Stories from Thursday, March 10, 2011

The tragic death of Michigan high school basketball player Wes Leonard has struck a somber chord with many across the nation. Leonard, 16, had just hit the game-winning shot to propel his team at Fennville High School to a last-second win and was celebrating the moment with his teammates on the floor. Immediately following the game, the youth collapsed on the court and was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital...

The choice to help others is an easy decision to make for members of the Piggott Lions Club. The group has a long-standing tradition of putting in the time and effort necessary to make a difference in the lives of people both locally and part of an ongoing state and national effort...

It all started shortly after we all bade farewell to the ill-starred year of 2010, when mobs of people appeared on the streets of Tunisia's capital in north Africa -- a republic we had scarcely paid much attention to -- or noticed at all. People came out petitioning for freedom from a repressive central government. Days later, Egypt erupted, her people demanding removal or resignation of their president who had ruled for more than 30 years...

Charles W. "Pete" Potts, 92, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Tuesday, March 8, 2011, at Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 11, 2011, in the Hoggard & Sons Chapel with Jack Cole officiating. Burial is in Mitchell Cemetery. Hoggard & Sons Funeral Home of Piggott, Ark., is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation is at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 10...

Flossie M. Halter, daughter of the late Andrew Scallion and Ola (McGee) Scallion, was born Nov. 8, 1919, in Halls, Tenn., and departed this life on March 2, 2011, at the age of 91 years, three months and 22 days. Flossie married Frank Halter, who preceded her in death...

Frank Lee Bare, 80, late of Warner Springs, Calif., passed away Feb. 25, 2011, at the San Diego VA Medical Center in La Jolla, Calif., from the effects of pneumonia. He was born in Kennett, Sept. 13, 1930, son of Amos and Rebecca Bare of Piggott. In his formative years he attended and graduated from schools in St. ...

Gary Willard Williamson entered into eternal life on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at the age of 68 years. He was born March 11, 1942 in Nimmons, Ark. to parents, Willard and Ellen (Eubanks) Williamson. He is survived by his sisters Lynda (William) Woolery of Piggott, Ark., Crystal (David) Current of Ariz., Netta Adams of Texas, Rhonda Beasley of Paragould, Ark. and David (Lynette) Williamson of Mich...

Barbara McDaniel Presson Smith, 68, of Rector, died Tuesday, March 1, 2011, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Mrs. Smith was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith. Survivors include two sons, Wade Presson of Paragould and Kevin Presson of Jonesboro; two brothers, A.J. McDaniel of Rector and Gary McDaniel of Paragould; two sisters, Kathleen Burmeister of Colon, Mich., and Doris Cox of Rector, and six grandchildren...

Paula Kay Temerian, 49, of Rector, died March 5, 2011, at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, Mo. She was born June 1, 1961, in Detroit, Mich., to Paul and Lura May (King) Temerian. They moved to Rector in 1975, where Paula graduated from high school. ...

When my husband and I got married, I knew him pretty well. After all, we had been dating for four and a half years, with a few breakups scattered in between. I, the cautious one, had postponed marriage because I believed that marriage was a permanent bond for better or worse...

The Cougars dropped a tough decision to the hosting Bobcats at Walnut Ridge Monday, falling 6-5. Defensive miscues hurt Rector in the season opener, as the Cougars made eight fielding errors on the afternoon. Things looked promising midway through the contest. ...

The Lady Cougars opened softball season in style Monday, imposing their will upon host Sloan-Hendrix, 12-1, in five innings at Imboden. Sophomore Kelly Fowler picked up the win for Rector. Fowler allowed one run on four hits with three strikeouts in five innings of work...

The Mohawks started their 2011 baseball campaign with a strong outing, topping the visiting Hoxie Mustangs, 6-0, Thursday in Piggott. Senior Colby Lovelace had a dominant performance on the mound for Piggott. Lovelace allowed just two hits while striking out 14 of 26 batters he faced in the complete game shutout...

Rector's boys basketball team ended one of its most successful seasons in recent years with a 46-34 loss to an outstanding Strong team Tuesday night of last week in the state Class AA tournament at Buffalo Island Central. The Cougars played well in the early going, giving the heavily-favored Bulldogs a tough game in the first half before losing some steam down the stretch...