Stories from Thursday, March 17, 2011

The months thus far into the new and untried year of 2011 have little to show us anything except for stress -- pervading, frightening and universal. In turn, we have watched while the people of Africa and the Middle East somehow turned a mob of citizens seeking relief from tyranny and oppression into rivers of blood and unending war. (At this writing, the United States has managed to refrain from our tendency to commit troops to overthrow the remaining dictators -- we must wonder -- how long?)...

A bill currently in front of Arkansas legislators could require Clay County District Court to be combined with those of Greene County under the jurisdiction of one full-time judge. House Bill 1869 (HB1869) seeks to combine smaller courts in order to create larger districts. Locally, the bill would consolidate the courts in Piggott, Rector and Corning with those of Paragould and Marmaduke under a unified district...

American Railcar Industries (ARI), one of the largest employers in the area, announced Monday it will be adding an estimated 500 to 700 jobs before the end of 2011. The new positions will be created at the Marmaduke, Kennett and Paragould facilities...

A very talented young lady has earned the recognition of being "The Proudest Kid in Piggott." Tessa Holcomb was chosen as the winner of the annual "Proudest Kid" third grade essay contest. Holcomb, the daughter of Candie Poole Holcomb and Lance Holcomb, is a student is Mrs. Marilyn Wellman's third grade class at Piggott Elementary...

It hasn't been so long ago that the landscape of Northeast Arkansas was dotted with hundreds, even thousands, of homes out on the farm. Those days are rapidly passing away, creating new challenges for this little section of vast rural America. Farm employment now is less than 2.4 percent of the United States workforce...

It's getting muddy out there. Used to be life was black and white. Now the truth is discolored. Time was when a man and woman got married and forsook all others. And there weren't any live-ins which is common place nowadays. There weren't any homosexuals depicted in standard settings on the television screen...

George Earl Cavaness, 80, born Feb. 21,1931, in Wardell, Mo., left peacefully to be with the Lord on March 1, 2011. He was preceded in death by his son, Joe Cavaness. He is survived by his wife, Melda, of 61 years; one son and his wife, George Jr. and Judy; daughter Betty Sue and husband Roger Black; daughter Sherri McCoy; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews...

Lawrence Henry Deringer, 74, of Rector, died Friday, March 4, 2011, at the Piggott Community Hospital. Mr. Deringer was born March 19, 1936, in Bragg City, Mo., to Henry and Maggie Deringer. He was a retired logger and of the Baptist faith. Survivors include two sons, Mark (Shirley) Deringer of Corning and Allen Deringer of Marmaduke. ...

Deborah Ilene Frederick, 53, of Pollard, Ark., passed away Tuesday, March 8, 2011, at her home. She was born May 10, 1957, in Paragould, Ark., and was the daughter of Bill and Velma Prince Tyler. On Nov. 1, 1980, she was united in marriage to Lonnie Frederick...

Charles W. "Pete" Potts, 92, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Tuesday, March 8, 2011, at Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. He was born Oct. 6, 1918, and was the son of the late Charles Edward and Mary Ellen Lands Potts. He was united in marriage to Velma Catherine Steward on Sept. 5, 1942, and to this union three children were born. She preceded him in death on May 3, 2008...

Wilma Joe Dover, 84, of Pollard, Ark., passed away Monday, March 14, 2011, at Piggott Community Hospital. Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Friday, March 18, 2011, in the Hoggard & Sons Chapel with Danny Self and Loy Culver officiating. Burial is in New Hope Cemetery. Hoggard & Sons Funeral Home of Piggott, Ark., is in charge of arrangements. Visitation is at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17...

While field conditions were far from ideal, the play on the diamond was spot-on for the Lady Cougars Thursday in Rector, as they imposed their will upon the visiting Lady Chickasaws, 21-1, earning the win in three innings. The Lady Cougars made the most of their opportunities, taking advantage of 15 walks to maintain a strong presence on the basepaths. ...

While the near-constant showers kept the Mohawks off Independence Field most of the past week, the Tribe was able to get in quite a bit of baseball action on the road. On Friday, Piggott made the journey to Marion for play in the Polar Bear Classic tournament...