PEA RIDGE — 40 years ago

City Council members spent considerable time discussing the proposed new animal shelter to be built at Pea Ridge by the Benton County Humane Society.

There was a lot said those days about people being too busy and in too big a hurry to help others. But Hubert Richardson of Pea Ridge found it quite different when he was hauling a load of feed, broke a wheel on his pickup and dumped half the load beside the road. A dozen people stopped to help, including a lady and some young people.

Harold Hurd was appointed the new fire chief at the City Council meeting. He had been appointed acting chief some time before that, but it wasn’t made official until the meeting.

The official appointment was another step in the city’s attempt to meet all state regulations for the local Fire Department in order to retain the new lower fire rate and pursue the lowering of it.

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30 years ago

Bank of Pea Ridge president Rick Buck issued an invitation to all area residents and all friends and patrons of the bank to the open house at the new building. During the day, they served refreshments and savings accounts were opened for lucky persons registering. The facility was said to be one of the most modern in northwest Arkansas.

The Pea Ridge City Park pavilion fund grew that week to $1,100.46, with sev eral memorial gifts to W.D. Warner.

State VFW officials paid an official visit to the Pea Ridge post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

They were pictured with post quartermaster Russell Walker, commander Wayne Ellington, adjutant Jack Gaines and seniorvice-commander Chuck Hazelton. Junior vice-com mander Jack Beisner also attended, but was behind the camera taking the pho to for the Graphic.

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20 years ago

The Pea Ridge School Board approved a recommendation to start a city school bus route at their regular monthly meeting.

Police Chief Sam Holcomb said one bus would be sufficient.

Mary Rogers and Henry Durand, owners of Durand’s Dining Room at the intersection of U.S. Highway 62 and Arkansas High way 72, held a open house with prizes and free meals for the grand opening of the business.

Bob Harp, chairman ofthe Pea Ridge United Fund, sent a letter to businesses requesting donations. Pat Patterson, chairman of the campaign to raise money in Pea Ridge, said she hoped to raise $20,000.

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10 years ago

The Pea Ridge Fire Department received a grant to install 200 smoke alarms in Pea Ridge homes. To receive a smoke alarm, residents had to sign a form promising to test the detectors and replace the batteries each month.

Jim Dawson, Pea Ridge United Fund president, said probably the biggest edition to that year’s Pea Ridge Mule Jump would be an event everyone could participate in - hog calling.

Religion, Pages 2 on 09/15/2010