News & History

Week in Clark County history: March 12

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

March 12, 2013
The Arkadelphia Police Department executed the controlled burn of a condemned house on South Second Street as part of both a training exercise and city beautification initiative.

March 13, 2013
The Ouachita River Commission voted to award Arkadelphia with a $6,250 grant to begin Phase I of the Highway 7 “bridge park” beneath the old river bridge.

March 14, 2013
Betty Macon, who at the time was president of Arkadelphia’s Sunshine Service Club, was invited by former Gov. Mike Beebe to attend the proclamation ceremony in Little Rock declaring the month of March National Women’s Month.

March 15, 2013
The Clark County Quorum Court voted to increase the millage rate for property owners of Arkadelphia, Caddo Valley, and Gum Springs from 49.2 to 50.5. This meant that a house valued at $100,000 would have property taxes at $1,010 as opposed to $984.

March 18, 2013
A fiery 18-wheeler crash sent Arkadelphia and Gum Springs firefighters to Interstate 30. The driver ran into the ditch after attempting to pick something up that he had dropped on the floorboard. The driver was not injured in the accident.

20 years ago in Clark County

March 12, 2003
The construction of Henderson State University’s athletic field house, now called the Formby Athletic Center, was close to completion. The university also announced the start of a $1.6 million project removing asbestos from the Duke Wells Center, home to HSU basketball and volleyball games.

March 13, 2003
The Arkadelphia High School Quiz Bowl team announced their future participation in the state competition.

Quiz Bowl team members are, seated from left: Mary Dunn, Margaret Whipple, Josh Richards, and Kris Coon; standing: Jesse Dixon, Nicholas Daily, Aaron Friedley, Nicole Freeman, and Mallory Moore.

March 14, 2003
Arkadelphia firefighters responded to a house fire on 16th Street. They soon learned that the renter’s dog was in one of the bedrooms. After extinguishing the flames caused by a television with faulty wiring, firefighters found the dog and carried it outside to reunite with its owner, Matt Green.

Matt Green holding his dog

March 17, 2003
Former state Sen. Percy Malone was celebrated for his Senate Bill 369, which was responsible for appropriating more funds to Henderson State University.

March 18, 2003
Former state Rep. Tommy Roebuck called on his former experience as a U.S. Army Reserve colonel while serving the house Military Affairs Committee.

30 years ago in Clark County

March 12, 1993
The Henderson State University fraternity Sigma Tau blamed the Sig Ep fraternity for burning the sign outside of their frat house.

March 15, 1993
Elizabeth J. Pruet of El Dorado and June Waggoner of Houston, Texas, were honored as 1993 Ouachita Women of the Year by the Association of Women Studies at Ouachita Baptist University.

March 16, 1993
A long-range campus plan for the Bismarck School District was proposed by a Camden architect, which included the grouping of students by grade and better handicap accessibility.

March 17, 1993
A $170,000 renovation of the railroad depot at Walnut Street was unveiled at an Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce meeting.

March 18, 1993
Engineers asked for $1.9 million in grants and loans from the federal Rural Development Administration for water and sewage improvements to the Gurdon School District.

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