Stories from Thursday, June 26, 2008

Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation board members and many others in the Rector community are at work finalizing details for an amazing evening of country music and gospel entertainment to be presented Friday night, July 25, at the Rector High School gymnasium...

The tempestuous springtime brought us anything but joy this year. I believe there were more tornadoes, fire and flood than we have ever witnessed in any year past. Property and crop damage, illness and death from seemingly wanton so-called "acts of God" brought headlines of gloom and tableaux of devastation in all parts of our country. ...

I like oats but we aren't compatible. The other morning I fixed oats for breakfast, as I often do. While the oats were cooking, I wandered into the main bathroom. Next thing you know I was trying on some new face cream. It was then I smelled scorch.....like burned oats in a pan...

Plans are moving forward for the proposed Rector High School Sports Hall of Fame following an organizational meeting held at Bowden's Family Restaurant Saturday. Several alumni gathered for the meeting in an effort to establish guidelines for the creation of the organization. ...

Aaron and Katie (Hardin) Morris proudly announce the birth of a daughter, Rylee Adriane, at 9:57 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, in Conway. Rylee weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces and measured 19 ½ inches in length at birth...

"The View from Here" is a collection of works by writers attending the first session of the sixth annual Creative Writers' Retreat held June 2-6 in the Educational Center of the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum in Piggott...

Almost everyone can look back on their school years and remember one special teacher who brought excitement to the classroom, who always offered a challenge and who truly made learning fun...

The Rodney and Judy Schimming family of Peach Orchard are the 2008 Clay County Farm Family of the Year. The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program began in 1947 as an effort to recognize those in the state who show excellence not only in agriculture, but in their communities, as well. ...

Last Saturday a large crowd gathered at Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church to remember Jimmy Hanna. The 1970 PHS grad succumbed to cancer earlier this month at the age of 55 at a hospice center in Texas. Members of his graduating class, his family and former teammates gathered to remember Hanna, as he was eulogized by long-time friend Joe Cole...

1968 The Chamber of Commerce planned a meet the candidates night 40 years ago this week to hear from the men seeking the seat of former Congressman Took Gathings. The event was set for June 27, at the War Memorial Building. ...

I like oats but we aren't compatible. The other morning I fixed oats for breakfast, as I often do. While the oats were cooking, I wandered into the main bathroom. Next thing you know I was trying on some new face cream. It was then I smelled scorch.....like burned oats in a pan...

Richard Lloyd "Dick" Heidbreder, 68, of Poplar Bluff, formerly of Corning, died Friday, June 20, 2008, at his residence. He was born Feb. 15, 1940, in Sioux City, Iowa. He began his career in design and sale of monuments with the Clay County Monument Co. ...

Donald W. Blake, 75, of Piggott, died Thursday, June 19, 2008, in Murphy Health and Rehabilitation in Piggott. He was born Aug. 28, 1932, in Piggott, the son of the late Eric E. and Gladys R. Polhamus Blake...

Lemuel "Lem" J. Nettles, 88, Manhattan, Kans. died Wednesday, June 18, 2008 in the Meadowlark Hills/Collins Landing in Manhattan. He was born September 9, 1919 at Piggott, the son of William James Nettles and Luella Latta Nettles. He grew up in Piggott, where he attended the local schools and was a star football player for Piggott High School, graduating in 1941...

The Rodney and Judy Schimming family of Peach Orchard are the 2008 Clay County Farm Family of the Year. The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program began in 1947 as an effort to recognize those in the state who show excellence not only in agriculture, but in their communities, as well. ...

Honor the Military is the theme for the 2008 edition of the Piggott Fourth of July Picnic and Homecoming. This year's picnic promises to be a good one, and the activities will kick off with two pageants on Thursday, July 3, at the beauty review stand and barbecue will be on sale that evening at the log cabin...

This year marks an important milestone in American automotive history as the 100th anniversary of the Ford Model-T is observed. The old "Tin Lizzie" was first rolled-out in October of 1908, and by 1917 was being mass-produced at the Ford plant in Highland Park, Mich. ...

In a joint meeting with the Piggott City Council, the Piggott Community Hospital board presented the facility's budget for the coming fiscal year Monday night. After an overview by hospital administrator James Magee, the aldermen voted to approve the budget without dissent. ...

Members of the Piggott City Council held the regular monthly meeting Monday night at Piggott Community Hospital. Prior to their regular meeting, mayor Gerald Morris and the aldermen held a joint gathering with the Piggott Community Hospital board, and after a presentation on the 2008 budget by administrator James Magee, approved the document. ...

(Editor's note: This question-and-answer informational outline is being published this week at the request of the Rector Annexation Committee to help clear up any issues arising from the work of the committee)...