Archive - 2012
February 10th
Gwendolynne Louise “Pud” Troutt Webb, 81, of Benton, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 8.Â
She was born Dec. 28, 1930, in Benton.Â
Mrs. Webb attended Sullins College in Bristol, Va., and continued her education at USC, where she became a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
She later went on to receive her degree in education in Arkansas and taught 32 ½ years at Caldwell Elementary School in Benton.
Mrs. Webb was co-chairman of the Gann Museum with her very close friend, Dorcas Holicer, and a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Benton.Â
February 9th
LITTLE ROCK – The Bryant Lady Hornets swim team finished in second place at the Central Arkansas Invitational swim and dive meet this past Saturday. The Lady Hornets scored 267 points behind Conway High School’s 535 points. The Bryant boys finished in sixth place with a total of 158, the Benton Panthers finished in 13th place (29.5) and the Lady Panthers came in 12th with 41 points.
HASKELL - The Harmony Grove Cardinals have seen their fair share of ups and downs this season. But when it come to beating a rival like Glen Rose, it is all ups for the moment. Earlier in the season, the Cardinals dominated the Beavers on the road, winning huge 60-36. At the time, that was the Cardinals’ second win of the season.
The leadership Benton Mayor David Mattingly displayed in his first year in office earned him a coveted honor Tuesday night: 2011 Citizen of the Year.
The award was presented at the annual Benton Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet.
Other top honors announced at the event included:
•Volunteer of the Year, Ray Baggett.
•Ambassador of the Year, J.J. Bruton.
•Top Recruiter of the Year, Kim Minnix.
•Business Student of the Year, Myra Cloud.
Gary James, executive director of the chamber, announced all of the winners.
February 8th
PEARCY – The Benton Lady Panthers are probably forgetting what losing feels like. The Lady Panthers won their 12th consecutive game and improved to 10-0 in the 6A South conference with a 52-25 victory of the Lake Hamilton Lady Wolves on Tuesday night. And again, defense has been the force behind Benton’s success.
“We were playing just stellar defense,” Benton Coach Jerry Chumley said. “They had four field and three free throws [in the first half]. We couldn’t ask for any more defensively. The second half, it just kind of continued.”
BRYANT – The Bryant Lady Hornets fell to the Van Buren Lady Pointers 58-54 on Tuesday night in 7A/6A Central conference action in Bryant.
“Van Buren is a good team,” Bryant Coach Brad Matthews said. “They were well-prepared. They did stuff to us defensively that we haven’t seen all year.”
“We never really got into a flow offensively, but our kids continued to compete. We didn’t play very well, but such is life in the 7A Central and we got beat. They have four or five kids that they can put on the floor that can score.”
BRYANT – Three Bryant football players signed college letters of intent Wednesday on National Signing Day, but delayed their party until Friday.
“These guys are smart,” Bryant coach Paul Calley said. “They came to me and asked if they could have their party on Friday, so all of the media would come out.”
Receiver/defensive back Dillion Winfrey signed with Central Arkansas, linebacker Marshall Everett inked with Arkansas-Monticello and running back Karon Dismuke signed with Southern Arkansas.
The four finalists for superintendent of the Benton School District are scheduled for interviews with the school board Monday, Feb. 13.
If the board can meet its optimum goal, a decision on the district's chief administrator could be made Monday night, according to Jeff Morrow, board president.
Morrow said the interviews are to be held in the recently renovated high school library facility that now is serving as a district professional development center.
The interviews will begin at 2 p.m. and will take place every two hours, Morrow said.
The order for the interviews will be:
February 7th
Matt Burks
It was a cold, rainy night on Jan. 24 when a 21-year-old man parked his vehicle on top of Crystal Lake Road, headlights off and engine revving. About 9 p.m., the young man made a decision that would affect more people than he could have known at that moment.
The speed was unknown, the reasons are still today unknown, and unknown to him at that moment was that an angel of mercy was about to bestow upon what he believed would be the last moments of life. He pushed down the accelerator, raced down hill, turned the wheel and ramped the vehicle into Crystal Lake.
Melody Ann Traylor Ruff, 56, of Benton was born June 21, 1955 in Little Rock, the daughter of the late Robert and Dorothy Goins Traylor. Melody passed from this life to be with her heavenly father on Jan. 31. Mrs. Ruff was a member of Faith Rebekah Lodge #59 and served as past Noble Grande. Melody was also a past President of Rebekah Assembly of Arkansas and a member of Ridge Crest Baptist Church.
