Monticello Live

This swarm of bees was seen Sunday morning in the North Park shopping center, on a shrub just outside Alltel Telephone.

MonticelloLive recently received a copy of a letter which was sent to Camden schools warning of a new form of crystal methamphetamine being manufactured, apparently to sell to children. From as far away as California and Nevada, and as close as Texas and Missouri, strawberry flavored crystal meth, known as “Strawberry Quick” has been finding its way into the hands of young people.

According to a recent USA Today report, crystal meth use has been on the decrease in recent years, and dealers and manufacturers have had to resort to new tactics in order to market the drug. Because methamphetamine is commonly white or brownish and bitter-tasting, the pink color and sweet taste make it more appealing to younger children, authorities say. Meth cooks have also been known to manufacture the drug in flavors such as cola and chocolate.

In a report aired on San Francisco television earlier this year, Dr. Alex Stalcup, a drug counseling expert, warns about a newer and more alarming danger associated with the drug. Whereas long-term addiction has been the biggest problem for meth users in the past, the new danger posed by flavored meth is overdose. Since dealers will often claim that it is a milder form of the drug, or not even meth at all, new users are prone to ingest potentially fatal doses.

According to an item from a Missouri TV news report, it hasnÂ’t taken long for this latest threat to spread to this part of the country. Parents and teachers are urged to educate themselves and talk to their children about the dangers associated with drugs.

Entergy Arkansas has announced that it will be disconnecting power to the Dumas area for several hours on Saturday. Entergy officials state that they will disconnect power to the Dumas area from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Saturday to install a bypass switch that will allow electricity to flow from other sources in case of another storm or a mechanical failure.

A strong tornado damaged a substation that powers the city of Dumas on February 24, also injuring 37 people. Over 2800 residents in the Dumas area were without power for several days until a mobile sub-station could be made operational.

According to officials with the Chicot County Sheriff’s Office, a Monticello man drowned this morning while fishing on Lake Chicot. According to sources inside the Sheriff’s Department at approximately 8:30 a.m. Charles F. Davis, age 80, of Monticello was fishing in a small boat when winds from an inbound thunderstorm capsized the boat. Witnesses saw Davis enter the water but were unable to assist.

Saturday was cold and dreary, but a promise is a promise, and when the men and women of ABATE (Arkansas Bikers Aiming Toward Education) District 18 and ABBA (Arkansas Baptist Bikers Association) Kingdom Riders promised the kids at the Arkansas Baptist Children’s Home they’d be on campus to cook out and give motorcycle rides, they weren’t about to disappoint.

The folks from ABATE District 18 have been making runs to the Baptist Home semiannually for years. They make their annual Toy Run at Christmas (Christmas 2006 was their 6th), where they throw a big party and give gifts to all the children. Every spring they do a cookout. Weather permitting, they give motorcycle rides around the campus at each visit.

Chapter president Dennis Ellis, and V.P Todd Grubbs both say that the highlight of the day is seeing the kids having a good time and getting to ride them on the back of their bikes. This trip was special for one rider in particular: Terry Jackson, a founding member of District 18. He will be leaving the area to return to work for his former employer, traveling around the southeast U.S. The District 18 members consider themselves to be a big family and lament the loss of any member. In a show of appreciation and affection for both the children at the Home and for his fellow ABATE members, Mr. Jackson bought and donated all the food for Saturday’s cookout.

Helen Wesson, who serves as ABATE state treasurer, District 18 board representative and newsletter editor, explained the goals and ideals of the organization. Among them:

• Political education
• Motorcyclist rights
• Monitoring of laws and bills that affect riders statewide, and keeping members and citizens informed
• Eradication of negative stereotypes of motorcyclists and motorcycle organizations

ABATE is also heavily involved in charity causes throughout the state of Arkansas, including raising money in order to do the Toy Run and their spring trip to the Baptist Home. They also participate in charity events sponsored by other groups and organizations, including the upcoming Teddy Bear Run in Crossett, where motorcyclists will deliver stuffed animals to the sheriff’s department. Sheriff’s officers in turn will give them to children affected by incidents such as drug busts and car wrecks. ABATE District 18 will be having a bike show at Rough and Ready Days on May 12, which will help them raise funds for their civic and charitable efforts.

