Stories from Thursday, December 13, 2012

Gives back to Arkansas Rice Depot program

Police and Fire Departments benefit from 9/11 effort

Many changes in 26 years in local FSA office

Annual Christmas Parade and community gathering held

William T. Branch, M.D., a board certified urologist, passed away Wednesday, December 5, 2012. He was an Affiliate Professor of Surgery at the University of South Florida College Of Medicine and a nationally known speaker on various topics. He was one of the original interns at the University Of South Florida College of Medicine when it opened in 1971 and was awarded the "Intern of the Year" by the faculty. ...

Johnnie Howard Locke, 85 of Corning passed away Dec. 7, 2012 at the Jonesboro Healthcare Center. He was born Aug. 7, 1927 in Brookings, Ark. to the late Hade and Lillie Mae (Clayton)Locke. He is survived by his daughter: Carol Locke Pillow of Lexington, Tenn., two grandchildren: Kimberly Garver Woody of Memphis, Tenn. ...

Edward C. Ort, 94, of St. Francis, Ark., passed away Wednesday, December 5, 2012, at the Piggott Community Hospital. He was born on October 11, 1918, in Piggott, Ark., and was the son of the late John Frederick and Ruby (Dupue) Ort. He was united in marriage to Imogene Stewart on Dec. 30, 1939, and to this union two sons were born...

Patricia Helen Kelley-Keating entered into eternal rest Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at the Manila Nursing Home in Manila. She was born May 23, 1937, in Pittston, Penn., to the late Dr. Gene and Helen Kelley. She preferred to be called Tia or Tia-Nana. Tia graduated from Marywood College in 1969 and in 1976 while raising four young boys, completed her Master's Degree in Library Science. ...

Emma Elizabeth Wilson, 93, of Paragould, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, at her residence. Mrs. Wilson was a homemaker and loved life. She was a member of Center Hill Church of Christ. Survivors include two daughters, Phyllis Sonney of Houston, Texas, Beverly Sonney and beloved son-in-law, Melvin Sonney, both of Paragould; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren...

J.W. Parmenter, age 80, of Rector, passed away on Nov. 5, 2012 at The Flo & Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. A very special "Thank You'' goes to the staff of this wonderful facility for the care and comfort given to J.W. in his final days. He was born on Sept. 17, 1932 in his great grandmother's home on the farm of his maternal grandparents, William and Rhoda Reed, near Boydsville. His parents were the late Rev. Bennie and Goldie Parmenter of Rector...

William C. "Bill" Crowson, 90, of Dyersburg, Tenn., died Saturday, November 24, 2012 at Dyersburg Manor Nursing Center. He was a retired air traffic control specialist with the Federal Aviation Administration, a 50-plus year member of the Phillips Street Church of Christ, former member of the Newbern Saddle Club, member of the Dyersburg/Dyer County Humane Society, graduate of Greenway High School in Greenway, Ark., former employee of Southern Airlines and was a lover of animals, horseback riding and playing golf.. ...

Former Rector football coach Michael Lee Mayfield died Sept. 25, 2012, in the trauma unit at Vanderbilt Hospital in Tennessee. He was involved in a single vehicle car accident Sept 14, 2012, and died from complications after multiple surgeries. He lived in Woodbury, Tenn...

Tribe drops two of three to Lady Hornets, in action Thursday at home

Rector girls split games on week

Rector boys seeded second in upcoming NEARK Invitational Tournament at Jonesboro

Win consolation championship at Harrisburg, advance at Clarkton

The highest paid public employee in the state, by far, is the head football coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. If one is a die-hard football fan that would seem understandable, if not defensible. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise that the biggest story in Arkansas last week was the employment of Bret Bielema (Bee-luh-muh) as the new Head Hog. The announcement came with a banner front page headline in the statewide newspaper...

Each year beginning right after Thanksgiving, I get nervous about Christmas. My girlfriend, Gay, has already bought her Christmas gifts and has them wrapped by mid December. Not me. I'm the sort of person who worries all month long because I don't know what to buy. Every year it's the same old story...

The first meeting between Rector and Marmaduke would belong to the visiting Greyhounds Thursday night in Rector. The red and white squads earned victories in three of four contests played on the Cougars' homecourt. Marmaduke came away with a 58-49 win in senior boys action. ...