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(The following items were compiled by Stan Sadler 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  AGOJULY  23,  2014County Judge Gary Spears says that...

Revenue Down About 9 Percent Compared to First Six Months of 2023. RISON - After enjoying unexpected gains in sales tax revenue over the past few years, Cleveland County may be seeing a reversal of fortunes.Over the first six months of this year, Cleveland County collected less revenue in five of those months when compared to the monthly collections last year. Overall, county sales tax revenue is down by about 9 percent compared to the first six months of 2023.According to figures provided by Cleveland County Treasurer Angie Kimsey, the county's 1cent general sales tax has generated $278,865.17 in revenue over the first six months. In comparison, the county collected $307,660.50 from that same 1-cent sales tax over the first six months of last year. That is an overall loss of $28,795.33 (9.3 percent) in revenue.Cleveland County has three different sales taxes that total 3.25 percent: a 1 percent general sales tax that is split between roads (61 percent) and county general (31 percent); a 2 percent tax to fund solid waste; and a 0.25 percent tax to fund an ambulance service.The downward trend in the 1cent sales tax collections is also reflected in the taxes collected for the solid waste and ambulance funds since all three sales taxes are applied to the same products or services sold in the county.County Judge Jimmy Cummings first mentioned the declining sales tax revenue during the April meeting of the Cleveland County Quorum Court. In that meeting, Kimsey's monthly financial report showed that sales tax revenue for March 2024 had declined by $9,567.49 when compared to March 2023. That equated to a 17.8 percent loss.In an interview after the April meeting, Cummings said he first noticed the declining sales tax revenue during the final quarter of 2023. He said if it continued, he may have to ask the county departments to cut back on spending later in the year.Cummings said this week that while the county has seen a net decline of about $3,400 in its projected revenue, he did not anticipate any need to cut back on spending at this…

RISON - The Arkansas Nurses Honor Guard is pleased to announce it is now serving the Cleveland County area. The Arkansas Nurses Honor Guard started with three nurses coming together to honor and fulfill the dream of a friend and coworker and has blossomed into a statewide nonprofit organization and public charity. To date this organization has 25 chapters across the state serving over 50 counties and has collectively paid tribute to over 300 amazing Arkansas Nurses. Every chapter is made up of nurses who volunteer their time and pay tribute at the passing of a nurse at the funeral, during visitation, or at the graveside with the family's permission. The Lincoln County Chapter officially began January 4, 2024, with a vision from Dr. Brandy Haley, PhD, RN, to bring this tribute to the men and women nurses who live, serve, or have strong ties to Lincoln County. In June, the Lincoln County Chapter officially expanded to include Cleveland County. "The Lincoln and Cleveland County chapter is actively recruiting new nurse volunteers to join our organization and help us fulfill our mission," said Haley.For a tribute service, chapter members will attend the funeral, visitation, or graveside service dressed all in white scrubs, traditional nursing caps and nurs-ing capes. Along with performing the Nightingale Tribute, a lamp is lit and extinguished in honor of the nurse and presented to the family along with a white rose. Our tribute ends with a final roll call for the nurse, who is then officially released from their nursing duties. Each tribute service is tailored to honor the nurse as an individual and to highlight that nurse's career and typically takes less than 10 minutes. "Our service is completely free to any nurse; LPN, RN or APRN upon their passing," Haley said.If you are a nurse interested in participating, please visit www.anhg.info to find all current chapters including the Lincoln and Cleveland County Chapter. There is a $25 annual due membership upon joining…

RISON - While others may call it a mid-life crisis or simply crazy, Les Walz of the Macedonia community calls it fun and a challenge he is ready to meet head-on. Walz, who is perhaps best known for being the former agri agent for the Cleveland County Cooperative Extension Office for 23 years, shares in this week's episode of Free Range Conversations podcast about why he ran head first into competing in obstacle course and endurance events across the country.

RISON - The Cleveland County Extension Service will host a food preservation workshop August 6, from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the local Cleveland County Fairgrounds meeting room 309 Mockingbird Ln, Rison, AR 71665. With only 10 spots available, the hands-on workshop will cost each participant $10. To sign up for the workshop or for any other questions or concerns please call the Cleveland County Extension Office at (870)325-6321 or email dwatson@uada.edu.

