Monticello Live

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A block of South Main Street was closed Sunday morning, to allow workers to remove debris from the old McKeiver building, which partially collapsed in 2009.

The hanging and sagging sections were removed, which should make this area safer, and more acceptable to view, as drivers pass by.

Betty Jean Lewis, age 53 of Crossett (this is not the Betty Lewis that lives in Monticello), thought more of her “lovely nails” than her pet Schnauzer, yesterday afternoon around 3:10, as she left the little fellow inside of her Monte Carlo for over 20 minutes, with no air, and according to sources, no water.

Monticello Police and an animal control officer responded to the call, and Lewis came out of the nail salon, long enough to crank the vehicle and turn on the air conditioner, before going back into the business.  Someone at the scene said, “when she came out, she didn’t even pick up the little pooch to pet, pamper, or apologize to him.”

Lewis was cited for “cruelty to an animal” for putting the pet through the smothering hot ordeal.  Even though the passenger’s window was rolled down a couple of inches, the extra heat caused by the window tint would have added to the neglect.

Whenever someone would get close to the car, the dog would begin barking and running around the vehicle, and it wouldn’t have been safe to open the car, to let him out.

From MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Flood waters are finally dropping in the southwest corner of Drew County, following last week’s heavy rains.

HWY 172 in closed south of the Possum Valley Pavilion, and many county roads are still underwater, as well.

Boats were again used to move residents across flooded areas to their vehicles, and farm animals were led, as best as they could be, to higher, dryer land, although some didn’t survive.

A local farmer explained the December flood, had caught many folks unaware, since local creek flooding was followed so closely to backwater flooding from the Saline River.

The top photo shows HWY 172, still underwater, as of Saturday afternoon.  The next photo shows a flooded pasture, and an underwater fence line, north of HWY 172.

The south side of the highway is shown in the third photo, where the floodwaters stretch as far as the eye can see, into the distant forest, and beyond.

The last picture shows Ben Loveless Road, which runs north of HWY 172, just another example of the many county roads, such as Ozment Bluff Road and Gees Landing Road,  that are closed due to the slowly falling floodwaters.

The back section of the former Thrifty Chicks, also known as the old Tree-0 and Apples & Amens building collapsed, shortly after noon, Tuesday afternoon, likely under the weight of heavy rain.

Monticello Police and Fire Units responded, and Drew County Deputies also assisted.

The front of the top floor was reportedly being used as an office by Judge Clifton Bond, a retired attorney and judge.

Centerpoint energy was also called to the site to turn of the natural gas supply, which was smelled immediately after the rumble of falling bricks came to an end.

The building collapse was covered on TV by KATV-7 and KLRT-16, who used photos provided by MonticelloLive.com

Channels 4 & 11 were also reported on the event.

Shortly after Thursday night’s thunderstorn, a small alligator was seen crossing East McCloy Street by Drew County Deputy Steven Mitchell, near the city warehouse around midnight.

The alligator, estimated to measure around 2 1/2 foot long, was detained by city employee Charlie Hammock, with local law authorities present, and turned over to the Arkansas Game & Fish Commision.

This photo was taken around 6 p.m.,  Sunday, on South Hyatt Street, near the old high school, by Amanda Killingsworth.

Drew County Judge Damon Lampkin, yesterday, told MonticelloLive.com, that the National Weather Service in Little Rock, had confirmed that yesterday’s storm damage was done by an EF1 tornado.At 5:06 a.m., National Weather Service Doppler radar showed a tornado around Montongo.

The storm continued south, with a majority of its damage being done from the new HWY 35 bypass’s intersection with Highway 425, down Rose Hill cut off road, then south towards Monticello on HWY 83.

The confirmed tornado also apparently also destroyed 2 buildings at the Drew County Fairgrounds, which were the old auditorium and livestock building, and the EHC display and booth building, which also housed the concession stand.

There were at least 4 reports of trees falling on houses, trapping people inside, but I believe only minor injuries resulted.

Damage to residences were spread all over the county, including Rock Springs, Winchester Road, Florence Road, among many other areas.

Monticello and Drew Central schools were closed yesterday, and electricity to some parts of Drew County still haven’t been restored.

Because of the heavy rains, it is still possible for trees to fall, and some power lines are still down, with work crews, stationed in many areas, so please drive carefully and use extreme caution, for your sake and for theirs.

At 5:06 a.m., National Weather Service Dopple Radar indicated a tornado 7 miles north of Monticello, moving southeast at 40 mph.

Several trees and power lines are down, and extreme caution should be used if you get out early this morning.

At 5:30, trees are, or were down on Winchester Road, Calhoun St,  Bowser Rd.,  Allen Drive, HWY 278 East, HWY 35 near Enon, East Bolling, West Bollking, and Florence Road.

E-mail your storm damage photos to joe@MonticelloLive.com

Check back to MonticelloLive.com for more information as it becomes available.

 

Drew County Maintenence Crews are shown here removing a tree from Midway Route, around 5 p.m., Tuesday afternoon. 

According to reports, the entire western half of Monticello went dark at 9:15 p.m., but power came back on within minutes.

Drew County Judge, Damon Lampkin, earlier today, said that the heavy rains and strong winds that have brought down several trees across the county , throughout the day, and asked for residents to have patience as the county workers are busy clearing other areas. (more…)

Monticello hotel rooms have been booked for several days, and as of Sunday, approximately 400+ Louisiana residents have come to Monticello, in order to escape the wrath of Hurricane Gustav.

Signs have been placed on the south and east highway entrances to Monticello with the phone number to call to reach get information about local services. (more…)