Cleveland County residents can drop off expired or unwanted prescription pills at the sheriff’s department dispatch office in Rison on Saturday, Oct. 24, as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Sheriff Brad Young announced the collection in his weekly activity report for Oct. 17 through Oct. 23, as reported Friday by Deltaplex News. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration lists Oct. 24 as this fall’s national Take Back Day, and the state’s Arkansas Drug Take Back program says collection sites will open in all 75 counties.
How the drop-off works
- Where: The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department dispatch office in Rison.
- When: Saturday, Oct. 24. Statewide Take Back Day events run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sheriff’s report did not list separate hours, so call ahead if you plan to come at another time.
- What to bring: Expired, unused or unwanted prescription pills. The state program says drop-offs are anonymous.
- What happens next: Young said deputies will log the medications and take them the following week to Arkansas State Police headquarters in Warren for disposal.
The collection falls during Red Ribbon Week, a national drug prevention campaign. Young said he plans to visit Woodlawn Elementary School next week to talk with students about drug-free choices. Residents who miss Saturday can find year-round drop boxes through the Arkansas Drug Take Back site.
Arrest in New Edinburg stabbing
The same report names the man arrested after the Oct. 19 stabbing near New Edinburg. Robert Dale Thompson, 64, of New Edinburg, was arrested on a charge of first-degree battery, according to the report. The department had not released his name when it first announced the arrest.
Investigators also sent 14 felony charges against six people who had already been arrested to the prosecuting attorney’s office. The report did not name those people or list the charges.
A week of calls in Cleveland County
Deputies logged dozens of calls for service during the week. The largest groups were:
- Ambulance calls: 13.
- Accident investigations: 8.
- Animal calls: 5.
- Disturbances and threats: 3 domestic disturbances, 1 other disturbance and 1 terroristic threatening complaint.
- Missing children: 2 reports. Both children were found.
- Burning: 2 illegal burning complaints and 2 fire calls.
Deputies also helped with traffic and walkthroughs at schools in Rison and Woodlawn, worked football games in both towns and attended the Pee Wee Jamboree in Rison. More Cleveland County news is on iSEARK.com’s Rison page.
Sources: Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department weekly activity report via Deltaplex News; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Arkansas Drug Take Back.
