It happened here, years ago

The Piggott City Council passed a stray dog ordinance 40 years ago last week, setting the fine at $1.50 for letting dogs run loose. Aldermen also discussed the ban on pool halls, which doesn't pertain to the new private club recreation center on Front Street (now Master Marketing). Meanwhile, Baccalaureate services for the class of 1969 will be May 11, with commencement set for May 16.

Construction of the new 400-foot cablevision tower is underway north of Piggott, meanwhile Morris IGA is expanding their building and according to owner Irvin Morris will add new automatic doors and other "ultra modern equipment." Over at Rebel Market they ran an ad picturing all their employees among the grocery specials. They included--Charles Hinkle, Polly Ozbun, Charlotte Vaughn, Jerry Mitchell, Eddie Harris, Sam Crossfield, Randy Williams, Gary Stow, Bob Gallegely, Keith Causey and Lane Hinkle.

At the Carolyn Theater the features included--four Roadrunner cartoons and "Rowan and Martin at the Movies" along with "Gone With the Wind" and "The Thomas Crown Affair." From the ads; Treflan was offered at $105 for five gallons, and cotton seed was $8-10 a hundred weight.

In service news, Airman Larry Martin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Martin, completed basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas and has been transferred to a base in Mississippi. Meanwhile, races have resumed at the Rector Speedway each Saturday night, and Mrs. E.G. Morgan caught a two-pound-three-ounce crappie on Greer's Ferry Lake near Heber Springs.

1979

Local cropduster James Flanigan sustained critical injuries when his plane lost power and crashed in a field near Pollard 30 years ago this week. He was transported by local residents to Piggott Hospital, and then transferred to Memphis. In other news, Mr. and Mrs. Randall Davis have sold Davis Brothers Furniture to Mr. and Mrs. Jim Watson, as they retired after 44 years. Davis started in 1935 selling Sentinel battery radios on the northeast corner of the square (now occupied by Lisa Davis' law office) but had been in the current location since 1946.

Commencement for the class of 1979 is May 14, with honor students Paul Holifield and Susan Wallis. Betty Russell will hand out scholarships and special awards, Lendell Vannada will present the class and diplomas will be handed out by Gerald Runyon. Meanwhile, the Greenway High School graduating class was--Sheray Featherston, Peggy Jeffress, Steve Webb, Johnny Fort, Debbie Rupe, Kelly Morris, David Copelin, Sam Poole, Leroy Chavez and Donna Cavaness.

And the PHS band spring concert marked the final one for director Ed White, as he retired after 25 years on the job. Band president Lesa McFarlin presented him with a silver plate marking the occasion. White had been at Piggott since 1954, and the current band room is dedicated in his honor.

At the Carolyn Theater this week the feature was "They Went That-A-Way and That-A-Way" while the late show was "The Fruit is Ripe."

1984

The formation of two regional water districts was discussed at the Piggott City Council meeting 25 years ago this week, aldermen also heard an update on the planned paving the swimming pool parking lot and were told that Prier Brass is now employing just 16 people and a plant manager. (now Print City) Meanwhile, due to heavy rains Quick Creek flooded Highway 49 north of Greenway in the past week.

The PHS class of 1984 will graduate Sunday, May 13 with honor grads Mark Self and Angela Howell. Cathy Williams will present the scholarships and awards, Lendell Vannada will again introduce the class and Raymond Dismukes and Clete Barlow will hand out the diplomas to the 67 graduates.

The end of the school year also marked the end of several careers in the local district. Dolores Bellers retired as a sixth grade teacher after 35 years and Lillie Renshaw retired as a first grade teacher after 28. Meanwhile, two cooks at PES; Virginia Book and Olive Piland, retired with a combined 55 and a half years of experience.

At the Carolyn Theater, "Police Academy" while the late show was "Angie-Undercover Cop."

An ad for Tel-Star Communications at St. Francis offered a variety of satellite dishes ranging from $1,295 for a nine foot steel model to $1,895 for an 11-foot aluminum model. See Monty Bellers or Ed Morris for more details.

And Lela Thompson and Mamie Glover were shown volunteering at the Piggott Nutrition Center, which is operated by Ava Jean Crittenden.

1989

The local sales tax issue passed by a vote of 429-305, meanwhile the Piggott School Board voted to hire Mike Book as the new girls basketball coach following his graduation from ASU. Book's wife Theresa was also hired as a fifth grade teacher. Meanwhile, Tina Nelson and Curtis Fuller were pictured sizing caps and gowns for the class of 1989 graduation May 28.

This week's paper included a feature on Piggott seventh grader April McCoy, 13, and her unique collection of baseball memorabilia. April, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry McCoy, attended her first big league game when she was three months old in Arlington, Tex. Traveling with her father, an A.L. umpire, she had visited all 14 American League parks and two of the 12 in the National League.

The PHS bands competed in the regional competition at Jonesboro, with the junior band earning two "excellent" ratings..while the senior band brought home a "superior" and an "excellent." And winners of the middle school oratory contest were Emily Seal, Allison Turner, Tim Mowery, Tiffany Coyle, Melissa Minton, April McCoy and Kerry Champ.

Brock Gossett and Natasha Cate of Kristy Fuller's first grade class showed off their "Class of 2000" t-shirts this week. The class also heard from retired teacher Elsie McDowell and visited Regina Crittenden's senior English class to talk with members of the class of 1989.

In sports, the Mohawks ended their season at 2-12 as they fell to Highland in the district tournament..and C.W. Knauts and Matt Shettley won the Sugar Creek Country Club two man scramble; which went to sudden death playoff for the third year in a row.