100 years ago
Aug. 8, 1914
COTTER -- On account of the European war, the pencil slat factory here will close tomorrow. Cable messages from Austria, the principal market, told the owners to discontinue shipment. Their American market has also been killed by the war on account of the fact that the pencil finishing plants on this side of the water get their composition for the center of the pencil from the old country. Ore buyers here also look for a drop in the price of ore. If the war had been 50 years ago, they say, there would have been a marked advance in lead, but now all projectiles are made from steel, and if it has any tendency it is thought it will be to depress it.
50 years ago
Aug. 8, 1964
FORT SMITH -- Fort Smith and Van Buren water department officials said Friday they would take steps next week to reduce water consumption unless rains this week alleviated a shortage in the reservoirs. Hugh Brewer, Fort Smith city commissioner, said pumps at Mountainburg were working 24 hours a day, but the water level continues to drop. He expressed fear that the pumps would become useless because of constant use and hot weather. Unless the reservoirs are replenished, it may be necessary to limit water usage to drinking, cooking and bathing, he said.
25 years ago
Aug. 8, 1989
• All three Pulaski County Election Commission members may hold their posts illegally because the Arkansas Constitution prohibits state employees from serving as election officers. Article III, Section 10 of the Arkansas Constitution says no one is qualified to serve as an election officer who is employed at the time of election by a federal, state, county or municipal government. Elisabeth A. Walker, an assistant attorney general, said Monday that someone could legally challenge the commissioners' positions in light of the constitutional provision, especially since there is an upcoming election.
10 years ago
Aug. 8, 2004
• Arkansas State University in Jonesboro announced Friday that the school has been awarded $12 million in federal defense contracts for some of its scientific work. It includes two projects that will be run by scientists in the College of Sciences and Mathematics. The scientists will work with two other U.S. universities to research and create remote detection techniques for barely traceable levels of nuclear, chemical and biological substances.
Metro on 08/08/2014