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 26, 2013
The starting amount of the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship decreased from $2,000 the first year of college to $1,000 due to budget constraints, while the Arkadelphia Promise Scholarship maintained an average of $3,000 awarded to each student every year.

March 27, 2013
Dr. Veronikha Salazar joined Henderson State University as associate dean of students, taking on the responsibility of running the Student Leadership Center.

March 28, 2013
The Arkadelphia Board of Education reviewed a policy that would allow any homeschool student enrolled by the Arkansas Department of Education to participate in an Arkadelphia School District extracurricular activities.

March 29, 2013
In celebration of Women’s History Month, three Clark County women were highlighted for their service to their community. The group included Dr. Patricia Wright of Henderson State University, retired educator Virginia Smith, and Clark County Assessor Kacey Summerville, who was the first African American to be elected to a countywide office in Clark County.

20 years ago in Clark County

March 26, 2003
In response to a decrease in state funding, president of Henderson State University Dr. Charles Dunn announces that the school will eliminate 20 staff positions. 12 employees left institution through resignation or retirement, and eight were laid-off.

March 27, 2003
The eighth annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life event was set to be held at the Carpenter-Haygood Stadium at Henderson State University.

March 28, 2003
What started as a controlled burn from a property owner turned into a grass fire spreading to a total of three different yards. The Arkadelphia Police Department put out the flames, only to respond to another out-of-control grass fire the following day. Firefighters warned the public that burning without the city’s permission can result in a hefty fine, or potentially an injury or even death.

March 31, 2003
The committee in charge of the upcoming Festival of Two Rivers announced the event’s community dog show, which included categories such as owner/pet look alike, shortest tail, longest tail, and best dressed.

April 1, 2003
The Henderson State University Board of Trustees rejected an administrative proposal to give six business college professors competitive pay raises.

30 years ago in Clark County

March 26, 1993
$1,000 cash and a weekend trip to New Orleans were among the prizes for the third annual Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce golf tournament at the DeGray State Park golf course.

March 29, 1993
11 Ouachita Baptist University students participated in a mentorship program through the university’s Talent Search program. The college students traveled to high schools throughout southwest Arkansas to encourage high school students to seek higher education.

March 30, 1993
Mountain Home resident Bob Walsh received a package in the mail containing a high school class ring he had lost 28 years prior in Missouri’s Wallace State Park. Walsh and a few of his friends were skipping school at the state park when his friend began drowning in the lake. Walsh lost the ring while rescuing his friend, only for it to be found decades later by Ron Sharp, who liked to use his metal detector at the park. With old yearbooks of the class ring’s high school, Sharp searched for names matching the “B.W.” initials on the ring, and came across Walsh.

March 31, 1993
Henderson State University announced the judges for the upcoming Miss HSU pageant. The judges included Fred Osbourne, Vikita Bell, Louise Hunter, Kelly French, and Elizabeth Farris.

April 1, 1993
Motorcyclist Steve Edmiston started a local chapter of Arkansas Bikers Aiming Toward Education to teach motorcyclists to be safe while driving.