Stories from Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Welcome to summer in NEARK (06/23/10)
Monday was the first official full day of summer for 2010, although there have been summer-like conditions for several weeks. It was only fitting that the Piggott State Bank sign would show double-digit temperatures to begin the summer season. (photo courtesy Frank Staples)...

Longtime civic leader Lloyd Russell dead at 101 (06/23/10)
The city of Piggott lost one of its most active longtime proponents and men of vision Tuesday afternoon with the death of Lloyd Russell. He was 101. The role Russell played in the growth and improvement of the city of Piggott is hard to measure. He was instrumental in most of the economic improvement efforts for many years and continued to remain active for decades of service...

Piggott armory building holds historical significance (06/23/10)
Last week members of the Piggott Schools Board of Education voted to tender an offer to purchase the Piggott Armory from the city. Following its closure, the local armory was turned over to the city and for the past several years has been used primarily for storage. School officials have not indicated what they will do with the facility, but its purchase does allow them more flexibility as it sits adjacent to the elementary school campus...

Ranch planned at Pollard for kids and horses in need (06/23/10)
A fundraiser will be held from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at the Pollard picnic grounds to raise money for the construction of a special camp for kids and horses at Pollard. Blaze N' Lily's Horse Ranch for Kids is a new effort for the local Self Defense Awareness Group, an organization dedicated to helping underprivileged children learn self-confidence, health, fitness, a calm mind and self defense...

HPMEC hosts annual spring writer's retreat (06/23/10)
The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Creative Writers' Retreat was held June 7 to 11, in the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Educational Center and the Hemingway Barn-Studio. A total of 14 eager writers attended for the week. Rob Lamm, ASU-Jonesboro, has mentored the retreat for eight summers...

Leonards are Clay County Farm Family of the Year (06/23/10)
The Russell D. (Buddy) Leonard family is the 2010 Clay County Farm Family of the Year. The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program began in 1947 as an effort to recognize those in the state who show excellence, not only in agriculture, but in their communities as well. The program is sponsored by Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Arkansas Press Association, Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Midsouth Associations and Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas...

Nagy, Williams taking part in All Star volleyball game (06/23/10)
Piggott High School is well represented this week in Fayetteville, as both the Lady Mohawk head volleyball coach and one of her recent grads are taking part in the annual Arkansas High School Coaches Association All Star game. The contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. this evening (Wednesday, June 23) on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville...

Lloyd Marion Russell (06/23/10)
Lloyd Marion Russell, 101, of Piggott, passed away Tuesday, June 15, 2010, in Jonesboro. He was born Sept. 27, 1908, in Carterville, Ill., and was the son of the late Thomas A. and Jennie (Latta) Russell. He was a graduate of Piggott High School and attended Southern Illinois University. He ultimately graduated from Embalming School in St. Louis, Mo...