RECOLLECTIONS

50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 4 No. 33 Thursday, Aug. 14, 1969

It all came about Monday morning when Johnny Wayne Henson and Steve McGinnis were walking along Arkansas Hwy. 72 near the edge of the Pea Ridge National Military Park. They noticed a car pass by and shortly saw a smoke rising from the shoulder of the highway. Realizing that the thoughtless motorist had apparently tossed a cigarette from the car onto the drought-stricken grass of the highway shoulder, the boys ran to the spot. By the time they reached the site, the small blaze was making headway. They began stamping on the fire and young Henson took off his shirt and beat at the blaze with it, ruining his shirt. A passing driver, Frank Sederburg of Essex, Iowa, joined forces to help the boys extinguish the runaway blaze. Told later how the fire was averted from reaching the vast battlefield area, the park employees passed the hat and came up with $10 for the purchase of new shirts for the boys. The money was presented to the boys Tuesday by Pea Ridge Fire Chief C.W. Chadwick on behalf of the park employees.

There is much consternation over the condition of county supported roads that school buses have to travel. Some area school patrons feel that they have to pay twice for lack of upkeep on county roads of this area. This week, however, one patron of this school district, who has grandchildren riding public school buses, took members of the press to see one point on a Rogers bus route that does not stop with shaking a bus to pieces; it presents a grave danger that could claim the lives of school bus passengers. The point is found by following a Pea Ridge school bus route, the Gann Ridge Road (which still lies untouched more than two years after some stabs at starting an improvement project were made) and taking another county road from near the Corinth schoolhouse to U.S. Hwy. 62. The neglected county road has eroded away until about nine feet of the “tin-whistle” culvert has been uncovered and sticks out into open space above a 20-foot deep chasm that eats into the roadbed itself. No post or flag of warning appears at the danger zone.

Classes at the Pea Ridge kindergarten are scheduled to begin Sept. 2 in the basement of the First Baptist Church, according to an announcement made by the teacher, Mrs. Donald King. Those interested in the kindergarten, but not yet registered may call Mrs. King. This is the third year for the kindergarten.

40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Scene Vol. 14 No. 33 Wednesday, Aug. 15, 1979

Pea Ridge City Council approved two ordinances, approved two agreements for services, passed the first reading of a third ordinance, and discussed the city’s financial condition in detail at Thursday evening’s meeting. The council followed into a discussion of the city’s finances and members noted that the general operating fund is continuing to lose ground each month and could be totally spent if something doesn’t happen soon to improve it. Possibility of increasing the city’s tax rates to 10 mills from the present 5 mills was discussed and the city attorney was asked to advise the council. City attorney Howard Slinkard explained that the 5 mills left that the city could be using is intended for specific expansion purposes (bond issues) and not operating purposes. Councilmen asked Slinkard to study the matter and have some suggestions ready for consideration at the next council meeting.

Construction of the sewer plant for Pea Ridge is listed fourth on the state “proposed FY1980 construction grants priority list.” The list contained in an announcement by the state Aug. 9 of a public hearing on sewage treatment plant funding set for 1 p.m. Nearly $52.7 million in federal grant money for wastewater treatment plant planning and construction will be considered for distribution to eligible cities and sewer improvement districts throughout Arkansas under Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology’s fiscal year 1980 construction grants priority list.

Gary and Jackie Holly are opening their “Bargain Store” today on Arkansas Highway 94 west of Pea Ridge. The Hollys came to Pea Ridge area last February. For Gary, it was a return home. He is the son of the late A. Holly and Mrs. Holly from the Tuck’s Chapel area. Jackie is a native of Ohio and met Gary in Las Vegas. He had been there for 19 years working as a truck or tour driver and mechanic. She had lived in the Nevada city for the past 15 years. The store will feature new and used furniture, appliances and clothing; canned goods and new merchandise imported from Mexico.

30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 24 No. 33 Thursday, Aug. 17, 1989

Pea Ridge School District superintendent Marvin Higginbottom said last week that approval of a 9.7 mill increase in property taxes will allow the district to save money in the long run. Higginbottom said that approval will allow the district to borrow $350,000 through a bond issue that will help reduce existing debt, improve the physical plant and provide for a more productive academic environment. The millage increase is going to get our buildings in the kind of repair that we can maintain them at a whole lot less expense. Higginbottom said, “It’s going to help us buy teaching materials that can help our students academically.” He said, “It’s surprising what we don’t have. It’ll help our students to have access to things they didn’t have before.” For example, he said, “we’re going to make our students computer literate.”

