Clay County Courier Narratives 1953 - 1972

Submitted by Danny Moore

1953
Recent real estate sales locally included the Long Lake area south of Corning purchased from T. M. Caldwell and L. J. Schultz, of Caruthersville, by Vernon Presson, Kennett farmer and businessman. Also included in the transaction were 50 acres formerly owned by Finnis White and 80 acres owned by James R. Moore of Caruthersville. The total of 549 acres changing title included Long Lake, about 80 acres, four cabins and boats located three miles south of Corning and on the southwest side of the lake and formerly operated as a fishing resort by Mr. Caldwell. Caldwell purchased the lake and acreage around it 14 years ago, later selling an interest to Schultz, Total price for the 549 acres and lake resort to Mr. Presson was $17,500.
The two bandits who boldly robbed the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Reyno last Tuesday morning, apparently made a complete getaway, taking $33,090 with them. Arkansas State Police said the $33,090 loot took in the holdup was the largest in the history of Arkansas crime and that bank robbers had obtained only $96,000 in the last 15 Arkansas bank robberies. This was the second robbery of the Reyno bank in the recent months. On August 20 two men obtained $17,414 in a holdup at the bank.
Corning will have the newest type dial telephone system available about July 1, T. B. Hollingsworth, division manager of the Southwest States Telephone Company, informed this paper early this week. The present switchboard type of service will be transferred into the automatic Stromberg Carlson XY dial equipment in June of this year at a cost of approximately $82,000, Hollingsworth said.
The Farmers and Merchants Bank Officers at Reyno have employed the service of an armed guard at the bank since a second robbery of the bank on December 30. The guard will remain on duty until a complete and modern burglar alarm system is installed, which will enable employees to sound an alarm from many places in the bank if a bandit decides to attempt a third robbery. Glenn Brown, vice-president of the bank, which has operated successfully since 1911, weathering the depression and bank crashes, said that additional measures are being taken to protect the bank and employees from the danger of robbery, which includes permanently closing all openings to the building, other than the entrance facing US 67.
The second of two men charged with the $33,090 robbery of the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Reyno has been arrested Monday night by FBI agents and St. Louis policemen, at a tourist court in suburban Valley Park. James was picked up after Carl Hamlin, Jr., 19, also of Peach Orchard, surrendered Saturday to Randolph County Sheriff Rex Harper at Pocahontas. M. W. McFarlin, agent in charge of the Arkansas FBI office, said that $10,060, of the bank money had been recovered in a woods near Hamlin's home. The money was buried in half gallon and quart fruit jars and represented about two thirds of Hamlin's share of the loot.
The Pontiac dealership for Clay County and adjoining garage has been sold to Wilford G. Horton, 31, of Paragould. Sales and Service will continue to be operated in the building at junction 67-62 owned by O. C. Clark.
A new farm equipment dealership opened in Corning this week. It is the Clay County Equipment Company, Oliver farm equipment dealers, in the bottling plant building on West Second near Main Street. Owners of the firm, which also have a dealership at Knobel are Leo and Edward Sellmeyer, M. M. Huddleston and Lester Pugsley. Huddleston, manager of the local dealership, has moved with his family from Jonesboro.
Fred Ahrent, Corning, Route One, former Clay County Farm Bureau president, has been named to go with a group of Arkansas farmers on an all expense paid trip to Washington, DC, this Friday. The trip is a reward for outstanding farm organizational leadership and its purpose is educational.
The Corning School District voted down a proposal to increase its school millage tax two mills to construct cafeterias, rest rooms and additional classrooms in four wing schools by seven votes, 535 against and 527 for the tax. Thomas George was elected school board member in the district, defeating Paul Moore by a slim margin of 28 votes. Aubrey Arnold, unopposed, was elected county board member.
The Corning High School was officially admitted to the North Central Association of College and Secondary Schools at the Association's meeting in Chicago last week.
The city council, in a joint meeting with commissioners of Corning Water and Sewer Improvement Districts last Wednesday, discussed ways and means of improving the quality of Corning's water supply. The present supply, which is pumped from the Layne 120 foot well, although pure, has a high iron content and after entering the mains becomes discolored with rust.
Construction work on seven concrete and steel bridges on US Highway 62, between Corning 'Y' and Pollard, was started recently by the S. M. Dickson Construction Company of Warren. J. D. Norman of Warren is construction superintendent. He will reside in Corning. Three bridges will be built between Corning 'Y' and McDougal. The other four will be between McDougal and Pollard.
Kenneth Pettit was elected the new president of the Corning School District Board of Education at the meeting held Tuesday. The other members are Dan Harold, Lloyd Brown and the newly elected member, Thomas George. The board reduced the number of teachers in the district for next year from 58 to 56.
C.H.S. graduates: Philip Hawkins, Opal Garrett Thaddeus Clark, Maxine Alphin, Betty Roberts, G. E. James, Joe Joyner, Cloyce McElrath, Loren Goodman, Charles Lee, Hannah Boyd, Bobby Rider, Laverne Williams, Darrell Hicks, Nancy Hackett, Fred Harold, Vernon Bain, Jerry Fischer, Clydean Dunning, Mary Ann David, Earl Carnahan, Margaret Stafford, Sidney McFarlin, Celesta Johnson, Helen Hart, Jack Mann, Mildred Belyew, Nellie Williams, Raymond Morrison, Betty Boshears, Pauline Bauschlicher, Dean Cox, Madolyn Blackwood, Dorline Miller, Jane Gerrish, James Gerrish, Louise James, Mabel Roberts, Lester Fielder, Betty Hance, Betsy Smalley, Earlene Rahm and Billy Motsinger.
Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Schirmer, owners of the Corning Research Hospital, Inc., last Thursday negotiated and conveyed the hospital premises, Block 2000, Matthews Addition, to the Evangelistic and Benevolent Society of the Church of God in Arkansas, principal offices in Hot Springs.
Two young bandits pleaded guilty Monday to robbing an Arkansas bank and were sent to prison for terms of 15 and four years. Federal Judge Thomas Trimble sentenced Vernon James, 21 year old St. Louis gunman who tried to fight his way out of jail nine days ago, to 15 years in federal prison. James' accomplice in the robbery of the Reyno bank, Carl Hamlin, 19, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment.
Private George Wells, 22, formerly of Moark, was killed May 13 on Heartbreak Ridge in Korea.
Huang Yang-Hsien, 26 year old Chinese Nationalist civil engineer, was here this week studying highway construction on Highways 1-W and US 62 now under construction near Corning.
A law requiring a three day waiting period for all marriage licenses will go into effect Thursday in Arkansas.
Bob L. Ward, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Ward, city, received his M. D. from Washington University, St. Louis, at graduation exercises held there last Wednesday.
Daniel Henry Satterfield, nine year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Satterfield, Moark, died June 13 of polio at the Children's Hospital in St. Louis.
The new pastor for Corning Methodist Church, Byron A. McSpadden, and his family are moving into the recently built parsonage, Thursday.
A 63-year old northeast Arkansas postmaster was indicted Monday by a federal grand jury at Little Rock on a charge of embezzling $18,567 in post office and postal savings funds. He was Bland P. Bryant, former postmaster at Success, a town of less than 300 persons, near Corning.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Blackburn, city, recently purchased the first automobile they have ever owned, a 1953 Chevrolet sedan. However, they are experiencing a rather predicament, as neither Mr. and Mrs. Blackburn nor sons, Jimmy and David, know how to drive. Mr. and Mrs. Blackburn have been taking lessons and hope to soon be able to enjoy advantages and pleasures afforded by owning a new car.
William Martin Fowler, age 66, well known and highly respected former Corning merchant, died at his home in Kennett Sunday evening. He first came to Corning in 1903, establishing a restaurant on west First Street. Later he entered the grocery store business which he successfully operated for about 25 years, retiring from business in 1940. He was active in the Masonic Lodge for many years, serving as worshipful master and other offices. He was active in the Baptist Church here for many years and was also city councilman.
A man and a 17 year old girl were held here today on federal warrants naming them as material witnesses in a case stemming from, the $33,000 robbery of the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Reyno last December 23. The pair, Edmund Slezak, 25, St. Louis and Miss Jackie C. Taylor of nearby Fenton, Mo., were arrested Friday at the request of the FBI. Police said about $2,800 in new bills was found in their possession, $2,330 of it sewn inside a rag doll at Miss Taylor's home. Slezak and the girl told them, police said, that the money was given them by Vernon T. James, 21, of Pea Ridge, one of two men charged with the robbery. James had pleaded innocent.
The City of Corning is installing a two way traffic light at the intersection of Highway 62 and Second Street this week. The light will be operated during the hours when the traffic is heaviest and turned off when the flow of traffic is light, Mayor Frank Johnson informed this paper. Another light is to be installed at Junction 62-67 but is being held up pending cooperation from the State Highway Department.
R. L. Conyers, 21 year old McDougal resident and employee of the State Highway Department, is being held in the county jail at Piggott, charged with the shotgun murder of his father in law, Ezra O'Guin, age 52, of near McDougal.
Reyno - Burglars struck again, unsuccessfully, at the Farmers and Merchants Bank here last Thursday night. Burglars attempted to force open the front door of the bank during the night.
A contract has been let to the Reynolds Williams Construction Company to blacktop Highway 62 from Corning 'Y' to Pollard, at a cost of $235,000.
It took four men only three days to move the 12 rooms and two bath house that was formerly the Corning Methodist parsonage.
Farm folks in the vicinity of Rich Acres, about two miles west and southwest of Corning are no doubt keeping their doors locked and window screens secured, after the reported "visit" in that area by a Negro man sans clothing one night recently.
The Cleo Satterfield grocery store building on US 67 North was destroyed by fire early last Friday morning.
Henry Beecher, who resides near Spur Four, five miles north of McDougal, claims he saw a panther cross the road near his home last Monday afternoon.
A new addition, located in north central Corning, known as Fisher's First Addition, has been added to the corporate limits of the City of Corning. Included in the new addition are 5.6 acres, which have been accepted by the city council and streets and alleys dedicated to the city by Kenneth Fisher and Jessie Fisher.
Shop for food the Courier way and make substantial savings. Some of the best buys advertised in the ads in this week's issue are: stew beef, pound 19c; beef roast, 39c; celery, 10c; oranges, 29c dozen; tomatoes, two cans for 25c; crackers, 19c pound; red potatoes, 50c peck; tuna, 19c a can.
Daniel William Wilkerson, age 67, was found dead on the living room floor at his home in Moark Monday. He was born in 1885 in Corning. After his formal schooling here, he was employed at the old La Crosse Button factory and Steinberg's general merchandise store. For many years he had operated his general mercantile store at Moark until last year when he sold out due to ill health.
Dr. J. S. Schirmer, well known practicing physician here for the past 17 years and director of Corning Research Hospital, has been named by Attorney General Tom Gentry, in a suit filed here Monday, charging him with practicing medicine without a recognized license and administering cancer treatment considered by the medical profession as ineffective.
One of the most shocking and unprecedented deaths ever to occur here was that of Dr. Hiram L. Blood, age 74, who died of a skull fracture Saturday at 7:20 p.m. when he was hit by a mail sack thrown from south bound Missouri Pacific train No. 25. Dr. Blood, who was associated with the Corning Research Hospital, was standing on the platform south of the station when the bag struck him, knocking him to the asphalt pavement. He died about 30 minutes later.
Mrs. J. L. Taylor was selected "Woman of the Week" by the local Business and Professional Women's Club in conjunction with National Business Women's Week, October 11 through 17.
Efforts are again being made here to unearth a legendary safe or mental chest containing loot from a bank robbery in Missouri during the era of Jesse James and his band of bank robbers. The spot where the search is being conducted is on the western bank of Black River, just north of the old Colony Ferry, between Lost Lake and the river, about one and one-half miles upstream from the Highway 62 bridge. The digging is being done by Pleas Beckham of McDougal and Floyd Sells of Pollard, who have been cutting timber they brought from Roy G. Barnhill, owner of the land. Equipment being used is a truck with winch, scoop, conveyor, derrick, power water pump, lumber and other materials for walling in the hole as it deepens and other equipment. A previous effort to recover the "loot" was made about 28 years ago, according to Bert Clarkson, Route Two farmer who worked on the project. Others were Henry Dobbins, Chester Clemmons, Tom Crawford, Dan Schickles and others, as Clarkson remembers, of McDougal and Hickoria communities. The venture gained nationwide publicity with front page features and pictures in one Chicago paper. The story broke that one of the men in the deep hole, feeling at arm length through mud, felt a corner of what he thought was a large metal chest as it seemed to shift in quicksand. All further efforts to recover the chest were in vain, it is generally thought here. The digging operation extended from midsummer until weather became too cold to work in the muddy pit. Some reports are that the hole was 25 to 30 feet deep and was walled up with concrete to prevent water seepage. Another report handed down from late Marion C. Clarkson, early settler here, is that efforts were made before the turn of the century by a man who claimed he knew the bank robbers. All were either captured or killed and he had information that indicated the treasure was buried at the Garden Spot, a short distance north of the present operation. This spot, river men tell, has been dug up at various times for the elusive loot as well as for hundreds of Indian relics. It was one of the largest Indian burial grounds in this part of the state.
A Missouri Pacific Lines signal crew is installing automatic safety gates at the US Highway 62 grade crossing here. Work started early this week.
The City of Corning is having constructed a new tile and concrete block building to house the fire truck and equipment. It will also have rest rooms, providing, for the first time, comfort stations in our city.
Mrs. Rita Butler, city, has unofficially received word that her brother, Pfc Charles Ray Tyler, died in a prisoner of war camp in Korea. The word came from a fellow prisoner of her brother who came to tell her. He said he was with him when he died of a disease and that there were others who were dying of this same disease at the time. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Palmer Tyler of Reyno.
Dr. J. S. Schirmer, operator of a cancer clinic at Corning, has been ordered to give a deposition to a representative of the state attorney general's office at nine o'clock next Saturday, according to Eugene Warren, handling the case for the state.
NBC television cameramen were at the digging site for the Jesse James loot Wednesday morning, shooting 300 feet of movie film for nationwide television broadcast. The cameramen were at the camp, one mile north of Black River bridge, for over two hours, taking pictures of the 23 foot deep by 12 foot square hole. Other scenes also taken were of equipment being used, including a two ton truck and winch, two water pumps and other equipment in operation, removing the seepage water and sand from the bottom of the treasure hole. Also filmed were armed guards and the diggers. Jesse James stories, like Captain Kidd thrillers, have always ranked as A-1 priority with people the world over. The Courier story two weeks ago about a group of men setting up camp and, after 27 years, renewing efforts to recover bank bandits' loot supposedly buried on the bank of the Black River near here, was certainly no exception. The news spread like fire in a hay field. Other information released by AP news service Monday related that visitors at the camp would pay a $1 fee to inspect the hole where the legendary loot is being sought. Another report by AP was that the diggers were within five feet of the loot and would probably unearth the treasure this week. Gene Wirges, news editor-photographer for the Paragould Daily Press, covered the story for his paper with pictures of the eight men at the "treasure camp". All were armed with guns warning signs were posted. A photo of the 12 by 12 foot hole showed two of the men at the depth of about 20 feet. The Courier credits Wirges report as one of the best we have ever read of modern day legendary treasure hunting, in reprinting the account of one of his regular trips to the site of the diggers. Ever since the Daily Press broke the big story nationally last Thursday, a number of appalling questions have developed. For example: (1) How did the 13 farmers who originally dug for the fabulous loot in 1926 learn its whereabouts in the first place. (2) Why, after bringing the chest to the surface as claimed, did the 13 farmers suddenly abandon the project, never to return. (3) How did the present crew of treasure seekers learn the exact location of the loot, 27 years after it was reported seen? (4) How much farther do the present hunters figure to dig before unearthing the treasure, and why? These and many other questions were answered in detail in exclusive interviews by the Daily Press staffer Friday afternoon and night. In order, here are the answers in detail: (1) L. C. Sells, father of Floyd Sells, both of McDougal. is 68 years of age and in good health. All of his senses seem sharp and he does not bat an eyelash when he says frankly: Sure, I saw the treasure chest, in fact I was the man who originally found where it was located. Having heard the many Jesse James' treasure stories for years, I decided to see a fortune teller. "I went to Newport and the fortune teller told me the treasure was there and even backed up the stories on where it was located. But, just to check, I went to see another fortune teller and got the same story. 
"So, with 12 other farmers, we formed a partnership to make the excavation. We dug some 36 feet and finally found the chest. It was shaped like a suitcase, about three and one half feet long, 18 inches wide and eight inches thick. 
"It was very heavy and required almost all of us to put it to the surface by using tongs. Just as we got it to the top, it slipped and crashed to the bottom of the pit. It struck the south corner of the hole and disappeared. 
"It may seem strange that we walked away from the treasure but there was a reason. We had worked for over two months and there was a lot of disappointment in the group. We had spent a lot of money and were discouraged and had lost a lot of time. We went to the bottom of the pit and could poke the chest with six foot sticks. But the going had been plenty rough and we did not know what to do. I went back to the fortune teller again." The fortune teller said it was best we did not get the money then, because two of the 13 men were planning to kill the other 11 of us and take all the money. The fortune teller suggested we wait for two months and give the "two evil men" a chance to drop out willingly. "After that, I suppose we were afraid." Sells said.
And that was how the whole deal began and how it was abandoned in 1926. But how about questions three and four. 
It has been explained that Mr. Sells told the story to his son (Floyd) and that he and Pleas Becham, a 28 year old sawmill operator, are spearheading and financing the project. But how did they find the right place to dig? George Emerson, 60, one of the six men still working on the heavily guarded job, is known in the camp as a "diviner". It was with a divining rod that he located the treasure, the men said. Emerson, a slightly balding, chunky man, demonstrated the divining rod for the Daily Press staffer Friday night. Here's how the divining rod functions, according to Emerson. Divining rods are used primarily to locate water underground, but only persons with a God-given gift have the power to be diviners, Emerson said. First, a diviner takes a stick about three or four feet long and stands erect holding the small limber end of the stick just at his forehead, so that the heavy end falls and forming a horizontal line to the rear. Then, the diviner's power comes into play. The stick will swing to the direction where water is located. Next, the diviner takes a forked stick and bends the two fork ends in his hands, so that the stick is shaped much like a stethoscope. Then, the diviner walks slowly in the direction of the underground stream. When the stream is reached, the stick turns directly toward the ground from its former horizontal position, Emerson said. Having located the stream, the diviner then takes the straight stick and holds it horizontally about six inches above the ground. Then, Emerson says, the stick begins counting the number of feet it is to the well. The counting is done as the stick bobs vertically. Emerson used a peach stick to demonstrate for us.
Now in order to hunt treasure with a divining rod, the divining rod, the diviner must "kill the water's affect on the rod," Emerson said. This is done by using two pairs of heavy water soaked gloves, he added. When searching for gold or silver, the divining rod is slit at the end not held by the diviner and a small piece of gold or silver is inserted in the slit. Emerson says this is done because a large treasure will attract the small piece in the diving rod. He declined to say what he used at the treasurer site, but illustrated with a half dollar. At the reputed treasure site, Emerson used his diving rod and the stick counted 30, indicating 30 feet deep. Friday the men had reached 22 feet, but the wall of the old excavation collapsed and about ten feet of water rushed into the new project. It was pumped down to about five feet when they left late Friday. In addition to Pleas, Floyd and George, the other three men working on the job are Fred Emerson, 28, Charles Emerson, 19, and Bill Samples, 53.
From the Arkansas Gazette-Buried treasurer never looses its appeal. Right now in Arkansas near Corning some fellows are engaged in an interesting adventure. They are digging a shaft through drifting sand, seepage water, dead trees, roots and mussel shells at a spot once covered by the waters of Black River. The sought-for gold and silver are said to be in a chest three feet by 18 inches by eight inches. In 1926 the chest is said to have been recovered but slipped from the tongs that were holding it and fell back into the excavation and buried itself. The preferred story is that Jesse and his gang, hotly pursued after a robbery in Missouri, dumped the chest in Black River. How it was carried on horseback-maybe at a gallop-we do not know. Another story is that the treasure was on a steamboat that sank, and a third is that a Union or Confederate force dumped the strongbox to save it from capture.
Construction work began early this week on a modern, 16 unit tourist court on US Highway 67 north of Corning. The court will be owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Smith.
Corning telephone subscribers will officially be on dial system tonight after ten o'clock. After the switch is turned by your Courier editor, Mayor Frank Johnson will make the first call over the new system to Congressman E. C. Gathings at El Dorado.
The Arkansas Supreme Court has granted Dr. Jacob Sass Schirmer of Corning a delay in his fight to retain an electric [medical] license in the state. The high court ruled that it must study briefs in the case before it can determine if Schirmer must sign a deposition. 
The six men who have been digging for Jesse James' treasurer three miles northeast of Corning since October 12 are of the opinion that they will reach the treasurer this weekend. The diggers have been using an improved sand pump since a series of complications set in when they reached the depth of about 24 feet. Progress has been slow since that time, with five or six stoppages due to seeping water and sand. Emerson told AP newsmen on a recent visit to the camp, that the diggers have received letters from 12 states since the digging operation was shown twice on Dave Garroway's national TV show from New York. Emerson said that one man who claims he is Jesse James III, grandson of the Missouri badman of nearly a century ago, wrote from Manitou Springs, Colorado. He wrote that Jesse died in Texas in August 1951 at the age of 107, contrary to historical reports that he was killed by Bob Ford. Jessie III said the body was buried in Grandbury, Hood County, Texas. The relative said he had been told by Jessie that the James gang had ambushed a Union Army ambulance filled with a regimental payroll while the ambulance was on a ferry crossing a river somewhere in Arkansas. The younger James said Jesse told of Union regulars coming up and he kicked the chest into the river, then he and Cole Younger, another notorious bandit, jumped overboard and swam to shore. Emerson said the letter suggested the diggers might be near the treasurer.
Homer J. Pillow, the friendly mail carrier with a friendly smile and favorite of many, will retire December 1 after faithfully serving his patrons on Pollard, Route One, and Route Two, Corning, for over 42 years.
Circuit Judge Charles W. Light of Paragould was prohibited by the Arkansas Supreme Court, Monday, from hearing charges that Jacob Sass Schirmer of Corning was practicing medicine in Arkansas under a license obtained by fraud. The action was contained in a per curiam order in response to a petition by Schirmer for a writ of prohibition. The Supreme Court declared that the Electric Medical Board of Examiners had exclusive original jurisdiction in matters of valid licensing. There was no formal opinion but, said the court, one will be issued.
Six treasurer hunters on the Black River near here, after six weeks of fruitless digging, temporarily have abandoned their search for gold buried by Jesse James because of a partial collapse of the 22 foot wooden shaft and a shortage of money, it was learned Monday.
The treasurer seekers found some object in the hole ten days ago by means of a metal rod, but have been unable to reach it.
Carl Launius, local city mail carrier for the past several years, has been appointed as Rural Route Number Two carrier. He replaces Homer J. Pillow, who retired December 1 after serving 42 years.
Charles Bowers was elected head of the Corning YMCC for 1954, succeeding John O. Black.
A 20-foot dragline was brought from Paragould Tuesday to the Jesse James Treasurer Hunt, one mile north of Highway 62 Black River bridge. Digging for the treasurer is being resumed after the diggers ran out of money and a shaft in the hole caved in about three weeks ago. Money for the rejuvenated search is being supplied by 51 year old Herb Lipps, a wealthy Enid, Okla., cattle broker.
The Country Store was burglarized early Saturday morning with a loss of $734.

