Ex-athlete, head of his alma mater
In the 1950s, Fritz H. Ehren was on the fast track to a professional football career after being drafted by the then-Los Angeles Rams. However, instead of runn…
Stories by Aprille Hanson
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Big auctioneer a softy at heart
While auctioneers are known for spouting words a mile a minute, JC Dyer got more bids with clear communication.
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Professor linked to LR, its history
Retired University of Arkansas at Little Rock history professor Richard B. Dixon said in a 2000 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette article that the one thing he wanted …
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Ex-school official aided integration
John Fortenberry faced many challenges as a school administrator, but in the 1960s, his primary goal was to help desegregate the Little Rock schools.
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Veteran, owner of NLR business
When he was 18 years old, Chester Marion Hall went with a friend to enlist in the military, not sure which branch to join. Little did he know his shoelace woul…
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His vision gave life to LR parks
Those who stroll along Riverfront Park in downtown Little Rock are walking through a dream come true for Julius Breckling, who designed the park.
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‘Nonie’ to many at home day care
For more than 50 years, Stella Schmal Cia cared for countless children she referred to as “Nonie’s babies” at her in-home day care.
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Strong in family, business and faith
Mary Elizabeth Giberson was slow and methodical, except when she was behind the wheel.
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Tax deadline up, county still owed $26.1 million
As of midnight Wednesday, 87,181 Pulaski County property-tax bills remained unpaid, county Treasurer Debra Buckner said Friday.
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Navy vet, teacher saw life as voyage
In recent months, Mike McKinnon began writing a memoir titled Beyond the Wake, tracking his life from childhood, through his U.S. Navy career and into teaching…
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When rubber hits road, thank him
In the 1970s, Bill Looney became known to neighbors and friends by his CBradio handle, “Friendly Bill from Plumerville,” said his son, Randy Looney. It was Loo…
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Former alderman in NLR, veteran
Gary Norris Berry was not a smooth-talking politician, and his heart was always with the people of Ward 3 in North Little Rock, his wife said.
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Music a big part of stalwart faith
Elizabeth Armstrong was known as the “bread lady” for making two homemade loaves a day for several years to share with others.
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South’s JP races focusing on safety, spending
Pulaski County justice of the peace candidates in wards on the south side of the Arkansas River have touted public safety, protecting the Lake Maumelle Watersh…
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In northern wards, jail, watershed hot topics
Making sure the Pulaski County jail has appropriate resources and protecting the Lake Maumelle Watershed were top concerns for eight Pulaski County justice of …
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For counties, extra property tax-paying day pays
The Pulaski County treasurer’s office had collected more than a million dollars in property taxes by Tuesday afternoon after extending the property-tax deadlin…
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Worked 60 years in newspaper jobs
J. Ralph Casey’s success in life can be traced back to his childhood newspaper route.
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Server wreaks havoc on tax day
The Pulaski County treasurer’s office is extending the property-tax deadline for credit- and debit-card payments until midnight today after the Information Net…
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Last day to pay property taxes
As of Friday afternoon, the Pulaski County treasurer’s office had yet to receive 120,000 personal property and real estate payments for 2011.
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Love of learning led her off farm
Most people living along rural Big Creek in Shannon County, Mo., in the 1920s had only an eighth-grade education, but Lela Sullivan Smith had bigger dreams.
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Flew in two wars but called a softy
John A. Mitchell’s softspoken personality didn’t fit the stereotype of a tough-natured U.S. Air Force colonel, said his friend, Harold Gwatney.
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Fireman’s giving spirit contagious
About a week ago, Marty Stumbaugh and his friends drove to Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama to carry on their yearly tradition of camping at the track while …
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60-year engineer, in 2 war theaters
For 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week, Harold Grant could be found working on his latest mechanical or electrical engineering project. On the seventh day, …
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He had passion for flying, family
When Bill Ray turned 16, he was excited to get his driver’s license, but his preferred mode of transportation was by air, his wife said.
