A total of 4,801 voters turned out for the primary run-off for Clay County judge 40 years ago this past week, with Vernon Call edging-out Carl Ermert 2,872-1,929. In other news, the Greenway picnic was rained-out again this year before the Miss Greenway pageant..and it was re-set for Friday, Aug. 16. Little Miss Greenway was Dana Carroll with Teresa Whaley and Tonny Crowson as alternates.

Piggott Schools will open for classes on Tuesday, Sept. 3, for this year..and PHS grad Hill Easterwood was awarded a music scholarship to the University of Arkansas to be a member of both the Razorback Marching Band and the brass choir.

In service news; Master Sgt. William C. Fowler has been assigned to Suffolk AFB in New York; Pvt. Ross L. Reagan has arrived for service in Vietnam and PFC Roger Mann is on his way to Hue, Vietnam to serve in the 82nd Airborne.

At the grocery store..Morris IGA had a sale on IGA cake mixes at four-for-a-dollar, Banquet frozen dinners for three-for-a-dollar and Bush #300 cans of hominy were ten-for-a-dollar.

1978

Piggott Schools were set to open Aug. 21, marking the first classes ever in the new high school building (now elementary)..an open house will be held later. Meanwhile, the Lynn Wemberley family of Rector was named Clay County Farm Family of the Year…The Piggott Masonic Lodge hosted a Royal Arch Festival in the new lodge hall…and Clay County students given scholarships to ASU included John Lee of Piggott and Alan Copelin and Vance Madison of Greenway.

Rosa Lee Kennamer, who had worked for The Piggott Times since 1973, announced she was leaving to move to Florida. The newest staff member at the newspaper will be 1975 PHS grad Teresa (Mann) Morris.

At the Carolyn Theater this week, "Heaven Can Wait"..while "Vixen" was held-over as the late show.

In sports, the Fry International Little League team took first this year with a record of 12-1..their only loss a one-run affair at the hands of John Deere . The squad included, Michael Slough, Troy Jenkins, Darrell Tate, Jeff Pollard, Mike Elam, Danny Brady, Thad Hinkle, Dane Coomer, Brian Grimes, Bryan Tate, David Swift and Keith Chronister..coaches were Carl Pollard and Terry Pollard.

And Hardcastle Chevrolet featured at 1978 model closeout with a great selection of vehicles.. see Fain White, Mike Holifield or Tommy Hardcastle for a deal.

1983

A two-vehicle crash near Campbell, 25 years ago this past week, claimed the life of Berniece Neighbors of Piggott..a passenger in her car, Nelda Settlemoir, escaped but was injured. In other news, the Piggott schools will open Aug 19 for classes.. New teachers include Tom Sneed, Cathy Berryhill, Jim Berryhill, Cathey Williams, Audie Tackett, Tracy Meadows and V'Ora Cooper..and Betty Payne will be the new principal at PES.

In other news, the city has announced that electric rates will be going up by nearly 11-percent the first of September…and the Clay County Fair is set for Aug. 23-27.

At the Carolyn Theater the feature was "My Tutor" while the late show was "Platinum Paradise". This week's paper also included a recollection by Earl Conner..PHS, class of 1920. He reminisced that the old school was located in the area where the First Baptist Church of Piggott now stands.

Congrats to the Piggott Florist softball team as they won the Tri-County title in a playoff with Rector. The team, which is coached by Mary Wade, Jean Conley and Linda Riddle, finished at 18-3..the roster includes Rhonda Jenkins, Amie Jo Binkley, Carrie Riddle, Delana Wade, Marty Wallis, Tonya Swann, Tina Jones, Terri Mills, Belinda Jordon, Renae Osgood, Tracy Noles, Deanna Conley, Tessa Lack, Susan Davis, Jill Donner and Sabrina Davis.

Finally, it was reported that auditions were being held in Little Rock and Ft. Smith for actors to used in the filming of "A Soldier's Story"..a movie based on the story of northern black soldiers serving in the south during WWII. The film would be shot in Arkansas in the coming months.

1988

A special election was set 20 years ago this month to fill the un-expired term of the late State Senator Tom Watson of Monette. Candidates included his widow, Gladys Watson along with Jerry Shipman and Andrew Schug of Greene County. Meanwhile, presidential candidate Michael Dukakis made a whistle-stop tour at Walnut Ridge in the past week.

In other news, the Clay County Fair is set for Aug 23-27 and the schedule includes a rodeo and wrestling. Stephanie Staples of Piggott was crowned Junior Miss Sweet Pea on Aug. 12 in Clarkton.. Brenda (Jorman) Baker is now working at Carolyn's Salon of Beauty…and Joe Bare of South Circle Drive brought in two two-pound tomatoes he had grown in his garden. Joe noted "Dick Neeley may grow them in bunches..I grow them big." (I have no idea)

Births to announce include a son to Mark and Sherri Burris of Piggott. Cody Austin Burris was born at Doctor's Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff and weighed-in at just five-pounds and five ounces.

Clay County was first in Arkansas in corn and sorghum production in 1987, producing nearly 3.9 million bushels of sorghum on 49,000 acres at an average of 79 bushels-per-acre…while corn production was 999,000 bushels on 7,400 acres at an average of 135 bushels per acre.

Mohawk majorette, flag and rifle squads did well at a recent event at SEMO, taking home 34 excellent and superior ribbons. Attending were, Sarah Ort, Mary Helms, Julie Carmen, Angel Stewart, Ericha Nichols, Carrie Moffitt, Tabby Reeves, Rebekah Parker, Stephanie Staples, Ashley Parker, Jennifer Holifield, Amy Farris and Tammy Smith.