Ribbon Cuttings, Jobs, Deals, Community Events and more – the Benton Chamber newsletter is packed!!

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You are invited to the following ribbon-cutting event.
We hope you will come out and support the following Chamber members!
Friday, February 7, 2025
10:30 am – BOSS
Benton Chamber Office – 607 N Market St. – Benton

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You are invited to the following ribbon-cutting event.
We hope you will come out and support the following Chamber members!
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
11:00 am – Merchants & Farmers Bank – Benton
146 W South St. – Benton

Saline County Announced Warming Center Open January 19 – Wednesday, January 22
Saline County

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Job Postings

For a complete list of Job Postings visit: http://bentonchamber.chambermaster.com/jobs/
If you have a job posting you would like to be included, you can email the information to Melinda Vergona at [email protected]

Hanke Building Sales offers various outdoor structures, including metal carports, RV covers, garages, barns, and Graceland portable buildings. Our Graceland portable buildings include options like lofted barns, garden sheds, and cabins, all customizable to fit your needs with standard financing and rent-to-own options available. Including no credit check, affordable monthly payments, and free delivery and setup, we make it easy to get the perfect building for your storage, workshop, or living space. Whether for residential or commercial use, Hanke Building Sales has the ideal solution.
501-262-3399 | 8744 US 70 – Benton | https://hankebuildingsales.my.canva.site/. Click Here ​for the flyer.

Member Announcements

“Soft” Opening Set for Salem Location January 27th
Arvest Bank – Salem
Arvest Bank will have a “soft” opening on January 27th for their new Salem branch located at 1421 Hwy 5 North in Benton. The branch will be officially up and running where customers can conduct business.
The official Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting dates will be announced soon.

Benton Parks & Recreation Wins Turf Site of the Year
Benton Parks & Recreation 
The City of Benton Parks & Recreation Department has been awarded the 2024 Arkansas Turf Association Turf Site of the Year for Owens Mooney Park.
The park was erected by the Benton Rotary Club in memory of Bart Owens and Randy Mooney who were tragically killed in 1993.
“It’s an honor to be recognized across the state for Owens Mooney Park,” said Stephanie Jones, Director of Parks and Recreation. “I could not be more proud of our Grounds and Maintenance team. Their skills and expertise are unmatched and I am so fortunate to work alongside them.”
Located in Downtown Benton on the corner of W. South Street and N. Main Street. This .41 acres of open space includes a decorative water fountain, decorative clock, botanical gardens, trail of tears historic marker, picnic table, and benches. This park provides a peaceful setting for visitors to reflect and enjoy nature in a quiet and contemplative atmosphere. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1NAFARkGgh/

Pre-Cotillion Registration is Now Open for April
National League Junior Cotillion
Pre-Cotillion registration is open for April. This is for first through fourth graders. All the dates and times are listed on the website. www.nljc.com/chapter/southcentralar (select programs on the left side).
If you have a child in this age group I hope to hear from you soon! Click Here for the flyer.

Benton Baseball Registration
Benton Youth Sports Association
Play ball with Benton Youth Sports Association! Registration is now open for our spring baseball league, ages 4-16. Visit our Facebook page or bentonbaseball.com for more information and to sign up.
Join us for a season of fun, friendship, and skill-building.

American Flag Retirement Box
Boy Scouts of America Troop 99 
The Boy Scouts of America Troop 99 is now offering an American flag retirement box at the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce at 607 N Market Street, Benton.
Any old, torn, or faded American flags can be dropped off to be properly retired by the troop. Click Here for the flyer.

New Menu Items at Rib Crib
Rib Crib
TAILGATE TACO Pulled pork or chopped brisket, green chiles, southwest cabbage mix, and chipotle crema on a soft corn tortilla. Comes with tortilla chips and salsa.
OKIE ‘RITO Your choice of pulled pork or chopped brisket, green chiles, grilled onions, roasted corn, southwest cabbage mix, and chipotle crema loaded into a jalapeno cheddar tortilla, served with chips, salsa, and ranchero beans. 
EMPANADAS Fried pastry pockets loaded with melted cheese, green chiles, and your choice of pulled pork or chopped brisket, served with a fireside ranch.
501-778-9600 | 1600 Military Road – Benton

Holiday Flavors at Loblolly!
Loblolly Creamy Benton
Stop in Loblolly Creamery Benton at 115 N Market Street in downtown Benton and try the new Holiday Flavors!
Pink Peppermint – Classic peppermint ice cream with a peppermint candy crunch.
Eggnog – A flavor churned with house-made eggnog using Rocktown Distillery Bourbon
Sugar Cookie Dough – Chunks of cookie dough with festive holiday sprinkles.
You can order online here. 501-503-5164 Click Here for the flyer.

