MonticelloLive

The following question was submitted by a ML reader: Why do the public schools not require the children to be buckled up or sit in car/booster seats on the school buses when the state law rightly requires them to do so in private vehicles?
Mike Simmons, director of the Arkansas Department of Education Transportation Department, answered [...]

Question: Why was the “Water Report” sent out to the entire community rather than being posted in the paper or online? Was it because of legal requirements? If not, why was it done?
The report has previously been published yearly in the local newspaper. According to the Monticello Water Department, the Arkansas Health Department this year [...]

Yes. In fact, it is already in place. Simply visit www.youseemore.com/seark to see what our local library has to offer. It has many helpful features such as a Virtual Gateway search engine to find books, an event calendar, and books by award and list categories. Included in the site are all the Southeast Arkansas [...]

The January article on recycling definitely brought out some new recyclers in our community. Cathy Davis, in charge of recycling for the city, says the increase has been positive.
Here are some reminders from her about recycling:

Call 367-4407 if you have any questions or would like to begin recycling.
Plastics with the number 1 or 2 on [...]

Gary Meggs and the Ezekiel 3:18 Band will be performing at Calvary Baptist during the morning service this Sunday, May 6 and at First Baptist Star City that evening at 6 pm.
They will also be performing for an event benefitting Monticello Hospice this Saturday, May 5 at the city park. The band will be donating [...]

Reader question:
What is the Rough and Ready Days festival named for, and how is it funded?
The Monticello Chamber of Commerce organizes the festival and uses donations from individuals and businesses. If the amount of donations does not cover the entire cost, the Chamber pays any remaining balance. The profit from Rough and Ready helps pay [...]

Last night was a special night for our community. Monticello High held their prom, attended by many high school students decked out in tuxes and the fanciest dresses around.
Prom has been anticipated for weeks on end by both first-time attenders and those who have been before and know the ropes. In February, Meredith Grubbs was [...]

On Sunday afternoon, the Seark Concert Association held another event with the Pine Bluff Symphony  entitled “The Splendor of Broadway”.  Once again the turn out was minimal, and it was the same people as always.  My question is this: What type of entertainment would get a good turnout? What has happened in our town that [...]

As many drove by Monticello High School this morning something out of the ordinary was happening on school property. Unfortunately, the scene was all too familiar for the many public servants who took part in helping. An organized reenactment of a drunk driving accident was staged for high school students to observe, complete with rescue [...]

Each year the Monticello Junior Auxillary hosts Bugs & Mugs Charity Crawfish Boil and Auction. This cookout has proven to be one of their most successful ways of gaining support from the community.
It will be held at 6:30 this Saturday, April 14 at the Monticello Country Club. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from [...]

The Monticello Optimist Club gives two $500 scholarships each year, one to Drew Central and one to a Monticello High School senior.  The counselors at each school have the application that must be submitted by May 1, 2007.  Grade point average is important, but emphasis is also placed on financial need.
Please contact Carla Smith at [...]

Country roots run deep around here, especially in the lives of some Monticellonians. Shannon Carter is no exception. Although the show’s producers aren’t allowing much information to be released at this time, he is soon to be featured on a new docu-reality series on Country Music Television.
CMT gave MonticelloLive this information:
BORN COUNTRY (eight, one-hour episode [...]

Just in case anyone wonders about Just Wondering Wednesday this week - - there was no current question to answer. Keep those questions coming for JWW.
You’ve got questions, we’ll get answers.

A MonticelloLive reader asked recently about the cameras on the new traffic lights located at the Walmart entrance on Highway 425. A quick phone call to the the Arkansas State Highway Department sheds light on the subject. They’re not cameras at all, just sensors to help regulate the flow of traffic.
Don’t worry about smiling, you’re [...]

On Saturday night, March 24, Faith Reed, two-year old daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Chris Reed of Rison, AR, died after drowning. Her death is the result of an accident on a Polaris Ranger four-wheeled ATV. The accident occurred at Monticello Speedway in a resevoir used for watering the dirt track.
The incident is currently under [...]

The Monticello Branch Library is now using an automated system for their materials. If you have a library card, it will no longer work. In order to get a new card for the new system, just go to the library, located on the corner of Main and Jackson Streets.
Parents also need to get new cards [...]

A MonticelloLive reader asked:
“Is it true that the Mayor just fired the Fire Chief and hired a friend of his…one that apparently did alot of work for him on his campaign, instead of going to the next person in line?”
MonticelloLive confirmed that Wendell Ply was dismissed from his job as Monticello’s Fire Chief on Friday, [...]

The University of Arkansas at Monticello recently purchased and has taken possession of a local bed and breakfast, The Trotter House. Chancellor Jack Lassiter said that the home will continue it’s operation as a bed and breakfast, among other things. The College of Technology in Crossett as well as the branch in McGehee will use [...]

“Do you remember a time and place where the smallest of tasks turn into the biggest of adventures? Mamaw and the Girls is a story of two young sisters spending time with their Grandmother at her house on Cherry Hill Lane.”
For a year and a half, Shelly Ashcraft and her sister, Cheryl Hunter, have been [...]

On March 3, 1932 Thurston and Maude Berryman welcomed to the world a baby girl and named her Peggy. Seventy-five years later she’s just as full of life as ever. Peggy Berryman Evins is proud to call Monticello her lifelong home.
In 1950, Peggy married George Stanley Evins, a serviceman, and they began a family. Peggy [...]