Stories from Thursday, April 22, 2010

There is no question that the letters-to-the-editor section of the newspaper is one of the most widely-read each week. One of the most basic functions of a community newspaper is to provide a forum for its readers to express views on a wide range of topics -- both local and more far-reaching. ...

He got a new heart almost 26 years ago -- and it was a big, good heart. Big enough to allow him lots of love with his family and hundreds of friends, and good enough to carry him through years of experiences he thought he might miss -- and to make him the longest surviving heart transplant recipient in Arkansas...

Rector businessman Steven Sigsby and his mother-in-law, Georgia Sallee of Rector, have a lot in common. They both love family get-togethers, beautiful lawns and going to church. And they're both cancer survivors...

Paragould mayor Mike Gaskill urged the almost 300 people attending Rector's annual Chamber of Commerce banquet Tuesday night, April 13, to get involved and make a difference in the community. "Each of us has a role," he said. "We all have to do our part. Everyone can breathe. Someone has to make a commitment."...

Danny Wilson, 54, of Corning passed away Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at his home. He was born Friday, May 20, 1955, in Lafe. An Army veteran, he was a farmer and worked for Catt Farms. His hobbies included hunting and shooting guns. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Corning...

Thomas Aaron "Tom the Pharmacist" Wagster, age 69, of Rector, passed from this life on April 14, 2010, at his residence in Rector. Mr. Wagster was born December 31, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan, to the late Richard and Hazel (Wilson) Wagster. Tom had been a pharmacist for many years working in Rector, Paragould, Kennett, and most recently, in the Senath Pharmacy...

John George O'Dell, 75, of Rector passed from this life on April 15, 2010, at his residence. He was born November 6, 1934, to the late Robert and Leona (Bishop) O'Dell in Greenway. John was a cowboy through and through. He belonged to the Kennett Saddle Club, was a member of the Southside Baptist Church and a very proud Grandpa...

Maxine Lockwood, age 80, of Allen Park, Mich., was married April 19, 1948, to her beloved husband George and died on their anniversary date, April 19, 2010. She was the loving mother of Steve (Vicki), Greg and the late Keith and the dearest daughter of the late Artie and Mary Stoker; the dear grandmother of Jeremiah, Sarah (Tom), Aaron (Kristin), Joshua, Stephanie, Seth, Melody and Zebulon...

Kevin Blake Curtis, 45, of Rector passed away April 18, 2010, at his residence. Kevin was born October 10, 1964, to Jimmie and Ellen Curtis in Kennett, Missouri. Preceding him in death were his mother, two grandfathers and a grandmother...

We live in a new world. I was convinced of it while I was in McDonald's yesterday afternoon. The place was noisy with two lines of people, waiting their turns at the counter. Children were laughing and running around...

It was a tough day on the diamond for the Cougars Monday, as they dropped both games of a doubleheader to the visiting Marmaduke Greyhounds. The first game came to a 10-8 finish, with Rector turning loose of an early advantage...

This past week was a difficult time for the Lady Cougars. Just seven days ago, the girls from Rector were riding high, hoping to clinch the regular season 2A-3 conference title outright. Unfortunately, the Lady Cougars stumbled along the way, dropping three league games...

The city of Piggott hosted a group of bicyclists taking part in a regional tour Tuesday, April 13. A welcome ceremony was held at the visitor center in the depot building that afternoon, afterward the cyclists rode to Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum for tours of that facility and the nearby Matilda and Karl Pfeiffer Museum...

Long-time local businessman and community leader Alvin Royce Williams, 70, of Piggott died Friday following a lengthy illness. A decorated member of the military, he served in multiple branches of the service. He also operated Al Williams Nursery in Piggott and was a tireless volunteer for several efforts, most notably the Piggott Cemetery Association and the annual Fourth of July picnic...

The 2010 Clay County Relay For Life officially kicked-off the week of activities Monday night with the annual survivors dinner at the Emmanuel Baptist Church. The dinner serves to mark the beginning of the RFL week, which will culminate with the event Saturday at Piggott's Heritage Park...

Students at the Piggott ABC School took part in an annual rite of spring Friday, as the 2010 edition of the St. Jude trike-a-thon was held. The event is conducted each April as a fundraiser for St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis...

Long-time local businessman and community leader Alvin Royce Williams, 70, of Piggott died Friday following a lengthy illness. A decorated member of the military, he served in multiple branches of the service. He also operated Al Williams Nursery in Piggott and was a tireless volunteer for several efforts, most notably the Piggott Cemetery Association and the annual Fourth of July picnic...

Mary Jane Householder, 78, of Piggott, passed away Thursday, April 15, 2010, at the Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott. She was born Jan. 15, 1932, near McDougal, and was the daughter of the late George and Verlie Mae (Grissom) Weller...

Donna Sue Haslop, 52, of Piggott, passed away Monday, April 19, 2010, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born July 9, 1957, in Memphis, Tenn., and was the daughter of Grady L. and Bonnie (Williams) Hart...

We live in a new world. I was convinced of it while I was in McDonald's yesterday afternoon. The place was noisy with two lines of people, waiting their turns at the counter. Children were laughing and running around...

1970 Wednesday, April 15 was officially "Mr. Holifield Day" at Piggott Elementary School as the longtime educator was recognized. A 1930 graduate of PHS, and member of the first-ever Mohawk football team of 1929, Holifield had been teaching since 1932, and had served as the principal at PES since 1958...

The Piggott Lady Mohawks earned their first win of the softball season recently, traveling to Hoxie and beating the Lady Mustangs 15-6 in a 3A-3 conference contest. The Tribe then dropped a road game to Rivercrest, fell to Brookland at home despite a good outing and were beaten for the second time this year by the Armorel Tigers...

The Piggott Mohawks rolled through the final two games of conference play last week, dispatching both the Harrisburg Hornets and Corning Bobcats in shortened games due to the run rule. The Tribe will play out their non-conference schedule this week, which included a contest at Rector Tuesday...