Rebel Smith Curtis age 45 of Dumas, AR passed away on January 19, 2013 in Dumas. She was born July 8, 1967 in New Orleans, LA to Clifford Joseph and Patricia Bryant Smith. She was a Christian and a Licensed Practical Nurse at Delta Memorial Hospital in Dumas for 7 years. Rebel received the Florence Nightingale Award in her graduation from nursing school.

She is survived by her parents, three brothers, Clay (Shelley) Smith Jr. of Geismar, LA, Max (Kelly) Smith of Bella Vista, AR and Dallas (Stephanie) Smith of Siloam Springs, AR, two sisters, Holly (Lloyd) Downen of Dumas, AR and Whitney (Jared) McDonald of Dumas, AR. She also has two sons, J.R. Smith of Dumas and Matthew Kyle Curtis of McGehee, and one daughter, Samantha Kiff of Dumas and two grandchildren, Anna Claire and Shevy.

Visitation will be Monday, January 21, 2012 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Abundant Life Church and services Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 11:00 am, Abundant Life Church in Dumas with burial following at Walnut Lake Cemetery, Rev. Melvin Reagan and Rev. Mack Milner will be officiating. Memorials in memory of Rebel may be made to Hospice Angels in Pine Bluff, AR. Griffin Funeral Home in Dumas will be in charge of services.

Curtis Lee Jacobs, of Monticello, died January 14th. Born August 13, 1951 in Fountain Hill Arkansas to the late Mr. & Mrs. James & Everline Jacobs, Curtis

pent majority of his working career with Georgia Pacific Corporation in various positions for a career total of 37 years.

Four Brothers and one sister preceded him in death. He leaves to cherish his memories, his loving wife Katie Marie Jacobs; three sons, Fredrick Darnell Jacobs of Memphis TN, Marcus Jacobs and Mario Jacobs of Monticello Arkansas, Nephew/Son Brett Ware (Charmella) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; three daughters, LaJanice Jacobs of Memphis TN, Shaquetta Hunter (Tim) of Lonoke Arkansas, and Turkessa Hanson of Arlington, TX; three brothers, James D Lambert (Lonzella) & George J Lambert (Elaine) of Portland Oregon, Issac Lambert (Kathleen) of Oxon Hill, MD, Charles Jacobs (Vicky) of Monticello Arkansas; three sisters, Earlene Spears (Adolph) of Portland Oregon, Betty J Martin (Robert) of Johnsville Arkansas, and Ruby J Grandy of Atlanta, GA; fourteen grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Funeral Service will be held January 19th at First Baptist Eastside in Monticello, AR. Services entrusted to Christian Brothers Funeral Home of Monticello.

At the January Monticello Economic Development Commission Board Meeting, Entergy Arkansas presented Maxwell Hardwood Flooring with a rebate check in the amount of $24,044 for energy efficiency improvements implemented at the plant last year.

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During the personnel segment of the Drew Central school board meeting, the Board accepted the resignation of Superintendent Mike Johnston.

Mr. Johnston, who has worked in education for 44 years, and served at Drew Central for 32 years, will leave effective July 1.

At Thursday’s Drew Central school board meeting, Mary Hobbs received special recognition for earning the National Board Certified Teacher certificate. She is one of only two Drew Central teachers to achieve this prestigious level of certification.

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According to Sheriff Mark Gober, Drew County deputies responded to separate theft related calls at the same residence.

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Jay Dylan Reid celebrated his 1st Birthday on Jan 13. He is the son of Kelly and Melissa Reid of the Greenhill community.

He is the grandson of Joe & Debbie Rogers of Monticello and Marlin & Treva Reid of Centreville, MS. He is the great grandson of Joyce Pigott of Tylertown, MS & Lorene Reid of McComb, MS.

He is the little brother to John Parker Reid age 5.

According to this graphic from FlighAware.com, even though there wasn’t much traffic on local roads, the skies around the Monticello airport were busy, around 8:30, Tuesday.

KLLQ is the reference for Ellis Field.

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, an important time to spread the word about this sight-stealing disease.   Glaucoma is called “the sneak thief of sight” since there are no symptoms and once vision is lost, it’s permanent. As much as 40% of vision can be lost without a person noticing.

