January 5
Being tried as adults, 17 year-old Jesse Eldridge and his brother, 16 year-old Neal Eldridge, would face a jury of their peers (adults) on April 10, when their case would have been brought to trial before Circuit Court Judge John Patterson in Russellville.
The Dover City Council gave policemen a nine percent raise and approved the money for a new piece of playground equipment.
Mark Evans of Dover announced he would be a candidate for a fourth term on the Pope County Quorum Court.
January 12
Superintendent -of Schools Dan Lovelady's contract was extended by one year to the year 2002.
Hector's won first Pope County Tournament title in 14 years.
The Hector School Board looked at floor plans for its new middle school and discussed whether to get bids on both conventional and domed construction.
January 19
The assessment of a fine levied on the City of Hector by the Arkansas Board of Health for violation of the Safe Water Act was discussed at the Hector City Council meeting.
Future Fest 2000 became a reality Jan. 11 at Arkansas Tech University. Financial and industrial leaders and more than 600 Juniors from the county converged at Witherspoon Auditorium to discuss the students choices for their futures.
A ceremony dedicating the new Pottsville High gym to longtime coach and educator George S. Jones was held during the Apaches' home games against Hector.
January 26
Beverly Myers had the honor of presenting Dr. Earl Schrock with the Outstanding Chamber Member of the Year Award. A.G. Barton presented the Dover Citizen of the Year Award to his "right hand man" Jim Turner.
Dover band students earned a large number of All-Region honors as they hosted the Region II Region Concerts Band Tryouts.
While many libraries are showing a decrease in circulation, the Pope County libraries showed increases in all areas.
Febraury 2
The Dover City Council voted to spend money on police computers and the 911 fair share.
Citizens were told that the Pope County Sheriff's Office would begin to enforce laws banning four-wheelers from county roads.
Pope County deputies investigated four incidents of vandalism and break-ins in northern Pope County during the past week.
Febraury 9
Wildcat kicker Coy Nance made history, when he became the first student from Hector to receive a four year athletic scholarship.
Pope County Sheriff Jay Winters announced he would seek re-election for a sixth term.
Juanita Barber announced she would seek a 10th two-year term as Pope County circuit and chancery clerk.
Febraury 16
The Dover School Board rehired all administrators and approved an index, which will raise the administrators salaries to the state average.
The Hector School Board added two class days to the calendar to make up for snow cancellations and heard several favorable reports about technology and student activities.
Bobbye McAlister of Russellville announced her intention to seek re-election as Pope County tax collector.
Febraury 23
Darryl Laws, project engineer, told the Hector City Council that the city of Hector may be liable for $10,000 in fines in addition to the $7,110 fine for violations of the state's Surface Water Treatment standards.
ABLE awards were presented at the Dover Middle School.
The Pope County Library Board heard reports on circulation figures, the Atkins library expansion and new drop boxes.
March 1
Dover School Board voted to modify the school calendar during a called meeting Monday night.
Jack Freeman, of Hector, announced he would be a candidate for re-election to the District three Justice of the Peace position on the Pope County Quorum Court.
Representative Bob Johnson of Morrilton announced his candidacy for State Senate, District 25, representing Pope, Cleburne, Conway, and Van Buren Counties.
March 8
Dover Intermediate School's Smart Start program was explained to parents at a special program.
Third and fourth grade students entertained their parents and guests in the Fine Arts Cafetorium following the special program on Smart Start.
Don Johnson announced his candidacy for re-election as Pope County Clerk .
March 15
Authorities raided a home 13 miles north of Dover, making five arrests for drug-related activities.
The Dover City Council agreed that a deal proposed by Russellville City Corp., was not in Dover's best interest.
Dover City Attorney David McCormick and Hugh Laws of Russellville, attorney for Wayne Baker, filed a motion for a summary judgement in Pope County circuit court, claiming that Russellville's annexation of land near the proposed site of Dover's wastewater treatment plant should be voided because there weren't enough landowners who signed the annexation petition.
March 22
The Dover School Board rehired all certified teachers, accepted the resignation of Jack Branch as bus driver and Donna Freeman as part time cook, and hired Rachelle Moore to fill a vacant custodian position.
The Hector City Council received a positive progress report on the water treatment plant from superintendent Benny "Tiny" Huggins.
Judge Len Bradley announced his candidacy for the newly created Circuit/Chancery/Juvenile Judgeship for the Fifth Judicial District; Edwin Shinn announced he would seek a second term as District Five Justice of the Peace to the Pope County Quorum Court; Representative Mike Hathorn announced he would seek the Democratic nomination for the Arkansas House of Representatives, Dist. 24.
