PEA RIDGE — 40 Years Ago

A tornado skipped along the U.S. Hwy 62 and Ark.

Hwy. 72 intersection to make a devastating landing on a historical landmark inside Pea Ridge National Military Park. In its fury, the tornado struck the Winton Springs house on the battlefield sight. The upper story of the house was occupied by park ranger Joe Sewell and family.

They were not injured.

The Pea Ridge Blackhawks came through to win the district title as track champs to go along with their title in football. It was the seventh year for the school competing in track.

Local senior Jim Brown was awarded the all around athlete at the annual Athletic Banquet sponsored by the Blackhawk Boosters.

Brown played football and basketball and ran track.

30 Years Ago

Lost Bridge Village Community Association initiated actions towards dedication of Posy Mountain Road to Benton County, according to Judge A.E.. Norwood.

The Rev. and Mrs.

George Hunt held their final service at the Pea Ridge United Methodist Church and the church’s new pastor would move to the city and conduct the service two weeks later. Hunt would immediately assume preaching duties in the Elkins and Winslow Methodist churches upon leaving Pea Ridge. The new pastor was the Rev. Mike Mattox.

A milk trailer driven by Roy Edwin Merritt of Pea Ridge overturned on Ark.

Hwy. 72 near Bentonville city limits. He was reportedly going 45 miles per hour when he swerved to avoid an oncoming truck.

He was caught in the cab for some time, taken to Rogers Memorial Hospital and released.

20 Years Ago

Dawna Ray of Pea Ridge was the youngest student to graduate from theUniversity of Arkansas at Monticello at 19. She graduated from Pea Ridge High School when she was 16 in the top 10 percent of her class.

John Easley, the owner of Easley’s Ace Hardware said construction would begin right away on a building across the street from the existing hardware store. A metal building was constructed on the site of the Pea Ridge Day Service Station that was razed the week before.

The Washburn, Mo., City Council approved an ordinance to establish a planning and zoning commission. The first task of the commission was to name all the city streets and number the blocks withincity limits.

10 Years Ago

George Wisely began a new full-time position as pastor of worship and student ministries at Pea Ridge First Baptist Church.

Pea Ridge School Personnel Policies Committee tried to arrange the calendar for three days off at Thanksgiving on the following year’s calendar, to allow for travel and cooking time. Superintendent Roy Norvell said he had never heard of taking three days off for Thanksgiving.

Bill Abrams of Garfield turned a long-time hobby into a business and opened Bill and Betty’s Best Buy (4 B’s) Auto. Bill restored old mustangs and classic cars for resale.

Church, Pages 2 on 05/05/2010