Monticello Live

I usually don’t cover personal situations on MLive, since the website is about Monticello (and not about me), but occasionally, an exception is appropriate.

So many times, while covering the news, I’m around “first responders”, but didn’t really appreciate them as much as I learned to, 7 years ago, last Saturday.

Often, I’ve posted that a “victim does not seem to have life-threatening injuries.”   But I’ve learned that they still have to deal with years of “life changing injuries,” due to car wrecks.

From the broken leg, to the busted elbow, to the surgeries that followed, my life has changed.

I want to say “Thank You” to the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept., Monticello Police, MASI, SEEMS, and DMH ER staff, among others.

Next, I want to thank all of my readers and followers, for staying loyal through the “slower” times, til now as we’re reaching  5,000,000/yearly pageviews.

Whether you know me as Joe,  or as the MonticelloLive Guy,  it’s good to be on a first name basis, with so many people that speak to me around town. Thank you.

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Posted July 21, 2010

Well, it’s been 6 months since I went to take a photo of a wreck at Dead Man’s Curve on January 21.

I just want to say “THANK YOU” to the many friends and MLive readers, who have posted supportive comments, made phone calls, spoken a kind word when seeing me around town, and especially for the prayers that were lifted up for me, during my ongoing recovery.  I also want to thank everyone who sent in photos and news tips, that is always helpful and appreciated.

It’s not often that a person and a job “merge”, but that seems to be the case here, since most people know me as the “MonticelloLive guy”, and I thank you for the privilege of sharing your mornings with you, as well.

In a brief update, I’m still slowly making progress, and will probably be on a cane for a few more months, but have been able to get around pretty well, just not as fast as I’m used to.

What happened?  Around 6:30 that morning, I went to an auto accident on HWY 278 East, and was directing traffic, with the intention of taking a photo of the accident in a couple of minutes.

A Pontiac Grand Am came around the curve, and didn’t stop before, or after, it ran over me.  The deputy on the scene saw the impact, call the car tags over the radio to MPD officers, who stopped the vehicle when it turned onto Cherry St.  The driver said he didn’t know he hit anything.

That morning has caused me to realize how many car wrecks I’ve covered for MonticelloLive, and never realized the long-lasting effects on the people involved.  I’m glad that my policy has been to not post the names of victims, unless there was a fatality, or criminal charges involved against ths driver.

As for the driver of the Grand Am, Edward Morris, age 26, was arrested that day for driving on suspended license, and felony hit-and-run.  Morris has since been arrested on drug charges, and for breaking into a local residence, where numerous firearms were stolen.  Legal charges are still working their way through  the court system

Thanks for taking your time today to read this note, It may not be “news”, but it sure has been nice to have so many MonticelloLive readers as friends, especially over the past 6 months.

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Posted Jan. 24, 2010.

Reporter Home Following Hit & Run

Local news reporter Joe Burgess, known to many as the MonticelloLive Guy”, was at a wreck scene at Dead Man’s curve Thursday morning around 7 a.m., when he was struck by a Pontiac Grand AM, while there to take pictures and a report from the scene.

The driver of the vehicle was Monticello resident Edward Morris, III.  Burgess was struck by car’s front bumper, before being thrown into the windshield of the Pontiac, and then to the ground, as the car fled the scene.

Burgess received treatment at Drew Memorial Hospital, then was transported to Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock for surgery to repair a broken tiba and fibula in his left leg.

Morris has been charged with reckless and careless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and driving on a suspended license.

Burgess returned home late Saturday, to continue recovery.

Tags: WRECKS

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