Monticello Live

As 2009 comes to an end, here’s a look back at the headlines from MonticelloLive.com.

A tornado hit Drew County on May 6.  All of the buildings at the fairgrounds were destroyed, except for the auditorium.  The annual Rhythm & Roots Festival was moved to August, and the Drew County Fair had to cancel many of it’s regular events.  During the ongoing process of planning for this year’s fair, 5 board members have resigned.  The fair board is re-organizing, and in hopes of being able to secure a lease contract with the University of Arkansas (who owns the fairgounds property) in the near future, and re-build the fairgounds in time for 2010′s fair.

Once again, the past year saw too many lives come to an end too early.  In January, Jessica Mann, age 18, a Sav-a-Lot employee was killed in an automobile accident.  In March, Derrick Johnson, age 34 died following a motorcycle wreck.    In May, Latasha Strong, age 32, died, after the vehicle she was in ran off of a bridge over the Saline river.  Her body was found in the vehicle the next afternoon.  Later in May, Robert Brazeale, age 21, drowned in Lake Monticello. Nakeshia Page, age 21, was killed in an car crash in July.  In October, 18 year old Jake Casteel also died in an auto accident.  And December closed out 2009 with another young life lost, as Jesse Cash, age 16, a Drew Central junior, also lost his life in a motor vehicle accident.

Monticello lost two community leaders in 2009, with Betty Lindsey’s death in early April, and James Jordan’s passing in late December.

The Monticello Sr. Billies won the State Championship game, which was played at War Memorial Stadium.  The Billies completed their season with an undefeated record.  Billies fans showed support many ways, including hiring a helecopter to “blow dry” a rain-soaked Hyatt field one Friday afternoon.  

Monticello’s City Council approved the construction of a splash pad, which will be built at Jordan Park. 

Also on the City Council’s agenda was the clean-up of nuisance properties around town.  4 letters were sent to property owners, and now all 4 have either begun removing the houses in question, or at least have agreed to do so in the near future.

UAMonticello celebrated it’s 100th birthday in 2009, with it’s Centennial Celebration. 

Drew Memorial Hospital also made the news regularly in 2009, based on their approved $14 million expansion, their quality award from Gov. Mike Beebe, and the efforts of JP Ron Echols to encourage the DMH board to ask the Quorum Court for a hospital tax.

Two local doctors, Sidney Collins and Jeff Reinhart, and dentist Dr. Tim Chase were approved by the DMH board and Quorum Court to purchase a parcel of land next to the hospital for the construction of a medical office building.  There has since been a disagreement as to the appraised value of the property, and they have now asked for the county to agree to arbitration on the appraisal.

In January, Alicia Ammons was found guilty of manslaughter, for the death of Cortland Jones, who was stabbed in the neck, during a confrontation on July 4, 2008.  Her father, Clarence Ammons, was found not guilty. 

Another January court case came to an end, as a Drew County jury sentenced Michael Anthony Green, who had 17 prior drug charges to 60 years in prison.

One March weekend included an airplane hitting a white tail deer, at the Monticello airport; followed the next day with an SUV colliding with a John Deere.  Only in Arkansas could both of these events take place within 24 hours.

In May, MonticelloLive.com was proud to bring to local attention to the efforts of Monticello Fire Chief Steven “Blue” Faulkner as he entered a burning trailer, waking the man inside, and bringing him out of the burning home.  MPD Sgt. Carlos Garcia, who also responded, said, “Faulkner definitely saved that man’s life.”

In January, MLive ran an update on the 2008 story about the cellulosic diesel plant in Jerome, which should employee 250.  In May, cottonseed stored inside of the facility caught fire, and brought firefighters from all over southeast Arkansas.

MADD’s Mock DWI accident was performed in front of MHS students in April, before the prom.  This year’s event was done in memory of Dustin ”Rooster” Ferguson, who died innocently in an alcohol related crash last year.  MonticelloLive recorded the MADD Mock DWI and it has been viewed over 600 times. 

The month of June brought an end to Stanley Lucas’ election fraud charges stemming from the former convenience store owner, and supporter of legalizing the sale of alcohol in the Wilmar area’s charge of “election canvasser making a false statement” in last years wet/dry township election.  Lucas pled guilty and received no time to serve, but did get a $1 fine, and must pay reimbursement, and court costs.  The $1 fine will make the charge a part of his permanent record.

July began with the capital murder charges against Duane Gonder for the shooting death of his brother Marcus Gonder.

July also included the arrest of Benjamin Briney by the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept. for the beating death of a Shetland pony, that had been loaned to a family for a child’s birthday party.  A jury found Briney not guilty of the first trial of Arkansas’ new cruelty to animals law, later in the year. 

July crime continued as two Monticello men, Emery Riley and Patrick Lewis used a shotgun to commit an armed robbery against a worker at the Wash-O-Matic Laundromat.

In September, Amy Arrington, a MES special ed teacher was arrested by the DTF on alleged forged prescription charges.  She was terminated by the school in December, without a public notice as to the cause, due to confidentiality reasons.

The SeaArk Companies (formerly MonArk Boat Company) celebrated 50 years of boat building in September.

Other September news included the ongoing saga of the stadium lights over Monticello and UAM’s football fields.
The poles holding up the stadium lights were built by a company in Texas, and have been described as a safety risk to sports fans attending games where the Whitco poles are used.   Both Monticello Schools and UAM hired qualified welders install gusset plates to the base of each of the poles for safety, and both fields were returned to service.

In October, Monticello’s Ellis Field was named as the Arkansas Airport of the Year.

Also in October, events occurred that led to November arrest of Robert Avery, an employee of the Warren School District, charged with rape.

Also in October, the building on the corner of Main and Gaines Streets collapsed during heavy rains and a severe thunderstorm.  

A midnight wreck just before Thanksgiving again slowed traffic around Monticello’s square, as a pick-up truck driver fell asleep, and did major damage to several store fronts on East Gaines St, the stop-light, and knocked over a power pole.  The street re-opened as the damage was repaired.

December headlines included $1,000,000 Bond Set for Robbery/Kidnapping Suspect-$500,000 & $750,000 for Other 3 for Car Theft & Gun Shot, after 4 Pine Bluff men came to Monticello in a stolen car, attempted to steal a car from UAM, shot at a student,  and then stole yet another vehicle.  One of the men proceded to go to EZ-Mart on Hyatt Street, rob it, and force the clerk outside to the parking lot, and was assaulting her, as police arrived.

As we look forward into 2010, the past and the future will once again meet at “the Ridgeway”, as the former hotel has been approved by ADFA for a $5.4 million renovation, to serve as an elderly housing complex.

One other event worth mentioning is that congratulations are in order for Monticello’s newest national celebrity.  UAM’s Boll Weevil mascot was featured on ESPN and many other networks across the country, as a part of the advertising campaign for KGB’s information provider service.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 3:23 am and is filed under Site. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.