1954
Sam L. Manatt, former Blytheville attorney, Ohio banker and a solicitor in the US Department of Agriculture, Little Rock office, took over the controlling interest of The Corning Bank early this week. He is the new chairman of the board of directors and succeeds E. Vandover as president. Mr. Vandover has headed the bank since 1938. Stockholders who sold their controlling interest in the local banking institution were, Mrs. F. B. Sprague, city, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Lamb, Lakeland, Florida and Mr. and Mrs. H. N. Ratcliffe, Dexter, Mo. They had been the principal stockholders since the death of the late F. B. Sprague, who was president of the bank until his death in 1938. Mr. and Mrs. Manatt came here from Keota, Ohio, where he has been president of the Security State Bank for the past six years.
O. L. Woods, head of the Woods' Companies here, was named to spearhead a move to organize a rice farmers' marketing association in western Clay and Butler counties, at a meeting held here Monday night. Plans also include a fund raising program to provide rice growers in this area with a rice drying plant and storage for about 400,000 bushels of rice. The proposed plant would be built near Corning at a cost of some $350,000 or more and would serve farmers in this area who have over 7,500 acres in rice production.
Sam L. Manatt was elected president of The Corning Bank and O. J. Harold, cashier, at the annual election of officers held Tuesday. Sam L. Manatt, Jr. was elected vice president. Other officers were Mrs. Edith Toalson and Mrs. Helen Walker, assistant cashiers. Bookkeepers retained are Miss Anita Carter, Mrs. Margina Handley, Mrs. Virginia Guthrey and Miss Betsy Smalley. New stockholders are Sam L. Manatt, Mrs. Sam Manatt, Sam L. Manatt, Jr., and F. B. Manatt. Other stockholders and former members remaining on the board are M. G. Hoffman, L. G. Black and John O. Black.
E. W. Cochran, president of the CIDA, has been notified by a representative of a company which manufacturers men's caps and ladies' hand bags that the company is making preparations to establish a plant in Corning.
H. E. Burton, who came here from Roswell, New Mexico, last year and manages his 640 acre farm four miles west of McDougal, will mix irrigated row crop farming with rice farming this season. W. B. Heaton, Burton's son in law, who recently bought the Lon Kilbreath 160 acre farm south of McDougal, and moved here from Roswell, will also irrigate a part of his row crops. Cotton and beans are the principal row crops the Burtons and Heatons plan to produce this year.
About 90 citizens attended a mass meeting at the school auditorium Tuesday night to hear a report on the recent survey for proposed improvements and extensions of Corning's water and sewer districts. Water Commissioner Brooks Sheeks gave a history of the properties since construction in 1927 and up to the present time. Mayor Frank Johnson cited the need for making our water and sewer properties modern and efficient to meet the growth of our city, install water and sewer treatment plants, extend water and sewer service to a large portion of our city not now being serviced. The council has also agreed that the demands of the State Board of Health be fulfilled and that the city should show good faith and meet requirements of the Chancery Court ruling handed down last fall, to stop the sewage nuisance and health hazard on the Mills property or face a court ruling that will enforce stoppage of the sewer outlet if the city does not act in good faith before the next court term. City officials, he said, are also definitely in favor of ending the nuisance of water unfit for laundering purposes and unpalatable for drinking due to high iron content which oxidizes when it enters the water mains. Total cost of the proposed improvements would amount to an estimated $329,850 which would be paid in 30 years or less by a revenue bond issue to be paid by revenue from the water and sewer systems at an interest rate of 3.5 percent or less if sold at auction, Mayor Johnson said. No taxes on any properties would be in force. In lieu of property tax, all costs would be paid by the users of water and sewer service.
The Corning Volunteer Fire Department was recently reorganized with Whitney Bailey, fire chief, and John (Gaspipe) Conner, secretary. 
The $330,000 water and sewer bond issue was voted-in Monday by a majority of almost six to one. The vote was 270 for and 47 against.
The Arkansas Supreme Court this week refused to prevent Pulaski Circuit Judge J. Mitchell Cockrill from reviewing the State Eclectic [Electric] Medical Board's conduct of an investigation into validity of a medical license held by Dr. Jacob Sass Schirmer of Corning.
The death of a Knobel flier was brought out in a trade of information by Americans and Chinese Communists. The Reds said that H. D. Weese was among three Air Force men killed when a B-29 Superfort crashed near the Yalu River 18 months ago. The Air Force said the man referred to would be Lt. Henry D. Weese of Knobel.
About 250 construction workers reported for work on the 400,000 bushel grain drying plant north of Corning this week. Most of these workers will remain on the job for some two to three weeks and sleeping rooms or rooms with board are needed. 
Fire of undetermined origin destroyed Knobel school gymnasium Sunday morning about 11:30. The gym had served the Knobel community for all civic and school functions for 12 years and was a tragic loss to the people of that area.
The State Highway Department on January 11th gave the go-ahead sign with the issuance of its official work order for construction to begin on US Highway 67 between Corning and Pocahontas.
The YMCC members voted unanimously to contribute $1,000 for the purchase of a site for a proposed rice drying plant sought in this area by rice growers. Considerable discussion followed the proposal made by YMCC President Chas. Bowers.
One of the features of the Lions Club Minstrel to be presented in the High School Auditorium Thursday, February 11, will be a Baby Contest. This feature promises to be a side-splitter with the "babies" all dressed up in rompers, diapers and cute little dresses. There are six of these babies who will entertain you with their mannerisms. They are D. A. Snider, A. L. Drilling, C. R. Black, Sr., John Gallegly, J. B. Belford and Lem Scrivner. A black baby will also do his stuff. He is John A. Magee.
Fire of undetermined origin nearly burned out the main business block at Knobel Sunday night, causing damage estimated in excess of $50,000. Destroyed were the Cunning Drug Store and Fountain Room, Malone Restaurant, Calhoun Restaurant and Tyler Barber Shop.
Water and Sewer Commissioners Brooks Sheeks, C. R. Black and W. W. Hastings met with Mayor Frank Johnson and Alderman A. L. Drilling, the latter two to work out some means of meeting the demands of Gus Mills, plaintiff in a court action docketed for trial in next month's chancery court, to remove an alleged nuisance at the out-fall of the city's sewerage on his property at the south end of West Fourth Street. The commissioners were of the opinion that the city should be planning now to meet with the residents and decide upon the best move to meet the needs of the outgrown water and sewer systems. They recommended that only permanent improvements be planned and made, as patchwork, stopgap improvements only tend to cost the tax payer more in the long run. 
Construction work will start in the near future on a $400,000 rice drying plant and ten 40,000 bushel capacity elevators on the west side of the Missouri Pacific tracks, north of Corning. The Clay County Rice Growers Cooperative Association, headed by O. L. Woods, plans to have the 400,000 bushel plant ready well in advance of the next harvest season. Finances for the plant have been raised by sale of common and preferred stock amounting to $208,000, bought by rice producers in this area. An equal amount of money, secured from the Federal Intermediate Credit Corporation of St. Louis, will provide the balance and make possible the construction of the $416,000 plant. Roy and Everett Thomas, large scale rice growers here, and other local citizens, handled the sale of local co-op stock..
Seventy members of the YMCC went on record Monday night as favoring a survey of Corning's water and sewer districts and having an estimate made for installation of water and sewer treatment plants, necessary extensions to all residents of the city and any or all repairs of existing property. The city has out grown the present system to the extent that only 60 percent of the homes are being serviced, or 450 homes within the district borders and some 225 homes outside. Money is now on hand to retire the outstanding $9,000 in sewer bonds due in 1953 and 1954. Water district receipts, the $11,000 water bonds due at maturity, can be purchased or money placed in escrow and the two districts dissolved and the property turned over to the city. A bond issue would have to be voted that would provide the entire city with water and sewer service, payable by revenue earned from service charges, each month. Property tax, which as been in effect since the bond issue of 1926 would be void, when and if a new bond issue is voted in, with no property tax levied on any property in the new water and sewer districts. The $247,000 bond issue voted down three years ago was proposed on the same basis, or payable through revenue earned by service charges, with no property tax, or no mortgages on any real estate. The water and sewer systems only, to be mortgaged for the improvements.
A new electrically operated automatic proofing machine is now in operation at The Corning Bank that just about does everything but make change at the tellers windows. The machine has been installed to increase the efficiency of the service to patrons of the bank, Sam Manatt, Sr., president, said. O. J. Harold resigned his position as cashier Monday. Replacing Harold is Sam Manatt, Jr., also vice president and a member of the board of directors. Don DeArmon started as teller-bookkeeper Wednesday morning.
Mack Blackwood, local hardware dealer, was elected member of the Corning School Board of Directors for a five year term. He was unopposed. Retiring from the board is Kenneth Pettit.
The financial structure of The Corning Bank has been increased to $250,000 as a result of a recent meeting of the board of directors. Board members John O. Black, L. G. Black, M. G. Hoffman, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Manatt and Sam Manatt, Jr. agreed on adding undivided profits amounting to $50,000 to the bank's financial backing, to make it one of the strongest financial institutions of any in a city the size of Corning.
Travelers Motel, just completed on US 67 North, will be formally opened Sunday, March 28, with an open house from one until four in the afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Smith, owners of the new, modern motel, invite the general public to call and inspect the plant.
Eighty acres were plowed, disked and made ready for planting on the Ralph M. "Snooks" Crafton farm north of Corning last Wednesday. Seven of Crafton's neighbors and five tractor drivers from Ring district pitched in to see how quickly they could get his land ready for the 1954 crop season. They all worked like mad from 6:45 Wednesday morning until six that evening, only taking out time for lunch and an occasional stop for minor adjustment or repairs. It took 11 hours and 15 minutes (about seven acres an hour) for the eight tractors to prepare the 80 acres for planting, probably a record for neighbor-exchange help around here. Farmers on the project with their tractors and equipment were Lester Crafton, Eddie Poe Crafton, Bill Phelan, Elmer White, Snooks Crafton. Drivers, other than above mentioned, were Jake and Jim Beecher, Bill and William Weaver and Ray White all of Route Two, Corning. They will continue to swap labor and equipment until all eight have their soil ready for planting. 
Dan W. Harold elected president of school board; many wing school improvements to be started soon.
Sterling L. Gazaway, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Gazaway, former Datto residents, died of strangulation Sunday afternoon at Forrest Park, St. Louis. Gazaway was eating a hot dog sandwich when he became choked. 
Tony Miller, 13 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Miller, died Tuesday afternoon of complications resulting from third degree burns he received April 13 at a local barber shop. The youth was cleaning a sink with gasoline when the bottle hit a drainage pipe and broke, spilling the gasoline liquid. A nearby open gas heater ignited the fumes and both legs were burned from the hips down.
YMCC President Charles Bowers announced at Monday night's meeting that a Federal Agriculture Office (ASC) will be open June 6 in the jury room on the second floor of the courthouse here. A new jury room will be made by closing the stairway at the west entrance.
Edgar Van Buren Sheeks, prominent civic leader and local business man for the past 30 years, died at the Lucy Lee Hospital, Poplar Bluff, Tuesday. He was 54. He was widely known for his interest in the Democratic party and his interest and work for better highways. He was a dealer for the Ford Motor Company, the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company and the Texaco Oil Company since he entered business 30 years ago. A member of the Pine Bluff Shrine Temple, he also was a 32nd Degree Mason, at Little Rock. He served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher at the First Christian Church where he had been a member since 1914. 
Eight more blocks on West Main Street are being asphalt hard surfaced, Mayor Frank L. Johnson informed the Courier this week. This new improvement will give the city an asphalt surfaced street from West Second Street to the 67-62 junction with the exception of one block, he said. It is anticipated that the one block not yet secured on the cooperative basis of 50-50 city funds and property owner funds, will be obtained soon in order to give motorists and property owners on West Main advantage of a hard-surfaced street from the Mo-Pac tracks to the junction this summer.
A contract to complete hard topping Highway 1- West from Corning 'Y' to Paragould has been let by the Arkansas Highway Commission to D. F. Jones Construction Company of Little Rock. The bid of $337.935 schedules 11.4 miles of grading, drainage structure, gravel base and asphalt surfacing. Also included in the contract is practical elimination of four curves and construction of one concrete bridge.
The Clay County Electric Cooperative crew of electricians, under supervision of manager Adolph Lillard, are installing permanent electric facilities at Wynn Park which will complete the circuit for electric power, lights and switch boxes.
Some 285 men started pouring the concrete forms Wednesday, June 23, at the Corning Rice Dryer plant, working 11 and one-half hour day and night shifts. The daily pay roll is estimated at $6,555.
R. E. Pogue, former agriculture instructor at Knobel schools, became superintendent there starting July 1. He replaces W. M. Maupin who is superintendent at Vanndale.
Corning youth, Clarence Alford (Sonny) Dodge, 16, drowned while swimming, in Black River here last Thursday. The youth had been swimming with another Corning youth, Jimmie Lumpkins, 13, at Black River Camp, just north of Highway 62 bridge. Both had been in the river most of the afternoon, using an inner tube for support as neither could swim very well.
Local residents sweltered Tuesday when the mercury rose to a new high of 107 degrees this season. The previous high was on Monday when the thermometer read 105 degrees.
Water and sewer bonds amounting to $330,000 for construction of a new water treatment plant, sewer treatment plant, enlargements and improvements to Corning's water and sewer systems were sold here Friday to the Lewis W. Cherry Company, investment brokers, Little Rock. The Cherry Company was the only bidder. Interest rate was three and one-half percent. Mayor Johnson said that bids for the construction work would be let in September if no unexpected delays are encountered.
The Lions Club placed an order Friday for permanent type steel bleachers with seating capacity for 800 persons at Sprague Field.
The tragic and untimely death of Joe Joyner, popular Corning young man who was killed near Pensacola, Florida, last Monday, brought shock and grief to the people of our communities. His death occurred shortly after a 1954 Buick sedan in which he was a passenger sideswiped a house trailer on US Highway 98 at Camp Navarre, Fla., at 2:45 Monday afternoon. Joe, 18, and three of his companions, James H. Rhodes, 17, Fred Harold, 19, and Herbert Smith, Jr., 17, left here Sunday pulling a speed boat on the back of the Rhodes Buick, enroute to Panama City, Florida, where they planned to deep sea fish and vacation.
The long legal battle over the eclectic [electric] medical license of Dr. Jacob Sass Schirmer, former operator of a cancer clinic in Corning, ended Monday when the aging and ill man surrendered his license voluntarily. Despite the voluntary surrender of the license, the attorney general's office asked for and received an injunction from Circuit Judge J. Mitchell Cockrill, canceling the license permanently on the ground it was obtained by "fraud and deceit." The judge ordered the Arkansas Eclectic [Electric] Medical Board to revoke the license which it must do without choice, or be in contempt of court. Schirmer, almost 70 years old, was not in the courtroom
A new eight room house is being built at the west end of Harb Street, south of Wynn Park, Mr. and Mrs. Rex Morgan, owners.
Members and officers of the Corning Young Men's Civic Club met Monday night and voted to allocate $5,135 for Corning civic betterments. The major part of the contributions came from the net profits of the 1954 July 4th Homecoming.
The Corning Board of Education at a recent meeting, authorized a course in driver education to be started in the local high school beginning September 1. The instructor will be Tobie Adams, who worked as basketball coach and science instructor last year.
J. B. Webb, 29, employed as caterpillar driver for the J. W. Black Lumber Company, died at 12:30 a.m. Monday morning in the Brandon Hospital from injuries sustained when his 1947 Chevrolet sedan crashed head on into an Arkansas Motor Freight transport truck on US 67. 
Albert Evans, 29, was killed almost instantly when a transport trailer loaded with heavy cypress lumber overturned, pinning him under the side, crushing his head and shoulders. He had loaded the lumber at Hopkins' sawmill and was enroute to Illinois. He lost control the truck just after he had passed the Black Creek bridge on the Lutheran Church road, two miles west of Highway 67.
Frank Littrell, 24, St. Louis resident, was shot and instantly killed at six o'clock last Thursday morning at the home of his brother, Alfred Littrell, who farms on the Floyd Smith farm, six miles west of Corning on Highway 67. Jim Henderson, 32 year old disabled veteran of St. Louis, admitted the fatal shooting to officers and has been returned here to face charges.
Three pearls recently found by mussel shell diggers in Black River near here represent the greatest find in 20 years. N. N. Steinberg, local shell and pearl buyer, who bought the pearls, said one weighs 132 grains, one 101 and one 35 grains, the smallest almost perfect. The pearls were removed by shell diggers working below Brookings, Skaggs Ferry and the Ark-Mo state line on Black River. They have sold approximately 25 tons of shells to Steinberg so far this year. Steinberg is the former operator of a pearl button shop here, he employed about 26 men with a payroll of about $36,000 annually.
Buel Smith, general manager of the Million Motor Company, Pocahontas, for the past ten years, purchased the Bennett-Sheeks Ford Motor Company here last week. The first local Ford agency franchise was issued to the late W. D. Bennett in 1912. The agency was operated on east Highway 62, where the M and O Seed Company is now located. In 1925 a quarter interest each, was sold to the late Ed V. Sheeks and his brother, Brooks Sheeks. The company weathered the depression and grew under competent management of Ed Sheeks with Miss Edith Bennett, the Motor Company's accountant. Later it was moved into its present quarters in a modern brick building. Later Ed V. Sheeks acquired the interests held by his brother, Brooks Sheeks, and Mr. Bennett, making him sole owner.
Dr. N. J. Latimer, pioneer and local physician for the past 56 years, will be honored at a dinner by the Corning Young Men's Civic Club next Tuesday night, About 12 other guests, all over 70, are invited to be present for the occasion, which will take place the evening of the day which has been officially declared "Dr. Latimer Day" according to announcement by YMCC President Charles Bowers. An account of Dr. Latimer's early life and many of the varied experiences during his long practice, dating back to the horse and buggy days, which was prepared by Mrs. Cecil Eaton, Jr., with the help of Dr. and Mrs. Latimer, follows, in part: Dr. Newton J. Latimer was born on a farm near Dresden, Tenn. At a very early age his parents moved to Lake County, Tennessee, and bought a farm near Tiptonville. His father died when he was 15 and he then moved with his mother to Corning. Later his mother married again and they then moved to Newbern, Tenn. He finished high school there and worked at various jobs during high school and summer vacations. Dr. Latimer had decided at a very early age that he wanted to become a doctor. He had saved enough money to pay his way into the University of Nashville Medical School, Nashville, Tenn. He then took the Clay County Medical Board examination and received his certificate to practice. He practiced in the Eastern District until he had made enough money to enter the Kentucky School of Medicine and graduated from there in the class of 1895. He later attended the University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky., taking the senior course and graduated from there in the class of 1896. He returned to the Eastern District and practiced medicine until he returned to Corning on January 30, 1898. It is but natural that a man in the practice of medicine in Clay County, which essentially is a rural county, should have many memories from all his years of practice, and Dr. Latimer does have such memories. His first calls were made on horseback and he later graduated to a horse drawn buggy. He saw the first automobiles come into the county: in fact, he owned one of the first. He also saw the arrival of the telephone and electric lights.
The Corning Grain Drying Association's 440,000 bushel capacity plant took its first load of rice Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock. The 450 bushel load was from an O. L. Woods' rice farm. The second and third loads were brought in by Thomas Brothers who are among the largest producers of rice in this area. Their two loads contained some 592 bushels.
The Baptist Mission, sponsored by the First Baptist Church in Corning, will conduct a tent revival here September 19-29. The tent will be located at Fourth and Walnut streets, across from Dodd's Grocery. Rev. Andy Heskett, pastor of the church and mission, will do the preaching and Rev. H. W. Johnston, Association Missionary, will assist by leading the singing.
Dr. N. J. Latimer, dean of Arkansas' rural physicians, was honored at a dinner sponsored by the YMCC here, Monday night. Other old timers, all over 70, and several of them octogenarians, who shared the honor with the beloved physician, who has practiced medicine here for 56 years, were W. W. Henry, former superintendent of Corning school; Elder R. L. Powell, missionary Baptist minister in our area since long before the turn of the century; Uncle Tom Elliott, one of our oldest farm owners; Charles Bailey, local tinsmith for over 50 years; J. H. Magee, Corning furniture dealer; J. M. Rhea, retired hardware dealer and sportsman; Fred Bowers, pioneer barber who is still active as a farmer; Harry Harmon, Spanish-American War Veteran; and W. M. Webb, who still enjoys a good day's fishing on Black River. Dr. Latimer was one of the first in this part of Arkansas to become successful enough to make the changeover from horseback and horse and buggy travel to automobile, over the worst possible dirt roads. The doctor also had a bicycle with a third wheel attachment upon which he traveled as a Mo-Pac physician north and south of Corning on the main line's tracks. Many times in the winter, Mrs. Latimer prepared hot bricks to add to his comfort in zero or lower weather, especially during night calls, when the too-few physicians were drafted into 24 hour service all over the many communities they served.
Dr. Latimer responded to President Bowers' request for a few remarks. He told of experiences and hardships our present day generation would find difficult to believe. Only those who sat at the special table for the "old timers" had better insights of conditions in the era 60 years or more ago. One incident the aging doctor told of was when he was called to remove the leg of a 40 year old woman. No hospital service was available and the operation had to be done to save her life. After arriving at the house of the woman, he said that facilities were anything but conducive for preparation for a major operation. He ordered the grandmother to use an iron stove poker to drive two brothers of the woman and force them to build a fire in the kitchen stove for the purpose of sterilizing his medical instruments. He had to perform the operation on the kitchen table. It was a miracle, Dr. Latimer said, that she got well, adding that, no doubt, the guardian angel was present for the occasion. Dr. Latimer explained that doctors in those days were called upon for surgical and medical feats which demanded a world of courage, combined with their medical skill. "It was a day of do-it-yourself or leave-it-alone and there was no choice but to serve with the help of the higher power." he said.
Construction work was started Monday on the greatest municipal improvement ever attempted in the City of Corning, the expansion of our water and sewer facilities to all corporate limits, the construction of a modern water treatment plant, and a sewage disposal plant. These vast improvements will, no doubt, prove a boon to our city and offer local residents the advantages of one of the most modern, sanitary and efficient water and sewer systems existent, even in cities much larger than Corning.
Missouri Pacific passenger train Number Three for the past 50 years, made its last run from St. Louis to Little Rock, Monday afternoon.
Sunday afternoon the Business and Professional Women's Club room was the setting for a lovely tea in observance of National Business Women's Week, October 10-16. Guests for this occasion were the women teachers of Corning School. The tea honored the B. and P. W. Club's choice for Business "Woman of the Week," Mrs. Ann Hutchins.
Wid Rice has been appointed as temporary deputy sheriff for the Western District, replacing Bill Seagraves, who is now a patient at the state sanatorium. 
Jessie W. Arnett, 77, commercial fisherman, was found dead in his cabin on Black River near here Tuesday afternoon. The body was found by Grady Walker and Uncle Ted Dahmus, downstream fishing camp operators. Circumstances indicated he died by his own hand. A .22 caliber rifle was beside his body, which was found on his bed. The bullet passed through his head near the right eye. He was thought to have been dead about two weeks when found.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Elmer Sorrels were totally burned out when the house in which they resided, four miles west of Corning, on US 67, burned at about midnight, Saturday night. 
Starting December 1, the city waterworks system is being shut off from two p.m. until five p.m. every day, Mondays through Fridays, until further notice. This inconvenience to city water patrons is necessary in order to install cut off valves, and make necessary installations to our present water system. 
O. L. Woods was elected to head a committee for industrial development in the Corning area, sponsored by the YMCC. Woods, president of the Corning Grain Dryers Cooperative Association, headed the drive here last spring and summer that resulted in construction of the nearly half million dollar grain drying plant north of Corning.
An estimated $976,500 will be spent in Clay County on bridge and road construction if offers made by the State Highway Commission are acceptable to the county, according to highway officials. Two projects have been programmed. One is for construction of a bridge and approaches on Highway 62 at the crossing of Black River, east of Corning at estimated cost of $705,000. The second is for widening and strengthening of Highway 67 from Corning to the Missouri state line at an estimated cost of $371,500.
Sheriff-elect Leon Beaton announced this week that Willard Cobb, Route One, Corning, will be the chief deputy for the Western District, effective January 1.

1955
Fire completely destroyed the recently remodeled ten room colonial-style home of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Manatt, Sr., in west Corning early Sunday morning.
Tax liens have been filed by the federal government against Jacob Sass Schirmer, former eclectic [electric] doctor, his wife, Helen, and Corning Research Hospital, Inc., Corning, to freeze any property, rights to property, stock, securities and other goods until Internal Revenue Service receives settlement of an alleged tax debt. The tax collection agency claims that the Schirmers owe $8,762.86 in income taxes and costs from 1949 through 1952. Mingled into the dispute is the status of the $400,000 cancer hospital in Corning, which Schirmer is to have deeded the Church of God in May, 1953. The hospital here was closed about January 1 when the staff and patients were transferred to a clinic near Atlanta, Georgia.
The entire Corning area was deeply shocked Sunday, by news of the tragic death of Charles S. (Skeet) Ward, widely known and respected owner and operator of Ward's Taxi Service here. His death came at the last railroad crossing south of town when his cab was struck train Number Four at about noon, Sunday.
William Melvin Letbetter, prominent Corning businessman for 55 years, died Saturday, January 22. Born in Gainesville, Arkansas, June 22, 1877, he came to Corning from Knobel 55 years ago. He established one of the first automobile agencies here and for many years owned and operated the Letbetter's Blacksmith and Machine Shop. He also served on county and local school board and city council. He was the oldest member of the Methodist Board of Stewards and was one of the most active members in affairs pertaining to his church during his long span of years.
Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Smith, owners and operators of the Travelers Motel on US 67 North, are having constructed as soon as possible, three units directly in front of their motel, across Highway 67. New structures will include a modern restaurant, a service station and a modern swimming pool.
Mrs. Ruth Belford has been, appointed Deputy County Revenue Collector for the Western District of Clay County, effective February 16.
State Revenue Department auditors were here early this week closing the books at Magee Furniture Store where John A. Magee conducted the car and truck license office, prior to Mrs. Belford's appointment by Governor Faubus. The office is now located in the assessor's office at the courthouse here.
Mayor Frank Johnson announced at the YMCC meeting Monday night that the city council had approved the purchase of another fire truck.
The Steinberg two story house was practically destroyed by fire of undetermined origin Tuesday night after flames started in a spare room in the second floor apartment occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wilson and children and Miss Jean Branum. Mrs. Marie Watkins and three small sons, who occupied the lower floor, saved most of their possessions, however, there was considerable water damage. The Steinberg house was somewhat of a landmark here. The date it was constructed is not known. The owner, N. N. Steinberg, said the late Mr. and Mrs. Joe Steinberg bought the house from a Dr. Harris in 1903 when it was a two room structure, adding on several rooms. Later, in 1910, the pioneer Corning merchant again rebuilt the house, making it one of the finest here at that time.
Jacob Sass Schirmer, former owner of a cancer clinic at Corning, Tuesday paid the government $3,341.56 in back income taxes through his attorney who said Schirmer had offered to make a settlement on another $8,762 tax claim. The $3,341 payment lifted two tax liens the Internal Revenue Service placed January 18, against the Corning Research Hospital, Inc., in which Schirmer and his wife were major stockholders. The couple deeded the hospital two years ago to the Church of God.
James J. Creason, Jr., 29, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Creason, city, was killed last Saturday morning when a two-engine Trans-World Airliner on which he was co-pilot, crashed into a 10,000 foot towering cliff near Albuquerque, N.M.
State highway engineers are completing a survey for construction of eight steel reinforced concrete bridges, from Corning to Junction 62-1W. Included in the program for Highway 62 improvements will be a new bridge over Black River two miles east of Corning. Three bridges will be constructed between Corning and the new Black River bridge and four the other side of the river to Junction 62-1W.
The Corning Bank, last week, installed the latest type night depository on the north front wall of the bank building for convenience of local businessmen to deposit money after banking hours.
At a meeting of the Corning District School Board last Tuesday night, a decision was reached that may mean the reduction of four school bus lines and the dropping of all music, athletics, and drivers' education from the school program. The drastic reduction is contemplated as the only alternative to the school's financial problem brought about by the cutting off of around $13,000 in state aid money. This reduction of state funds was brought when the Arkansas General Assembly removed poultry and livestock feed from the two percent sales tax, and due to the fact that several million in surplus funds that were given to the school districts during the past two years are now exhausted. The total shortage of the Corning district will be $19,380, as pointed out by Dan W. Harold, president of the school board. 
Clay County Judge Ernest (Buck) Thomas distributed over 30,000 pounds to destitute people in Clay County last weekend. Distribution of the relief food was allocated to destitute families as follows for each person: butter, one and one-half pounds; cheese, two and one-half pounds; shortening, three pounds; dry milk, four and one-half pounds; beans, two pounds; and rice, one pound.
Fire, thought to have started from a recessed gas wall heater in the bathroom, completely destroyed a two story, eight room house in north Corning, early Friday night. Mr. and Mrs. Glenburn Walker, owners, had remodeled the house at a cost of some $1,200 and moved into the house two weeks before.
The Fitzgerald Drug Store was sold to Gerald G. Morgan last week by the former owner and operator, Earl L. Fitzgerald. Mr. Morgan states that he will take over the operation of the business April 1. The new owner, a registered pharmacist, comes here from Paragould. A native of Piggott, he is a World War II veteran, serving first as a pharmacist mate in the Navy and later as a first lieutenant, US Army Medical Service Corps in the Korean War.
The efforts of Edward Sellmeyer and Don Byers to secure a solid block of oil leases from the landowners east of Knobel have met with almost 100 percent cooperation. Kenneth Kramer of Knobel, Route One, and Effingham, Ill., who is one of the largest landowners around here, is pushing the oil effort to the utmost.
Construction work is soon to start on a. modern, fan-shaped swimming pool at the Parkview Tourist Court, O. L. Woods, the owner, informed the Courier.
The Corning Lions Club is sponsoring a contest called "Jackpot Jones." Merchants in the Corning area are cooperating with the club in the presentation of the contest which enables everyone to participate and have an opportunity to win a huge jackpot of prizes. Clues will be posted in all stores participating in the contest and anyone wishing to get in on the contest and the fun is welcome to go to each place of business displaying the Jackpot Jones posters. The contest closes May 6.
The Missouri Pacific Railroad Company this week paid to the Tax Collector a total of $23,911.17 for 1954 taxes, the largest item of which was for school purposes, amounting to $19,099 or 53 percent of the total. Other large taxpayers in Clay County, recorded on the tax books here are: Mississippi River Fuel Co., $10,739; Texas Eastern Gas Co., $10,701; Arkansas-Missouri Power Co., $10,163, REA, $6,769; Fort Smith Gas Co., $13,308; and Frisco Railroad, $2,990.
The Irby Butane Gas Co. opened its doors for service here Wednesday, April 20, in the building south of the Fort Smith Gas Company. J. D. Fisk, former manager of the Rector store, will move his family here and manage the local store.
Mrs. Birdie Parrish, 54, burned to death Thursday morning as her home in the Hastings Addition was destroyed by fire.
Corning's new water treatment plant, soon to be put into operation, will do away with some of the nuisances which plague housewives and can be a bother to everyone. These nuisances are caused by iron, hardness, unpleasant odors and alkali in water. They interfere with cooking and washing, stain bathroom and kitchen fixtures and utensils and can make taking a drink of water an effort instead of enjoyment.
Members of the C.H.S. Senior Class, 1955: Harry Belyew, Jimmy Blackburn, Richard Cantwell, Kenneth Darr, Charles Decker, J. H. Ermert, Gene Goodman, Lowell Hawkins, Rudolph Johnson, Lynn McSpadden, Tarrell Parrish, Tommy Ward, Donald Patterson, Donald Perrin, Ronald Perrin, Don Richardson, Robert Sherman, Jimmy Smith, Jerry Talkington, Eugene Taylor, Billy Walls, Edna Ainley, Carol Jean Branum, Alice Burnett, Nancy Burton, Alice Cooper, Adelaide Danner, Muriel Egan, Wanda Elders, Louise Ermert, Lynn Estes, Doris Gambil, Patsy Goodman, Sandra Gowen, Janetta Hale, Sharon Harold, Madolyn Hogard, Nancy Johnson, Shirley Kimball, Imogene Little, Frankie Luter, Margie McFarlin, Claudette McGrew, Patricia Nettle, Nettie Lou Patterson, Almarie Pringle, Sandra Ruff, Edna Sears, Barbara Snider, Irene Taylor, Shirley Thaxton, Shirley Towell, Peggy Ward, Rosemary Watson, Vanita Whitson.
A pencil sketch by Dr. Amy Barnett of Crowley, La., of an old log cabin that stood just south of the old Corning cemetery has produced an interesting story from another pioneer citizen. The cabin was occupied by a Mr. and Mrs. Spurlock. Mr. Spurlock cut wood for the Iron Mountain Railroad and hauled it to the north wood yard just across the tracks from the cemetery. He was struck by a train and killed, and his widow filed suit against the railroad company. She received judgment but was unable to collect. Finally, Gid West, the deputy sheriff, made the collection by a reasonable native way. While the local freight was standing at the station with the train crew of the locomotive on the switch track, he padlocked the first car of the local, a Texas cattle car, to the rails and the train crew was unable to move the train until the judgment was satisfied. After much frenzied telegraphing, the railroad company agreed to have a check in the next day's mail and the local was un-padlocked.
The City of Corning officially turned over the operation of a new, completely equipped 1955 Ford fire truck to the city fire department, Tuesday evening, just before practice of stringing hose at McCauley's Store. Mayor Frank Johnson and city councilmen made the presentation and Fire Marshal Whitney Bailey and volunteer firemen were in charge of the drill.
The Bennett-Sheeks Oil Company properties in Clay and Greene Counties and the Angle Service Station were sold by Mrs. Ed V. Sheeks to the DX Sunray Oil Company of Tulsa, Okla., Monday, October 3. The oil company which operates a bulk station in Corning and 14 retail outlets in Clay County and a bulk station and ten outlets in Greene County, was first organized in 1925 by the late W. D. Bennett, who also operated a Ford agency. Later Ed V. Sheeks bought a half interest in both businesses and, in 1931, took over the two companies which he enlarged.
B. D. Bone, farm operator and former implement dealer of Paragould, has entered into a partnership with his brother in law, Mack Blackwood, in the Blackwood Furniture and Hardware Company here.
Gerald Grider, 30, father of three small children and attendant at the Duncan Esso Station, Junction 62-67, was fatally injured at about 6:30 last Thursday evening when a steel rim from a truck tire struck him as he was repairing the tire.
Safe-door crashers, adept in the criminal art of opening safes with a small sledge hammer and steel pry bar, introduced a new method of obtaining money, over $1,000 cash, from three local business establishments last Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Entered were the Knobel Milling Company, Mo-Pac station and Morgan Pharmacy.
L. H. Woolard reported finding crude oil in water taken Tuesday at 350 feet in a test well being drilled on his farm on the north side of the state line at Big-T Road.
Bring the family. Join Corning's first annual Christmas parade Friday, December 16, 3 p.m. Music by Coming's two school bands. Santa Claus invites all his little friends to join him in the parade.
Dr. Newton J. Latimer, age 86, participating physician for over 65 years, died at his home here Thursday following an illness of several months.
A modern medical clinic is now under construction on the southeast corner of West Second and Olive, for occupancy of Dr. John Cash about July 1. Arlie Taylor, owner of the property, is having added-on to the present brick office building on the site, additional rooms to make a total of nine for the clinic, which Dr. Cash, a 1954 graduate, U. of A. Medical School, will use for general medical practice and minor surgery. Dr. Cash is finishing his internship at Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The new water and sewer rates went into effect as of June 1, O. J. Harold, manager of the local office, said. Billings for the current month are based on the new rate of $2.75 per month minimum for water and $1.50 per month for sewer inside the original district.
A new concrete block building is being constructed at the rear of the Russell-Ermert Funeral Home. The new building will be in three sections with a five foot concrete runway to the main mortuary building.
Corning's Water and Sewer Department employees are busy installing 400 new Rockwell water meters over the city's recently reorganized and enlarged water and sewer district. The meters were purchased at a cost of $30 each.
James Howard Key, age 43, salesman for the Arkansas-Tennessee territory for American Tea and Coffee Co., was killed instantly at 11:45 Sunday night when his 1955 Oldsmobile sedan he was driving went out of control and crashed into a tree in the front yard of the G. A. Jimerson residence just south of the Junction 62-67.
Randolph County authorities reported that an unsuccessful attempt was made last Wednesday to enter Farmers and Merchants Bank at Reyno. The lock on the front of the door had been tampered with, police said. The bank at Reyno has been the target of two successful daylight holdups and a night time break-in the last three years.
The recently constructed nine room clinic building occupied by Jack Q. Cash is now open on South Second and Olive Streets one block north of the court square, with the most modern equipment and fixtures available. Mrs. Leon Foster has been employed as office nurse.
A dynamite cap explosion caused the loss of three fingers on the left hand of nine year old Robert Pounds and multiple lacerations about his body and that of his two and one-half year old sister, Dorothy Fay, who was standing nearby. The accident occurred in the front yard of the home of Mrs. Susie Lex near the north end of Corning Lake. The two children were exploding toy pistol caps on a piece of iron just before the explosion.
A Missouri Agriculture Department road block was set up Monday at the Mo-Ark state line on US 67 for boll weevil infested cotton souvenirs. All passenger cars are being stopped at the north end of Shelton Oil Company Station to determine if cotton samples they may have are boll weevil infested.
Mrs. Frank Johnson has been chosen "Woman of the Week" by the Corning Business and Professional Women's Club.
Effective October 21, 1955, the Arkansas Highway Department bridge an Highway 62 and the Missouri Pacific bridge, both crossing Black River, will need not be opened for passage of vessels. This ruling was published in the Federal Register September 21, 1955. Both bridges were constructed to be turned for Black River traffic in years past when larger boats were in use. In recent years the only occasion for turning the bridges was for federal snag boats, the last occasion being about six years ago.

