Civic leader
25 years ago: 1991
Defense Secretary Dick Cheney on Friday recommended closing 43 U.S. military bases by mid-1993, including two in Arkansas. Cheney’s recommendation to close Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville and Fort Chaffee near Fort Smith still must be approved by an independent eightmember Base Closure and Realignment Commission, which could overrule him. The commission, which can add or subtract bases, is expected to face a fierce lobbying campaign by affected communities and congressmen because there is little chance the proposal it submits by July 1 can be overturned by Congress.
50 years ago: 1966
“You wouldn’t believe how little we paid,” said Mayor O.T. Yates of Bartlett of the site for the new Bartlett library. Mayor Yates last night announced purchase of the one-acre site in downtown Bartlett from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad for $2,500. The new library building will be financed by the Shelby County Court. The site is on Stage Road west of the L&N Railroad crossing. “There’s enough of the L&N land left for a site for the new post office to be built here,” Mayor Yates said. “It is one of three sites being considered by the Post Office Department.”
75 years ago: 1941
Manager Jimmy Wilson revealed Saturday night that Dizzy Dean, the Chicago Cub celebrated sore-arm pitcher, again is taking treatments in a desperate effort to regain his winning form.
100 years ago: 1916
The Board of Education today elected Thomas A. Early president of the Tennessee Polytechnic School. Prof. Early is at present an official at Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College.
125 years ago: 1891
The demand for an extra session of the Legislature to redistrict the state in accordance with the provisions of the constitution is growing.