in this issue: efforts to restore the saline river • east enD ghost storY tull’s annual joYful noises • recognitions for brYant• the pit in bauxite

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our futurea group of resiDents

tries to save the historicsaline river briDge

2 0 1 0 I S S U E

MORE INSIDE ON: COMMUNITIES WHERE TO VOTE ELECTED OFFICIALS PLACES TO WORSHIP LOCAL SCHOOLS

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2010 Issue • Volume 1 • Number 1

Articles6 Letter From a Leader

9 EAST END: Haunted highway goes on

10 HASKELL: Finally, football arrives

11 CROWS: Restoring the river

11 SHANNON HILLS: Recalling the past

12 BRYANT: Growing recognitions

13 BAUXITE: The Pit called home

14 AVILLA: Recovery after the fire

15 TULL: Annual Old Folks Singing lives

17 COVER STORY: Saline’s famous bridge

18 PARON: Making lemonade of lemons

19 SARDIS: Shoe tree draws a crowd

19 ALEXANDER: Strength from sawmills

29 LONSDALE: Camp on a rescue mission

StaffPublisher: Brian BloomEditors: Kristal Kuykendall, Richard DukeEditorial Assistant: Melissa WallsCover Photo: Wayne KizziarDesign Concept: Kristal KuykendallDesigners: Kristal Kuykendall, Richard Duke,

Sam PierceWriters: Kristal Kuykendall, Richard Duke, Lynda

Hollenbeck, Matt Burks, Molly M. Fleming, Nate Olson, Sam Pierce

Advertising Director: Tonya FlemingComposing Director: Patricia StuckeyPublished by the Benton Courier, (501) 315-8228

Guides22 Education resources

22 Children’s resources, activities

23 Recreation

24 Clubs & organizations

28 Attractions & parks

29 Movie theaters

29 Libraries

30 City Councils

32 Saline County officials

32 Local elected officials

33 Polling places

33 Health care & assistance

33 Utilities & services

37 Houses of worship

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n LETTER FROM A LEADER

Welcome to Saline County!Hello! If you are visiting Saline County for the first time, you’re in for

a pleasant surprise. If you live here, you already know it’s a great community, but hold on to this copy of See Saline, because it’s an excellent reference guide.

Saline County has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a place to live, work or play. Our public schools are consistently ranked among the best in the state. Using data from the College Board, U.S. News and World Report two years in a row has awarded Benton High School a bronze medal for its record in preparing students for college.

CNNMoney.com ranked Saline County as No. 10 on their list of “Best Places for Jobs,” and Bryant ranked No. 86 on a list of “100 Top Places to Live.”

In Saline County, we enjoy the best of both worlds. We have easy access to the all medical, business, financial, cultural and transportation centers of Central Arkansas. At the same time, we’re a stone’s throw from lakes, rivers, and woodlands — and all the recreational opportunities they offer.

Actually, we enjoy the best of many worlds. We raise our children in secure neighborhoods, where they attend good schools and play at a wide variety of athletic complexes. For out-of-the-ordinary fun, there are amusements parks and theme parks within an hour’s drive. Central Arkansas has numerous opportunities for children to learn about the arts, theater and music.

Grownups have an equal array of recreational and cultural choices. Opportunities for hunt-ing, fishing, boating, birding and hiking are all around. If your taste runs more toward high fash-ion and perhaps a symphony, they are easy to find from the neighborhoods of Saline County. And if your idea of fine dining goes beyond eating out, you can learn gourmet skills from the world-class faculty at the Arkansas Culinary School.

One reason that businesses thrive in Saline County is the access to all types of transportation. Central Arkansas has several airports, two interstate highways and a navigable river that con-nects us with the Gulf of Mexico and foreign ports.

High-tech firms are also part of Saline County’s economic foundation. The College of En-gineering and Information and Technology, locally known as the “CyberCollege,” is one of the fastest-growing departments of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, which has a satellite campus in Saline County.

In addition to computers, electronics and communications technology, other recent startups are focusing on medical research, sustainable fuels and nanotechnology.

However, if the slow lane is more to your liking, we offer that, too, whether you’re looking for a few acres with some pasture, a friendly neighborhood close to churches and stores, or a water-front location with room to cast a fishing line.

What Saline County won’t offer you is a difficult decision. If you can’t make up your mind between big -city amenities or small- town values, or if you can’t decide whether you prefer easy access to 21st century technology or to old-fashioned relaxation, Saline County is for you. You can have it all.

— Shane BroadwayArkansas State Senator

Saline County Economic Development Corp.

n EAST END

No town would be complete without some sort of legendary ghost story. For the community of East End, Woodson Lateral

Road, located just a few miles south of Little Rock, the details of the stories change but one thing remains constant: Woodson Lateral is haunted.

According to “The Ghosts of Little Rock” by Alan Rowe and Jason Hall, Woodson Lateral’s ghost story might be based on actual fact.

“In June of 1950, a young couple driving along Arkansas Highway 365 lost control and skidded off the road on a rainy night. The young man was killed on impact, but the girl lived just long enough to drag her broken body up the edge of the pavement. She died just off the shoulder, before she could flag down help. Within months, drivers began reporting the strange, disappearing woman to police in towns up and down Highway 365,” the book reads.

Woodson Lateral is lined with dark, forebod-ing pines that reach over the roadway, giving the impression of being in a tunnel as you drive along.

State Rep. Dawn Creekmore, who currently resides in Bauxite, but moved to East End about 20 years ago, said the scariest part of Woodson Lateral is the anticipation.

“The road itself is scary,” Creekmore said. “The anticipation can make you a little crazy.

“Woodson Lateral is a really long straight stretch and all the trees can make it really dark.”

Creekmore said when her family first moved out to East End near Woodson Lateral, the first thing people would say is, “I can’t believe you live there!”

“Over the years those comments have died down because of all the development,” Creekmore.

Woodson Lateral runs from 365 all the way to Spring Lake Road in East End.

“The road splits two counties,” Creekmore said. “Kids drive up and down the road all the time hoping to have their own story to tell.”

The most recent known sighting, according to the book, occurred in 2001, when a truck driver head-ed for Pine Bluff stopped to help what he thought was an injured girl somewhere north of Redfield.

Unfamiliar with the legend, the man assumed the disheveled girl might have been sexually as-saulted and abandoned on the road by a date.

The man put the girl into his cab and asked the girl if she wanted him to phone the police. Instead, the girl asked him to take her home.

Denise Bingham, a longtime resident of the area,

is very familiar with the tale of Woodson Lateral.“A bunch of us would get in a car on a

Saturday night and drive out to Woodson Lateral,” Bingham said. “We would turn off our lights and try to see the mysterious light.”

Bingham said sometimes the light would ap-pear either in front of them or behind them.

“This was before there were any houses out there,” Bingham said. “It would also appear on dif-ferent sides of the road so we were sure it wasn’t the power lines either. I could never figure out what was causing it. It scared me, but it was one of those fun things to do on a Saturday night.”

Story & photo by Sam pierce

Hauntedhighway

Woodson Lateral Road is said to be haunted by several ghosts.

n HASKELL

Finally,footballHarmony Grove High School students not

only can play football now, but they can learn from a legend.

The school district hired Jimmy “Red” Parker to head its new program last April. In August the school embarked on a junior varsity schedule. This fall the program becomes a full varsity member of Class 3A.

“I think it is huge for our community,” Har-mony Grove athletic director Rickey Mooney said. “They really supported us last year during our non-conference schedule. We had a good crowd at the ballgames, and the community is really behind us.”

It took a couple of tries to pass a millage to add the program. Mooney said as the district expanded school officials felt a need for another athletic option.

Parker has served as head coach at The Cita-del and Clemson and had stops at other colleges, including Arkansas A&M (Arkansas-Monticello), Southern Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist. He also won a state championship at Rison High School and coached at Fordycen twice and Woodlawn.

Parker, 78, took the job, in part, to move to Saline County from Fordyce. Parker’s wife, Bettty,

battles Alzheimers disease and the coach wanted to be closer to his son, Jim Mack Parker and daughter, Vicki Wallace, who live in the area.

Starting a program is one of the few things Parker hasn’t done in his illustrious career. Last season was a learning experience for the grizzled vet.

“Everybody else is learning how to tackle in space because of how football has changed,” Parker said. “We are learning how to make tackles in a porta-potty. We are behind everybody else.”

The Cardinals will have a hard time growing up this season playing in the 3A-5 Conference. It includes Pescott and Fountain Lake, who played in the 2009 3A State title game and Glen Rose, who won the title in 2006. Jessieville, who won the 2A title that year, is also on the conference schedule.

“I think everybody has rendered the opinion we are going 0-10 playing in arguably the tough-est 3A league in Arkansas,” Parker said. “The im-mediate outlook for success is not good.”

Parker said he thinks the program can thrive as more kids are exposed to football. The Future Cardinals program offers 4th through 6th grad-ers opportunities to play before they play for the school-sponsored team. A vibrant Parker is ready to

do his part in the building process.

“It is going to take awhile, but Coach Parker is great with the kids,” Mooney said. “We couldn’t have a better coach to start our program. The kids have bought into what they are doing and are going to get better.”

Story by Nate oLSoNphoto by DaNieL SampLe

Coach Red Parker

n CROWS

RestoringtheriverThe Nature Conservancy in Arkansas continues

to work on a project to ensure the Saline River continues to have the reputation of being clear

and pristine, and much of the work is being done in the Crows area.

The Middle Fork of the Saline River is impacted by the removal of stream-side vegetation, habitat loss as a result of development, incompatible forestry, and nutrient and sediment loading from both point and non-point sources.

There are four main streams that run through the small towns of Jessieville, Crows, Owensville and Paron before the streams join together just south of Benton.

With funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Conservancy is now parterning with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to restore a 1,500-foot bank section along the Middle Fork near Crows.

The next stage of the project was set to start in January and February when much of the plant life is dormant. The Conservancy will plant an estimated 30 acres of hardwood seedlings.

“In February, we will be doing extensive tree planting, and the project should be completed in time for summer,” Conservancy media director Jay Herrod said.

According to Herrod, the roots of the young trees should hold the earth during the next big rain event.

Herrod said they have seen three major floods since they started the project.

On Dec. 24, 2009, the county received about 8 inches of rain in a span of 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service in Little Rock.

The floods delayed the progress of the project, but Herrod said the damage was not too severe.

“Most of the structures held,” Herrod said. “There was some relative minor damage for one particular structure because it wasn’t completed or it would have held as well.”

There is significant, rapid erosion occurring on both sides of the river throughout both properties due to vegetation loss and an excess of sediment.

The current amount of sediment in the water has lowered the water quality and rendered it unable to support the life of small-mouth bass, which need clear water to survive.

The goal of the project is to reduce the amount of sediment in the channel and improve habitat for may key sensitive species for miles downstream of this disturbed site.

On Dec. 9, Joy DeClerk, Ouachita Rivers program manager, and her volunteers fashioned a single meandering channel out of a ill-functioning braided

one. They placed two J-hooks to direct flow through the center of their channel while plugging other channels.

The structures are made of boulders and are permanent additions to the riverbed.

The Saline River flows southeast from Benton be-fore joining the Ouachita River at Felsenthal National WIldlife Refuge near the Louisiana border. It is the last major stream in the Ouachita Mountains that has not been dammed.

n SHANNON HILLS

RecallingthepastThere is always more that meets the eye though

in this quiet, quaint town — and nobody quite fits the unique southern charm better the

owner of the local pharmacy.Take a look on the Internet or the local library,

and much of the history of Shannon Hills is scarce to find. But if one pops into the Shannon Hills Pharmacy, even on a Saturday afternoon, a conversation can always be heard with a local patron and Griffin. In his unique charm, he can be heard speaking about the past, present and even the future of his hometown in Mark Twain style prose.

Right across the street from the Shannon Hills City Hall, between Sardis Road and High Road East, one can find pharmacist John Griffin. The business may be up-to-date with all the modern medical sup-plies, but spend a minute with Griffin, and you can hear about the history of the city.

“I was two years out of pharmacy school at age 24 when a man in Little Rock asked me to run this pharmacy [in Shannon Hills],” he said. “I said OK, but I had never even heard of this place. [Once I moved

here] I never left. I was OK with moving here then because my wife, who I was dating back then, was going to nursing school at (the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences) and it wasn’t far for me to see her.”

It was June 1978 when Griffin left nearby Little Rock and began getting to know the local people in the northwest corner of Saline County. He said back then, there wasn’t much but a lot of homes and some pastures. Much of it still remains that way today, but Griffin said that is the way most of the community prefers it. Shannon Hills officially became incorpo-rated in September 1978.

