Monticello Live

REGIONAL CHAPTER OF T.A.P.S. DOES PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION

The website bestandworst.com has The Allen House listed as “The Most Haunted House in America,” and there may be some validity to that claim in the wake of a paranormal investigation conducted by a regional chapter of T.A.P.S., the paranormal investigative group featured on Sci Fi channel’s show “Ghost Hunters.”After rejecting the requests of various paranormal investigators in the past, the owners of the Allen House agreed to allow the scientific investigation using digital video and audio equipment, electromagnetic field meters, digital thermometers and thermal-imaging cameras. The investigators had many “personal experiences,” but the truly compelling evidence of paranormal activity came in the form of approximately 40 Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVPs). According to the investigators from Louisiana Spirits at their July 23 reveal of their findings, the large majority of investigations capture no scientific evidence. In the minority of investigations that do record evidence, the number of EVPs captured is usually one or two. To capture over 40 is remarkable.

Drew County Judge Damon Lampkin administers the oath of office to Dr. Ryan Collins of Monticello.

Dr. Collins replaces retiring board member Joe Griffin on the Board of Governors of Drew Memorial Hospital.

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As a follow up to an earlier report on MonticelloLive, we have confirmed that “based on reports submitted, the prosecuting attorney’s office has declined to file charges against Susan Harmon.”

MonticelloLive’s Calendar is located in the center column, and lists several activities that are scheduled in the next week.

Or,

Click on the top of MonticelloLive’s Calendar for a calendar showing the next month’s activities.

To post your events on MonticelloLive’s Calendar , call Joe Burgess at 367-0000.

Bellelise Booksellers presents “Story Time  All Summer Long!”, every Thursday,  at 10:30 a.m., for children 3-7. 
 
Bellelise Booksellers is located at 606 West Bolling Avenue, here in Monticello. Their web-site is www.bellelisebooksellers.com 
 
For more Info Call 460-9854.
Join us for Summer time reading, activities, and much more!

A recent combined effort between the Arkansas State Police, the National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Drug Enforcement Agency, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, and the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept. performed a coumy-wide drug sweep through the air in Drew County.

According to Sgt. Randy York of the Arkansas State Police, around 25 officers took part, and at least 4 plots were located. 

Lt. Rick Rausch, of the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept. confirmed marijuana arrests the day of the sweep, with other cases possibly under investigation.

The Kinsmen Quartet will be in concert Sunday, July 27th at Oak Grove Assembly of God in Monticello. The church is located at 465 Winchester Rd. in Monticello, beginning at 6 p.m.

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This week I helped pass an important bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to assist homeowners who are struggling amidst a deteriorating housing market. The American Housing Rescue & Foreclosure Prevention Act (H.R. 3221) is the most comprehensive response yet to the American mortgage crisis and I was proud to support it to help families facing foreclosure keep their homes. This bill will also help the recovery of communities harmed by empty homes caught in the foreclosure process.

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Drew Memorial Hospital has named Tom Stone, of St. Petersburg, FL, as the hospital’s interim administrator.

Stone has a 34 year career in the medical field, which began in the lab field.  Stone attended gradutate school, and has been in medical management for 28 years.

Stone’s tenure in Monticello began July 9, and will continue until a permanent C.E.O. is named by the hospital board.

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Adrian Torres, of the Eagle Pass, Texas All-Stars, is shown celebrating his birthday with a successful first game in the 10 Year Old Cal Ripken SW Regional Tournament.”

On Wednesday, July 23, at 11 a.m, the announcement of the new commissioner for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be made in the Governor’s Conference Room at the State Capitol.

Dr. Ryan Collins, a well known Monticello Chiropractor, was appointed by the Drew County Quorum Court, as the newest member of the Drew Memorial Hospital Board, Monday night.

The Drew County Quorum Court met in it’s regular session Monday night. 

The recent property reappraisals have led to many phone calls being made to the assessor’s office and quorum court members.  Taxpayers have until August 18th to notify the assessor’s office of their intention to present their case to the Drew County equalization Board.

Justice of the peace, Danny Lloyd , presented photos of local deer camp.

The building is located out in the county, has an exterior made of galvanized tin, and has a concrete floor.  The photo to the left shows a window unit for air-conditioning, and a stove pipe.

The deer camp’s interior, as shown here, is made of particleboard.  The 60 x 30 foot building is located on one half acre of land.

This property now has an appraised value of $55,500.

Lloyd described the whole reappraisal project with the phrase, “It seems like a tax increase without giving the county  a chance to vote on it.”  He then added, “They can’t sell their property for what it’s assessed for.” 

County Attorney Cliff Gibson told the court that the objective of the reappraisal is to determine the “fair market value”, and then described that as, “What a willing buyer will give a willing seller for their property.”

