Monticello Live

This photo was taken by a MLive reader, while she was waiting at the stop light on HWY 425 North at the HWY 278 intersection.

Like they used to say on Sesame Street, “one of these thing doesn’t belong here.”

There was no wreck, and no one was injured.

MEDC president Benji Ryburn announced at the Monticello City Council meeting Thursday night that the Ridgeway Hotel project has been approved by the Arkansas Development Finance Authority to receive $5.4 million in funding.

The city agreed several months ago to provide up to $32,000 in sidewalk and lighting improvements to the area, which will house the Ridgeway’s 32 elderly, low income residential units.

The project is expect to have much better benefits from exchange tax credits, than have been available recently.

Ryburn received an e-mail shortly before the meeting, and expects all of the details to become official in a month, when the actual letter arrives.

The Drew County Housing Authority has agreed to provide gap funding, if needed, up to $500,000.

“The Ridgeway” was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in February. (more…)

A Drew County jury found Benjamin Briney not guilty of aggravated animal cruelty, following the admitted beating to death of a horse on August 1, with a baseball bat.

This is Arkansas’ first attempt at prosecuting someone under the new “felony aggravated animal cruelty” law that went into effect as of midnight on July 31.  The death of this horse occurred approximately one hour later. (more…)

12 area residents and a local bank have been awarded money owed to them, following a recent restitution hearing against Rick Funderburg, former owner of Rick’s Auto Outlet, of Monticello, for damages done in the criminal case against him, in which he pled guilty in December of 2005. (more…)

MEDC director Truman Hamilton met with the Monticello City Council, Thursday night, for their planned committee meeting to discuss the process of dealing with properties that have been reported to be run down and/or abondoned.

After the meeting, MonticelloLive asked each of the eight council members if they were in favor of proceeding with the process of dealing with potentially “nuisance properties”, as explained by Hamilton.  The only council member who stated that he was opposed to the measures was Judge Clifton Bond.  All others stated that they were in favor of proceeding with the 9 steps, as they were described in the meeting.

Hamilton presented the following list to the group, outlining the order in which events are to take place in the process of dealing with the property owners of those potentially “nuisance properties.” (more…)

The Monticello Billies defeat the Camden Fairview Cardinals 38-7 to win the 5A championship.
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Monticello second string goes in with 5:25 left in the game. Still 38-7.
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Caleb Bryant carries the ball in to take the Billies 38-7 after a series of penalties against the Cardinals. Extra point is no good.
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Joe Carmical keeps the ball to take the Billies 32-7. Extra point no good again.
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Beginning of fourth quarter. Score unchanged. Billies will start 2nd & 6 on the Cardinals’ 11-yd line.
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Cardinals TD, extra point good. 26-7 with 4:04 left in 3rd.
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Billies TD, extra point good. 26-0 with 6:09 left in 3rd quarter.
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Billies TD, extra point no good. 19-0 with 10:02 left in the third.
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At halftime, Billies lead the Cardinals 13-0. Billies’ field goal attempt no good.
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After their second interception of the game, the Billies have the ball on the 21-yd line, 2nd & 9 with 3:47 to go in the second.
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Billies score with 11:29 left in second quarter. Extra point good. Billies 13-0.
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After the Billies intercept, they take it to the 20-yard line to end the first quarter.
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Billies score on the first drive of the game. Extra point no good. 6-0 with 7:32 left in first quarter.
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The Billies are practicing and warming up below the War Memorial lights. Game time in less than an hour!

Scores will be updated regularly throughout the game.

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.