1956
L. F. Cochran, owner of the Cochran's Super Market, was selected to be president of the Corning YMCC for 1956, succeeding Winfred D. Polk.
Mrs. Norma Weir, local housewife and mother of two small children, was seriously injured when her 1951 Ford sedan overturned on the gravel road in front of the Bunny King farm home three miles northeast of Corning about 1:30 last Saturday afternoon.
One of Corning's oldest large residences, the home of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Black, was almost destroyed by fire abut two o'clock Tuesday morning. The property is owned by Mr. and Mrs. John Oprishko of Chicago and was unoccupied at the time. The original house was built by Mr. and Mrs. Black about 1910 and later remodeled by them to make it one of the finest residences in Corning. It remained in the Black family until about three years ago when C. R. Black, Jr., sold it to Mr. and Mrs. John Oprishko. The house had 11 rooms and three baths, full basement and carport. 
James C. Jimerson, 18 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. George A. Jimerson of Corning, recently became the first Corning Boy Scout to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, highest rank in Scout advancement.
Corning will become a seventh-class city sometime next month providing plans the city council has been working on the past five years don't go amiss.
Two Corning business houses were victims of another visit by safe bursting burglars early Monday morning, possibly between three and five o'clock. They were the Morgan Pharmacy and the Ben Franklin Store.
Richard Ermert, unopposed candidate for member of the Corning District Eight School Board, was elected Saturday without an opposing vote.
In an early Sunday morning raid on a farm house southeast of Corning on Corning Lake, Clay and Butler County officers took Leroy Sandage, 21, former Poplar Bluffian, in custody on charges of shooting two St. Louis policemen in a holdup there Friday morning. He was arrested with his wife, Virginia Ruth Sandage, 17, by Deputy Sheriff Willard Cobb of Clay County, night police officer J. A. Julian of Corning, and Trooper Howard L. Rhodes and Sheriff Bill Brent of Butler County, at the home of Mrs. Gertrude Schneider across the Corning Lake on the former Bracken farm.
The Corning Research Hospital, nationally known cancer clinic, which was operated here prior to 1954 by Dr. J. S. Schirmer, will be offered at public auction for payment of delinquent Internal Revenue taxes. Sale will be held on the premises Thursday, March 29, 1956, at 4 p.m.
William Anthony Laux, 77, retired Illinois Central Railroad employee was fatally injured when struck by a car on US Highway 67 North near the John Ermert home, Friday evening, about seven o'clock. He lived in the Arnold Addition.
The Internal Revenue Service public auction of the Corning Research Hospital last Thursday did not effect a sale of the property, however, a group of 17 Corning businessmen made a bid for Internal Revenue Collector Gus Fulk, Jr., of Little Rock, to submit to the regional office there.
A new residential building development looks promising in the new Mills Addition at the south end of West Fourth and Fifth Streets with 20 lots sold in recent months by Gus Mills. Purchasers were Perry and Lowell Poyner, six lots; Aubrey Brown, three; Lester Neely, four; Earl Riggs, two; Cecil and Hovie Eaton, three and Bryan McCallen, two.
Construction. work on a new 90 by 35 foot Community Building, across Second Street from the northeast corner of the Court square has started. The building, which is being built by Corning Masonic Lodge, will be of block and brick construction, will have a brick front, plaster walls, concrete with tile floor, white, fireproof composition shingle roof and will be equipped with the newest type year-around air conditioning and heating plant and two rest rooms. L. F. Cochran, chairman of the building committee, said the committee has $9,000 in cash and pledges and that the building will be ready for occupancy by July 1. A. W. Ahrent is in charge of construction.
Charles T. Bloodworth an attorney for more than 50 years, died at Poplar Bluff Hospital Friday night of a heart attack. He spent his childhood in Thayer and Doniphan, later taught school in northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri. He was postmaster at Corning for a time and was prosecuting attorney for Butler County, Missouri, for a time. He was publisher of the Clay County Republican newspaper here for several years, was a delegate to two Republican conventions, received a citation from President Theodore Roosevelt for supporting his presidential campaign and was attorney for the Missouri Pacific for 40 years. He was a Spanish-American War veteran and member of the Poplar Bluff First Methodist Church. 
Funeral services were held last Wednesday at Cabool, Mo., for Sterling Price Lindsey, age 78, former Corning banker, and president of the Cabool State Bank. He came to Corning with his parents and all family possessions in three covered wagons in the fall of 1886. The elder Mr. Lindsey and four of his sons, including Sterling Price, successfully operated a stave mill here. At the age of 15 the deceased began his career, working as porter at the old Iron Mountain Railroad station here. His first job in banking came when the late W. D. Polk employed him as bookkeeper. He became assistant cashier four years later and soon became cashier of the Bank of Corning. His next position was to take charge of a small bank at Naylor. His next position was to head the First National Bank here of which he soon had controlling interest and was elected vice president. In 1929, after the bank was consolidated with the Bank of Corning, he moved to Missouri and in 1934 purchased controlling interest of the Cabool State Bank, assuming the presidency. He became a member of the Corning Christian Church in 1897, and served as superintendent of the Bible School 25 years and was Men's Bible School teacher at Cabool Christian Church the past 20 years.
The Corning Research Hospital was sold for delinquent taxes by the Internal Revenue Service here last Thursday to M. B. Ainley. Gus Fulk, Jr., collector, opened the public sale at one o'clock announcing that the lowest bid acceptable would be $4,000. Ainley was the only bidder. The hospital property consists of one city block, four buildings and foundation for a fifth structure. The old building, which originally housed the Corning Hospital, later operated as the Corning Research Hospital for cancer treatment by Dr. Jacob Sass Schirmer, has 11 rooms on the second floor and ten rooms on the ground floor. Adjoining the old building is a modern well-constructed wing of some 30 rooms, most with connecting baths, which Dr. Schirmer had built before he closed the hospital and moved the equipment and staff to Atlanta two years ago.
The Reverend George H. Hink has accepted the unanimous call to be pastor of the First Baptist Church, Corning. He plans to be in field on June 1 and to preach his first sermon as pastor on June 3.
Dr. Joseph Sain, graduate of the University of Tennessee Dental School and recently separated from his tour of duty with the US military services, plans to move here June 14 and set up his dental office in the State Theatre building.
The first test well on the O. L. Woods' tract in section four, on what is known as the Big-T Road near the Ark-Mo. state line, is now being drilled by Ark-Mo Development Co., a local corporation organized by local persons, to explore for and determine if there is any oil in the area of Corning.
Harry Eugene Lee, 17, son of Mrs. Emil Fear of Datto, died while swimming at 1:30 Sunday afternoon at Current River Beach.
The Corning Bank will observe its 25th anniversary this year and in order to celebrate this occasion, the Bank has purchased and erected a beautiful new chime clock, which chimes the quarter hours and strikes the hours. The clock is an anniversary gift to the people of this community from the bank to show their appreciation.
Funeral services for Loren Russ were held June 29 on the lawn of his home in the shade of trees that he planted in his early youth. The beautiful chimes on the Methodist Church two blocks away played familiar hymns, while songbirds created an atmosphere of joy rather than sorrow, which is exactly the way he would have wanted it. He was born in Hannibal, Mo., January 30, 1885 and came to Corning after his father, Albert, a hardware merchant, died in 1901.
Mr. and Mrs. James O. Craig have moved here from Trumann. He is the new high school principal. Mrs. Craig will teach in the third grade.
Sam L. Manatt, Sr. was elected president of the Corning Chamber of Commerce and Brooks Sheeks, vice president, at a meeting of the board of directors, Wednesday morning.
William Schliep, 21 year old employee of Black Hardwood Yard here since February, died Saturday night shortly after his car collided head on into a car driven by Charles Rathenberger of Alexandria, La. The accident occurred about midnight as Schliep was driving his car south on Highway 67 about four miles north of Corning. Danny Bennett, 17, a passenger in the car suffered a broken right ankle, head injury and body bruises. 
One of Corning's landmarks, the Latimer building on West Second Street, is now being razed. Built in 1898 by a Mr. Potter of Piggott, it housed one of Corning's early drug stores. It was of brick structure, and like many buildings of that era, it was 45 feet high with 13 inch solid brick walls and yellow cypress and floor joists. Instead of steel, ceiling joists were 26 feet long, cut from first-growth yellow cypress which long since has vanished from this part of the country. Flooring of the old Latimer Building was also of yellow cypress. Bricks were made at a kiln located in south Corning at that time, and mortar was made from Black River sand and lime. The building was occupied for a number of years by Potter's Drug Store. The stock and fixtures were later purchased by R. E. L. Brown, Corning druggist for about a half century. Mr. Brown moved the drug store stock and fixtures to the corner of Hop Alley and Second Street, the building now occupied by the Family Shoe Store. After the drugstore was moved, the building was used for storage space, except for a time when the lower floor was occupied by the Corning Times which was consolidated with the Clay County Courier. The second floor was used as a lodge hall for about 30 years. Dr. N. J. Latimer bought the building in 1909, after he set up practice in the building for some 60 years, until his death last year. Bricks from the above building are being salvaged by Sylvester Walls who bought the structure from the Latimer estate. They will be used for construction of an "old brick" house for Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Manatt on Columbia Street and another structure, Walls said.
Melvin Yamnitz took charge of the local IGA market today, having recently purchased the stock and fixtures from Norace Adams and George Rahm.
Charles Fauver Ainley, Corning, is one of 126 students at University of Tennessee Medical Units in Memphis, who was graduated at commencement exercises on Monday, September 24. The son of Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Ainley, he received a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. 
Members of the Business and Professional Women's Club chose Miss Birdie Sullins as their "Woman of the Week" at a dinner in her honor at the Town House last Thursday evening.
Loss from fire which destroyed the Datto Co-op Gin Sunday afternoon was estimated at well over $40,000. Corning and Pocahontas fire departments answered an alarm, however, it was too late to save the main building.
Jerry Ray Guthrie, seven year old child, was fatally hurt Saturday when he fell from a mule and was perhaps struck by the mule's hoof. The child, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Guthrie, was riding with an older brother, who was on another horse, when he fell from the animal.
Roy and Everett Thomas, owners of the Thomas Brothers Hardware and Farm Supply store here, have purchased the brick building on the corner of West Second and Highway 62 from Mrs. Ann Hutchins.
Lonnie Ralph Ballard, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Ballard, city, died instantly last Thursday afternoon after being struck by a truck on Highway 67 in north Corning. Lonnie, a ninth grader, enroute home from school, ran in front of a truck driven by Harry Belyew, Jr., of Landmark community, as he attempted to cross the busy highway to reach his father's auto repair shop. Lonnie was seriously injured about five years ago when he was struck by a car at almost the exact place on the highway. 
Champ Clark was appointed municipal Judge by the city council at a meeting, Monday night. He succeeds W. M. Wisdom, who died while in office.
William J. Maddox, local letter carrier, retired from active duty Friday, November 30, after completing 30 years of continuous service in Corning and except for three illnesses, he has remained on the job ever since. Maddox saw the postal service grow from a village with two trips over the route daily into the town as it now exists with three carriers making deliveries daily. He has worked under four postmasters, namely George Stanfield, Luicille Stanfield (acting), J. H. Magee and Earl Polk.
Alvey G. Nance, well known Corning businessman, for over a half century, died at his home on West Third Street early Thursday, December 20. He was one of Corning's early meat market owners, operating his own business establishments for many years. In later years, before ill health forced his retirement, he operated a food store on First Street and helped other merchants operate their markets. He came to Corning at the age of 12.

1957
Members of the Chamber of Commerce were unanimous in a move to investigate and seek installation of a radio station for the Corning trade area, Monday night. Sam L. Manatt, president of the Chamber of Commerce, headed the discussion concerning the proposed station. 
Woodrow Edington, Route Two farm operator, is the new deputy tax assessor for the Western District.
Edna Kay Burch, 11, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Burch, was killed accidentally instantly Sunday from a bullet of a rifle held by her 16 year old brother, Robert. The boy had received the .22 pump rifle recently and had been out shooting it Sunday morning. He returned to the family home at Current View community and was ejecting shells from the gun when it accidentally discharged. The girl was in another room. The bullet passed through a door and struck the girl just under the left eyebrow.
The Reverend Curtis K. McClain will arrive in Corning with his family Tuesday, January 29, to begin his pastorate of the First Baptist Church, Corning.
Steel construction work on the new 719 ½ foot steel and reinforced concrete bridge over Black River east of Corning on Highway 62 was recently completed with the final heavy steel suspension girder placed in the center section of the bridge.
A clock thought to be well over 300 years old, with all working parts handmade of wood, is creating a great deal of interest at the Johnson Jewelry Store. It is the property of Porter Sells, whose great-grandfather brought it to America from Germany. The ancient timepiece was all hand-carved, including all the intricate gears, cogs, etc. which show little or no apparent wear, due to type of wood used, accuracy of carving and consistent use of heated wax to lubricate the parts. Sells, who is 75, said the clock has been in his family for five generations. As handed down to him, information relates that his great-grandfather brought the clock with his household possessions. when he joined a colony of 300 German and Irish immigrant families who pioneered their way by oxen-driven wagon train from the Virginias to Kentucky before the state was admitted to the Union in 1792. The colony broke up in Kentucky and the Sells family proceeded with others to Tennessee where they settled, and where Porter Sells' grandfather, Thomas, was born, one of ten children of the elder Sells who never learned to speak English. Port Sells now rents his farm and resides south of Corning near the lake trestle.
Mrs. Opal Keller, 36 year old wife of Thurman A. Keller, farmer residing on Route Two, Corning, died at Doctors Hospital, Poplar Bluff, Monday morning from burns suffered in a flash fire at her home Sunday afternoon. She was burned in a flash fire which followed an explosion of tractor fuel oil which she poured over live coals in a stove at the family home near Hickoria.
Mrs. Ada Pritchard, who was 85 on her last birthday, November 26, has the distinction of being Corning's oldest businesswoman. Mrs. Pritchard remembers Corning when it was so full of ponds that foot bridges were built to get from one section to the other in town, and boys skated on a pond in front of the present high school building. Third Street was then the last street west. She came to Corning with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Adams, from McClain County, Kentucky, in 1880 and settled in Heelstring community. There were no roads, just trails at this time, and they were sticky gumbo mud except on the ridges. The Post Oak road between Corning and Richwoods was later planked, but as time passed it wore out and there was mud again. When she first moved to Corning there were no schools between here and Reyno. The country was covered with white oak, red oak, red gum and black walnut trees. She remembers when a large walnut tree was cut and loaded onto a flat car to be taken to the World's Fair in St. Louis. School districts were later formed in Richwoods, Woodall and Moark communities, she said, and a large rough box church stood at Richwoods, pastored by a pioneer Methodist preacher named Phipps. In 1891 she married Dr. R. Pritchard, a practicing physician here, in a ceremony performed on June 17 in the Corning Methodist Church, then a frame building by the Rev. DeJalma Leake.
Arthur Murphy, age 62, Black River fisherman, who resides in his cabin just south of the Missouri Pacific bridge three miles south of Corning, was reported fighting for his life in a St. Louis Veterans Hospital, Wednesday, as a result of a gunshot wound he received early Sunday night while sitting in his cabin. He was shot under mysterious circumstances which officers in their investigation have found no definite leads. He was seated at his dining table eating a fish sandwich at seven Sunday night when someone fired a bullet through a rear window. The bullet entered his back near the left shoulder, passed through his chest just above the heart, and lodged under the skin near his windpipe. No motive for the attempt to kill Murphy has been advanced other than robbery. He recently sold about 25 acres of river front land where he lives to Ralph Mitchell of Paragould and deposited $400 in the Corning Bank about two weeks ago, after making the sale.
The St. Matthew's Lutheran Church congregation has purchased the 50 by 150 foot vacant lots on US Highway 67, north of Sprague Field, for the future site of a new, modern church building. The property was sold by H. M. Day.
Floodwaters from the Current and Black Rivers, east and west of Corning, have caused untold damage the past ten days since both rivers reached highest overflow stages since 1947. Success was practically isolated. The only contact with the outside world was one mail truck daily, which had to be pulled through floodwaters two days to reach the community 12 miles west of Corning.
The Corning Junior Chamber of Commerce, recently organized, will meet at the school cafeteria, Friday night, to adopt constitution and by-laws. Thirty four members joined at the first meeting with about 45 more potential members here. Officers are R. D. Shelton, Jr., first vice president; Eddie Poe Crafton, treasurer; Dr. Jack Cash, president; Gerald G. Morgan, board member; M. B. Ainley, Jr., board member and Sam Manatt, Jr., board member.
Mrs. Mary E. Keller, wife of L. K. Keller of Hickoria, died Monday morning at Doctors Hospital, Poplar Bluff, from burns received while burning trash at her home earlier that morning.
P. A. Fitzgerald, familiarly known here as "Grandpa" celebrated his 91st birth anniversary Monday, April 15, by pursuing his favorite pastime, that of working at his newsstand in the Morgan Pharmacy.
The Chamber of Commerce met Monday to authorize the deeding of the new addition of Corning Cemetery to the City of Corning. The property is being transferred by C. R. Black, who financed and supervised the new addition in the north end of the Cemetery.
Fifty-six graduate from Corning High School: Jimmie Bartlett, Darlene Goodman, Harold Crawley, Maxine Onstead, Jane Goodman, Ben Baker, Glenna Hawkins, Donald McFann, Shirley Phelan, Danny Bennett, Betty Jean Herring, Phillip Selig, Nancy Wisdom. Wilma Smith, Jimmie Ermert, Catherine Holt, Letha Wiedeman. Jerry Berry, Patsy Smith, Harold Bauschlicher, Jerry Ermert, June Ward, Helen Crawley, David Blackburn, Darla Jean Glass, John Briney, Jr., Celestial Jackson, Anita Roberts, Betty Ruth Catt, Mack Laughlin, Gwendylene Bartlett, Farris Ward, Carolyn Watson, Grant Robertson, Phyllis Cavenar, Marilyn Ahrent, Thelma Prince, Richard Shepard, Jo Ann Leonard, Don Wilson, Harold Wales, Ladoin Johnson, Ruth Harpole, Doris Roach, Louise Guthrey, Loretta Jackson, Sandra Bowers, Dana Sue Rhodes, Rebecca Phelan, Barbara Jean Pierce, Caroline Moore, Patricia Ennis, Donna Moore, John Sherman, Vessie Lee Brooks, Virgil Shepard, Imogene Cochran, Frank Dodge and Donald Hubbard.
The first car to cross over the new US 62 Black River bridge after it was officially opened to traffic last Thursday was driven by Cecil Eaton.
Napolian B. Conway, age 76, drowned in Black River, Friday afternoon, May 17, when he accidentally ran his car into the river. Conway, who operated a store and fishing camp on the river had been sitting in his car, and the accident occurred as he was moving the car out of the sun.
L. F. Cochran completed a transaction which changed ownership of the 40 by 75 foot building housing the Cochran's Super Market to F. E. Belford of Reyno. Cochran did not sell the stock and fixtures but has leased the building from Belford. He purchased the business location in 1947 from the late W. M. Fowler.
The average daily attendance in the Corning School District was 1,467 during the past school year. This is an increase of 46 students over the 1955-56 year.
The city council has adopted a resolution whereby property owners may now have streets running in front of their property paved with asphalt at a low cost of $100 per 300 foot block.
The Corning Jaycees met at the Clay County Electric Co-op general office building Tuesday night and passed on plans to clear off and provide a picnic area at the lower end of Corning Lake for public use, H. J. Pillow, Jr., in charge of publicity, said. E. Button has agreed to lease the land without charge, and the Jaycees will clean up the land, construct a boat dock, permanent concrete picnic tables, trash receptacles and other improvements to provide a suitable lake front picnic area with ample shade trees.
Carl T. Walker, former principal of the Corning High School, will return to the local school this year to again serve as principal, a position he held from 1949 until 1956.
Local barbers are raising prices of haircuts from 75 cents to $1, effective Thursday morning of this week. 
The Board of Directors of the Corning Chamber of Commerce met last Friday, electing John Allan Magee, president and Buel Smith, vice president, of the Chamber for the ensuing year.
Two young men dressed in similar jackets and caps held up the Jo-Jo filling station at 3:30 Monday morning, robbing the attendant Leroy Thomas of $114 and after forcing a juke box and soft drink machine, emptied the tills of an estimated $30 to $50. They overlooked several rolls of silver coins in one of the machines, Roy C. Barnhill, owner, said.
The Rhea Hotel and real estate, located on West First Street here, was recently sold to A. L. Drilling by the former owner Mrs. C. E. Rhea. Drilling said he plans to tear down the building in the near future. His plans for building on the site are indefinite, he said. The Rhea Hotel is one of Corning's oldest business structures, which formerly was located on East First Street north of the Sam Neill concrete building. It was originally operated as a hotel by the late Joe Carter and was built by D. N. Thomas, early Corning building contractor, about 90 years ago. The building was brought by C. E. Rhea and moved to its present location about 32 years ago.
The Northeast Arkansas Livestock Marketing Association's first annual feeder calf sale will be held September 16 this year in its own new facilities which are under construction four miles southeast of Corning on Highway 135.
The DX Oil Company's agency here was sold Monday to Mr. and Mrs. Luther M. Burpo of Cache Lake community. Former owners and operators were Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Hester.
Members of the Business and Professional Women's Club have named Mrs. Tula H. Mahan as their "Women of the Week".
Mrs. Myrtle Snider, teacher in Corning Elementary School, has recently sold her first novel, "Miss Myrtle Was Paid," to the Comet Press Publishing Co. of New York. The book is to be released in November.
The Knobel Milling Company was burglarized last Wednesday night when thieves knocked the combination off the company's safe to get only $55 in change.
Aubrey Arnold suffered a compound fracture of the left leg, below the knee, when a bean cleaner tank loaded with beans fell on him at the Corning Co-op Gin last Saturday afternoon.
Construction work of renovating the courthouse steeple is underway here with workmen now replacing old woodwork, shutters, tuck pointing the brick walls and other necessary repairs, on orders from County Judge Frank Carpenter. A 60-foot scaffold is being used by workmen on the job.
The heaviest death toll of any highway accident ever to happen here took the lives of six Maywood, Ill., Negroes, six miles west of Corning on US 67 on Thanksgiving Day. The accident occurred near the Grassylead Church at one o'clock Thursday afternoon.
Lowell F. Cochran, Corning business civic and church leader for 17 years, died Thursday, December 12, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis.
Historical Facts About People of West Clay County in 1890 in the April 25, 1957 issue of the Courier. The following is reprinted from one of the few copies still in existence in this area entitled, Biographical and Historical Memoir of Northeast Arkansas, printed in 1889 by the Goodspeed Publishing Company. The book is owned by Jack Hurst of Rector. It contains a wealth of rare information about prominent citizens in northeast Arkansas at that time. The information here is only a token of the voluminous data contained in the book and only about people mentioned in our immediate vicinity. 
"Clay County lies in the northeast corner of the State with a strip of broken or hilly lands, averaging between seven and eight miles in width, known as Crowley's Ridge, extends through the county in a southwesterly direction from its northeast corner. The village of Knobel is 181 [281] feet above sea level, and this is about the, average elevation of all except the hilly portions of the county. The highest point in the county may reach an elevation of 400 feet above the sea. The entire county was originally covered with a dense forest, consisting of several varieties of trees. Some trees of the largest kinds of timber measured four to six feet across the stump. Much of the timber has been cut into logs and floated down the streams and thus shipped away; and since the county has been traversed with railroads, a great deal has been cut into lumber and shipped by rail, and there is yet a seemingly inexhaustible supply. The soil of the entire county is moderately rich and fertile. At present the cutting and shipping of logs and lumber, with the running of many sawmills in the county give employment to a large number of men and forms a source of considerable revenue to the people of the county. Surely, "Cotton is King" in Clay County, as it is the moneyed crop, and the source of the greatest income.
"In 1880 the real estate of the county was assessed at $468,651 and the personal property at $224,717, making a total of $713,278; and the total taxes changed there were $10,022. By 1889 the taxable, property and taxes charged had more than doubled. There are 26 saw mills and eight have factories within the county.
"In 1880 the population of Clay County was, white 7,191, colored 22, total 7,213. Since that time immigration has so increased that the population at this writing (1889) is estimated at about double that of 1880.
"The settlement of the territory composing Clay County began about the year 1832, but increased very slowly for the first 20 years after which it advanced quite rapidly, until the outbreak of the Civil War. Among the first settler in the western part of the county were John J. Griffin, who located on Black River in 1832, and Abraham Roberts, who settled a few years later near the present site of Corning.
"Having lost the county seat, the people of Corning and the western portion of the county, finding it difficult to reach Boydsville, commenced to consider the question of dividing the county into two districts. Consequently the legislature, by an act approved February 23, 1881, provided that the county should be divided into two judicial districts, the east and the west.
"Clay County was organized as Clayton County, in accordance with an act of the General Assembly, approved March 24, 1973. By an act of the General Assembly of the State, approved December 6, 1875, the name of Clayton County was changed to Clay. The county seat was originally located at Corning, on the lot of ground now occupied by the present courthouse in that place. A temporary frame courthouse, 22 by 40 feet, containing two rooms was built. A common jail was also erected; subsequently the question of removal of the county seat to Boydsville, a more central point, began to be agitated, and on the 30th of June, 1874, an election was held for the purpose of submitting the question to the electors of the county. The majority voted for removal and the court declared Boydsville, to be the county seat. However, such strong resistance to this decision was manifested that no permanent removal of records was made for a long time. Finally, after a pause of a few years, the question was again submitted to the people at an election held May 22, 1877, on which occasion the majority again voted in favor of the project and the court again declared Boydsville to be the county seat, to which place the records were soon removed and placed in a temporary courthouse.
"Following is a list of the county officers of Clay County, from its formation to the present time (1889) - Judges: T. M. Holifield, E. M. Royall, Robert Liddell; Clerks, T. L. Martin, W. H. Smith, R. Liddell; Sheriffs, William G. Akers, E. N. Royall, E. M. Allen, J. A. McNeil, B. B. Biffle; Treasurers, William Little, James Blackshare, John Bearden, N. J. Burton, W. S. Blackshare, J. S. Simpson and A. L. Blackshare; Coroners, J. Cunningham, J. J. Payne, J. N. Cummins, H. W. Cagle, Dallas Taylor, D. G. See; Surveyors, W. C. Grimsley, E. M. Allen, Jr., A. J. Caldwell, E. M. Allen, A. Williams; Assessors. E. N. Royall, J. S. Rodgers, W. H. Mack, J. W. Rodgers, Henry Holcomb and J. S. Blackshare.
"Politically the county of Clay, is strongly Democratic. The local bar of Clay County consists of G. B. Holifield, Boydsville; F. G. Taylor, G. B. Oliver and J. C. Staley, Corning; John Jones, Peach Orchard; H. W. Moore, Greenway and J. A. Barlow, Rector.
"Only two men have been legally executed in Clay County for the crime of murder. They were hanged, one in south Corning and one in north Corning. Other crimes have been committed within the county, for which the perpetrators have received lighter punishments.
"The territory over which Clay extends was slightly over run and devastated during the Civil War of 1861-65.
"Of the towns of the county, Corning, the seat of justice for the Western District was established in 1873. It contains the courthouse and jail, six general stores, two drug stores, one grocery, three saloons, one livery stable, four hotels, one stave factory, two cotton gins with grist mills attached, one wagon shop, one blacksmith shop, two shoe shops, three church organizations, Methodist Episcopal, Christian and Baptist, with but one church edifice, belonging to the Methodists, one school house, post office and a population of 600.
"The Corning Index, a six-column folio weekly newspaper, at Corning, was established in the fall of 1887. It is published by Clyde C. Estes and edited by his father, E. D. Estes, in an acceptable manner, indicating ability and force.
"Some of the first settlers of Clay County are as follows: S. W. Alexander, manufacturer and dealer in lumber, railroad ties, wagons, agricultural implements, car material, etc. at Corning; J. H. Allen, farmer and stockman of Clay County; Captain John J. Allen, merchant, sawmill operator; Joshua Bare, farmer and stock raiser of St. Francis Township; W. F. Barnes, undertaker and furniture dealer of Corning; Zachariah T. Bearden, merchant; B. B. Biffle, sheriff of Clay County; Sylvanus Bishop, wagon maker, painter and farmer; James Blackshare, farmer; W. S. Blackshare, milling and stave manufacturer; Larry Boshears, planter and stockman; Giles Bowers, carpenter and builder of Boydsville; C. Fred Brobst, the present mayor of Corning; J. W. Brown, farmer.
"William C. Cochran, merchant of Greenway; Robert L. Coleman, proprietor of Piggott Hotel; G. W. Cook, a successful agriculturist and stockman; Joseph Dudgeon, proprietor of the Dudgeon House;. Frederick Ermert, farmer; John M. Gleghorn, farmer; W. T. Griffith, lumber man and postmaster; J. W. Harb, merchant; Marcellus Ketchum, hotel keeper and farmer; John S. Magee, farmer; W. R. Paty, farmer; Dr. Henry C. Redwine, physician; Isaac Reed, blacksmith and wagon maker; B. H. Sellmeyer and Brothers, merchants; A. R. Simpson, M. D., physician and surgeon: J. B. Smith, planter and stockman; C. W. Woodall, planter and stockman; and William Wynn, planter and stock dealer."

