RECOLLECTIONS
50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 4 No. 10 Thursday, Mar. 6, 1969
Benton County, Ark., and the Missouri counties that join on the north are part of the same world, divided only by an imaginary line that runs east and west. It was very much that way in the Civil War when people living on the opposite sides of that line were supposed to be bitter enemies.
The Senate passed, last weekend, without debate, the proposed Quality Education Act, which would force consolidation of school districts that did not eventually meet the standards of the date Education Department. The Quality Education bill now must be acted upon the House. If it passes the House, it will be giving Pea Ridge schools a 10-year deadline for raising its ratings to A grade, or be forced to consolidate with some A-graded school of the area.
Pea Ridge’s business community took another step forward this week with the announcement of the coming opening of Francene’s Beautee Salon in the downtown business section. Making the fourth beauty shop in Pea Ridge, Francene’s Beautee Salon is located behind Jay’s Barber Shop.
40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Scene
Vol. 14 No. 10 Wednesday, Mar. 7, 1979
“An ordinance to provide for the safety, preserve the health and to abate unsightly and unsanitary conditions on real property within the jurisdiction provided by statute for such purposes” — the title of Proposed Ordinance No. 82. Pea Ridge citizens favoring and opposing the passage of the proposed ordinance will be present for the measure’s second reading and to participate in a public hearing at City Hall. In order to determine the desires of the residents of the city, the City Council voted Feb. 8 to call the public hearing and to publish the text of the ordinance in the Graphic Scene. If the council approves the ordinance, it will come up for its third reading and final action by the council at the April meeting.
The annual school election for Pea Ridge school district March 13 will feature a contest for the one open position on the board of education of the district. Voters will also vote to elect one member of the Benton County Board of Education and on the school tax vote for the district. Voters will be asked to mark ballots for or against the district’s tax of 62 mills The 62 mills includes 27 mills for the maintenance and operation of the schools and 35 mills for the payment of bonds now outstanding and as a continuing annual tax until the bonds are paid in full.
30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 24 No. 10 Thursday, Mar. 9, 1989
Last week, the basketball Lady Blackhawks found themselves in the semifinals of the Northwestern Regional Tournament, held at Valley Springs. After defeating Western Yell County, 64-42, in the opening game, the girls took on Mountainburg. That night, Mountainburg proved to be too tough, as they defeated Pea Ridge in a closely fought game, 68-65. With a record of 24-5 and successfully defending the conference title, the girls have every right to be proud of their accomplishments this year. Next year will prove to be a challenge for head girls basketball coach Larry Walker and the Lady ’Hawks.
Pea Ridge Marshal Billy Joe Musgrove said last week that applications for a deputy marshal position will be not accepted after March 16. Musgrove said that “once you hire a person, he has up to a year to go through the academy.” Since Musgrove is the only policeman on duty in Pea Ridge now, he said he has been trying to work six to eight hours during the day and “then I also go out at night.”
20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 34 No. 10 Thursday, Mar. 11, 1999
School superintendent Roy Norvell said Tuesday that 10 general contractors have asked for plans of the new Pea Ridge High School building that will be constructed beginning in April. The architect has estimated the cost of the new high school at $5,160,000. The high school will be built at the southwest corner of Weston Street and North Pickens Street.
A science teacher who was raised in Brinkley has been named teacher of the month for February, said Pea Ridge High School principal Gary Wayman. She is Cherie Fisher, who is in her second year at Pea Ridge High School. Mrs. Fisher earned a degree in biology cum laude at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, then her teaching certificate.
Army Cadet Brian Easley was placed in the Deans List at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. The cadet plans to graduate this spring with a bachelor’s degree and will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. The cadet’s academic concentration is in American History. Easley is the son of Ray and Sandy Easley of Pea Ridge.
10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 44 No. 10 Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2009
Pea Ridge High School was one of 63 schools in a six-state area selected to participate in a select program for advanced placement classes. Described by teacher David Wentz as “an initiative program,” the Advanced Initiative in Math and Science grant is designed to increase the scores of students in AP classes and is funded by a number of businesses, most notably Exxon Mobile. “Pea Ridge High School may be the only 4A school selected in the second cohort of schools for the AAIM program,” Wentz told School Board members Monday night. “Pea Ridge passed the interview and inspection with flying colors,” Wentz said.
Extra-curricular activities and driving a vehicle to school are privileges. As such, the students participating may have their names placed in a pool to draw for random drug testing, if Pea Ridge School Board members approve a policy currently being considered. Names may also be added to the lottery because of suspicious activity or a parent’s request. Board members considered the costs of the program, how many students to test and how often, being told by Van Dyke that they need to decide how many students they wish to test and hot often. After a lengthy discussion, board members agreed Van Dyke would check with other districts to compare their policies and the issue would be discussed again at the April board meeting.