Other Days: January 7, 2026

10 YEARS AGO JANUARY 6, 2016 Cleveland County's general balance fund sees a fourth consecutive year of strong growth. On top of the good news regarding the balance, the county's latest monthly sales tax collection was the highest in the last 10 years.Josh Bolland, an investigator with the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department, was hired Tuesday to eventually become the chief of police for the City of Rison, Mayor Vernon Dollar told the Rison City Council Tuesday night. Dollar said he decided to move forward with Bolland's hiring after one of the city's remaining two police officers, Eric Power, tendered his resignation on Tuesday. Bolland is being hired as a patrol officer for now, with the plan for him to become police chief once the city's other officer, Greg Herron, officially retires later this year. Dollar has appointed Herron as the interim police chief until the retirement takes place. The Rison Police Department has been in a transition phase following the retirement of former Chief of Police Jeff Prescott late last year.The new Dollar General store at Rison is expected to open this Saturday at the Hwy. 79-35 intersection after being located at the north end of Main Street, while construction on a new Dollar General at Calmer is now underway.A meeting is scheduled here next week to gauge interest in starting a Cleveland County Community Theatre group.Jimmy Dale 'Red' Parker, 84, Arkansas football coaching legend and Rison High School alum, died Monday evening. Among his many stops on the high school and college coaching levels included both Rison and Woodlawn high schools, guiding the R.H.S. Wildcats to a state championship in 1995.20 YEARS AGO JANUARY 11, 2006 Cleveland County received its first contested county race this week, when Gary Spears, New Edinburg businessman, announced that he will challenge incumbent Vernon Dollar of Rison for the Democratic nomination for Cleveland County ...