Stories from Thursday, September 13, 2012

I was eating a burger in Hardees in Paragould last Tuesday when a young couple came in. They placed their order then took a seat to wait for the order. Both of them took out a cellular phone and started talking or texting. That's what they did during the whole meal. I never saw any kind of communication between the two of them...

Richard Shaw, 64, was born January 29, 1948, in Carryville, Ark., to Margaret (Crossfield) and William Shaw. He passed from this life Saturday, September 8, 2012, at his home in Greenway, Ark. Survivors include his wife: Edna; two sons: Richard Keith Shaw of Nimmons, Ark. ...

Betty Milburn, 80, of Rector died September 10, 2012 at the Arkansas Methodist Hospital. She was born March 28, 1932 to the late John and Hazel (Edwards) Johnson. She enjoyed spending time with family, was a bookkeeper, a member of the Clay County Democratic Convention and a member of the Boydsville Baptist Church...

Nora Lavern Rogers Ladyman, 91, of Rector died September 9, 2012 at the Rector Nursing and Rehab Center. She was born July 21, 1921 in Clay County to the late Elmer and Ada (Ward) Rogers. She was married to Cecil Richard Ladyman on June 15, 1941. She was a homemaker and could do anything she set her mind to do. ...

David Michael Kennedy, 72, of Marmaduke passed from this life on Monday, August 20, 2012 at his residence. David was born on May 9, 1940 to the late Young Jr. and Mae (Simpkins) Kennedy in Devon, West Virginia. He was a cabinetmaker, carpenter and a member of the Primative Baptist Church in Rector...

Jerry Delbert Sample, 63, of Paragould, died Saturday, September 8, 2012. Born April 5, 1949, in Kennett, Mo., Jerry was a Shelter Insurance agent and a member of the Church of Christ. Jerry was a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather and friend to all who knew him. He was the most devoted of Christians, an avid Razorback fan and determined fisherman...

Edna Louise (Sneed) Olds Camp, aged 88, passed away on September 4, 2012 at her home in Ringgold, Okla. She was born May 30, 1924, daughter of the late Mahalia Emma Smith and the late William Lyman Sneed. Edna Camp was preceded in death by an infant son, Timothy Ray Olds; her beloved husband, Andy Ray Camp and her sister Dorris Jean (Sneed) Coffee of Enid Okla...

Virginia Christine Cole, 78, of Rector passed from this life on Wednesday Aug. 15, 2012 at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. She was born on Dec. 27, 1933 to the late Loyd and Florence (Grissom) Crossfield in Carryville, Ark. Ms. Cole was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Norman Cole; two brothers, Wayne Crossfield and Danny Crossfield and a grandson, Chad Parks...

Charles Ray, 58, of Piggott, Ark., passed away September 3, 2012, at his home. He was born on November 22, 1953, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and was the son of the late Charlie and Margaret (Stephens) Ray. Survivors include his wife, Debbie (Elkins) Ray of Piggott; three daughters, Whitney Stubblefield and husband Jason of Springfield, Mo., Caroline Ray of Fayetteville, Ark. ...

The determination of future valedictorians was clarified during Monday night's meeting of the Rector School Board. Valedictorians, those students who have the highest grade in their graduating class, will continue to be determined by grade point average (GPA) ranging from the ninth through 12th grades. ...

The sights and sounds of a by-gone era will come to life Saturday, Sept. 15, as the Matilda and Karl Pfeiffer Museum hosts its ninth annual Native American Day. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the museum, located at 1071 Heritage Park Drive in Piggott...

Juniors and seniors at Rector High School now have the opportunity to earn college credit from the familiar confines of their everyday classrooms thanks to a new program implemented this year. Students taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses in English and history have the choice to participate concurrently in college freshman courses in those subjects, earning credit for the future while still in high school...

The Piggott School Board hosted its annual public meeting Monday, Sept. 10 in the library at PHS. The meeting is mandated by law for schools that receive federal funding, and affords the district the opportunity to give updates on how that money is being spent...

Months of planning by members of the Clay County Fair Board, and the recently-formed Junior Fair Board, will culminate this week with the annual Clay County Fair for 2012. The event officially kicked-off Friday, Sept. 7, with the youth talent show at the Piggott Community Center. The schedule of events continues today (Wednesday, Sept. 12) through Saturday, Sept. 15...

The Peewee Cougars played host to the visiting Peewee Timberwolves of Cedar Ridge Saturday in Rector. The first game of the day was a matchup between the fifth grade squads. Rector rolled to a 36-8 victory. Rector jumped out to a 22-0 lead following a touchdown each from quarterback Parker Bucy and a touchdown carry by Jacob McMillan. Just before intermission, Christian Childers broke loose on a big gain, putting the fifth grade Rector team ahead, 22-0 at halftime...

The rules of the Arkansas Athletic Association (AAA) may strike the cancelled contest between Piggott and Brookland from the record books, but every Mohawk fan at Parker Field Friday night knows the game was stopped with Piggott holding an 8-0 lead and all the momentum...

The Piggott Junior Mohawks rolled to an impressive 22-6 win over 4A Westside Thursday evening at Parker Field. The Tribe used a balanced running attack, coupled with a stifling defense, to take their season opener. Thursday night they'll begin conference play as they take on the junior Lions of Manila at Parker Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and the seventh grade squad will play at 5:30 as they begin their 2012 campaign...

The Junior Cougars displayed a potent offense Thursday night in Rector, blasting the visiting Salem Junior Greyhounds, 38-14. The boys in blue jumped out to a 38-0 lead, applying the brakes down-the-stretch as the mercy rule went into effect. "That (the mercy rule) happened to us seven times last year," Rector head coach Louis Ernest said. "It feels great to finally get one from the other side."...