Monticello Live

Local Musicians Entertain Major League Stars

November 11th, 2009 by

Tom Martin, Chipper Jones, Michael Murphy, Adam LaRoche, Jeremy Payne, Mitchell Murphy, Ryan Langerhans, Andrew Brannon, Willie Robertson, Matt Duff, and Tyler Chambers

CashboX, a local southern rock band, recently got the opportunity to perform for some “big time” stars. CashboX is made up of singer Andrew Brannon, from Monticello, guitarist Tyler Chambers, from Monticello, drummer Michael Murphy from Dermott, and Bassist Jeremy Payne from Lake Village. The band recently recorded the theme songs for the Duckmen 13: Fear the Beard, already out on DVD, and the Buck Commander 3: “The Bigs,” due out next year. The Duck Commander, a reality show about the Robertson family, airs weekly on The Outdoor Channel.

Michael Murphy, Tyler Chambers, Jason Aldean, Jeremy Payne, and Andrew Brannon.

Because of CashboX’s success with the theme songs, Willie Robertson, star of the Buck Commander DVD series and Duck Commander DVD series and Duck Commander reality show series, sent the band and their families to the ranch of Major League Baseball player Adam LaRoche in Fort Scott, Kansas, where they played a concert for the Buck Commanders themselves. The Buck Commanders present were: Chipper Jones,3rd base for the Atlanta Braves; Adam LaRoche, 1st base for the Atlanta Braves; Matt Duff, a former St. Louis Cardinal pitcher; Tom Martin, a former New York Mets pitcher; Ryan Langerhans, outfielder for Seattle Mariners; and Willie Robertson. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Entertainment | 9 Comments »

DTF Busts Indoor Marijuana Growing Site

November 6th, 2009 by

According to Lt. Jason Akers of the Tenth Drug Task Force, task force agents arrested a Monticello man after executing a search warrant at his Monticello apartment. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Police /Legal | 5 Comments »

City Council Fire Dept. Committee Discusses Plans for 1 or 2 More Fire Stations

November 4th, 2009 by

The city council met Tuesday night for several special committee meetings. The first meeting was for the Fire Department Committee. The council met to discuss locations for a new fire department. Fire Chief Steven Faulkner presented the committee with maps and drawings of possible locations for the new fire department, and what the mile and a half response time area would be for those locations.

Alderman Tim Chase stated that he believed that if the council was going to build a new fire department, they needed to renovate and maintain the central location, and build a fourth one in another location. Alderman Beverly Hudson stated that while that would be ideal, it would cost more money to do that.

The committee decided to meet again in December to discuss the future location of the fire department.

Posted in City | 2 Comments »

$100 Prize Winner in Photo / News Tip Contest

November 1st, 2009 by

This photo, taken of Lake Monticello, by Paul Francis, was the $100 prize winner for the month of September, in the monthly contest on MonticelloLive for the best news tip or photo submitted.

Call in your news tips to 367-0000, and e-mail your photo submissions to joe@MonticelloLive.com,

Posted in Photos | 4 Comments »

Helicopter Hovers Over Hyatt Field “Blow Drying” Playing Surface

October 24th, 2009 by

Anonymous supporters offered the Monticello School District the chance to have Hyatt Field dried out by having a helicopter hover over the muddy playing surface, Friday afternoon, at no expense to the district. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Sports | 17 Comments »

Will Duct Tape Really Fix Anything?

October 23rd, 2009 by

001 After the collapse of the building on the east side of the square’s south side, a temporary repair was noticed that had recently been applied to the building on the west end of that same row of building.

002 The tape appears to be Duct Tape, a product that is usually made of aluminum, and used in the air conditioning and refrigeration industry, and not the standard grade of “duck tape.”

But it is still a shining example of a potential problem.

Posted in Site | 5 Comments »

18 Year Old Monticello Man Killed in Wreck at County Line

October 21st, 2009 by

An 18-year-old Monticello man was killed in a head-on collision between the Toyota pick-up he was driving and a truck from the Arkansas Highway & Transportation Dept., around 8 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Police /Legal | 77 Comments »

Council Discusses Cleaning Up “Eyesore” Buildings

October 19th, 2009 by

Beverly Hudson lead a debate last Thursday during the regular city council meeting on condemning buildings for city clean ups. She opened the topic by showing pictures taken by Truman Hamilton depicting the old, abandoned buildings. Hudson wanted the council to enforce the ordinance already in place that states that if the council deems a building to be a nuisance they can condemn it and ask the owner to tear it down and clean it up, or if the owner refuses, the city can take down the building. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in City, Video | 6 Comments »

Building Collapses & Shuts Down Traffic around Square-More Photos

October 14th, 2009 by

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.

