It happened here, years ago

Friday, April 25 was the first day to register for the first grade for the coming year..and all students from the Piggott District will register at Central Elementary since it's the only location where first graders will be attending thanks to the new busing plan. In other news, Piggott Public Library participated in National Library Week, working in conjunction with the PHS Library Club. Librarian Mrs. L.D. Robinson reported over 12,000 books were checked out in 1968.

Meanwhile, 125 members of the National Guard from Piggott and Walnut Ridge took part in civil disturbance control training recently at the Clay County Fairgrounds. And 20 local Boy Scouts attended spring camporee near Maynard according to Scoutmaster C. Ray Miller. They were also joined by a group of Explorer Scouts with their advisors Bob Martin and Marshall Wheeler.

At the Carolyn Theater this week the features included "The Impossible Years", "The Parent Trap", "In The Heat of the Night", "The Hotel", "PJ" and "Gone With The Wind." Also from the ads--at Piggott Shell buy three Autolite shock absorbers for $9.95 each and get the fourth free. And it was reported that South Side Café is now in their new location next to the frozen food locker, and Marie and Marjorie apologized for the inconvenience during the move.

And many merchants will resume the custom of closing at noon on Wednesdays, beginning May 7.

1979

Plans were completed for the annual Clay County Fair 30 years ago this week. In other news, Piggott native R.A. "Al" Roeder was named marketing manager by Cyanamid and will be based at their office in Wayne, N.J.

The local Red Cross volunteers were honored at a special program April 17, and heard that the recent bloodmobile visit had netted 77 donors. In the past year there were four "draws" at Piggott, two in Corning and one in Rector.

At the Carolyn Theater this week the feature was "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" while the late show feature was "Swinging Pussycats."

Congrats to the local FFA land judging team for taking first in the state contest at Fayetteville, and to Byron Williams for first in individual competition. With the victory he qualified for the nationals at Oklahoma City.

Local Scouts hosted the spring camporee at Chalk Bluff Park recently and the turnout was good. The Scouts also heard about the history of the Civil War battle site from local historian Jim Poole.

From the ads--Crockett Oil had tires on sale, A78-13 white sidewall tires were $24.20 each, while G78-15's were $31.97. And the revised ambulance fees were announced. Transport within the city was $3, it was $7 to be taken to Kennett, $15 to Paragould or Poplar Bluff, $20 to Jonesboro or Cape Girardeau and $30 to Memphis.

1984

The census of agriculture was reviewed 25 years ago this week, and indicated that the number of farms in Clay County fell from 892 in 1978 to 793 in 1982. Total acres were 301,524 or an average of 380 acres per farm. Product sold totaled over $50.3 million, or an average of $63,410 per farm.

The PHS senior band was one of only 69 that took part in this year's state band competition, earning third division, or "good" marks. In other news, there was a feature on local photographer Inga Eubanks; ASU student Allison Shanklin was named to the National Dean's List and Dana Gossett has been named as a majorette for ASU for the coming year.

Piggott Special Olympians traveled to Paragould April 15 and brought back a number of ribbons, the athletes included--Keith Halter, Sandy Jones, Terry Bruff and Blake Lawson. They were accompanied by teacher Sandy Hall and coach Kay Olds.

Darris Bradshaw was the winner of a headset radio in the Sonic 25th anniversary sweepstakes, and will have his name in the nationwide drawing for a 1959 Corvette. And Piggott native Merita Graddy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Graddy, was honored as the Texas Public Employee Association member of the month for February. She works as an inspector for the Texas Highway Department in Dallas, and resides in Carrollton.

1989

The quorum court heard about the continuing need to build a new jail at their meeting 20 years ago this week, with Sheriff Darvin Stow reporting that he's spending $4,200 a month to house prisoners in other facilities..not to mention the cost of transportation. In other news, Act 609 of 1989 is now in effect, which allows a student the chance to attend classes in a district other than the one in which he resides.

Senator David Pryor was the keynote speaker at the annual Rector Chamber of Commerce spring banquet, which drew over 220 people. Pryor was introduced by Piggott State Bank's James Magee.

This week's paper also included a feature on Piggott eighth grader Larry Jones, and the clubhouse he built behind the family home on Garfield Street. Meanwhile, in service news--Spc. Jon Settlemoir, PHS class of 1984, is off to Hawaii after completing basic training and making a visit home.

From the ads--Mary Lou Scott formerly announced that she had sold Scott Fashions to Steve and Lou Hogard, and the business will now be known as Lou's Fashions. And now showing at Kennett Cinema--"Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure."

In sports, the Mohawk junior track team took second in the district meet. Craig Beck took first in the 200, and along with Joey Staples, Larry Jones and Scott McCrillis won the 800 relay and came in second in the 400 relay. Staples was first in discus, Lee Mears was second and Scott Redmon was fourth..while Clay Gossett placed fourth in the shot put. Beck, McCrillis, Staples and Shannon Buchanon took second in the 1,600 relay; while Jason Beck took third in the 1,600 run and Michael Harrell finished fourth. Finally, Chad Taylor took fourth in the 800 meter run to round out the scoring.