Monticello Live

Dailyn Johnston, is the daughter of David and Lyndie Johnston, and has a younger brother, Josh, who is three.

I’ve known Dailyn and her family for several years, and at the age of 9, Dailyn is involved in more activities than most adults. (more…)

This deer camp, located approximately one mile south of HWY 278 East, on Sixteenth Section Road was destroyed by fire, around 10 p.m. Friday night.

The building was totally engulfed, with flames coming through the roof, when the fire dept. arrived.

The Monticello Fire Dept., Drew County Sheriff’s Dept., and Arkansas State Police responded to the blaze.

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Front Row (left to right)  – Robert Arey, P. Q. Gardner, Odis Allen, Doyle Harris

Back row (L to R) – Whitt Thornhill, Warner Vining, Joel Brooks; John Collins; Roy Grizzell; Macon Causey, T. Robie Scott.

Veterans present at the Memorial Day ceremony who served our county during the Korean War include; Darrell Gray, Houston Berryman, Mickey Findley, Dale Hughes, and Coleman Randall.

Veterans who have served since the Korean War, who were present for the Memorial Day ceremony include: Dale Hughes, Marcus Kellebrew, Walter Chapman, Houston Berryman, Glenn Kellebrew, James Lee, Lamar Butler, and Mickey Findley (not pictured)

Close to 100 people attended a special Memorial Day Ceremony this morning, to honor Drew County Veterans, and the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

Four World War II veterans took the chance to visit before the program.  Shown here are Robie Scott, P. Q. Gardner, Robert Arey, and Odis Allen.

Glenn Kellebrew, commander of the local American Legion post, opened the event.

Boy Scout Troop #67 posted the colors.

Drew County Judge, Damon Lampkin served as the guest speaker.

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Due to repeated crashes with the ballot computing software, Drew County Clerk Lyna Gulledge has announced the REVISED, UNOFFICIAL totals for Tuesday night’s Drew County Election Results.

It appears that all candidates leading in there respective races are still in the lead (except for the Marion Township race), just with different totals.

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Election Day is Tuesday, and with all of the recent conversation about City Council Members, it seems like a good time to feature one of them on One Monticello Life.  Since a current candidate would not really be appropriate, we’ll visit with Al Peer, who did not have an opponent this election.

Al Peer is currently serving his 5th term on the Monticello City Council.  In 10 years of service he’s seen a lot of changes take place in Monticello.

Al first ran for Alderman in 1998, because he felt that he could make a difference in the city, especially in support of efforts benefiting the youth and the elderly.

Mr. Al has been employed by the State of Arkansas for 30 years.  He began with the Employment Security Division for one year, and then moved to Human Services, providing for the needs of developmentally challenged individuals.  He works at the Human Development Center in Warren, in the administration department.  He considers the best part of his job to be the times that he’s been able to help people in that area. 

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Joe Burgess is seeking the position of Constable of Marion Township (Monticello and the surrounding area) currently held by Raymond Chisom.

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A Dumas man lost his life and a Monticello woman has been transported to Little Rock, as a result of a collision just north of the Drew-Lincoln county line this morning.

As a courtesy, MonticelloLive wants to let readers know in advance that photos of the vehicles are shown on the attached link.

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MonticelloLive.com was one of several local businesses, which contributing to the Chamber of Commerce in support of Rough & Ready Days.

Those making donations have the names of their business organization posted around the Monticello Square.

Joe Williams, Jr. was born and raised in Monticello, and graduated from Monticello High School in 1982.  He attended and graduated from UAM with a B.A. in computer science.

Joe has spent the last 4 years employed as receiving manager for School Apperal’s Star City facility, but is best know from the more than 20 years he spent at Burlington Industries, here in Monticello.

He started working at Burlington in 1982, but was told by the personnel manager that if he was going to quit school, that he wasn’t going to get hired, but that he should get promoted after he graduated.  Joe took the challenge, completed his education, and began his way up the Burlington ladder of supervision.

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This map showing the probably effected area if there were to be a break in the dam at the end of Lake Monticello, was a part of the focus of the meeting held to revise the Emergency Action Plan for use in the event of such an emergency.

Most city and county officials were present for the meeting, where Steven Faulkner, Monticello’s Fire Chief, was appointed Emergency Action Plan Coordinator.

Doug Knight was born in Springhill, LA, but his family moved to Drew County when he was 2 years old.  Doug grew up in the Plantersville area, and graduated from Drew Central High School.