March 29
Ben Barrow, a sixth grader at Dover Middle School, earned the right to compete in the 2000 Geographic Bee State Competition.
The Dover Pirates' golf team place fourth in a match at Morrilton.
Dover High School announced honor roll.
April 5
The City Council decided it was time to convert the office to the Dover Police Department, after some discussion with City Marshal Rodney Pfeifer.
Resident expresses concern over Highway 7 widening.
The Hector School Board voted to rehire all classified personnel and to renew the contract of Anthony Sweeney, high school principal.
April 12
Motions filed delayed the annexation trial.
The Dover School Board decided to eliminated the long-standing tradition of valedictorian and salutatorian, the school will have highest honors (3.95 and above) high honors (3.75-3.94) and honors (3.5-3.74) graduates.
Members of the Dover Chamber of Commerce helped Cindi and Chris Loper, new owners of the Buccaneer Restaurant, celebrate the opening of their business.
April 19
Sara Bailey and Brenea Boley signed letters of intent to play basketball with North Arkansas College in Harrison; Tonya McClure signed a letter of intent with Central Baptist College in Conway.
Russell Jones, Ginny Hudson and Justin Vess were selected to attend the 2000 Arkansas Governor's School for the Gifted and Talented.
A list of 52 households in Gunter Mountain, Cedar Grove, Rock Hollow, and Newton Springs areas in need of water service was presented to the Hector City Council.
April 26
The Dover Police Department recently updated their procedures by installing two laptop computers in patrol cars.
Daisie Powers Hogins Sparks, 101, of Dover, passed away Monday, April 24, at her home.
Dover's sixty-seven member junior high band received a Sweepstakes Award at the Region II Concert Contest.
May 3
Danielle MarLee Neeley was chosen to represent the garduating class of 2000 as valedictorian. Julie Dawn Ivy served her class as co-salutatorian. Debbie Renea Shuffield earned the right to represent her class as co-salutatorian.
A Pottsville resident was held in Pope County Detention Center on charges of attempted first degree murder after an emergency room physician from Atkins accused him of shooting at him with a .22 caliber rifle.
Danielle Neeley was presented the four-year scholarship from the Dover Area Chamber of Commerce.
May 10
The Dover School Board approved a change in the athletic handbook which states that Dover athletes who test positive for drugs or alcohol use will have a year to undergo a treatment program, and if the student chooses not to participate, they will permanently lose extra-curricular activity privileges.
Dover High School high honor and honor graduates were announced.
Tonya McClure was selected for the Lady Pirate award at the annual basketball awards ceremony.
May 17
A fire that began from a child's play destroyed a home and killed two brothers at 12:20 a.m. Saturday.
"Burden of proof" and "strips of land" were dominant themes in closing remarks in the court case involving Russellville's attempt to annex land north of its city limits.
A highlight of the Dover Instrumental Music Program's Spring Concert was the performance of three original compositions.
May 24
Seventy-four seniors graduated in commencement excercises at Tucker Coliseum at Arkansas Tech University on May 18.
Dennis Sutterfield was elected chancery/circuit judge and Jeff Gillespie was re-elected to the state House of Representatives.
The Dover Senior High Band cinches sweepstakes for fourth year.
May 31
Kindergarten graduation was held on May 23 in the Fine Arts Cafetorium with 90 students in the graduating class.
A community yard sale and a gospel music show were two of the events scheduled for the summer by the Dover Area Chamber of Commerce.
Clowns, puppets, games, jumping frogs and firemen were some of the events that Dover children were able to enjoy at Ozark Kids Day.
June 7
A static electricity test was in progress shortly before 2:30 Saturday afternoon when an explosion of a 22,000 gallon gas tank occurred, splitting the tank and sending a column of flame skyward. No one was seriously hurt
The Dover City Council approved a water and sewer budget, and authorized a project to add parking at the city ball park.
Lloyd F. Herrick, Jr., 65, of Dover, principal of Dover High School from 1975 to 1988, died Sunday June 4.
June 14
The City of Dover has filed a petition to annex land south of Dover along Highway 7 from the existing property line to Round Rock Road.
The Hector School Board took action to include a new elementary school in its building plans.
A look at life in the 1890's was presented by Pam Scarber of the Pottsville Historical Association at the Pope County Library Story Hour held at the Dover Ampitheater.
