Piggott School board met in regular session on Tuesday, Sept. 10 with all board members present. Reading of the previous month’s meeting was waived and financial report was accepted. For the Mohawk Moments, Superintendent Freddie Bowen acknowledged the second grade staff for completing the first knowledge unit of CKLA and allowing students to dress as their favorite fairy tale or tall tale character.
The Labor Day 2024 weekend was summed up by RHS alumna Olivia Sutherland to her ASU college friends when, as reported by her mother Carla Essman, she said to them, “Come to Labor Day with me!” Carla said, “You say that like Labor Day is a place.” Olivia declared, “It is! RECTOR!!!” At noon, the Rector High School gym was filled with close to 200 attendees for the Rector Sports Hall of Fame induction held annually for the purpose of inducting outstanding persons and groups who have made a significant contribution to athletics in Rector. The presentation and a buffet meal catered by Dawn’s Diner in Marmaduke underscored the importance of the organization.
Just before the majority of pageants began, organizers said, “We’re keeping an eye on the weather and will announce the location of pageants by 1 p.m.” At 1 o’clock, the clouds parted, and a pleasant breeze blew through Rector to add a wonderful endorsement for the weekend’s festivities. Though frogs and drenched picnic tables and benches dominated Sunday’s events requiring some stands to move because the booths were flooded, organizers persisted and it all paid dividends.
Emma Holmes and Kaelyn Burns represented Rector High School at the annual Arkansas Girls State on the campus of Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, from May 26 through May 31, and not only participated in a firsthand government workshop, but saw decision-making at its grass roots. The choices leaders must make weigh health and safety vs. previous plans and expenses. At least 70 delegates of the 700 people on the Harding campus connected with Girls State became ill and samples from the 70 infected were sent to the Arkansas Department of Health who diagnosed the ill with a norovirus, a highly contagious virus. The leadership notified parents and guardians and told them to “pick up your daughter as soon as is possible within safety parameters.” The decision to close the annual meeting was based on the health and safety of the delegates, the staff, and the leadership. The cities and counties in the mockstate government were filled with elite students from high schools representing all counties in Arkansas. The American Legion Girls State motivates delegates to develop leadership and integrity.
More than twenty Miss Rector alumnae gathered at the Sunday night Ms Rector Pageant and celebrated 80 years of Miss Rector pageants. Organized by Jade Mount Simpson, many Miss Rector alumnae responded to her invitation, but others for health reasons or distance to travel could not attend the reunion. The ladies who attended enjoyed visiting and sharing memories before and after their walk down the runway, some young ladies walking with their mothers who were also Miss Rector winners.
On Friday, August 30, the senior high Piggott Mohawks opened their season at home with a non-conference game against the Highland Rebels. The team entered the field with American flags and the Arkansas flag in what has become Mohawk tradition at home games. The game did not go in the Mohawks favor with Highland scoring first in the matchup. Senior Will Lucas scored both of the Mohawks touchdowns and senior, Ozzy Garcia was responsible for the extra points with a successful 2 point conversion. The game ended with a score of 61-14. Highland also won the pair’s last head-to-head matchup.
The RHSSHOF annual golf tournament was held Friday, Aug. 31, at the Kennett Country Club.
A bright, sunny, 8 a.m. Saturday of Labor Day Weekend welcomed over 240 runners and walkers from Rector and surrounding areas to include house guests who arrived for the annual Labor Day Picnic. Wearing classic 5K Racing for the Future t-shirts the multi-age group found the starting line and awaited the signal. Teen and youth runners dominated the field for the annual RHS Helping Hands Foundation fundraising event. Stearns Racing professionally timed the event giving each participant an individual printout of the race timing.
