30 Years Ago: Citizens sign copy of Constitution

50 Years Ago From the Herald and Democrat in 1967

Articles of incorporation were filed in the office of Benton County Clerk, Harry M. Pratt, for Jepson Drug Inc. of Siloam Springs.

Incorporators were Donald Wayne Jepson, Deanna Jepson, George N. Fougerousse and Donna K. Fougerousse.

Authorized capital stock was 50,000 shares of $1 par value.

30 Years Ago From the Herald-Democrat in 1987

All citizens of Benton County were invited to attend the U.S. Constitution Bicentennial Celebration at the Benton County Courthouse. Visitors could tour the courthouse and other county government buildings, reaffirm their support by signing a copy of the original U.S. Constitution and participate in a birthday party for the document, complete with a cake in the shape of the Constitution.

10 Years Ago From the Herald-Leader in 2007

City and state officials stood in the middle of Cheri Whitlock Drive for the official opening ceremony of the three-lane highway.

Arkansas Highway Police Officers stopped traffic on a portion of the new highway for a few minutes so officials could cut the ribbon. The event was held in front of Sager Creek Community Church, just west of Lincoln Street.

The 2.5-mile section of Arkansas Highway 43 was expanded from two to three lanes, from Arkansas Highway 59 North to Mount Olive Street. The $4.7 million project included new traffic signals, curb, gutter and sidewalks.

Jonathan Barnett, chairman of the Arkansas Highway Commission, said he was old enough to remember when the highway was Highway

102.

Barnett, of Siloam Springs, said that section of the highway was named for Cheri Whitlock, a Siloam Springs girl who was first runner-up to Miss Rodeo USA in 1971.

She was Siloam Springs Rodeo Queen in 1965 and Miss Rodeo Arkansas 1970, according to “Hico A Heritage — Siloam Springs History” by Maggie Aldridge Smith.

Mayor M.L. Moose Van Poucke said the state highway department initially planned to keep the highway a two-lane road.

The city paid the state $900,000 so the highway would be widened to three lanes, Van Poucke said.

Motorists soon saw the speed limit increase to 40 mph and 50 mph on portions of the highway.