Nolan Higgins became the first elected mayor, before turning it over to R.C. Moore. The third mayor was Max Foster, and it was during the reign of the fourth mayor, Harold MacIntire, that Griffin also decided to get involved with city politics.

“I didn’t like the way things were being run, and I was kind of asked to run for the council,” he said. “I guess it was in 1982 when I was elected to the third set of councilmen in Shannon Hills. Everyone back

then seemed to want me to be on the council and help run the town.”

Griffin said the original Shannon Hills Pharmacy was on built Sardis Road in 1972 and was owned by Ray Turnage. Griffin said not long after he took over running the store, it moved across the road and has since turned into a daycare.

In 2000, he moved the business to its current location, adjacent to City Hall.

Griffin said there is one date he will never forget while living in Shannon Hills: Sept. 13, 1978. On that day, after waking from his bed, he peered out his bedroom window and saw rain falling so hard that nothing else was visible.

“You couldn’t see anything and I knew it was a big disaster,” Griffin said. “They called it the 100-year flood around here. In fact, there was 13 inches of rain in 12 hours.”

Griffin recalled that much of University Avenue in Little Rock looked like a river, and he said cars at numerous lots “were just floating away.” Thankfully, at least in Shannon Hills, he said no person lost their life.

Story by matt bUrKS

Story by Sam piercephoto by chriS DaViDSoN

Staff from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service monitor mussel popu-lations in the Saline River.

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n BRYANT

GrowingrecognitionsThere are many reasons to visit various Saline

County towns, and one simple reason that you might consider even moving into the city of

Bryant: growth.Not only was Saline County recently ranked the

10th-best place to find work in the United States by CNNMoney.com, but a Little Rock-based demo-graphic research firm recently reported that Bryant is the second-highest growth area in Arkansas. Only Maumelle, also a Central Arkansas city, was ranked higher.

“I think people are interested in the future of Bry-ant,” said Carrie Roedel of the Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce. “We are embracing potential growth, and I also believe that we are meeting needs for visi-tors. Bryant is not just a place to pass through, but a place to stop and spend some time in.”

The Gadberry Group, which provides location-based services and information data products, re-leased the top nine cities in Arkansas with the highest growth through 2009. Larry Martin, a principal with Gadberry, said it isn’t just prior census information that is used to make the list. He said there are several criteria used to determine these high growth areas in Arkansas, including average income “emerging blocks,” percent change in number of households,

average net worth, length of residence and age of residence. An emerging census block is an area that had fewer than 10 households in 2000 and more than 100 in 2009.

Martin said the state information gathered will also be used in the companies national analysis.

“We build the database ourselves,” he said. “We use real information that businesses use to look at areas to move into. We also like to look at the areas in Arkansas with growth, especially during economic downturns such as now. Historically, the Northwest Arkansas area has dominated, but now our analysis shows that Central Arkansas has surpassed that area, at least in this analysis.”

According to the analysis, it said Bryant’s average income in 2000 was $36,880 and $86,882 in 2009. The analysis also said the average net worth of Bryant is $355,741, just $35,092 less than Maumelle, but $20,087 more than Conway, which ranked No. 3 on the list despite a much larger number of households (24,392).

Bryant leaders said there are a number of factors to the population and business growth in the area, but they believe community involvement is the biggest factor. Roedel said a series of public meetings called Bryant 20/20 was a major factor in recent com-

munity involvement projects. The meetings were set up to set “a clear vision” for the future.

“The school district is also a very good reason for the major growth,” Roedel said. “I think people also see that we have low crime rates, we are still a tight-knit kind of community, and the local businesses also stay involved in the community. Together they all kind of set a clear vision.”

Mayor Larry Mitchell added that the close prox-imity to Little Rock and the growth in real estate are also major factors.

“There are a wide variety of homes and apart-ments, from starter homes on up, for people to live in here now,” Mitchell said.

The mayor also said the city’s new parks and the hard work of the police and fire departments draw people to Bryant.

“We have safe neighborhoods, community involvement and we are not only building new parks, but we also take care of the parks we already have ... we even were willing to vote for a sales tax to build-ing a new park,” Mitchell said. “That has to be another reason for people to move in and as the population grows, the businesses see potential for making money and start building here.”

Story by matt bUrKS

n BAUXITE

HomesweetPitOn fall Friday nights in Bauxite, there is one

place to go — The Pit. It isn’t just a place to watch a football game. It isn’t just the cheer-

leaders cheering on the home team. It isn’t even the place for the opposing team to filter onto their side of the field hope to sneak out a win in an overwhelming home field advantage. It is the place to find the social event of the week.

“The Pit is what the football field and subsequent bleachers and surrounding area is named,” Courier reporter Richard Duke once wrote after a game with the Prescott High School Curley Wolves football team. “It sits in the back part of campus past all the build-ings and the gym. It is barricaded on two sides by woods. There is definitely a feeling of solitude that is not normally found in other high school stadiums.”

The Pit was even was mentioned at the high-profile state political event of the year the annual Gillett Coon Supper in East Arkansas. When asked by the media to describe the event in which all state politicians marked their calendars weeks, even months in advance to attend, state Sen. Shane Broad-way, D-Bryant, connected his home county.

“It is like a Bauxite Miner football game here to-night,” he said. “If you aren’t here, everyone knows it.”

Even folks living just outside of Bauxite recognize the long tradition of their neighbors. Pat Stuckey, a 1969 graduate of Benton, though now a resident of Bismarck, remembers many nights spent at the Pit.

“It is hallowed ground,” Stuckey said. “I even grew

up going to Benton High School football games and I thought those games were special, but it can’t hold a candle to what takes place in Bauxite.”

It was when she married her husband Charley, a Bauxite native, in 1984, though, that she found out just how much the town treasures those Friday night lights. She said her husband and friends “sound like Masons or Shriners” when discussing the Pit. Stuckey said if you couldn’t find your local leaders, or even just your neigh-bors, on a Friday night, they most likely were at the Pit.

“It was the social event to attend, and still is to-day,” Stuckey said. “When you talk to anyone there, es-pecially the football players, they get a special gleam in their eyes. I really don’t know how to describe it. I mean it isn’t just the high school football games the people go to. They go to the Mini-Miner football games and the parents that volunteer working the concessions or ticket booths view it as an honor. It is

just an unbelievable town atmosphere.”Bauxite is steeped in rich tradition on its own

for the Alcoa and Reynolds plants that mined the bauxite, the source ore for aluminum, which is found in abundant quantities in the area. Even the Arkansas Tourism Office has called Bauxite “the town that aluminum built,” “the Aluminum Capital of the World,” and “the definitive company town in its heyday.”

The mining plants may be gone, but the tradi-tion of the town that once saw around 7,000 people living and working there still carries on. You can see, touch and feel the history of the town at the Bauxite Historical Museum, which just happens to be on the same plot of land, just a few hundred feet from the legendary football stadium.

For a visitor on a Friday night, the sounds of cheering can be heard from afar, and vehicles can be seen lining the surrounding roadways near the stadium. For the opposing teams playing the Bauxite Miners that night, Duke said it is a couple of hours they will likely never forget.

“As witnessed by anyone at a conference game, the place can be even more suffocating for the visit-ing squad when the area is filled to the brim with screaming fans,” Duke said. “You obviously need a team that can perform well and play good enough to beat all comers. ... This is not ‘Friday Night Lights’ — this is Bauxite, and all who enter the Pit better find a way out or it could be a long night.”

Story by matt bUrKS

Deep inside of Saline County is what some call “one of the best kept secrets in the county.” That secret is the 280-acre man-made Lake Norrell.

The lake lies 40 minutes from Little Rock and is less than three miles from the Pulaski County line. It serves at the reserve water source for the city of Benton.

But the lake is most often used as a quiet area to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Within the last few years, the lake has gone from being surrounded by company property to being sur-rounded by privately owned cabins. The area around the lake was once owned by a large paper company that sold some of it’s land, which is now owned by in-dividuals or developers. Most of the property around the lake is sold by Network Real Estate.

The lake has been in the county since 1953 and is named after William Frank Norrell, who secured funds for its construction. Norrell is from Milo and served in the U.S. Army during World War I. He attended college in Arkansas and went on to take the bar exam in 1920

and had a law practice in Monticello. He served in the state House of Representatives and was a member of the state Senate from 1939 until his death in Monticello.

The lake serves as an excellent breeding ground for small fish who feed on the plankton. Therefore, the lake is a great fishing escape. Also, the lake is known to attract swimmers. The lake does not have any life-guards, though it is open for swimming all year.

“It’s more of a private lake. It has a nice swim-ming area and there is no cost to swim,” said Jim McIntyre, president of the property owner’s associa-tion at Lake Norrell. McIntre lives in Bryant and said water skiing is also encouraged at the lake.

McIntyre, 64, has not only found the lake a won-derful place to swim but he also found something more treasured: his wife.

“I met my wife out there water skiing. We’ve been married for 33 years now,” he said. He and his wife own a cabin near the lake.

Lake Norrell has a volunteer fire department with

two stations and an active community center, said Barbara Howell, justice of the peace for the area. She also serves on the Lake Norrell Area Assoction.

The association added an addition to the pavil-ion in September 2009 after two years of planning. The pavilion can be rented from the fire department of the Lake Norrell Area Association. The biggest event at the pavilion is the annual Fourth of July cel-ebration, which includes a hamburger cookout, live auction, boat parade, dock and deck contest and one of three public fireworks displays in the county.

To find the lake, from Interstate 430, take the Colonel Glenn Exit and then turn onto Lawson Road and then Lake Norrell Road. From Interstate 30 West, take the Congo Road exit, turn left on Salem Road and then turn right onto Congo Ferndale. Turn left onto Lawson Road and then left onto Lake Norrell Road.

For more information about the lake or activities at the community center, call McIntre at 681-3562 or Howell at 681-7577.

n LAKE NORRELL

BestkeptsecretStory by moLLy m. FLemiNG

[Benton] can’t hold a candle to what takes place in Bauxite.”

Patricia stuckeyBenton High School graduate

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n AVILLA

AfterthefireA special Saline County building still stands in

the Avilla community.Two years ago, a fire nearly destroyed the his-

toric Avilla Community Center, but volunteers united to restore it and it has been in use since that time.

When the work was completed, a community-wide celebration was held that included refresh-ments, a pie and cake auction and a quilt drawing. Not surprisingly, the event attracted many area politi-cians who were eager to promote their platforms in the 2008 general election.

The event was hosted by the Avilla Extension Homemakers Club, which maintains the building.

The building’s primary function is serving as the polling site for nearly 2,000 voters.

At the time the fire occurred, Avilla resident Clifton Pritchett pointed out that membership in the the Avilla club had decreased in recent years and the facility did not serve as the site for some events it had in the past.

Lucy Murray, president of the club, said this week that it is used for special events now and the club does meet there on occasion.

The EH Club received a grant from First Electric in 2007 to help get the building into shape.

When the arson fire occurred in March 2008, it almost destroyed the center. But Avilla community residents stepped up to save the historic structure, and at the same time the grassroots effort saved the Saline County’s Clerk’s Office more than $1,000 in preparation for the May 20 primary election. The restoration was completed in time for voters to cast their ballots in the primary election.

The Avilla EH Club has been maintaining the for-mer schoolhouse since the 1940s, said Myra Pritchett, a leader of the club.

Because of its age, firefighters were surprised that the 100-year-old structure could be saved. Smoke and water damage occurred to some parts of the building and some historic photographs and paintings hanging on the walls were destroyed, but the structure itself was redeemable, residents were happy to note.

Recently a new wall heater was installed, Murray said. “We had thought we could get the old one repaired, but it was taking so long that we decided to go ahead and get a new one. It’s a very nice one, so that was a good decision.”

“Our club meets there periodically, but the building primarily serves as a voting center for Beaver District, and in 2010 we will be having more elec-tions,” she said.

Scott Salmela, owner of Hog Heaven Construc-tion, donated the labor to repair the damage and Gary Halpain donated the precision cut lumber for the restoration of the center.

Trustees of the building include Gary Halpain, Dick Hoffman and Linda Acree. Lucy Murray is presi-dent of the EH club; Doris Hubbard is vice president; and Myra Pritchett is secretary-treasurer. Mildred Troboy, an Avilla resident who attended school at the structure, serves as historian for the club and for the building, he said.

West Pulaski Fire Department responded to the fire at the center and removed most of the furnish-ings from the structure. The building also had been rebuilt from a 1907 fire.

The structure, which served as the Avilla School-house for many years, sits on land owned by the Bryant School District, but the deed to the building reportedly is held by Dick Hoffman and several other community residents.

