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One Monticello Life: The Allen House

October 29th, 2006 by Carolyn


What is Halloween without ghosts, goblins and haunted houses? Located in the center of Monticello, on Main Street is one of Arkansas’ most reputed haunted houses: the Allen House. Here is its story:

The Allen House was built in 1900 by Joe Lee Allen. It is still much like it was when it was built. Dottie Simmons, the house’s third and current owner, said, "It’s like you walk into a whole different time."

The Allen family was in the timber business and built the house with only virgin heart of oak and pine. The wood was preserved with linseed or cotton oil which has kept away termites to this day. The windows in the house were custom made in St. Louis, MO and brought to Monticello on a boat down the Mississippi River. The windows are all different shapes, sizes and colors. The dining room has a hammered tin cherub ceiling.

The house has 9500 square feet. There are 16 rooms in operation. It now has three bathrooms which are not original to the house. There are two washrooms and a complete kitchen upstairs and downstairs. At the top of the four-story house is a full grandmother’s attic.

The house is situated on two acres of land, and the yard is covered with English ivy and several massive magnolia trees. Few know that the house was originally located across Main Street and was moved to its present location. Gloria Wright’s pink bed and breakfast sits on the lot the Allen House first occupied. The house has been featured on television commercials and printed material for southeast Arkansas. But this time of year, its most interesting feature is the house’s claim to be haunted.

Many will attest to the presence of a ghost or ghosts in the Allen House. Ask any long-time Monticellonian, and many will have a story about the Allen House. The stories usually center on Mr. Allen’s daughter committing suicide in the house in the 1940s because of a broken heart. Some say she threw herself over the staircase and plummeted to her death, but the most common story is that she overdosed on cyanide purchased at the Hyatt Drug Store.

Carolyn Wilson was one of the tenants in the house who even wrote a book which is currently out of print. You may find a copy in the Monticello Library. Its title is The Scent of Lilacs and is a romantic fiction involving a large, old haunted house.

Few people realize the history and supposed haunting of the Allen House who have lived in Monticello a short time. However, upon viewing the Allen House for the first time, the response is usually, "I’m not surprised." Whether it’s haunted or just historical, the Allen House of Monticello surely can be considered part of our town’s life: one Monticello life.

Related Sites that mention the Allen House:
hauntedhouses.com
prairieghosts.com

FYI: Current owner Dottie Simmons will be having an auction on November 9 at 11:00 a.m. at the Drew County Fairgrounds. You may preview auction items at the Allen House on November 7-8 at 11:00 a.m. For more information, go to www.wooleyauctioneers.com.

One Monticello Life: Rob Leonard

October 22nd, 2006 by Carolyn
UAM will celebrate Homecoming this Saturday, October 28. For many who will attend, Rob Leonard dramatically impacted their college experience. As Director of the Missionary Baptist Student Union and music minister at Pauline Baptist Church for the past 23 years, Rob has invested his life in others for almost six generations of UAM college students. This is his story.

Jacksonville, Arkansas was home for Rob’s family when he was younger. Growing up as a "PK" (pastor’s kid), Rob and his family were integral parts of Landmark Missionary Baptist Church. For Rob and his brother, Phil, life was centered around family and the fast-growing church his dad pastored. What began as a small congregation changed quickly as the church transitioned to a large, thriving center of spiritual growth. New members were added often; church activities consumed the family schedule. Eventually, the church built a new facility to house its growing membership and ministry.

However, during Rob’s freshman year in high school, while the church grew, his family fell apart. His dad left his mom and moved to Little Rock. His mom was forced to find a job and move her boys to a rental house. The single parent family stayed at their church during this time. Rob’s mom attended realtor’s school and received her license as an avenue of provision for the family.

"High school was a tough period for me and my family," Rob said. "Basically everything I ever believed was called into question. I went from the kid whose dad preached at the biggest church in town to the kid who didn’t really have a church anymore. I didn’t know what was going on."

