PEA RIDGE — 40 years ago

Extreme high temperatures and high humidity was blamed for the death of 1,855 turkeys in the area that would have gone to market that night. The turkeys were owned by Webb’s Feed and Seed and pastured on the Carroll Jones farm northeast of Pea Ridge.

Tim Wood, a Pea Ridge native who had recently returned home following his discharge from the U.S. Army, became a partner in the A and D Grocery when he purchased Fred Abbott’s share of the business.

Johnny Goins, Ronny Evans and Denver Jennings were pictured sliding poles into a specialty gate at Pea Ridge National Military Park. The students worked 26 hours a week at the park as a summer job.

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30 years ago

Following formal inspection of completed construction, Gann Ridge Road was accepted by the state of Arkansas Highway Department and Benton County.

The Pea Ridge Jaycettes Fourth of July celebration was a hit, according to the chairman Penny Wimmer. Little Miss Firecracker and Mr. Hot Shot were elected and adults and kids participated in three-legged races, sack races, egg tosses and water balloon tosses.

Beta Alpha Sorority donated $519 to the Pea Ridge Parks Commission from proceeds from the skat-a-thon. Virgie Hazelton was pictured presenting the check to Bob Harp, park commission chairman. The contribution was earmarked for construction of a park pavilion.

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20 years ago

Clues about why three unidentified males assaulted a 40-year-old man in Pea Ridge were being sought by the Pea Ridge Police Department. Police Chief Sam Holcomb responded to an automobile accident at the intersection of Ark. Hwys. 94 and 265 where the driver, Johnny L. King, had been beaten and the car’s windshield smashed in.

Melanie McClain, a 1976 Pea Ridge High School graduate, had a leading role in a new play, Geriatric Blues, opening in Eureka Springs that week. McClain said she planned to at one point go to California, New York and possibly London for auditions.

As a unanimous selection as parade marshal in that year’s Pea Ridge Fair, retired Pea Ridge Elementary School teacher Dorothy Halvorson led the parade through town. Halvorson started teaching in Pea Ridge in 1967 and taught second grade for one year and first grade for 12 years.

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10 years ago

The school maintenance department cut down a 100-yearold oak tree on the old high school campus. Superintendent Roy Norvell explained the tree was diseased and several “large chunks” had fallen from the tree during recent high winds. Bob Everett, owner of Everdale Gardens, suggested using the wood from the tree for something lasting, perhaps a class project.

Rev. D. Max Whitfield, Fayetteville District Superintendent for the United Methodist Church, announced the appointment of Rev. Donn Roach as pastor of the Pea Ridge UMC congregation. He was also to be pastor of the Centerton congregation.

Eleven-year-old Teshia Watts, daughter of Michele and Michael McCool of Pea Ridge, came home after a short stay in St. John’s Hospital in Joplin, Mo., where she was treated after beings swept under a low bridge in McDonald County, Mo., by a current and pulled into a culvert.

Church, Pages 2 on 07/07/2010