Stories from Thursday, May 12, 2011

"It's amazing what a few days of sunshine can do," Clay County Office of Emergency Services coordinator Travis Boyd said Monday, as much of the high water which covered the area last week continues to recede. Persistent heavy rains and swelling waterways led to considerable flooding in St. Francis and Corning over the last two weeks, with scattered low-lying areas in Piggott and Rector also being covered by the torrents...

Teens from all three Clay County school districts gathered Monday in Piggott to unite in an ongoing effort to promote healthy drug and alcohol-free lifestyle choices. Students from Piggott, Rector and Corning High Schools were assembled at Piggott Elementary to take part in a selection of group photos which will be utilized locally in a series of posters encouraging other students and residents to make healthy choices when it comes to drug and alcohol use...

Plans are well underway for the first annual Johnny Cash Music Festival benefit concert, set for Thursday, Aug. 4, at Arkansas State University's Convocation Center. The inaugural concert will star Cash's children Rosanne Cash and John Carter Cash, his younger brother Tommy Cash and John Carter's wife Laura Cash, along with country music greats George Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Dailey & Vincent, Gary Morris and Rodney Crowell, as well as Rosanne's and Crowell's daughter Chelsea Crowell...

The 35 members of the Rector High School Class of 2011 will receive their diplomas and say good-bye to high school days in commencement exercises to be held at 8 p.m. Friday, May 13, at the RHS gymnasium. Valedictorian of the RHS Class of 2011 is Brittany Danielle Lockhart, the daughter of Tony and Shelley Lockhart. Sharing honors as Salutatorian are Kristie Kay Hardin, the daughter of Kem Hardin and the late Rhonda Hardin, and Daniel Miller Blackshare, the son of Dr. Bryan and Nancy Blackshare...

Most folks who call this planet their home have suffered to a degree we have never witnessed before -- "appalling" seems far too mild. Just where it all started seems indistinct, but a lethal combination of major earthquake, tsunami and damage to lay the nuclear facilities in a state of contagious ruin to the brave people of Japan...

This has been some kind of spring, hasn't it? First widespread tornadoes, then flooding all along the Mississippi River. Because my sister was so afraid of the river, she came to stay with me last week until the danger was over. She evacuated the town of Caruthersville when the river was predicted to crest at 49.5 last Monday. The concrete seawall will hold back only 50 feet of water...

Despite not agreeing with Congressman Ron Paul on a number of crucial policy matters, we have respect for the man who clearly is considered America's leading libertarian. One of the primary reasons for our respect is the clear sense of independence that he exhibits...

The Rector Lady Cougars picked up additional momentum Monday, as the team prepares to make their way into the 2A State Softball Tournament at White Hall. Rector claimed a 5-3 victory over Cedar Ridge in the consolation game, emerging as the third seed from the 2A North Regional Tournament held at Marked Tree...

Two years ago, the Mohawks had never won a regional title in baseball. Now, the team has claimed back-to-back championships in the 3A Region 3 Baseball Tournament. Piggott added their latest round of hardware with an emphatic 16-6 victory over Tuckerman in the championship game Monday in Harrison...

Ernest Eugene Batten, 76, of Rector passed away May 6, 2011, at his residence. He was born Nov. 14, 1934, to the late Henry and Beatrice (Huckabay) Batten in Rector, Ark. In addition to his parents, two infants preceded him in death, along with a brother, J.W. Batten, and three sisters, Hazel Wilson, Wanda Jones and Mary Parker...

Lou Vonda "Bonnie" Vaughn, 81, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Sunday, May 8, 2011, at the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott, Ark. She was born on Aug. 29, 1929, in Pollard, Ark., and was the daughter of the late Pearl Henry and Eva Dovey (Simmons) Grissom...

Mildred L. Beaver, 84, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Wednesday, May 4, 2011, at the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. She was born Dec. 20, 1926, in Pollard, Ark., and was the daughter of the late John Marion and Willie (Gilford) Bell. She was united in marriage to Lester Beaver on Dec. 7, 1952. He preceded her in death on Oct. 21, 1998. She was also preceded in death by her son, Jimmy Dale Beaver; her daughter, Hope Beaver Nelson, and two brothers, Howard "Jack" Bell and Charles Bell...

Delmar Kenny Green, 58, of McDougal, Ark., passed this walk of life on May 9, 2011, at his home. He was born on May 15, 1952, in Piggott, Ark. Kenny was the son of the late Arthur and Oma (Battle) Green. He was united in marriage to Brenda Hampton on Sept. 7, 1974, and to this union two sons were born, Kendall and Bradley...

The Piggott High School Class of 2011 will take part in commencement exercises at 7 p.m. Friday, May 13, in the new gymnasium. This year's top honor students are Valedictorians Lauren Brown and Colby Lovelace and Salutatorian Luke Yount. They are among 21 honor graduates to be recognized during the ceremony. School board president Jeff Benbrook will award the diplomas. There will also be thousands of dollars in scholarships awarded to several graduates...