Other days

100 YEARS AGO Dec. 15, 1913 FORT SMITH - Mrs. Edith Woodward, a widow and mother of several children, was appointed a member of the Police Department of Fort Smith today. She is the first woman to hold a commission as peace officer for the state. Mrs. Woodward is matron at the Union Station, and city authorities say her work will be more successful if she is armed with police powers.

50 YEARS AGO Dec. 15, 1963

If Little Rock’s unprecedented two-year building boom of multiple-unit apartment houses continues indefinitely, a considerable part of the city’s population may eventually become modern “cliff-dwellers.” According to some realtors, builders, city planners and otherexperts, the “boom trend” will continue. The Great Leap Forward in apartment house construction is now approaching its third year and shows no signs of stumbling. On the contrary, it seems to be gathering strength for even larger strides next year.

25 YEARS AGO Dec. 15, 1988

An 18-year-old chimpanzee tried to make a break from the Little Rock Zoo on Wednesday, but officials thwarted the animal’s attempt. Judy the chimp scaled a wall of the zoo’s new Great Ape Display about 10:45 a.m. A volunteer watching the exhibit observed the chimp’s escape from the display and radioed for help, said Carroll Hargrove, general curator of the zoo. No one, including Judy, was injured, Hargrove said. “You have to admire her adventurous spirit,” Hargrove said.

10 YEARS AGO Dec. 15, 2003

Today, the Arkansas General Assembly starts the second week of its special session with no consensus between the House and Senate on how to reform education, how much it will cost, how to pay for it and how to distribute the money to districts. StateSen. Steve Bryles, D-Blytheville, joked Friday that he and state Rep. Marvin Childers, R-Blytheville, should climb a magnolia tree outside the state Capitol and refuse to come down until a compromise is reached. “I am optimistic that we will get something positive done, but it is so frustrating,” Bryles said. “Somebody made the suggestion that we put our heads down and vote.”

Arkansas, Pages 16 on 12/15/2013

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