Sarah Burdin is the new officer at the revenue office in Rector. [Click to enlarge]

Sarah Burdin, known to many by her maiden name, Sarah Pruett, is the new revenue officer at the city site. Burdin fills the position recently vacated by Teresa Roofe, who retired.

Burdin joined the Rector office Monday, Aug. 11. She has previous experience, having worked in the revenue offices at Marshall and Corning. She began her employment with the state as a cashier at the revenue office in Marshall in 2006. Burdin moved to Marshall with her husband, Terry, and step-daughters Bailey, who will be 10 Saturday, and Libby, age seven. The family went to the area when Terry was stationed there through his job as an Arkansas State Trooper. When Terry, a member of the 39th Infantry, was to return to duty in Iraq, Burdin transferred to Corning so she could "be closer to my family." She worked at Corning until taking the position in Rector.

Burdin, a 1999 graduate of Clay County Central High School (now Rector High School), says she is happy to be working in Rector.

"The best part is being back home. This is where I grew up. It's my hometown. I like being back in Rector."

The return to Rector means more time spent with her parents, Joey and Janice Pruett, as well as long-time friends.

While the return to Rector has benefits in itself, Burdin says she also enjoys her job and the responsibilities it carries.

"I like working with the community. Working with the public, you get to see a lot of people. You get to meet new people and see others you might not have seen for a while."

Through her position at the revenue office, Burdin will assist those who visit the office in registering to vote, paying sales tax, getting new drivers' licenses, receiving revenue stamps on land deeds and getting their vehicles licensed.

In her time away from the office, Burdin is active in the Family Readiness Groups in both Rector and Camp Robinson in Little Rock. The group is designed to help the families of soldiers cope with the extended absences which result from military service. Burdin has been instrumental in the establishment and success of this network between families.

She also has been hard at work preparing the family's new home in Rector. The Burdins will be residing in Rector, as Terry has been assigned to be the new state trooper for Clay County upon his return from Iraq.

"I'm excited about starting a life for my family here in Rector," said said with a smile.