Other days

100 YEARS AGO

Jan. 28, 1918 HOXIE — Elijah Lair, aged 40, was killed today shortly after he went to work in the Missouri Pacific yards. He was digging ice from a switch when an engine knocked him down and ran over his body. Death was instant. He is survived by his wife and two children, who are in San Francisco, Cal.

50 YEARS AGO

Jan. 28, 1968 TEXARKANA — The days are gone in Arkansas when elections can be won on the shortcomings of the opposition, state Representative Hayes C. McClerkin of Texarkana told a “Bosses Night” crowd at the American Business Women’s Association here Saturday night. McClerkin said that for the first time in 98 years, Arkansas voters were forced with a two-party “situation”. “This leads to confusion among the ranks of my Party — the Democratic Party,” McClerkin said. Arkansas has had a one-man, one-party political situation in the past, he said. He also felt that the present Republican administration under Governor Rockefeller was no different.

25 YEARS AGO

Jan. 28, 1993 CABOT — A Tennessee man involved in a custody battle managed to spirit his two children out of Arkansas on Wednesday, although he was later arrested by police and charges with various offenses in the episode. Larry Franklin West, 39, of Shelbyville, Tenn., pleaded guilty Wednesday in Cabot Municipal Court to assault, fleeing a police officer, reckless driving and endangering a minor. His arrest and the charges came after he, a brother and a daughter drove to Cabot to claim his children, subject of a custody fight with his wife, Coby.

10 YEARS AGO

Jan. 28, 2008

If Sheriff Doc Holladay and Quorum Court member Allen Kerr have their way, all of Pulaski County’s district court judges will soon hear plea arraignments via video. Circuit Judge Vann Smith organized a committee of judges and other officials last fall to study the idea after a public safety task force at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock recommended that the county look into videoconferencing to cut costs. The jail already has a videoconferencing system, but the equipment is so old that it doesn’t work consistently, Pulaski County jail employee Maj. Shawn Smith said. Pulaski County District Court had used that videoconferencing system until a few months ago when it became unreliable, Judge Wayne Gruber said.