Other days

100 YEARS AGO May 17, 1915

MANSFIELD — Although definite figures are not available, the cotton acreage in the vicinity of Mansfield has been greatly decreased this year. In some instances the planters have cut cotton 50 percent. The movement for a greater diversification of crops has taken a strong hold here much to the benefit of corn, which appears to have a larger acreage this year than cotton.

50 YEARS AGO May 17, 1965

Radio station KAAY tried Sunday to help errant shopkeepers stay out of the hands of the Little Rock police by giving away items the storekeepers would have been arrested for selling. KAAY aimed its semi-serious spoof at the city’s blue laws which, during the past two weeks, have resulted in the arrests and fining of several Little Rock grocery store operators who sold proscribed items. The station had been announcing its program for several days, playing along with the announcements a specially recorded song, “Blue Law Blues.” By 2:30 p.m. Sunday, about 50 persons had come to the station to get free coffee, razor blades, and/or matches.

25 YEARS AGO May 17, 1990

Hillary Clinton stood by her man Wednesday, blasting Tom McRae during a news conference at which McRae again demanded a one- on- one debate with Gov. Bill Clinton. “Tom, who was the one who didn’t show up in Springdale — give me a break,” the governor’s wife said, referring to an April 28 debate among Democratic gubernatorial candidates, which McRae missed because of a scheduling error.

10 YEARS AGO May 17, 2005

After more than six months of watching her husband’s liver disease weaken his 56- year- old body, Patty Gilliland saw Greg jump. At 10 p.m. Friday night, they got the call they had been waiting for. Recognizing the name on the caller ID, Greg leapt from the couch, she said. The jaundiced and frail man knew a late-night call from Sue Belcher, the liver transplant coordinator with University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, meant one thing — a donor liver was available. Before noon the next day, Greg had a new liver and Patty was counting on extra years with her husband. “This was just as exciting as the day I gave birth to my children,” she said. “It was a life coming back.” After a four- hour surgery Saturday morning, Greg Gilliland of Hot Springs became the recipient of the state’s first liver transplant.