News

There will be three roundabouts and one traffic signal on the Highway 62 Improvement Project which is estimated to be completed in late 2022. Lorrie Tudor, ARDOT director, remarked, “Piggott is a beautiful town, and I can’t wait to come back and spend the whole day here. It looks like a great place to live and work and raise your family. This is Arkansas at it’s best right here.” She went on to thank everyone for coming and introduced the ARDOT staff, and Brett Smith, RL Parsons the contractor...

Shannon Freeman, Maggie and Sam Freeman brought on a sing-along to John Denver’s Country Roads on Nov 18, the traditional third Thursday concert at the Ford Room. From that point on the good times rolled with fabulous singing, jokes, and good-natured banter among the artists and back and forth with the audience. Comments from concert attendees as they exited the Ford Room, “Wasn’t that fun?!” and “We had a blast.”...

Many residents were taken by quite a surprise when a 4.0 magnitude earthquake rattled homes in Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri on Wednesday night, Nov. 17. Residents in Piggott and Rector and the surrounding area felt the quake and flooded social media with questions...

In a special City Council meeting held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, at City Hall, all members of City Council in attendance, Mayor Teresa Roofe stated the situation requiring the meeting was the Council’s general dissatisfaction and lack of confidence in the work completed and not completed by the current engineering firm Horner-Shiffrin of Poplar Bluff. ...

Rector Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual membership meeting at the Rector Community Center on Wednesday, Nov 17, and enjoyed a catered lunch by Camillo’s for a taco buffet with dessert cookies by Ms. Laura’s Catering, both members of the Chamber...

The Clay County Department of Human Services is now accepting applications from families for their annual Christmas assistance project. Applications will be accepted until Nov. 30, at the DHS office in Piggott or at 1st Choice Healthcare in Corning...

Clay County and the nation paused to remember on Thursday, Nov. 11 as Veterans Day was observed for 2021. The annual wreath ceremony was held at the Piggott courthouse at the War Memorial located adjacent to the flagpole on the east side of the courthouse lawn...

The Piggott School Board met in regular session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, in the administration building to discuss several issues with one member of the public and several Piggott school staff members in attendance. After approving last month’s minutes and the financials, Superintendent Freddie Bowen told those in attendance, “I want to add as a monthly standard topic called “Mohawk Moments”. ...

Rector Community Center welcomes Crafts vendors and customers back to the ninth annual Crafts and Small Business Fair set for Saturday, Nov. 20. The event will open with the traditionally delicious breakfast in the dining room at the Rector Community Center at 7:30 a.m. Good shopping and great fun is promised to all who attend...

According to Rector Community Museum’s director Joey Pruett, with emphasis, “THIS IS THE SHOW YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!” Pruett continues, “The very talented and funny Shannon Freeman will take the stage at the Ford Theatre Room at 7 p.m. on Nov. 18, in downtown Rector. ...

Leland Blackshare believes it is important to know about the history of one’s community. With that in mind he was pleased to accept the invitation of the Rector Area Chamber of Commerce to share details concerning the history of Rector in a special educational seminar last Wednesday...

Clay County Quorum Court met Monday night at the Piggott courthouse with Justice Richie Culver absent. First on the agenda, the court approved the appointment of Brande Boyd as county clerk for the remainder of the term when current county clerk Pat Poole retires the end of December...

Rector Downtown Central announces its Christmas event at the Downtown Park with the theme “Merry Grinchmas to You.” After the Rector Christmas Parade and events at the Community Center on Dec. 5, the Downtown Park will become WHOVILLE and the Park will light up with singing, photos, favors, and the GRINCH. Martha May Whovier will take photos...

Rector School Board, with all members present, met at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 8, at the Administration Building and reported on items primarily related to financial operations. Superintendent Johnny Fowler reported a balance in the operating fund of 1,792,709.59, in the building fund of 2,944,749.21, and a balance in total assets after adding Federal funds and cafeteria funds of 4,617,284.92 for the month of October 2021. ...

The Arkansas Department of Transportation held a brief meeting on Thursday morning, Nov. 4, to discuss the roundabout and intersection improvement project. The project consists of three roundabouts along U.S. Highway 62 in Piggott, and rehabilitate the intersection at the stoplight in the city. Representatives of the City of Piggott, Black Hills Energy, Sparklight-Cable One, and several divisions of ARDOT were in attendance...

