Stories from Wednesday, December 3, 2003

Activity will increase to a fever pitch in downtown Piggott Saturday when the Chamber of Commerce hosts Christmas Fest on the Square on Saurday, Dec. 6. Festivities are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and last until 2 p.m. A spokesman said the event is to encourage residents to shop in Piggott during the holiday season...

After making the AAA state football playoffs for the first time since 2000, the Piggott Mohawks are now entering the off season with anticipation and renewed excitement. "Defeating EPC in the regular season finale and going on to the playoffs was certainly a big boost to our off season," said Piggott head coach Ken Shumate. ...

Despite battling neck and neck with host Rector throughout the finals of the annual Clay County Tournament last Tuesday evening, the Piggott Junior Lady Mohawks fell to the Junior Lady Cougars 43-39 and finished as tourney runnerup. Lauren Faulkner, who had a game-high 19 points for Rector, notched two free throws with 9.4 seconds left to seal the win...

In a game that saw 14 different lead changes and three different players score in double figures, it was the most basic of shots that decided Monday night's junior boys basketball game between EPC and Piggott. Two free throws by Logan Ballard with 9.4 seconds left was the difference, as Piggott defeated EPC 44-42 in the first round of the EPC Jr. Invitational Tournament Monday night...

A spirited second half comeback by the Lady Mohawks couldn't quite push them past the Lady Bobcats of Corning last Tuesday at Rector, leaving them on the short end of a 59-58 final scoreboard display in the Sr. Girls championship game of the Clay County Invitational Tournament...

Roy McCormick, 86, of Bunker, Mo., formerly of Piggott, died Friday, Nov. 28, 2003, at Three Rivers North Hospital in Poplar Bluff. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Mr. McCormick was born August 20, 1917, in Piggott. He was a retired custodian for school and a heavy equipment operator...

Doilas Elton Edwards, 70, of Piggott died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003, in the Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri. He was born May 1, 1933, in Piggott, the son of the late Jeff and Verna Payne Edwards. He was united in marriage to Patsy Hollis on Aug. 13, 1954. To this union two children were born...

Bold colors and an eclectic decor will greet those visiting the home of Suzie Baldwin on the Traditional Ladies of Today's annual Tour of Homes on Dec. 7. The Baldwin home, at 1010 N. 4th Street, is filled with vibrant colors. Baldwin defines her style as "eclectic" and says she mixes items that she likes to create her own sense of style...

Five women and seven teen-agers will be competing for the titles of Miss Crowley's Ridge and Miss Teen Crowley's Ridge Byway Saturday at the Piggott Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 6. The pageants will begin at 7 p.m. The theme for this year's event is "The Main Event"...

A local legislator and the current Speaker of House will join forces and propose their version of an education reform plan next week at the long-anticipated special session of the Arkansas General Assembly. State Rep. Travis Boyd, D-Piggott, and Speaker of the House Herschel Cleveland, D-Paris, presented their plan Tuesday to a the joint House and Senate education committee...

The Marmaduke Greyhounds were defeated by The Weiner Cardinals, the defending Class A state champion, 79-56 on the road last Monday night. Weiner had quarter leads of 29-12, 51-26 and 70-45. John Clark had 15 points to lead the Hounds. Brian Potter scored 13, Dane Boggs 11, Mike Dobbins 5 and Aaron Reddick scored 4 points. Jordan Gott, Brandon Foresythe, Neil Thrash and Nathan Haynes each scored 2 points...

In the Clay County Invitational Tournament last Tuesday night at Rector, the Marmaduke jr. boys, seeded third, built up a 10 point lead over Piggott, the number one seed, in the fourth quarter and then held on against a furious Piggott comeback attempt to win the title game 51-50...

Facing a tough Piggott team for the second time this season, the Rector Junior Lady Cougars prevailed in an exciting 43-39 contest for the annual Clay County Tournament championship. The contest, played on the Junior Cougars' home court last Tuesday night,...

Oma Beatrice Whitmore, 98, of Rector died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003, at Rector Healthcare. She was born Oct. 26, 1905, in Illinois to the late Charlie Farmer and Amelia Dyer Farmer. She was a homemaker and a member of the Fifth and Pine Church of Christ...

James M. Moore, 73, of Lepanto, father of Kathy Fowler of Rector, died Friday, Nov. 28, 2003, at Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was a professional musician, a World War II Air Force veteran and a member of the Aeronautics Association and the American Legion...

Roy McCormick, 86, of Bunker, Mo., formerly of Piggott, died Friday, Nov. 28, 2003, at Three Rivers Hospital in Poplar Bluff. He was born Aug. 20, 1917, in Piggott to the late Luther McCormick and Leona (Ort) McCormick. He was a retired custodian for the school and a heavy equipment operator. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church...

Bobby G. Loveless, 62, of Rector died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born Feb. 9, 1941, in Clay County to the late Estes Loveless and Imogene (Shipley) Loveless. He was employed by Darling for 34 years and had lived most of his life in this community. He was a member of Boydsville Missionary Baptist Church...

Myron "Mac" McCluney, 89, of Sherman, Texas, a native of Rector, died Oct. 16, 2003, in Texas. He was born Feb. 21, 1914, in Rector, the youngest son of James and Katie Pearl McCluney. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Carl and Donald McCluney, and a granddaughter, Jill...

Bright lights, a candle cross, and dramatic renderings of the life of Christ fill Rector First Baptist Church, at Stewart and 2nd Street, as members of the congregation are working on a very special gift for the community. The third annual Living Christmas Tree will be presented at 7 p.m. ...

State Rep. Travis Boyd, D-Piggott, plans to introduce two education reform funding bills early next year, pending the outcome of the anticipated December special legislative session. Gov. Mike Huckabee is expected to call for a special session, beginning Dec. 8, on education reform. The state faces a Jan. 1 deadline from the state Supreme Court to comply with the Lake View ruling, which declared the present funding unconstitutional, inequitable and inadequate...

The Rector City Council revisited the issue of making trash pick-up mandatory in the city at its monthly meeting Monday night, eventually deciding against the concept but voting to draft an ordinance for prosecuting those who place trash on another person's property...

Utilizing dominant rebounding and ultimately clutch free throw shooting, the Marmaduke Greyhounds eased past a scrappy River Valley Ranger team 63-56 in an opening round game of the Williams Baptist College Tournament Saturday night at Walnut Ridge...