It happened here, years ago

Donnie Morrison, a standout for the Piggott Mohawk football squad, signed a letter of intent to accept a scholarship to ASU this month in 1978. Morrison, shown in his ASU uniform, went on to be a three year letterman for the Indians. Morrison also was the last Mohawk to play in the annual high school All-Star football game, and competed in the 1979 game at Little Rock.

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Piggott voters defeated proposed ordinance #239 by a vote of 574-129 this week in 1968, voting down a measure that would have set-up a utilities commission to oversee the city's light, water and sewer department. In other news, the Christmas Seal fund is nearly halfway finished and has raised $1,187 in Clay County; and the Piggott Jaycees joined forced with Brown Shoe Company to donate $250 for the purchase of groceries for needy families around the region for the holidays.

Speaking of Brown Shoe, over 400 employees gathered at Piggott High School for their annual Christmas party. And speaking of shoes, Smith Shoe Store had a big after-Christmas sale planned with men's shoes and boots for $4.99-$19.95 and boy's shoes for $3.99-$5.99 a pair.

At the Carolyn Theater this week the features included, "Prudence and the Pill", "Shalako" and "The Heart is a Lonley Hunter."

In sports, the Mohawks dropped a pair to the Chargers of Delta C-7 in the past week, and ASU head football coach Benny Elender has announced that the Indian's top prospect this year is Walnut Ridge stand-out Scott Logan.

And the 22nd annual NEA Invitational basketball tournament is set at Jonesboro Dec. 30- Jan 4. First round match-ups included--Oak Grove-Biggers Reyno, Wilson-Lynn, Forrest City-Manila, Marked Tree-Westside, Valley View-Black Rock, Trumann-Bay, Dyess-Lake City, St. Charles-Cave City, Mammoth Spring-Crowley's Ridge Academy, Blytheville-Corning, Salem-Brinkley, Leachville-Hoxie, Jonesboro-Monette, Rector-Pocahontas and Sulpher Springs-Marmaduke.

1978

Four Qulin-area men were killed 30 years ago last week, after their airplane crashed following taking off from the Piggott airport. The men were all headed to a meeting of the American Agriculture Movement in Plains, Ga. The plane was found about two hours after the incident two miles southwest of White Oak, Mo.

This week's paper also included a feature on the accomplishments made during Mayor George Cook's eight years in office, and a picture of him with the gift of appreciation he was given at the conclusion of his term. This week's paper also included photos from the Home for the Golden Year's annual Christmas party.

It was reported that statewide testing of Arkansas students indicated that they scored well above the national average in grades one through three, but showed steady drops from grades four through 12. In other news, a 50th wedding celebration is set for Dec. 31 in Nimmons for Mr. and Mrs. Homer D. Parks.

At the Carolyn Theater this week the feature is "Up In Smoke" with Cheech and Chong, while the late show is "Car Hop."

In births to announce, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Box of Piggott have a new son. Donald Jason Box was born Dec. 8 at Piggott Hospital.

And in sports, Donnie Morrison has accepted a scholarship to play football at ASU. The Mohawk standout had 1,333 yards rushing in 1977, and scored 17 touchdowns. During the 1978 season he carried theball for 924 yards in nine games, scored 14 touchdowns and recorded nine interceptions for the Tribe.

1983

Greenway and Rector school board members voted to submit a re-organization plan to patrons in the March 13 school election. The action came after members of the Piggott board decided not to pursue consolidation with the other two districts. In other news, the Piggott Library has received a $55,000 federal grant to help pay for construction of the new facility, work should get underway in the spring.

Scott Parton of Piggott was given the DAR Good Citizen Award recently, while the other finalists from PHS were Angela Howell and David Swift.

Several fires were reported this week in time. Joyce's Clothing Store at Pollard was destroyed by a blaze Dec. 24; and fire destroyed the home of Polly Ozbun on South Houston, though no one was home at the time of the blaze; meanwhile a storage building in the yard of Johnny Wright, in Shady Acres, was also destroyed by fire.

The Piggott Ministarial Alliance joined forced with the Boy Scouts and distributed 58 White Christmas boxes to needy families of the area. A total of eight local churches combined for the effort.

In sports, the fifth annual Freedom Run was held, and well attended, with Robbie Blalock of Poplar Bluff taking first place. Meanwhile, the Mohawks lost to the Brookland Bearcats 53-71 in the first round of the NEA Invitational Basketball Tournament at Jonesboro. Chuck Hope led the way with 17 while Jeff Benbrook finished with 10 in the loss. The Bearcats were slated to take on Manila in the next round.

1988

The Clay County Quorum Court and Piggott City Council held special meetings in the past week to approve budget matters for 1989. In other news, Gerald Runyon has retired after nearly 30 years with the Postal Service, the last 13 as a rural carrier.

And the newly-reorgnized Piggott Jaycees are holding a membership drive. The club, which elected David Ballard as president, boasts 22 members.

The new Arkansas license plates for 1989 will be different, with the phrase "The Natural State" replacing the former "Land of Opportunity ". It was also noted that elected officials will be sworn-in at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3, at the courthouse in Piggott.

Doyle and Virginia Causey celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a party Nov. 26, at the Piggott Community Center. And Piggott Lodge #545 held installation of officers recently, with Frank Staples installed as Worshipful Master.

Drawing winners from the Piggott State Bank Christmas open house were, Eugenia Williams, Elizabeth Scott, Emily Gatewood, Gary Conley and Linda Phares. And Sue Smith's French class from Piggott High School visited downtown merchants singing Christmas Carols in French. The group stopped by the Times office where they were photographed wishing a "Joyeux Noel."

And in sports, the Piggott Mohawks fell to the Riverside Rebels 36-67 in the first round of the NEA Tournament at Jonesboro. Mark Box paced the Tribe in the loss with 19 points as they fell to 1-10 overall. Up next will be a visit to Clay County Central.