Other Days: January 8, 2025

10 YEARS AGO JANUARY 14, 2015 A movement by parents of public school students to have their children 'opt out' of assessment tests like the benchmark and end-of-course tests has school administrators, including those in Cleveland County, concerned that parents may not realize the consequences of those actions. According to news reports, this trend has been picking up steam over the past year across the country, especially in those states that have assessment testing.The Woodlawn School Board unanimously approved hiring Ideal Construction as the construction manager for the new fitness trail to be built at the Woodlawn School campus. Late last year, the Woodlawn School District received a $150,000 grant to build a fitness trail that would serve both the school and community. The trail will include a quarter-mile paved walking path.Rison Shine Downtown Development will meet with Dr. Mark Peterson of the University of Arkansas next month to discuss developing a long-range community development plan for the town.The Cleveland County Democratic Committee has elected Jametta Ball Harper as its new chairperson, succeeding Victor 'Pete' Attwood, who served as committee chair for about 10 years.The Woodlawn School Board unanimously accepted the resignation of Woodlawn football coach Zach Branch during its regular monthly meeting Monday night. The resignation was effective January 13. The resignation leaves the Woodlawn football program searching for its sixth head coach since the 2008 season. Branch had been with the Woodlawn program the past four seasons, serving as head coach in 2013 and 2014. Branch is headed to Bauxite High School, where he will be defensive coordinator for the Miners under their new head coach, Dustin Prescott, a Rison High School alum. Both Branch and Prescott had previously coached together under Bo Hembre at Warren.The Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Department Station No. 2, located on Highway 63, is cu...