Monticello Live

Parks and Recreation Committee Chairperson Karen Connelley reported that she had been contacted by Jason Gavin on the issue of the walking trail at Lake Monticello. Connelley had recently reported that the walking trail grant she had applied for had been denied, and Gavin said that he would like to help see that a trail be constructed at the lake, even without grant money help.

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“I was born and raised here in Monticello by my parents Robert and Peggy Harris. They still live in the house I was raised in.”

Bobby Harris has spent his entire life in Drew County, and this is where he has chosen to raise his large, close-knit, family. He says he learned how to have strong family values by his own experiences growing up.

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Jim Glennon was born and raised in Possum Valley by parents James and Glenda Glennon. “I have three sisters and a brother that are still living. My baby sister died when she was six of spinal meningitis. I was 9 or 10 when she died. It was one of those situations where you ask God, “Why didn’t you take me instead of my baby sister?”

Growing up, there was little time for the Glennon children to find trouble to get into. Working as a family was top priority, and living out in the country meant that if you wanted entertainment, you created it for yourself.

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Robin Hood, son of Mack and Nola Hood, has lived in Drew County for almost all of his life. He was raised with 3 sisters and 3 brothers and said that having so many siblings made growing up a lot of fun, and described them as a very close family.

“We were very family oriented. My family was very loving and very Christian oriented. My mother was very spiritual and she was the spiritual head of our family. We always went to church; it was the focus of our lives.”

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The Drew Central School Board chose to accept the recommendation of Superintendent Wayne Fawcett to terminate the contract of a bus driver, whom had driven for the district for 12 years.

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Mayor Maxwell updated the Parks and Recreation Committee on progress being made at achieving increased lighting at Jordan Park. He said that he met with Entergy and, “They had looked at the lighting around the exterior and inside Jordan Park, and they are in the process of putting a design together to brighten up a lot of different areas.”

Mayor Maxwell said brighter lights will be installed to brighten the area at night. He said that most of the lighting will be focused on the west side of the park and, ““We’re going to trim some trees and cut down some dead trees, then they’re going to spot the lights…” to allow for more light in darker areas.

Students from MIS’s gardening program “Veggie Power” applied for a grant through Project Wild with the Arkansas Game and Fish, with help from Mrs. Louisa Smith, and were surprised Tuesday morning with a check for the amount of $3,495.66.

Fourth grade teacher Crystal Grimes told MLive, as the students waited in the Learning Garden, that they had no idea what was about to happen.

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“I really thought I was done that day, and even though this person was very irate and taking it out on me, I still managed to get my job done correctly and it didn’t sway me from getting things done in the office.”

Cheri Norris grew up the oldest of three siblings, and said she had a great time doing family activities like roller skating, having picnics, and playing at the lake. At the age of five she moved from Southeast Arkansas up to Michigan with her mom, Betty Maloney.

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“I didn’t come into this job thinking it would turn into an elected position one day.”

Tonya Loveless was born in Jonesboro, AR and raised here in Monticello by parents Van and Karen Brown, along with her four siblings.

“My family was awesome. We did a lot of camping, fishing, and hunting. I think I was on a deer stand before I was bigger than my rifle. We loved water skiing and boating and having so many siblings made everything fun… I had a pretty good life.” “My grandparents were great, they were here in Monticello. (Albert and Willie Mae Hobbs, and Jim and Toni Holcomb – they were a big part of my life. I was rotten because they treated me so great.” “Willie Mae is my last living grandparent.”

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“I was raised in politics; I was thrown right in there….”

From the brand new age of 8 weeks old, Josh Frost’s mom, Denise Frost, had him introduced to life in the courthouse, where she worked until she retired after 25 years of service. Josh said that due to always being around the offices and seeing how they worked, a career made up of those types of relationships just came naturally to him. The family he gained from his mother’s career is still with him today in his adult years.

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County Requests Agreement to Use Fire Station 3 as Back-up Communications Center from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

OEM Coordinator Bill Horn and County Judge Damon Lampkin presented information to the City Council Monday evening concerning possibly using Fire Station #3 as an Emergency Operations Center.

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Bennie Ryburn gave the Airport update to the City Council saying, “The airport is getting healthier by the moment as things progress.”

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“I was born and raised on same property we’re living on now. This 180 acres of land has never been bought or sold, it was homesteaded by my family. It goes back to my Great Great Granddaddy. I’m the 5th generation farming this land.” – Thad Mitchell

Thad and Nikki Mitchell, along with their six year old son, Colton, have settled on the family land to continue with the farming tradition and raise their family. This year, they have been selected as Farm Family of the Year for Drew County.

Thad and Nikki’s farming business largely consists of raising Bermuda grass for hay, along with some Alfalfa, and producing eggs for Tyson Foods.

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The Monticello City Council voted to accept a bid for the purchase of a 2013 Freightliner garbage truck during Monday night’s meeting. The bid for the truck came in at $217,913.00.

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The Mt. Zion Water Association continued its efforts to be accepted into the Monticello City Water System during the City Council meeting.

