Stories from Wednesday, July 17, 2002

Fresh from their third place finish in the district tournament and their fifth place finish in the state tournament, the Marmaduke Jr. Little League All-Stars continued to roll this past weekend as they took first place in the Rector Invitational Tournament in impressive fashion...

RECTOR Nathan Connor of Rector has recently committed to play baseball for the Lyon College Scots in Batesville. According to Lyon head baseball coach, Curt Kelley, Connor received a combination academic and athletic scholarship and committed to the school on July 10...

RECTOR After a highly successful five-year stint as head coach of the Rector Cougar boys basketball team, coach Tony Davis is leaving the Cougar den and has accepted the job as head coach of the class AAA DeQueen Leopards in southwestern Arkansas. "I love this place," Davis said about the community of Rector. "I wouldn't leave here unless it was the very best option for me and my wife...

"It all started with my son," recalls daycare provider Linda Sanders. "He was two and he needed some playmates. So I decided to see about caring for other children during the day. "I started with a few younger children his age and advertised by word-of-mouth. At first I only watched children my son's age, but people started calling me and asking about babies and older kids. That was over 30 years ago. I've been in this business a long time."...

During my recovery from heart surgery, I had a lot of time to look back to my baseball playing days. I went to school at Greenway and helped my dad farm, working hard for a few bucks to go to the ball games. My brother, Harrison, and I had a hero in sports, and I want to tell you about him. Just like any other recollection by a Bateman, the telling is long but the ending is worth the wait...

A study is underway on Highway 49 from Highway 412 to south of Marmaduke to determine the feasbility of constructing a four-lane between highway 412 and 135. Joe Barnett of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department in Paragould said the study began after several residents approached the department about "the potential for needing improvements."...

Rector's Downtown Park has become a beautiful and tranquil spot in the heart of town. The park has been the setting for a variety of community activities throughout the years and is a source of pride for Rector residents. Gospel singing and band concerts continue to be held there. The park has been well cared for through the years by the Rector Woman's Club, which has taken an active role in Rector community affairs...

Samantha Hartlove, 14, of Clarkton, died Wednesday, July 10, 2002, in the Children's Hospital in St. Louis. She was born March 5, 1988, in French Camp, Calif. She is survived by her mother, Kay Long, of Clarkton; one sister, Sarah Hartlove, of Cedar Creek, Texas; grandparents, Betty and Jim Cashion of Clarkton; step-grandfather, Clifton Parrish; cousins, Wanda Jean, Melissa, Danny, Abraham, Amanda, Jonathan, Jacob and Janna; two uncles, Henry G. ...

Eldon Dale Throgmorton, 69, of Piggott, died Friday, July 12, 2002, in the Piggott Community Hospital He was born March 8, 1933, in Crockett, the son of the late Walter and Minnie Reagan Throgmorton. He was united in marriage to Beverly Jean Powers...

Edith Louise Davis, 69, of Piggott, died Thursday, July 11, 2002, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was the daughter of the late Jess and Pearl Glass. She was self-employed and was of the Church of Christ faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lavon; a sister, Leota High; and a brother, Olan Glass...

Ella Maxine Huffman, 79, of Piggott, died Wednesday, July 10, 2002, at the Piggott Nursing Center. She was the daughter of Enloe Donaldson and Milie Ethel (Hatley) Bomar. She was the owner of Maxine's Restaurant, a seamstress, and a member of the Church of Christ...

Sadie Vancil, 84, of Piggott, died Friday, July 12, 2002, in the Piggott Community Hospital. She was born Jan. 10, 1918, in Leonard, the daughter of the late Richard and Eulalia Morrisett Thompson. She was united in marriage to Norman L. Vancil on Aug. 10, 1034, and to this union four daughters were born. She was a life member of the VFW Aux. Post 4517 and a member of the First Baptist Church...

Lorian Hemingway will present a reading and book signing of her new book, A World Turned Over, in the Hemingway Barn Studio at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center in Piggott, on Saturday, July 27. Afternoon museum tours at 12:15, 1:15 and 2:15 p.m.will include Hemingway's presentation...

Piggott Community Hospital has been selected to participate in the Delta Rural Hospital Performance Improvement (RHPI) Project. The Delta RHPI Project is federally funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services. There were only 100 hospitals eligible for consultation in select counties of eight states...

Eastern Star Lodge 207 F&AM of St. Francis has been confirmed for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, according to Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP) director Ken Grunewald. Eastern Star is the oldest Masonic Lodge in Clay County...

This is a list of the events scheduled at the St. Francis Picnic Saturday, July 20: 9:45 a.m. - Welcome Address by Randy Dalton. 10 a.m. - Baby Contest, birth to 12 months. 11 a.m. - Toddler Contest, 2-4 years. 12 p.m. - Pure Country Band. 2 p.m. - Baby Contest, 13-24 months...