Stories from Thursday, May 14, 2009

The opening Monday of the new Northeast Arkansas Innovative Training Center (NEAITC) in Rector was enthusiastically celebrated by a large number of local folks who attended a mid-day reception and toured the facility. Visitors were greeted by center director Jacinda Welch and by representatives of Greene County Industrial Training Center at Paragould, which helped make possible the facility and is assisting in providing staff members for the many classes and activities now getting underway. Initial services at the center will include adult education and GED classes, a life skills program, basic computer training, fitness programs, martial arts, line dance lessons, piano lessons, guitar lessons and a Kids College set June 29-July 2.

The transition from high school student to college student is often a difficult change for many young men and women. By the time one calculates the increased difficulty and workload in the various studies, the additional responsibilities of being a young adult and the high cost of education and student lifestyles, the daunting challenge becomes evident...

Their class motto is "Ducks fly together," and the Rector High School Class of 2009 will soar into adulthood as one during one of their most emotional and memorable shared events -- graduation from high school at 8 p.m. Friday at the school gymnasium...

Lola Mae Rowton of Rockford, Illinois, passed away March 17, 2009, at the age of 89. She was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Ruth Gardner; her husband, Peter Rowton; a son, Peter Rowton, and...

Fun for the entire family in downtown Rector is being planned for Saturday, May 30. That's the date for the annual Mayfest, sponsored by the Rector Area Chamber of Commerce. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a pet contest, live music, refreshments, games for the children, a May Queen contest and lots of other activities at the historic Rector Downtown Park...

Gospel great Guy Penrod is anxious to be a part of the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation's Aug. 4 benefit concert after learning about the work of the organization and all it has done for local students...

The Rector School District soon will bid farewell to one of the school's most popular teachers. Superintendent Rob Louder read to the school board Monday night a letter from German and social studies teacher Rebecca Simmons announcing her retirement...

Rector area National Guardsmen who have served overseas in Operation Iraqi Freedom were among hundreds of Arkansas soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, 39th Brigade Combat Team honored Sunday afternoon, May 3, in a Freedom Salute Ceremony held at Benson Auditorium on the campus of Harding University at Searcy...

If the Democratic Party were assigned the task of creating the official "poster boy" for the Republican Party, it's doubtful it could do any better for itself than to pick Rush Limbaugh...

Gilda Radner wrote a book called "It's Always Something." The book is a recount of her ongoing battle with ovarian cancer. She vowed to live but, of course, she didn't. This column isn't about cancer or survival, unless you consider economic survival...

John Earl Price (68) born September 11, 1940, to John Willard Price and Avis Laverne (Edwards) Price passed away at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 12th, 2009, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center. He was survived by his wife, Marilyn Price; four sons, Michael Price of Paragould, AR., Tim Walker of Paragould, AR., Kenny Walker of Cardwell, MO., and John Eric Price of Lafe, AR., and one daughter, Michelle Triggs of Atlanta, GA.. ...

Don Dillard, 76, of McDougal, died Thurs. May 7, 2009, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Mr. Dillard was a U.S. Army veteran and enjoyed deer hunting and playing with his grandchildren. He was a farmer and a member of Post Oak Missionary Baptist Church in McDougal...

Wet conditions during the first two weeks of May have prompted organizers of the Piggott Heritage Park Car Show to make some drastic changes for this weekend's event. The car show, which was scheduled to be held Saturday at Heritage Park on the west edge of Piggott, has been moved to the Clay County fairgrounds. ...

At the invitation of Mayor Gerald Morris, representatives of Arkansas's two U.S. senators visited the city last week. Morris asked the officials to come to Piggott to see how federal funds are being utilized and to lobby for more help in the future on such projects as the Boydsville Lake effort...

Members of the Piggott School board conducted a lengthy executive session Monday night on proposed changes to the district salary schedule, but later tabled the matter until June. The board also accepted bids on several projects, discussed contracting the services of Subteach USA and handled several personnel matters...

Commencement exercises for the Piggott High School class of 2009 will be conducted at 7 p.m. Friday, May 15 in the new gym. A total of 65 are scheduled to receive diplomas, and this year's honor students will be recognized. School officials also will be handing out thousands of dollars in scholarships and special awards...

Workers switched the Piggott State Bank's sign last week for a new and improved model, though many may not notice the change. President Paula Blackwell, who is shown at left watching the effort with Jim Poole, noted that the new sign is modeled exactly after the original one. ...

Charlotte McLeskey, 92, of Piggott, passed away May 8, 2009, at the Piggott Community Hospital. Charlotte Luella Davis was the daughter of Alexander Edgar Davis and Charlotte Evelyn (Atkinson) Davis, and was born February 4, 1917, in Hunter, Mo...

Van Buren Rodery Jr., 76, of Pollard passed away Saturday, May 9, 2009 in the St. Bernard Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born June 3, 1932 in Pollard and was the son of the late Van Buren Rodery Sr. and Della Mable (Smith) Rodery...

Terry Collins, 47, of Piggott passed away Friday, May 8, 2009, at the Piggott Community Hospital. He was born March 19, 1962, in Jonesboro, and was the son of Gale Eugene Collins and Johnnie (Duncan) Collins...

Don Dillard, 76, of McDougal, died Thurs. May 7, 2009, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. Mr. Dillard was a U.S. Army veteran and enjoyed deer hunting and playing with his grandchildren. He was a farmer and a member of Post Oak Missionary Baptist Church in McDougal...

Gilda Radner wrote a book called "It's Always Something." The book is a recount of her ongoing battle with ovarian cancer. She vowed to live but, of course, she didn't. This column isn't about cancer or survival, unless you consider economic survival...

1969 A feature on the new East-West Industries factory was in this week's paper written by Times Editor Danny Seal. Elsewhere in the edition Seal announced that he would be leaving the job to take a position with the Texarkana Gazette. ...

The history of the Piggott Mohawk football program as it relates to the famed University of Arkansas Razorbacks is long and storied, and a new chapter was added last week as Daniel Baldwin signed to attend school at Fayetteville. ...

Spring practice underway.. The Piggott Mohawk football team began spring practice last week, and are pictured working out Monday afternoon. Teams are limited on the number of practice dates each spring, and the Tribe delayed theirs until after the baseball season. Pictured with the players is Mohawk head coach Dave Hendrix (left) and assistant Shawn Hearn. (Times photo/Tim Blair)...

Coach Melissa Williams and the Lady Mohawk volleyball teams hosted a camp for elementary school age students last week, and nearly 30 young prospects took part. The group, shown here, had the opportunity to learn volleyball skills from one of the top coaches in the state. (Times photo/Tim Blair)...