Col. Clifton Pritchett said the fire started in the

northeast corner of the center and burned an entire corner and then started spreading down inside the walls. It caught the ceiling on fire, but the firefight-ers were able to poke a hole in the ceiling and up through the roof to vent it and get water through there.

“The front half of the building is pretty much burned, and there was smoke and water damage in that part. The back half sustained smoke and water damage, but no fire damage,” he said.

Story aND photo by LyNDa hoLLeNbecK

For most of the year, the tiny town of Tull doesn’t attract a lot of visitors. But every year on a desig-nated day, that situation changes markedly.

This is the Sunday following Mother’s Day when a special event takes place at Ebenezer United Methodist Church. The structure, though small, swells to accom-modate those who come to renew friendships and revel in their memories.

The singing traditionally begins at 10 a.m. with songs from the original Christian Harmony hymnbook. These hymnals have been used since the first Old Folks’ Singing in 1885 and include such songs as “Happy Land,” “When I Am Gone,” “Soft Music” and “Angel Band.”

A selected individual gives the welcome address and another individual gives a response.

The master of ceremonies calls on various individu-als to lead hymns or gospel songs throughout the event. That individual may join with others — family members or friends — and will lead the congregation in the singing of a song of his choice.

A potluck dinner on the grounds at the noon hour is followed by more singing.

The potluck meal itself is reminiscent of days gone by. Tables are placed end to end and stretch across the back lawn of the church, forming at least 100 feet, and are literally laden with foods to share with others.

Families traditionally bring their own table settings and form groups throughout the area. This is a mid-point in the event because a lot more singing is yet to come.

The music during the afternoon session are of a more modern nature, though would be considered old-fashioned compared with the music included in most churches services today.

Songs during the afternoon session are taken from the Cokesbury Hymnal, which was published in 1923. Favorites include “Love, Mercy, and Grace,” “The Awakening Chorus,” “The Church in the Wildwood” and “Peace, Peace Be Still.”

For many years, the afternoon session included a memorial service to pay tribute to those who have died in the past year but attended Old Folks’ Singing at one time. In the past couple of years, that event has been discontinued in order to keep the event on a more upbeat tone.

Many makes visits to the church cemetery, located adjacent to the church.

Families represented are descendants of oldtimers of the community. Some of those names are Smith, Pumphrey, Ashcraft, Moyer, Porter, Brumbelow, Douglas, Tull, Miller, Buckelew, Evans, Jacey Hefferman, Bishop, DuVall and others.

A poem by Richard A. DuVall describes the spirit of the event:

“We love and honor these departed; they breathed Tull’s air and loved its sod. We commune with them in thoughts while they commune with God.”

Old Folks Singing traditionally ends with a prayer and the singing of “God Be with You Till We Meet Again.”

People from many states return every year for Old Folks Singing, organizers say.

Karen Westbrook, an officer of the association, said people from throughout the area, Arkansas and other states are invited to attend the event and “to enjoy the singing and fellowship” the event offers.

n TULL

JoyfulnoisesStory aND photo by LyNDa hoLLeNbecK

A tradition every May is the Old Folks Singing at Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Tull.

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Bridgetohistoryn COVER STORY

A move is under way to develop and preserve the area historically known as the Saline Cross-ing on the Saline River. This is the site that

includes the structure commonly known as the “old river bridge.”

A citizens group organized in the fall with the aim of developing the area, possibly with the inten-tion of forming a state park at the site, and has been meeting monthly.

In those sessions, residents and property owners from the River Street area have spoken in favor of the planned development and have shared memories of the bridge and river.

Arlene Rainey, a lifetime Benton resident, is among those who support preserving the historical features of the area and has encouraged the group to go forward with the plan at Saline Crossing. She is knowledgeable of much of the early history of Benton and the Saline River activities and has shared her recollections of events at the site.

County Clerk Freddy Burton, another supporter of the effort, researched some history related to the Saline Crossing area. Burton discovered that around 1910 the area was developed as a park and hosted community celebrations annually through 1917.

Sponsored by civic groups, celebrations were attended by 3,000 to 5,000 people each fourth of July, according to Burton’s research. Activities even included hot air balloon rides, Burton said. He noted that the site in earlier years included an enclosed pavilion said to be “the largest in the nation.”

Amanda Haley of the Saline County Conserva-tion District has said her organization is interested in participating in this preservation effort. This involve-ment is hoped to be of great benefit, possibly serving as a financial grant conduit as needs develop.

Lynn Moore was selected to speak to the group to outline the fledgling organization’s plans.

Ed Hood, director of Arkansas Health Center Executive Director, has expressed his support for the project and wants to involve his state agency in the preservation effort.

Paperwork has been submitted to incorporate as a not-for-profit organization, a 501 agency, known as Saline Crossing Regional Park and Recreation Area.

The group, through its research, has learned that Saline County is the only one out of 75 counties in Arkansas that does not have a state park.

Local attorney Ray Baxter is providing legal ser-vices to the group on a voluntary basis and prepared

the paperwork necessary to incorporate the group.Elected as initial members of the group’s Board

of Directors were Lynn Moore, Denise Dempsey, Linda Keaton, J.R. Baxter, and Ed Hood.

The group has chosen a logo from one of several designs presented by Juliann Harvey of ACE Sign and Outdoor Advertising.

The Saline Crossing is considered the “birthplace of Benton,” according to Moore. “This is where the first settlers came in the early 1800s,” he said.

“In 1898 an old iron bridge was built, but William Lockhart had ferried people across the river in the 1800s,” Moore said. “These were people that went into Texas for the liberation of that area.”

“We’re excited about the prospect of naming it as a regional park,” Moore added. “St. Louis was recognized out of the Louisiana Purchase as the gateway to the West, and the Saline Crossing could be considered as the gateway to the Southwest.

“We’re not advocating building a great big arch (such as the one in St. Louis), but we think we need to have a park that memorializes that part of history. We’ve got a bunch of folks that say the same thing and we’re just trying to get something going toward that goal,” he said.

Story by LyNDa hoLLeNbecKphotoS by WayNe KiZZiar

n PARON

MakinglemonadeWhen Paron High School was closed in 2006

as part of a statewide move to consolidate small school districts with larger ones,

residents made the best of a bad situation and began an effort to start an after-school daycare program at the structure.

Now known as the Paron Community Center, that building still doesn’t offer the sought-after day-care services, but activities are occurring there every day, said community leader Jamie Mullins.

“We’re still trying to get the daycare facility up and running, but we’ve encountered building issues and other problems,” she said. “We’ve done studies and surveys and are working on the effort, because there’s a huge need for it.

“We do have Head Start, for which we’re grateful, because they do a great job,” she said. However, a daycare facility for older children before and after school is desperately needed, she said.

The Paron Community Trust was established to work on this effort, but in the meantime the old school facility is not sitting idle, she said.

One of the projects that’s under way — and should be open soon — is a public library at the facil-ity, Mullins said.

“We already have 4-H groups meeting there and

the Girl Scouts meet there,” she said.“We’ve been holding regular fundraisers —

dinners, breakfasts, bingo — various thing to raise money to keep up the building,” she said.

“Actually, our 4-H did real well at the county fair and also at the State Fair,” she said.

“The first Saturday of every month we have a breakfast there, and all the funds raised go to pay for the cost of utilities on the building,” Mullins said.

But a lot of attention now is focused on the library project, she said.

“The Paron Masonic Lodge has offered to help build bookshelves to open the old school library as a public library,” she said.

“The Saline County Library system has offered to connect up the line to this,” she said. “They brought a computer out and as soon as we can get the shelves in and the books in, we’re ready to roll.

Mullins said the target date had been January, but the opening now appears to be set for April.

“We’d like to have a grand opening before school is out so the kids can get familiar with it while school is in session and then they would be able to use it in the summer,” she said.

Initially, volunteers will be helping staff the library, she said, but the county library has offered

to provide part-time help if we want to become a branch, she said.

Mullins noted that a Girl Scout troop out of Benton “while working on one of their badges came to sort books” for the library.

“We collected books through a project called Books for Beans, which was a beans and cornbread dinner,” she said. “We have hundreds of books and the Scouts came out to help us sort them out.

“There were a bunch of us that dashed into this and thought this is great, but we found out we have to do it at a slower pace. It’s something the commu-nity needs,” she said.

In addition to the other activities taking place in the center and the planned library, the school struc-ture houses a fitness center, Mullins said.

“We have a Pilates class on a regular basis and people use the rest of the facility on a daily basis,” she said. “It’s open to people 12 and older.”

“People are coming into the center regularly between the Girl Scouts and the 4-H and the fitness center,” she said.

Plans are already under way for the commu-nity’s third Mayfest celebration, which is held in the structure on the Saturday before Mother’s Day, Mullins said.

Story by LyNDa hoLLeNbecK

SeeSaline mag

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n SARDIS

n ALEXANDER

ShoefamousThe point origin of the shoe tree in Sardis is

debatable, but its popularity isn’t. A large centuries-old oak tree that sits in a common

area of the intersection of Hogue Road and North Sardis Road is covered in shoes. Athletic shoes, boots, kids’ shoes. All varieties are represented.

Retha Crisler, who lives across the road from the tree, estimates shoes began showing up in 1971 or 1972.

“I’ve lived here 50 years,” she said. “It seems like (the shoes) have always been there. I’m not sure when the first (shoe) went up there, but it’s been a long time. It hasn’t been until recently that it has got-ten that much attention.”

Thanks to media coverage, the tree has become a bit of a tourist attraction for the tiny incorporated community, which features a small country store and a United Methodist Church.

“On Sundays in the summer and fall you will see families stopping and taking pictures,” said Crisler, 81. “You will see a momma and a couple of kids, and she will help them get some shoes (in the tree).”

Curious onlookers park in the lot of an aban-doned gas station.

“Nobody minds,” said Jim Crone, who owns a car wash and min-storage in Sardis. “I have people from Little Rock stopping and asking where the shoe tree

is. Any time you draw people to your community it is a good thing.”

Crone, who lives over a mile from the intersec-tion, drives past the landmark nearly every day. He said he also refers to the tree often in conversation.

“When I give directions to someone, I always say, ‘Do you know where the Shoe Tree is?’ You go down to it and take a left,’ said Crone, who was the Saline County Circuit Clerk from 1989 to 2000.

Occasionally, shoes fall off the tree and into the road. Crone isn’t sure who picks them up, but they don’t last long. Crisler said the funniest thing she saw was when a passerby plucked a pair of shoes from the branches.

“He pulled up in a truck with sideoards, and climbed up on the sideboard and grabbed the shoes and drove off,” she said with a chuckle.

According to RoadsideAmerica.com shoe trees are common across the United States. Eureka Springs boasted Arkansas’ most popular tree. By 2000, the weight of the shoes weakened the tree and it toppled in a storm. A few years later other trees along Arkan-sas 187 outside of the Northwest Arkansas resort town carried on the tradition until the manager of a nearby resort cut off limbs and seized the shoes.

Crisler admits she takes pride in the tree and its notoriety. However, if Crisler said if it suffers the same fate as the one in Eureka Springs, the community likely won’t mourn the loss too much.

“It would be missed, but would it hurt anybody emotionally? I don’t think so,” he said. “I don’t think anyone would cry over it.”

Story & photo by Nate oLSoN

The shoe tree in Sardis

SawmillstrongMore than 130 years ago, a small Saline County community was just starting

to take shape on the line between Saline and Pulaski Counties. Alexander was founded between 1879 and 1884 and was once an important com-

munity to the prospering county. According to a report in the “Arkadelphia Southern Standard,” given in 1879, Al-

exander was a growing community of 70 residents. Earlier that year, the town only had two families living in the area. During that year, the town had two stores:

a dry goods store and a pharmacy. The letter said the owner of the store was a very honest man who was gaining many friends. The pharmacist, Dr. S. W. Howard, “proved himself in every way worthy of his profession as a druggist and practic-ing physician,” said the letter. There is no name on the letter; it is just signed as subscriber.

Sawmills were one of the main areas of commerce for the budding commu-nity. In a pamphlet published by the Agricultural, Mineral and Timber Resources of Saline County, Alexander is reported to have three or four sawmills, two or three blacksmith shops and one hotel, the Alexander House.

The Alexander House was owned by A.J. Hill from Nebraska, who came to Arkansas with his wife in hopes of helping her recover from an illness.

The saw and planing mill of Messers, Peloubet & Son is one of the most exten-sive industries and business enterprises of the the town. The mill had a capacity of 15,000 logs per day. Another log company, the Pierce Lumber Co., owned several hundred acres of land, purchased from the Iron Mountain Railway Co.

