RECOLLECTIONS
40 Years Ago Thursday, Dec. 7, 1972
Pea Ridge Graphic
Carl Baggett, president of the Bank of Pea Ridge, was installed as the new president of the Pea Ridge Chamber of Commerce.
Three Pea Ridge Blackhawk football players were named to the 1972 Ozark Conference “All-Conference” Second Team. Danny Hickman was named center on the “All-Conference” team, while Darrell David was selected as running back and linebacker, and Gary Brown was selected as a defensive tackle on the team.
Construction began on a new automatic laundry in Pea Ridge. The masonry structure was being built by Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wright and was located on North Curtis Avenue.
Randy Beaver of Pea Ridge was named first place winner in Arkansas in the Jr. Production in the Holstein Division. He received a plaque and a certificate.
30 Years Ago Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1982 Pea Ridge Country
Times
Heavy rain, high winds, thunder and lightning followed by extensive flooding kept emergency services on the alert in Pea Ridge country. Pea Ridge’s official weather observer, Frank Price, recorded 5.25 inches of rain over two days.
Cooks for the Pea Ridge Christian Men’s Breakfast were Bob Clark, Lester Cruse and Godfrey Loper. They prepared eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy.
The Pea Ridge Junior Class presented the three-act play, “Rest Assured.”
A car apparently stolen from its owner in Missouri was recovered at the base of a bluff in the Lost Bridge area by officers of the Ben- ton County Sheriff’s Office and the Arkansas State Patrol. Reports indicated the car’s stereo was removed and the vehicle pushed or driven over a 75-foot-high bluff.
20 Years Ago Thursday, Dec. 10, 1992 The TIMES of Northeast
Benton County
During the Pea Ridge City Council meeting, Pea Ridge Mayor Mary Rogers read a letter from Tom McAlister, superintendent of the Rogers Water Utilities, proposing to purchase the Brush Creek water lines, which were owned by Pea Ridge, and asked to meet with the council to present the proposal.
Wanda Collins opened Wanda’s Cafe, which had a full Mexican-American menu.
Evidence of growth was reflected in Pea Ridge, according to building inspector Floyd Blackwell. Blackwell said that through the first 11 months of the year, the city issued 31 building permits totaling $1,158,000 worth of construction. Fifteen of those permits were for the construction of new homes.
10 Years Ago Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2002 The TIMES of Northeast
Benton County
The 2002 Christmas parade was themed “Christmas Past.” Following the parade, more than 100 people gathered downtown to hear the Wal-Mart Associates Choir sing and witness the lighting of the down- town Christmas lights.
Ice and snow gave Pea Ridgers their first real taste of winter. Parts of the town were without power for approximately eight hours.
Brenda Henson of Arvest Bank presented Pea Ridge superintendent of Schools Virgil Freeman with a check for $7,000 from the Walton Family Foundation to be used to purchase needed items for the school.
During the Pea Ridge Firefighter’s Christmas Banquet, Pea Ridge Fire Chief Frank Rizzio awarded the Top Responder plaque to Keith Wiltgen for responding to 74 alarms that year. Allen Merritt received the Firefighter of the Year Plaque.