Stories from Wednesday, October 21, 2009

A though decision (10/21/09)
PES student Nicky Dalton takes a moment to consider her next purchase at the book fair that is going on this week. The book fair will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday during parent teacher conferences. The book fair is set up in the parent center at PES, which is located across the lobby from the school office. (Times photo/Tim Blair)...

Ice storm lessons guide earthquake preparedness (10/21/09)
The devastating ice storm that struck Northeast Arkansas earlier this year not only altered the landscape, but also offered some important lessons for emergency planners. "We sat down and did some brainstorming on the subject, but we're still working on a list of what went right and what did not," Clay County Office of Emergency Services coordinator Travis Boyd noted...

Piggott Schools schedule flu vaccination clinics (10/21/09)
Piggott Public Schools, in cooperation with the Arkansas Department of Health, will be conducting a mass flu vaccination of students Friday, Nov. 6. The vaccinations are being offered to all students in the elementary and high school, but a parental permission packet must be completed and returned before the shots will be administered...

Former Clay County sheriff Leon Beaton dead at age 89 (10/21/09)
Former Clay County Sheriff Robert Leon Beaton Sr. died Thursday, Oct. 15, at Greene Acres Nursing Home at age 89. He was born Nov. 14, 1919, on Panther Island in the Bard community. Raised at Paragould, he was a 1938 graduate of Paragould High School and completed one year at Notre Dame University. ...

Mohawk tennis teams at state (10/21/09)
Members of the Piggott Mohawk tennis team traveled to Russellville this week to take part in the 3A state tennis tournament at Arkansas Tech. The girl's team took the district championship last week in action at Allen Park in Jonesboro, while the two-man boy's team was runner-up. ...

Mohawks fall to Mustangs (10/21/09)
The Piggott Mohawks and the Hoxie Mustangs ground-out an old fashioned 3A-3 football game Friday night at Parker Field, with the visitors from Lawrence County coming out on top of a 22-7 decision. ...

Junior Mohawks drop conference title to Colts (10/21/09)
The Piggott junior Mohawks hosted the Rivercrest Colts last Thursday night at Parker Field, with no less than the 3A-3 conference title on the line. And although the young Mohawks played the game of their lives, halftime adjustments by the talented Colts garnered them at 14-8 win...

Lady Mohawks fall in district tournament (10/21/09)
For the first time in nine years the Piggott Lady Mohawks will not be taking part in the 3A state volleyball tournament next week. The Mohawks fell victim to the parity in 3A-Northeast conference this year, and to the senior-laden Hornets of Harrisburg in the second round of the district tournament at CRA this past Saturday...

It happened here, years ago (10/21/09)
1969 40 years ago this week it was announced that Arkansas and Missouri officials had decided on the location for re-routing Arkansas 90 and Missouri 84 between Holly Island and Kennett. ...

The old homeplace (10/21/09)
I wonder how we managed. There were six of us living in a two bedroom house. My mom said the house was completed in January 1937 or 1939. She couldn't remember the exact date. I can remember feeling extremely proud of that new house...

Shirley Gene Benson (10/21/09)
Shirley Gene Benson 78, of Piggott died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born in Richmond, Ind., on Feb. 24, 1931, to the late Roy Lee and Mabel Louise (Newton) Benson...

Theron Nelson (10/21/09)
Theron "Jack" Nelson, 85, of Piggott passed away Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born Sept. 28, 1924, in Springfield, Mo., and was the son of the late William B. Nelson and Grace (Mooney) Nelson Snow. He was also preceded in death by his grandmother, Lottie Nichols (Mooney) Permenter Kirk, who was a significant influence in his life...

J.D. Self, Jr. (10/21/09)
J.D. Self, Jr., 88, died Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009, at Baptist Health in North Little Rock. He was born Sept. 22, 1921, in Pike County to John Daniel Self and Mary Keller (Williams) Self. He married Callie Wisenhunt and had lived in Holly Grove for 63 years. ...

Reuben Bell, Sr. (10/21/09)
Reuben Bell, Sr., 89, of Evansville, Ind., passed away Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, at Deaconess Hospital. He was born Aug. 12, 1920, in Piggott. Reuben was a veteran of the United States Army, was retired from Hall and Korn Furniture and had formerly worked for the railroad while living in Nebraska...

Virginia Thompson (10/21/09)
Virginia Thompson, 93, passed away peacefully with loved ones at her side on October 12, 2009. She was born in Piggott January 12, 1916, and was the daughter of Frank and Alma Gower. She was predeceased by three brothers and one sister and her late husband, Hayne Sr., with whom she took many trips around the world before his passing in 1994...