Doug continued his education by taking industrial electricity classes at Pines vo-tech in Pine Bluff. 

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Around 1 a.m., Sunday morning, law enforcement officers on patrol on Old Warren Road, noticed a downed power pole near the running track just east of Monticello High School.

Upon entering the school’s parking lot, a wrecked GMC truck was found (see photo).

The student in question was taken to the County Detention Facility for a BAC test.

Witnesses at the scene indicated that he had been drinking, and was attempting to enter the school’s “safe prom”, which is being provided to prevent drinking and driving.

The truck left the scene of the wreck, and was parked near the area where last week’s “DWI Wreck Re-enactment” was held.

The student’s mom told MonticelloLive, “the last thing we told him before he left was don’t be drinking and driving.”

This week’s One Monticello Life breaks from the traditional “interview” format that is usually used, because something happened in Monticello Friday that may change, and save, many lives.

At the end of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Mock DWI Accident Re-enactment, Steve Brantley came forward to tell the approximately 900 students present why he became involved with MADD.

This week’s edition is based on the comments that Steve shared with them.

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As the electronics field has changed over the years, so has Rick Hales.  Rick’s job description is “electronics technician”, but that covers a wide range of areas.  

Rick began in electronics back in 1981, when he worked at Cass Martin’s Radio Shack, behind the Union Bank University Branch. 

Rick was well known for years from the Drew Satellite business he operated, which was located on the old Lucky’s Chevrolet lot, where Ryburn’s is now.

Now, with the advancement of technology, Rick’s project for this week will be installing a “smart classroom” at UAM.  Smart classrooms bring the current high-tech of interactivity, into an educational setting.  Smart classrooms take power-point from a screen in the front of the room, and puts it directly into the touch-screen that is located in front of each student.  When the instructor writes on their work station, it instantly appears on each of the students panels, and becomes a part of the lesson.  Instant, color-sensitive, and it responds to the touch.  Now that’s a long way from the old chalkboards, that so many of us grew up with.  Rick has installed this type of system in Monticello and McGehee schools already.

Rick also has been in the field of installing sound and projection systems in churches and schools, for several years.  One of his recent projects was the MeGehee Elementary Cafetorium, which included a Dell projector, a 10 foot projection screen, and wireless microphones.

Rick is also a DirecTV dealer, and has been with them since the company began.

Rick told MonticelloLive that he considers the best part of his work to be what he does in the educational field.   ”It’s great to be a part of improving the classroom teaching setting”, he added.

Rick was born, raised, and graduated, here in Monticello, “actually I was born at the old hospital, where the empty lot is at N. Main and Jefferson,” he commented.

Rick attended UAM for 3 years, before entering the military, and taking part of many of their computer classes. 

Rick served in the National Guard for 13 years, and was stationed in Korea twice, and Germany once.  He entered the service as a private, and progressed to the ranks of Lieutenant, and then to Captain.  He also worked at the Pentagon for 2 years, while on the staff of the Army Chief of Staff.

Rick is shown here with his wife of 23 years, Cathy, and their year old golden retriever, Chloe.  Cathy can be considered a “professional grandmother”, since she is so dedicated to her grandchildren.

The Hales’ have 3 children;

Chris Owen, who is married to Laura, and has a 2 year old son, Jacob.

Candice, who is married to Keith Jordan.  They have a 3 year old son, Colton, and are expecting twins. (I noticed Grandma’s big smile), and

Jamie, who is a Senior at Drew Central.

Cathy describes Rick as, “a wonderful Christian man, and father.”

Rick and Cathy are very active at First Assembly of God Church, where Rick serves as media engineer, working with all types of electronic equipment.

Their hobbies include spending time with each other, sometimes while riding a Suzuki 1500 together.  Rick says, “I got it for me, but she loves it as much as I do.”

They also spend a lot of time working with ministry projects for First Assembly.  

Aside from Chloe, they have a 9 year old Shitzu, named Sadie.

Rick’s favorites include:

Restaurants-Aside from Monticello’s good ones, Molly’s in Warren.

TV show-Deal or No Deal.

Movie-Cool Hand Luke.

Actor-Robert DeNiro.

Book-The Bible.

Music-Praise and Worship.

Song or Hymn-He Reigns. 

Cathy told me that Rick’s favorite phrase is, “Nothing happens in our lives that the Lord can’t handle.

Thanks Rick for all you do to improve our schools and church facilities, and for sharing your One Monticello Life.

Click the tab above to view other editions of One Monticello Life.

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