Editor’s note: This column ran previously in the Guard on Oct. 8, 1996.
73 YEARS AGO
A census report issued through the Department of Commerce Bureau of Census shows that there were 1,391 bales of cotton ginned in Independence County from the crop of 1936 prior to Sept. 16, as compared with 39 bales ginned to Sept. 16 from the 1935 crop. The figures were released by W.M. Kent, special agent.

Read More

MAMMOTH SPRING — Gene Williams, Loretta Lynn, Mike Snider and the late Dottie Rhodes were inducted Sept. 20 into the George D. Hay Music Hall of Fame, named for the man who created the Grand Ole Opry.
They join the ranks of past inductees such as Ferlin Husky, Jan Howard, George Jones, Skeeter Davis, Bill Carlisle, Kitty Wells, Bill Anderson, Jean Shepard, Jim Owen, Conway Twitty, Bill Monroe, Barbara Fairchild, Jeannie Seely, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, June Carter Cash, Charley Pride, Leroy Van Dyke, Jim Ed Brown, Hank Williams Sr., Brenda Lee and Ray Price.

Read More

The starting time has been changed for Saturday’s Batesville Bassmaster tournament on Greers Ferry Lake, secretary Colin Patterson said.
The tournament was originally set for 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. but it is so dark at 6 that for safety reasons tournament officials decided to start the tournament at “first light” instead, Patterson said. “First light” will probably be sometime between 6:30 and 6:45, he said.
The ending time remains the same. The boats will launch from Hill Creek Ramp.
Those who want to prepay their entry fees may do so at Triangle Sports.

Read More

LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has voted to cancel the fall turkey hunting season over concerns that the bird population was getting too low.
The commission voted 4-3 Thursday to cancel the fall season, though the spring hunting season remains in place. A spokesman for Game and Fish says that the spring season is the more popular time to hunt turkeys.
The fall season was to begin next week.
——
Information from: KTHV-TV, http://www.kthv.com

Read More

MOUNT IDA — Want to learn more about trapping? A workshop is being held Oct. 30-Nov. 1 to give interested people tips and techniques for trapping in Arkansas, according to a news release.
The workshop is sponsored by the Arkansas Trappers Association, Southwest Arkansas Fur Takers, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and North American Fur Auctions. Both advanced and beginner classes will be available.
The workshop will be held at Camp Clearfork near Mount Ida on Highway 270.

Read More

PONCA – If at first you don’t succeed…Horace Smith believes in the old adage. He kept trying.
And he came up with a fine 6×6 bull elk that weighed 801 pounds on the second day of the September 2009 elk hunt in Arkansas’ Buffalo River country.
The hunt opened Monday, and closes today. Four hunters have bull permits, and there is a quota of three elk in a simultaneous elk hunt on private lands.

Read More

POCAHONTAS – Work continues on three of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife management areas that received the heaviest damage during this year’s ice storm. In the first week of work by contractors, workers have completed about 40 percent of the initial contract work on Dave Donaldson Black River WMA, 40 percent on Big Lake WMA and about 50 percent of the debris removal on St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA. Barring any significant weather-related delays, the projected completion dates for the debris clean-up will be well ahead of the 45-day contract limit.

Read More

LITTLE ROCK — With more than 4,000 people following the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on Facebook and Twitter, the state’s outdoorsmen are staying informed using social media. The social media networking project is designed to promote public participation and expand the AGFC’s ability to share information with the public.
According to the commission’s Web developer, Angela Sanchez, social media networking gives the public another opportunity to stay informed on such items as hunting season dates and educational programs.
Getting connected is simple.

Read More

THE BATESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1949 will hold its 60-year reunion Oct. 2-3, with class members registering at 5 p.m. Oct. 2 in the West Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, where Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh will welcome the class, according to a news release. Then, on Oct. 3, the class will host an open house for class members as well as friends and other BHS alumni at 10 a.m. in the George Rider Room of First Community Bank. “Come and renew acquaintances,” the release states. For more information call Mary Bossi Harmon at (870) 793-5049 or (870) 307-1147.

Read More