1958
The Magee Company, manufacturers of framed pictures, has moved into the Hastings metal quonset building on West Second Street, across from the Corning Co-op Gin.
Corning area residents will have an opportunity to decide whether or not they want a factory with sizable payroll in the near future, as a result of plans presented by the industrial committees of the Corning Chamber of Commerce and Junior Chamber of Commerce at a joint meeting held Monday night.
The Corning Junior and Senior Chambers of Commerce are now seeking pledges for $50,000 to underwrite a factory building for the Corning trade area. If you are interested and desire to contribute to the factory fund proposed to employ some 200 persons at annual pay roll of approximately $400,000 please contact the Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, Corning.
The Federal Communications Commission has received an application for a new radio station at Corning. Eulis W. Cochran of Corning asked permission to operate a station. It would be a daytime station and would broadcast at 1260 kilocycles on a power of 500 watts. A four and one half acres plot at the south end of West Second Street was a recently purchased from Gerald Dudgeon of Detroit by Cochran for the site of the radio station.
Dr. H. W. Morrow, is the new dentist taking over the offices and practices of Dr. Joe Sain. Dr. and Mrs. Sain are moving to Lakeland, Florida, where he will practice dentistry.
At a meeting of the Four Seasons Garden Club Thursday, Mrs. Charles Cox, chairman of the committee to place a wrought iron arch over the entrance to Corning Cemetery, announced that the total amount of money needed, $547.50, had been raised.
The city paved some 35 and three-fourths blocks last summer with some extra construction work on street sides, according to Mayor Frank Johnson.
At a special called meeting the city council approved purchase of two lots on Main Street between West First and Second Streets, between Oliver and Co. and King's Radio and TV Shop, from L. U. King. The property, 100 by 150 feet, facing Main Street, will be used in the near future for the construction of a modern city hall building, Mayor Frank Johnson said.
A new motor driven rotary sewer cleaning machine has been purchased by the City of Corning at a cost of $1,400. The machine will remove roots as well as clean out sludge and other objects from the sewers, some as old as 30 years, which have been operating about 50 percent of capacity, causing stoppages in the lines and causing backups in some homes in some sections of the city.
Donald Joe Herren, age 24, was killed instantly early Tuesday morning when he apparently jumped off Mo-Pac Mail Train No. 37. His body was found two hours later, lying some 300 feet north of the railroad station by Olen Richardson, driver for Gulf Oil Company as he was reporting for work.
Work was started Tuesday on a new Cash Clinic and Morgan Pharmacy Building on the corner of West Second and Pine Streets, across from the Clay County Cotton Company building. It will be in two units; one will be a 32 by 72 foot structure that will house the offices of Dr. Jack Q. Cash, with adjoining rooms for complete laboratory and x-ray facilities, delivery rooms, waiting room, rest rooms and four examination rooms. The ten-room section will face West on Second Street. The Morgan Pharmacy will occupy the pharmacy building which will be constructed on the corner of West Second and Pine, with entrance on the northwest corner. It will be 40 by 40 feet in size. The two buildings being built by Dr. Cash and Gerald Morgan will be modern in every respect. J. D. Taylor is the building contractor. 
Sam B. Neill, age 85, retired businessman, died at his home in east Corning Saturday night. He was one of Corning's early business leaders, operating several businesses during his active years. He came to Corning to attend school. Later he worked at the long extinct Ferguson Wheeler Store for many years, then was a partner in the grocery business here before becoming a traveling salesman for the Scudder Gale Grocery Co., St. Louis, Woodard Hardware Co., Cairo, and Gilderwood and Hasser Hardware Co., St. Louis. He operated his own wholesale grocery business here for five years before retiring. He was one of Corning's first street lamplighters before the turn of the century, when he carried a six foot ladder and five gallon can of oil to light Corning's scattered 24 oil street lamps.
The Crystal Drug Store, one of Corning's oldest business establishments, was sold by the Loren Russ estate last week to Loren Garland, operator of the drug store. It was originally operated well over a half century ago as Staley's Drug Store and has since been operated as a drug store by P. L. Oliver, T. G. Bridges and the present owner, Loren Garland.
The two story concrete block building housing the Rhea Rooming House, on West Second Street, has been sold to Mr. and Mrs. Eulis Cochran.
Construction work was started Wednesday morning on a 35.6 by 47.10 foot brick building to house the offices of Dr. Reginald Smith and Dr. R. E. Smith, father and son physicians. The new building to face south on Elm Street, next to the Crystal Drug Store, will have two separate partitions of offices.
Funeral services were held Saturday for Jonathan Michael Rhea, age 86, who died Wednesday, March 23. He was owner and operator of the Rhea Hardware here from 1906 until 1946 when he retired. A member of the Christian Church here for over 50 years, he served as official board member and treasurer. He was also a member of the Masonic and Oddfellow Lodges. He was a son of Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan Michael Rhea, early settlers in Maynard, where Dr. Rhea was a practicing physician. After the death of his father, Mr. Rhea moved to Corning at the age of 13. Working as a clerk in the Oliver and Company store here for many years, he entered the harness business after the death of his father in law, D. W. Vickery, a pioneer harness maker and dealer here.
The city water tank is now undergoing a thorough reconditioning, repairing and repainting. The entire tank, inside and outside, is being renovated, with the Dixie Tank and Tower Company workmen, of Memphis, doing the work. All seams which were riveted in the 30 year old tank are being electric welded which the tank company estimates will repair the tank to condition that will compare with a new one. It is estimated that further repairs will not be necessary for 30 years.
James H. (Doc) Bolen, Gobler, Mo., was sentenced to ten years in the state penitentiary during a continued term of Clay County Circuit Court here Tuesday. Bolen was taken into custody last November while driving here to Corning with stolen firearms and other merchandise in his possession.
Acreage for cucumber production will be signed up with local farmers Saturday, April 26, by the Corning Junior Chamber of Commerce, with the goal of 150 acres to be planted on or about May 10. S. Stahl of Springfield, Mo., who originally planned to move his pickle plant here this spring but was unable to close out his business and property holdings there in time, will buy the complete acreage at prices originally contracted, or $1.50 per bushel for cucumbers ranging in size from three-fourths inch to one and three-fourths inches in diameter. Stahl plans to move his plant here as soon as he can sell his holdings at Springfield.
A record attendance of 65 were present at the Monday night meeting of the Junior Chamber of Commerce when final plans were completed for the Teenage Road-E-O. Members of the Jaycees voted Leon Foster, manager of the Corning Rice Drying Co-op, as Jaycee of the Year in Corning.
One's hobby rarely turns into a profitable source of income for the family, but the John Allen Magee family's hobby of picture framing has done just that. The Magees became interested in framing some prints for their own home five years ago, and the venture was so successful and interesting that they decided to frame pictures for display in the Magee Furniture Store. The prints were framed and finished by hand which was a slow and tedious process, turning out about two dozen per week. The venture at first was a hobby to John Allen and Rachel Magee. The business has grown until today it can be classified as a growing industry with outlets in practically all of the 48 states.
Mrs. Tom Dodd died Wednesday morning of third degree burns received last Thursday morning when her clothing caught fire from a lighted burner of a gas range while cooking at her home on West Third Street.
A DeMolay Chapter will be organized here Saturday afternoon with approximately 20 Corning boys being initiated into the DeMolay order. Officers will be installed and temporary charter issued for the local chapter during the afternoon ceremony.
Candidates for graduation at C.H.S.: Jimmy Arnold, Charles Black, Joe Keith Bridgeforth, Floyd Buffington, Don Brewer, Eugene Cavitt, Alvidean Clarkson, Marvin Cobb, Willis Coleman, Bill Couch, Bob Davis, John Ed Ennis, Donny Forrest, Buddy Guthrey, Norman Handwork, Danny King, Jimmy Kirby, Aubrey E. Mansker, Jr., Darrel Parrish, Charles Phillips, Tommy Pond, Reuben Reed, Richard Robinson, Jimmy Talkington, Louie Walls, Jerry Williams, Kenneth Paul Willis, Kippy Woods, Sharon Bellah, Peggy Jean Besson, Genendal Bolen, Betty Boyer, Ida Mae Brownfield, Jane Burton, Amelia Byars, Berdie Jean Cato, Kay Frances Cochran, Judy Huddleston, Vauntila James, Marcia Johnson, Mary Julian, Linda Kimes, Joyce long, Wilma Lunsford, Bettye Mason, Joyce Mitchell, Janet Morrison, Sharon Ruff, Willie Sheeks, Winnie Sheeks, Carolyn Smith, Nina Lee Smith, Norma Thomas, Shirley Thomas, Lolita Tyler, Nancie Wright.
Mrs. J. W. Baynham recently sold the Corning Novelty Company building, where she manufactured pool tables for a number of years, to the J. W. Black Lumber Co. Mrs. Baynham is retiring from business after 40 years, on account of failing health. 
Polk Chevrolet Company has been officially appointed Pontiac dealers for Clay County.
Scottie Manatt, 14, is the second Corning Boy Scout to receive the Eagle award. The ceremony was held after a dinner in Scottie's honor held by the Troop 10 committee at the Towne House.
Announcement is made that Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Johnson of Middlebrook have sold their extensive farming interests, 1,200 acres located near Middlebrook and 880 acres near Poynor, Mo., to Dr. R. L. Wood of Corning. The sale included the purchase of about 250 head of purebred Hereford cattle and 50 registered Hampshire hogs.
Miss Zerna Marie Blackburn, 17, was named Miss Independence Day at the homecoming celebration on July 4th. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Blackburn.
Dr. R. L. Wood, retired physician and member of the American Medical Association, has become one of the largest land owner-farm operators in northeast Arkansas. Dr. Wood had acquired farm and timber land totaling 6,526 acres as of June 1, 1958, value estimated at more than $750,000. Dr. Wood retired due to ill health in 1950, moved here with his wife in 1955 and started buying land shortly after his arrival. Dr. Wood's holdings in west and north Randolph Counties to date are 40 acres of cleared land bought from W. H. Foster; 30 acres adjacent to the Brownfiel farm bought from Freda Belford; 300 acres purchased in 1956 from J. H. Foster southwest of Corning now in rice and beans; 80 acres southwest of Corning in 1956, mostly in woods; 503 acres bought from Joe Kieser, east of Neelyville, which is uncleared; 784 acres from Walter Adams, Knobel and 48 acres from Gladys Cooper, Knobel, in 1955, which is predominately in rice with small allotment for cotton; 565 acres on the Wild Hog Road southeast of Corning from C. R. Fortenberry in 1956 which is in rice and beans; 890 acres bought from J. Gallegly, in rice beans and cotton; 1,101 acres of rice and beans with small cotton allotment bought from Walter Hastings in 1955.
Dr. and Mrs. B. C. Page and son, William, have moved to 307 West Fourth Street and he is now associated with Dr. Jack Cash in the Cash Clinic here. Dr. Page is a graduate of the U. of A. Medical School. He interned at the University Hospital in Little Rock and has been practicing medicine the past three years at Bauxite.
The announcement is made of an agreement between the Corning School Board and the Board of Stewards of the First Methodist Church for the use of two class rooms by the high school during this coming year. The high school plant is no longer adequate to house the rapidly increasing enrollment in the upper six grades of the school. One more additional classroom outside the campus, other than the two at the Methodist Church, may be necessary, according to M. D. Forrest, superintendent. If this is true, there is a possibility that a room over the bank may be used.
The Cash Clinic is now located in its newly constructed pink Roman brick building located on West Second Streets, one block north of the former location.
Dr. Ray Stith is the new optician in Corning. He has offices in the former location of Dr. Luther Petty in the Scrivner Building on West Second Street.
Double funeral services were held at the Moark Baptist Church Sunday afternoon for Clifford Otto Dunn, age 51, and his wife, Minnie Lee Dunn, also 51. They were killed last Thursday morning when their car was hit by another car driven north by L. J. Spearman, 22 year old Negro of Milwaukee, who received only minor injuries.
Five hundred and 47 men and women between the ages of 18 and 40 registered for employment here last Thursday and Friday when the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored registration day was held in the move for industry in Corning. Representatives of a shoe factory, tentatively planning to locate in Corning, were on hand to interview the applicants and give sampling IQ tests to two out of every five of those registering. The five factory representatives who gave the tests and registered the applicants said the tests were above average.
The first baby born at the new Cash Clinic here was Charles Richard Beck, seven and one-half pound son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Beck of Rockford, Ill., born at noon Wednesday, August 27, 1958. Dr. B. C. Page was the attending physician.
O. L. Woods was reelected president of the Board of Directors of the Corning Grain Dryers Association here Monday. He is one of the original organizers of the $530,000 plant constructed here four years ago.
Work should be completed on a Clay County Highway 62, east of Corning, project within the next ten days. The project begins approximately one and one-half miles east of Corning and extends approximately 1.799 miles easterly across the Black River partially on the new location of Highway 62 to the Junction of Highway 135.
Details for the location of a shoe factory in Corning have not been completed. However, the Corning Industrial Development Commission is working with shoe plant officials and details are expected to be completed within a few days. Members of the Corning Industrial Development Committee are: Sam Manatt, president; J. E. Ballenger, secretary; Jim Richardson, vice president. Board of directors are O. L. Woods, Leon Foster, Buel Smith and Bryan McCallen.
Lonnie Smith is the new minister of the Corning Church of Christ, following Boyd Morgan who recently resigned to take the ministry of the Kennett Church of Christ.
Miss Edith Bennett has been named "Woman of the Year" by the Corning Business and Professional Women's Club.
M. D. Forrest is the new president of the Corning Chamber of Commerce, succeeding John A. Magee.
Two weeks of intensive work has brought our factory fund drive committee to within approximately 80 percent of our goal. We began the fund raising campaign with the full realization that the last ten thousand dollars would be the most difficult to come by. Practically all of the larger donors have come through, and now we must look to the small contributions to reach the goal. We need to wind up our drive in ten days if at all possible. You who have not yet contributed, please give us a boost on this last ten thousand. We want to be in a position just as soon as possible to report to the company that we are "ready to go." 
Dr. R. L. Wood bought the Foster Welding and Blacksmith Shop from Gerald Foster. He plans to construct a concrete and steel building on the comer of a ten acre plot, north of the Harold Implement Co. on US Highway 67 North, he recently purchased from L. A. Scrivner.
Mack Blackwood and B. D. Bone, owners of the Blackwood and Bone Hardware and Furniture Store, have bought the 100 by 134 foot lots located on West First Street from A. L. Drilling and will soon start construction of a 70 by 100 foot modern concrete and brick building to house their store.
E. W. Cochran and son, Bob Cochran, have purchased the 50 by 150 foot lot located to the rear of the present location of the Blackwood and Bone Hardware and Furniture Store from Mack Blackwood and B. D. Bone.
D. A. Snider was reelected city marshal for the seventh term in Tuesday's municipal election, receiving 292 votes. His opponent, Joe Julian, received 107 votes. In the only other municipal race, Ed C. Eldracker was reelected city councilmen by a plurality of only four votes over his opponent, W. T. Garland, Jr. The count was, Eldracker, 193 and Garland 189. Other councilmen elected without opposition were Sam Manatt, Jr., Dan T. Lynch and Thomas George. Mayor Frank L. Johnson; city recorder, O. J. Harold and city attorney, Bryan McCallen were reelected without opposition.
Dr. Jacob Sass Schirmer, age 73, died at Atlanta, Ga. Saturday morning where he had operated a clinic for the past four years. Dr. Schirmer operated a hospital in Corning from August 1, 1936 until he moved to Atlanta in 1955.
Sebald Stahl and son, Fred Stahl, of Springfield, Mo., owners of the Springfield Pickle Co., were here Saturday to confer with members of the Corning Jaycee committee in the interest of locating a pickle processing plant in Corning. Sam Manatt, Jr., Jaycee committee chairman, conducted the meeting which was attended by other Jaycee members and local businessmen interested in the proposed plant here.
The Corning Industrial Development Corporation has completed negotiations and signed a contract with the Clayton Shoe Co. of St. Louis for the construction of a modern steel, brick and aluminum building to house the company's factory here. It will be located on the airport property, just west of Wynn Park, purchased from O. L. Woods, and will be 150 feet wide and 200 feet long, to cover 30,000 square feet of floor space, at a cost of $75,000. Brown and Shortlee, building contractors of Newport were the successful low bidders for the general contract. J. D. Taylor, local building contractor, is subcontractor for the concrete work. Other subcontracts are to be let for installation of electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning facilities. At the outset of the operations, the Clayton Company expects to employ some 100 to 150, with 60 percent women and 40 percent men. The plant is being constructed and equipped to employ 300 or more workers, who will be added according to the demands of production. Financing was accomplished by subscriptions from local civic minded citizens in the amount of approximately $85,000, Corning's share in the $150,000 building project. Of this amount $75,000 will be paid for actual construction of building and purchases of real estate and the remaining $10,000 will be used to pay legal service fees, plus expenses incidental to sale of the bonds to provide the balance of construction costs and incidental expenses. The Clayton Company has contracted to retire the bonds in the next 12 years, paying interest at the rate of four and one-half percent. The local industrial committee has contracted to underwrite the remaining rate of interest which is expected to be, about one and one-half percent, depending on the rate obtained in the sale of the outstanding bonds. The Corning committee negotiated the sale of the bonds through the AIDC at Little Rock on Monday of this week.
Only 454 voters turned out for the Corning School District election last Saturday to elect one school board member. Thomas George was reelected for another five year term, receiving 283 votes over his opponent, Charles R. Black, Jr., who received 171 votes.
D. L. Ousnamer received a plaque for 34 years service as Esso Standard wholesale dealer in the Corning area. During that time Ousnamer has seen the industry develop from two refined products - gasoline and kerosene - to three grades of gasoline and kerosene, tractor fuel, diesel fuel and Varsol, a cleaning solvent. Ousnamer started the business in October 1924, when he had to cross Black River on a ferry to get to Knobel, Peach Orchard, Delaplaine, McDougal and Hickoria to serve his customers. He had the first tank truck in the county with a three compartment capacity total of 223 gallons, and 150 gallons of gasoline was a large sale for a service station at that time. In the summer of 1925 and 26 when traveling between Reyno and Biggers, the sand was so deep that his Model T truck with wood frame, no doors and crank starter, would stall and he had to use a large funnel, part of his regular equipment, to scoop the sand from in front of the wheels for sometimes as far as 20 feet. When, Ousnamer started with the company there were no farm tractors in this area; now there are no horses and mules.
Corning grain growers bought stock amounting to approximately $100,000 last Wednesday, to assure the construction, of a $500,000 soybean drying and storage plant here. The move for the 450,000 bushel plant was started here several weeks, ago, spearheaded by the Board of Directors of the Corning Rice Drying Co-op. Location of the new soybean plant will be just south of the Corning Rice Drying Plant here, on the same property owned by the Co-op.

1959
Stephen's Cleaners was sold last week to Gene Hadley by the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Stephens, of Fort Worth, Texas, who operated the business here for many years.
Dr. R. L. Wood, local farm operator and stock raiser, has added to his herds, on the J-J Ranch near Middlebrook, ten head of the famous Santa Gertrudis cattle, which he bought from the Winrock Farms near Morrilton. The nine heifers and one bull, 20 months old, have been placed on the Double J for further increasing the Santa Gertrudis breed which originated in King County, Texas, after some 45 years of experimenting in various crosses of Brahman and Shorthorn cattle.
Paul Johansen, executive vice president of the Johansen Shoe Company, St. Louis, spoke to about 75 members of the Corning Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, wives and guests at an open meeting at the school cafeteria, Monday night. Johansen said that the contractor is waiting for favorable weather conditions to continue construction work on the Clayton Shoe Company building, a branch factory of the Johansen Shoe Company, which will locate here as an Arkansas Corporation.
The Clay County Electric Cooperative Corporation announces the employment of Mrs. Wanda Smithson to work in the capacity as home electrification advisor. Mrs. Smithson was born at Success, graduated from Corning High School and attended Arkansas State College in Jonesboro.
Corning area residents were shocked and saddened by the news of the tragic death of Frank Johnson, age 46, popular and highly respected mayor of Corning since 1950. He died at six o'clock Tuesday morning from accidental gun shot wounds received about 3:45 Sunday afternoon while hunting alone and training a bird dog in a field on the Rhea farm about one mile north of Corning.
The Junior Chamber of Commerce has completed negotiations with an established firm to move its industry to Corning provided enough stock or shares in the business can be sold to enlarge the enterprise and build a suitable building to house the industry. The new industry would produce all types of pickles, pickle relishes and possibly pickled onions, sauerkraut and other products, which would furnish a market for local producers of cucumbers, onions and cabbage. The plan, the committee reported, is to incorporate the enterprise with a capital stock of $200,000 of which amount the present owner would invest $120,000 with the local residents participating in the balance of $80,000. Shares are to be sold at $1 per share with no limit in the amount one person may purchase, except the minimum amount which will be 50 shares. Each investor will own his proportionate share of business and each share owner may expect to receive his part of the profits, based upon his investment or number of shares owned. Of the $80,000 raised locally, by the sale of shares, $50,000 would be spent in the construction of the building. Approximately $11,000 would be spent for new equipment and the balance would go into an operating fund and for the purchase of cucumbers.
H. A. (Red) Smith experienced a close call Saturday afternoon when a tandem truck loaded with furniture squares was hit by a Missouri Pacific freight train at a grade crossing near the Black Lumber Company sawmill. Leaving the mill with 17 ton load of squares to be trucked to Indiana, Smith drove onto the track at the high crossing just ahead of the train which was traveling south. He said he saw the train just before it hit his truck in the middle, or at the fifth wheel. The impact of the train separated the truck and trailer and Smith jumped as the truck was flung onto the right of way on the west side of the track. He, apparently was uninjured. The train was delayed about a half an hour while debris was cleared from the cow catcher.
John Bolen Shaver, age 57, Corning Merchant since 1929, died suddenly Thursday afternoon, January 29, while hunting on the Bartlett farm in Ring community, Route Two, east of Corning. His death was attributed to a heart attack..
Mrs. R. O. Smith, local business woman for the past 15 years, announces her candidacy for the office of Mayor of the City of Corning, subject to the action of the voters in a special election on March 3, 1959.
Over 200 local farmers and businessmen attended a meeting sponsored by the Corning Jaycees in the high school auditorium Tuesday night, for the purpose of obtaining a pickle processing plant to serve this area. The meeting was conducted by Leon Foster, Jaycee president, and Lowell Poyner, industrial development chairman.
Fred Hewett, owner of the H and H Auto Parts at Corning and Pocahontas, announces his candidacy for the office of Mayor of Corning, subject to the special election, March 3. 
Thomas George, local businessman, announces his candidacy for the office of Mayor of Corning, subject to the special election held Tuesday, March 3.
Corning's new radio station, KCCB, went on the air Wednesday morning after receiving the official notice from the Federal Communications Commission the previous day.
Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Smith, Route One, Corning, recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary with friends and relatives at their home five and one-half miles west of Corning. They were married in Corning, January 19, 1896, the marriage license being issued by E. D. Estes, grandfather of the Courier publishers who was deputy county clerk at that time. After their marriage they resided in Richwoods where he worked on a farm for several years. Soon they bought a 40 acre farm where the Grassylead church now stands. A brief history of Mr. Smith, who is familiarly known as "Uncle Bill" relates that he was born at Kewanee, Ill. As a young man, he started to New Orleans, La., and due to an epidemic of small pox which had infested the train on which he was traveling, causing many deaths, he left the train at Corning to avoid catching the disease. After looking the town over, principally a few saloons, stores, rooming houses, hotels and sawmills, he decided to stay and seek his fortune. His first job was on a farm in the Richwoods community. For several years he saved his wages and bought his first land. He served many years as a peace officer in the Western District. His first public office was deputy sheriff, in 1901. That was during the era when lawmen were rather scarce and not too popular with certain type of citizens, and the Ku Klux Klan was active in taking law into its own hands. Uncle Bill encountered many hazardous brushes with hardened and desperate criminals, including murderers. He recalls numerous long and arduous chases. One saucy instance was when he went after a man who had murdered his wife near Bridgeport, a Civil War battleground northeast of what is now Success. The murderer boarded a raft of logs being floated down Current River by the late Joe McCracken, pioneer business man of that locality. He followed along the river on horseback to a point in the wilderness south of Biggers, where he took the criminal at gun point and returned him to the county jail at Corning. Uncle Bill recalls another trying time during his long residency here, when a flu epidemic was raging here in 1918. There were only two men in his community who did not contract the disease and he was one of them. Deaths were so numerous among his neighbors that he and the other man worked day and night making coffins and burying the dead. He bought the farm on which his home is located on Highway 67 west of Corning, in 1915, from Tom Boshears, brother of Larry Boshears, pioneer land owners and businessmen in western Clay County.
Fred Hewett, who filed as a candidate in the mayor's race, withdrew as a candidate last Friday.
The next few days may determine whether or not Corning and communities will get a sizable industry that will release some $425,000 in cash into our community each July and August. We will lose this opportunity unless more support and interest is shown immediately in the Corning Jaycee-sponsored Pickle Factory Drive.
Thomas George was elected Mayor of Corning in Tuesday's special election by a close majority of only four votes over his opponent, Mrs. R. O. Smith.
Sam Manatt, Jr., and F. B. Manatt have purchased The Corning Bank stock formerly owned by the L. G. Black families and Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Hoffman. Sam Jr. is vice president and cashier and F. B. vice president in the bank. They have been associated in the bank with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Manatt, who purchased controlling interest in 1954.
Fain White was elected member of the city council at a meeting of the council, Friday night. He will fill the 22-month unexpired term of Thomas George who resigned upon being elected Mayor of Corning, March 3.
The Shaver Mercantile Company, Corning's third oldest mercantile establishment, has been sold to Garvin E. Martini of Springdale. He is selling out the entire stock and fixtures.
Thomas L. Gibbs, age 32, was killed instantly at about 9:15 last Saturday morning when a tractor he was driving overturned in a field on the B. D. Bone farm five miles north of Corning.
The Corning Industrial Development Committee, in cooperation with the Jaycees, last Wednesday afternoon signed a contract with Sebald Stahl of Springfield, Mo., in which he agreed to move his pickle plant to Corning in June of this year. The contract also provided that a $250,000 corporation will be set up here to be known as the Corning Pickle Co., Inc.
Services were held Sunday afternoon for Sam Logan Manatt, age 54, Corning banker, civic and business leader who died at his home here at 4:30 Friday morning after an illness of over four months. Manatt came to Corning in January 1954 to assume presidency of the Corning Bank, after purchasing controlling interest from Mrs. F. B. Sprague.
A result of Monday night's meeting of Corning Chamber of Commerce was the decision to assist the Magee Company, makers and distributors of framed pictures, in financing a new building, to house the plant. Richard Polk brought to the attention of the members that the company has been approached by civic organizations in other localities offering support for the relocation of the factory in their vicinity. Polk pointed out that the company needs more space as result of the growth of the business. The 1958 production was three times that of 1957 and January and February alone of this year comprises 36 percent of the total output of 1958. The local company, Polk said, is not asking for financial gifts, only help in obtaining terms to finance a suitable building program in the near future, made necessary by the rapidly expanding business operation. The firm now employees 17 and with needed expansion could employ at least double that number.
With the new St. Matthew's Lutheran church on Highway 67 North nearing completion, cornerstone laying ceremonies were held last Sunday afternoon before a large attendance of the congregation and visiting friends.
The resignation of M. D. Forrest as Superintendent of Schools of the Corning School District is announced today by Dan W. Harold, president of the school board. The resignation is effective June 30, 1959.
A three bedroom house trailer owned by Joe Beasley was wrecked in Sunday's storm. The trailer was lifted off concrete blocks at the front of two lots owned by the Beasleys in north Corning, rolled two or three times and upended, completely demolishing the trailer. The family of five was away from home.
Construction work was started early this week on the new Corning Pickle Works, Inc., building by general construction contractor J. D. Taylor. The new plant will be located on US Highway 67, just north of Corning on property formerly owned by O. L. Woods and sold to the Corning Industrial Development Corporation, which took over the development of the industry for Corning, from the sponsoring organization, the Corning Jaycees.
The Blue Star Memorial plaque, now in its new location at the small roadside park on Highway 67 four miles north of Corning, was dedicated in impressive ceremonies Sunday afternoon. Rev. Don Umfleet, pastor of the First Christian Church, addressed the group of about 300 area residents.
One of the most important assets to befall Corning in the past few years is the foundation of the Corning Nursing Home. The Home is indeed a blessing to many aged and infirm persons who need constant care and attention. Mr. and Mrs. Russell Edwards came to Corning two and a half years ago to establish the new home. M. B. Ainley is the owner. Today the number of patients has grown to 70.
A training school for Clayton Shoe Company employees will be set up in the Rhea Building across from the Corning Bank, possibly by May 18 or sooner. Applications for employment will be taken Friday, May 8 and May 15 in the building formerly occupied by Morgan Pharmacy on West Second Street. Machinery for the training school is being shipped this week and will be installed in the Rhea Building.
Reports are coming in that a black bear has been seen at one or more farm residences and tracks seen the past week at other places in the vicinities of Dell, Stringtown and Brazell communities, northwest of Corning.
Mr. and Mrs. Clyde C. Campbell of Alton, Ill., have purchased the house and two lots on West Second Street from Mrs. Ruth Shaver. They plan to erect a business building on the site.
The final class meeting of the Dale Carnegie Course was held Friday night in the Masonic Temple. A steak dinner preceding the meeting was served by members of the Eastern Star to approximately 75 in attendance. The course has been conducted by Bob Allison of Jonesboro, assisted by Buck Livingston and John Daugherty of Malden and Gene Holland of Piggott. The class meeting was called to order by the president J. A. Lillard. Diplomas were given by Mrs. Daugherty to the following graduates: Mrs. Mack C. Blackwood, Mark Bryles, Ray Carr, Mrs. Jack Cash, David R. Clopton, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cox, Leon Foster, Corbin Gerrish, Kenneth Harmon, Fred Hewett, James Huggins, Adolph Lillard, Gene Magee. E. C. McElvain, H. J. Pillow, Jr., Lowell Poyner, Mrs. Alma Puckett, Bill Reeves, Jimmy D. Smith, Otto Smith, Mrs. Wanda Smithson, J. D. (Red) Taylor, Miss Emily Tharp, Aubrey Ward, A. C. Woods, Miss Betty Woods, James White, Mrs. Adena York, Fain White, Bill Wright, Melvin Yamnitz, Glenn Witcher, Clarence Pringle, Dr. H. W. Morrow and Fred Smith. Alternate graduate assistants were Mark Bryles and James Huggins.
C.H.S. graduates: Donald Arnold, Dorothy Allmandinger, Linda Berry, Zerna Blackburn, Bobby Brown, Danny Burnett, Glenda Burks, Shelby Byrd, Ernest Lee Cobb, Martha Cobb, Jimmie Cole, Anna Cooper, Carolyn Cordell, Lou Joyce Dodd, Virginia Duff, Carolyn Ennis, Brenda Ermert, Melva Gazaway, Donald Grissom, Marjorie Guthrey, Dean Harold, Jerry Hart, Roxann Hays, Janie Holcomb, Charles Hendrix, Larry Hester, Mike Jackson, Geneva James, Fleeta Johnson, Aubrey Johnson, Sandra Kimball, Gale Landreth, Aline Laroe, Carlos Lester, Patricia Luter, Billy Mathis, Benny McGrew, Dorlis Misenhamer, Betty Miller, Paul Moore, Sonja Moore, Judy Morrison, John Mowell Charlotte Nash, George Parks, Aaron Phillips, Rosielee Prince, Darrell Rhea, Kenny Richardson, Billie Cloe Robinson, Freddy Russell, Bill Sears, Jean Ann Shepard, Donis Simpson, Benny Smith, Joyce Smith, Alice Stout, Gene Stout, Jesse Teasley, James Walker, Maude Watson, Betty Ward, James Weller and Bud Willis.
Eleven members of the Jaycettes met at the Clay County Co-op building Tuesday evening for a regular meeting and installation of new officers. Mrs. Bob Cochran, president, conducted the meeting and installed: president, Mrs. Jack Cash; vice-president, Mrs. Charles Cox; treasurer, Mrs. Edward Spence; recording secretary, Mrs. Leon Foster; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Gerald Morgan.
The Corning Jaycees met Monday night at the Clay County Electric Cooperative building and elected the following officers to be installed In the June meeting: Gerald Morgan, president; Marshall E. Young, first vice president; Ray Smith, second vice president; Wm. Ray Carr, treasurer; Mark Bryles, secretary; F. B. Manatt and Dr. Jack Cash, board of directors.
Dallas Hampton, 15, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Hampton of McDougal, died shortly after arrival at the Doctors Hospital in Poplar Bluff from injuries received in an accident on Route 62 two miles east of Corning. He was a passenger in a pickup truck driven by his brother, Cletis Hampton, which was involved in an accident with another pickup driven by Fredman Bowers of Corning. Bowers suffered head injuries, fracture of both hips and one arm.
The Corning Chamber of Commerce met Monday night in the Masonic Temple with the meal provided by the Order of the Eastern Star. A report by Joe Ballenger revealed that a site for an Arkansas Highway Department Maintenance Building has been approved by the Highway Department. The Chamber heard a proposal at the meeting that the organization purchase the land for the building.
Mr. and Mrs. Quinn H. Bell are now managing and farming 1,200 acres of land southwest of Corning owned by Dr. R. L. Wood. The Bells came here from the Parkin-West Memphis area where they rice farmed. Mr. and Mrs. Bell, prior to engaging in Agriculture, were surgical and x-ray technicians at the VA hospitals at Little Rock and Fort Roots.
Charlie Morse, age 56, of Poe, Mo., was killed by a shotgun charge Thursday night by his 79 year old father in law, Claude Gearhart. The shooting was an out growth of an argument over Morse's estranged wife. The fatal shooting took place at Gearhart's house about one mile northeast of Brookings at about 9:00 p.m.
July 1 is set as a tentative date for the opening of the new Clayton Shoe Factory building on Highway 67 West. The first pair of shoes made in Corning, ladies' casuals, are being displayed this week by Rudolph Rivere, of the Clayton Company.
The Clay County Courier was 85 years old Wednesday, July 1. Authentic data, in part, concerning the early publishers of the newspaper is lacking but what seems to be the most accurate account is taken from an article written by T. F. Ray, a former editor and publisher on the 53rd anniversary of the Courier, in 1927. Mr. Ray, who was an uncle of Mrs. W. W. Henry, in writing of the Courier and Clay County residents: "I returned to Clay County in the fall of 1879. The Courier, which has been published at Corning for several years by Dr. Ireland, and later by Winston and McGovern, had suspended, and a few of the Corning citizens learning that I had some experience in newspaper correspondence, persuaded me to enter into that enterprise. I went down to Little Rock and purchased the equipment of the then Advocate, now Courier, which was still housed at Corning, from T. B. Martin. My first edition of the Corning Advocate was, I think, on October 1879, and I continued until the fall of 1855 [sic] when I sold the equipment to J. W. Dollison. He moved it to Rector and published it there for some few years, again as the Clay County Courier, and until it was removed to Corning purchased by E. D. Estes, father of its present owner, C. C. Estes, who since has uninterruptedly printed it at Corning. The Courier's pioneer editor, E. D. Estes, came to Corning in 1873 just after the Civil War but had farmed and taught school prior to purchasing the paper. From his service in the Confederate Army he was called Captain Estes. He later became interested in politics and served as deputy county clerk."
Discovery of the body of nine year old Jim Thompson at five o'clock Wednesday morning 62 hour round the clock the boy who slipped and fell into the water at the confluence of Current and Little Black rivers northwest of Datto.
Dennis L. Berry will establish his law office in the Corning Bank building, second floor, about August 1. He is a 1958 graduate of the University of Arkansas Law School.
Volunteer workers recovered the body of Roberta Williams, 18, drowned at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Black River north of McDougal, shortly before noon Wednesday. She was one of a party of 12, all from around McDougal, who had been swimming in the river Tuesday afternoon. She was the third local person to drown in ten days.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Scheer, formerly of Long Beach, Calif., have bought the Cochran's Super Market from Mrs. Frances Cochran and are now operating the modern food store.
Funeral services were held Sunday at the Church of Christ for Eddie Lee Wilder, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Wilder, who drowned in Corning Lake, Friday afternoon, July 17, about one o'clock. The tragic accident occurred when a boat overturned with the boy and his companion, Bobby Roberts, while they were fishing near the Mo-Pac trestle. The Roberts boy swam to safety.
Houses under construction are those for Mr. and Mrs. Leslie D. Russell, Dr. and Mrs. Jack Cash, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Shaver and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Pringle. Nearing completion are homes for Mr. and Mrs. Dan Lynch, two rental houses being built by Loren Garland and a rental house being built by Paul Duncan.
The Courier will move into a new location just north of Dr. Richardson's office and south of the Linder Cleaners, or across West Second Street from the post office.
Dedication services for the new St. Matthew Lutheran Church, recently completed on Highway 67 North and Jones Street, will be held Sunday, September 13. The farewell service from the old church three miles north on Highway 67 will be held on the same day, at 8:30 a.m.
Buel Smith, local Ford dealer, is the new president of the Corning Chamber of Commerce for 1959-60.
Polk Chevrolet Company, Inc., local Chevrolet and Pontiac dealers, has purchased a 300 by 200 foot plot on US 67 West, upon which a new steel, masonry and glass garage and showroom building will be constructed as soon as construction bids are turned in and contract let, according to Winfred D. Polk, head of the local firm.
Corning's recently appointed municipal judge is T. G. Bridges, former mayor, alderman, local pharmacist and drug store operator for years. He was appointed by Mayor Thomas George and succeeds C. V. Clark.
The Magee Company, manufacturers of framed pictures, will move to Pocahontas about November 1, where it will be housed in the Salee Implement building.
Mrs. H. E. Bridgeforth is named Corning B. and P. W. Club "Woman of the Year".
The Clayton Shoe Company, Corning's new industrial plant, is now manufacturing and shipping shoes to market with some 50 employees on the job and the payroll and the production gaining each week.
Corning's loss of the grade school building by fire of undetermined origin late Friday afternoon was estimated in monetary value at some $115,000. The loss to the school district, community and students in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades in the second month of the term, is inestimable and will demand an exceptionally heavy load on the school faculty, school board, church groups, school patrons and others who will meet the emergency with determination to see that disruption of the children's school training is held to a minimum. The costly fire came at a time when the school board had just recommended a reduction of three mills in the tax structure, counting on an increase from the recent equalization of personal and real estate taxes. The fire, first noticed at 4:15 p.m. spread so rapidly that it was entirely out of control before the Volunteer Fire Department could answer the call.
Representative E. C. (Took) Gathings spoke to members of the Chamber of Commerce and Jaycees at a joint meeting held in the school cafeteria Monday night. Gathings' subjects were the importance and need for a new post office building for Corning and the work accomplished by the 81st session of Congress.
The Corning Board of Education and Carl T. Walker, superintendent of schools, met with legal advisors on school construction at Little Rock, Friday, October 9.
Ardie Miller 75, retired farmer. was found dead of a gunshot wound at his home here Sunday at 12:10. His wife returned home from church to find her husband on the back porch where it was apparent that he had accidentally shot himself while handling a shotgun.
Carmen Carnahan, 11, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Carnahan who resides about one mile northwest of Corning, was seriously injured when she was struck by a car on US Highway 67 North at 4:30 last Saturday afternoon.
Arthur Floyd Gould, 70 year old Moark resident, was killed at 10:05 Tuesday morning when a Mo-Pac freight train crashed into his 1953 Ford sedan at the Moark railroad crossing. Critically injured in the accident was his granddaughter, Marsha Faye Lucas, age five, who was a passenger in his car.
Julius Spain, Route Two, Corning, was one of the survivors aboard the oil tanker Amoco Virginia, which burned in a disastrous fire in the Houston, Texas, ship channel Sunday. Spain, hospitalized in Houston, swam to safety after jumping into the channel after the ship exploded from gas fumes and burned. Spain, when in port, makes his home with his parents on their farm east of Barnhill Camp on Highway 62.
The Corning Board of Education has completed another step in the preliminary planning of construction a new school building. The board has employed the architectural firm of Haywood Snipes of Poplar Bluff to make a study of the plans and start the preliminary drawings on the new construction.
The Church of Christ has bought the property known as the Letbetter Blacksmith Shop, north of the church building, from Mrs. W. M. Letbetter. Future plans are to build a parsonage building on the property.
County Judge Frank Carpenter heard a petition Tuesday afternoon to incorporate 120 acres of territory lying north of the present north corporate limits and east of US Highway 67. The petition was presented by property owners reading in the Prichard's Second Addition to the city of Corning. The land ordered incorporated by Judge Carpenter comprehends the Prichard's Second Addition and the Sheeks property to the north thereof, together with areas to the south and east thereof.
Fish farming on a large scale is a new experiment on the Clem Cox 3,200 acre farm, formerly owned by Leo Fisher of Sikeston, northeast of Knobel. Cecil Eaton and sons, Cecil Jr. and Hovey, rice farmers there, are operating the experimental project in a man-made lake covering 94 acres on the Cox farm
A record vote was cast in the Corning School District Number Eight election here Tuesday, December 1, to elect Dr. Jack Q. Cash as member of the Board of Education for a term of five years. Harold Riggan was Dr. Cash's opponent.
Buel Smith, president of the Chamber of Commerce, announced at Monday night's meeting that the Chamber has bought a ten acre site on Highway 67, north of Harold Bros. Implement building, for future industrial expansion of our city. The property was purchased from Dr. R. L. Wood for $7,500 it was announced.
Corning was flooded with silver dollars and two-dollar bills during the last two weekends. The reason: the Black Lumber Company's payroll, all paid in silver dollars two weeks ago, and last week's payroll, plus Christmas bonus, in two-dollar bills.