Posted in Weather | 11 Comments »

MonticelloLive Celebrates 2nd Birthday Under Burgess

October 13th, 2009 by

MonticelloLive.com is celebrating it’s 2nd birthday this week, since business operations and reporting duties were taken over by Joe Burgess (“the MonticelloLive guy”) back in October, 2007.

Readership has grown constantly over the 2 year period, as shown by the 1.6 million pageviews that the site has received over in the past year.

While another website keeps posting impressive numbers, MonticelloLive makes it possible for readers to view our actual daily pageviews totals. Just click on the black, white, & orange One Stat.com logo at the bottom left of MonticelloLive newspages.

MonticelloLive is designed to be “User Friendly”, we don’t make you play “hide & seek” to find stories. All new news stories at that the top of the front page.

When you click on the MonticelloLive icon on your desktop screen, it doesn’t take you to a roadmap of the website, you’re immediately taken to the most recent news items posted that day. I’ts that simple. If you want to see school lunch menus, obituaries, yard sales, or the classifieds, they’re just one click away, at the top of the page.

News and events may be submitted to MonticelloLive by sending an e-mail to joe@MonticelloLive.com.

And if you around town and see a big guy in a MonticelloLive.com shirt, that’s probably Joe. You many want to slow down, because there may be a car wreck, fire, or other event nearby that would be better to read about, than be a part of.

If there are no flashing lights around, just stop and say “hi”. Joe’s usually a friendly fellow, who likes to hear what folks think about Monticello.

Finally, say “Happy Anniversary” to the sponsors that make our time together each morning possible.

Posted in Site | 16 Comments »

MHS Recycling

October 12th, 2009 by

Monticello High School EAST is making an effort to “go green”.

Every Thursday, students collect paper from the recycle bins that are placed in every high school classroom.

They also collect from the OEC and Administration Building.

After all of the paper is collected, the Drew County Recycling Center picks it up and starts the recycling process.

Each student on the recycling team feels that they are doing their part in helping the economy.

Posted in Monticello School News | Comments Off on MHS Recycling

Small Gator Found on E. McCLoy St.

October 2nd, 2009 by

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.

Posted in AG&F, Weather | 6 Comments »

Hyatt Field & Cotton Boll Stadium Back in Operation, after Lighting Repairs

September 28th, 2009 by

Monticello’s Hyatt Field and Cotton Boll Stadium are back in business, following repairs to the base of the stadium lighting fixtures.

Monticello School superintendent Bobby Harper told MonticelloLive that Hyatt Field’s poles have had the welding operation completed, and have been inspected by certified welding inspectors, and that the field is back in service.

Starko Inc. had been contracted to weld 4 inch by 12 inch gussett plates to the base of the 4 light poles at Hyatt Field, with 12 gussetts being attached to each pole. That began Friday, and continued Saturday and Sunday, until the task was completed.

The next game to be played at Hyatt Field will be Friday night as the Billies take on Little Rock McClellan. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Hyatt Field & Cotton Boll Stadium Back in Operation, after Lighting Repairs

$14 Million Loan Application Approved by DMH Board & Quorum Court for Building and Modernization

September 28th, 2009 by

The Quorum Court unanimously approved the Hospital Board’s request to borrow $14 million to fund the Hospitals building modernization plan. Construction could start within the next 15 months.

With the approval of the loan application; Phase I of the modernization will be to build and construct an Allied Health building containing services such as a sleep center, physical therapy, and an outpatient psychiatric program.

Additional services can be added to the building such as chemotherapy and radiation treatment programs and outpatient clinics. Phase II of the program will be the addition of 41 all private rooms replacing the current medical/surgical rooms.

Posted in Medical / Hospital | Comments Off on $14 Million Loan Application Approved by DMH Board & Quorum Court for Building and Modernization

Video of Fair Parade Played over 740 Times

September 28th, 2009 by

Click on the “cloverleaf” on the bottom of the video screen, to enlarge it to full screen view.

Drew County, Monticello, AR Fair Parade, 2009 from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Posted in Fair, Video | 1 Comment »

1 Lady, 1 Week, 2 DWI’s

September 24th, 2009 by

Ann Hartness, age 36 of Monticello, was charged with DWI by the Monticello Police Dept. on Wednesday, Sept 16, following a 1 vehicle accident at the intersection of Patton and Edgewood.

Tuesday evening, September 22, between 7-8 p.m., Hartness was involved in another single vehicle wreck, this time on Barkada Road, just outside of the Monticello city limits, and was charged with DWI II by the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept.