Sports and choir became reliable friends to Rob, who excelled in both. His football team during his senior year was the first Jacksonville team to win the state championship. His experience being selected to the All State Choir gave Rob some credentials during the collegiate application process and helped him earn a full scholarship to the University of Central Arkansas where he was a part of John Erwin’s madrigal choir. Rob and Carla, his wife, were married while in college, though they had met through church activities while in high school. Carla’s dad was a pastor in Cabot. They dated two and a half years before marrying.

"We were ready to put our lives together. Our parents must have been crazy, or they had a lot of faith in us. Carla was 19, and I was 20 when we got married," Rob said.

Driving back and forth from UCA to Jacksonville, Rob continued to attend the church which his dad had formerly pastored "mainly because of memories," he said. "I remembered how it used to be and just wanted to put it back together after dad left. If I could just work hard, I was sure we could get the church back on its feet."

He continued this commute for two years. His future was interrupted, however, when Buddy Lemons, then pastor of Monticello’s Pauline Baptist Church contacted him. The church invited Rob to consider coming to Monticello to serve as music minister. However, Rob and Carla were not interested, being content where they were. Three months later, Lemons called again to ask Rob to reconsider the ministry opportunity. Again, Rob decided not to interview, feeling that he would be wasting the church’s time due to his lack of interest. Yet, the second call prompted Rob to begin praying about the matter, and he soon realized that his time at Landmark Church was over.

He called Pastor Buddy back and asked if the position was still available. Lemons related that the job was his to which Rob responded, "You have to interview me. I can’t just take the job!"

Rob arrived in Monticello in March 1983 to visit with church leaders. There was an immediate connection. He loved the church, the people, and the town and was offered the position the same day. Listen to Rob’s account of his first Sunday at Pauline.

His ministry at Pauline included serving as the campus minister at the Missionary Baptist Student Foundation (MBSF) at UAM. He never imagined being a campus minister. "I never knew that this ministry would be the perfect niche. When I took the job, I didn’t have any idea what the job entailed," he said. He asked his pastor and was told to look through the former director’s files and he’d "figure it out." With a grin, Rob said that he’s still figuring it out today.

There are few UAM students who don’t know Rob Leonard. He continues to play intramurals with the students, as well as coaching them. He’s a fixture in the UAM cafeteria, and serves as the chaplain of the football team. He travels with them when he’s able and delivers pre-game devotionals. The baseball, softball and even rodeo teams are also recipients of Rob’s constant attention and care. Whether it’s a campus fish fry, sports activity, or special event, Rob tries to be present.

"You have to go where the students are," he said. In particular, "the athletes are on their own schedule. You have to minister to them on their time because of their busy schedule." The MBSF focuses on reaching and serving the athletic teams as much as possible.

When asked why he and the MBSF spend so much time trying to reach students, Rob responded, "Because Jesus changes lives."

"People are looking for something to believe in. They want more than they have, but the only person who can give you more than what you have is Jesus, no matter what you have. He can change lives, and when he changes a life, that is something the world cannot refute."

When asked about his thoughts on Monticello, Rob said, "Monticello has had some good opportunities for people to grow, educate their kids and have solid jobs. It seems like once people get here, there is something about this place that makes you want to stay. I don’t really understand it.

"I had no intentions of staying here. There was not anything here that would keep me. But once I got here, I knew this is where I wanted to be. Now, I’d rather be in Monticello than anywhere else. Maybe it’s the people or the spirit of the place – I don’t want to say that Monticello is a ‘godlier" place than anywhere else – but God has definitely been evident to me in this place, and there’s something about that that is obvious to a lot of people here."

Whether praying with the UAM football team before a game or leading a contemporary worship chorus at Pauline Church, Rob contributes to the life of Monticello. Having impacted collegians and citizens in our community for more than 23 years, he is truly one Monticello life.

