Other days

100 YEARS AGO

Oct. 30, 1918

FORT SMITH — Health Department records today discloses that October was accompanied by the greatest death list in the city’s history, far greater than the toll exacted by the cyclone that visited Fort Smith in January of 1898 and snuffed out 51 lives. Up-to today, 53 persons had died in the city since the first of the month. Two-thirds of these deaths were due to influenza-pneumonia. An additional 19 persons, who died out of the city, were buried here. The third death from influenza-pneumonia in two days in the family of W.E. Arnold of Van Buren occurred last night, when Arnold’s 16-year-old daughter died. Her brother and grandmother died the previous night. A triple funeral was held today.

50 YEARS AGO

Oct. 30, 1968

■ The nickel parking meters on streets around the Postoffice were replaced Tuesday with penny meters. R.D. Bailey, the city traffic engineer, said the city had received too many complaints about the nickel meters near the Postoffice. The nickel meters were installed recently on most streets to raise revenues. The new meters near the Postoffice will give six minutes for a penny, 12 minutes for two pennies or 12 minutes for a nickel or a dime.

25 YEARS AGO

Oct. 30, 1993

■ A Clinton administration plan to raise cigarette taxes by 75 cents per pack could open a $21 million hole in Arkansas’ state budget from lost excise, sales and income taxes as higher prices cut into sales. “We’re looking at a 20 percent decline” in cigarette-related tax collections, said Joseph LaFace, research administrator for the Department of Finance and Administration. The state’s study found that the proposed federal tax increase would raise the average consumer price for brand-name cigarettes from $1.85 to $2.60 per pack in Arkansas. The per-pack cost of generic brands would jump from an average of $1.45 to $2.20.

10 YEARS AGO

Oct. 30, 2008

CONWAY — The interim president of the University of Central Arkansas said late Wednesday that he will appoint a committee to evaluate the school’s emergency notification system in light of a driveby shooting on campus that left two students dead Sunday night. The panel, headed by Vice President for Student Services Ronnie Williams, will report back to Tom Courtway and the UCA board of trustees by Nov 22 with “any recommendations or upgrades or revisions we ought to make,” Courtway said. … Courtway made the announcement hours after four men charged with capital murder and other offenses in the shootings pleaded innocent in a video arraignment from the Faulkner county jail.