RECOLLECTIONS
50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 2 No. 27 Thursday, July 6, 1967
The Sisco Funeral Home of Pea Ridge, owned and operated by Billy Sisco, was started here in 1932 by Ralph Miller, also of Pea Ridge, and has been in continuous operation since that time. The funeral home includes an air-conditioned chapel with 150-seating capacity, and it operates two ambulances. All cars of the firm are equipped with two-way radios, and the funeral home, itself, houses the city’s fire phone, one of seven receivers of the Benton County Civil Defense equipment, and the Sisco’s CB and ham radios. Sisco, a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, served as head embalmer for the Griffin-Leggitt Funeral Home of Little Rock, later serving as a partner with his brother, Russell Sisco, in the operation of the North Arkansas Funeral Homes of Clinton, Mountain View and Marshall. The family moved from Fordyce to Pea Ridge in 1959 when Mr. and Mrs. Sisco purchased the local funeral home.
The perfume of magnolia blossoms frequently wafts across the business section of Pea Ridge these July days, as the little city’s oldest and largest magnolia grandiflora blooms in the W.T. Patterson yard across Curtis Avenue from City Hall. Also known as the Southern Magnolia, this tree thrives better in this part of the country than does the oriental variety which blooms before its leaves appear in the springtime and, like peaches, frequently has its blooms destroyed overnight by late freezes.
40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene Vol. 12 No. 27 Wednesday, July 6, 1977
Enforcement of the new city dog ordinance for the first two months has cost the city about $800 and virtually eliminated the problem of stray and freerunning dogs in town. City Marshal Loyd Pifer, who also serves as dog warden, said the first month of enforcing the ordinance removed most of the stray dogs from the streets. He added that dog owners have been very cooperative by registering their dogs with the city and by not allowing them to run free without supervision. Pifer said he has had few complaints about enforcement of the ordinance and that the stray dog problem seems to be solved for the present time.
Fire Chief Sam Spivey noted recently that some area residents persist in dumping their garbage along the side of roads and highways, particularly unpaved rural county roads, despite the fact that the Benton County Planning Board has begun placing large trash bins in communities throughout the county. He noted the Pea Ridge Fire Department was on a lengthy call recently to extinguish a smoldering blaze which had broken out in a large illegal dumping ground on Blackjack Road west of Pea Ridge. Spivey said that in addition to being illegal, roadside dumping caused a fire hazard, health hazard, and an eyesore to passers-by and residents in the dumping area.
Mendenhall’s Pea Ridge Grocery — Where cashon-the-line coupons mean super savings for you!! — Prices Good July 6 — July 12. Kraft Miracle Margarine, Whipped 1 lb. with ONE filled Super Saver Card — 45 cents; Pringle Potato Chips 9 oz. — 69 cents; Keebler 13 1/2 oz. Deluxe Grahams — 89 cents; Colonial Bread 1 lb. loaf — four for 99 cents; Campbell’s 13 1/2 oz. can of Chunky Sirloin Burger Soup with ONE filled Super Saver Card — 39 cents; Ellis 5 oz. Vienna Sausage — three for $1; Kraft 8 oz. box Tangy Italian Style Spaghetti Dinner — 49 cents; Arkansas Tomatoes 1 lb. — 39 cents.
30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 22 No. 27 Wednesday, July 8, 1987
When Pea Ridge City Marshal Hugh Turner submitted his resignation June 16 in a brief special meeting of the City Council called by Mayor Mary Rogers, it caught all four council members by surprise, they told The Times. A majority have expressed strong support for Turner’s professionalism, fairness, and commitment to the city, and have said they wish he had not resigned. They believe the problems could have been worked out and should have been. In separate interviews over the Fourth of July weekend, aldermen Gary Immel, Charles Stewart, Mike Yarberry and Delores Hall discussed their reactions to the resignation and recommendations for avoiding similar situations in the future.
20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 32 No. 27 Thursday, July 3, 1997
At a special meeting Monday night, the Pea Ridge School Board unanimously voted to put a millage increase of 6.6 mills on the Sept. 16 school ballot. The millage increase is being requested in order to erect and equip a new high school and to improve existing buildings in the district. Presently, property owners in the Pea Ridge school district pay 37 mills. The board plans to meet July 17 with community members in order to make campaign plans to get the millage passed.
Patsy McCool and her daughter Ashley have opened a delicatessen at 187B Slack St. in Pea Ridge. The deli is behind the E-Z Mart and next to the new water tower. The decision to open the deli in Pea Ridge was an easy one, Mrs. McCool said, adding, “All the kids went to kindergarten through 12th grade here, so this is home.” The deli has a capacity of nine or 10 for those who want to eat there.
10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 42 No. 27 Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Front lawns and parking lots were full of area residents delighted in the first Pea Ridge fireworks show Sunday night. For more than 30 minutes, the colorful display lit the sky above Summit Meadows subdivision. The display, at a retail value of more than $2,500, was the generous donation of Edwin Brewer, owner of USA Fireworks and pastor of Pea Ridge Assembly of God Church. Brewer, a newcomer to Pea Ridge, offered the fireworks to the mayor and City Council earlier this year. Pea Ridge firemen, protected with their coats and helmets, lit the fireworks along the muddy clay road on the north side of the undeveloped portion of the subdivision.
John and June Easley will be the grand marshals of the 2007 Pea Ridge Fair parade. The Easleys retired last year after owning and operating Easley’s Hardware in town for 43 years. Both are natives of Pea Ridge.