Community Corner
🌱 Want to walk through Benton’s most elaborate indoor Christmas village?
Coming up on the Benton Patch calendar: Benton Panthers vs Arkansas High School
Good day Benton! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Want to walk through Benton’s most elaborate indoor Christmas village?
- What Tim’s Tavern is saying about protests and charges in Benton
Also on today's calendar: 2026 Rising Stars (January) - MON 5:00PM and 3 more events.
Find out what's happening in Bentonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Bentonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 55 and low of 39 degrees.
- Friday: Sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 65, low: 34.
- Saturday: Cooler with a shower or two, with a high of 54 and low of 27 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Benton couple sharing holiday magic through massive Christmas village (thv11.com) — A Benton couple, Terry and Becky Looney, are inviting neighbors to tour their elaborate 97-building Christmas village at their home on Concord Lane this Saturday afternoon. Visitors can stop by between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. for cookies, punch, and a close-up look at the handcrafted holiday display that’s become a local tradition focused on sharing joy and faith. 
• Tim's Tavern addresses backlash, maintains owner's innocence amid ongoing protests (katv.com) — Tim’s Tavern in Benton has publicly responded on Facebook to ongoing protests and backlash after owner Timothy Steppach pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a minor. The lengthy statement, posted from the restaurant’s perspective, maintains his innocence, criticizes the investigation and media coverage, and thanks supporters while addressing divisions in the local community.
📸 Around Benton
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Benton
★ Featured events ★
- Benton Panthers vs Arkansas High School
Benton High School Arena, 462 N Border St, Benton
5:00 pm
Thursday December 18
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Christmas on the Square & Santa at the Courthouse
Saline County Courthouse
6:00 pm - Pretties & Grace - Christmas Open House
Pretties & Grace & Wild 2.0 , 102 N Market St. , Benton
1:30 pm - Christmas on the Square & Santa at the Courthouse
Saline County Courthouse
6:00 pm - 2026 Rising Stars (January) - MON 5:00PM
The River Center , 1800 Citizens Dr , Benton
10:00 am - 2026 Rising Stars (January) - THURS 5:30PM
The River Center , 1800 Citizens Dr , Benton
10:00 am
Thursday December 11
Sunday December 14
Thursday December 18
Tuesday January 6
Thursday January 8
📣 Benton Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Extreme Hip Hop
McClure Fitness , 1200 Library Dr , Benton
6:00 pm - Christmas on the Square & Santa at the Courthouse
Saline County Courthouse
6:00 pm - Baptist Prep Girls Varsity Basketball @ Harmony Grove
Harmony Grove High School , 2621 AR-229 , Benton
6:00 pm - Baptist Prep Boys Varsity Basketball @ Harmony Grove
Harmony Grove High School , 2621 AR-229 , Benton
7:00 pm - Cheer Competition
Lakeside High School , 2871 Malvern Ave , Hot Springs
8:00 am - Mat Pilates - All Levels
Pilates Social , 3519 Market Pl Ave Suite 300 , Bryant
1:00 pm
Thursday December 11
Friday December 12
Saturday December 13
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Please share & repost to help reunite this lost cat!
Patches was LOST on December 7, 2025 in Benton, AR 72015 near Alcoa and Northshore drive Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to… (Nextdoor Madison Village) - I'll be at The Bauxite Depot on Saturday evening for their Christmas market!
Come see me (Busy Hands Kitchen) and try some of my new goodies! (Nextdoor Northshore - Military)
- RB American Group posted a job opening for Team Member in Benton. Apply here.
- Precision Garage Door posted a job opening for Sales and Service Technician in Benton. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Benton here.
🗞 Nearby News
Bryant
- Saline Symphony Orchestra Christmas concert set for Saturday (bentoncourier.com)
Little Rock
- Crosses torn down at longtime Little Rock violence awareness memorial site (thv11.com)
- Cutting-edge low-vision technology comes to Clinton Presidential Library (fox16.com)
- US Chamber Chair Ross Perot Jr. Talks Debt, Tariffs and Growth at Little Rock Gathering (arkansasbusiness.com)
Ok Benton! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.