Monticello Live

For the second afternoon in a row, car crashes have kept police, ambulance crews, tow trucks, and hospital staff busy.

Tuesday around 2:30, according to reports from bystanders, a westbound Pontiac Grand Prix, shown here, failed to stop, at the intersection of HWY 278 East and Cherry Street.  The Pontiac collided with the rear of a GMC Envoy.

There were 5 passengers in the Pontiac, and 3 in the GMC.  SEEMS and MASI both responded.  A total of 8 people were transported to Drew Memorial from the wreck, including a couple who went by personal vehicle.

Monticello Fire & Rescue was paged out to remove occupants from the vehicles.   MPD worked the wreck, assisted by Arkansas State Troopers.  Triple A towed the Pontiac.

2 hours later, around 4:30, a Hyundai Elantra pulled out of a driveway at Montongo hill, on HWY 425 North, into the path of a southbound Mazda Tribute.

The Hyundai came to a stop after crossing a deep ditch, with passengers remaining trapped inside, causing Fire & Rescue to be called again.

SEEMS responded with 2 ambulances, and along with some who chose to ride in personal vehicles, a total of 8 accident victims were transported to Drew Memorial, from this crash as well.  Following this collision, 2 patients were taken to Little Rock and 2 more went to JRMC in Pine Bluff.

Drew County Sheriff’s deputies worked the scene.

2 2-vehicle car crashes in 2 hours sent a total of 16 victims to Drew Memorial.

Drew Central High School senior Matt McKeown was awarded the Arkansas Air Guard Scholar Athlete of the Week, and will appear on Hooten’s Football and KTHV Hooten’s Saturday show.

For more informatio, go to PirateNow.com, Drew Central’s School Newspaper.

U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Representatives Marion Berry (AR-01), Vic Snyder (AR-02) and Mike Ross (AR-04) have announced that Connect Arkansas will receive a total of $7,796,866 in Recovery Act funding through the U.S. Department of Commerce to improve broadband connectivity in the state. Connect Arkansas is a private, non-profit organization that is implementing a community-based initiative to promote Internet access and education.

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Congratulations to Roger Hoskins II of Monticello for placing 2nd in the National Pepsi Truck Driving ROADeo Challenge in Schaumburg, IL, recently

He placed 1st in the MidSouth Market Unit in May which advanced him to the nationals in IL. The weekend was full of fun filled events, eating at Midievil Times, the ROADeo, and a cocktail dinner where the winners were announced.

Hoskins is employed with the Pepsi Beverage Company in Monticello.

“My mom taught me, if you want anything, you have to do it yourself.”

Raised by single mother, Rhonda Findley, Toni Findley learned early in life what it meant to work hard for what you want, and to lean on those closest to you. Her childhood years shaped a strong passion to help single parents, and to always believe in second chances for others.

Toni attended McGehee schools until her family moved to Monticello right before her sixth-grade year. School was not easy for Toni. She suffered from ADHD and said the problems that came with the condition made everything difficult, from schoolwork to making friends.

Toni & her mom, Rhonda Findley, at the Miss Drew County Pageant

“I was very impulsive, blunt, and I couldn’t wait my turn for anything. It made things really difficult. I was also a perfectionist so if I couldn’t do something the perfect way, I just wouldn’t try to do it at all. I’d rather give nothing than only do it half-way.” (more…)

You may not be too surprised to hear there is a new cat at the museum. This is no fluffy, mouse-chasing cat however, but a special, historical cat. This is actually the paper-mache lion that once stood atop the floats sponsored by the local Lions Club in various local parades and events.

In more recent years, the lion also has been featured in the biennial Drew High School Reunion parade to represent their mascot lion. (more…)

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Jackie Pace, of The Insurance Exchange, a longtime Monticello businesswoman, was approved by the Drew County Quorum Court, Monday night, to serve on the board of directors of Drew Memorial Hospital.

Mrs. Pace will complete the unexpired term of Laura Smith.

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Winning floats in the 2010 Fair Parade were…..

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Around 2:30, Saturday afternoon, a forest fire was reported in the southern part of Drew County.

For several hours, the fire was moving north on two separate fronts, and south, with another fire wall, centered around Gates/Mainline Road, between the south section of Midway Route and Collins Line Road, about 15-20 miles from Monticello.

