Work has begun today on the installation of artificial turf at Bryant Stadium.

At the Monday, May 17, meeting of the Bryant Board of Education, athletic director Tom Farmer announced that fund-raising efforts had reached the target to trigger the matching funds from the school district. The Board approved the project.

The Bethel Middle School eight grade (above) and seventh grade (below) bands earned a First Division rating at the Region V Concert Band Assessment in Benton recently. (Photos courtesy of Sotonya Gordey)

Let us recall how, last fall, the Bryant Stadium surface was in such a condition that, more often than not, the bands couldn’t march, the dance teams couldn’t perform, the JV and B team games, seventh and eighth grade games had to be moved or cancelled. And when the freshman and high school varsity teams played, it was a quagmire that just continued to deteriorate.

A move began to replace the natural grass and mud with an artificial surface, something one school after another in the Hornets’ conference and classification has already done.

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THANKS and HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

By LANA CLIFTON

The Legacy of Bryant, Bryant High School’s marching band, will be loading onto chartered buses and leaving for an out of state competition on Friday, Nov. 6.

According to Chad Green, band director, students have been raising funds for the trip since May. They have held car washes and have asked individuals and local businesses and corporations to sponsor the band. Green said some matching gift contributions have helped as well.

The Legacy of Bryant High School Marching Band, competing in the large school classification, received 1 ratings across the board at the annual Play-It-Again Showcase of Bands at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock on Saturday, Oct. 17. In addition, senior Alex Ford was named Outstanding Drum Major and junior Callie Smith was named Outstanding Soloist for her flute solo as part of the band's dramatic performance of "Then They Came For Me." Over 40 high school bands from across the state competed at the event. (Photos courtesy of Tim Higgins)

LITTLE ROCK — The Legacy of Bryant High School Marching Band will compete at the annual Arkansas Showcase of Bands at War Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17.

The event features performances by high school marching bands from all over the state. Bryant's band is scheduled to perform at approximately 5:50 p.m.

Though the annual Mass Band night scheduled for the pre-game of the Bryant-Russellville football contest tonight has been cancelled due to the condition of the rain-soaked field and the threat for more during the game, the Legacy of Bryant High School band along with the bands from Benton High School, Bauxite High School and Harmony Grove High School were featured on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the 2009 Saline County Showcase. The event was planned to be a chance for each band to take the field at Bryant Stadium and perform its complete halftime show, the wet weather and soggy field forced them into the Bryant Middle School gym where each performed their show without the full marching exhibition.

The Bryant Band Boosters will still host their benefit Chili Dinner at the middle school cafeteria, starting at 4 p.m., prior to the Bryant-Russellville game. Chili and all the fixings for $5 adults, $3 children. (Photos courtesy of Tim Higgins)

The Hometown Scholarship Program, presented by local Dodge dealers including Landers Dodge along with the Bryant High School Band have launched the 2009 charity fundraising campaign that generates scholarship funds for high school students. The Hometown Scholarship Program is part of Landers Dodge's continuing commitment to the hometown community.

The Bryant High School Band members are attending community events to request $5 donations in support of their Dodge Hometown Scholarship Program. With each $5 suggested donation, 100 percent of the proceeds go to scholarship and organization enrichment programs.