Archive - Mar 2012
March 9th
Charles Edward Oetken, 60, passed peacefully of heart failure on Wednesday, March 7. He was retired from Kroger Warehouse.
He wax preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Betty Oetken of Benton.
He is survived by his wife, Judy Bishop Oetken; a daughter, Susan Stewart and husband Alan; a son, Charles Brian Oetken; a grandson, Jordan Stewart; a brother, Norman Oetken of Salem; and a sister, Donna Williams of Louisville, Ky.
Funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at Family Funeral Care, 4925 Summer Ave. in Memphis, Tenn.
After a short battle with leukemia, Gary M Brimer, 64, of Benton went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 6. He was born July 29, 1947, in Little Rock, son of the late Emmagene Brimer and Marshall Brimer
Gary was employed by Arkansas Refrigeration Company, Arkansas Central Mortuary, and had worked at Griffin Leggett Healey and Roth in previous years.  He never met a stranger he didn't like, and was an active member of Social Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Gary was active in Scout Troop No. 7.
March 8th
BAUXITE – After splitting a doubleheader with Poyen over the weekend, the Bauxite Miners picked up a 7-5 opening-round win in the FCA Tournament over the St. Joseph’s Bulldogs of Conway on Wednesday in Bauxite.
“We had a good start,” Bauxite Coach Mike Mattox began, “we didn’t finish. That’s kind of how we’ve played the last few games. We’ve got to learn to finish games off. That’s kind of how we played last year.”
March 7th
Bryant firefighters are now better equipped to meet the needs of residents thanks to three Bullard Eclipse thermal imaging cameras that were recently donated to the fire department by the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
The devices, worth nearly $19,000, detect body heat and hot spots in burning buildings, allowing firefighters to reach victims in half the time and extinguish potentially deadly fires.
“When you can’t even see your hand in front of your face, these cameras guide us to the heat source and people who may be inside the structure,” Capt. Rusty Long said.
A new chief executive officer has been named for Saline Memorial Hospital.
The SMH Board of Directors has selected Bob Trautman to fill the CEO position.
Trautman comes to SMH with more than 35 years of executive-level health-care experience working in a diverse group of healthcare facilities from Mississippi to California, according to Rebecca Jones, director of marketing and community relations.
"He brings extensive experience leading a 239-bed acute care hospital in Palmdale, Calif.," Jones said.
Patricia C. McDonald, 76, of Benton passed away March 3. She was the daughter of Sadie and George McDonald Sr.
Patricia was born Jan.18, 1936, in Gladewater, Texas. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Benton and graduated from Benton High School.Â
She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, George McDonald Jr.Â
She is survived by her son, Paul A. Martin of Benton, daughters, Terri J. Barr and Lori Ward –Herod of Benton, grandchildren, Thomas Calabrese III, Cristen Langley,Tiffany Dunn and Joseph Eason, all of Benton, two great grandchildren.Â
Dwight Caldwell Sr., 66, of Dickson, Tenn., passed away Saturday, March 3, at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. He was a native of Bradford, and was preceded in death by his mother, Wilma Bryant Caldwell.Â
Dwight was a member of the Benton Masonic Lodge, a former minister of music for the Forest Hills Missionary Baptist Church in Benton, a retired certified property manager, and a and a member of First Baptist Church in Dickson, Tenn.
Cyril E. Shipp, 93, of Bryant passed away March 5. He was born Dec. 14, 1918, in Bauxite to the late Audie and Myrtle Wise Shipp.Â
Cyril was an Army veteran, serving during World War I. He received a Purple Heart. He was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church of Bryant, a Mason with Scottish Rite, Order of the Eastern Star, a member of Knights Templar and C.M.A.
Cyril retired from Reynolds Metals after working in the maintenance department for many years. He was an avid Razorback fan and loved his motorcycle riding adventures with his wife.
Fannie Dorian, 76, of Benton, passed away peacefully Monday, March 5, at Saline Memorial Hospice House in Bryant.
She was born March 19, 1935, to the late Warren B. and Marie Redden in Little Rock.
Mrs. Dorian was a retired 26-year employee of Saline Memorial Hospital's X-ray department. She was a graduate at Bauxite, known as “Shaw University.”  Mrs. Dorian was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Benton.Â
Charles Lester Isom, 71 of Mabelvale passed away on March 5, 2012. He was born March 19, 1940, to the late Albert and Myrtle Isom in Carlisle.
Charles retired from AFCO Steel after 20 years of employment; he and his wife also managed King Motel for more than 20 years. He loved to ride motorcycles, fishing, water skiing and spending time with his family.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, David, James, Albert, Clarence and Cecil Isom; and two sisters, Margreat and Willie Mae.
