The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office transported 75-year-old Grady Burch to the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC) this morning to begin serving a 10-year prison sentence. Burch’s transport follows his April 10, 2026, conviction in Bradley County on multiple felony charges, including simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms and possession of controlled substances including hydrocodone, amphetamine, and carisoprodol, and felon in possession of a firearm.

The conviction stems from an October 21, 2025, operation where agents with the Tenth Judicial District Drug Task Force and the Bradley County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at Burch’s residence on Bradley Road 92. During the search, officers recovered a variety of controlled substances, including hydrocodone, amphetamine, and carisoprodol, along with gabapentin, THC products, and marijuana.

Three students from the School of Business at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) won four awards at the Arkansas Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Collegiate State Leadership Conference at South Arkansas College in El Dorado, Arkansas, on March 12.

Victoria O’Neill Rivera, a sophomore business administration major with an emphasis in marketing from Warren, Arkansas, won first place in Public Speaking and first place in Digital Design and Communications.

Jordan Wehr, a senior business administration major with an emphasis in marketing from Frisco, Texas, won second place in Sports Management and Marketing.

Maddie Welch, a senior business administration major with an emphasis in marketing from Star City, Arkansas, won first place in Foundations of Marketing. Welch reflected on how her coursework prepared her for the competition, stating, “Everything I saw on the test, I learned in classes I took at UAM.”

Great cattle and even better company will take center stage as the University of Arkansas at Monticello Farms hosts the Fifth Annual Aggie Comeback on Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25. 

More than just a cattle sale, the annual event has become a gathering place for UAM agriculture alumni, cattle producers, students and friends of agriculture to reconnect, share ideas and celebrate the success of UAM’s Beefmaster program.

The two-day event begins Friday with cattle viewing from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner provided by AgHeritage Farm Credit Services. All cattle included in the Saturday sale will be available for viewing in the lot behind the agriculture building. The auction lineup includes four registered Beefmaster bulls and 15 Beefmaster-influenced bred heifers.

Saturday begins with the cattle auction at 10:30 a.m., featuring some of the best genetics from UAM Farms. Lunch will follow, provided by River Valley Tractor of Pine Bluff. 

Throughout the event, Aaron Stone with River Valley Tractor of Pine Bluff will have the latest farm equipment on display. UAM will also showcase its newly wrapped show trailer.

Organized by Greg Montgomery, manager of the UAM Farms, Aggie Comeback was started to showcase the farm’s genetics and raise awareness for its growing Beefmaster herd. 

                     Bid for the Cove Base and Painting of M.I.S

Monticello School District is accepting bid proposals for the following work: Painting all of the Interior of the Monticello Intermediate Building.
The removal and installation of the cove base can be added in with the bid or placed on a separate bid. The Monticello School District will supply material for the cove base install.

                              INVITATION TO BID

Monticello School District is accepting bid proposals for the following work:
Monticello Intermediate painting of interior of the building
Interior painting of all interior areas of the Intermediate school.Minor prep to block and sheetrock walls all furr downs, doors, and frames.
All cove bases in the building will be removed and replaced in the Intermediate building.
No storage rooms or custodial closets will be painted.
Prospective bidders should contact David Lawson with the Monticello School District, 603 Jordan Dr., Monticello, Arkansas 71655, or call 870-723-8966 prior to April 20, 2026, for bid information.
All bids must be submitted to
Monticello School District 935 Scogin Dr. Monticello, Arkansas 71655, before the following date 5/06/26 by 2:00 P.M. At this time, the bids will be opened.
The following bids will be run for 2 weeks, from April 21, 2026, until May 5, 2026.
The Monticello School District has the right to reject any or all bids. Bid bonds, performance bond, and contractor’s license will be required as dictated by the Arkansas State Public School Laws

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Music Lessons available. Piano, Voice, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone. Arkansas certified music educator.

Call 817-456-1844. Ask for Mary.

