Other Days: July 12, 2023

10  YEARS  AGO, JULY  10,  2013 The Cleveland County Republican Party is ready to start making headway into local politics. The local organization will place an emphasis on recruiting new candidates and encouraging sitting Democrats who share the same value system to switch parties. The group is planning the first-ever "Lincoln Day Dinner" for October in Rison - "Lincoln" referring to President Abraham Lincoln, who was a Republican. A ceremony tomorrow afternoon marking the official opening of the new "pocket park" on Main Street in downtown Rison will coincide with the opening of a new Rison Farmers Market. A public meeting here is announced for next Tuesday evening to gain ideas and to make plans for rejuvenating the Rison in the Fall Festival in October. Plans call for moving the festival from the Main Street area downtown to Pioneer Village, property which the city officially acquired in February. Rison was once home to the Pioneer Crafts Festival at Pioneer Village in the spring, but as interest in crafts began to fade, the festival shut down a few years ago. Local officials want to use Pioneer Village for the fall event, not only in an effort to rejuvenate the festival, but to revitalize the Pioneer Village with a festival. The Pioneer Crafts Festival started in the early 1970s in conjunction with the county's 100th birthday, while the fall festival began in 1990 when the city celebrated its centennial observance. Persistent dry conditions prompted Cleveland County Judge Gary Spears to issue a burn ban Tuesday until further notice. In the upcoming September school board elections, Tony White will be unopposed for his board position in Zone 6 of the Cleveland County District, while in the Woodlawn District, Aaron Tooke, the incumbent member, will be challenged by Edward "Bugs" Andrews, as the filing deadline for candidates ended. 20  YEARS  AGO,...