Mainline Health Systems To Provide Services; Basketball Coaches Hired. RISON - Mainline Health Systems, Inc., will be opening an on-campus clinic at the Rison School campus this year after the Cleveland County School Board approved an agreement with the Monticello-based company during its regular monthly meeting last Thursday night.Meanwhile, the board also approved the hiring of new boys and girls basketball coaches, and granted board-to-board transfer requests during what was new new Superintendent Davy King's first school board meeting.King officially took over as superintendent on July 1. He suc-ceeds Jerrod Williams, who completed his one-year contract wth the district on June 27. King, a Rison native, was previously director of athletics, maintenance and transportation for the district, The board's decision to enter into an agreement with Mainline Health came after a presentation from the company's Ashley Anthony and Amanda Gilbert. Mainline already has school clinics in the Dermott, Hamburg, Lake Village, Sheridan, Star City and Warren school districts. Mainline also has a traditional healthcare clinic at Rison.Gilbert said all school clinics are staffed with nurse practitioners and offer general medical care. She said some offices also offer dental services and some even provide mental health, noting that the school district decides which services to offer.There is no direct cost to the district to have the clinic, it was explained. The district's only obligation is to provide the space, electricity, cleaning and furnishings for the clinic, which usually consists of some chairs and a desk. Mainline will provide the staff, equipment and supplies at no cost.One of the main benefits of having an on-campus clinic, Gilbert said, is that it can be used by both students and staff, eliminating the need to leave school when someone begins feeling sick at school.She explained that the school nurse would still be the first point of contact should a student not feel well. If the student's condition merits anything beyond what care the…

RISON - Not many people have floated the entire length of the Saline River from its origins north of Benton to its confluence with the Ouachita River, but Pat Jo Keegan of the Mt. Carmel community is among them. Keegan, who is the District 4 Justice of the Peace on...

(The following items were compiled by Stan Sadler 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  AGOJULY  16,  2014Demolition of the old two-story Phoenix...

Commissioner of State Lands Tommy Land announced that his office will auction tax-delinquent parcels located in Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Desha, Drew, and Lincoln Counties on July 23. The regional auction begins at 10 a.m. and will be held at the UA Monticello Fine Arts Center, 371 University Drive in...

Commissioner of State Lands Tommy Land announced that his office will auction tax-delinquent parcels located in Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Desha, Drew, and Lincoln Counties on July 23. The regional auction begins at 10 a.m. and will be held at the UA Monticello Fine Arts Center, 371 University Drive in...

SNAP Recipients Get Extra Benefits at Cleveland County Farmers’ Markets. Earn Up to $10 Extra in Market Moolah for Fresh Produce with SNAP in Cleveland County. According to Shelby Star, in Cleveland County SNAP recipients can get extra benefits when they shop at local farmers’ markets. Mary Cornwell the market manager announced a new program to help SNAP recipients make healthier food choices. Since 2016, these markets have accepted SNAP benefits but now there’s an added incentive: up to an extra $10 in Market Moolah to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables. When SNAP recipients visit the farmers’ markets in Cleveland County they can head to the information booth with their EBT/SNAP card. There they can exchange their benefits for $1 tokens. For each transaction they’ll get an additional $10 in Market Moolah which can be used to buy fresh produce. These tokens don’t expire and can be used at various food tables throughout the markets.

Authorities say a second child has died following a weekend crash involving a UTV near the Canadian River in Cleveland County. Shortly after 4 p.m. on Sunday, a 2022 Polaris Ranger with six people aboard was involved in a crash at Happy Trails ATV Park and the South Canadian River near Norman.

COMMUNITY FIREWORKS SHOW - The Green House Cottages of Southern Hills hosted its annual community fireworks show Saturday, June 29 in Rison in advance of the Independence Day holiday. Organizers would like to thank the following for contributing to this year's show: Pizza Pro, Cleveland County Herald, Greg Hyatt, Roy Phillips, Rison Shine Community Development, N/A Investments, Karyn Felkins, Tax Strategist of America, Mainline Clinic, Gateway Bank, Flowers By Jim, O&M Corner Express, ShopWise, FBT Bank, Rison Serenity Spa, Wilson Bros. Lumber, Cleveland County Auto Parts, The Joe Show, England Packing, Batesville Poultry, Rison Pharmacy, Charles and Claudia Rogers, Mark and Debi Attwood, and Salon 7.

