People respond: The Most Significant Thing…
Published by Jeff September 22nd, 2006 in Site.We called and emailed various community influencers around Monticello and asked them the following question:
In your opinion, what is the most significant thing that has happened in Monticello in the last five years?
Here are their responses:
- Mark Tiner, assistant vice president at Union Bank: The loss of jobs through closing of various manufacturing facilities.
- Michael Jones, pastor of Revival Center: The Monticello Junior Football League. We were taking our kids to Warren because we didn’t have one here. We were paying money to a different community. We felt that if Monticello is going to be the central hub of Southeast Arkansas, we needed an alternative here.
In organizing the league, we took some deliberate steps on bringing the community together rather than other sports that seemed to polarize the community. There are still some things that need to be worked through, but sports (and music) seem to bridge a lot of gaps with people, and we’re excited about this big step for the community. - Bennie Ryburn III of Ryburn Automotive: Progress made on the sports complex. It really touches a lot of people. In addition, I feel that John Porter Price’s huge investment in a sawmill (in excess of $30 million) that will produce 100 direct jobs and about 100 indirect jobs has been significant.
- Keith Montgomery of Monticello Exxon: Burlington closing. It didn’t just hurt the city financially but also its mentality.
- Cornelius Branch, head of the Occupational Education Center: What comes to my mind is the new K-2 elementary school. You’d just have to understand what they lived in over at Whaley. I’m sure it (Whaley) was state-of-the-art when it was built. However, families in Monticello and those moving here certainly want the best learning environment that a child can experience. I would want my grandchildren to have a school like MES.
- Paul Griffin of Shelter Insurance: Jack Lassiter coming back to UAM. Things are so different out there now. Enrollment is at an all-time high, and that is unreal. The atttude is great; you can just sense the enthusiasm. With UAM being the largest employer in the city, it’s exciting to see more faculty out and about in the community.
- David Atwell: Ameca! Out of any other restaurant, they have brought a business here that everyone enjoys. The atmosphere is great. The waiters take good care of you. You go back again and again because you have a good experience there. It even makes you want to learn more Spanish! It appears to me that the economic growth in Monticello has been stagnant in other areas, but the food and restaurant industry has taken advantage of that.
- Glenda Nichols at the Chamber of Commerce: The closing of Burlington had the most immediate impact. It was a pivotal point for so many families in our area.
- George Harris, president of Commercial Bank: Within recent years, the citizens of Monticello have grown to accept the fact that for us to become the “STAR” of Southeast Arkansas, then we must become pro-active rather than reactive. I feel the following activities indicate this to be the case:
A. Passage and utilization of city and county sales tax to generate a revenue stream to fund many needed improvements in our area that were not possible with general revenues alone. Some of these are:
1. Funding for a strong Monticello Economic Development Commission with an interest in total area development, including but not limited to industry recruitment, housing, community and county clean up and the development of a sense of pride
2. Funding from a variety of sources (grants, loans, etc.) for a sports complex that will accommodate many more events and participants than was previously possible with our limited facilities.
B. Development and participation in the Cornerstone Coalition and other similar alliances with neighboring counties and communities to support development in a much broader area that will be beneficial to many. These alliances give us a stronger voice as we seek public funding from outside our micro-economies
C. In Drew County, the fact that we were able to secure the sixteen year-old Babe Ruth World Series and to develop a facility to meet their demands on such a short time schedule with predominantly volunteer labor and materials provides clear evidence and proof that people in our area can succeed at any endeavor to which they put their mind. This one occurrence may well serve as one of the greatest occurrences in the last five years, not just because it was a World Series but because it demonstrated what can be accomplished with the joint effort of many. It is not so much what it was but what it says about our area and our people. Many other items could have been listed as great occurrences but these came to mind at this time.
How would you respond to the same question? Leave your response in the comments section.
Possibly Related:
Hurricaine Katrina. We Monticellonians have had some pretty bad “economic storms” in the past few years. Our attention has been drawn toward finding ways to attract business and jobs to this area more than I can ever remember.
When the Katrina victims came to town all the sudden we got an opportunity. We got a chance to REALLY stop and do something significant. Our community leaped into action displaying a caring and selfless nature like I have never witnessed before.
Our guest were greeted warmly with food, shelter, funds and most of all genuine love. No doubt, they had no idea what their future held. I like to believe that God used monticello as a place of refuge to many hurting people for a reason. The smiles and hugs were a sign of a caring community. We need to appreciate the special way that Monticellonians put themselves last and put the needy first. It was awesome and I think we came closer to each other as a result.
The more we become an encouraging, loving and unified city, the more others will want to become Monticellonians.
Certainly God was pleased and He will bless us so we can reach out to others in the future.
Jobs,Jobs,Jobs…..I agree.All of the Burlingtons closings-going all the way back to Charm Tread….my mom lost her job then.Focus on technology is great for those with the apt knowledge to obtain more knowledge,but everyone else falls to the wayside when you look at people with such tunnel vision.There is a large need for factory jobs here in Monticello.Not just technological jobs,manual labor,too.Good paying($9 or more per hour)Manual labor factory jobs.Oh but I am not saying there is not a lack of technology oriented jobs either-there are.I am saying cant we focus on both,instead of either ,or.
Job losses, Katrina, Babe Ruth, and the local banking shake-ups were all points of significance for me.
The biggest things I think could help Monticello: 1) industries where higher-paying jobs are offered. Too many workers are trying to support familes on $7/hr. We will never attract more residents to live here if they cannot support their families. 2) The city should look focus heavily on doing something to attract commercial developers to revitalize places like the downtown strip (where we have a junkyard and crumbling buidings that should be condemned), the old Wal-mart and the old safeway lot on the corner of 278/425.
It would be difficult to name just one thing that has had the biggest impact. On the negative side is the closing of Burlington. On the positive side is the expansion that John Porter Price is making. That will have a large impact on Monticello. Walgreen buying the Coca-Cola Plant will have a positive influence on our town as well. The work that the Chamber of Commerce and MEDC is doing is vital to the future of this area.
I must agree with Mr. Griffin that having Jack Lassiter return to UAM as Chancellor is quickly empowering a once stagnant institution. The reason I count Lassiter’s return as the most significant change is that his administration will present great long-term benefits for Monticello and S.E. Arkansas that are only now beginning to blossom.
One major thing I think has happened in Monticello in the last 5 years many would consider petty. Having a real-deal coffee house has been needed in this town for years. Jim Whaley and his family at Dad’s Place have stepped up to the plate to provide this service that not only is a great Monticello business, but is also a great place for teens, college students, business people, and old friends to sit down and relax with a really good cup of joe.
Thank you Jim, Denise and Tabitha!
Hey my name is Andy Guy, Mr. Jim Whaley sent me here. I agree with TJ.I think Dad’s Place is a great addition to our community. In the past two years(the coffee house’s “birthday” is in october I do believe) the community has enjoyed their wonderful drinks and wholesome envirment. It is growing fast and more and more college students, teachers, high school students, and adults alike enjoy that nice hot latte on cold fall mornings or that cold frapiccino on hot summer afternoons. This coffee shop in the center of Monticello may just become the center of many lives. Providing bible study on mondays, movies on thursday, and live music on friday, who wouldnt want to be there? Also with their patronism for the UAM students providing them with a 10 percent discount is rather amazing.
My hat is off to you Jim, Denise, ang Tabitha!
I truly hope you become the heart of Monticello!
I think the most significant this is Monticellolive…..great site!