MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1996
Gov. Jim Guy Tucker says people all over the state told him last fall they wanted better roads. They told him Tuesday they didn’t want to spend billions of dollars in new taxes to fund them. Tucker’s $3.5 billion highway bond issue, which would raise taxes on everything from gasoline to groceries to build a new highway system, was crushed in a statewide special election. With 2,731 of 2,739 precincts reporting (99 percent), the vote was: For 50,646 (13%), Against 325,683 (87%). The separate ballot issue of a 5-cent-agallon increase in the diesel tax also got stomped. With 2,729 of 2,739 precincts reporting (99 percent), the vote was: For 52,607 (14%), Against 325,706 (86%). “Obviously, the people have spoken tonight and they said this is not the way they want the state of Arkansas to do business,” said Bill Vickery, spokesman for the anti-road tax group Arkansans Against Unreasonable Tax Hikes. Lt. Gov. Mike Huckabee, whose appearance on anti-bond issue television commercials paid for with national Republican money angered Tucker, called the results unbelievable and “beyond my comprehension.” “It’s very clear that this issue was not decided by special interests or partisan politics, but by an overwhelming sense of frustration among Arkansas voters with taxes which are too high,” Huckabee said.
50 years ago — 1971
LAS VEGAS – Sonny Liston, the heavyweight boxing champion of the early 1960s, was buried Saturday following a funeral procession down the Las Vegas strip. Liston’s wife, Geraldine, who discovered the body of the ex-titleholder late Tuesday, said, “Sonny had always said if anything ever happened to him his fondest wish would be that he go down the strip for the last time.” He was eulogized as a man whose heart would melt children and whose smile could lighten a darkened room. About 1,000 persons attended the rites, some standing behind the chapel’s open doors. They included celebrities Ed Sullivan, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day, Jack E. Leonard, Jerry Vale, Nipsy Russell and Roosevelt Grier.
75 years ago — 1946
Quiet during the past five days of torrential rains, the Mississippi River yesterday began to flow into the forefront of the Mid-south’s already flood-ravaged picture. The fastest rise on record of the Mississippi River at Cairo and stations south was reported yesterday. The stage at Memphis was 17.6 feet with a stage of 32 feet indicated Monday. “Flood stage” here is 34 feet, though overflow damage does not begin until the river is much higher. This rise was forecast as the Southland was promised relief last night by clearing skies, cooler weather and a cessation of the drumming rains for areas stricken by floods in smaller rivers.
100 years ago — 1921
BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. – Deputy Bank Commissioner D.A. Lynch is now in Luxora straightening up matters preparatory to the reopening of the Bank of Luxora. The affairs of the bank are being put in first-class shape and Mr. Lynch reports that an early opening is expected with an increased capitalization.