100 years ago
Aug. 23, 1919
• The condition of the old state sewer, which is about 200 per cent overloaded, and of the paved streets of Little Rock, all of which need repairs, are deplorable, City Engineer James H. Rice said yesterday. The old state sewer originally was built to serve the State Hospital for Nervous Diseases, and the Deaf Mute Institute, but now is serving about one-fourth the population of Little Rock. At present, Mr. Rice said, this sewer is a continual expense to the city, the pipes and the lower end are required to handle so much sewerage that they are being worn away. The improvement districts maintain the streets for five years, but the time of the maintenance has expired on nearly all of the streets, and the city has not funds to keep the pavements in repair, Mr. Rice said.
50 years ago
Aug. 23, 1969
• Willie M. Willingham, 31, of Pine Bluff is one of the 63 Negro ex-servicemen and women to receive a Martin Luther King Jr. Fellowship from the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. Willingham, a chemistry major at Arkansas AM and N College at Pine Bluff, will go to graduate school at the University of Arkansas under the scholarship. The fellowships provide full support during two years for graduate and professional study leading to careers in service to the nation and community.
25 years ago
Aug. 23, 1994
• Anxiety about the harmful effects of pesticides stems mainly from reports on "20/20" and "60 Minutes," said Dr. Thomas Badger, director of the Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute. Initially, Badger said, his requests for grants were denied. But with help from U.S. Rep. Ray Thornton, he secured an EPA promise for $2.5 million over five years. The center, which will be called the Arkansas Clinical and Developmental Toxicology Program, also will receive money from the National Institutes of Health and several other sources. The center will have the chance to test people with the highest exposure to pesticides. If negative effects are discovered, the center would like to find ways to prevent further damage.
10 years ago
Aug. 23, 2009
• An estimated 98,000 older Arkansans reach a gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage each year during which they must pay the full cost of their medications out of pocket. The gap often catches people by surprise, and they find themselves having to make tough choices regarding their medications, said Maria Reynolds-Diaz, state director of AARP Arkansas. Arkansas Surgeon General Dr. Joe Thompson said Medicare prescription-drug coverage helps many elderly Arkansans afford needed medications. Sally Johnson, manager of beneficiary relations with the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, said many Medicare recipients are eligible for additional help with their prescription drugs. The Social Security Administration offers its Extra Help program for low-income Medicare recipients.
Metro on 08/23/2019