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Refused to hear the word ‘can’t’
Whenever someone told Michael Peters he couldn’t do something, he’d prove them wrong. Born with cerebral palsy and considered mentally disabled, the odds were …
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Loved patients, brick masonry
Ronnie V. Hutcheson dealt with many personalities throughout his career, many times wrapped up in one person, said his wife, Barbara Hutcheson. In the late 197…
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Lived life in fast lane, family says
Ed Fisher was the king of speed at the wheel of his Boss 302 Mustang, racing down a dragstrip at more than 100 mph.
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Worked at NSA, Army intelligence
Standing less than 5 feet tall, Nonie Condray was petite but packed a lot of punch, whether she was sharing her conservative political views or refusing to dis…
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Loved to travel, meet new people
Peggy Joyce Harrell and her husband took to the sky and sea together as pilots and scuba divers.
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Bank executive a cowboy at heart
With a firm handshake, a smile and the tip of his cowboy hat, Aldo Raymond Cingolani was McGehee’s favorite cowboy in both attire and at heart.
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She let sunshine into others’ lives
While living in Tripoli, Libya, Josie Dee Reynolds McClain made sure her daughters and neighboring children had a safe place to play while getting fresh air.
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Was on hand as history unfolded
In September 1957, Fred Caesar Storm stood with his fellow National Guard troops outside Little Rock Central High School, obeying orders to block nine black st…
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Shared wisdom, cared for others
When Bald Knob residents needed comfort, Audrey Martin was ready to share her words of wisdom or a homemade meal, her daughter said.
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‘Southern lady,’ church leader
Mary Ruth Byars Lynch was a “traditional Southern lady,” always dressed to the nines and ready to greet everyone with a smile, her daughter said.
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Police beat
Drug sales pay for school, police told A Little Rock man told deputies after he was arrested for drug possession Monday that he was selling marijuana to “suppo…
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Loved the lake, creating jewelry
Young patients waiting for treatment in the children’s section of Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock can admire little rainbows of light thanks to homem…
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LR group works to preserve cemetery
Before Patricia A. McCoy-Scarborough’s death last August, she worked for years to preserve the graves of relatives and friends at Haven of Rest Cemetery in Lit…
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Catholic High field vandalized; no leads
With no witnesses and no surveillance footage, investigators will have to rely on people coming forward with information if they are to find whoever defaced a …
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Police beat
In assault on mom of child, man jailed Little Rock police arrested a man Monday night after he put a gun to the head of his child’s mother during an argument, …
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Took extra efforts to make school fun
As a principal in Alma, Marsha G. Woolly’s goal was to motivate her students to have fun while learning, even if that meant looking a little silly.
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Judicial office kids’ room geared to soothe, ease cooperation
Nestled in a long gray hallway of offices filled with professional decor in the Pulaski County prosecuting attorney’s Sixth Judicial District office is a child…
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Tornado damage tallied in millions at Corning airport
A Saturday afternoon tornado in Corning caused millions of dollars in damage to the city’s municipal airport, Airport Commissioner Mark Rockwell said Sunday.
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Two children die in separate drownings
Two children drowned in separate parts of the state Saturday.
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Woman raped in UA lot, police say
A 21-year-old student was raped at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville early Sunday, according to campus police.
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Her good time was park, Pepe
When Janet Louise Keary felt like breaking away from life’s struggles, she’d grab her poodle Pepe, hop in her gray Camaro and take off for a spur-of-the-moment…
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Quorum court clears way for jail hirings
The Pulaski County Quorum Court cleared the way Tuesday to hire additional officers to operate a planned 80-bed expansion of the county jail.
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$350,000 settles jail-overtime suit
The Pulaski County Quorum Court voted Tuesday to settle a lawsuit for $350,000, ending a three-year battle between jailers and the county regarding overtime pa…
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Sherwood tables utility-switch vote
The Sherwood City Council tabled a resolution Monday that would have made the city vote on whether to switch from North Little Rock Electric to another electri…
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Work, life typified spirit of adventure
When Brock Johnson set a goal, he would accomplish it, whether it meant biking more than 200 miles or doubling the size of Garver, an engineering, planning and…
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Granddad loved tall tales, building
William R. Spencer Sr. had an adventurous spirit like “Sky Gicker,” a character interested in space exploration in a science-fiction story his mother read to h…
