It happened here, years ago

The Piggott City Council held their first meeting of the year 40 years ago last week, and friction is already developing between several new members and Mayor Buck Thomas. In other news, Stephen Crowson of Greenway, a member of the Piggott FFA, was one of only 17 members of the organization to be given the coveted American Farmer Degree in the state. He's the son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Crowson.

Monday Jan. 6, 1969 marked the first day of service for the new Piggott State Bank drive-thru facility. The first customer was Bob Hampton (in a 1967 Chevrolet) and the staff consisted of Jim Poole, Gary O'Dell and Belinda Graddy. The drive-thru is open 9-3 Monday through Friday and from 9:00 to noon on Saturdays.

The local Boy Scouts held their annual Court of Honor recently, and State Achievement awards went to Joe Cox, Robin Miller, Stephen Daffron and Granville Cate (probably Grant, misidentified as his dad) Meanwhile, at the Carolyn Theater this week the features included--"If He Hollers Let Him Go" and "The Hell with Heroes."

Spc 4 and Mrs. William "Sonny" Hommell of Piggott have a new arrival to report this week, as daughter Deborah Ann was born Dec. 24. The story also noted that Sonny was scheduled to ship-out for service in Thailand Jan. 13.

And it was reported that the PTA was planning a chili and spaghetti dinner for Jan. 14, and Jo Ann McLeskey is now employed at Wanda's Beauty Shop.

1979

Mayor James Morris presided over the first Piggott City Council meeting of the year, along with aldermen Donald Foster, Joe Johnson, Dr. H.R. Duckworth and Junior Harris. City clerk is Monedith Wright and city attorney is C.W. Knauts. Meanwhile, Mayor Orville Schultz presided over the St. Francis city council meeting, with council members David Hanna, Floyd Seal, Peggy Woolbright and Mae Roth.

The first birth of the new year at Piggott Hospital was Eric Lavon Huggins, son of Donna and Darrell Huggins of Qulin. He was delivered at 5:45 p.m. on Jan. 2, by Dr. Jerry Muse.

At the Carolyn Theater this week in time the feature was "Animal House" while the late show was "Campus Pussycats."

This week's paper also included the annual report on Clay County's schools. According to the statistics for the 77-78 year; Corning had the most students with a total of 1,366 in first through 12th grades, Piggott had 1,108, Rector had 769, Knobel had 348 and Greenway had 189. The countywide total for those students was 3,609. The Corning district also had the highest average pay for certified staff at $10,678, followed by Piggott at $10,178, Rector at $10,072, Greenway at $9,858 and Knobel at $9,633. The county wide average salary for certified personnel stood at $10,247.

This week's paper also included an article on a new publication, "Leisure Cooking, The Microwave Method," as more and more people were obtaining the devices.

1984

A "major change in the manufacturing focus of the Brown Shoe Co. plant in Piggott will result in the temporary layoff of the bulk of the local employees," was the news 25 years ago this week. But according to the company, "we want to emphasize that the plant is not closing." In other news, the Piggott School board has approved a building plan and is asking for a 4.6 mil tax increase to pay for the work. The plan calls for over a half million in re-building at the burned-out Middle School campus, and about $68,000 in improvements to the elementary.

Members of the Piggott Airport commission also met recently, and are pursuing a grant to make improvements to the local facility. Meanwhile, fundraising efforts continue for the new Piggott Library building fund, as they work to raise the $130,000 needed. And there was a public meeting held at Greenway, as they prepare to consider a consolidation issue with Rector in the March school election.

In sports, the Mohawks fell to Cave City, though the junior boys won their game; the Lady Mohawks dropped games to Paragould and Rector, while the junior girls split; the Greenway girls lost games to Marmaduke and Stanford while the Greenway boys dropped their game to the Monette Buffalo.

At the Carolyn Theater this week the feature was "Sudden Impact" with Clint Eastwood, and the late show feature was "Danish Pastries."

1989

Mayor George Cook reported that the city of Piggott was on a "sound basis" to begin the new year at the city council meeting. New aldermen included Ronny Dixon and Garland "Bud" Holcomb, and Kay Baker has been hired as the mayor's new secretary. Meanwhile, the city hosted a retirement reception for L.A. Darling president Robert Harig at Sugar Creek Country Club.

In other news, painters V.O. Gatewood and Ricky Tate have been busy with a remodeling project at city hall, meanwhile, a 50th anniversary celebration is set for Jan. 29 for Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Poole. Carroll Poole and Jewell Speer were married Jan. 28, 1939 at Rector.

Clyde Lampp brought in a couple of impressive vegetables grown by his brother Raymond this year. Included was a turnip that weighed three pounds and 13 ounces, and a raddish that weighed one pound and 12 ounces.

In sports, the Mohawks lost a 74-90 decision to Walnut Ridge, along with losses to Cave City and Clay

County Central, since the first of the year and now stand at 1-13. Meanwhile, the junior boys are 6-7. And the annual Clay County Invitational Basketball tournament will be played beginning Jan. 16 at the Clay County Central gym in Rector. The boys bracket includes the Mohawks, Cougars, Corning, Crowley's Ridge Academy and Stanford. The girls bracket includes Piggott, CCC, Corning and Stanford.

And this week's paper included a photo by editor Ron Kemp from the Cotton Bowl, as the Razorbacks fell to UCLA 17-3 on New Year's Day. The photo showed Bruins quarterback Troy Aikman eluding the grasp of Hog defensive tackle Michael Shepherd.