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 literacy and connectivity. Advocates urge residents to voice their support for their local library.

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 44 as critical long-term threats. To combat this, he proposes youth engagement programs and local economic incentives. His platform also includes increasing transparency via regular road reports, sourcing local gravel to cut costs, and maintaining the county’s $1.6 million investment fund for fiscal stability.

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 help crack down on drugs in the county. A former Marine, he is currently working as a drug enforcement detective with the Pine Bluff Police Department. A full story on Freeman will be published in the Jan. 21 issue of the Herald.

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, prioritizing relationship-building and service over strict enforcement. His key proposals include:

Operational Efficiency: Equipping patrol cars with computers to keep deputies in the field and implementing a district-based patrol system to cover the county's 600 square miles.

Infrastructure & Budget: Addressing the aging county jail’s liabilities and lobbying in Little Rock against unfunded mandates like body camera storage.

Resource Management: Revitalizing the reserve deputy program to bolster the force without increasing the budget.

As vice president of Rison Shine and a volunteer firefighter, Shrum emphasized his commitment to the area's growth. He urged voters to choose based on the county’s future needs rather than personal or religious ties. Shrum faces candidates Lee Freeman and Brad Young in the upcoming March 3 election.

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.