Spring 2025 Community Education Classes with Pulaski Tech, PLUS Youth Chef Camp Early Bird Registration
UA-PTC
New UA-PTC Community Education classes have been posted: cooking, baking, sausage-making, stained-glass, flower-arranging, plus more free classes in archery, nature, AND martial arts! Sign up and see you there! And if you’d like to give the holiday gift of a spot in a class to the loved one in your life who has everything, just email Katie the Comm Ed Coordinator at [email protected]
Scan the QR code on the Flyer or head over to the website: https://uaptc.edu/community-education
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Oh, and have you heard… there’s an Early Bird Registration for our summer Youth Chef Camps, so check it out ASAP before the discount is over!
Scan the QR code on the Camp Flyer or head over to the website: https://uaptc.edu/youthchef.

Stay Safe. Stay Informed. New Saline County Alerts System
Saline County
Stay safe. Stay informed. New Saline County alerts system with ONSOLVE CODERED.
Sign up via the Internet – Visit salinecounty.org/alerts
Sign up via Text – Text SALINECO TO 24639
Enroll in alerts for Community Events & Deadlines
Text SALINE for Saline County Special Events to 24639
Text BENTON for Benton Special Events to 24639
Text BRYANT for Bryant Special Events to 24639
Text DEADLINES for Important Deadlines to 24639
Made possible with the partnership between Saline County, the City of Bryant, the City of Benton, and the Saline County Office of Emergency Management. Click Here for the flyer.

Wheelchair Basketball Registration Now Open
Benton Parks & Recreation
Registration Nov. 22 – Jan. 17 | Season Jan. 21 – Mar. 11 | League: Inclusive & Coed (game chairs provided) | River Center Click Here for the flyer.
Contact Daniel Torchinsky at [email protected] or 501-860-9752

Rising Stars – February
Benton Parks & Recreation
Registration Dec. 6 – Jan. 24 | Season Feb. 3 – 27 | $40/athlete
Sports: Soccer, putt-putt, basketball, flag football Click Here for the flyer.
Contact Alex Richardson at [email protected] or 501-794-8533

Registration is Now Open For Youth Softball, Blastball, and Miracle League For The Upcoming Spring seasons.
Benton Parks & Recreation
You can now register for Youth Softball, Blastball, and Miracle League for our upcoming Spring seasons. Please see below for registration links and program contacts.
Don’t forget we have big changes this year for youth softball. After our survey and community meeting last year, Benton Parks will now be developing its own Youth Softball Draft League with our younger age groups. Participants will now have the opportunity to compete in Allstars at the end of the season.
Girls Youth Softball (Ages 4-16) – CLICK HERE – Contact Lauren Brown at [email protected]
Blastball – CoEd (Ages 3-5) – CLICK HERE – Contact Alex Richardson at [email protected]
Miracle League – CoEd (Ages 3-Adults) – CLICK HERE – Contact Daniel Torchinsky at [email protected]
Youth Baseball is operated by the Benton Youth Sports Association (BYSA); not Benton Parks & Recreation. For convenience, the link is provided below.

Boys Youth Baseball – https://www.bentonbaseball.com/

The Saline County Library will host its annual Winter Challenge
Saline County Library
The Saline County Library will host its annual Winter Challenge for all ages from November 25, 2024, through January 31, 2025, at all three library branches (the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library branch in Benton, the Mabel Boswell Memorial Library branch in Bryant, and East End branch). This program intends to encourage everyone to read, with the message that “Reading is reading.” Every media and story, from traditional prose books to illustrated comic books and graphic novels, to even narratives on television, count towards trackable goals, with prizes redeemed at the library.
The adult Winter Reading Challenge will have a tracker of reading goals throughout the period, with milestones of reading any amount for 40 days, reading over 30 minutes for 40 days, and completing 10 books. Participants can track their progress and complete it at home. Click Here for the full Press Release of details.