Time for fun: Labor Day '09 is here!

There seems to be a consensus among all who have ever lived here that Rector is the best place on earth to call home. And as Dorothy said in her famous line from The Wizard of Oz, "there's no place like home."

So it's no surprise that thousands still throng here each Labor Day weekend to celebrate the unique spirit which makes Rector a place to come back to again and again -- or to stay for a lifetime.

As Labor Day approaches each year, a marked enthusiasm and a quickening of the pace takes hold as hundreds of volunteers undertake the task of making the town ready to put its best foot forward in welcoming family and friends back home.

ASU Band In Parade

Adding to the excitement this year will be the Arkansas State University Sound of the Natural State Marching Band, which will be featured in the annual parade, set to begin at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 7. The 196-member band received new uniforms just last week and will wear them outside of Jonesboro for the first time in the Labor Day parade.

The ASU Band also will perform at Rector Memorial Park just after the parade, and local residents will have a chance to express their gratitude for the band's trip to Rector as they enjoy delicious barbecue to be provided by the Woodland Heights Cemetery Association.

Lifelong Rector resident Demetra Shultz will be honored as the parade Grand Marshal.

Activities Begin Friday

Ranch Rodeo Action, sponsored by the Rector Saddle Club, will kickoff Labor Day weekend activities in Rector at 7:30 Friday and Saturday nights, Sept. 4 and 5, at the Rector Arena, located just off Highway 49 behind the old Rector Sportswear building.

Events will include free sheep riding for children six and under, chute dogging and steer riding for those 18 and under ($20 fee), a free calf scramble for kids eight and under (first place wins a bicycle both nights), team roping ($20 per team), wild cow milking ($30 per team) and wild horse race ($30 per team). Mexican poker is an open event.

Tickets will be $5 at the gate with children six and under admitted free with an adult. Negative coggins is required.

"Please come ride in the grand entry," said a club spokesman. "Bring the children for a night of family fun."

Those who want more information may call Ward Robinson at (870) 215-2223 or Shane Shipley at (870) 595-4858.

Book Signing Saturday

Sherry Laymon will be signing her book, Pfeiffer Country: The Tenant Farms and Business Activities of Paul Pfeiffer in Clay County, Arkansas 1902-1954, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Rector Community Museum, located at the back of the Rector Public Library (enter on the east side).

Pfeiffer Country is the compelling story of how Paul Pfeiffer's tenant farming model in Clay County contrasted significantly with similar operations throughout the Mississippi Delta in the early 20th century.

Hall Of Fame Luncheon

Rector basketball standouts Bill Cossey and the late Allan Pruett, the school's 1992 state championship baseball team and Rector athletics supporter Mac Manchester will be inducted into the Rector High School Sports Hall of Fame in a luncheon ceremony set to begin at noon Saturday, Sept. 5, in the school cafetorium. All former lettermen of any sports, family and friends are invited to attend.

Great Picnic Food

A variety of food items will be available Sunday and Monday at the picnic grounds at Memorial Park. Barbecue, prepared by Earnheart's Rib Rack, will be available beginning Sunday at the picnic grounds.

A plate lunch, including coffee or tea, will again be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday in the Rector Community Center dining room. Prices are $6 for lunch and drink and $2 for dessert only and drink.

Donations of whole kernel corn, blackeyed peas, green beans and Trio mashed potatoes (all available at Harps in gallon containers) may be taken to the Community Center. If purchased at Harps, the items may be left there for storage for those who prefer.

Cakes and pies also are needed for the noon meal, as well as fresh okra, tomatoes and bell peppers. Those items should be delivered to the Community Center the day of the picnic.

Carnival, Early Pageants

The ever-popular carnival will set up early at Rector Memorial Park, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, has been declared as Armband Day, providing rides at discount prices. Armbands also may be used from 4 p.m. until the end of the picnic on Monday, Sept. 7.

Along with carnival fun and good food, those visiting the picnic grounds Sunday afternoon also can enjoy the picnic's first pageants for girls who attend Rector school.

Girls ages 5 through 8 will compete for the title of Petite Miss Rector in a pageant from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, on stage at Rector Memorial Park. Church dress is required. Entry fee is $20. Pageant directors Whitney Conley and Nancy Holcomb may be contacted at (870) 974-3651 or (870) 522-3206.

The Preteen Miss Rector pageant for girls ages 9 through 11 will be from 3 to 4 p.m. with church dress required. Practice will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, on stage at the park. Entry fee is $20. Pageant director Sarah Fannin may be contacted at (870) 783-0262.

The Junior Miss Rector pageant for girls ages 12 to 15 will be from 4 to 5 p.m. Church dress is required, and the entry fee is $20. Directors Candy and Ashley Williams may be contacted at (870) 598-4537. Practice for the Junior Miss Rector pageant will be at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3. Practice is mandatory. No contestants will be accepted after practice has been held. Entry fee and forms must be turned in at practice.

