Other Days: June 26, 2024

10 YEARS AGO JUNE 25, 2014 The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights at Dallas, Texas, is investigating a Title IX complaint filed against the Cleveland County School District, alleging that female athletics are not given the same opportunities as their male counterparts at Rison High School. Supt. Johnnie Johnson discussed the letter of inquiry during the Cleveland County School Board's regular monthly meeting last Thursday night. The letter did not indicate who filed the complaint against the district. Title IX is an amendment of the U.S. Department of Education. It requires all schools that receive federal funding to offer the same athletic/extracurricular opportunities for girls as they do for boys. The letter lists seven specific complaints against the district, most of which center around the girls' softball team and their practice schedules, season schedules and access to various facilities.Two Pine Bluff men, suspected of trying to break into a house near Woodlawn, were arrested last Wednesday afternoon after fleeing from law enforcement officers in northern Cleveland County. Both suspects were taken into custody just off Gun Club Road following a pursuit that took place around noon on Wednesday.Organizers of the first Cleveland County Churches Caring for Children food give-away were satisfied with the turnout they received Tuesday, and are hoping it will plant the seed for a county-wide food bank operation in the near future. Melinda McKnight, administrator for the Cleveland County Department of Human Services office and one of the organizers behind the food give-away, said they had eight churches participate in the program and were able to put together 36 boxes of food to distribute to needy children.Supt. Johnnie Johnson clarified to the Cleveland County School Board last Thursday night that Rison High School is on first-year probation and not second-year probation as reported in a statewide newspa...