GLIMPSES FROM THE PAST - As we've done in the past, looking into tomato harvest pictures from Cleveland County in years gone by reminds us of the numerous farms the Herald photographer visited over the years, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s. We noticed in this week's Other Days column that over 500 acres plus of tomatoes were grown in the county in 1964. This glimpse from the past takes us to Lee township almost 50 years ago, the harvest of 1975, where we see Doug, 11, Detri, 13, and their father, John L. McClellan in the family's 2-acre field of tomatoes. John L. and his wife, Sue, the kids and others helped with this harvest that particular summer, when at the time, No. 1 tomatoes were bringing $12 to $14 for a 20-pound box at the area markets. John L., a school teacher at the time and also a long-time member of the Cleveland County Quorum Court, was a second generation tomato grower after his father, Jewell McClellan. For questions or comments, contact Stan Sadler at sadler.stan@yahoo.com
(The following items were compiled by Stan Sadler from files of past issues of the Cleveland County Herald. For questions or comments, contact Stan Sadler, P.O. Box 325, Rison, AR 71665, phone (870) 830-2056 or 870-325-6412; or email at sadler.stan@yahoo.com)
10 YEARS AGO JUNE 11, 2014 After seeing a slow decline in enrollment numbers in recent years, the Woodlawn School District may finally see some benefits from the new School Choice Act, as the board approved 48 transfer requests during its regular monthly meeting Monday night. Also, the board was informed that with the fiscal year set to end June 30, the district's revenue has exceeded expenses by $211,739, which will be a better bottom line than last year.
Leslie Rutledge defeated David Sterling, both inside Cleveland County and across the state, in Tuesday's Republican primary run-off election for attorney general. In Cleveland County there was a voter turnout of about 5 percent in Tuesday's primary, while statewide the turnout was 5.3 percent.
The Rison Farmers Market will begin its new Saturday and Tuesday morning markets beginning this Saturday at the Community Park on Main Street here.
Arkansas sportscaster Chris Frye, a Rison native, will be guest speaker during the 16th annual Juneteenth Festival to be held Friday and Saturday in Rison.
Arkansas State University senior pitcher and former Woodlawn Bear Bradley Wallace was selected in the 10th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Rays Friday afternoon. He was the 307th player taken overall and becomes the second highest baseball draft pick in Arkansas State history.
20 YEARS AGO JUNE 16, 2004 In what may have been its last meeting ever, the Kingsland School Board awarded the Seale Construction Co. of Arkadelphia the contract to build a new high school building to replace the one destroyed by fire in May, 2003. Seale Construction's bid of $2,129,400 was the lowest of five bids submitted for the project. Unless any sudden business comes up, it was the last meeting of the Kingsland board. The Kingsland and Rison school districts are scheduled to merge July 1 to become the new Cleveland County School District, which will have its own school board consisting of members from both districts.
The Rison School Board gave Superintendent Scotty Holderfield a raise, in what was likely to be its last meeting Monday night. The Rison and Kingsland school districts are set to consolidate on July 1 into the new Cleveland County School District.
Demolition continues at the old two-story Federal Office Building adjacent to the courthouse here.
The Cleveland County Sheriff's Department arrested two adults and took in a juvenile, all suspected of breaking into several businesses and two churches in the downtown Rison area early Monday morning.
The Rison School Board approved construction of a new press box at Wildcat Field to replace the small wood frame box which is starting to deteriorate and could pose safety concerns.
30 YEARS AGO JUNE 15, 1994 A.J. Brown held a 269-vote lead over Jimmie Lockhart in the race for Cleveland County Judge during the Democratic party primary run-off election held Tuesday. Only 36 percent of the county's registered voters cast ballots. In a five-man race during the preferential primary on May 24, Lockhart led Brown by 56 votes. County and state voters elected Sharon Priest for secretary of state over the incumbent, W.J. 'Bill' McCuen.
A change last week in the rural fire funding formula for Cleveland County drew the ire of firemen from 10 departments around the county. The change in the funding formula came about with the adoption of a resolution at a special meeting of the Quorum Court, allowing certain fire departments located outside Cleveland County, but servicing areas within the county, a portion of funds allocated from the state.
Providing Resources In Developing Excellence (PRIDE) is the name of a group of Rison patrons who have organized to focus on academic and educational excellence in the Rison School District.
The Attwood-Hopson House and adjacent well house at New Edinburg have been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.
40 YEARS AGO JUNE 13, 1984 Small general stores across the United States dropped 50 percent in the last 15 years.
Less than one-third of the county's voters cast ballots in the Democratic primary run-off races Tuesday, with one district race and three state contests considered by electors. County voters favored Robin Wynne of Fordyce for state representative. Wynne also led in district-wide voting.
Shalon Kimbrell of Rison, a sophomore at the University of Arkansas-Monticello, was named to the All-AIC women's track team. Kimbrell set a new school record in the intermediate hurdles and was on the 440-yard relay team which set a new AIC record.
Leslie Jennings of Rison, 'Miss Cleveland County,' was first runnerup in the 'Miss Pink Tomato' pageant at Warren. Jennings won the talent division at the pageant and was also named 'Miss Congeniality.'