One of the most prominent men of old Alexander was W.N. Slack. He was one of the original owners of the town and had business roots in a sawmill in the com-munity. His mill had a capacity of 7,000 feet of lumber per day. Slack was the land

agent for the Iron Mountain Railway and did much for the growth and improve-ment of the community. He introduced numerous new settlers to the area.

The rest of the town was reported to be “intelligent, industrious and enterpris-ing” at a population of nearly 300 people. The pamphlet author believed the people in the area were more intelligent than others because the town was in a dry county. “They are particularly moral and sober, there being no saloon on places where liquor is sold in the town,” said the pamphlet.

Today, Alexander has more than 600 residents. Many work in Little Rock or the surrounding communities. Most of the town’s residents live in rural areas because there is not much of a downtown or municipal area anymore.

Story by moLLy m. FLemiNG

Photo courtesy of Steve PerdueAlexander circa 1910

501-315-7100 21099 Interstate 30 Bryant, AR 72022 BUICK • GMC

wwweverettbpgmc.comBUICK • GMC

n Education RESouRcES n cHildREnBenton Public SchoolsSuperintendent, Dr. Tony Prothro, 778-4861High School Principal’s office, 778-3288Junior High Principal’s office, 778-7968Middle School Principal’s office, 776-5740Caldwell Elementary, 776-7444Angie Grant Elementary, 778-3300Howard Perrin Elementary, 778-7411Ringgold Elementary, 778-3500 Bryant Public SchoolsSuperintendent, Dr. Richard Abernathy, 847-5600South High School Principal’s office, 847-5605North High School Principal’s office, 847-5620Bethel Middle School, 316-0937Bryant Middle School, 847-5651Bryant Elementary, 847-5642Springhill Elementary, 847-5675Collegeville Elementary, 847-5670Davis Elementary, 455-5672Salem Elementary, 316-0263Hurricane Creek Elementary, 653-1012Paron School, 594-5622 Bauxite Public SchoolsSuperintendent, Mickey Billingsley, 557-5453High School Principal’s office, 557-5303Pine Haven, 557-5361 Harmony Grove Public SchoolsSuperintendent, Daniel Henley, 778-6271High School Principal’s office, 778-5413Elementary School, 778-7331

University of Arkansas at Little RockBenton Learning Center410 River StreetBenton, AR 72015Phone: 501-860-6003 Ouachita Technical College#1 College DriveMalvern, AR 72104Phone: 501-337-9382 / 800-337-0266Email: tavery@otcweb.edu Saline County Adult Education CenterPulaski Technical College19636 I-30Benton, AR 72015Contact: Yvonne Dougherty, DirectorPhone: 501-778-3235 Arkansas Workforce Center BentonWork Investment Act (WAI)309 South East StreetBenton, AR 72015Phone: 501-315-7702Email: orlando.freeman@arkansas.gov Pulaski Technical College Saline County Career Center3201 South Reynolds RdBauxite AR 72011Phone: 501-602-2420 The Parent Center of Benton Public Schools506 River StreetBenton, AR 72015Contact: Kelly MoorePhone: 501-776-5757

New Beginnings Pregnancy Resources112 W. MapleBenton, AR 72015Phone: 501-315-5557Email: newbeginnings@uplink.netPrenatal care, parenting.

CASA102 South Main StreetLower LevelBenton, AR 72015Phone: 501-315-7800

Pediatric Nutrition Providers920 Edison Avenue, Suite 8Benton, AR 72015Phone: 315-PEDS/800-739-PEDS

Child SupportSaline County Courthouse200 N. Main StBenton, AR 72015Phone: 501-303-5669Child Support Enforcement: 860-6162

Kidsource Therapy17706 I-30 Suite 3Benton, AR 72015Phone: 501-315-4414

4-H ClubSaline County Cooperative Extension Office1605 Edison Ave, #15Benton, AR 72015Email: nwebb@uaex.eduPhone: 501-303-5672

CHILDREN, page 23

n REcREation activitiES

ChildrenFrom page 22

Second Chance Youth RanchP. O. Box 150Bryant, AR 72089Phone: 501-847-1559

Children’s Medical ServicesAR Health Center6701 Hwy 67Benton, AR 72015Phone: 860-0518

Boys and Girls Club of BryantBryant Elementary GymP.O. Box 129Bryant, AR 72089Phone: 653-5434www.bryantbgc.org

Boys and Girls Club of Saline County105 Cox StreetBenton, AR 72015Contact: Jasen KellyPhone: 315-8100www.sbgclub.com

GOLfiNG ACTiviTiESLonghills Golf and Country Club

327 Arkansas NorthBentonPhone: 316-3000Golf Pro: Jeff HammPool memberships availableCall for details.

Hurricane Golf and Country ClubI-30 Exit 121 at Alcoa Road 4300 Hurricane Drive BryantPhone: 847-2609

Silver Springs Country Club6301 Trace Creek RoadBenton (Haskell)Phone: 315-1843Pool memberships availableCall for details.

Putt-Putt/Arcades Gator Golf11000 S. Interstate 30Little RockPhone: 455-3750www.gatorparkfun.com

Horseback RidingHoltzman Riding Academy4618 Arkansas 5BentonPhone: 794-1188holtzmanridingacademy.com

BowlingEnterprise Lanes1515 S. Military RoadBentonPhone: 776-8300

BASEBALL, SOfTBALL, SOCCER ASSOCiATiONSBenton Kiwanis Club Softball

Phone: 315-7900Ages: 4-16

Benton Optimist ClubLittle League BaseballPhone: 316-4045

Sardis BallparkBaseball and SoftballPhone: 602-2087 or 602-2888

Bryant Athletic AssociationLittle League Baseball www.bryantbaseball.orgPhone: 847-8351

Bryant Softball AssociationSlow and Fast-Pitch Softballwww.bryantsoftballassociation.com

Holland Chapel Baptist ChurchPhone: 315-4546Basketball, flag football, cheerleading and soccer

East End BallparkBaseball and SoftballPhone: 888-7276 or 888-7721

Bryant Soccer ClubPhone: 316-4457 or 658-7622www.bryantsoccer.org

Reward Sports MinistryFlag football, soccer, basketballPhone: 840-3841www.rewardsports.com

future Panthers football/CheerleadersPhone: 315-5000 or 658-7622

future Cardinals football/ Cheerleaders4th-6th gradewww.bobbowler.com/fcf

East Union Baptist ChurchPhone: 888-2633Upward basketball, soccer

and cheerleadingHaskell Community Center

Baseball/softballContact: Bill Lawrence (317-

0890) or Mike Gault (860-1570)

RECREATION, page 24

24

AUTO RACiNGi-30 Speedway

12297 Interstate 30Little Rockwww.130speedway.comPhone: 455-4567

SWiMMiNGSaline County Swim Team Barracudas

Ages: 6 and under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-18Phone: 213-0248www.salinecountyswimeteam.com

n cluBS & oRGaniZationSSaline County fair Association

406 Fairfield RdBenton, AR 72015Contact: Tom WallacePhone: 794-1480

Saline County Humane Society7600 Bauxite HwyBauxite, AR 72011Contact: Ann SandersPhone: 557-5518

Habitat for Humanity of Saline County404 W. Walnut StreetBenton, AR 72015Contact: Karma HerzfeldEmail: h4hsalinecounty@aol.comPhone: 315-5434http://local.habitat.org/salinecounty

Benton Public Housing Authority1200 W. Pine StreetBenton, AR 72015Contact: Joyce BryantPhone: 778-7302Steve Eichhorn, Executive Director

Saline County veterans Office1605 Edison AvenueBenton, AR 72015Contact: Fred WrayPhone: 303-5646

CJCOHN103 East ElmBenton, AR 72015Contact: Barbara R. AtchisonPhone: 776-2912

Lions Club of Saline CountyP.O. Box 78Benton, AR 72015Contact: Ed SchickPhone: 860-6088

Salvation Army Shelter129 N. Main StreetBenton, AR 72015Contact: Todd SkaggsPhone: 315-1058

DHS (Economic & Medical Services)1603 Edison AvenueBenton, AR 72015Contact: Albert MarlarPhone: 315-1600

DOMESTiC ASSiSTANCESafe Haven, inc.

P. O. Box 1100Benton, AR 72015Phone: 501-315-7233Crisis Line: 501-315-7233Fax: 315-3991Email: safehaven@sbcglobal.net

victim Assistance ProgramDomestic Violence Unit112 W. Sevier StreetBenton, AR 72015Phone: 315-0235Child Abuse Hotline: 800-482-5964Domestic Abuse Hotline: 800-332-4443Rape Crisis Hotline: 800-813-5433Meth Hotline: 315-INFO (4636)

CLUBS, page 25

RecreationFrom page 23

Central Arkansas Development CouncilAdministrative Office722 Gaunt StreetBenton, AR 72015Contact: Larry Cogburn, DirectorPhone: 778-1133

Senior Adult Center-Benton210 Jefferson StreetBenton, AR 72015Contact: Sherry ParsonsEmail: sparsons@cadc.cc

Senior Adult Center-Bryant702 SW Fourth StreetBryant, AR 72022Contact: Mary VickersPhone: 501-847-0809

family Development309 S. Sevier StreetBenton, AR 72015Contact: Valerie RamseyPhone: 315-7702

Head Start in Benton1600 Dixie StreetBenton, AR 72015Phone: 315-6456

Head Start in Shannon Hills11925 County Line Rd.Alexander, AR 72002Phone: 455-4932

Head Start in Haskell115 School StreetHaskell, AR 72015 Phone: 776-1697

Head Start in Paron22265 Hwy 9Paron, AR 72122 Phone: 564-5668

CiviC ORGANizATiONSAmerican Cancer Society

901 University Ave.Little Rock, AR 72207 Phone: 603-5225

American Heart AssociationPhone: 1-800-242-8721

American Lung Association of Arkansas211 Natural Resources Dr.Little Rock, AR 72205Phone: 224-5864, Ext. 1021-800-LUNG-USA

Art Guild of Saline County125 N. MarketBenton, AR 72015 Phone: 776-1500

Benton Civitan ClubP.O. Box 275Benton, AR 72018Phone: 776-0691www.civitanservices.com

Benton Civitan ServicesLeigha Jones121 Cox St.Benton, AR 72015P.O. Box 368Benton, AR 72018Phone: 776-0691www.civitanservices.com

Benton fraternal Order of PoliceP.O. Box 2122Benton, AR 72018Phone: 776-5947

Benton Kiwanis ClubP.O. Box 27Benton, AR 72018Phone: 847-5445

Benton Lodge #34, f&A Masons111 N. Market Benton, AR 72015 Phone: 778-6384

Benton-Bryant Realtors AssociationLarry Davis P.O. Box 322 Benton, AR 72018Phone: 315-4811E-Mail: bbrealtors@cei.net

Golden ‘K’ Kiwanis ClubLisa Thornton1114 Hwy 35 N. Benton, AR 72015Phone: 315-3111

Junior Auxiliary of Benton Lori BlankenshipP.O. Box 851Benton, AR 72018 315-2094www.juniorauxiliaryofbenton.org

Downtown BentonBenton, AR 72015551-1100

Mothers Against Drunk DrivingTeresa Belew 124 W. Capital, Ste 1805Little Rock, AR 72210 Phone: 376-6100

Ouachita Area Boy Scouts102 Chippewa CourtHot Springs, AR 71901623-6601

Republican Party of Saline County125 N. Market St.Benton, AR 72015776-1500

Saline County 4-H foundationAngie Freel1605 EdisonBenton, AR 72015303-5672

Saline County Bar AssociationDustin Dyer113 W. Conway St.Benton, AR 72015778-1404

Saline County Boys & Girls Club105 Cox St.Benton, AR 72015315-8100E-Mail: scbgclub@aol.com

Saline County Cattleman’s AssociationSusanna McLehaneyMcLehaney Equipment121 Mt. Harmony Dr.Benton, AR 72015778-8539

Saline County Democratic WomenDemocratic Headquarters119 West South St. Benton, AR 72015

Saline County Extension Homemakers CouncilLameria Colclough1605 Edison, #15Benton, AR 72015

Saline County Historical & Heritage Society123 N. Market St.Benton, AR 72015778-3770

Saline County Retired Teachers AssociationBill Shirron7800 Samples Rd.Benton, AR 72015794-3522

Saline County Riding and Saddle Club3400 FrendallBenton, AR 72015315-3572

Saline Home Builders AssociationSheila Blankenship1225 Hot Springs Hwy.Benton, AR 72015315-6588

Saline Lodge #174 independent Order of Odd fellowsHenry ErnestP.O. Box 1468Benton, AR 72018778-9869

v.f.W.Terry Calahan5323 Sleepy Village Rd.Benton, AR 72015778-9876

ClubsFrom page 24

n attRactionS & PaRkSBauxite Community Hall: Built in 1926, this

site now houses the Bauxite Museum which fea-tures memorabilia from Bauxite’s past. Located on Arkansas 183. 557-9858. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sun-day.

