RECOLLECTIONS

50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 4 No. 28 Thursday, July 10, 1969

W.R Taylor, chairman of the Pea Ridge Industrial Committee, announced that an important meeting is being called of city officials at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at City Hall. Both the City Council and the Chamber of Commerce are asked to attend. The purpose of the meeting is to meet with a party interested in establishing a large nursing home in Pea Ridge to be build to Medicare specifications. Taylor said that the proposed nursing home will not require a bond vote under Act. 9 for the city; that the party interested in building it will do its own financing. He said that one reason why Pea Ridge is being considered for the project is the more peaceful and beautiful countryside here, an important characteristic for older people who enjoy looking out at a placid, less crowded landscape, he said.

Three years ago, Vicki Hall of Pea Ridge took her vacation trip to Washington, D.C. This week, she is on a vacation trip from Washington, D.C., back to Pea Ridge. It all came about unplanned. Vicki was attending an airline school in Kansas City, when she decided to apply for one of the clerical jobs the FBI was seeking to have filled. She completed her application, as did some of the other students, and then awaited during the month of investigation into her background. Learning that she had been accepted for a position, Vicki went to Washington, D.C. She was to stay at a tourist home while waiting to meet some other girls with whom she might share an apartment. Sworn in on April 15, 1968, Vicki has remained at the job with the FBI.

Two cases of meningitis have been reported in the Pea Ridge vicinity during the past few days, both affecting teenagers. The first case involved a 13-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl. Neither case was thought to be a contagious type.

40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Scene Vol. 14 No. 28 Wednesday, July 11, 1979

At the Thursday meeting, Pea Ridge Mayor Lester Hall indicated an interest in building tennis courts, but asked to see complete specifications before he could submit a bid for Hall Construction Co. Commission Chairman Bob Harp said that the courts must be completed by Sept. 1 to allow time for filing the paperwork necessary for the claim in the balance of the matching federal grant that expires Dec. 31. The commission has $2,677.79 on hand an needs approximately $6,500 to $7,000 for the balance of its part.

Vandalism, probably for fun, had some unpleasant results for two Pea Ridge juveniles. Pea Ridge Police Department picked up two juveniles for cutting straps holding a load of gas pipe on a truck parked in the former DX station on South Curtis Sunday night. They have been turned over to juvenile authorities. The truck driver, Bill Yousey, Pea Ridge, parked the trailer there overnight. One of the two youths admitted being involved in the affair.

Queens will open the Pea Ridge Community Fair. The last day’s feature will be a parade. Each evening there’ll be carnival rides, special entertainment and interesting booths. It’s the 30th annual Pea Ridge Community Fair.

30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 24 No. 28 Thursday, July 13, 1989

The Pea Ridge School Board has decided that 9.7 additional mills are needed to help provide the quality of education that the children of the Pea Ridge School District deserve. We might have asked for a little more, but that can come later, if necessary. The more conservative approach to increasing funding is, perhaps, better. The point we have to remember is that approval of the tax increase is essential if we expect to keep an independent Pea Ridge School District and improve the quality of education our children and grandchildren can expect to receive here. The Pea Ridge district is a small one, but that does not have to equate to inferior. It can equate, in the case of Pea Ridge, to superior.

The Pea Ridge School Board voted Monday night to hold a referendum in September to increase property taxes by 9.7 mills to improve the school district’s fiscal position. Higginbottom said that the school ended its fiscal year on June 30 with a $2,000 balance. In other business, the went along with the recommendation of Higginbottom to hire Paul Terry as the new elementary school principal. Terry replaces Ozy Murphy who resigned in June to go to the Rogers School system.

A good turnout was expect through Saturday evening for the 40th annual Pea Ridge Fair, said general chairman Virgie Hazelton. The fair opened Wednesday evening with the ringing of the old school bell followed by the Miss Pea Ridge and Tiny Tots contests. Mrs. Hazelton that there were a few last minute problems, but things fell easily into place. The fair is being held in downtown Pea Ridge in front of and near the Pea Ridge High School. “There should be plenty of parking,” she said, referring to the area near the school gymnasium. “It’s actually less of a walk to park at the school rather than at the Baptist Church.” Mrs. Hazelton said that there should be plenty to do during the fair, which will include attractions ranging from a carnival, to arts and crafts to entertainment to games for all ages to plenty of good food for the hungry.

20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 34 No. 28 Wednesday, July 14, 1999

Melissa Brown is the new general manager of Collier Drug in Pea Ridge. She replaces John Humphries who has been pharmacistin-charge for six months. Brown will be the only full-time pharmacist in Pea Ridge, with others helping at times. She will fill prescriptions, help answer questions and advise on over-the-counter medications. Brown grew up in Bentonville and is married to Robert Brown, an emergency room physician at St. Mary’s in Rogers. Her father is Sam Morrison, a well-know veterinarian in Bentonville.

Bob Bailey, architect for Pea Ridge’s new $4 million high school, met with the School Board at its regular monthly meeting Monday night. He told the board they are getting a “tremendous buy” on their new school. “It will be a quality building at a low price,” he remarked. The architect said they had met with the city several times and knew

there would be complaints about the water run-off. He said his studies indicated that the drainage problem, which was already there, would be lessened somewhat by the new building. “In any case, the drainage is the city’s problem,” he said. “There was a problem before we started building.”

The Pea Ridge Planning Commission denied Steve Bloxham’s request to split his lot at the corner of Patton and Bowen streets after four property owners in the area expressed concern at a public hearing July 6. City engineer Darrell VanRoekel explained to the board that seven certified mailings had been sent to property owners about Bloxham’s lot split with no response. The split was denied.

In a Pea Ridge City Council hearing, Bloxham will be appealing a decision of the Planning Commission last week which denied his request to split his lot at 148 Patton Street.

10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 44 No. 28 Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The first annual car show held at the Pea Ridge Fair brought in more money than the carnival did last year in four days, according to Beta Alpha Sorority president Linda Kitterman. The show held Saturday, had 46 participants. “For a first-time car show, we had a lot of cars,” said Ginnayah Harris with Beta Alpha. There was no carnival at this year’s fair, but Kitterman said there would be one next year.

Hudson’s Diner, owned by Tarena and John Hudson, has moved to a new location on Lee Town Road. Tarena Hudson, originally from Montana, has been in the restaurant business for 25 years. This is not her first diner, and not her first time relocating because of its popularity. “We started with nothing, absolutely nothing,” said Hudson, speaking of when she came to Pea Ridge. Their former building seated 22 and the popularity of the diner quickly outgrew the location, after only being open four months. World of the delicious meals spread by mouth, the couple didn’t do any advertising. Their new location will seat 56, and other than a drive through for pick up orders only, expanded dinner hours and a new dinner menu, the food and the folks will be the same.

Mark Davis will not seek re-election to the Pea Ridge School Board. He said he needed to spend more time with his family. Tony John Cody, councilman, has filed for the seat. Candidates for School Board must collect 20 signatures of qualified registered voters from within the school district on a petition which must be turned into the Benton County Clerk by noon Friday, July 17.