1960
Two men held in jail here escaped again Sunday night, one of them, Leon Jones, age 23, of Paragould, breaking out of the local jail for a third time. The other prisoner, Johnny Crawford, 19, of Waynesboro, Tennessee, escaped a second time. Both broke jail here last September only to be recaptured a short time later by local police.
The Corning Board of Education at a meeting on January 1, elected Lewis L. Moore as principal of Corning High School. He is a native of Clay County, having lived at Success all of his life.
The Corning Board of Education has recently purchased the properties adjoining the present high school site from Brooks Sheeks and Mrs. Ada Pritchard. The houses now on the grounds will be offered for sale by the Board of Education, in the near future. Plans for the new construction of the Elementary building and additional high school class rooms are being processed by the architects. The modern elementary building will be built on the site near the Corning public park and the additional classrooms for high school are to be erected on the high school site.
Construction work is well underway on a new baptistry and four classrooms, being built on the rear of the First Christian Church. The men of the church are doing most of the wood and finish work during evening hours and spare time.
The Ealy family of Corning was deluged with food, clothing, household goods and other necessities of life last week by the truck load - all gifts from the people of Memphis. The Ealys, as most folks in the Mid South know now, thanks to the Memphis Press-Scimitar, live on Route Two, Corning, three miles east of Corning. The family is comprised of the father, Orval, age 47, mother, Beatrice, age 34, and their nine children, ages ranging from two to 15, with another "blessed event" on the way.
Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield announces today that a new post office has been authorized for Corning, Arkansas. The property on which the option has been taken at Corning is owned and occupied by Mrs. Maude Phipps and son, Wendell, and is located on the southeast corner of West Fourth and Elm streets.
Ben Dame, 73 year old farmer who resided south of the state line, was killed in a pistol duel outside the Country Club roadhouse north of the state line in Missouri, early Saturday night. Two other men were wounded. They are Jerry Hill, 21, and Otha Arnold, 39, both of Knobel. Butler County Sheriff Lester Massingham said both Arnold and Hill were wounded by shots fired by Dame. Massingham said Dame was killed by a shot fired from a gun held by Carl Carnold, 35, Otha's nephew.
The Board of Education of the Corning School District met Monday night with a group representatives of local business and professional in for a discussion about plans for the proposed new elementary school building in Corning. Superintendent Carl T. Walker explained plans for construction on the Harb Street school property. Joining the discussion were members of the board and some 20 business men.
The city now has a 24-hour police patrol car, a 1959 Chevrolet sedan, fully equipped with two way radio and other police and emergency equipment, Mayor Thomas George informed the Courier. The prowl car will be operated or on duty 24 hours each day for public safety. D. A. Snider, police chief, will use the car on the day shift and night patrolman D. L. Vester is on the night shift.
Dr. R. L. Wood is reported to be recovering satisfactorily from a gunshot wound he suffered at his home here last Friday afternoon. He was reported to have been cleaning an assortment of pistols when a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver accidentally discharged, sending a bullet through his left chest, coming out near the shoulder blade.
Charles R. Black, president of the J. W. Black Lumber Company, Corning, and leader in civic and church affairs for half a century, died at a Poplar Bluff Hospital at 7:30 Monday, night. He was born in Carrier Mills, Williamson County, Illinois, on May 5, 1885. He came to Corning as a boy of nine with his parents, the late J. W. Black and Mary L. Black, and has resided in Corning since that time. The family arrived in Corning January, 17, 1895 in a railroad box car containing all their household goods and livestock and found employment that winter cutting ice which was then 11 inches thick on Corning Lake. Young Charles was paid 25 cents per day to open a gate for the teams going to and from the lake. He has been a sawmill operator and engaged in the wholesale and retail lumber business since the early 1900's, except for one year when he taught school in Corning. He was associated in business with his father, who founded the J. W. Black Lumber Company in 1898.
A new residential subdivision is now open for homes on a restricted basis in southwest Corning, which has been chartered as the Smith Addition to the City of Corning.
Corning will soon have permanent type steel reinforced concrete street markers at all intersections, with embossed lettering of names of each street on the markers. The markers, which are being made at the new Norman Stone and Ready Mix Plant here, are being put up at intersections by city employees.
A ring of thieves who have been operating in south Missouri and northeast Arkansas for several weeks, was broken up when Deputy Sheriff W. D. Rice of Corning arrested two of six men operating out of St. Louis, Monday afternoon in a farm house northeast of Knobel. Robert Henkle, age 29, former Corning mechanic and Homer J. Wheelon, age 30, both of St. Louis, were taken into custody at the farm home of Henkle's sister-in-law on the old Knobel Road east of the Cache Lake Store on Highway 135.
There aren't many old time country doctors around these days active in their professions. One of them is Dr. M. C. Richardson of Corning who has practiced his profession continuously in the Corning trade area for over half a century and is still ministering to his patients. After a brief practice at Black Rock upon graduation from medical school, he moved to Datto. That was in 1912. His main mode of travel in those days way by horseback. Night calls often outnumbered the day time calls. The country, mostly in timber and overflow waters from the Current River didn't help matters much. It was almost a day's trip even to Corning from over Current River way, providing one could get through the high waters. Speaking of babies, Doctor Richardson told us he thought he had done his share of "spanking rear ends of the newborn" to bring the first breath of life. He stopped counting the number he brought into the world back in the early 30's. It was some 5,000 then. The usual fee, including prenatal care was $10 - that is, if the doctor got paid. There were no trained nurses. A hot steaming kettle of water on the wood range in the kitchen was the prime requisite when the doctor got there. Then there were the bad men who were numerous back in the teens. Doctor Richardson remembers many occasions when he would dig out a .38 or .44 caliber bullet from some fellow, that is, if it had not hit a vital spot. Then, there were numerous knifings. "Too many fellows carried long knives in those days, and a flash of temper would result in a call on the doctor or a trip to the undertaker." One case he will always remember was one that he attended just after he started practicing at Datto. An expectant father came after him from over in one of the few clearings across Current River, west of Datto. The river was out of its banks and he had to swim his mare against the swift current on through overflow waters for about a mile or so. He had to stay for days and was not even asked to eat at the family table. His horse was not fed or taken care of either and he did not get paid. Those were the "good old days" Doc mused.
Train service on the Mo-Pac Lines was disrupted for some 28 hours Monday and Tuesday, when a trestle about one and one-half miles south of Corning burned. The fire, which started at about 10:30 Monday morning, was said to have started from a nearby forest fire, completely destroying the 150 foot trestle.
The new post office plans call for a brick, glass and concrete building with 4,233 square feet of floor space. A concrete platform of 216 square feet will be attached at the rear of the building. The main entrance will face west on West Fourth Street, across from the First Christian Church. The Post Office Department accepted an option where the building is to be constructed from Mrs. Maude Phipps several weeks ago.
Sixty-five to graduate from C. H. S.: Barbara Eddington, Douglas Yamnitz, Sharon Smith, Homer Blanton, Glenna Cole, Jerry Gene Hatley, Pat Brewer, Tommy George, Maurice Robinson, Loretta Wyatt, Charles Dixon, Joan Ballenger, Frankie Keelin, Joe Tom Bartlett, Wilma Phelan, Donald Elders, Don Hewitt, Mary Darr, Charles Shepard, Carolyn Wilson, John Selig, Glenda Faye Brewer, Fred Hewitt, Bobby Doyle Williams, Harriet Edwards, Lyndel Price, Melanie Phipps, Joe Johnson, Judy Moore, Sherman Hale, Mary Holt, Lindsey Ringo, Barbara Watson, Bill Hunt, Joyce Pringle, Judy Green, Melvin Jackson, Zelma McWilliams, Ava Cato, John G. Black, Betty Woods, Ruth Mitchener, S. L. Coonce, Priscilla Crowell, Ronnie Smith, Joe Steinberg, Billy Shipman, Sherian Cochran, Percy Shelton, Jackie Hatley, Barbara Teasley, Harry Harmon, Arlon Rynes, Estha Lea Ermert, Howard Bolen, Marian Jackson, Billy White, Nan Carnahan, James Asher, Joyce A. Clement, Billy McKinney, Ruth Cato, Luceal Byars, Nancy Wilson, Rebecca Waldon, Carolyn Jean Murley.
Corning took highest honors for the 2,500 or under population class in the recent 1960 Annual Industrial Awards contest, sponsored by the Commercial Appeal, Memphis.
The newly completed modern red brick building and the fellowship hall connecting it were constructed at New Home Methodist Church at a cost of $14,000 with members donating much of the work. The first service in the new church was held at sunrise Easter Sunday morning, April 17, with the present pastor, Rev. J. T. Byrd, conducting. The fellowship hall, built in 1952, was planned and blueprints draw by the late W. H. Smalley. Marven Eaker and J. D. Taylor were in charge of the carpentry and block laying. In 1930 the first revivals were held in the Blue School house by W. W. Blevins, a Corning minister. In 1936 the men of the neighborhood, M. Eaker, O. Ward, Fred Kimball, Cleve Cox, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Ward, J. Wills, decided to build a church. They cut and hauled green timber and built the structure, but it was not finished until 1937 when Bro. J. T. Wilcoxon was pastor. The church was affiliated with the Corning Methodist Church until 1952 when, under the guidance of the Rev. H. Harris, it became an independent church with its own Board of Stewards and representatives in conference.
James Young has been named city night marshal, replacing D. L. Vester who resigned effective June 1.
The Grace Missionary Baptist Church, located at Hastings and Eaton Streets, one block west of Corning Central School, will dedicate its new building Sunday, June 26. A dinner will be held at Wynn Park at the noon hour.
Carolyn Smith is named "Miss Independence Day" and a Sikeston man wins Cadillac sedan at big Homecoming celebration here on July 4th. 
Frank Johnson, Jr. is the new owner and operator of Frankie's Super Market, formerly Scheer's Super Market on West First and Elm. He and Mrs. Johnson took over the business Monday and will continue the same policies of offering the finest food obtainable, courteous and efficient service with no change in personnel.
Now under construction is a new, modern concrete and steel spacious addition to the Corning Nursing Home in north Corning. Dr. Charles F. Ainley, who is having the new fire proof structure built adjoining the present 75 room nursing home owned by his father, M. B. Ainley, said he expects the new wing to be ready for new patients about August 1.
Directors and officials of the Corning Pickle Company, Inc., a Corning corporation, witnessed loading of the first carload of the company's products for shipment to consumers in the Springfield-Peoria, Ill. area last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Elvis Crowe, both 28, of Los Angeles, Calif., drowned in Black River near Allen's Fishing Dock, late Saturday. Their bodies, embracing each other, were found 12 hours later, after searching parties composed of hundreds of persons and rescue teams from Poplar Bluff, Pocahontas, Corning and Walnut Ridge worked all Saturday night. J. J Atkinson of Corning and W. O Allen, father of Mrs. Crowe found the bodies at dawn Sunday. The visiting couple, with Mr. and Mrs. Grover Baker of Pollard, started on a trip in a fishing boat powered by an outboard motor about dusk Saturday evening when Crowe, who was described as a good swimmer fell overboard, overturning the boat. Mrs. Crowe, who could not swim, clung to her husband.
Two sets of twins were born in one day at Cash-Page Clinic, Jimmie Ray Jr. and Sadie May Smith, children of Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Ray Smith of Peach Orchard and Sandra Dee and Brenda Lee Owens, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Owens, Route One, Corning.
The Corning Board of Education, in a recent meeting, received bids on the proposed construction of an elementary school building. The bidders were Cox Brothers Planing and Lumber Company of Piggott and East Arkansas Lumber Company of Paragould. The board went on record as accepting the Cox Brothers Planing and Lumber Company as contractors for construction.
A coroner's jury at the courthouse Saturday afternoon heard testimony of witnesses and officers in an investigation of the death of Larry Stephen (Hart) Wooldridge, age 15, who was instantly killed Wednesday night, one-half mile north of Corning on US Highway 67 when struck by a car driven by Mrs. Orpha Lee Cox. Leslie Russell, county coroner, conducted the hearing. The 12 men returned a verdict that "the deceased Larry Stephen (Hart) Wooldridge died as a result of careless, reckless, wanton, neglect operation of a 1958 Oldsmobile on US 67 North of Corning by Orpha Lee Cox."
Two new members of the board of directors for The Corning Bank have been elected. They are Dr. Jack Q. Cash and Jim Vinson, both of Corning.
A new subdivision is to be developed soon, known as the 7th Arnold Sub-Division, comprised of 136 acres located west on US 67. Walter Arnold and his sons, Jimmie and Freddie, plan to start work soon on the acreage which is known as the J. W. Bess Farm. Mrs. C. Rodgers of Kennett has optioned the place to Arnold and Sons.
The Corning Business and Professional Women's Club has chosen Mrs. Charles Bowers as "Woman of the Year" for her outstanding work in the club and will honor her during their observance of Business and Professional Women's Week here all next week.
The Corning Industrial Development Association has an option on 75 acres of land, known as the Talkington Place, north of Corning adjacent to the Mo-Pac Railroad. The land was secured for possible site for another industrial plant, which is interested in locating there.
In the municipal election for Corning, Mrs. R. O. Smith, Corning businesswoman, defeated incumbent Mayor Thomas George. She received 374 votes. Mayor George was second choice with 341 votes. Dr. Ray Stith, local optometrist, was elected to Position One, South Ward, Alderman, receiving 315 votes over his closest opponent, Dan Lynch's (incumbent) 282. H. A. (Red) Smith received 100 votes. Two other municipal contests were: for Position One, Alderman, North Ward: Fain White won reelection with 465 over Bob Smith who received 197 votes. D. A. Snider was reelected as Chief of Police receiving a large margin over his opponent Everett Buffington. Snider received 515 votes, Buffington 190.
Two Corning stores were burglarized early Saturday morning by what appeared to be a team of professional safe crackers. The IGA Super Market, was the hardest hit. A fireproof four-drawer filing cabinet at the Western Auto, which was locked, was tampered with, however evidence was that the thugs gave up in their attempt to open the top drawer. Both stores were entered by prying open the front doors.
Taxpayers and Patrons of Corning School District No. 8. There will be a public hearing on the $300,000 deluxe Corning Grade School on Tuesday, December 6, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the polls, McDougal, Corning, Moark, Datto and Success. Don't stay home. Go to the polls and vote. Let the School Board know you are opposed to their complete disregard of your consultation. Now you can decide whether you want to add 20 percent to your present county tax bill; whether you want to vote an additional seven mill tax, on top of a tax reassessment program sponsored by the School Board with their promise that taxes would be lowered, not raised. Whether we can best afford a well built 13,000 foot classroom space costing $300,000. Whether students are best educated by well paid, well-trained teachers or by expensive Super Deluxe buildings. Whether the most important thing is to educate our children or build Monuments to School Boards. Whether the Wing Schools should help pay for an extravagant building which their children will never use. Whether you should have a voice in how your tax dollar is spent. Whether you support a decision which eliminated any possibility of improving our high school facilities for years to come. Whether the School Board will continue to ignore you, until weeks before the election, and then beg for your support of their mistakes. Vote against taxation without consideration. - C. R. Black, Jr., Corning, Ark.
The City of Corning, cooperating with the US Postal Service, is now in the process of assigning house numbers to residences in north Corning. Over 500 residences or post office delivery stops will be assigned house numbers. 
County Judge Frank Carpenter met with city officials November 25 and issued an order legally annexing to the City of Corning approximately ten acres of land adjacent to US 67 and across north from Wynn Park and Woods' Equipment Co. properties. The newly annexed subdivision is owned by Tezzie Smith.
The First Baptist Church met with the Rankin Mission on Sunday, December 3, for the purpose of organizing the mission into a Southern Baptist church. Rev. W. R. Vestal served as a moderator.
Corning School District's school election Tuesday drew an unusual number of electors to the polls. in five voting precincts, to defeat a 42 mill school tax which included seven mills for support of a proposed bond issue to finance a $250,000 grade school building now under construction in west Corning. The increased millage for the school improvement had been actively contested in recent weeks. For tax 341; against tax 541.

1961
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at First Baptist Church for Roger Lewis Mock Smith, age 13, who died December 30 from accidental gunshot wound. Roger, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. (Red) Smith, was shooting rabbits on the Ervin Cozart farm south of the fish hatchery with two companions, Benny Skaggs, age 11, and Jimmie Phelan, 13, when a full charge from a 12 ga. shotgun struck the Smith boy in the right shoulder from about 12 feet. Deputy Sheriff W. D. Rice, who investigated the accident said the Skaggs boy was carrying the fatal weapon.
Corning community was shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Sterling L. Smith, 36, son of Floyd Smith, last Friday morning. Smith and Thurman Olsteen of Pocahontas were working on a temporary scaffold applying red lead to steel girders on the new Current River bridge, 20 miles southwest of Corning when the scaffold broke. The two men plunged 20 feet into the swift, icy water of Current river. Both swam some distance from the middle of the stream but were hampered by their heavy clothing and went under before reaching the bank of the river and did not reappear. The men were employed by Buckton Construction Company of Hazen.
Safe crackers get $1300 in State Theatre robbery.
There was another safe cracking job in Corning, the second one in a week, by thieves operating in northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri. It netted the yeggs $250 at the Corning Implement Company on US 67 West, apparently in the early morning hours last Sunday.
Two men were arrested this week and held on charges of robbing the Jackson Restaurant, Junction 62- 67-135, in Corning in the early morning hours last Thursday. Also held is the wife of one of the men, Deputy Sheriff D. W. Rice, who headed the investigation, said. The robbery took place at 3:30 last Thursday morning when Loretta Hovis, 18, waitress, was alone in the all night eating establishment located at the busy highway junction in NW Corning.
The State Highway Department started construction work on a concrete, steel reinforced bridge over Black Creek, a part of improvements to new State Highway 211 incorporated into the State highway system last year. Highway 211 extends 3.4 miles from Datto curve north into Success.
Oliver and Co., after 70 years of general mercantile business on the same corner, West First and Main Streets, is now conducting a going out of business sale.
Administration offices of the Corning schools were burglarized last Wednesday night when thieves broke open a safe and stole $378.40 in cash and $40 in checks.
C.H.S. graduates of 1961: Joyce Ainley, Anna Kay Arnold, Sammy Banks, Jr., E. J. Brooks, Sandra Brooks, Carolyn Buffington, Evelyn Burnett, Kay Caldwell, Lavetta Campbell, Martha Cantwell, James L. Cato, Robert A. Clark, Anna Clarkson, Luella Cobb, Franklin Harold Cochran, Vivian Cox, Rex Garver, Marvin L. Glass, Aleen Gross, Mary Sue Gomer, Valerie Ann Gomer, Kenneth Grissom, Helen Herren, Mary Hogan, Carolyn Hogard, Loretta Hovis, Dorlis Ann Johnson, Norma Knowlton, Corine LaRoe, Earl Ladyman, Melvaline Leach, Judy Leonard, Linda Mabry, Gary Mallow, Scott Manatt, James Mason, Jewell Michels, Lewis L. Moore, Jr., George Patterson, Brenda Parrish, Norman Phillips, Sharon Phipps, Charles Pierce, Wilma Poynor, Lucille Prince, Bill Rahm, Buddy Ray, Ella Mae Rhynes, Presley Rice, Virgil Richardson, Linda Ringo, Wanda Roark, Carolyn Russell, Sherlene Sears, Gregory L. Skillern, Mary Beth Smalley, Royanna Smalley, Dennis Smith, Jimmy H. Smith, Everett E. Teasley, Jerry Turner, Lequita Tyler, Betty Vancil, Ronnie Walls, Lucy Watson, Diana Weston, Robert E. White, Margaret Ann Willis, Charlotte Woodring, Don Wooldridge, Stephen Wright.
The Corning Board of Education elected and issued a contract to Hugh Smith of Eudora for the superintendency of Corning Schools for the year 1961-1962. Smith succeeds Carl T. Walker who resigned to accept the superintendency of Stephens Schools.
Marvin Jarvis, age 19, of Cicero, Ill, was sentenced to 15 years in the Arkansas penitentiary in the Clay County Circuit Court here Monday for forgery and robbery, just three days after he went on a wild and dangerous crime spree here last Friday. Jarvis, in just three hours, cashed a forged check, stole a deputy's revolver, placing the gun in his back, stole his patrol car and created one of the wildest criminal chases and man hunts ever staged here.
E. W. Cochran completed transaction Monday with Mr. and Mrs. L. V. Kay of Cleveland, Ohio, for transfer of the property known as the J. M. Rhea buildings and real estate comprised of three lots and buildings located on the corner of West Second and Vine streets, across from The Corning Bank. Cochran said he plans to raze the buildings, salvaging the materials, starting at a near date. A modern super market building to be constructed at the south end of the property will be built early next year.
Construction work is nearing completion on our new, modern elementary school building on west Harb Street adjoining Wynn Park.
A new drive-in window at the Corning Bank will be open for drive-in banking business beginning Thursday of this week. The new drive-in facility at the bank offers complete banking service since the new room in which the service is offered, is an addition to the bank building and not a separate unit as is most instances when drive-in service is offered.
Elected new board of directors for the Corning Chamber of Commerce for three year terms at Monday night's meeting were Niles Cherry, Frank Johnson Jr., and Gerald Morgan. They replace retiring board members John O. Black, Jim Richardson and Harold Riggan. Melvin Yamnitz will be the 1962 general picnic-homecoming chairman.
Twenty-seven boys from our local DeMolay Chapter attended the 34th annual Arkansas State Conclave, August 17, 18 and 19 at the Scottish Rite Temple in Little Rock. They were accompanied by the Chapter Dad, Glenburn and Mrs. Walker. Guests of the chapter at the conclave were Miss Anna Kay Arnold, Northeast District Sweetheart; Miss Sandra Leonard, Chapter Sweetheart; Richard Harbison and Ronnie Rhodes who were initiated into DeMolay at the conclave. During the three days of the conclave the chapter entered in the initiatory and public installation degree competition. The Corning Chapter won first place in both.
Corning's new post office will be dedicated at two o'clock on September 17, 1961. The new facility, located at Fourth and Elm Streets, is part of the Post Office Department's unique commercial leasing plan, Postmaster W. Earl Polk said.
Miss Lilly Pillow was chosen "Woman of the Year" by members of the Business and Professional Women's Club.
Open house will be held at the new elementary school on west Harb Street Sunday afternoon.
Corning has experienced a steady and continuous growth for the past several years, with a substantial increase during the past 22 months, or since January 1, 1959, according to water meter installations recorded by City Recorder O. J. Harold. From March 1, 1955 to January 1, 1956 meters within the city limits jumped from 474 to 623. This 149 increase, Harold said, was due to many residences connecting to the city's water and sewer service after the revamping and enlarging of our water and sewer systems.
The first public ordination services for newly elected deacons was held at the morning services at the First Baptist Church last Sunday. Newly ordained deacons are Dan W. Harold and Jim Vinson.
Hunters reported seeing brown bears recently in the area surrounding Corning. One bear was seen at the north end of Woolfolk Lake and another on the Wright farm eight miles west of Corning by Johnnie Phelan, of the Arkansas Weight Station. Jack Johansen of Clayton Shoe Company reported seeing a brown bear near the Barnhill Camp while fishing on the Black River.
A public mass meeting will be held in the high school auditorium, Monday night, December 4, when Herschel Friday, Little Rock attorney and an authority on Arkansas Constitutional Act 9 and Amendment 49, will thoroughly explain to the public what the new legislation means to the people of Corning and the State of Arkansas. Sam Manatt Jr., president of the Chamber of Commerce, arranged for Mr. Friday to be here.
Detailed information relative to a proposed City of Corning municipal bond issue to be voted on December 21, for an industrial plant in Corning to manufacture electrical products, employing some 300 persons at the outset of operations, were fully explained by three principal speakers at a joint meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and the Corning Industrial Development Corporation here Monday night. Sam Manatt, Jr., president of the Chamber, opened the meeting by telling that 2,169 persons registered here over the weekend in a labor survey conducted by the Arkansas Employment Security Division. Registrants wanting jobs came in and registered from a radius of 30 miles from Corning.
On December 21, one week from today, the legal voters residing within the city limits of Corning will have the opportunity to vote for two proposed municipal bond issues designed to secure the establishment of a new industrial plant here. The plant will employ in the neighborhood of 300 individuals, the greater portion men, and will manufacture metal products.