Joe Largent and Bill Schwartz are in the process of building a community building. The 640-squarefoot log building was built around the turn of the century in western Bella Vista. The building is being restored as closely as possible to its original condition. There will be no charge for use of the building, but arrangements for using the facility must be made through Largent or Schwartz. The building is located seven miles west of Pea Ridge on Ark. Hwy. 94 at the intersection of Benton County Hwy. 340.

Approximately 30 people turned out last week to voice their opinions and ask questions on a retreat facility nestled on 69.5 acres in Little Flock to owners David and Beverly Engle of Restoration Village. The acreage housed the RealLife Ranch about

10 years ago. Restoration Village is open to all denominations and was formed by the Engles to offer family counseling to adults who have been abused or molested as children, marriage renewal, leadership training, lay counseling or those needing to get away for rest and relaxation. The Engles have a 90-day lease on the property.

20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 34 No. 33 Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1999

Bob and Kathleen Everett, owners of Everdale Gardens in Pea Ridge announce the offering of the “Pea Ridge” Day daylily. The daylily is a 30-inch early to mid-season variety with red and yellow petals. The lilies have an extended bloom and are fragrant. Only 100 will be available this season. Five percent of each sale will be donated to the “Pea Ridge” Day Memorial Plaque Fund and some plants will be donated to the park for planting in a bed around the plaque.”Pea Ridge” Day Memorial Park on Weston Street was named for Day but no plaque commemorates his accomplishments.

Tucked between the auto parts store on the corner of North Curtis Avenue and Pickens Road and an empty store proclaiming a woodworking service on the window is Pea Ridge’s cozy little downtown library. Begun in the 1970s, the library is home to 7,0008,000 books, both hardback and paperback. For patrons who want to stay a while, the back room features a table and chairs and a kidsize bean bag chair. This room houses children’s books and junior fiction and non-fiction. Library cards are free and patrons may keep a book for two weeks and can renew after that. Kim Thornhill said the library is in the old Pea Ridge Bank building and was remodeled three years ago.

Teachers began inservice training Thursday for the last school year of the millennium. Though not ready for this school year, Pea Ridge’s new high school on Arkansas Highway 94 at the corner of Weston Street, is the focal point of the year, with faculty and staff of the high school holding their collective breaths for one more year in the old crowded building. The new school is set to be completed in August or September 2000.

10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 44 No. 33 Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009

Name that school. Community members are being asked to contribute ideas for naming the new primary school for kindergarten through second grade students. “This is an exciting process,” Linda Whitaker, committee member, said. “It’s never been done before. We’re such a historic town. We think it’s a good thing to honor our town’s history, especially the history of the school. We believe this is a good way to start.” Forms for presenting name suggestions are available at all three banks in town, at the city library and at the school superintendent’s office. The completed forms are to be turned in to the superintendent’s office on Weston Street and will be picked up weekly by a committee member. The deadline for submission is Sept. 4. The committee will present its recommendation to the School Board, which will make the final decision about the name.

When is losing winning? When you’re losing weight and winning cash. Twentythree people signed up for the “The Biggest Loser” in Pea Ridge. Pea Ridge High School principal and former coach Rick Neal and Dye Hards gym owner John Dye have joined forces to sponsor the contest at the gym. The winner will receive $500 and a year’s membership to the gym. By the end of the first week, 71 pounds were lost by 19 people. Reasons for joining the program vary, but most say they want to get in shape and lose weight.

A car reported stolen Friday night was recovered within less than an hour, but the owner of the stolen car won’t be getting her car back. Late Friday, Pea Ridge police received a report of an unattended vehicle stolen from Wright’s car wash on North Curtis Avenue and issued an alert to area agencies to watch for the 1990 Honda Accord. Soon after, a report was received of a car on fire on Old Wire Road northeast of town. Firefighters found the car completely engulfed in flames. It is owned by Mary Elizabeth Ash of Rogers.