Stories from Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Ice Storm, fie top stories for 2009 (12/30/09)
As 2009 winds down to a close, area residents no doubt reflect on some trying times they hope to never again experience -- and many times of happiness and joy. Few moments in the history of this area have had the impact of the ice storm which struck Tuesday, Jan. ...

Heavy rains bring holiday flooding (12/30/09)
The Rector area didn't have a white Christmas, but weather patterns certainly were intense during the holidays, with much of the area hit by heavy rains and, in some cases, flash flooding. With reports of four to six inches of rainfall in Rector on Dec. ...

Architect presents plan for memorial (12/30/09)
An exciting new veterans memorial park for Rector keeps becoming closer to reality as the committee working on the project continues to raise funds and develop plans. It is anticipated the park will be of a quality and scope to draw visitors from the region to Rector to view the impressive memorial...

Cougars ignore underdog role, hang with Rivercrest at NEA (12/30/09)
Rector's Cougars gave the heavily-favored Rivercrest Colts all they could handle on Wednesday of last week before eventually bowing out, 59-44, in a second-round game of the NEA Invitational Tournament at Jonesboro...

Lady Cougars battle BIC in tough tourney action (12/30/09)
Casual observers at the NEA Tournament at Arkansas State university's Convocation Center learned something most people in the local communities have been aware for some time: 2A girls high school basketball provides some of the most competitive, hard-fought games of any sport. ...

Politics, power rule our system (12/30/09)
Generally, we believe the majority of Americans want issues addressed and problems solved by our elected representatives. But there is more than enough evidence that is not happening now because of a broken legislative system -- politics and the quest for power rule...

Guidance for 2010 (12/30/09)
A friend from Batesville emailed a handbook of 39 rules for 2010. The rules deal with health, personality, society and life. I can't begin to list all 39 rules but I will mention those that sparked my interest...

Lois Smith Milburn (12/30/09)
Lois Smith Milburn, 97, of Azle, Texas, formerly of Dover, Arkansas, died Friday, December 25, 2009, in Azle, Texas. The daughter of Robert and Marcia Estelle Forehand Smith, she was born December 18, 1912, at Linker Mountain near Dover. She married Robert Carl Milburn in 1935 in Detroit, Michigan. The family lived in Rector, Arkansas, from 1943 through 1958. She and her husband later retired to...

George Elliott Hurt (12/30/09)
George Elliott Hurt, 73, of Marmaduke died December 22, 2009, at the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. He was born December 20, 1936, to the late Clarence Robert and Ethal "Bowman" Hurt...

Marvelle Swindle Harmon (12/30/09)
Marvelle Swindle Harmon of Sherwood, Arkansas, 82, left this earth to be with her heavenly father surrounded by her family on December 22, 2009, at Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock, Arkansas...