Stories from Thursday, December 17, 2009

Breakfast with Santa (12/17/09)
Santa Claus stopped by the annual Piggott Lions Club pancake breakfast Saturday at the community center. Organizers report that this year's breakfast was a big success, with a large crowd turning out to support the club's many sight conservation projects. Pictured with old St. Nick are Lions Club members Bob Byrd and Sharon Williams. (photo courtesy Frank Staples)...

PHS hosts basketball homecoming (12/17/09)
Piggott High School observed basketball homecoming this week, with the annual dance set for Friday evening. Last week was Spirit Week at PHS, Monday morning this year's queen and court were introduced at the annual royalty assembly and Tuesday evening the homecoming games were set against the Harrisburg Hornets. ...

Journey to Bethlehem marks milestone at Hitts Chapel Church (12/17/09)
Much like the story of Jesus, the annual "Journey to Bethlehem" at Hitts Chapel General Baptist Church north of Piggott had humble beginnings. From that first December in 1985, when the display was just a single stable scene, the live nativity has grown into a full-blown production that includes over two dozen people in costume, 8-10 live animals, four parking attendants and another half-dozen or so church members to tend the welcome center. ...

School board approves purchase, installation of security cameras (12/17/09)
The campuses of the Piggott school district soon should be safer places to attend classes, thanks to action taken by the board of education at its meeting Monday night. The board voted unanimously to have security cameras installed at both the high school and elementary school, along with the district bus garage. ...

Mohawks beat Hornets, fall to Mustangs (12/17/09)
The Piggott Mohawks earned their first win of the season Friday night, as a last second shoot by sophomore point guard Spencer Coomer propelled them to a 65-63 non-conference win over Harrisburg at the Pre-Holiday Tournament at Brookland. Monday night the Tribe traveled to Hoxie and dropped a 55-67 conference loss to the Mustangs...

Lady Mohawks notch first win of season (12/17/09)
The Piggott Lady Mohawks got first-year head coach Alan Rabjohn his first varsity win Monday night, as they held on down the stretch to beat the Harrisburg Lady Hornets at PHS. The Tribe had three players score in double-figures on the night, as they notched the conference win 49-42...

It happened here, years ago (12/17/09)
1969 With the arrival of the holiday season, the Piggott Jaycees announced their annual lighting contest 40 years ago this week. On a more somber note, Kenneth Rodery of Piggott sustained a serious head injury Dec. 12 when the tire from a big truck he was working on exploded. He was listed in satisfactory condition at Baptist Hospital in Memphis at last report...

A servant's prayer (12/17/09)
Are you listening, God? I've been trying to reach you for several days. I'm stressed and I need your help. I'm not like your servant Job. I don't have his patience. I'm a woman and a worrier. How can I not worry, God, when problems loom all around?...

Becky Thompson (12/17/09)
Becky Thompson, 62, of Piggott passed away Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, at the Piggott Community Hospital. She was born June 21, 1947, in Granite City, Ill., and was the daughter of the late Robert Jefferson and Anna Mae (White) Poarch...

Juanita Gambotto (12/17/09)
Juanita Gambotto, 85, of Lapeer, Mich., formerly of Piggott, passed away Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. She was born Nov. 14, 1924, in Piggott, and was the wife of the late Louis Gambotto and the daughter of the late Amon and Marie (Holcomb) Smith...