Stories from Monday, April 14, 2008

Since April 2, 2006, the Marmaduke Greyhound baseball and Lady Greyhound softball teams have had no field to call their own. On that fateful spring day, an F-3 tornado ripped through the town, damaging numerous homes and structures in the town. The tornado also struck down the school's ballfields, tearing apart the playing surfaces, fences dugouts and concession stands...

Frederick Liddell (Freddie) Jones, 56, of Paragould, formerly of Rector, died Thursday, April 10, 2008, at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. He was born Feb. 29, 1952, in Kennett, Mo. He was preceded in death by his father and his mothers, Liddell Jones, Mercede (Melrose) Jones and Amelia (Melrose) Jones...

Erna Lou Easton, 80, of Paragould died Saturday, April 12, 2008, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. She was a member of the Blue Cross General Baptist Church and was a nurse for 33 years at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center...

Betty Marie Cate, 74, of Corning, died Wednesday, April 9, 2008, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born Oct. 5, 1933, in Palatka, Ark., to the late Johnnie Poyner and Nora (Collins) Poyner, she was a homemaker, a 50-year member of Hickoria Missionary Baptist Church and a current member of Grace Missionary Baptist Church in Corning, where she was a Bible Scholar and Sunday School teacher. ...

Kim Alan Farmer, 43, of Marmaduke died Saturday, April 12, 2008, at his home. He was born Nov. 19, 1964, to Bobby and Frances (Crouch) Farmer in St. Louis. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and did taxidermy in his spare time...

Robert D. "Bob" Cranford, 83, of Rector died Tuesday, April 15, 2008, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He came to Rector from Bald Knob, where he grew up, and worked for a time at Irby Funeral Home. He later went to work at the Bank of Rector, from which he retired a few years ago...

Rector native Paul Frets is a success story known to several in town. Frets, an established artist who not only achieved the dream held by many with the creation of his artwork, also is helping others in Rector have the opportunity to reach their own dreams through his work with the Rector Helping Hands Foundation...

Community and business leaders from northeast Arkansas were in town Tuesday evening, April 8, to take part in the annual Rector Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet at the Rector Community Center. This year's event featured special guest Richard Davies, executive director of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. ...

Ernie and Dorothy Chittick of Rector are fully aware of the struggle involved with battling cancer. The couple has not only had to contend with the threatening, life-changing illness, they've both come through their bouts with cancer. Through their successful efforts in fighting against the disease, Dorothy and Ernie have been named the Honored Survivors of the 2008 Clay County Relay For Life...