News

As many as five years ago, Rector Public Library’s director Deana Mills and husband Perry took a drive for a brief change of scenery and came upon a lovely library mural. “Someday, I’d like something similar for Rector’s library,” Deana told Perry. On September 30, 2019, one of Rector’s favorite residents and library patrons, Candace “Candy” Hill, passed away peacefully yet unexpectedly at her home. ...

Members of the Piggott School Board met Tuesday, Sept. 14 for the annual public meeting immediately followed by the regular monthly meeting in the PHS library. With all members in attendance, the board first hosted the state-required annual meeting with numerous people in attendance. Also speaking was elementary kindergarten through third grade principal Erica Harris, elementary fourth through sixth grade principal Brock Swann and high school principal Paul Seegraves...

The Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC) awarded its annual safety awards during the AAC’s 53rd annual conference, held Aug. 18-20, 2021, in Rogers/Benton County. The Safety Award Program was established by the AAC to recognize those counties that have made outstanding efforts to provide a safe working environment for employees...

Piggott High School marked homecoming early this year on Friday, Sept. 17, culminating in the home football game with Marked Tree that evening. During the royalty assembly Friday morning this year’s court and escorts were introduced. This year’s seventh grade maid is Libby Brantley, the daughter of Chris and Laura Brantley. She was escorted by Austin Vaughn. Serving as the eighth-grade maid was Olivia Sexton, the daughter of Jessica and Dustin Sexton. She was escorted Noah Roberts...

The Piggott City Council met in regular session Thursday, Sept. 16. Mayor Travis Williams called the meeting to order, with all members and attorney Kimberly Dale in attendance. Minutes and financials were read and approved from the Aug. 26 minutes...

Clay County Quorum Court met at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, with a light agenda with all justices present. After the welcome and roll call the minutes of the previous meeting were approved. First on the agenda was Ordinance 2021-25 appropriating $16,790 to other professional services (remainder of Sheriff’s auction proceeds) and amending the 2021 budget. The court unanimously approved...

The Clay County Health Unit of the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) will offer flu vaccinations at the Clay County Health Unit, 1009 S. Garfield, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 28. Officials noted, people should bring their insurance cards with them to the flu vaccine clinic. If they do not have insurance, or the insurance does not cover flu shots, the vaccine will be available at no charge...

Hardin Hill was halfway through the 11th grade when he went into the Navy in 1945. He was in San Diego, Calif., waiting to board his ship when it caught fire. The Navy stationed him and his shipmates on Treasure Island until the ship was repaired. By the time the repairs were finished the war was over. He still served two tours to Okinawa and Guam, but thankfully not during war time...

Showmanship and friendly banter won the audience on Sept 16, at the Ford Room at Rector Community Museum for the Third-Thursday Concert starring Vicky Bishop. Bishop appears regularly at the Collins Theater in Paragould and she has a fan club that follows her to various venues...

The Piggott School Board met in a special called meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8, in the district administration building with a brief agenda. Board member Jennifer Rahn was absent while Aaron Midkiff, the school resource officer, was in attendance. The board waived the reading of the previous board minutes and presentation of financial reports until the Sept. 14 meeting...

As COVID-19 and the Delta Variant are still causing multiple problems, Piggott Community Hospital is working on keeping as many people safe and well taken care of as possible. During normal times the local hospital can have 25 beds occupied. During the pandemic that has been waived allowing the hospital to have 28 beds on the floor. ...

At the monthly meeting of Rector City Council, a quorum was present on Tuesday, Sept 7, at the Rector Community Center to address a number of special agenda items. One of the items requiring time and some discussion was the bringing forward of the first reading of the new ordinance proposal regarding vicious animals, first a name change to show the expanse of the future ordinance...

According to Communications Specialist Austin Slater of the Be Pro Be Proud movement, unless a student has researched a career field for post-secondary work, that student could waste thousands of dollars exploring avenues for employment to come up empty except for triple digit student loan debt. He told Rector High School students Monday morning in a socially-distanced assembly, “Now is the time to explore. Tomorrow starts today.”...

Capturing the essence of Rector’s Labor Day Picnic cannot be squeezed into words and in many cases, not into pictures, either. It’s the smiles and hugs, the fun that never stops. As each person at the stage microphone addressed, the volunteers can never be thanked enough, but are appreciated from the heart of Rector...

When the Rector Community Museum board and director Joey Pruett planned the all-day event at the Ford Room, “We knew it was a risk, but one worth taking,” commented Pruett. “The idea came from looking at our Ford Room Wall of Fame, showcasing artists of the past. What about current Rector-connected artists of the present and the future?”...

