Stories from Thursday, May 19, 2011

Jennifer Bracken, 32, of Rector, died Saturday, May 14, 2011, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Jennifer was born to William and Sondra Daley Bracken on Aug. 22, 1978, in St. Louis, Mo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at the Rector First General Baptist Church, with Tom Payne officiating. Burial will follow in the Purcell Cemetery...

Luther Junior Gardner, 85, of Rector passed away Monday, May 16, 2011, at the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born Sept. 27, 1925, to the late Luther and Virgie (Myrick) Gardner in Rector, Ark. He served in the Army during World War II and then worked as a farmer. He was a member of the Evangelical Methodist Church at Hargrave Corner for many years...

John Thomas "J.T." Becking, son of the late Joseph George Becking and Columbia Belle Cook Becking, was born in Bernie, Mo., on June 18, 1922, and departed this life at his residence in Bernie, Mo., on May 11, 2011, at the age of 88. Mr. Becking was a United State Navy veteran having served in World War II, was a farmer and attended the Bernie First Baptist Church...

Those are the words used on the cover of a best-selling biography to summarize the trials and triumphs of an amazing American. Louis Zamperini, one of the World War II veterans who are quickly leaving us, has lived an extraordinary life since his birth in Olean, N.Y., in 1917...

The Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation (APCF) will co-host a free prostate cancer education and screening event with W.R.E.C.K. at the Rector Community Center, located at 740 E 9th Street in Rector from 4:30p.m. to 7 p.m. on May 24. The event will provide area men an opportunity to gather information about prostate cancer and services provided by the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation. ...

On Saturday we honor our military men and women on Armed Forces Day, and rightly so. They deserve our gratitude and respect, as they serve in wartime and peace. But I want to consider the families behind these soldiers, especially the wives. I identify with these wives because I was one of them for 20 years while my husband served in the United States Air Force...

The Rector Veterans Memorial Park committee recently received five 15-inch bronze medallions which represent the U.S. Armed Services of Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. The medallions will be attached to large stones and placed around the completed park...

As a law enforcement agency, the Clay County Sheriff's Department must maintain its equipment and facilities at a high standard in order to meet state requirements. During a recent comprehensive inspection of the Clay County Detention Center, the department's efforts were shown to have come to fruition, as the facility received the highest possible rating...

Piggott is gearing up for the 13th annual Heritage Park Car Show and Cruise, to be held Friday through Sunday, May 20-22, at Heritage Park. Organizers of the event have announced that active duty members of the military and their spouses will not be charged admission to this year's event. The portion of the show that is open to the public, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 21, falls on Armed Forces Day, prompting the offer...

As parents, grandparents and friends beamed with pride, diplomas were awarded to Rector High School's 35 graduating seniors in a ceremony Friday night, May 13, in the school gymnasium. Class members included Keelie Baker, Daniel Blackshare, Skyler Bradshaw, Bailey Buck, Emma Bucy, Rhoda Classen, Emily Cornelison, Hayden Crancer, Jerred Crane, Rachel Dowdy, Chelsea Drope, Breanna Emerson, Cody Hager, Kristen Hale, Misty Hall, Gabriele Haney, Kristie Hardin, Caleb Holcomb, Kaleb Hunt, Benjamin King, Tyler Kirklin, Brittany Lockhart, Nicholis McCord, Logan Miller, Shane Newman, Felisha Putt, Cody Rios, Cheyanne Steward, Courtney Studdard, Matthew Taylor, Malorie Tippitt, Sarah Vangilder, Sarah Weatherspoon Small, Ashley Williams and Kirk Young-Horton.. ...

The success of the past will serve as the steps to overcoming the challenges of the future for the young men and women of the Piggott High School Class of 2011. An emotional ceremony Friday night in the high school gymnasium concluded the group's rite of passage as a large crowd of classmates, faculty, friends and family united to support the graduates as they begin the next phase of their lives...

Cougar scoring specialist Chelsea Drope will be taking her sharpshooting ability to the collegiate level, having signed with Crowley's Ridge College Thursday at the RHS gym. For the past three seasons, Drope has wowed Rector fans with her clutch performances and her consistently strong scoring efforts...

Rhoda Classen has earned a reputation as one of the most athletically gifted young ladies to ever wear a Rector uniform. Now, the multi-sport standout will have the opportunity to display her ability on the hardwood as a member of the Crowley's Ridge College Lady Pioneers basketball team...

The Piggott Mohawks may have fallen just short in their semifinal matchup with Arkansas Baptist in the Class 3A State Baseball Tournament, but the squad certainly made an impression in the effort. In their 19-16 loss to the Arkansas Baptist Eagles, the Mohawks were part of three 3A baseball records. ...