Other days

100 YEARS AGO Oct. 6, 1918

BATESVILLE — For the first time in the 40 years of existence of the Batesville Daily, it has been necessary this week to close down the mechanical part of the office because of every man engaged in the business being ill with Spanish influenza. It is believed there are as many as 500 cases under medical treatment here.

50 YEARS AGO

Oct. 6, 1968 Lieutenant Governor Maurice (Footsie) Britt and his Democratic opponent, state Representative Bill G. Wells of Hermitage, failed to reach accord Saturday on their proposed political debate. Both issued prepared statements, with Wells agreeing to an unconditional two-man debate and Britt demanding that all of the Democratic candidates for constitutional offices debate their Republican opponents. Britt, a Republican seeking re-election to a second term, said he would not depart from his campaign schedule “unless by so doing I can obtain for my fellow Republican candidates an opportunity to appear with their opponents.”

25 YEARS AGO

Oct. 6, 1993 FORT SMITH — Authorities searched Tuesday for a carnival worker who allegedly left her 6-month-old child with a fellow worker at the Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair on Sunday. Debbie Anderson … asked an unnamed co-worker to hold her infant son, Ryan, and did not return, said police Sgt. Bob Stephenson. The state Department of Human Services has temporary custody of the child. A warrant will not be issued until authorities learn why Anderson left her child behind, Stephenson said. Anderson allegedly told the co-worker that she would return for the child in a few minutes, but instead left with the carnival’s first elements traveling to Alexander, La., Stephenson said. 10 YEARS AGO

Oct. 6, 2008 FAYETTEVILLE — Voters will decide Nov. 4 whether marijuana possession should be a lower priority for Fayetteville police. But the vote won’t change the way police deal with these cases because city ordinances can’t supersede state drug laws. If the law passes, Fayetteville will become the second city in Arkansas to officially de-emphasize enforcement of misdemeanor marijuana regulations, which involve punishment for possession of one ounce or less, as well as paraphernalia possession. Voters in Eureka Springs approved a similar law in 2006. “The city of Fayetteville already has adopted a low-priority stance regarding misdemeanor possession of marijuana because our resources are stretched thin and pot is not the problem that other drugs are, such as methamphetamine,” Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody said.