Stories from Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Large crowd enjoys annual Piggott picnic (07/08/09)
Good weather and big crowds were the order of the day for the 82nd annual Piggott Fourth of July Picnic and Homecoming. The event, which is held each year to benefit the Piggott Cemetery Association, benefited from mild weather and the fact that the holiday fell on a Saturday this year. ...

New courthouse flagpole dedicated to Clay County veterans (07/08/09)
A formal dedication ceremony was held Wednesday, July 1, of the new flagpole in front of the Clay County Courthouse in Piggott. The new 41-foot pole was purchased with donations gathered by local veterans, and later this week lighting will be added at the base allowing the flag to be flown 24-hours-a-day...

218th Ambulance Co. holds reunion (07/08/09)
With the Korean War escalating across the Pacific, the call for troops went out in 1950 and the National Guard's 218th Ambulance Company of Piggott responded. By early 1951 over 100 men from around Clay County were set to ship out, with their first destination Fort Sam Houston in Texas. ...

Hoots retires following long career of caring for others (07/08/09)
Jo-Ann Hoots recently retired following a long career of caring for the residents of Northeast Arkansas. Hoots, a native and resident of the Rector area, began her career as a nurse in 1979 and back in June ended the 30-year commitment as she retired as weekend supervisor at Murphy Health and Rehabilitation in Piggott...

It happened, years ago (07/08/09)
1969 The 41st annual Piggott Fourth of July picnic was a record-setter, with a crowd estimated at 20-25 thousand people despite temperatures near 100 all day. Rhonda Wiley was crowned Miss Piggott, and her alternates were Cheryl Haywood and Donna Jo Cluck. ...

Gerald Wayne McDonald (07/08/09)
Cmdr. Gerald W. McDonald, PhD., retired, 76, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 13, 2009. Gerry fought a brave, hard battle against Alzheimer's dementia, which was especially frustrating for him as he was an exceptionally brilliant man...

Lyndell Brown (07/08/09)
Lyndell "Linda" Fay (Lack) Brown, 72, of Canon, Ga., died Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at her home. She was born March 25, 1937, in Clay County and was the second of six children born to the late Cecil Lack and Almareda (Haywood) Lack...

Tate appreciates Camp Fit-n-Fun effort (07/08/09)
Dear Editor: I would like to thank Debbie Baker and Barb Collier for all their hard work to make Camp Fit-n-Fun another success. My children enjoyed their time each day learning how to be fit and active. Some of their favorite activities were making the boats out of noodles and cardboard, swimming and the healthy snacks. My personal favorite was the day they made wheat bread...

Morris responds to recent editorial (07/08/09)
Dear Mr. Kemp: In your editorial last week you seemed to imply that most of us are products of our environment. I too believe this to be true. Most of us are born into whatever segment of society we are born into and most us will stay there. ...