100 years ago
July 1, 1914
• What manner of men are they who build fires during these days of 100 degrees and above and cuddle up close to keep from freezing to death? Strange as it may seem, such was the excuse given the police yesterday morning by John Hill, John Sherman, Andre Mayer, whites, and Herbert Watson, negro, when they were found and arrested by Sergeant McDaniel, Detective Jones and Patrolman Ebey, charged with vagrancy. The police were notified by a pedestrian that an unusual meeting was transpiring under the the Third Street viaduct, and when they arrived at the scene they found the quartet huddled about the fire. "Are you people suffering from cold weather or just kidding yourselves?" asked Sergeant McDaniel. "No, we are just about to freeze," said one of the Blitzen four. "That will be enough," said Sergeant McDaniel, "we'll take you to the cooler, where you will have an excuse for a fire."
50 years ago
July 1, 1964
• CLARKSVILLE -- Residents have reported that one or more black bears have been paying visits to the Clarksville area in the last few days. Edward Lepel, who lives about 1 1-2 miles west of here, heard something outside his home Monday, and when he investigated, found a black bear in the back of his pickup truck. Lepel said the bear sighted him and calmly left the truck. A piece of paper flew by as he was leaving and the bear stood up. Lepel, who is 5-foot-8, said the bear was almost as tall as he was.
25 years ago
July 1, 1989
• Lt. Gov. Winston Bryant on Friday endorsed an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to outlaw burning and desecration of the American flag. "I'll be damned if I am going to sit idly by and watch someone burn our American flag," he said in a speech to the state convention of the American Legion at the Excelsior Hotel. Also Friday, Robert "Say" McIntosh renewed his pledge to burn the flag July 4 on the Capitol steps.
10 years ago
July 1, 2004
• The Little Rock School District, believed to be under federal court supervision longer than any other school system in the nation, will remain under the eye of the court for at least two more school years for failing to adequately evaluate academic programs, a federal judge said Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Bill Wilson Jr., in a 69-page order, detailed the steps that the state's largest school system must now take to assess programs as promised in its 1998 desegregation plan.
Metro on 07/01/2014