Stories from Thursday, March 31, 2011

What do Madison, Wisc., and Tripoli, Libya, have in common? And what do they together have in similarity with Syria, Yemen, Bharhain, Jordan, Egypt and certain of some of the other United States? A simple answer would include autocratic rulers of the people in all these places and a not unexpected reaction of their subject people ranging from peaceable assembly to civil war, with genocide ongoing and painful to see. ...

The Mohawks had a tough draw ahead of them upon returning to action after Spring Break, as Piggott played host to the Westside Warriors Monday at Independence Park. The Tribe played a solid game, but fell to the guests 4-2 after a late rally. Westside took a 1-0 advantage after the top of the first, but the Mohawks tied things up in their half of the opening stanza. ...

On May 1 and 2, 1863, Union and Confederate soldiers battled at Chalk Bluff, located along the St. Francis River, approximately four miles outside of the town of St. Francis. One of the most involved Civil War events to take place in Clay County, the battle became a significant part of Civil War history in Arkansas...

Piggott residents and customers soon will see an increase in their energy bills. The city is working to overcome shortfalls in the distribution of power received from the Plum Point Power Plant. During Monday night's regular meeting of the Piggott City Council, city power plant supervisor David Finley explained the situation to aldermen Jim Poole, Lester Edwards, Mike Cook and Jamey Parks. ...

For Piggott residents Danny and Maxie Ward, the devastating 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami which recently punished northeast Japan are very personal. Their daughter, Sonya, a 2009 graduate of Piggott High School, is stationed with the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Lassen, docked near Yokosuka, Japan...

A new state-of-the-art ambulance arrived March 1 at the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center's Rector EMS (Emergency Medical Services) facility in Rector. The new ambulance is a 2010 Taylor made GMC with a diesel duramax engine. Features include a new heart monitor, stretcher and an internet "hot spot" which provides immediate EKG transmission...

Brandon "Brando" Micheal Morgan, 27, formerly of Rector and Monette, passed away Sunday, March 27, 2011, at his residence. Brandon was born June 15, 1983, in Memphis. He served his country proudly in the United States Army, where he served one tour in Iraq...

Rev. Michael H. Winberry, 61, of Jonesboro passed away Friday, March 25, 2011, at Lawrence Memorial in Walnut Ridge. Michael was born on Jan. 25, 1950, in Piggott, and he was a Methodist minister. He was on the camp board for the Wayland Springs Camp...

I needed to replace a light fixture. The old fluorescent tube light, faithful for lo these many years, had broken. It had lighted my kitchen for over 25 years, faithfully. My son suggested I look at some LED fixtures. After all, the LED bulbs are the latest on the market. At least last time I checked...

One of the most popular television shows back in our earlier days was "The Twilight Zone," a series which effectively presented stranger than life stories -- outside the mainstream. There was "spooky" music in the background which added to the distinct other-worldly atmosphere...