Recollections

40 Years Ago

Wednesday, Sept. 18, 1974

Pea Ridge Graphic-Scene

Following action of the Pea Ridge City Council Thursday night and action of the new city-appointed Library Board of Trustees, the Pea Ridge Community Library is now an official part of the city of Pea Ridge.

Fire of undetermined origin broke out at the Paul Arnold residence on South Davis Street shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday. Two trucks and 11 firemen responded to the summons, and firemen brought the blaze under control. Acting Fire Chief Charles Hardy said that the fire started near a stereo in an upstairs bedroom.

A four and a half pound sweet potato was among many large ones raised this year by Mr. and Mrs. Vallis Ford of Route 1, Garfield.

30 Years Ago

Wednesday, Sept. 19, 1984

Pea Ridge Country Times

Wind and rain Friday night and early Saturday morning, coupled with old age and deterioration, resulted in the collapse of the roof of the old Pea Ridge school gymnasium. Saturday, a special meeting of the Board of Education was called at the scene to make the decision to demolish the building and level off the area to avoid any injuries.

With all members of the Town Council in agreement, Avoca approved an ordinance regulating mobile homes within the town and agreed to send the petitions calling for a reduction of the speed limit on U.S. Highway 62 to Gov. Bill Clinton and a number of other officials.

Garfield 4-H winners Dayna Grimes, Leah Grimes, Lisa Robbins and Kelly Brizendine came home from the Benton County Fair proud. They took the first place trophy in Dairy Judging activity and Leah took the trophy for high point individual. Their leader is Tim Stanford.

20 Years Ago

Thursday, Sept. 22, 1994

The TIMES of Northeast Benton County

Dan Marlow, manager of the Ozark Mart at Arkansas Highways 94 and 72 in Pea Ridge, said the business installed four new modern pump stations last week at a cost of $65,000. The new pumps effectively doubled the pumping capacity.

The man who handles property leases in Arkansas for the U.S. Postal Service said from his Dallas office this week that a decision about the location of a new Post Office in Pea Ridge may be a month or two away because the bids he has received are too high. Postal official Larry Brooks said, "The offers we got were just astronomical ... something you would expect in downtown Little Rock."

Continued growth in enrollment forced the Pea Ridge School Board to hire two more teachers, one for the third grade and the other for a combination kindergarten-first grade. Latest enrollment figures show a total of 931 students compared to 845 at the end of school last spring.

10 Years Ago

Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2004

The TIMES of Northeast Benton County

The Pea Ridge Blackhawks may have been out-manned but they sure weren't overmanned as they whipped the Mansfield Tigers 21-14 on the road for their first victory of the season. Pea Ridge, one of the smallest schools in the AAA division of the state, had half the number of players as Mansfield but refused to be worn down.

Business owners' concerns brought before a fledgling regional chamber of commerce Sept 14 in the Garfield Elementary gymnasium included infrastructure concerns, long-range planning needs and the dues structure.