Stories from Thursday, February 14, 2008

"Proudest kid in Piggott" essay contest winner named (02/14/08)
The Piggott Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners in the fourth annual "Proudest Kid in Piggott" essay contest. This year's first place entry was submitted by Grayson Murray, daughter of Kevin and Amber Murray. Grayson is in Kathy Coyle's homeroom class, and all the essays were submitted in Ethel Mohler's class. A copy of the winning essay can be found elsewhere in this week's copy of The Times...

Local trooper assumes post with Criminal Investigation Division (02/14/08)
A fixture of law enforcement in northeast Arkansas for the past several years, Senior Special Agent (SSA) Allen Earnhart is known by many in the area due to his role as a highway patrolman for the Arkansas State Police. Earnhart has been with the ASP for 23 years, the past 16 of which have been in service to Clay County and the surrounding areas...

It happened here, years ago (02/14/08)
1968 Both Piggott and Greenway schools were seeking millage increases 40 years ago this month. Greenway patrons were being asked to approve a 5-mill increase while the Piggott district was seeking a 6-mill bump. If Greenway's was approved it would raise their millage rate from 40 to 45, while Piggott was seeking an increase from 36 to 42 mills...

Mohawks pound Tigers on senior night, fall at district to Harrisburg (02/14/08)
The Piggott Mohawk's roller coaster of a season drew to a close Monday night as they fell to Harrisburg in the first round of the district tournament at Corning. The game was quite a contrast to last Friday's senior night contest at PHS, which saw the Tribe pound the Maynard Tigers 75-37 in their home finale...

Engle paces Lady Mohawks past Tigers on senior night (02/14/08)
Lady Mohawk captain Jordan Engle's last home ballgame at PHS was a memorable one, as the senior point guard paced the Tribe with 27 points as they rolled over the Maynard Tigers 59-49 last Friday night. Engle's excellent night included three three-point baskets and an 8 for 10 evening at the free-throw line. Friday night's contest also marked the final home appearances by Lady Mohawks Dana Emerson and Natalie Branscum...

Wanda Brent (02/14/08)
Wanda Brent, 84, of Pollard died Tuesday, February 12, 2006. Visitation is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Hoggard and Son's Funeral Home in Piggott. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14 in the Hoggard and Son's Chapel. Burial will follow in the New Hope Cemetery at Pollard...

Limuel Oscar Blurton (02/14/08)
Limuel Oscar Blurton, 67, of Ellsinore, Mo., formerly of Wardell, died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008, at his home. He was born Sept. 15, 1940, in Swift, Mo., the son of Oscar Blurton and Ella Mae (Petty) Blurton. He married Martha Blurton on July 16, 1966, in Wardell, and she preceded him in death April 15, 2006...

Cledis Maddux (02/14/08)
Cledis Maddux, 80, of Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott died Jan. 27, 2008. He was born Nov. 18, 1927, in Boydsville, the son of the late Cleve and Mary (Townsell) Maddux. He was a five-year Army veteran and was an avid camper. He was married to Ruby Burdin in 1952. They divorced and were re-married in 1994...

Vivian Ilo (Hale) Raney (02/14/08)
Vivian Ilo (Hale) Raney, 88, of Rector died Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Mrs. Raney was was born May 7, 1919, to the late Charlie and Bithie Jane (Brannon) Hale. After the death of her mother in 1921, she was raised by her mother's sister, Mary Brannon Ellis, from the age of 21 months until she married Jimmie Raney on Oct. 5, 1935. Her husband preceded her in death on Oct. 17, 1988...

Louise (Allman) Willey (02/14/08)
Louise (Allman) Willey, 76, of St. Charles Mo., died Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008, in St. Charles. She was born Oct. 7, 1931, in Piggott, the daughter of the late Selby and Ira Elizabeth Allman. She married Randall F. Willey June 16, 1951, in Piggott. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Fuller, and a brother, James Allman...

Grover Baker (02/14/08)
Grover Baker, 74, of Pollard, died Monday, February 11, 2008 at Pollard. Visitation will be held beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Hoggard and Son's Funeral Home in Piggott. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 in the Hoggard and Son's Chapel with burial to follow in New Hope Cemetery at Pollard...

Leland D. Johnson (02/14/08)
Leland D. Johnson, 84, of St. Charles, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 25, 2008. He was the son of the late Ed and Clara Johnson of Piggott. He was the devoted husband of Blanche B. (Presley) Johnson, the father of Carl E. Johnson and Jennifer Pierce, the grandfather of Karen Pierce and the father-in-law of Jeff Pierce...