Monticello Live

With Christmas being celebrated this week, I have a rather poignant Christmas memory to share from the late 1930′s.
As you know, America was in the midst of the Great Depression and “cash money” was difficult to be found in those times. In this particular story our storyteller was a student in the 7th grade. At that time, and even in those circumstances, there were Christmas parties scheduled at school and the students “drew names” so each child would receive a gift. (more…)

(more…)

Click on the photo here to send you Christmas Eve Letters to Santa.

Here are some earlier letters that Santa received.

(more…)

Photos from 2007′s Live Nativity.

(more…)

Monticello Middle School’s EAST Lab Facilitator, Ryan Copico will be spending tonight sleeping in a tent on top of the MMS building.

Mr. Copico told the 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students that if the school achieved a 75% level in their recent AR (accelerated reader) program, that he would camp out on top of the buiding.

MMS students responded with a 79% score.

Mr. Copico was in his overnight home as the students left school this afternoon, and will remain there until the start of school’s opening bell Thursday morning.

(more…)

Around 11 p.m. a city water main broke near the intersection of East McCloy and North Conley.  Police responded, while the city maintenance crew shut off several supply lines, and repaired the main.

City water should be back in service by 5 a.m.

Click on the photo to enlarge it and get a better perspective of how high the water was spraying.

Drew Memorial Hospital Administrator Mike Layfield, while giving his monthly report to the Quorum Court, announced that the hospital is now charging $150 up-front payment for emergency room patients that are not “emergency” cases. (more…)

This week we will continue our visit with the Drew Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Someone has coined the term “Bedside Angels” for Auxiliary members because of the many patient-oriented tasks they freely perform at the hospital. (more…)

Tuesday night the Chamber of Commerce and MEDC held their annual awards banquet, at the UAM University Center.

The winners are:

Monticello teacher of the year; Jennifer Touchstone, MMS science teacher, also awarded regional teacher of the year.

Drew Central teacher of the year;  Rose Ann Adcock, DCMS 6th grade teacher.

Industry of the year: UAM.  “UAM’s impact includes millions of dollars into the local economy.  More than buildings and books,” quoted from Truman Hamilton during the presentation.

Business of the year; Head of the Class Child Care and Learning Center, Sherrie and Shay Gillespie-10 years with 40 employees now.

Woman of the year;  Betty Lindsey, president of Drew Memorial Hospital auxiliary-recruited 12 new auxiliary members in last 2 years. Awarded state “auxiliary member of the year”.

Man of the year; Drew County Judge Damon Lampkin.

 

 

Drew County Farm Family of the Year; Jeremy & Michael Oltmann families.

(more…)

(more…)

Click photos to enlarge.

 

 

 

(more…)

(more…)

Steve Faulkner has been named as Chief of the Monticello Fire Dept.

Faulkner is a lifelong resident of the Monticello area, and is a 10 year member of the fire dept.  He also is an auxililary member of the police dept.

Steve also has a year’s experience serving as interim fire chief.

Faulkner is married to Lea, and they have 2 sons, Alex and Logan.

“Service” is one of many words that have multiple meanings. However, one of its more important meanings, especially during this holiday “giving” period, is “assistance or benefit afforded another”.

Those few words seem inadequate to describe the many organizations in Drew County that are truly “service” organizations. (more…)

(more…)