100 YEARS AGO, 1917

♦  After repeated delays in transit of the plate glass mirrors for the large post in the center of the Grand Theatre front, the shipment arrived. The theatre became one of the most beautiful amusement houses in any town in the state the size of Conway. Interior redecorating work included painting the walls, moving back the rear wall to make room for adding 100 seats, creating an attractive entrance and adding large electric light fixtures.

75 YEARS AGO, 1942

♦  A new class in radio would be organized at ASTC, meeting three evenings a week for 16 weeks and taught by E.E. Cordrey. There was a great need for men and women trained in the principles of radio. These classes were under the supervision of the University of Arkansas and were being held around the state.

♦  In the unofficial returns, 1,122 had voted for Act 1, the local option, while 381 had voted against it. Voter turnout was small due to all the Democratic nominees having no opposition, less than half of the normal turnout.

50 YEARS AGO, 1967

♦  Dave H. Ward, president of Ward Body Works, Inc., announced a complete reorganization of the several Ward operations in Arkansas and Texas. The changes came after more than a year of planning. Ward Body Works would be renamed Ward Industries, Inc. and would serve as the holding company for at least four wholly-owned subsidiaries: Ward School Bus Manufacturing, Surelite, Metropolitan Coach and Ward Properties. Metropolitan would take over the Ward Body Works in Austin, Texas. Officers for Ward Industries were Ward, president; Charles D. Ward, vice president; Mrs. Bertha E. Ward, secretary-treasurer; and Paul M. Leird of Little Rock.

25 YEARS AGO, 1992

♦  President-elect Bill Clinton promised “the new blood, the new direction” to change America, casting his victory over President Bush as a mandate for a fresh economic course.

♦  Democrat John Wayne Carter won his race for Faulkner County Judge; while Raymond Reynolds, Larry “Sonny” Harris, Joyce Nell Garrison, Lonnie Williams and James S. Roberts were elected to the Faulkner County Quorum Court.

♦  All of the 14 states proposing term limits for state and federal legislators—Arkansas included—approved the measures.

♦  Toby Hart of Conway was named the state champion in goat tying at the Arkansas Cowboys Association finals in Benton.

10 YEARS AGO, September, 2007

♦  (2007) County Judge Preston Scroggin was honored with the FCLI Leadership Award at the annual recognition banquet held at Central Baptist College.

♦  Jerry Snowden of Greenbrier was pictured with a 240-pound bear while David Wilson of Vilonia was pictured with a 180-pound bear. Both were killed with a bow during bear season.

♦  Moe’s Southwestern Grill opened on Salem Road and Boldini’s Pizza opened on Donaghey Avenue where Mr. Goodcents used to be.

♦  Don Bradley III, executive director of the Small Business Advancement Educational Center at UCA, was named the editor of the Small Business Institute Journal.