Stories from Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Keith Richards aids Helping Hands: Guitar donation draws national attention (01/07/09)
Rector is getting international attention since Rolling Stones lead guitarist Keith Richards donated a unique Zemaitis pearl front electric guitar soon to be auctioned online to benefit the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation...

2008, year in review, part 2 (01/07/09)
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. ...

Training center moving forward in new year (01/07/09)
Work is moving ahead on the proposed Northeast Arkansas Innovative Training Center (NEAITC) in Rector. The program, envisioned with the goal of offering educational and employment opportunities to not only the people of Rector, but also those in surrounding northeast Arkansas communities, has been a main goal of City of Rector business/industry specialist Jacinda Welch since she joined the city staff in 2008.. ...

New county officials sworn-in (01/07/09)
Clay County has a new sheriff and collector this week, along with a new county clerk and district court judge. The trio of newly-elected officials, and the incumbents who were re-elected in last year's election, were sworn-in Thursday, Jan. 1, at the courthouse in Piggott...

Future of HPMEC in question (01/07/09)
The future of funding for the upkeep and operation of the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Education Center in Piggott is expected to be a hot topic for discussion in the upcoming Arkansas legislative session. ...

City looking at potential improvements (01/07/09)
With the arrival of 2009, the Rector City Council continues to keep an eye toward the future. During a meeting Monday night at the Rector courtroom, the council discussed the potential for future improvements to the city...

Rector and Marmaduke collide during exciting rivalry game (01/07/09)
It was yet another intense meeting between rivals as the Rector Lady Cougars played host Monday night to the Lady Greyhounds of Marmaduke. The two teams continued the tradition of memorable contests between the two schools, as Marmaduke came away with a hard-fought 60-51 victory...

America must adapt as we move forward (01/07/09)
In looking at the state of our society moving into 2009, there certainly are lots of reasons for concerns about the future of our nation -- this is especially true when one considers the challenges to be faced by our children and grandchildren...

Eyeing the prize (01/07/09)
I like bumper stickers and certain sayings. Recently I read one that sticks in my mind. It reads, "Look through the windshield, not through the rearview mirror." That seems fitting in the new year. Instead of looking back we need to look forward...

A two-faced New Year (01/07/09)
Last week we were filling the quiet, holy night with songs of rejoicing at the birthday of the Prince of Peace. Just at the turn of New Year, gruesome, hateful war brought its grisly images of dying and wounded men, women and children, the usual casualties. ...

Leon W. Underwood (01/07/09)
Leon W. Underwood, 90, of Little Rock, died Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008. He was a native of Piggott, a World War II veteran, a recipient of the Purple Heart and had a storied history as both an athlete and coach...

Charles Champ (01/07/09)
Charles Robley Champ, 92, of Piggott, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008, at his home. He was born Oct. 16, 1916, in Kennett, Mo., and was the son of the late Charles W. and Lucy Viola (Case) Champ. He was married May 9, 1943, to Dovie Scott...

Mary Jo Elsass Pruett (01/07/09)
Mary Jo Elsass Pruett, 83, of Florissant, Mo., formerly of Rector, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008. She was born in Rector and had lived in Florissant since her marriage to Duane Bill Pruett, who also was a native of Rector. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Grace Elsass, and one sister, Aline Bullock...

Mary Magaline McDaniel (01/07/09)
Mary Magaline McDaniel, 79, of Jackson, Mich., a native of Clay County, died Nov. 28, 2008, at her home in Jackson, Mich. Mrs. McDaniel was born April 22, 1929, in Piggott to the late William Jess and Ollie May (Hunt) Rickman...