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, 20 and 30 years ago.

10 years ago in Clark County

Jan. 9, 2013
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office began investigating an armed robbery at the Dollar General in Gurdon. The suspect, Kevin Bolton, would later be named as a suspect in an unrelated homicide and found guilty.

Jan. 10, 2013
The Southwest Arkansas Pregnancy Resource Center received approval from the Arkadelphia Planning Commission to place a sign at a Clinton Street office that would later become the newly formed organization’s headquarters.

Jan. 14, 2013
Local law enforcement leaders began talks with teachers at Arkadelphia Public Schools regarding how to handle a campus crisis situation. The discussion was in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

20 years ago in Clark County

Jan. 2, 2003
Sheriff Troy Tucker was pictured alongside AGFC officer Bobby Barger with a rifle in each of their hands they had confiscated following the arrest of five men accused of night hunting in the Open Banks area.

Jan. 3, 2003
Newly elected county officials were settling in during their first day on the job. Those new officers were county Judge Ron Daniell, Circuit Clerk Penny Ross and Assessor Kasey Summerville.

Jan. 7, 2003
Arkadelphia police were investigating the arson of a duplex at 226 Main Street, and had arrested a Bluff City man for allegedly spreading lighter fluid onto the floor of a bedroom and igniting it during a domestic disturbance.

Elk Horn Bank announced the acquisition of Superior Banks, bringing the total number of Elk Horn’s branches to six in Clark and Hot Spring counties.

Jan. 8, 2003
Retired OBU professor Paul Root was featured for compiling and publishing a book about President Bill Clinton, whom Root taught in high school four decades prior.

Jan. 9, 2003
Alcoa Inc.’s Arkadelphia facility was spared from the company’s decision to sell four of its plants in Arkansas — Bauxite, Magnolia, Springdale and Russellville.

Jan. 10, 2003
The Humane Society of Clark County was in discussion with land surveyors in hopes of constructing a new animal shelter. The shelter at the time was located near the grounds of the Arkadelphia Human Development Center in Caddo Valley.

To encourage business development and at the behest of public works director Jimmy Bolt, the Arkadelphia Planning Commission gave its approval of rezoning several lots on Pine Street — between the intersections of 22nd and 24th streets, as well as half a dozen lots in the Twin Oaks addition — from residential to commercial. One commissioner who cast a dissenting vote (it passed 4-3) voiced concerns for “little old ladies” who lived in the area.

Jan. 13, 2003
Caddo Street was undergoing a redesign project that included adding 30 inches of width, changing its grade and slope to enhance drainage, and to add curbs, gutters and sidewalks.

Alcoa announced it would be reducing staff at its Gum Springs plant by more than 12 workers. It had 86 employees at the time.

Jan. 14, 2003
Justices of the peace opposed the development of a landfill proposed to be constructed on land owned by International Paper Co. near Gurdon. 

In a separate matter, justices voted in favor of raising monthly rates for county residents’ garbage pickup, bumping the monthly cost from $5 to $8.

30 years ago in Clark County

Jan. 6, 1993
Troy Tucker began his term as Clark County sheriff,  naming retired state policeman Glen Owens as his chief deputy and jail administrator.

Jan. 7, 1993
Arkadelphia businessmen Percy Malone and Eddie Arnold were in the process of preparing a bid to buy the Hospitality Care Center. They would later enter a bid of $381,750 on a short-term lease of the building from the county. The highest bidder was a Heber Springs company, offering $1.5 million for outright sale of the home. County Judge Jim Fisher accepted the highest bid.

Jan. 8, 1993

Jan. 11, 1993
It took 10 minutes for 4,000 Elvis Presley stamps to sell at the Arkadelphia Post Office. Most in the crowd of 50-60 residents who lined up were turned away with nothing. Early fans purchased two and three sheets of 40 stamps at $11.60 per sheet.

Jan. 13, 1993

Jan. 14, 1993
The Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce sent President-elect Bill Clinton a gift basket containing peanut brittle from three local brittle factories to spotlight the town as the Peanut Brittle Capitol of the World.