Stories from Thursday, July 5, 2012

Charles Ray Turner Sr., age 78, died Monday June 25, 2012 at Rochelle Gardens Care Center. He was born on December 18, 1933 in Piggott, Ark., the son of Robert and Vivian (Birchett) Turner. Charles married Patsy June Nash on April 16, 1955 in McDougal, Ark. ...

Normadene M. Lankford, 83, of Piggott, Arkansas, passed away Wednesday, June 27, 2012, at the Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott. She was born on March 28, 1929, in Greenway, Arkansas, and was the daughter of the late Lonnie and Geneva (Davis) Petty...

Jerry Don Rogers, of Hollister, Mo., passed away Thursday, June 21, 2012 at Point Lookout Nursing Home in Hollister. Jerry was born in Paragould, Ark., December 10, 1946, the son of the late Walter Oba and Thelma Agnes (Hickerson) Rogers. Jerry spent a lot of hours studying his Bible and was affiliated with a non-denominational church. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman...

Royal Francis Dudley completed his mission on earth June 20, 2012, at the age of 76. Royal was born June 7, 1936, in Rector, Ark., to Royal Francis and Pansy Marie (Wright) Dudley. After growing up in League City, Texas, Royal enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Okinawa. ...

A Piggott teen was seriously injured in a two vehicle accident early Saturday morning and at last report remained hospitalized in critical condition at The Med in Jonesboro. Reports from Clay County Sheriff Gerald McClung's office indicated Tanner Murray, 17, was driving southbound on U.S. ...

A new addition has bolstered the Marmaduke Fire Department's resources. The department added a brand new 2012 Pierce fire engine in May, greatly improving the MFD's fleet of vehicles and equipment. "It's a big improvement (over existing trucks)," firefighter Johnnie Pruett said. "It's a top of the line truck. You don't see many small departments like ours with a truck like this."...

Darrin Johnson of Piggott was recently honored by the Arkansas Kidney Disease Commission (AKDC) with a special Chain of Life award. Darrin was presented with his award by Gov. Mike Beebe during a special visit to Little Rock on March 14. Darrin received the award because of his commitment to his father, Dennis Johnson, who was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2010. ...

Ed Thompson of Piggott has been selected as Grand Marshal for this year's Piggott Fourth of July Picnic Parade, as the theme of "Freedom is Not Free" seeks to honor the country's veterans and military personnel. Thompson, a veteran of the United States Navy, didn't have the longest or most illustrious military career--but he did serve at a time of great historical significance. ...

Filing is now open for school board positions in the Rector and Piggott School Districts. Filing opened at the Clay County Clerk's office in Piggott Tuesday and will continue through noon Tuesday, July 10. Petitions may be picked up at the office, with 20 signatures required to appear on the ballot. Position one at Rector, currently occupied by Jim Speer, and position one at Piggott, currently occupied by Hope Burns, will be decided during the Sept. 18 election...

A Rector woman escaped major injuries following a two vehicle accident Thursday morning. Dorothy Curtis of Rector received "moderate" injuries when her 1997 Pontiac Sunfire was struck in the rear by a GMC Sierra driven by Cheryl Libla, 62, of Piedmont, Mo. On Highway 34 in Pine Hill, Mo. At 10:10 a.m., according to a statement from the Missouri State Highway Patrol...