RECOLLECTIONS
50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 2 No. 46 Thursday, Nov. 16, 1967
The picturesque little city of Pea Ridge turned out its lights one by one and retired from a most pleasant autumn Sabbath — and someone there in the night stole all the money in the town’s bank. It was the woman who delivers an early morning newspaper, who first wondered at daybreak Monday why there was water on the bank floor. The Kraft milk carrier, Tex Pippin, peered a bit closer and discovered that the bank door was ajar. He called the town constable, Al Koenke. It was 6 a.m. At 7 a.m. , the bank was filled with people — officials of the bank, Benton County Sheriff Lee Owen, State Police and the press. An hour later, the FBI had arrived and soon an investigation began that was to last until the night — and then be continued elsewhere. For what is believed to be the third time in its 56 year history, the Bank of Pea Ridge had been robbed. Both the vault and the safe were opened by use of what investigating officials believe to have been either a “burning bar” or an “oxygen lance.” Hearn Oliver, bank president, and FBI agents said late Monday that a detailed report of the stolen money could not yet be given, but that the loss exceeded $30,000. The money was insured by the FDIC.
40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene Vol. 12 No. 46 Wednesday, Nov. 16, 1977
The Pea Ridge Head Start Child Development Center will close in two weeks unless 11 children age 3 to 5 whose parents meet the income guidelines are enrolled. The minimum number of students for the center to qualify for funding from the U.S. Office of Human Concern (OHC) is 20. Only nine are presently enrolled, according to Judy May, center director.
An agreement between Pea Ridge and Rogers to provide mutual law enforcement assistance was signed Nov. 8 by the mayors and police chiefs of the two towns. Pea Ridge Marshal Loyd Pifer said he felt the agreement is “one of the best things that has ever happened for law enforcement in Pea Ridge. ”The Pea Ridge City Council has also approved an agreement between Pea Ridge and Bentonville which is expected to be made formal in the next few weeks. The agreement means that Pea Ridge and Rogers police can request and grant assistance to each other in performing police duties.
30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 22 No. 46 Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1987
On the dressing room wall of the undefeated conference champion Pea Ridge Blackhawks hangs a list of 20 goals for each game. When the Hawks hosted the Hazen Hornets Friday night in the first round of the state playoffs, they met only one of them: “to win.” Win they did, by the slimmest of margins, 7-6. The two class A powerhouse teams were the highest ranking teams playing in the opening round of the playoffs. Tragically they were playing each other. The classic struggle between the number four-ranked Hawks and the number five-ranked Hornets was all the pregame hype had predicted it would be.
The Pea Ridge School District last week filed 22 pages of answers and 56 pages of supporting exhibits in reply to questions asked it by Andy Buck in a lawsuit Buck originated last spring charging the district with fiscal mismanagement. Buck, a former member of the school board, filed the suit near the end of his term after Benton County Prosecuting Attorney David Clinger decided not to file criminal charges against the school board for irregularities in various accounting procedures that were reported by state auditors in documents related in the 1983-84 and 1984-85 school years. Most of the answers filed last week to Buck’s questions were rehashes of information the district provided to auditors that was reported on in The TIMES in the summer of 1986. Some additional details also appear in the answers, which generally claim that the district either didn’t do what Buck alleges or that the actions weren’t illegal or were inadvertent. The answers claim that all of the audit discrepancies have been cleared up to the satisfaction of the auditors.
20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 32 No. 46 Thursday, Nov. 13, 1997
On Monday night the Pea Ridge School Board heard complaints from two parents about disciplinary action taken by Pea Ridge Middle School principal Anita Frevert over incidents involving their sixth-grade student. The parents came to the board to ask for a conference with superintendent Roy Norvell, Frevert, and two school board members to find out how Frevert came to the conclusions she did about the incidents that required discipline and the recommendation of school counseling for their student. The parents said they were denied answers to their questions. School Board president Randy Easterling said to the parents with the complaint, “I want you to have your answers and I want things to be done right.”
10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 42 No. 46 Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007
A cell tower is not to be in downtown Pea Ridge just west of the historic district following a unanimous denial for a conditional use permit by Planning Commission members at their regular meeting Tuesday, Nov. 6. The land is owned by Scott Metz. Planning Commission members fielded questions from the public regarding the tower, proposed by Verizon. There is a current height restriction of 45 feet, the proposed tower would 150 feet. The H-frame for the utilities was designed within the setbacks required by the zone. After the public hearing, the issue was discussed during the meeting. Planning Commission member M.J. Hensley made the motion to “disallow” the request. It was unanimously denied.
A Pea Ridge man was one of several Arvest Bank associates promoted recently. Each year the Arvest Bank Rogers Board of Directors reappoints current officers and approves for new officer titles. Michael Ogburn was named an assistant vice president at the Arvest Pea Ridge Bank. Ogburn has been with Arvest for nine years and was recognized in this promotion from assistant branch manager.