RECOLLECTIONS
50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 3 No. 40 Thursday, Oct. 3, 1968
Figures compiled last week by the Pea Ridge Graphic during completion of annual signed circulation statement prepared for the Post Office Department show the weekly publication to have shown a gigantic gain in circulation for the second straight year. The sworn circulation statement appears on the classified page of this issue under the legal notices heading. Established Jan. 1, 1966, the Pea Ridge Graphic had 340 paid subscribers at the close of its first year of publication. By Oct. 1, 1967, nine months later, the annual sworn statement count showed that the paid circulation had grown to 706 with another 74 distributed to make the weekly circulation 780. That more than doubled the circulation of 1966. The bulk of subscribers live in the Pea Ridge area. Pea Ridge however has only 300-plus homes in the city limits, and since the Pea Ridge Graphic now goes into approximately 1,200 homes each week, it is evident that Pea Ridge Graphic is being widely read over the Ozarks area and has some subscribers in 33 states.
First- and ninth-grade students in Pea Ridge will be given tuberculin skin tests on Oct. 21. The Benton County TB & RD Association in cooperation with Benton County Health Unit, is conducting the annual Tuberculin Skin Testing Clinics. These tests are for first- and ninth-grade students, and ALL students working in the school lunch rooms. Contrary to belief, TB is far from conquered. Despite recent gains made against TB, it still remains a special case.
40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene Vol. 13 No. 40 Wednesday, Oct. 4, 1978
A special assembly, a parade, the crowning of a queen — all this topped off with the Blackhawks taking on the Greenland Pirates in a conference football game have been planned by the Pea Ridge High School for this weekend. Homecoming maids this year have been selected by their classmates representing classes 9 through 12. Mrs. Mike Wright, Pep Club sponsor, is coordinating the crowning ceremonies which will take place at the football game, when the queen and her court will be presented. The 1978 Homecoming queen will be selected by the Blackhawk football team.
30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 23 No. 40 Thursday, Oct. 6, 1988
The campaign to raise $18,400 for the cost of replacing the roofs of two Pea Ridge Elementary School buildings passed the $10,000 mark this week. The Roof Fund Steering Committee was told Monday that the total deposited so far at the Bank of Pea Ridge has reached $10,386.
The Pea Ridge Chamber of Commerce will sponsor an anti-drug campaign the week of Oct. 23, its chairman said this week. Pea Ridge project chairman Sam Ryan said the purpose of the Red Ribbon campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment toward the creation of a drug free America. He said that citizens of all ages will be urged to wear a red ribbon during Red Ribbon Week and put a red ribbon on almost everything else to make people aware of the effort.
Some of those involved in the Pea Ridge Area Ministerial Alliance chili supper Sept. 23 believe they’ve figured out why it was so successful. Families didn’t have to worry about a meal on the night of the football game. There was a good meal available at the school for no more than it would have cost to produce one at home — and the proceeds went to a good cause, the Elementary School Roof Fund. Because of that, there will be good food available for purchase before the next two Pea Ridge home games.
20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 33 No. 40 Thursday, Oct. 8, 1998
The president of the Pea Ridge Lions Club said that the club’s international mule jump last Saturday at City Park was the best ever. President Johnnie Watson said, “We had more mules than we’ve every had, around 40.” He said that the only downside was that attendance was down. Some of the winners donated their cash prizes back to the Lions Club, he said, because they said that they were there just to have fun.
A mathematics teacher has been named the first teacher of the month at Pea Ridge High School, said principal Gary Wayman. She is Lisa Senkevech, a mathematics teacher at the high school for four years. Wayman said that the teacher of the month award is a joint program between the high school and the Balfour Co., a vendor of class rings and other items. He said that Mrs. Senkevech was selected, “because of the time she puts in in her classroom and the attitude she projects to the students.”
The chairman of the Northeast Benton County Volunteer Fire Department said the NEBCO’s annual turkey shoot last Saturday was a rousing success. Chairman Rick Weidner said, “It was splendid.” He said that participation was clearly quite a few more than last year or the year before. “We think that the income will be up over 12 percent above last year.”
10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 43 No. 40 Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008
Once a necessity, the use of mules in the Ozarks is now a means of entertainment and sport. The 20th annual Pea Ridge Mule Jump is Saturday. More that 1,000 people descend on the City Park in this small Ozark town to watch mules jump a barricade, sometimes higher than their heads. Sometimes the mules balk, leading onlookers to yell encouragement to the owner and animal. The Pea Ridge Mule Jump has its origins in a fall festival held downtown in 1985. Later events were called Battlefield Days. Mule jumping and competition of ‘coon dogs was featured. Mules are unique in their ability to jump an obstacle from a standing still position. Awards are presented at the end of the day with a $1,050 cash prize and Montana silver-smith belt buckle awarded for first place in the pro division.
Although most of the residents of Pea Ridge are quite familiar with mule jumping many other northwest Arkansas residents
may still be in the dark concerning the unique sport. According to Lea Patton, office manager for the American Donkey and Mule Society in Denton, Texas, the politically correct name for the sport is “Coon Hunters’ Mule Jump,” due to its historical connection with raccoon hunters. “Raccoon hunters are believed to have invented the sports years ago when they rode their mules on nigh time hunts,” explained Patton, who is also the editor of “The Brayer” magazine. “Mules are special in their ability to jump an obstacle from a stand still position,” Patton said. “A horse can’t do it. A mule has unique muscular characteristics that it inherited from its donkey blood line which enables it to basically perform a standing high jump.”
Past issues of The Times indicate the first mule jumps in Pea Ridge were part of a fall festival sponsored by the local chamber of commerce. Begun in 1985. The mule jumps were part of other activities during the day, which also included trail rides and coon dog competitions.