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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.

This proposal was submitted by Mr. Dale Handley, and has been brought before the council, with no action or clear direction taking place at that time. The resolution would deviate from Resolution No. 87-15 governing extension of water lines outside the City and served by the City’s water system. Mr.Handley addressed the Council. Mayor Maxwell requested a motion that this issue be tabled until it can be clearly defined.

Questions arose of the varying costs of “tie ins” and previous payments, and the “lack of consistency” in accepting water lines outside of the city limits was pointed out by council members.

The group met on Facebook, and when Mr. Ngar passed away, they established a memorial fund in his memory. They are in the process of establishing a scholarship, as well. Ms. Savage requested on behalf of the group that the high school be dedicated to Mr. Ngar. They would like this to take place on May 7 at the All-Class reunion. A picture of the plaque that would be placed on the high school building was shown to the school board. A resolution was appoved to dedicate the high school building to Mr. Ngar and install the plaque.

Superintendent Fawcett explained that there is no policy, per se, as far as dedication of buildings and naming of buildings. He stated that he has done extensive research on the matter. He contacted schools in Arkansas as well as out-of- state schools, and reviewed existing policies. He found that most schools did not have any stipulations for dedicating or naming buildings, and that seemed to be the best policy.

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Former DC Superintendent, Leeman Ngar, Remembered by Friends
Posted Mar, 14, 2011

Leeman J. Ngar, a leader in Drew County education for over three decades, passed away peacefully early Sunday morning  at the hospital in Dumas.  Funeral arrangements will be announced later today by Stephenson Dearman.

Mary Faye King has provided a tribute to Mr. Ngar, and several memories, as well.

Mr. Ngar was 71. He started his school career teaching math at Drew Central in the late sixties, then took the principalship at Wilmar in the early ’70s. In 1974, Mr. Ngar returned to Drew Central as high school principal, to work with the incoming superintendent, Norman Hill. He served as principal for 22 years, then in 1996, when Hill took a position elsewhere, Ngar became superintendent, retaining that position until his retirement in 2002. Even after his official retirement, he was still active in the school system, filling in or working in any way he could to further education in the county.

When Mr. Hill and Mr. Ngar came to Drew Central, the school was in financial ruins. Together, they took on the task of saving the school from closure. They took the school from ruin to wealth, along the way overseeing building programs and consolidations. They became known throughout the state as a “powerhouse team” for growth and fiscal responsibility. Mr. Ngar continued on this path as he took the superintendency…According to some who should know, the Drew Central coffers contained nearly $3,000,000 when Leeman Ngar retired, acquired through the sound financial management under Hill, and the continuation of the same under Ngar.

For years, more “suit and tie” type adminstrators and school personnel watched in bemusement as Ngar and Hill took on the physical tasks of keeping up the buildings in order to save money. In the summers, visitors and salesmen would go from principal’s office to the superintendent’s office, looking for the school “adminstration”. Eventually, they might be steered to the roof of a building, to two men, one tall the other short, who were tarring the roof; or to a bathroom, where they were working on the plumbing; or to a building where they were on ladders and climbing around in the heat, re-wiring the ancient electrical system. Mr. Ngar was a good electrician, and a pretty good carpenter. He helped renovate the Jr. High building, creating more class rooms and an enclosed study hall. The were aided in their efforts by the late Keith Norris, bus supervisor and maintenence worker.

There was no work too dirty, too hot, or too tiring for Mr. Ngar to do to further the benefit of the school. Mr. Ngar came in at a time when the school had been in turmoil for months, with no clear disciplinary goals. He had to bring the students under control and institute a policy of discipline swift and sure. The students chafed at this stricter world. He arrived at school one morning to find a sign roped to the doors of the high school building. The sign was a wooden board, burned into it were the words DREW CENTRAL PRISON. He was secretly pleased, and kept the sign in his office. Over the decades, students learned to listen for the tapping of his ankle high boots, and the jangling of the keys in his pocket. Those were tipoffs that he was on the move. But every so often, he blended in in the crowded halls and suddenly appeared in a group, listening in and the potential troublemakers would do a doubletake, as they realized he was there. Many former students have posted on Facebook today their memories of Mr. Ngar–how he would suddenly appear from behind a tree as they were sneaking smokes in the old parking lot. They also recall the encouragement he gave them, the shame he could heap upon their heads with his heart to heart talks, and the sting of the paddle if words weren’t enough. No one will ever know how many students he helped clothe, or how many he took to his wife’s beauty shop for a free haircut.

