of the State. ...

NORTH LITTLE ROCK - The State of Arkansas announced the establishment of a new call center that became operational on Tuesday, Feb. 3, and will be in operation seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. The call center is to provide and receive information from citizens impacted by the storm...

1969 Late January brought heavy rains 40 years ago last week, forcing families from their homes and causing over $150,000 in damage to Clay County's roads and bridges. In other news, the Piggott City Council voted to accept a report from the city planning commission that calls for the extension of 8th Avenue north to U.S. ...

Twila Baker, 84, of Piggott died Friday, January 30, 2009 at Piggott Community Hospital. Funeral arrangements were incomplete as of Tuesday, and more details may be found in next week's paper.

Robert Earl Neeley, 83, of McDougal died Friday, January 30, 2009 at Murphy Health and Rehab Center in Piggott. He was born June 8, 1925 the son of the late Grover and Lula (Harris) Neeley. He was united in marriage to Virginia Ethridge Jan. 6, 1945 and the couple had four children...

Henry Edd Donner, 89, of Piggott died Friday, January 30, 2009 at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. He was born May 15, 1910 in Valemeyre, Ill. and was the son of the late Albert and Caroline (Burgett) Donner...

Donna Mae Hunt, 64, of Vine Grove, Ky. died January 21, 2009 in Louisville Ky. A memorial service will be held at a later date with Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home of Piggott charged with the arrangements...

Christine Joann Parker, 68, died January 29, 2009 at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett. She was born November 14, 1940 in Rector and was the daughter of the late William Everett and Maggie Morine (Williams) Rieves...

Charles Donald Smart, 76, of Piggott, died Monday, February 2, 2009 at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett. Funeral arrangements were incomplete as of Tuesday, at Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home of Piggott...

Berniece A. Stewart, 87, of Piggott, died Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, at Piggott Community Hospital. Funeral services were scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 28, at the First Baptist Church in Piggott with Charles Carrens officiating. Burial was to follow in Piggott Cemetery...

A massive ice storm that is being called the worst in state history struck North Arkansas last Tuesday, with Clay County certainly ranking among the areas impacted the most. Gov. Mike Beebe flew into Piggott last Friday after viewing the devastation from the air. ...

When last week's ice storm hit, a response was immediately underway to offer Rector residents a safe, heated shelter in the form of the Rector Community Center. As conditions worsened Tuesday, Jan. 27, city officials began preparation for turning the center into an area offering relief...

Last week's ice storm is still affecting the area through power outages, loss of phone and cable services. According to NewWave Communications general manager Ed Gargas, the cable provider is aware of cuts to its fiber optic lines coming into Piggott. ...

Current projections indicate portions of Rector may have power restored as early as today (Wednesday), while the remainder of town could have lights back on as early as this weekend...

Work is continuing as efforts to restore power to customers of Clay County Electric is underway. According to manager of member services Nick Manatt, approximately 280 additional workers from Missouri, Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi and Louisiana are in the area lending their assistance in replacing downed power poles and lines...

There were probably a lot of exchanges similar to this one over the past few days in the Rector area: Rectorite 1: "You holding up okay?" Rectorite 2: "Just barely." Rectorite 1: "We are all tougher than we thought we are."...

Darryl Owen Davis, 50, of Rector, died Jan. 25, 2009. Born Sept. 28, 1958, in Paragould to Elsie Annette (Key) Davis and the late O.W. Davis, he was a lifelong member of the community, an employee of Emerson Electric and a member of Alexander Baptist Church...