For the Week in Clark County History, we combed through bound copies of the Daily Siftings Herald to choose some front-page news from editions dating 10, 15 and 20 years ago.

10 years ago in Clark County

Dec. 11, 2012
Justices of the Peace voted to spend $10,000 toward purchasing the right-of-way for an old railroad linking Gurdon to Glenwood.

Dec. 14, 2012
A 9-year-old Richwoods boy was lauded for having saved his parents and younger brother from a house fire. The youngster told the newspaper his mom had taught him how to dial 911, and that he rushed his family out of the house after seeing electrical sparks grow into flames.

15 years ago in Clark County

Dec. 11, 2007
The historic Gurdon railroad hotel burned to the ground.

Dec. 12, 2007
City leaders heard from festival organizers in Hope (Watermelon Festival) and Magnolia (Blossom Festival) who shared their suggestions on restarting a festival in Arkadelphia.

Dec. 13, 2007
A Gurdon teenager was hospitalized with serious injuries after recreating a merry-go-round stunt made popular on MTV’s “Jackass”. 

Dec. 14, 2007
The Arkadelphia Planning Commission OK’d a measure allowing a building supply center to locate in the former cinema/discount store space on North 10th Street.

Dec. 17, 2007
The Arkadelphia Police Department blamed college students for several stolen Christmas decorations throughout the city.

20 years ago in Clark County

Dec. 11, 2002
HSU’s board of trustees unanimously approved a 2% salary increase for 311 of the university’s 433 employees. Unexpected increases in tuition and food service revenue during the fall semester enabled the school to grant the pay raise, Bobby Jones, vice president for finance and administration, told the board.

Dec. 12, 2002
The Arkadelphia Utilities Department was in the process of trying to connect 58 residents to the city’s sewer system. 

Dec. 13, 2002
Arkadelphia’s Planning Commission asked for a proposal to rezone a large portion of Pine Street from residential to commercial in order to “provide some uniformity” to the area.

Dec. 16, 2002
A fire overnight destroyed three Arkadelphia businesses, all on the 100 block of North 10th Street. They were Video Concepts, where the fire originated, A&A Gas Works and A&A Plumbing.