Stories from Thursday, June 11, 2015

"When I walked into the room at the Community Center (Rector), I was astonished," shared Barbara Hamilton, recent honoree at the Clay County Arts Council's Celebration of the Arts held Saturday evening, June 6. A color scheme of various shades of rose and pink against a backdrop of black and silver set the festive atmosphere for the evening. ...

With an eye toward future needs, members of the Piggott School Board set the process in motion at Monday night's regular meeting to seek an extension of the district's current millage issue. Based on the recommendation of Marshall Hughes, with First Security, Beardsley Public Finance, board members voted to adopt a proposed budget for the 2016-17 school year, and to submit an application to the state for a permit to issue bonds for future construction...

The Rector School Board made multiple end-of-year decisions at the Monday monthly meeting. The board approved resignations from Linda Speer from the position of elementary special education aide and Hannah Gray from the agriculture teacher position...

Both Piggott and Rector Head Start celebrated the 50th anniversary of the national program at their locations this month. The Piggott location began in 1990 in a small building located next to Piggott Elementary with only 18 children. In 2000 they moved to the current location at 1020 Taylor Street, where 32 infants/toddlers and 36 preschool attend daily...

A Kennett man accused in the murder of his wife is out on bond. According to Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff McCormick, bond was set Thursday by Circuit Judge Robert Mayer at $1 million for Allan Branum, charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting death of his wife, Rector native, Regena Branum, in May 2014...