According to Clay County Sheriff Terry Miller, the department received official identification of the two victims involved when a train crashed into their vehicle Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The victims were identified by the medical examiner’s office as Ova Conway, 50, of Corning and Aaron Woodruff, 65, of Neelyville, Mo...

Plans are underway by the Rector Area Chamber of Commerce to make this year’s annual Christmas Parade the biggest and best ever. A marked change this year will be that the parade will be held during the day rather than at night. It is set for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, and will run from the downtown area to the community center...

Murder suspect Parris Hill appeared before Judge Chris Thyer in the Clay County Circuit Court Monday, Nov. 8 and received another continuance on his case due to his attorney once again being absent. Hill is the suspect in the Feb. 16, 2020, shooting death of Larry Boyer of St. Francis. At the time, Boyer’s wife reported someone knocked on the door and Boyer went outside to speak with them. She indicated that she was in the residence and heard the gunshot but did not see the shooter...

One of the best examples of co-curricular work involves students bringing their creativity into the area’s history. Just as the students in the Piggott School District have been immersed with the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center for decades, the Rector High School art students recently enjoyed the same opportunity with the Rector Community Museum. It began with a teacher’s idea...

The Arkansas Agriculture Department held a presentation ceremony Friday, Nov. 5, at the State Capitol in the Rotunda to recognize “Century Farms” in Northeast Arkansas. The ceremony was held to recognize qualified farms in the northeast portion of the state and present them with certificates and a sign. Several farms were honored including the Mann Farm which was established in 1902...

Halloween weekend in Rector is almost as big an event as Rector Labor Day Picnic. The weekend began on Saturday, Oct. 30, afternoon with a Scarecrow Stroll, sponsored by Rector Downtown Central. In combination with that activity, a puppy costume parade awarded three ribbons. ...

The nation will pause to honor those who served, and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, on Thursday, Nov. 11, with the observance of Veterans Day. The offerings will include an open house at the War Memorial Building in Piggott, and the traditional wreath ceremony at the county courthouse...

Leland Blackshare, who knows more Rector history than most people, will give a talk entitled the History of Rector at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at the Chamber of Commerce office which also serves as a Welcome Center on Hwy. 90, adjacent to the Veterans Memorial in Rector. The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the educational seminar and the public is invited to attend with no memberships required for free attendance...

Piggott City Council met in regular session Thursday, Oct. 28 with all members present for a brief agenda. The council accepted the minutes and financials from the September meeting. First on the agenda the council approved resolution to contract Smith and Company Inc. to design and oversee upgrades and repair to the wastewater treatment facility...

Rector City Council met in regular session at 7 p.m. on Monday evening, Nov. 1, at the Rector Community Center with a quorum present, Council member David Romine was not present. Council heard from student Sam Shipley who is affiliated with Rector 4H clubs but was present to address the council regarding a personal idea for a city-wide philanthropic project. ...

The RHS Art Show at the Rector Community Museum Ford Room of students in grades nine through 12 is being held over by popular demand. Judges and patrons were overwhelmed at the skill and caliber of the art. Students had previously viewed items in the museum and they chose those particular items that resonated with them. ...

According to Clay County Sheriff Terry Miller, two people died when a train crashed into their vehicle Sunday afternoon around 4:30 p.m. The vehicle was at a crossing north of Corning on County Roads 181 and 165 when it was hit by a northbound train. The vehicle caught on fire burning the two victims beyond recognition...

This weekend, Oct. 30 and Oct. 31, Rector residents will celebrate the traditional fall events associated with Halloween with contests, trick or treating, and festivals. Saturday, Oct. 30, from 2 until 4 p.m. at the Rector Downtown Park, judging of the Scarecrow Stroll entries will take place with awards presented. ...

Red Ribbon Week is being observed through Friday across the country, including Rector and Piggott schools. Monday afternoon Piggott Elementary hosted their 33rd annual Red Ribbon Week rally with Brother Kevin Murray, of Emmanuel Baptist Church, serving as the speaker. Other observances are also being marked through Friday...

Clay County Quorum Court met at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, at the courthouse in Corning for its regular monthly meeting. All members were present. After approving the minutes of the previous meeting, the court adopted the passage of the resolution declaring a vacancy in the office of the Clay County Clerk as Pat Poole will be retiring Dec. 31...

Sponsored by Rector Downtown Central, the first-ever Rector Scarecrow Stroll will take place the week of Oct 24 – 30, 2021, at Rector Downtown Park. Residents are encouraged to walk along the park’s sidewalks and take pictures with the Scarecrows sponsored by local merchants and creative individuals...

