Stories from Wednesday, September 18, 2002

The Piggott courtsquare was a bright shade of pink during the first "Paint the Town Pink" event to benefit breast cancer research. The event was sponsored by Piggott Community Hospital and was held in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month which is scheduled for October. Coordinator for the event was Suzie Countzler, manager of PCH's Radiology Department...

The annual Individual golf tournament will be held at Sugar Creek Country Club in Piggott on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21-22. Persons interested in participating may contact the club at 598-3546.

The Piggott sixth grade peewee team suffered their first loss of the season in a heartbreaking 22-16 double overtime loss to Harrisburg on Saturday. With both teams tied 8-8, Harrisburg was faced with a third down and 12 from their own 20-yard line with 30 seconds on the clock. Attempting a pass, Harrisburg was intercepted by Piggott's Jeremy Toombs who was returned the ball to the Harriburg nine. The Hornet defense stiffened and held Piggott, forcing the first overtime period...

The Piggott Lady Mohawk volleyball team captured first place in the Trumann Invitational volleyball tournament Saturday. The Lady Mohawks defeated Hoxie 15-6, 15-9 in the championship match to win the tourney after knocking off Bay 15-7, 12-15, 15-13 in the semifinals...

Opal Kathryn Whittington, 86, of Qulin, died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2002, in Mark Twain Care Center in Poplar Bluff. She was born Dec. 26, 1915, in Malden, the daughter of the late Guy E. and Cora Margaret Vancil Scott. She married Eugene Whittington on July 5, 1944, in Piggott. He preceded her in death on Jan. 20, 1966...

Bobby D. Lack, 69, of Campbell, died Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002, in his home. He was born on July 15, 1933, in Nimmons, the son of the late Cecil and Morine Williams Lack. He married Ella Barta on July 30, 1955, in Wayne, Mich., and to this union one daughter was born...

A newly completed study on the Boydsville Lake Project area will require moving the proposed dam area eastward on Crowley's Ridge. Boydsville Lake Project Steering Committee chairman Ron Benson of Rector said a similar study completed a year ago indicated the soils at the original dam site near Lower Boydsville were "insufficient" to meet seismic requirements...

Issues affecting older Arkansans were discussed and debated during the Silver Haired Legislature in Little Rock. The bills resulting from the session will now be forwarded to the Arkansas State Legislature to consider when the 84th General Assembly convenes in January...

The new elementary cafeteria is almost complete. The construction began May 24, 2002. Only a few minor details remain to be completed, including minor touch-up painting, a scullery door and finishing of the roof. The 4,700 square foot facility is designed to seat 600 students. ...

Clay County has received $12,331 from the state to battle mosquitos that could potentially carry the West Nile Virus. A special intergovernmental council meeting was called Sept. 9 to discuss disbursement. The towns of Piggott, Rector, Corning, Datto, Greenway, Knobel, McDougal, Success, Nimmons, Peach Orchard, Pollard, St. Francis, Success and the rural portion of the county will each receive a portion of the funds...

Bobby D. Lack, 69, of Campbell, Mo., died Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002, in his home. He was born on July 15, 1933, in Nimmons, the son of the late Cecil and Morine Williams Lack. He married Ella Barta on July 30, 1955, in Wayne, Mich., and to this union one daughter was born...

Eula Marie Huggins, 96, of Rector died Tuesday Sept. 10, 2002 at Rector Healthcare. She was born Sept 2, 1906, in Greene County to the late Algernon Brewer and Julie (Gaylean) Brewer. She was a housewife, a lifelong member of the community and a member of Salem Missionary Baptist Church...

Cleo Shelton Faith, 91, of Southgate, Mich., passed away. She is survived by two daughters, Virginia White and Husband Bill and Christine Stover and husband Robert, eight grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren, two brothers Myrl Shelton of Rector and Doyle Shelton of Fayetteville...

Earline King Daily, 96, of Flint, Mich., died Friday Sept. 6, 2002, at Genesys Health Park. She was born Nov. 24, 1905, in Rector, the daughter of Coz Huel and Sopha Elizabeth (Burford) King. She was a graduate of Rector High School and attended Arkansas A&M College. She was a resident of Flint for most of her life. She retired from Fisher 1 in 1967 with 30 years of service...

Preserving Rector/Boydsville-area history for all to see will be the focus of the proposed Rector Community Museum that will be housed at the Rector Public Library. "My idea came from the display at the community center," said organizer Joey Pruett...

A newly completed study on the Boydsville Lake Project area will require moving the proposed dam area eastward on Crowley's Ridge. Boydsville Lake Project Steering Committee chairman Ron Benson of Rector said a similar study completed a year ago indicated the soils at the original dam site near Lower Boydsville were "insufficient" to meet seismic requirements...

Jim Speer was elected to the Rector School Board during the annual school election Tuesday. Speer defeated his opponent, Allen Deringer, 145 to 15, according to unofficial results from the Clay County clerk's office. Voting was 135 to 15 at the Rector poll and 10 to 0 at the Greenway poll...

The solemnity of the losses of Sept. 11, 2001, and the challenges which face America today were on the hearts of area residents who gathered Wednesday night, Sept. 11, at the Rector Downtown Park for a touching service which not only memorialized the victims of that fateful day, but also inspired hope and patriotism for the days to come...

Negotiations are continuing with the Wise Co. to keep the facility operating in Rector once a new plant building is constructed. Wise Co. representatives met with Rector officials on Monday and with Kennett officials on Tuesday. Last week, the Wise Co. signed a one-year agreement to lease the former UARCO building in Kennett...

RECTOR -- The long ridiculed but now much improved Cross County Thunderbirds invaded Rector Friday night and defeated the Cougars 41-14. Some teams improve by short skips and hops but these Thunderbirds in one single bound went from a team that was in the throes of a 44 game losing streak to a team that is a potential power house as indicated by their season opening demolition of McCrory last week...

Hughes inflicted a 44-0 road game defeat on the Rector junior Cougars in their second game of the season. Coach Nathan Henderson said, "They scored on their first play of the game. It was a 50-yard run and we were never in the game. We were down 38-0 at the half and played better in the second half, but the damage had already been done."...