1962
With the removal of the electric automatic stop and go light at the intersection of West Second Street and Highways 62-135 this week, by order of the State Highway Department, all motorists are warned to use precaution when crossing the intersection. The Highway Department has ruled that traffic at the intersection does not warrant the automatic light which controls traffic on US 62 and State Highway 135 which crosses the intersection.
The transaction was consummated Monday transferring the Corning Co-op Gin to the P. L. Oliver Cotton Company. The Co-op Gin had been operated several years by the Cooperative with farm operators in this area as stockholders. Aubrey Arnold has been manager in recent years.
Fire destroyed practically all possessions and gutted the interior of the Harville Baker house on Eaton Street, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Conner. Conner is a department head at the Clayton Shoe Factory here.
Orie L. Woods was elected by stockholders and officers as one of the two new directors for the Corning Bank. Glen Cox of Reyno was elected a new director for the bank. Both are prominent in business and farm operations in Clay and Randolph counties.
Burglars, apparently amateurs, knocked a combination off a large safe at the P. L. Oliver Cotton Gin office on east US 62 sometime Monday night. They failed to open the door, however, and they ruined the combination. This was the second unsuccessful attempt to crack the same safe at the gin. The last attempt was last June, Lance Ferguson, manager said.
An attempt to burglarize Blanch's Shop and break into a change making machine at the laundromat, both located on U S. 67 West in Corning, during the early hours last Thursday morning, were unsuccessful, by what appeared to be another amateur crime operation.
Dr. Sidney Haley of Tulsa, who will open his office for practice of chiropracty in the residential structure just north of the State Theatre, has notified the Courier that he will be here March 7.
T. W. Wynn sold the 141 ½ by 70 foot brick building located one door south of The Corning Bank on Second Street this week. The new owner, E. W. Cochran, announced plans to occupy the building with offices of his radio station. Mrs. A. D. Cox has occupied the building with a restaurant for many years.
C. J. White, former Corning Route One resident, has completed his training and is now on duty as an Arkansas Highway Patrolman, at Helena.
The mayor and city council of the City of Corning passed an ordinance Friday night, March 9, charging each place of business and each home 50 cents per month for hauling cans and rubbish.
Our oldest known living twin sisters in NE Arkansas and SE Missouri are Mrs. Nora Rhea of Corning, and Mrs. Cora Maxwell, of Wardell, Mo. They were 86 last October 7.
The cooperative feeder calf sale held Tuesday by members of the Northeast Arkansas Livestock Marketing Association, was considered by many to be one of the best held from the standpoint of buyer competition. Approximately 365 head of cattle sold for over $43,300. The average quality of the cattle was better than the board members expected. A majority of the cattle averaged good to choice in feeder quality.
Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Yamnitz, owners of the Yamnitz IGA Super Market, purchased the Cochran Foodliner, Tuesday, from Mr. and Mrs. Eulis Cochran. Both stores are now being operated by Mr. and Mrs. Yamnitz.
Several hundred local residents saw the Freedom 7 Mercury Spacecraft, like the one Colonel John Glenn had for the first worldwide recorded spacecraft flight around the world three times. The capsule escorted here Thursday morning by Missouri State Police from Sikeston. It was displayed to local residents near the Arkansas Weight and Police Station here.
Carl Ermert, owner of Ermert Real Estate Agency, has purchased the L. A. Scrivner business property on West Second Street. Included in the transaction are buildings occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Jim Blunk and family in the second floor and on the first floor the offices of Dr. Ray Stith, optometrist and the Clip and Curl Beauty Shop.
The Yamnitz IGA Foodliner is now in its new, modern, fireproof steel building on West Second Street across from The Corning Bank.
Corning Masonic Temple was packed with local and many visiting Masons from over northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri last Thursday evening when Elder R. Powell, age 94, of near Palatka, the oldest Mason in Clay County and probably the most active long time member of the fraternity in Arkansas, was highly honored by the brethren.
Two Corning residents were killed instantly in a two car collision three miles north of Corning on US Highway 67 at 10:20 Tuesday morning. They were Mrs. Viola Aden, age 46, waitress at the Deep Rock station cafe at the Ark-Mo state line and Herman Sherrell, 50, heavy equipment operator on the B. B. Pelts farm south of Corning.
Dr. Ralph R. Ratton is Corning's new dentist. He is practicing at the offices of Dr. Hollis W. Morrow who was drafted into the armed service about three months ago and is serving as a dentist with the Air Force on Okinawa island.
Johnny D. Prince, age 49, of East Third Street, Corning, was killed by a Missouri Pacific Lines freight train Sunday morning at three o'clock as he walked across the tracks near Moark, six miles north of Corning.
The Oliver and Company building on west First Street, a Corning landmark for 75 years, has been completely remodeled to house a company which manufactures small electric motors and health equipment, according to Sam Manatt, Jr., a board member of the Corning Industrial Development Corporation. Magnus Mfg. Co., Inc. plans to begin production Monday, or as soon as machinery can be installed and a beginning staff of employees can be hired. The company plans to employ 15 persons at the beginning of production and add another 15 within two weeks and further expansion later.
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Rogers are parents of a son born about seven o'clock Wednesday morning enroute to Community Methodist Hospital, Paragould. Rogers was accompanying his wife to the hospital but had to stop near Lafe where the baby was born. They continued their journey and were met at the hospital emergency entrance by Dr. Jack Cash.
Mrs. Mack C. Blackwood has been elected "Business Woman of the Year" by the Corning Business and Professional Women's Club.
Eulis Cochran won in the contest for mayor of Corning, polling 270 of the 449 votes cast in Tuesday's city election. His opponent Sylvester (Tiddle) Walls received 179 votes. In the only contest for councilman, Aubrey Arnold won by defeating his opponent, Mrs. R. O. Smith. by 34 votes. The count was: Arnold 244, Smith 210.
A sixth death this year on Highway 135 SE of Corning, occurred Monday at 6:55 when Eugene W. Roberts, age 38, of Knobel was killed instantly as his 1956 Chevrolet, driven by his son, Farrell Roberts, crashed head on with a 1958 Chevrolet driven by Harold Hicks, 28, Peach Orchard.
Corning voters responded admirably at the polls in Tuesday's school election when they favored an additional ten mill school tax by a total vote of almost two to one. A bond issue for $330,000 which financed a new, modern grade school building two years ago was passed. The bonds were being paid for out of general school funds. Two previous bond issues were voted down in 1961 and 1960. In the school board election Tuesday, F. B. Manatt was elected for a five year regular term. He was opposed by G. R. McFarlin. John O. Black is the outgoing member. Other school board members are: Thomas George, president; Dr. Jack Q. Cash, secretary-treasurer, E. Allmon, Jr. and L. R. Woolard.
Employees of the Clayton Shoe Company plant last Thursday rejected representation by the United Shoe Workers of America by a vote of 156 to 67. Last year, employees at the plant turned the union down by less than ten votes. The plant, which makes ladies' shoes, employs about 250 persons.
Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Estes, publishers of The Courier since 1942, announce the sale of the Clay County Courier to Mr. and Mrs. Jan V. Rockwell of Arlington, Virginia. The sale was effective December 1. The newspaper has been published by three generations of the Estes family covering a period of more than 75 years.
Don Fitzgerald, 29, of Knobel, was killed early Sunday morning when the westbound car in which he was a passenger struck a concrete bridge abutment on Highway 90. The driver of the car, Bobby Allen, who lives near the Hancock Store on Route 135, suffered cuts, bruises and shock.

1963
Mayor Eulis Cochran and elected aldermen assumed the oath of office Tuesday and held a short, informal meeting to discuss various phases of the city's programs. One of the first official acts of Mayor Cochran was to move the city offices to a new location on Second Street adjacent to McElvain's Flower Shop. Mayor Cochran said that the new location will be a matter of greater convenience for the residents since the Ark-Mo Power Company and Fort Smith Gas Company are located near the offices. The city council elected the following at the special meeting: Champ Clark, police judge; Paul Mabry, city collector and treasurer; D. A. Snider, fire chief; Bryan McCallen and H. J. Pillow, Jr., co-chairman of the water and sewer commission; John Bartlett, water superintendent; Floyd Holland, street superintendent and Arlie Watson, night marshal.
Statistics just released by Dun and Bradstreet reveal that there are 343 business firms in Clay County of which 97 are in Corning. This compares with 354 in the county during January 1961.
The Corning Bank held its annual stockholders meeting in the private dining room at the Parkview Restaurant, Tuesday night, with 29 officials and stockholders present for steak dinner. Sam Manatt, Jr., vice president and cashier, presided giving the welcome address. He reviewed the 1962 bank statement explaining the functions of the bank's resources and assets. Manatt told the stockholders that the year 1962 was an excellent year for Corning and communities with over a million more cash deposits over the previous year. "The increase," he said, "reflects the progress and stabilization of our communities." December 31, 1962 statement shows deposits at $5,428,733.46 which reflects healthy growth of the bank's service to the area it served. These conditions were primarily a result of two main factors, more payrolls and high crop yields. Directors reelected by acclamation were: Dr. Jack Q. Cash, Glenn W. Cox, Mrs. Sam L. Manatt, F. B. Manatt, Sam L. Manatt, Jr., Jim Vinson and O. L. Woods.
The E. E. (Bert) Clarkson farm home four miles east of Corning was completely destroyed by fire at noon Monday. The one and one-half story house in the fire was a landmark in the White community, having been built about the year 1903 and occupied for the past 50 years by members of the Clarkson family.
Safe crackers netted some $5,311.32 in cash and checks in a daring early evening raid on Yamnitz IGA Store, Friday.
Fire destroyed the Clay County Courthouse at Corning in a spectacular Friday evening blaze, but valuable records preserved in the fireproof vaults came through relatively undamaged. The fire, discovered at approximately 5:15 p.m., was believed to have originated in the north section of the courthouse, near the license bureau. The flames quickly spread through out the building in a spectacular blaze which brought destruction to the building within a period of four hours. Firemen fought the blaze in sub-freezing weather but the seasoned wood in the building burned like tinder. Firemen, however, concentrated on the vaults to keep from destroying the records contained therein.
Reverend Arthur L. Grove recently called by the First Christian Church, Corning, assumed his duties as minister on February 3.
Corning's city council took the first step designed at acquiring a low cost, federal housing project to be located here by passing a resolution stating that there was a need for such housing. Next the council will appoint a five man housing authority and the newly established housing authority and members of the council will meet with Fred Banister, representative of the architectural firm of Stanley Brown of Little Rock, on February 26 to draw up the necessary contractual agreement. All of the paper work will be handled by the architectural firm and the housing committee which will meet once a month.
Rogers Farr, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Farr, will be presented the God and Country award for Scouting on Sunday, February 24, at the First Methodist Church. The Rev. Elmus R. Brown, pastor, will make the award and presentation at 11:00 a.m.
The city council in a special meeting Saturday gave approval to Ark-Mo Power Company to install a mercury vapor lighting system in the business district and at the junction of Highways 62-67 and 135.
Corning Volunteer Fire Department answered alarms to fires that destroyed two houses last week. On Monday morning they were called to the Roy Handwork home on the road from US 67 to Moark. The house and contents were lost in the fire. Friday afternoon, February 22, a run was made to the Ed Pence property on East Third Street, occupied by the Swift family. The house and all contents were lost when the fire gained rapidly while the fire truck had to wait for a freight train.
Leslie Russell was named to head the five man local housing authority which was appointed by Mayor E. W. Cochran. The action followed the decision of the council on February 12 when the council passed a resolution indicating the need for such low cost housing. Those elected and their terms of office are: Leslie Russell, chairman, five year term; Dan Lynch, vice chairman, four year term; Bob Cochran, secretary, three year term; Adolph Lillard, member, two year term and F. B. Manatt, member, one year term.
Residents of Corning and surrounding areas were shaken Sunday at 11:30 a.m. by a moderate to strong earthquake. 
The five-man local housing authority recently appointed by Mayor E. W. Cochran, entered into an agreement with Stanley Brown Architectural firm of Little Rock to request authority to construct low rental housing units in Corning. All of the paper work in conjunction with the request will be handled by the architectural firm under the supervision and direction of the local authority. The move by the local housing authority marked one more step in a plan to obtain low-cost, federally financed housing under the accelerated public works program sponsored by the federal government.
F. B. Manatt, executive vice president of the Corning Bank, was elected secretary-treasurer of Group No. One of the Arkansas Bankers Association held March 8 at Jonesboro.
The tuberculosis mobile x-ray unit x-rayed 469 persons at the State Theatre in Corning last Thursday.
Petitions dated March 20, protesting Corning's plan to build low-cost, federally financed housing were filed with Mayor E. W. Cochran, Tuesday morning. The names on the petition of protest which were addressed to E. W. Cochran as mayor, the city council, The Federal Housing Agency in Dallas, Texas, Senators John L. McClellan and J. W. Fulbright and Representative E. C. Gathings.
Mark Helton, 50, was killed instantly Monday evening when the 1963 Chevrolet he was driving south on Highway 67 three miles north of Corning was struck by Roy C. Barnhill, 40, driving a 1955 Chevrolet station wagon. Four passengers in the Helton car were seriously injured.
The city council at a special meeting this Wednesday morning, boosted Mayor E. W. Cochran's salary from $30 per month and $20 expenses to $150 per month including expenses, effective June 1, 1963. The special ordinance requires that the Mayor devote at least 40 hours per week engaged in city business. The ordinance specifies that on December 1, 1964 the salary will drop back to $50 per month and, that the Mayor be required to devote only a reasonable and necessary amount of time to discharge of the duties of mayor.
The City of Corning water plant neared a record mark by pumping a total of 441,900 gallons of water during an 18 hour period Tuesday. Mayor Cochran said that this represented roughly a total of 171 gallons for every person living in Corning. The city attempts to maintain between 60,000 and 75,000 gallons of treated water in the tank which has a capacity of 100,000 gallons. The city reservoir has a storage capacity of 40,000 gallons.
The City of Corning will net approximately $2,000 in clearing the courthouse site, according to Mayor E. W. Cochran. The city is paying workers at the rate of a penny a brick for cleaning operations and in turn selling the useable building brick at seven cents, per brick. The first purchase brick in quantity was Sam Manatt, Jr., who purchased 16,000. H. J. Pillow, Jr. purchased a similar amount. The soft brick are selling at three cents per brick.
Voters in both Eastern and Western districts will go to the polls on July 9 to vote on the construction of new courthouse buildings to be located at Corning and at Piggott.
Corning's quest for government financed low-cost housing Monday received approval when local housing authority chairman L. D. Russell received a letter from the commissioner of public housing, Washington, DC. Russell said that the architect will arrive in Corning in the near future to show the various structural designs to the committee members. In the near future expense money will be forwarded to committees from the federal government, a housing office will be rented and a housing manager hired. In all, 52 units were approved out of the initial request for 100 units.
Progress is on the march in the area postal systems, with the Zip Code method being introduced. Corning's five digit Zip Code is 72422, Postmaster Earl Polk announced today.
Contents of the tin box which had been placed in the cornerstone of the old courthouse, contained some interesting facts. Many people will remember some of the persons who are listed on the documents, or will be familiar with the names. One document listed the town officials at the date of the cornerstone ceremony. They were: mayor, George Barnhill; recorder, E. L. Black; aldermen, J. W. Harb, Simpson, Clagg and Dudley; town attorney, J. L. Taylor, treasurer, Jacob Klern and marshal, Pat Martin. A book, yellowed with age, contained the constitution and by laws of the Oddfellows, State of Arkansas, revised edition, and was dated 1895. Officers of the No. 1825 Home Forum Benefit Order, as listed on one document were: president, Dr. C. V. Scott; vice president, Mrs. C. C. Estes; medical examiner, Dr. N. J. Latimer and secretary-treasurer, Clyde C. Estes. The Clay County Courier found in the box was dated August 18, 1889. A document concerning Brilliant Rebekah Lodge No. 54, IOOF was also found. It told of the organization by Mrs. M. E. Rhea on July 2, 1884 with ten charter members and then listed the 44 members of the organization on August 22, 1889.
The installation of a chlorinator at the sewage disposal plant has been responsible for more pleasant living conditions for Corning residents who live on the downwind side of the plant. Even on the hottest days the offensive odors from the plant are nonexistent.
Clay County voters turned out in force Tuesday to defeat by more than two to one vote the proposals to build a courthouse at Corning to serve the Western District, a courthouse at Piggott to serve the Eastern District and just as soundly trounced the proposal to build a jail at Piggott. Discussions of what to do next dominate street corner talk and many of the amateur politicians are conducting post mortems on the election results.
Most people in the county apparently feel that there is a definite and positive need for two courthouses, but expressed the feeling that $600,000 structures are not warranted in a county with a sagging economy. Advocates of the two courthouse plans believe that two structures could be financed on a two mill basis, should the planners turn up with a courthouse for Corning costing approximately $120,000 and one for Piggott costing approximately $180,000. These, they feel, would be more in keeping with the general economy and compatible with the architecture of the area.
Public school music is being introduced in the Corning elementary school system this fall by Mrs. Richard Loyd. Each classroom has a 30 minute session with her three times each week, grades one through six.
Members of the Second Baptist Church at a business meeting earlier this month adopted a resolution to change the name of the church to the Calvary Church. Reverend Sedric D. Wesson, pastor, said that the congregation had considered the name of Calvary Baptist Church at the time the church was built. As the membership of the church grew, more people expressed an interest in adopting the new name. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Gilbert Morris, who served until the summer of 1962. He was followed by Reverend Eugene Dudley of Rector who served as interim pastor for approximately two months until the arrival of Rev. Wesson.
Two men were killed in a car truck collision Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on Highway 67 North. Dead are Glendal Smith, 29, of Corning and Byron Graves, 50, of Knobel. Critically injured are Richard Sheeley, 21, of Corning and Danny Booth, 24, Knobel.
Mrs. D. O. Ousnamer was selected by the Corning Business and Professional Women's Club, at their September meeting to be their "Woman of the Year."
Carl Judson Launius, Jr., 17, Corning Senior, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl J. Launius, was critically injured in Friday's game between Harrisburg and Corning. Launius suffered spinal injuries following a hard, head-on tackle during the game. He was rushed to the Methodist Hospital in Memphis where he was placed in traction to relieve the pressure on his spinal column.
Glenn Witcher has just recently been promoted to local manager of the Arkansas-Missouri Power Company's local offices. He has been acting manager of the Corning office since the resignation of H. B. (Jim) Richardson.
Corning's newest industry, Corning Concrete Products Company, owned by Gene Magee, will be in operation during the first part of November if construction of facilities continues at the present pace. Magee purchased a plot of ground just across from Polk Chevrolet Company and is completely refurnishing the 1,000 square foot wooden building located on the lot which will be used as a combination display room and office facility.
Two other buildings are in process of construction. Magee said that his company will make concrete blocks of all sizes and will specialize in decorative concrete block, decorative screen blocks and later will make culvert tile.
The Judson Launius Fund has reached $4,275.19 as of Wednesday morning with more money reported coming in each day.
The Clay County Courier installs offset press in modernization program.
A Chamber of Commerce airport committee was appointed by Chamber president Gerald Morgan at a regular monthly meeting of the Chamber, Monday. The committee was asked to work with the local Junior Chamber of Commerce who have undertaken the task of securing airport facilities. Those appointed were L. James (Pouge) Shelton, Dr. B. C. Page, John O. Black, E. W. Cochran, Al Brashears and H. B. (Jim) Richardson.
Corning IGA Food Market, under the managership of Jack Mann and Douglas Yamnitz, will open Wednesday, November 13. The new store is located at 305 Front Street, just south of the Western Auto Store.
The local housing authority appointed Fred Smith as executive director of the local housing project. Smith's duties were assumed November 15 on a part time basis. He will continue his duties as deputy county clerk until the project goes into full operation.
Mr. and Mrs. Roy C. (Junior) Barnhill have been awarded first prize in the B. and P. W. sponsored home lighting contest.
Letcher C. Smith, 60 year old carpenter and farmer of Datto, was killed Saturday at 8:15 a.m. when the tractor he was driving overturned and pinned him underneath it.
Help in locating an acre of ground within three miles of Corning on an improved road was all that was asked of the local Jaycees by a representative who desires to locate a processing plant in the Corning area.
Leslie D. Russell, Glenn Witcher and Marshall E. Young have been named to three year terms on the Chamber board of directors.
Corning's Little League baseball park is rapidly taking shape with borrowed equipment, donated labor and assistance from some of the players who plan to utilize the facility. All are pitching in to convert some 2.06 acres into a modern Little League ball park complete with grandstands, concession stand, lighted scoreboards and all the other refinements which can be provided.
Another of Corning's landmarks is fast disappearing as what was known as Schirmer's Hospital is being torn down to make way for a new addition to the Corning Nursing Home. The structure was built in the 1800's by Mack Ward, who sold it to J. M. Hawks in 1898. Hawks enlarged it to its present size and it served as a family residence for several years. He sold the house to C. T. Bloodworth and then the property later was transferred to Dr. Blackwood. Dr. Blackwood sold the property to Dr. J. S. Schirmer, who turned the residence into a hospital. The hospital opened on August 1 1936 with 15 patients. Dr. Schirmer operated the hospital here until 1953 when he moved from Corning. The building was vacant for two years until members of the M. B. Ainley family bought the structure in 1955. They repaired the building an it became Corning Nursing Home in 1956.
Police Chief D. A. Snider said that the war on dogs would continue until all strays have been eliminated. He reported that there were some 62 dog put to death thus far and estimated that there were that many strays yet to be killed.
Gerald Morgan was elected president of Corning Chamber of Commerce at a board of directors meeting held Monday. Dr. Ray Smith was elected vice president and Dennis L. Berry was re-appointed secretary-treasurer.
The Corning Nursing Home Mission Sunday School, sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Corning, was organized by a former pastor, Rev. Curtis McClain, in October, 1958. Rev. and Mrs. W. T. Gulledge were elected by First Baptist Church to conduct this Sunday School. The Gulledges have been reelected to this work each year since then. The first class taught had an enrollment of 20 and present enrollment is 56.
The Chamber of Commerce gained title to the Little League ball field and park, now under construction, last week. Clay County Electric Cooperative manager J. A. Lillard, who is spearheading the project to provide a Little League park for boys seven to 12 said that he was extremely gratified at the fine response his group had received and the splendid cooperation which had been given by all persons.
Jimmy Dale Smith, 16, of Knobel was in satisfactory condition following a self-inflicted gun shot wound at approximately 3:15 Monday afternoon in Corning. Smith and one other youth were brought to the offices of Dennis Berry, attorney, in custody of deputy Sheriff Wid Rice to discuss a reported housebreaking. Smith, who was on furlough from the State Industrial School, admitted his part in the housebreaking. After learning that he would be returned to the industrial school, he asked to use the rest room. Berry reported that there was a sharp report which one person described as the sound of a chair being overturned. Smith then stepped out of the rest room with his hand over his right breast and said, "I shot myself."

