RISON - In the latest episode of the Free Range Conversations podcast, Rison Mayor Charles Roberts sits in to discuss all things Rison - past, present and future.
The episode can be streamed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and online at clevelandcountyherald. com Podcast host Britt Talent is joined by co-hosts Roy Phillips and Douglas Boultinghouse.
Reflecting on growing up in Rison, Roberts and Phillips recall a time when there were five restaurants on Main Street, and just as many grocery stores. There were multiple service stations downtown and along the highway.
It was a busy time in Rison.
"Back in that era, the 50s, 60s, maybe even into the 70s, Saturday was the day to come to town for shopping," Phillips said reflecting the time Rison was a farming community before the timber industry took over.
Businesses along Main Street included the Western Auto store, which sold a little of everything.
While his father would shop for general hardware, Roberts would head straight for the wax records.
"I was around those record albums," Roberts reflects. "That's where I wanted to be." They both remember times of their early childhood of going to the movie theater in Rison.
Like every small town in America, things began to change in Rison as bigger cities began to develop and businesses started leaving town during the 70s and 80s.
Phillips and Roberts attribute that to more people becoming mobile and having access to cars and trucks. They would take jobs in other places and travel to other stores.
"When Walmart came on the scene, that really changed the way small towns operated," Phillips remarks.
Roberts also factors in the closing of the Cleveland County Hospital as Jefferson Regional expanded its hospital in Pine Bluff.
There were also a garment factory in town the closed down.
"You lose your hospital, you lose that (garment) industry," Roberts said. "So now, if you don't work in timber industry, as farming as moved further east... there's not a lot of opportunity." Roberts notes at that time the main employers were the school and the nursing home, which replaced the hospital.
Rison, and Cleveland County, remains a strong timber community to this day thanks to businesses like Wilson Brothers Lumber Company, Stella-Jones, Tri-W Logging, Chief Lumber Company and several others.
According to Talent, the population of Rison in 1960 was 889 before it crossed the 1,000-mark in 1970 reporting 1,214.
"The population stayed in that range of 1,200 to1,300 through 2010 when the highest population of 1,344 was reported," Talent said.
The population "allegedly" dropped below 1,000 to 967 in 2020 according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Most of those taking part in the podcast disagreed with that 2020 Census assessment.
"I wouldn't argue that there was some decline (in Rison's population), that's just reality," Phillips said. "But not almost 400." Roberts and Talent estimate a more accurate population count today lies somewhere between 1,100 to 1,200.
In the present day, some of the same struggles remain, such as getting businesses downtown, and bringing people into the community to live.
"I see the city as a great opportunity," Roberts said. "You can live here cheaper than you can live anywhere in the southern part of the state." Roberts said there is value in the property and the prices are reasonable.
With the recent expansion of fiber optic internet service into Rison, the mayor calls it a "game-changer" for the city. "People can actually come here to live and work remotely," he said.
Roberts touted the city's regulations that allows people to have up to 20 chickens on their property for eggs, and that children can play in the yard with little fear of violence.
"We have a very quaint little village," he said.
Talent researched reviews online of Rison that echo those sentiments.
One review calls Rison "a very small town full of friendly people, a nice quiet place to live for all ages, to raise a family or retire." Another described Rison as a "tight-knit community where everyone is supportive." Roberts said he wants to build on those positive impressions of the city.
In his second year as mayor, Roberts has been active in community development through both local organizations and statewide resources. "We're in a period of improvement," he said.
Roberts said the city has improved both of city's parks, Veterans Park and Powell Park, and is currently working on improving both the water and wastewater infrastructure to handle more housing.
Part of those water improvements include refurbishing both city water tanks. The water tank located next to the Cleveland County Courthouse commonly referred to as the "Tin Man" is currently under renovation.
"There'll be new signage on (both tanks), it'll be exciting and new," the mayor said.
Improvement to the water and wastewater infrastructure is key to bringing in housing and businesses to Rison as some lines are more than 100 years old.
Roberts hopes a grant proposal he is currently working for the city water system pans out. That proposal must be submitted by November, and he said the city is in great shape to meet the deadline.
"If we didn't have to spend all our man hours and resources on repairing pipes, we could afford to buy some new equipment that would be more efficient," he said. "We could improve our City Hall facilities, improve our storage units, our stock on parts that are used frequently, and more." Roberts said he would also like to have funding to hire additional people, and hire younger people too. "We need to prepare for the future," he said.
Attracting younger people to town is something Roberts hopes to see with affordable housing opportunities, but also through things to do.
Pickleball courts were recently added to the parks. "You can go to the library and pick up a complete set of equipment to play," Roberts said.
Finding things to do is something Rison Shine Community Development, Inc., which Roberts is actively involved in, strives to create.
Boultinghouse serves as secretary/treasurer of the organization, and also as director of the Rison in the Fall Festival. The festival brings in a large entertainment attraction each fall, but Rison Shine is looking for ideas throughout the rest of the year too.
Boultinghouse said recent attendees of the Back to School Bash were polled on things they'd like to see, such as a pickleball tournament. Bringing in food trucks was also a popular request, which Rison Shine has found success with partnering with the Pioneer Village to host the Food Truck Friday series. Held on the third Friday each month, Boultinghouse said the event has been averaging around 200-300 people each month.
Amenities like that are important, but Roberts said he still hopes to have more housing opportunities. "If we have the people, then that increases the need for the amenities," he said.
Roberts, who is also a contractor, envisions creating smaller site-built "tiny houses" for starter families and retirees. "It's got to be under $150,000 to attract people," he said.
Roberts said he has talked with economic development representatives and is looking to apply for a grant that would clear off 10 acres of the industrial park.
"We would like to bring in a business that would answer this need," he said, referring to developing affordable homes for families.
Calling himself a dreamer, Roberts said, "If we can do that and manufacture a house here that would be a good, solid, livable home for people, bring jobs to the community, and increase the population just because we have a place to put a family… that would answer several problems." Also in the podcast, Roberts shares his dreams of clearing vacant lots in town where can build a home or business, or having a new community safe room that doubles as a theater/ community center. Boultinghouse shares ways that if a theater were in place, more evening activities could take place by bringing in concerts and plays.
Other topics discussed in the podcast include expanding tracks around town for walking and biking, and even fishing opportunities right in town.