Monticello Live

Lt. Steven Stain of the Monticello Police Dept. wore a “non-traditional law enforcement color” pink shirt to work this morning.

In an effort to show department unity, when Stain returned to the station from a call, he found Ginger Norris, Trish Harvey, Chief Robert Rosegrant, and Cpt. Eddy Deaton wearing pink shirts. as well.

(Note, this picture is not “payback” for running the birthday story posted below.)

Joe Burgess, of MonticelloLive.com, complied with unofficial police dept. requests today and posted his own birthday on MonticelloLive.com.

After several readers pointed out, “if you posted my birthday, you ought to put your own out there for everyone to know about”, he agreed.

Shown here are Lt. Steven Stain, Burgess, and Sgt. Jerald Clarke.

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James Daniels, age 23 of Monticello, drove to the Monticello Police Dept, with the intention of filing a police report.  Upon arrival, Daniels was arrested and charged with DWI, after failing a field sobriety test.

He also admitted to the officer, during the test, that he had recently “smoked a blunt”.

Daniels’ vehicle was towed, and he was transported to the Drew County Detention Facility.

The Monticello High School Junior Class will be having a cookout at Piggly Wiggly, today from 10:00 – 3:00.

Inlcuding:
BBQ Sandwiches–$1.00
Slab of Ribs——$12.00
Boston Butts (10-12 lbs.)—$25.00 each. 

. This is for a great cause for the students to be able to have a safe place to hang out all night on Prom Night.

Please help us out if you can!!!!!!!!!

It was announced at Wednesday’s intermodal authority meeting that there is a possiblilty that there may be grants available for a total of $2.3 million. (more…)

At the Drew County Quorum Court meeting, it was announced that 3 local doctors and a dentist intend to build a 2 story, $4.5 million medical office building, hopefully on the land located just north of the hospital.

Dr. Sidney Collins made the presentation, while local dentist Tim Chase, who is also a part of the proposed venture, was present showing support.

The other 2 physicians involved are Dr. Jeffrey Reinhart and Dr. Michael Fakouri.

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As stated in last week’s column, by 1931 many Drew Countians felt the old 1870 courthouse needed to be replaced. Some of the citizenry felt that, because the town was growing, there was a need for larger court offices. County records had accumulated over the past 60+ years, more county offices were needed as governmental agencies expanded and a growing question about the safety of the structure itself began to be raised. (more…)

Elizabeth Echols, Kylee Young and McKenzie Zieman celebrated their 13th birthday last Saturday with a formal dance.

The girls idea for the theme of the dance waS to raise money for the Relay for Life. Instead of a gift, each girl asked their friends to bring a donation for The Relay for Life, to support the American Cancer Society.

This donation is in memory of their friends’ Mom, India Pace who passed away last year with breast cancer. The amount that was collected was $851.00 This will be given during the Relay in April.

Special thanks to Carita Ryburn, Stephanie Wright, and each of the girls’ moms for the decorations, and Paul Griffin for spinning the records.  Photos at the event were taken by Laura McNeese.

The night was a BLAST !!!

The Ridgeway Hotel Historic District at Monticello in Drew County is one of 10 Arkansas properties that have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the country’s official list of historically significant properties, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program Director Frances McSwain announced this week.

MEDC Director Truman Hamilton welcomed the proclamation, by saying, “We’re very happy with the honor, and are very optimistic that the Ridgeway Hotel Project will be funded,” speaking about the $4.8 million project to renovate the old, vacant structure into sr. citizen housing units.  Hamilton added that the Ridgeway Project could, “jumpstart the rehabilitation of Downtown Monticello.”

Monticello historian, Sheilla Lampkin added, “I’m thrilled that the property was recognized by the National Register, and look forward to the possibility of our goals being recognized with the building being used as a housing development.”

Mrs. Lampkin added, “It would be wonderful to see life brought back into the old, historic building that was such a large part of Monticello life, at one time.”

The Ridgeway Hotel Historic District at 200-206 E. Gaines St. features three buildings constructed between 1912 and 1958. (more…)

by Sheilla Lampkin

In light of the current restoration work being done at the Drew County Courthouse; we’ll look at the history of the present Drew County Courthouse (more…)

Monticello High School  was placed on a “planned, security lockdown”, this morning,  The search was reported to have been a successful endeavor. (more…)

Around 2 a.m., this morning, a stray horse was reported traveling east in 500 block of East Bolling Street.

Police responded and led the horse back to where it’s owner had recently moved from, and notified the parties involved.

Monticello Police Auxiliary Officer, Lynn Rowe, who is also a paramedic at SouthEast Emergency Services, is shown calming the large animal, before leading it back to it’s familiar area.