June 21
Judge Ken Coker stated in his ruling Tuesday that Russellville and the land owners met the necessary criteria in their attempt to stop the construction of a waste water treatment planton Baker's Creek Road.
The Hector City Council heard a lengthy presentation on the importance of preventing contamination of water systems from John Hitchcock of the Arkansas Department of Health.
A school meal price increase, the wearing of uniforms, hiring and reassignment of staff, and changes to the intermediate school handbook were some of the items on the agenda for the board meeting.
June 28
Dover High School assistant football coach and head girls fast-pitch softball Lance Martin resigned from the Pirates' staff last week to fill a coaching vacancy at Russellville Middle School.
C.T. Mayfield, the cowboy poet, was the guest speaker of the Dover Library Story Hour on June 26 at the Dover Amphitheater.
Lindsey Holman and Monika Tilley performed in the production of "Sleeping Beauty and the Z's" at the Gardner Junior High School Auditorium.
July 5
Roger Ledford, 32 of Dover, died Saturday night, in a one vehicle accident 10.3 miles north of Dover on Highway 7.
The Pope County Library Board heard reports of well-attended story time programs and other increased library use by young people.
A missing child case turned into a demonstration of Dover's cooperative and helpful residents .
July 12
Dover School Board accepted the resignations of Coach Becky Nagel and Coach Lance Martin and hired Suzanne Srader as third grade teacher.
The Hector School Board voted to award a contract for installing a septic tank and lateral line waste water management system to S&S Backhoe Service of Ozark.
Fire Chief John Taylor told the Dover City Council that training, record keeping and following established construction codes are the major factors in improving fire insurance rates as set by the Insurance Service Organization.
July 19
Russellville Entergy officials say that the July heat wave had customers using electricity in record amounts.
The Dover Times' sponsored 10 and under slow pitch softball team from Dover completed the 2000 River Valley League with a second place league finish.
The Hector City Council voted to raise the salary of Water Department clerk Ginna Strickland and city bookkeeper Bob Harris by 50 cents an hour.
July 26
The Terry Bull Family of Hector was the Pope County Farm Family of the Year in 2000.
The City of Dover was on the losing side for a second time in County Judge Jim Ed Gibson's courtroom when he issued a ruling Monday stating that Dover did not have the required signatures needed to annex 699.74 acres into their city.
With a unanimous vote last Thursday, Russellville City Council voted to approve the annexation of 280 acres of land from Baker's Creek Road south to Interstate 40.
August 2
Regions Bank of Dover won the championship of the AABA Senior Division-Major State Baseball tournament held in Mabelvale.
The Dover School Board hired Dana Froud as assistant girls basketball coach and head softball coach.
Astasha Brown, a 12-year-old Dover resident, recently returned home from a fun-filled, 4-day trip to Chicago as one of 24 current and former CARTI pediatric cancer patients.
August 9
The Dover City Council approved a seven percent pay raise for city employees.
County Judge Jim Ed Gibson recently ruled against an annexation attempt of 699.74 acres into the city of Dover.
Arkansas Nuclear One received two new steam generators for Unit 2.
August 16
A proposal to add two addistional staff-development days to the school calendar failed to pass due to lack of support and opposition from one director at the meeting of the Dover School Board.
The Hector School Board instructed Superintendent Tommy Thompson to get on with building plans.
Plans were underway for the first annual Dogg Daze Festival.
August 23
Numerous fires were set east of town during the month of August.
Personnel of the Dover School District were treated to a Welcome Back Breakfast by the Dover Education Association.
August 30
Two new Advanced Placement classes were added to the curriculum at Dover High School.
Dover senior Alexa Perez was named as an All-Star cheerleader at the Universal Cheerleader's Association Cheer Camp.
Russellville Railroading was the subject of the program of the Pope County Historical Association.
September 6
The Dover City Council heard from Linker Mountain Road resident Allen Kimball that although he opposed the city's present annexation proposal, he might under the right circumstances become an ally.
Sunday afternoon's tornado or straight line winds produced property damage and downed trees as well as power outages.
Preparations were under way for the 21st annual Ozark Memories Day to be held Saturday, Sept. 30, on the Dover School Grounds.
September 13
Dover Board of Educaiton approved the addition of two more teacher work days to the school calendar.
The Hector School voted 5-0 Thursday night to continue prayers at football games.
The Hector School Board sent its planned domed school out for bids.
September 20
Pope County Democrats chose Don Bourne to fill the municipal judge position vacated by Dennnis Sutterfield who was elected in May to the newly created circuit/chancery judgeship in the Fifth Judicial District.
