Stories from Thursday, June 11, 2009

Marmaduke mayor steps down Friday (06/11/09)
The City of Marmaduke has a new leader following a special city council meeting held Friday. Former mayor Byron Phillips, who was not present at the meeting, submitted his resignation in the form of a letter, citing personal reasons...

Summer Reading Fun (06/11/09)
The Kiddos from Siloam Springs entertained 81 children and 28 adults for the opening session of the Rector Public Library's summer reading program Wednesday, June 3. Hula dancers were Landon Haywood, Olivia Sutherland and Sawyer Hendrix and puppeteers were Natalie Mills and a child from Marmaduke preschool. This week's program featured magician Scott Davis. (Photo provided)...

Party like a rock star (06/11/09)
Kids in Lynnette Trail's kindergarten class at Rector Elementary School enjoyed a rock star party before recent graduation ceremonies at the school. (Photo provided)

Veterans memorial step closer to reality (06/11/09)
Development of a magnificent veterans memorial for Rector is a step closer to reality following a special meeting Monday morning meeting of the project's executive committee at city hall. Committee co-chairman George Barker of New York City was in the area and convened the group for a review of completed tasks and a look to the future...

Dr. Kemp returns to Rector Clinic (06/11/09)
A familiar face has returned to Rector. Dr. Len Kemp recently was welcomed back to the staff of Rector Medical Clinic. Dr. Kemp began his medical career with the clinic in 1981 and remained a part of the Rector Medical Clinic staff for several years before leaving in 1998 to work exclusively at the larger Paragould Doctors Clinic...

Hester receives scholarships (06/11/09)
Sarah Hester of Rector, recipient of the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation's first Moses Knight Scholarship, recently received notice of two other scholarships she has won. Hester received the Arkansas FFA Foundation Scholarship based on her participation and academic achievements...

Rabjohn retires after 38 years of educating students (06/11/09)
For nearly 40 years, Bill Rabjohn has educated students in both academics and athletics. Now, after 38 years as a teacher and coach, Rabjohn is retiring. He began his career working as a coach for one year at Cave City, before spending five years at Yellville Summit, where he wore a number of hats coaching in the basketball, baseball and football programs...

Kids College program to be held at NEAITC (06/11/09)
Local children ages five to 11 will have a unique opportunity to continue learning during the summer months, as the exciting Kids College program will be held in Rector for the first time June 29 through July 2 at the Northeast Arkansas Innovative Training Center (NEAITC) on Main Street...

Cougar Basketball Camp (06/11/09)
Several students from the surrounding area took part in the annual Cougar Basketball Camp held by Rector coaches Mark Manchester and Matt Mills.

Understanding the pesky apostrophe (06/11/09)
One of the more interesting internet sites for those of us involved in writing -- and those who wish to be accurate in their use of terms -- is "Common Errors in English" developed by Washington State University professor Paul Brians...

Speaking of dads (06/11/09)
What can I say about dads? There are dads and there are dads. Some are good; some fall short. Some are tall, short, plump or lean. My dad was six foot tall, lean, muscular, until lung cancer took him down...

Graduates -- been there, done that (06/11/09)
During the pleasant springtime of the last year of peace, 1939, this adolescent was graduated from Shepherdstown, W.Va., High School. (It was protocol for all boys under 16 to wear knickers, but since my own 16th was just a couple of months away, my father allowed me to wear long pants. ...

Jim Winton (06/11/09)
James "Jim" Winton, 75, of Piggott, passed away Friday, June 5, 2009, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born September 16, 1933, in Piggott, and was the son of the late A.R. and Cornelia (Wheeler) Winton...