The Monticello Economic Development Commission will host a Ground Breaking Ceremony for Centerpoint Energy, today at 2:00 pm, at the construction site in the MEDC Industrial Park located on Highway 35 East. 

The proposed land-swap between Centerpoint and the MEDC was recently completed.  the MEDC received CPE’s property next to the old W. C. Whaley property, and Centrpoint received approximately 4 acres in the Monticello Industrial Park.

Centerpoint plans to move all ares operaiton for the southeast Arkansas region to the new facility, including construction, service and meter reading operation.

Centerplint’s southeast district includes 13 counties, and will likely have it’s 18 area employees based out of the Monticello facility.

Dirt work is already underway, and operations are expected to begin later this year.

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MEDC / Centerpoint Entergy Land Update
Nov. 18, 2011

During Thursday night’s regular City Council meeting, Nita McDaniel (MEDC) gave an update stating that the land exchange with Centerpoint Entergy is almost finished.

Centerpoint is soon to begin installing a natural gas pipeline on the land in the Industrial Park, the only utility the City did not have available.

According to Mrs. McDaniel, the pipe Centerpoint is planning to install is smaller than the natural gas pipes most industries would need. For planning purposes, Mrs. McDaniel asked the Council to consider possibly paying the difference for the cost of buying a larger pipeline, to benefit any potential future industry.

Nita McDaniel also made mention of free advertising available at the airport for Monticello businesses. The ads are put on by MEDC and presented on a power-point type slide show for pilots and travelers to view. Monticello’s local schools, Drew Memorial Hospital, and UAM all have their own ads, and MEDC feels it will greatly help visitors see what Monticello has to offer.

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!

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,…

Union Bank and our customers has been the target of a text message scam. It appears that the sender of the fraudulent message obtained a list of cell phone numbers in this area and did a mass text message using Union Bank’s name. Union Bank makes securing your personal information a top priority and wants you to understand that this was not a breach of security of our systems.

The message was sent from multiple numbers and read

UNION BANK ALERT:
Your Card has been deactivated –
Please contact us at 870-776-8563

If you responded to this alert by calling this number and entered your 16 digit debit card number, please contact us so that we may protect your account by cancelling the card and issuing you a new card. It is of the upmost importance to cancel your card immediately if your card number was given. Please contact us at 870-460-6400 and ask for a Customer Service Representative or stop by one of our branches for assistance.

Union Bank would never contact you by text message, voice message, or email asking that you provide your debit card number or any other personal information to us. 

Union Bank appreciates your business and we apologize for any inconvenience this incident may cause you.

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Thursday Update – Union Bank Warns Customers of Text Message Scam
Nan, 26,2012

Union Bank contacted MonticelloLive, following a text message that had been received by numerous people, starting around 2 pm, Wednesday.  Union Bank did not send this message. Do not call the number back and never give out any personal information to anyone you do not know. 

The false message reads …

Union Bank Alert:
Your Card has been deactivated – please contact us at 870-776-8563
(Other numbers are also being used, but DO NOT call any number except 460-6400 )

Law enforcement have been notified, including MPD and DCSO.  Arkansas State Police are heading the investigation to locate the originators of the scam.

Union Bank’s Dave Dickson told MLive that their security was not breached.  This would appear to be the case, since the messages were also sent to non-Union customers.

There have been numerous reports of the meesges being received, but at this time, no one has been reported to have provided any information to the culprits.

You may call Union Bank at 460-6400, if you have any questions, and remember, never provide any personal information over the phone.

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In a related matter, Cablevision’s IT manager confirmed that Cablevision has the listed party in a similar scam e-mail scheme recently.  The company was listed as the source of messages that they did not send out, requesting personal information from Monticello residents.  Once again, never provide any personal information over the phone.

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.”

