Monticello Live

District 7 Justice of the Peace, Patty Mitchell, has announced her intention to seek re-election to the Drew County Quorum Court.

Mitchell is a UAM graduate, and is employed by UPS.

She is active in the Monticello Riding Club, the National Barrel Horse Association, and a member of St. Mark’s Catholic Church.

“Our county and our quorum court will have a new leader beginning in 2013. I would love to continue to be a part of the quorum court and help make the transition from Judge Lampkin to his successor as smooth as possible.”

Mitchell feels important issues facing Drew County include industries, county roads, the hospital, finances, and other important topics. 

Mitchell said “I am never afraid to voice my opinion and speak my mind in matters important to our county, and I hope the voters will see fit to return me to office.”

Andrea Huskey has announced her candidacy for Drew County Tax Collector in the upcoming May Republican primary. Andrea worked for several years in the banking industry as an assistant vice president and loan officer, in addition to twelve years in the accounting department at Clearwater Paper Corporation. “I believe my experience in the banking and accounting fields has provided me the necessary skills needed to do this job well,” she said.

Huskey is a resident of Monticello. She is married to Joe Huskey and has one daughter, Shelby, a student at Monticello Intermediate School.

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Lyna Gulledge of Monticello has announced her candidacy for her 5th term to the office of Drew County Clerk in the upcoming May Democratic Primary Election. Mrs. Gulledge is a member of the Association of Arkansas Counties, Association of AR County Clerk’s and she has served from 2006 – 2011 as secretary for the County Clerk’s Association and currently the second Vice-President of the County Clerk’s Association. Mrs. Gulledge is a member of the Church of Christ.

Lyna and her husband, Greg, have one son, James. “It has been a pleasure to serve the citizens of Drew County as County Clerk. With my experience in the office, I would like to ask for your continued support and vote in the upcoming Democratic election.”

Robin Hood has announced his intention to seek the office of Drew County Judge

Robin Hood is a native of Drew County, a 1962 graduate of Monticello High School, and attended UAM.

He and his wife Lynda have two children. Hood has been an ordained minister for over thirty years, and along with his family, is well known for their gospel music ministry.

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Robert “Bobby” Harris Jr has announced his candidacy for Drew County Judge in May Democratic Primary.

 Harris, 49, is the son of Robert and Peggy Harris of the Barkada Community. He resides in the Prairie Grove Community with his wife of 27 years Susan (Bowden) Harris. He has five daughters Stephanie Harris, Amber and Tim Wells, Nikki and Austin Williams, Laci and David Marter, and Staci and Brandon James. His five grandchildren include Madison Harris, Lynnley and Parker Wells, & Jaxon and Robert Alan Williams. Two more will be added in 2012. All are residents of Drew County. Harris is a graduate of Monticello High School, and a lifelong resident of Drew County.

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John Davis, a Republican candidate for U. S. President made a “votercade” tour stop at the Drew County Courthouse, Tuesday morning.

The turnout was small, but Davis asked everyone present what their concerns were;  jobs, economy, and healthcare were the main answers.

Although Davis has not gotten the national exposure many candidates have received, his goal of visiting every county in the United States is earning him an increasing amount of name recognition.

 Drew was county #1901 on the tour. 

Jim Glennon has announced his candidacy for Drew County Judge in the May Democratic primary.

Glennon, 56, also known as “Randy” by many, is the son of the late James and Glenda Glennon, a life-long resident of Possum Valley in southwestern Drew County and a graduate of Drew Central High School.

He served on active duty for 20 years in the United States Army, retiring as a First Sergeant.

Glennon has been employed at the Drew County Detention Facility for almost 5 years, and is currently serves as Compliance Officer for the facility. (more…)

Tommy Gray has announced his intent to seek re-election to the Drew County Quorum Court, as District 5 Justice of the Peace.

Gray is a native of south Arkansas and a resident of Drew County for more than 35 years, Gray is president and manager of Monticello Tire and Service, Inc.

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Realizing the need for a more proactive and conservative approach to the issues affecting Drew County and specifically JP District 9, Russell Corker believes that he can help manage and assist progress toward growth and a more stable Drew County. There are tough times ahead and we need to prepare.

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Throughout the course of this year the Drew County Republicans will be working to recruit, train and help elect conservative candidates on the local, state, and national levels. The Drew County Republicans are looking for individuals to run for office on the local level who support the conservative fiscal and social values of most Arkansans.

