RECOLLECTIONS
50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 2 No. 21 Thursday, May 25, 1967
A special census got underway in Pea Ridge Monday afternoon under direction of Wayne Shank of Harrison, Special Census supervisor for the U.S. Bureau of Census. Shank selected two applicants — Mrs. Sharon McKinney and Mrs. Barbara Jones. The population of Pea Ridge, according to the regular 1960 census, was 380. City officials have since made an estimated study of the matter and set the population last year as about 750.
The Chamber of Commerce information booth located at the crossroads at the intersection of Ark. Hwy. 94 and 72, will be staffed and open to the public nine hours a day beginning Monday, May 29. Known locally as the Log Cabin, the tourist information headquarters will be manned by Eddie Ingram and Lavita Arnold working under the National Youth Corps.
40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene Vol. 12 No. 21 Wednesday, May 25, 1977
Pea Ridge’s new City Park will be dedicated and officially opened Monday, May 30, on Memorial Day. Plan call for an old-fashioned Ozarks “dinner on the ground” at 1 p.m. to be followed by dedication ceremonies at 2:30 p.m. As the colors fly aloft, Pea Ridge Mayor Carl J. Carter will announce that the firing of a cannon will mark the official opening of Pea Ridge’s first city-owned park. The 9.76 acre park is located a mile from the downtown stoplight on Ark. Hwy. 265 (Jacket Road).
Pea Ridge Mayor Carl J. Carter issued a proclamation declaring Monday, May 30, as “Pea Ridge Park Day” and urging all Pea Ridgers to fly their American flags on that day in honor of the Nation’s Memorial Day and the city’s City Park Day and to be present for a community picnic and dedication program at the new City Park.
30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 22 No. 21 Wednesday, May 27, 1987
The Rev. Charles Womack gave the baccalaureate message for Pea Ridge High School’s graduating seniors May 24. The invocation was given by student Mark Sheppard, followed by a poem presented by student Scooter Kilgore. Faculty member Susan Reed led a hymn, and student Jeannie Tillman Sorrell read a scripture passage. Faculty member Andrea McKinney played the processional and recessional. Graduation exercises for the Class of 1987 will be held Friday, May 29.
In a brief special meeting preceding the baccalaureate service Sunday, the Pea Ridge School Board approved a salary of $16,540 for new elementary teacher Donna Womack and an increase of $400 for Andrea McKinney since she has completed 18 additional credit hours, putting her at 33 hours over a bachelor’s degree, plus additional compensation of $500 for serving as assistant activities planner sponsor.
Lisa Larson, a 1987 graduate of Pea Ridge High School, has received a WalMart Associates scholarship for $1,000 for tuition and books to be extended over two years. Recipients of such a scholarship are students who have worked for Walmart.
20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 32 No. 21 Thursday, May 22, 1997
“On the Battery,” a limited edition Civil War print of the March 7, 1862, Battle of Pea Ridge by Missouri artist Andy Thomas will be released Saturday, May 24, at the battlefield site which is now Pea Ridge National Military Park. The Friends of Pea Ridge commissioned the 40- by 60-inch oil painting, which will hang that way in the park’s Visitor Center. The artist, Andy Thomas, 39, is a native of Carthage, Mo. He is well known for his drawings, oil paintings, and sculptures. Thomas will be at Pea Ridge National Military Park Saturday and Sunday to sign prints.
A baccalaureate service for graduating seniors of Pea Ridge High School will be at 7 p.m. today in the school gymnasium. Graduation will be at 7 p.m. Friday in the gymnasium. The baccalaureate speaker will be Scott Rivers, an offensive tackle with the University of Arkansas Razorback football team.
Kriss Spencer of Pea Ridge has won a trip for two to Boston, airline, hotel and tickets to the Aerosmith concert and Redsox tickets. Kriss said, “I was qualified by being the seventh caller when the ‘airplane’ flew over. Kriss said, “I won this trip through Q-102 and qualified during the ‘Frye Zone’ and evening DJ program.”
10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 42 No. 21 Wednesday, May 23, 2007
There are two gas stations in this town, but within 10 miles in any direction, there are a myriad more. Sometimes the prices are noticeably different, as they were Friday with variants of as much as 30 cents per gallon. But, by noon on Tuesday, all prices were within a few cents of one another. Pea Ridge is often referred to as a bedroom community and the early morning exodus clearly testifies to that fact. Hundreds of cars will pass through the four-way stop of Slack Street, Lee Town Road and Curtis Avenue every morning.
School officials, including Pea Ridge School superintendent Mike Van Dyke and School Board president Rick Webb, are to address members of the Pea Ridge Women’s Business Association Thursday. The WBA will host an informational meeting on the upcoming school millage election this fall. Van Dyke and Webb will discuss the Pea Ridge School facility needs and millage election which is to be presented to the voters of the school district this fall. The school population has grown dramatically, school officials say, and there is a need for a new elementary school building. The new building would provide classrooms for kindergarten through second grade.