By The Arkadelphian

For the Week in Clark County History, we combed through bound copies of the Daily Siftings Herald, housed in the archives of Riley-Hickingbotham Library at Ouachita Baptist University. We choose some front-page news from editions dating back 10, 15 and 20 years ago.

Here’s what happened this week 10 years ago

July 18, 2012
Attorney Joe Jackson was sworn in as Caddo Valley’s mayor.

July 19, 2012
Shelley Loe began her role as executive director of the Arkadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce.

July 20, 2012
Low oxygen levels were to blame for the death of thousands of fish that washed up on shore at Gurdon Lake.

Local Caddo Valley businesses and residents pitched in to purchase bulletproof vests for all officers of the Caddo Valley Police Department.

July 23, 2012
After recently losing his hand in a firearm accident, 19-year-old Cody Allen fell some 100 feet down the area of DeSoto Bluff. Rescue personnel responding to the scene said Allen had experienced what is known as “ghost hand” as he reached for a tree with his previously injured hand. He was airlifted to a hospital after firefighters were able to pulley him up from the embankment.

Here’s what happened this week 15 years ago

July 17, 2007
An auction of rapist Wayne Poland’s belongings netted $71,000 to go toward a $27 million debt he incurred as a result of a civil lawsuit from his victims. Among the items up for bid were a Winnebago motor home and a Suzuki automobile. Sheriff David Turner acted as auctioneer.

July 18, 2007
Georgia-Pacific halted its sawmill production, citing a lack of logs from recent heavy rainfall as the reason for sending employees home.

July 19, 2007
HITCO Carbon Composites Inc. announced it would bring 60 jobs to the Clark County Industrial Park over the course of a five-year period.

July 20, 2007
Caddo Valley’s recorder/treasurer Sara Roberts told the city council the city was losing money because the town had no post office.

The Arkadelphia City Board of Directors conducted business at the newly opened Senior Adult Center on North 10th Street, the site of a former bowling alley.

Here’s what happened this week 20 years ago

July 17, 2002
In a state of confusion, an elderly Amity man drove the wrong way on Interstate 30 between Arkadelphia and nearly to Caddo Valley. Arkansas State Police were able to stop him after nearly colliding with the man head-on. His driving also reportedly sent other drivers into the ditch to avoid a collision. He was cited for a traffic violation.

The Red River Baptist Association returned from a mission in Colorado, where it assisted agencies in a series of large wildfires.

July 18, 2002
A homemade bomb destroyed a North 26th Street resident’s mailbox.

Lightning was the cause of a house fire at 1513 Phillips St.

July 19, 2002
The Arkadelphia City Board considered a noise ordinance after one director voiced that he was offended — not by the noise, but by the language he heard while pumping fuel at a gas station.

July 22, 2002
Bismarck Public Schools reported witnessing such an influx in students that it was causing an overcrowding problem.

July 23, 2002
Henderson State University launched its two-year Master of Arts in Teaching program designed to train “career switchers” to become licensed teachers.

General Brake, 140 Deceiper St., sustained major damage to its recycling area from a cardboard fire.

Tony Prothro began as superintendent of Arkadelphia Public Schools.