Local fire departments were standing by area deer camps and watch for road crossings, while 2 planes were dropping water, another plane guiding the firefighters, and 9 fire-plows were also working to extinguish the blazes.

Around 7:30, Saturday night,  it was estimated the the fire was 50% contained, and that the planes and plows would be able to contain and control the remaining fire; and at 9 pm Arkansas Forestry Commission crews reported that the fire had been contained. (more…)

Of our three branches of government, most people are least familiar with the judicial branch. While voters choose the judges who sit on the Arkansas Supreme Court and Arkansas Court of Appeals, these judges keep much lower profiles than legislators or constitutional officers. Very few Arkansans will ever be personally involved in cases heard before our highest state courts, but the decisions of these courts impact the lives of all our citizens on a daily basis.

I have emphasized for years that the best way to restore the faith of our people in their government is through candor, access, and citizen involvement. This is why I was especially glad this week to take part in an announcement by the Arkansas Supreme Court, which is taking those very tenets to heart. (more…)

Toni Findley won the title of Miss Drew County in the annual fair pageant, Saturday night.

Toni also won the swimsuit and interview portions of the pageant.

Toni is the 20 year old daughter of Rhonda Findley, and a student at UAM.

Haley McLemore was selected as 1st runner-up and photogenic.

Lily Burchfield was chosen 2nd runner-up and Miss Congeniality.

Drew County Fair 2010 Baby Show Winners from Sat. Sept. 18th

Girls 0-11 month-old
Winner Anniston Wright
1st Runner-up Nyla Simmons
2nd Runner-up Anna Ross
Photogenic Madison Anderson
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Boy 0-11 month-old
Winner Cayden Dodson
1st Runner-up Jaxon Williams
2nd Runner-up Nasir Thorton
Photogenic Carter Reed
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Girl 12-23 month-old
Winner Soelee Thornhill
1st Runner-up Alyssa Hebert
2nd Runner-up Halle Ross
Photogenic Alyssa Hebert
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Boy 12-23 month-old
Winner Milton Remley III
1st Runner-up Ashton Goodman
2nd Runner-up (Tie) Uriah Martin & Nathon Wallace
Photogenic Uriah Martin
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Miss Tot 24-35 month-old
Winner Annsley Oltmann
1st Runner-up Tanya Simmons
2nd Runner-up Zoi Ella Ross
Photogenic Annsley Oltmann
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Tiny Miss 36-47 month-old
Winner India Robinson
1st Runner-up Jaden Young
2nd Runner-up Kynnlee Graves
Photogenic Jaden Young

Monticello’s city council held a short meeting, Thursday evening, and covered several agenda items.

A resolution to allow the airport commission to advertise for bids on a new hangar/office was passed.

A resolution to accept bids on a 3,000 gallon pumper truck for the fire dept. passed.  Fire Chief Steven Faulkner told the council that the larger tank on this unit will be much better at some fires, such as the blaze on Sept. 11, where they kept having to transport water to the scene, and almost ran out of water while fighting a double wide home fire, where around 7,000 was used.

A resolution to accept bids for an overlay project was rejected, due to a correction needing to be made to the specifications of the bid.  Bid will be advertised for again, in the near future..

Pixy Princess Pageant winners for 2010 are:

Jessaca Mioko Shepherd, winner
Isabel Densmore, 1st runner up
Kelli Jo Stain, 2nd runner up
Karson Kilcrease, photogenic

Pixy Miss Pageant winners are:

Dailyn Johnston, winner
Hailey Cheyenne Maxey, 1st runner up and photogenic
Lauren Van Dee, 2nd runner up

Winners in the Drew County Petite Miss Pageant were:
Taylor Elizabeth Parker, winner and photogenic
Brooke DeLayne Rekow, 1st runner up
Ashley Brooke Berryman, 2nd runner up

In the Junior Miss Drew County Pageant:
Anna Marie Norris, winner
Laurel Ashley Beal, 1st runner up
Jessica Danielle Savage, 2nd runner up
Maisi Alizabeth Boney, phogogenic

Family foster care is a program designed to provide a substitute family life experience. The purpose is to provide a healthy home and community experience for the child while conditions which caused the placement away from the birth/legal family are being resolved.

Foster care is intended to be temporary. Children are placed in foster homes because they have been removed from their own families due to abuse, neglect or other family problems that endanger their safety. The children may range from infancy to 18 years. The Children may belong to any ethnicity or race as well as belong to a sibling group of brothers and sisters that need to be placed together.