W.C. Whaley: glorious past, unknown future

October 18th, 2006 by Jeff

Back entrance of W.C. WhaleyIn what once were halls loud with giggles, energy, and enthusiasm there is now an ethereal silence. It’s broken only by the occasional drip of water falling from holes in the ceiling to land upon the sodden tiles below. W.C. Whaley has been vacant since the 1999-2000 school year. That was the last year the school housed students and faculty. In 2000, the elementary school was relocated to a new facility, named Monticello Elementary School (MES) on Scogin Drive.

In the fall of 2001, the city purchased W.C. Whaley from the school district at a cost of $140,000. Stated intentions at the time were to relocate the city offices, fire station, and other civil services to the facility after a renovation. It never happened. After 5 years of sitting untended by the city, the former school reminds one these days of a structure that’s been hit by a tornado – from the inside.

In the past six months alone, pieces of W.C. Whaley have literally walked away, carried out by looters and others who knew the value of what was within. Empty insulation sheaths that once housed copper pipe litter the hallways of both classroom wings. It’s estimated that upwards of $15-$20,000 worth of copper pipe has been removed from the building without protest. Copper became a valuable commodity in the past year. (See linked image for copper price increase.) Doors, wood paneling, air conditioner parts, and other fixtures have also slowly exited the building.More pictures here.

Doors that once welcomed children at the beginning of each school year now hang on their hinges, many of them opened inward, standing in a sea of glass that they once contained. Windows throughout the facility are broken. Walls and chalkboards are spray painted with misspelled graffiti, making one ponder the irony of the lack of education it represents.

Although the city has not done anything with the facility since it purchased it under Mayor Harold West’s tenure, others have desired better things for the structure. Michael Jones, pastor of Revival Center, related that at the auction in which the school was being sold, he and his leadership team were present to bid on the building in 2001. However, when they determined that the city wanted the facility, they chose not to run up the bid so that the city could get the building for the lowest bid possible.

Other organizations have looked into transforming W.C. Whaley into a community center, a school, and even the city fire station and police offices. At one point, Journey Church looked into turning the facility into a multi-use, multi-organization center for the purpose of community meetings, organizational meetings, non-profit and ministry-oriented service organizations, and tutoring. It has been suggested that the facility be transformed into a new library. Grace Christian Academy considered the possibility of renovating part of the facility as their permanent location.

Renovation is not the only problem facing the facility. There is asbestos in the floor tiles. After representatives from Emtech Corporation paid an informal, courtesy visit to the location for Journey Church, it was estimated that it would cost $120,000 to do the legally-required abatement of the facility. Although new tiles could be laid down on top of the tiles in the cafeteria/auditorium wing, asbestos removal would be required in the two classroom wings since carpet had been glued to the tiles there. To completely tear down the facility and dispose of the asbestos properly would cost approximately $150,000, according to the estimate.

Although the facility was purchased under the leadership of former Mayor Harold West, current Mayor David Anderson attempted to fulfill the original intentions behind the purchase. In 2003, authorized by the city council, he hired an architectural firm from Little Rock to determine the feasibility of renovating the structure for use by the city.

“After meeting with the architect, we determined that it would be more financially feasible for us to remodel our current location, the old post office and city hall and also build a new fire station,” said Anderson.

Anderson related that the estimated cost for renovations to the interior and roof were $1.3 million. These costs did not include an asbestos abatement.

Although the city has reached a stalemate with the structure, W.C. Whaley continues to invite speculation and vandalism. Plywood put over the glass doors did little to stop intruders over the years, and according to Anderson, the police simply don’t have enough manpower to constantly patrol the facility.

With glass littering the hallways and classrooms, pink insulation draped forlornly from missing tiles in the ceiling, and obscenities painted along the building’s walls and chalkboards, this former school is no longer a place for children. It remains to be seen if there’s any life left in it at all.

