Stories from Thursday, April 21, 2011

Jessica Nicole Hill of Rector is one of four Arkansas State University graduates earning the university's highest student honor as recipient of the Distinguished Student Award. Jessica was recognized during ASU's 78th annual Student Honors Awards ceremony held April 11. The event is highlighted each year by announcement of the Wilson Award winner at the Distinguished Student Award winners...

The Mohawks have wrapped up the outright 3A-3 conference championship, but looked to complete league play with a perfect record, heading to Rivercrest Tuesday. Piggott entered the week at 10-0 in 3A-3 action, but coach Shawn Hearn and his talented Tribe are hoping to see that record stand at a flawless 12-0 with a strong performance at Wilson Tuesday...

The Cougars played two games at home Tuesday, hosting Buffalo Island Central and Walnut Ridge in back-to-back outings. Rector earned a 7-6 win over the Mustangs of BIC in the first contest on an RBI single up the middle by Daniel White in the bottom of the sixth...

Piggott fourth grader Louis Lin has caught the eye of all his teachers at Piggott Elementary. In only the fourth grade, Louis has become known as one of the brightest students to ever take part in classroom studies at the school, not only receiving excellent grades, but high praise from his teachers and school administrators...

Dolores Bellers has a rich history in Clay County. Having called the area home for all of her 84 years, she has certainly left her mark here. Born in Carryville, Bellers was the oldest of Clevel and Fanny Moore's three children. "I grew up on a farm there at Carryville," Bellers said. "We all worked -- my parents and us kids. That's how it was back then. We made only one move while I was growing up, and that was just a few houses down into the little Carryville settlement during my senior year."...

Someone said I should stop and smell the roses. So I went to Branson to the Spring Time Jubilee Conference. The Jubilee is held twice annually for mature and senior adults. The fall Jubilee will be held in Gatlinburg, Tenn., in late September. Both feature old time gospel singing and preaching...

As the prospect of a beautiful spring (hopefully) continues to take shape, one's thoughts turn to enjoying life here in "The Natural State." But an underlying problem creeps in to spoil our sense of reverie. And it is simply this -- can Arkansas really be called The Natural State?...

Janice Graddy, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Sunday, April 17, 2011, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. She was born on April 10, 1928, near Piggott, Ark., and was the daughter of the late Fuson and Stella Lyles Crowson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fuson and Stella Crowson; step-mother, Alma Mae Crowson; and her grandson, Jimmy Graddy...

Floyd James "Frank" Scott, 71, of Rector passed from this life on April 8, 2011, at the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born Sept. 21, 1939, to the late Jim (Bill) and Carolina (Householder) Scott at Rector, Ark. Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Connie "Loveless" Scott, his parents, and a sister, Anna Adams...

Linuel Gary Tinsley, 64, of Rector, Ark., passed away Thursday, April 14, 2011, at his home. He was born Nov. 19, 1946, in McDougal, Ark., and was the son of the late Cleatus and Nettie Miller Tinsley. Gary was a Vietnam veteran earning two Bronze Star Medals along with many other awards...

The day started with Our Lord appearing before a shouting throng who passed palm branches to signify the adulation He received while he smiled, tolerant of their praise. The knots of people gathered to relate how He had restored the sight of a blind relative, or that of hearing when the older ones who tried to listen to His messages of eternal truth He had preached to them...