Free Range Conversations

Monticello native and singer-songwriter Ward Davis will return to South Arkansas as a special guest at the annual Rison in the Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 10. Davis, whose career spans more than 25 years, has co-written songs with Cody Jinks and Paul Cauthen and contributed to recordings by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. Known for his unscripted performances, Davis tailors his setlist to each audience. He said he is excited to reconnect with friends and appreciates the community spirit of small-town festivals. Davis will perform before headliner Bryan White, with additional performances by Whoa Dakota, Cori Kennedy and Wyatt Putman.

The annual Rison in the Fall Festival returns Saturday, October 10, headlined by '90s country star Bryan White. On the Free Range Conversations podcast hosted by Douglas Boultinghouse and Keden Shrum, White shared memories of his Arkansas family roots, his first number-one hit "Someone Else's Star," and his iconic duet with Shania Twain. White will perform hits and new music, including his single "Glory of Love," and plans to meet fans after the show. The festival includes afternoon musical acts, fitness events, and the returning "Drop the Mic" scavenger hunt.

Country music artist Cori Kennedy will wrap up her debut tour season at the Rison in the Fall Festival in downtown Rison. Kennedy’s career skyrocketed after her song “Hey, Who Shot the Water Tower?”—inspired by a bullet shot through Kingsland's Johnny Cash water tower—went viral with 12 million views. The track propelled her to NBC’s The Voice, a Nashville move, and a deal with William Morris Endeavor. Visiting Cleveland County for the first time, Kennedy plans to see the infamous water tower in person with her band. "It's super special that I get to come back to this town," she shared. Taking the stage at 2:30 p.m., Kennedy will deliver a mix of original songs and classic country covers before hosting a fan meet-and-greet at her merch table. The festival lineup also features Whoa Dakota, Wyatt Putman, Ward Davis, and headliner Bryan White.

Jesse Ott, performing as Whoa Dakota, is kicking off this year’s Rison in the Fall Festival on Saturday, October 10th. The stage name originated during her nine years in Nashville, combining her former street name, Dakota Avenue, with the Black Crowes' song "Whoa Mule". Raised between her mother’s home in North Little Rock and her father’s farm in Scott, Ott grew up immersed in both urban blues shows and rural country living. After studying vocal performance in Chicago and spending years in Nashville writing, recording, and waiting tables, the strain of the music industry and the COVID-19 pandemic led her to return home to Arkansas. Now balancing music with a sales career at Ben E. Keith, Ott embraces complete creative independence. She is working on new material that blends traditional country structures with reflective, indie-songwriter influences, following her EP Rhinestones and Rodeos. Recommended by duo Cliff & Susan, Ott will deliver an acoustic and pedal-steel set on Rison’s Main Street—the historic site of Johnny Cash’s 1976 homecoming concert. Her music is available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Instagram.

Britt Talent and the Voices of the Wildcats Bruce Grubb and Murray Freeman preview the upcoming 2026 football season!

In a recent episode of the "Free Range Conversation" podcast hosted by Britt Talent, Douglas Boultinghouse, and Roy Phillips, Cleveland County Extension agents Austin Compton and David West detailed the wide range of research-backed educational programs and services offered through the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.

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,

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.

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.

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.