RECOLLECTIONS

50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 3 No. 41 Thursday, Oct. 10, 1968

Utah Smith peeped inside persimmon seeds off of eight tress at his place last week, and reports that all but one had spoons instead of forks this fall. That means, I think, that we’ve got a rough winter ahead. Meantime, might as well enjoy the nice autumn and the good crop of persimmons. Mrs. Smith shares a couple of good recipes one for pudding and one for candy to be made from persimmons. Utah says for y’all to come on down and get persimmons at his place, free for the taking.

A brother and sister who had not seen each other for 39 years have been having a visit together in Pea Ridge. They are James A. Jefferson of Pea Ridge and Mrs. Harry (Edna) Veitch of Vancouver, B.C., Canada. World War I had not yet started when the then Edna Jefferson left for Canada. As a 19-year-old, she accompanied her sister and brother-in-law, and their three small children. As it turned out, the trip to Canada was to be a permanent move for Edna, who married and remained there to make her home. She had made only two return trips to Pea Ridge, prior to this one this fall. At the time, 1929, Jim Jefferson was in Canada with his sister, and when he returned with her for their father’s funeral, he remained in Pea Ridge with his mother. That was the last time, the brother and sister were to see each other for 39 years.

40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene Vol. 13 No. 41 Wednesday, Oct. 11, 1978

The Oct. 3 meeting of the Pea Ridge Park Commission marked the end of the fiscal year for the commission and found several year-end items and plans for the new year. With one commission member hospitalized and another also unable to attend, the three other commissioners agreed to postpone until the Nov. 1 meeting the election of new officers. It was voted to seek bids on landscaping two areas of City Park. It also was decided to ask whether the council wishes to continue using city employees for the mowing of the park or to provide a maintenance fund with which the Park Commission would hire the work carried out.

All Homecoming festivities lead up to the big game. Pea Ridge Blackhawks won the game against the Greenland Pirates 22-14. Friday was a full day in Pea Ridge and from noon until the game ended, Blackhawk faithful were fully occupied.

Pea Ridge’s Volunteer Fire Department, which responded to more than 50 fire calls last year and has already responded to 29 this year, has a need for funds to help maintain its fire-fighting equipment. Answer? “We’re sponsoring a jamboree Oct. 17,” Sam Spivey, fire chief, said. “And we’re hoping to bring in funds to supplement our annual budget. We need them for upkeep of our equipment which must be ready to respond at all times,” he added. Spivey explained that fire calls were low this year compared to last year when there was a great number of grass fires due to the dry year, whereas this year’s rain has helped keep those fires to a minimum.

30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 23 No. 41 Thursday, Oct. 13, 1988

The Pea Ridge School Board re-elected as officers two of its members Monday night and a third was named vice president of the board. Re-elected were Ron Foster, president, and Tony Fletcher, Jr. secretary. The board also discussed the possibility of constructing a new high school building. John Brown was elected to vice president filling the position that was vacated by Kent Webb.

The Pea Ridge Blackhawk Marching Band attended a marching contest Saturday, Oct. 8, at Lincoln. Fifteen school participated in this contest. The Blackhawk Band did an outstanding performance which won them third place in their class 1-A/ AAA Division. They were beaten by Prairie Grove, which took second place and Atkins, which one first. Director Randy Mealer and the band students were very proud of their accomplishments because they brought home the very first band trophy ever.

Pea Ridge Brownies marched along Curtis Avenue last Friday during the annual Pea Ridge High School Homecoming parade. Later, high school royalty was presented at the homecoming game with Dover. Presented were Michelle Carr, Shannon Cooley, Tara Nobles, Jennifer Key, Alicia Benson, Shawn Snow, Kelly Johnson, Stacie Collins, Tina Dean and Hope Hardin.

20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 33 No. 41 Thursday, Oct. 15, 1998

Dr. Dorothy LeBoeuf of Pea Ridge Medical Center was chosen as Washington Regional’s Phases in Women’s Health Woman of the Year for 1998. Dr. LeBoeuf was presented with a crystal vase in honor of her contributions to the northwest Arkansas community at the seventh annual Women’s Day held last Saturday at the Fayetteville Clarion Inn.

The Pea Ridge School Board met Monday night and approved an insurance proposal from superintendent Roy Norvell and supported by the Personnel Policy Committee and 70 percent of the faculty members. The board authorized Norvell to accept bids on bonds for the new high school as long as they come in at 5 percent or less. High School Principal Gary Wayman approached the board with a solution to the problem of home study students re-entering school, stating that this has become a real problem since state regulations regarding this have become so lenient as to allow students to drop out and re-enter school several times a year. The policy would call for a standard achievement test to be conducted upon reentry, as well as a list of textbooks used by the student and courses taught.

Seven Pea Ridge High School students recently attended the 13th annual Governor’s Youth Conference on alcohol, tobacco and other Drugs held at Harding University in Searcy.

10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 43 No. 41 Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008

Conflict between the city and county planning offices governing the territorial jurisdiction five miles around the city limits is creating difficulty in governing that area, according to city building official Tony Townsend. According to Townsend, the county is allowing residents in the country, but within the city’s territorial jurisdiction, to split a lot for $50, then come back later and split that lot again, ultimately resulting in creating a subdivision without it ever being addressed by

the city building official, as law provides.

People cheered, whistled and applauded trying to help coax two mules to get over a 67-inch-tall jump. Both had cleared 66 inches. It was nearing the end of a long Saturday, the sun was hot and mule owners visibly frustrated. Owner Mike Call and mule Radar ran toward the jump, then stopped at the simple tarp hung from a pole suspended between upright metal poles (think the high-jump in human track and field). Call tantalized Radar, exciting him to the point of frenzy. Although it had worked many times before, Radar, refused to jump. “The mules have had enough,” declared Kenny Vaught, owner of Maggie Hue, 20. “We had a great competition throughout the day, finishing in a down-tothe-inch tie for first place in the pro jump,” said Tracy Messer, chairman of the Pea Ridge Parks Commission, which sponsored the event.