Other Days: August 21, 2024

10  YEARS  AGOAUGUST  20,  2014Anyone who has an unpaid balance on their solid waste bills should not expect those charges to disappear once the new 2-cent solid waste tax for trash pickup goes into effect on October 1, according to Jack Hopson, Cleveland County treasurer. The treasurer's office oversees the billing for the solid waste program, and intends to pursue those unpaid balances. Unpaid trash bills have been an ongoing issue for the county's solid waste program for several years. The total amount in unpaid balances has been cut from more than $200,000 in January, 2013, to about $170,000 as of this week. There are about 200 customers still on the books with unpaid balances, with some owing $1,000 or more in unpaid trash bills.Both school districts in the county - Cleveland County and Woodlawn - are showing a slight enrollment increase over a year ago. The two districts are reported at or above 2013-14 levels.The Kingsland City Council unanimously approved a formal agreement Monday evening to hand over responsibility of the city's solid waste program to Cleveland County when the new 2-cent sales tax for trash pickup service begins October 1. Also Monday evening, Kingsland fire chief John Roth was asked about the progress being made toward getting the department's ISO rating reduced. It was pointed out by council member Jennifer Williams that the fire department has been working on it for three years, yet "it seems nothing has been accomplished so far" that will help lower premiums for homeowner insurance.Sometime between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, the county library in Rison was broken into, and the only thing that appeared missing was money from the cash box, an estimated $87. One of the back windows on the building was broken, as well as the window in the library's office. There have been no arrests in connection with the break-in.20  YEARS...