Free Range Conversations

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 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 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 84: Estate Planning is the Gift of Peace, with Attorney Elaine Kneebone

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 attorney specializing in wills, trusts, and elder law, the discussion highlighted that planning is less about the end of life and more about protecting those who remain. Joining Kneebone on the podcast are co-hosts Britt Talent and Douglas Boultinghouse, along with special guests Austin Compton, Cleveland County’s Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent; and Extension Homemakers Council members Jenny Wright and Loletia Terry.

Episode 83: The Pioneer Crafts Festival Returns This Weekend

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!