This is a lengthy comment, but it does not begin to relate the ways in which Leeman Ngar helped Drew Central, the students and this county. I understand that some of Mr. Ngar’s last words were to tell one his son’s that he loved him…then he added, “I love all my kids.” He was talking of his own three children, but one could expand on that to include thousands…he indeed loved all his kids.

There have been so many Leeman Ngar stories on different sites today. I invite all of you to whom he made a difference, to post it under the comments section of this article. We would love to read your tributes to this fine man of whom it can truly be said, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Connect Arkansas has received two grant awards. The first award – for $3,702,738 — will help Connect Arkansas expand broadband use in the state through education. Connect Arkansas will use these funds to offer basic computer training and refurbished computers to qualifying families, and will feature training in business tools, including writing basic business plans, the principles of entrepreneurship, and other key skills. In addition, Connect Arkansas will collaborate with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to oversee a comprehensive broadband-based health awareness campaign and provide hands-on training to medical facilities and health care providers. This project proposes to train approximately 2,600 residents over the life of the project, offering approximately 53,000 hours of teacher-led training to help increase broadband adoption.

The second award – for $4,094,128 – will help Connect Arkansas to continue the development of a broad-based plan to address state broadband challenges, craft tools to enable county governments to create Web sites that will allow citizens to obtain important government services online, collect data, and develop a statewide address file that focuses on unserved and underserved communities. Lincoln, Pryor, Berry, Snyder and Ross announced another grant for $2,081,238 to begin this effort last October.

“The availability of high-speed Internet is critical to Arkansas’s economic development and prosperity,” Lincoln said. “In order to successfully compete in this economy, Arkansas’s small and rural businesses must have access to high-speed Internet and Arkansans entering the workforce must have the skills to effectively use the Internet. I am pleased to announce this Recovery Act investment that will strengthen our state’s workforce and economy.”

“Access to broadband is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. Broadband helps children receive a top-quality education, allows health care providers to operate more efficiently and effectively, and enables businesses to expand their customer base nationally and even globally,” Pryor said. “As a member of the Senate Commerce and Appropriations Committees, I am proud to have helped secure these funds for Connect Arkansas, who will now be able to provide Arkansas families, businesses, and health care providers with the equipment and training necessary to get online and fully utilize broadband’s capabilities. I will continue to champion this cause until every Arkansan has access to broadband in their communities.”

“Connecting more Arkansans through broadband and creating a better understanding of its applications will mean improvements in everything from small business development to better efficiency in our health care system,” Berry said. “This is about giving Arkansans the opportunity to participate in these fascinating advancements in technology that will help create jobs, boost economic growth, and that will continue to play a major role in the future of Arkansas.”

“This rural broadband funding is a major boost to our Arkansas’s economic development efforts and an important project for our residents and businesses,” Snyder said.

“For every dollar we invest in broadband, the economy sees a ten-fold return on that investment,” Ross said. “Making broadband services available to all Arkansans will help provide greater accessibility to information and education programs, especially to those in rural areas. Ultimately, increased access to broadband services will help our communities grow and remain competitive in this 21st century, global economy.”

“For rural areas, broadband is a connection to the rest of the world, removing all barriers and allowing our communities to participate in the global economy,” said C. Sam Walls, President of Connect Arkansas in Little Rock. “The Internet is relevant to all areas of our lives – education, health care, small and large businesses and government. The Internet has transformed the way we get information and interact, and that is why we are excited about continuing the work of Connect Arkansas.”

Drew County Developmental Disabilities Services, a non-profit organization that provides services for people of all ages with developmental disabilities, will begin construction on a new preschool building and playground soon. The new facility will serve children between the ages of 6 months to 5 years. These new facilities will allow the center to meet additional demand for its services.

