Monticello Live

More details about the drowning death of a 6 year-old Wilmar boy in Lake Monticello, Wednesdayhave become available. (more…)

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

At Thursday’s city council meeting, a  resolution authorizing extension of a certain water line outside the City and served by the City’s water system was presented to the Council.

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Sandy Savage addressed the Drew Central School Board, thursday night,  on behalf of a group of Drew Central alumni who attended school during Mr. Leeman Ngar’s tenure.

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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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Anonymous supporters offered the Monticello School District the chance to have Hyatt Field dried out by having a helicopter hover over the muddy playing surface, Friday afternoon, at no expense to the district. (more…)

After the collapse of the building on the east side of  the square’s south side, a temporary repair was noticed that had recently been applied to the building on the west end of that same row of building.

The tape appears to be Duct Tape, a product that is usually made of aluminum, and used in the air conditioning and refrigeration industry, and not the standard grade of “duck tape.”

But it is still a shining example of a potential problem.

Click on the “cloverleaf” on the bottom of the video screen, to enlarge it to full screen view.

Drew County, Monticello, AR Fair Parade, 2009 from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

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Two representatives with Murray and Company provided preliminary sketches of the phase modernization plan. The Board voted to begin work on Phase I, the allied health building, shown in red in the photo.

The Drew Memorial Hospital Board voted to move ahead with the first phase of the master site plan to modernize the hospital during its regular meeting Wednesday, July 22. Murray and Company will draw up the plans for the new allied health building.

The master site plan consists of six phases, which include new construction, renovations and remodeling to modernize the hospital’s facilities. The Board voted to approach the phase modernization project by starting with Phase I, construction of the allied health building. (more…)

Attorney Cliff Gibson draws a rough diagram of the location of the medical office building during his presentation. According to Gibson, the medical office building will be located on Old Warren Road between Scogin and Ross Drive.  (more…)

The Drew County Quorum Court heard a report on the Federal Highway Administration’s new regulations on traffic signs visibility, uniformity, placement and maintenance during its regular session June 15. Drew County must begin the three-step process by 2010.

According to Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Horn, the first step requires all jurisdictions to establish and implement a sign management method by January 2010. The goal of sign management is to maintain minimum levels of sign retro-reflectivity. (more…)

The Drew County Quorum Court met for its regular session June 15. The court received updates on the emergency sirens and alert system and received updates on Jerome’s water problem and the Department of Arkansas Heritage grant, among other business. (more…)

The Monticello City Council’s regular meeting June 4 centered around a lively discussion of issues pertaining to plans for the new splash pad at Jordan Park. While all council members said they approved of installing a splash pad at the park, several members expressed concern about the presented resolutions and other issues. (more…)

The Monticello City Council approved the Monticello Economic Development Commission to apply for a grant for the construction of a new fire department through FEMA during its regular session June 4. (more…)

The Monticello City Council heard a presentation from ETC Engineering and Architects, Inc. in its regular meeting April 23. Two representatives of the company presented conceptual designs of a new splash pad at Jordan Park, a new fire station and a new city hall building.

PLANS FOR SPLASH PARK-CITY COUNCIL-2009-04-23 from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

According to Perry Carr of ETC, they loosely based the design on a splash pad in Paragould, Ark., which totals 4,000 square feet. As the splash pad will be the only water feature at Jordan Park, the designers doubled the design of Monticello’s splash pad to 15,000 square feet. The design presented to the council Thursday evening totals approximately $600,000 with everything included.

The conceptual design places the splash pad near the existing pavilion at Jordan Park. The design features a concrete slab with several water features enclosed by an ornamental fence, as well as a new pavilion and benches inside and outside of the fence. Carr said they like to start big and cut back.

ETC may cut the design down by 10 percent to fit the budget. This will allow for a 10,000 square feet facility, which would cost $450,000. The smaller design may have less water features, but Carr said it will still be the most significant stand-alone splash pad in the state. (more…)

March 19, the City Council approved the amendment to Ordinance No. 493 to raise the city’s water rates, which have not increased since 2003. (more…)

The Drew County Quorum Court heard a presentation on the Arkansas Crime Information Center of Little Rock’s county-wide alert system during its regular session March 16. The court approved the initiation of the AlertXpress system; though other steps to implement the system will be taken in the future.

