Monticello Live

This photo was taken around 6 p.m.,  Sunday, on South Hyatt Street, near the old high school, by Amanda Killingsworth.

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Approximately 80 people were present at the Memorial Day Ceremony held at the Drew County Courthouse, Monday morning, sponsored by the local VFW, DAV, and American Legion posts.

Judge Damon Lampkin was the featured speaker.  Others on the program included Glenn Kellebrew, Rev. Rex Williams, Tommy King, Bill Moore, Lamar Butler, and Megan Brewer (who played Taps on the bugle).

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DC GRADUATION 1-2009/05/19 from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

DC GRADUATION 2-2009/05/19 from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

DC GRADUATION 3-2009/05/19 from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

DC GRADUATION 4-2009/05/19 from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Sheriff Mark Gober confirmed information, today, about a shooting that took place in the Ladell community, around 12:15, Saturday night. (more…)

 

MHS 1 PROCESSIONAL from MonticelloLive on Vimeo. (more…)

Current research indicates that for students to grow as readers they need to read 1,000,000 (yes, that’s one million) words per year. In terms of books, that’s approximately 25 books of 200 pages in length.

To encourage students to make 1,000,000 words their goal for the year, Melissa Eason, literacy coach for grades 4-8 issued to middle school students at Drew Central the chal-lenge to read 25 books this school year. The campaign was known as the Twenty-five Book Campaign. The theme of Read Like a Rock Star was chosen. Drew Central students, Aaron and Alan Jones, wrote a rock song, “You Gotta Read to Succeed,” and their rock band, which includes their father, performed it at the campaign kick-off.

DC’S MRS EASON GET HEAD SHAVED AFTER STUDENTS READ 3400 BOOOKS from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Each student and staff member at Drew Central signed a pledge to try to read 25 books and kept a list of books read. To get credit for the books, students had to make 70% on the AR test or turn in a satisfactory literary letter about the books read. As an added incentive to get kids to read,

Mrs. Eason promised to shave her head if students read 3,100 books which would be the same as of if one-half of all fifth, sixth, and seventh graders read 25 books. This week when teachers turned in their class totals, students were congratulated for having met and surpassed the 3,100 book goal.

Drew Central Middle School Students read 3,400 books this year! It was time for Mrs. Eason to live up to her end of the bargain. At an early morning assembly today, (more…)

At approximately 2 p.m., Thursday afternoon, a fire was reported at the Jerome Bio-Refinery, on HWY 165 South, in Drew County.

While the origin of the fire is unknown, it seems to have began while seed trucks were being unloaded, and produced much more smoke that fire.

Workers nearby noticed smoke, and called for the manager, who quickly responded. The aeration fan was turned on, and authorities were notified.

During the afternoon, the cottonseed was separated and moved outside of the building, and the product in the area of the fire was hosed down, and coated with a dust reducing agent, according to Drew County Emergency Manager, Bill Horn.

Around 9 p.m., most of the fire-fighting crews were sent home, while a couple trucks remained on the scene to keep watch over the remaining cottonseed, and keep check on the “chute” where any fire may remain.  That “chute” is a product transportation system that moves the product from the truck and shipping area, into a storage area.

According to Gary Sullivan, manager of Jerome Bio-Refinery, there were no injuries. Sullivan reported, “we’ve had 2 or 3 minor flare-ups, but haven’t had a flash-over”, and added, “It looks a whole lot worse than it really is.” (more…)

When Dr. Judy Bynum drove up to Drew Central High School at 6:15 Wednesday morning, it was foggy and dark. In the twilight, she could see a dark creature turning in circles in the front of the school. It was solid black and small, but not as small as a squirrel, with a bushy tail. On its head was a yogurt cup, stuck tightly. (more…)

Arkansas State Police have confirmed that searchers have found and removed the body of Latasha Strong, age 32, of Warren, and the missing Honda Civic in which she was a pasenger, from near the Flat Branch Creek Bridge near the Saline River, around 3:15 p.m., Monday afternoon.  Ms. Strong was reportedly still in the vehicle, which was found south of the bridge.  She was the mother of 2 children.

The driver of the vehicle, Tyrone Gillman, age 30, of Warren, escaped from the vehicle early Sunday morning, and was able to flag down a passing motorist, which led to the 2 day long search.

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Monticello Fire Chief Steven “Blue” Faulkner went on what so many times may be considered a “normal fire call” to a trailer fire in the back of the mobile home park in the 500 block of Winchester Road, Sunday around 4:15 p.m., and arrived just in front of the fire trucks.

Upon arrival, someone nearby was heard saying, “I think there’s a man still in there.”

Faulkner went to the front door, opened it, and didn’t get any response; then did the same at the back door: he then knocked on the front window.  The house was filled with smoke too much to just enter and begin looking, without breathing equipment.

When he knocked on the front window, he had woken up the sleeping man, who began calling out.  Faulkner then returned to the back door, near where the man was, and entered the burning home. 

Faulkner told MonticelloLive, “He was close to the door, but fell backwards, when the door opened.  I just went in and brought him out.”

