Donations ramp up excitement for auction

Paul Frets' incredible new painting "Picking Cotton" and a stunning pearl-front Zematis guitar donated and signed by Rolling Stones lead guitarist Keith Richards will be at the center of the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation's second Labor Day auction at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, but the auction has grown over the last few days to include many other items sure to create a lot of interest.

Rector native Marvin Whitney, now of St. Louis, has donated four tickets to the St. Louis Cardinals game vs. the Atlanta Braves at 3:10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, and a one-night stay at the Ritz-Carlton in St. Louis for the night of Sept. 12. The tickets are in Section 148, Row 4, seats 7, 8, 9 and 10. "These are great tickets," said a Foundation board member Gregg Sain. "The total package is valued at $636."

Glen Sain Motors in Rector is donating four St. Louis Cardinals tickets to the 7:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, game against the Florida Marlins. These tickets are in Section 171, outfield box in Row 7. The total value is $176.

Gregg Sain is donating four tickets to the Arkansas Razorbacks football game against Mississippi State on Nov. 21 at Little Rock. The tickets are in Section 7, Row 22 near the 45 yard line. The package includes a parking pass in Lot 2 near the stadium.

Foundation president Sherland Hamilton has donated two tickets to the 2 p.m. Nov. 28 Arkansas State University football game versus North Texas. The 48-yard-line tickets are in an enclosed area, and the package includes a parking pass near the stadium.

Dr. Bryan Blackshare is donating four outside club seats to the Oct. 31 University of Arkansas football game in Fayetteville versus Eastern Michigan. The seats are in the south end zone and are valued at $400.

Foundation co-founder Bill Carter, a Rector native who resides in Lebanon, Tenn., asked Frets, his former classmate, to create another original painting for this year's auction after Frets' painting last year of the late Moses Knight raised $10,500 for the organization. Both Carter and Frets are 1953 RHS grads.

Former attorney for the Rolling Stones, Carter also secured the Keith Richards guitar, as well as two guitars donated by country music star Carrie Underwood.

The many other items he has provided for this years auction include:

* An autographed photo and lyrics of Ready Set Don't Go, by the hugely popular Miley Cyrus and her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus.

* An autographed copy of Alan Jackson's "Good Time," along with an autographed picture.

* Four certificates for platinum tours of Elvis Presley's Graceland in Memphis.

* An autographed copy of Gloria Gather's book "Something Beautiful."

* An autographed copy of "It's More Than Music" by the amazing Bill Gaither.

* "Serious Moonlight: The World Tour," a book by David Bowie.

* "All of Our Best to You," a book of more than 100 of the Gaithers' most beloved songs, signed by Bill and Gloria Gather.

* Framed Garth Brooks record "Good Ride Cowboy."

* Three DVD set of Elvis Presley songs.

* Four CD box set of Elvis "Live in Las Vegas," with book and pictures.

* Five DVD set of the Beatles' "Anthology."

* 46 CD set of Ralph Emery's "Memories."

* Autographed sheet music for Alan Jackson's "Small Town Southern Man," along with the autographed CD "Good Time."

* Five autographed pictures of the Rascal Flatts.

* Ten separate 10-CD sets of Ralph Emery presents "Country Roads."

* VHS set 1861/1865 Civil War movie.

* Four CD set and a collector's booklet of the Ken Burns film "The War," a deluxe edition with soundtrack and music.

* A CD of 30 #1 Elvis Presley hits.

* A DVD of Elvis' Graceland, "The Ultimate Tour."

* An official guidebook of Elvis Presley's Graceland.

* Numerous other CDs, DVDs and sports items.

All of the Elvis Presley items have been donated by Presley's Graceland Estate.

Terry Robinson of Corning will again serve as auctioneer, and Rector native Ted Glaub as ringman. This is an event sure to provide lots of competitive fun, and all of the proceeds from the Paul Frets painting, the Keith Richards guitar and the other items will go to the Helping Hands Foundation and its work in helping disadvantaged students in the Rector School District.