Archive - News Article
April 30th, 2012
When 52-year-old Bryant Fire Chief Randy Cox, who plans to retire on May 25 due mainly to health concerns, was 12-years old he climbed up a tree with the ambition of saving a cat when the local fire department wouldn't respond.
"I thought I was smart enough to get it out, but I went up too far, got scared and couldn't get down," he said with a laugh. "The fire department ended up coming out to get me down. And as they got me down, they also got the cat."
The Benton Police Department is requesting the help of the public to locate a 15-year-old boy that allegedly ran away from home 10 days ago.
Payton Stone is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall, 110 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. He was last seen at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 21 leaving his home on foot.
Payton was last noticed wearing a white Holister “So Cal” shirt, kakhi shorts, purple and black color shoes, and a Black Sox baseball cap. Officers believe that Payton is traveling on foot.
White balloons drifted into the mid-day sky at Alexander City Park Saturday. On each balloon was a message written by a friend, a family member, a resident of the city or simply by someone who had been touched by the tragic deaths of Kevin Ives and Don Henry on August 23, 1987.
“Gone but not forgotten” was a common theme among the hundreds of balloons that drifted into the sun like pearls to heaven.
The balloon release was part of a ceremony for a bench dedicated to the two young men whose deaths on a nearby railroad track 25 years ago remains unsolved.
April 27th
Benton Mayor David Mattingly has announced that the four-year 'e-Commerce' degree for UALR Benton has received final approval. Mattingly received a message from Shane Broadway, Interim Director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education that read, ""The UALR-Benton letter of notification has been reviewed and the report of the academic committee has been approved by the full board at 10:50 a.m. There were no questions or comments. Congratulations."
April 26th
Benton Parks Department Director Curtis McCormack and assistant Kitty Smith have been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the completion of an investigation into accounting practices associated with operation of the concession stand in Tyndall Park during 2011. The Parks Commission met for a special meeting Tuesday night specifically called to determine what course of action to take in light of an independent accountant's report indicating a deficit of $6,445 in unaccounted funds.
April 25th
After 33-years of service, Bryant Fire Chief Randy Cox cites health concerns as the main reason he plans to retire on May 25.
"With injuries that I received while on the job in 2009, several surgeries, as well as the everyday struggles and constant pain, I can no longer meet the requirements of my job," he said in a memo to Bryant city officials.
April 23rd
An "independent accountant's report" created by local certified public accounting firm Yoakum, Lovell & Co., PLC, indicates funds totaling "$6,445 in unaccounted revenue" in the Benton Park's and Recreation Department. The funds in question are specifically related to the concession stand account used by the department for operations at city parks.
Inquiries regarding the report were referred to Benton City Attorney Brent Houston who said the report was not a "financial audit" of the department but rather a review of procedures used in accounting for transactions.
It's been said that lightning never strikes twice in the same place. Everett Buick GMC is proving that old sayings aren't always true. For the second consecutive year, Everett has earned the designation "Dealer of the Year" for the General Motors Corp. This honor is given to only 2 percent of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealers in the region.
In a ceremony to mark the occasion, representatives from GM came to the Everett dealership to congratulate Susie and Dwight Everett and the staff for their accomplishments.
April 19th
"The only thing you take with you when you are gone is what you leave behind." This quote, attributed to John Alston of 18th century England, serves notice to a community that is mourning the passing of one of its beloved physicians. Dr. Brian Sudderth died unexpectedly Monday from an aortic dissection. He was 56.
As word of Sudderth's passing spread throughout Saline County, words of grief and thanks from patients and friends painted a picture of a man who, as one friend said, "was more than a doctor."
April 18th
Sometimes reading the local news, such as The Saline Courier, can pay dividends or bring great rewards to those in need. This is exactly what happened for the Boys and Girls Club of Saline County on Thursday, thanks to big hearts inside the Rent-A-Center corporation.