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The City Council voted unanimously to allow Mayor Allen Maxwell to begin advertising for bids for the fire station to be built at the W.C. Whaley lot.

The Council also voted to combine CD’s and budgeted items that have not, or will not be used this year, in order to fund the deficit in the Sadie Johnson Building Fund.

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Superintendent Wayne Fawcett recommended that the Drew Central School Board withdraw its appeal of fiscal distress after his discussions with the ADE over the past week. Superintendent Fawcett said that he explained to the ADE the plans the District were putting in place, and the best approach is to let the plan begin to work.

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The Drew Central School Board approved the 2012-2013 school calendar, which includes an entire week off for Thanksgiving.

The Board also accepted the resignation of High School choir teacher Leslyn Jacks, and voted to hire Melissa Vincent as DCHS Principal. They approved Mike Johnston to be the interim superintendent for the 2012-2013 school year.

Mark Gober is well known in Monticello for being Sheriff since 2005, but few may know what brought him to this point in life.

Growing up, Sheriff Gober said that his family often moved every year due to his father’s career in the ARMY. It was a move to Alaska that put him on a path right back to Drew County.

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Monticello native Ronnie Adcock has held several jobs over his lifetime. From gravel trains to pawn shops and a wrecker service, he hopes to add Drew County Sheriff to his resume this year.

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Circuit Judge Sam Pope reversed Warren School Board’s decision to terminate a teacher, Former Warren High School JROTC instructor Col. Robert Avery, saying that the board “was not a fair and impartial tribune in its decision making in this case.”

Col. Robert Avery was charged with first-degree sexual assault in 2009 when a 16 year old female alleged he assaulted her at his residence. Avery was found not guilty by a Drew County jury in October of 2010. His position at Warren High School was terminated.

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Monticello Intermediate School had guests from Blue Cross/Blue Shield visit their Learning Garden on Wednesday to show them what progress they have made with the help of the $80,000 Blue and You Foundation Grant that was awarded to them.

Jane Pelkki, R.D., helped MIS receive the grant and said the money is being used to support the Learning Garden, and also the USDA healthy meal changes in the cafeteria.

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The Monticello School Board took time to recognize several groups of students and teachers during their meeting Tuesday evening. Superintended Harper began by bragging on the students’ hard work.

“The kids sitting in this room right now have an excellent academic record…. That’s something we’re very proud of.” “We hope that we are providing the kind of education here that our students can go and do whatever they want with their futures.” – Harper

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The Monticello School Board voted to accept several quotes and bids Tuesday night. The first was a quote for Omissions Liability Insurance for 2012/2013 for $8,666. They also approved a quote for $9,960 from Special Risk, Inc. for student athletic and activity insurance for 2012/2013.

A bid from Scott Systems for $168,775 was approved to complete the MES/MIS multi-purpose facility HVAC Partnership Project.

Drew Central School Board voted to accept the low bids for reroofing the high school auditorium and HVAC plus lighting at the high school.

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MIS students did a project last school year that involved learning how to fold pocket-sized flags correctly. They sent these flags to military camps in Iraq and Afghanistan. They made 300 for each country.

As a token of appreciation, the 77th TAB Operation New Dawn Theater Aviation Brigade sent MIS the American flag that flew over their camp in Iraq along with a certificate of appreciation. The soldiers just returned home at the beginning of 2012.

During their May 18th Honors Assembly, MIS students will be presented with the flag and they will demonstrate for the audience how to properly fold it. MIS staff is currently working to try to have members from the TAB Operation New Dawn present for the assembly.

News stations from all over the country jumped on the recent story of a child being taken into foster care. The reason the child was taken? He was obese.

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The 2012 SOAR Games were a huge success with numerous volunteers and teams participating. The teams this year were Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center from Bradley County, Millcreek of Arkansas from Dallas County, CB King Adult Center from Desha County, Drew Central High School, Drew County Developmental Disabilities Council, Monticello Intermediate School, and Monticello Middle School.

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Superintendent Wayne Fawcett and the Drew Central School Board discussed the potential appeal of their fiscal distress status at the ADE State Board meeting on May 14, 2012.

“We’ve been working with ADE, giving them suggested cuts and reductions, and it is up to the board if you’d like us to appeal or not.” – Fawcett

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The Monticello Baseball Association gave an update at the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting on how things are progressing for their league. The Committee agreed to accept a contract with Monticello Baseball Association to allow them use of Burlington Field, and tryouts and sign ups have already been held for teams. They have six teams consisting of 70 players and practices will begin this week.

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The Parks and Recreation Committee voted to have the City Pool and Splash Pad open to the public on Memorial Day, which is May 28. The Jr. Auxiliary swimming lesson dates have already been set for June 4-8 and June 11-15.

Karen Connelley reported to the Parks and Recreation Committee that she has been told that there is a group of players that wear uniforms and appear to be of Hispanic origin playing soccer on the soccer fields at the Sports Complex. The players also use referees.

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