The following items were compiled from files of past issues of the Cleveland County Herald. For questions or comments, contact Stan Sadler, P.O. Box 325, Rison, AR 71665, phone (870) 830-2056 or 870-325-6412; or email at sadler.stan@yahoo.com
10 YEARS AGO
JULY 13, 2016
The Cleveland County Quorum Court voted Thursday night to enter into a contract with SouthBuild Team to conduct a study and develop plans for a possible 50 to 80 bed jail complex for the county. The study will cost $18,500 overall. Based on some rough estimates, County Judge Gary Spears told the court that it would likely require a 2.5 cent sales tax to support the new jail. The decision comes in the wake of a state inspection that found the Cleveland County Jail is not in compliance with state standards regarding staffing and space requirements.
There will be contested races for both the Cleveland County and Woodlawn school boards in September, as the filing time for candidates passed. Mary Charlene Freeman, the incumbent, and Amber Offutt of Rison filed for the Zone 3 seat on the Cleveland County School Board. Shane Dixon and Rodger Stewart filed for a board position in the Woodlawn district after Ray Gavin did not file for re-election.
While the balance in county general remains strong, County Treasurer Jack Hopson informed the Cleveland County Quorum Court last Thursday that sales tax collections for solid waste over the first six months of 2016 are down by about $50,000 compared to last year.
The Cleveland County Community Theater group made its debut with the two-night production of "Murder at the Pie Auction" last week, with sold-out crowds at Rison on Friday and at New Edinburg on Saturday.
The Kickstart Cleveland County Community Development Initiative was awarded the Community SOAR Award during the 2016 Breakthrough Solutions Community Development Conference held last week in Little Rock. The award is presented each year to a single community development effort "for exemplary vision, accomplishments, and commitment to the future of your community." Kickstart Cleveland County started in 2015 as a grassroots community development effort that sprang out of Rison Shine Downtown Development.
20 YEARS AGOJU…