Month in Clark County history: May

For the Month in Clark County History, we combed through bound copies of the Daily Siftings Herald housed in the archives at Ouachita Baptist University. Here are some front-page news briefs from editions dating 10, 20 and 30 years ago.

In May 1994:

• The main branch bank of Merchants & Planters Bank of Arkadelphia was razed in preparation for parking facilities to accommodate the new M&P building, which also served as headquarters for the Central Arkansas BancShares Holding Co.

• Hundreds of Louisa E. Perritt Primary School students marched from the school to the Daily Siftings Herald for the annual “Just Say No” anti-drug walk. Miss Arkansas 1993 Nicole Methmann and New Orleans DEA agent Michael Streicher spoke to the children about being drug-free.

• Wanda O’Quinn, former principal of Louisa E. Perritt Primary School, instructed students in the Japanese way of eating rice with chopsticks, which she brought back to the United States from her study in Japan. Pictured, from left, are Kyle Pounders, Blake Moody, O’Quinn, and Suzanne Jansen (wearing Yukados).

In May 2004:

• With the former dormitory being uninhabited by students and mainly used for storage for over 15 years, it was time to bring down Henderson State University’s Turrentine Hall dormitory, which was built in the 1960s.

• More than 2 inches of rain fell on Arkadelphia in less than two hours, causing streets to flood in many areas. Crews from city’s street and water and sewer departments were called to a residence on Logan Street near 12th Street when water began bubbling up from the ground in a couple of places and flooded the yard. A storm sewer drain in the area reportedly caved in, causing the rush of water. The city got more than 4 inches of rain over the course of two days.

• Students at Peake Elementary School took a break from classes and went outside for the annual Jay Davis Days. They were divided into teams by classes and competed in a variety of events, including relays, an egg toss and tug-a-war. 

• Second Baptist Church, located at 12th and Walnut streets, got a steeple for its new sanctuary. A crane was used to lift the parts of the steeple.

In May 2014:

The second Warrior Dash obstacle course and run drew hundreds of people to the small town of Amity.

• Construction was under way at Ouachita Baptist University’s Cliff Harris Stadium. It would be a tight schedule, but completion on the new stadium was finished by the time the Tigers hit the grid-iron for their first home game that season.