Stories from Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Rector High School's homecoming court was crowned Friday night before the homecoming game.

As a member of the Arkansas Army National Guard, Ssgt. Terry Burdin of Rector is one of many local soldiers serving his country in Iraq. Burdin is the platoon sergeant for 5th Platoon 1038th 1-152 Cavalry. He typically oversees three vehicles and 25 soldiers as part of his responsibilities...

"It feels so good to get a win like this in front of our home crowd. This is such an awesome feeling right now. I can't think of anything better." Those words by senior quarterback Logan Buck essentially laid to rest five years worth of doubt and frustration for the young men who make up the Rector football program last Friday night. ...

The Cougar Marching Band is preparing to take part in the Arkansas open band competition Saturday, Oct. 25, at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. The contest will feature performances from schools all across the state...

Rector residents now have a new option for their style needs. Barbara Weaver recently opened Classy Cuts salon at 701B Main Street. The salon is a part of the building which houses Weaver's Transmission, owned by Weaver's husband, Buz...

Several members of the Cougar 4-H organization were among those who took part in showing livestock at the Clay County Fair in September. Sisters Gabriel and Julia Wilson, as well as Kaylee Hartsfield, showed cattle. The Wilsons showed Longhorns while Hartsfield displayed a Red Angus heifer...

Sarah Palin is a smart woman and a "quick study." She responded to the questions posed to her and Senator Joe Biden with far too many worn-out phrases used by John McCain in his campaign-trail canned goods. ...

I don't know much about bailouts but the American people are being asked to participate in a $700 billion rescue plan for the financial sector. The people I know in Northeast Arkansas are struggling to bail out their own boats in these difficult economic days. They don't feel like rescuing big banks and mortgage lenders who have mismanaged funds...

Audrey Lorene Lamb of Rockford, Ill., formerly of Rector, died Sept. 7, 2008, at River Bluff Nursing Home in Rockford. She was born June 10, 1914, in Malden, Mo., to Arthur Crain and Maudie Huffstutler Crain. She lived with her family in Missouri until, at a very young age, she moved with the family to Rector...

Elizabeth Howard Green, 81, of Naples, Fla., died Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008, in Florida. Born May 20, 1927, in Marmaduke to the late Henry and Vina Nelson, she was retired from Western Electric and was of the Baptist faith. Also preceding her in death was a sister, Vadalia Berry, on Sept. 29, 2008...

Gary Don DeFries, 51, of Paragould died Friday, Oct. 3, 2008, at his home. He was a tool and die maker and of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his father, Harold DeFries; paternal grandparents, Lytle and Gladys DeFries, and maternal grandparents, J.W. and Iva Vangilder...

Vadalia Louise Berry, 79, of Jonesboro died Monday, Sept. 29, 2008, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. Born Aug. 21, 1929, in Marmaduke to the late Henry and Vina Nelson, she was a homemaker and of the Baptist faith...