“I am pleased to announce this investment that will ensure more children with developmental disabilities in the Monticello area get the specialized care and instruction that will help give them a brighter future,” Lincoln said. “I am committed to securing investments that provide services and expand opportunities for Arkansans with developmental disabilities and I commend the Drew County center for their important work.”

“Drew County Developmental Disabilities Services plays an important role in the community, helping individuals with disabilities live independent and active lives. These funds will help the center expand its services for children with disabilities and give them the opportunity to learn and grow,” Pryor said.

“Without the necessary treatment or therapy, developmental disabilities can seriously hinder the quality of life for those affected,” Ross said. “I’m pleased to help announce this funding for the Drew County Development Disabilities Service. This investment will help provide Monticello with essential services and resources to enhance programs and learning facilities for those affected by developmental disabilities.”

“This funding will allow us to provide necessary equipment and services for students we would not be able to provide without the funding,” said Norman Hill, President of Drew County Developmental Disabilities Services, Inc., Board of Directors.

USDA Rural Development grants support public facilities and services, promote economic development, and offer technical assistance to help address the diverse and unique needs of rural communities.

According to Sheriff Mark Gober, the Drew County Sheriff’s Department was contacted by the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children division on January 27, after being advised by the Crisis Hotline of a reported rape of a 5-year-old female by a 30-year-old male that occurred sometime between January 25 and 26.

Drew County and State Police investigators interviewed the parents and the child regarding the circumstances around the rape.

After lengthy interviews and evidence gathered, Drew County Sheriff’s Department arrested and placed into custody Thomas Allen Adams.  Adams is being held in the Drew County Detention Facility and has been formally charged by the prosecuting attorney on February 2 with one count of rape.

Adams’ bond was set at $50,000.

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.

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.

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

Arrington was arrested on a felony warrant obtained by Agents, and was released on her own recognizance after her first appearance/ bond hearing.

Arrington is a member of Monticello Elementary School’s special education staff, and has been suspended, with pay, pending further investigation by the ethic committee, who have received information about the situation.

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.

The Board also approved entering into an at-risk contract with Murray and Company, which will allow the company to draw up specific plans and set a price. The at-risk contract will guarantee costs will not exceed the set price, but can go lower.

Murray and Company is a design and construction management firm that specializes in rural healthcare. The Missouri-based company focuses on critical access and regional hospitals. Drew Memorial will use local contractors for the construction of the allied health building.

According to Layfield, the first phase will total around $5.3 million. The figure includes a $158,000 fee for Murray and Company to draw up the plans; construction of the building, parking areas and road entries; and $300,000 for equipment, furniture and fixtures.

The current plans for the allied health building allow room for future expansion. The building will initially be one-story and 25,000 square feet (91 by 266). However, construction will allow the building to be expanded to two stories in the future. The current plans also allow extra space for future developments and expansion.

Layfield said the possibilities for the building include an education department and conference rooms to teach employees and the public. As well, the extra space in the building could provide room for a cancer treatment center, which Layfield said is a large need in the area. The building could also house the Wound Care service if it expands.

According to Layfield, there is a physician shortage around the nation, and an inability for small communities to effectively recruit new physicians. He said the allied health building will attract new physicians and stimulate the economy by attracting new business.

New board member Carl Lucky asked if the allied health building could cause conflicts with the new medical office building for the physicians. Layfield said possible conflicts could arise because the care provided by both facilities is similar.

However, Layfield said the resolution approved in the Drew County Quorum Court session Monday, July 20 includes a restrictive covenant. The covenant will help prevent competition between the medical office and the hospital.

Layfield said the hospital has kept communication open with the physicians on these projects. He said, though they do not always agree, they are working closer together to accomplish projects to benefit the community.

Lucky commended the Board on choosing Murray and Company and on the work they have done on the project. “I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen, because clearly a lot of thought has gone into this project,” Lucky said.

The Board also voted to pursue work with Crews and Associates to find the best financing option for the project. The hospital’s Finance Committee met with Paul Phillips of Crews and Associates to discuss possible financing options for the allied health building. The hospital worked with the company on other projects in 2002 and 2004.