Stories from Thursday, December 22, 2011

Friday night's visit to Marmaduke promised to be a challenging night for the Rector Lady Cougars, and the game lived up to just that, as the hosting Lady Greyhounds posted a 46-25 victory over the Rector girls. The Lady Cougars weren't able to muster much in the way of offense on the night, as the Marmaduke press hindered Rector's guards, causing turnovers. Marmaduke also controlled the glass, limiting second chance opportunities from the visitors...

The Lady Mohawks may not have won their meeting with the Earle Lady Bulldogs in Saturday's action in the Christmas Classic at Brookland, falling 50-41, but the girls from Piggott certainly came away with a moral victory on the afternoon. Days earlier, the Lady Mohawks struggled in a 48-27 loss to Earle in Piggott. ...

The Mohawks notched a pair of wins this past week in the Clarkton Reindeer Classic. On Friday, Piggott came away with a 64-50 win over East Carter. Piggott fell behind 26-22 after a high scoring start to the contest, but held East Carter to just two points in the second frame to take a 31-28 lead into halftime. The Tribe outpaced their foes 17-6 in the pivotal third frame to pull ahead by 14 points, 48-34...

The Cougars were kept off-balance in their meeting with the hosting Greyhounds Friday night in Marmaduke, 63-47. The game was essentially a tale of two halves, with the 'Hounds having more consistency down the stretch, outpacing Rector 36-23 over the final two frames...

Ellen Meadows Choral Director Piggott School District For me, the true meaning of Christmas can be found in music. I think the Christmas season starts when I see holiday musicals or hear songs celebrating the birth of Jesus, the love of family, the importance of giving, and all the wonders of the season...

Anyone who has driven through downtown Rector or down Highway 49 in Rector at night recently may have noticed the beautiful spiffed-up city Christmas decorations, thanks to the efforts of Rector city superintendent Todd Watson. Watson was instrumental this year in involving local businesses and the school in renovating existing Christmas decorations, and the results have been spectacular...

Historical records and accounts paint a picture of chaos following a powerful series of New Madrid earthquakes which took place 200 years ago, beginning on Dec. 16, 1811. The 150-mile long New Madrid fault system extends into five states, stretching southward from Cairo, Ill., through Hayti, Caruthersville and New Madrid in Missouri, through Blytheville into Marked Tree in Arkansas and covering a part of West Tennessee near Reelfoot Lake, extending southeast into Dyersburg, Tenn...

Penny Veal has been challenging and enriching young minds as an educator for 37 years, the past 33 of which have been with the Piggott School District. During her career, Veal has taught high school and junior high students alike, first in math and then in business and technical studies...

Mama loved Christmas. She could hardly wait until Christmas morning to open her gifts. Actually, she didn't wait. I've known her to secretly open the end of a package, peek inside, then carefully retape the wrapping paper. She was always like that. In later years, her children learned not to give her a gift until the last minute...

A service to celebrate the life of Betty Jean Book, 83, of Piggott, Ark., will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, at the Irby Funeral Chapel in Piggott. Pastor Ted Winberry will officiate, with interment to follow at the Mitchell Cemetery in Greenway. Visitation with the family was held Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011...

Arval Lee Joiner Brown, 74, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Nov. 30, 2011, in the Piggott Community Hospital. She was born on April 29, 1937, in Malden Mo., and was the daughter of the late Arval and Goldie Ester Robinson Joiner. She was united in marriage to Rueben Brannon, and to this union three children were born. He preceded her in death...

Harold C. Cannon, 92, of Owensboro, Ky., (formerly of Kennett, Mo., and Rector, Ark.) passed away at the Hillcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. Born in Kennett on May 1, 1919, he was the son of the late Harrison and Maude Chailland Cannon, was retired from the motel business, and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Rector. ...

Max Nelson, 76, of Marmaduke, member and deacon of Cappadocia General Baptist Church, passed away Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011. He was born Jan. 10, 1935. He was preceded in death by his father, Henry Nelson; mother, Vina Nelson, and granddaughter, Heidi Richey, along with three brothers and five sisters...

Freda Mae Hardin, 85, of Pollard, Ark., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011, at the Magnolia Manor Assisted Living facility in Piggott, Ark. She was born on Dec. 23, 1925, and was the daughter of the late Willie and Effie Mae Hanners Williams. She was united in marriage to Homer Hardin on May 7, 1948, and to this union three children were born. He preceded her in death...

Wallis Joe Rogers, 69, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at the Highland Nursing Home in Kansas City, Mo. He was born on Oct. 6, 1942, and was the son of the late Myron and Maxine Joy Wallace Rogers. He is survived by his son, Dr. J. Scott Rogers and wife Jennifer of Kansas City, Mo.; four granddaughters, Alexandra, Claire, Sydney and Blake, and a host of other relatives and friends...

Brian William Rainbolt of Charlottesville, Va., born Jan. 21, 1981, passed away Monday, Dec. 12, 2011. A music lover, art enthusiast and people person, he will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched. He is survived by his mother and father, Linda and Billy Rainbolt of Charlottesville, Va.; sister, Elizabeth Rainbolt of Raleigh N.C.; grandparents, Betty and Sam Jones of Piggott, Ark., and many other loving family and friends...

George Allen Linam, 83, of Rector passed away Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born Aug. 21, 1928, to the late Whit and Opal Linam in Rector. He served in the Army and was an active member of the VFW, holding the position of Quarter Master and other offices...

Joan Bauschlicher, 73, of Corning, Ark., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, Ark. Mrs. Bauschlicher was born May 16, 1938, in Alton, Ill. She was a homemaker and enjoyed the local Harvest Festival, attending church, painting and spending time with grandchildren. She was a member of Esther Circle Ladies Group and St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Corning...

Lonnie Winchester, 60, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, at his home. He was born on May 28, 1951, in Gideon, Mo., and was the son of the late Leo Marion and Mary Louise Sutterfield Winchester. He was united in marriage to Karen Strickland on March 11, 1975, and to this union five children were born...