Video Tour 

“Options” for domestic violence victims

October 17th, 2006 by Jeff

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month across the U.S. Southeast Arkansas has a regional center for domestic violence victims in Monticello called Options, Inc. In 1989 a task force was created in the 10th judicial district to examine the need for a shelter for battered or abused women in the region. Law enforcement officials, doctors, lawyers, businessmen and women, as well as professors from UAM surveyed the situation in Ashely, Bradley, Chicot, and Drew counties as it pertained to domestic violence.

Anecdotal evidence had been mounting for several years, but the survey found that 20% of all calls to law enforcement officials involved domestic violence in some way. The findings led to the conclusion the area was in “dire need” of such a shelter. At that time, funding was raised through private sources to begin a program and provide a safe house for victims. The house opened in September 1989 and has functioned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week since then. See state statistics here.

Brenda Noble is the current director of Options, Inc. As a UAM student in 1991, she answered an ad in the paper for a part-time advocate position. “I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a shelter for domestic violence victims at the time,” she said. However, the job transformed into a life for her as she has worked for the past 15 years to serve victims and seek to create awareness and hope for those suffering from domestic violence.

“It’s not just about violence between a man and a woman, a husband and wife. Domestic violence is also prevalent among senior citizens who have grown children addicted to alcohol or drugs. Some of these abusers take their elderly parents’ medical or living money for their own purposes,” Noble said. There is also a distressing amount of sexual and physical abuse to children in our area. In Drew County alone, numbers show that 25% of the calls to police are related to domestic violence. 50% of the population will experience one episode of domestic violence in their life.

Options, Inc. receives funding from private and state funding, as well as some grants. However, all current funding is inadequate to operate the center as it should be. The Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence lobbied the state legislature for assistance in funding for the 26 domestic violence centers in Arkansas. In response, the legislature tacked on a fee to the Arkansas marriage license which is set aside for the shelters. Options also receives some funding from Violence Against Women office in Washington, DC, as well as funding that is produced by the Family Violence Act. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration in Little Rock oversees the federal funds brought into the state for these purposes.

There is a $100,000 limit, however, in funding for each shelter. “It’s very difficult to operate a shelter on that,” Noble said. “Especially in rural areas that are poverty-stricken. We don’t receive much community support. We find ourselves grasping to survive day by day. We struggle just to stay in existence.”

In 2000, Options opened a thrift store in the building on Main Street to help defray expenses. It gave them a presence in the community and an opportunity to create more awareness. However, it also gives them more overhead costs. The vast majority of their funding currently goes just to operating expenses and salaries. Being open 24 hours a day requires that an employee always be available at the shelter to answer phone calls and to be prepared at a moment’s notice to aid a victim.

People suffering from domestic violence can stop by the center or call 367-3488. “We’d like to expand our publicity and create more awareness, perhaps through a website,” Noble said.

Recently, because of financial crisis, Options sent letters out to all the churches in the five counties served by the center. “If every church were to give just $5 a month to our program, we would have no money problems,” Noble related. There was no response from the letters. Likewise, a letter to the editor requesting help and trying to create awareness was published in the Monticello Advance, but there was “no response.”

When asked how the region could best support and aid the program, Noble described two ways:

  1. Financial. More support would relieve a very tight situation, and it would enable staff to focus on the primary reason the program exists: victims of domestic violence. “We want to be more concerned about victims and getting the word out than we are about the light bill and rent,” Noble said.
  2. Education for citizens, city leadership and law enforcement officials. Describing several situations, Noble explained that not only do victims not know how to respond or where to seek help, but that often those in a position to refer them or send them to the proper sources do not. “We have to interpret the law correctly in order to provide victims with the protection and help they are afforded by the law. Interpreting the law according to your own philosophy leads to poor enforcement which leads to a violation of civil rights, and then victims are re-victimized. It’s an atrocity, to say the least,” commented Noble.

“It’s important to understand how cunning and manipulative some of the offenders and abusers are out there,” she said. “They know how to work the system and how to make it appear as if it’s the victim who is at fault or is lying.”

Regularly, Options Inc. provides legal advocacy, court advocacy, counseling, encourgement and training. “We help people find jobs, create a resume, and provide food where needed,” Noble said.

