2008, year in review, part 2

Topping news stories in Rector for the second half of 2008 was a fabulous concert sponsored by the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation. The event brought to the Rector stage six of gospel music's most talented artists and raised about $8,000 for the Foundation's work in assisting disadvantaged Rector students. Those appearing included featured artist Richie McDonald, former lead singer for Lone Star, and Gaither artists Russ Taff, Gordon Mote, Kevin Williams and Reggie and Ladye Love Smith.

A Rector art show featuring the stunning work of Rector native Paul Frets was sponsored by the Helping Hands Foundation in late August, and an auction Labor Day weekend of a special painting by Frets of the late Moses Knight generated another $10,500.

The story of Moses Knight, a small black man who lived in Rector in the first half of the 20th century and won the affection of all who knew him, inspired a reader to establish an $11,000 scholarship in Knight's name through the Helping Hands Foundation.

As the new year begins, the Helping Hands Foundation is about to auction on E-bay a guitar donated and signed by Rolling Stones legend Keith Richards.

Here is a recap of other newsworthy stories from the second half of 2008:

July

Investigators from the Marmaduke Police Department and Arkansas State Police examine details surrounding the drowning death of one-year-old Ethan Ray Roberts at his Marmaduke home...The City of Rector hires Jacinda Welch as a business/industry specialist...Arkansas Downtown Network assistant director Greg Phillips and design consultant Susan Shaddox present to city officials a certificate recognizing Rector's acceptance into the ADN program...Plans are announced to bring to Rector in 2009 the Kids College program, sponsored by BRTC and featuring presentations provided by local businesses and organizations which give young students informational on potential jobs...Joey Pruett is among performers at a "Doo Wop, Rock & Roll" show at the Collins Theatre in Paragould...Junior high math teacher Mike Book, junior high special education teacher Tina Russell and football coach Bob Alberson are hired by the Rector School Board...Staff sergeant Terry Burdin of Rector meets General David Petraeus, the Commanding General of the Multi-National Force in Iraq...Velda Bell joins the First United Methodist Church as pastor...The Glen Sain baseball and Arctic Cat softball teams go undefeated during league play...Nicholas Deringer is one of 18 high school students in the state to complete a preparatory training regime at the Arkansas State Police Training Academy in Little Rock...Rector High School's first shooting team, Pigeon Pounders, takes part in the state competition after finishing third at the north regional tournament...Teresa Roofe retires from the Rector revenue office after 35 years as a revenue officer...Elvis impersonator Butch Dicus makes a special visit to residents of Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation in Rector, singing several songs and visiting with the residents.

August

Kenny and Teresa Vangilder of Marmaduke celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary...The Senior Little League team, featuring Clinton Haley of Rector and Ray Taylor of Marmaduke, as well as players from Piggott and Corning, competes in the Southwest Regional Tournament in Seguin, Texas, defeating the New Mexico State Champions in the first round but losing to teams from Texas and Colorado to be eliminated...Artist Paul Frets unveils his portrait of Moses Knight for a special Helping Hands Foundation auction during the Labor Day weekend...Kristie Hardin is recognized by the United States Achievement Academy as a Student of Excellence in leadership and speech and drama...The new restroom facility at Rector Memorial Park is completed...The Rector School District hires high school English teacher Sonya Edington, second grade teacher Jami Palmer and family and consumer sciences teacher Sarah Wright...Laura Mooneyhan joins the staff at Rector Public Library as the new children's librarian...Rector police chief Tommy Baker retires after having been with the department since 1974 and serving as chief since 1995...Rector and Marmaduke students begin the 2008-09 school year...Glenn Leach, who has been with the Rector Police Department since 1977, is sworn in as new police chief...Paul Frets hosts a retrospective art show, "Return to the Heartland," at the former Crockett Motor Company showroom on Main Street...Young racers Westley Milburn, Adam Dinkins, Tony Loveless and Cody Loveless use their love for lawnmower racing to play an integral role in the creation of a new race track at the Boydsville Arena...Clay County Extension agent Andy Vangilder receives the prestigious Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents in a ceremony at Greensboro, N.C...Alumni from Rector, Greenway and Clay County Central take part in the first Rector Athletic Hall of Fame Four Person Scramble golf tournament at the Kennett Country Club with the team of Matt Rabjohn, Jonathan Kemp, Keat Cohn and Neal Wimberley winning the event...The RHS Sports Hall of Fame inducts legendary basketball coach Jess Bucy as its first member. Bucy coached junior high state championship teams in 1963 and 1967, as well as state runner-up high school teams in 1959 and 1965. He coached at Harding University for 21 years.

