Stories from Thursday, September 17, 2009

Daniel Baldwin, Arkansas Razorback. I don't know about you, but just saying or hearing it gives me goosebumps. But then, I am a sports guy and I can't expect everyone to get as fired-up about it as I am. ...

The Piggott Mohawk tennis teams swept Crowley's Ridge Academy recently in a set played at Jonesboro. With the win the girl's team improved to 2-0-1 overall, while the two-man boy's team remains unbeaten at 3-0...

A huge crowd filled Piggott's Parker Field last Thursday afternoon and evening, as the Mohawk junior and seventh grade teams began their 2009 campaigns with wins over Corning. The seventh grade squad built on last year's unbeaten season with a 22-8 wins in their contest, while the junior Mohawks racked-up all their scoring in the first half as they cruised to a 32-0 win...

The Piggott Lady Mohawk volleyball teams continue to show improvement as the season progresses, and last week the senior squad showed a lot of character as they battled back from a deficit to beat Harrisburg at home. ...

Team speed was the difference in the ballgame Friday night, as the Piggott Mohawks dropped their home opener to the Caruthersville Tigers at Parker Field. Although the Tribe had more total offense on the night, the speedy Tigers took advantage of several big plays to notch the 34-14 non-conference win...

1969 Donna Vester of Corning was named Miss Clay County for 1969; local girls among the alternates were Rhonda Wiley, Jill Litzelfelner and Melinda Hampton. Meanwhile, the grand champion Angus heifer and bull were from Haley Angus Farm and Dick Haley and daughter Diana were pictured; while the Hereford grand champs were from the Aubrey Vangilder Ranch and he was pictured with his twin grandsons Keith and Calvin Evans.. ...

My medicine cabinet resembles the Wal-mart pharmacy. If my doctor adds one more pill to my already bulging list, I may have to take a college course in the Logistics of Pill Taking, with a minor in pharmaceutical medicine chest...

Josephine "Joy" (Hatch) Kunnath, 78, of Overland Park, Kans., passed away peacefully at 8:25 a.m. Monday, Sept. 7, 2009, in Overland Park. She was born on April 6, 1931, in Omaha, Neb. Joy graduated from South High School in 1947. Soon after, her love for nursing began and she volunteered as a Candy Striper after school and on weekends...

Juanita Fern Moffitt, 75, of Piggott, passed away Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born May 1, 1934, and was the daughter of the late Walter Pricey and Mollie (Claycomb) Pruett. She also was preceded in death by her brother, Raymond "Sonny" Pruett...

Opal Inis Coburn, 92, of Piggott, passed away Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Piggott. She was born Aug. 10, 1917, in Piggott, and was the daughter of the late Walter Lee and Mattie Pearl (Johnson) Thompson. She was united in marriage to Arthur Rogers on Feb. 18, 1939, and he preceded her in death in February of 1955. She married James Richard Coburn on Aug. 1, 1965. He also preceded her in death in 1981...

After 26 years of teaching, all at Piggott Elementary School, Mrs. V'Ora Cooper, affectionately known as Mrs. Vee, retired this past spring from the job she absolutely adored. "I loved every day of it," noted Mrs. Vee. "I got there early and left late. I tried my best to teach them life skills and good manners as well as academics."...

Keeping with a tradition that began in 2003, the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center donated a book to the Piggott Public Library last week. The museum donates a book to the library each year in remembrance of the birthdays of Ernest Hemingway and Pauline Pfeiffer, and in tribute to her parents, Paul and Mary Pfeiffer...

Working in the field of law enforcement, the members of the Piggott Police Department remain a mere moment from finding themselves in harm's way. Though small communities such as Piggott often take pride in not having the level of crime found in larger cities, the danger faced by the PPD is very real. Last week, the department took an important stride in protecting its officers with the purchase of new bulletproof vests...

Friday evening the 2009 Clay County Fair officially began with the annual talent show at the Piggott Community Center. The activities in the eight-day run of the event then continued Saturday with Youth Day, an antique tractor pull and the various pageants. ...

We've got to believe even the most vehement opponents of President Obama, if attempting to be objective, would have to agree his recent health care reform address to Congress was presented in a moderate and reasonable manner...

Friday night's game with Augusta is one the Rector players and coaches are hoping to leave in the past. After beginning play with two strong showings, including a preseason win over Corning and nearly pulling out a victory over Manila in the regular season opener, the Cougars were dealt a mighty blow at home last week, falling to the visiting Red Devils, 42-6...

Property matters remain a key discussion for the Marmaduke City Council. While most of the town's residences have been restored and cleaned since the April 2006 tornado, there are still some properties which do not meet city code...

Friday evening the 2009 Clay County Fair officially began with the annual talent show at the Piggott Community Center. The activities in the eight-day run of the event then continued Saturday with Youth Day, an antique tractor pull and the various pageants. Despite a rainy forecast, the fair schedule continues this week and will wrap-up Saturday evening with a demolition derby...

For many children, kindergarten is the first gateway to the world outside their families. As such, this stage of the education process is a vital time in the lives of young students...

My medicine cabinet resembles the Wal-mart pharmacy. If my doctor adds one more pill to my already bulging list, I may have to take a college course in the Logistics of Pill Taking, with a minor in pharmaceutical medicine chest...

Working in the field of law enforcement, the members of the Rector Police Department remain a mere moment from finding themselves in harm's way. Though small communities such as Rector often take pride in not having the level of crime found in larger cities, the danger faced by the RPD is very real...

The students of the Rector School District will have a strong presence in the 2009 Clay County Fair. RHS senior Harmony Cagle got things off to a strong start, as she was chosen as the overall winner of the talent show held earlier this week. Cagle, the daughter of David and Karen Cagle of Rector, wowed the crowd with her dance routine...

Unbeknownst to many local residents, Rector has been home to one of the most important icons of the untamed western frontier. For the last 15 years, Darrel Dale has kept young buffalo in the field beside his and wife Shelia's Susan Circle home...

Sherri Douglas of Rector (center) was crowned Mrs. Clay County for 2009 Saturday night and was named Miss Congeniality as well. She is the wife of Jeff Douglas. First alternate was Amber Minton of Piggott (second from left), the wife of Mark Minton; second alternate was Lana Mansfield of Pollard (second from right), the wife of Jeff Mansfield; third alternate was Shirley Greer of Piggott (far left), the wife of John Greer and fourth alternate was Brittany McClung of Rector (far right), the wife of Matt McClung.. ...