The Ford Freestyle was towed Patton by Rod’s Wrecker, and from Barkada by Tommy’s Wrecker.

Hartness’ vehicle was also towed on Saturday, August 1 by J.A. Goad Towing., following another accident on Jefferson Street.

Posted in WRECKS | 55 Comments »

Light Poles at Football Field May Be Defective, We May Know for Sure Saturday

September 16th, 2009 by

Monticello School Superintendent Bobby Harper told the school board at Tuesday night’s meeting that the 4 light poles over Hyatt Field have been recalled by their manufacturer, which has now reportedly filed for bankruptcy and is no longer in business.

The school district’s architect recently contacted the school to tell them that the poles are being recalled because of welds around the base of the poles, where the poles are attached to a concrete base, which are deteriorating in some cases of poles produced by Whitco, mainly in Texas, but not exclusively in Texas.

The Searcy school district has 20 poles like this; 4 of them are defective; forcing Searcy to cancel their home football games for the season. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Light Poles at Football Field May Be Defective, We May Know for Sure Saturday

Where Were You? 9-11 Memories and Tribute

September 11th, 2009 by

Soon after the terrorists crashed the planes into the Twin Towers in New York City, and most Americans realized that we were not as safe as we all thought we were, country singer Alan Jackson released a song that summed up how a lot of people felt, and how they reacted.

The song asked, “Where were you?” on that September 11 morning, 2001.

As we stop and remember where we were that September morning, let’s also remember the Americans that lost their lives that day, and the families that were left behind.

Everyone is welcome to join in, and remember where you were, and what you did that morning,

Posted in In memory | 14 Comments »

MES Staff Member Arrested on Drug Charges by DTF

September 10th, 2009 by

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Police /Legal | 41 Comments »

AHTD Hearing Tuesday Answers Most Questions about Monticello Bypass for I-69

September 9th, 2009 by

Click to Enlarge.

The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department held a Public Hearing Tuesday evening at the Sadie Johnson Community Center, to allow public input, as well as answer some questions about the proposed plans for a bypass of Monticello for the future I-69.

Approximately 90 area residents attended the informational meeting, to ask questions about their land, houses, and community. I was able to go through the process of question and answers with a couple who are losing their home of 12 years to the new roadway, as they visited with one of the approximately 9 AHTD representatives who were present for the forum, representing different departments of the AHTD.

The official name of the “Monticello Bypass” is known as “job 020471”, and will begin near the “dead man’s curve” area of HWY 278 East, and continue to it’s end, on HWY 425 South, near the Drew Central Bus Shop.

AHTD brought to the meeting 3 16 foot long maps, showing in great detail the exact area, down to storage sheds, that will be directly affected by the construction.

Interchanges will be built at the 278 East and HWY 425 connection points, as well as it’s crossing with HWY 35 South/HWY 35 East.

3 overpasses will be built where the new roadway comes into the Old Deane Road, Old Troy Road, and Midway Route areas of construction.

The 8.6 mile project will also be raised over the crossing of the Arkansas Midland Railroad.

The project could begin as early as acquiring properties with the next year, and beginning the bid process for construction in the Fall of 2010. The project will begin as a 2 lane highway, and will be expanded into a 4 lane divided roadway in the future. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in County, State | Comments Off on AHTD Hearing Tuesday Answers Most Questions about Monticello Bypass for I-69

Arrest at R&R Festival, 2nd Year in a Row

August 19th, 2009 by

Usually the follow up reports after a local festival don’t include arrest reports, but for the second consecutive year, this has been the case in Monticello. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Festivals, Police /Legal | Comments Off on Arrest at R&R Festival, 2nd Year in a Row

Rhythm & Roots Saturday Videos

August 15th, 2009 by

Posted in Festivals | 1 Comment »

Rhythm & Roots Friday Videos

August 15th, 2009 by

Posted in Festivals | Comments Off on Rhythm & Roots Friday Videos

Charges Filed Friday by Prosecutor on Man for Beating Birthday Party Pony to Death with a Baseball Bat

August 7th, 2009 by

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Site | 77 Comments »

FORMER UAM WR SIGNS WITH JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

August 4th, 2009 by

The Jacksonville Jaguars announced yesterday the signing of former University of Arkansas at Monticello wide receiver Clarence Denmark.

Denmark was signed as a rookie free agent and is currently participating in the Jaguar’s pre-season training camp.

