Rocking Saturday Night

Well Rector was really rocking Saturday night! We didn't even get the streets rolled up until well after 10:00 pm. The Clay Count Arts Council presented their annual "Celebration of the Arts" Dinner and it was a smashing success! I heard the band as soon as we walked in the door. They were playing oldies and I immediately had a flashback. For a minute I felt as if I was about to walk into a sock hop. Fortunately someone stopped me before I got my shoes off.

The band was Everyday Life, EL for short, and Shannon Freeman is the lead singer. If you have ever seen him perform, you know he is really high octane. They certainly kept everything hopping every minute between the other parts of the program. He wasn't confined to the stage either. He was leaping off and running through the audience and leaping back on the stage like a musical version of Jim Carey. Janette Duncan helped him with "Ride, Sally, Ride" as did several others. Demetra Shultz got a surprise squeeze and he was upstaged on the dance floor by Sophie Simmons.

Sydney Simmons was a wonderful MC as we celebrated all art forms Saturday night. The winners of the Art Contest were displayed and again I noted what talented young people we are fortunate to have among us. Performing Arts were represented by Amber Powell's dancers. There were numbers by students 8-12 and by students 13-18. A solo by Sarah Robinson was really cute. Several scholarships were awarded.

Loretta House, an artist from Paragould had much of her art on display and her pictures really appealed to me. I want to see more of them. The silent auction was huge and a big success. It was just a fun night all around.

To make the night an even greater success we learned that Rector's own Judy Hargrave was crowned Sr. Ms. Arkansas Saturday night. How terrific is that!! And ... Layla Phillips Crouch is second alternate in the Mrs. Arkansas contest. Do we have gorgeous and talented women here or what!! Congratulations to both of you.

Congratulations too to Jessica Toone, who graduated on May 7, from Oklahoma City Community College, with a degree in psychology and education. Her mother, Sharon Toone and grandmother, Maggie Toone were there to watch as she received her diploma. Sharon and Maggie made the trip via Amtrak, a 20 hour trip that took them through Ft. Worth, Texas. They stayed in the Montford Inn in Norman while they were there. A great trip and a great time for them all.

The Yellow Elephant Boutique has a website now. Check it out: yellowelephantboutique.webs.com. Cute stuff.

Oh and if you want to comment to Randy Prescott of BP regarding his comment, "Louisiana isn't the only place that has shrimp." Here is his email: randy.prescott@bp.com.

Okay, time to close. Let me hear from you. I always enjoy your news and your stories and I want to know what's going on. So please, stay in touch. My address is 514 West 3rd St. Phone: (870) 595-3173 and email: porchswing@newwavecomm.net.