RECOLLECTIONS
50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 3 No. 32 Thursday, Aug. 8, 1968
The folks who would like to see a band started in the Pea Ridge schools have given a total of $1,104.33 in cash and other have pledged another $169.51, making a total of $1,273.84. In addition, three other persons have donated band instruments to the proposed band. But there apparently will be no band in the Pea Ridge schools this year. That’s because Aug. 1 — at deadline superintendent Andrew Widener asked the School Board to impose —has passed without the hiring of a band director.
A valuable new addition to Pea Ridge water system was announced at Thursday night’s meeting of the Pea Ridge City Council. The council voted to enter into contract with Alton’s Brush Creek Hill Addition whereby the city will accept the new water lines built to state specifications. The developer has already spent more than $10,000 on the lines for the new development.
The Pea Ridge City Council, acting with a minimum quorum on hand, voted to change the names of city streets not named in accordance with the original street-naming policy, agreed to instruct the city secretary to proceed at once with preparations for publishing the city’ financial report, decided to make a one-way street out of an alley beside the post office, approved the paying of city bills, discussed the streets to be resealed at this time and discussed a proposed gift to the city.
A new business opened Monday in Pea Ridge known as the Elkhorn Gun & Gift Shop. It is located in the main business section at the site formerly occupied by Taylor’s and is owned by the McElmurry family.
40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene Vol. 13 No. 32 Wednesday, Aug. 9, 1978
The plans for construction of a new sewage treatment plant in Pea Ridge and extension of sewer lines should be completed by the end of August, according to Joe Yates of McGoodwin, Williams and Yates, Inc., the engineering firm which is preparing the plans. The new treatment plant would provide for safe treatment of sewage for a town of at least 3,000 population. The estimated cost of the entire project is
about $1.4 million. Approximately 75 percent of the cost is expected to be paid by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. The remainder is to be financed by an FHA loan which will be paid off with revenue paid by users of the sewer system.
Consideration of a 5-mill tax increase proposal to be placed on the November general election ballot is on the agenda for this month’s meeting of the Pea Ridge City Council. The tax increase would finance a bond issue to raise funds for street improvements.
The Pea Ridge Little League held its annual picnic Sunday at the City Park. Trophies were passed out to all first place teams and individual sportsmanship trophies were presented to one player from each team in the league.
30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 23 No. 32 Thursday, Aug. 11, 1988
The Pea Ridge School Board increased the price of lunches, instituted a fee for some elementary student supplies and voted to launch a campaign to raise money to repair the roofs to two elementary school buildings. The lunch price increase will amount to 10 cents on every meal served. Superintendent Marvin Higginbottom said, “It’s my personal opinion that the cafeteria needs to be selfsustaining. He said that the increase will bring in about $4,200 in additional revenue. The district served about 40,000 paid meals, 4,000 reduced-cost meals and 17,000 free lunches last year. Higginbottom said, and ended the school year with a balance of $100.67. Beginning this fall, the district will charge each elementary student a $5 fee per semester for consumable materials such as workbooks and art supplies. Higginbottom said, “I don’t know what else to do; we have to operate.”
While the Pea Ridge School District’s new superintendent, Marvin Higginbottom, begins his work on the academic program, coaches and Booster Club members have begun working on the athletic program. Varsity Blackhawks began formal two-a-day workouts Monday. The junior squad has started practice as well. As the first game of the year-long series of high school sports events approaches, the challenges begin to mount among the leaders of the Booster Club. The club raises money to support organized sports activities. It provides shoes to basketball players, for example, and built and paid for the new fieldhouse.
Betty Gentry, superintendent of Pea Ridge National Military Park for more than a decade, will retire Aug. 27. Gentry, a native of Harriman, Tenn., said that she plans to remain in northwest Arkansas. She lives in Bentonville. Gentry joined the National Park Service nearly 28 years ago, she said. Gentry joined the Marine Corps following graduation from Tennessee Tech.
20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 33 No. 32 Thursday, Aug. 13, 1998
For 16-year-old Alisha Easter, choosing a college to attend after high school has just gotten a little easier. Alisha won $2,400 in scholarships by placing first in a Youth Quest writing competition. After winning in the Ozark District, she went on to Henrietta, Okla., where she placed first in the East Oklahoma Conference. The national competition was held in Asheville, N.C., where she competed against 13- to 20-year-olds from all over the United States. Alisha won overall and received, in addition to the scholarships, trophies in Oklahoma and North Carolina. The theme for the competition was “Hope for my Generation.”
Two Pea Ridge men will vie for a five-year term on the Pea Ridge School Board. The election will be Sept. 15. Qualifying for the race are Ronald Mullikin and Stan Sunderman. The two are running for Position 3, now held by Doug Peronia. Peronia decided not to seek re-election. Pea Ridge School District voters will also decide on Sept. 15 whether to increase property taxes by 3.8 mills, which would help pay for a new high school.
Pea Ridge National Military Park will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the National Park Service Aug. 23-29. Friends of Pea Ridge National Military Park will sponsor Native American Heritage Day on Sunday, Aug. 23. The dance group Cherokee Dancers of the Fire will present traditional dances and flute music. Cherokee Dancers of the Fire, a cultural youth group, was created and organized by brother and sister twins, Tommy and Tammy Wildcat. Traveling across the country, modeling for well-known Cherokee artists, the Wildcats’ likenesses have been memorialized in children’s books and many other media.
10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 43 No. 32 Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008
For now, there is no medical clinic open in Pea Ridge. The Pea Ridge Medical Clinic on North Curtis Avenue closed July 31, and furniture was moved out of the building immediately afterward. But, if city officials have their way, that situation won’t continue. “We’re continuing to work with medical providers to provide a physician and a building.” said Mayor Jackie Crabtree, who has been meeting with representatives from different medical corporations.
Work on the widening of Weston Street continues despite possible changes in the oil supplier, said Mayor Jackie Crabtree. “We have a potential of seeing the cost affected by the oil,” he said, adding that the construction company, Hutchens, may have to find another supplier for their oil to make asphalt. At this time, underground drainage and culvert work are being done. Gas lines still have to be moved by Arkansas Western Gas, Crabtree said. “Barring unforeseen delays, we hope to have the road completed by the summer of 2009,” Crabtree said, saying plans include closing the road as little as possible, although there may be times it is open only to residents who live on the road.
Making an exception to a recently-approved transfer policy, School Board members approved five student transfers out of the district at Monday’s board meeting. “It went through my office with my signature,” said Mike Van Dyke, school superintendent, taking responsibility for the erroneously-sent letter to a neighboring district. “We made a mistake on petitions to transfer,” Van Dyke told board members. “We have erred. We’re going to make it right,” said Rick Webb, board president. Webb said he had never seen a request to transfer out of the district until this year.