Stories from Wednesday, February 23, 2005

The Marmaduke School District has been without an elementary principal for several weeks following the suspension and ultimate termination of Jim Bob Lentz. Now the district also has no high school principal. Don Purcell, who has held the position for the past 13 years, announced Monday to faculty and staff he is going on "stress related sick leave."...

Following a four-and-a-half hour public hearing and a two-and-a-half hour executive session Thursday night, the Marmaduke School Board voted unanimously to uphold the immediate termination of elementary principal Jim Bob Lentz. Voting to support the decision of interim superintendent Debbie Smith were Board members Kim Bridges, Al Ryan, Stacey Speer, Steve Bateman and Gene Bennett...

After much discussion, the Clay County Quorum Court decided Monday night to provide all county employees, with the exception of the justices of the peace, with a three percent across-the-board raise. The court decided this was the best, most fair way to reward those in service to Clay County. ...

Dr. Lance Monroe from the Rector Medical Clinic returned recently from a trip to Acea, a province of Indonesia located on the northern part of the island of Sumatra. Monroe spent two weeks, from Feb. 2-16, providing medical aid to those affected by the damage caused by the December earthquake and resulting tsunami...

Five years ago, adopting a child was perhaps the farthest thing from Eric and Katrina McAfee's minds. "There was a time I didn't think I wanted to be married," Katrina said. "I asked our pastor, Kenny Burns, for guidance. We became more active in the church and grew spiritually. Brother Kenny told me, 'Being in love is a choice you make.'"...

Matt Mills of Rector, a student at Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, is the Feb. 21 choice for the American Midwest Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week award. Mills, a 6-0 senior guard, led the Eagles to an 82-72 upset victory over No. 19 Columbia College on Feb. 17. Mills poured in 21 points in the contest, which included a 4-of-5 effort from three-point range...

It looked like things were going the Greyhounds' way last Wednesday in the 3AA-North District Tournament against the hosting Walnut Ridge Bobcats. Marmaduke took a 38-28 lead into the fourth quarter. Walnut Ridge was able to come back, outscoring the Hounds 22-11, causing the Hounds to fall, 50-49...

Applications are now being evaluated for The Ten Star All Star Summer Basketball Camp. The camp is by invitation only. Boys and girls ages 10-19 are eligible to apply. Past participants include Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Vince Carter, Jerry Stackhouse, Grant Hill and Antawn Jamison. Players from 50 states and 17 foreign countries attended the 2004 camp...

The Lady Cougars watched a one point lead at the start of the fourth quarter fade away into a 54-39 loss against the Lady Mustangs of Buffalo Island Central in the semifinals of the 3AA-North District Tournament at Walnut Ridge this past Thursday. Rector had fought back after trailing 12-6 and 23-8 during the first half to take a 35-34 lead after three quarters of play. The top-seeded Lady Mustangs outscored the Lady Cougars 20-4 in the final frame to pick up the win...

Funeral arrangements are incomplete for 79-year-old Gladys Hubble of Rector, who died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005, at Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett, Mo. Arrangements will be under the direction of Irby Funeral Home of Rector.

Funeral services for 90-year-old Jeanette Floyd of Rector, who died Friday, Feb. 18, 2005, were held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, at Irby Funeral Home Chapel in Rector with Bro. Adrian Parker officiating. Mrs. Floyd was preceded in death by her parents, Enon Thomas and Ada (Patton) Meredith; her husbands, John Tracy and Lonnie Nelson; three children, Barbara Tracy, Francis White and Musetta "Susie" Tracy; two grandchildren, Brantley White and Melba Lambreth; two sisters, Viola Jackson and Marie Brown, and one brother, Otis Meredith.. ...

Beth E. Morgan, 75, of Nimmons, died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2005, in the St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born July 30, 1929, in Greenway, the daughter of the late Anderson N. and Ethel Williams Jones. She was united in marriage to Bill C. Morgan on Dec. 24, 1949. They had two children. He preceded her in death on March 4, 1995...

Registration for the Marmaduke summer baseball/softball program will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26, in the lobby of the Marmaduke High School Gym. Rag-ball is offered for boys and girls ages 3 and 4 (January 1 birth date), and T-Ball/Coach pitch for boys and girls ages 5 and 6. Softball teams for girls, with age divisions in 6 and under, 8 and under, 10 and under, 12 and under and 14 and under...