Archive - News Article
September 13th, 2012
The Finance and Personnel Committee of the Bryant City Council was slated to discuss the revision of an ordinance regulating the open burning of yard waste during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, but an alderman quickly put an end to the dialogue, citing the fact that the ordinance was inappropriate to discuss at a Finance and Personnel Committee meeting.
Saline County Regional Solid Waste Management District's Couponing for a Cause is making progress,
A spokesperson said the district teamed up with the Benton Senior Activity Center and district volunteer Angela Howell to promote recycling while helping members of the community in need.
"So far the Benton Senior Activity Center has gathered 2,800 coupon booklets," said Sherry Parsons, director of the center.
 “The seniors are so proud to be a part of this program. They enjoy the ability to help others,†she said.
September 11th
Shaw Recycling in Bauxite was temporarily shut down by local authorities on Monday and owner Bobby Shaw was issued multiple citations for failing to maintain records of scrap metal sales.
Local law enforcement agencies and state Rep. Kim Hammer, R-Benton held a press conference at the gate of the business to explain why a search warrant was served there. The location is 2521 Bauxite Cutoff Road in Bauxite.
John Eckart was introduced Monday night as the new parks director for the city of Benton parks department.
Eckart expressed his appreciation to the council, Mayor David Mattingly and the selection committee for the opportunity before him.
"Benton has promise," Eckart said. "There are a lot of good things in place, but we have lots more to do."
Eckart graduated from Russellville High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in finance and economics from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2004.
Saline County Fair 2012 is now history and fair officials are pleased with the community response.
Tom Wallace, a member of the Saline County Fair Association Board, said total attendance for the week was estimated at 30,000.
For the last night, attendance was at an all-time high, he said. "The parking lots stayed full and there were lines everywhere, but everyone seemed to be having a great time.
"Attendance at the two nights of the rodeo was 3,500," Wallace said.
The rodeo competition drew 247 cowboys and cowgirls who received a total payout of $27,266 in prize money," he said.
September 9th
Two Benton residents have been arrested for connection to Thursday's armed robbery of First Security Bank in Benton, authorities said.
Bruce Echols, 52, was taken into custody on Saturday and charged with aggravated robbery, theft of property, and unauthorized use of another person's property to facilitate a crime. He also had a warrant for terroristic threatening.
His brother Terry Echols, 50, was also arrested on Saturday and charged with theft by receiving.
September 8th
The Arkansas State Police is investigating a shooting involving an Alexander police officer and an unknown man that occurred on Saturday.
Alexander Police Chief Horace Walters said the identity of the person shot on Brookwood, near Lindsey Drive, and his condition is unknown at this time. The officer involved in the shooting reportedly told Walters that as she was driving along Brookwood, she stopped to speak with the man that was walking along the roadway. The officer also said the man had a weapon and he was fired upon by the officer, Walters said.
September 6th
Alan Kays will vie for Position 2, Ward 1 of Bryant City Council in the Nov. 6 general election.
The position currently is held by Danny Steele, who is not seeking another term.
Kays' opponent is Wade Permenter. Aldermanic races are nonpartisan.
Kays said the main reason he is running for the council position is to "restore focus on City Council to our citizens." Particularly, he wants to hone in on supporting children and senior citizens.
A Little Rock woman was arrested late Tuesday after allegedly striking the head of state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, R-Little Rock.
A Little Rock police report said officers responded to 38-year-old Hutchinson's home, where 39-year-old Julie McGee had locked herself in a bathroom.
McGee, reportedly a former girlfriend of Hutchinson, claimed that the senator had thrown her onto a couch, causing "a swollen lip, scratches to her wrists and redness to her left arm."
Benton police are searching for another bank robber dressed in camouflage that escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash from First Security Bank in Benton.
Lt. Kevin Russell said officers responded to the bank located at 1403 Military Road, just past noon on Thursday. The suspected bank robber is described as a 6 foot tall man dressed in a camouflage T-shirt, blue jeans, brown work boots, camouflage hat, black ski mask, dark colored sunglasses, black gloves, and a tan ‘courier style’ satchel.