Noble related that Options has just received another grant, a fact-finding grant, from the Violence Against Women office. The stipulations of the grant are to help discover and determine obstacles to providing services to domestic violence victimes in rural areas.

If you’re interested in helping in any way or would like to send support, call 367-3488. The mailing address for Options, Inc. is P.O. Box 554, Monticello, AR 71657.

Related Links:

One Monticello Life: Van Paschal

October 15th, 2006 by Carolyn

Friday night, Monticello High School celebrated Homecoming. The Billies’ hopes were high, but White Hall proved too much for them this year, defeating MHS. However, the loss does not dampen the spirit of their coach. Behind a good football team is a great coach and person, Van Paschal.

Here is his story:

Van Paschal grew up in Brinkley, Arkansas. He was raised most of his life by his hard-working mother who was a shirt seamstress for Van Husen. He played football in Brinkley through the 7th-12th grades.

"I was a guard, linebacker, and defensive end. My mother always wanted to know why I wasn’t a quarterback. The kids always comment on how I can throw the ball. I tell them, ‘Yea, my momma said I should have been a quarterback, but coach said we needed a guard.’" (Hear this part of the interview here..)

 

After Coach Paschal graduated from high school, he was recruited by UCA to play football and by UAM to play baseball. He went to UCA in 1981. Soon after that, however, he tore his shoulder. He ended up at UAM to play baseball. After shoulder surgery and a couple of years playing baseball, he returned to football. He played for UAM his last one and a half years.

Paschal started out at UAM with a business degree. Everything changed when he took Business Math. He then started asking himself what exactly did he want to do with his life. He couldn’t stray far from football and decided to look into coaching. He then pursued a Physical Education degree. He loved the classes and excelled in them.

After graduating in 1985, Van realized he couldn’t find a teaching job in Arkansas without a teaching field. Most of the classes he took were business-related. The Arkansas schools wanted him to be able to teach science, history, and math. His high school coach suggested he try to coach in Texas where "football is king."

Van landed his first coaching job in Fort Worth, Texas, and the same year, he also married his hometown sweetheart, Lisa. The newlyweds didn’t stay in Texas long. Being newly-married and the long coaching hours made their time there tough. After one year in Texas, they came "running back" to Arkansas to be closer to family.

He coached in Marked Tree and Palestine for a short while. The Paschals ended up in their hometown of Brinkley. Van became the assistant football coach for two years and then head coach for 11 years. They had four children while there, and Lisa home-schooled. At that point, Van took a coaching job in Sheridan.

"That was not a very good move. I’ve found out since leaving Brinkley that coaching is 10% coaching, and the other 90% is the guys that can play. You’ve got to have players to win ball games," he said.

After one year in Sheridan, he coached in DeQueen for a couple of years. He left there to come to Monticello, where he has coached the Billies for the last two seasons.

"I think I have the greatest job there is. I’m still the little boy that goes and plays football everyday. And I get paid for it!" Van smiled.

When asked about his time in Monticello, Coach Paschal said, "Monticello has been a blessing. We have great facilities, good kids, and a lot of people involved. It is a good school." Being close to family and being near his Milo deer camp are extra benefits to being in Monticello, he added.

"God leads, directs our path. Everything just fell into place. I went to college here. We are east Arkansas folks, flat grounders. We like trees and the country life," Paschal offered.

When he first came to town and met the Monticello football team, he knew it was different.

"The black and white kids get along," he said. "They like each other, and that’s a pretty neat thing."

Coach Paschal and the team have worked hard on leadership. "Most of our kids are not natural-born leaders. They are mostly laid-back guys. But they like the game of football. They work hard, and they play hard," he observed.

Van sees them getting better each week. They continue to bond and become a unified team. They have great attitudes and want to improve, he sees.