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Tonya Loveless has announced her candidacy for the positon of Drew County Tax Collector in the 2012 Democratic Primary.  She has held the position of Executive Collector since 2008, after being promoted from Deputy Collector.  She has been in the Collectors Office since January of 2005. (more…)

“I, Ronnie Adcock, am seeking the Office of Sheriff because I believe the citizens of Drew County deserve the very best protection and services from the Drew County Sheriff’s Office. I feel an obligation to help create a positive change for our communities, and I pledge to be a fair Sheriff, working for the people of this county. My door will always be open for citizens to express their concerns. I also look forward to forming a positive working relationship with the Monticello Police Department and their new Chief, Eddy Deaton. Residents of Drew County deserve a top notch Sheriff’s Department that is well trained and under my administration we will strive to achieve this by training both locally and at numerous others sites as funding allows.”

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Mark Gober has announced his candidacy for re-election to a fifth term as Drew County Sheriff. “During the past seven years I have worked closely with county, local and state officials in the prevention and deterrence of crime. We have increased the level of drug detection and substantially increased the number of drug related arrests. I have enjoyed meeting many citizens of this county while performing my duties as Drew County Sheriff and look forward to the many challenges that I face daily in this office.”

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Jeff Wardlaw of Hermitage recently announced his plans to seek re-election as State Representative for the Arkansas House of Representatives, District 8, which covers all of Bradley and parts of Drew, Ashley, Calhoun, Dallas and Cleveland Counties. Serving in his first term, Rep. Wardlaw stated, “I am grateful for the tremendous support I have received from the citizens of the District and I look forward to continuing to serve and work for you.”

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The second Tuesday of each month members of the Drew County Republicans gather in the hospitality room of the Monticello Holiday Inn to hear conservative speakers from around the state, have lunch, and share news. These meetings began in May of 2011 and are increasingly well attended. The Drew County Republicans have hosted such guest as congressional candidate Beth Anne Rankin, state senate candidate Mike Akin, Congresswoman Linda Collins-Smith and Republican Party of Arkansas chairman Doyle Webb, among others.

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Josh Frost announced today that he will be seeking the position of Drew County Collector, in the May, 2012 Democratic Primary.

Up until this year, the Sheriff and Collector position has been a combined position, held by the Sheriff. However, legislation passed in 2011 will separate the offices in Drew County into two different entities, requiring two different elected officials.

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Cheri ( Adcock) Norris is announcing as a candidate for the Drew County Tax Collector’s position. Cheri has been a resident of Drew County for 25 years.

Citing past work experience, both full and part time,in the Drew County Tax Collector’s office as qualifications for this position, Cheri is presently employed by the Drew County assessor’s office.

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Beth Davis of Monticello has announced her candidacy for re-election to the office of Drew County Assessor in the upcoming Democratic Primary Election.

Mrs. Davis is serving her third term as assessor, she served as Deputy Assessor for 15 years before being elected.

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Pat Scifres Savage announces that she is seeking re-election for the position of Drew County Circuit Clerk. She is currently serving her fourth term of office as the Circuit Clerk.

She graduated from Monticello High School and attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Pat is a Baptist and has three children: Chris Savage and wife, Kelly of Crossett; Brian Savage of Monticello, and Ashley Savage, a student at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. She is a grandmother of two, Gavin and Jaxson Savage from Crossett. Pat is the daughter of Martha Scifres and the late Tommy Scifres.

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“Great speakers, great food, great music, and a great silent auction!” These were just some of the aspects of the Drew County Republican’s first ever Reagan Day Dinner enumerated by Doyle Webb, chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas, when he presented Diana Harton with an award for the event. The award for “Best First Annual Event” was presented to Harton, chairman of the Drew County Republicans, recently at the Republican Party of Arkansas’ State Committee meeting, held December 3, in Little Rock.

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Monticello’s Gary Meggs, best knwn as UAM’s band director for 11 yearsj, has set up a campaign website,

Gary Meggs for Arkansas, Republican Candidate for Arkansas State Representative, District 9,

Meggs told MonticelloLive that an official announcement will be made soon.

Meggs is running for the position as a Republican. 

Click To Enlarge Maps.

Everyone remember when state senate and representative districts were re-drawn.  Now it’s time for our local county Justice of the Peace Districts to be re-calculated, as well.

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History will be made in Southeast Arkansas when longtime businessman Mike Akin of Monticello becomes the first Republican to represent the region in the Arkansas State Senate. Akin announced his candidacy to represent Arkansas’s new Senate District 26 at the Drew County Republican Committee’s annual Reagan Dinner in Monticello Saturday night.

