Free Range Conversations

Rison, Arkansas volunteer firefighters Keden Shrum and Tristan Ward faced a crisis when "Engine Two," their 1987 pumper truck, became too hazardous to drive. This equipment deficit directly threatened the town’s municipal ISO rating, risking spiked insurance premiums for residents. Bypassing slow federal grants, Shrum secured quick city council approval for an $88,000 safety budget. They purchased...

The 36th Annual Rison in the Fall Festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 10, in Rison, Arkansas. This year’s event features a star-studded lineup of country and Americana artists, headlined by Grammy-winning 90s country icon Bryan White, known for hits like "So Much for Pretending" and his duet with Shania Twain. Joining White on the Rise Up Rison stage are several artists with Arkansas ties:...

The fourth annual Cruisin’ Cleveland County Bike Ride returns to Rison on Saturday, June 6. Organizers previewed the expanded event on the Free Range Conversations podcast, highlighting its growth from a local cycling meetup into a premier regional festival. Cyclists can choose from five distinct routes ranging from 21 to 65 miles. Despite Arkansas's flat reputation, riders will face challenging r...

In this edition of Free Range Conversations, Bruce Grubb of Cleveland County Telephone discusses the major county-wide transition from aging copper landlines to a high-speed fiber optic network. The existing copper plant, installed in the late 1980s, is roughly 40 years old and is becoming obsolete. This transition is necessary to eliminate electromagnetic interference and provide clearer, more re...

Cleveland County recently made history by officially reclassifying 911 dispatchers as first responders. This resolution mirrors a national push to recognize emergency telecommunicators as life-saving professionals rather than clerical workers. Erica Best, Communications Coordinator with 27 years of experience, describes her team as the "first first responders" and the "voice during the chaos." Des...

For many, the phrase "estate planning" conjures images of dusty law offices and uncomfortable conversations about the inevitable. However, in a the latest episode of Free Range Conversations, experts and community members gathered to reframe the topic as a vital tool for family harmony and personal agency in advance of a workshop set for this Thursday. Elaine Kneebone, an Arkadelphia-based attorne...

Get all the details on this year's Pioneer Crafts Festival in Rison, plus the inclusion of a free Homesteading Conference at the event this Saturday!

One of the questions that voters presented to the candidates in during the political forums leading up to the election for Cleveland County Judge was how they would utilize the $5.6 million the county has in its so-called “investment fund.” That fund actually consists of three separate funds: a solid waste fund, an ambulance fund and the “nursing home” fund, which was started with the money the co...

The 4th Annual Handicapped Barbie Drive is a grassroots effort led by Stacy Walz, Suzanne Lawson, and her daughter, "Fancy Nancy," to support Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Inspired by Walz's niece, Cali—who has a rare chromosome disorder—the project aims to ensure children in medical care feel seen and celebrated. By providing toys that reflect the children's own experiences, the drive helps reduc...

The second annual Bobby Lee Terry Memorial Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, May 2, at Harbor Oaks Golf Club in Pine Bluff, growing from a simple idea among friends into a community-driven event. Organized by Keden Shrum and Cordero Fuentes, the tournament honors Terry’s love of golf while raising funds for local athletics. Registration begins at 7 a.m. with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. Last year...

The Arkansas State Library Board is withholding over $1 million in state aid due to pending standards and unrelated audit issues. This existential crisis threatens Cleveland County’s library, which faces a $9,000 deficit and the loss of regional support for summer reading, e-books, and bookmobile services. Regional Director Clare Graham warns these "community anchors" are vital for digital literac...

Get all the info on voting precincts, what's required to vote, who the candidates are and more in this episode of Free Range Conversations!

Rickey Spencer, candidate for Cleveland County Judge, joins the final episode of the Meet the Candidate Series to talk about his campaign.

Republican Stephen McClellan is running for Cleveland County Judge, leveraging his extensive background in emergency management. Having secured over $5 million in past grants for infrastructure and public safety, McClellan emphasizes aggressive grant acquisition to improve roads and broadband. He identifies population loss—dropping from roughly 8,900 to 7,300 residents—and a rising median age of 4...

Candidate Jim Houston sits down to talk about his campaign for Cleveland County Judge, and what he hopes to bring to the county if elected.

Lee Freeman of Rison, one of three Republican candidates running for Cleveland County Sheriff, discusses how he will use his nearly 30 years in law enforcement experience to help him as sheriff. Freeman describes himself as a strong supporter of drug enforcement, and says he will tap into what he has learned while working nearly 19 years for the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to hel...

Sheriff Candidate Brad Young talks his campaign and law enforcement history ahead of the March 3 election.

Cleveland County's Chief Deputy Clerk Rosemary Sinclair talks her campaign for the position of County Judge in the upcoming March election.

The 2026 Republican primary for Cleveland County Sheriff marks a significant turning point as long-time Sheriff Jack Rogers prepares for retirement. On the Free Range Conversations podcast, candidate Keden Shrum—a former Oklahoma law enforcement lieutenant and current minister for the Church of Christ in Rison—outlined his vision for the department. Shrum’s platform centers on community policing,...

Free Range Conversations Podcasts Hosts Britt Talent, Douglas Boultinghouse and Roy Phillips recap some of the biggest stories of 2025, plus look ahead to things coming in 2026.

The annual "Christmas in the Village" event in Rison is shifting from a Saturday to a nighttime weeknight celebration to boost participation, starting on Thursday, December 4th. This main night includes a $20 Leon’s Catfish Fish Fry Fundraiser, a free Holiday Vendor Market (donations appreciated), and Cleveland County Cares Christmas Bingo. The evening will also feature Christmas Concerts by the R...

The Cleveland County Cares fund is launching its annual campaign to support local children and families, extending its aid far beyond the holidays. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit, operating under the Pioneer Village umbrella, began as an initiative to buy Christmas gifts for foster children but has since expanded to serve the entire county, including the Woodlawn and Kingsland areas. Melinda McKnight, a...

The historic Wesley Chapel Church in Randall, Arkansas, is being saved from potential demolition by a dedicated community restoration effort, spearheaded by Morgan King, whose late grandfather was the last person buried there. Motivated by a love for preserving old things and the fact that the 1872 church remains on its original site, King "crashed" a reunion considering the demolition to rally su...

Rison Shine Community Development, Inc., is kicking off a Shop Local Christmas Campaign beginning Tuesday, Nov. 4 with the Holiday Open House and Market on Main Street. The campaign also includes a continuation of the popular scavenger hunt from the Rison in the Fall Festival. Host and Rison Shine officer Douglas Boultinghouse navigates this special Christmas episode including guests Malinda Berry...

Superintendent Davy King and the Cleveland County School Board held its second community meeting on the proposed 6-mill tax increase to fund construction of a new gym Monday evening inside the Rison gymnasium. King was a special guest on the Herald’s Free Range Conversations podcast this week to provide details about the millage and how it would support the construction of a new gym at the Rison S...