The Way It Was:
Kitty Wells and cast will appear here
110 years ago
April 2, 1908: FIRE IN HOPE DESTROYS SEVERAL BUILDINGS
Hope had quite a big fire yesterday. Several buildings were destroyed, but the amount of loss and insurance was not learned. The buildings burned were: the brick buildings occupied by Bill Burnley’s restaurant; barber shop and general dive; the Hope Joint Stock Co.’s grocery, run by Elbert Elliott (col); Dee’s & Wells, general “jint” and rooming house. The dwelling occupied by a boarding house recently opened. It used to be run by S.W. Cox, now in California; the wooden storehouse by a Mr. Mitchell, who a few days ago started a liquid soap factory, and an old man, wife and daughter, as a residence and shoe shop.
April 3: PRINTING COMPANY’S HORSE RUNS AWAY
The “old gray horse” belonging to Wright Printing Co. became frightened and ran wildly away this morning, much to the surprise of his owners and everyone else, as they had always known the “critter” as one of the most docile of the equine race.
April 4:
BUFFALO BILL ILL
CHICAGO—Sickness is due to severe attack of La Grippe. Col. Wm. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) is seriously ill here at the Stratford hotel. He is suffering from a general nervous breakdown caused largely by a recent attack of the grip.
April 5:
THEIR FORTUNES TOLD
The Four Gypsy fortune tellers who were arrested on the Texas side on charges of vagrancy appeared in the city court this morning and pled guilty to the indictments. They were fined $11.70 each including costs, which they paid, and were released.
April 6: NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IS DEDICATED
The new Presbyterian church on the Texas side of town was dedicated yesterday. The church is located at the corner of Fifth and State streets. The erection of this church was begun about one year ago. The building and furniture complete cost about $30,000. The auditorium is large, commodious and capable of seating about 800 people.
The pastor, Rev. George M. Mathis, and the congregation of this church deserve the highest commendation for their untiring efforts in bringing about the completion of this enterprise.
April 7:
RED RIVER GOES ON RAMPAGE
Dr. Giles, of Garland City, passed through the city this morning en route to Hot Springs on a business visit. While here, the doctor stated that Red River has been on something of a rampage and was still rising. Mr. W.M. Paup states, however, that north of here, at Index, there was a considerable fall in the river last night. He says there are no serious fears of an overflow at this time.
April 8: HOG THEFT LEADS TO MORE TROUBLE
Sandy Hill, living on Red River, near Macedonia church, was arrested on a warrant sworn out of Justice Vinson’s court charging him with disturbing the peace. It is said that the complaint against Hill was made by another man named John Young. It is alleged that Hill sometime ago “confiscated” a hog belonging to another neighbor, and Young, who witnessed the performance, “squealed” to the owner of the poker. This angered Hill, and he procured a shotgun and went after Young, who managed to escape, however, by taking to tall timber. It is likely that another warrant, charging hog-stealing, will be issued against Hill.
50 years ago
April 2, 1968: LEWISVILLE MAN ESCAPES INJURY
Arvis McKamie, 20, of Lewisville, escaped injury about 2 a.m. Friday after he reportedly lost control of his car and it rammed into a bridge railing on Highway 29 south of here. Lewisville City Marshal W.P. Fields said McKamie received only scratches and bruises in the crash, which demolished his automobile. According to Fields, the automobile was split in half by the force of the impact. No charges have been filed pending further investigation.
April 3: KITTY WELLS AND GRAND OLD OPRY CAST TO COME HERE
Kitty Wells and her star-studded cast of Grand Old Opry celebrities are coming to Texarkana April 6. They will appear at 8 p.m. in the Texarkana College Auditorium, under the auspices of the Texarkana Sheriffs’ Posse, which hopes to raise funds for the purchase of needed acreage for an arena. She acquired her title, “Queen of Country Music,” in 1962.
April 4: ARKANSAS HIGH RAZORBACK SIGNS WITH ARKANSAS A&M
Terry Thomas became the third Arkansas High Razorback to sign a football letter of intent in recent weeks, signing with Arkansas A&M Saturday. Attending were Arkansas High Coach Lynn Nix; Terry’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Thomas; and A&M Coach Bill Calaway.
April 5: WATCH OUT FOR SNAKES IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD
The ancient adage gets into the rebellion act because most snake bites occur around homes for the ironic reason, the department notes, that they are made to feel welcome. The department’s popular “Poison Snakes” bulletin No. 31 spells out how to discourage the trespassers from moving in. Rock piles, trash piles, stacked lumber, tree stumps and other forms of debris near or under houses often harbor rats and mice, which form the principal food of most snakes.
April 6: BIRD DOG TRIALS ARE COMPLETED
Paul Oubre’s Notron captured a double victory in the annual Texarkana Bird Dog Association Spring Field Trials at Judge Herbert Line’s Ranch. Notron took first place in the Derby and also in the All Age running. Second in the Derby was King, owned by Larry Hudson of Shreveport, and third place went to Judy, owned by Stan Davis of Shreveport.
April 7:
WATCHES STOLEN
Texas police are investigating the theft of two watches, both valued over $100, from the home of Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Burch at 3124 Wood St. Investigating officers Bruce Fitzhugh and Thomas Hodge said Thursday that someone entered the Burch home by pulling a screen off the north side of the house.
An antique lapel watch, valued at $100, and a ladies wrist watch, valued at $125, were taken.
April 8:
NEW SIDEWALKS
The group of metal temporary class buildings at the rear of AHS has been affectionately nicknamed “The Village.”
Recently, the Village was brought to a state of completeness by the addition of attractive, well-constructed concrete sidewalks which connect the buildings one to another and to the high school building proper.