Other days

100 YEARS AGO

Nov. 9, 1918

FORT SMITH — Fred C. Smith, supervisor of music in the Fort Smith public schools, has been advised by the National Federation of Music Clubs that his appointment as state director of Liberty choruses in Arkansas has been confirmed. He will assist the State Council of Defense and the Women’s Committee to form Liberty choruses in every town in Arkansas for community singing for patriotic meetings, four-minute men and similar gatherings.

50 YEARS AGO

Nov. 9, 1968

ST. LOUIS — An order by a Pine Bluff, Ark., federal judge directing the Dollarway (Ark.) School District to submit a plan for a nondiscriminatory school system by December 1 was upheld Friday by the United States Eighth Circuit Court of appeals. Federal Judge J. Smith Hensley ordered the District to abolish its dual system of white and Negro schools and submit a new plan to become effective in September. Meanwhile, the Board was authorized to continue operating during the current school year on the basis of existing student, staff, and faculty assignments.

25 YEARS AGO

Nov. 9, 1993

FORT SMITH — Charles McLane’s electric dishwasher has rattled through its wash cycle for 42 years, living up to the owners manual promise to be a “good friend.” McLane, 46, of Fort Smith recently learned he apparently owns the oldest working dishwasher in the United States after Sears, Roebuck and Co. announced this month he was one of five finalists in its search for the oldest working Kenmore appliances. The nationwide search was undertaken in June. McLane knew in September he was one of the top 10 finalists in the contest when the company sent out a representative to verify the age of his dishwasher and whether it actually worked. “I’m glad somebody in Fort Smith won it,” said Anthony Zulch, the electronics and appliance manager for the local Sears store. Forty of the contest’s 11,979 entries were from the Fort Smith area.

10 YEARS AGO

Nov. 9, 2008

An Ashley County jury acquitted a teenager accused of burning almost 4,000 acres in January 2006 about 10 miles southeast of Hamburg, attorneys said Friday. The jury acquitted Joel David “Luke” Holland, 19, on charges of felony arson, unlawful burning and causing a catastrophe Thursday evening after a two day trial in Hamburg. Jurors concluded the defendant’s confession was improperly influenced by authorities. Holland was 16 at the time of the Jan. 8, 2006, fire but 17 at the time of his arrest 11 months later. “He just made up the story that he did it,” [Holland’s attorney Robert] Bridewell said. “Authorities told him if he confessed they’d let him go and that he’d probably get probation, so he made up the story to get out of jail that night.”