RECOLLECTIONS

PEA RIDGE — 40 years ago

The west halls of the high school building were retiled in preparation for the start of the 1970-71 school year. After laying the tile, Paul Arnold planned to start on the floor of the senior boys’ dressing room in the gym.

The Pea Ridge City Council peeked at the idea of possibly establishing a city park at their regular meeting that month.

The Pea Ridge Jaycees held a regular membership meeting that featured Raymond Pritchett, president of the Arkansas Jaycees, as a guest speaker. This was the first visit to the city by the president in the history of the Jaycees.

Doug McKinney, president of the Pea Ridge Jaycees, also welcomed 36 enthusiastic young men, including members of clubs from Gravette and Siloam Springs, as guests.

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30 years ago

The rumor that typhoid was found in the White River and Beaver Lake was denied by Bob Anderson, resident engineer, U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers, Rogers.

Two juveniles were arrested for making threatening bomb calls to Pea Ridge residents. Brothers, ages 11 and 15, said they were unaware of the seriousness of what they were doing as they called residents telling them that bombs had been planted in their homes.

An advertisement for the Bank of Pea Ridge bragged on the two drive-up lanes now in operation for banking convenience. Hours were from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.

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20 years ago

Pea Ridge Mayor Mary Rogers told council members that Police Chief Sam Holcomb would supervise the Pea Ridge ambulance department, instead of FireChief Jerry Collins.

A chain link fence was installed along Arkansas Highway 265 on city park property for safety of children, to keep them from running out in the road, and also enforce the hours of the park which were from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.

A Supreme Court ruling forced the Benton County Sheriff’s Office to lose the aid of area city police officers. Pea Ridge Police Chief Sam Holcomb said his department would no longer assist the Sheriff’s office outside of Pea Ridge city limits.

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10 years ago

Enrollment on the first day of school at Pea Ridge High School showed aslight increase on the year before, according to superintendent Roy Norvell.

First day total enrollment was 1,139 students in 1999 compared to 1,156 students in 2000.

The seventh annual Arkansas Emu Association meeting was held at City Park. Growers and vendors from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri attended the meeting and trade show.

Ashley Kaye Glass, 16, the daughter of Rick and Kimberly Glass of Pea Ridge, was named Miss Arkansas American Teen, which qualified her to represent Arkansas in the 2000 National American Teen Pageant at Walt Disney World in Florida.