50 Years Ago
From the Herald and Democrat in 1965
Ray Conklin of rural Gentry was brought to Memorial Hospital on Friday afternoon in a Wasson ambulance suffering from shock.
Mr. Conklin was plowing in a field on his farm west of Gentry during an electrical storm, when lightening struck his tractor, knocking him off. He lay on the ground for about an hour before he was able, still in a dazed and shocked condition, to reach his house, where his son summoned the ambulance. He was reported in good condition the following Monday.
30 Years Ago
From the Herald-Democrat in 1985
A fund was established at First National Bank of Siloam Springs in support of efforts to construct an Arkansas Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the bank donated $500 to start off the fund drive.
John Brown III, President of John Brown University, was one of the local citizens spearheading the fund drive, which had a Nov. 11 (Veteran's Day) deadline.
Of the almost 50,000 Arkansans who served in the Vietnam War, 594 lost their lives. Of those, five were from this immediate area: Leslie Boling Jr., 22, from Decatur; Rex Wayne Blisard, 19, from Siloam Springs; Hugh Lee Harrington, 20, from Gentry; Jerry Don Lanier, 21, from Siloam Springs; and Archie Leon Whaler, 20, from Siloam Springs.
Act 394 of the 74th General Assembly of the state of Arkansas, authorizing the establishment of a fitting memorial to the Arkansas Vietnam Veterans, and providing for the erection of the memorial on the State Capitol grounds, passed in 1983.
The purpose of the memorial, according to the Act, was two-fold:
• to focus attention on the men and women who served their country in Vietnam, and
• to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who served and died in Vietnam.
10 Years Ago
From the Herald-Leader in 2005
The John Brown University Golden Eagles women's soccer team opened its season with a 6-0 victory at Lyon College in Batesville.
Junior Amber Aparicio and freshman Dawn Storie both scored twice and Casey Anderson and Crystal Perez also scored. Perez also had one assist, while freshman Stacie Burley had two. Kendra Rehner accounted for the only other JBU assist. Freshman goalkeeper Megan Rouse had four saves for the Golden Eagles.
Former Siloam Springs Lady Panther Lauren Cleveland was playing for Lyon College.
Community on 09/02/2015