Hernando de Soto Trail Marker: Located at the corner of Carpenter and Military Streets, this marker commemorates de Soto’s visit to Saline County in 1541.

Hurricane Creek Battle Site: A marker highlights the spot where the Battle of Hurricane Creek took place during the Civil War. this was the only Civil War skirmish to take place in this area. Northeast of Benton on State Highway 5.

Gann Museum: Built in 1896 as an office for Dr. Dewel Gann, Sr., this is the only known structure in the world to use bauxite as a building material. This museum exhibits memorabilia and photographs, original office furniture and artifacts. 218 N. Market Street. 778-5513.

Andrew Hunter Home: Parts of this private building include the original cabin structure built by Methodist circuit preacher Andrew Hunter in 1836. Some say Stonewall Jackson slept here. State Highway 5 at Bryant.

Kentucky Missionary Baptist Church: Estab-lished in 1822, this is the oldest surviving congrega-tion in Saline County. The church is also recognized as the oldest continuous surviving Baptist congre-gation west of the Mississippi. State Highway 5, seven miles north of Benton. 794-1540.

Lyle Park: Located on the Saline River this park

features a pavillion, dock, loading ramp for small water craft and is handicap accessible. Benton Parks and Recreation Department. 776-5970.

Old River Bridge: Built in 1889, this bridge spans the Saline River. This was a first in a series of

bridges constructed to begin replacement of the ferry system. River Street.

Shoppach House: Built in the 1850s, it is the oldest structure in the Benton City Limits. Union troops occupied it during the Civil War. 510 N. Main St. 778-7834.

Saline County Courthouse: Built in 1902, the original structure still stands, although it has been renovated and enlarged. Located between Market and Main Streets, it is a lovely part of the downtown area.

Scenic Highways: Arkansas Highways 9 and 5 and U.S. Highway 70. Campgrounds: Interstate 30 travel Park, 19719 Hwy I-30, 778-1244; J.B.’s RV Park and Campground 8601 J.B. Baxley Road, 778-6050.

Local Parks: Call Curtis McCormack of Park and Recreation at 776-5970.

SALiNE COUNTY PARKSMidland Road Park — Midland Rd. in BryantAshley Park — S.W. Third St. in BryantHaskell City Park — E. Elm St. in HaskellLyle Park — Lyledale Rd. in BentonTyndall Park — E. Sevier in BentonBernard Holland Park — Holland Ball Park Rd. in BentonRalph Bunche Park — East St. in BentonSunset Lake — Henry and Fairfield Rds. in BentonMills Park — Mills Park Rd. in BryantAlcoa Park — Shobe Rd and Mills Park Rd. in BryantPlumb Park — Lea Circle in BryantSpringhill Manor Park — Binder St. in BryantDebswood Playground — Debswood St. and S. Shobe Rd.Lake Norrell — Eagle Nest and N. Lake Dr.

Gann Museum in Benton used bauxite as its building material.

n moviE tHEatERS

n lonSdalE

n liBRaRiESCinemark Tinseltown Benton17314 I-30Benton800-326-2646 ext 1444

Rave Motion Pictures18 Colonel Glenn Plaza Dr.Little Rock687-0499

Riverdale 10 Cinema2600 Cantrell Rd.Little Rock296-9955

UA Breckenridge Stadium 121200 Breckenridge Dr.Little Rock224-0992

Market Street Cinema1521 Merrill Dr.Little Rock312-8900

AP Consolidated Theatres ii12200 Westhaven Dr.Little Rock716-9994

Dickinson Theaters17825 Chenal Pky.Little Rock821-2616

Cinemark Tandy Movie 104188 E. McCain Blvd.North Little Rock945-7400

UA Lakewood 82939 Lakewood Village Dr.North Little Rock800-326-3264 ext. 494

SeeSaline mag

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Saline County LibrariesDirector: Erin WallerPhone: 501-778-4766Email: ewaller@saline.lib.ar.us

Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library1800 Smithers DriveBenton, AR 72015Contact: Jessica McGrath, Head of Adult ServicesPhone: 501-778-4766 or 800-476-4466Email: jmcgrath@saline.lib.ar.us

Mabel Boswell Memorial Library201 Prickett RoadBryant, AR 72022Contact: Brad Crumby, Branch ManagerPhone: 501-847-2166Email: bcrumby@saline.lib.ar.usWebsite: www.saline.lib.ar.us

RescuemissionStory & photo by Sam pierce

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina, one of the five deadliest hurricanes hit the coast of Louisiana. The most severe loss of life

and property damage occurred in New Orleans, which flooded as the levee system catastrophically failed.

On Aug. 28, 2005, mayor Ray Nagin ordered the first-ever mandatory evacu-ation of the city. Over 80 percent of the population succeeded in fleeing the area in advance of the storm.

In the early hours of Sept. 6, nearly 400 refugees made their way to Spring Lake Baptist Camp located in Lonsdale.

Jerry Moore, who just retired as the camp’s director in December, was there to meet them along with hundreds of volunteers.

“Most of them just had plastic bags because that is all they were able to bring,” Moore said. “Some of them had pets as well.”

When the refugees first arrived to the camp, they refused to get off the bus.

“Most of them had never been outside of New Orleans,” Moore said. “They believed they were in a jungle. They were afraid. They felt like they were going to be incarcerated. They were free to leave at anytime.”

Before the refugees arrived in Lons-dale, they were first kept at Fort Chaffee which is located in northwest Arkansas, near Fort Smith. In 2005, many of the evacuees were sponsored or temporarily housed at Fort Chaffee.

One of the volunteers, Carla Hardwick, remembers one particular young girl who was so intrigued by Hardwick that she fol-

lowed her wherever she went.“She obviously had lived a sheltered

life because it was apparent she had never been around white people before,” Hard-wick said. “One day I asked her, “Niyokee, why are you always looking at me?” “Cause you have yellow hair.”

Hardwick said after that she tried to make time to let Niyokee, who was about 4-years old, sit and braid her hair.

“She loved my hair, which was so unlike her own.”

Hardwick’s primary job was to a be a friend and a chauffeur.

“I drove people all over the place. I sat with people in the hospital before surgery and visited them afterward,” Hardwick said. “The most important thing I did was to encourage.”

In the early 1940s, John G. Lonsdale Jr. created the Colony House, a three-story, wood frame building which became the town’s recreation center. The center re-quired reservations for special stage shows and movie presentations.

Dancing, refreshments, special features, and roller skating attracted local crowds from Hot Springs and surround-ing communities to the popular and lively Colony House.

Although the Colony House burned to the ground, for a brief time it was the heart of the community of Lonsdale and a source of recreation for Hot Springs’ youths.

Spring Lake Camp was built in the 1960s on a 200-acre parcel of land donated Mrs. John G. Lonsdale Sr.

Moore said he was overwhelmed by the support of the Benton and Hot Springs

community.“I have never seen such an out pour

of love from a community,” Moore said. “People brought food, clothing, and other supplies.”

There were about 250 volunteers

over the course of the 3 to 4 months the refugees were at Spring Lake.

“The arrival of the evacuees at Spring Lake changed me,” Hardwick said. “In a pe-riod of 40 days I learned how to love other people without an expectation of return. “

In 2005, Spring Lake Camp in Lonsdale housed nearly 400 evacuees from Louisiana after the boot-heel state was hit by Hurricane Katrina.

n citY councilSBENTON — Meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth

Monday of each month at Benton Municipal Complex, 114 S. East St., Benton, 776-5900.Mayor Rick HollandCindy Stracener, city clerkLarry Wolf, Ward 1, pos. 1Greg White, Ward 1, pos. 2Charles F. Cunningham, Ward 2, pos. 1Joe Lee Richards, Ward 2, pos. 2 Bill Donnor, Ward 3, pos. 1Jerry Ponder, Ward 3, pos. 2Brad Moore, Ward 4, pos. 1David Sparks, Ward 4, pos. 2Stephen D. Lee, Ward 5, pos. 1Doug Stracener, Ward 5, pos. 2

BAUxiTE — Meets at 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at City Hall, 6055 Stanley Circle, Bauxite, 557-5936.Mayor Gary DuncanBrenda Hendrix, recorder/treasurerRonnie Ramsey, pos. 1Mae B. Clark, pos. 2Georgia L. Babbitt, pos. 3Deborah Purifoy, pos. 4Wallace Bauer, pos. 5

BRYANT — Meets at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Boswell Municipal Complex, 210 S. W. Third St., Bryant, 847-5559.Mayor Larry MitchellBrenda Cockerham, city clerkScott Curtis, Ward 1, pos. 1

Danny Steele, Ward 1, pos. 2Ed Collins, Ward 2, pos. 1Chris Tipton, Ward 2, pos. 2Adrian Henley, Ward 3, pos. 1Ken Green, Ward 3, pos. 2Robby Young, Ward 4, pos. 1Steve Gladden Ward 4, pos. 2

ALExANDER — Meets at 6 p.m. third Monday of each month at Municipal Complex, 15605 Alexander Road, Alexander, 455-2585.Mayor Shirley JohnsonMichelle Kidd, recorderDorothy Smith, Ward 1, pos. 1Philip Jones, Ward 1, pos. 2Daisy Hill, Ward 2, pos. 1Patricia Jones Croon, Ward 2, pos. 2Harvey Howard, Ward 3, pos. 1Michael Huck, Ward 3, pos. 2Bobbye Finley Ward 4, pos. 1Paul Mitchell, Ward 4, pos. 2

SHANNON HiLLS — Meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at City Hall, 10401 High Road East, Shannon Hills, 455-2003.Mayor James Smith Saundra Vosburg, recorderRobin Baker, Ward 1, pos. 1Sue Skipper, Ward 1, pos. 2Toni Cobb, Ward 2, pos. 1Jim Frala, Ward 2, pos. 2Dr. Dave Holsomback, Ward 3, pos. 1Evelyn Cador, Ward 3, pos. 2

TRASKWOOD — Meets at 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at City Hall, 8999 Hwy. 229 S., Benton, 860-6277 or 364-2971Mayor Michael NashLinda Berryhill, Ward 1, pos. 2Eldon Spear, Ward 2, pos. 1Billy Sharp, Ward 2, pos. 2Lloyd Lewis, Ward 3, pos. 1

HASKELL — Meets at 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month at Haskell City Hall, 2520 Hwy. 229, Benton, 776-2666.Mayor Jeff AreyRonnie Ballard, Ward 1, pos. 1Ray Bennett, Ward 1, pos. 2Rose Marie Wilkinson, Ward 2, pos. 1Brad Graham, Ward 2, pos. 2Sherry Perry, Ward 3, pos. 1Hal E. Baker, Ward 3, pos. 2Gary C. Vice, Ward 4, pos. 1Dwayne Hippensteel, Ward 4, pos. 2

SALiNE COUNTY COURTHOUSE iNfORMATiON 303-5600

SALiNE COUNTY JUDGE Lanny Fite 303-5640

ASSESSORJim Crawford 303-5622

CiRCUiT CLERKDoug Kidd 303-5615

COLLECTORChris Villines 303-5620

CORONERWill Bearden 778-2544

COUNTY CLERKFreddie Burton 303-5630

PROSECUTiNG ATTORNEYKen Casady 315-7767

SHERiffBruce Pennington 303-5609

SURvEYORCharles Mitchell 776-2114

TREASURERSandra McPherson 303-5633

ROAD DEPARTMENT Mark Westbrook 303-5690

COOPERATivE ExTENSiON Ron Matlock 303-5672

QUORUM COURT 303-5601vETERANS 303-5646PLANNiNG BOARD 303-5658

SALiNE COUNTY JUDGESCircuit Judge, District 22,

Division 1, Bobby McCallister, Saline County Courthouse, 200 N. Main St., Benton 72015, 840-6002

Circuit Judge, District 22, Division 2, Gary Arnold, Sa-line County Courthouse, 200 N. Main St., Benton 72019, 303-5664

Circuit Judge, District 22, Division 3, Grisham Phillips, Saline County Courthouse, 200 N. Main St., Benton, 303-5628

Circuit Judge, District 22, Division 4, Robert Herzfeld, 321 N. Main St., Benton, 315-1584

Saline County District Judge — Benton, Michael Robinson, 1605 Edison, Ben-ton 72019, 303-5670

Saline County District Judge — Bryant, Alexander, Bauxite, Haskell, Shannon Hills, Curtis Rickard, Bryant Municipal Complex, 210 SW Third St., Bryant, (501) 847-5223

SALiNE COUNTY QUORUM COURT MEMBERS

David Allinson, district 11, Bauxite.

