Stories from Wednesday, March 15, 2006

The Lady Cougars experienced some growing pains Monday as they opened the season in Jonesboro against Valley View. Rector fell to their hosts, 4-2. "It looked like our first game," Rector coach Matt Rabjohn said. "We looked a little nervous at times and made some beginning-of-the-year mistakes."...

As she walks among new baby beds and miniature sofas and chairs in bright colors, it's easy to see that Jamie Simmons already takes great pride in the Rector School District's new preschool, of which she recently was named director. A lifelong Rector resident, Simmons will run the day-to-day operation of the facility. ...

Anna June Simpkins Griffith, 85, of Rector, died Thursday, March 9, 2006, at The Med in Memphis. Born June 12, 1920, in Shirley, Ark., to the late W.J. and Delilah Simpkins, she was a homemaker, a seamstress and was of the Evangelical Methodist faith...

Ruby Lee Shelton, 91, of Woodlawn, Ill., formerly of Rector, died Sunday, March 5, 2006, at her home. She was born June 26, 1914, in Rector to the late Carlos and Minnie Klutts. She also was preceded in death by her husband, Dewey Ezra Shelton, and two sisters, Maggie Clarida and Louise Allen...

James Curtis "Jay" Wolfenbarger II, 68, of Rector died Tuesday, March 7, 2006, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born Dec. 8, 1937, in Knoxville, Tenn., to the late James Curtis Wolfenbarger and Willie Mae (Capps) Wolfenbarger, he was a tree trimmer for Asplundh, a veteran of the Army and was of the General Baptist faith...

Mrs. Mary Annie Craft Kizer, 89, of Rector, formerly of Kennett, Mo., died Monday, March 13, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born Jan. 26, 1917, in Lake City to the late William Ralston and Cora Lee Guess Craft, she was a retired factory worker. She was baptized Sunday, Aug. 19, 1948, into the Baptist faith and was a member of Southside Baptist Church in Kennett. She was married in 1932 to Lamar Kizer, who preceded her in death in 1969...

The Rector Cougars found their way into the win column with a resounding 9-0 victory over the Piggott Mohawks last Tuesday. Jake Holcomb was in control on the mound for the Cougars, going the distance in a dominating performance. Holcomb allowed just three hits and walked one while ringing up 19 Mohawk batters in seven innings. The senior hurler secured all but two outs in the game on strikeouts in his breakout performance...

The Marmaduke Lady Greyhounds are gearing up for the beginning of the 2006 softball season. The team's tale starts with a combination of new players and returning veterans. With nearly every starter from last year's squad returning, head coach Spencer Hoffman and his team are counting on their experience to allow them to find success in the conference...

The Marmaduke Greyhounds continued their beginning of the season surge on the diamond, downing the hosting Timberwolves 4-0 in the Cedar Ridge Classic Friday. The Hounds took advantage of their hosts' defensive miscues, scoring three unearned runs before Jacob Mason drove home Nathan Haynes in the top of the fifth...

Miniature arm chairs and sofas in vivid, primary colors, tiny toilets, giant floor-to-ceiling windows, dress-up costumes and stacks of cots fill the nearly-finished preschool building on the Rector campus. Rector School board members enjoyed a tour of the facility before the regular meeting Monday night...

Several Marmaduke School District employees will receive raises after the school board approved recommendations proposed by superintendent Debbie Smith Monday night. A $500 across-the-board raise was given to certified employees. Raises were given to the district's classified staff based upon a scale created by Smith. ...

Strong winds followed a patch of storms that peppered Clay County throughout the latter half of last week. These storms brought much needed rain to the area, but that was not all. Damaged buildings, downed powerlines and toppled and splintered trees were among the calling cards left in the severe weather's aftermath...

As the dark clouds pressed down on Clay County, the strong straight-line winds came suddenly into town. They did not come in quietly, in fact many area residents have remarked on how loud the storm was. This reporter happened to be on the square in the office finishing up some items for a meeting that evening when it unleashed its fury...

Members of the Clay County Relay for Life Steering Committee and team captains met at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 9, at the Piggott Community Center to discuss plans for the eighth annual Clay County Relay for Life, which will be held at Heritage Park on Saturday, June 3. The event will have a unifying theme of "Going for the Gold"...

Superintendent Bruce Evans reported that the construction project is finally moving forward at the Piggott School Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday evening in the Piggott High School Library. Board members Cliff Winberry, Robert Jackson, Neil Morgan, John Rodery and Shawn Parker and district academic advisor Joan Gossett were present...

Katie Millikin, 88, of Greenway died Tuesday, March 7, 2006, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. She was born Sept. 13, 1917, in Blytheville, the daughter of the late James and Sarah Kathryn Quarles Price. She was united in marriage to Laymon Lester "Buck" McMillon on Nov. 4, 1933. They had four sons...

Louis Edmon Wood, 66, of Pollard died Saturday, March 11, 2006, at his home. He was born April 11, 1939, in Williamsville, Mo., the son of the late Clarence and Dessie (Boyer) Wood. He was united in marriage to Margline Kemper Brown on Sept. 17, 1998...

Florence Ruthie Luff, 93, formerly of Pollard, died on March 9, 2006, at the Park Place Nursing Home in Lufkin, Texas. She was born on April 30, 1912, to the late Levi and Minnie (Hall) Rodery. She was married to Oscar Luff on March 13, 1937. She was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith...

Grace Lee, 98, of Clarkton died on Tuesday, March 7, 2006, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell. She was born July 11, 1907, in Clarkton, the daughter of George Washington Moore and Mary Susan O'Hara Moore. She was united in marriage to Noah Huston Lee on Jan. 15, 1927, in Piggott. He preceded her in death on Jan. 27, 1956...

Whether it is football, basketball or baseball, a rivalry game always attracts a crowd, especially when the two teams facing off are the Piggott Mohawks and the Rector Cougars. The rivalry has remained between the two teams longer than most can recall...

Longtime Clay County Sheriff Darvin Ray Stow, 63, died Thursday, March 9, 2006, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Stow began his law enforcement career as an officer with the Walnut Ridge Police Department in 1968. He continued in that position until 1970, when he became a deputy sheriff within the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department. From 1974 to 1981, Stow served as a chief deputy in the Clay County Sheriff's Department...