RECOLLECTIONS
50 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Vol. 4 No. 48 Thursday, Nov. 27, 1969
It was apple butter making time in Pea Ridge last week, and the Franklin Miller and Fred McKinney families and their kinfolk were stirring the traditional silver dollar around in the bottom of the copper kettle with the traditional birch paddle to keep the bubbling apple butter from sticking. McKinney braved 27-degree weather to keep the fire stoked and the silver dollar moving, a process that requires several hours. The two families make the preparation of apple butter a tradition each November, sticking faithfully to the old hill customs to assure a delectable product and preserve a tradition of many generations of hill folks. The night before, McKinney’s parents, the Jim McKinneys, were among the relatives who offered to help peel the three bushels of apples. Mrs. McKinney recalled that she hadn’t operated an apple peeler for 52 years, but that in the heyday of apple industry here, she and her partner, working in pairs, could peel 85 bushels a day.
40 Years Ago Pea Ridge Graphic Scene Vol. 14 No. 48 Wednesday, Nov. 28, 1979
Members of the Pea Ridge District 109 Board of Education received a sheet of information to be considered when they develop a policy on the acceptance of out-of-district students wanting to enroll in the Pea Ridge schools. The sheet prepared by school superintendent Roy Roe, noted: “The board should remember that in setting any policy on tuition (whether student is instate or out of state) that they may still judge each student application individually and have the option to accept or not accept.”
30 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 24 No. 48 Thursday, Nov. 30, 1989
A recent scare of contaminated water in the Garfield area forced Garfield officials to have the State Health Department test the city’s water. According to city recorder Vickie Blackburn, rumors were circulating through town that people had gotten sick from drinking the water. She said that among the tests done by the Health Department were for human and animal waste and chlorine levels. Blackburn said that the city has received the test results from the Health Department and that the water is perfect.
20 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 34 No. 48 Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999
The South Carolina man accused of plotting the murder of his wife — who
was living in Pea Ridge — has been tagged by the FBI as a large-scale drug dealer. According to a seizure warrant affidavit issued by the U.S. District Court of South Carolina, Kneece and his murdered former wife are alleged to have imported larges amounts of marijuana from Texas, California and Arizona. The affidavit paints a picture of large amounts of secreted cash, a smoothly running drug business and the means of payment in a murder-forhire scheme.
10 Years Ago The TIMES of Northeast Benton County Vol. 44 No. 48 Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009
Feeling a unique kinship to small communities, Dr. Rhonda Higgins has returned to Pea Ridge to serve young and old at the new Northwest Family Medicine clinic. Higgins said she loves the “hometown feeling” in Pea Ridge.
The Pea Ridge High School cheerleaders competed in three cheer competitions and will leave for Hot Springs Friday to compete for the State Title in class 1A-4A CO-ED Cheerleading State Championship. The cheerleaders have won several awards, including first place in their division at the Siloam Springs Cheer Invitational, first place in their division and Overall Grand Champions at the Gentry Cheer Classic and a third place finish at the ACCA-NWA competition held at HarBer High School.