Stories from Wednesday, September 30, 2009

ASU Choir coming to Rector (09/30/09)
The Arkansas State University Choir, directed by Dr. Dale Miller, will present a concert open to the entire community at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Rector First General Baptist Church. The event will help raise funds for the choir's planned trip to Italy next spring. ...

Senior center has much to offer (09/30/09)
The Bert E. Sigsby Senior Wellness Center has been a vital part of the Rector community since it first opened in 2004. In the time since, the center has been a retreat of sorts for local senior citizens, offering a wealth of activities for this often-overlooked demographic...

Billy Bert Bracken dies at 72 (09/30/09)
Longtime Rector businessman and community worker Billy Bert Bracken died Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, at a University of North Carolina hospital in Chapel Hill, N.C. He was 72. Bracken worked as a clerk at Tidwell Grocery in Rector before purchasing his own business, Bracken Grocery Store, which he operated for years...

2009 Homecoming Football court (09/30/09)
Stephanie DeMent (front) was crowned the 2009 RHS Football Homecoming Queen during Friday night's festivities. She is the daughter of Stephen and Sandra DeMent. Other maids featured were, from left: Second row--Maid of Honor Destinei Heathcott, Maid of Honor Harmony Cagle and senior maid Chelsea Benson. Third row--sophomore maid Sabrina Morrissett, freshman maid Rachel Lampkin and junior maid Malorie Tippitt. Back--eighth grade maid Madison Cate and seventh grade maid Alex Green...

Lottery outlets see brisk sales (09/30/09)
The sales of Arkansas Scholarship Lottery scratch-off tickets began at midnight Monday, Sept. 28, and, according to assistant manager Tosha Branson at Flash Market in Rector, sales have been brisk. "We've probably sold close to 2,000 tickets, and we've had a bunch of winners," Branson said Tuesday afternoon. ...

Jolly Retires after 50 years (09/30/09)
(Editor's Note: This article by Jonesboro Sun staff writer Karin Hill about the recent retirement of Rev. Jerry Jolly, a 1958 graduate of Rector High School, is reprinted with permission from The Sun.)...

Cougars surge late for homecoming win (09/30/09)
The Cougars' Friday night homecoming game with the Palestine-Wheatley Patriots provided both fans and players with an evening to remember. Despite jumping out to an early 14-0 lead, Rector needed a late surge to come away with the 22-20 win...

Junior Cougars hang tough (09/30/09)
The Junior Cougars made forward strides Thursday night, in their meeting with Cedar Ridge in Rector. Though the young Rector squad came up short on the 20-6 outcome, the game was one of those contests wherein the score is misleading...

"The Natural State" still not apparent (09/30/09)
As the prospect of a beautiful fall (hopefully) begins to take shape, one's thoughts turn to enjoying life here in "The Natural State." But an underlying problem creeps in to spoil our sense of reverie...

Beneficial taxation (09/30/09)
I got it! Just now I heard on the news that soft drinks sweetened with sugar will be taxed. The tax is for our own benefit. It will help reduce obesity in teenagers and adults who drink sugary drinks. What a novel idea. If soft drinks are taxed, then overweight teens and adults won't drink sugary soft drinks..right?...

Alberta "Bertie" Wyatt (09/30/09)
Funeral services for 89-year-old Alberta "Bertie" Wyatt of Rector, who went to be with her Lord on Sept. 23 in the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, were Saturday, Sept. 26, at 10:30 a.m. in the Irby Funeral Home Chapel in Rector with Marston Carpenter and Terry Johnston officiating. Interment was in Ramers Chapel Cemetery...

Imogene Copeland (09/30/09)
Imogene Copeland, 91, of Cotter, Ark., formerly of the Greenway area, passed from this life on Sept. 26, 2009, at the Baxter County Regional Hospice House in Mountain Home. Imogene was born June 18, 1918, to the late Thomas and Ellie (Hill)...