Other Days: November 1, 2023

10 YEARS AGO OCTOBER 30, 2013 Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, governor and several statewide constitutional offices were in Rison Saturday night for the Cleveland County Republican Party's first-ever Lincoln Day Dinner at the county fairgrounds here. Fourth District Congressman Tom Cotton of Dardanelle, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, headlined the event and was the keynote speaker. Jimmy Cummings, a Cleveland County native and chairman of the Cleveland County Republican Party, said he could not remember a time when as many high profile political candidates got together at one time in Cleveland County. Cotton said Republicans are seeing a political transition to the party across the state. A new state law set to go into effect January 1, 2014, will give some sales tax relief to local poultry farmers, but will hurt the coffers for county government. While the new law will be a benefit for local farmers, Cleveland County Judge Gary Spears said it will likely cost the county about $1,000 to $2,000 per month in sales tax revenue. Act 1441 of 2013, approved by the state legislature earlier this year, will eliminate the state and local sales tax on electricity, natural gas and LP gas used by agricultural buildings and/or equipment that qualifies for the exemption. The board of the Cleveland County School District approved one-time payments of $500 for all full-time employees of the district. Supt. Johnnie Johnson told the board that it has been three to four years since the district last gave employees a raise in the salary schedule, and that he had included provisions in this year's budget to possibly give a raise. However, after reviewing the district's finances, Johnson said it would be better to give all full-time employees a $500 one-time payment this year, while looking at implementing a pay raise of about the same amount next year. Also at the meeting Monday night, Bruce Grubb was re-elected a...