Photo by Cindy Bowden
On the week of the big rivalry football game – The Salt Bowl – you might expect some rivalry behavior between the teams, the Bryant Hornets and the Benton Panthers. What you hope to never see is criminal behavior.
However, yesterday at some point in the day or evening, Donnie Burks, the Director of the Benton Athletic Museum, noticed that the giant bronze Panther in front of Benton High School had been defaced. Cindy Bowden was with others at the Benton Alumni meeting at the museum last night and took the photos you see above. I took more photos this morning (below).
The statue has now been cleaned of some graffiti containing some foul language. According to a mom at the scene this morning, it was just two words, “____ Benton.”
Benton High School Principal Curt Barger wasn’t immediately available for comment, but we may be able to speak to him later.
Spokesperson for the Benton Police Department Matt Burks was able to tell us that a report has been filed, but it’s an ongoing investigation, so he cannot comment yet. He did say there is video surveillance that is being reviewed at this time.
This sort of thing has happened in years past – vandals having done nefarious things to the $30,000 statue – a symbol of Benton’s team mascot. This time, someone carved into the statue and included what looks like the initials “JS” in the side. Residents who privately funded the statue have every right to be livid. I suspect this incident falls under Criminal Mischief.
UPDATE: Arrests have been made: https://www.mysaline.com/panther-vandalism-charges
Photo by Cindy Bowden
Photo by Cindy Bowden
Photo by Cindy Bowden
Photo by Shelli Poole
Photo by Shelli Poole
Photo by Shelli Poole