100 years ago
Sept. 18, 1918
MENA-- Manganese mining is the order of the day in Mena. Hotels are turning people away; every jitney and team for hire is engaged from daylight to dark, and old residents are becoming excited over the new order of things. Mountain lands, heretofore worth only a few dollars per acre, are changing hands at fancy prices. Old prospectors far back in the mountains are selling their mining claims at fabulous prices to capitalists. Local bankers say a new and better day has dawned on Mena and many predict a boom of no small proportion.
50 years ago
Sept. 18, 1968
• State Treasurer Nancy J. Hall had to sell $4 million worth of interest-bearing bonds ahead of schedule Tuesday to raise cash to keep up with state spending. In addition to selling the $4 million in 5 1/4 percent United States Treasury notes, she also had to clear out $5,591,600 in noninterest-bearing state surpluses from 226 banks. The money was redeposited in state-checking accounts in 12 large banks to provide operating capital. This was the first time since the new deposit law was passed in 1965 that Mrs. Hall had to sell interest-bearing certificates ahead of schedule. The securities would have matured November 15.
25 years ago
Sept. 18, 1993
• Dr. Henry Williams' decision to cash in $77,734 of unused sick days and vacation time is creating a stir as he prepares to step down as superintendent of schools in Syracuse, N.Y. The incoming Little Rock School District superintendent has a contract with the Syracuse School Board that entitles him to payment for any time he didn't take off. That amounts to 212 unused sick days, vacation days and personal days Williams stored up since January 1989, when he took over the Syracuse school system. Syracuse School Board members said Friday the issue is causing them to face questions from angry taxpayers and politicians upset with the huge bill.
10 years ago
Sept. 18, 2008
• John McCain and Barack Obama have a message for their Arkansas supporters: Get your own sign. With the state relegated to nonbattleground status and the presidential candidates making late decisions on their running mates, political paraphernalia has been difficult -- and more costly than usual -- to come by. "This is the first time we've ever had to buy our own stuff," said Dixie Carlson, head of the Republican Party's Crittenden County chapter, which has ordered signs and stickers from a private online company. In the past, campaigns have provided free stacks of materials to the state political parties. From there, party officials doled them out to the faithful.
Metro on 09/18/2018