Archive - 2012
January 27th
BENTON – Benton Panthers senior shortstop Brooks Balisterri signed a letter of intent to play for former Panthers’ pitcher, now major-league ace, Cliff Lee’s first college before becoming an Arkansas Razorback. Balisterri signed with the Meridian Eagles out of Meridian, Miss., the heart of SEC country, on Wednesday at Benton Arena and hopes his path becomes similar to Lee’s.
BRYANT – Current Bryant Hornets senior basketball player Quinten Motto will be trading his sneakers in for cleats when he graduates from high school. Motto signed a letter of intent to play baseball for the Vernon Chaparrals, a junior college out of Vernon, Texas, on Wednesday in the Bryant Gym.
Signing to pitch for the Chaparrals, a mascot that resembles a road runner, the right-handed Motto has yet to pitch in a varsity high school game, but he played in a couple summer leagues this past year and Vernon liked what it saw.
HASKELL - Harmony Grove’s woes continued on Tuesday night when Fountain Lake came to town. Losing to the Cobras for the second time this season, the Lady Cardinals’ skid hit four straight games without a win after losing on Tuesday 48-33. The Lady Cobras beat Harmony Grove earlier in the year 50-33.
The Lady Cardinals came into Tuesday night with another streak on their shoulders that they hoped would be lifted. For three straight games, the Lady Cardinals had shot under 25 percent from the floor.
Powell B. Brown, 86, of Benton, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 25. He was born July 24, 1925, in Frisco City, Ala., to the late Robert and Mamie Brown.Â
Powell was a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, serving during World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War. Powell was a member of Crossroads Missionary Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Gloria Mae Brown; two brothers and five sisters.
January 26th
Jeremie Brent Harrell, 35, passed from this life on Jan. 20. He was born Aug. 1, 1976 in Little Rock.
He is survived by his wife, Melonie Harrell; three stepchildren; Damion West, Haley Nance and Raistlin Diebel; his mother, Vickie York of Franklin; a sister, Karmen Harrell of Franklin; a brother, Eric Fouth of Calico Rock; and his close friends, Albert Lee, Dennis King and Mike Farrow, as well as many other friends and family members who loved him and will miss him greatly.
Brent loved playing the guitar and working on cars.
A private service will be held.
Bonnie Jean Smith, 85, a resident of Benton, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 24. She was born Jan. 25, 1926, in Little Rock to the late Dewitt Talmadge Pool and the late Minnie Lee Bettis.
Bonnie loved to plant flowers at her house for many years. She was a member of Highland Heights Baptist Church.Â
She was preceded in death by her husband, A.L. Smith; and two sons, Larry Wayne Buster and Ronnie Hollingshead.Â
Ronald Allen Prince, 53, of North Little Rock passed away Jan. 23, after a long and brave battle with diabetes and cancer. He was born Feb. 18, 1958 in Little Rock. From an early age, Ron displayed talents both creative and entrepreneurial which would serve him well throughout his life. As a boy, he wrote, edited and published The Arnold Street News, a neighborhood newspaper that also contained ads for Ron’s other enterprises – neighborhood plays and eight millimeter film shows for which he would charge admission and serve refreshments.
William Brian Hampton, 50, of Benton passed away Tuesday, Jan. 24, at his home. He was born May 30, 1961, in Fort Smith to William Burke and Demo Lee (Stephenson) Hampton.
He graduated from Benton High School in 1979 and was a 1984 graduate of University of Central Arkansas, where he was member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. He attended Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church in Benton, was a member of the First Christian Church of Benton, and also attended the First Nazarene Church of Benton.
Mr. Hampton previously was employed at Benton State Bank.
January 25th
Tension soared during Monday's Bauxite City Council meeting concerning a vacant court clerk/recorder/treasurer position and resulted in a former alderman calling the mayor "a pathetic little man."
The comment was made by Debbie Purifoy who, along with resident Brenda Haney, has openly campaigned for the position since November. The position was vacated by Renee Chastain on Oct. 18, 2011, just months after she was appointed to serve in that capacity. This followed the March 8, 2011, resignation of Gary Duncan,a former mayor.
Doug Curtis is a candidate for the office of Saline County clerk.
He is seeking the Republican Party's nomination in the May preferential primary election.
Curtis is no stranger to county government, having served nine terms on the Saline County Quorum Court.
"I would like to take my experience into the county clerk's office," Curtis said.
"I have been involved with the current county clerk, Freddy Burton, and his staff on many elections and various other projects throughout my tenure as a justice of the peace," he noted.
