Stories from Friday, January 21, 2005

The city of Marmaduke benefitted from economic growth in 2004, with the opening of small businesses and Dr. William DeMent's medical clinic. Mayor Nileane Drope and city treasurer and recorder Betty Jackson would like to see that trend continue. "We hope to get a large supermarket and fast food franchise," Jackson said. "Maybe a Sonic, McDonalds or Burger King. Something that would be open after ballgames let out."...

While all of Northeast Arkansas has been freezing over the last few days, Rector High School special education teacher Dawn Sims has been, as her new sweatshirt says, "Freezin' For A Reason" -- her Special Olympics team. Sims braved frigid waters Saturday as one of 12 participants in the Area I Special Olympics' 2005 Polar Bear Plunge at Crowley's Ridge State Park in Walcott and earned the Golden Plunger Award as the top fundraiser this year...

Rector Girl Scouts are working hard this week completing orders for the always-popular Girl Scout cookies. With eight varieties available, there is sure to be a cookie to tempt everyone. Buyers can choose from Samoas, Thin Mints, Trefoils, Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, Double Dutch, Lemons Coolers and All Abouts, all made by Little Brownie Baker, a division of Keebler and now a division of Kelloggs...

The money the United Cerebral Palsey Telethon raises does not go to faceless strangers halfway across the world. It goes to residents of Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. It goes to people like Dwight and Shirley Vangilder. When the Vangilders needed assistance installing a handicap-accessible bathroom for their 11-year-old granddaughter Emilea, UCP helped their longtime supporters by paying for the entire project, which exceeded $7,000...

The Lady Cougars visited the Buffalo Island Central Lady Mustangs on Monday, Jan. 17. Rector fell to the home team, 52-45. The contest was close throughout, with BIC holding a slight edge after each quarter -- 13-7, 23-21 and 40-31. The Lady Cougars were able to combat the 1-3-1 zone defense the Lady Mustangs used by hitting their shots early. Nine players scored for Rector on the evening...

The Marmaduke Greyhounds faced the Rebels of Highland in the finals of the Kell Classic at Swifton on Saturday, Jan. 15. Marmaduke fell to the Rebels, 63-53. Highland led after each quarter -- 24-9, 39-23 and 50-31. Marmaduke fell behind in the early going, not scoring during the first four minutes of the first period. The Rebels went on a 12-0 run during that time, giving themselves a good cushion for later in the game...

The Rector Lady Cougars played host to the Lady Tigers from Maynard on Thursday, Jan. 13. Rector was downed by the visitors, 56-43. Maynard was in control throughout, leading 17-12, 33-22 and 44-33 after the quarter breaks. Lauren Faulkner and Natalie Sigsby scored all 12 of the Lady Cougars' first quarter points. Faulkner drained two from beyond the arc. Sigsby nailed two jumpers from the left baseline and finished with a turnaround jumper from the post...

The Cougars hosted a tough Riverside Rebels squad at the homecoming game on Friday, Jan. 14. Rector was downed, 70-36, in the contest. The Rebels were in control the entire way, leading at each break -- 14-4, 44-20 and 53-25. Jay Beacham scored the first basket of the game on a floater down the lane, but Rector would only muster two more points for the entire quarter. ...

Nell (Whitaker) Jenkins, 72, of Trenton, Mich., formerly of Rector, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005, at her home. She was born Jan. 16, 1932, to the late Norman and Calvia Whitaker of Rector and was the youngest of six children. Mrs. Jenkins worked in various office positions for 30 years before retiring in 2002. Reading was her passion, and she loved people, especially all her family, relatives and friends...

Flora Berniece Russell, 74, of Leachville, died Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born in Boydsville, the daughter of the late Ezra and Edna Morrow Gordon. She had lived in Leachville for more than 40 years and was retired from Brown Shoe Company. A member of the former Liberty Hill United Methodist Church near Rector, she attended First United Methodist Church in Leachville...

William Henry "Tom" King, 87, of Rector died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005, in Rector. He was born Feb. 23, 1917, in Corning to the late Thomas Cleveland and Beulah King. He was a general contractor, a World War II Army veteran and of the Baptist faith...

Cora Ethel Howell, 87, of Arnold, Mo., died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005, at St. Anthony Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Aug. 19, 1917, in Ardmore, Okla., to the late James Elmore and Bessis Thomason Dye. She had lived in Luxora, Sheridan, Newport and Rector and was of the Assembly of God faith...

Delwin S. Mouser Jr. of Rector entered a guilty plea in Clay County Circuit Court in Piggott on Tuesday morning to four counts of possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually-explicit conduct involving a child. Circuit Judge David Goodson sentenced Mouser to 10 years in the state penitentiary with an additional 10 years suspended imposition of sentence. Mouser, who currently is in the Clay County Jail at Piggott, will be transported to a state facility when space is available...

The Marmaduke Lady Greyhounds fell to the NEA runnerup Piggott Lady Mohawks, 59-28, in action at Marmaduke on Monday, Jan. 17. Piggott led the whole way --14-7, 29-14 and 59-28. Piggott attacked the post all game, using their size and depth advantages to wear down the Lady Hounds. The Lady Mohawks were active on the offensive glass, getting many second chance points...