30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Jan. 8, 1986

A hazard at the city’s main intersection came under discussion when the Gateway City Council met Jan. 2. The hazard, five missing street lights, resulted from a diesel wreck before Christmas. Alderman Bill Schitzer reported that all five of the missing lights are centrally located near and at the intersection of Highways 62 and 37. He said the light company was notified immediately but has not yet taken action to get the lights back on.

The Garfield City Council Thursday night approved spending nearly $8,500 on the city’s water system. Mayor Bobby Flickinger reported that the system would need two mixing tanks, a filter to remove iron oxide and new diaphragms in the chlorinator, plus two new mercury switches to warn of low water levels in the tank.

Pea Ridge District 109 School Board member has asked superintendent James Carlton for certification information regarding 27 district personnel.

Pea Ridge School Board president Ronald Foster, whose five-year term on the board ends this year, has filed for reelection to the board, according to County Clerk Mary Lou Slinkard’s office.

Benton County Collector David Caldwell has released figures pertaining to the county’s 1985 tax settlement of $17.8 million, reflecting a $700,000 increase over the previous year.

Former U.S. Attorney Asa Hutchinson will announce his future political plans from the steps of the Benton County courthouse at 9 a.m. Monday, according to his brother, Rep. Tim Hutchinson. Asa Hutchinson, like his brother, is a Republican, is expected to announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat of Democrat Dale Bumpers. He recently resigned his position as U. S. Attorney.