Joining ABATE at the Baptist Children’s Home this past Saturday was the Kingdom Riders chapter of Arkansas Baptist Bikers Association (ABBA). ABBA was formed approximately 3 years ago as a ministry outreach of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, and is partly funded by the Dixie Jackson offering for state missions.

The Kingdom Riders chapter, which covers southeast Arkansas, was chartered in September, 2006 at the annual meeting of the Bartholomew Baptist Association, held in Monticello. Shelby and Martha Huffman, Kingdom Riders president and secretary, stated that the ministry has experienced remarkable growth – from a founding membership of 12, to a current membership of 180. They exist to foster Christian outreach within the motorcycle community, and many ABBA members are also ABATE members. In fact, Shelby Huffman is chaplain for ABATE District 18, and Todd Grubbs and his wife Tinetha are ABATE officers and members of ABBA. Huffman said that the best part of the day at the Baptist Home was seeing the kids smile and have fun riding.

In addition to ministering at the Arkansas State Motorcycle Rally in Hot Springs, and the Bikes, Blues and BBQ Rally in Fayetteville, among other events, the Kingdom Riders will also have a presence at Rough and Ready Days, setting up right alongside the ABATE bike show.

Pictures from the Kingdom Riders web photo album. 

One Monticello resident is dead, and two others are injured after a one-vehicle accident in Drew County yesterday.

According to a report by the Arkansas State Police the accident occurred at 12:48 p.m. on Midway Route in Drew County. The report states that a 1999 Mercury Sable driven by Don Simpson, age 18, of Monticello was traveling north on Midway Route at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control after over-compensating for a curve, and the vehicle left the roadway and overturned multiple times. All three passengers were then ejected from the vehicle.

Also injured in the accident were Steven Piper, age 34 and Austin Piper, age 4, both of Monticello. According to the State Police report Simpson was pronounced dead at the scene by a Drew County coroner. The other passengers were transported to Drew Memorial Hospital and Austin Piper was later transferred to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. The report states that no seatbelts or child restraints were in use by any of the occupants. According to officials at the Arkansas State Police, toxicology tests results are pending.

In another large media sale, Monticello radio stations KHBM, KGPQ, and KXSA owned by Community Radio Network were purchased recently by Pines Broadcasting Inc., owned by Jimmy and Gwen Sledge. The sales prices of the stations was $1.05 million, according to the broadcastingcable.com site. In a letter to advertisers and businesses, Jimmy Sledge stated, “We have retained all of the employees at the stations, and we appreciate your patience during this time of transition of ownership.”

Pines Broadcasting announced that it plans to provide more local news, weather, and sports, as well as offering six different music formats to listen to on the stations.

Country roots run deep around here, especially in the lives of some Monticellonians. Shannon Carter is no exception. Although the show’s producers aren’t allowing much information to be released at this time, he is soon to be featured on a new docu-reality series on Country Music Television.

CMT gave MonticelloLive this information:

BORN COUNTRY (eight, one-hour episode series; June premiere) — Each episode of this docu-reality series follows the parallel lives of three people who have country roots in common. From karaoke queens to over-the-top country weddings and die-hard “Dukes of Hazzard” fans, BORN COUNTRY highlights the best and bizarre in country culture. BORN COUNTRY is executive produced by Lauren Lazin (“MTV True Life”).

His sister-in-law, Rachel Carter, says, “The entire family is incredibly excited for Shannon. This is an opportunity of a lifetime and we know he’s going to do an excellent job in representing our community and have a great deal of fun in the process.”

Monticello will be waiting and watching to see where the show takes Shannon. We wish him the best.

Photo by Matt Terry

Four local ladies traveled to Tunica, Mississippi this past weekend (March 30-April 1) for the World Barrel Racing Production Classic Equine Race for the Cash III. Their winnings, (left to right in the photo) are:

• Kim Eubanks placed first in the 6D competition, and won $1000 and a Martin trophy saddle.
• Lisa Kilcrease placed sixth in the 4D competition, and won $500 and a trophy bronc halter.
• Melinda Loveless placed third in the 2D competition, and won $900 and a World Barrel Racing trophy jacket.

Also competing was Deanna Duncan.

Submitted by Shelley Smith