Clay County Democrat: News

Shaw wins taekwondo championship
Rector grad now looking for Olympic trainer to fulfill dream (07/01/09)
Rector's Dalton Shaw is the American Taekwondo Association's new World Champion in the first degree black belt division for competitors aged 17 to 29. Shaw's crowning victory came Friday when he competed for the title at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock...

Kids College providing hands-on fun for kids (07/01/09)
An exciting program is working with local businesses, organizations and individuals to provide the leaders of tomorrow with a unique opportunity to learn more about the different careers available...

Rector receives grant for restoration of waterworks building (07/01/09)
Through the hard work of many City of Rector staff members, Rector has received a number of grants for various projects over the last few months. Mayor Ron Kemp was on hand last week in Little Rock to receive a $39,076 Historic Preservation Restoration Grant for restoration of the Rector Waterworks Building, built in about 1915...

Williams looking forward to return as concert emcee (07/01/09)
Popular Gaither artist Kevin Williams is excited about returning to Rector as part of the Aug. 4 Helping Hands Foundation benefit concert. Williams serves as bandleader for the Gaithers while showcasing both his talent with the guitar and his knack for humor on stage. ...

Local residents receive special training through Next Step Life Skills program (07/01/09)
Local residents have completed a special type of training to help them in everyday life. Deborah Logsdon, Matthew Maltbie, Jimmy Stevens and Ricky Wheeler are all recent graduates of the Northeast Arkansas Innovative Training Center's (NEAITC) Next Step Life Skills program...

Marmaduke Independence day celebration returns with a bang (07/01/09)
The return of the annual Marmaduke Picnic was a success, as hundreds turned out for the events this past Friday and Saturday at the city park. Though the temperature was high, the spirits of those in attendance soared to even greater heights, as the Independence Day celebration returned to Marmaduke for the first time since the town was devastated by a tornado in 2006...

Creek's patience yields trust of hummingbirds (07/01/09)
Ruth Creek, who resides near Rector, has been feeding hummingbirds for a few years, but this year says she decided to "put more into it." She hung several feeders at both the front and back of her house, and recently noticed the tiny creatures flocking to the feeders just before dark...

Wimberley elected president of AAF (07/01/09)
Ashley (Kemp) Wimberley, Director of Marketing at the Arkansas Press Association in Little Rock, was elected president of the Arkansas Advertising Federation at a luncheon held June 18 at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock...

Palmer family honored as top county farmers (06/24/09)
A large crowd gathered Wednesday at Holly Island to celebrate the naming of Bret and Terry Palmer as the 2009 Clay County Farm Family. The father and son partnership also is nominated for recognition at the state level...

Talented artist earns HH award (06/24/09)
Joabou Mitchell is the 2009 recipient of the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation scholarship. The scholarship provides $5,000 annually and is renewable for four years. Through her scholarship, her participation earlier this year in a Helping Hands Foundation art show and her knowledge of the foundation's purpose, Mitchell says she has a great appreciation for Helping Hands.. ...

Phillips charged with drug, theft offenses (06/24/09)
Former Marmaduke mayor Byron Phillips was arrested Tuesday, June 16, following an investigation of alleged crimes he reportedly committed while in office. Phillips, 42, was arrested on class B felony charges of two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, three counts of class D felony breaking or entering, one count class B felony theft of property and two counts of class A misdemeanor theft of property.. ...

Picnic returns to Marmaduke (06/24/09)
It's picnic time in Marmaduke, and residents are excited their community's big event is making a return this year for the first time since a violent tornado devastated the town in April 2006. The picnic will be held Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, at the city's park. ...

Rector receives $39,000 state grant for historic project (06/24/09)
A major step forward for the renovation of Rector's historic old jail and water office on Main Street has been accomplished with the recent announcement that the city has received a $39,076 grant from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program...

Concert tickets going quickly (06/24/09)
The excitement that is building for the second annual Rector Helping Hands Concert was highly evident as event committee chairman Gregg Sain gave an update Tuesday of last week to the Rector Lions Club...

Rector native celebrates publishing of first book (06/24/09)
A native of the Rector area recently celebrated the publishing of her first book. Marie Chadwick Wayland, now of Mountain Home, collected several poems she has been writing for many years into the compilation "Come Walk With Me."...

Kids College coming to Rector (06/24/09)
The deadline for enrollment has been extended to June 26 for Rector Kids College. There are still several openings for the sessions, which will be held at the NEA Innovative Training Center in Down town Rector and the Rector Community Center. The event is Monday through Thursday, June 29 through July 2...

Conflict forces cancellation for Russ Taff (06/24/09)
After multiple Grammy winner Russ Taff performed at last year's first Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation benefit concert, he immediately told organizers he wanted to return again this year. He had a great time, he said, and he wanted to continue to help the many temporarily disadvantaged students who benefit from the Foundation's work...

Heat wave affects region (06/24/09)
Dangerously high temperatures over the last few days, combined with a high dewpoint, have produced a heat index which has soared well over 100 degrees and made life outdoors miserable -- if not almost impossible...

Funnel spotted in storm Monday (06/17/09)
Rector and the surrounding areas were drenched by torrential rains Monday, as a storm with the potential to produce tornados came through the area. In fact, spotters from the Rector Fire Department witnessed a funnel cloud form near the city limits...

Heartfelt friends (06/17/09)
Rector's Tom Wagster celebrated the 25th anniversary of his 1984 heart transplant Saturday, appropriately wearing a t-shirt which read, "The beat goes on." Joining in the big celebration was longtime friend Ceann McGowan of Springfield, Mo., who will mark 25 years with a new heart in November. ...

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