When asked how the football players might describe their coach, he replied, "I don’t know what they would say. My nature is pretty hard-nosed. I have to watch myself and not get too focused, where I have blinders on and all I see is football. I try to widen back out and get these things in (points to his Bible on his desk). Kids come and talk to me, and all I want to talk about is blocking and tackling, when they really want to talk about life.

"I want them to say, ‘Man, that’s a godly man.’ They might say, ‘That’s a rough guy, but we know he loves Jesus.’ I want them to say I am a coach that cares about them and teaches them to never give up. Because when you leave football, you have the game of life.

Football teaches the game of life. When you get married, you may want to give up on your marriage. Don’t give up on your marriage. You may want to give up on your kids or vice versa, but don’t give up on them. You may want to give up or just run away. You can’t do that. You gotta keep fighting!"

Coaching has been Van Paschal’s life. Few people love to win as much or hate to lose as much as Coach Paschal. Winning or losing, he is a great coach in the game of football, and a great man in the game of life. Monticello is fortunate to have Coach Van Paschal – one Monticello life.

One Monticello Life: The Brown Twins

October 8th, 2006 by Carolyn

Twins. One definition of twins is counterpart – a person or thing that closely resembles another. This is how you would describe Ruth & Ruby Brown. You might have seen these identical twins around town on Fridays. This is their day to eat lunch at a local restaurant. And most days, they wear the same color. This is by coincidence usually. Not only are Ruby and Ruth twins, they also married brothers! Here is their story: Ruby and Ruth Barrett Brown were born in 1930. They were raised in Warren. Their father was a farmer, and they have two brothers and two sisters. Their father died when they were young. Their mother raised the six children with the help of their grandparents who also farmed. The Brown brothers moved from Cleveland County to Bradley County in 1945. The Browns also farmed. There were five children in their family, four boys and 1 girl. It was at Macedonia Baptist Church that T.H. and Larkin Brown met the twins. "We were at church, and there they were, sitting on the pew," Larkin recalls about the first time he met Ruby and Ruth. "Back in those days, we didn’t date until you were 16. Me and Ruth were 15 at the time." Ruby also said they were all friends until they could start dating. "We rode to school in a taxi. So we went to school together before we dated," she said. Both T.H. and Larkin served in the U.S. Military. T.H. served in China during World War II. Larkin served during the Korean War. But war did not keep these brothers and twins apart for long. After T.H. returned from the war, he finished high school. In 1948, Ruth and T.H. married. One week after Larkin came home from Korea in 1952, Ruby and Larkin were married. Each couple moved frequently, for the mens’ jobs. T.H. attended Chicago Electrical School and worked for Entergy for 42 years. Larkin attended UAM and the UofA and received a B.S. in agriculture. He worked as a county agent in Drew and Chicot counties for 37 years. While the frequent moves kept the twins apart off and on for part of their lives, they wrote letters often. "At least once a week, I know, because I checked the mailbox," Larkin remembered. However, the majority of their lives, the twins have been together. Their days were always together. They each had three children. Not only did the twins marry brothers, but Ruth and Ruby’s younger sister married T.H. and Larkin’s brother. The twins’ youngest sister married the Brown’s brother’s first cousin. They were always together at different occasions. "Our children were more like brothers and sisters than cousins." "It was like we were all one big family." T.H. and Larkin were asked what it was like being married to twins. Larkin said it was "great," because "If I want to go somewhere, all I have to say is, ‘Ruth called,’ and she’d go over there. Then I can go and do what I want to," he said with a grin. T.H. said, "I haven’t been married to anybody else, so I don’t know. All I can say is I got the best looking of the bunch!" Larkin is quick to respond, "That’s the only one that would have you!" Ruby and Ruth drink coffee together every morning. The twins do not do much without the other. They all attend First Baptist Church where the men are deacons and the ladies are on the benevolent committee. They each enjoy their grand children. When asked about being twins, Ruth said, "We have had a good life, good health, and good husbands. We have such a close bond. It is indescribable." Ruby said, "You always have someone to talk to and not be judgemental." So next time you see these counterparts eating out on Fridays, let them know you read their story. Like Ruth said about being twins, "It is such a special life." Indeed! Their twin lives make up our One Monticello Life.

