Stories from Wednesday, January 16, 2002

Mayor Bud Holcomb delivered his annual "State of the City" address during Monday night's meeting of the Piggott City Council. He said the focus remains attracting more business and industry and stressed the need for all groups and organizations to work together to meet that goal...

McCrillis leads Harding to two OT contests Piggott High School graduate, Darren McCrillis, connected for a three-point jumper with :13 remaining Friday night against the SAU Muleriders in Magnolia to send the game into overtime. McCrillis performed the same feat the prior night, hitting a late three against Henderson State to also force an overtime. The Bisons lost both games in the overtime frames...

Piggott Lady Mohawk senior, Lori Russell, has averaged 26 points per game in her last two outings as the Piggott girls improved their overall season record to 16-3 and 5-2 in 3AAA-North conference action. Russell poured in 28 points Monday night at home in Piggott as the Lady Mohawks coasted to a 19-point, 67-48, win over the Corning Lady Bobcats...

The Piggott Mohawks extended their undefeated conference record to 6-0 Friday night at Hoxie defeating the Mustangs, 67-51, in 3AAA-North boys basketball action. The Piggott boys used a 16-0 run through five minutes of the opening period to mount a 17-point, 22-5, lead at the end of the first quarter en route to the win...

Although the Piggott Mohawk football team failed to make it to the playoffs this past season, several members of the squad earned prestigious recognition for their individual efforts. Kirk Morley received an All-State Honorable Mention for his play at the wide receiver slot. Morley, with 31 catches for 709 yards had the most yardage of any receiver in the 3-AAA conference...

Piggott High School's fall sports athletes were honored Sunday afternoon with a banquet held in the high school cafeteria. Volleyball coaches Tiffeny Sands and Melissa Williams along with football coach Jason Burkman introduced their respective teams and gave out team-leading awards and all-star honors...

Prentice Estel "Bud" Weller, 48, of Piggott died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born June 25, 1953, in Piggott, the son of Prentice Osbin and Gladys Fern Woods Weller. He married Connie Kennedy on Nov. 3, 1978...

The St. Francis Baptist Church is a local landmark that has been in existence for almost 100 years. According to a church history written by T.F. Snow several years ago for the Gainesville Missionary Baptist Association, the church was reorganized on April 9, 1909...

David L. Clayton of Piggott, a native of Marmaduke, will seek the office of Clay County coroner, subject to the May Democratic primary. Clayton is manager of the Irby Funeral Home at Piggott and serves as embalmer for Irby Funeral Home locations in Piggott, Rector and Marmaduke...

Clay County Assessor Jerry Williams, who has served in office during the past 14 years, has announced he will not seek re-election in the May Primary. "I appreciate having the opportunity to serve in this office," he said. "We have seen a lot of changes in county government, especially regarding taxation in the past few years. I anticipate even more to come...

Tracey Gurley of Piggott has announced she will seek the office of Clay County assessor, subject to the May Democratic Primary. Gurley has been chief appraiser in the county assessor's office for 12 years. She and her husband, Kevin, have two children...

Mike Book, Dean of Students at Piggott High School, told Piggott district school board members Monday night that the district has been awarded a $191,096 Goals 2000 grant for three mobile computer labs. "This is just great," said board president Danny Baldwin...

Allene Taylor, 88, of Marmaduke died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002, at her home. She was born Oct. 1, 1913, in Marmaduke to the late Arzo Estus Harvey and Eva Belle (Ogles) Harvey. She was married in May 1934 to Zeek W. Taylor, who preceded her in death Nov. 25, 1979...

Prentice Estel "Bud" Weller, 48, of Piggott died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born June 25, 1953, in Piggott to Prentice Osbin and Gladys Fern Woods Weller and was married Nov. 3, 1978, to Connie Kennedy...

LAKE CITY The Rector senior and junior Cougar squads stunned Riverside Friday night with two overtime wins. The seniors pulled out a 54-52 win with the juniors squeaking out a one-point, 45-44 victory. Clutch three-point shooting by the senior Cougars helped them come back from a five-point deficit at halftime to tie the game at the end of the third and fourth periods of regulation...

The Marmaduke Lady Greyhounds just keep on running. Saturday at Swifton, the Lady Greyhounds claimed their third tournament championship title of the year by defeating the Highland Lady Rebels, 69-63, in the championship finals of the Kell Classic. Earlier this season, the girls claimed the Williams Baptist Tournament Championship at Walnut Ridge and the NEA Invitational Tournament at Jonesboro...

Clay County Assessor Jerry Williams, who has served in office during the past 14 years, has announced he will not seek re-election in the May Primary. "I appreciate having the opportunity to serve in this office," he said. "We have seen a lot of changes in county government, especially regarding taxation in the past few years. I anticipate even more to come...

Tracey Gurley of Piggott has announced she will seek the office of Clay County assessor, subject to the May Democratic Primary. Gurley has been chief appraiser in the county assessor's office for 12 years. She and her husband, Kevin, have two children...

Marmaduke High School art teacher Kerry Reddick believes her job is to guide students to experience art in their own understanding and reasoning. A look at the many unique creations of her students tells you she is definitely succeeding. Portfolios, which hold the various works of each student, reveal strong expressions of individuality, and sculptures around the large room, both finished and in progress, reflect the freedom students feel to reach deep into their souls for inspiration...

David L. Clayton of Piggott, a native of Marmaduke, will seek the office of Clay County coroner, subject to the May Democratic primary. Clayton is manager of the Irby Funeral Home at Piggott and serves as embalmer for Irby Funeral Home locations in Piggott, Rector and Marmaduke...

In a brief meeting Monday night, the Rector School Board voted to keep the school's current insurance with the Arkansas School Boards Association. Superintendent Kelly Scobey told board members that, although the rate was increased and was higher than the state insurance, benefits from the ASBA insurance seem to outweigh the difference in cost. Rector School has used ASBA insurance for several years...

Water and wastewater management topped the list of issues at a Marmaduke City Council meeting held Monday night at City Hall. Mayor Robert Dowler discussed steps the city is taking to solve the problems that occur in the sewer system when there are heavy rains...

McCrillis leads Harding to two OT contests Piggott High School graduate, Darren McCrillis, connected for a three-point jumper with :13 remaining Friday night against the SAU Muleriders in Magnolia to send the game into overtime. McCrillis performed the same feat the prior night, hitting a late three against Henderson State to also force an overtime. The Bisons lost both games in the overtime frames...