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Jeffress, a Democrat, has served in the Arkansas House of Representatives and the Arkansas Senate since 1999, representing the districts in south central Arkansas generally composed of Union, Ouachita, Calhoun, and Columbia Counties.

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Citing his accounting and budgeting background among his qualifications for the office, Monticello Certified Public Accountant Charles Searcy has announced his candidacy for Drew County Treasurer.

“With decreasing revenues and the increasing cost of doing business, I believe my background would be an asset to the county,” Searcy said.

Searcy, 43, is co-owner of Searcy and Associates and has a B.S. degree in accounting from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

He is a member of the Arkansas Society of CPAs, the Monticello Rotary Club, Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church, and is a member of the Drew County Public Facilities Board.

He and his wife Leslie Searcy have three children, Morgan, Abby and Matthew.

Arkansas State Representative Allen Kerr from District 32 was the special guest speaker at a recent meeting of the Southeast Arkansas TEA Party. Allen and his wife manage their insurance business with Farmers Insurance group, while Allen serves in the state legislature as the Chairman of the Insurance and Commerce Committee. Mr. Kerr spoke to the group about health care and other important topics concerning Arkansans at this time.

Mr. Kerr said, “We have become a society of takers, not makers. Forty percent of the total population of Arkansas is currently on welfare, and 60% of all births in Arkansas are funded by Medicaid.” This puts an enormous strain on our state and federal budgets.

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Sheilla Lampkin of Monticello is announcing her candidacy for the office of State Representative, District 9, in the May 2012 Democratic Primary Election. Lampkin formerly represented District 10 that covered portions of Drew, Lincoln, Cleveland and Jefferson counties. When the hubbub after the new redistricting maps that were drawn as a result of the 2010 census subsided, the new map and its changes show Lampkin residing in District 9. The new District 9 will include approximately two-thirds of both Drew County and Ashley County, including Hamburg and the heart of Crossett. This is much of the district now represented by good friend and State Representative Eddie Cheatham, who is term-limited in the House and running for a seat in the Senate. Therefore Lampkin will seek to represent District 9 in the May, 2012, primary election.

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Representative Eddie Cheatham (D-Crossett) has announced that he would seek the position of Arkansas State Senator for District 26. The newly drawn district includes Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Drew and parts of Cleveland, Desha and Lincoln counties. The current Senator Jimmy Jeffress cannot run for re-election due to term limits.

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Gregg Reep has announced plans to seek the position of State Senator for District # 26 consisting of Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Drew, and portions of Desha, Lincoln, and Cleveland Counties. The election will occur in 2012.

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Drew County Conservation District election results for the directors of the Drew County Conservation District, held on March 1, are:

Eric Stevens 22
Mar Miles 22
Frank Appleberry 16
Marlin Bennett 7

Eric Stevens, Frank Appleberry, and Mar Miles are declared the elected directors of said district.

J. Randy Young, P.E., Executive Director
Arkansas Natural Resources Commission

TOTAL VOTES
BALLOTS CAST – TOTAL. .. 4,272

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Voters who vote for Jo Ann Trotter in Tuesday”s  election will not have those votes counted. (more…)

Although Jo Ann Trotter was disappointed to hear the news that votes cast for her will not be counted, she still encourages everyone to go out to vote.

Trotter also announced that in 2 years she will be a candidate for City Council.

Trotter also stated that life is full of disappointments and this is just a stepping stone, and referred to the scripture Ecclesiastes 3:1,  ”There is a season for everything, and now is not the time to cast any stones, but a lesson learned.” “My focus is the future of the city of Monticello,” she added.

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In response to dozens of phone calls, and numerouss questions since he filed to run for Mayor of Monticello, Allen Maxwell addressed the City Council and told them, “Yes, I live in the city limits”.

Maxwell presented documentation showing that a large parcel of land in his area was annexed in April, 1993, but no maps showing the area were included.

The Drew County Courthouse was busy Tuesday night, as election results were tabulated, as they came in from precincts around the county.

Drew County’s final, but  unofficial, election results gave Sheilla Lampkin 1,180 votes to Ross Bolding’s 661, in the State Representative race, but Jefferson, Lincoln, and Cleveland Counties also had sections of their counties in the district.

The final District-wide totals also went in Lampkin’s favor with a  1,848 to 1,728 margin of victory.

The U.S. Senate Race in Drew County was won by Blanche Lincoln with 1,389 votes, to  Bill Halter’s 860 ballots.