Stories from Wednesday, August 20, 2008

How the agricultural community can help in times of disaster was the main topic of discussion at the regular meeting of the Clay County Local Emergency Planning Committee, or LEPC, Wednesday, Aug. ...

The auction of a painting of the late Moses Knight, by noted artist Paul Frets, a native of Rector, will highlight the annual Rector High School Alumni Reunion, sponsored this year by the RHS Helping Hand Foundation from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, in the main hall at the Rector Community Center...

The Rector City Council was notified in a special meeting Tuesday night, Aug. 19, that police chief Tom Baker has submitted a letter indicating he is retiring from the department. Baker cited health issues as his reason for making the decision. The retirement was effective Friday, Aug. 15...

The Rector Public Library has a new addition, as the staff and visitors recently welcomed new children's librarian Laura Mooneyhan. Mooneyhan has joined the library on a part-time basis. ...

The Rector School District welcomed several new teachers this year. Three are profiled this week, and the others will be featured in a story next week. Sonya Edington Sonya Edington has joined the Rector High School faculty as the new ninth and 10th grade English teacher...

The possibility of a bus shuttle service to help ease the transportation costs of residents of this area who work out of town is being explored by Rector mayor Ron Kemp and Piggott mayor Gerald Morris...

God looked at His newest creation and called it "very good." He had made Adam in His own image and after His likeness, and it was with a patriarch's blessing that -- after He created the lady Eve for a life-companion -- He gave them the planet Earth with the admonition to be fruitful and multiply. ...

It seems I've been doing too much griping. I've forgotten to look on the bright side and to think upon the good things. There really are a whole lot of blessings that I've been pushing to the back of the closet...

John Edward Wright, age 80, of Rector died Monday, Aug. 18, 2008, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. The son of the late William Alonzo Wright and Edna (Willard) Wright, he was born Aug. 23, 1927 in Clay County. He also was preceded in death by his wife, Willadean Galyean Wright, on May 1, 2008, and a sister, Ilene Manchester...

Betty Earlene Walls, 61, of Paragould, formerly of Marmaduke, died Saturday, Aug. 16, at her home. She was born in Marmaduke to the late Clyde Farmer and Reolla (Shelton) Farmer. she was of the Baptist faith, a wife, mother and homemaker. Also preceding her in death were a granddaughter, Brittany Newell; two brothers, Arlin and Bill Farmer, and three sisters, Sylvia Eckles, Cleslie Quinn and Ruthie Johnson...

Donald Warren "Papaw" Wagster, 83, of Rector died Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born Sept. 8, 1924, to the late James and Gladys (Mays) Wagster in Leonard. He was a World War II veteran, having served in the South Pacific with the First Marine Division 3rd Armored Amphibious Battalion, First Platoon, B Company...

Next summer two young ladies from Piggott will have the opportunity to take the trip of a lifetime, and represent Arkansas and Clay County to an international audience, as members of the state's Ambassadors of Music band...

It's no secret that the bonds of friendship tend to form from a shared interest. Whether it starts at a young age as classmates or as adults involved in similar activities or organizations, there often is some shared trait which unites people in friendship...

The 2008 edition of the annual Clay County Fair will kick off Saturday, Sept. 6, as the last minute plans are being completed. The fair will open with kids day activities at 10 a.m. on that date, and the antique tractor pull will be held in the arena beginning at 10:30 a.m. ...

Wanda Lee (Davis) Randol died Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008, at her home in Florence, Ala., following a brief illness. She was born and raised in Piggott, and was a loving and giving person to all. She was a nurturing mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who shared 61 years of happy marriage with her husband...

1968 A southbound Cotton Belt freight train struck a car that was stuck on the tracks in the city this past Saturday evening. Luckily the driver, Clyde Busby, 71, of Piggott got out before the train arrived. ...

It seems I've been doing too much griping. I've forgotten to look on the bright side and to think upon the good things. There really are a whole lot of blessings that I've been pushing to the back of the closet...