50 YEARS AGO JUNE 12, 1974 Joe Paul King, for sheriff, and Thomas Sparks, for state representative, led in Tuesday's Democratic party run-off election in Cleveland County. Sparks also leads by a slim 140-vote margin in district-wide totals. Carter Ashcraft, for sheriff, and L. Weems Trussell, for representative, were opponents. King's lead over Ashcraft was 1,700 to 1,228.
Cleveland County resumes administration of the hospital and nursing home here. The facilities have been leased to Ozark Health, Inc., for the past several years. Mrs. Betty Pate is administrator and Dr. Cecil Dickerson and Dr. Barbara Barksdale remain as the local hospital staff.
The tomato markets are open and some early season prices paid for 20-pound lugs were as much as $6.00 and $7.00.
The Rison City Council approved a water rate increase of about 25 percent more for the minimum amount of water.
Thirty Cleveland County youths received instruction in law enforcement during a fiveday seminar here, sponsored by the Rison Police Department.
60 YEARS AGO JUNE 10, 1964 Attorneys for the plaintiffs in the county stock law suit have asked for a rehearing by the Arkansas Supreme Court. The high court ruled in May that the county-wide stock law is valid.
Work on Kingsland's water system is under way, with the deep well being completed. The City of Kingsland has been working toward the realization of a public water system since 1957. The total cost of the system will be nearly $114,000.
The outlook for Cleveland County's 500-acre plus tomato crop continues bright, and the harvest is under way.
Five more miles of paving on the new Highway 114 in the vicinity of Calmer is nearing completion. This leaves about a five-mile gravel strip between Highway 35, south of Rison, to a point where the new blacktop begins on Highway 114, east of Big Creek.
Bids are rejected on the City of Rison's proposed sewage oxidation pond because they were over the money allotted for construction.
May rainfall in the Rison area was 1.78 inches.
The county's school-age population is 1,901, according to a census. The 1964 totals are Kingsland - 340, white, 252, negro, 88; Woodlawn - 380, white, 365, negro, 15; New Edinburg - 387, white, 218, negro, 169; Rison - 794, white, 518, negro, 276.
Gray's Lake, north of Kingsland, is restocked with 3,960 yearling bass and 744 adult bream. All of the fish in the lake were killed last winter by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.
70 YEARS AGO JUNE 16, 1954 An extensive rebuilding job on Highway 35 from Rison to Big Creek was started last week just south of town. The right-of-way is being widened and resurfacing of the graveled highway is also planned for the immediate future. The section of the road from Rison to Big Creek was built under the old Road Improvement District system in the early 1920s. The section from Big Creek to Pansy was built later and has a wider roadbed.
A chapter of the Arkansas Quails Unlimited organization was formed here, with G.W. Turner as chairman.
One person was killed and four others were injured in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 8 south of New Edinburg Saturday morning.
Atty. Max M. Smith of Rison is licensed to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Advertisement - The Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Southeast Arkansas: 6-bottle carton, 25 cents.
80 YEARS AGO JUNE 14, 1944 Twenty-one more Cleveland County men are to leave for induction into the Army and Navy.
The second period for rationing of sugar for home canning will begin July 1.
The fifth War Loan Campaign gets under way here, with opening day sales of $16,000 reported from the county.
Make plans for marketing and shipping potatoes in the county; about $1.80 per 100 pounds will be the net price received by farmers for U.S. No. 1's.
Mrs. Agnes Elam has taken over operation of the telephone office at Kingsland.
90 YEARS AGO JUNE 13, 1934 Arkansas Power & Light Co. announced a rate reduction for Rison, Kingsland and New Edinburg among 200 cities and towns throughout the state.
The Kedron cannery has been completed and canning was started Monday morning.
A determined effort is being made by city marshal D.H. Thomasson to enforce the ordinance that prohibits hogs from running at large inside the city limits.
Prospects appear to be brighter for securing a grant and loan from the P.W.A. (Public Works Administration) for erection of a new school building here.
Marketing Irish potatoes starts in the county Monday, and a fair price for the crop is expected due to a low supply on hand. Farmers are asked to bring their potatoes to the loading shed at Rison or to Saline Siding.
Rison's newly-organized baseball team dropped their second game Sunday afternoon at Cameron Field here, losing to Toledo, 8-6. Batteries were: Rison - Walker, Veteto and May; Toledo - Lindsey and Ryburn.
100 YEARS AGO JUNE 19, 1924 During the first three months of this year, 453 automobiles in Cleveland County were licensed to operate. The average amount is $16.99 per car. There are 12 counties in the state with fewer autos than Cleveland. To date, Cleveland County's average amount of tax for each license is the lowest for the entire state.
For more than a year, the Cotton Belt Railway has given Rison and Cleveland County the service of six passenger trains daily - four through trains to extended points and for interstate travel, and two local passengers operating between Pine Bluff and Texarkana.
Eleven cars of Irish potatoes were shipped out of the county to date at $1.25 a 100 pounds.
Poll tax receipts issued total 2,600 in the county. Relatively few women have paid this year, while about 500 negroes have paid in the county.
Carroll Culpepper succeeded Mrs. C.C. Bussey as proprietor of the Phoenix Hotel in Rison. Mrs. Bussey has had the management of the hotel for nearly three years. The Bussey family has moved to their home on East Second Street here. Mr. Culpepper will continue his lumber and timber enterprise.