Stories from Thursday, December 17, 2009

GT program attracts huge crowd (12/17/09)
More than 300 people were on hand Saturday night for the third annual Rector Elementary GT Christmas, Talent and Project Show, which allowed elementary gifted and talented students to display their talents in many areas and raised $233 for gifts for local needy children...

He's checking his list (12/17/09)
Six-year-old John Ford Hendrix of Rector listens carefully as Santa talks with him Saturday morning at the Rector Lions Club's third annual Breakfast with Santa at the Community Center. About 40 children came to meet Santa, enjoy pancakes, have their faces painted by Santa helper Barbi Terry and play on several inflatable toys provided by Delta Cotton Co-op. ...

Palmer farm celebrates centennial (12/17/09)
Farming has always been very important to the father and son duo of Terry and Bret Palmer. The Palmers come from a rich farming tradition, continued today with their recognition as the 2009 Clay County Farm Family of the Year...

Live nativity display marks 25th year (12/17/09)
More than 12,000 people have witnessed a beautiful re-creation of the birth of Christ over the last 25 years through the Hitts Chapel General Baptist Church's "Journey to Bethlehem" live nativity. As the church celebrates the 25th year of the display, visitors are invited from 7 to 9 nightly Friday through Sunday, Dec. 18 through 20...

Tough defense yields big win over Marked Tree and Cross Co. (12/17/09)
The Cougars cruised to a 56-28 win over Marked Tree on the hardwood Friday night in Rector. The game opened with a sluggish pace offensively, as neither team was able to manufacture much in the way of points, resulting in a 6-4 Marked Tree lead after the first period...

Lady Cougars post two routs as NEA Tournament nears (12/17/09)
The Lady Cougars were able to hit from both the inside and the outside on their way to rolling over the Marked Tree Lady Indians, 69-39, on Friday. Rector buried nine three-pointers in the game, while also routinely attacking the basket in a balanced attack...

Which way to the exit? (12/17/09)
Which way to the exit in Afghanistan? The President, having recently been awarded the Nobel Prize for peace, saw fit to follow the recommendations of General McChrystal and ordered 30,000 extra troops on the ground, with a stipulation that they be withdrawn in about 18 months. At that time they will have accomplished their mission and will be brought home. Yeah, right! (What mission?)...

A servant's prayer (12/17/09)
Are you listening, God? I've been trying to reach you for several days. I'm stressed and I need your help. I'm not like your servant Job. I don't have his patience. I'm a woman and a worrier. How can I not worry, God, when problems loom all around?...

Joseph "Joe" Edward Jr. Whitaker (12/17/09)
Joseph "Joe" Edward Jr. Whitaker of Detroit died at his home on Sunday, December 6, 2009. He was born April 17, 1928, in Rector, the son of the late Joseph and Eva Whitaker. Joe is preceded in death by son Joey and brothers Don and Albert Whitaker...

Patricia Susan "Patty" Settlemoir (12/17/09)
Patricia Susan "Patty" Settlemoir died October 29, 2009, in Burbank, California. She was 84. Mrs. Settlemoir was born in Marmaduke, Arkansas, in 1925 to Dr. O.H. and Olinda Clopton. She attended Rector High School and Murray State College and married William Settlemoir of Kennett. They were married for 53 years until his death in 2003...

Mamie Etta Hargrave (12/17/09)
Mamie Etta Hargrave was born on July 21, 1916, to the late Clifford T. Linam and Mamie Etta Linam in Rector, Arkansas. She departed this life at the age of 93 to be with her beloved Savior on December 11, 2009, in the Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida. Her family was with her as she was translated to her new home in heaven...

Deborah Anne Gist (12/17/09)
Deborah Anne Gist, age 39, of Kennett, Mo., daughter of Richard and Karen Langille of Rector, passed from this life on December 2, 2009, in the Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center in Kennett. Deborah was born August 25, 1970, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma...