Monticello Live

Joe Williams, Jr. was born and raised in Monticello, and graduated from Monticello High School in 1982.  He attended and graduated from UAM with a B.A. in computer science.

Joe has spent the last 4 years employed as receiving manager for School Apperal’s Star City facility, but is best know from the more than 20 years he spent at Burlington Industries, here in Monticello.

He started working at Burlington in 1982, but was told by the personnel manager that if he was going to quit school, that he wasn’t going to get hired, but that he should get promoted after he graduated.  Joe took the challenge, completed his education, and began his way up the Burlington ladder of supervision.

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When the morning sun rose across the Delta today there was one less face to welcome it.   John Anderson Gibson had gone home.  Best known as “Jack”, Mr. Gibson was another fine example of the generation Tom Brokaw labeled as the “greatest generation”. 
     Mr. Jack was born in 1920 and spent part of his youth in Monticello, Arkansas”.  His father, John June Gibson, operated a meat market behind present-day Union Bank where their parking lot sits today.
     When WWII began, Mr. Jack was a student at Mississippi State University and had recently completed a civilian pilot training course to obtain a private pilot license.  Outraged by the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Jack and his friends joined the Naval Air Service. 
     Mr. Gibson proved himself an ace pilot in many aerial battles in the Pacific during WWII.  However, his most noted feat was the “downing” of the last Japanese planes on the last day of the war.  He proudly has his naval citation recognizing this historic action. 
     After the war Mr. Jack returned home to rejoin his family and pursue farming in the area near his beloved Boydell, Arkansas.
     Still filled with a strong desire to serve his country, Mr. Gibson pursued the office of state senator and served in that position from 1980 to 1991.  Jack then returned to his farm near Boydell to spend his golden years. 
     Jack Gibson passed away on April 24, 2008.  Funeral services will be held on Sunday, April 27, 2008, in Dermott.  Another old soldier has gone home.

This map showing the probably effected area if there were to be a break in the dam at the end of Lake Monticello, was a part of the focus of the meeting held to revise the Emergency Action Plan for use in the event of such an emergency.

Most city and county officials were present for the meeting, where Steven Faulkner, Monticello’s Fire Chief, was appointed Emergency Action Plan Coordinator.

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Doug Knight was born in Springhill, LA, but his family moved to Drew County when he was 2 years old.  Doug grew up in the Plantersville area, and graduated from Drew Central High School.

Doug continued his education by taking industrial electricity classes at Pines vo-tech in Pine Bluff. 

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Around 1 a.m., Sunday morning, law enforcement officers on patrol on Old Warren Road, noticed a downed power pole near the running track just east of Monticello High School.

Upon entering the school’s parking lot, a wrecked GMC truck was found (see photo).

The student in question was taken to the County Detention Facility for a BAC test.

Witnesses at the scene indicated that he had been drinking, and was attempting to enter the school’s “safe prom”, which is being provided to prevent drinking and driving.

The truck left the scene of the wreck, and was parked near the area where last week’s “DWI Wreck Re-enactment” was held.

The student’s mom told MonticelloLive, “the last thing we told him before he left was don’t be drinking and driving.”

According to OneStat.com, the internet’s leading pageview analysis program, MonticelloLive.com had over 20,000 pageviews last week.

MonticelloLive has grown steadily since it’s re-launch, late last year, and continues to be where Monticello gets “today’s news, today.”

In November, 2007, we were proud to have reached 2,000 in a week, for the first time.

In late January, readership had grown to over 10,000 in a weekly time frame.

Your daily routine of clicking on MonticelloLive.com has helped us reach this new milestone.

When your friends ask, “What’s going on in Monticello?”  Tell them about MonticelloLive.com.
Today’s news.  Today.

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This week’s One Monticello Life breaks from the traditional “interview” format that is usually used, because something happened in Monticello Friday that may change, and save, many lives.

At the end of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Mock DWI Accident Re-enactment, Steve Brantley came forward to tell the approximately 900 students present why he became involved with MADD.

This week’s edition is based on the comments that Steve shared with them.

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2 years ago, Jeff told about the life of Jesus, as the One Monticello Life for Easter Sunday. I suppose that featuring my Saviour has become an Easter tration, but if Christ hasn’t become the most important part of your life, he’is there waiting to accept you, as the hymn says, “Just As I Am”.

There’s not a more deserving subject for this week’s feature. Jesus, the One who has changed more lives than anyone else who ever walk on the earth, including mine. After reading, be sure to play the video at the bottom.

May God bless you all. – Joe Burgess

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Today is Easter and celebrated many ways throughout Monticello. Children enjoy the candy received from new-found Easter eggs. Spiral ham, mashed potatoes and fresh rolls are served at many family gatherings. Much of this happens after a time of reflection and celebration at one of the 50+ Christian churches in the area. The Holy One that is celebrated on this holiday isn’t a local, but Jesus Christ is found in the hearts of many Monticellonians. This is His story.

Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, Israel. Roman historians subsequently used the birth of Jesus as the dividing line of history using A.D. (Anno Domini, which is Latin for “the year of our Lord”) to mark the coming of Christ.

Jesus was born into humble circumstances. His mother’s name was Mary who was of the Israelite tribe of Judah. At best, the circumstances of his birth were complicated. Mary was engaged to marry Joseph, also of the tribe of Judah. Joseph could trace his lineage back to Abraham. Jewish lineage and ancestry was sacred to the Israelites. However, before they were married, Mary confessed to Joseph that she was pregnant but claimed that the pregnancy was a result of news she had received from an angelic messenger. (more…)

Last week it became official, when Randy Pogue, of Greenbrier, visited Monticello on behalf of the Arkansas Forestry Commission, and signed over ownership of the “new to Monticello” 1989 Pierce Arrow ladder truck with a 105 foot ladder.

One of the features of the new unit, is that is has a remotely controlled nozzle, with a maximum output of around 1000 gallons per minute.

Shown here, members of the Monticello Fire Dept., Fire Chief Steve Faulkner,  Randy Pogue, MEDC Director Truman Hamilton, local Forestry Agent Joe Friend, and Mayor Joe Rogers.

The estimated value of the ladder truck is around $400,000, if it were to be purchased.

The grant was a part of the Federal Excess Property Program, which has distributed 412 vehicle throughout the state of Arkansas, and has sent aid to 70 of Arkansas’ 75 counties.

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As the electronics field has changed over the years, so has Rick Hales.  Rick’s job description is “electronics technician”, but that covers a wide range of areas.  

Rick began in electronics back in 1981, when he worked at Cass Martin’s Radio Shack, behind the Union Bank University Branch. 

Rick was well known for years from the Drew Satellite business he operated, which was located on the old Lucky’s Chevrolet lot, where Ryburn’s is now.

Now, with the advancement of technology, Rick’s project for this week will be installing a “smart classroom” at UAM.  Smart classrooms bring the current high-tech of interactivity, into an educational setting.  Smart classrooms take power-point from a screen in the front of the room, and puts it directly into the touch-screen that is located in front of each student.  When the instructor writes on their work station, it instantly appears on each of the students panels, and becomes a part of the lesson.  Instant, color-sensitive, and it responds to the touch.  Now that’s a long way from the old chalkboards, that so many of us grew up with.  Rick has installed this type of system in Monticello and McGehee schools already.

Rick also has been in the field of installing sound and projection systems in churches and schools, for several years.  One of his recent projects was the MeGehee Elementary Cafetorium, which included a Dell projector, a 10 foot projection screen, and wireless microphones.

Rick is also a DirecTV dealer, and has been with them since the company began.

Rick told MonticelloLive that he considers the best part of his work to be what he does in the educational field.   ”It’s great to be a part of improving the classroom teaching setting”, he added.

Rick was born, raised, and graduated, here in Monticello, “actually I was born at the old hospital, where the empty lot is at N. Main and Jefferson,” he commented.

Rick attended UAM for 3 years, before entering the military, and taking part of many of their computer classes. 

Rick served in the National Guard for 13 years, and was stationed in Korea twice, and Germany once.  He entered the service as a private, and progressed to the ranks of Lieutenant, and then to Captain.  He also worked at the Pentagon for 2 years, while on the staff of the Army Chief of Staff.

Rick is shown here with his wife of 23 years, Cathy, and their year old golden retriever, Chloe.  Cathy can be considered a “professional grandmother”, since she is so dedicated to her grandchildren.

The Hales’ have 3 children;

Chris Owen, who is married to Laura, and has a 2 year old son, Jacob.

Candice, who is married to Keith Jordan.  They have a 3 year old son, Colton, and are expecting twins. (I noticed Grandma’s big smile), and

Jamie, who is a Senior at Drew Central.

Cathy describes Rick as, “a wonderful Christian man, and father.”

Rick and Cathy are very active at First Assembly of God Church, where Rick serves as media engineer, working with all types of electronic equipment.

Their hobbies include spending time with each other, sometimes while riding a Suzuki 1500 together.  Rick says, “I got it for me, but she loves it as much as I do.”

They also spend a lot of time working with ministry projects for First Assembly.  

Aside from Chloe, they have a 9 year old Shitzu, named Sadie.

Rick’s favorites include:

Restaurants-Aside from Monticello’s good ones, Molly’s in Warren.

TV show-Deal or No Deal.

Movie-Cool Hand Luke.

Actor-Robert DeNiro.

Book-The Bible.

Music-Praise and Worship.

Song or Hymn-He Reigns. 

Cathy told me that Rick’s favorite phrase is, “Nothing happens in our lives that the Lord can’t handle.

Thanks Rick for all you do to improve our schools and church facilities, and for sharing your One Monticello Life.

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