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Mayor Allen Maxwell, in a recorded statement Monday morning, confirmed that Fire Chief Steven Faulkner had been placed on administrative leave, and an interim Fire Chief had been appointed. Today, a few more details have been released.

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A local news reporter has received several calls yesterday morning, in reference to the false rumor of their death.

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HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY!!! I love you with all my Heart forever & always!! Love, Mom and Jace Wyatt.

Bryson Lee Harrison is celebrating his first Birthday today. He is the son of Blair Griffin & Casey Harrison. His grandparents are Fairy Howard of Monticello & Audrey & DH Williams of Warren. Great grandparents are the late Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Lee Forrest of Monticello. Joyce Griffin of Star City & Baba & Lou Diamittia of Blytheville. He has 3 brothers; Jace Hilburn 4, Rylan Harrison 5, & Kaden Harrison 5.

Monticello needs help protecting drainage ditches

The City of Monticello is responsible for maintaining storm drains in public areas and along city streets. Storm drains and ditches divert the water and debris after a storm or rain shower away from road surfaces, public access areas or low basins where water collection could be unhealthy or dangerous.

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Around 11 am Tuesday, as most of Drew County was getting pelted by ice pellets, several ice related accidents occurred.

On HWY 278 East, just before Dead Man’s Curve, a maroon Chevy pick-up was off in the ditch.

Just past the curve, near Bordeaux Road, a gold sedan had lost control in the ice, and came to a stop in a nearby bean field.

Just past the next gradual curve, were 3 vehicles, all involved or partially involved,  in another mishap .

It started as a gray, westbound Mitsubishi lost control in the ice.  The driver avoided colliding with an eastbound Chevy pick up, but the Chevy truck  swerved and ended up in the ditch.

The Mitsubishi then struck an oncoming, white Volkswagen Jetta, which was being driven by the wife of the Chevy driver. sending both vehicles spinning into the ditch area.

Drew County Sheriff’s deputies worked the accident(s).  No one was reportedly injured, however an ambulance resonded to check out one of the drivers.

The recent ice storm has produced fewer fallen trees and broken limbs than earlier predicted.

The top photo shows a tree that fell on Jordan Drive, Tuesday afternoon.

The lower photo was taken of a North Main St. home, Monday evening.  No damage was reported.

Around 10am, Tuesday morning, a UAM student was traveling back to class, westbound on Jordan Drive, when he felt his Jeep loose traction in the ice, “fishtail”, and then rollover on the bridge.

The driver was not injured.  Monticello Police worked scene, assisted by Arkansas State Police. The Fire & Rescue Squad was also paged out.  Dan’s wrecker towed the vehicle.

Mayor Allen Maxwell, in a recorded statement Monday morning, confirmed that Fire Chief Steven Faulkner has been placed on administrative leave, and an interim Fire Chief has been appointed, effective last Friday.

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Two Arkansas companies, The Reata Foundation, Inc, a non-profit institution commissioned to provide affordable and energy efficient housing for the American family, and Concrete & Foam Structures, LLC( CFS), a fabricator of expanded polystyrene (EPS) have joined together to produce a technological advanced building system. The result is an ultra energy efficient residential home for the future era of residential house building.

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The AHTD provides statewide highway road conditions at 1-800-245-1672.

Happy 98th Birthday Barta Montgomery (Granny)

We love you

From your grandchildren

Around 10 am, the AHTD was putting salt/sand on the HWY 425 / Jordan Drive overpass, because of ice accumulation.

Roadways and sidewalks are beginning to become slick in some areas, so use caution as you’re out and about, today.

When city hall employees arrived at work this morning, one of them went into the City Council meeting room, and found parts of the ceiling laying on the floor.

It is believed that the weight of the recent heavy rains cause a minor sag in the roof, which caused enough of a bowing effect for the staples holding the ceiling tile to pull loose. 

Around 4 am, Sunday, flooding was reportedly enter homes homes on North Gabbert St.

In an interview with the family, they said they heard water running, and when they got out ot bed to see what was wrong, their feet touched the carpet, and that’s when then knew their home was flooded.

The family told KARK and MLive that they had requested the city and state clean out a culvert under North Gabberrt St. that was clogged up with leaves, but no one taken care of the impending problem.

After their hause was flooded, the AHTD cleared the culvert, and the water (in their yard) was soon gone.

Also see the KARK report.