Click Here For More information about Foster Care in Drew County.

Drew County Division of Children & Family Services :
444 Hwy 425 North
Monticello, AR  71655
Phone:  870-367-6835

Drew County Fair 2010 Talent Show Winners from Tues. Sept. 14th are:

Vocal Solo
Alex Borchardt–winner
Tyler Harper–alternate

Variety
Jessica Wishard—winner
Aaron Jones–alternate

Dance Solo
Bliss Jaggers—winner
Charlee Carter–alternate

Dance Group
Monticello Dance Academy (6)—winner
Monticello Dance Academy (8)—alternate

Instrumental Solo
Kathleen Waddle—winner

Over-All Winner
Bliss Jaggers—winner
Alex Borchardt–alternate

Monticello Firefighters Spent 6 hours Battling "Old Bradley Mill" Fire in Warren, Saturday Night. Photo by David Forrest, of the Guesthouse.

On a day when emergency personnel are recognized across the nation, our local fire dept, police officers, sheriff’s deputies, state troopers, and both ambulance services were busy proving how important they are to our community.

Here’s a portion of their day…….

Before midnight Friday, Monticello Fire & Rescue was paged out to a single car wreck on HWY 293 near Selma, where an Oldsmobile’s 3 passengers needed them.  Arkansas State Troopers worked the wreck, assisted by Drew County Sheriff’s Deputies.  SEEMS transported the 3 victims to Drew Memorial.  Although it turns out that Fire & Rescue weren’t needed, the caller who reported the crash believed the 3 victims were pinned inside the vehicle.

Prior to this Arkansas State Troopers had made 3 DWI arrests late in the evening, protecting Drew County drivers.

4 am Car Crash on Barkada Road, Saturday.

Around 4am, Saturday morning, a Chrysler 300 crashed into a tree, 4 miles out, on Barkada Road.  The person who called this in reported that the driver was still inside the car, and it looked like the car was on fire.  Fire & Rescue were called out to save the crash victim.  When Drew County Deputies arrived on the scene, with Fire & Rescue right behind them, it was discovered that the “possible fire” was “air bag dust”, but at 4 in the morning, the caller couldn’t tell.  MASI transported the driver to DMH.  Triple A towed the vehicle.

First Responders Recognized by Local Veterans at Flag Dedication Ceremony at 1st Baptist Church

Several of our emergency personnel were recognized for their dedication and service, during a flag and flagpole dedication at First Baptist Church at 10 o’clock, by our local veteran’s organizations and Woodmen of the World.

House Fire at Dead Man's Curve, Saturday, 12:45.

Many of them attended a Community Prayer Rally at the Drew County Courthouse at noon, but were called out to a double-wide mobile home at 12:45, which was called in “the cars are there, but no one is standing outside.”  The photo shows how engulfed the structure was when it was called in.  Firefighters battled the blaze for 4 hours, hauling water from Carpenter Road, 1.5 miles away, until the fire was out.  Also worth noting, SEEMS came to the scene, “just in case” there would’ve been someone inside who needed medical care, and also, Sheriff Gober, an off-duty auxiliary deputy, and an area constable were at the fire, in case they were needed.

SEEMS Displayed a U. S. Flag on their Ambulance, in Honor of 9/11, Saturday

After getting the trucks ready for their next call, whatever it may be, and a very late lunch (at around 4:30), they got to sit down for the first time all day.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of the day for the Monticello Fire Dept.  The “Old Bradley Mill” in Warren caught on fire around 11 pm, Saturday night, and they were called to assist Warren’s Fire Dept.  Monticello’s firefighters arrived back at the fire-station 6 hours later.

Throughout the day, our Monticello Police and Drew County Sheriff’s Deputies answered calls of all types, around the clock.  SEEMS and MASI were on duty, providing their services, as always, at a moments notice.   The emergency room staff at Drew Memorial were ready and waiting, for whatever illness or injury came through the door next.

There wasn’t a minute of the day that there wasn’t a dispatcher standing by take you call, in case of emergency at MPD, ready to send whichever of these dedicated public workers your way, in your time of need.

As we look back on 9/11/2001, we should also recognize that same dedication that our Drew County emergency personel serve us with.