1964
Mr. and Mrs. Roy C. (Junior) Barnhill, West Third Street, won first place in the B. and P. W. lighting contest. There were three red candles surrounded with greenery in each bedroom window and a wreath between them.
Three young men who escaped from the Clay County Jail in Corning Monday at 1:30 a.m., were captured Monday night after only a brief interlude of freedom. The youths are James McConnell 20, Lyman McConnell, 16, and John Anthony Hicks, 16. Ironically, the same youths foiled a jail break by Roy C. Barnhill Thursday evening.
Harold Poynor who recently purchased Blackwood and Bone Hardware in Corning, has changed the name to Poynor Hardware and Furniture Company.
Corning telephone numbers will change to the all number dial system at eight a.m. Friday (January 24). At that same time two new telephone exchanges in the surrounding area will begin operation.
Mrs. Alvin Cole reported a total of 1,730 automobile license tags were sold in the Western District during the month of January.
Mayor E. W. Cochran announced at the regular monthly Chamber of Commerce meeting Monday that the City of Corning is planning to purchase 21.9 acres of ground for a 20.1 acre sewage disposal lagoon. The lagoon will be constructed approximately 200 feet west of the present disposal plant.
Progress in Arkansas highlighted the theme of Governor Orval E. Faubus' address before a luncheon meeting of the Corning Chamber of Commerce.
A pre-dawn fire which raged out of control for more than four hours Sunday completely leveled a half block of Corning's business district, causing damages estimated at between one-half million and a million dollars. A large crowd of spectators watched more than 50 firemen battle the blaze, visible for more than 40 miles, spouting flames 100 feet into the air. Lost in the fire that raged out of control for about four hours were the Sheeks Lumber Company offices, store rooms and lumber storage sheds as well as four trucks owned by Brook Sheeks; The Poyner Insurance Agency office owned by Lowell and Perry Poyner; The Midwest Auto Store stock and building owned by Thomas George; The Western Auto Store owned by Joe Ballenger and the Dearing Electric, owned by Howard Dearing. The fire was discovered about 2:30 a.m. by Mrs. Ralph Windham who awakened to see flames coming from the north end of the Sheeks lumber shed. She immediately notified her son, Thomas George, who turned in the alarm.
Customers of The Corning Bank will now be able to make deposits at any hour of any day or night throughout the year, including Sundays and holidays, it was announced by Mrs. Sam L. Manatt, president of the bank. This new achievement in security is the result of the installation of an ultra modern night deposit system. The dual entrance unit of the day and night deposit system through which deposits are made, is located on the outside of the bank building.
A cold, driving spring rain slashed across Arkansas sending rivers out of their banks and flooding countless acres of bottom land. A total of 6.99 inches of precipitation was dumped on Corning over a three day period which started Saturday evening. The nearly seven inches of rain came hard at the heels of almost two inches of rain which accumulated in a three day period beginning March 3. Two spring calves belonging to O. L. Wood were drowned on his area located behind Corning Pickle Plant. Highway 211 to Success was closed as high water from the Little Black and Current rivers left their banks, inundating hundreds of acres of choice farmland. By Monday, Highway 90 to Boydsville was closed and Highway 135 was closed for a few hours due to high water.
Construction was started Monday on a new building which will house the city offices and also serve as a firehouse for Corning's two fire trucks, as well as the civil defense truck. Mayor Cochran said it will be a 42 by 50 foot building of concrete block construction, located between King Radio Service and the Magnus Manufacturing Company in the 400 block of Main Street.
A public housing loan of $652,240 has been approved by the Housing and Home Finance Agency for construction of 52 federally financed low rent homes. A telegram last week notified the local housing authority of this action. One of the sites under consideration for construction of the housing is located in the Crafton Addition, but no definite action has been taken.
Forces opposed to federal housing are mounting increasing opposition to the plan to locate low-cost federally financed public housing in Corning. Several groups have met to organize battle plans in an attempt to halt plant for construction of 52 federally financed units.
Morgan Pharmacy was burglarized again Friday night for the third time in nine years. In the most recent break-in, thieves gained entrance in prying a window from a south window of the Cash-Page Clinic, then breaking a glass door leading from the Clinic to the Pharmacy. About $800 was taken from the pharmacy safe.
Members of the Clay County Electric Cooperative were informed last July of plans for an addition to the present headquarters building in Corning. Construction of the 3,844 square foot addition was started the first of May.
The City of Corning has received a federal grant from the US Public Health Service in the amount of $12,090 for assistance in construction of the new oxidation pond which will be located in the southwest section of Corning. This is part of a $194,000 water and sewer improvement program.
Construction work was started this week on the new building for Midwest Auto Store, owned by Thomas George. The new steel construction building is on the same location, corner of west First and Main streets, as the building which burned several weeks ago.
Stanley E. Graber, M. D., graduated from Vanderbilt University Medical School, Nashville, Tenn., on May 23, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha scholarship society in medicine. He will begin his internship in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University Hospital on June 24.
"Lillard Field" is the official name of Corning's new $25,000 Little League baseball park, since the dedication ceremony and grand opening of the facility last Thursday night. Dan Lynch, Corning baseball commissioner, was master of ceremonies for the dedication program. Gerald Morgan, president of the Corning Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the huge crowd of baseball fans and civic-minded persons. George Kell, former major league baseball player and a native of Swifton, was introduced as speaker for the event.
Two landmarks which have faced each other on Second Street in Corning's business district for many years, are being torn down at the present time. On the west side of the street, the old Harry Lasater home is being torn down by Buel Smith who recently purchased the property. The house, which was built in 1899 by Mr. Lasater, was for years, considered the most elegant home in Corning. Facing the Lasater home on the opposite side of Second Street is the old Mac Ward home which has been sold to J. D. (Red) Taylor, who is having it torn down. The Ward house is one of the oldest houses in Corning, having possibly been built as early as 1880. It is a box house, a house with no studding. Mac Ward bought the house around 1920 when he moved his Starlight Theatre to Second Street and members of Mr. Ward's family resided in the house for many years. With these two landmarks torn away no residential structures remain in the Corning business section.
Dan Lynch, chairman of the parsonage building committee of First Baptist Church, lifted the first shovel full of soil on the parsonage site Saturday morning, June 27. The parsonage is to be built in the Smith Addition in south Corning by Edwin Ahrent, contractor.
Corning residents, in referendum vote Tuesday, defeated two issues in one of the largest voting turnouts in recent times. The first issue concerned Resolution No. 6402 for the sale of bonds in the amount of $194,000 for constructing sewer and water improvements and refunding some $64,000 of combined waterworks and sewer revenue term bonds. The second issue was related to selling the bonds at established interest rates for the bonds to mature over a 30 year period. A total of 517 voted on the issue, including 25 absentees ballots.
The city council, at a meeting Tuesday, authorized the E. L. Villareal and Company, Incorporated, to prepare a bond ordinance and other necessary proceedings to issue $80,000 combined waterworks and sewer revenue bonds maturing in 25 years. The programs calls for a building of the oxidation pond and a new water tower to be located in the general area of Sprague Field. The previous bond issue, defeated July 14, called for services to be run to the Crafton Addition which is on one of the areas under consideration for the location of federal housing. Opponents of the earlier bond issue felt that a vote against extension of the water and sewer facilities to the addition would be a vote against federal housing. The city council also officially acknowledged a petition calling for an initiative ordinance signed by 102 persons. Purpose of the action is to bring to general vote in order to nullify the ordinance establishing the Federal Housing Authority.
Three new board members to the Corning Chamber of Commerce were elected Monday night at the regular meeting to replace Gerald Morgan, Niles Cherry and Frank Johnson whose terms had expired. New board members are Richard O. Ermert, F. B. Manatt, and J. V. Rockwell.
Fred A. Smith, executive director, Housing Authority, City of Corning, presented a check in the amount of $19,300 to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph (Snooks) Crafton in full payment for approximately six acres of ground in the Crafton Addition north of Corning.
Opponents of a plan to bring Federally financed housing to Corning filed a complaint in chancery court last week to obtain an injunction against the Housing Authority which would stop any activity by that group until the case is heard in court. Plaintiffs in the action are Charles R. Black, Jr., Hosea L. Davis, Arlie Taylor, William J. Maddox, Walter Arnold and Calvin Seratt.
The empty 1950 Chevrolet demolished by a southbound Missouri Pacific train only seconds after it had been occupied by Mrs. Bud Hollis, her mother, Mrs. Beulah Cook, and five children ranging in age from 15 months to ten years. Mrs. Hollis' westbound car stalled on the tracks at the Olive Street crossing. Mrs. Cook, a passenger in the front seat along with Mrs. Hollis and her 15 month old daughter, Patricia, saw a train bearing down on the car just behind the depot. Seconds after they abandoned the car the train struck the passenger side of the automobile. The car landed upright, facing south, completely demolished.
The former Knobel Milling Company building used for storage of feed and commodities, and owned by Ted Hastings of Moark, was completely destroyed by fire about 3:15 Monday morning.
The post office department will save an estimated $1,000 per year as a result of closing the post office at Moark, effective August 28. All mail formerly addressed to Moark should be addressed to Rural Route One, Corning.
With the deadline for the city election only ten days away, September 19, eight persons have filed to run for office. Filing to run in the November 3 election thus far are: for mayor, E. W. Cochran; clerk and recorder, Miss Birdie Sullins and Noel Turner; chief of police, D. A. Snider; alderman, Corbin Gerrish, South Ward Two, H. N. Robinson, South Ward One. H. B. Richardson, North Ward Two. H. J. Pillow, Jr., North Ward One. D. L. Berry has filed for the post of city attorney. Bryan McCallen and Aubrey Arnold, present city council members, thus far have not filed for reelection. Pillow and Robinson, as well as Cochran are candidates for reelection. 
T. W. Arnell, 42 year old farmer residing on Route One, Corning, died at the Methodist Hospital in Memphis, Friday afternoon, September 25, from injuries received in an accident near his home Thursday morning. Arnell, drove his pickup truck off the Little-T Road onto Highway 67 into the path of a huge tractor-trailer.
The federal housing issue will appear on the November ballot as a result of Chancery Judge Terry Shell granting a continuance and in so doing postponed the trial date until after the November 3 election.
Dr. Ray C. Stith, Chamber of Commerce president, appointed committees for the coming year. Dr. B. C. Page, in commenting on the progress of the airport committee, reported that they were attempting to obtain land for a landing strip but that any announcement at this time would be premature.
Corning's National Fish Hatchery, under the new management of James H. Henning, has a complete new employee force.
Both proponents and opponents of public housing had an opportunity to voice their divergent opinions at a mass meeting at the Corning High School cafeteria, Tuesday evening. The meeting was designed to give both groups an opportunity to present. their various cases in question and answer period following a short informal presentation by the housing authority which included talks by the architect, a manager of a housing authority for Lonoke County and a slide presentation showing other local housing projects. A crowd estimated at more than 100 was present. Moderator for the program was Dr. B. C. Page who was introduced to the group by Sam Manatt, Jr.
Voters turned out in record numbers at the polls Tuesday, largely echoing in Clay County the Democratic trend which swept President Johnson, Governor Faubus and local Democrats back into office. Voting records in Corning were shattered with the record turnout. Unofficial estimates placed the turnout as high as 80 percent of Corning's eligible voters casting their ballots. When the smoke of the political battle cleared, Mayor E. W. Cochran had gathered a grand total of 525 votes to his opponent's, Tiddle Walls, 405. The majority of aldermen favoring local public housing were reelected while the initiative ordinance designed to abolish local housing passed.
The grand opening of the Piggly Wiggly, Corning's newest addition to the business district, is announced this week. Darrell Bowling comes to Corning as manager of the store.
James L. Bartlett leased the Ermert Real Estate Agency, effective January 1 and will assume the title of sales and business manager of that firm.

1967
Several changes were made in the various offices at the Western District Courthouse with the beginning of the new year. Bill Pond, deputy county clerk, and Woodrow Edington, deputy tax assessor, remain at their positions. Denzil C. Wright is the new deputy circuit clerk. Jess Watson is the new deputy treasurer and James L. Rhodes is the deputy collector. Carl L. Ermert, Clay County's senior elected official continues his duties as county judge, having been reelected in the Democratic Primary elections last summer.
Rorex Super Market, owned by Jerry Rorex, is holding a grand opening celebration at their new store on north First Street. They moved into their new metal building which has 6,600 square feet of floor space, just before the holidays.
An estimated 40 persons were present to pay tribute to D. A. Snider who recently retired as Corning's Chief of Police after 21 years of service with the department, Monday night. John O. Black served as master of ceremonies. The principal speaker for the evening was County Judge Carl Ermert.
J. C. Smithson was installed as president of the Kiwanis Club of Corning at a dinner meeting held Tuesday at Corning Elementary School cafeteria.
Tiny Bridget Ann Hastings is only seven days old but she is the "big" news for the Courier and this area this week. Bridget Ann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Hastings, Jr., is our First Baby of the Year and is being honored with a shower of gifts from Corning business firms. She arrived January 2, 1967, at Community Methodist Hospital, Paragould.
A pre-dawn fire, Friday, January 20, completely destroyed the State Theatre building on Second Street in downtown Corning. The fire was reported at 4:45 a.m. and was burning out of control when the Corning volunteer firemen arrived. The fire left members of the Catholic Church residing in this area, without a meeting place as they had been holding Sunday Mass in an upstairs room at the theatre for a number of years. The movie featured on the theatre marque at the time of the fire was, "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof."
N. N. Steinberg, who often refers to himself as Corning's oldest merchant, has retired after 66 years in the local business scene. His well earned retirement officially came about Monday, January 30, when he sold The Bargain Center on Second Street to Harry A. and Charles E. Cohen, a father-son partnership who operate other stores of a similar nature in Kansas. He is one of five sons of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Steinberg, pioneer Corning business people who opened their first store in the old St. James Hotel building in 1903, after moving in Corning in 1901. In 1912 they bought out the stock of the Schnable Store and moved to the Hopson building. They later moved their stock of merchandise to the W. D. Polk building and lost their store by fire sometime around 1927.
James Lewis Jeffers, 63, resident of Route One Corning, was killed Monday when a tractor he was driving struck an electric light pole and overturned on him. The accident occurred on the B. B. Pelts' farm southwest of Corning about three o'clock in the afternoon.
Airport construction for Corning, which may be considered for assistance under the Federal Aid Airport Program, is among projects listed in the 1966-67 National Airport Plan.
Tommie Ragsdale, who assumed duties as Chief of Police of Corning upon retirement of D. A. Snider, January 1, 1967, has resigned, effective Saturday May 13, 1967.
Clay County farmers are experiencing very difficult planting season similar to last year. The weekend rain and hail also did tremendous damage to what appeared to be a good crop for this area. Friday was a terrible day for those persons who are extremely afraid of tornadoes, as we spent a full day as potential tornado "customers". At exactly 12 noon Friday the sky became so dark that the street lights, which are automatic, came on. Again at 4:30 Friday we had a rain storm with much lightning and mothball size hail covered Second Street in downtown Corning for a brief time and again the streetlights came on. The storm continued throughout the night Friday, it rained all day on Saturday, all day Sunday and again Sunday night, a total of ten inches of rainfall.
Fire completely destroyed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Zenith March on the Crismon farm north of Corning Highway 67 a few hours after it was rammed by a pickup truck Sunday morning about 12:30.
Corning School Board accepted bids on the new Junior-Senior High School building Thursday night, February 16. The school board accepted the lowest bid submitted by M & M Construction Company from Jonesboro. The M & M bid was of $579,000 was to construct a gymnasium, a high school building, a cafeteria-auditorium-library building, a junior high school building and an administrative building. Approximately 82,538 square feet of floor space will be constructed for an average cost of $7.02 per square foot.
Frank Pineda of Paragould is the new pharmacist at Morgan Pharmacy, working four days a week.
Tucker Blankenship reported this week that an application for a loan of $250,000 had been submitted to the Farmers Home Administration to build and operate a community recreational center for western Clay County. The application for the loan was signed by Tucker Blankenship, Mrs. Sam Manatt and Dennis Berry.
Carol Lee Casey and William George King, both of Knobel, were sentenced to five years in prison recently in Federal District Court, Little Rock, for passing counterfeit bills last August.
Rogers Farr is awarded Eagle Scout rank, Monday.
Reported sightings of unidentified flying objects, often referred to as "flying saucers" last week have left many Piggott and Eastern District folks with stiff necks from watching the sky for hours each night with many of them declaring that they don't care what anybody says, they know that they have seen-they just don't know how to explain it.
Richard (Dickie) Shepard, lifetime resident of Corning, joins the local law enforcement group Sunday, April 16, and will be working on an alternating schedule, part days and part nights.
Mrs. Sharon Kay Spears, 17 year old resident of Corning, died at Piggott Hospital of a gunshot wound in the head about 5:30 Tuesday afternoon. Her husband, David Spears, is being held in the county jail at Piggott pending investigation and, according to Prosecuting Attorney Gerald Pearson, will be charged with first-degree murder.
Black River claimed the lives of two young persons by drowning, over the past weekend-Mrs. Phillis Fay Gardner, age 18, of Route One, Corning, who drowned late Saturday afternoon at the Moark Landing, four miles east of Moark, and Jackie Little, 19, who drowned Sunday afternoon at a swimming place often referred to Pigeon's Roost, or the Dal Taylor Place.
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new First Methodist Church, corner Third and Vine Streets, were held at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 2, 1967.
Elected to the board of the Corning Chamber of Commerce are Dan Lynch, A. D. Jones and Leon Foster, for three-year terms. they replace J. V. Rockwell, Richard Ermert and F. B. Manatt, whose three year term has expired.
The nation's third highest honor was conferred posthumously on Lonnie E. Parker for valor while serving his country in action in Vietnam. The Silver Star was presented to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Parker, Success.
Corning schools in District Number Eight enrolled 1,419 students Monday, according to information received from the office of Superintendent of Schools, Ray B. Watson.
Two Corning residents, Mrs. Leon Foster and Miss Joan Karnes, were members of the senior class of the Poplar Bluff public schools practical nursing program and participated in graduation exercises Thursday, September 1.
The Corning Municipal Airport, on Highway 67 West, was included in a list of airports within the State of Arkansas where significant changes have recently taken place.
Louis Hesse is new president of Corning Chamber of Commerce.
Brenda Brownfiel, daughter of Mrs. Retha Brownfiel, underwent a successful kidney transplant operation at University Hospital, Little Rock, Wednesday of last week.
Judge A. S. (Todd) Harrison of Blytheville presided over the September term, 1967, Circuit Court which was in session five days last week in the new courthouse building.
A 25-year-old Negro man who, apparently, had ambitions to become one of the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" was picked up here in a stolen car, April 6, and turned over to the FBI authorities. Deputy Sheriff Noal Turner took Billy Ray Nash into custody near the weight station when he arrived here with Missouri State Patrolmen in hot pursuit, trying to pick him up on a speeding charge. Since being picked up, authorities here have received numerous telephone calls from law enforcement officers in many areas who have him charged with all types of theft and robbery.
Plans for a new First Methodist Church building have been virtually completed and contracts for constructions work to be let as soon as the old church structure has been razed, John O. Black, chairman of the building committee, said today. The $91,000 structure will be under the architectural supervision of R. and W. Construction Company, Little Rock.
A disagreement and an exchange of threats which began at Foster's Tavern near the Arkansas- Missouri state line late Wednesday night of last week ended at about two o'clock Thursday morning with one man and five Corning teenagers behind bars at the Corning Jail and a sixth youth receiving emergency treatment at Cash-Page Clinic for severe gunshot wounds which resulted in loss of sight in one of his eyes. The boys, Stanley Sisson, John Ray Smith, David Ray Smith, David Hawkins, Darrel Reeves and Gary Knowlton had left their homes with intentions to spend the night at the Smith cabin on Current River. Also lodged in Corning Jail was William Brasham of Louisville, Ky., who is temporarily residing in the Taylor Apartments on Highway 67 in west Corning.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Parker of Success on Monday of this week received a Bronze Star Medal and certificate, awarded posthumously to their son Specialist 4 Lonnie E. Parker, who lost his life while serving in Vietnam.
Robert S. Hester, Jr., 14, attained the rank of Eagle at a Court of Honor and awards ceremony conducted Sunday afternoon at the Masonic Temple.
The city council, at a special meeting Monday, voted to make application for a $1,000,000 loan used in water and sewer improvements for the City of Corning and immediate area. The loan, which takes from three to six months for approval, would be used to extend water and sewer lines to the Arnold Addition, construction of a new water tower, enlargement of the present treatment plant and payment of existing indebtedness amounting to approximately $321,000. 
Robert Horton is a new resident of Corning and an employee of Morgan Pharmacy.
Construction work on the $785,000 Junior-Senior High School project in north Corning is estimated by Superintendent Ray B. Watson, to be 50 percent completed and moving day is tentatively set for March 1, depending, of course, on weather conditions during the coming winter months.
Homer J. Pillow, Jr., Corning resident and an employee of Clay County Electric Co-op. Corp. received 398 votes of the 648 votes cost in School District Number Eight, Tuesday, to be named a member of the school board. His opponent was DeWayne Cannady, Datto. Pillow replaces F. B. Manatt whose term on the board has expired.
A McDougal man, Ralph Reed, age 60, is being held in the Butler County jail at Poplar Bluff, charged with felonies in connection with the death Friday night of Raymond Conyers, age 60, of Route One, Pollard. Reed allegedly was involved in a fight with Conyers in which Conyers died. First-degree murder charges against Reed were dismissed on September 30, after a coroner's jury ruled only that Raymond Conyers, 60, of Pollard, "met his death by a blow on the back of his head."
An estimated 157 persons were present at the Corning Industrial Appreciation Banquet held on Monday in the Corning Elementary School Cafeteria. The program, which stated that 6:30 p.m., followed an afternoon bus tour of the city, industrial plants and points of community interest. 
Both of Clay County's new courthouse buildings, which have been occupied in recent weeks, will be dedicated on Friday, October 20, according to announcement made by County Judge Carl L. Ermert. 
115 attend Northeast District meeting of Business and Professional Women's Club held here over the weekend. Mrs. J. D. Norman is named Corning's "Woman of the Year."
October 14, 1967 marks the end of an era for the Post Office Department. The last Railway Post Office on the Missouri Pacific Railroad makes its final run into Little Rock. Distribution of mail on trains started about 1862 when the postmaster of St. Joseph, Missouri wanted to keep the Pony Express running on schedule.
Denny Curtis, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harley Curtis, Route Two, Corning, remains in critical condition at St. Joseph Hospital, Memphis where he was taken via ambulance following a motorcycle- truck accident, Sunday, on Highway 62 just west of Black River bridge.
Superintendent of Schools Ray B. Watson has received final approval for Title 1 ESEA fund for the 1967-68 school year. Associate Commissioner W. H. Moore, who is in charge of the federal programs for the state of Arkansas, has notified Watson that the Corning School District has been approved for $80,751 under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, ESEA, Title 1.
Randy Hewitt, four year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Hewitt, Route One, Corning, was severely burned over much of his body Sunday at his home. The child was brought to Page Clinic for emergency treatment before his parents accompanied him to Arkansas Baptist Hospital, Little Rock.
Dr. B. C. Page has been named president of the Corning School Board of Education. As president, he replaces F. B. Manatt whose term on the board expired in September.
Mrs. Kethel Morley who resides on Route One, Corning, said that her sister, Mrs. Gladys Reed of Thorton, Colo., recently purchased an old trunk and its contents, mostly books. Mrs. Reed brought the bill here with her on a Thanksgiving visit and told her sister if she would bother to find out the value they would share anything they could get for it.
If favorable weather would set in and hold just a couple of weeks, workers could see completion of a $13,000 drainage project for District Number Five. The project is being financed by landowners in the district with all the work, except for use of heavy dragline equipment. being donated by those farmers-landowners who will benefit most from the completed project.
Farmers and other interested persons in western Clay County have expressed great concern that the ASC State Committee would consider closing the Corning ASCS office and have let their disappointment be known, both in Little Rock and in Washington, DC.
Fire loss amounting to an estimated several thousand dollars was experienced by McKinney Equipment Co. on Highway 67 North, early Wednesday morning.
The First Assembly of God has a new pastor, Rev. Royse W. Ford, formerly of Blytheville.

1968
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Woolridge and her mother, Mrs. Myrtle Lester, of Route One, had close calls with carbon monoxide that kept them in and out of a Poplar Bluff hospital over much of the New Year's holiday weekend.
The seven room home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Smith at 801 Chestnut Street, in south Corning, was lost in a fire which began about 1:15 Sunday afternoon, January 7.
Corning's 1968 Baby of the Year is Tony Lee Saylors, who arrived at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, January 14. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Saylors and was born at Pocahontas.
Last weekend, with snow that began falling shortly after noon Friday, on top of a coat of ice already underfoot, was one of the most hazardous locally for several years past. The snow continued most of the night Friday, all day on Saturday and well into the night Saturday and began a third hitch about 6:00 a.m. Sunday, not letting up until noon.
One person was hospitalized and one person spent the night in Corning Jail, Wednesday of last week, following collision of their automobiles at the comer of Harb and Polk Streets in west Corning in the late afternoon. Mrs. H. N. Robinson, an employee at Corning Elementary School, was taken from the accident scene to Doctors Hospital, Poplar Bluff, by her husband and remains there receiving treatment for multiple injuries. Her automobile was struck by a car driven by Roy C. (Junior) Barnhill, which failed to stop at a marked corner.
One hundred and four persons attended the American Legion fish fry at Corning Elementary School cafeteria, Monday night. Members of the Bishop L. Gage Post and guests consumed 74 pounds of catfish, 34 pounds of frozen potatoes and 26 pies and cakes. Highlighting the evening's activity was the presentation of a check in the amount of $161 to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Launius to aid in the Juddy Launius Education Fund. The Launius family reported that five clubs have contributed thus far to the fund, making a total contribution of $966.80.
Corning approved for $371,000 public loan for water and sewer system improvements. Local authorities report the existing water distribution system and treatment facilities, as well as the sewage pumping facilities, are inadequate to meet present needs.
Rodney Smith, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Smith, Corning was seriously injured in an accident involving his motorcycle and a tractor-trailer owned by Ray McGrew, Success, on Highway 67 North, at approximately 4:30 p.m. Monday.
E. W. Cochran was high bidder for Sprague Field when bids were opened at a Board of Education meeting, Tuesday, February 13. Cochran's bid was $25,005.
In a talk at the Tuesday noon meeting of Kiwanis Club, Leon Foster, manager of Corning Grain Drying Cooperative, stated that bulldozers will move onto the plant property north of Corning this week to begin work toward construction of additional concrete storage bins, a project which will cost more than $600,000.
Members of the First Baptist Church held a special business meeting Wednesday evening of last week and voted to extend a call to Rev. Paul Stender of Liberty, Mississippi, to be pastor of the church.
Dr. B. C. Page, president, presided over a three hour meeting of the Corning Board of Education held Tuesday night when a number of important issues were presented for discussion and decision. The board, after a joint meeting and discussion on March 7, with the Moark PTA, has decided to close the Moark school after this year. The school now has 68 students enrolled in grades one through six and has a teaching staff of four.
Manager Glenn Witcher announces that Open House will be held Friday, April 5, at the new Arkansas-Missouri Power Company office facility on the corner of West First and Pine streets.
A group of interested citizens met Monday at The Corning Bank in a continuing effort to promote the establishment of a recreational center in Corning with golf course, swimming pool and other facilities.
Jim L. Ballenger was notified .this week of his official appointment as Acting Postmaster of the Corning Post Office.
Corning volunteer firemen were called at 5:05 Sunday morning when a two-story building on West Vine Street was discovered to be afire, out of control. The building on the back of the Vine Street property owned by the estate of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Johnson, housed Tina's Beauty Shop and an apartment in the upstairs. A total of 12,000 telephones were out of service, some until Tuesday, when the service was interrupted because the fire burned three main cable leads in two, affecting 500 lines.
Postmaster W. Earl Polk and longtime postal worker Robert Blackburn will be honored Friday during which the incoming postmaster, Jim L. Ballenger, will be installed.
The Game and Fish Commission, Tuesday, dumped a total of 2073 eating size channel catfish into Corning and Long Lakes.
A Corning landmark, the 64 year-old former home of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Bailey on Highway 67 North, was destroyed by fire shortly after noon Saturday. The two story frame building was owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Tate and six children and by a son, Louis Tate and family. Over the years the house had been the home of Mr. and Mrs. Luther Burpo, Mr. and Mrs. H. Goode, the John Kamerman and John Marr families and others.
Carl M. Bradberry, 49 year old resident of Route Two, Corning, was fatally injured in an accident involving two cars and a trailer-truck, Saturday at the Highway 67-63 junction, Poplar Bluff.
Twenty-two persons attended a meeting of the Corning Community Recreation Association held Tuesday evening at the courthouse. Purpose of the meeting was to hear a recommendation of the board consisting of Sam Manatt, Jr., John O. Black, Richard C. Polk, Ray Shaver and J. V. Rockwell. Acting Chairman Sam Manatt, Jr., reported that the committee had investigated and had secured option on a number of pieces of property, but recommended the Eddie Poe Crafton farm. He reported that one of the influencing factors was that the area is the closest property to Corning and that Corning Lake could be developed along with the property.
Albert (Bunch) Wilson, resident of Wardell Street, north Corning has been hired as local law enforcement officer, replacing Gene Smith, who has resigned, effective Friday, May 3.
A crowd estimated at between 75 and 100 persons was present at the public meeting, Monday evening, which was called for the purpose of discussing proposed water and sewer rate charges.
The school board and their wives were host to the annual faculty dinner held Friday evening at the Corning Elementary School. Following the dinner, a recognition ceremony gave special honors to two retiring teachers, Mrs. George Bridges is just completing her 47th year of teaching school in the Corning District. Mrs. D. A. Snider is just completing her 43rd year of teaching, also all of them in the Corning School District.
The Roman Catholic Mission Church is beginning to make its own impression on the horizon of Corning with the erection this week of the unusual supporting structure. The overall plan of the new church will be in the shape of a rather "fat" cross with the short portion lying in an East-West direction and the longer cross section lying in a North-South direction, facing Harb Street. Builder is Edwin Ahrent.
Tezzie Smith, 79 year old retired merchant and landowner, died Thursday night, May 23. He was born in McNairy County, Tenn., and his family moved to Arkansas when he was a child. They settled in Success early in the 1900's and he opened his first store there in 1910. He moved his store and family to Corning in 1936 and had operated a store on Second Street since that time. He also was a fur buyer, had extensive land holdings in the county and helped to establish the Co-op Gin at Datto. He was a member and steward of the Methodist Church and was for many years a member of the Clay County Democratic Central Committee.
Harry M. Harmon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Harmon of Corning, is among the 157 students at the University of Arkansas Medical Center who will receive diplomas at the 90th annual graduation exercises, Sunday afternoon, June 9, 1968, Little Rock. He has earned the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
Mayor Aubrey Arnold made the first call over the new telephone system for Corning area, Tuesday morning, June 4, replacing the older and smaller system which had been proving dial telephone service in Corning for the past several years.
Young Gregory Livingston had a close call about midmorning, Tuesday, in a collision between a bicycle he was riding and an automobile being driven by Mrs. Fletcher Sullards.
Louis Ermert, 55 year old lifelong resident of Route One, Corning, was fatally burned in a fire at 9:30 Sunday morning which also destroyed his farm home and all contents.
Corning's largest industry, The Clayton Shoe Company has a major expansion underway. Clayton is in the process of adding a 10,000 square foot addition to their existing 30,000 feet of manufacturing area which ultimately will boost the number of employees to 375 with a total annual payroll in excess of one million dollars.
Army Captain McNish, E. W. Cochran and Fletcher Sullards were named to three year terms on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Tom Kohlbrecher named manager of Basler Electric Corning plant.
Ark-Mo Power Company workmen have completed installation of five of the new light poles at the new Corning school football field in time for the last game of the season which is scheduled for Saturday night. There are 19 lights on each end pole and 22 lights on each center pole, for a total of 60 medium beam and 60 wide beam quartz lights, mounted on 80 foot poles.
The new Tourist Rest and Information Center, five miles north of Corning on Highway 67, has become quite popular with the motoring public in recent weeks. The newly constructed center was formally opened on August 19 and the picnic area is open to the public 24 hours a day.
A public hearing before the Arkansas Commerce Commission will be held in little Rock September 18 in the matter of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company's application for authority to establish mobile agencies in the state. This means that the Corning depot, as well as depots between here and Newport, would be closed and a mobile van, equipped with an office would make regularly scheduled visits to railroad customers. At a regular monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, F. B. Manatt was appointed spokesman for the Chamber to protest such closing of the depot at Corning.
John L. Moore, Success, has been named a member of Corning School Board of Education to complete the unexpired term of Dennis L. Berry, who has resigned from the Board.
More than 100 persons attended Corning Lodge No. 719 Monday night, September 16, to honor two natives of Corning who have been members of the order for more than 50 years. They are attorney Henry C. Steinberg of El Dorado who holds a dual membership in Corning and El Dorado lodges and his brother, Jake Steinberg of Cardwell, who is a member of Donnelly Lodge No. 300 of Rector.
Flying reaches new popularity at Corning's Municipal Airport. Last June, in a special session, the Chamber of Commerce Board voted to turn the airport over to the city for administration, with certain provisions including appointment of the original five airport commissioners who are: Dr. B. C. Page, J. D. Norman, Sam Manatt, Jr., H. J. Pillow, Jr. and H. N. Robinson. Students who have soloed include: A. C. Woods, Jr., Mrs. Leon Foster, Ronald G. Walls, Dr. Ray Frie, Charles Blankenship, Virgil Richardson and Roy Jacobs.
Five planes are based at the airport, belonging to Dr. B. C. Page, Octo Smith, Pete Sappington and two planes owned by John Hastings, Jr.
A proposal to construct and equip two jails in Clay County, to cost an estimated $185,000 to be paid for by levying a building tax of one mill, will appear on the November 5th general election ballot.
A total of 57 persons attended the regular meeting of the Corning Chamber of Commerce held Monday evening at the new high school cafeteria. President E. W. Cochran reported that the Chamber Board of Directors had authorized an expenditure of up to $400 toward the Chamber's share in black topping the street leading to the new school. He proposed that the Chamber build a building in Wynn Park to serve as a Chamber of Commerce headquarters.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission conducted fish kills on two Corning area lakes, Corning Lake and Long Lake, October 8. The public was invited to participate in the operation and help salvage the fish since their edibility is not affected by the chemicals used to eliminate the over population of fish. About 30 to 40 boats could be seen at one time by standing on the trestle and looking from either side. These boats were carrying persons waiting and watching for the big ones to start coming up for air. At noon, most of the fish visible from the trestle were hickory shad, by the hundreds. The bigger fish, mostly drum and buffalo, began surfacing about 12:30 at Mac's Camp and there were plenty of persons on hand to catch them.
Workers at Clayton Shoe Company, Corning's largest industry in number of employees, voted last Friday, October 11, to become members of the Boot and Shoe workers International Union, AFL-CIO. The vote was 163 for and 96 against the union. E. B. Richardson, union representative, who has resided here since March 5, said that at the end of 10 working days the election will be certified by the National Labor Relations Board.
The selection of Mrs. Roy Creek as "Woman of the Year" is being announced this week by Corning Business and Professional Women's Club.
Mayor Aubrey Arnold states that an approximately three acre addition to Corning Cemetery has been marked off, drives have been laid out and graveled and survey work is being completed on individual lots. The addition, which was purchased from Ralph M. Crafton, joins the cemetery on the north.
On November 3, 1968, at 4:00 p.m., the Most Rev. Bishop Albert L. Fletcher will dedicate the new Catholic Church in Corning, in the name of St. Joseph the Worker, the patron of labor, who was the foster father of Our Lord. Father Patrick M. Lynch, the pastor, will celebrate the first Mass, in honor of St. Joseph, after the dedicatory ceremonies.
The Seventy-fifth anniversary of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Corning, will be observed Sunday, November 3, 1968, with the anniversary sermon to be delivered by the Reverend Hans Brush, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the morning worship service. St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Corning traces its beginnings to the year of 1890 when a group of Lutheran pioneer families invited the Rev. E. Bangerter of Lafe to serve as their pastor. Pastor Bangerter served until 1893 when he was succeeded by the Rev. F. Steyer, who also served the congregation of Lafe. In 1893 the congregation was officially organized with the name, St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church at Corning, Arkansas. The first church building was also erected at this time.
Lester Eugene Crafton, Jr., 18 year old Corning youth, died instantly of injuries suffered in a one car automobile accident at approximately 11 o'clock Thursday night, October 31.
Norman G. Cates, 23 year old Marine, was killed in action Friday, November 1, 1968, while serving with the United States forces at Da Nang, Vietnam. He had been overseas for one month. Mrs. Cates and their children recently moved to north Corning.
Missouri Pacific Lines has discontinued another train in Arkansas, leaving Corning with but one regularly scheduled passenger run.
Two persons died of injuries and four others, including two children, were injured in a two vehicle accident on Highway 67 near Harvell intersection, Friday night. Killed were Elzie V. Griffin, 68, of Corning and Mrs. Delia Mae Helms of St. Louis, formerly of Corning.
The Corning School Board of Education will host an open house and dedication of the new Junior-Senior High School facility Sunday, November 17, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Guest speaker for the program of dedication will be Dr. Silas D. Snow, president of State College of Arkansas, Conway, a former Corning superintendent. Dr. B. C. Page, president of the Board of Education, will preside over the dedication. An the invocation will be by Rev. Jim Keith, pastor, First United Methodist Church.
Residents of Corning and all over Arkansas, like those in 21 other states, felt the earthquake Saturday morning. More frightening than destructive, the tremor began at 11:02 and lasted for about 40 seconds.
George Thomas Stephens, Jr., 20 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. George (Corky) Stephens, Corning, died of injuries received in an automobile accident Friday, November 15.
An Arkansas Game and Fish Commission report, by George Purvis, Chief, Information Education Division, verifies that Corning and Long Lakes are scheduled for restocking this winter by fishery biologists. Corning Lake is scheduled to restock with 10,000 bass; 50,000 bluegill bream; 10,000 crappie and 10,000 channel catfish. Long Lake will receive 1,000 bass; 20,000 bluegill; 4,000 crappie and 4,000 channel catfish.
The Chamber of Commerce, in a regular meeting, Monday night, decided to proceed with plans to construct a 30 by 40 building in Wynn Park.
A three bedroom brick home owned and occupied by Mrs. Betty Stacy and her four children, at 701 West 10th Street, was completely destroyed by fire Thursday night, December 5.
The labor union failed, Tuesday, in an effort to organize workers at Basler Electric, Corning's newest industry. In the first union vote at the factory the workers voted 47 for and 77 against the union.
Officers from the Arkansas Beverage Control Department paid a surprise visit to the Corning area last Friday, working mostly on the seven miles of Highway 67 between Corning and the Arkansas- Missouri state line.

