These were some of the stories reported by the Texarkana Gazette this week in history:
100 years ago
Feb. 6, 1917:
PARSONS CARRIED PISTOL STICKING IN HIS SOCK
Police Officer Will Tennison arrested J.G. Parsons, who claims Longview as his home, was eventually locked up for carrying a pistol. When Officer Tennison undertook to search the man he kicked vigorously, claiming that his leg was sore. He was hauled up to the police station, where an exam of the sore leg revealed a common old .38 caliber pistol sticking down in one of his sock legs.
Feb. 7:
NEWS FOR WOMEN
Dr. and Mrs. George M. Eckel and baby son of Richmond, Ark., are guests of Dr. Eckel's mother, Mrs. Eulia B. Eckel. Mrs. Eckel and baby will stay until there is improvement in the little fellow's condition, but he is starting to do much better.
Feb. 8:
WEDDING RINGS WARD
OFF FLIRTS IN HER SHOP
All girls, married and unmarried, must wear wedding rings in a certain high class women's clothing shop here. Women customers have complained that their husbands spend too much time while waiting on them to try on a dress by flirting with pretty sales girls. Wherefore, the proprietor's edict. He supplies gold bands to the clerks who haven't them by right. The plan hasn't been in effect long enough really test its effectiveness, but hopes are high.
Feb. 9:
ON HONEYMOON 31
YEARS AFTER PLANNING IT
Thirty-one years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Hughes planned their honeymoon. They are now carrying out their plans. Both then lived in the little town of Wolcott. They were engaged, but quarreled and parted. Both married, and the mate of each died. Recently Mr. Hughes renewed his thirty-one-year-old courtship, and the pair are now honeymooning in Oklahoma.
Feb. 10:
PEOPLE YOU KNOW
Mrs. S. Bender has returned from Oil City, where she spent several weeks with her daughter, Mrs. S.R. Lippincott. ALSO- Mrs. Horace Carpenter returns to Shreveport Wednesday after spending a week with the Huckins families.
Feb. 11:
GASOLINE JUMPS 3 CENTS,
NOW QUOTED AT 22 CENTS
According to an announcement accredited to the Pierce Oil Corporation of Texas, gasoline has taken a rise of about three cents, making the price as now quoted at 22 cents. No statement was made as to whether or not a further rise in price was likely to come, but it is believed by local persons that the price will probably remain steady at the figure quoted for a few days at least.
Feb. 12:
PEOPLE YOU KNOW
Mr. and Mrs. George Ray, 20121 Walnut Street, Monday evening, Jan. 8, had a fine baby girl. Mother and daughter are getting along nicely.
50 years ago
Feb. 6, 1967:
FUQUA-EVERETT TEXARKANA FUNERAL HOME OPENING
Dedication of the Fuqua-Everett Texarkana Funeral Home was held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at its new location at 3515 Ghio Fish Blvd. Officiating in the formal opening and dedication were the Rev. Ralph Hillis, pastor of First Methodist Church, Ark.; Rabbi Joseph Levine and Father Walter Bojniewicz, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Others were on hand for the event were the Rev. Glenn Willard, minister, Covenant Presbyterian Church; City Manager Howard Willingham; representing Texarkana, Texas; Howard Fuqua, owner of the new funeral home; Dale Griffin, mayor, Texarkana, Ark., and Rev. Jim Garrett, minister of Williams Memorial Methodist Church.
Feb. 7:
HUGHES SPRINGS TEACHER CHOSEN FOR HIGH HONOR
Mrs. Wanda Cockril, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Wallace, has been selected to appear in the 1966 edition of "Outstanding Young Women of America." Mrs. Cockril's name was presented to the Board of Advisory by the Sesame Club. Mrs. Cockril teaches first grade in the Hugh Springs Elementary School, where she has served six years. Her husband, Leland Cockril is a teacher at Hugh Springs Junior High. They are parents of two children, Lee, 9 and LuAnn, 6.
Feb. 8:
BOARD LETS CONTRACT
FOR NASH SCHOOL
The Texarkana, Texas, school board, in a special session, let the contract for construction of the new Nash elementary school. The contract was awarded to E.W. Johnson Construction Co., of Texarkana in the amount of $260,576. Bill K. Ford, superintendent of schools, said construction would begin in the next two weeks, and is scheduled for completion by Oct.1, 1967, located on an 18-acre site on Kings Highway in Nash. It will contain approximately 20,000 square feet.
Feb. 9:
TOM DECKER
PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN
First Lt. Tom Decker, who is known by many residents for his sports columns which appear in the Texarkana Gazette, was promoted at Red River Army Depot. The Deckers, who reside at Johnson Loop Residential Area, have a son, John Henry, who was born Feb. 7, 1967.
Feb. 10:
PERSONALS
Miss Junie Nelson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Nelson, has pledged Gamma Nu Chapter, Kappa Kappa Gamma, at the University of Arkansas.
RAISIN AWARDS
The ancient Greeks and Romans adorned placed of worship with raisins and even awarded them as prizes in sporting events.
Feb. 11:
OPEN HOUSE AT
NEW NURSING HOME
Approximately 520 persons attended the open house Sunday, Feb. 5, at the new 70-bed North Heights Manor Nursing Home located at 1100 E. 36th St. The new facility is fireproof, air-conditioned and features individual hospital reading lamps over each bed, built-in wardrobes and both private and semi-private rooms. The brick and steel structure is owned by I.B. Fuller and Dr. John Balay and has nurses on duty at all times. Officers include Charles W. Wade Jr. president; Judge C.R. Huie, vice president, and Mrs. Barbara Wade, secretary-treasurer.
Feb. 12:
INTERSTATE 30 BRIDGE OVER RED RIVER IS 60 PERCENT COMPLETE
Construction of the Interstate 30 bridge over the Red River at Fulton is about 60 percent complete, according to Robert Mattox, district engineer with the Arkansas Highway Department. Mattox said Friday that completion of the bridge as well as completion of other construction in Miller Country hinges on the weather. The new bridge will have four lanes, two each way divided by a concrete median. Concerning the controversy that the bridge was being constructed too low to permit navigation on the river, Mattox said that the design for the bridge was made under provision of the permit issued by the Corps of Engineers on Jan. 4, 1965. Mattox said that any problems concerning navigation were resolved before the permit was issued. He also said the projects cannot be completed until the weather is warmer.