“A better day for Rector’s annual homecoming and Labor Day Picnic could not have been matched within the last five years, at least,” commented Jacob and Tara Hester, chairpersons of the Picnic. All throughout the weekend, starting with the golf tournament on Friday which Cody Knight’s team won, pleasant weather brought smiles and good humor to events usually held in scorching heat. ...

The Clay County Quorum Court met in a special meeting at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021, at the Piggott Courthouse With eight of the nine justices present, with Justice Smith being absent, they approved passage of Ordinance 2021-24 to repeal Ordinance 2021-2, which will allow the County Treasurer to transfer $30,000 from the Cares Act Fund and to transfer $3,000 from the County General Fund into the USDA Rural Development Upper Roof Grant checking account and to amend the 2021 budget...

In his weekly briefing on Aug. 31, Gov. Asa Hutchinson asked that the public still take the proper precautions to protect against COVID. He thanked the school districts that were holding vaccination clinics. He encouraged wearing masks and encouraged citizens to get the vaccine as it is the best way to protect against COVID-19...

Rector Community Museum, Inc. received $2,500 to be used for utilities during the in-person and virtual ceremony held Sept. 2 at the Arkansas Heritage Building. Each year, Arkansas Heritage awards more than $30,000 in grant money to small museums around the state. ...

Since 2011, Rector crowds have grown a special affection for Vicki Bishop. Rector Community Center and the Imperial Theater in Pocahontas partnered then to continue the Vicki Bishop Sings Patsy Cline show when a flood compromised the Imperial. The two organizations split the profits, but Rector got the better part of the deal because the crowd met Vicki Bishop in her most impressive show...

Plans are complete and anticipation continues to build for the 80th annual Rector Labor Day Picnic. As in years past, this year’s picnic will include live music, carnival rides, games, beauty pageants and fabulous food from Friday until Monday. With the time drawing close for the celebration, residents have said they are double excited for the event since the 2020 picnic fell to the COVID restrictions and precautions. ...

Returning to headline Rector Labor Day music at the Memorial Park Stage is crowd favorite Lori Dial and her band Drive South. The band features Brad Owen, Mike Dickerson, and Kevin White. Fans recognize Lori as one of “the gals” in the Ultimate Oldies Show performed not only at the Collins Theater in Paragould, but in recent years at the Rector Community Center, but with Morris family conflicts the performance canceled this year...

A musical first for Labor Day is being held at the Ford Room on Saturday, Sept. 4, at the Rector Community Museum. That event showcases local musicians playing every hour on the hour from noon until 6 p.m., with Dennis Gurley and the Egg Men providing the intro act for Tribute Artist Finely Watkins and the Watkins boys at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. respectively...

All members of the school board were present for a special meeting held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 25, to discuss COVID leave. Upon recommendation by Superintendent Bowen, the board approved to add ten additional days for contracted employees. In order to receive the additional days an employee must test positive for COVID-19, have symptoms and seeks medical diagnosis (must have note from physician) or if an employee has close contact to a positive person or has to take care of a quarantined person. ...

Two popular and trendy events at one time and in one place – Cornhole Tournament and Ice Cream Social, each sponsored by Rector Downtown Central. On Sunday before Labor Day, Sept. 5, at the Bandstand City Park at the intersection of Main, Front, and Stewart Streets, opportunity for free ice cream treats and spirited competition in a first-for-Rector Cornhole Tournament will come together...

The Lunch and Learn held at noon, Tuesday, Aug. 24, at the Piggott Diner drew a large crowd of people interested in learning more information about the new jobs coming to Piggott. Besides local citizens, there were also those attending from southeast Missouri and Leachville...

The Piggott City Council met in regular session at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, with a brief agenda. First on the agenda was the condemnation lien on a property on Kay Street in which the roof has fallen in on the building. The board approved to adopt the resolution to attach a lien to the property on 317 Kay Street. The amount for property clean-up is $3833.50...

Since 2012, Neighbor 2 Neighbor service organization has worked to help clean up overgrowth in lawns, trees, shrubs, and ditches. “It takes a special person to volunteer for work like this,” said Marvin Gatewood who serves as chair of the group. Since the group did not function in the throes of COVID-19 last summer, the overgrowth in areas where the homeowner has no adequate lawn tools was substantial. ...

Representatives from Central Arkansas company, FCS, will be on-site to provide information about this job opportunity and interview applicants. Employees will have the opportunity to train and work remotely, while being eligible for health benefits, advancement, and competitive wages...

“Mother brought me to the Labor Day Picnic from an early age. I’d only been in this world for three weeks, born Aug 10, when I attended my first picnic, and I’ve attended every picnic since – except for the 1975 event when I was with the 2nd Infantry in South Korea and just could not make it.”...

Dr. David Blackburn began his new family practice office in the Family Care Clinic in Rector on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. Blackburn, a 2010 graduate of Piggott High School, returned to Clay County to practice medicine after completing his residency at UAMS NE in Jonesboro...

