RECOLLECTIONS

PEA RIDGE — 40 Years Ago

A gathering of what is believed to have been the largest number of Boy Scouts ever to visit the Pea Ridge National Military Park at one time took place Saturday. Approximately 80 to 100 scouts met at the park to visit the museum, hear instructions and embark on the 10-mile hiking trail.

Pea Ridge schools were dismissed at the end of the day Wednesday, Dec. 23, and would remain closed until Monday, Jan. 4, 1971.

The monthly meeting of City Council was postponed to Dec. 17 due to the absence of a quorum.

Mayor Jack Musteen and alderman Charles Phillips were the only two personspresent. Absent were city recorder Fred McKinney and aldermen Jerry Wilkerson, Lee Otis Hall and Joe Lasater.

30 Years Ago

The Pea Ridge City Council concluded preliminary negotiations with FmHa on the financing of the city’s sewer project after a motion by Lee Hall, seconded by Alva Johnson.

Many residents attended the meeting.

Dr. Wilson, Nell Webb and others made the Christmas wish of Alma Woods Mesnard come true. Mesnard, 86, lived in a nursing home in Fort Smith, but wanted to visit Pea Ridge. A drop-in was held in Webb’s home for old friends to visitMesnard.

20 Years Ago

The Pea Ridge High School Band, under the direction of David Dickey and student director Doug Blevins, won first place in the Rogers Christmas parade.

The Pea Ridge School Board examined the new in-school suspension program.

Brothers Leon and Charlie Partain opened Pea Ridge Tire and Automotive on North Curtis Avenue

Jackie Collins was featured as the good cook. She shared recipes for lasagna, enchilada casserole and mandarin orange cake.

10 Years Ago

An early snow closed Pea Ridge schools at 10 a.m. andpostponed the regularlyscheduled School Board meeting.

Garfield City Council approved a budget nearly 50 percent above its 2000 budget of $208,723, allocating $50,000 to improvements to Tall Oaks Road, $20,000 for remodeling city hall, $13,000 for a storage building and fencing for city equipment and $6,000 for a truck.