Barbara Featherston was named Miss Piggott 40 years ago this past week. This year's picnic grossed over $23,000, an increase of more than $7,500 according to the cemetery board. Winner of the 1968 Plymouth given away at the conclusion of the picnic was Elton Blair of Memphis. The Piggott native, and son of Effie Blair, was the director of utilities and public works at the Naval Air Station at Millington, Tenn. (and the uncle of this reporter) He and his wife Dorothy accepted the keys from Vilas Elder. ( it was also noted that in his younger days Elton had worked for Elder)

Reunions held in conjunction with this year's picnic included the PHS classes of 1951, 1953 and 1958.

It was also reported that the speech given at the Piggott picnic by Arkansas Senator William Fulbright was re-printed in the Washington Post, along with his introduction by Piggott-native Harold Jinks.

Meanwhile, the annual Pollard picnic is set for July 17, and a total of 24 young ladies will be competing for the title of Miss Pollard 1968.

At the grocery store this week, Taylor Grocery had ground beef at .49 a pound, top sirloin or T-bone steaks were .98 a pound and a six ounce jar of Kraft mustard was just nine cents.

In sports, Scott Sale allowed just two hits and struck out nine as Piggott beat Rector 9-4 in the annual Little League All-Star game on July 4.. Steve Rodery led the offensive charge for the Piggott boys as he went 2-3 on the game.

Finally, Leroy Todd of Nimmons brought in the first cotton bloom the Friday before the Fourth.

1978

Mitzie Kelsey was crowned Miss Piggott 1978, 30 years ago this past week..first alternate was Melissa Vaughn and second alternate was Niki Reaves. And, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bare of California won the 1978 Chrysler Cordoba given away at the conclusion of the picnic. (Mrs. Bare was the former Mary Lois Wegel of Piggott) Meanwhile, Kim Parton was named Miss Pollard, while the alternates were Tammy Wallace and Tamara Holifield. Of course the St. Francis and Greenway picnics are coming up.

In other news, Ruth Crews escaped injury during an armed-robbery of the Rustic Inn Motel on July 7. She reported that a young girl, with two male accomplices, took a small amount of cash after threatening her with a handgun. Also in the news, R.E. Pogue reports that school will start Monday, August 21 for Piggott students.

At the Carolyn Theater this week, Brooke Shields is "Pretty Baby" while the late show was "Little Miss Innocence".

This week's paper also included a letter from Mabel Hughes on the recent feature on the Piggott Picnic and cemetery. She contended that the first picnic was organized by E.H. Ballard, E.H. Scurlock, George Duncan, Raymond Spence, Penny Scarbrough and Gordie Gilbert. (she also noted that she enjoyed the article)

Meanwhile, the Clay County Fair, which first started in 1931 at the current picnic grounds, will be held Sept. 7-9.

Finally, J.D. Duckworth of Greenway brought in the first cotton bloom of the season on July 3. He planted the cotton the last Friday in April.

1983

Congrats to Cynthia Duncan, she was crowned Miss Piggott 25 years ago this week. Alternates for the pageant, which had been postponed due to rain on the fourth, were Carol Crowson and Dana Gossett. Meanwhile, Candy Williams was named Miss Pollard and her alternates were Pam Moody and Tonya Rucker. Of course, the 44th annual St. Francis picnic will be held Saturday, July 16, in that community..and Up With People will be at PHS on July 18 and 19.

In other news, the Piggott Chamber of Commerce has new officers for the coming year..they are President Betty Russell, Vice President Jim Watson and Secretary/Treasurer Paula Blackwell.

On the political front, Democratic Presidential front-runner Walter Mondale will visit Jonesboro on July 15, and will appear with Congressman Bill Alexander at the Reng Center.

At the Carolyn Theater this week, "Trading Places" with Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd while the late show was "Black Garter".

In reunion news, 42 members of the PHS class of 1947 gathered for their 36th reunion, while the PHS class of 1933 marked their 50th. Class members and spouses on hand included Vilas and Marie Elder, Zelma R. Johnson, Laud and Mary Frances Payne, Chaplin Lewis and Vernon and Juanita Call of Piggott..along with Huston Blair of Joiner (another uncle of this reporter's) and several others.

Congrats to Judy Mallard of Piggott. She grabbed a total of $120.12 in groceries during two minutes in a shopping spree at Roeder's Foodland. Mallard had won the spree in a drawing by the East Clay Unit of the American Cancer Society at the Fourth of July picnic.

1988

The annual Pollard picnic was termed a big success, 20 years ago this past week, despite a near disaster when a large limb fell on two picnic-goers. Luckily Auvern Wilborn and Ava Jo Wilburn escaped serious injuries in the mishap. Meanwhile, Seanica Howe of Qulin was named Miss Pollard, while her alternates were Kee Estraca and Ashley Williams of Piggott.

This week's paper also included a brief history of the New Hope Cemetery and the Pollard Picnic. The story dates back to 1833 when Watson Forrest first moved to the region. According to the story the first cemetery board consisted of Jim Nettles, Bob Latta and Oliver Johnson..and the first fulltime caretaker of the cemetery was Arthur Crow. The first picnic was held in 1933, and the early picnics were held on Minnie Forrest bluff before the event moved to the current location after the land was purchased from Bud Nicholson in 1945.

This week's newspaper also featured a story on local jeweler Bud Hawkins, and the 43 years he had spent in the business. The Poplar Bluff resident operated a store in Piggott for several decades.

In sports, the John Deere girl's softball team is the first local team to qualify for their state tournament, and will play in Jacksonville in late July. Meanwhile, the Clay County American Legion team had a good week and now stands second in league play behind Paragould at 5-1.