100 years ago
Sept. 4, 1918
HELENA -- A negro named Rawlings, his wife and their two small children, were burned to death last night in a tenant house four miles southeast of Helena, near Fredonia church. All were sleeping in the same room. A 17-year-old daughter, and a son about 12 years old escaped, though the boy was badly burned about the legs when in fright he ran back into the house and got back in bed after the girl had pulled him out. The negro girl is said to have gone into the burning building a second time and dragged the boy to safety. The bodies of the four dead were charred beyond recognition. Neighbors who saw the fire about 3 o'clock in the morning, arrived at the scene too late.
50 years ago
Sept. 4, 1968
• The Arkansas Supreme Court held Tuesday that the state Election Commission could appoint Democrats to represent the Republican Party on county election commissions. It was a stunning blow to Republican officials, who had attached great importance to keeping control of the election machinery from the Democrats this year. Only Associate Justice Paul Ward dissented totally from the Supreme Court's majority opinion but Chief Justice Carleton Harris disagreed with a key part of the decision. All seven justices are Democrats.
25 years ago
Sept. 4, 1993
• Arkansas' unemployment rate in August hit its lowest point since December 1979, while national unemployment hit a two-year low. That's the good news. The bad news is that one Arkansas worker in six may only work part time and the good news -- besides not being as good as it first appears because of seasonal factors -- looks like it isn't going to last. Arkansas' economy added 15,800 new jobs since August 1992, the state's Employment Security Department announced Friday. The agency said the August unemployment rate at 5.6 percent compared with a national average of 6.7 percent. The Arkansas rate in July was 5.7 percent and was 5.4 percent in December 1979. "Arkansas has generally created more jobs than the national average for several years, but that figure is not adjusted for seasonal changes," said John Shelnutt, an economist and senior analyst at the Institute or Economic Advancement at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
10 years ago
Sept. 4, 2008
• War Memorial Park's golf course would be left untouched under a $1.2 million plan endorsed Wednesday that adds walking trails, a recreational field and a small water park. For five years, Little Rock residents and city officials have debated and dreamed about what to do with the 212 acres sandwiched between Interstate 630 and Markham Street in midtown. A 2004 study recommended a $25 million face-lift with fountains and soccer fields. Last year, a consultant who took the city's budgets and residents' ambitions into consideration drew up three scenarios and price tags for the 84-year-old-park's renovations. Funding for the park improvements discussed Wednesday will come from an estimated $5.6 million the city could raise by refinancing a 1998 park bond.
Metro on 09/04/2018