RECOLLECTIONS

PEA RIDGE — 40 years ago

The Pea Ridge City Council voted to purchase two downtown buildings as a city hall. The buildings formerly housed the Elkhorn Gun and Gift Shop and Walker’s Radio and TV, and were purchased from Nada Z. Taylor for $7,890, with a $600 down payment and annual installments after that for nine years.

The Pea Ridge Chamber of Commerce extended a welcome to the newest businesses in town, Pea Ridge Car Wash, Quicke Shoppe and Pea Ridge Paint Store.

Local teenagers from a neighboring town were the first to hike the new 10-mile trail at Pea Ridge National Military Park. One of them shared his notes on the hike, including sighting wildlife and coming across an injured quail. They spent four or five hours on the hike.

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30 years ago

The Avoca City Council held a hearing to receive citizens’ opinions about the proposed franchise for gas from the Arkansas Western Gas Association.

Discussion was held about whether to charge a franchise tax. No decision was made and a second hearing was scheduled.

The 1980 Pea Ridge High School HomecomingQueen, Vanessa Mahurin, was escorted by Fred Sutton and David Dye.

Mr. and Mrs. Gene Dilda, who opened the Battlefield Restaurant at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 62 and Arkansas Hwy. 72, announced the sale of the business to Construction Enterprises Inc., a locally-owned Arkansas corporation. The company told The Times they planned to develop a “very nice dining room, separated from the coffee shop.”

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20 years ago

Lions Club president Dale Wagner estimated the crowd at that year’s Mule Jump between 4,000 and 4,500, double the number who attended the first mule jump the year before.

Wagner said the revenue from the event exceeded $7,000.

Pea Ridge Mayor Mary Rogers said that no additional taxes would be required to serve residents who would be annexed into the city with a favorable vote Nov. 6. She also said homeowners insurance would decrease for residents in that area.

Beta Alpha Sorority sponsored a St. Jude’s Bikea-thon from Pea Ridge High School to City Park.

Riders collected pledges for the ride. The Bank of Pea Ridge donated a bicycle for the person who brought in the most money

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10 years ago

Billy Clark edged out Terry Anderson with a narrow 11-vote margin totake position 5 on the Pea Ridge School Board. Clark received 110 votes to Anderson’s 83. Clark replaced Sandy Easley, who did not run for re-election.

Two mules tied for the annual Pea Ridge Mule Jump’s Negel Hall award.

Red, owned by Boop Williams of Skaitook, Okla., and Missy, owned by Harold Shockely of Powell, Mo., finished the day with 17 points each. Winner of the mule jump over 51 inches was Jethro, a mule jumped by Becky O’Brien of Goodman, Mo.

Pea Ridge senior Stephanie Vickers was crowned 2000 Homecoming Queen by Blackhawk Ben Sebree.

She was escorted by her father, Clay Vickers.