Stories from Thursday, February 9, 2012

Sixth grade students at Rector Elementary School are receiving special assistance as they go through the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. With Clay County not currently having a DARE officer, local law enforcement agencies were looking for an answer to helping the young students make positive, healthy choices in their lives...

Nine beautiful, talented young ladies competed Saturday night, Feb. 4, for the titles of Miss Crowley's Ridge and Miss Crowley's Ridge Outstanding Teen at the Piggott Community Center. Serving as the mistresses of ceremonies and entertainers for the event were Miss Northeast Arkansas Mason Magouyrk of Conway, Miss Northeast Arkansas' Outstanding Teen Haven Cagle of Rector, Miss Crowley's Ridge 2011 Bethany Bell of Blytheville and Miss Crowley's Ridge Outstanding Teen 2011 Emma Jumper of Paragould.. ...

Adam Long has been appointed by Arkansas State University as associate director andfacilities manager of the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center in Piggott. He replaces Diana Sanders, who retired Jan. 13. Long is a 2002 graduate of Jonesboro High School. ...

The Manila Lions got a measure of payback Friday night at Piggott, topping the Mohawks 55-36 during PHS' homecoming. The Tribe upended Manila, the number two team in 3A-3, last month during the Lions' homecoming festivities, but was unable to hold off their tough conference foe...

Rector drilled eight three-pointers, including seven in the first half, and went on to post a 58-41 victory over Buffalo Island Central, spoiling the Mustang's senior night Friday at the Mustang Athletic Complex in Monette. Matt Mills' Cougars came out on fire, raining three's, including four in the opening quarter of play to grab an 18-9 lead heading into the second stanza. ...

The Lady Mohawks were defeated at home Thursday night, falling to the visiting Lady Lions of Manila, 57-30. Manila got out to a 20-7 lead and never looked back, leading 29-19 at intermission and 43-20 heading into the fourth. Mallory Wright paced Piggott with a game-high 18 points, including 15 in the first half. Also scoring for the Lady Mohawks were Breanna Wright 8, Sydney Tarno 2 and Melinda Blackmon 2...

It was a difficult road trip for the Lady Cougars Thursday night at the Mustang Athletic Complex in Monette. Rector ran into a talented conference-leading BIC team, falling 67-36 on the night. The Lady Cougars held a slim 13-12 edge after the opening quarter before BIC rallied to take a 32-22 lead at the half. The Lady Mustangs exploded in the third period, outscoring Rector 25-9 to take a commanding 57-31 advantage into the fourth quarter...

Cleda Faulk has always loved the simple life. The 87-year-old Faulk was raised on a farm near the Silverdale, Mo., community. The third oldest of eight children, Faulk had six sisters and a brother. The family worked together raising cotton and beans to sell, while growing their own food...

Once upon a time, for Valentine's Day, my friend Shirley got a skunk. No, not a stuffed one. A real live one. It was found in the barn in a cage on Valentine's Day. The cage was left there by her husband, who was trying to catch a bandit raccoon, not a skunk...

Judy Karen Davis, 68, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, at the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott, Ark. She was born on May 27, 1943, in Pollard, Ark., and was the daughter of the late Arnold and Anita Elaine Johnson Hogard. Her grandparents, Floyd and Mozell Johnson, whom she called "Mom and Dad," preceded her in death. Her granddaughter, Sarah Elaine, and half-brother, Steve Hogard, also preceded her in death...

Charles Dwight Carrens, 90, of Pittman, Ark., passed away Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012, in the Five Rivers Medical Center in Pocahontas, Ark. He was born on April 4, 1921, in Lead Hill, Ark., and was the son of the late Dr. James Sigel and Mamie Thomas Carrens...

Chester Leroy Jenkins, 88, of Paragould passed away Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, at the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Chester was born Jan. 10, 1924, to the late Mallie Jenkins and Gladys Robertson. Surviving Mr. Jenkins are a son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Terri Jenkins, and his grandson, Blake Jenkins, all of Paragould...

Junior Haywood, 78, of St. Francis, Ark., passed away Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, at the Piggott Community Hospital. He was born on Oct. 31, 1933, in Crockett, Ark., and was the son of the late Edgar Alan and Cora Jane Parks Haywood. He was united in marriage to Shirley Glidewell on April 10, 1955, and to this union one son was born...

Mary Margaret Mann, 65, of Kansas City, Mo., formerly of Piggott, Ark., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, at Hannibal Regional Hospital in Hannibal, Mo. She was born on April 7, 1946, in Cardwell, Mo., and was the daughter of Charles R. and Dovie Scott Champ. Her father, Charles R. Champ, preceded her in death...

Charlene Ann Richardson, 48, of Piggott, Ark., died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012, in her home. Her father, Donald Randolph, preceded her in death. She is survived by her mother, Janett Randolph of Piggott, Ark.; one son, Kenneth Karst of Piggott, Ark.; one daughter, Mariah Richardson of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; two brothers, Virgil Randolph and wife Lisa of Piggott, Ark., and Tony Randolph and wife Melinda of Chicago, Ill.; three nephews, Zek, Jamie and Justin; two nieces, Chelsea and Amber, and one granddaughter, Eva.. ...

Nova Lou Vina (Stahl) Holt, age 81, a resident of Braymer, Mo., passed away on Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, at her residence. Nova was born the daughter of Alonzo and Wilma Bertie (Ratledge) Stahl on April 26, 1930, in Rector, Ark. She was united in marriage to James H. Holt, Jr., on Oct. 17, 1947, in Paragould, Ark. He preceded her in death on March 14, 1994...