RISON - While Cleveland County residents were among the victims of last Friday's deadly mass shooting at the Mad Butcher in Fordyce, there were also others from the county who narrowly missed being part of the tragic event.Among those who had close calls were Ronald Clayton, a former resident of Rison now living north of Fordyce, and Kingsland Mayor Sharon Crosby. Unknowingly the two of them crossed paths trying during the frantic episode.Clayton said he and his wife, Judy, were pulling into the 4th Street entrance of the Mad Butcher in Fordyce when they heard what he thought were rocks hitting his car. He said he pulled over to the edge of the parking lot next to the Rent-A-Center thinking there were some youth in the grassy area there throwing rocks at his car.As he opened his car door and stepped out, Clayton said a shot was fired at their car, and this time he heard the shotgun pellets bouncing off the front windshield of the car and whizzing by his head. Clayton recalled seeing just one police officer at the scene at that time. He said the officer was out of his car with a rifle drawn, and his police unit was parked near the Rent-A-Center side the parking lot.While Clayton said he did not see the shooter himself, his wife did, alerting him of the danger. Clayton said he did see a person laying on the ground in the parking lot.Understanding the situation, Clayton said he quickly got back in his car and sped around the patrol car, exiting the parking lot via the side entrance that intersects Edgar Street. Along the way, he said he warned a car driving into the parking lot about what was going on. That car happen to be Crosby.Clayton said he stopped at the Mexican restaurant to warn them about what was happening, but the man did not seem to understand. From there, he drove the Subway restaurant where his right front tire went flat after be(see (continued from page 1) ing punctured by one of the shotgun pellets.In all, Clayton's car had been struck 24 times by the…

Greg Montgomery, College of Forestry, Agriculture & Natural Resources farm manager at the University of Arkansas at Monticello treated Cleveland County 4-H groups to a Livestock Field Day. The kids got to learn about showing cattle, seeing the university's sheep program, and learn more about their cattle program. Last, but not least, they even enjoyed lunch at the on-campus Chick-fil-A. According to Cleveland County Extension Agent David West, "We had 15 kids, 10 volunteers, parents/sponsors, plus Greg's Montgomery's student workers Grant and Sam all along for the ride. Thanks to everyone who made it possible! We had a great day visiting the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus." If you want to know more about the opportunities UAM offers and the great work Greg is doing, check out the April Arkansas Cattle Business article 'A Hands-On Education' by Noralee Townsend. If you want to know more about Cleveland County 4-H, contact us at (870) 3256321 or dwest@uada.edu.

RISON - The first Food Truck Friday event held this past Friday, June 21, has been deemed a success by organizers within Rison Shine Community Development and the Pioneer Village.The event is a joint venture between the two organizations under Kickstart Cleveland County.The first of the series, which will continue on the third Friday each month, included food trucks Twistin' Copper Kitchen and Cheesecake on Point. Live music was also provided by duo Laura Caroline and Brian Mullen. The Rison Farmers Market hosted its market of vendors during the event as well."With this being the first one, we learned a lot," said Douglas Boultinghouse, one of the organizers. "We purposely started small with two trucks, one with main course foods, and one with dessert, to make sure the community would show up to (continued from page 1) support the event in Rison.” The community showed up, and that resulted in extended wait times at one of the trucks, and some items selling out at the other.Pioneer Village President Marty Bowlin estimated close to 300 people attended the event, either gathering or picking up dinner or dessert.“All of the Rison Shine and Pioneer Village officers and volunteers have been discussing expanding with additional tmcks for July,” Boultinghouse said.He said when the event was first announced, several trucks reached out to get on the list to be featured.“We’re working on scheduling some of those for July and August now,” he said. “As well as entertainment for July.”Rather than charging fees or commissions, the two organizations are asking for donations from vendors to the Food Truck Friday fund that is used specifically for booking local entertainment at the monthly gather-mgs.Donations are appreciated from the community as well. Anyone interested in donating can see Douglas Boultinghouse at the Cleveland County Herald, or Malinda Berry at My Berry Patch.As local crops continue to grow, organizers hope the number of Farmers Market vendors will increase in…

(The following items were compiled by Stan Sadler 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 JUNE 25, 2014 The U.S. Department of...

RISON - The Cleveland County Herald is expanding into a new media platform next week with the launch of its first podcast, Free Range Conversations, publisher Britt Talent has announced. The podcast will feature in-depth conversations covering a wide range of local topics and guests. Talent will serve as a...