Yesterdays

By JENNY OLIVER  

special to the log cabin

75 years ago  

(1934)  

Miss Glenna Hancock of Traskwood was spending the weekend here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Hancock.

Twelve-hundred and forty-four checks aggregating $28,985.37 was placed in the mails here last night by E.G. Pettus, liquidating agent, representing the distribution to depositors of a 9 ½ percent dividend in the Farmers State Bank, which failed in November 1931. This was the first dividend paid by the closed bank and it was made possible through a loan from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation secured by Mr. Pettus. The largest check went to the municipal electric light plant, for $1,723.17, representing the dividend on a deposit of slightly more than $18,000 at the time the bank closed. The largest individual check was issued to Herman Zweig, who died shortly after the bank closed. It was in the amount of $1,147.95.

50 years ago 

(1959)

The value of Conway’s city-owned light and power system increased almost a quarter of a million dollars during 1958. Actual additions of $226,526.08 were made during the year, according to an audit completed by a Batesville firm, but in the same period $12,027.28 was stricken from the electric system books. The increase in value was $214,498.80 and made the value of plant facilities $1,992,961.25, according to Frank L. Eaton & Co., public accountants. Walter O. Scales, superintendent of the Conway Corp., said the present value of the electric system had tripled in the past 10 years. Electric sales during the fiscal year were $485,706.04, an increase of 11.3 percent. Mr. Scales said the sales figures did not include free electric service given Memorial Hospital, public schools, fire department, police department headquarters, baseball fields, municipal airport, the city’s street department headquarters, YBMA Fairgrounds, armory and the city’s street lights. Value of that free service, Mr. Scales said, was about $29,000. The figure was based on the low commercial rate, he said. In addition, financial assistance was made to several civic enterprises, including a $6,000 load to the public library, $29,000 for purchase of industrial land and $37,000 to the sewer department for construction of the Children’s Colony sewer line. During the past 10 years, Mr. Scales said, free electric service valued at $205,000 had been furnished. Franchise payments to the city had totaled $90,000; donations to educational institutions had amounted to $87,000; financial assistance in attracting new industry had totaled $135,000; advances to city departments added up to $129,000; and additions to the city-owned electric system amounted to $1,266,000. The total was almost $2,000,000.

25 years ago

(1984)

The Wampus Cats claimed a 21-7 victory over Benton, giving their new head coach his first victory in that role. “This win was as sweet as any I’ve ever had because we’ve been working since early July to get it,” said Coach Buzz Bolding. While the Cats were not overpowering, they did enough good things at the right time, like Tim Horton’s 22-yard punt return to Benton’s 33 to set up the first touchdown, and like Allen Miller’s fumble recoveries, one on Bubba Barrow’s miscue at the Panther 14 on the ensuing kickoff to set up the second touchdown, and the next at the Panther five for the touchdown that settled the issue late in the game. Bolding had told the Cats all week if they’d hold Barrow, the big Benton back, under 75 yards, they’d win. They did it. Barrow was limited to 73 yards on 21 carries.

10 years ago 

(1999)

Conway Christian School won the secondary school float contest in the Faulkner County Fair Parade entitled “The 21st Century — A Rainbow Promise.” Conway FFA was second and Greenbrier High School was third. First place in the Elementary School floats went to Julia Lee Moore, followed by Ellen Smith and Jim Stone. In the Non-Commercial category, Faulkner County Shriners were first. Conway Pee Wee Cheerleaders were second and Saltillo Heights Baptist Church was third. In the Commercial category, the winners were Regions Bank, Pioneer Concrete and Arkansas Brick Layers. Adult horse riders given awards were Eddie Bartley, Todd Sutherland, Harold Williams, Nikki Murdock, Somer Kelley and Ashley Tackett. The Most Comical Rider was Josh Kennemer. In the Rubber-Tired Wagon category the winners were Bill Crowly, Alex Angel and Stan Dohley and Dallas Barker. In the Authentic Wagon category the winners were Rodney Martindale, DeWayne Matthews, Mark Hurley, Bob Burks and Suzanne Campbell.