Stories from Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The Arkansas State University Choir, directed by Dr. Dale Miller, will present a concert open to the entire community at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Rector First General Baptist Church. The event will help raise funds for the choir's planned trip to Italy next spring. ...

The Bert E. Sigsby Senior Wellness Center has been a vital part of the Rector community since it first opened in 2004. In the time since, the center has been a retreat of sorts for local senior citizens, offering a wealth of activities for this often-overlooked demographic...

Longtime Rector businessman and community worker Billy Bert Bracken died Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, at a University of North Carolina hospital in Chapel Hill, N.C. He was 72. Bracken worked as a clerk at Tidwell Grocery in Rector before purchasing his own business, Bracken Grocery Store, which he operated for years...

Stephanie DeMent (front) was crowned the 2009 RHS Football Homecoming Queen during Friday night's festivities. She is the daughter of Stephen and Sandra DeMent. Other maids featured were, from left: Second row--Maid of Honor Destinei Heathcott, Maid of Honor Harmony Cagle and senior maid Chelsea Benson. Third row--sophomore maid Sabrina Morrissett, freshman maid Rachel Lampkin and junior maid Malorie Tippitt. Back--eighth grade maid Madison Cate and seventh grade maid Alex Green...

The sales of Arkansas Scholarship Lottery scratch-off tickets began at midnight Monday, Sept. 28, and, according to assistant manager Tosha Branson at Flash Market in Rector, sales have been brisk. "We've probably sold close to 2,000 tickets, and we've had a bunch of winners," Branson said Tuesday afternoon. ...

(Editor's Note: This article by Jonesboro Sun staff writer Karin Hill about the recent retirement of Rev. Jerry Jolly, a 1958 graduate of Rector High School, is reprinted with permission from The Sun.)...

Funeral services for 89-year-old Alberta "Bertie" Wyatt of Rector, who went to be with her Lord on Sept. 23 in the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, were Saturday, Sept. 26, at 10:30 a.m. in the Irby Funeral Home Chapel in Rector with Marston Carpenter and Terry Johnston officiating. Interment was in Ramers Chapel Cemetery...

Imogene Copeland, 91, of Cotter, Ark., formerly of the Greenway area, passed from this life on Sept. 26, 2009, at the Baxter County Regional Hospice House in Mountain Home. Imogene was born June 18, 1918, to the late Thomas and Ellie (Hill)...

As the prospect of a beautiful fall (hopefully) begins to take shape, one's thoughts turn to enjoying life here in "The Natural State." But an underlying problem creeps in to spoil our sense of reverie...

I got it! Just now I heard on the news that soft drinks sweetened with sugar will be taxed. The tax is for our own benefit. It will help reduce obesity in teenagers and adults who drink sugary drinks. What a novel idea. If soft drinks are taxed, then overweight teens and adults won't drink sugary soft drinks..right?...

The Cougars' Friday night homecoming game with the Palestine-Wheatley Patriots provided both fans and players with an evening to remember. Despite jumping out to an early 14-0 lead, Rector needed a late surge to come away with the 22-20 win...

The Junior Cougars made forward strides Thursday night, in their meeting with Cedar Ridge in Rector. Though the young Rector squad came up short on the 20-6 outcome, the game was one of those contests wherein the score is misleading...

The sales of Arkansas Scholarship Lottery scratch-off tickets began at midnight Monday, Sept. 28, although the local outlet didn't begin until around 4:30 that morning. Jordan's Kwik Stop #24, at 360 East Main Street in Piggott, is one of five locations listed on the lottery website as participating while other outlets will be added in the near future...

A crew with the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department paved a portion of U.S. Highway 62 through Piggott last Wednesday, Sept. 23. The paving began just north of the intersection of West Main and North Third Avenue, and ended between Country Club Road and the Sugar Creek bridge on the west edge of the city. ...

Last week was Adult Education Week in the state of Arkansas by proclamation of Gov. Mike Beebe. The week was set aside as a way to inform the public of the many adult education programs available in the state, and the importance of such efforts...

A bill pending in the U.S. Senate could drastically affect the cost of energy for Piggott residents if approved. That was one of the major points of discussion at the meeting of the city council Monday night...

J.C. Miller, 73, of Piggott, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, at UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock. He was born April 5, 1936, in Piggott, and was the son of the late Thomas and Clennie (Demay) Miller...

Lucy Mae Craig, 93, of Pollard, passed away Monday, Sept. 21, 2009, at Sunset Hills Rehab in St. Louis. She was born Dec. 8, 1915, in Pollard, and was the daughter of the late Gentry and Myrtle (Baker) Dunlap...

I got it! Just now I heard on the news that soft drinks sweetened with sugar will be taxed. The tax is for our own benefit. It will help reduce obesity in teenagers and adults who drink sugary drinks. What a novel idea. If soft drinks are taxed, then overweight teens and adults won't drink sugary soft drinks..right?...

1969 Sports topped the headlines 40 years ago this week, as the Mohawks dropped a 20-27 loss at Malden Friday, Sept. 26 1969. Rick Rodery had two touchdowns, with David Williams connecting with Richard Robinson for the third. ...

A battered and shorthanded Piggott Mohawk football team traveled to Cave City Friday night for the first conference game of the year. With running backs Zac Trammell and Zach Redmon out of the lineup, along with two-way end Tanner Murray, the Mohawks knew they would have their hands full with the unbeaten Cavemen and their standout linebacker/running back Thamail Morgan. ...

It's been a roller coaster ride the last couple of weeks for the Lady Mohawk volleyball team, as the squad has posted impressive wins, weathered the flu and came up short in a couple of important conference matches...

The Piggott Mohawk seventh grade and junior high football teams completed another sweep last Thursday evening, as they both posted wins over Earle at Parker Field. In the seventh grade game the young Mohawks remain undefeated as they jumped out to an 8-0 lead and held on for the victory...

The Piggott Mohawk tennis teams continue to roll through the regular season, and last Tuesday both the boys and girls beat the Corning Bobcats on the road. The girl's team, taking on the defending district champions, took their match 9-1 as they move to 4-0-1 on the season. ...

For the fourth time in five years, Barry DeHart took first place in the championship flight in the Sugar Creek Country Club individual tournament Saturday, Sept. 26. DeHart shot rounds of 65 and 67 to post a 132 and edge out second place Jackie Burdin and his 136. Third place went to Daniel Gossett with a 137 while Ashley McMillon and Kevin Jones tied for fourth with 139's...