Stacy Nolan, coordinator of Victim Information and Notification Everyday and JusticeXchange of the ACIC, provided the presentation on AlertXpress along with Officer of Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Horn. The AlertXpress system is a high-speed notification system powered by the Appriss Communication Platform based in Louisville, Ky.

As the state pays for the operation of the alert system, the county will receive the service for free. This free alert system can provide instant alerts via telephone, fax and e-mail on a number of issues from basic business to emergency situations, including: jury duty reminders, delinquent fines and restitution notifications, prison or jail escape alerts, sex offender notifications, weather advisories, and other safety alerts. (more…)

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A recent combined effort between the Arkansas State Police, the National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Drug Enforcement Agency, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, and the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept. performed a coumy-wide drug sweep through the air in Drew County.

According to Sgt. Randy York of the Arkansas State Police, around 25 officers took part, and at least 4 plots were located. 

Lt. Rick Rausch, of the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept. confirmed marijuana arrests the day of the sweep, with other cases possibly under investigation.

While waiting in line for Sunday lunch with my pastor and his wife at a local restaurant, I visited for a few minutes with Rick & Fran Haney.  After we had been seated, I noticed how many other people had stopped by their table to visit for a moment with the couple.  Over and over, people would pause just to say “high”.

“Burlington folks” will know Rick, while most people recognize Fran from her desk assisting customers at Union Bank’s main branch.  She has helped me many times by notarizing documents, and another time when a relative’s checks were stolen.  Both Rick and Fran are friendly, helpful people, and good selections for One Monticello Life.

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Working on photos, hope to have them posted Wednesday night.   Joe B.

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Today’s Safe and Ready Schools Drill turned out to be very successful, involving all local law enforcement agencies, as well as state and national entities.  Both ambulance services were involved, as well as several other responders.  There were approximately 60 people in attendance.

MonticelloLive was on the scene and will post photos by morning of the SWAT entry team, as well as many others that were involved in today;s drill. 

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The current Hooten’s Arkansas Football, available at Wal-Mart, has a 2 page feature on the Monticello Billies, complete with the photo above, and an in depth preview of the upcoming season.

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Monticello Police Dept. Lt. Steven Stain led a class of law enforcement officers and visitors who work in related fields in proper procedures for the use of the police dept.’s new Taser units.

Class topics included safety, effects, dept. policies, documentation, and removal of darts. 

Under the topic of “effects” all MPD officers present lined up to have the taser used on them.  This was done so that each individual officer would be able to use proper discretion in decisions about when to use the new taser unit.

Greg Johnson, shown above, was one of the first to take his turn.

Carlos Garcia, who used the unit on Johnson, was next in line.

The taser shoots two small darts into the person being restrained, followed by sending 500,000 volts of electricity into them. 

The muscles between the two darts are the only muscles that are directly affected, but that effect is enough to bring anyone to the ground, and eliminate any physical confrontation.

A total of 25 men including Monticello Police, some Drew County Sheriff’s deputies, a DTF agent, a SouthEast Emergency Services employee, and myself, felt the “knock-down” of the taser.

Mark Grant, who carried the new unit later that night, is shown here, being assisted to the ground by nearby officers.  

When the taser’s darts hit it’s target, the shock immediatlely begins, and the person is unable to control their actions, so the mat was used as a safety factor, with other officers being stationed close to prevent the upcoming fall to the ground.

More photos and information are in the following article.

Monticello Police Chief Robert Rosegrant also took part in the class, including receiving the effects of the taser.

Like the rest of the officers, Chief Rosegrant also went down quickly.

The X-26 model, shown here, is issued by Taser International, and is the model that was chosen by Monticello police.

Monticello School’s resource office, George Strain is shown here, taking his turn.

The 500,000 volts are more than anyone there could take, and remain standing.

MonticelloLive.com’s Joe Burgess, who was recently elected to serve as constable of Marion Township, closed out the class.

