United we stand, folks (07/01/09)
Last week I attended a 50's 60's celebration. We were to dress in that era. I scrounged around my closet trying to find something old but presentable. I came up with a skirt (not old) that was part of a Halloween costume. It had large silver dollar size white polka dots on a black background. Attached, underneath, was a full crinoline petticoat...

I love you emails (06/24/09)
My daughter and I email each other a lot. She lives in a nearby town so we often email our goodnights. We give a capsule message about our activites of the day. Then we end the emails with "I love you."...

It happened here, years ago (06/24/09)
1969 Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller will be among the dignitaries at the annual Fourth of July Picnic, and Ernest Webster was pictured showing off the new Ford Galaxie 500 to be given away. Meanwhile, a big crowd is expected for the third annual Saddle Club rodeo, featuring rodeo clown and bullfighter Eugene "Tex" Roberts...

It happened, years ago (06/17/09)
1969 It was reported 40 years ago this week that 1,743 families in Clay County, or just over 30-percent, now live below the poverty level. This compares to 22.6-percent nationwide and 32.4-percent statewide, but is well below the 46.1-percent that was recorded back in 1960. The poverty level was set at $1,085 per year for a single person up to $5,090 for a non-farm family of seven people...

Just call me Maxine (06/17/09)
No longer can I say that I'm getting older. For several years I've used that phase, often as an excuse for some faux pas, but now I'm not getting older. I have arrived. I knew it when the waitress called me honey and sweetie, in a condescending way, "thanks, sweetie," she said when I paid my bill. She didn't call me that when I was in my mid forties. She waited until I grew old...

Speaking of dads (06/11/09)
What can I say about dads? There are dads and there are dads. Some are good; some fall short. Some are tall, short, plump or lean. My dad was six foot tall, lean, muscular, until lung cancer took him down...

It happened here, years ago (06/11/09)
1969 Four members of the Piggott FFA received the State Farmer Degree at the 42nd annual state convention at Hot Springs, including--Gary Nichols, Steve Latta, Eddie Flanigan and Steve Champ. Larry Moody also attended as a voting delegate. Also in the news, 27 young ladies have registered so far for Miss Piggott 1969...

Remembering when (06/03/09)
Remember when kids just hated it when it rained. They wanted to go outside and play, so they waited for the rain to stop. That's what I remember. Yeah, sometimes on a hot day mama allowed my brothers and my sister and me to run outside and take a shower bath in our play clothes, but not if the weather was threatening....

It happened, years ago (06/03/09)
1969 John Douglas Johnson, 37, of Flint, Mich. was killed 40 years ago last week when the airplane he was piloting crashed behind his sister's house at Lower Boydsville. Johnson had left his family at the Kennett airport and was flying over the house of his sister, Betty Lou Milburn, to signal their arrival from Michigan and secure a ride from the airport at the time. ...

The mystery of love (05/27/09)
On Sunday morning while the morning dew was on the grass, I went out on my back patio to check on the birds. I've been watching a mother robin sitting on her nest. She built the nest on a rafter where her babies would be protected from rain and sun and predators. The metal roof over the nest offers protection from the elements...

It happened, years ago (05/27/09)
1969 Former Piggott Mayor John Wesley James died suddenly 40 years ago last week. James, a native of Ravenden Springs, was survived by wife Mary Francis, son Johnny Mack James and daughter Nancy Shanklin. In other news, three Piggott teachers will retire this year and take with them a wealth of experience. The include--Mr. H.O. Hawkins with 23 years, Mary Gambill with 39 years and Bertha Edwards with 46 years in the classroom...

Letters are welcome (05/27/09)
There is no question that the letters-to-the-editor section of the newspaper is one of the most widely-read each week. One of the most basic functions of a community newspaper is to provide a forum for its readers to express views on a wide range of topics -- both local and more far-reaching. ...

A definite difference (05/20/09)
Men and women react to the same situation in different ways. That's how we are. Seldom are we on the same wave length. Last week a man went to visit his neighbor, Joseph. He took along his white puppy to play with the neighbor's puppies...

It happened, years ago (05/20/09)
1969 Two men, arrested in the burglary of the Thomas Brothers Hardware store in Corning, escaped from the county jail 40 years ago last week. The two, Irvin Cato of Piggott and William Henry Hill of Delaplaine, removed sheet metal and brick, and slid down blankets to freedom. ...

Expect the unexpected (05/14/09)
Gilda Radner wrote a book called "It's Always Something." The book is a recount of her ongoing battle with ovarian cancer. She vowed to live but, of course, she didn't. This column isn't about cancer or survival, unless you consider economic survival...

It happened here, years ago (05/14/09)
1969 A feature on the new East-West Industries factory was in this week's paper written by Times Editor Danny Seal. Elsewhere in the edition Seal announced that he would be leaving the job to take a position with the Texarkana Gazette. ...

Remembering mama (05/07/09)
This morning while I was sewing a button on a jacket, I thought of mama. I remembered something that was buried way back in my mind. When I was a little girl and something needed a quick sewing mend, mama would say, "Hand me that needle." She would point to a wall near a door frame in the living room...

It happened here, years ago (05/07/09)
1969 The Piggott City Council passed a stray dog ordinance 40 years ago last week, setting the fine at $1.50 for letting dogs run loose. Aldermen also discussed the ban on pool halls, which doesn't pertain to the new private club recreation center on Front Street (now Master Marketing). ...

San Antonio or bust (04/30/09)
I just toured America. That is, I toured about 2,000 miles of it. There were 28 of us, not counting the tour bus guide, Barbara, and bus driver, Wayne. We left Piggott for San Antonio, Texas, on April 19 for a seven day adventure...

It happened here, years ago (04/30/09)
1969 George Gasbarre, president of East-West Industries, spoke to the local Chamber of Commerce meeting about the company's new factory in Piggott. (what is now Print City, next to the community center) The company makes small parts from powdered metals, and expects to make shock absorber parts for the new Monroe plant at Paragould when it's completed...

Copycat television (04/22/09)
While flipping through the TV channels last night, I couldn't help but notice the copycats. Well, I guess we've all been copycats at some time or other. I know in high school the girls did a lot of copycatting, me included. ...

It happened here, years ago (04/22/09)
1969 Friday, April 25 was the first day to register for the first grade for the coming year..and all students from the Piggott District will register at Central Elementary since it's the only location where first graders will be attending thanks to the new busing plan. ...

Old timey sayings (04/16/09)
I like sayings, especially old timey ones. When we say, "I wash my hands of the whole affair," we declare that we will have nothing to do with a certain matter. It alludes to the time when Pontias Pilate was forced to make a decision about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. ...

It happened here, years ago (04/16/09)
1969 A local man and his son escaped serious injury when their pickup was struck by a Cotton Belt freight train 40 years ago last Friday at the Terminal Road crossing in Piggott. Vernon Dixon, 39, and his son John, 6, were okay despite the fact the train knocked their truck over 80 feet. ...