September

Thousands visit Rector for the annual Labor Day Picnic...The traditional Labor Day parade features the Navy Band Mid-South of Millington, Tenn., the RHS marching band and numerous floats and eye-catching vehicles...Paul Frets' painting of Moses Knight is purchased for $10,500 by Molly Redyke of Tulsa, Okla., in memory of her mother Sue (Crews) Doshier and great-grandparents Donald and Doma McCluney of Rector...Sarah Hester is crowned Miss Rector 2008...Teresa Roofe joins the Rector City Council to fill a vacancy left when former member Glenn Leach was hired as police chief...Remnants of tropical depression Ike batter the area with high winds, downing trees locally and causing a power outage which leads to Rector Schools being closed for two days...American Railcar Industries holds its annual company picnic at Rector Memorial Park with an estimated 3,500 to 4,000 attending and a performance by the Kentucky Headhunters...Rector native Johnny Williams opens the Palmer House at 105 East Ninth Street to display and sell numerous items including his stained glass art...Clifton and Margie Carter celebrate their 50th anniversary...The Rector Cougars win their first football game in nearly five years, topping host Salem 16-6...Melissa Ann Gregory of Marmaduke is arrested for allegedly propositioning an unnamed individual to kill her husband, Jay...Rector third grade teacher Bonnie Manning is chosen as KAIT's Teacher of the Month...Danielle Maltbie celebrates the publication of her first book, "Just Another Starlit Night."

October

Amanda Layer and Logan Buck are crowned RHS Football Homecoming Queen and King, respectively...Barbara Weaver opens the Classy Cuts salon at 701B Main Street...Rev. James and Nell Dortch celebrate 66 years of marriage...Rector Lions Club members sell mums at Memorial Park as a fundraiser for the organization's many projects...Marmaduke opens its public library in the town's community center with books donated from local readers to help the library get started...Elementary and high school students at Rector take part in mock elections with Barack Obama winning at both schools...Rector fourth grade students made a paper "quilt" after learning about the history of American quilting...The RHS band takes part in the Arkansas Open Band Competition at ASU with drum major Kailee Carter and colorguard members Neeley Simms, Tarryn Tracy, Rachel Lampkin and Kaylee Bell receiving the second highest scores in their division...Dana Harmon opens the All About You salon at 502 Main Street...The Boydsville Racing Team holds a charity race which raises $685 for the Helping Hands Foundation...Several talented young artists from Rector and Piggott take part in the annual Design An Ad Contest sponsored by local businesses.

November

F. Lavone and Joyce Smart of Greenway celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary...Voters across the nation take part in the General Election with Barack Obama chosen as the next president...Students at Rector and Marmaduke show their support for a life free of substance abuse during the annual Red Ribbon Week celebration...The Helping Hands Foundation receives several items from famous musicians including a signed Keith Richards Zemaitis pearl front electric guitar, as well as an acoustic guitar signed by country stars Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill and Dierks Bentley, an autographed poster of Keith Urban and a cowboy hat signed by Trace Adkins...The annual Veteran's Day assembly is held at the Rector gym to honor area soldiers...RHS senior football players, cheerleaders and band members Logan Buck, James Bradshaw, Jacob Chronister, Agust Lopez, Colby Wynn, Dalton Shaw, Kayla Hampton, Amanda Layer, Luke Morris, Logan Wesley, Arron Spears and Samantha Seymour are honored during the final football game of the season...The RHS drama department presents "Willy Wonka"...The Northeast Arkansas Innovative Training Center receives donations from BRTC, ARI at Marmaduke and Nucor-Yamato Steel for work on its Main Street location...Rector Preschool and kindergarten students share their tips on "How to cook a Thanksgiving turkey"...Residents gather for the annual Community Thanksgiving Service at the Rector Community Center...The FFA Opening and Closing Ceremonies team, featuring Breanna Benson, Kelly Fowler, Kaitlyn Essman, David White, Neeley Simms, Sydney Simmons and Payton Holcomb, wins first place in a leadership contest at the Greene, Clay and Lawrence County Sub-Area Competition...Cougar football players Seth Parsley, Clinton Haley, Dalton Shaw, Logan Buck and Agust Lopez are named All-Conference...Todd Ford wins the Democrat Football Pick-It Line with an 83-46 overall record.

December

The annual Rector Christmas Parade brings the holiday spirit to town with floats decorated by local businesses and organizations and an evening of fellowship at the community center featuring a performance by the elementary band...The first members of the Arkansas National Guard's 39th Infantry Combat Team begin returning home from Iraq, with all arriving before the end of the month...The Clay County Arts Council holds its annual Night of Chocolate event featuring live music, a holiday fashion show and a dance contest won by David and Karen Cagle...Cecil and Elleta Simpson celebrate their 60th anniversary...An anonymous couple establishes a four-year full tuition scholarship to Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge through the Helping Hands Foundation in the name of Moses Knight...The RHS student council holds its annual food drive...The Rector Lions Club has its annual Breakfast with Santa...RES Gifted and Talented students show a wide range of abilities during their annual Christmas Talent, Art and Project Show, which raised $233.99 for the purchase of clothing for disadvantaged students...Northeast Arkansas is hit by ice and snow resulting in area schools closing prior to the start of the holiday break...Development continues on a planned veterans memorial in downtown Rector, to feature a life-sized bronze soldier in combat gear, as well as flags representing each branch of the military and the names of fallen soldiers engraved in stone.