County Approves Disaster Declaration

RISON - The Cleveland County Quorum Court approved a Disaster Emergency Declaration during its regular monthly meeting Monday night in the wake of the recent winter storm.Jamie Thompson, administrative assistant in the county judge's office, told the court that the decision to declare an emergency was made after consulting with Cleveland County Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Sarah Mitchell and Cleveland County Road Department Foreman Ricky Hoke.By declaring the disaster, Thompson said it will put the county in a better position to possibly receive state and federal aid to repair damages to county property impacted by the storm. She noted, however, that the declaration does not guarantee the county will receive that funding. While there were no deaths or injuries nor any structural damage to county property from the storm, she said they do anticipate widespread road damage. Even then, Thompson said the road damage would have to extend beyond what would be typical of "freeze and thaw" conditions that are ineligible for aid funding.LeeAnn Smith, the southeast area director for the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, and a representative from FEMA toured the county Tuesday morning for storm damage.Justice of the Peace Donnie Herring, who moderated Monday night's quorum court meeting in the absence of a new county judge, commended the county staff for being "proactive" on the disaster declaration. Glendale Fire Department After being approached by Glendale Fire Chief Alex Powell during its January meeting, the Cleveland County Quorum Court approved a motion Monday night to allow Glendale to receive a share of the county's Act 833 money after putting a substation in Cleveland County.While the Glendale Fire Department is based in the Lincoln County community of Glendale, Powell told the quorum court last month that the fire department's coverage area includes about 30 square...