Dover voters returned Debbie Moore to the school board for a second five-year term.
Pope County's 911 Advisory Board approved a $1.1 million budget to send to the Pope County Quorum Court.
September 27
The town of Dover lost two more of their young people. Jeremiah Boone, 17 and Richie Clark, 22.
Darryl Laws of NRS Consulting Engineers of Benton, told the Hector City Council the link to the Tri-County Regional Water District system providing an additional water source is nearly complete and could be operational in "about two weeks."
The Pope County Library Board approved a proposed 2001 budget calling for spending $924,106.
October 4
The Dover City Council approved an ordinance to annex land along Highway 7 south of the city limits to Bakers Creek.
Homecoming week activities were underway at Dover High School.
Beautiful fall weather was on store
Continued from page 1
as the Dover Area Chamber of Commerce presented the 22nd annual Ozark Memories Day celebration.
October 11
Lovelady spoke on the improvements and changes in the district in the areas of facilities, enrollment, curriculum and test scores at Dover School Board meeting.
The Hector School Board voted to allow up to four weeks additional maternity leave to allow a teacher to spend more time with her six-week-old baby.
Members of the Dover Fire Department met with children at the primary school in observance of National Fire Prevention Week.
October 18
Controversy aborts Hector's proposed one-cent sales tax.
AnnieLaura Jaggers, biographer and retired Arkansas Tech humanities professor, read from her recently published book at Arkansas Tech's Doc Bryan Student Services Center lecture hall.
Candace Haley, 37, of Clarksville died in a single vehicle accident on Highway 7 North in the Pleasant Grove area.
October 25
An open house was planned for the addition of the Atkins Centennial Library.
Twenty students from Dover named to Junior High All-Region Choir.
Dover Middle School held first ever student-led conferences.
November 1
Pope County voters have only one national race and one state-wide race to decide in the general election.
Dover Super Market, owned by A.G. and Bettye Barton, celebrated their 24th anniversary.
The Dover Junior High Pirates completed their 2000 campaign with a spotless 8-0 record.
November 8
Large voter turnout causes waiting at the polls.
Dover Cross Country places second at state meet.
Sheena Metz won the cross country state girls invitational meet.
City Attorney David McCormick told the Dover City Council that with at least three pending lawsuits and two annexation elections in the offing the fate of the city's proposed sewer plant would be "up in the air" for some time.
November 15
Dover fans were victims of a foul-smelling prank when they arrived at Lemley Field and were greeted with the unpleasant aroma of skunk, fish and chicken parts which had been placed under the bleachers on the visitors side.
The Dover City Council met in a called session to accept a bid for the relocation of power lines.
The Pope County Library Board found two architects to consider for restoration of the old library building.
November 22
James Neal Eldridge, 17 was scheduled for release from prison in approximately four months, and his brother Jesse Ethan Eldridge, 18, is due to be released on April 5.
The Dover Area Chamber of Commerce proposed new officers and sought nominations for Citizen of the Year.
Kindergarten classes learned Thanksgiving traditions.
November 29
Sheriff Jay Winters released Jeremiah Boone's state crime lab report which states that he died a natural death due to a cardiomyopathy of the heart.
The City of Russellville, City Corporation and Dan Utley filed a lawsuit against the City of Dover and the Pope County Election Commission in an effort to stop the annexation election.
The Dover High School Band received two first division ratings and one second division rating for its performance at the Russellville Invitational Marching Contest.
December 6
Circuit Court Judge John Patterson of Clarksville barred the Dover annexation.
A debate about the city's sewer treatment options provided the only excitement at the Dover City Council meeting.
Round Rock Community Church dedicated their new church.
December 13
Millicent Cook, counselor at Dover High School presented the Dover School Board with the results of the fall Stanford 9 test.
Dover High School Students earned 23 trophies including first place overall in musical talent presentation at the Arkansas Foreign Language Teacher's Association Festival.
VEI General Contractors of Russellville was the low bidder on the Hector School District's construction program after the opening of five bids.
December 20
Ice and snow caused school closings Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week and cut off electricity to thousands of people throughout Arkansas.
Russellville residents voted 686 to 148 in favor of annexing a strip of land north of its city limits into the city of Russellville which includes the site of Dover's waste water treatment plant.
The Hector City Council heard from Mayor Cecil Riley that discussions had started with Tri-County Regional Water Distribution District General Manager Harry Willard concerning Tri-County's possible take-over of the city's water system.
