By Martin Couch

Sgt. Jimmy Long began his law enforcement career in 1994 with the Saline County Sheriff's office.

"I worked there for nine years then came to Bryant and I've been here ever since," Long said. "When I was a kid, I met some officers and thought they were really neat people and good guys. I got interested in what they were doing and followed up on it."

Long came to Bryant in 2003.

"Unfortunately, the police department hasn't been able to keep up with the city," Long said. "The city is booming and we're seeing all kinds of different people moving in."

It’s somehow appropriate that the one thing that brings together so many in Bryant and Benton — 26,000 strong last year — winds up with all the Bryant folks on one side and all the Benton folks on the other as the football teams do battle in between.

Of course, much of the “coming together” part is in preparation, for planning all the different aspects of what has become an event that almost overshadows the actual football game.

It has, in fact, become so much more than the game. It is a celebration of the two towns, individually and collectively. But also, since it has been moved to the beginning of the season, it has developed into an actual celebration — a big party — to mark the start of football season.

Saline County does love football.

By Martin Couch

In an odd twist to this year's political campaign for the Bryant City Council, alderman Ed Collins has decided to vacate his Ward 2, Position 1 spot to run against alderman Chris Tipton of Ward 2, Position 2.

"We live in a current society we need our representatives to do what's right," Collins said. "That means representing the people and it's not happening. The most local person you can get your hands on is the alderman. In December of 2008, the City Council, which included Chris Tipton, said publicly that they would leave no family behind. They were wrong. There were five families left behind including mine."

Collins is referring to the 2008 floods following the severe weather that hit Saline County at that time and caused flooding in 47 homes in and around the Forest Cove area on Highway 5.

By Martin Couch

Chris Tipton has enjoyed being a Bryant City alderman in Ward 2, Position 2 for the past four years.

Now with his re-election bid beginning, Tipton feels his voice on the City Council is representative of his neighbors.

"I have enjoyed the heck out of the first four years on the City Council," he said. "The first two years were very much a learning process for me, but I caught on and I feel like I'm just now gaining my feet and getting really strong within the Council by getting things accomplished."

Nothing of what Tipton has helped get accomplished has come with a personal agenda either, he says.

The Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce’s 23rd annual Fall Fest on Saturday, Sept. 25, will be at Mills Park, its traditional location, this year. Fall Fest has a contest for just about every kid. The contests include some old favorites and some new twists.

New this year on the tennis courts (weather allowing) is a pinewood car race. “Many kids have built pinewood racers for various organizations they belong to. We want them to bring them out and race them again,” noted Jim Garland, director of the race.

By Martin Couch

Bobby Johnson was approached by a few people in his ward and asked to run for alderman.

"I don't aspire to go any higher than this, but if I can make a difference on the local level for my family and neighbors, I'm going to try and do it," Johnson said in an exclusive interview with Bryantdaily.com.

Johnson, who has 22 years in law enforcement, is running for the vacant seat of alderman Ken Green in Ward 3, Position 2. He is concerned about the issues that are presented in part of his ward, like the so-called "Road to Nowhere" which is a plan to extend Raymar Road south to the Saline County Regional Airport in south Bryant.

By Martin Couch

The Bryant Parks and Recreation Department hosted the first MudBowl volleyball games at Mills Park in Bryant on Aug. 28 in conjunction with the American Red Cross.

Derek Phillips, of the Bryant Parks and Recreation Department, ran the event that saw the team Animal House of the Little Rock Fire Department take the championship in the mud-volleyball matches. The second place team was 5 Hoses and a Gun from Little Rock and in third place was team Summit.

By Martin Couch

When Brian and Melissa Ruby came to Bryant in 2001, it was just a budding community.

Today, with the population of Bryant nearly doubling to over 18,000 and an explosion of commercialization and urbanization, Ruby wants to become even more involved in his community and has decided to run for the vacated Ward 2, Position 1 on the Bryant City Council.

By Martin Couch

Judy Hogue knows what it takes to be a member of the Bryant City Council.

She was on the city board for nearly eight years and, along with the help of volunteer policeman James Stearnes, created Bryant's 911 emergency call system which is still in place today.

By Martin Couch

Rob Roedel has filed as a candidate to serve on the Bryant City Council as the alderman for Ward 3, Position 2.

Roedel and his wife Carrie have been residents of Ward 3 in Bryant since 1996. They have two children, Torrie, a senior at Bryant High School, and Jake, a sixth grader at Bryant Middle School.