LITTLE ROCK — 100 YEARS AGO Dec. 21, 1912

The Little Rock dentists will co-operate with the United Charities in the examination of the teeth of school children now being conducted. In order to enable those children deserving free dental services to obtain it, the dental society has arranged with the United Charities to serve all children presenting a recommendation of free services. It is said by those who have investigated the matter in the schools in other states that the efficiency of the pupils is greatly enhanced by placing the teeth in a hygienic condition that pupils advance much more rapidly with clean mouths and develop physically.

50 YEARS AGO Dec. 21, 1962

A groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. tomorrow in Burns Park will begin construction of an altar pavilion by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. The altar will be used for church services during holiday seasons. It is to be built similar to rustic pavilions in the park with a Gothic roof.

25 YEARS AGO Dec. 21, 1987

A drug prevention program begun last year by the North Little Rock Boys Club has been chosen as a model for a national program that begins in February. The three-year program will spread to 200 Boys Clubs this year and eventually to all 1,200 clubs, according to Jim Wetherington, executive director of the North Little Rock Boys Club. The pilot program, which ran from August 1986 to June 1987, taught two groups of 20 people how to identify and deal with pressures to take drugs and alcohol and become sexually active.

10 YEARS AGO Dec. 21, 2002

Late-night bus riders and the River Market lunch crowd will need to find other means of transportation starting Jan. 1. Having to make up a shortfall in bus funding from Little Rock, the Central Arkansas Transit Authority’s board of directors spent a weighty 2 1/2 hours Friday trying to affect the fewest riders possible while still making ends meet. In voting 10-3 to cut two hours off of night service and do away with the free River Market bus, directors also spared Sunday bus service in Little Rock at least until Jan. 31, when it will be reevaluated.

Arkansas, Pages 14 on 12/21/2012