Stories from Thursday, February 16, 2012

Gene Rudolph White, 84, of St. Louis, Mo., formerly of Rector, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, at the Christian N.E. Hospital in St. Louis. He was born on Nov. 3, 1927, in Hayti, Mo. He was a retired security officer, World War II veteran, in the Army Corps and was of the Baptist faith...

Lemuel L. Smith, 90, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Holcomb, Mo., passed away Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, in the Oakdale Care Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was born Dec. 16, 1921, in Piggott, Ark., and was the son of the late Nathan Zelmer and Luda Bell (Brandon) Smith...

Eunice L. Hamilton of Piggott, Ark., died Feb. 11, 2012, in Sherwood. She was 102 and lived in Piggott for over 70 years. Born in Melbourne, Ark., on Oct. 6, 1909, she was the eldest daughter of Minnie Smith and W.O. Lawrence. Eunice is survived by her sister, Mary Little, and her husband, Ray, of Melbourne, and two sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Lawrence of Portland, Ore., and Anna Marie Lawrence of Santa Ana, Calif. ...

Dolis Marie Smith, age 90, of Springfield, Mo., passed away Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at Christian Health Care East. She was born Aug. 27, 1921, in St. Francis, Ark., to Ed and Blanche (Posgrove) Henderson. She was a member of the Twin Springs Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo. She lived her life for God and her family and continued to witness up until her prayers were answered and her work here on earth was complete...

Born June 11, 1944, Phyllis Pankey, 67, of Marion, Ark., formerly of Marmaduke, passed away Feb. 4, 2012. She was preceded in death by her parents, V.G. "Shorty" and Virginia Cooper; one uncle, Dwight Turberville, and a brother-in-law, Bill Manning...

Mae Ruth Hardin, 81, of Rector passed away at the Rector Nursing Center on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012. She was born May 29, 1930, to the late Boyd and Edna (Thrasher) Deaver. Mae Ruth was known for her love of finding a good bargain on her junking and antique searches. Antiques meant a lot to her, especially those connected with her family...

"But I am only one person, what can I do?" The answer may surprise you. It turns out that one person can accomplish a great deal. There is a local woman who has been doing a considerable amount of repairing and climbing scaffolding to paint some of the historic buildings in downtown Rector. At age 58, with a bone-on-bone right knee and back surgery to repair two ruptured discs, she has some physical challenges, but she keeps at it...

The volunteer members of the Piggott Fire Department will be able to perform their duties with improved protection and safety thanks to funds received through the Volunteer Fire Assistance Act and the National Fire Plan and administered by the Arkansas Forestry Commission. The department was presented with a check for $1,000 by AFC county ranger Thomas Lindsey Friday, Feb. 10, at the Piggott Fire Station...

Dave Pittman of Mountain Home, American Idol finalist from season nine, will be a guest motivational speaker at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, at the Rector High School gymnasium. Pittman will share his story about how living with Tourette's syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder and attention deficit disorder. Pittman is taking his experience from Idol, his love of music, his story and his talent throughout the United States...

Third graders at Piggott Elementary School received a special visit Thursday, Feb. 9, from Mayor Gerald Morris. Morris took time to meet with students, answering questions prepared by the children as an extension of their work in the classroom, where they have been learning about interviews...

Rector High School FBLA members Rebekah Scott (left) and Cheyenne Ellis were among those delivering hundreds of balloons and other tokens of affection sent to Rector students Tuesday by parents, grandparents and friends in celebration of Valentine's Day. With the school library filled with the colorful items early in the day, love was definitely in the air. (Photo Candy Williams)...

The Lady Mohawks fell behind early and were forced to play catch-up the rest of the evening during their Senior Night meeting with Crawley's Ridge Academy Tuesday, Feb. 7 in Piggott, ultimately falling to their guests, 56-46. The Lady Mohawks started slow on the emotional evening, as the guests ran out to a 16-6 advantage...

It was a night of quality basketball at Rector Thursday night as the hosting Cougars welcomed Clay County rival Piggott for Senior Night. The contest was among the top played throughout the state, as the Cougars and Mohawks battled in a hard-fought 52-40 Rector win...

The Lady Cougars and Lady Mohawks put on a show for their respective fans Thursday night in Rector, providing another memorable chapter in their Clay County roundball rivalry. RHS played host to Piggott for Senior Night, with the Lady Cougars emerging with a 65-45 victory on the evening...

The Mohawks celebrated Senior Night in fashion Tuesday, Feb. 7 in Piggott, topping Crowley's Ridge Academy, 62-49. The Tribe built a six-point advantage in the third quarter, with Lucas Brewer providing the scoring punch during the key frame with eight points inside, to move ahead 46-40 heading into the fourth. The Mohawks were able to add to their lead late, sinking six free throws down the stretch to preserve the win...