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
Aug. 22, 2012
Authorities arrested a Prescott man after he lead police on a back-and-forth chase on Interstate 30, switching several times between the eastbound and westbound lanes.
Unofficial enrollment at Arkadelphia Public Schools was 1,960 students.
Aug. 23, 2012
Caddo Valley’s police chief warned the city council that his department would need $8,000 added to its fuel budget to make it through the rest of the year.
Aug. 27, 2012
The Henderson State University Board of Trustees voted to purchase 1225 Wilson St. for $95,000 to square off an existing parking lot.
15 years ago in Clark County
Aug. 21, 2007
Country music star and songwriter Keith Anderson performed for Henderson students on the quad. Anderson wrote “Beer Run” which was made a hit duo by country music legends Garth Brooks and George Jones.
Aug. 22, 2007
Henderson reported an enrollment of 810 new freshmen, the largest incoming class in 15 years. Residence life director Cris McGough reported dorms were filled to capacity.
Aug. 23, 2007
The Arkadelphia City Board purchased 15.82 acres near the north end of Dexter Florence Memorial Field for $142,380.
Aug. 27, 2007
The Clark County Courthouse was selected as the historical association’s Christmas ornament.
Fern and Arthur, the wooden crossing guards put in place at Perritt Primary School to slow motorists, were kidnapped for the fifth time in the 12 years they had been in use. Their kidnapping was presumed to be a prank pulled off by college students. Then-Prosecutor Blake Batson joked with reporters that he was seeking the death penalty for those responsible.
20 years ago in Clark County
Aug. 21, 2002
Arkadelphia Public Schools began the school year with $1.6 million in the bank and was in “solid financial shape” for the upcoming year.
Aug. 22, 2002
The Caddo Valley Police Department implemented the LOCATER system to aid in locating missing children.
Aug. 23, 2002
Carman Deaton, 9, was lauded for saving the life of another child while visiting family in Oklahoma. Deaton pulled a peer from a swimming pool and saved the child from drowning.
Bismarck Public Schools started the new school year with 30 new students, which caused overcrowding on its campuses.
Aug. 26
Lightning was the cause of a house fire on Frost Road. The two-story home wasn’t heavily damaged, and there were no injuries reported as a result of the strike.
Aug. 28
The Badgers began their football season with a scrimmage game against De Queen at the newly built Badger Stadium.
Jim Lloyd began his career at Arkadelphia Public Schools as the new band director.
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