Monticello Live

The Arkansas Economic Developers, a statewide organization of economic development professionals and community leaders, presented it’s yearly awards, Tuesday, including thhe 2012 Volunteer of the Year, at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers, Arkansas.

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Officials with the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department are reminding motorists to be aware of new cell phone laws this summer and in the months ahead as they travel Arkansas’ highways.

“Act 37 of 2011 makes it illegal to use handheld cell phones in highway work zones and in school zones,” states AHTD Director Scott Bennett.

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While Arkansas has seen its first real spring in years, the oppressive heat of the summer will arrive soon enough, and farmers throughout the state will be preparing to irrigate when there is too much heat and too little rain.

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The Monticello Economic Development Commission (MEDC) announced the certification of an 87 acre parcel of land in Drew County that could play a major role in recruiting a new company to the region. Although economic indicators have pointed to a slow down in company expansions and investments in the past few years, the city of Monticello has chosen a proactive stance to recruiting in these tough conditions.

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U.S. Representative Mike Ross and U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman have announced the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department will receive a $2,721,435 federal grant to rehabilitate and improve 40 miles of railroad track along the Warren Branch of the Arkansas Midland Railroad, a short line railroad located in southeastern Arkansas. The grant will help fund improvements to tracks in Bradley, Chicot and Drew counties.

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After several calls to the factory, SeaArk Boats, recreation aluminum boat builder, is trying to avoid further confusion arising from the recent announcement that its sister company, SeaArk Marine, made on August 29th. In that announcement, SeaArk Marine President, John McClendon, explained that the company had made the decision to suspend acceptance of new boat orders until further notice. SeaArk Marine manufactures work and patrol boats for the military and government agencies as well as commercial boats for various industrial markets.

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Miss Arkansas International 2011, Toni Findley won her State pageant on April 17th. Toni also won the fitness and the Supermodel with Style award. She will be featured in the Summer issue of Supermodel magazine.

Not only an outstanding student but she is involved in her community. Throughout the year, she is involved in countless hours of Community Service, such as Special Olympics.

It takes determination, hard work and community support to help her reach her goal. She need your help to give her this opportunity, as she is preparing to compete at the National Competition in Chicago, July 23-30.

As the Executive Director of the State Competition; it has been a great pleasure working with her. I hope with your support we will be able to cover her financial obligations. (more…)

The 2011 Arkansas State Highway Map is now available from the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD), according to AHTD Director Dan Flowers.

The maps may be obtained, at no charge, at any of the Highway Department’s District Headquarters and at all Arkansas Welcome Centers. They are also available at the AHTD Central Office at 10324 Interstate 30 in Little Rock, by phone at 501-569-2444 or online at www.arkansashighways.com. To request one by mail, the address is AHTD, Map Sales Section, P.O. Box 2261, Little Rock, AR 72203. (more…)

Chicot County Judge Mack Ball reports that a flood warning for the Mississippi River remains in effect for Chicot County. The flood stage is 48.0 feet, with moderate flooding occurring and major flooding predicted. At 4:00 P.M. Monday, the river stage was 53.2 feet. The river will continue to rise to near 64.5 feet by Sunday, May 15th, exceeding the flood of 2008 by 7.1 feet. (more…)

According to Bill Sadler, public information officer for the Arkansas State Police, Chicot County Sheriffs Deputies, Dermott Police and Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division are investigating an incident reported yesterday (Sunday, April 17th 2011) that resulted in the death of two children and the injury of their mother.

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Origionally posted November 22, 2007.

Selma Rosenwald School by Sheilla Lampkin

In the past year or so the Drew County Museum was contacted as to the location of Drew County’s Rosenwald School. Since none of our museum commission members had any knowledge about such a place, a fascinating search began which led to the discovery of the Rosenwald educational project and the knowledge that Drew County did indeed have an old school building of great national significance resting quietly down one of our rural byways. The search was an interesting and informative one, especially dear to my heart since it involved schools and education.

First, let’s go back in history and explore the name Rosenwald and its effects on American education.

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In 1991, Mayor Harold West proclaimed May 4, as “Hank Thompson Day” in Monticello, AR. The dedication of a little league field was named in his honor at Jordan Park, Hwy. 278 East.

The family is hosting the “ Hank Thompson Day Celebration” on Sunday, May 2, 2010 @ 3:00 pm to be held at the little league field named in his honor.

Free Food and drinks will be served, activities for the children and fellowship for the community as well. The recipient of the second memorial scholarship will also be named during the celebration.

Everyone is invited to attend and join in some family fun in honor of our beloved Hank Thompson.

In case of inclement weather the event will be inside the Sadie Johnson Community Building at the same address.

The SeaArk Companies (formerly MonArk Boat Company) Mark 50 Years of Boat Building with an open house at SeaArk, today, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Zach McClendon, Jr. of Monticello, Arkansas will celebrate being in the boat building business for 50 consecutive years this September. McClendon, along with his father, Zach McClendon, Sr. and another local businessman, Norris Judkins started MonArk Boat Company in May of 1958 building small aluminum jon boats using a shear and break press provided by Judkins. The company incorporated the next year, in August of 1959.

MonArk Boat Company eventually grew to include a large recreational division that included both aluminum and fiberglass boats and manufactured a wide range of products including Ski Boats, Pontoons, Houseboats, Sail Boats, Canoes, and Bass Boats in addition to the basic jon boat that is still built today. At the height of the recreation business the company was building approximately 15,000 boats per year and had over 300 dealers throughout the United States. (more…)

U.S. Representative Mike Ross, along with U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, Thursday announced that the City of Monticello will receive $248,027 from the Department of Transportation to help enhance airport safety and security by installing perimeter fencing at Ellis Field at Monticello Municipal Airport. (more…)

The weather was great for another exciting night of racing at Drew County Speedway, Saturday. Over 80 cars hit the track to entertain the second largest crowd of the year.

All classes were on the race card making for a full night of dirt track racing. The highlight of the evening was the ADCRA Mod-Lite and Dwarf cars. These mini-cars always put on a good show. This was only the second time this year for the ADCRA series to visit Monticello this year.

Drew County Speedway will take a one week hiatus and not race the weekend of July 16th. The track will be back in action on the 23rd of July with a full schedule of racing with all classes on the race card,

Here’s the result from July 9th: (more…)

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Drew Central High School took part in a recent crisis response drill to see how well students, faculty, and emergency responders would react during a lockdown of the school that involved intruders on campus with weapons. The drill was designed to help school officials and responders plan for a worse case scenario. (more…)

The Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation honored 20 Arkansas educators at an awards luncheon on January 24 in Little Rock. The winning teachers received $500 mini grant awards for creative ideas they will bring to life in the classroom. The 10 elementary and 10 secondary teachers in Arkansas public schools claimed a total of $10,000 in mini-grants. The Arkansas Community Foundation administers the program. Included in this year’s winners was Dennis Thurman of Monticello’s Drew Central High School.
“These teachers’ imaginations are apparent even with the project titles. Oh, It’s Just Water under the Bridge and Growing Is Knowing are just two of many,” said Kathy Stacey, Weyerhaeuser public affairs manager. “‘When these projects hit the classrooms, it will make it more fun for the students to learn math, science and the environment. That’s what it’s all about.”