BBQ COOK OFF GRAND CHAMPION - Allen Newton (center) was awarded the Grand Champion Trophy and a $1,000 prize sponsored by Chris Reed Logging Saturday evening at the revived Rison BBQ Cook Off hosted by Rison Shine Community Development, Inc. at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds. Additional winners for the ribs, chicken, cooker's choice and people's choice awards are pictured on page 2 of this week's issue. Pictured above are Rison Shine members Malinda Berry, President Kristy Strother, Roy Phillips, Rison Mayor Charles Roberts, Secretary/Treasurer Douglas Boultinghouse and Vice President Keden Shrum. This year's event marked the third attempt for Rison Shine to revive the cook off that was formerly part of the Rison in the Fall Festival before losing interest. According to the organizers, they are looking at different approaches to the competition next year that could increase participation and community attendance. The event also featured a free concert from Arkansas-based country band Midnight South.
RISON - Rison Shine Community Development, Inc. is setting a full calendar of events and activities continuing through the end of the year, which started with this past weekend's BBQ Cook Off.
Though the event received lower participation in the cooking competition and a smaller crowd for the free concert from Midnight South, they are looking at ways to improve next year.
"After feedback from some of the contestants, we're working with Rison Mayor Charles Roberts to potentially have the competition sanctioned through one of the associations that manage similar competitions across the country," said Douglas Boultinghouse, Rison Shine's Secretary/Treasurer and Director of the Rison in the Fall Festival.
According to Boultinghouse, the organizers understand multiple events happening on the same day, including the University of Arkansas vs Arkansas State University game in Little Rock contributed to the lower participation.
Winners from the Cook Off are pictured in this issue of the Herald.
Rison in the Fall
Rison Sine is now looking ahead to it's premier event, the Rison in the Fall Festival set for Saturday, Oct. 18 which will feature over 40 vendors with everything from crafts to food, all taking place during a series of free concerts.
Performers scheduled for the festival include Laura Caroline at 1 p.m., Copper Flats and 2:30 p.m., Ernie Halter at 4 p.m., Thom and Coley at 5:30 p.m., and culminating with a headlining slot from acclaimed country artist Sunny Sweeney.
The Fall Into Fitness 5K Run, Walk and Bike Ride sponsored by Absolute Health will also be held during the festival with other activities to be announced. Registration for the 5K is expected to open soon.
Volunteers are needed to assist with various tasks before, during and after the festival. A Volunteer Dinner has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30 at the Hall-Morgan Veteran's Building. Anyone interested in assisting with the festival should attend this dinner, or contact Boultinghouse at (870) 5102433.
Boultinghouse noted only a handful of vendor spaces remain. All food truck spaces have been filled.
Clean Up Days
In advance of the festival, Rison Shine and Mayor Roberts are organizing clean up days to clean up unkempt properties around town, pressure wash sidewalks and more.
Anyone willing to help should meet at Veteran's Park at 9 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 4. Volunteers are encouraged to bring yard tools.
Property owners along the main routes in Rison are asked to assist by keeping properties clean.
Volunteer Hours
Rison Shine President Kristy Strother encourages participation in the clean up days, and assistance with events, from local students in need of community service volunteer hours.
Strother is working with volunteer coordinators at both Rison High School and Woodlawn High School to offer opportunities for students to assist Rison Shine and earn their required hours for graduation.
Haunted Trail with Pioneer Village
Rison Shine and the Pioneer Village are planning a Haunted Trail this Halloween season for one night only, Saturday, Oct. 25.
A planning meeting with organizer Stephanie Reed has been set for Thursday, Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Pioneer Village.
The trail is also expected to feature a zombie carnival for families.
Anyone interested in assisting with scaring people or monitoring games should meet with Reed on Oct. 2.
The event will serve as a joint fundraiser for both organizations.
Trunk-or-Treat with the Cottages
Rison Shine will host its annual Trunk-or-Treat Thursday, Oct. 30 this year, with a shift in location.
Trunk-or-Treat will move from Main Street to the drive at the back of the Green House Cottages of Southern Hills, beginning at 6 p.m.
Rison Shine is teaming up with the nursing home staff which plans a fall carnival for its elders to interact with the kids in the community.
"In the past, kids have had to walk for blocks and cross streets," said Strother. "To keep them safe, we'll set up trunks at the Cottages to distribute candy." Any organizations, churches, businesses or individuals wishing to participate should begin planning now.
More information regarding the fall carnival and trunk-or-treat is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Holiday Open House
Rison Shine plans to help facilitate the Holiday Open House with local businesses downtown for November.
Details, including the date, will be shared in early November.
Cleveland County Christmas Parade Heads to the Village
Rison Shine will host its annual Cleveland County Christmas Parade Thursday, Dec. 11 beginning at 7 p.m.
The parade has seen significant resurgence over the past two years with an increase in floats and crowd turnout. This year's parade will reverse course and begin at the north end of Main Street leading south through the Green House Cottages drive and ending at the Pioneer Village.
Santa will meet kids at the Village for cookies, cocoa and more holiday fun during the second night of a revamped Christmas in the Village.
The Pioneer Village will also host a special event Thursday, Dec. 4 with holiday activities, games, vendors and more. Details for the Village's event will be announced soon.
More Events
Rison Shine encourages anyone with ideas to add to these already scheduled events, or ideas for new events, to attend a community meeting Monday, Sept. 29 at the Fairgrounds Meeting Room, 17 Fairgrounds Drive in Rison.
The event will be moderated by Boultinghouse and Stacy Walz, who serves as the executive director of the Cleveland County Community Theater.
Boultinghouse said he encourages people to follow the Googlebased community calendar that is housed on both Cleveland-CountyHerald.com and ClevelandCountyArkansas.com "Being a Google calendar, the community can easily add the events from it to their personal calendars on their phones, or write dates on physical calendars," he said. "That way, they stay in the know of what's going on in Rison and around Cleveland County."