RECOLLECTIONS
50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 2 No. 52 Thursday, Dec. 28, 1967
It was a good year or a bad year, a pleasant one or a sad one, depending upon which phase of the year’s news affected you. For the publishers of the Pea Ridge Graphic, it was a year of great satisfaction — their first year to publish a newspaper.
A second grade teacher here, Mabel Hardy is a native of Pea Ridge and a graduate of Pea Ridge schools. She began teaching at an early age in rural school and then taught at Pea Ridge , Rogers, Kansas City, Bentonville and now is teaching second grade at Pea Ridge. She completed her college work at Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway, and has attende3d John Brown University at Siloam Springs, the University of Arkansas, Emporia Teachers College in Kansas, Kansas State T.U. and Pittsburgh College.
40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene Vol. 12 No. 52 Wednesday, Dec. 28, 1977
Pea Ridge City Park was formally opened with a dedication ceremony April 30. Some 300 persons turned out for a picnic dinner and the dedication ceremony. Guest speaker for the program was County Judge Railey Steele. Russell Walker dedicated a flagpole donated by the local V.F.W. post. Mayor Carl J. Carter and Park Commission chairwoman Kathy Knox welcomed visitors to the park and Pea Ridge.
The year 1977 saw increased enrollment at Pea Ridge schools. A two-classroom addition to the elementary school completed during the year was not enough to adequately accommodate all the students. Other school building projects completed during the year included the addition of visiting team dressing rooms on the gymnasium, construction of a building to house the home economics department, construction of a band building, and renovation of an old house for administration offices.
30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 22 No. 52 Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1987
Dennis E. Turner, a Pea Ridge resident, was promoted to facility manager of the U.S. Corps of Engineers operation at Beaver Lake. Turner, previously facility inspector, will replace Bobby J. Garner, who is retiring. Turner said that there are nine parks surrounding the lake.
20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 32 No. 52 Thursday, Dec. 25, 1997
Tensions rose at the Dec. 16 Pea Ridge City Council meeting as council members and the mayor disagreed over the need for a downtown city park. A proposal for the park was made by Mayor Jackie Crabtree after a member of the city’s Planning Commission addressed the council on the use of a piece of property owned by Jerry Wilkerson that lies southwest of Easley’s Ace Hardware. The use of the property for housing had been discussed by the council at a regular as well as a special council meeting in September after the Planning Commission had given recommendations on developing the property.
In November, the City of Pea Ridge hired a new policeman — Kevin Garrett. He said that he sees the job of policeman somewhat as the middle man to uphold the law, yet be as fair with people as possible within that law. He patrols the city and is available for backup assistance for the sheriff’s department.
10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 42 No. 52 Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007
Wrapping up the year’s business, Pea Ridge City Council members approved a cost of living raise of 3.5 percent for all city employees as well as the mayor, and approved the amended city budget for 2007 of $2,452,825. At the regular December meeting Tuesday night, councilmen approved an ordinance adopting the amended city budget which was only slightly more than the $2,307,595 previously approved for the year’s budget. City recorder/treasurer Sandy Button told councilmen that some receipts were more than anticipated and that most departments stayed within their overall budgets even though line items varied. An ordinance providing a raise for the mayor was approved, although the presentation of the ordinance raised questions.