Monticello Live

If your youngsters are wanting to enjoy the City Pool or Splash Pad, mark your calendars for Sarturday, June 1.

The parks committee met Tuesday night, and voted to hire new pool manager, Shelly Mullins, shown here with former manager Rick Donham.

Rates and hours will be the same as last year.

While the Olympic games begin in London, four Monticello Marlins along with their coach have arrived in Houston for the 2012 Junior Olympics.

Jake Harris, Marissa Owen, Jessaca Shepherd, Coach Kate Kelley, and Josie Kelley will bega warm ups, Friday,  in preparation for the meet to be held over the next few days.

They will be swimming attached to Team Southwind which is a team made up of several swimmers from Arkansas. Junior Olympics is an event sponsored by the Amateur Athletic Union.

The last four weekends have been hectic ones for Drew County swim team members, but the swimmers who have worked so hard all season, enduring early morning practices (as early as 6:15 for some Drew County teens) to develop their skills, improve their event times, and win points for their teams, will soon be getting a rest.

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The Parks and Recreation Committee discussed the 30 year old diving board at the City Pool and its declining condition. Due to its current issues, the board needs to be replaced.

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The AAU All-Star swim meet is being held today and tomorrow at the Monticello city pool. There are 274 swimmers from all over the state and Missouri competing to qualify for the AAU Junior Olympics, which will be held in Houston, Texas the week of July 30th.

Last year, 4 swimmers from Drew County, Toby LaGrone, Jonathan Dillard and Matthew Dillard, members of the Warren Waves swim team, and Matthew Spencer, from the Monticello Marlins swim team, competed in the national AAU Olympics, swimming for Team Arkansas. Team Arkansas won the over-all National Championship in swimming.

Saturday afternoon, the Monticello Fire Dept. brought their ladder truck to cool down the swimmers and adventurous adults.

This year’s All-Star meet is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Robert Weih.

Everyone is invited to come and support our swimmers.

Story by Sarah Spencer

With summer our minds turn to swimming and pool activities. Safety should be our first thought before beginning our summer swim fun. According to the Centers for Disease Control drowning may be one of the most remorseful fatal accidents to occur because it can be entirely preventable.

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The Junior Auxiliary swimming lessons came to a successful close, last week.

Thanks go out to the group, and to the coaches and lifeguards who make this yearly event possible.

Junior Auxiliary of Monticello is offering swimming lessons the weeks of June 4-8 and June 11-15.

Children must be at least 5 by the first date of lessons and can be no older than 9 by the same date.

The registration fee of $10.00 a child per week, will be paid at our annual registration nights at City Park Pool,

May 21 & 22 from 5-7 p.m. For questions, please call Leigh Diemer at 870-946-5127

These photos were taken Monday during the
opening day of the City Pool and Splash Pad.

Today is Memorial Day, and the scheduled opening day for the City Pool and Splash Pad.

These photos were taken last year on the final day of the swimming season.

The Parks and Recreation Committee held a special-called meeting to discuss final swimming pool and splash pad issues, and a motion was passed not to charge daily admission to the splash pad this summer.

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Monticello parks employees were busy recently, cleaning out the accumlated debris in the city swimming pool, that has built up since last summer.

The pool is expected to open to the public on Memorial Day, and be used for Junior Auxiliary Swimming Lessons in June.

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Saturday, eight Monticello residents went on a road trip to Paragould to tour their civic center and pool facility.

The photos shown in this series show a “splash park” that is located away from the primary civic center and pool area.

Spash equipment, water toys, and sprayers of all types were built into the play area.

Nearby benches, as well as a pavilion, were closely located, so that parent could keep a convenient watch over their children.

The primary pool area  included two water slides, umbrellas, and all types of spray and play equipment.

We couldn’t help but notice the long lines of swimmers waiting to enter the facility, which opened at 1 p.m.

Lifeguards are on duty, but children must be attended by adults.

Overhead views show the approximately 600 swimmers enjoying the pool area around 2-3 p.m.

The pool is open to the public during the day, and available to be rented for parties every night, except Sunday, when maintenance occurs.

The indoor pool has a pleasant appearance from the outside, as well as from inside the pool area.

The theraputic pool has a “handicapped access” as well as steps.

Pat Austin, facility director, shown here in orange, led the tour, which included MEDC Director Truman Hamilton, Alderman Tim Chase, Keith Caldwell (Marlins parent), Julie Gentry (UAM intramurals director), Terry Hopper (Marlins parent), and Mayor Joe Rogers.  Also taking the trip were Patty Wooten for the Advance, and Joe Burgess, for MonticelloLive.com (neither pictured).

The enclused area has the roof opened for air-flow, which closes automatically in the event of inclimate weather.

Located next to the pavilion at the splash park, is a skate park.

Ms. Pat said the this area draws heavy youth traffic, as well.  She pointed out the instead of saying “Here’s what you’re getting”, the skaters were able to take part in the planning, and helped design the ramps and fixtures.

Several skaters arrived while we were there, and put on a good “presentation” for us, using the different ramps other features that are built into the park.