Free Range Conversations

Cleveland County Herald
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  • Updated Weekly

Free Range Conversations is just that! Conversations with no limitations from Cleveland County and the southern region of the state of Arkansas. Hosted by the Cleveland County Herald.

  1. Aug 5

    Episode 92: Lauren Threlkeld Kicks Off Saturday Movement Club, Talks Absolute Health and Fall into Fitness Festival

    In a recent episode of the Free Range Conversations podcast, guest Lauren Threlkeld of Absolute Health sat down with co-hosts Douglas Boultinghouse, Britt Talent, and Roy Phillips to discuss local wellness, physical movement, and upcoming community initiatives. Threlkeld, a healthcare provider and endurance athlete currently practicing in Star City, announced plans to expand Absolute Health into Rison before the end of the year. Raising her family locally, she hopes to address rural healthcare shortages by offering primary care, hormone replacement therapy, functional weight-loss evaluations, and aesthetic services. "I love the city people, but I want to take care of my town," Threlkeld shared, noting that local care has spent too long on the back burner. To foster safe physical activity, Threlkeld established the Saturday Movement Club,

    Episode 92: Lauren Threlkeld Kicks Off Saturday Movement Club, Talks Absolute Health and Fall into Fitness Festival

  2. Jul 29

    Episode 91: New Mayor Samantha Johnson Brings Fresh Vision, Expanded Services to Kingsland

    Samantha Johnson has assumed office early as the new mayor of Kingsland, stepping up after her predecessor’s unexpected resignation. Running unopposed in the upcoming November election, Johnson aims to provide committed leadership and combat the city's historical administrative turnover. Drawing on 15 years of experience as a social worker and crisis management professional, she is already implementing significant, positive changes. One of her first major achievements was fully opening Kingsland City Hall to the public Monday through Friday for the first time in 12 years. She accomplished this by consolidating two part-time positions into a single, full-time Administrative Services Manager role. Johnson is also tackling a severe water department deficit caused by years of lenient utility collections. By strictly enforcing shut-off policies for delinquent accounts, she hopes to stabilize revenue and eventually lower water rates for everyone. Additionally, she is negotiating a partnership with neighboring Warren to address Kingsland’s stray dog problem. Beyond infrastructure and administration, Johnson is collaborating with local committees to revitalize community life. Upcoming plans include the Johnny Cash-themed Get Rhythm Music Festival, a new park amphitheater, and various holiday events. Ultimately, Johnson’s vision is to foster economic and social growth so future generations can thrive in Kingsland.

    Episode 91: New Mayor Samantha Johnson Brings Fresh Vision, Expanded Services to Kingsland

  3. Jul 15

    Episode 90: Mayor Roberts Turns Attention To LMI Survey To Secure Grants

    Rison Mayor Charles Roberts recently detailed a comprehensive blueprint for the city's future, highlighting both major infrastructure overhauls and community revitalization. To regain access to essential government grants, Rison is launching a localized, door-to-door survey to recapture its critical Low to Moderate Income (LMI) status. This effort follows a triumphant $9 million project that plummeted the city's freshwater loss rate from 71% to under 10%. Roberts is now aggressively pursuing a $500,000 federal grant to replace failing sewer lines and rebuild seven neglected wastewater lift stations. Beyond pipes and pumps, the city is actively clearing blighted downtown properties to construct new cultural spaces while urging residents to lobby the state for urgent pedestrian safety upgrades to a dangerous 1936 highway overpass. Finally, relying on volunteer labor and community fundraising, Rison will soon install a decommissioned M60 Patton main battle tank as a dramatic new historical centerpiece in Veterans Park.

    Episode 90: Mayor Roberts Turns Attention To LMI Survey To Secure Grants

  4. Jul 8

    Episode 89 - From Maryland to Rison: 1,200 Miles in a Green Fire Truck

    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 a unique, bargain-priced forest green 2004 KME pumper for $50,000 from Hagerstown, Maryland. To save $6,000 in shipping fees, the duo flew to Maryland and drove the truck 1,200 miles home. The grueling road test featured a punishing, hollow SCBA passenger seat and two major delays: a clogged spark arrester repaired at a West Virginia fire station garage and a failed steer tire in Kentucky. Now safely in Rison, the new rig shields the community's finances and active emergency response.

    Episode 89 - From Maryland to Rison: 1,200 Miles in a Green Fire Truck

  5. Jun 10

    Episode 88: Country Powerhouse Bryan White To Headline 36th Rison in the Fall Festival Oct. 10, Special Guests Announced

    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: Ward Davis: Acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter who has penned tracks for Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. Wyatt Putman: Outlaw country artist from Arkansas. Cori Kennedy: "The Voice" alumnus and viral singer of "Hey Who Shot The Water Tower." Whoa Dakota: Little Rock-raised artist delivering classic country style with a rebel spirit.

    Episode 88: Country Powerhouse Bryan White To Headline 36th Rison in the Fall Festival Oct. 10, Special Guests Announced

  6. May 20

    Episode 87: Cruisin' Cleveland County Bike Ride Returns, Adds Wheels Unlimited Showcase

    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 rolling terrain with elevation changes exceeding 1,000 feet, including a new 30-mile gravel route near Johnny Cash’s birthplace. New this year is the Wheels Unlimited Showcase at the historic Pioneer Village, featuring 13 vehicle classes from antique tractors to motorcycles. The village will also host a community festival with live music by Laura Caroline, food trucks, and local non-profits. Proceeds from the $50 registration fee support local charities. Cyclists can register online at RunSignUp.com or on-site starting at 6 a.m.

    Episode 87: Cruisin' Cleveland County Bike Ride Returns, Adds Wheels Unlimited Showcase

  7. Apr 28

    Episode 86 - Upgrading Phone and Internet Lines, Expanding Fiber Across Cleveland County

    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 reliable service regardless of a customer's distance from the office.

    Episode 86 - Upgrading Phone and Internet Lines, Expanding Fiber Across Cleveland County

  8. Apr 21

    Episode 85 - The Voice in Chaos: Recognizing 911 Dispatchers as First Responders

    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." Despite its rural reputation, Cleveland County’s five-person team handled over 4,000 emergency calls last year. Approximately 50% were medical emergencies where dispatchers provided critical instructions before help arrived. This requires "tactical calm," as Best notes: "If we continue to be calm during chaos, then they stay calm." In a tight-knit community, the job is often deeply personal. Best recalled a poignant accident on Highway 63 where she stayed on the line with a trapped man, leading him to spiritual peace in his final moments. "Those are the things that people don't know," she shared. Supported by departmental leadership and a "heart of service," this new classification ensures these "unseen" professionals receive the recognition and resources they deserve. As Best concludes: "I love this county. They are my people, and my job is to take care of them."

    Episode 85 - The Voice in Chaos: Recognizing 911 Dispatchers as First Responders
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Free Range Conversations is just that! Conversations with no limitations from Cleveland County and the southern region of the state of Arkansas. Hosted by the Cleveland County Herald.

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