Archive - Jan 2013 - News Article
January 11th
Benton city officials have released information about street changes related to ongoing improvements being made to Lower Military Road.
On Friday, Jan. 11, Military Road traffic between Smithers Drive and Northshore Drive will be shifted over onto new lanes, Mayor David Mattingly announced.
The old road will be closed to through traffic at this time.
Access to the old roadway for businesses and their customers may be obtained at the Smithers or Northshore intersections, based on the business location, he said.
U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) says he is optimistic about the nation's economy, but pointed out that "housing needs to come back."
Pryor's comments came Wednesday morning during a break in a tour of Bryant High School. His visit also included stops at the Saline County Airport in Bryant, the Saint-Gobain facility currently under construction on Cyanamid Road and a meeting with the Saline County Economic Development Corp.
The driver of a semi-truck died early Friday morning in an accident near mile marker 112 on the eastbound side of Interstate 30. The vehicle traveled off the highway, crossed the service road and hit a pine tree approximately 40 feet into a wooded area. The semi was towing a small pickup truck at the time. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the driver had not been released at press time. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the State Police.
Several convenience stores throughout Benton were raided Wednesday for having alleged illegal gambling machines on the premises and some for illegally exchanging prizes for lottery tickets, authorities said.
January 10th
Music will be an integral part of the 2013 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, organizers have announced. Community residents are invited to participate in combined choirs to sing at various events.
According to co-event organizer Robin Freeman, rehearsals for combined community choir rehearsals for the celebration will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 10, 12, and 17 at Elect Temple Church of God in Christ located at 305 S. Johnson St. in Benton.
Anyone may participate in the choir, Freeman said.
January 7th
While some people purchase generators to increase their comfort level during power outages, this isn't the case with the family of Jerred and Alexis McDade in Tull.
The generator the McDades have had at their home is needed to keep their seven-month-old son alive.
When a baby is ready to enter the world, it takes a lot more than bad weather and a power outage to change its mind.
That's exactly the scenario that took place during the early morning hours of Dec. 26 at the Benton home of Josh and Katie Broadus.
Katie, who was nine months' pregnant, was scheduled for an induced delivery on Dec. 28, but daughter London Kate didn't want to wait. This, in spite of the fact that a snowstorm had occurred, taking out the electricity and heat in their home.
Whether facing rain, sleet, snow or the fact that he turns 90 years of age on Thursday, nothing will stop Ernie Gibson of Benton from walking a mile or cooking unique pecan pies for the community every day.
"I just started making pies and people got to eating them. The more they ate, the more I made them and I just stayed with it," he said with a laugh. "I don't know why I make the pies, it's just something I found out I could do and people seem to like it."
The Bryant City Council voted during a special meeting at 4 p.m. Friday to extend a hold on the issuance of permits to build multi-family housing in the city limits.
The council had been slated to vote on whether to lift the moratorium, which was put in place in 2011. Alderman Steve Curtis instead moved to vote to extend it.
Although the action might make the city vulnerable to a lawsuit with a current land owner, the council voted unanimously to extend the hold after nearly 20 residents spoke out against the construction of apartments in the area.
January 4th
State officials have approved a local burn site for debris resulting from the recent winter storm that affected many areas of Saline County.
The site is located behind the county airport off Reynolds Road.
Benton Mayor David Mattingly and County Judge Lanny Fite met to formulate plans for operation of the site.
Mattingly noted that signs will be posted to indicate the location.
The site will be open to the public Monday through Saturday between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saline County employees will man the facility.
