Stories from Thursday, June 9, 2011

After spending 33 years in the education field, first as Rector band director, then as high school principal and later as superintendent, Rob Louder is retiring at the end of June. Throughout his career, Louder has had many accomplishments to be proud of, as well as many memorable experiences...

Like many people that Sunday night, May 22, Brian Nagy of Piggott was watching news coverage of a killer tornado which had just struck Joplin, Mo. He and his wife, Teresa, watched as a veteran tornado chaser broke down and cried on air due to the unbelievable level of destruction of the storm...

Rector's stunning new Visitor Center opened with great celebration Thursday, June 2, after months of work made possible through grants from the Arkansas Department of Rural Services and the Arkansas Department of Heritage. The painstakingly restored 1915 building which, in the past, housed the city waterworks and jail, is a great source of pride for those involved in its renovation and will allow Rector to put its best foot forward in welcoming visitors to the area...

The state of the United States economy and how it affects small towns was a recurring theme during a special visit to Piggott last Thursday, June 2, by U.S. Senator John Boozman. The senator met with residents and city and county officials during a public meeting style gathering in the conference room at Piggott City Hall...

Evelyn Grimes, 84, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Friday, June 3, 2011, in the Piggott Community Hospital. She was born on April 27, 1927, in Fagus, Mo., and was the daughter of the late William "Willie" and Ethel Wheetley Vaughn. She was united in marriage to Johnie P. Grimes on Dec. 23, 1942, and to this union four children were born...

Georgia Lucille Choate, 91, of St. Francis, Ark., passed away, Monday, May 30, 2011, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark., from complications following her third surgery for a broken leg. Lucille, as she was known, was born in St. Francis, Ark., in 1919 to Joseph Irvin Choate and Eva (Frieze) Choate. She graduated with honors from Campbell High School in Campbell, Mo., in 1942 and later graduated from cosmetology school...

Robert "Bobby" Causey, 47, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Saturday, June 4, 2011, while he was on active duty with the United States Army National Guard. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 11, 2011, in the Hoggard & Sons Chapel with Dennis Templeton officiating. Burial will follow in Williams Cemetery near Piggott, Ark. Hoggard & Sons Funeral Home of Piggott, Ark., is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation is at 5 p.m. Friday...

Rebecca Diann Massey, 55, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Tuesday, May 31, 2011, in Piggott. She was born on June 21, 1955, in Piggott, Ark., and was the daughter of the late Albert and Virgie Burris McKenzie. She was united in marriage to Walter Price Massey on June 21, 1970, and he preceded her in death in 2009...

Teresa Brock Pendergist, 58, of Austin, died Tuesday, May 31, 2011. She was born April 28, 1953, in Jonesboro, to the late Orvis Amon and Noma Pauline Adams Brock. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Pendergist; sister, Shirley Thompson, and brother, Druary Brock...

Willard Leon Whitlock, 68, of St. Francis, Ark., passed away Thursday, June 2, 2011, at his home. He was born Jan. 3, 1943, in Hickoria, Ark., and was the son of the late Ira and Vada Thornton Whitlock. He was united in marriage to Barbara Crittenden on Aug. 18, 1968, and to this union two children were born...

Doyles Charles McElyea, 89, of McDougal passed from this life on June 6, 2011, at the Elvis Presley Trauma Center in Memphis. He was born July 28, 1921, to the late Albert and Gertie McElyea. He was a lifetime member of the Salem Missionary Baptist Church. He served in World War II as a fighter pilot, was an owner of a grocery store in McDougal, farmed, sold cars and served as a bus mechanic in the Knobel Schools...

I was thinking about dogs this morning. We Americans are dog lovers. According to the Humane Society, there are about 77.5 million owned dogs in the United States. Thirty-nine percent of U.S. households own at least one dog. We spoil our pets and spend a lot of money making them comfortable and our vets richer...