The new Miss Arkansas Teen 2024, Peyton Bolling, has ties to Piggott with her mother being a former resident and her grandparents and uncle still residing here. Bolling is the daughter of Colonel Ryan and Patrice Hargrave Bolling of Rogers, Ark., and the granddaughter of Clay County Judge Mike Patterson and wife Patricia and niece of Patrick Patterson.
Defendants Rhonda Michelle Parks and Anita Joyce Parks, both of Piggott, appeared in Clay County Circuit Court Thursday, June 27, at which time attorneys for the defendants asked for a continuance. The new court date has been set for Oct. 4.
Rector School District held a special meeting on Tuesday, June 25, for the purpose of hiring teachers and others to fill district vacancies. In earlier board meetings, Colby Barham was hired as band director, Hannah Burk was hired as elementary physical education with Robert Dorman moving to high school ALE teacher. Landon Mason was hired as high school math teacher and assistant basketball coach. Hunter Smith was hired as a social studies teacher and assistant coach. Gracie Huff, interim for Madison May who will return to her position in elementary school, was hired to fill the position vacated by Sherry Cate who retired after many exemplary years in the elementary classroom.
Piggott City Council met on Thursday, June 27 with all council members present. A public hearing regarding property condemnation was held at 5:45 p.m. with one member of the public with a property on the list in attendance. The owner of property located at 878 E. Castleberry was in attendance and given six months to work on the property and to let the city know of the progress in two months.
“The biggest impact on student learning is the classroom teacher,” stated Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva on Tuesday, June 25, while joining with Governor Sarah Sanders in announcing recipients of the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund dollars, a portion of the LEARNS Act.
John Allen French of Pocahontas has recently been named Regional Accounts Executive for the Arkansas properties owned by CherryRoad Media, a newspaper publishing company based in New Jersey. French, who previously held the title of editor at the Pocahontas Star Herald, will now oversee ad sales for several Arkansas papers, including the Clay County Times-Democrat and the Clay County Courier.
The traditional mid-summer celebration returns with the 97th annual Piggott Fourth of July Picnic and Homecoming Celebration. The annual Independence Day celebration will be held Wednesday and Thursday, July 3 and 4.
Black River Technical College (BRTC) will host a Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 17 in the Randolph County Development Center located at 1410 Hwy. 304 East on the Pocahontas campus.
PHS Class of 1974 will celebrate their 50th class reunion on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Strawberry Event Center at 107 Main, Holcomb, Mo. Buffet meal and drink is $25 per person with cash bar available. Money will be paid at the door. Please RSVP by Aug. 23 for meal planning with your name and number in your party. Please send a text or call one of the following with your information: Debra Rouse Whaley, 870530-1855; Teresa Casey Hanners, 573-576-3579, or Susan Alexander, 870-3240398.
The Delta Symphony Orchestra will hold its annual Summer String Camp from July 8 to July 12 at 701 S. Main St.