Burgess describes the taser’s shock as, “the most pain I’ve ever felt in five seconds.  You can’t move or do anything, except fall down, right were you are.”

A total of 25 men in law enforcement and related fields left Friday’s class with a greater respect for the tool that will provide them with a safer working environment, by reducing the risk to officers and citizens when the threat of physical confrontations can be replaced by simply using this new tool that should virtually eliminate having to fight with suspects.

As of Friday night, the tasers were in use, on the streets of Monticello.

With today being Father’s Day, Mr. Pete Rowe has been chosen the the One Monticello Life for this week.

Mr. Pete is the father of 3 adult children; Vernon who works in the environmental field and lives in Pittsburgh, TX; Norman, who lives in Cabot, Retired from the Air Force after 20 years, and is employed in the computer field; and Sue, who lives here in Monticello, and is a former factory and health-care worker. 

 Pete Rowe was employed by Arkla gas, beginning as a serviceman, with meter reading responsibilities, and retiring 32 years later as district manager for the Dumas district.

He originally started with Arkla after working for the McGehee water dept for 3 years.

Mr. Pete was born and raised in McGehee, where he remained until 1976.

Mr. Rowe was in the 11th grade at McGehee, when he left school to join navy in 1944.  He completed his educaiton after returning from military service.

He served in the U.S. Navy with 2 years active duty, where he served aboard the U.S.S Seagull, stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. After his active duty, he served 18 more years in the Navy reserve. 

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MonticelloLive recently received a news tip about an investigation taking place in regards to unaccounted for money in the Monticello District Court.

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This photo shows Monticello people eating a Monticello meal at Ray’s, who is having Monticello’s LA Graphics install a new lighted sign for them.

LA Graphics advertises with MonticelloLive, who took this picture on the way to Monticello Exxon.

That’s 5 levels of “Shopping Monticello First.”

Saturday, eight Monticello residents went on a road trip to Paragould to tour their civic center and pool facility.

The photos shown in this series show a “splash park” that is located away from the primary civic center and pool area.

Spash equipment, water toys, and sprayers of all types were built into the play area.

Nearby benches, as well as a pavilion, were closely located, so that parent could keep a convenient watch over their children.

The primary pool area  included two water slides, umbrellas, and all types of spray and play equipment.

We couldn’t help but notice the long lines of swimmers waiting to enter the facility, which opened at 1 p.m.

Lifeguards are on duty, but children must be attended by adults.

Overhead views show the approximately 600 swimmers enjoying the pool area around 2-3 p.m.

The pool is open to the public during the day, and available to be rented for parties every night, except Sunday, when maintenance occurs.

The indoor pool has a pleasant appearance from the outside, as well as from inside the pool area.

The theraputic pool has a “handicapped access” as well as steps.

Pat Austin, facility director, shown here in orange, led the tour, which included MEDC Director Truman Hamilton, Alderman Tim Chase, Keith Caldwell (Marlins parent), Julie Gentry (UAM intramurals director), Terry Hopper (Marlins parent), and Mayor Joe Rogers.  Also taking the trip were Patty Wooten for the Advance, and Joe Burgess, for MonticelloLive.com (neither pictured).

The enclused area has the roof opened for air-flow, which closes automatically in the event of inclimate weather.

The pool seemed to be the most popular part of the complex, but the “heart” of the facility was the civic center.

A large parking area is filled on Saturday with swimmers and people enjoying the nearby by parks and ball-fields.

There are two full-sized basketball courts, along with an overhead walking track included.

There were family reunions being held in dining areas, and meeting rooms of all types and sizes are available.

Two of these conference rooms include power point presentation equipment, and modern business meeting needs of all sorts.

The Paragould center is used by Tyson and Sonic Corporate offices for management training meetings.

Located next to the pavilion at the splash park, is a skate park.

Ms. Pat said the this area draws heavy youth traffic, as well.  She pointed out the instead of saying “Here’s what you’re getting”, the skaters were able to take part in the planning, and helped design the ramps and fixtures.

Several skaters arrived while we were there, and put on a good “presentation” for us, using the different ramps other features that are built into the park.