Helping Hands Auction

The Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation will hold its annual auction at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Rector Community Center multi-purpose room. Featured items will be a beautiful original painting by Rector native Paul Frets and a stunning pearl-front Zematis guitar signed and donated by Rolling Stones lead guitarist Keith Richards. There also will be a number of other hot items sure to find a lot of interest. All proceeds of that auction go to the Foundation for its work in helping disadvantaged Rector students.

Colorful Parade

In addition to the Arkansas State University Sound of the Natural State Marching Band, the 2009 Rector Labor Day parade Monday morning also will feature politicians, the Rector High School Marching Band, colorful floats, antique cars, beauty queens, horses, clowns and much more.

The parade will begin at the corner of Main and Third Streets, proceed south on Main Street, turn east on Highway 49 and go by Rector Health and Rehabilitation before ending near the park.

Officials who have indicated they will take part in the parade include Congressman Marion Berry, State Treasurer Martha Shoffner, State Sen. Robert Thompson and State Rep. Mike Patterson.

No ATVs or golf carts are allowed in the parade, but bicycles are encouraged. Sherland Hamilton is parade chairman. Those who want more information about the parade may call 595-3501.

Picnic Program

A welcome address by Rector Mayor Ron Kemp will begin the official Labor Day program at the park at 9:55 a.m., followed by a concert by the ASU Marching Band.

Representatives of the RHS Sports Hall of Fame will speak briefly at 10:15 a.m., and brief political speeches will follow at 10:20 a.m.

The oldest man and woman at the picnic, as well as the couple married the longest present that day, will be recognized at 10:55 a.m.

Pageants Monday will begin with the always-popular baby contest at 11 a.m. There will be specific starting times for each age group to make it easier for both babies and their parents. Contestants should register with Nancy Holcomb or Whitney Conley at (870) 522-3206 or (870) 974-3651. Entry fee is $20. Casual or church dress is required. Baby pageants are open to everyone.

Times for each age group are:

Tiny Mr. Rector for ages 0 to 12 months, 11 a.m.

Tiny Miss Rector for ages 0 to 12 months, 11:30 a.m.

Baby Mr. Rector for ages 13 to 23 months, 12 noon.

Baby Miss Rector for ages 13 to 23 months, 12:30 p.m.

Contestants in each age group should confirm entry 15 minutes prior to their pageant time.

Toddler pageants, also open to everyone, will be directed by Shannon Haywood, who may be contacted at (870) 595-3699. The Little Mr. Rector contest, for boys ages 2 to 4 years, will be at 1 p.m., and the Little Miss Rector contest for girls 2 to 4 years will be at 1:30 p.m.

Contestants in each age group should confirm entry 15 minutes prior to their pageant time. Casual or church dress is required.

A Mid-South Fair sanctioned talent show, open to everyone, will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Contestants should register with Gail Burns at (870) 595-1444, (870) 522-3377 or email gburns@hughes.net. There will be two divisions of talent, the junior division for ages 6 to 12 and the senior division for ages 13 to 21.

The contest will follow the Mid-South Fair talent show contest rules

All material must be appropriate for the contestant's age and for a family entertainment venue. The registration fee is $20 per act and will be paid to the Woodland Heights Cemetery Fund in Rector.

Trophies will be awarded for the first, second and third place with the overall senior winner going to the Mid-South Fair competition in Memphis in September. The Mid-South fair contest is the largest amateur talent contest in the world. The winner will compete at the Mid-South contest for over $20,000 in cash and prizes.

Music Program

A program of musical entertainment will begin with Patrick Patterson and The Band at 3:30 p.m. The popular Dooleys, formerly of Rector, will present gospel music at 4:30 p.m.

The person (or family) who traveled the farthest for the 2009 picnic will be recognized at 6 p.m., and a special recognition "Honoring Our Heroes: Past and Present" will allow time for everyone to give thanks to veterans for their service and sacrifice.

Beautiful chairs made by Rector's Wise Company will be auctioned at 6:30 p.m. Music by Scatter Creek, of Paragould, will follow at 7 p.m.

The annual Miss Rector pageant at 8 p.m. will feature local beauties. All contestants will be given a business sponsor, who will pay the $25 entry fee. Director Jade Mount may be contacted at (870) 236-0587. The Miss Rector contest is open to any girl ages 16 to 21 who has never been married and never had children. Contestants must attend school in the Rector School District or must have graduated from the Rector School District. Formal dress is required. Practice for the Miss Rector pageant will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, on stage at the park.

$1,000 Drawing, T-Shirts

A drawing for $1,000 will follow the Miss Rector pageant and close the day's events. The winner does not have to be present to win. Tickets are $1 each, six for $5 or 25 for $20. All proceeds go to Woodland Heights Cemetery.

T-shirts designed by Rector artist Joel Boyd now are on sale at Now & Then, Rector Downtown Drug, Glen Sain Motors and the Rector Community Center. Prices are $10 for children's sizes, $12 for adult S-XL, and $14 for adults XXL and XXXL.

Official passes for the picnic workers may be picked up at Regions Bank or Liberty Bank.