Stories from Thursday, July 26, 2012

Maurice Bateman was born on July 2, 1915, and passed away on Thursday, July 19, 2012, at the age of 97. He was the oldest child of Harrison and Zoe Hardin Bateman. One brother, Hardin, and one sister, Marie, died in childhood. His brother, Waukeen Bateman, and two sisters, Glory Bateman Golden and Hope Wanda Bateman Matthews, preceded him in death. A son-in-law, Jimmy Stafford, also preceded him...

Mr. Terry L. Donner, of Bartow, Fla., died of Alzheimer's Thursday, July 5, 2012 at LRMC. He was 74. He was born in Manila, Ark., August 20, 1937 and was a resident of Lake Wales and Bartow since leaving Arkansas in 1959. He was a mechanic for Florida's Natural in Lake Wales for 44 years, retiring in 2004...

When we were little children learning to color, our parents would tell us to "stay in the lines." We were to color in certain areas, not to color outside the lines of the figures in the coloring book. That took some time and practice to master. Yes, it was supposed to be fun but there were other reasons for staying in the line...

Jerry R. Davis, 65, of Sikeston, died July 22, 2012 at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born July 12, 1947 in Poplar Bluff, to the late Russell A. and Velma (Dickerson) Davis. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a rural letter carrier for 33 years for the U.S. Postal Service and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sikeston...

Betty Jo Fowler Hartwell, 77, of Qulin, Mo., died July 21, 2012 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Hartwell was born September 24, 1934. She was a homemaker and she enjoyed golf, playing piano, traveling and spending time with her family. She attended Osborn General Baptist Church...

After more than a year of planning, the Piggott Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that they will host their first ever "Power Breakfast" from 7 to 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8. The breakfast, which is being held at The Piggott Diner, will feature former Piggott Mohawk, and Arkansas Razorback Hall of Honor member, Gary Adams...

Residents and leaders met during a series if three meetings in Rector, Piggott and Corning Monday and Tuesday as part of the "Voice of the Community" public meetings taking place in conjunction with ongoing efforts to determine potential projects and improvements designed to strengthen Clay County...

The current drought conditions facing the area are among the worst in recent memory. High temperatures and far below average rainfall have combined to make the outdoors nearly unbearable at times for many and the impact is being felt in a variety of ways...

Hot, dry conditions were not enough to deter crowds from the St. Francis Picnic Saturday. Hundreds of visitors and participants joined dozens of volunteers shrugged off the oppressive July heat to come out to the picnic grounds to offer their time in support of not only the annual celebration, but also the continued upkeep and maintenance of the Hall and Gravel Hill Cemeteries...

Several area teams took to the hardwood in team camp action last week at Rector. The hosting Cougars welcomed senior high clubs from Piggott, Manila, Weiner, Cooter, Bloomfield, Walnut Ridge, Pocahontas, Paragould, Holcomb, Advance and BIC. The Cougars took part in 12 games during the week, finishing with a 9-3 record...

The Piggott All Star 11 and 12 year old team had a good season, and finished their season as third in state at the tournament at Arkadelphia. Members of the team are, from left: Front--Brier Staples, Spencer Hardin, Trey Gossett, Mazin Chase and John Johns. ...