The Piggott School Board held their regular monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, in the school administration office with a quorum of all five board members. The minutes from the previous meetings and the financial report was approved, then the board discussed old business...

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson has proclaimed Oct. 18 to 22, as Chamber of Commerce Week in Arkansas. Today, Wednesday, Oct. 20, has also been designated as Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day in Arkansas. More than 140 local Chambers of Commerce operate in Arkansas, including those in Rector and Piggott, working to advance civic, economic, professional and cultural life in the state...

Rector High School marked homecoming on Friday, Oct. 15, culminating in the home football game against Cedar Ridge. The homecoming pep rally, prior to skits and games, challenges and cheers, the court was presented to the student body and audience Friday afternoon...

RECTOR - Rector Schools is set to celebrate Red Ribbon Week for 2021, and Cougar Nation invites the community to take a visible stand against drugs by joining them. For this year, Red Ribbon Week is being observed Oct. 25 to Oct. 29, and the theme is “Drug Free Looks Like Me.”...

Piggott Public Library director Gay Johnson was surprised by her staff (which consists of Jennifer Smith, Haley Foster and Destiny Robinson) on Tuesday, Oct. 5 with pizza, chips and cupcakes to celebrate her 40th anniversary of being library director...

Former Mohawk football coach Michael Harrell appeared before Judge Chris Thyer on Oct. 11 and entered a guilty plea to second degree forgery stemming from an incident dating back to Sept. 2020 involving a document pertaining to the Arkansas Department of Health. ...

The Piggott Police Department report a local man was killed in a side-by-side accident Thursday evening, Oct. 7. The side-by-side was being driven by Matt Sutfin of Piggott. Sutfin had been reported as missing by his family earlier in the evening and various agencies and locals from the community conducted the search...

Long time tennis Coach Paul Seegraves has been named as Boys Tennis Coach of the year by the Arkansas Activities Association. Since bringing tennis to PHS in the early 1990’s, he has elevated the program to the elite in the state of Arkansas, with his players producing numerous state tournament appearances and one of the school’s state championships...

Rector School Board heard reports from the elementary and high school principals on Monday, Oct. 11, at the Administration Building, and voted not to extend the mask mandate for students and staff in the Rector School District. Participation in the Character Strong initiative and the service-learning component for the high school is strong and students themselves are brining ideas, showing their own initiative for good, remarked Principal Nate Henderson. ...

Rector High School will observe football homecoming for 2021 with the traditional ceremonies and game set for Friday, Oct. 15. The homecoming court for this year include-seventh grade maid Madison Sowards, eighth grade maid Chloe McCurry, freshman maid Emma Holmes, sophomore maid Haylee Parrish, and junior maid Abbey Beck. The three senior maids include Olivia Sutherland, Carly Robinson and Kaylee McClung. Senior John Ford Hendrix has been named Football King...

Clay County Quorum Court called a special meeting at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Piggott Courthouse, with all justices present. Judge Mike Patterson started the meeting by stating, “This meeting is regarding the closing of the county jail. There has been some misinformation. ...

A former Rector school teacher, Sarah Isom, pled guilty to fourth-degree sexual assault at her hearing Friday, Oct. 1, in the courthouse in Piggott. Clay County Sheriff Terry Miller said after a five-week investigation that began in July, they found enough information on electronic devices to make an arrest on Isom for having an inappropriate relationship with a teenage male student...

Rector City Council met at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 4, at the Rector Community Center with a complete staff and all council members in attendance. Council member David Romine noted that Shannon Todd, an associate with Horner-Shiffrin Engineering Firm, was not present at the meeting after being advised through legal channels that his proposals and lack of timeliness of reports were under question. ...

Rector Downtown Central president Jane Gatewood, Rector Chamber of Commerce director Crystal Williams, Lindsey Ford Wingo and Mark Miller of Arkansas Downtown Networks met on Tuesday, Oct 5, for an overview of Rector’s plans for redevelopment in the downtown commercial district. Mark Miller, Main Street Arkansas Small Business Consultant & Grants Administrator has been with Main Street Arkansas since January 1996 and is going on his 26th year with the organization...

Rector Community Museum and Ford Room announce continuing entertainment and programming at the 310 Main Street location in the Rector Historic District. Performing on the Third Thursday concert stage at 7 p.m. on Oct. 21, will be one of Rector’s favorite performers Lori Dial and the Drive South band. ...