Stories from Thursday, September 1, 2011

The junior varsity schedule started Monday night for the Rector Cougars senior high squad, as county rival Corning visited Temerian Field for action. The growing pains were evident for the inexperienced Cougars, returning to senior high play for the first time since the 2009 season, as Rector fell 38-6...

The Piggott Lady Mohawks found their rhythm in front of a home crowd Thursday night in Piggott, defeating Ridgefield Christian three sets to none in route to securing their first win of the season. "That was a huge game for us in senior high," coach Melissa Williams said of her squad. "When you come off of two losses against 4A Westside and 5A Paragould, you're looking for that win."...

The Mohawk tennis teams were in action at Paragould Thursday, facing the tough Riverside Rebels teams. In boys' action, the Mohawks were downed 6-5. Beau Wicker (6-2), Bryan Cook (6-4) and Jacob Wellman (6-4) notched wins for Piggott in singles play. ...

Rector's 2011 Labor Day parade Grand Marshal, Neda Sain, has been a mainstay at Rector's famous picnic for the past 50 years. When informed she was this year's selection, Sain replied,"I was shocked as there are so many deserving people, but I was very pleased and honored to be considered."...

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Rector Labor Day Picnic and chairman Nate Henderson says he expects it to be one of the biggest and best ever. First held in 1941, the Labor Day Picnic has for years provided funds for maintenance of Rector's beautiful Woodland Heights Cemetery, located on the gently rolling hills of Crowley's Ridge northwest of town...

Chuck and Brian Schulte are at it again. The father and son have restored numerous buildings on the Piggott Court Square, revitalizing the look of the downtown area. Now the Schultes are nearing completion on their latest project, located at the corner of Main and Third Streets...

Retired Gen. George Barker will be the special speaker at a ceremony recognizing the progress at the Rector Veterans Memorial Park at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4. The event will be held in the area between the veterans monument and the new Rector Visitors Center. The public is invited to attend...

A "national chain" is likely coming to Piggott following announcements made during two special called meetings of the Piggott City Council. While information remains limited at this time, what is known is a large "food service company" has approached Piggott Realty in regards to purchasing the property located between Country Mart and Aerial Bouquets on East Main Street...

Wilma Jinks of Piggott has been a part of many unique events in her life. Along with her late husband, Harold, Jinks, 98, was actively involved in the Democratic Party at both the state and national levels. With Harold serving as the head of the rural division of postmasters for the United States, the Jinkses made the move to Washington, D.C., in April of 1962 at the request of newly-elected President John F. Kennedy...

It really does seem we increasingly live in a world where facts are meaningless and ideas are subordinate to "talking points". It's not unusual to run into a person who has his or her mind in a concrete state and nothing, absolutely nothing, will penetrate...

Do we ever stop worrying about our children? That's a question asked by parents all through life. I think the answer is no. Although my children are adults, I still worry about them. But the question here is a different kind. Do children ever stop worrying about their parents?...

Ernie Dewayne Staires, 53, of Atkins, formerly of Marmaduke, died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011, at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock. He was born Feb. 6, 1958, in Marmaduke. He loved hunting and was of Baptist belief. He was preceded in death by his father, Wayne Staires...

Dr. Omer E. Bradsher, formerly of Paragould, 81, died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, at his home in Senath, Mo. He was born Oct. 7, 1929, in Little Rock, Ark., the son of the late Omer Ethridge, Sr. and Ida Carpenter Bradsher. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Rose Howerton Bradsher; brother, Robert Bradsher, and sisters, Martha Joffe and Betty Montgomery...

Patsy M. Wilson, a resident of Piggott, passed away Aug. 14, 2011. Pat was born June 17, 1933, to Lum and Lola Elliott. Pat was an active member of the Piggott community and will be missed. Interment was at Chapel Hills Memorial Garden in Jacksonville, Fla...