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 From
the Office of Community Development
For immediate release, May 1, 2008
From
the Office of the Mayor
For information on conversion to Digital Television,
CLICK HERE.
Wally
Hall's Touranment of Champions
April 28, 2008
As of today (April 28), I am excited to report the City of Benton has 137
teams entered for the
Wally Hall
Tournament of Champions with 1/3rd of those teams (approximately)
staying overnight in Benton, Saline County and Little Rock. We have teams
from St. Louis, Missouri and Southaven, Mississippi that have chosen
Benton and Saline County as their vacation destination for Memorial Day
Weekend - 2008. Championship tournaments in several divisions will be held
at Holland Park, Tyndall Park, Benton High School baseball field and the
Bauxite High School baseball field. We are confident of filling the
tournament to its capacity of 178 teams.
This will truly be a community event that will not only bring a large
economic impact to Benton but the economic spillover will be enjoyed in
Bryant, Malvern and Little Rock. In fact, the Little Rock Hilton Hotel on
University Avenue has agreed to be an event sponsor and is one of our host
hotels. The Hilton's involvement should help us gain some perspective on
the magnitude of Benton's premiere multi-day event.
Wally Hall's statewide sports talk show ('Sports Animals') with co-host
Shawn Arnell will broadcast live on Friday, May 23 from Holland Park
during the opening night ceremonies (6:00), the "Benton v. Bryant
Celebrity Softball Game" (6:30) and the '1990's Retro Game - Thomas Oil of
Saline County v. Ahart & Bryan's' (7:30). Net proceeds of the ticket sales
for the opening night celebrity game and retro game will fund college
scholarships for students at Benton High School and Bryant High School.
FYI - Thomas Oil of Saline County is the 7-time champion in the Men's Open
division of the Wally Hall Tournament and Ahart & Bryan's was the
runner-up in the majority of those events. Wally & Shawn will promote
Benton's event daily on the radio show with entry updates and
solicitations to fill brackets for specific divisions and Wally will write
a couple of feature stories that will be featured in his daily sports
editorial in the Dem-Zette newspaper. Wally and Shawn's sports call-in
show can be heard on AM920 and FM102.9 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm - they have
invited Mayor Holland and Shane Pigue to be featured guests on the radio
show leading up to Memorial Day Weekend. In addition to the free media
promotions, the Benton Advertising & Promotion Commission has dedicated a
portion of its media budget to the promotion of our event.
Jim Landers and KEWI Radio AM690 will broadcast the celebrity game live
over its airwaves. State Representative Lamont Cornwell and State Senator
Shane Broadway have agreed to provide color commentary from the field of
play during the celebrity game– live and in living color!
The Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission recently completed the
printing of the Benton Restaurant and Hotel Guide which will be included
in the Team Packs that will be mailed to all of the registered teams. The
pack will include a personalized letter from Mayor Holland, an area map, a
review and copy of city ordinances that impact behavior at our parks,
tournament brackets, area attractions and the restaurant/hotel guide. The
Team Pack will offer a professional first impression of Benton to our
invited guests.
Mayor Holland and the Benton Street Department continue the work of
completing the access drive into Holland Park across the former runway.
Benton’s response to the recent tornado and flooding tragedies has been
their #1 priority. However, Mayor Holland’s dedicated team will get us a
close to completion as possible for Benton’s big event.
Curtis McCormick and the Benton Parks Commission have completed projects
at Holland Park and Tyndall Park that will enhance the enjoyment at our
parks during Memorial Day weekend and for years to come. The rehab project
of the 3 adult softball fields at Holland Park is progressing along with
the construction of a new parking lot and playground area. These projects
will a valuable asset for a our community long after the last out is made
for the Wally Hall Tournament of Champions (aka: “Your Tax Dollars Hard At
Work!”).
I hope you are as excited as I am by the potential and exciting
possibilities for Benton and our neighbors during Memorial Day Weekend. I
know that you will join me in dedicating your efforts in making this event
a huge success.
Shane Pigue has worked tirelessly to make sure every aspect of this
weekend is first-class all the way and Benton is set up to offer a
premiere event to its citizens and guests for years to come. Because of
Shane’s efforts and the commitments made by Mayor Holland, Benton City
Council, Benton Parks Commission and Benton Advertising and Promotion
Commission, we have a realistic opportunity of turning the Wally Hall
Tournament of Champions into a National Invitational Tournament qualifier
for Men’s Softball. If we can all work together to make this happen, this
will turn our regional tournament into a National event that will attract
teams and fans from across the country to Benton and Saline County.
I can not give Von, Glenda and Shane Pigue enough credit for their
commitment they have made to this event and to the City of Benton. They
have allowed their business, Fitness Unlimited, to become the hub of
information and administration for the Wally Hall Tournament of Champions.
I hope that you will express your gratitude to them whenever you have an
opportunity to do so – they are a prime example of the true meaning of
community service.
Best regards,
Alderman Brad Moore
Benton Advertising & Promotion Commission
501-860-4817
From
the Office of the Mayor
April 25, 2008
Mayor's Youth Advisory Council Applications
Applications for the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council are being accepted and
are available at the Benton High School, Benton Jr. High School, Benton
Municipal Complex at 114 S East Street and are available on line [Click
Here]. Students must either live in the Benton City Limits
or attend Benton High School. Students must be a 10th, 11th or 12th
grade student in good standing beginning in the fall of 2008.
Applications need to be turned in by Friday, May 9th. Interviews
will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at City Hall. Applicants will
be notified of the time of their interview. All interested students
are encouraged to apply. For more information you can contact Angela
Ross in the Mayor’s Office at 776-5905 or Jill Johnson at the Boys & Girls
Club 315-8100.
Sincerely,
Mayor Rick Holland
From
City of Benton Personnel Department
Newly posted job openings:
CLICK HERE for job opening
information.
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