Stories from Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Historic structure up in flames (07/29/09)
A Rector landmark was lost Saturday when the historic lumber shed located at the corner of South Main and West Fifth Streets was destroyed by fire. The loss is significant not only because of the many memories associated with the structure, familiar to Rectorites for more than 80 years, but also because of the magnitude of the disaster, which will be remembered as one of the largest fires in Rector's history.. ...

Finally here: concert is Tuesday night (07/29/09)
As the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation and its work for disadvantaged local students have grown, so has enthusiasm for the organization, which is attracting attention all over the country for its unique mission in giving a hand to many youth whose families are financially challenged...

Early days of business remembered (07/29/09)
With the loss of the old lumber shed on Main Street, many local residents are looking back on personal experiences associated with the Rector landmark. Though the building is gone, its memories remain as bright as the orange flames which claimed it in the minds of those who will forever be connected to location and its history...

Greenway picnic set for Saturday (07/29/09)
The 79th annual Greenway picnic, to benefit the Mitchell Cemetery, will be held Saturday, Aug. 1, in that community. The annual event will officially kick off at 9 a.m. with the opening ceremonies on the grandstand, and activities will be going on throughout the day...

Health fair held (07/29/09)
The recent Health fair held at the Rector community center and sponsored by Arkansas Methodist Medical Center was attended by a number of people. Visitors were able to have their blood pressure and cholesterol checked and have questions answered about general health concerns. The event is part of an effort by AMMC to be involved in local communities and encourage healthy living...

Is that all there is? (07/29/09)
Forty years ago singer Peggy Lee recorded a song during the big band era. It was titled "Is That All There Is?" It was a pensive melancholy refrain about life. The lyrics tell about when she was a small child and watched her house burn down...

"Broke" -- but not broken (07/29/09)
The writer has been a living, working part of the healing profession from the use of penicillin and sulfonamides to the clinical use of stem cells. A practicing physician for more than fifty years, I have experienced both the joys of saving and healing lives, but also the sorrows when the patients did not respond, or got worse and died. ...

Looking back at the Gazette (07/29/09)
Remembering to the "good ole days" is both rewarding and deceptive, depending upon how one wishes to "spin" it. That is certainly the case with the newspaper business. Anyone who has been involved with newspapers as long as we have can look back wistfully at some of the strengths and favorable elements associated with the industry in earlier days...