Stories from Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Despite the reports of its demise, Rector football is not dead. With 34 junior high players preparing for the start of practice in the upcoming weeks and peewee football signups underway, America's most popular sport continues to attract attention in the community, regardless of last week's announcement the senior high schedule was forfeited for 2010 due to insufficient numbers...

Rector's 2010 concert to benefit the RHS Helping Hands Foundation is nearing a sellout. Concert chairman Gregg Sain said Tuesday only a few $25 general admission tickets remain for the Thursday, Aug. 5, show, set to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the air conditioned Rector High School gymnasium...

Shirley Vangilder has helped countless families deal with the difficult reality of losing a loved one. As part of the staff at Irby Funeral Home in Rector, Vangilder often has seen individuals at one of their most challenging times, but has made a point of being there with a kind, comforting word or a much-needed hug...

Cole Thomas is proud to be a part of the Rector community. The 2010 graduate of Rector High School and son of Mark and Michelle Thomas doesn't merely rely upon his words to demonstrate his fondness for his hometown and those who live here, however. Thomas has let his actions speak for him, having been involved with several community projects and events...

Suddenly I'm a wise old owl. Everybody wants my opinion about the Gulf Oil Spill, and Mel Gibson's alleged abuse of his wife, and whether jail or the sober house would be best for convicted Lindsay Lohan. And a host of other subjects making headlines...

There is no question that the letters-to-the-editor section of the newspaper is one of the most widely-read each week. One of the most basic functions of a community newspaper is to provide a forum for its readers to express views on a wide range of topics -- both local and more far-reaching. In that regard, we like to think the newspaper actually belongs to its readers -- the community involvement aspect is just that important...

The past several weeks of media coverage of "breaking" and other news have been typical of the kind of fare that has historically marked the supremacy of TV over the newspapers, magazines and specialty publications that were the bare bones of all the news that was fit to print. ...

H.D. Sample, 86, of Nimmons, passed away Sunday, July 25, 2010, at his home. He was born July 6, 1924, in Nimmons, and was the son of the late Hyder David and Zona (Mathis) Sample. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Ronnie Sample; two brothers, Lester and Delbert Sample; two sisters, Ruth Risener and Deloris Allen, and five infant sisters...