Many things have changed in Pea Ridge in the past 40 years, but one thing has been constant.
Sandy Button has been the face behind the counter at City Hall.
In August 1977, the mayor of Pea Ridge was Carl J. (Cotton) Carter. The city population was 1,088 (according to the 1970 census).
Button (then Easley) was hired "to help with typing." And today, 40 years later, she is still typing.
Button was honored by city employees after the August City Council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 15.
Since Aug. 1, 1977, there have been four mayors and many city employees, but one thing has been constant -- Sandy Button has been on the job.
Button is the city clerk (an elected position), court clerk and office manager, according to Mayor Jackie Crabtree.
Before coming to work at Pea Ridge City Hall, Button was the secretary to the Daisy Manufacturing plant manager, Sheldon Baker. While on maternity leave, she received a call to help with a little typing.
"Forty years later, I'm still typing," she laughed. "I may be here another 40 years."
Mayor Jackie Crabtree laughed that Button began on a typewriter and the first computer was a Lotus 123.
"We got rid of Lotus 123 and went up to Microsoft Office," the mayor said, adding that the technology changes caused a bit of consternation as employees adapted to the change.
Button said that in the late 1970s, water bills were figured on the number of bathrooms in a house.
"I knew how many bathrooms there were in every house. You were billed $1.50 for a one-bathroom house or $2.50 for a two-bathroom house."
Button's expertise eased the way for current Mayor Jackie Crabtree, who was elected to his first term 23 years ago. It was during his tenure that the position became a full-time position. Other mayors under whom Button has served were Lester Hall and Mary Rogers Durand.
Community on 08/23/2017