Stories from Thursday, March 4, 2010

Rev. Raymond Albert Johnson, 92, of Blytheville died Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010, at the Great River Medical Center. Born in Piggott to the late Robert Albert and Lula (Duty) Johnson, he was retired minister and school teacher and a member of First Baptist Church. He was a devoted husband of 61 years and a devoted father who enjoyed being a ham radio operator...

Over 200 athletes gathered at Piggott High School Friday, Feb. 26, for the Area One Special Olympics individual and team basketball competitions. Team members from several schools, and adult workshops, took part in this year's individual competitions. The day also included a new competition, as four squads took part in team basketball with the games played in the PHS middle gym...

With spring just around the corner, planning of the annual Clay County Relay For Life has reached a fever pitch. Currently RFL has several fundraising efforts underway, with all the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. Among those efforts is a special drawing being held for a fiddle autographed by performer Charlie Daniels...

Last month trustees with the Matilda and Karl Pfeiffer Museum and Study Center in Piggott made their annual pilgrimage to Arizona to attend the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. The show is held the first full weekend of each February, and has grown into the largest such event in the United States. Each year the trustees attend the show, and bring back items to add to the museum's extensive collection...

State Rep. Mike Patterson of Piggott traveled Monday to Little Rock to officially file for re-election for his third term for the District 79 House of Representatives seat. The district is comprised of all of Clay County and 17 townships in Greene County...

Mary Estelle Vincent, 90, of Piggott, passed away Monday, March 1, 2010, at Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott. She was born January 12, 1920, near St. Francis, and was the daughter of the late John Henry and Ollie Luella (Morris) Pittman...

Jodee Armour, 81, of Kennett, formerly of Piggott, died Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, at National Health Care in Kennett after a struggle with cancer. Jodee was born near Kennett April 28, 1928 and was the daughter of the late James Edgar and Mary (Beard) Taylor. She was married to David Armour and he also preceded her in death...

1970 Local residents were warned 40 years ago, that there was no safe way to view the upcoming solar eclipse. The 85-mile wide eclipse was set for 1:30 p.m. March 7, and would last about three minutes. ...

Ladybugs, ants, flying squirrels, skunks. There seems to be an epidemic in Northeast Arkansas. I'm battling ants. A friend who lives near Pollard says her mobile home is being infested with ladybugs, red and yellow...

The 2010 edition of the Piggott Mohawk baseball team is the 30th squad to take to the diamond in the history of the local program. And this year's team promises to be one to remember, as third year head coach Shawn Hearn will field a young but very experienced group. ...

The landscape of Rector's Main Street has again changed with the razing Monday of an historic building which for years housed a flower shop. Donaldson's Flowers operated at the location for years, and though there were other owners later, the building continued as a flower business. Watson Construction took down the last walls of the building, which stood as a shell since fire destroyed the interior in the early spring of 2007. (Democrat photo/Ryan Rogers)...

One of the more disturbing trends in modern society is the startling decline in civic participation in our communities. There is no question the problem exists in communities of all sizes, but it seems more measureable in rural areas where "everyone knows everyone"...

The Rector chapter of Future Farmers of America (FFA) is preparing for its biggest fundraiser of the year with the group's annual auction and dinner set to take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at the Rector Community Center...

Rector High School senior Chelsea Benson has long been known as a bright, hard-working young lady. With these qualities, the 18-year-old daughter of Bruce and LaVonda Benson was one of four Arkansas cheerleaders chosen to take part in a New Year's Day parade in London, England...

The discussion regarding whether to begin spraying for mosquitoes within the Rector city limits continued during Monday night's council meeting. After much discussion, the council decided to invite residents to attend a special meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 16 to make a decision on the matter...

Matt Avery, 24, of Jonesboro, passed away on Sunday, February 28, 2010. Matt was a nine-year cancer survivor. He graduated Cum Laude from ASU with a B.S. in Psychology. He was preceded in death by his uncles, Gary Avery, Bruce Avery and Tony Avery; his grandfather, Donald Avery; grandmother, Hope Allison, and his great-grandmother, Edith Allen...

John D. DeLuryea, 64, of Rector passed from this life on February 24, 2010, at his residence. He was born October 7, 1945, to the late Chester Stallings and Leota (Maltbie) DeLuryea. He retired from the Air Force as Master SGT. and worked as a machinist for NATCO...

Linda Kay Waldron of Rector passed from this life on February 24, 2010, at the age of 69 years in the Murphy's Health and Rehabilitation in Piggott, Arkansas. She was born January 22, 1941, to the late Morgan and Mary Vernelia...

Marie Hardin Street, 88, a longtime Memphis resident, died at home on February 28, 2010. She was born in Marmaduke, Ark., the daughter of Hollie Roy Hardin and Nannie May McNiel and graduated from Rector High School in 1939...

Mary Estelle Vincent, 90, of Piggott, passed away Monday, March 1, 2010, at Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott. She was born January 12, 1920, near St. Francis, and was the daughter of the late John Henry and Ollie Luella (Morris) Pittman...

Osborn "Dobbin" WIlcoxson, 80, of East Peoria, Ill., passed away at 6:38 a.m. Saturday Feb. 27, 2010, at his home with his family by his side. He was born Dec. 22, 1929, in Cardwell, Mo., to William Jesse and Viola M. Michael Wilcoxson. He married Mary A. Reynolds in Pekin, Ill., on April 26, 1950. She survives...

Ladybugs, ants, flying squirrels, skunks. There seems to be an epidemic in Northeast Arkansas. I'm battling ants. A friend who lives near Pollard says her mobile home is being infested with ladybugs, red and yellow...

Rector boys basketball coach Matt Mills knew several weeks ago that a fourth-seed coming out of the District 2A-3 Tournament would be tough. That was because it was likely it would lead to a regional matchup...

It was a slow start to the season for the Cougars, as they fell to host Walnut Ridge, 5-1, to begin the 2010 baseball campaign. The first inning was rough for the Rector defense, as Walnut Ridge managed a 4-0 lead on four errors. The hosts led off with a walk, securing no hits in the frame...