Stories from Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Small American flags on the graves of 737 veterans dotted the rolling hills of Woodland Heights Cemetery in Rector as a group of grateful family members and friends gathered Sunday for a solemn Memorial Day service honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country...

Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, leaders of the popular and highly successful bluegrass group Dailey & Vincent, are ready to make their return to Rector, taking the stage for the 2010 concert benefiting the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation...

Area children ages five to 11 will have a unique opportunity to learn more about possible careers and beneficial skills while enjoying a fun, encouraging atmosphere, as the exciting Kids College program will be returning to Rector July 5 through July 8 at the Northeast Arkansas Innovative Training Center (NEAITC) on Main Street...

Tyler Kirklin had an outstanding junior season for the Cougar basketball team. The 6-3 center was a powerhouse in the paint for coach Matt Mills' squad, leading the team in scoring, 12.8 points per contest, and rebounding, 10.2 per game, as the Cougars made their return to the regional basketball tournament after a nine season drought...

It is interesting to see how the basic tenets of civilized life, in the United States, often lag behind the rest of the industrialized world. In some areas, such as the death penalty, our nation actually is behind the curve in relation to many so-called Third World countries...

What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and all that's nice. And boys? Frogs and snails and puppy dogs' tails. Those words come from a popular nineteenth century nursery rhyme Actually, I haven't heard the nursery rhyme in a long time but many will remember it...

What is the first thing you do each morning? The author of Pilgrim's Progress said that "He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day." It is important that we go into the presence of God before we go into the presence of men...

Perry Arrant, 59, of Rector passed away Monday, May 31, 2010, at his home after a hard fought battle with cancer. He was born May 13, 1951, to the late Golie and Kenneth Maxine (Cagle) Arrant. Perry attended the Fifth and Pine Church of Christ. He loved being with his family and enjoyed riding motorcycles with all his friends...

Jason Hobbs, 38, of Jonesboro passed away Saturday, May 22, 2010, at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro. He is survived by his mother, Shirley Shields of Jonesboro; his father, Ezra Hobbs of Greenbriar, Ark.; one sister and her husband, Dawn and Todd Upshaw of Owasso, Okla.; a niece, Brittany Upshaw; a nephew, Blaine...

Mary Louisa Vangilder, 94, of Rector, died Thursday, May 27, 2010, at NHC in Kennett. Born Dec. 15, 1915, in Hopewell, she was a homemaker and a member of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church. Survivors include two sons, Albert Vangilder of Pine Bluff and William Vangilder of Altheimer, and two daughters, Betty Kirklin of Kennett and Wanda Crooks of Pine Bluff. She also is survived by one sister, Lillie Rhynes of St. Louis, 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren...

Wayne Spicer, 85, of Greenway, passed away Friday, May 28, 2010, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born Dec. 19, 1924, in Greenway, and was the son of the late C.O. and Gertrude (McDonald) Spicer. He was united in marriage to Ruby Pauline Harmon May 15, 1949. Ruby preceded him in death in 2002...