Monticello Police Sargent Carlos Garcia, who also responded to the call to assist with traffic, said, “Faulkner definitely saved that man’s life.”

MPD Patrolman Mark Grant, who also serves as fireman, added, “one thing about “Blue” is that he won’t ask you to do anything that he won’t do, and he proved that this afternoon.”

Faulkner, trying not to draw attention to himself, said, “I didn’t go that far inside.”

Once again, one of Monticello’s First Responder’s has done something that has saved or changed someone’s life. 

Once again, we all need to thank, not only Faulkner, but all of our law enforcement, firefighters, ambulance workers, and others who run towards the emergency situations, that everyone else runs away from.

Jackie Sharp, of Monticello, received his 2nd and 3rd award of the Purple Heart, and also received the Combat Action Badge, at a Purple Heart Ceremony, late last month.

PVT Sharp was assigned to Bravo Company, 70th Engineer Battalion, serving as a Combat Engineer in Afghanistan.

While on route clearance missions, on June 5th, and then again on July 21,2007,  his vehicle was struck by improvised explosiv devices, which casued Private Sharp’s combat injuries.

Jackie is the son of the late Donald Sharp and Debra Sharp.

His mother, Debra, and his grandmother, Dorothy Sharp, attended the ceremony, which was held in San Antonio, TX.

PVT Sharp’s first Purple Heart was awared on March 18, 2008.  Click here for that photo and information on that honorary award.

Jackie’s many family members and friends wish to express their support for Jackie, and the example that he has set, as well as appreciating the sacrifice that he has made, while serving his Country.

I am so glad that no one was seriously injured in (Wedneday’s) tornado.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the people that sustained injuries or damages.

During these times, we should all appreciate our local law enforcement agencies, fire and rescue, and ambulance services for their dedication and quick response times in these situations. These men and women put their lives on the line everyday, and put themselves in harms way to make sure that the rest of us are protected and get the help that we need.

Sometimes, we forget that when we are taking shelter from these storms, that these people are out there right in them.

Thanks to everyone involved who did such a fantastic job during this emergency!

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This comment was posted Thursday under the tornado damage story, and was worthy of  “top of the page” attention.

Jimmy Frost, of the Montongo, who was sentenced to serve 23 years in Novenber for 3 charges, including 1st degree attempted murder, was sentenced this week to serve 5 years, which will be served concurrently with his other sentece, for the charge of 2nd degree domestic battery, in connection with events that took place prior to charges where he shot his wife.

Frost is incarcerated in the Arkansas Dept. of Corrections.

Drew County Judge Damon Lampkin, yesterday, told MonticelloLive.com, that the National Weather Service in Little Rock, had confirmed that yesterday’s storm damage was done by an EF1 tornado.At 5:06 a.m., National Weather Service Doppler radar showed a tornado around Montongo.

The storm continued south, with a majority of its damage being done from the new HWY 35 bypass’s intersection with Highway 425, down Rose Hill cut off road, then south towards Monticello on HWY 83.

The confirmed tornado also apparently also destroyed 2 buildings at the Drew County Fairgrounds, which were the old auditorium and livestock building, and the EHC display and booth building, which also housed the concession stand.

There were at least 4 reports of trees falling on houses, trapping people inside, but I believe only minor injuries resulted.

Damage to residences were spread all over the county, including Rock Springs, Winchester Road, Florence Road, among many other areas.

Monticello and Drew Central schools were closed yesterday, and electricity to some parts of Drew County still haven’t been restored.

Because of the heavy rains, it is still possible for trees to fall, and some power lines are still down, with work crews, stationed in many areas, so please drive carefully and use extreme caution, for your sake and for theirs.

At 5:06 a.m., National Weather Service Dopple Radar indicated a tornado 7 miles north of Monticello, moving southeast at 40 mph.

Several trees and power lines are down, and extreme caution should be used if you get out early this morning.

At 5:30, trees are, or were down on Winchester Road, Calhoun St,  Bowser Rd.,  Allen Drive, HWY 278 East, HWY 35 near Enon, East Bolling, West Bollking, and Florence Road.

E-mail your storm damage photos to joe@MonticelloLive.com

Check back to MonticelloLive.com for more information as it becomes available.

Journalism students at the University of Arkansas at Monticello captured three individual awards and the university’s literary magazine was recognized for general excellence at the Arkansas College Media Association (ACMA) awards luncheon hosted recently on the UAM campus.

In the newspaper category, sophomore Douglas Boultinghouse of Rison took second in the state for newspaper review writing, junior Carrie Selby of Crossett took third in the state for personality profiles and senior Mike Thomas of Denton, Texas took third in the state for sports story writing.

In the literary magazine category, The Foliate Oak took second in the state in magazine general excellence.
Other colleges and universities represented at the convention were UA-Fayetteville, UA-Little Rock, Arkansas State, Arkansas Tech, Central Arkansas, Central Baptist, John Brown, Harding, Ouachita Baptist and Southern Arkansas. Additional winners can be found on the Arkansas College Media Association’s Facebook site.