Mr. Worbington said Cherry St. residents were also present, and they have the same concerns. He stated that he had measured Cherry Street and it is 16’3” wide. He said a log truck is 8 feet wide, and its trailer 8’6” wide. A School bus 8’ wide. “If you add that up it’s 16’ of school bus and log truck… not counting the mirrors that stick out from both.” – Worbington

“If you meet a school bus, and a log truck… you can’t pass.” “This is one of the most dangerous situations in Drew County, and I have 65 signatures of people that travel that road, plus written concern from Drew Central School Board.”

Mr. Worbington read a letter from the Drew Central School Board expressing its concerns for the safety of children on its school busses if they were to meet a log truck on the narrow road.

Mr. Worbington then read a letter from logging contractor Mike Pennington (also a Drew Central School Board member) that said he opposes both of the roads opening because the, “road is too narrow, no proper shoulders to meet other vehicles or school busses.” He went on to say it is much safer to route through town.

“I love Drew County and I love my family… and my family has been put in danger.” “We’re not against anybody making a living. We’re concerned for kids on a school bus that have no say in where they ride.” – Kenny Worbington

“All we’re asking is you pass an ordinance and close that road to heavy trucks until it’s fixed. Until it’s widened, until shoulders are put on it, until ditches are dug…” Worbington

Mr. Worbington went on to explain that the road through downtown is a state road so if it gets torn up by big trucks, the state will pay to repair it and Drew County doesn’t have to use tax money to fix it like they do Old Dermott Rd.

“I’m going to make a motion and y’all can vote how you want to.” – Renee Knowles to the Quorum Court

Renee Knowles moved to make an ordinance to close Old Dermott Rd. to big truck traffic until the road is big truck ready, including the possibility of the maximum penalty according to the law for breaking the ordinance.

The motion passed unanimously by the Court.

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Quorum Court Opens Old Dermott Road for Log Truck Traffic; Talk of I-69 Expansion toward Wilmar
Dec 21, 2011

Mayor Allen Maxwell and MEDC Executive Director Nita Mcdaniel presenteda powerpoint presentation to theCourt showing the current traffic congestion problems in the City.

Mayor Maxwell stated that the closure of Old Dermott Road to log trucks has rerouted the trucks to drive through the core of Monticello. 2,800 trucks per year currently into the city via Price Lumber Company. This causes unsafe traffic conditions and congestion.

Price Lumber Company is soon to add a third shift, and 36 employees. This will add an additional 933 trucks per year through downtown Monticello, making the new total 3,733.

To releave the traffic issues, a study by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department suggests that the County open Old Dermott Roard and the City open Cherry Street to truck traffic.

Opening these roads would keep a large portion of truck traffic off of the city streets and alleviate the congestion issues – especially at the HWY 425 and HWY 27 intersection. It would also require loggers to drive fewer miles, saving money on trips.

Court member Rene Knowles stated that it costs approximately $5 a mile to drive their family log trucks.

With the logging industry suffering with the down economy, Mayor Maxwell told the Court, “It costs Price money and it costs loggers money… the price of lumber goes up.”

Mrs. McDaniel said, “The entire community benefits from the mill being here.” “We’ve got to keep what we have.”

Future plans to further help releave traffic issues that were suggested included:
- Connect Jordan Drive to HWY 35
- Connect Scoggin Drive to HWY 278
- Connect Scoggin Drive to Barkada Rd.

Mayor Maxwell explained that much of these plans would depend on the future of I-69 and if the expansion of the interstate through Monticello did happen.

Judge Lampkin stated that he had been studying this issue and, “I cannot find an ordinance saying that road [Old Dermott Rd.] is closed.”

Rene Knowles said, “I’m not for opening it and I’m a log woman.” “I know what it’s going to cost to do the road.” “That road is going to melt!”

“We’ll just have to fix it.” – Carol Bulloch

Discussion began about the safety of having log trucks traveling the narrow road along with school busses and other traffic. The issue of financially being able to make the road safe for such traffic, and keep it repaired resulted in Judge Lampkin saying, “As long as we have the one cent sales tax, we can afford to repair it.”

A motion was made to take the “no trucks” sign off of Old Dermott Road and open it to truck traffic. The motion passed.

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