Stories from Thursday, March 4, 2010

And the walls came tumbling down (03/04/10)
The landscape of Rector's Main Street has again changed with the razing Monday of an historic building which for years housed a flower shop. Donaldson's Flowers operated at the location for years, and though there were other owners later, the building continued as a flower business. Watson Construction took down the last walls of the building, which stood as a shell since fire destroyed the interior in the early spring of 2007. (Democrat photo/Ryan Rogers)...

Rector FFA annual event is Saturday (03/04/10)
The Rector chapter of Future Farmers of America (FFA) is preparing for its biggest fundraiser of the year with the group's annual auction and dinner set to take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at the Rector Community Center...

Benson takes part in London parade (03/04/10)
Rector High School senior Chelsea Benson has long been known as a bright, hard-working young lady. With these qualities, the 18-year-old daughter of Bruce and LaVonda Benson was one of four Arkansas cheerleaders chosen to take part in a New Year's Day parade in London, England...

Itchy topic: to spray or not (03/04/10)
The discussion regarding whether to begin spraying for mosquitoes within the Rector city limits continued during Monday night's council meeting. After much discussion, the council decided to invite residents to attend a special meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 16 to make a decision on the matter...

Cougars downed in regional by tough Melbourne squad (03/04/10)
Rector boys basketball coach Matt Mills knew several weeks ago that a fourth-seed coming out of the District 2A-3 Tournament would be tough. That was because it was likely it would lead to a regional matchup...

Baseball team opens at Walnut Ridge (03/04/10)
It was a slow start to the season for the Cougars, as they fell to host Walnut Ridge, 5-1, to begin the 2010 baseball campaign. The first inning was rough for the Rector defense, as Walnut Ridge managed a 4-0 lead on four errors. The hosts led off with a walk, securing no hits in the frame...

Civic participation on the decline (03/04/10)
One of the more disturbing trends in modern society is the startling decline in civic participation in our communities. There is no question the problem exists in communities of all sizes, but it seems more measureable in rural areas where "everyone knows everyone"...

The house invaders (03/04/10)
Ladybugs, ants, flying squirrels, skunks. There seems to be an epidemic in Northeast Arkansas. I'm battling ants. A friend who lives near Pollard says her mobile home is being infested with ladybugs, red and yellow...

Matt Avery (03/04/10)
Matt Avery, 24, of Jonesboro, passed away on Sunday, February 28, 2010. Matt was a nine-year cancer survivor. He graduated Cum Laude from ASU with a B.S. in Psychology. He was preceded in death by his uncles, Gary Avery, Bruce Avery and Tony Avery; his grandfather, Donald Avery; grandmother, Hope Allison, and his great-grandmother, Edith Allen...

John D. DeLuryea (03/04/10)
John D. DeLuryea, 64, of Rector passed from this life on February 24, 2010, at his residence. He was born October 7, 1945, to the late Chester Stallings and Leota (Maltbie) DeLuryea. He retired from the Air Force as Master SGT. and worked as a machinist for NATCO...

Linda Kay Waldron (03/04/10)
Linda Kay Waldron of Rector passed from this life on February 24, 2010, at the age of 69 years in the Murphy's Health and Rehabilitation in Piggott, Arkansas. She was born January 22, 1941, to the late Morgan and Mary Vernelia...

Marie Hardin Street (03/04/10)
Marie Hardin Street, 88, a longtime Memphis resident, died at home on February 28, 2010. She was born in Marmaduke, Ark., the daughter of Hollie Roy Hardin and Nannie May McNiel and graduated from Rector High School in 1939...

Mary Estelle Vincent (03/04/10)
Mary Estelle Vincent, 90, of Piggott, passed away Monday, March 1, 2010, at Murphy Health and Rehabilitation Center in Piggott. She was born January 12, 1920, near St. Francis, and was the daughter of the late John Henry and Ollie Luella (Morris) Pittman...

Osborn "Dobbin" WIlcoxson (03/04/10)
Osborn "Dobbin" WIlcoxson, 80, of East Peoria, Ill., passed away at 6:38 a.m. Saturday Feb. 27, 2010, at his home with his family by his side. He was born Dec. 22, 1929, in Cardwell, Mo., to William Jesse and Viola M. Michael Wilcoxson. He married Mary A. Reynolds in Pekin, Ill., on April 26, 1950. She survives...