Below is a portion of the release sent from the Jacksonville Jaguars Media Relations office:
The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed rookie free agent wide receiver Clarence Denmark. A native of Jacksonville, Denmark played the last two seasons at Arkansas-Monticello after transferring from Troy University. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on FORMER UAM WR SIGNS WITH JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Hospital Board Gives Go-Ahead on Modernization Plan at Historic meeting

July 29th, 2009 by

011-2 Two representatives with Murray and Company provided preliminary sketches of the phase modernization plan. The Board voted to begin work on Phase I, the allied health building, shown in red in the photo.

The Drew Memorial Hospital Board voted to move ahead with the first phase of the master site plan to modernize the hospital during its regular meeting Wednesday, July 22. Murray and Company will draw up the plans for the new allied health building.

The master site plan consists of six phases, which include new construction, renovations and remodeling to modernize the hospital’s facilities. The Board voted to approach the phase modernization project by starting with Phase I, construction of the allied health building. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Medical / Hospital | Comments Off on Hospital Board Gives Go-Ahead on Modernization Plan at Historic meeting

Man Charged with Arson after Setting Home on Fire, with Family Inside

July 22nd, 2009 by

According to Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober, last Wednesday, a Cominto area man saw flames coming up on the outside of his home near the kitchen area.Â At the time, the man and two children were inside of the residence, Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Police /Legal | 1 Comment »

Dr. Sylvia Simon Appointed to Serve on State Medical Board

July 20th, 2009 by

Monticello’s Â Dr. Sylvia SimonÂ was recentlyÂ appointed to serveÂ on the Arkansas Medical Board by Gov. Mike Beebe

Dr. Simon’s term will expire onÂ December 31, 2014.

Posted in Medical / Hospital | 5 Comments »

Wells Family Remembers Lost Loved Ones

July 16th, 2009 by

Tuesday, Veronica Wells, along with her family and a friend, went to the site where her daughter and grandchildren were killed on July 14, 2007, on HWYÂ 425 North, near Pine Bluff.Â Â Â TheÂ familyÂ cut grass, and removed the old flowers that marked the location where 5 family members lost their lives in a collision with a tractor trailer, 2 years ago.

A new cross was placed with all the names on it.

A special thank you goes to Mr. Cornelious Branch, Mr. Darrell McDaniel, and Rev. Melvin Foster for the construction of the everlasting cross.

Ms. Will asks that asÂ you are traveling HWY 425 N.,Â approximately 4 milesÂ south ofÂ Pine Bluff, take a look to your left at the piece of art and rememberÂ her daughter, Ketria, and grandchildren, Kiyah, Kayla, Keshon, and Kaleb.

Posted in In memory | 4 Comments »

Classic Story–Fire Dept. Rescues Puppy

July 10th, 2009 by

This is the classic feel good story, but it is also true.

On a recent, hot June Friday afternoon, a “momma dog” and her litter of approximately 2 week old puppies, were dropped off inside the gate at the city’s trash transfer station, which also houses the city pound. (this is not an appropriate or responsible action to take with animals.)

One of the small puppies fell into a drain pipe in the area, and couldn’t get out. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Pets | 3 Comments »

Fatality Wreck Near Monticello

July 7th, 2009 by

Just after 8 o’clock, Monday night, a single vehicle accident occurred a few miles northeast of Monticello.

The driver of the vehicle was killed in the crash, and the passenger was critically injured, and has been airlifted by helicopter to Little Rock. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in WRECKS | 14 Comments »

“The Weevil” on ESPN, in Nationwide Commercial

July 7th, 2009 by

UAM alumni, fans, and supporters may disagree with the “stupider than an aardvark” analysis that “the Weevil” has been honored with, but still it is a good thing for UAMonticello to have their mascot featured on a national TV commercial campaign for KGB 542542, a text message based search engine that provides answers to its customers.

The commercial has been featured on ESPN and other networks, and features “the Weevil” with UAM’s permission. It has also been approved by NCAA athletic licensing procedures.

UAM media relations director, Jim Brewer describes the commercial as, “a great way to give our university national exposure.”

If the “stupider than an aardvark” is offensive, at least we have the pleasure of seeing our local hero beat the stuffing out of the aardvark at the end of the spot.

Posted in UAM News | 2 Comments »

Man Arrested Twice at Same House, withing 1.5 Hours

July 6th, 2009 by

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Police /Legal | 1 Comment »

Drew County Speedway Fireworks-VIDEO

July 5th, 2009 by

Click on the “box in a box” on the video player, to make the video full-screen.

Posted in Video | 2 Comments »

3 Arrested for Possession of 38 Rocks

June 29th, 2009 by

While responding to a report about a woman running down the street, being chased by 2 men in a pick-up, Thursday night around midnight, Monticello Police officers stopped the truck, spoke to all persons involved, and then arrested all 3 persons. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Police /Legal | 20 Comments »