BENTON — Habitat for Humanity of Saline County will present the 2010 Apostles Build Chili Cook-off on Monday, March 15, at the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center. The cook-off will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 5 to 7 p.m.

Tickets are $5 each and are available at the Habitat Restore at 124 Market or the Habitat office at 404 West Walnut.

For more information, call 501-315-5434.

Bryant High School junior Brittany Jones has been selected as one of eight high school students to serve as a Junior Ambassador for the American Cancer Society.

The Junior Ambassador Program allows students to be active in their schools and communities through service projects. Students across central Arkansas completed applications and were interviewed by members of the Society’s Little Rock Hope Ambassadors. The students were chosen based on their communication, organizational, and leadership abilities.

The Junior Ambassadors will participate in a volunteer project that focuses on fundraising or awareness for the American Cancer Society. Students will use their communication and leadership skills to share information about American Cancer Society and encourage their schools and community members to get involved. This is the program’s inaugural year.

The Bryant Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a Free Tree Give Away Program that is available to Bryant residents only. The “free tree” specimens are Nuttall Oaks, Shumard Oaks, Red Oaks and Persimmon. All are in four gallon containers and are 2 1/2 to 3 foot tall except for the Persimmon which are 1 1/2 to 2 foot tall.

The Tree Give Away will take place on Saturday, March 13, from 9 to 11 a.m. (while our supply lasts) at Mills Park located at 1003 Mills Park Road in Bryant.

Members of the Bryant Boys and Girls Club participated in the Little Rockers Kids Marathon on Saturday, March 6, led by Kathy Wishard of Bryant and Club volunteers. (Photos courtesy of Jennifer Cantrell-Benning)

Best wishes and a big thanks to Lana Clifton for contributing news coverage to BryantDaily.com over the last few months.

Lana and her family are moving to Texas for a job opportunity that her husband has accepted.

She’s been a big help and a great addition to the site.

By Lana Clifton

Governor Mike Beebe was in Bryant Wednesday morning to help dedicate the Arkansas History Room at Bryant Elementary School. The room, the only one of its kind in the state, was a vision that had come to fruition for third grade teacher, Jami Branch. She and her class worked together with parents and others to pull together artifacts and information about Arkansas.

Branch emotionally spoke of the project as a great accomplishment and held it up to the students of Bryant Elementary as an example of what could happen if they worked toward a goal.

“If you try anything, if you set your mind to it, you can do it, boys and girls,” expressed Branch. “Lots of people said this would never happen, and we proved them wrong.”

 Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe was in Bryant Wednesday morning to help dedicate the new Arkansas History Room at Bryant Elementary School. The project was spearheaded by Jami Branch's third-grade class. Above, the Governor presents a plaque to the class. The plaque will be posted in the Arkansas History Room and lists each student in the class as founders of the room. (Photos by Lana Clifton)

By LANA CLIFTON

On Thursday Feb. 11, the Bryant City Council held its regular monthly meeting. During a time designated for council comments, Alderman Robby Young of Ward 4 announced that he would be resigning from the city council due to his family’s plans to move out of state. He stated that this would be his last meeting.

“It has been an honor to serve and be involved in the business in such a great city,” said Young. “I wish all of you the best that life has to offer and I encourage all of you to stay involved and keep our city great.”

Mayor Larry Mitchell presented a plaque to Young on behalf of the city in appreciation of his service from 2007 to 2010.