Stories from Thursday, April 15, 2004

A positive attitude and strong motivational skills clearly are attributes of Arkansas State University coach Steve Roberts. Coach Roberts shared his philosophy of success in a well-received address to more than 150 attending Thursday's annual Rector Area Chamber of Commerce banquet...

Michael Dobbins threw a no-hitter to win his first game of the year as the Greyhounds ripped Maynard 18-0 at Maynard last Tuesday. In going four innings, Dobbins walked four and struck out five. Bruce Wallace continued his hot hitting as he connected for a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Hounds a 2-0 lead...

The Rector Lady Cougars continue to improve. They won two games last week in rather easy fashion to improve their record to 8-2 for the season. Last Wednesday they beat Bay 11-1 at Bay. Tara Shepard was impressive in winning the game on the mound as she went seven innings and yielded five hits, two walks, two hit batsman and struck out three...

A dramatic two-run homerun by Jordan Cornelison in the bottom of the sixth inning sparked the Rector Lady Cougars to a 14-12 victory over the Lady Greyhounds of Marmaduke in a game played at Rector last Tuesday afternoon. With the score tied 12-12, Tiffany Kirklin led off the inning by drawing a walk. The Lady Hound pitcher, Danielle Bateman, then righted herself as she retired Lady Cougar leadoff batter Abbe McCarroll on a fly ball to center field...

Euba Bessie Maloney Wofford, 88, of Jonesboro, formerly of Paragould, died Monday, April 5, 2004, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born Nov. 13, 1915, in Greene County to the late Lola Maloney Arnold and Walter Maloney. She was retired from the Paragould Home for the Golden Years as a nurse's aide and formerly operated a restaurant in Marmaduke. She was a member of the Second and Walnut Church of Christ...

Retired Master Sgt. James M. Winn, 83, of Lawton, Okla., died Saturday, March 27, 2004, in Lawton. He was born April 24, 1920, in Paragould to the late Albert and Addie Bolen Winn. He graduated from Alexander High School in Paragould. He married Jean Rodgers on April 1, 1943, in Kennett...

Roy Jessie Wilcoxson, 83, of Lafe, died Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born April 8, 1920, in Lexington, Ala., to the late William Jessie Wilcoxson and Viola (Michael) Wilcoxson. He was an auto mechanic and attended Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church...

Ara Sara Sparks, 92, of Rector died Thursday, March 25, 2004, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. She was born Feb. 15, 1912, in Hugo, Okla., to the late John and Willie Ann Robinson. She was a housewife, mother and a member of the First General Baptist Church of Rector...

Billy Ray Robertson, 76, of Raymoor, Mo., formerly of the Simmons Chapel community, died Tuesday, March 16, 2004, in Raymoor. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nannie (Vowell) and W.W. Robertson of Rector; five brothers, Tilrey, Oren, Deward, Harold and Doyle Robertson, and two sisters, Syveda Wayland and Wilma Becker...

Brandon Lee Chilcutt, infant son of Jimmy Lee and Angel Christine Chilcutt of Piggott, died Saturday, April 10, 2004 at Piggott Community Hospital. He was born on March 25, 2004. Funeral services will be held at Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home. Arrangements are pending...

Gary Gilkison, 50, of Paragould died Thursday, April 8, 2004, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born on Sept. 25, 1953, the son of Jerry Gilkison and Nellie Deweese. He was united in marriage to Karon Cheshire on April 12, 1975...

The unofficial results of the Rector Sales Tax Election held on Tuesday, April 13, are as follows: For............130 Against........25

The Rector School District may welcome a new preschool program soon. Superintendent Rob Louder asked the school board Monday night to allow him to investigate funding for the construction of a new preschool facility next year. "Arkansas Better Chance has released $40 million for the construction of preschools," Louder told board members. ...

Senator Tim Wooldridge will be the special guest speaker at the Rector High School Academy Choice Awards on Friday, April 16. The Academy Choice Awards will be held at the RHS Cafetorium. The evening will begin with a meal catered by the "Traveling Wisk"...

The Rector Relay for Life team, W.R.E.C.K. (Walking Rectorites Encouraging Cancer Knowledge), is working hard to raise funds for the American Cancer Society as the Relay rapidly approaches. A recent fish-fry earned $1,400 for the society according to team leader Michele Haley. Haley and the team members plan to have an angel theme for their tent at the event...

Aaron Parsley pitched a three inning no-hitter as he won his first game of the year and Bryce Conley hit a home run and had five RBIs as the Rector Cougars romped past the Maynard Tigers 19-0 at Maynard last Thursday. Conley's home run, a three-run shot, contributed to the seven-run explosion that the Cougars hit Maynard with in the first inning. The Cougars plated four more runs in the second inning with the aid of a two-run double by Conley...