It happened here, years ago

With the new year comes a re-organization of the Piggott Chamber of Commerce 40 years ago this past week. The group has set dues at $48 per year, or four dollars a month, and leaders estimate annual operating expenses at around $5,000. The group also heard from Dorris Cox, of Cox Lumber Company and Planning Mill, on the family business. Cox noted that the firm paid out over $821,700 per year in salaries, but needed to make changes to stay competitive in today's market.

Congratulations to 1964 Greenway High School graduate Linuel Tinsley. He was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic service as a medic in Vietnam.

Several traffic accidents were reported in the past days. A head-on crash three miles west of Piggott claimed the life of a 66-year old Holcomb woman, and several were hurt in a two-vehicle crash in St. Francis on New Year's Day. It was also reported that 20 year old Beuford G. Smart of near Piggott was killed in a crash in Kansas as he was returning to duty at an air base in Montana. Smart was killed in the mishap along with 22 year old John Batten of Naylor, who was also a member of the Air Force.

Last week's report on school improvements contained a mistake. The story indicated that new dressing rooms were to be built beneath the bleachers at the PHS gym. That story should have said that the dressing rooms were planned for under the bleachers at Parker Field.

New postage rates are scheduled to go into effect Jan. 7 with first class mail increasing to six cents per ounce, and air mail going to ten cents an ounce. Meanwhile, K&M Auto Machine has moved into their new building, in the former location of Clifford Cole Oil Company. And the new telephone book is being distributed this week around the area.

And in sports, the Mohawks closed out the regular basketball season with losses to Knobel and Walnut Ridge. Joe Litz led the Tribe against the Mustangs while David Polsgrove paced the Mohawk attack against the Bobcats.

1978

Political announcements made 30 years ago this week include Rep. Jim Holland announcing that he was running for re-election and Rue C. "Cupie" Mack announcing that he is running for Clay County judge.

Congrats to Fred Ort, he was named as the new manager of the local Otasco store recently. Meanwhile, the new federal minimum wage went into effect Jan. 1 affecting about 4.5 million workers. The new minimum was set at $2.65 an hour.

Attorney General Bill Clinton sought to remind Arkansans about the conversion to the metric system. The change was mandated by the Federal Metric Conversion Act of 1975, and Clinton was attempting to make sure the state's residents understood the particulars.

At the Carolyn Theater this week, "Greased Lightning" with Richard Pryor was the feature, while the late show was "Bottoms Up". Coming soon was a special three-day engagement of "Across the Great Divide".

Greene's Market had a special on sirloin or rib steak for $1.29 a pound, or Boston Butt pork roast for just .89 a pound. They also featured cabbage at ten cents a pound and red potatoes were ten pounds for just .79. Meanwhile Fred's had Wagner natural orange drink for .39 for a thirty-two ounce container, or ladies dresses from $10.37 to $12.00 each.

1983

Kenny Parker took over at Piggott Police Chief 25 years ago this past week, as he replaced the retired Leonard Bell. At the first city council meeting of the year Parker indicated the need for an additional officer, and was given permission to advertise for the position. Newly elected Mayor George Cook led the meeting along with aldermen Junior Harris, Tommy Hardcastle, Francis Knuckles and Norman Muse. They were joined by city attorney C.W. Knauts and city clerk Monedith Wright.

Among the items of business for the council was a report from Don Roeder on efforts to find a location to build the city's new library. He also asked the council to officially appoint a library board to oversee the effort.

The Quorum Court held their first meeting of the new year with Judge Harry Niewald presiding. Members included Dewayne Cannady, Farrel Young, Wilson Copeland, Melvyn Alstadt, Freddie Almandinger, Bill Hancock, Larry Flanigan, Fred Ort and Dale Smith.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Claude Brawner, as they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary back on Dec. 26.

At the Carolyn Theater this week it was National Lampoon's "Class Reunion", while the late show feature was "Night of Spanish Fly".

In sports, the Lady Mohawks swept Rector recently with all three teams in action. Melissa Berry led the senior girls in their win, Tracy Noles paced the junior girls and Kim Grimes was top scorer for the seventh and eighth graders.

And finally, the PHS Fall Sports Awards program is coming up with two special speakers. The featured speakers include former Mohawk, and ASU standout, Donnie Morrison and Arkansas Razorback linebacker (and future NFL standout) Billy Ray Smith.

1988

The Piggott City Council meeting, 20 years ago this past week, included complaints from several employees concerning their annual raise. Mayor Cook had attempted to budget a thirty-cent an hour raise for the coming year, but the effort met resistance from aldermen. They later amended the document to include a .15 an hour raise, with the higher amount offered to supervisors. Police Chief Kenny Parker turned down the raise in protest, noting that he had an officer with 15 years of service making $5.68 an hour while a meter reader with four years of service made $5.92. Parker observed that his officers made between 12-13 thousand dollars a year and most had second jobs to make ends meet. An adjusted budget was approved by the council amid the controversy.

A break-in was investigated at Herb's Café in the past week. Herb reported that ten dollars in change had been stolen from the location, and that the change from The Piggott Times rack was also taken. Meanwhile, Loveless Department Store offered a sale on those popular rugby shirts for $14.99 each.

A number of Piggott eight and nine year olds qualified for the district free-throw competition at Jonesboro High School. In the girl's division Nikki Morgan placed first, Jamie Harmon was second and Stephanie Wellman was third. In the boy's competition it was Chad Beck in first, Rob Nichols in second and Craig Winberry in third. Others scheduled to represent Piggott include Bryan Howery, Blaine Howell, Jereme Blascoe, Brian Watson, Jason Holcomb, Jason Beck, Tina Piland, Traci James, Amy Miller, Kim Henson and Donna Breckenridge.

Also in sports, the Lady Mohawks lost to Clay County Central in the past week. Deanna Conley led the senior girls in their loss, while Tammy Belote was top scorer for the junior girls in their game with the Cougars. Up next the Lady Mohawks will host Cave City's Cave Women, fresh off their NEA championship.