Stories from Friday, February 6, 2009

Piggott hit with massive ice storm (02/06/09)
Prior to last week's devastating ice storm in Northeast Arkansas, which has left much of the region still crippled and dark, computer models indicated that portions of Clay County could see the worst of the system. By early Wednesday all experts agreed that no one could have predicted how bad the storm would be, and the impact it would have...

Clay County Electric Co-op continues ice storm cleanup (02/06/09)
Work is continuing as efforts to restore power to customers of Clay County Electric is underway. According to manager of member services Nick Manatt, approximately 280 additional workers from Missouri, Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi and Louisiana are in the area lending their assistance in replacing downed power poles and lines...

Shelter offers safe haven for ice storm victims (02/06/09)
Last week's ice storm forced thousands of families from their homes, as downed lines and power poles left the entire region without electricity. The lack of power, and in some rural areas water, left many residents looking for shelter...

National Guard offers support (02/06/09)
As Rector reeled from the impact of the ice storm, the call for assistance went out. On Saturday, additional help arrived in the area in the form of the Arkansas Army National Guard's 875th Engineer Battalion...

Storm draws top officials, warning for consumers (02/06/09)
Work is continuing as efforts to restore power to customers of Clay County Electric is underway. According to manager of member services Nick Manatt, approximately 280 additional workers from Missouri, Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi and Louisiana are in the area lending their assistance in replacing downed power poles and lines...

Arkansans step up again after ice storm (02/06/09)
A viscous ice storm has paralyzed much of the northern part of Arkansas, as dangerous weather has again taken lives, ravaged communities and left hundreds of thousands of residents without power. Heavy ice accumulated on tree branches, bringing them down on power lines and knocking out power to more than 600,000 customers before the storms blew out of the State. ...

Call center established for ice storm victims (02/06/09)
NORTH LITTLE ROCK - The State of Arkansas announced the establishment of a new call center that became operational on Tuesday, Feb. 3, and will be in operation seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. The call center is to provide and receive information from citizens impacted by the storm...

It happened here, years ago (02/06/09)
1969 Late January brought heavy rains 40 years ago last week, forcing families from their homes and causing over $150,000 in damage to Clay County's roads and bridges. In other news, the Piggott City Council voted to accept a report from the city planning commission that calls for the extension of 8th Avenue north to U.S. ...

Twila Baker (02/06/09)
Twila Baker, 84, of Piggott died Friday, January 30, 2009 at Piggott Community Hospital. Funeral arrangements were incomplete as of Tuesday, and more details may be found in next week's paper.

Robert Earl Neeley (02/06/09)
Robert Earl Neeley, 83, of McDougal died Friday, January 30, 2009 at Murphy Health and Rehab Center in Piggott. He was born June 8, 1925 the son of the late Grover and Lula (Harris) Neeley. He was united in marriage to Virginia Ethridge Jan. 6, 1945 and the couple had four children...

Henry Edd Donner (02/06/09)
Henry Edd Donner, 89, of Piggott died Friday, January 30, 2009 at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. He was born May 15, 1910 in Valemeyre, Ill. and was the son of the late Albert and Caroline (Burgett) Donner...

Donna Mae Hunt (02/06/09)
Donna Mae Hunt, 64, of Vine Grove, Ky. died January 21, 2009 in Louisville Ky. A memorial service will be held at a later date with Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home of Piggott charged with the arrangements...

Christine Joann Parker (02/06/09)
Christine Joann Parker, 68, died January 29, 2009 at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett. She was born November 14, 1940 in Rector and was the daughter of the late William Everett and Maggie Morine (Williams) Rieves...

Charles Donald Smart (02/06/09)
Charles Donald Smart, 76, of Piggott, died Monday, February 2, 2009 at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett. Funeral arrangements were incomplete as of Tuesday, at Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home of Piggott...

Berniece A. Stewart (02/06/09)
Berniece A. Stewart, 87, of Piggott, died Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, at Piggott Community Hospital. Funeral services were scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 28, at the First Baptist Church in Piggott with Charles Carrens officiating. Burial was to follow in Piggott Cemetery...