RECOLLECTIONS

40 years ago

An open house for the purpose of meeting some of the Benton County candidates was announced by Golda and Fred Calvin. The Calvins issued a special invitation to all the candidates seeking offices in Pea Ridge.

The fancy, shmancy insignia on Bill Smith’s police car was a gift to him from the Beaumont, Texas, Police Department, where his brother worked.

The resurfacing of U.S.

Highway 62 from the Arkansas Highway 72 junction to Gateway was almost finished and a great improvement over the old highway, which some called “the torture run.” One man that made the drive daily from Rogers to Gateway had those words printed on the side of his truck.

30 years ago

Fred Sutton Sr. visited The Times office on crutches to formerly announce his withdrawal from the race for city councilman. He was due to have hip surgery and expected an extended period of recuperation.

With the close of voter registration Oct. 21, the county’s total registered voters was near the 40,000 mark and Pea Ridge country’s total was 3,318. Mt. Vernon (including the city of Pea Ridge) had a total of 1,242 voters. Garfield Township, including the Town of Garfield, had 541.

A small tornado hit Pea Ridge country, accompanied by rain and hail. Owen Wood reported 2.1 inches of rain along with the hail and tornado. Damage at his farm included trees down, limbs off trees and a tool shed destroyed.

20 years ago

A Garfield couple brokeground on a chapel on Whitney Mountain that would seat 110 people. Joe and Bobbie Phillips said the chapel would be completed sometime the following year and was designed for tourists.

The Pea Ridge City Council’s proposed budget was the largest in the history of Pea Ridge that year at $887,680.

The U.S. Census Bureau notified Pea Ridge that its challenge to the preliminary figures was accepted for a recount. The count showed a population of 1,443, a decrease of 45 person since the 1980 census.

10 years ago

The Pea Ridge City Council voted to drop the services of Ozark Regional Transit, which requested $5,145 fromthe city for the services it provided, an increase from the $1,638 requested the year before.

The Pea Ridge Blackhawks took a major step towardreturning to the Class AA state playoffs with a Friday night decisive 21-0 road-win against Decatur. Rushing was led by Michael Easterling and T.J. Rogers.