Other days
100 YEARS AGO July 8, 1919
CONWAY – The presence of mind of the engine crew of southbound passenger train, due here at 5:35 a.m. this morning, probably saved the Conway Compress Company a disastrous fire. Fire of unknown origin started in a freight car containing 100 bales of cotton, loaded and ready for shipment, and standing on the tracks of the company. Flames were bursting through the sides and top of the car as the train was leaving the station. The engineer stopped the train and, disconnecting the engine, pulled the car away from the plant to prevent the building from being ignited. By use of chemicals and water pressure, the trainmen kept the fire from gaining headway until the arrival of the fire department.
50 YEARS AGO July 8, 1969
■ The State Police reported Monday that 2,450 drivers were arrested during the July 4 weekend for moving violations, Ten percent of this total were arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Despite seven deaths, Col. Ralph Scott, director, said he was pleased with the results of the stepped-up vigil by the department, which included 12-hour shifts for most of the men. State Police officers rendered assistance, such as helping stranded motorists, to 3,428 persons. Another 2,588 drivers received warning tickets for improper lights, mufflers, and sundry non-moving violations. The greatest number of arrests were for speeding. The record showed that 1,154 person were charged. State Police used 16 radar units and four airplanes.
25 YEARS AGO July 8, 1994
■ Beginning at 9 p.m. today, as many as 182,000 motorists, westbound on Interstate 30 in southwest Little Rock, will be obliged to detour onto a service road at Otter Creek Road to allow work crews 2/4 days to demolish a damaged overpass. The detour, built temporarily around the Otter Creek overpass, leads traffic off the freeway onto a service road near the exit. It re-enters the freeway lanes after driving past the damaged bridge at milepost 128. Randy Ort, spokesman for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, said at a news conference Thursday that weekend repairs should be concluded by noon Monday. Meanwhile, traffic delays may occur during a 63-hour traffic hiatus, since 70,000 vehicles a day ordinarily flow beneath the overpass. The overpass was damaged June 8 when struck by a tractor-trailer truck carrying an oversize load. The impact moved the steel and concrete deck 3 inches out of line, bent steel beams upward 4 inches and cracked the concrete bridge deck. The accident closed the overpass to the 7,000 vehicles that cross over it daily.
10 YEARS AGO July 8, 2009
CONWAY — A Greenbrier man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison a National Bank in Conway last year. Prosecutors say 45-year-old Alfred O’Neal King pleaded guilty to robbery, theft and criminal use of a prohibited weapon. He was accused of robbing the bank on Donaghey Avenue in Conway in February 2008. Prosecutors say King entered the bank wearing green overalls, a baseball cap, glasses and gloves. He asked to make a complaint about a rude teller and was taken to an assistant manager’s office. In the office, according to prosecutors, King pulled a sawed-off shotgun out of his overalls and demanded money.