Pat Bisbee, district 1, Hensley.

Carolyn Bullock, district 9, Benton.

Doug Curtis, district 7, Benton.

Dr. Allan Dabbs, district 5, Bryant.

Barbara Howell, district 4, Alexander.

Mel Kirby district 2, Shan-non Hills.

Kim Hanke, district 10, Traskwood.

Tom Lish, district 13, Hot Springs Village.

Sharon Riggan, district 6, Benton.

Brandi Davis, district 12, Alexander.

Buster Warrick, district 8, Benton.

Mark Kizer, district 3, Bryant.

Jonathan Greer, civil attorney

Mary Morrow, Quorum Court administrative as-sistant

n SalinE countY officialS n ElEctEd officialSState Sen. Shane Broadway, District 22, 201 SE Second

St., Bryant, AR 72022; (501) 682-6107, sbroadway@arkleg.state.ar.us.

State Sen. Steve Faris, District 27 (Traskwood), 29476 U.S. 67 South, Malvern, AR 72104.

State Rep. Ann Clemmer, District 29, 7415 Camille Drive, Benton, AR (Salem community) 72015, (501) 316-0364, av-clemmer@sbcglobal.net.

State Rep. Dawn Creekmore, District 27 (Bauxite, Shaw, East End, Shannon Hills and Smith, Otter, Hurricane town-ships), 8333 Sagebrush Circle, Bauxite, AR 72065, (501) 776-3411; creekmored@arkansas.net.

State Rep. Dan Greenberg, District 31, 608 W. Commerce St., Suite 1, Bryant, AR 72022 Phone: (501) 588-4245; help-fromdan@gmail.com.

State Rep. Barbara Nix, District 28, 1603 Utopia, Benton, AR 72015, (501) 778-9731, bnix2@att.net.

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, 323 Center Street, Suite 200, Little Rock, AR 72201, 1-800-482-8982

Auditor Jim Wood, 230 State Capitol, Little Rock, AR 72201-1096, 501-682-6030

Governor Mike Beebe, State Capitol, Room 250, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-2345

Lt. Governor Bill Halter, State Capitol, Room 270, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-2144

Secretary of State Charlie Daniels, State Capitol, Room 256, Little Rock, AR 72201-1094, 501-682-1010

Sen. Blanche Lincoln, 359 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington D.C. 20510, (202) 224-4843 or 912 W. Foruth St., Little Rock, AR 72201, (800) 352-9364

Sen. Mark Pryor, 217 Russell Senate Office Building, Wash-ington, D.C. 20510, (202) 224-2353, toll-free from Arkansas: (877) 259-9602 or The River Market, 500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 401, Little Rock, AR 72201, (501) 324-6336

n PollinG PlacES1 Avilla Community Center, 13383 Congo-Ferndale, Alex., 72002, 01.01, 01.022 Balboa Baptist Church, 415 Ponce De Leon, HSV 71909, 02.01, 02.02 3 Bauxite City Hall, 6005 Stanley Cir., Bauxite 72011, 03.01 through 03.06 4 Bryant First Methodist, 508 N Reynolds Rd., Bryant 72022, 04.01, 04.02, 04.03 5 Calvary Baptist Church, 612 Valley View, 05.01, 05.02 6 Central Arkansas Church of Christ, 8220 Hwy 5 N., Alexander 72002, 06.01, 06.02 7 Congo Road Baptist Church, 7193 Congo Rd., Benton 72019, 07.01, 07.02 8 Crows Station/Fire Department, 17484 Hwy 5, Lonsdale 72087, 08.01, 08.02 9 East End Baptist Church, 4701 East End Rd., Hensley, 72065, 09.01, 09.02 10 Fairplay Baptist Church, 8516 Fairplay Rd., Benton, 72015, 10.01, 10.02, 10.03 11 First Baptist Family Life Center, 211 S. Market, Benton 72015, 11.01 through 11.06 12 First Christian Church, 16218 Hwy I-30, Benton 72019, 12.01, 12.02 13 First Pentecostal Church, 4200 Hwy 5 North, Bryant, 13.01 through 13.05 14 First Southern Baptist Church, 604 S. Reynolds Road, 14.01 through 14.04 15 Four Square Church, corner of Military and Thomas Roads, Benton 72015, 15.01 through 15.05 16 Haskell Fire Station, 2520 Hwy 229, Haskell, 16.01, 16.02 17 Highland Heights Baptist Church, 1421 Alcoa Rd., Benton 72015, 17.01 through 17.0718 Johnson Street Church of Christ, 101 Johnson St., Benton 72015, 18 19 Kentucky Baptist Church, 7070 Hwy 5, Benton 72019, 19.01, 19.02 20 Mountainside Church, 301 Elcano Dr., HSV 71909, 20 21 Old Union Church, 12641 Hwy 298, Benton 72019, 21 22 Olive Hill Missionary Bap. Church, 14514 Chicot Rd, Mabelvale AR 72103, 22.01 through 22.03 23 Paron Fire Department, 16514 Smithers Rd, Paron, AR, 23 24 Salem United Methodist Church, 1647 Salem Rd., Benton 72019, 24.01, 24.02 25 Sardis United Methodist Church, 10715 W. Sardis Rd., Bauxite 72011, 25.01 through 25.06 26 Shannon Hills City Hall, 10401 High Rd., Shannon Hills 72103, 26.01 through 26.04 27 Sharon Baptist Church, 402 Shenandoah Rd. Benton 72019, 27.01, 27.02, 27.03 28 New Friendship Bap Fellowship Hall, 7400 Hwy 190, Benton 72015, 28 29 Ten Mile Baptist Church, 17511 Church Road, 2930 Traskwood City Hall, 10013 Hwy 229, Traskwood 72167, 30.01, 30.0231 Trinity Baptist Church, 702 Church St., Benton 72015, 31.01 through 31.0432 Turtle Creek Fire Station #3, Mt. View Road, Benton 72019, 32.01, 32.0233 Vimy Ridge Emanuel Bap. Church, 12214 Germania Road, Alexander 72002, 3334 Woodland Hills Water Dept., Hwy 111, Alexander 72002, 34.01, 34.02, 34.03

LOCAL POLiCE DEPARTMENT SERviCESLaw Enforcement 911Bauxite Police Department 557-5184Benton Police Department 776-5948Bryant Police Department 847-0211Haskell Police Department 778-4916Hot Springs Police Department 922-0762Shannon Hills Police Department 455-2003Saline County Sheriff’s Department 303-5609Arkansas State Police 618-8000Arkansas Attorney General’s Office 682-2007Consumer Protection 682-2341National Poison Control Center 800-222-1222fiRE DEPARTMENTS (for emergency dial 911)Benton Fire Department 776-5960Bryant Fire Department 847-0483Collegeville Volunteer Fire Department 847-9391Crow’s Station Fire Protection Association 794-1720Haskell Fire Department 776-2667Lake Norrell Area Fire/ Rescue 794-7388Northeast Saline County Fire Improvement District 847-1500Paron Volunteer Fire Association 594-5631Salem Fire Department 794-2707Sardis Fire Protection District 16 602-2386Shannon Hills Volunteer Fire Department 455-3530Shaw Volunteer Fire Department 776-2640Springhill Volunteer Fire Department District 14 794-1019Traskwood Fire Department 860-6282Tull Fire & Rescue 776-4047Turtle Creek Fire Department 776-0744Woodland Hill Volunteer Fire Department 847-5265WATER COMPANiESAlexander — Central Arkansas Water 372-5161Benton Utility Department

outages-24 hour phone 776-5930 new service/disconnects 776-5916 billing inquiries 776-5923

Bryant Water Department, billing inquiries 847-0292 after hours/field office 847-8083

East End Water Improvement — District 1 888-6030Paron Water Works 594-5000Salem Water Users Association 315-0555Saline County Water and Sewer 847-0562Sardis Water Association 602-5393Shannon Hills Water Department 455-3195Water Users LLC 315-2212ELECTRiC LiGHT AND POWER COMPANiESBenton Utility Department

new service/disconnects/ billing inquiries 776-5923 First Electric Cooperative 315-7438

or 800-489-6716 Entergy,

customer service 800-368-3749outages 800-968-8243

POST OffiCESAlexander, 15604 Alexander Rd. 455-1637Bauxite, 301 Bauxite Cut-Off 557-5531Benton, 1425 Military Rd. 315-7449Bryant, 2103 N. Reynolds Rd. 847-9927Lonsdale, 205 Pleasant Run Rd. 939-2249Mabelvale, 10715 Mabelvale W. Rd. 455-2082Paron, 22560 Hwy 9 594-5795Traskwood, 8108 Hwy 229 778-9529General information 800-275-8777TRASH COLLECTiON AND DUMPiNGSaline County Regional Solid Waste Management 557-2662A to Z Handyman Service 888-7057Cole Jerry Trash Hauling 888-1634Dempsey Bobby Trash Service 315-0975Dependable Sanitation 778-7500Dixon Sanitation 778-86994 Seasons Lawn Care Plus 317-7413Terry’s Waste 794-0529Triple R. Residential Refuse and Recyling, Inc. 776-4067Waste Management 800-467-6604

n utilitiES and SERvicES

n HEaltH and aSSiStancESALINE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL#1 Medical ParkBenton, AR 72015Phone: 501-776-6000Ambulance: 501-776-6000Hospice: 501-776-6650

SALINE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL101 North East Street CollegevilleBryant, AR 72015Phone: 501-847-0613

ARKANSAS REHABILITATION SERVICES1226 Ferguson, Suite 1Benton, AR 72015Contact: Chet StuartPhone: 501-317-1390 or 501-315-6889

RIVENDELL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH100 Rivendell Dr.Benton, AR 72015Phone: 501-316-1255 / 800-264-5640

CIVITAN SERVICES121 Cox StreetBenton, AR 72015Phone: 501-776-0691

TIMBER RIDGE15000 Hwy 298Benton, AR 72015Phone: 501-594-5211

FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITY CARE605 Reynolds RdBryant, AR 72022Contact: Debbie L. Stehling, Regional ManagerPhone: 501-847-3370Cell: 501-231-3507www.friendshipcomcare.com

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES CARE CLINIC302 W. South StreetP. O. Box 1661Benton, AR 72018Phone: 501-776-1703Fax: 501-776-1746

COUNSELING CLINIC307 East Sevier StreetBenton, AR 72015Contact: Michael KingPhone: 501-315-4224 Emergencies: 501-315-2415Email: mking@cc-inc.org

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY901 N. University AvenueLittle Rock, AR 72207Contact: Emily PearcePhone: 1-800-ACS-2345www.cancer.org

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Alexander First Baptist: Sunday School begins at 9:45 am and worship services are held at 10:45 am and 6 pm each Sunday and at 7 pm Wednesday.

Amazing Grace Lutheran Fellowship: Sunday worship is held from 10:30am till 12(noon).Wednesday evening fellowship is held from 6:30-8:00pm.Jerry Bragg is pastor of the church located at 1016B West South St. in the South Plaza (behind Karen”s Photography).

Apostolic Christian Center: Sunday morning begins at 9:15am, worship services are held at 10:15am. Sunday evening services begin at 5:00pm.Wednesday prayer service is held at 7pm and worship service at 7:00pm. The church is located at 20121 I-30 in Benton. Bobby McElroy is Senior Pastor.

Apostolic Tabernacle: Sunday activities begin at 10 am. A 6 pm worship service is held and a midweek service is held at 7:30 pm Wednesday.The Rev. Jay Emerson is pastor of the church, 2314 Military Road in Benton.

Avilla Missionary Baptist: Sunday School begins at 9:45 am. Worship services are held at 10:45 am and 6 pm each Sunday and 7 pm Wednesday. The Church is located at 10582 Avilla Road West. Pastor Mike Hoggard

Benton Church of God: Sunday School begins at 10 am and worship services are held at 11 am and 6:30 pm. Wednesday evening service is held at 7:00. Jackie Taylor is pastor. The church is at 608 Marion St. in Benton.

Benton First Church of the Nazarene: Sunday School begins at 9 am. and worship services are held at 10 am. and 6 pm each Sunday and 7 pm Wednesday. The Rev. Nate Beinhoff is Senior Pastor. The church is at1203 W. Sevier St. in Benton.

