Stories from Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The Lady Cougars opened up their softball season with a heartbreaker Monday, falling to host Walnut Ridge, 4-3, in the final frame. Rector moved ahead 2-0 in the top of the second on an RBI double by Rebecca Dodd. After the hosts scored a run on the bottom of the second, Rector's Amanda Bradford came home on passed ball, moving the Blue Crew ahead, 3-1...

The Cougars picked up their first conference win Monday, topping host East Poinsett County 13-1 in Lepanto. Rector imposed their will upon the hosting club, dominating the game in the field and at the plate...

Trying to get in better shape for health reasons? Or do you want to shed a few pounds because your clothes are straining at the seams? With Spring about to bust out all over, many people feel like they are busting out all over too....

A bright sun rises into a grey sky, dazzling the viewer with diadems of crystal brilliance emanating from a light covering of frost. Later, the grass, now bright green after a long winter of ice-covered beige, will warm one's feet. ...

"Well, look how much it snowed here yesterday." "Yep. I bet ole Al Gore is feeling pretty stupid about right now." That is just one example of the kinds of conversations that have been going on among "climate-change deniers" over this past winter, a season which saw record snowfall in some parts of the country, especially along the Eastern Seaboard...

Abigail Lucille Farmer, 4 months, of Paragould, died Friday, March 5, 2010, at her residence. Born November 4, 2009, in Paragould, she was the daughter of Kevin and Brittany Farmer. Other survivors include her brother, Cody Farmer, and sister, Lillyan Farmer, both of the home; paternal grandparents, Richard and Judy Farmer of Gadsden, Alabama; maternal grandparents, Tim and Elaine Martin of Thomaston, Georgia, and Scottie and Carmela Phillips of Paragould; maternal great-grandparents, Debbie and Gary Martin of Thomaston, Georgia, Cheryl Tate of Locust Grove, Georgia, Judy Mayne and Tim Lockwood of Paragould, and maternal great-great-grandmother, Lucille Rouse of Paragould.. ...

Members of the Arkansas Army National Guard's 39th Infantry Brigade were in Rector this weekend, working hard as part of their ongoing drills. Soldiers operating out of Walnut Ridge joined with those from the Rector Armory to take part in a 10-mile hike which began in town and included rural areas north of the city. ...

A large crowd gathered Saturday night at the Rector Community Center to make the eighth annual FFA Dinner and Auction one of the most memorable events in the organization's history. An estimated 450 people came out for the delicious fish and chicken dinner, with many remaining for the evening's auction...

Area volunteer firefighters got valuable training Wednesday, March 3, in reloading water into the holding tank of a plane which helps fight wildfires all over Arkansas. Rector and Marmaduke firemen were among a group of about 15 who gathered at the Rector Municipal Airport for the training, conducted by Arkansas Forestry Commission personnel in preparation for the spring 2010 fire season...

Thursday, Feb. 25 the Piggott fourth and fifth grade boy's All Star traveling team ended their 2009-10 season with a win over the Corning Bobcats. The boys finished their season with a record of 8 and 6, winning eight of their last 10 games. The team consisted of four fifth graders and seven fourth graders, and did well after starting the season with four straight losses...

Another year of pee wee basketball has come to an end. This year the sixth grade boys had another successful year, although we had a few tough losses to some very good teams. The boys ended their season with two very good victories; we beat a very good Senath team with an outstanding effort from our boys and then finishing our season with a decisive victory over a tough Corning team...

Times Sports Staff The Piggott Mohawks continued to take advantage of the favorable weather in the past week, getting in three games and winning two. Tuesday afternoon's contest against the Rector Cougars at Independence Park fell victim to the wet conditions though, while the chances of getting in Thursday's contest at Corning were still up in the air at press time...

The Lady Mohawk softball team kicked off the regular season at Marmaduke Monday afternoon, coming up on the short end of a 20-24 slugfest. Chelsea Geautreaux got the start, with relief from Taelor Lewis in the fifth inning...

Times News Staff 1970 Piggott school patrons approved a six-mill tax increase by a wide margin 40 years ago this week, as the measure passed 1,026 to 425. Hershel Toombs also was elected to the school board. Also in the news, the annual Lion's Club variety show is set for Friday, March 13 in the PHS gym...

Trying to get in better shape for health reasons? Or do you want to shed a few pounds because your clothes are straining at the seams? With Spring about to bust out all over, many people feel like they are busting out all over too....

William Eugene "Bill" Allen of Pollard, passed away Feb. 28, 2010, at the Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. Born Jan. 2, 1930, he was the son of William Owen Allen and Amy Ruth (Miller) Allen. His step-mother, Bertha (Smith) Allen, helped raise him after the passing of his mother...

The rain that rolled through the region late Monday night may not have been welcomed by the area's farmers, but proved to be a blessing to local firefighters. Dry conditions and strong winds over the past week have resulted in dozens of grass fires, and the loss of a few outbuildings and barns. ...

In their continuing effort to emphasize the dangers of drinking and driving, the Piggott High School SADD Club hosted a visit from the UNITE DWI Prevention Program Thursday. The organization offers a program to all school-aged children and last week they brought their AWARE Simulator System to PHS...

City officials were expecting a big crowd at Monday night's public hearing on a proposed one cent sales tax to benefit Piggott Community Hospital. But, no one expected nearly 250 people to be on hand for the event...