Other Days: Sept. 6, 2023

10 YEARS AGO SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 Cleveland County Judge Gary Spears is cautiously optimistic that the county may finish the year in better financial shape than expected, yet he warned the Justices of the Peace the county shouldn't go on any spending sprees anytime soon. The Cleveland County Sheriff's Department has asked the Arkansas State Police to assist with investigating a rash of suspected arson fires in the Randall-New Home area of northeastern Cleveland County. Four fires have been reported in that general area since August 22 and all four are believed to have been deliberately set. Randy Scott Rawls, 41, of Rison, died from injuries suffered Saturday afternoon when he apparently lost control of a 2000 model Suzuki he was riding in an accident on Highway 114 a short distance south of Rison. A 16-year-old driver was arrested early Sunday morning at Staves, north of Rison, after leading police on a high speed chase through northern Cleveland County along Rodgers Road, Dunkeffie Road, and finally Highway 212. The driver, from Bradley County, along with two Cleveland County youths received various charges involving the incident. A fourth person in the car, another juvenile from Cleveland County, was not charged. A new community garden has been established at the corner of Yaney Drive and Mockingbird Lane (old county fairgrounds site) in Rison. The raised beds for the garden are being set up through a $2,150 grant awarded through the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention to encourage people to eat healthier foods by growing their own vegetables. 20 YEARS AGO SEPTEMBER 10, 2003 The Kingsland School Board unanimously approved a motion Tuesday to pursue a 6-mill tax increase, pending the state's decision concerning a plan to rebuild the high school building destroyed by fire in May. The Cleveland County Quorum Court on Monday approved a supplement to its contract with Get Rid of It of El D...