Stories from Thursday, April 28, 2005

Three young men from the Piggott High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter are bound for the National Leadership Conference on June 22-28 in Orlando, Fla. Caleb Morris, Jonathan Morris and Austin McDaniel placed first in the state of Arkansas in the Website Development competition at the Arkansas State Leadership Conference in Little Rock on April 15 and 16. ...

The Marmaduke Lady Greyhounds faced the Lady Mustangs of Buffalo Island Central in the opening round of the 3AA-North District Tournament held at the Jeremy McDaniel Memorial Sports Complex this past Monday. BIC advanced, winning 13-12, after driving in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh...

The hosting Marmaduke Greyhounds met the Piggott Mohawks in the first round of the 3AA-North District Tournament this past Saturday. Marmaduke blasted the visiting team, 15-1. Nathan Haynes was overpowering in the victory, throwing all five innings of the contest. Haynes gave up just one run on a single hit while striking out seven and walking two...

The Rector Lady Cougars were in dominant form on Monday, as they bashed the Lady Tigers from Maynard, 13-3, in the 3AA-North District Tournament held at the Jeremy McDaniel Memorial Sports Complex. Due to the large Rector lead, the game was called in the fifth inning...

Funeral services for 91-year-old Lorena Horner, formerly of Rector, who died Tuesday, April 19, 2005, in St. Elizabeth's Place in Jonesboro, were held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 23, in the Irby Funeral Home Chapel of Rector with James Henry Dortch officiating...

Cecil Pearl Hicks, 99, of Rector, died Saturday, April 23, 2005, at Paragould. Born Nov. 9, 1905, in Arlington, Texas, she was a homemaker. Preceding her in death were her husband, John Wesley Hicks Sr.; one son, John Wesley Hicks Jr; two daughters, Betty J. Young and Carolyn S. Jackson, and two brothers, Herman and Howard Sims...

Jim Champlin, husband of the late Donna Champlin and son-in-law of the late Donald and Doma McCluney of Rector, died suddenly of a heart attack Wednesday, April 6. He would have been 71 on May 24. A 33-year resident of Coronado, Calif., Mr. Champlin is survived by his life-partner Betsy Roick; his children, Jim and his wife Linda; Katie and her husband Simon, and Marcie; his sister, Carolyn, of Fredericktown, Mo.; his grandchildren, Sarah and Jake, and sister-in-law, Mary Crews of Maumelle...

New Regions Banks signs are now up at Union Planters locations in Northeast Arkansas -- including Rector -- signifying the area banks' conversion to Regions' systems. The successful bank systems conversion, the first since Regions Financial Corp. and Union Planters Corp. ...

The 52 members of the Marmaduke High School Class of 2005 will take a step into the future when they receive their diplomas in baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 1, in the high school gymnasium. The program will begin with the processional by the MHS band. The invocation will be given by Honor Student John Hunter Clark, followed by remarks by Valedictorian Sheila Michelle Spence and Salutatorian Kevin Allen Keen...

Due to a forfeit by Maynard, the Cougars received a bye in the first round of the 3AA-North District Tournament at Marmaduke. In second round action, Rector faced the Walnut Ridge Bobcats on Monday. The Cougars were downed 6-1. Jay Beacham suffered the loss in the contest. Beacham went six innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out five and walking two...