Monticello Live

By Bentley Brodnax, 8th grade student at MMS

Monticello Middle School teacher Jennifer Touchstone has been selected to be one of the regional finalists for the 2008-09 Arkansas Teacher of the Year. (more…)

Dr. Ron Sitton, assistant professor of journalism at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, has been appointed to the Education Committee of the Arkansas Press Association. (more…)

With muzzle-loader deer season open, MonticelloLive.com invites everyone to send your “deer photos” to joe @ MonticelloLive.com for all of your friends to see your “trophy deer”.

This deer was one of three who figured Tuesday morning, that if all of the hunters were out in the woods, then it must be safer to stay in town.

Call 367-0000 for more information.

Drew Central’s Devin Horn, winner of the Drew County Fair’s Talent Show in the Variety Category, won the Arkansas State Fair’s District Competition earlier this week, and returned with the other district winners for Saturday night’s competition, where he was selected as the best in the statewide variety category.

Devin, shown here with his State Fair Trophy and prize money envelope, performed Billy Currington’s “I got a feeling”.

Congratulation, Devin!

Miss Drew County, Drew Higginbotham, is competing for Arkansas State Fair Queen tonight at the Little Rock Fairgrounds.

Drew competed Thursday evening at regionals and won a spot to compete for the finals held tonight.

Good luck Drew and represent Drew County well.

New Drew Central Student Cell Phone Use Policy

Adopted by Drew Central School Board October 9, 2008

Possession of cell phones, paging devices, beepers or similar electronic communication devices by students on school property during the school day is prohibited. (more…)

Sandy Erlanson (Chief Deputy Circuit Clerk) and her husband Ray (Circuit Court Bailiff) have a good reason to be “proud grandparents”.  Their 19 year old granddaughter, Ashlee Lancaster, is getting an opportunity that most people can only dream of.

Today, Ashlee is participating in a NASCAR event.  The “Drive for Diversity” is a NASCAR scouting event, where 8 of the 25 participants will be signed to NASCAR development contracts.

Here’s the full story, from ColumbiaTribune.com.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazzette held an unofficial, un scientific poll of the “Best College Quarterback in Arkansas”, which ended yesterday. 

UAM’s Scott Buisson was voted “the best” with 37%, with the nearest 2 vote-getters receiving 30% & 29%.

Here’s the site, no registering, just vote and click Buisson’s name and hit vote.

And the number is 6,891.

The Drew County Conservation District board of directors thanks all who participated in our fair booth contest. Can you believe there is a tie for the winner? Tammy English of Monticello and Judy Barnes of Warren each received a $50.00 check for their guess of 7,000 grains of rice.

The Conservation District also thanks Brian Mitchell of Custom Wireless for the use of the TV and to Cliff Ferrell of LA Graphics for donating work on our sign.

Mike Layfield, Drew Memorial Hospital’s new CEO came on staff this week, and is currently spending most of his time getting to know the hospital staff at Drew Memorial.

Layfield, shown here with Vonda Russell at a “Meet & Greet” held in the hospital cafeteria Wednesday morning, wants to meet with all employees and physicians personally, and he seems to be making a positive impression on all.

Layfield told MonticelloLive, “I’m impressed with community’s interest and support of our hospital.”  “We are all partners in healthcare and health education: the hospital, the doctors, the Health Dept., and home health.” (more…)

 

The Arkansas  Airport Operator’s Association has announced that Monticello’s Ellis Field has been chosen as the Arkansas Airport of the Year by their organization.

 

Monticello was chosen as the top airport, over Arkansas’ 90 other airports, for the successful completion of six projects, among other accomplishments.

Most Monticello residents don’t realize how much the local airport is used by local industries. Currently there are 26 air-crafts based out of the Monticello facility.  An estimated 25 flights come and go from Ellis Field each week, and the day that MonticelloLive interviewed airport manager James Barnett, there were an estimated 15 flights in that singe day.

The airport has received a plaque recoginzing the honor, along with a proclamation and letter from the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics, describing the reasons that the honor was granted to the local field.

Monticello’s Airport began in 1947, and has been located in the same location since that time.

Goals for next year include studying possible approaches for the field, and completing the chain link fence, in order to prevent deer from entering the runway.

According to Arkansas State Police reports, David Parker of Monticello was pronounced dead at the scene of a tractor trailer-car accident at the intersection of HWY 65 and HWY 388 in Lincoln.  The intersection is better described as the turn-off that leads to the Dept. of Corrections for Cummins & Varner units. (more…)