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.

10 years ago in Clark County

July 25, 2012
New federal regulations caused Union-Pacific to derail local plans to construct a Transload Facility for the Clark County Industrial Park.

15 years ago in Clark County

July 24, 2007
Fewer criminal cases were filed in the Clark County Circuit Clerk’s Office. With 238 cases having been filed by this point the previous year, 125 fewer cases had been filed, indicating either a drop in the local crime rate or efficiency among law enforcement agencies, then-Prosecutor Blake Batson told the newspaper.

July 25, 2007
The Arkadelphia Board of Education set a policy prohibiting cell phone usage among students, with consequences ranging from one day out-of-school suspension to five days OSS. The school would also confiscate phones and only return them to the offending students’ parents.

July 26, 2007
The City of Arkadelphia hired the Texarkana- and Hot Springs-based NRS Consulting Engineers to conduct a study of the city’s water and sewer rates.

July 27, 2007
About 150 citizens were in attendance at Ouachita Baptist University’s McBeth Recital Hall for the unveiling of the Clark County Strategic Plan, a 47-page document outlining a plan of action for economic development and improvement.

20 years ago in Clark County

July 24, 2002
Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce director Blain Smith was hoping to recruit businesses to fill the vacant buildings of Walmart, Aalf’s, Harvest Foods and Piggly Wiggly.

The Arkadelphia Board of Education learned from Superintendent Tony Prothro they had over-budgeted by $1.1 million for the upcoming fiscal year. One board member blamed the oversight on the previous administration.

July 26, 2002
Henderson State University began offering a course on canoeing as part of its health, physical education and recreation program.

South Central Arkansas Transit began its “Anyone Can” promotion, offering free rides to passengers who donated canned goods.

July 29, 2002
More than 500 runners participated in the Dam Night Run.

July 30, 2002
Alcoa gifted $12,200 to the South West Arkansas Technology Learning Center for construction toward the facility on South 6th Street that was still under construction. That facility houses the University of Arkansas Extension Offices.