The region was preparing for the primary election July 30, this week in 1968. There were several local contested races and six candidates will compete to see who faces Win Rockefeller for governor. In other news, contestants are still needed for the pageants at the annual St. Francis picnic…and the ladies of Sugar Creek Country Club have scheduled a meeting for July 24 to discuss organizing.

Dove season will be held beginning Sept. 1 this year, and will run through Oct. 5..the second season is slated for Dec. 18 through Jan. 11. There will be a chicken dinner July 19 at the Rector Park to benefit the Mary's Chapel cemetery association, and Nick Moody reports that players are being sought for the annual alumni football game at Corning the last Friday in August.

HeadStart students from PES visited the Dixie Donut shop in the past week, as hundreds of kids have over the years. The shop also advertised that this was their 12th year and offered a special of buy one dozen donuts at regular price for .59..and get a half dozen free.

At the grocery store, Morris IGA had picnic pork roast for .29 a pound, five 14-ounce bottles of IGA catsup for a dollar..and Folger's coffee was .69 a pound.

Finally, it was announced that the St. Francis Texaco service station was now under the management of Homer Honeycutt.. gas was .28 a gallon for Fire Chief (regular) and .32 a gallon for Sky Chief (premium)..fill her up!

1978

Candice Poole was named Little Miss St. Francis 30 years ago this past week, first alternate was Jill Donner and second was Holly Webster. Meanwhile the Greenway picnic is set for Aug. 5..and a feature in this week's paper related the 100 year history of Brown Shoe company.

Also in the news, several cows were struck by motorists at Hollis's corner south of Piggott recently…luckily the only serious injuries were to the livestock. And members of the Piggott City Council heard from Sheldon Settlemoir on the hospital building project..which is expected to be complete by Nov of this year.

General Telephone has implemented a rate increase..and residential customers can expect an increase of $8-$31 a month on their July bill. Business customers are expected to see an increase of up to $49. Meanwhile, reunions were held for the Greenway High School class of 1948 and the Piggott High School class of 1938 around the fourth.

At the Carolyn Theater this week the feature was "House Calls" with Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson..while the late show feature was "Swinging Coeds". At the grocery store, Greene's Market had slab sliced bacon for .99 a pound..and a six pack of soft drinks.. two Cokes and four Mr. Pibb's..was $1.29 plus deposit on the bottles.

Stacey Holcomb, Kellie Jones, Dana Gossett, Lorre Gossett and Tracy Ozbun recently attended majorette camp at ASU..and an ad for Bob and Clay Bell at the Piggott Shell Station reminded motorists that they were a state safety inspection station.

1983

Clay County voters will go to the polls July 26 to decide the fate of a one-cent sales tax issue approved by the quorum court. If passed the money would replace funds lost from a decrease in federal revenue sharing and state turnback. In other news, Ashley Taylor of Piggott was named Little Miss St. Francis for 1983, first alternate was Rachel McKenney and second alternate was Kelly Vancil.

Up with People appeared in Piggott in the past week, and drew a large crowd. One of the crowd favorites among the cast was local native Tim Hogue. Meanwhile, Dr. Steve White has returned to Piggott after 15 years and will be opening a dental office on West Cherry Street.

At the Carolyn Theater this week the feature was "Porky's II- The Next Day" while the late show was "Tara Tara Tara".

A total of 69 members of the PHS class of 1953 were on hand for this year's reunion, which was held July 2 at The Barn Restaurant. Meanwhile, Renee Duckworth brought in the first cotton bloom of the season..which was grown by her dad Carroll on a 16-acre plot at Pleasant Valley. The cotton was McNair 235 and was first planted April 28…but had to be re-planted twice due to rain.

In sports, the Piggott Florist softball team came in second in the district one major division recently, and will play in the state tournament at Little Rock July 22 and 23.

1988

The Piggott City Council voted 20 years ago this week to allow work to begin on the new sewer treatment plant..with completion of the job dependant on the passage of the bond issue on Aug. 10. Meanwhile the quorum court discussed formation of a jail board to oversee funding for the project and heard the particulars from Joe Calvin.

Piggott School Board member Jim Seal tendered his resignation at the regular monthly meeting of the group, but the board decided to leave the position vacant until the regular school election in Sept. Meanwhile, the Piggott Chamber of Commerce has new officers..Paula Blackwell is president, Cletis Barlow is vice president, Belinda Graddy is secretary and Debby Haywood is treasurer.

The Piggott Cemetery board reports that this year's picnic grossed just over $45,000..and netted about $14,875 toward upkeep of the cemetery. Meanwhile, Erica Winberry of Piggott was named Little Miss St. Francis..alternates were Autumn Dees, Jade Jones, Laura Holifield and Melinda Harlan.

Jack and Mary Byrd and Linda Ward have announced that Piggott Florist will close July 25..and will re-open Aug. 1 at a new location on South Third Street and under the ownership of Hulen and Danna Haywood. Births to announce this week includes a son to Mr. and Mrs. James Radin Sr. on July 1 at Piggott Community Hospital. James Richard Radin weighed-in at seven pounds and eleven ounces and was 19 inches long.

And in sports, the Clay County American Legion team qualified for the state tournament at North Little Rock after winning the recent Paragould tournament. The team will play at Burn's Park beginning July 30.