Monticello Live

GRAND OPENING
Union Bank Express Branch
510 HWY 425 North

Friday, Feburary 3, 2012
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Hot Dogs from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Hey Kids, Come See Johnny Appleseed from 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Free Gift for Everyone
Every Hour One Lucky Person Will Win a $25 Gas Card!

Do to the wet weather, AM Racing’s Annual Swap Meet and free chili lunch has been postponed until Feb 18th.

Union Bank staff, along with several business and community leaders attended the new Union Bank Express’ ribbon cutting ceremony, Friday morning.

Union Bank Express offers 3 drive-through lanes, an ATM, and a night deposit.  Also available (for customer with trucks and larger vehicles) a wider lane with higher clearance.

Union Bank’s Dave Dickson told those present that the facility plans to open an entrance to the facility from the east, for customer that prefer to avoid the HWY 425 traffic flow.

 Union Bank has mailed this letter out to it’s customers, in response to the recent text message phishing scam,…

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Full time Receptionist/Processing assistant to provide quality, accurate and timely customer service (internal and external) involving daily processing of detailed transactions.

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Several concerned Drew County citizens attended Monday night’s regular Quorum Court meeting to address concerns over the Court’s recent decision to open Old Dermott Road to truck traffic. Kenny Worbington lives on Old Dermott Rd. and said to the Court, “I’m here as a spokesman for this group of people… We’re just here to voice our opinion on the decision that was made about 3 weeks ago by the Quorum Court to open Old Dermott Road to log truck traffic. We’re opposed to this.”

He went on to say, “We’re not against the log trucks. What we would like for you to do is for you to close traffic to large trucks until the road is widened and fixed.” “It’s one of the most dangerous roads in this county. There’s no shoulder… no room for mistakes, nowhere to go.”

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Ford & Dodge - Oil Change, Rotation, Air Filter – $69.95

Toyota – Oil Change, Rotation, Cap & Air Filter – $84.95

Fuel Injection Service (gas) - $89.95

Diesel service, additional charge.  Not including taxes, See dealer for details.

Save $$$ on  a New 2011 Toyota Camry LE

MSRP $24,574,
SALE PRICE $22,000

STOCK NUMBER 203504

David Robinson of Plum Creek presented Revival Center’s Supt. Michael Jones, a check of $1,000 to help support the church’s food pantry.

Also shown; Alex Jones stocking items in the church’s pantry.

The Local Economy

2011 brought with it many changes in Monticello’s business climate.  In August, SeaArk Marine announced their closing as of this month (SeaArk Boats remains unaffected by this change).  Last month, Drew County Speedway told of their operations ceasing, as well.  Larry’a Pizza, Topps Pizza, and other businesses closed during the year.

Even while experiencing the loss of several employers, and several dozen jobs, Monticello still remains one of the “brighter” spots in southeast Arkansas, based on the number of businesses that either started, expanded, hired more workers, were purchased by new owners, or added important equipment.  Each of these entities showed a commitment to their employees, and their intentions to remain a part of Monticello’s future.

Those  75   businesses, industries, and organizations include…..
(Hold mouse over image to view business identity)

Happy New Year from the staff and management team at Ryburn Automotive Superstore.

As we move into the new year, we also want to express our appreciation to our customres, and say “thank you” for your  business. 

Happy New Year from Ryburn Motor Company

After 25 years, you can now cook Cowboys Original Hushpuppies at home.

The recipe is still a secret, but the hushpuppies are available at several local grocery stores in southeast Arkansas.

The hushpuppes are prepared and packages in the former Cowboy’s Express location, and the cooked version are included on the buffett at Cowboy’s Seafood, Tuesday – Saturday nights.

Cowboy’s Original Hushpuppies are available at Sav-a-Lot and Piggly Wiggly here in Monticello, as well as stores in Warren, Crossett, Dumas, Dermott and McGehee.

2011 was definitely “the” year for Monticello’s airport, Ellis Field. Numerous improvements have been made, and well deserved honors and awards have been given to the airport over the past year.

A few of the impressive improvements the airport has seen over the past 12 months include moving the fuel pump from their old office building to the new one, and resealing of the runway pavement.

A new office building and hangar is under construction, thanks to hard work by aiport commission chairman Bennie Ryburn III in applying for grants, to be leased to EFS Geo-Technologies, the MEDC / Chamber of Commerce Industry of the Year.  This will provide long-term income to the airport, to help achieve it’s goal of being self sufficient.

Ellis Field had National recognition when Bob Worthington, writer for Fly Low magazine, wrote about his experience with the airport and its staff. His story of how the staff pulled together to provide him with transportation, when he was stuck due to weather, and being there to help problem solve was but one example of the prime service Ellis Field Airport provides to each of its customers.Benji Ryburn, Airport Commissioner, accepted the Outstanding Airport Award on behalf of the airport from the FAA. Monticello’s Airport was also given the honor of being chosen as Arkansas Airport of the Year in 2011. This was the second time the airport had received the award, the first time being in 2008.

Ellis Field definitely made news, and made Monticello quite proud in 2011.

SeaArk Marine, a Monticello industry for 52 years, announced in August that they plan to discontinue most of their plant operations at the end of 2011.

