The Way It Was:
Crowd hears Sen. Tower predict GOP win These were some of the stories reported by the Texarkana Gazette this week in history:
100 years ago
Oct. 1, 1918: TELEPHONE GIRLS ARE NO LONGER TO ACT AS REGULATOR FOR CLOCKS
“Time, please?” The old familiar phrase shall be heard no more after October 1, the Texarkana Telephone company has decreed. “Central” will no longer be a public timepiece, acting in the self-appointed position of first assistant to the sun in telling a too civilized race the time of day.
Oct. 2: THREE-YEAR-OLD BOY IS MISSING; LARGE CROWD HUNTS IN VAIN
A crowd of 200 people from the vicinity of Redwater searched all Monday afternoon and night for the little 3-year-old son of Bob Middleton, who got lost somewhere between Big Creek and Elliott Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Middleton are farming near Redwater. They were picking cotton on the Calb Campbell place, three and a half miles south of Redwater. They left the youngster sitting on a pile of cotton in the field where they were working. About 3 o’clock in the afternoon, they heard the child crying and ran to the spot where they had left him. He had disappeared. The search began immediately and was continued throughout the night.
Oct. 3: SUGAR NOW AVAILABLE FOR CANNING PURPOSES
Sugar is now available for canning purposes, according to R.P. Dorough, Bowie County food administrator, who yesterday issued the following statement: “All persons desiring to preserve fruit are requested to communicate with me if unable to secure sugar for canning and preserving as I am now in a position to furnish sugar for this purpose.”
Oct. 4: THREE INFLUENZA DEATHS OCCUR IN 48 HOURS HERE
There have been three deaths from Spanish influenza in Texarkana within the past 48 hours, and during the past week, over 100 cases have been reported to the health officers of the two cities, 50 on the Arkansas side and the balance on the Texas side. Both health officers emphasized the fact that the presence here of so many cases constitutes a serious menace to the city’s health and that all persons should take every possible precaution against a spread of the disease.
Oct. 5: SULPHUR BRIDGE SITE INSPECTED
Judge C.W. Nolan and Fincher Eason, members of the Sulphur bridge commission, and Engineer C. S. Christian spent yesterday on Sulphur river for the purpose of looking after preparatory details in connection with the construction of the bridge. Bids for the construction will probably be advertised within a short time.
Oct. 6: GARLAND CHICKEN THIEVES PLACED IN JAIL HERE
Deputy Sheriff W.M. Oden, of Garland city, brought two men to the Miller County jail yesterday morning. The men were both sentenced to ten days in jail after their conviction on charges of chicken theft at Garland. The people of Garland city and vicinity have suffered many losses in turkeys and chickens, and the capture of these two men is the beginning of a roundup of the thieves.
Oct. 7:
INTEREST OF WOMAN
Mr. and Mrs. Offenhauser will move into the C.M. Conway home at an early date where they include Messars. Charles and Walter Conway in the first circle.
50 years ago
Oct. 1, 1968: TEXARKANA CROWD HEARS SEN. TOWER PREDICT GOP WIN
On the campaign trail for Richard Nixon, Senator John Tower told a large group of Texarkanians Monday that he could smell the scent of Republican victory in the air. The young senator, who at the time of his election to the Senate in 1961 was the youngest senator in that Congress, told the group that he had long wanted the Southern states and especially Texas to have influence on national affairs.
Oct. 2: SHANNON GARRIS HONORED WITH ‘TINY TOT’ PARTY
The first birthday of Shannon Lynn Garris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy F. Garris Jr., was celebrated with a “tiny tot” party Saturday afternoon at their home. Attending were Todd Manson, Holly Cobb, Robbie Carter, Bill Harnell, Pete Pressel, Mark Yarnell, Mrs. George Manson, Mrs. Ben Cobb, Mrs. Robert Carter, Mrs. William H. Yarnell, Mrs. Danny Pessell and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Yarnell and Mr. and Mrs. Roy F. Garris.
Oct. 3: BOTTLE DRIVES PLANNED HERE BY BOYS CLUBS
The Boy’s Club of Texarkana will have soft drink bottle drives on the next two Saturdays. Boys will canvass most areas of the city on these two days. Persons having bottles they would like to donate may call 774-8924. “Local” bottles only will be collected. Money made from a bottle drive last year was used for a Christmas dinner for the boys and girls, which 200 attended. Proceeds from the October bottle drives will be used the same way.
Oct. 4: TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT AMMO PLANTS ARE REQUESTED
State Rep. Bob Bass, of DeKalb, asked the Texas Highway Commission to install five traffic lights on U.S. Highway 82 in Bowie County to abate the traffic problem at Red River Arsenal and Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant. U.S. Highway 82 and Interstate 30 now parallel each other by the plants, but workers,19,000 of them at the two plants, have to cross U.S. 82 to get to IS 30, and most of them will not, because the crossings are unprotected.
Oct. 5: POLITICS PROVES TOUGH ROAD FOR SHIRLEY TEMPLE
Shirley Temple Black, who never encountered a setback on the silver screen when she was America’s darling of the Depression, is finding political life a rough road. Mrs. Black spoke Tuesday at a breakfast gathering of Richard Nixon supporters. She sported a heavily bandaged right hand. “In San Antonio a few days ago,” she said, “a great big Texan crushed my hand and said I’ve been in love with you since I was a little 7-year-old boy.”
Oct. 6: GIRLS AUXILIARY CORONATION HELD
The Oaklawn Baptist Church Girls Auxiliary held a coronation honoring the girls who have achieved new honors. Those presented were Patricia Johnson, Natalie Peak, Darla Dodd, Deborah Poe, Sarah Johnston, Kerry Campbell, Annette Murray, Gary Brown, David Westfall, Ramona Tippett, Marla Stair, Linda Reynolds, Donna Preston, Darlene Brown, Karen Westfall, Shari Taylor, Pam Spriggs and Kathy Kelly.
Oct. 7:
GUEST FOR DINNER
Over 900 wholesalers and manufacturers from cities in about a 60 mile radius of Texarkana are guests at a dinner and a football game here. The visitors and Manufactures Division of Texarkana Chamber of Commerce were treated to a dinner at the Texarkana College Student Center and, afterwards, the Southern Methodist University and University of Arkansas freshman football game at Grim Stadium.