Other days
100 YEARS AGO
July 8, 1918 FORT SMITH — As sequel to the elopement of Elliston Wilson, 16-year-old daughter of an assistant bank cashier, and Helwyn B. Speer, aged 19, to Waldron last Thursday, young Speer was arrested here tonight on a warrant issued at Waldron charging him with perjury. He is alleged to have sworn falsely to his age and to the age of the bride in obtaining a marriage license. The girl is a high school student, and protests her father made resulted in the warrant being issued for Speer’s arrest.
50 YEARS AGO
July 8, 1968 Former Governor Orval E. Faubus, turned up smiling and jovial Sunday at the official open house of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bruce Bennett at the Hotel Marion. He said his appearance should not be interpreted as an endorsement of Bennett’s candidacy. “I came to pay my respects to Bruce,” Faubus told newsmen. “This is a friendship gesture rather than any political endorsement.” Faubus arrived about 3:30 p.m., was applauded by about 200 persons gathered in the Forum Room and spent about 10 minutes greeting well-wishers in the crowd, some of whom were aides during his administration. 25 YEARS AGO
July 8, 1993 HEBER SPRINGS — The owner of an electronics store, stung by break-ins the two previous nights, shot a teen-age boy in the chest early Wednesday as the boy tried to enter the store. Police said Wendell Bittle, 52, of Heber Springs (Cleburne County), shot the intruder once in the chest with a .38-caliber handgun about 1:45 a.m. The boy, whose name and age were not released, died a short time later at Cleburne County Hospital. Bittle was in his store, Bittle’s Radio Shack, having a burglar alarm installed early Wednesday when he heard the intruder. Police said Bittle did not immediately know that the intruder was a juvenile.
10 YEARS AGO
July 8, 2008
A survey of box turtle populations by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission has generated more participation by “citizen scientists” than its past survey efforts. Experts say using untrained or amateur scientists to gather data is part of a nationwide trend. The box turtle survey — intended to gauge whether the species, thought to be common in Arkansas, is becoming threatened — generated more than 2,500 observations between April and December last year and will continue through the end of this year.