It was October of 2009 when unusually heavy rains resulted in the weakening and collapse of what has been referred to as “The McKiever Building.” Earlier this year,the building’s owner said she would donate the building to anyone that would restore it.  2011’s Man of the Year Richard Akin, well known for his efforts in revitalizing Monticello’s downtown area, took her up on her offer.

Over the past year, Akin has taken the pile of rubble that was left after the collapse and transformed it into a functioning, attractive building. Two apartments are now featured in the upstairs part of the building, and downstairs, a sandwich and coffee shop is soon to open with the name “The Square Cup.”

Other 2011 building news can be found just a short walk down the street, known as the “cracked building” or “the duct tape building.” The apparent “duct tape” solution to the crack in the structure even caught state-wide attention when The Arkansas Times linked to MLive’s story on their website.

Weight-bearing walls were added where needed to the building, by owner Richard Akin, and a fresh coat of paint served to bring the building back to life. The duct tape is gone, and the building is safe, sound, and functional for Monticello residents, and now houses the retail store, Simply Jenny Lynn.

Another downtown business owner, Lance Gasaway, who purchased LA Graphics earlier this year, recently purchased the old Gathings property on South Main Street, and has begun total renovations on it.  So far, it has been torn down to leave only the walls.  If they are found to be structurally sound, LA Graphics with then begin the restoration process

Plans are to use the back of the building for their business, and rent / least the front for retail / office space.

These improvements, combined with the new improvements to the Monticello Square, certainly improved downtown Monticello.

Earlier-than-usual shopping, combined with Black-Friday sales that started Thanksgiving night, contributed to a smaller crowd at Walmart, an hour before they closed on Christmas Eve, at 8 pm.

Reports indicate that the store and parking lot were back at full capacity, Monday morning with bargain hunters and gift returns.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, from Chris’ Hair Care, at 615 West Bolling.

Stylists Chris Barnett, Jean Hoover, Lolly Blackwell, and Sara Beth Wells wish you the best of the Christmas season and the new year.

Monticello Cablevision wants to thank the community for the success of the 3rd annual “Toys for Tots” program, held last Saturday.

Toys will be distributed to many less fortunate children in Drew County, by DHS workers, to share the Spirit of Christmas with the children.

Many area residents and businesses brought toys and gifts to Cablevision, with many of them being featured on Channel 19, their local access channel, during the event.

Merry Christmas from Cablevision

With all of the holiday packages being added to the delivery services, several UPS drivers met an inbound shipment of parcels, which were arriving from the LR airport. The make-shift distribution point near the Monticello airport, provided quicker service to many local customers.

December Alignment Specials 
$49.95 for 2 wheel 
$59.95 for 4 wheel.
Conventional oil change and tire rotation $46.95 plus tax.
See dealer for details

Students from Sesame School celebrated Christmas, Thursday, by taking a tour of the town, singing Christmas Carols at the County Courthouse and other local businesses.

The students had a special treat, when they arrived at Ryburn Motor Company, where they were treated to an “old fashioned” “covered wagon ride” before they performed their traditional holiday songs.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today announced that the ranking period cut-off date for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is January 13, 2012. Arkansas producers interested in CSP should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline so that their applications can be considered during the first ranking period of 2012.

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Ryburn sales staff members are shown here, loading Santa’s Sleigh with toys that are being donated to the Monticello Jr. Auxiliarry’s Christmas program for local needy children.

Stop by Ryburn’s, drop off a toy or two into Santa’s Sleigh, and leave with the good feeling you get, by helping other enjoy the spirit of Christmas.  The sleigh will be at Ryburns until December 23.

0% Interest Available on Most Dodge, Chrysler, & Jeep Vehicles at Ryburn Automotive Superstore.    
See dealer for details.

Steve Davis, formerly of the Trotter House, recently told Monticello of his progress in opening the “Square Cup” in the recently renovated building at the corner of Main Street and Gaines Street, on the Monticello Square.

Steve plans to open the new business in January; serving soup, sandwiches, and homemade fudge.

He also plans to add “old fashioned custard”  in the future.

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Monticello’s Waff-L-Inn has been purchased by Linda Booker, who is working to get the building completely renovated.

The business is expected to re-open in early 2012.

Recently, a new boat was on the way to it’s new home in Mississippi, when it was involved in an auto accidnet.

The boat trailer received more damage than the boat, and had to be loaded on a larger trailer, when it was shipped to F&F Cstom Boats, here in Monticello.

“Black Friday” came early this Thanksgiving, as Walmart began their special sales on Thursday night at 10 pm.

These photoss show Walmart area parking lots, as they were at 10:30.

Walmart’s lot was full.  Dollar Tree, Sears, Factory Connections, and McDonalds parking lots were used by some shoppers.  Many more were parking on the grass dividers

The bottom photo shows more vehicles than usually are there during normal shopping times, when mall merchants are open.

Many local drivers have been noticing the continuing progress of the new Drew County Developmental Disabilities Council facility, at East College and South Hyatt Streets.

The new $2.5 million structure will allow the DCDDC to continue the many services that they provide to Drew and surrounding counties, that earned them last year’s Monticello/Drew County business of the year

Also shown is a photo from their groundbreaking ceremony.

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High Maintenance Salon has moved to West Gaines Street, between the Captain’s Table and Parkway Bank, recently.

Kimberly, Mary, and Brittney want to welcome their clients to their new location, and also welcome everyone else, to stop by and see their new salon.

Plus, Lacey will be returning soon, as well.