I Hear Spring Is On The Way

Well, we just keep getting a hint of winter and then it warms up again. We had one of those hints last week as the temperature dropped into the teens. But it rebounded quickly. What we have experienced is rain. Lots of rain. We should have a glorious spring, filled with flowers and greenery and plenty of mosquitos. Oh well. We haven’t been frozen or flooded so I can’t complain.

I was back at Dr. Blackshare’s office last Monday to preview my permanent crown. Again, another good experience. I need to mention too that Laura was assisting Dr. Daniel and she deserves a mention too as she took such good care of me. This time the assistant was Christa. See, I had no trouble remembering her name. She was great too. Thanks again to the entire staff. I will be back.

Hayden and Emma Crancer and Louie had another win week before last in New York City. They won Owner-Handled Best in Show at the Progressive Toy Dog Show. Congratulations!

Guess what! It’s Primary Season. Time to get out and vote. March 3 is the official Primary voting day, but you can vote early at the Courthouse from February 17 through March 2. You can also get a mail-in ballot or absentee ballot, but you must request it by February 25. It’s important. Your vote counts, but only if you do it. Go vote!

Coming up on the 22^nd, the Clay County Arts Council will present its annual Night of Chocolate Dinner Theater. This year the play is “Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got The Will.” Mark your calendars for the 22^nd and get ready for a delicious meal and some great entertainment. Call Linda Robinson at 870 595-3035 for tickets.

The following weekend the Rector Community will host the annual Ryan Rogers Chili, Soup, Cook-off. Contact Linda Robinson at the Rector Water Office 870 595-3035 for entry forms and registration information. That’s February 29^th. If you don’t enter you will still want to come enjoy some chili and soup and good company.

Because of all this February activity we will not have a Third Thursday event at the Museum in February. We will resume those in March and will have a very special entertainer in April, so stay tuned and make your plans. Every third Thursday it is Mini-Concert time at the Rector Community Museum. April’s entertainment will be Cory Jackson, a contestant on The Voice, and Kevin King. Call Joey Pruett for tickets. 870 595-4053.

Another reminder that the Census Bureau is looking for census takers for the Rector area. If you are looking for some extra money and working your own hours and getting paid while you are in training, you might do well to look into this temporary part time job. It pays $17.00 per hour plus .58 cents per mile. You can set your own hours and paid training is provided. There are several different positions open. You can view the job descriptions at www.2020census.gov/jobs and can submit an application online.

Why is the census important? You always want to be counted. It’s one way you can influence the support you get. It is the tool for establishing the true population of cities and towns, counties, states and US territories and the population of the entire nation.

The census is only taken every 10 years, so the information collected this year will determine what your community receives for the next ten years. The census count determines government funding for things like roads and bridges and other infrastructure projects. Schools, medical facilities and personnel, emergency services, like the Police and Fire Department and EMTs are also funded and staffed based on the number of people they will be serving. It is the count that matters. The census matters. Its reliability matters. So, look for your form in the mail and be sure you and your household are accounted for. I will post information frequently between now and April 1.

There will be more posted on the www.Rectorarkansas.com website and on the Rector, Arkansas Facebook page. Check it out. And be sure to complete you census when it arrives.

That’s it for this week. I am always updating the Rector website. Please take a look at the web page and let me know if there are updates or changes that need to be made. I do take suggestions and criticism fairly well. www.rectorarkansas.com . It’s your page for your town, so give me your input.

What else is going on that you would like to see in this column? Give me a heads up and I will share it with everyone else. Email: porchswing@newwavecomm.net . Phone number (870) 595-4997.

God bless our troops.