Archive - Jan 2012 - News Article
Arkansas Parole Board has granted the release of David Pierce, convicted sex offender. Details and full story is under development and will be in today's Saline Courier.
January 27th
The website www.improvingbryant.com has been in operation for several monthsm but the people behind the scenes posting the information have been in the background — until now.
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.
January 23rd
Nearly 20 years ago, on Jan. 3, 1992, Freddy Burton announced his candidacy for Saline County clerk, a position held at that time by George Ramsey, who was not seeking another term.
Today, at age 64, Burton is making another kind of announcement: "I will not seek another term."
He noted that some people who are already aware of his decision have asked him why he's ending his political career.
"Honestly, I never thought I would stay 20 years," he said. "Someone else needs to have the privilege that I’ve had as county clerk."
Some residents in Bauxite received more than bills and junk mail recently. A postcard from Bauxite Mayor Johnny McMahan was delivered last week to selected citizens.
On the front of the postcard was the arrest photo of Bauxite resident Debbi Purifoy. On the reverse side was a commentary from McMahan that starts begins, "Do you want the person on the front side of this card to be the 'face' of Bauxite? Not me."
The postcard also includes the names and telephone numbers of three city alderman with an encouragement from the mayor for residents to call and say "No to Purifoy."
January 20th
James Ballew, a Bryant resident and director of Family Fest, the annual Independence Day tradition that has attracted thousands of families and generated thousands of dollars for the city of Bryant in the 13 years since its inception, wants to set the record straight.
Ballew is referring to comments made by Bryant Alderman Danny Steele in a guest column that appeared in the Jan. 12 edition of The Saline Courier.
January 19th
Dog shot in Bauxite by police; neighbors, police chief said it was warranted
A call of a vicious dog in Bauxite ended with the animal being shot, but a neighbor and the police chief say the death was warranted.
"It's very peaceful now," Melissa Parker said. "It's finally peaceful enough for my son to ride his bicycle outside without the fear of being bit. It's good for all of us."
Benton Athletic Memorial Museum Board of Directors is announcing the inductees for the 2012 Wall of Fame.
Donnie Burks, executive director of the museum, said the new inductees are Becky Fulcher, Emily Arnold Hinton and Jeff Freeman.
The three will be honored Feb. 25 at the annual Wall of Fame banquet to be held in the cafeteria of Benton High School.
Displays depicting accomplishments of the inductees will be set up in the museum, which will be open from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The banquet will start at 6 p.m.
A discussion of the proposed Raymar Road South access plan dominated the Bryant Planning Commission's meeting late Tuesday.
Alderman Scott Curtis addressed the commission seeking answers about access to the road that eventually will tie into the Saline County Airport.
"I want to have questions answered in hopes that we can shell the corn," Curtis said. "Once the city commits to a route, are the citizens going to have access to the road that connects to the airport? It is Airport Commission property and receives federal funding. Are they going to let us use it?"
