Benjamin News

With a death sentence hanging over his head, John Dunn Hunter spent another sleepless night on May 7, 1827 praying for a last-minute reprieve that would spare his life.

Boy Scouts Benjamin Proffer and Jonathan Erb of Troop 314 received their Eagle Scout medals Friday evening, April 19, at their final Court of Honor, held at First United Methodist Church in Gilmer.

9.90 lbs still leads Big Bass Splash with one day to go 9.90 lbs still leads Big Bass Splash with one day to goAn exciting weekend on Sam Rayburn, as the Big Bass Splash presented by Sealy Outdoors and B.A.S.S. continues.Anglers from all across the United States have come to win a portion of the $540,000 that will be given away in cash and prizes.In addition to the hourly paybacks, the lucky anglers who catch the five biggest bass of the weekend will receive additional cash and prizes.Recap day one:Bitter cold temperatures coupled with high winds gave huge challenges to the participants all over the lake.[...] several big bass were brought in and every hourly seat was filled.Three $5,000 checks are offered each day for the first 3.00 / 4.00 / 5.00 lb bass brought in, and although there were several near misses, only one hit the mark the last hour of the day.Dusty Birchfield of Zavalla, TX had a 4.00 lb bass cashing in on the bonus.The unclaimed 3.00 and 5.00 $5,000 checks will be awarded by drawing on Sunday.Day two of the Big Bass Splash on Sam Rayburn again started out with temperatures in the 30's, but the lack of wind as compared to day one made a huge difference to everyone on and off the water.High pressure, blue bird skies dominated the day.Anglers are not allowed to make their first cast each morning until 6am, and the first weigh in hour is 6-7am.No fish were weighed until there was only 10 minutes left in the first hour, then suddenly the tanks were lined with bags of bass.Counting down the last seconds, anglers were racing to cross the line to weigh that hour.The very last man to weigh 6-7am hit the 3.00 exact weight giving him an instant $5,000 payday.Rumor has it he has already made plans to fish the Toledo event in May to try to do it again.Walter Land of Cleveland, TX challenged the day one leader bringing in a 9.51 lb sow.The action really heated up during the 12-1:00 hour when not only Bruce Davis of Kempner, TX weighed his 8.40 lb'r but also Benjamin Craven of Colmesneil, TX came in with an 8.70 lb bass.Contenders continued to gun for the remaining exact weight prizes.Russell Sparks of Lufkin Texas caught a 5.00 exact weight bass that paid off to the tune of $1,000 per pound.[...] that leaves three $5,000 checks that will be won by drawing on Sunday.Sam Rayburn is well known for producing double digit bass, and as Bob Sealy says:The 9.90 lb bass weighed in on day one by Alex Finch of Lancaster, Texas continues to lead as top bass of the tournament.........will it hold?6.77 lbs Allen Gesford - Lufkin, TX6.49 lbs Kyle Bailey - Orange, TX5.27 lbs Johnathan Dixon - Newton, TX3.46 lbs Billy Smith - Tomball,7.23 lbs Benjamin Craven - Colmesneil, TX6.31 lbs Michael Doggett - Center, TX6.16 lbs Richard Waggener - Jasper, TX5.31 lbs Ron Risenhoover - Lufkin,5.29 lbs Chad York - Lufkin, TX4.61 lbs Bryan Landers - College Station, TX11th $ 250 4.37 lbs Joshua Bryant - Conroe,9.51 lbs Walter Land - Cleveland, TX5.91 lbs Scott Taylor - Spring Branch, TX5.80 lbs Bryan Landers - College Station, TX5.63 lbs Jay Allen - Vidor, TX4.62 lbs Dennis Fikes - Kingwood, TX7.16 lbs Dwayne Saxon - Franklin, TX6.74 lbs Bryan Landers - College Station, TX6.65 lbs Lance Eason - Spurger, TX6.03 lbs Tommy Dunn - Spring, TX6.23 lbs Danny Massey - Jasper, TX5.96 lbs Tommy Dunn - Spring, TX5.19 lbs Trenton Vardeman - Broaddus, TX6.39 lbs Randy Chizer - Lumberton, TX6.12 lbs John Oliver - Pine Bluff,5.76 lbs Oran Andrews - Lufkin, TX5.37 lbs Mike Cybak - League City,5.20 lbs Bobby Addison - Center, TX6.91 lbs Jody Norsworthy - Jasper, TX5.91 lbs Bryan Landers - College Station, TX5.64 lbs Ted Odell - Buna, TX6.26 lbs Roger Bobo - Splendora, TX6.23 lbs Tommy Park - Vidor, TX

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, April 5, 2013 at Benjamin Cemetery in Benjamin with Rev.

R: The artist of "Ewing Pride" Mario AC Della Casa, Arthur E. Benjamin, Larry Hagman, and Dallas cast members Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy First he helps fund after school programs and scholarships for kids in need at Dallas Children's Theater .