RECOLLECTIONS
50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 2 No. 24 Thursday, June 15, 1967
Pea Ridge volunteer firemen were successful in saving a barn filled with hay at the site of a farmhouse that was completely destroyed by fire of unknown origin last Wednesday afternoon. The house was too nearly gone to have been saved when it was noticed afire by a passing motorist, Clovis Harris of Rogers who reported the fire, according to Fire Chief Rodger Hickman. The house, known as the old Pete Walker place, was a total loss, as were a nearby well house and smoke house. Located three miles northwest of Pea Ridge, the property was owned by Richard Beaver. The Gene Jones family, which had been occupying the house, was in the process of moving that day and had most of their belongings out when the fire was discovered.
Boy Scout Troop 28 from Little Rock, camped in the Pea Ridge National Military Park for eight days. Scoutmaster Charles E. Meltabarger Jr. and 13 scouts have been doing the ground work necessary to develop a military trail around the battlefield. If the work is successful, the trail will be similar to the Shiloh Military Trail, one of America’s most popular hikes. The hike is intended to be not only an enjoyable outdoor experience, but also an interesting and educational activity as well. In order to qualify for an award or certificate, scouts will cover approximately 12 miles on foot, read National Park Service literature about the battle, attend the theater program and study exhibits in the Visitor Center. The week’s work for the scouts included trail construction, trail maintenance, sign making, and some advancement work in scouting.
E. W. Edelen today completed his contract as principal of the Pea Ridge Schools, and will be leaving for Michigan State University in East Lansing. There Edelen will be studying traffic safety for 10 weeks under a Chrysler Foundation grant. The double session lasts from June 19 to Sept. 1.
40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene Vol. 12 No. 24 Wednesday, June 15, 1977
Plans for renovating the old Pea Ridge School assembly hall were scrapped by the School Board at a special meeting Monday morning. Instead of remodeling the old gymnasium structure, the board voted to erect a new metal building for use as a band room. The assembly hall was also to be used by the band if it was remodeled. The board members decided to scrap the remodeling plan when an inspection of the old assembly hall building revealed extensive structural weaknesses caused by termites and rotting. The consensus of the board was that the renovation would be too costly, dangerous and a bad investment since the end product would still be a 45-year-old building with no redeeming aesthetic qualities. The metal building which the board voted to erect is to measure 40 ft. by 80 ft. The total cost would be approximately $30,000 to $35,000, according to Roe.
30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 22 No. 24 Wednesday, June 17, 1987
Pea Ridge City Council Thursday adopted a comprehensive “nuisance” ordinance, approved ac- ceptance of three easement releases, ordered a call for bids for two street projects, approved retaining a temporary employee for the street department through August, tabled a fleet insurance proposal, and during executive session interviewed two city personnel.
In a brief special meeting Monday morning, the Pea Ridge School Board: accepted the resignation of second-grade teacher Alexia Collier, who has accepted a position with the Gentry public schools; hired Chris Rizutti, Fayetteville, to replace her, on a nine months contract at $15,340; engaged Barbara Reed as migrant aide at $7,000 for nine months; hired Brenda Gooch as school nurse, 10 months contract, at $12,500, and as special education aide, nine months, at $5,000; hired Paula Benson as secretary to the high school principal, 10 months at $8,000, plus $5 per hour for additional summer work as needed; tabled action on the cafeteria staff to July. Following the meeting, the board held an open hearing on the dismissal of T&I instructor Scott Leachman, who was suspended without pay May 5.
20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 32 No. 24 Thursday, June 12, 1997
Forty-three students who live in the Pea Ridge School District have been attending school in the Rogers School District without permission. The Rogers system discovered the students, whose addresses were flagged by a computer as being in the wrong district. Parents of the students were notified of the discovery by letter. Pea Ridge Superintendent Roy Norvell said that some of the students will likely be allowed to remain in the Rogers schools, but some may transfer to Pea Ridge. Any of the students who want to remain in the Rogers schools must go before the Rogers School Board and request a transfer.
Visitors to the Pea Ridge Military Park no longer have to enter the Visitor Center to register to tour the park. There is now near the entrance a manned booth where visitors may register and receive brochures and other information. Park historian Doug Keller said that the shell of the booth was constructed two years ago but only recently has it been wired.
10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 42 No. 24 Wednesday, June 13, 2007
He’s driven a truck for nearly 50 years and still isn’t ready to retire. Clyde Arnold of Pea Ridge recently received an award from Tyson for 1,035,000 accident-free miles. “I’m the oldest guy there,” said Arnold a native of Jacket, Mo. “I get up at 12:30 every morning and drive to Monet, Mo., every day to pick up my truck.” Over the years, Arnold has driven both long-haul and short-haul routes. He worked at the chicken plant in Pea Ridge, then for Purina and later for Bentonville Casting. He got a chauffeur’s license at 18 years of age. During the Vietnam War, Arnold drove a truck hauling ammunition down to the ships. After the war, he returned to this area and worked for Goldkist and then began working for Tyson in 1983. The Arnolds moved to Pea Ridge in the early 1970s; their children attended school at Pea Ridge.