Other days

100 YEARS AGO Nov. 21, 1920

DEWITT — The explosion of an oil stove in the office of the Gay Oil Company here shortly before noon today caused a fire which destroyed the plant. Two big oil tanks, one containing gasoline and the other kerosene, and each with a capacity of 12,000 gallons, were destroyed. Both were about half filled. The fire burned until about 3 o’clock this afternoon, filling the town with dense clouds of smoke. Volunteer fire fighters possibly prevented the explosion of several small tanks containing oil by removing them from the scene of the blaze.

50 YEARS AGO Nov. 21, 1970

MARIANNA — Victims of Thursday’s Oak Forest tornado began returning to their homes Friday as a Red Cross team from Memphis moved into the area and Representative Bill Alexander (Dem., Ark.) of Osceola requested aid from five federal agencies. Lee County Sheriff S. C. Langston said the area, about 10 miles west of here, had been sealed off to all but utility repair teams, but roadblocks were removed Friday morning and residents began to return to survey the damage and salvage personal belongings.

25 YEARS AGO Nov. 21, 1995

■ City directors on Monday called again for expanded alternative programs in the Little Rock School District, but city and school board members have dropped the ball in their joint effort. The issue of alternative education programming for students who cannot function in regular schools came up again and again at a joint meeting of the two boards held at school district headquarters. City directors raised the issue six months ago in a similar meeting.

10 YEARS AGO Nov. 21, 2010

■ Since the Little Rock Zoo board of governors banned tobacco use at the animal park about a week ago, there has been much discussion about “what if” contingencies since there is no law prohibiting smoking. What if someone refuses to put out a cigarette? Zoo officials said they are hoping they won’t have to find out, but noting that a puffing patron can be asked to leave and that a fuming-mad one can be escorted out by police under certain circumstances. “We can’t call the police unless another thing happens, like threatening an employee or violent behavior after we approach someone,” said Susan Altrui, the zoo’s spokesman. “The majority of patrons ask before coming into the zoo, and most people we’ve dealt with in the past have been willing to extinguish their cigarettes.”