Suspect arrested in Crowder case

October 6th, 2006 by Jeff

Kenneth Osburn, 46, was arrested September 29 and brought before an Arkansas City judge. The judge ordered Osburn of McGehee held without bond. Prosecutor Thomas Deen was scheduled to file formal capital murder and kidnapping Friday, October 6 against Osburn.

Casey Crowder, 17, ran out of gas early on August 27 on U.S. Highway 65 near Dumas and disappeared. Her body was found September 2 after a search by members of the Arkansas National Guard. Reports indicate that she was strangled to death.
Authorities have linked Osburn to the crime through a DNA sample and other evidence. He was employed by USA Trucking of Van Buren as an over-the-road driver, a job that has taken Osburn cross-country. News Fox16 reports that Osburn has been convicted of four other felonies in the past, though none were violent or sexual-offender related.

Monthly MEDC meeting touts MonticelloLive, Monticello Speedway

October 6th, 2006 by Jeff

As the monthly meeting of the Monticello Economic Development Commission began Wednesday, (it meets the first Wednesday of each month in the UAM University Center Capitol Room) president Benny Ryburn informed those present about MonticelloLive and its contribution to community news and communication. In addition, Ryburn spotlighted Monticello Speedway as a business that is bringing Monticello quite a bit of attention.

“Each weekend, there are between 800-1200 spectators,” Ryburn said. With more than 100 race cars and their crew, the new race track consistently draws folks from other communities and out of state. Races take place every Saturday night from mid-March to mid-November. One night recently featured winners from five different states.

In items of business, it was reported the Monticello’s airport, Ellis Field, was recently classified as a Level 4 airport. This has significant implications for the community and region. Improvements at the field will help attract industries who require air transportation and support. According to the Arkansas State Airport System Plan, a Level 4 airport should strive to provide the following:

  • A primary runway at least 5500 feet long by 100 feet wide
  • Runway should be supported by a full parallel taxiway
  • On-site weather reporting capabilities
  • An LPV approach supported by medium intensity runway lighting and an approach lighting system
  • Pavement strength of 30,000 pounds dual wheel
  • Hangars for 80% of all based aircraft; apron area for all remaining based aircraft and 25% of daily transient aircraft
  • 5000 square feet of public-use space with phones, restrooms, pilot and conference space
  • Jet A and 100LL fuel; self service facilities
  • Full service FBO and aircraft maintenance facilities
  • Access to rental cars
  • An Emergency Response Plan

According to the report, the first round economic impact to Monticello is approximately $824,000. The second round impact is $1,700,400. Total airport impact is estimated to be: 17 jobs, a total payroll of $443,100 and a total economic activity of $2,525,200.

In the director’s report, Director Derrill Pierce related that money has been raised for the needed feasibility study of renovating the old Ridgeway Hotel located on East Gaines. The hotel has been completely cleaned up inside, and the study will help determine “if the Ridgeway can be redeveloped to its highest and best future use from both a construction and economic perspective.” Pierce’s report stated, “The Ridgeway Hotel project is a portion of MEDC’s commitment to revitalization of the inner city, particularly the east side of the community. That revitalization is entirely consistent with the vision of Monticello being created by the Community Design Center in terms of higher density residential development and more pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods.”

In addition, the upcoming one-cent sales tax vote in 2007 was discussed as being key to continuing the development of Monticello’s infrastructure, sports complex, and industrial sites.

Pierce also reported that a strong industrial candidate that had been considering locating in Monticello has decided to locate in Rison instead. Treated Materials Company, which produces telephone and power poles, was offered a package of incentives as well as 30 acres of land for their site by Rison. While the MEDC had offered to match Rison’s offer of 30 acres of land within the industrial park, the “company declined the offer because C&L Electric Co-op is a valued client regularly purchasing electric power poles from the company.”