Rector Helping Hands Foundation has announced that the early registration date for the Racing for the Future 5K has been extended to Sept 2, $20 remains as the early registration fee. Sept. 2 is also the last day to register online. The registration fee on Race Day, Sept 4, will be $25 and “as always, Rector students and children in the Rector School District may register for $10 each,” said Heather Simmons, secretary-treasurer for the organization and Race Chair...

Diagnosed in 2019 with Parkinson’s Disease, a diagnosis all-to-familiar for many families in northeast Arkansas, Teresa Jones Jackson will share her story and offer her book from the stage at Rector Community Museum at 10 a.m. on Sept 4, Saturday before Labor Day. This and other chronic diseases impact family, friends, and neighbors...

PIGGOTT - Piggott School District began classes Aug. 18 for the 2021-2022 new school year, and several new teachers were hired during the summer. Many of the safety protocols that were in place last year are again in place this year. Campus will be closed at this time. Visitors will not be allowed to visit classrooms or the cafeteria. Students may bring their lunch, but no outside food or beverages are allowed to be brought in. High school students will not be allowed to leave campus for lunch...

Clay County Sheriff Terry Miller reported Friday, Aug. 13, that a former Rector school teacher was in custody following a weeks-long investigation into claims she had an “inappropriate relationship” with a student. Sheriff Miller stated that deputies arrested Sarah Beth Isom on charges of first-degree sexual assault...

Rector Board of Education met in special session on Monday, Aug 16, at the Administration Building. A quorum was present. The purpose of the meeting was to accept the resignation of Sarah Isom from her position as high school teacher and to hire a full-time teacher for that position. Kelsey S. Bishop was hired as a teacher for grades 7 through 12 for Rector School District. Bishop had been working in the vacated position as a substitute until she was hired as a full-time teacher...

On Tuesday, August 10, the Piggott Board of Education met in regular session in the school’s administration building and addressed a lengthy agenda. All members of the school board, with the exception of Jennifer Rahn, were present along with district secretary Sheila Mayberry and cafeteria director Jean Baber. ...

The Rector City Council addressed two agenda items in a special session on Monday, Aug 16, held at City Hall. A quorum was present. The first issue was a request for clarification and additional stringency for the vicious dog ordinance for the City of Rector. ...

Centennial Bank, Rector Branch, invited friends of the bank to join Jay Clevenger and his administrative assistant Hope Conley, both of Jonesboro, for a brief informational session on Wednesday, Aug 11, regarding the innovative Interactive Teller Machine now operational at the branch located at the corner of Hwy 49 and Sikes Road. Branch spokespersons Sherry Dills and Debbie Boyd hosted the gathering...

Located on the pastoral campus of Welch College in Gallatin, TN, outside Nashville, the Cumberland Valley School of Music, Inc. hosts a week-long summer event known as a “singing school.” It is both a workshop and music camp and joins groups of like-minded people of various ages who together share their love of singing, and of people...

Piggott Elementary will continue many of the safety protocols that were in place last year. “We will continue to have a closed campus at this time. After we have our open house on Monday, visitors will not be allowed to visit classrooms or the cafeteria. Our goal is to keep our students as safe as possible. Thank you for your understanding,” stated a school spokesperson...

Reminder: Due to COVID protocols parents or Rector Elementary students will not be allowed to walk their children to class in the mornings. Teachers will greet students at the drop off locations. Hopefully this threat will pass soon and we can return to normal a school spokesperson noted...

The 91st annual Greenway Picnic was held Saturday, Aug. 7 with a great turn out despite the heat and being disrupted for an hour-long rain. Traditionally the picnic is held the first Saturday of each August except for 2020 when it was canceled due to COVID...

The 91st annual Greenway Picnic was held Saturday, Aug. 7 with a great turn out despite the heat and being disrupted for an hour-long rain. Traditionally the picnic is held the first Saturday of each August except for 2020 when it was canceled due to COVID...

At the monthly meeting of the Rector School Board on Monday, Aug 9, the board addressed an extensive agenda including an update of the RHS Handbook, COVID discussions, new staff assignments, and new hires for the school year. Principals Nate Henderson and Mark Manchester echoed each other regarding the work being accomplished by both faculties in professional development training. ...

Piggott School Board met in a special called meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3, in the district administration board room to discuss back to school guidelines and virtual learning plan options. The board waived the reading of the previous meeting minutes, old business and the presentation of the financial reports until the regular meeting set for Aug. 10...

Joe Bateman, a native-son of northeast Arkansas, will rock the Rector Museum Ford Room on August 19 to continue the Third Thursday concert series at Rector Community Museum. His high energy country music show will begin at 7 p.m. with some newer songs and some old favorites made popular by Johnny Cash and Luke Owens...