RECOLLECTIONS
50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 3 No. 8 Thursday, Feb. 22, 1968
As Mrs. Mike Edwards put it, there was a hanging of the mayors of Pea Ridge last week. The city started with Finis Wood, Clint Mount, Ralph Miller and Fred McKinney, but the plans called for hanging a framed picture of all the mayors who have served Pea Ridge from the time of incorporation. The photographs are on the wall of the City Hall main office, and places are left for the pictures of the other five men who have served as head of the local city government. In fact, the row of pictures was started at the end of the wall, presumably to allow room on around the walls for mayors of the future. It is to be hoped the photographs of the other five mayors can be added to the group in the near future, and that this project can be continued in the years to come, making a fine tradition for the city.
40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene Vol. 13 No. 8 Wednesday, Feb. 22, 1978
The Blackhawk senior boys are top-seeded in this week’s District Boys Tournament at Winslow and will see their first action at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday against eighth-seeded Greenland. With a conference record of 13 wins and three losses, the ’Hawks are seeded first. A new system is being used this year for the first time to determine the district representatives to the state playoffs. It places more importance on regular season games and had each of the nine conference teams playing each other twice in regular season play.
Bentonville attorney Asa Hutchinson has announced as a Republican candidate for prosecuting attorney for the 19th Judicial District (Benton and Carroll counties).” Crime is an increasing problem today and I believe I can contribute to the crime fighting effort by consistent, determined and aggressive prosecution of criminals. If punishment is speedy, sure and in accordance with the seriousness of the crime then the crime rate will go down and I pledge to do my part as a member of the law enforcement team in northwest Arkansas.”
Attorney General Bill Clinton’s office has prepared a handbook for jurors to help persons chosen for jury duty understand their job. The booklet, entitled “Arkansas Juror’s Handbook,” is being distributed to courts all over the state. The handbook used clear language to explain judicial concepts and avoid the confusion sometimes caused by obscure legal terms.
30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 23 No. 8 Thursday, Feb. 24, 1988
Plans to completely rebuild Contel’s outside telephone facilities and replace the switching office in the Pea Ridge exchange area have been finalized according to Mike Yarberry, telephone services supervisor for Contel in the Pea Ridge area. The project will involve construction 102 miles of outside distribution cables and replacing the existing electromechanical switching center with a digital switching center, at a cost of about $2.6 million. “We started the field work this month and it will take us about two years to complete the project,” Yarberry said.
If Pea Ridge volunteer fireman Bob Harp has his way, the community’s elderly and those who might have a serious medical condition will put a vial of life in their refrigerators. The vial, provided free by Beta Alpha Sorority, contains vital information the the person. Access to that information in time of medical crisis could be critical to saving the person’s life, said Harmon.the vial of life kits are available to anyone, especially individuals who live alone, who have specific medical problems, or who might be unable to communicate should an emergency situation arise.
20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 33 No. 8 Thursday, Feb. 26, 1998
Mayor Jackie Crabtree recommended to the City Council on Feb. 17, that the City of Pea Ridge purchase property southwest of Easley’s Ace Hardware. A controversy over the the possible use of the land came before the council last September. The owners of the property were wanting to sell the land for residential use and the City Planning Commission had approved the use of the land for such. In December, Crabtree suggested the city purchase the land for a city park and he broke a tie vote of the council members in favor of purchasing the property for a city park. The appraised value of the property is $22,000.
The sights, sounds and smells of the Civil War will come alive at Pea Ridge National Military Park Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8, as the park observes the 136th anniversary of the Battle of Pea Ridge with a Civil War encampment. Pea Ridge National Military Park was authorized to preserve the site of and commemorate the March 1862 Civil War battle that helped Union forces gain control of Missouri.
10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 43 No. 8 Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008
For the first time in nearly a generation (1989), the Pea Ridge Lady ’Hawks earned a berth in the Arkansas High School State Basketball Championships, taking two of three contests in last week’s Region 1 playoffs to capture the No. 3 seed. The ’Hawks entered the tournament ranked eighth overall in the state.
Bids for construction work on widening the onemile stretch of Weston Street were opened before a packed council room at the February meeting of the Pea Ridge City Council. The amounts ranged from $1,194,278 to $1,782,260 from 11 construction firms from Arkansas and Missouri. Bids will be examined by the project engineer before a firm is selected. Representatives from most of the construction companies were present. Ken Hayes, water department head, said a new water tower is a separate project from the water line extension project, when questioned by councilman Brian Nave.