It happened here, years ago

The proposed millage increase will be decided by Piggott school patrons in the coming weeks, and the effort to educate voters on the need continues. Members of the Piggott Lions Club toured the PES campus in the past week, and were pictured visiting the sixth grade class of Delores Bellers. In a related story, the lone school board candidate, Bill Morgan, met with district teachers for a question and answer session.

Feb. 28 was Gary Adams and Tommy Dixon day in Piggott, as the two former Mohawks, and current Arkansas Razorbacks, visited the annual sports banquet. University of Arkansas sports publicity director Bob Cheyne summed it up best in noting, "the odds against two players on a squad of less than two dozen, in a town of 2,776 citizens, starting on a major college football team are probably infinitesimal..but because of this combination Frank Broyles sleeps better at night."

Laud Payne, former publisher of The Piggott Banner (which ceased publication after the Jan. 31, 1969 edition) has announced that he has published "Memories of Clay County" which includes a history of Chalk Bluff and the famous Civil War battle.

At the Carolyn Theater this week the features included--"Dark of the Sun" and "The Swimmer" and a live show "The Sound of Country Music" was scheduled hosted by Gene Williams.

Births to announce include a son, Gary Don, to Mr. and Mrs. Gary Moody of Piggott Feb. 24 at Piggott Hospital.

1979

"Miracle Man" Vaval Eskew returned home Feb. 21 as he continued to recover from his near-fatal accident. Eskew has been rehabilitating at Methodist Central Hospital in Memphis from a severe electrical shock he received Nov. 30. Also in the news, John Robert Brown has retired after exactly 25 years with the Piggott Fire Department. Brown joined the department back in 1955, and at the time there were 15 other firefighters under Chief Marvin Taylor.

Kathy Winberry has announced her candidacy for the Piggott School Board in that upcoming election, and in other news, 1969 PHS grad Link Fuller was featured for his work in the scouting department of the Dallas Cowboys. Fuller, the defensize coordinator for South Garland High School, was also named director of the Dr. Pepper football clinic in Dallas.

Winners of the Greenway spelling bee were--Sherrie Wright, Wanda Harris and Sharon Bowman while the alternate was William Midkiff. And snows and heavy winds in the past week blew down a big cedar tree on the northeast corner of the Piggott courtsquare, and caused the collapse of the awning of the Clay County Cooperative Extension Service office on South Third Street.

At the Carolyn Theater this week the features include "Buffalo Rider" and Walt Disney's "Pinocchio." Meanwhile, Pearl Key has purchased Chandler's Café in Pollard and it will now be known as Pearl's Café.

1984

Pam Barker of Piggott came in third in the Clay County spelling bee at Greenway 25 years ago last week, first went to Michael Cate of Corning and second to Denise Smith of Peach Orchard; both attend Knobel schools. Also this week, there was a feature on Piggott-native Craig Morris as he prepared to perform with the Ronnie McDowell band in Paragould in a fundraiser show for the Greene County Tech Band Boosters.

Dedicatory services and an open house are scheduled for Sunday, March 4, to mark the opening of the new Piggott Mortuary. The business is managed by Bob Martin, Cecil Nettles is the president and Betty Dudley is the secretary.

Sadie Hawkins Day was marked at PHS, and this year's royalty included--Pam Flanigan, Brent Hartsfield, Tina Magee, Heather Huffman, Jeff Pollard, Melissa Hardcastle, Lydia Kelsey, John Winberry, Christie Webster, Neal Morgan, Dana Gossett, Jennifer Causey, Greg Mallard and Beth Carstens. Meanwhile, Valentines King and Queen in Mrs. Spinks class were Marcus Hall and Thrista Britten.

And congrats are in order for PHS grad Nancy Miller, daughter of Sharon Henderson and the late Danny Miller of Piggott. Nancy was chosen homecoming queen at UALR on Feb. 19 after the ceremony the Trojans went on to beat SE Lousiana.

At the Carolyn Theater this week the feature is "Blame it on Rio" while the late show was "Neon Lights."

And local Boy Scouts Damon Cluck, Todd Doty, Craig Duckworth, Gary Don Moody and John Rodery assisted former PES principal William Holifield in planting several Tulip Poplar trees around the elementary campus.

1989

The Piggott City Council approved a plan for wage compensation for employees at their regular meeting, detailing guidelines for various situations and setting-up an evaluation system. In other news, Rep. Jim Holland reports that the legislature will be approving a bill that provides $15,000 per year, for the next two years, for maintenance and repair at Chalk Bluff Park near St. Francis.

A feature story on this week's front page told the story of Allen Cossey of Piggott, and the reunion he had with his half-sister Lucille Poindexter after 66 years apart. The two met in an airport in Texas for the first time in decades, after being separated as young children.

Congrats to Bob Johnson of Piggott, a carrier for the Corning Post Office, he was honored for 25 years of service Feb. 17. This week's paper also included a story by L.T. Gipson about the Piggott Cotton Belt depot, which at the time was still being used by the city street department. The building has since been renovated and returned to near its original site, and houses the office of the Piggott Area Chamber of Commerce.

February is Dental Health Month, and Shelley Prevallet visited Leann Tanner's third grade class at PES to hand out information, pictured examining the items were class members Emily McComb and Jason Causey. Meanwhile, during FBLA Phi Lambda week Kim Crowson, Steuart Turner and Elizabeth Sale worked at Piggott State Bank.

Finally, enrollment at Arkansas State University for the spring semester has set a record, with a total of 8,232 registered, including 2,617 freshmen.