PEA RIDGE — 40 Years Ago

The Pea Ridge School Board accepted the resignation of Alton Parish and hired Bruce Holland as principal for the remainder of the school year. A lengthy, heated discussion followed on a blueprint for the proposed remodeling of the gym, which the board said had been authorized without the board being consulted.

The town meeting, previously postponed due to snow, was to discuss the purchase of a new fire-truck and the installation of water mains to reduce the town’s insurance ratings.

30 Years Ago

Pea Ridge’s Blackhawk basketballers slowed down the game, deliberately, kept the scoring close, defeating the Elkins Elks 32-29, at Decatur, to win their first game in the district tournament.

Breaking their losing streak (the Elks had won the last three), the ’Hawks won the right to face Winslow in the next round of the tournament at Decatur.

The Northeast Benton County Volunteer Fire Department sponsored a chili and pie supper to raise funds for construction of a second fire station to be built in Garfield, Ark.

NEBCO Fire Chief Bob Kline said a second station is sorely needed for the department to be able to adequately serve all areas under its protection.

20 Years Ago

There are 200 miles or so of highway in Northeast Benton County that are free of discarded aluminum cans, at least once a week. That’s how often Albert Kraus, who lives near Pea Ridge, travels his routes picking up the discarded cans and saving them for resale to Alcoa Aluminum. Kraus estimated that his trailer- given to him by Alcoa - contains 9,500 aluminum cans, weighing about 980 pounds. When Kraus first started, Alcoa paid 18 cents per pound, now he receives 32 cents per pound.

Charles Womack is chairman of the recently-appointed Health Education Task Force, which is a group of citizens and educators who advise the school board in areas of health education.

It is to make recommendations concerning child abuse, child neglect, substance abuse and health/sex education. In Pea Ridge, many students are sharing needles to pierce their ears, said officials. Students were also said to share razor blades to scratch “chicken tracks” on their hands. Allthese practices can spread the HIV virus, which becomes the disease AIDS, they said.

10 Years Ago

Josh Cranford, a member of Garfield Boy Scout Troop 911, was praised at the Blue and Gold Banquet at Pea Ridge Middle School cafeteria for his quick thinking in stopping a fire. Cranford said his Scout Master, NEBCO fireman Rick Wiedner, had taught the troop about fighting fires and he knew to put dirt on the fire, as well as to use water to douse the flames. At the banquet, Weidner read a letter from Cranford’s neighbor in which she said, “I just wanted to say how really grateful I am to you. I know that if it hadn’t been for your quick thinkingand fast work I would have lost my entire house and belongings and my kitty.”

The people who used to live on Letteer Road in Avoca now live on Sheperd Road. The Avoca City Council accepted a petition signed by nine of the 11 residents living on Letteer Road to change its name. Then they approved a motion for the city attorney to research and draw up an ordinance accepting the road into the city.

In other action, Howard L. Slinkard was appointed Avoca city attorney by resolution at $100 per hour fees.

The vote was three to one.

Councilman John Biddinger voted no saying he did not want Slinkard to think he had unanimous support.

Church, Pages 2 on 02/23/2011