Stories from Thursday, February 26, 2009

Weight Watchers group forming (02/26/09)
A new Weight Watchers group is currently forming in Rector. The group will hold their first meeting 5 p.m. Monday at the East Holly Island Baptist Church. Persons interested in participating are encouraged to call Martha Froman at 595-3249 or Gayle Benson at 595-3734...

Miss St. Patrick's Day Pageant (02/26/09)
There will be a Miss St. Patrick's Day Pageant beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 7 at the Rector Elementary multi-purpose room. Attire is Sunday best only. Registration will be from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. the day of the event. Divisions are: Baby Miss for newborns to 12 months; Tiny Miss, 13 to 24 months; Little Miss, ages three to four years; Petite Miss, five to six years; Junior Miss, seven to nine years and Miss, 10 to 12 years. A queen and two alternates will be chosen from each division...

Evergreen royalty (02/26/09)
Valentine's Day came a little late at Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation in Rector, but residents, staff members, friends and family members had a great time, nevertheless, at a lively party held Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 17, in the facility's dining room. Crowned as 2009...

Coalition plans free health fair for all (02/26/09)
The Clay County Coalition is hard at work in an effort to do what it can to improve the overall health of residents throughout the county. As its main goal, the organization strives to educate and promote healthy lifestyle choices throughout the communities of Clay County...

Glen Sain tops in customer satisfaction (02/26/09)
For the third year in a row, customers in the Rector area have expressed their satisfaction in doing business with Glen Sain GMC. Those in other areas are becoming aware of the company's dedication to its customers...

HOBY participants (02/26/09)
Sophomores Ashley Williams (left) and Kristie Hardin have been selected to take part in the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership program during March 13 through 15 at Springdale. The two will attend various workshops and will receive leadership training. The young ladies were selected for the program due to their leadership activities and excellent grades...

Subway opens in Marmaduke (02/26/09)
Marmaduke residents and visitors now have an additional option when looking for somewhere to enjoy a meal. The city recently welcomed the opening of a brand new Subway restaurant at 11902 Highway 49 North...

Humane Society saving animals (02/26/09)
The Clay County Humane Society has been working over the last several months to obtain funding for a facility while attempting to find homes for the county's unwanted pets. Adoptions have been low and donations are small and few, organizers say, but they point out CCHS is not alone. ...

Ice storm results in long work hours (02/26/09)
County employees have been working long hours following the disastrous ice storm of Jan. 27. In fact, the amount of work required has led to the necessity of overtime for road department employees, according to Judge Gary Howell. ...

Lady Cougars ready for regional tourney (02/26/09)
The Lady Cougars fell short in their bid for the 2A-3 District crown last Thursday, falling to eventual champion East Poinsett County, 57-33. Despite the loss, Rector had previously qualified for the regional tournament taking place this week at Newark...

Cougars battle valiantly in five overtime thriller (02/26/09)
Democrat Sports Staff It was a night many basketball fans in the area won't soon forget. The Cougars of Rector and the Riverside Rebels battled each other for nearly a solid hour of basketball, needing more than the usual four quarters to determine a winner in the second round of the 2A-3 District Tournament last Tuesday in Caraway. ...

The valentine skunk (02/26/09)
For Valentine's Day, my friend Shirley got a skunk. No, not a stuffed one. A real live one. It was found in the barn in a cage on Valentine's Day. The cage was left there by her husband who was trying to catch a bandit raccoon...

Windell Harveston Speer (02/26/09)
Windell Harveston Speer, age 83, died quietly Feb. 9, 2009, at his home in Healy, Alaska. He was born Dec. 5, 1925, in Greene County, Arkansas. He resided in Alaska for 39 years. Windell joined the U.S. Army in 1944 and...

Hazel Marie Robbins (02/26/09)
Hazel Marie Robbins, 64, of Rector died Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, at Piggott Community Hospital. She was born July 4, 1944, to the late Henry Arti and Rose Etta Woodward. She was a member of Rector First General Baptist Church. Also preceding her in death were her husband, Dewayne Robbins Sr.; two grandchildren, Stephanie Sees and Dewayne Robbins III; two sisters, Loetteda Anderson and Barbara Tomtkins, and one brother, Jack Woodward...

Leonard Bell Jr. (02/26/09)
Leonard Bell Jr., 83, of Piggott died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, at the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell, Mo. He was born June 29, 1925, in Rector and was the son of the late Leonard and Fay (Mobley) Bell...

Marion Gene Keller (02/26/09)
Marion Gene Keller, 46, of St. Louis died Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. He was born April 21, 1962, in Paragould to Bud and Mary Frances (Hogan) Keller. He worked and made his home in St. Louis...

Carolyn Gulzow (02/26/09)
Carolyn Gulzow, 59, of Lakewood, Colo., formerly of Rector, died Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, after a long bout with cancer. She was born June 6, 1949, in Wynne to Aleen Bozarth and the late Gene Bozarth. She also was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Roy Bozarth...

M.J. Gogue (02/26/09)
M.J. Gogue, 91, of Waycross, Ga., a native of Rector, died suddenly Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009, at his home. He had resided in Waycross for the last 65 years. He was a retired owner of Rosedale Florist and Greenhouses for 38 years. He was a member of Winona Park United Methodist Church and Dover's Bluff. He also was a veteran of World War II...