Benton First Lutheran Church: A worship service is held at 9 am each Sunday. Sunday School & Bible Study is at 10:45 am. James Burns is pastor.The church is at Congo Road Loop of I-30 in Benton.

Benton Foursquare: Worship services are held at 9:45 am and 6 pm each Sunday and at at 7 pm Wednesday and Thursday.The Rev. David Brewer is pastor of the church, Military and Thomas roads in Benton.

Benton Pentecostal Church of God: A Church built on love. All are Welcome. Sunday morning 9:45, Sunday evening 5pm, Wed. night 7pm. Pastor Terry Kelley,, Assoc. Pastor Vaughn Childress. Church is located at 4023 Gattin Rd. The church phone number is 778-8664.

Bethel Missionary Baptist Church: Sunday School begins at 9:45 am and worship services are held at 10:45 am and 6 pm each Sunday. Wednesday evening service at 7pm. Bro. Carl Higgs is pastor of the church, 501 S. Border St. in Benton.

Brooks Bethel Missionary Baptist: Bro. Donny Haynes invites you to worship Jesus with us at Brooks Bethel located at 20020 S. Alexander Rd. Sunday School begins at 9:45 am and Morning worship at 10:45 am. Sunday evening services begin at 5:00 pm. Wednesday we have AWANA starting at 6:00 pm for all ages. Wed adult class starts at 6:30 pm. We also have a van ministry for anyone needing a ride. Call 501-557-5350 for more information.

Bryant Abundant Life: Sunday School begins at 9 am. Worship Services are held at 10 am and 5 pm each Sunday. Wednesday evening services start at 7. Rev. Tim and Pam Boyett are pastors of the church located at 23790 I-30 in Bryant.

Bryant Church of Christ: Sunday Bible Class is at 9:45am and a worship service at 11:15 am. John White is pastor of the church located at3777 Kruse Loop in Alexander.

Bryant Church of God: Sunday services are held at 10am and 6pm each Sunday and at 7 pm on Wednesdays. James Estep is pastor of the church located at 1203 Boone Rd.

Bryant Pentecostal Church of God: You are WELCOME!! Sunday morning 10:00am, Sunday evening 6:00pm.Wednesday evening 7:00pm.Harold Yandell is Pastor of the church located at 5094 Hwy 5 N.

Buffalo Jesus Name Church: 21624 Buffalo Rd., in Paron. 501-594-5635. Pastor Andy Justice welcomes you to Sunday School at 10 am, Worship at 11am and 5:30 pm. Wednesday evening at 7pm.

Calvary Baptist: Worship services are held at 10:50am and Sunday School begins at 9:45am, evening worship is held at 6:00pm each Sunday. The pastor is Frank Thurman The church located at 612 Valley View Road

Calvary Assembly of God: Sunday School begins at 9:45am and worship services are held at 10:45 am and 5pm each Sunday and 7pm on Wednesdays. Tuesday morn-ing prayer service is held at 10am. The church is at 3420 Military Road in Benton and Randy Roach is pastor.

Calvary Chapel of Saline County: Verse by Verse teaching.Worship music which is fun & different, very casual dress & some great people.Come as you are.Sunday morning service is held at 10am.Mid-week Theology class is held on Tuesdays at 7pm.The church is located on Edison Avenue across from Brooks Marine in Bauxite. Please call 501-557-9991 or 501-337-7576 for more information. www.calvarychapel.org/saline.

Celebration Baptist Church: Sunday worship begins at 10:30am. “Try church again for the first time!” The church is located at 460 Hwy 229 in Haskell-Benton, Darrin Smith is Pastor.

Centerpoint Church: The Rev. Pat Dezort invites you to attend CenterPoint Church located at 20383 I-30, in Benton. Service times are Sunday Morning at 10:00am and Wednesday Evening at 6:30pm. Children’s services and nursery are also available during the adult services. XS Youth meets each Sunday night beginning at 6pm. For more information please call the Church office at 776-2570.

Central Arkansas Church of Christ: Sunday School begins at 9:30am with Bible Study, worship services are at 10:30 am.Reggie Nalls is pastor of the church located at 8220 Arkansas 5 North in Alexander.

Christ Church: Sunday activities begin at 10 am, Sunday evening services begin at 5:30 pm. Wednesday night AWANA services begin at 7pm. The church is located at 11800 Vimy Ridge Road.Pastoring the church ar G.A. & Joyce Dudley.For more information call 455-6275 or 455-1506.

Church of Christ: Worship services are held at 10:30am & 5pm each Sunday.Wednesay services are held at 7pm.The church is located at 305 East Smith Street in Benton.Please call 778-6704 for more information. COME WORSHIP WITH US!!

Church of Christ (Bauxite): Sunday services are held at 10:30am & 5pm.The church is located at 4232 Edison Ave in Bauxite.For more information call 501-794-1604.

Church of the Burning Heart: Worship services are held at 10am each Sunday and 7pm each Wednesday.Epiphany Youth Ministry for 7th-12th grade students is held Sundays at 6pm. Ray Ulery is pastor of the church, which is at 19863 Interstate 30.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: Services begin each Sunday at 9am. and continue through 12 noon at 13901 Quail Run Drive in the Otter Creek area of Little Rock.Phone number 455-0342.

Church Triumphant: Sunday Services - Live Application 9am., Praise & Worship 10am. Evening Service 6 pm. Wednesday evening service 7pm. Saturday Evening Intercession 7pm. Dr. Steve Knight is Senior Pastor.The church is located at 26096

I-30 in Bryant (exit 126 westbound side of I-30). Contact 501-847-7150 or email: churchtriumphant@messagetime.com.

Collegeville Church of the Nazarene: Sunday School is held at 9:45am. and worship services are held at 10:45am. each Sunday. Also Bible Study is offered at 7:00pm.Dennis Yarberry is pastor of the church, 124 Hilldale Road in Collegeville.

Collegeville Missionary Baptist: Sunday School begins at 9:45am. and worship services are held at 10:45am. and 6pm each Sunday.Steve Hudson is pastor of the church, 7728 Arkansas 5 North.

Community Church of God Worship service is held at 10:30 am each Sunday with Bible Study starting at 7 pm each Wednesday. The church is located in the Hurricane Creek Plaza, Suite 21.

Congo Road Baptist: Sunday School begins at 9:45am. Worship service is held at 10:55am and 6:00pm. Children & Youth classes 6:00pm. each Sunday. The church is located at 7193 Congo Road in Benton.

Congo United Methodist: Sunday School is held at 8:50am. with Worship service held at 9:30am. each Sunday.Polly Burton is pastor of the church, 2903 Steel Bridge Road.

Cornerstone Church of the Nazarene: Sunday School begins at 9:30am. with Worship services at 10:30am. and 5.Wednesday service begins at 6:30 pm. The Rev. Tim Evans is pastor of the church located at 25799 I-30, County Line Exit #126.Call 653-2886 for information.

Cross Bar C Cowboy Church Gather for Fellowship, coffee and snacks at 9am, Service begins at 9:30am with pastor Greg Spann. Sundays at the Saline County fairgrounds.

Crimson Hill Baptist: Sunday School begins at 10:00am. Worship services are held at 10:45am. and 6pm. every Sunday; Sunday prayer-meeting at 5:15pm. and 7pm. on Wednesday.Wayne Boyer is pastor of the church, located at 2023 Military Road, Suite 2, in Benton.

Cristo-Vision Church: Worship services are held at 10:30am. and 6pm. each Sunday and 7pm. Wednesday.Services are non-denomination and bi-lingual.Walter Cain, Jr. is pastor of the church, 1301 E. North St. in Benton.

Cross Roads Missionary Baptist Church: Sunday School begins a 9:30am, worship services are held at 10:30am.Sunday evening services are held at 6pm.Wednesday Classes are at 6:30pm. Bro. Bob Weigel is pastor of the church and welcomes you, we are located at 10019 Lily Drive, in Benton.

Cumberland Presbyterian Fellowship: Services are held at Bryant Senior Adult Center, 702 SW Fourth Street. Fellowship time begins at 10am and is followed by a 10:45am worship service led by the Rev. Dwight D. “Skip” Shanley, pastor.Call 860-7045 for more information.

Discover the Joy Fellowship Church 402 Edison Avenue in Benton services with pastor Jim Harrell are held 9:45 Sunday School and 10:45 Worship.

Eastside Baptist: Sunday School begins at 10:00am. and worship services are held at 11:00am. and 6:00pm. each Sunday. A Bible study is held at 7:00pm. Wednesday.Steve Raines is pastor of the church, Fifth and Hoover streets.

Ebenezer United Methodist Church: Sunday Morning Worship is held at 9am, Sunday School begins at 10am. Randy D. Reed is Pastor of the church located at 8309 N. Main in Tull.

Elect Temple Church Of God In Christ: Pantry Open Wednesdays 10am-2pm, Food & clothing.Please call 612-9669 for info. Morning Prayer is held at 9 am. Sunday School begins at 9:30 am. Morning Worship is at 11:15 am each Sunday. Elder Willie Barnes, Jr. is pastor of the church, located at 305 Johnson Street in Benton.

Fairplay Missionary Baptist: Sunday School begins at 10 am. and a worship service is held at 10:45. Keith Holland is pastor of the Church located at 8516 Fairplay Rd, just off exit 106 of I-30. 778-5755

Fairview Missionary Baptist Sunday School is at 10 am with Worship at 11am & 6:30pm Sundays, and 7pm Wed. evening.Dr Paul Carter is pastor, and the church is located in Sardis Community at 26401 Fairview Rd.

Faith Fellowship Ministries: Activities begin at 10:30 am. each Sunday and a Bible study is held at 6:30 pm each Monday. Dewayne Bowen is pastor of the church at 144-8 I-30 in Benton.

Faith Gospel Tabernacle: Sunday School and Bible Study services are from 1-2pm, followed by worship services from 2-4. Thursday evening service is held at 7:30pm.Don Goodson is pastor of the church, 1102-F W. South St. in Benton.

Family Church: Sunday School starts at 9:45 am with Worship services beginning at 10:45 am each Sunday and at 7 pm Wednesday. Nursery and children”s ministry provided for all services. The Rev. Perry Black is pastor of the church, 21815 I-30 in Bryant.

Fellowship Bible Church South Campus: Worship services start at 9am & 10:45am each Sunday at 5724 Alcoa Road in Benton. A children”s ministry for birth - 4 year olds is held during the first service; birth-6th grade during the second service. Stu-dent Ministry for grades 7th-12th begins at 5:30 pm each Sunday. For information call 315-1560 or www.fbclr.org

First Assembly of God: Worship services are held at 8:30am and 10:40 am and 6 pm each Sunday and Sunday School begins at 9:40 am The Rev. Gene Huskey is pastor of the church, 1801 Highway 5 in Benton.

First Baptist - Benton: Worship services are held at 10:30am. and 6:00 pm each Sunday.Sunday School meets at 9:15 am. Discipleship Training is at 4:30 pm.A Wednesday Fellowship Supper is at 5:00 pm with a service that follows at 6:05 pm.The church is located at 211 South Market St.Phone 778-2271 or 315-2270.For more info. go to www.fbcbenton.org.Dr. Rick Grant is Pastor.

First Baptist (ABA) - Bryant: Sunday School 9:45; Sunday morning worship 10:45; Sunday evening worship 6:00; Wednesday evening 6:45; Phillip Miller is the Pastor and Doug Cunningham is the Music Director; located at 401 N. Reynolds Road in Bryant. www.fbcbryant.net

First Christian Church: Bible Studies are Wednesday beginning at 9:00 am and Sunday School begins at 9:30am, worship services are held at 10:45 am each Sunday. Rev. Hart Moore is pastor of the church, located at 16218 I-30 at Pinewood Drive in Benton.

First Freewill Baptist: Sunday morning services begin at 10am, worship service is held at 11am, Sunday eveing service is held at 6pm, Wednesday eveing service is held at 7pm.Bro. Wayne Doughit is pastor of the church located at 1602 Leawood in Benton (corner of Congo and Leawood).

First Missionary Baptist - Mabelvale: Sunday School begins at 9:45 & worship is at 10:45am and evening worship is at 6:00 pm & Wednesday night activities begin at 6:30 pm. Robbie Horne is the pastor. Church is located at 10300 West Mabelvale

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We invite you to

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West. For more information call 455-2417.First Pentecostals - Benton: Worship services are

10am & 6pm on Sunday, Wed. 7:30 pm. Rev. Burl Crabtree, pastor and Bishop O.D. Crabtree invite you to praise and worship. The church is located at 16412 Interstate 30. (corner of McCright St.)

