RECOLLECTIONS
50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 4 No. 8 Thursday, Feb. 20, 1969
Floyd Walker was the lone candidate filing for election to the Pea Ridge School Board this week. There was one vacancy on the ballot for a five-year term for the position presently held by Walker, who seeks re-election. Walker was appointed to the School Board by the board in order to fill a vacancy occurring when Coin Patton resigned. Walker was then voted on at the next regular school election, with the position to run until the term originally filled by Patton would have expired. The Benton County School Board is made up of five members, one each from f0our zones in the country and one member at large.
Water Department superintendent Charles Hardy has installed this week a new night depository slot and a receptacle at City Hall for the receiving of utility payments after hours. The payments and statements may be dropped into the slot any hour of the day or night when the city hall is closed.
40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Scene Vol. 14 No. 8 Wednesday, Feb. 21, 1979
The first letter resulting from the request of County Judge Al Norwood in last week’s Graphic Scene for comment on the future of Lee Town Road has been received. John B. Easley, Pea Ridge businessman, wrote Norwood calling attention to the need for work on surfacing Arkansas Highway 265 and asking that state monies be used there instead of on Lee Town Road. He sent copies of his letter to State Senator Kim Hendren, Representative Clayton Little, the State Highway Commission and the Graphic Scene.
Dog bites man. Dog’s owner gets ticket and vet’s bill! Jerry Collins, White’s Auto employee, making a service call Tuesday afternoon, on Davis Street, was bitten on the arm by a dog. Pea Ridge Police Chief Loyd Pifer picked up the dog and took it to the veterinarian for a 10-day observation for rabies. The dog had been vaccinated.
30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 24 No. 8 Thursday, Feb. 23, 1989
There is excitement in the air at Pea Ridge High School. For the fourth consecutive year, the senior Lady Blackhawks are going to the regional playoffs as either winner or runner-up. Coach Larry Walker said, “The girls are excited, but they know what they have to do to win the district and regional championships.”
The president of the Arkansas U.S. Highway 62 Business Association says that fundraisers and personal donations will likely have to supplement the organization’s budget for the coming year. President Gary Campbell, in a letter to members, said that the “Board of Directors sees a general trend toward a recommended budget of $4,000 to $6,000 for our second year.”
20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 34 No. 8 Thursday, Feb. 25, 1999
It looks like the residents of Henry Little Circle will finally be getting something done about the deteriorating conditions of their street and their drainage problems. Robert Cottingham appeared before the Pea Ridge City Council representing the other residents of that area. City Engineer John Lutsky assured Cottingham that Henry Little Circle is in fact among the streets scheduled for repaving this year.
If you happen to see Robin Ivy and his sons, Shannon, Tracy and Joshua, poking around in the mud near a stock pond or spring-fed creek, you’ll probably wonder what they are doing, and if you ask, chances are they’ll tell you, “turtling.” That happens to have been the favorite pasttime of the Ivy family for five generations. “I respect wildlife,” said Ivy, “and I understand the need to control their population. We usually eat all we catch,” he said, and added, “They’re real good, tastes kind of like chicken.”
A Pea Ridge High School senior has been selected as a finalist in the 19th annual Arkansas Homecoming Queen Selection. She is Heather Henson, 17, daughter of Billy and Vickie Henson of Pea Ridge. If Heather wins the state title, she will represent Arkansas in the national finals in California.
10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 44 No. 8 Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009
The construction boom brought impact fees into the city’s coffers, now providing a new police station for the city. The new station will become a reality following approval Tuesday, Feb. 17, to purchase property immediately west of currently owned city property. The price for the land, 1.28 acres, and two buildings is $212,000. The land is west of the Emergency Services Building which currently houses the police, fire and ambulances departments and the water tower and is accessed from Slack Street.
The ribbon cutting for the Pea Ridge Historical Museum is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7, followed by grand opening festivities. Area residents are invited to attend the ribbon cutting and tour the museum. Mary Durand, president of the Pea Ridge Historical Society, said: “This is an exciting day for many citizens who have worked for nearly six years for the culmination of the dream begun by Billie Jines.” The group began meeting in October 2003 collecting and archiving historical facts, stories and items reflecting the history of Pea Ridge and the surrounding area.
Remodeling the library took more than a year, with plans beginning in the winter of 2007, said Peggy Maddox, chairman of the Pea Ridge Community Library Board of Trustees. Replacing the shelving was only a part of the process, which included painting and carpeting. Although recarpeting was not originally planned, it became necessary when it was discovered the floors were bare beneath the previous shelves. “We called several people, but couldn’t find anyone who was willing to build, finish and install the shelves,” Maddox said, adding that board members naturally thought of Rick Whitaker, a woodworker and the husband of librarian Linda Whitaker. But, Whitaker had said repeatedly he didn’t want to take on the job. When no one else was found to do the job, he agreed. He and his son, Josh, took several months to build and finish the shelves, then installed them in the library.