Other Days: June 10, 2026

10  YEARS  AGOJUNE  8,  2016Cleveland County Judge Gary Spears assigned a five-person committee Monday night to investigate the county's options after Sheriff Jack Rodgers reported that he is running out of jail space, and a state review of the existing jail found that it does not have adequate staff to operate it. Spears said options for the county could range from simply hiring additional personnel to dedicating more money to house inmates elsewhere to building a new jail. Regardless of the county's ultimate decision on the matter, Spears said the county is looking at spending at least $100,000 or more per year to address some of the deficiencies cited by the state.The Rison City Council gave Mobilite LLC permission Tuesday night to move forward with an effort to bring a new wireless infrastructure system to Rison that could eventually allow a company to provide wireless internet service to local residents.The balance in the county general fund has gone into the black as of May 31, thanks largely in part to an unexpected windfall in the state's mineral rights payment to counties. County Judge Gary Spears said the improved bottom line can be attributed to a $100,000 mineral rights check the county recently received from the state.20  YEARS  AGOJUNE  14,  2006Gary Spears of New Edinburg got strong support from his home precinct and west of Saline River, and garnered enough votes from other areas of the county to beat Bobby Hyatt of the "Y" community in Tuesday's Democratic primary run-off election for Cleveland County Judge. Spears had 1,060 votes to 838 for Hyatt. About 35% of the county's eligible voters cast ballots. Only 21 votes separated the two candidates during a three-way race in the primary on May 23.The Cleveland County School Board approved the purchase of 23 acres of land adjoining the Rison cam...