RECOLLECTIONS
40 Years Ago Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1975 Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene
A Pea Ridge sixth-grader, Mark Howell, is awaiting the publication next month of his first song, “Living for Jesus,” a song whose words he composed and which were set to music by his mother, Mrs. Jim Howell. The song has been copyrighted by The Christianaires, a music group of the Pea Ridge Free Will Baptist Church.
Two Pea Ridge elementary boys won in the Elk Club-sponsored area Free Throw Contest in Rogers Saturday and will go to Little Rock next Saturday to compete on the state level. The two winners from Pea Ridge were Brently Wilkerson and Johnny Taylor. Rusty Webb was second in his category but disqualified to allow a girl to be selected.
30 Years Ago Wednesday, Jan. 16, 1985 The TIMES of Northeast Benton County
Pea Ridge Police Department has been awarded a grant of $3,224 to fund its participation in a program designed to maintain or increase the current DWI arrest rate, to streamline the court procedures, and to increase public information and education. The Pea Ridge portion comes from a federal grant of $122,723 to the Ozark Guidance Center for Benton County from the Arkansas Highway Safety Program.
The possibility that a private club may be applied for in the building which previously housed the VFW club, a question about land use regulations and the need for road repairs faced the Avoca Council at its meeting Jan. 8. Jon Chambers told the council that he wants to put a new private club in the building which formerly housed the VFW private club on the south end of the town. Alderman George Blevins told him that opposition had arisen when the VFW opened its club and anticipated the same opposition would be evident in his case.
20 Years Ago Thursday, Jan. 19, 1995 The TIMES of Northeast Benton County
The third oldest church in Arkansas will have a new sanctuary by this summer if all goes well, said the chairman of the church’s building committee, Ronnie Wilson. Pastor Rick Booyer said that the church was established in 1839 on the second floor of Elkhorn Tavern. The existing sanctuary was constructed in 1842 and has been renovated several times during the structure’s 152-year history. The new building will contain 3,600 square feet, be brick with a tall steeple.
The new president of the Pea Ridge United Fund said last week that he has received word of a successful 1994-95 campaign. Jason Tennant, president of the Bank of Pea Ridge and now president of the Pea Ridge United Fund, said, “It looks like we reached our goal (of $25,000).”
10 Years Ago Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005 The TIMES of Northeast Benton County
YCB fourth-grade A team girl’s coach Ken Smith received a clipping from Baleigh Almond as other members of his team waited their turn. Smith had said they could shave his head if the girls won their game against Decatur Saturday. The 7-5 win was the team’s first of the season.
Bentonville firefighters sprayed down an overturned Dupre Transport tanker truck early morning, Jan. 11, after it ran off Arkansas Highway 72 East, just west of Sugar Creek. The truck was carrying approximately 8,000 gallons of fuel from Fort Smith to Pea Ridge when it flew off the road, killing the driver, Brent Farrar of Barling, Okla. The fuel began leaking from the truck immediately but was quickly contained by authorities.