RECOLLECTIONS

PEA RIDGE — 40 Years Ago

Pea Ridge Fire Chief C.W. Chadwick resigned stating that all local firemen abandoned him at the scene of a fire, leaving him and the fire truck to battle the blaze, along with the help of only the property owners and their neighbor.

The Pea Ridge City Council passed a motion making the office of city marshal in Pea Ridge an appointive office rather than an elective one. The motion was made by alderman Lee Otis Hall.

For the first time in several years, an on-campus prom was scheduled to be held, with the local junior class serving as hosts to the senior class both for prom and the banquet that preceded it.

30 Years Ago

A 16-year-old juvenile was arrested Friday and charged with possession and sale of speed (uppers). Pea Ridge Police Chief Loyd Pifer turned him over to juvenile authorities and confiscated two bottles of drugs.

Pea Ridge City Council voted to extend the time limit on the cable TV franchise six months when the franchise holder stated that the high interest rate on borrowed funds made completion of the original time terms of the franchise unfeasible.

A robbery of a sightseer at Pea Ridge Military Park was reported by park ranger John Knox. A student from the University ofArkansas was taking photos from an overlook when a man came up behind him, told him to raise his hands, had a gun on him and took his camera and cash ($8).

The camera equipment was valued at $600.

20 Years Ago

Pea Ridge alderman Nancy Mendenhall was named to head a committee to study city planning, zoning and possibility of annexation. There were areas that would be worth bringing into the city, but Mendenhall said “You can’t do it all at once.” Mayor Mary Rogers was concerned the growth of Rogers and Bentonville would “smother” Pea Ridge.

Gary Campbell, president of the Arkansas U.S.

62 Business Association, said there was a steady decline in traffic along U.S. Hwy. 62 to Eureka Springs due to a successful advertising promotion by the Scenic Hwy. 12 East Business Association to persuade tourists to travel that route.

The Pea Ridge School Board hired Everett (Butch ) Smith, a native of Alpena, as principal of the high school. Smith’s salary was $36,000.

10 Years Ago

Pea Ridge was slated for an 18-hole championship golf course and 600-home subdivision south of town on Sugar Creek Road. Pea Ridge City Council called a special meeting to discuss financing options for thecity’s costs in relation to the project.

An on-going period of harassment and threats by several juvenile females erupted into physical violence last week when Michelle McCool reported that she was accosted in the IGA parking lot by three girls who had been harassing her and her children for some time.

Fred McKinney was honored at a reception for his 60th anniversary with Webb’s Feed and Seed.

When he joined Webb’s Electric Hatchery and Feed in 1940, Pea Ridge had a population of 350-380 people. The city had no water or sewer system, no gas lines and it had just gotten electricity.