Bob Connell, CEO of ArkansasRadio.com, Radio Stations: Timeless 106.1 KFFB • The Bull 105.7 • KWCK 99.9 • Cool 104.7 & 99.1 • Cowboy Country 100.7 KEAZ said “Cave City has been called many things this year—Cave City Strong, The Cave City Comeback, even The Phoenix City. He sat down with Mayor Jonas Anderson, “it’s clear all of them fit.”
Here the entire Open Mic Program, Bob Connell Talks with Cave City Mayor Jonas Anderson
When a powerful tornado tore through Cave City earlier this year, the destruction was unlike anything in the city’s history. Homes, businesses, and an entire forest canopy were brought down in minutes. Yet the community responded in hours.
“It’s been a year like no other,” Anderson said. “But what inspired me most was how quickly people showed up ready to help.”
Millions of pounds of fallen trees and debris were cleared in just two months—something Anderson calls “a miracle made possible by volunteers, local companies, and an incredible city team.”
The reopening of the grocery store marked a major turning point. While many expected long delays, extensive repairs and system replacements were completed faster than anticipated. “Every time people said something couldn’t happen quickly, our community proved otherwise,” Anderson said.
Nothing demonstrated that more than the Cave City Watermelon Festival. Many wondered if it would be canceled. Instead, it became the largest in the festival’s history. The annual melon auction, which traditionally supports Children’s Hospital, kept its funds local this year—benefiting the food pantry and backpack program—and doubled its usual total, raising around $20,000.
The comeback wasn’t only physical—it was organizational. After years of inactivity, the Cave City Chamber of Commerce relaunched in January with zero members. Under the leadership of Executive Director Brandy Schultz, it has now surged to nearly 110 members, even as the town recovered from disaster.
But Cave City’s biggest opportunity lies ahead: a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build a new elementary school using a $12.7 million state partnership grant.
“This is huge,” Anderson said. “We can build a modern, safe, energy-efficient school for future generations—without raising taxes.”
The Cave City School District has already saved $6.1 million toward the project, a rare achievement for a rural district. Voters are being asked simply to restructure—not increase—the existing millage to secure the state’s funding.
With early voting underway and the final vote approaching, Cave City stands on the threshold of one of the most significant investments in its history.
From tornado devastation to major growth and unity, Cave City’s comeback isn’t just impressive—it’s historic.
And the next chapter begins with a $12.7 million opportunity to build the future its children deserve.
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