Stories from Thursday, September 3, 2009

LITTLE ROCK - Public school and kindergarten administrators are seeing something very unusual in their schools as the children go back to school -- the flu. Illness caused by the new H1N1influenza A virus, commonly known as "swine flu" is being reported. ...

Denzil Poyner, 68, of Piggott, died Aug. 25, 2009, at Piggott Community Hospital. He was born Nov. 13, 1940, at Success, Ark., to the late Johnie Poyner and Nora (Collins) Poyner. He was a veteran, farmer, mechanic and junk dealer, and loved to sing and play the guitar. He was a member of the Church of Christ...

Lenzy Edward (Ed) Smith, Sr., 80, son of the late Elmer and Dola (Underwood) Smith was born in Pollard, Ark., Oct. 14, 1928, and went to be with his Lord on Aug. 29, 2009. Lenzy was united in marriage to the love of his life, Anna M. Edgerton, Nov. 12, 1950. To this union four children were born, Lenzy Jr., Patricia, Kenneth and Charles...

U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln on Monday announced her schedule of events for Sept. 1-4. In addition to Lincoln's previously scheduled meetings, the Senator will hold three "town hall-style" forums across the state in response to requests from her constituents, including one in Jonesboro. ...

Holly Alonzo of Piggott has had her share of battles in life, and at age 22 continues to face burdens that would cause many to lose hope. But Alonzo, who has battled neurofibromatosis-2 since she was five years old, refuses to give up, despite blindness and now the onset of deafness. ...

Piggott Community Hospital's Home Care Medical, a durable home medical equipment company operated by the local hospital, has achieved the Award of Accreditation from the Healthcare Quality Association on Accreditation, based in Waterloo, Iowa...

Last week the Obama administration announced that Linda Newkirk of Little Rock has been named as the Arkansas State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency of the USDA. Newkirk, the former Linda Mayberry, is a Piggott native and graduate of Piggott High School...