First Pentecostal - Bryant: Worship services are held at 10am and 6 pm Sunday.Bible study is held at 7pm. Wednesday and Youth Night is held at 7:30pm Friday. The Rev. Jerry Whitley is pastor of the church, 4212 Arkansas 5 North, Bryant.

First Presbyterian: Sunday services include Sun-day School at 9:30 and Worship Service at 10:45. The Rev. Dick Knott is temporary pastor of the church, 501 N. East St. in Benton.

First Southern Baptist: Sunday worship services are held at 8:15am and 10:50am.Bible Study for all ages is held at 9:30am. Sunday Evening services begin at 6. Wednesday. services are held at 6:30pm. The church is located at 604 S. Reynolds Road in Bryant.

First United Methodist - Benton: Sunday worship services are held at 8:15am(Traditional I in Sanctu-ary), 9:00am Contemporary, 10:00am Sunday School, 11:00am(Traditional II in Sanctuary).Youth groups meets at 5pm. Dr. George McCoy is Senior Minister, Rev. William Cato is Associate Minister, and the church is located at 200 N. Market St.

First United Methodist - Bryant: Worship services are held at 8:30 and 11 am each Sunday and Sunday School starts at 9:45. The church is located at 508 N. Reynolds Road in Bryant. Pastor Rev. Todd-Paul Taulbee and Assoc. Pastor Dr. Merle Allison Johnson invite you to attend. www.fumcbryant.org

Forest Hills Missionary Baptist Church: Worship services are held at 10:50 am and 6:30 pm each Sunday and Sunday School starts at 9:45 am.The Rev. Marcus Blakley is pastor of the church, 1119 Alcoa Road in Benton .

Friends in Christ Lutheran Church: a family ori-ented church with an outreach to the community. Sunday school and adult bible class at 9:15am with worship at 10:30am. Nursery and children’s ministry is provided during services. We are located at 4305 Hwy 5N. in Bryant. For more information call 501.847.5553. Pastor Emil Woerner welcomes you to come early at 9am and 10:15am for coffee and fellowship.

Full Gospel Christ Assembly: Worship services are held at 10:00 am and6:00 pm each Sunday and 7:00 pm on Wednesdays. David T. Walker is pastor of the church, 1102F South in Benton.

Gateway Church: Gateway is a non-denomina-tional church new to Saline County that meets in the Fitness Unlimited Center at 9:30 am on Sundays for a meaningful worship time in a casual atmo-sphere,680-9043.www.salinegateway.org.

Geyer Springs First Baptist Church: Worship ser-vices are held at 9:30am and 11am, First Bible Study (Adults Only) begins at 8:15am & 9:30am. Sunday evening worship begins at 6:30pm.Wednesday Fel-lowship Supper starts at 5pm, the Mid-Week Service

begins at 6pm, AWANA and other student activities begin at 6pm.The church located at 12400 Hwy I-30 in Little Rock. 501-455-3474.

Gospel Light Baptist: Worship services are held at 11 am and 6 pm each Sunday and Sunday School starts at 10 am. The Rev. Eddie Kitchens is pastor of the church, 910 W. Hazel St. in Benton.

Grace Church: Worship at 5:00pm the church is located at 5205 W. Sawmill Rd. at East End of Intermediate School. The Rev. Jeff Jones is pastor. www.thegracechurch.net

Gravel Hill Baptist Church: Worship begins at 9:00am and Sunday School at 10:00 am. AWANA begins at 5:30 pm and evening worship at 5:30pm.Wednesday Fellowship Supper at 6:00 pm and services begin at 6:30pm. The Rev. Gary Gipson is the pastor of the Church located on Arkansas 9, 1 mile from Crows Station.

Grape Chapel Church of God: Sunday School starts at 9:45, followed by a worship service at 10:45. Worship Services begin at 6:30 p.m. on Sundays. Mid-week services on Wednesday evening at 6:30pm, include a Fellowship Supper at 5:40 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month (only). Rick Dunn is pastor of the church, 7100 Arkansas 298 (Kirk Road).

Haskell Assembly of God: Sunday School services are at 9:45 am. Sunday Worship services are at 10:45 am. Sunday evening services are at 6:00 pm.Wednesday services are at 7:00 pm. Jason Keisler is pastor, the church is located at 1020 East Grand, Haskell.

Haskell Church of Christ: Come help us rebuild the church. Sunday services are at 10:30 am and 6 pm. Wednesday services are at 7 pm. For information or transportation call 315-0173

Henderson United Methodist Church: 13000 West Baseline Road (off Stagecoach next to Otter Creek/Eagle Hills Golf) Little Rock, AR 72210 (501)455-2209 9 am Traditional Service 10 am Sunday School (Children,Youth, Married & Singles) 11 am Contem-porary Service “We are called not just to believe, we are called to belong”

Highland Heights Baptist: Worship services are held at 10:45 am and 6 pm each Sunday. Sunday school begins at 9:30 am Bro. Brian Moore is pastor. The church is at 1421 Alcoa Road in Benton.

Highway Church of Christ: Bible study begins at 9:30 am and worship services are held at 10:30 am and 6 pm each Sunday.Wednesday Service at 7:00 pm. Jerry Almond is minister of the church, 18514 I-30 in Benton.

Hilldale Baptist: Worship services are held at 11 am and 6 pm each Sunday and Sunday School starts at 10 am. Wednesday service begins at 7 pm. The church is located at 3613 Hilldale Rd, and pastored by Chris Reade.

Holland Chapel Baptist Church: Sunday School begins at 9am and worship services are held at 10am and 6pm each Sunday.Wednesday services are held at 7pm.The church is located at 15523 I-30 in Benton. Jason Tallent is pastor.

Holy Ridge Church of God: Sunday School begins at 10 am and worship services are held at 11 am and 6 pm each Sunday. Wednesday services at 7 pm.Philip Prenkert is pastor of the church located at 4124 Holy Ridge Road, Traskwood, Arkansas, west of Benton.For more information call the church at

778-7581.House of Prayer: Worship services are held at 10

am and 6 pm Sunday at 120 Reed St. in Benton.Hurricane Lake Baptist: Worship services are held

at 10:45 am and6 pm each Sunday. Sunday School starts at 9:45 am A service is also held at 6:30 pm Wednesday. John Casey Sr. is pastor of the church located at 2516 Springhill Road in Bryant.

Hot Springs Baptist Church: Sunday Bible Study is at 8:45 am with morning worship following at 10 am. Evening Encounter is at 6pm. The Church is located at 144 Weston Road off of Hwy 270 in Hot Springs. Manley Beasley is the pastor & Danny Baxter is the Worship leader. Call 501-760-4744 or visit hotspringsbaptist.org for more info.

Immanuel Baptist: Worship services are held at 11 am and6 pm each Sunday. Sunday School starts at 10 am. A service is also held at 7 pm Wed., Norris Doddridge is pastor of the church, 5800 Hwy 67 in Benton.

Immanuel Lutheran: Sunday School starts at 9:30 am, singing begins at 10:40 and a worship service is held at 11 am each Sunday. Wednesday Bible study is held at 9:30 am and Community Self Help-AA is held at 8 pm Friday. The Rev. Kenneth Burton III is pastor of the church, which is at 15524 Alexander Road.

Indian Springs Baptist: Two Sunday worship ser-vices 8:15 & 10:45 am. Sunday School begins at 9:30. Wee & Kids worship at 10:30. Home Groups meet at 6 pm each Sunday. A service is also held at 6:30 pm. Wednesday. The Rev. Tom Williams is pastor of the church, 23581 I-30, exit 123.

Johnson Street Church of Christ: Bible study is held at 9:45 am and worship services are held at 11 am and 6 pm each Sunday. Mid-week Bible study at 7 pm each Wednesday. Harold D. Armstead is minister of the church, located at 101 W. Johnson St in Benton.

Kentucky Missionary Baptist: Sunday School begins at 9:45 amand worship service are held at 10:45 am and 6 pm each Sunday. BTC is held at 6 pm on Sundays. Wednesday service at 7:00 pm.The Rev. Dennis McClintic is pastor of the church, 7070 Arkansas 5.

Landmark Missionary Baptist: Sunday School begins at 9:45 am and worship services are held at 10:45 am and 6 pm each Sunday. A midweek service is held at 5:30 pm. Wednesday.The Rev. Jacob Bagby is pastor of the church, 215 E. Main St. in Traskwood.

Lawson Pentecostal Church: Sunday School is held at 9:45 am and worship services are held at 11 am and 6 pm Sunday and 7:00 pm Wednesday. The Rev. Howard Winkler is pastor of the church, 807 E. Lawson Road in Little Rock.

Lighthouse Baptist: Sunday School begins at 9:45 am Worship services are held at 10:45 am and 6 pm each Sunday. Services also Thurs. 7pm. Morgan Flagler is pastor of the church located at 4163 Salt Creek Rd.

Living Hope Fellowship: Bible Study begins at 9:45 am and worship service is held at 10:45 am and 6 pm each Sunday. Jeff Langley is pastor of the church located at 2524 N. Prickett Road in Bryant.

Lonsdale Baptist Church: Established in the 1890”s and still using original sanctuary, located in Lonsdale next to Spring Lake Church Camp. Please join us in praise of the Father. Sunday School begins

at 10 am with Worship Service starting at 11 am and Sunday night Bible Study at 6 pm. Wednesday Team Kids is held at 6 pm each Wednesday.

Mabelvale United Methodist Church - Sunday Worship Services – (Nursery provided for 5yrs. and under) Conventional Worship 9:30 am Contempo-rary Worship 11:00 am Sunday School classes 8:30 am and 10:45 am Thursdays Son up Service at 6:00 pm - A contemporary service of music and worship. Further Opportunities for Study, Fellowship and Service Bible Studies: Wednesday 10:00 am & Sunday 5:30 pm, United Methodist Women: day and evening circles, Choir: Wednesdays at 7:30 pm, Quilters: Mondays at 10:00 am, M & M: activities and trips for older adults, Scouting Ministry: Cubs, Brownies, Girls and Boys Mondays at 7:00 pm. Located at 10500 Woodman St, Mabelvale, Arkansas 72103 (501)455-2503 MUMC is pastured by Rev. Bob Marble. Web site: http://mabelvaleumc.org/

Mars Hill Missionary Baptist: Sunday School begins at 10 am and worship services are held at 11 am and 6 pm each Sunday.Wednesday service 7:00 pm.The Rev. Davy McCool is pastor of the church,128000 Mars Hill Road.

Mt. Carmel United Methodist: Worship services are held at 10:45 am each Sunday and Sunday School is held at 9:30 am.Thursday Bible study at 6:00 p.m. The Rev. Bob Warlord is pastor of the church, 2005 Arkansas 5 in Benton.

Mt. Harmony Missionary Baptist Church: Sunday School begins at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. each Sunday. BTC begins at 6:30 p.m. on Sun-day with worship service at 7:15 p.m. Wed. services begin at 6:30 p.m.Ben Palmer is pastor of the church located off Hwy 229 at 245 Mt. Harmony Drive.

Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist: Doug Hammonds is pastor of the church located at 3700 Mount Olive Road in Bauxite. Sunday School begins at 10am each Sunday and worship is at 11 am. Singing is at 5pm each Sunday with worship service at 5:30pm. Wednesday evening services for Adult and Youth are at 7pm. Established in 1882.

Mt. Vernon Baptist: Sunday School begins at 9:00 am and worship services are at 10:00 am and 6:00 pm on Sunday.Wednesday night services are at 6:30 pm.The church is located at 5408 Alcoa Road, about a mile south of I-30, north of the Alcoa Plant.

Mountain View Missionary Baptist: Sunday School begins at 10 am and worship services are held at 10 am and 6 pm each Sunday and 7 pm each Wednes-day. The Rev. Joey Perry is pastor of the church located on Mountain View Road in Benton.

Mulberry Missionary Baptist Church: Sunday School begins at 10 m and worship services are held at 11am.Sunday evenings Baptist Training Course begins at 5pm, Discovery for Ages 2-Teen begins 5pm, Sunday evening worship is held at 6pm.Wednesday worship service is held at 6pm. Kevin Sterling is pastor of the church, located at 5838 Salt Creek Road in Benton.Please call 413-8614 for more information.

New Friendship Missionary Baptist Church: Sunday School begins at 10am. Sunday morning worship held at 11am. BTC Sunday evening at 6pm, Sunday evening worship begins at 6:45pm.Wednesday evening worship begins at 7pm. The church is located at 7400 Friendship Road in Benton. Bro. Randy Ward 303-8099

ChurchesFrom page 37