PEA RIDGE — 40 Years Ago

Congratulations to Fred McKinney, who passed the 30-year mark with Webb’s Feed and Seed. He joined the firm in 1940, the same year Webb’s obtained the Purina franchise in Pea Ridge.

The annual Pea Ridge Athletic Banquet was scheduled for May 1 in the school cafeteria.

Harold Horton, assistant coach from the University of Arkansas, was set to be the featured speaker and the high school athletes were awarded.

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Popken of Rock Rapids, Iowa, bought the Park Motel from Mr. and Mrs.

L.A. Good and were to take possession May 15.

30 Years Ago

Mark Easterling was elected to complete the unexpired term of Keith Escue on the Pea Ridge District 109 Board of Education at the monthly meeting.

Some mushroom seekers in the woods near Twelve Corners Road reported what they thought was a shallow grave, but when deputy Cliff Taylor went to investigate, he found the soft, recently tended soil was a patch of marijuana. He dug up the 60 plants and flushed them down the drain at the county jail house.

Benton County Quorum Court voted unanimously to fund a request by NEBCO for county funds and to recommend state funds for the building of a new fire station in Garfield.

20 Years Ago

At least 18 people lost their jobs and Garfield lost its only manufacturer when First NationalBank and Trust of Rogers foreclosed on Woodstock Woodworking Corp.

Construction began on the $130,000 Pea Ridge Elementary School library/ media center, which was expected to be completed in September.

After 60 years in Pea Ridge, the “Day Station” at Curtis and Pickens was razed to make room for a new building. John Easley, owner of Easley’s Ace Hardware, purchased the building and property.

10 Years Ago

The Pea Ridge Blackhawk baseball team was crowned champions of the 1-AA conference after beating Shiloh Christian Academy 4-2 through 6 1/2 innings, a 15-minuterain delay, wild base running, an ejected coach and a huge play in the outfield.

Winners of the Pea Ridge High School srt competition were Melissa Wagner, Laurie Fowler, Rachel Hignite, Elena Musteata, Andrew Mason, Jerid Leach and Michael Jones.

Builder Rick Wesson of Avoca decided to rebuild his neighbors’ home on Radar Road after it was struck by lightning and consumed by fire. As he explained the situation to his work crew and others, more and more people got involved so that homeowners wouldn’t owe anything when the project was done.

Church, Pages 2 on 04/28/2010