Thank You Note from “MonticelloLive Guy”
January 21st, 2011 by Joe Burgess
I want to say thank you to many friends, readers, and supporters, for you help, patience, and assistance over portions of the past year.
So many times covering the news, I’m around “first responders”, but didn’t really appreciate them as much as I learned to a year ago today.
I want to say “Thank You” to the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept., Monticello Police, MASI, SEEMS, and Drew Memorial ER staff, among others.
Thanks also go out to the MonticelloLive readers, for your continued loyalty and support.
Your calls, cards, and prayers were greatly appreciated.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posted July 21, 2010
Looking Back at the Past 6 Months
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 usually don’t cover “personal” situations on MonticelloLive, since the website is about Monticello, and not about me, but once in awhile, an exception is appropriate.
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.
~~~~~~~~~
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.
Choose another article
Newer article: City Council Approves Funding of MEDC and Boys & Girls Club
Older article: Improvements Continue on the Square
Tags: WRECKS
Joe, So very sorry about your mishap. My prayers are for a quick recovery. Sometimes things happen for a reason and maybe that reason was for you to be able to see how much people care about you in Monticello. You concentrate on getting better and now let the people of Monticello show their appreciation to you for what you do in this town. Take care, yours in Christ, Barbara Woods
Joe, Monticello needs you. We are praying that you get better real soon. Thanks for all that you do to keep us informed.
Thanks for your dedication to reporting the news to us in Monticello. I hope that you get to feeling better very soon. Hopefully, something can be done about that dangerous curve in the near future.
Will pray for a speedy recovery Joe. Thanks so much for all you do to keep us up to date. If you need anything, please let us know.
Joe,
I hope you are feeling better soon! Thanks for all you do!
Joe, we hope you are doing better today and each day that follows. We appreciate everything you do and are so sorry that this happened. Our prayers are with you.
I hope Joe has a speedy recovery. Sue did you use to live next door to me
Our family is praying for your fast healing! Who ever would have thought that your own story would be the top story on your own news website? ;) Get well soon, Joe! We need you back!
Hope you have a speedy recorvery Joe, know you will be back at it sooner than most people think. And Wade, Karma is a nasty lady indeed and after your comment you might want to start looking over your shoulder for her.
Oh my Gosh! Joe! So sorry to hear this. Hope you recover quickly. We are thinking and Praying for ya.
God bless you Joe!
Prayers are going up for your speedy recovery.
we are all praying for you and your family get better u do a great job keeping everyone on top of everything so get well.
Mr. Joe,
I am very sorry to hear about your injury. Thak God that it was only your lower leg ( Tibia ) that was broken. It could have been much worse. We are praying for your speedy recovery and that you will be home soon. Don’t give Ms. Sue toooo much hassle, just a little. HAHA. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both.
Ms. Sue knows me as Precey. Hope the driver will think before entering an accident zone again.
I talked to Sue yesterday and the doctors will probably let Joe come home Saturday. He is doing good.
Joe,
Do hope your recovery is going well and you will be back on the job soon!
Our prayers are with you Joe! Get well soon!
We are glad you are recovering and you are home.
Melissa Nash, Rick and Deb Rausch
get well soon Joe! Everytime theres a call out to an accident i worry about this happening to our guys working the scean. This is a good lesson to rubberneckers to pay attintion!!
GOOD TO HEAR YOU ARE GOING TO RECOVER. YOU ARE IN OUR PRAYS.
Praying for you. God bless you, Joe.
mr. joe, you really deserved that s#’t, for being in everyone else problems, now u have one of your own… what should u do now? really think about it mr. joe…. s#’t happens for a reason… and tell your wife that she needs to sit you down, i dont know you, but you seem to be an older person, right? you have put my problems out before, and now it your turn… maybe you will get well soon, but really i dont care… bye… aw yeah, shout out to the red grand am! im out… lmao
First and foremost I do not wish anything on those who have been so uncaring however just remember Karma sucks. I am so in shocked over some of the cold hearted hateful childish immature uncaring comments that a few of you left. Seems to me you have been on Monticello Live or in the news for something you did such as drugs, theft or just being plain STUPID. How can anyone WISH such harm on any human being which this time was someone that was doing nothing but taking pictures and helping with traffic at an accident I dont see where anyone even my worst enemy would deserve to be ran over threw up on a car into the windshield then driving off as if they didnt know they hit someone. And you also need to know, the Joe Burgess that I know will not look at you any different even after your tacky comments he will pray for you as he should because you need all the prayer you can get. He is a great Christian man doing his job to keep our town informed of news. A man that would do anything for anyone. So with that said Joe, I dont know why you even allowed these few comments to be posted as you can tell there are way more people praying for a fast recovery so you can get back on the job which by the way you do an awesome job! So many of us miss you and appreciate you. Prayers still going up for you and Mrs. Sue.
THANKs EVERYONE!!!!! I told Joe to let the bad comments get on here. It’s OK, we have to forgive to be forgiven.Everything is ok here, as long as Joe has his phone. LOL..Also, there were ALOT of angels with us in the ER that day. Thanks for coming by to check on Joe. You were all appreciated.
Within 30 min. or less we were at the ER and the cops caught the guy, booked him, and a some the cops were at the ER to check on Joe.That was GREAT work, city and county FAST TEAM WORK.THANK ALL OF YOU.
they better keep that guy in jail
Thanks for the update on your recovery, Joe. Hang in there, big guy!
Joe,
I do not live in Monticello, but I grew up there, and my Mom still lives there. I read this website everyday, to keep up with what is going on in my home town. I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading this. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH JOE.
thank’s everybody for giving Joe Burgess ur thoughts and prayer’s to him and thank’s everybody