Stories from Thursday, May 31, 2012

I had this sugar free chocolate cake mix I wanted to bake. I just had a taste for it last Tuesday afternoon. But I was watching a tv movie starring one of my favorite actresses, Sandra Bullock, and I didn't want to stop and bake the cake. So I decided to bake the cake during commercials. I had recently read that if you need to exercise, you could do so during television commercials. Just get up and walk around...

"I feel like I'm being left behind," my friend said recently. She was talking about all the revolutionary electronic gadgets that people are using these days. I don't guess she's ever seen YouTube because she doesn't own or have access to a home computer...

Marcia Ola Cowgill, 76, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro, Ark. She was born Aug. 8, 1935, in Crockett, Ark., and was the daughter of the late David Swyers and Ollie Burks Kunkleman...

Wayne Eugene Ward, 90, of Louisville passed away Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at the Palliative Care Unit of Baptist East Hospital in Louisville. He was born July 28, 1921, in Piggott, Ark., to Kitty Belle Harris and Egbert Grant Ward, a prominent attorney and circuit judge in Clay County, Ark. He grew up with two brothers, Maurice and Ray, and one sister, Alma Mae...

Piggott Community Hospital earned top honors for the quality of care they offer to patients. The awards were presented at a dinner April 17 as part of the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care's annual Quality Conference in Hot Springs. The Critical Access Hospital Best Achievement Award is given to the two hospitals with the highest appropriate care measure rates for the time period of the fourth quarter of 2010 through the third quarter of 2011. ...

Living legend Willie Nelson, country music star Dierks Bentley, Grammy Award-winning duo the Civil Wars and singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash will bring their musical magic to the Arkansas State University Convocation Center stage for the second annual Johnny Cash Music Festival, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday night, Oct. 5...

Seriously dry conditions are being felt by area farmers and the effect of limited rainfall is now becoming a problem for many crops in the field. Producers are keeping a watchful eye to the heavens, with the hope of rain later in the week. Numerous weather forecasts indicate an 80 percent chance for precipitation Thursday...

The sacrifices and deeds of generations of Piggott and American soldiers were honored during a special Memorial Day tribute held Sunday at Piggott Cemetery. Families, friends and those who just wished to pay their respects gathered for the special service, finding refuge from the warm sun amidst the shade trees at the lovely Piggott Cemetery...

Rector junior Kelly Fowler was announced Tuesday as an All-State selection for her efforts in the Lady Cougars 2012 campaign. Fowler helped Rector advance to the Elite Eight in the Class 2A State Softball Tournament, with 21 wins as a pitcher and hitting above .300 for the season. Other area players named as All-State selections were Morgan Hawley and Bree Upchurch, both of Marmaduke...

The next generation of hoop stars took the court last week for the annual Mohawk Basketball Camp on May 21-23. A strong group of young athletes turned out for the event, taking the opportunity to further hone their basketball skills or receive an introduction to the game...