Growing up in a single-parent home, Shay Gillespie never could have dreamed all that he would accomplish in his future. Raised by his mother and grandmother, he was taught to work hard and to trust God to provide everything he needed.

“Growing up we were poor, but we didn’t know we were poor. Back then everyone in the community raised you… and made sure you had everything you needed.” – Rev. Gillespie

Shay Gillespie became a trailblazer, starting at a very young age. (more…)

There is a little-known quote attributed to the legendary frontiersman, Davy Crockett, who traveled through Arkansas in 1835 on his way to his destiny at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. While at a Little Rock banquet held in his honor, Crockett allegedly said, “If I could rest anywhere, it would be in Arkansas where the men are of the half-horse, half-alligator breed such as grows nowhere else on the face of the universal earth.” (more…)

A fire at Warren’s “Old Bradley” Mill last night, apparently destroyed a large portion of the facility, and led to fire departments from around the area to be called out to assist.

The Monticello Fire Dept. responded to the blaze, and assisted throughout the night, and returned to Monticello around 5 am, this morning.

No details are available at this time, but Warren Fire Dept. is still on the scene, putting out blazes and hot-spots.

A local family seems to have lost everything, due to a Saturday afternoon fire that destroyed their home on HWY 278 East, near the road construction area around Dead Man’s Curve.

No one was home when the fire began, and flames were rising high into the air, before a passing driver saw the fire.

The Monticello Fire Dept. responded, and battled the blaze, while hauling water to the scene from a hydrant near Carpenter Road.

Princess, the family’s dog, died during the fire.

Former Monticello Billie, Seth Oxner, as seen on the Razorback Stadium Jumbotron, Saturday.

Submitted by a MLive reader.

Click on the video above to go on a tour of the new Mainline Community Health Clinic in Monticello.  (Click on the “cloverleaf” to set it to full screen.)

Mainline’s Allan Nichols will take you on a tour of the facility, and explain many of the features of the clinic, and the services that they offer to Monticello and the surrounding area.

University of Arkansas at Monticello Athletics Director Chris Ratcliff has announced the hiring of John Harvey to become the university’s 11th head baseball coach.

Harvey was introduced to the community and members of the media at a Wednesday morning press conference held inside UAM’s indoor practice facility. (more…)

This Ford pick-up was westbound on Wilson Mill Road, just before noon, last Wednesday, when the driver lost control, and the truck ended up, upside down, in the ditch.

No one was inujred.  Drew County Sheriff deputies worked the scene, assisted by the Arkansas State Police.

1. Labor Day was first observed on September 5th, 1882.
2. President Grover Cleveland declared Labor Day to be the first Monday of September.
3. Labor Day is celebrated in Canada as well as the United States.
4. There are 2 different traditions concerning who founded Labor Day: Some state Peter McGuire, the general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, while others contend that it was in fact Matthew McGuire, a machinist, who founded Labor Day in the United States.
5. The first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City.
6. Oregon was the first state to declare Labor Day as law.
7. 10,000 workers took an unpaid holiday to march in the first Labor Day parade.
8. Labor Day was founded when many in America worked 16 hour days in harsh work environments.
9. Labor Day is unofficially celebrated as the end of summer in America.
10. Thank Walter Reuther for paid vacation and paid sick leave. He campaigned hard for these rights in the 30’s.

Reprinted from the Drew Memorial Newsletter

Drew Central Superintendant Wayne Fawcett, UAM Provost David Ray, and Monticello Superintendant Bobby Harper, at last week's MEDC meeting.

He’s been an inspiration and an example to college students for decades; everyone in town recognizes his name, and his voice: now sit back and join in on a visit with UAM Provost David Ray, this week’s One Monticello Life. (more…)

Photo by Stratton and Pintop, courtesy of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, Central Arkansas Library System. www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net

Many people aren’t aware that a rather famous author had her roots in Drew County. This gifted writer of 27 books and several short stories had a long and successful career spanning over 40 years and was the recipient of many awards. Her name was Charlie May (Hogue) Simon.

The lady was born in a log cabin on her grandparents’ farm in Drew County somewhere between Monticello and Tillar on August 17, 1897. (Coincidentally, she shares a birthday with my grandmother.)

Her father was Charles Wayman Hogue and her mother was Mary Gill Hogue. Her name, Charlie May, was derived from the first names of both parents. (more…)

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