Again it was pointed out that taxpayers have until August 18 to request a hearing with the equalization board, by contacting the assessor’s office.

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In other business, Judge Damon Lampkin told the court that he recently became aware that some county taxpayers who use CenturyTel telephone service have been having their taxes paid to Desha County, instead of Drew County, by CenturyTel.  CenturyTel has been contacted, but isn’t providing information due to “privacy issues”.  The court said the public needs to be aware of this problem, and Judge Lampkin told them that MonticelloLive published the story Monday morning, and KHBM radio broadcast it as a part of their morning newscasts.

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Cruiser – Feature
1-15-BRANDON LLOYD-MONTICELLO,
2-00-DOUG DAVIS-MONTICELLO, AR
3-9-RAY MOSS-WATSON, AR
4-95-AFTON ANDERSON-RISON, AR
5-65-TILLMAN LOWE-MONTICELLO, ar

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SOME OF THE TAXES AND FEES YOU PAY MAY BE GOING TO THE WRONG COUNTY!
 
This is a copy of a page of a Centurytel telephone bill. The customer actually lives in DREW County; however, the telephone company is sending the 911 Service Charge Fee and the County Sales Tax that the customer pays to Desha County. 

Please check your telephone statements and make sure Drew County is receiving the revenue they deserve.
 
Please check your telephone statements and call your telephone service provider if there is an error.
 
CenturyTel customer service 1-800-201-4099

U.S. Representative Mike Ross supported legislation Thursday to significantly increase our nation’s domestic energy production. The DRILL Act would have increased oil and natural gas production in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), as well as oil production on federal lands already leased by oil companies.
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GET YOUR MONTICELLO BILLIE FOOTBALL SEATS NOW
Boxseats are available at Hyatt Field for the 2008 Monticello Billie Football Season.  The boxseats provide seating for six (6) people and can be purchased for $450.00 by calling the Central Office 870-367-4000.  Parking passes are also available for $50.00

Stadium seating will be offered again this year.  The “blue” seats can be purchased for $30.00 each. This price includes a season pass. 
Call 367-4000 and ask for Linda for more information or to reserve your seat.  Go Billies!!!!!!

Recently the young people’s department of the womans auxiliary to the Regular Arkansas Baptist convention held it’s 74th annual session. Approximately 1500 youth particapated in this session.

No one was injured Friday afternoon, as this Toyota Carola, which was travel turning off of the Wal-Mart Access Road, appears to have been turning into the back drive of Parkway Bank, and clipped the back bumper of the 18 wheeler, shown below.

 Monticello Police responded, and traffic on the HWY 425 was not effected.

Friday was the opening day of action in the 10 year old Southwest Regional Cal Ripken Tournament, being held at Hank Thompson Field, Jordan Park, Monticello, AR.

Final scores are:

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First United Methodist Church will host line dance lessons in their new Family Life Center. 

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While waiting in line for Sunday lunch with my pastor and his wife at a local restaurant, I visited for a few minutes with Rick & Fran Haney.  After we had been seated, I noticed how many other people had stopped by their table to visit for a moment with the couple.  Over and over, people would pause just to say “high”.

“Burlington folks” will know Rick, while most people recognize Fran from her desk assisting customers at Union Bank’s main branch.  She has helped me many times by notarizing documents, and another time when a relative’s checks were stolen.  Both Rick and Fran are friendly, helpful people, and good selections for One Monticello Life.

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Selma’s Volunteer Fire Dept. responded to this house fire at 2835 HWY 138, east of Monticello.  The home belonged to the Pharr family.

The firefighters were gaining control of the blaze, until it appeared that they ran out of water.  Members of Monticello’s Fire Dept. also responded. 

After running out of water for a second time, the fire again gained force, completely destroying the structure.

Drew County was well represented in the Arkansas Dept. of Emergency Management’s Incident Command Training sessions, held Saturday and Sunday, at the fire training center.

Drew County Judge Damon Lampkin attended, as did OEM local director Bill Horn, as well as members from all Drew County Volunteer Fire Departments.  Also present were representatives from the Arkansas Forestry Dept. and Monticello Fire Chief Steve Faulkner.  26 attended in all.

Kenny Harmon and John Osborn, from Little Rock’s ADEM office, led the seminar.

This is a portion of the MEDC report as it was recently presented to the group by MEDC director Truman Hamilton.

 

I have begun the process of locating and acquiring options to purchase lots on which low income single family housing could be constructed.  Over the last several years, several derelict houses have been removed. Should we be able to secure enough of these vacant lots or other space that may be available, there are grants that could be used to build low income single family housing. This could be a valuable tool to upgrade neighborhoods and fill a need for housing in this area.