Archive
June 11th, 2013
HOT SPRINGS — The Hot Springs Planning Commission is scheduled to vote this week on a 58,000-square-foot expansion of Oaklawn Park's gaming area.
Oaklawn General Manager Eric Jackson says the plan is separate from the racetrack's previous expansion, which was completed in May 2009. Jackson tells the Sentinel-Record that Oaklawn has seen "organic growth" since the state legalized electronic gambling machines at racetracks in Hot Springs and West Memphis.
If the planning commission approves the site plan, work could begin next May.
Proposed revisions to the general City of Bryant budget and also the street and water budgets are on the agenda for the Bryant Finance and Personnel Committee meeting today at 5:30 p.m. in the courtroom at City Hall, 210 SW 3rd St.
The committee also will discuss the classification and compensation plan for the open systems administrator position.
The systems administrator job is the new in-house information technology position, which City Council voted to create last month.
Leon Davis Boykin, Sr., 82, of Benton, passed away Sunday, June 9, 2013. He was born October 27, 1930 in Glen Allen, Miss, in the cotton fields south of Greenville. The world has lost a good man. Mr. Boykin was a United States Korean War Veteran. He retired as a heavy equipment mechanic.Â
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Leon Davis Boykin, Jr. of Haskell.Â
He is survived by his sons, Francis Lewis Boykin of Alexander and Charles Andrew Boykin of Long Beach, Mississippi; eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.Â
Beatrice George, 72, of Benton, passed away to the arms of Jesus, Saturday, June 8, 2013 after a year-long battle with lung cancer. Â She was born November 25, 1940 in Memphis, Texas. Â
Mrs. George was preceded in death by her parents, LueAva and Tom Scarberry, and her husband, Leonard “Buck” George.
Tianna Neal, 28, of Paron went to be with her Lord on June 5, 2013.
Tianna enjoyed hunting and fishing with her husband and her children. She loved the outdoors and all animals; she devoted her life to taking care of others.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Hoyt and Gloria Hill; her grandparents, Don and Yukie Volz; her brother, Johnathan Johnson; her father-in-law, Robert Neal; and her great-grandparent, Grady Ritchson.
Sammie Lois Patton, 87, of Benton passed away June 6, 2013, with her family by her side. She was born Jan. 22, 1926, to the late Charlie and Estelle Noles in Seagraves, Texas.
Sammie was an avid reader and loved working in her flower garden, sewing and quilting. She retired from Teletype after 20 years of employment.
Sammie was a member of North Bryant Baptist Church for 14 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her loving husband of 59 years, William Earl Patton.
Pearly Maxine Gerrald, 83, of Benton passed away Wednesday, June 5, 2013. She was born Oct. 13, 1929, in Fouke, to the late Melvin and Belle Jones Nall. Maxine was a member of the Church of Christ.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Leland Gerrald.
Maxine is survived by her sons, Warren Gerrald of Benton, Dennis Gerrald of Mineral Wells, Texas, and Everett Gerrald of San Antonio, Texas; a daughter, Belinda Baxter of Benton; a brother, Hollis Nall of Texarkana, Ark.; a sister, Geneva Dugger of Stillwater, Okla.; nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Rebecca Marie Woodall, 38, of Mabelvale passed away Saturday June 1, 2013. She was born Nov. 26, 1974. in Little Rock.
Rebecca was preceded in death by her grandmother, Pearl Nickels.
She is survived by her sons, Brandon and Jacob Woodall of Mabelvale; a daughter, Rachel Woodall of Mabelvale; her mother and stepfather, Sandra and John Heard of Benton; a brother, Richard N. Nickels of Benton; a sister, Jessica Heard of Benton; and her grandfather, Daniel Nickels of Benton.
No service is scheduled at this time.
Arrangements are by Ashby Funeral Home.
June 10th
POCAHONTAS — Black River Technical College is joining the list of Arkansas schools that won't allow concealed guns on campus.
The school's board of trustees voted last week to opt out of the new state law. Board chairman John Jackson Jr. tells the Paragould Daily Press (http://bit.ly/190kHiU ) that the trustees had several questions about the new law and decided not to change the college's current policy banning weapons.
Black River Technical College has about 3,000 students with campuses in Pocahontas and Paragould.
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas lawmakers are studying the state's scholarship programs after a shortfall prompted Gov. Mike Beebe to tap into reserve funds to continue grants that help students pursue degrees in some medical fields.
Members of the House and Senate Education Committee on Monday said they planned to look at the state's 24 scholarship programs. State higher education officials say they need an additional $5.5 million to restore about 4,800 scholarships for incoming students that will be cut because of a shortfall in its fund.
