100 years ago
July 17, 1918
TOLLVILLE --A student aviator named Merrell, from Eberts Field, Lonoke, miraculously escaped death near here today when a plane in which he was riding fell 1,800 feet when another machine struck it in midair. A clump of bushes into which the plane plunged upside down broke the force of the fall and doubtless saved Merrell's life. He was only slightly injured. His machine was demolished. Merrell lacks two weeks of completing his flying course and receiving his commission.
50 years ago
July 17, 1968
PRESCOTT --About 17 handguns were taken Monday night in a burglary of Bill's Pharmacy, Inc., here, police discovered Early Tuesday. Authorities said the burglars broke into the store by prying open a back door. Nothing else was touched, they said. The owners of the pharmacy are Bill Fort and Doug Haymie. An employee at the store said the stolen guns were taken from a case that had been broken open. Five guns in the case were left, the employee said, and ammunition next to the case was not touched.
25 years ago
July 17, 1993
• The North Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department should have researched the historical significance of a World War I era mound it partially removed, two residents said this week. "I used to play on them when I was a boy back in 1928. The people at the parks department don't seem to be aware of what they are," said Otis Morris, 74. Audrey Burtrum-Stanley, a resident known for efforts to protect parks and the environment said it was "shameful" that the city did not research the importance of the pullet-laden earthen mound, which has been sliced in half to expand the city gold course.
10 years ago
July 17, 2008
• A 25-year-old Sherwood man was shot and killed Wednesday morning by Little Rock police detectives who were attempting to question him about a recent burglary. William C. Spradling was at his girlfriend's home at 621 Gillette Drive when police arrived at the home at 10:45 a.m. Little Rock Police Lt. Terry Hastings said detectives wanted to speak with Spradling about a burglary in west Little Rock on Monday. Three burglary detectives approached the rear of the house and told Spradling that they wanted to talk to him, Hastings said. Spradling reached into his left pocket, pulled out a gun and pointed it at the officers, who then fired, according to reports.
Metro on 07/17/2018