Other days

100 YEARS AGO Dec. 11, 1913

TEXARKANA - Forty mayors and ex-mayors living within 40 miles of Texarkana were guests of Mayor Kline (Arkansas) and Mayor Runnells (Texas) at a banquet at the Huckins hotel tonight. W. G. Cook, who was mayor of the Arkansas side 30 years ago, was toastmaster and Congressman Robert L. Henry of Waco, who began his political career as mayor of Texarkana, Tex., 23 years ago, was one of the principal speakers. The celebration closed with another display of fireworks at 7:30 o’clock tonight, followed by a masked ball.

50 YEARS AGO Dec. 11, 1963

Homer Berry, who bills himself as a “rainmaker,” decided to “throw” a nice snow for the kiddies this Christmas. “You may quote me as saying,” Berry said, “come what may, the kiddies will have a ‘white Christmas.’” He’s announced his Christmas plans previously but wanted to reassert them today, along with a proposal to provide an “abundance of snow over the state” in order to recharge all the wells and lakes and get “the ground loosened up.” Berry said the snow he is proposing would greatly reduce the number of pesky blackbirds, diminish the harmful insect population “and would give our hunters a ‘Roman Holiday’ on our predatory animals … they could track ‘em.”

25 YEARS AGO Dec. 11, 1988

A consumer protection bill letting buyers know if they are purchasing a rebuilt vehicle will be introduced in the upcoming legislative session, Rep. Larry R. Mitchell of Bryant said Friday. If passed, the bill would require any heavily damaged vehicle to have “Insurance Loss” stamped on the title. If the bill is passed, Arkansas would have its first vehicle-salvage law on the books since 1983. Arkansas is one of three states without such a law. Nevada and Alabama are the others.

10 YEARS AGO Dec. 11, 2003

The Osborne family light display at Riverfront Park will be officially turned on at 6 p.m. tonight. The Osborne family, including Jennings and Mitzi Osborne and daughter Breezy and her husband, Paul Young, will throw the switch. “We really appreciate the Osborne’s generosity in providing the lights year after year for families to enjoy,” said Mabyn Patten, River Market special events coordinator. The display will be turned on nightly through the New Year.

Arkansas, Pages 13 on 12/11/2013

Upcoming Events