Other days
100 years ago April 3, 1923
SMACKOVER — Headed by Federal Narcotic Inspector Lucien Matthews, government agents yesterday swooped down on the Postoffice drug store here, confiscated approximately $3,500 worth of narcotics and arrested Charles O. Valentine, proprietor, on a charge of violating the Harrison anti-narcotic act. The raid was staged at 3 o’ clock in the afternoon… The raid Sunday afternoon was carefully planned. Inspector Matthews alone entered the drug store and purchased 10 grains of morphine, for which he paid $8, according to his report to Commissioner McLeod. Later, other agents accompanied Matthews to the pharmacy and, following Valentine’s arrest, they say they found a dope cache of morphine, worth more than $3,500…Valentine is a registered pharmacist.
50 years ago April 3, 1973
■ Housewives and consumer groups across the nation boycotted meat counters Monday amid conflicting reports on the scope and effectiveness of their protest. Farm wives countered in some cities with marches and symbolic meat purchases. Some food chains and restaurants joined the boycott. Beef packing firms in the Iowa-Nebraska area were closing slaughtering plants and laying off workers. Housewives’ stay-away tactics appeared to be reflected in the markets for pork on the hoof.
25 years ago April 3, 1998
■ Navy Reserve units from four states will storm Camp Robinson today for a threeday joint-service exercise to test the mettle of Seabees under fire. Little Rock and Fort Smith detachments of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 28, totaling about 90 Seabees, will participate in the exercise, which also will involve members of the Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Army Reserve, Arkansas Army National Guard and the Air Force… The planes will land on a dirt strip to simulate landing in a foreign country under combat conditions, Little Rock Detachment Officer in Charge Lt. Michael Gray said. The Seabees’ job will be to build and maintain an airfield and base camp, respond to a simulated attack by a Navy SEAL detachment from Virginia, and make rapid runway repairs before packing up and leaving on the transport planes.
10 years ago April 3, 2013
■ The second Oxford House received permission Tuesday night to operate in Little Rock, after the Board of Directors did not overturn a Planning Commission decision. Two directors, Ward 5’s Lance Hines and at-large City Director Gene Fortson, voted to overturn the Planning Commission decision to allow the sober-living house to stay on North Plaza Drive, which was insufficient to overturn the commission. Eight directors voted present, some saying that their hands were tied by federal law… Oxford House Inc. is a national nonprofit group that sets up rental housing for groups of six or more recovering alcohol and drug addicts. The federal Fair Housing Act classifies recovering addicts as handicapped and protects their right to move into residential neighborhoods.