Smoke, not flames, kept Cleveland County deputies and dispatchers busy last week. Sheriff-elect Brad Young said burning crop fields in Jefferson County and a strong north wind pushed smoke south into Cleveland County, prompting a flood of calls between Sept. 19 and Sept. 25.
The numbers. The weekly log lists seven fire calls, four illegal-burning reports and one illegal-burning citation. Other entries included five disturbances, four trespassing complaints, three reckless-driver calls, three welfare checks, seven ambulance calls, one breaking-or-entering and one fraud investigation.
Burn rules. Young said there is “absolutely no burning” until the area gets a big, soaking rain. The smoke that week came from fields in neighboring Jefferson County.
Jail visit and school checks. Young toured the Lincoln County Jail, where Cleveland County houses female detainees, and met Sheriff Steve Young and staff about policies and daily operations. He said he hopes to bring some of those practices home. Deputies also walked through the Rison and Woodlawn schools as routine security checks.
Sources: Deltaplex News (Sept. 25); [your]NEWS, sheriff-elect’s weekly report (Sept. 26).