Treated Materials had expressed a desire to locate on 50 acres north of the Intermodal site on Highway 278. However, the MEDC did not have the financial capability to buy the site from Plum Creek since the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department had paid an appraised price of around $3000 per acre for the I-530 Right-of-Way. The Intermodal Authority paid the same for its 400 acres on the south side of 278. While MEDC offered other types of assistance, it was not able to persuade Treated Materials to locate within Drew County.

MEDC continues to pursue an interested company in the Pacific Northwest as a viable prospect for purchase of and location of their business in the SPEC Building in the industrial park. The wood products company would create approximately 30 new jobs should they decide to locate in Monticello.

One Monticello Life: Mr. Carpenter

October 1st, 2006 by Carolyn

MonticelloLive is excited to begin a new tradition. Beginning today, we will run a feature story each week on Sundays. It will be called "One Monticello Life." We would love your help and suggestions with stories about the ordinary but special people that compose our community…

If you’ve lived in Monticello for long, you know or at least recognize Mr. Carpenter. He is our town’s wanderer. As he walks the streets of Monticello, some might be scared of him, and others might offer him a ride. However, he is a part of Monticello life. Here is his story:

Mr. James Carpenter was born in 1938 and raised in Hamburg by a farmer and housewife. He is the 8th child of nine children. He has four brothers and four sisters. He went to school in Hamburg and managed to march in his high school’s graduation ceremonies, but he lacked a little to get an actual diploma.

After high school, he worked on his father’s farm in Hamburg. He then went to work at P.E. Barnes pallet mill for nine years. He worked for Georgia Pacific for one year and for a while at the Lake Village industries.

"I met my wife in the first part of April 1973," Mr. Carpenter said. "We married October 1973. We will be married 33 years this October 13. I was 35. I was old enough."

His wife was 30 years old and had six children from her first husband. On the day of their wedding, her oldest child was 10, and her youngest was four. Today they have 12 grand children and 3 great grand children. When talking about his grandchildren, Mr. Carpenter said, "Actually ten are ’step,’ but I don’t call them that. I’m the only Pappaw they know. I treat them just like my own."

Most might remember Mr. Carpenter from his six years at Wal-Mart. It was in 1995 that things changed for him. On his way home from work, he was attacked and beaten by some men. "They thought they was going to get a lot of money," he said. "They thought they killed me. But I’m still here."

He spent nine weeks in intensive care at Drew Memorial Hospital and at the University Hospital in Little Rock. He said his brain was damaged, and he had two seizures during that time. After being prescribed seizure medication that he still takes, he related that he has not had a seizure since that time.

After his recovery, he returned to Wal-Mart, but three years later, he was run over in the Wal-Mart parking lot. "He just didn’t see me," said Mr. Carpenter about the incident. He never returned to work after that.

When asked several questions about his life, this is what he said:

  • What is one thing you like about living in Monticello? The people here. Good people.
  • How long have you been without a car? Pretty good while. 4-5 years, but I got my driver’s license.
  • Does your wife drive? She can drive. She don’t got no car. She doesn’t even have a driver’s license. All she and I got is a marriage license.
  • What you find up and down the streets of Monticello? Little bit of money. I have a shopping cart and bag to pick up cans.
  • How many bags of cans a week? 5-6 bags.
  • Where do you go to take a break? Exxon on Highway 278, Wal-Mart, Huddle House, and the lawn mower shop.
  • If you could tell today’s young people one piece of advice, what would it be? Be careful and stay out of trouble.

Mr. Carpenter was on his way to the car wash so he could look for change. He said, "If I had not got beat up or ran over, I would worked at Wal-Mart 14 years today and could have retired 3 years ago."

Mr. Carpenter wanders his way through the streets of Monticello just about every day. He accepts rides when he’s without his shopping cart, and many people have bought quilts from him that his wife makes. If you’ve not seen him or stopped to chat, then you are missing one Monticello life.

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