1971
Kenneth W. Pettit told some 55 members of the Chamber of Commerce, Monday that a "yes" vote on the $5,000,000 revenue bond issue an January 21, under the provisions of Act 9, is the first step towards ensuring a factory employing 400 persons.
A Report of Condition for The Corning Bank, appearing elsewhere in this newspaper, lists Total Assets of $10,080,228.11 as of the close of business on December 31, 1970 which amounts to a growth of a little over a million dollars in the past year.
D. A. Snider is again associated with the City of Corning Police Department, having been sworn in as police commissioner on January 1, 1971.
Mayor E. W. Cochran and members of the city council held their first official meeting, Tuesday, January 5, at the City Hall. Also attending was Mrs. Betty Stacy, city clerk and recorder. Mayor Cochran and all four councilmen, J. H. Ermert, Ben Baker, Gene Kellett and Walter Brooks, were sworn in during a brief ceremony at the Western District Courthouse at 10:00 a.m., Friday, January 1, 1971.
Kenneth Harmon, lifelong resident of Corning, has been named manager of the Clay County Electric Cooperative Corporation as of December 31, according to announcement by C. T. Johnson, who is president of the Cooperative Board of Directors.
Gale Clark stated early this week his loss amounted to more than $30,000 in fire that completely destroyed the building and fixtures of Clark Furniture on Highway 67, last Wednesday morning.
The First Baby Contest for 1971 has been won by tiny Marla Kay King, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Luster King, Jr., 202 West Fifth Street, Corning. Marla King arrived at 11:30 a.m., January 14, at Community Methodist Hospital, Paragould.
Voters of the City of Corning pleased everyone with the big turnout last Thursday in support of the Act 9 bond issue, further verifying that the citizens of Corning, as a whole, realize that Corning is at a turning point… it either has to secure more industry to provide employment for local residents, or it can expect an unpredictable future for the town and surrounding area. The overwhelming vote of 713 for and only nine votes against the bond issue, indicates that Corning is ready to move forward.
Mrs. Dorles Lorene Cherry, 31 year old wife of Jerry Cherry and mother of three young daughters, died at her home on Route Two, Corning, Thursday, January 21. Her death was ruled to be due to a self-inflicted gun shot wound in the head.
Five persons filed for position of the Corning District Board of Education before the deadline which was Friday midnight, January 22. Those filing include: Marshall E. Young, who is candidate for reelection to a regular five year term. Also filing for the position were: Harold Parrish, W. T. Garland, Jr., Mrs. John Oliver Black and Eddie Poe Crafton. Carl L. Ermert of Corning filed for position on the Clay County Board of Education.
F. B. Manatt, executive vice president of The Corning Bank and a former State Representative, is working with other local persons who are opposed to the closing of the Corning ASC office which has been scheduled for April 15, 1971.
A good following of local fans traveling to Rector on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights last week and were on hand to see the action that resulted in Corning bringing home two first-place and one second-place trophy for the trophy case at Corning High School.
An agreement to locate a branch of the L. A. Darling Company, a leading store fixture manufacturer, in Corning, was signed Monday in Chicago at the offices of The Marmon Group. The Marmon Group, Inc., operates an automotive division, among others. This plant is part of the building and hardware division.
State and National charters were presented to the newly reorganized Corning Jaycees in ceremonies held at the Chamber of Commerce building on Highway 67 West, Tuesday night.
Kirk Construction Company of Paragould, building contractor for the new branch plant of Darling Store Fixtures, began moving equipment to the building site in north Corning on Monday of this week. The plant is to be located just west of Corning Grain Drying Cooperative, on a 20-acre plot acquired from Ralph M. Crafton. Ground preparation and construction of the plant, to total 120 thousand square feet, are scheduled for immediately, depending on weather conditions.
Mrs. John Oliver Black received a total of 390 of the 898 votes cast. in Tuesday's election to be named to a five-year term on the Corning School Board of Directors. She replaces Marshall E. Young who was a candidate for reelection.
Charter for the Corning Savings and Loan Association was filed Friday, March 5, in Little Rock, F. B. Manatt said this week that date for hearing of approval has not been set but it is believed that this will be held the latter part of April.
Bernard Rephan, owner and operator of Rephan's Busy Store of Arkansas, this week changed the name of Graber's Busy Department Store to Rephan's Busy Department Store here in Corning.
Paul Moore, president of Corning Grain Drying Cooperative, announces the distribution of approximately $97,626 in cash, to the members of this cooperative. This amount was earned during the 1970-71 operating season and represents approximately 14 percent of the 1970-71 gross income.
Jerry Davis, Corning was the only repeater named to the 1971 All-District basketball squad with 11 other outstanding basketballers from District 2A.
Last Friday, an Arkansas State Police dragnet was underway in Clay County to snare Marvin Grissom, who escaped from the Arkansas Penitentiary last year. Grissom, said to be in his early 30's, is a native of the McDougal area and has repeatedly been sighted several times in that vicinity since his escape.
The City of Corning, upon approval of the city council, has purchased an Era II High Velocity Cleaner from the Myers Company, of Ashland, Ohio, at a cost of $9,000.
Diane Glass, 13 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Glass, Success, is Clay County's champion speller. The seventh grader was declared winner of the county spelling bee which was held on April 8, at Rector.
Persons in the Corning area who are interested in the proposed Corning Savings and Loan Association are notified of a hearing to be held in Little Rock on Tuesday, April 20, concerning the request for charter. The hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. on the second floor of the State Capital in the Old Supreme Court. A good representation of persons in favor of forming the Corning Savings and Loan Association is important and a number of stockholders will give testimony concerning the need for the association to serve the Corning area.
Morgan Pharmacy on Second Street in downtown Corning was broken into sometime during the night Monday. Entry was gained by breaking glass from the door at the rear of the building.
At a regular meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, Monday, the members unanimously voted to support the Corning Savings and Loan Association and unanimously voted to take whatever steps necessary to prevent Pocahontas Federal from establishing a branch in Corning.
The last passenger train through Arkansas was really something-the Corning train station looked like St. Louis Union Station during World War II at train time Friday, and the whole First Street business section of Corning took on a spirit of a 4th of July atmosphere for a while … people were everywhere. Three hundred and nine of the group took a final ride on Missouri Pacific as passenger service grinds to a halt.
Withdrawal of the application of Pocahontas Federal to establish a branch office in Corning caused cancellation of Corning's proposed experiment.
[…] during a class session, Friday afternoon. He was outside the school building and the students were watching through windows.
Ray B. Watson has resigned as superintendent of schools in the Corning District, to be effective June 30, 1971. He is completing his fifth year as head of the Corning Schools, moving here from Harmony Grove, Camden, where he was superintendent for four years.
State Savings and Loan Board Chairman, Frank Coffman, Jr. said the board would give a final decision in the Corning Savings and Loan application on July 6.
A new three-year contract for Local No. 839 Union at Clayton Shoe Company has been negotiated and agreed upon, the effective date being April 15, 1974.
Senator John L. McClellan announced Thursday that the Economic Development Administration had approved a $454,800 grant to the City of Corning for expansion of the City's water facilities. The city will provide $303,200 for the project which will benefit a 90 acre industrial park.
Jimmy L. Kimbrell, 35, of Turrell, has been hired by the Board of Education as Superintendent of Schools in the Corning District.
Linda Sue Russom, 14 year old Knobel School Eighth grader, drowned at about one o'clock Friday, June 11, in Black River near Gerrin's Camp, about eight miles south of Corning.
Sixty-two persons were in attendance at the Corning F. and A. M. open house ceremonies and social gathering for honorary recognition to three members who were presented pins and plaques last Thursday. They were T. W. Wynn, 60 year plaque, O. J. Harold, 50 year pin and M. E. Whites of Route One, Knobel, 50 year pin.
Miss Charlotte Kegley, 17, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Kegley, Corning was crowned "Miss Independence Day, 1971" at the conclusion of the annual beauty pageant held in conjunction with the 4th of July Homecoming celebration at Wynn Park, Saturday evening. Miss Shelley Morgan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Morgan, was named "Miss Congeniality" by secret ballot of all the "Miss Independence" contestants.
Mrs. Winfred Crossen, De Soto, Mo., wins the Cadillac at the 4th of July celebration.
The 29th annual July 4th homecoming celebration and Picnic, held Saturday in cool, shady Wynn Park was, in all respects the best ever held here. Gross receipts amounted to $30,117.58-the best ever.
A 9:15 explosion Saturday ripped the peace and quiet of the 400 block at the corner of Missouri Avenue and Garland as an unknown bomber failed in an apparent attempt to destroy a car parked on the carport of the residence of Mayor E. W. Cochran. The force of the blast ripped a hole in the ground 11 inches wide, 14 inches long and two and one-half inched deep at the deepest point.
The Rev. Paul S. Schwartz is to be installed as pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Corning, and St. John's Lutheran Church in Lafe, on Sunday, July 18.
US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Barnhill has received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and his second through seventh awards of the Air Medal for aerial achievement in Southeast Asia.
Eldon Hellums, a City of Corning police officer, was wounded slightly and a man he had stopped for questioning, Jimmy D. Campbell, was injured in a scuffle with another officer, Friday night at the Highway 67-62-135 intersection in west Corning. Police Chief Ed Smith said that Officer Hellums stopped a vehicle occupied by Campbell, the driver, and his father, J. B. Campbell, both of Corning, at about 11:00 p.m. for a headlight violation. Smith said that the three men became engaged in a scuffle during which time Jimmy Campbell got possession of Hellums' gun. One of the bullets scattered rocks and fragments struck the officer in the leg. In the meantime Special Officer Danny Bell, who was in the area, responded to a call for help and subdued the younger Campbell with a nightstick, Smith said.
More than 60 persons were present at the Monday night meeting held at the Corning Elementary School cafeteria. Purpose of the meeting, presided over by F. B. Manatt, was to discuss the charter rejection for the proposed Corning Savings and Loan Association by the State Board and to determine a course of action to be taken by the local group.
The City of Corning has, through approval of the city council, annexed property owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph M. (Snooks) Crafton to the city. Mayor Cochran said that the city has purchased a 20 acre plot of land on which the new Darling manufacturing plant is being constructed.
Mayor E. W. Cochran said Monday that the three remaining members will name a replacement to complete the term of Councilman Walter Brooks who has resigned. The city council has voted in favor of adopting Ordinance No. 7013, an ordinance implementing the zoning regulations of the City of Corning.
Edwin Ahrent, resident of Third Street, was appointed a member of the city council in a regular meeting of that group held Monday night.
The Frederick Allmandingers, Route One, Corning, have been named Clay County Farm Family of the year, 1971, and were notified of their selection for the top honor position last week.
Dale Kegley has accepted the Board of Education position to complete the unexpired term of Dr. Ray C. Stith as director, Corning School District.
The first bale of 1971 crop cotton was rolled onto the scales of James Cotton Gin on East First Street nine minutes until 12 Tuesday morning and Buel Rouse, the producer was on hand to collect his $50 bonus which was being offered for the first bale by James Cotton Co., P. L. Oliver Cotton Company and the Corning Bank.
Mrs. Noble Eve Conrad, 57, housewife, died of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at her home on the corner of Vine Street and Missouri Avenue, Tuesday. Chief of Police Ed Smith said her death was caused by a single shot from a .22 caliber rifle, through the left chest.
J. H. Ermert was named president of Corning Chamber of Commerce at a special meeting of the Chamber Board of Directors held on Thursday night of last week. Lynn Farr was named vice-president of the group.
Judy Shelton, a ninth grader at Corning High School, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph D. Shelton, Jr., of Neelyville, has been named Homecoming Queen for the Corning High School Junior Bobcats and will reign over the Homecoming festivities to be held on September 23.
FBI agents shot and fatally wounded Marvin Elbert Grissom, 26, in a gun battle at Marietta, Georgia, Thursday of last week that left two FBI agents wounded. Grissom, the Arkansas prison farm escapee who has been the object of an exhaustive search by officers in the past year, died in a hospital of a bullet wound in the chest.
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Ward are welcomed to Corning following their introduction at the regular meeting of Corning Chamber of Commerce held Monday night at the Elementary School cafeteria. The Wards were guests of Mayor Cochran at the meeting. Dr. Ward has leased the Russell-Ermert building on Elm Street in downtown Corning and anticipates opening an office for the general practice of medicine in the next several weeks.
On August 31, The Corning Grain Dryer received the first load of rice from the 1971 harvest and on September 30-29 days later-the plant received its one-millionth bushel of 1971 crop of rice.
Size of the City of Corning was increased by some 140 acres last week when the Arnold Addition was legally annexed.
Mrs. Ruth Yamnitz has been named "Woman of the Year, 1971," by the Corning Business and Professional Women's Club and is to be the honored guest at all activities held in observance of Business Women's Week, October 17-23.
A break-in occurred at the Sears Catalog Store, corner of West ___ and First Streets, over the past weekend.
The city council met in a regular meeting at the City Hall, Tuesday, October 12, at which time they accepted the resignation of Mrs. Betty Stacy, Clerk.
The city council, in a meeting with Mayor Cochran, Saturday, voted to name DeWitt Owens, Chief of the City of Corning Police Department.
F. B. Manatt has received, from Little Rock attorneys, a copy of order entered on October 22, 1971, by Judge Tom Digby providing for a transfer to Clay Circuit Court, Western District, further proceedings of Corning's request for charter to establish a Corning Savings and Loan Association.
The new plant of Darling Fixtures, Inc., located in north Corning, is now in the process of first operation in fabricating, painting and warehousing store fixtures. Twenty-eight employees are being instructed in the fabrication and painting of fixtures, preparatory to going into production in the near future.
Open house was held from two until four o'clock Sunday afternoon at the new Dr. Robert L. Ward Medical Clinic, located in the former Russell-Ermert Mortuary building at 411 Elm Street, downtown Corning.
Corning has attracted a second major industry this year with the announcement that Corning Distribution Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of ACF Industries, will locate in Corning. Contracts were signed in Little Rock Thursday which successfully concluded six months of friendly negotiations with the Corning Industrial Development Board, the City of Corning, ACF representatives and Carter Carburetor division of ACF.
Burglars broke a window to gain entrance to the home of Mr. and Mrs. John O. Black on Harb Street, sometime during the night, Friday, or early Saturday morning. The Blacks were in New Orleans at the time of the break-in which was discovered shortly after 1:00 p.m. Saturday by "Dub" Sneed who went by to check on the house. The house was thoroughly ransacked but the major damage was confined to a safe which was taken from its wall location and placed in the entrance hall where it was "peeled". All contents of the safe were taken by the thieves.
A teenage couple, Charles Ray Bonner, age 16, and Miss Elsie Mae Webb, age 18, were found dead Sunday, the apparent victims of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Deputy Sheriff Glen Archer.
William Keith has resigned from the position of Corning High School Principal, effective at the end of the first semester, December 22.

1972
Elmer Starrett has assumed duties as plant manager for the new Darling Store Fixtures plant in Corning which began operations in recent weeks.
The 1972 directory for General Telephone Company was distributed locally the latter part of last week and lists 2,220 numbers for the Corning area which includes all subscribers in the Corning, Delaplaine, Knobel, McDougal and Success communities.
James Travis Carter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Carter, Route Two, Corning, wins First Baby Contest.
Acts of vandalism characterized as being equally as destructive as a fire took place following a break in at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Poe, Jr., on north Lincoln Street sometime after midmorning while the occupants were at work at the Poe Insurance Office on Second Street in downtown Corning. The vandals used acid, paint and syrup to heavily damage the interior and furniture at the Poe home.
Paul B. Stovall has been hired as principal at Corning High School as of the beginning of the 1972-73 school year next fall.
The City of Corning, through approval of the council, has begun preliminary paperwork in preparation for taking a special census of the city which is anticipated to increase the official population from the present 2,705 determined by the 1970 census, to at least 3,000.
Two City of Corning police officers had a fairly close call when two of the three shots fired from a .22 caliber rifle struck their patrol car in an incident which occurred shortly after midnight Saturday. Bill Erickson and Glen Clark gave chase to an automobile driven on Highway 67 North by Charles Holman, stopping the vehicle near the Sale Barn. They were in the process of charging Holman with DWI when he ran back to his car and drove north on Highway 67 to a garage location near the old drive-in theatre where he is employed. When the officers arrived Holman fired three shots at the police car, one shot going all the way through a front fender and a second shot striking chrome at the right side of the windshield.
Twelve of the 28 units of Parkview Motel on Highway 67 West were completely destroyed by fire last Wednesday evening and the remaining units were left heavily damaged by smoke, fire and water.
Many Corning residents had a restless night, Monday, after being disturbed by an earthquake which rumbled through the area shortly before midnight.
M. B. Ainley, Jr., has purchased from Carroll Powell, Pocahontas, the Powell Tire Service on Main Street which is located in a recently remodeled building which is owned by the Ainley family and once housed the M. B. Ainley Grocery.
Paul Moore, president of Corning Grain Drying Cooperative, announces the distribution of approximately $146,572 in cash, to members of this cooperative.
Mrs. James (Janet) Mason has been appointed by County Clerk Boyce McClesky to serve as Western District deputy clerk, replacing W. T. (Bill) Pond who has resigned, effective March 15, 1972.
Plans for the construction of a $375,000 milo handling and drying facility by the Corning Grain Drying Cooperative were approved in a meeting held at the Clay County courthouse, Corning, Monday night, March 20, and construction will be started in time for completion by August 1.
Classes were disrupted at Corning High School until near noon, Tuesday, while police officers searched the school buildings for a bomb which was supposedly hidden inside the school and set to explode at 9:45 a.m. The search was made by County Sheriff Doug Batey and his deputies, Troy Key and Glen Archer and by Corning Chief of Police Ed Smith who were assisted by Coach Dutch Noe.
Monday, April 3, marked the beginning of the move into the new building recently constructed for Corning Distribution Company which is located just east of the high school property in north Corning.
J. H. Ermert began construction of a 48 unit trailer court on Highway 67 West Corning last week and stated Monday that the project should be completed in 30 to 45 days.
The Clay County Sheriff's department was practically wiped out during an early morning shoot out at McDougal last Thursday when County Sheriff Douglas Batey, 49, and Western District Deputy Sheriff Glendal Ray Archer, 35, were killed by shotgun blasts and Deputy Troy Key, 47, was seriously wounded, when they attempted to arrest Elbert Ray (Bert) Grissom, 52, at his home which is approximately one half mile northwest of McDougal. Corning Chief of Police Ed Smith arrested Grissom, the man accused of the shootings, a short time later.
Troy Key, 49, deputy sheriff, who was critically injured by a shotgun blast in the back in a shoot out at McDougal on Thursday, April 6, died at a Memphis hospital early Saturday morning.
Gene [Ed?] Smith has this week resigned as a member of the City of Corning Police Department to accept appointment as Western District Deputy Sheriff, a vacancy brought by the recent death of Glen Archer.
An area of land which adjoined the City of Corning on Highway 67 West, has been annexed to the city as of March 28, 1972. The petition was sighed by Clayton Shoe Company, Inc., by J. Roger Johansen, president: E and P Enterprises, Inc., by J. H. Ermert, president: Mrs. Ruth Yamnitz, Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Howell, Mr. and Mrs. C. Roger Johansen.
Airport access road is part of Arkansas Highway Department plan.
Stockholders of Corning Savings and Loan Association were notified, by letter, this week that on May 2, Judge Harrison denied the Savings and Loan Board's motion to transfer the hearing of the Corning Savings and loan appeal to Pulaski County.
City Ordinance No. 7203 was passed by the council on May 8, 1972. This is an ordinance submitting to the voters of the City of Corning the question whether it will issue bonds to the extent of $100,000 for the purpose of securing and developing industry within or near the City of Corning.
Circuit Court Judge A. S. (Todd) Harrison of Blytheville ruled Friday that there is no reason for the State Savings and Loan Board to refuse to grant a charter for a savings and loan association at Corning.
The city council, in a called meeting, Friday night, named Gene Smith to serve as Corning Chief of Police to replace Ed Smith, who has resigned.
Clarence E. (Jim) Headley, Jr. employee at The Corning Bank, has taken one week of his annual vacation to supervise improvement work which is underway at Corning Municipal Airport. The first step in the major improvement program was the resurfacing and widening of the runway with hot mix, making it 40 feet wide and 2900 feet in length. Also to be hard surfaced will be the tie down area for airplanes. the new parking area is to be 195 feet, with two inches overlay and this portion of the project is expected to be completed this week.
Two new classrooms are under construction at Central Elementary School and are expected to be completed in August in time to accommodate an estimated 60 to 70 Fifth and Sixth grade students. This will relieve the overcrowding in the upper elementary grades which is due to a large increase in enrollment the past school year.
Dwayne Alan Frakes received the bachelor of science in pharmacy from the University of Arkansas Medical Center in graduation exercises held at Barton Coliseum, Little Rock, on June 11.
The city council, in a meeting this week, approved Ordinance No. 7211 which is an ordinance establishing a method for extending municipal water service into an area of Corning annexed thereto in September 8, 1971, and establishing a contract for funding such service.
Heavy rains which struck the Corning area shortly before one o'clock Monday afternoon and did not let up until nearly four o'clock proved to be too much for our storm sewer system and caused flooding in many areas of the city, both residential and business districts. A total of 6.47 inches of rain fell in the 24 hour period from Monday morning until Tuesday morning.
An Oklahoma man, 43-year old Quenton Murphy, was killed instantly in the crash of a single engine airplane near Brookings on the Clay-Greene county line, late Monday. 
Mrs. Bud Adams has been honored by her selection as B. and P. W. Club "Woman of the Year" for 1972 and will be entertained on several occasions during the week of October 15-20.
Robert Shannon was named president of Corning Chamber of Commerce at a meeting of the Board of Directors of that group on Thursday, September 28.
Leon Foster, manager of the Riceland Foods Plant in Corning, said Tuesday that the rice harvest had reached the halfway point with the plant receiving an average of 75,000 bushels of rice each day.
Friday, October 20, 1972, will be the official opening for Darling Store Fixtures Corning Plant.
Mrs. Lois Bennett, 65, suffered fatal injuries in the crash of her automobile and a pickup truck on Highway 67 West in the city limits at 5:42 p.m. Tuesday.
Hart, Ragsdell and Smith named to city council, W. T. Pond, native of Route One, Corning, received a total of 2,000 votes in Tuesday's election to be named Sheriff and Collector of Clay County.
Tammy Cates, 13, dies of gunshot wounds, four persons wounded. Dead is Tammy Cates, 13, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Cates and a Corning Junior High School student. She died instantly of a shotgun wound of the head. Being held by authorities is Teddy Bridgewater, 15, son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Bridgewater of Corning.
A first-degree murder charge was filed Wednesday, November 15, against Teddy Bridgewater, 15, of Corning, in the shooting death of 13-year-old Tammy Gene Cates, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Cates, also of Corning.
Clay County Coroner Gerald Hogard has ruled that Johnny L. McConnell, age 31, died of a self-inflicted shotgun wound in the chest, Monday night, at the home of his mother, Mrs. Pauline Morris at 703 South First Street, Corning.
Mrs. Blanche Williams, 62 year old resident of Route Two, Corning, was fatally injured in a two vehicle head-on crash on Highway 135 near Paragould it 10:30 Tuesday morning.
The City of Corning received a check in the amount of $5,063 last week to cover the first six months of 1972 under the new federal revenue sharing program.
Voters of the City of Corning rejected a $100,000 bond issue, under Amendment 49 in a election held Tuesday. A total of 640 votes were cast, 315 for the issue and 334 against. 
A team of seven enumerators worked three days last week in taking at special census of the City of Corning and their supervisor William Lytal, of Little Rock, informs Mayor E. W. Cochran that the preliminary count lists 3,119 residents within the city limits. The official 1970 census was 2,705.
Bobby Joe Prince, 20 year old well known resident of Route Two, Corning, lost his life in a swimming accident in Current River, about 1:30 Sunday afternoon while on an outing with is sister, Miss Cathy Prince and Ronnie Cates and Miss Darlene McKinney.
According to Carl Ermert, general chairman, gross receipts from Corning's annual 4th of July celebration, held Monday are going to come very close to $35,000.
Daniel Rex Parrish, 16 year old resident of Route Two, Corning, was pronounced dead on arrival at Doctors Hospital, Poplar Bluff, Saturday following a motorcycle accident at McDougal.
City council agrees to resubmit bond issue to Corning voters.
A loan of four hundred and seventy-three thousand dollars from the Rural Electric Administration has been approved for the Clay County Electric Cooperative Corporation with headquarters office in Corning.
A good representation of the voters in Kilgore Township went to the polls on Tuesday of this week and voted in favor of the $100,000 bond issue to finance local industry. The issue, which has been the cause much controversy during the past several months, was defeated by some 15 or 20 votes when it was first submitted to the voters on June 13.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Fox and their son, Stephen, who farm in a partnership have been selected as Clay County's top farmers for the year 1972.
Elbert Ray (Bert) Grissom, 52, of McDougal, was convicted on Thursday of last week of three counts of first-degree murder in the slaying of three Clay County law enforcement officers and sentenced to life imprisonment on each charge.
Jimmy Kimbrell, superintendent of schools in Corning District, reports that 1,500 students are enrolled in the five schools of the district.
Jerry Ermert, Route Two farmer, delivered the first bale of cotton to the P. L. Oliver Cotton Company on Tuesday of this week and was awarded the $50 bonus check.
The City of Corning and Sam L. Manatt, Jr., executive vice president of The Corning Bank, were honored guests at the 24th annual Arkansas Community Development Awards Day luncheon and recognition ceremonies held Tuesday, September 12, in the Skyway Ballroom, Lafayette Hotel, Little Rock.
Jerry Ermert, 33 year old farmer, was electrocuted while working with a portable welder at his farm home on Route Two, Corning, on Tuesday of this week.