The National Cold War Center in Blytheville has acquired 36 original segments of the Berlin Wall.

A press release states that the arrival marks a major milestone in the development of the center and its mission to preserve and interpret one of the most consequential periods in modern history. The center, located at the former Eaker Air Force Base, was designated in 2023 by Congress as the nation’s official museum dedicated to the Cold War.

Together, the segments will form the largest publicly viewable collection of Berlin Wall segments outside Berlin. The segments arrived in Arkansas from Germany on May 13.

“This is a defining moment for the National Cold War Center,” said Christian Ostermann, executive director. “These are not replicas — these are original pieces of history that once divided the world. Preserving and interpreting the Berlin Wall at this scale positions the center as an important institution for understanding the Cold War and its lasting impact on the world today.”

The Berlin Wall stood for nearly three decades as a physical symbol of global political and ideological division during the Cold War. By preserving and presenting these original artifacts, the National Cold War Center will offer visitors a rare opportunity to experience the physical presence of the Wall while exploring the global events, tensions and decisions that shaped the modern world, according to the release.

Eaker Air Force Base was a Strategic Air Command Ready Alert installation during the Cold War era, and the National Cold War Center is being developed to educate and engage the public through immersive experiences, research and access to original historic assets.

The full collection will be publicly unveiled at the National Cold War Center Gala in November with information on exhibition plans, educational initiatives and more to be revealed in the coming months, the release stated.

Feature image: Berlin Wall segments after their arrival in Blytheville. (Photo courtesy of NCWC)
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No rain in Thursday’s forecast.

The chance of rain will return on Friday, but the chance is going to be very low Friday through Sunday.

Then the chance really picks up early next week as a front approaches. Stronger to severe storms are going to be possible Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

JONESBORO – Staff members at Arkansas State University were honored for their retirement
and milestone accomplishments during the annual Distinguished Performance Awards and
Service Recognition Ceremony in Centennial Hall of Reng Student Union on Monday, May
11. 
 
Those who have or will retire during the current academic year include Malissa Davis,
Ellis Library, 35 years; Jimmy Crocker, Facilities Management, 28 years; Anna Warren,
Childhood Services, 19 years; Cameron Martin, Facilities Management, 14 years; Barbara
Bland, Childhood Services, 14 years; Charlotte Booker, Information Technology Services,
12 years; Mary E. Williams, College of Nursing and Health Professions, 11 years; and
Joe Boon, Facilities Management, 9 years.

Honored for 45 years of service was Sharon Lee, director of community engagement and
outreach for the office of Access and Accommodation Services.

Honored for 40 years of service was Sharon McDaniel, records management supervisor
for the Registrar’s Office.

Those honored for 35 years of service include:  
Phillip Ladd, project manager in Construction Services, and Russ Hannah, vice chancellor
for Finance and Administration.

Those honored for 30 years of service include:  
Natalie Turney, administrative assistant in the Department of English, Philosophy
and World Languages and Cheryl Richey, custodial coordinator in Facilities Management.

Those honored for 25 years of service include: 
Woodie Sue Herlein, out-of-school time projects coordinator in Childhood Services;
Diana Courson, assistant director of Childhood Services; Laura Miller, director of
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center; Mia Sheppard-Taylor, director
of Custodial Services; Eric Barnett, core network engineer and wireless administrator
of Information Technology Services; Clay Hurn, Mail Center; and Sharon Rye, hardware
engineer in Information Technology Services. 

Those honored for 20 years of service include:
April Morris, Michael Glover, Mary Melton, Grady Clark, Amber Long Martin, Kayann
Brown, Dwain Roberts, Randy Wheaton, Amber Jones, Melissa Jackson, Cheryl Wright,
Christy Brinkley, and Jimmy Rousseau. 

Those honored for 15 years of service include:  
Ronnie Gilley, Christina Kostick, Carol Caldwell, Michael Bradley, Mark Freier, Shea
Harris, Thomas Wilson, Chris Boothman, Lora Gibson, Cary Estes, Stephanie Gibson,
Jesse Blankenship, Violeta Lugo, Alyssa Wells, Marsha Carwell, Vickie Gilmer, Edward
Haff, and Alexis Hurdle Besharse.

Those honored for 10 years of service include:  
Michael Hagen, Tammy Daffron, Terri Teters, Mollie Menton-Ipsen, Dale McClelland,
Taylor Carpenter, Anne Merten, Avis Turner, Benjamin Housewright, Dallas Reece, Brandon
Tabor, Tia Caldwell, Tara Thomason, Petree Buford, Robert Davenport, Cathy Naylor,
Shannon Williams, Jackie Cox, Frazier Dixon, Devin Nelson, and Michelle White.  
 
Those honored for five years of service include:  
Jeri Knight, Josh Rogers, Taylor Shannon, Fen Yu, Deloris Holley, Penny Toombs, Greg
Umhoefer, Sasha Jones, Brittany Stokes, Stephanie Stanley, Caleb Lawson, Raven Person,
Maria Bedwell, Michael Bledsoe, Judith Poole, Suzette Hinkle, Leigh Ann Crain, Bryce
Moore, Andrew Shoffner, Lyle Jones, Derrick Lett, Ben Kutylo, Autumn Anderson, Stanley
Broadaway, Michael Alexander, Jennifer Keys, Julie Yarberry, Shauna Baker, Melissa
Dooley, Paula Kelley, Taylor Simmermon, Craig Estes, Kyle Ford, Fady Fara, Sylvia
Zavala Brandon, Nicholas Wallis, Olivia Clark, and JD Stallings.  
 
Honorees from five years of service through 20 years received a certificate and a
pin. Those celebrating 25 years and up received a plaque in recognition of their dedication
to A-State.