MonticelloLive

Please remember Monday, May 26, is the official Memorial Day holiday.  How fitting to celebrate the holiday so soon after Election Day because those memorialized have kept this country free and allowed us the privilege to vote.  They gave so much; how can we not repay them by using the power of the vote to choose our leaders.  Let’s hope we make the wisest decisions. 
     Last Monday began at the courthouse before delivering a truck for the bushhog operator from Green Hill Cemetery to Lacey.  Then I helped deliver one from Collins to Hwy 133, checking some roads along the way before returning to the courthouse. 
     Later Monday morning I went to Drew Central to serve as a judge during the Senior Projects presentations.  The students certainly had some worthy, and noteworthy, projects. 
     Office work and calls finished the day. 
     Tuesday began as usual.  Then I took a truck from Hwy 133 to Plantersville Road and flagged for a pipe on Grace Loop Road before returning to the courthouse and office work the rest of the morning. 
     After lunch I went to the Drew County Fairgrounds to check drainage and flag for a pipe.  Then I went to visit with a logger about the mud and mess on Old Warren Road.  When mud is left on the roads in great quantities it becomes a safety issue and must be removed. 
     Courthouse tasks filled the rest of the afternoon.
     Wednesday morning early I left from the courthouse to deliver a truck from Green Hill to Lacey, looking at roads in the area.  Then I went to the National Guard Armory for AT&T’s program and presentation of phone cards for the soldiers in Iraq before returning to the office for the rest of the morning.
     Wednesday afternoon began at the office.  Then I met officials Glenn Bell, David Dempsey and Andrew Armstrong from SEAEDD at the Rosenwald School at Selma.  They came to present a grant check to Selma Community Center board members for rewiring the 80+ year old structure.  State Representative Allen Maxwell came along as he was responsible for the grant award.  The folks at Selma involved certainly appreciate Rep. Maxwell’s efforts on their behalf. 
     Office work filled the rest of the afternoon. 
     Thursday morning I helped deliver a truck from Lacey to the Valley community, checking roads as I went in light of the reoccurring rains.  Then I returned to the courthouse for the rest of the morning.
     Thursday afternoon I attended the Transportation Forum held at UAM and sponsored by the Cornerstone Coalition.  Moderated by John Lipton of Warren, participants included Director Dan Flowers, Commissioner Carl Rosenblum and representatives from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department; officials from the Louisiana Highway Department; and representatives from the Mississippi Highway Department.
     The three entities updated their involvement and progress in the I-69 corridor, I-530, the new Greenville bridge project and other possible highway projects involving the cornerstone area of southeast Arkansas.  It was an enlightening discussion.
     Office work finished the day. 
     That evening we attended the NAACP political forum.  It was well attended by an interested crowd.
     Between 6:00 a.m. Wednesday and 6:00 a.m. Friday we received 1 7/8 inches of rain at my house.  
     Friday began by taking a truck from Hwy 133 to Ladelle for the bushhog operator.  I also rechecked some roads along the way and checked Barkada Road to the city limits.
     Office chores, calls and visitors completed the rest of the day. 
     Saturday we attended a 6- family reunion at the fairgrounds.  Great food and fellowship proved enjoyable to the group of relatives from the Wells, Daniels, Harden, Foster, Spencer and Smith families.
     Sunday we were guests at the Homecoming celebration and the 119th  anniversary of the Collins Baptist Church.  The day was beautiful and everyone enjoyed themselves tremendously.   
     Last Monday graders bladed Selma Collins Road and Barnard Road.  Wilmar Loop was also ditched and gravel spread. 
     Gravel was hauled from the shop to Old Warren Road where “bad” spots were dug out and refilled. 
     Green Hill New Hope Road, Connie Veasey Road and Lacey School Road were bushhogged.
     Community stockpiles were checked around the county.
     Bill Henry Road, Jose Chapel Road, Old Military Road, the upper end of Florence Road and Old Hwy 65 were patched.
     On Tuesday Loggy Bayou Road was graded and others on the routes checked.  Gravel was spread on Wilmar Loop Road.
     Work continued on Old Warren Road and SB2 was hauled there. 
     Three dump trucks and two bushhogs were repaired. 
     Sid Caperton Road, Ponderosa Lane, Lacey New Hope Road, Van Cruce Road and Beulah Road were bushhogged.
     Old Dermott Road, Drew 22 and South Cominto Road were patched.  
     Gravel was hauled to the yard. 
     Wednesday saw roads and culverts checked on routes.  
     SB2 was hauled to Old Warren Road.
     Pipes were checked around the county.
     Maintenance work was done around the shop.  Limbs were removed in some areas.
     Thursday grader operators checked roads on their routes.  Filters were changed on some graders.
     Ozment Bluff Road was bushhogged.
     Maintenance work was done around the shop.  
     On Friday 4 Mile Creek Road, Grace Loop, Florence Road, Mount Tabor Road and Brixie Road were bladed. SB2 was hauled and spread on Collins Line Road. 
     The oil was changed in the garbage trucks and the big Mack truck was fixed. 
     South 16th Section Road, S. Cominto Road, Collins Line Road, State School Road, Burton Road, Beulah Road, Ras Pace Road, Green Hill Road and Pumpkin Center Road were patched.
    That concludes the weekly report.  Enjoy your Memorial Day holiday, but remember the reason for the holiday.  A service will be held Monday morning at the courthouse at 10:00 a.m.  
     Have a great week!!