Archive - Apr 2012
April 17th
Mrs. Annie Chilton, 91, of Benton, went to be with the Lord on Sunday April 15. She was born March 30, 1921 in Pilot Mountain, North Carolina. Annie worked for 10 years at Dale’s Donuts and was owner of DeAnns Sandwich Shop and Papalo’s Pizza from 1961 – 1972. Annie was a Methodist. She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years Dean Chilton, mother Estelle Jones and step-father, Joseph W. Jones, father, Luther Solomon Welch, two sisters, Alice Lipsulept and Mary Elizabeth Welch and daughter, Elizabeth Francile Melton.
Thomas E. Smith Jr., 82, of Benton passed away Wednesday, April 11. He was born Sept. 4, 1929, in North Little Rock to the late Thomas E. Smith Sr. and Ruby Valentine Smith.Â
Thomas was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War. The Saline Courier published several stories honoring Smith's service to his country. He was a certified registered nurse anesthetist and a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.
Thomas was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Charles Smith; a sister, Betty Brewer; and a stepson, Hollis Van Hopkins.
Linda Carol Berry Dempsey, 71 of Benton passed away on April 9, with her granddaughter, Halana by her side. She was born on April 1, 1941 to the late, Virgil and Georgia McCutcheon in Benton. Linda was a member of New Life Missionary Baptist church for over 15 years. She enjoyed fishing, traveling, shopping, collecting and working in her flower garden. Linda retired from Benton Service Center after 27 years as a LPTN. Her most precious times were spent with her family.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenneth Dempsey; one sister and one brother.
Elaine Banks, 64, of Benton went to be with the Lord on April 12, 2012 with her family by her side.
Mrs. Banks was a Christian and loved the Lord and her family with all her heart.
She was born on February 6, 1948 to the late, Dall and Phasteen Wilson in Benton.
Elaine fought a brave battle against surgery complications. She enjoyed shopping, fishing and working in her flower garden. Her most precious time was spent spoiling her grandbabies. Elaine never met a stranger and always was willing to help anyone in need.
Elsie Stricklin, 78, of Little Rock, passed away Wednesday, April 11. She was born April 19, 1933 in Little Rock. Mrs. Stricklin was a homemaker and of the Pentecostal Faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Allie Gilbert; son, James Stricklin; two brothers, Otis and A.J. Gilbert and a sister, Nancy Gilbert.
April 16th
Bryant High School yearbook and newspaper staff members won 122 awards at the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association’s convention April 12 – 13 in Rogers, Ark.
According to Allen Loibner, ASPA director, 849 students attended the convention and more than 2,000 contest entries were submitted.
A 42-year-old Benton woman stopped a Union Pacific train for nearly an hour Thursday, but escaped unharmed, according to a Benton police report.
Along with police, Benton firefighters and the Saline Memorial Ambulance Service employees responded to the area of Edison Avenue and Gray Street about 4:40 p.m. for a call of a woman possibly struck by a train.
DEQUEEN – The Bauxite Miners dropped a 6-5 decision to the DeQueen Leopards on Friday night in 7-4A conference play in DeQueen.
Down 6-2 going into the seventh inning, the Miners (8-10, 2-4 7-4A) scored three runs in the top of the seventh, but fell just short.
“We had the tying run at second and the winning run at first,” Bauxite Coach Michael Mattox said of the last inning. “We had the double steal on, and on the same pitch, we struck out to end the game. We were hoping for a throw there to see what happened, but we didn’t get one.”
PINE BLUFF – The Benton Panthers traveled to Pine Bluff expecting to score some runs, but instead got a pitching duel on Friday night against the Zebras in 6A South conference action. The Panthers came away with a 1-0 win over Pine Bluff to improve to 16-4 overall and 7-1 in the 6A South. It was the Panthers ninth consecutive win.
“It was crazy,” Benton Coach Mark Balisterri said.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK – The defending state champion Bryant Lady Hornets ran their winning streak to 25 games, dating to last year, with an 8-1 7A Central conference victory over the North Little Rock Lady Cats on Friday at Lady Cat Field at Burns Park in North Little Rock.
“Big conference win,” Bryant Coach Debbie Clark said. “It’s my first time as [Bryant’s] coach to beat [North Little Rock] here. It’s a big coaching win for me. I told them thank you. They didn’t know that before the game, but that was big for me.”
