Stories from Wednesday, February 17, 2010

District tourney underway here (02/17/10)
Rector defenders Zach Burleson (front) and Clinton Haley put the defensive clamps on a Marked Tree player in Monday night action in the District 2A-3 basketball tournament being played here this week. The Cougars downed the Indians, 46-32, to advance to an important contest against Buffalo Island Central at 5 p.m. ...

Music department gets donation from Helping Hands Foundation (02/17/10)
A generous gift from the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation will provide new opportunities for students involved in the Rector High School music department. The high school choir and band will be able to utilize some of the latest technology available in recording the hard-to-capture audio from performances, practices and special events after receiving a high quality recording device last week from the Foundation.. ...

Haley receives Burlsworth Award (02/17/10)
Rector senior Clinton Haley has long been known as a stellar athlete. Now the talented young man is being recognized for his character in addition to his athletic prowess. Haley is the recipient of the Brandon Burlsworth High School Football Award, named for the late memorable Razorback walk-on who set an example by being a top athlete, student and person of strong moral fiber. ...

Miburn claims top prize in lawnmower race event (02/17/10)
Local lawnmower racer Westley Milburn claimed the top prize in a recent event. Milburn, 18, of Boydsville won first place in the Monster Energy Drink Winter Indoor Nationals held Feb. 5 and 6 in Springfield, Mo. Wilburn finished first in the Super Sportsman class, which featured the top performers on the most powerful machines...

Rector Nursing and Rehab welcomes new director (02/17/10)
The staff and residents of Rector Nursing and Rehab have welcomed to the facility new director Debbie Hicks. Hicks joined the Rector staff two weeks ago and has been busy familiarizing herself with her co-workers and the residents under her care...

Elsie M. Blackwood (02/17/10)
Elsie M. Blackwood died February 9, 2010, in Tarboro, North Carolina, after a short illness. She was born August 14, 1922, in Rector, Arkansas, to the late Willard and Ruth Copeland McGinnis of Rector...

Cougars advance in tourney with win over Marked Tree (02/17/10)
The Cougars moved one step closer to a regional tournament berth Monday night, posting a 46-32 win over Marked Tree in the first round of the 2A-3 District Tournament in Rector. Rector took an 8-0 lead over the first three minutes of the game, collecting three-point baskets from Brandon Stevens and Zach Burleson and a bucket in the low post from Tyler Kirklin...

Lady Cougars dominant in win over Corss Co. (02/17/10)
The Lady Cougars eased their way through the first round of the 2A-3 District Tournament Monday evening in Rector, imposing their will upon the hapless Lady Thunderbirds of Cross County, 79-27. The Lady Cougars went to work early and often, utilizing their full-court press to cause severe difficulties for the Cross County offense and key numerous scoring opportunities in transition...

Intrusive commercials (02/17/10)
The other day I threatened to throw a shoe at the television screen. I was trying to watch a romance television movie starring Nick and Julia. The problem was the commercials. Every two or three minutes the movie was interrupted with someone wanting me to order a scooter at little or no cost to me, or some male enhancement product guaranteed to work...

Competing headlines (02/17/10)
One forgets who made the original quotation about English valor having been derived from the playing fields of Eton. This is the only competition I could find this week. On one side of the earth we watched the winter Olympics at Vancouver. On the other, near Kabul in Afghanistan, where U.S. Marine Corps and NATA troops engaged in deadly combat...

TRELLA DIANE WAGSTER (02/17/10)
Trella Diane Wagster passed from this life on February 11, 2010, at her residence in Rector with her husband, Ken, and family by her side. Diane was born August 23, 1951 in Senath, Missouri, to the late John...

ROY O'NEIL JOHNSON (02/17/10)
Roy O'Neil Johnson of Rector passed away Thursday, February 11, 2010, at the Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center. He was born December 15, 1941, to the late Carl and Ruth (Farmer) Johnson in Brighton, Arkansas...