LITTLE ROCK — 100 YEARS AGO July 31, 1912
FORT SMITH - Fort Smith and thousands of visitors from the surrounding country celebrated “Peach and Melon Day” today, and so great was the success of the movement that it was decided to make the affair an annual event here. Great quantities of fruit were distributed free among the visitors. Cash prizes amounting to $15 were awarded for the best displays of fruit.
50 YEARS AGO July 31, 1962
Gov. Faubus headquarters reported that Little Texas Township in Scott County cast all 11 of its ballots for Faubus. It also cast all 11 for Lt. Gov. Nathan Gordon, and in the U.S.Senate contest gave Sen. J. William Fulbright 3 votes, with his opponent, Winston Chandler, getting 8, according to a Faubus aide.
25 YEARS AGO July 31, 1987
After a meeting Friday, Gov. Bill Clinton said Pulaski County Sheriff Carroll Gravett and other state and local prison officials have pledged to work together to solve the overcrowded prison problems. Clinton referred to Gravett’s act of chaining inmates Monday to trees at the state prison in Pine Bluff as “water under the bridge.” He said the sheriff and A.L. “Art” Lockhart, state corrections commissioner, had agreed to meet privately to discuss other alternatives Gravett could take in the future.
10 YEARS AGO July 31, 2002
After four years of wrangling with Little Rock over money, the 26-year-old Friends of the Zoo dissolved amicably Tuesday. “It was a sad day,” said Annette Hawkins, a longtime leader of the group. “It had taken us 20 years to get to the point where we had the kind of money and grants that we had.” Friends of the Zoo once had 12,000 members and a thriving gift shop that made $225,000 in annual sales. The already strained relationship between Friends of the Zoo and city leaders had deteriorated in recent months as city officials pushed the group to hand over grants and donations. In January, City Attorney Tom Carpenter took over the long running money dispute and said the city could sue the group and its leaders. Shortly after that, several members of the Friends of the Zoo board resigned.
Arkansas, Pages 8 on 07/31/2012