Monticello Live

Dr. Jason Cater’s Family has been named the 2013 Farm Family of the Year by the Drew County Farm Family Committee.

Story courtesy of Chance Wright, of The Advance

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Another old building, was recently taken down by it’s property owner.

The building, located at the south end of Bailey Street was removed by Bud Bulloch.  Bulloch told MLive that the area will be used for parking area, for awhile; although he wasn’t sure what the future use of the property located west of the Ridgeway Apt. would be.

The demolition of the structure caused the wall of an adjacent building to collapse.  Bulloch also owns that building, and reported that it was vacant at the time, and no notable damage was done to any contents of the structure.

Two other downtown area structures were cleaned up by their property owner, last week.

Two tin covered structures, adjoining Baker’s Supply, that had been there for decades, were taken down. 

Baker didn’t announce any specific plans for the property..  One building was on Edwards street, across from the Ridgeway, the other was “lean’to”, added onto the former Prestige Furniture building, at 300 E. Gaines. St.

The former home of Prestige Furniture, located at 300 E. Gaines, and is also slated for possible removal.

Anyone interested in removing the structure, in exchange for salvaging the material (including the brick from several decades ago) should contact Baker’s Supply at 367-8676.

An Ordinance to amend the hours liquor can be served in private clubs in the city limits of Monticello was presented to the City Council at the Council’s meeting Thursday evening.

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Around 8 pm Wednesday evening, an employee of Price Lumber sustained serious injuries, as he was operating a machine at lumber mill.

Monticello Fire & Rescue responded, along with SEEMS, MASI, Drew County Sheriff’s deputies,  Drew County OES and ADEM.

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The groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of a Public Rail Access Facility in the MEDC Industrial Park was held Tuesday afternoon.

When completed the new rail spur will hook to the existing (soon to be improved) spur at Hood Packaging, and switch to a rail that will send freight cars into the Industrial Site for loading and unloading of cargo. This will likely begin with lumber.  Currently Price Lumber and occasionally Maxwell Hardwood load rail freight at the Jackson Street crossing.

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The latest improvement at the Monticello Airport, the new hangar that will be leased to the Price Company, has been completed, except for the parking area.

It is expected to be put into use, generating airport income, within the next month.

Local real estate company seeking full time Administrative Assistant

Requirements: Good grammar, professional dress, good manners, attendance and timeliness. Preference will be given to applicant who can demonstrate skills in: QuickBooks, Excel, Word, and keyboarding.

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Many middle-aged people remember the Shipley’s Donut Shop that were scattered across many towns back in the 1970’s. (I remember visiting Greenville’s shop a few years ago.)

In a month or two, that can be more than just a memory.

Shipley’s Donuts has announced their plans to open a new Monticello location, on HWY 425, next to Burger King.

Eight local business leaders and government officials visited our elected officials in Washington D.C.Tuesday and Wednesday, to discuss our local infrastructure needs.

During their trip, members of the MEDC and 20 for the Future met with Congressman Tom Cotton, Senator Mark Pryor, and Senator John Boozman.

This photo was taken during their meeting with Senator Boozman.

Subcontractors for AT&T Cellular are working on the antenna on top of the  the UAM water tank, this week.  The top of the tank is 190 feet above the ground.

The improvements to the antenna system may cause short gaps in service between now and Friday, but will improve 4G cell service to the UAM area.

As the former Centerpoint Energy property on N. Chester St. is being cleared out, with the company’s move to the Industrial Site, the property will son belong to the MEDC, in receipt of the land-swap for the gas company’s new worksite.o

The first likely tenant will be contractor’s for the city’s new water system upgrade  project.

Union Bank has been made aware that the following phone calls has been received by numerous people. “Your Visa/Debit card has been deactivated, Press 1” then it wants you to enter your card information.

Union Bank is not making these calls. So please, never give out any personal information to anyone you do not know. If you have given your information out, please contact your bank to delete your card and have a new one issued.

This scam has been taking place at multiple banks in Warren, but may affect customers of any bank in teh Sougheast Arkansas ares.

If you have any questions, there should be a contact number on the back of your credit or debit card .

Chuck Dearman, Jr., of Stephenson Dearman Funeral Home has been appointed to the Arkansas Burial Association Board by Governor Mike Beebe.

Dearman replaces Sumner Brashears on the board. The appointment expires December 31, 2015. .

Wednesday evening Entergy Arkansas held a public open house at UAM to discuss the installation and construction of a new 230 kilovolt electrical transmission line being planned for Drew and Desha counties. In addition to providing information and answering questions, attendees were invited to complete questionnaires and express their comments and concerns regarding this installation.

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 Airport traffic has greatly increased this weekend, as crop dusters are working with area forests.

Several hundred take-offs are expected, and will likely continue through Monday.

The graphic above shows around a dozen unrelated flights that were in the Monticello area around 9 am this morning.

Approximately a dozen logging and construction contractors attended the Drew County Quorum Court meeting, Monday night, after hearing rumors about the county’s proposed “heavy use access permits”, that included fines and potentially jail time as penalties for it’s violation.

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Tommy Maxwell, of Maxwell Hardwood Flooring, has been appointed to the Hardwood Federation Board of Directors representing the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA).

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According to SalineRiverChronicle.com, Armstrong Hardwood Flooring Company Witt Plant located in Warren, Arkansas has announced that they will soon be expanding their Warren facility by adding 108 employees.

Go to SalineRiverChronicle.com to read the full report of the expansion.

Tommy Maxwell, vice- president of Maxwell Hardwood Flooring has submitted his resignation from the Monticello Economic Development Commission, where he served as vice-president, to accept a position on the National Hardwood Federation Board.

Benji Ryburn and Ronny Williams of Ryburn Motor Company, in combination with Toyota Motor Company, donated $5000.to the local “FEED THE KIDS” organization.

The “Feed the Kids” program has grown from 8 children from Drew Central Elementary to almost 150 children in both Monticello and Drew Central Schools.

Native Monticellonian P. Q. Gardner was recently presented an Arkansas House of Representatives Citation in honor of his service to his country in the Army Air Corps during WWII; for his lifelong business pursuits in Southeast Arkansas; and for his role for many years in the education of Drew County’s children as teacher and later superintendent at Drew Central Schools.

Mr. Gardner also founded Drew County’s first cable TV company system and is a longtime realtor in the area.

The citation was presented by State Representative Sheilla Lampkin to mark his December 29th birthday.

At the January Monticello Economic Development Commission Board Meeting, Entergy Arkansas presented Maxwell Hardwood Flooring with a rebate check in the amount of $24,044 for energy efficiency improvements implemented at the plant last year.

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According to this graphic from FlighAware.com, even though there wasn’t much traffic on local roads, the skies around the Monticello airport were busy, around 8:30, Tuesday.

KLLQ is the reference for Ellis Field.