10 YEARS AGO DECEMBER 18, 2013 As predicted about two months ago, it appears as though Cleveland County will finish 2013 with a balance of a little more than $100,000 left in county general, shoring up what had been an ailing budget account in recent years. Budget cuts in 2013 apparently helped reverse the trend of dwindling year-end balances. Judge Gary Spears had every department in county general cut their budgets by 8 percent for 2013.

10 YEARS AGO DECEMBER 11, 2013 While there were some incidents of motorists sliding off icy highways, Cleveland County seems to have come through the winter storm that hit Arkansas over the past week nearly unscathed. The storm system moved into the county last Friday morning, sending temperatures plunging to near freezing by late afternoon. However, by the time the temperatures did hit the freezing mark, most of the precipitation had already fallen in the form of a cold rain or a rain/sleet mix. County Judge Gary Spears said, 'we were lucky. It was just right on the brink (temperature wise) of causing some major problems.' The biggest road problems actually occurred Sunday morning when light sleet that fell Saturday night began freezing to road surfaces, leaving most bridges and secondary highways covered in a thin layer of ice. A third round of winter weather fell briefly Monday evening in the form of a rain, sleet and snow mix. High temperatures remained in the 30s until Tuesday, with the coldest temperature reported as a low of 22 Sunday morning.

10 YEARS AGO DECEMBER 4, 2013 The Cleveland County Quorum Court approved a 2014 budget Monday night that brings county general expenditures back to 2012 levels, but the court stopped short of changing the way the county splits its 1-cent sales tax between county roads and county general that would help with a proposed pay increase for employees. The 2014 budget projects county general to generate $1,657,884 in revenue next year, with expenditures projected at $1,480,081. The county road budget for 2014 is projected at $1,383,273, slightly higher than a year ago.

(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 NOVEMBER 26, 2013 A recent decision by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to put a mussel that lives in the Saline River on the federal Endangered Species List could have an adverse affect on the timber and poultry industry in Cleveland County as well as the way private landowners can use their land, County Judge Gary Spears and others are warning. The area designated as critical habitat for the Rabbitsfoot mussel in Cleveland County includes the entire Saline River watershed, which encompasses nearly all of the county, except for a strip along the western/southwestern edge of the county and a very small area in the extreme far northeast corner. Saying 'it could be a major deal,' Spears publicly expressed concerns about the critical habitat designation at a recent meeting of the county Quorum Court.

10 YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 20, 2013 The Woodlawn School Board unanimously approved giving a $350 one-time, non-recurring payment to all employees during its regular monthly meeting Monday night. The $350 payments for each employee will cost the district $33,310. In addition, the board also approved the district's Facilities Master Plan that includes essentially the same projects on its previous plan.

10 YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 13, 2013 Investigators are calling it a miracle that a couple from the Sulphur Springs community in Jefferson County managed to survive after the camper they were in near Pansy exploded from a propane leak Friday night. Injured were James 'J.D.' Moss and Shirley Moss. Mr. Moss was listed in critical condition after suffering third-degree burns on his arms and legs in the accident, which occurred around 8 o'clock on Neely Loop, about a mile off Hwy. 35 South at Pansy. The blast was reported to have rattled windows for miles around and was heard as far as 10 miles away.

10 YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 6, 2013 With the 2014 budget meetings set for later this month, county treasurer Jack Hopson reported to the Quorum Court Monday night that the balance in the county general budget continues to see improvement as a result of cuts made in the 2013 budget. The latest figures show an $83,497 improvement in the budget compared to the same date last year. County Judge Gary Spears asked the court's budget committee for their input on ways the county might squeeze a little extra money out of the 2014 budget for non-appropriated funds. Also at the meeting, a concerned citizen of the Calmer community complained that Ryburn Road, which runs between Hwy. 63 south of Woodlawn to Hwy. 114 west of Calmer, is in poor condition and presented Judge Spears with some letters signed by several residents and others asking for something to be done.

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.

10 YEARS AGO OCTOBER 23, 2013 Rison in The Fall experienced a turnaround, as a change of venue from the former Main Street site to Pioneer Village, larger prizes, and more attractions rescued the struggling festival. Roy Phillips, who has been with the festival since its inception in 1990, gave a conservative estimate that about 1,500 people attended the 24th annual event held this past Saturday. This was the first time for the festival to be held outside its original location in downtown. Carlos Johnson of Big J's cook team won the $1,000 grand prize for the barbecue cook-off.

10 YEARS AGO OCTOBER 16, 2013 The 24th annual Rison in The Fall Festival will be held Saturday at its new location, the Pioneer Village. After seeing dwindling participation and attendance in recent years at its original downtown Rison location, festival organizer Roy Phillips made the decision to move the event to Pioneer Village this year after the City of Rison acquired the property. It is hoped that the change of venue and a $1,000 barbecue cook-off grand prize will revive the festival. Will Hayden of the national television show 'Sons of Guns' will be in attendance, while numerous other activities and entertainment will be held.