RISON - The Fordyce School District has announced it will be implementing heightened secu‐rity measures at Friday night’s game between the Rison Wild‐cats and Fordyce Redbugs after learning of possible threat of vi‐olence at the game. The two teams will be competing in a crucial 6-3A conference match-up beginning at 7 p.m. Friday at Paul “Bear” Bryant Stadium in Fordyce.
Last Wednesday, Oct. 5, Fordyce School District Superintendent Judy Hubbell posted a statement on the district’s Facebook page announcing that the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department had “received disturbing tips concerning the threat of violence at the Fordyce/Rison football game.”
Due to that threat, Hubbell announced that metal detectors will be set up at both entrances to the stadium in Fordyce, and that staff and law enforcement “will have wands to check fans throughout the ballgame according to established guidelines.”
Due to the increased security measures, Hubbell encouraged fans to arrive early. She said gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Friday to help fans get into the stadium.
Hubbell also noted that no lawn chairs will be allowed in either end zone.
Following the release of Hubbell’s statement, Cleveland County School District Superintendent Craig Dupuy issued a statement last Thursday, Oct. 6, (continued from page 1) urging Rison fans to be aware of and follow the guidelines being put in place.
“I want to assure all Wildcat Fans that although the threats of violence and tips given to the Fordyce Administration are taken seriously and have been shared with local and state authorities, I am also confident that Dr. Hubbell and her Administrative Team have planned for and will provide the best security atmosphere to protect fans, players, and cheer/band members of both teams that night,” Dupuy wrote.
“Sadly, we can never be 100% confident that even with the best of precautions or law enforcement presence there cannot or will not be an instance of some type of problem either inside or outside the stadium in Fordyce on that night,” Dupuy added In an interview with the Herald on Tuesday, Dupuy said Hubbell called him on Sept. 27 to make him aware of the threats. He said Hubbell told him that some of the students at Fordyce came to her about some posts they had come across on social media as well as some online videos that gave the students concern that there could be violence at the Rison-Fordyce football game.
Dupuy said the threats are believed to be connected to a shooting that took place on June 13, 2020, at Powell Park in Rison. That shooting injured four people, and the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department arrested two Fordyce men, Krystan Mathews and Barkley Perry, in connection with the shooting. Both men were age 21 at the time, and both were charged with felony battery.
Dupuy noted that law enforcement agencies have been inves‐tigating the possible threats since they first came to light.
In last Thursday’s statement, Dupuy encouraged Rison fans to adhere to the following guide‐lines that are being implemented for Friday’s game by the Fordyce School District:
• Buy game tickets in ad‐vance at the Cleveland County School District administrative office. Tickets will be available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day through Friday, Oct. 14.
• Bring a small clear plastic see through purse or bag to the game. No purses or backpacks will be permitted.
• Be prepared to be screened by a metal detector entering the stadium. Leave pocket knives and other devices in your vehi‐cle or at home.
• Chairs may be used, but do not attempt to sit or stand in either end zone.
• Students in kindergarten through 6th grade will not be per‐mitted into the game without a parent or guardian present. Those who are unaccompanied will be turned over to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.
• No re-entry into the game will be allowed.
• Rison nor Fordyce students will be allowed to cross over to ei‐ther side before, during or after the game.
• No loitering or standing outside the fence will be tolerated.
• Fans are asked to remain in their seats or chairs unless visiting the restroom or concession stand.
• At the north end of the stadium, Cleveland Street/Kingsland Road will be barricaded at some point before kickoff. Those barricades will be removed after the game to allow traffic to exit the stadium parking areas.
• When the game is over, all band members, players and fans are expected to leave the stadium and exit the parking areas immediately. No one will be allowed to enter the game field at the end of the game.
Dupuy went to to urge people to have patience and follow all directions of law enforcement at the site. He said Arkansas State Police, Fordyce Police Department, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and commis‐sioned security officers with the Fordyce School District will be onsite throughout the parking areas and in the stadium. He noted that uniformed and plain clothes officers will be part of the security team.
“I would encourage you to evaluate and have a family plan to safely reunite or identify a spot to gather, if something should happen and we have to evacuate the Fordyce stadium in a hurry Friday night,” Dupuy wrote. “I would also carefully weigh the need to bring small children, those that are elderly and have trouble being mobile in quick evacuation scenarios, and for being responsible for small children, other than your own to this specific game.”