Other Days: February 19, 2025

10 YEARS AGO FEBRUARY 25, 2015 A second round of winter weather hit Cleveland County Monday, closing both school districts and leaving a coat of ice over all the main roadways. The result was a layer of sleet about an inch thick covering nearly all roadways and leaving treacherous driving conditions throughout the region. Just as the icy roads were starting to clear up Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for Cleveland County today, predicting 3 to 5 inches of snow.While Cleveland County being listed as a 'distressed' county may put it in a bit more favorable position when it comes to funding decisions with the Delta Regional Authority, County Judge Gary Spears said he isn't counting on seeing any significant increase in grants or low-interest loans for the county as a result of the designation. In Arkansas, there are 41 counties served by the Delta Regional Authority. Of these, 38 are considered as being 'distressed.' Spears said, 'the distressed designation may help a little, but they only have so much money to work with. I'm not looking for the county to receive a whole lot of money.'Former Kingsland Greyhound and Ouachita Baptist University Tiger star center Leon Clements will be posthumously inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame this Friday night, an honor which many believe is long overdue. He was an N.A.I.A. All-American and O.B.U.'s all-time leading scorer. Clements was part of three O.B.U. teams that played in the N.A.I.A. National Tournament at Kansas City, with the 1965 squad finishing third in the nation. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals of the National Basketball Association, but felt he could make more money in banking than playing professional basketball in that time period. Clements died of a heart attack in 2005 at the age of 61. He joins at least four other previous Hall inductees who have direct connections to Cleveland County.Woodlawn's Tyson Hume pu...