The Kiwanis Club of Monticello has announced its annual Flag Sale fundraiser, dedicated to supporting children throughout Drew County. This year’s campaign includes a special project in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, adding to this already meaningful community tradition.

Each year, Monticello residents honor or remember military personnel by purchasing American flags, which are prominently displayed on the City Square and in front of the courthouse. Each flag includes a card recognizing the donor and the individual(s) being honored.

Flags are available for a $30.00 donation and can include up to two dedications. Additional tributes may be added for $2.00 per name. Proceeds from the Flag Sale directly benefit programs that support local children, including bedroom makeovers, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and scholarships to Girls State, Boys State, and the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

In recognition of this milestone year, the Kiwanis Club is also offering a new corporate sponsorship opportunity. Businesses can sponsor flags to be displayed at the highway intersection in front of Walgreens. Each sponsored flag will feature a large sign displaying the organization’s name and logo. Corporate sponsorships are available for $100 per flag.

Individuals and businesses interested in participating may contact Gail Hooker or Connie McKiever at Union Bank at (870) 460-6400.

Flags will be displayed from mid-May through the Fourth of July. At the conclusion of the display period, donors may either pick up their flags or donate them back to the Kiwanis Club to continue supporting its mission of “Saving One Child at a Time.”

North Arkansas College of the University of Arkansas (UA Northark) and the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) are set to announce a new partnership that will expand access to affordable higher education in Arkansas. On Thursday, April 30, the two institutions will unveil a program allowing UA Northark students to earn bachelor’s degrees in Harrison at one of the state’s lowest tuition rates.

The strategic partnership between UA Northark and UAM will integrate business and education programs, enabling UA Northark students to pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration degree beginning in August 2026. Plans to add a Bachelor of Arts in K-6 Elementary Education degree are also underway. Both degree programs are currently pending approval from the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Higher Learning Commission.

The partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both institutions and combine resources to support student success and improve college completion rates within the region.

The announcement will take place at 1 p.m. on April 30 in the John Paul Hammerschmidt Conference Room on UA Northark’s south campus. The event is open to the public and media, with leaders from both institutions scheduled to speak. Interview, photo and video opportunities will be available.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) Concert and Chamber Choirs will perform during the Spring 2026 Choral Concert on Friday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center on UAM’s Monticello campus. The event is free and open to the public. 

Directed by Colt Lien, director of choral activities at UAM, the choirs will explore a wide range of choral repertoire, including works by Grau, Fleming, Paulus, Narverud, Gibbs and Moore.

For more information about the concert, contact the UAM Division of Music at 870-460-1060.

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ARDOT will begin milling the town square beginning this Sunday, April 19, 2026 beginning at 6:00 p.m. they will mill this area Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday nights tentatively beginning at the same time on the subsequent nights. We are sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause and thank you for your patience as we continue to rebuild Monticello’s roads and infrastructure.

It’s our delight to offer you a splendid storyteller to help celebrate America 250 this coming Monday night, April 20 (6:00 pm) at Monticello’s Southeast AR Regional Library (114 W Jefferson.)  Cindy Phillips is a librarian at Ouachita Baptist.  She researches the oldest recorded folk tales of numerous people groups.  Since America is a land of citizens who have originated from many parts of the world, and since America is having a huge birthday this year, she will tell a selection of folk tales from Africans, Native Americans, Europeans and the British Colonies.  Then she will tie the ribbons together of how we have all come together to form One Nation.  
She has a palpable connection, especially with young children! Please come ready to enjoy the ride as well as to learn tips about how to become a better storyteller for your kids and grandkids. Homeschoolers, parents, grandparents, everyone is welcome to this free show at 6:00 pm this coming Monday, April 20 at the Monticello SEARK Regional Library; 114 W Jefferson! Special thanks to James and Mitchell Gathings for sponsoring this free show!

The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) Esports League of Legends team will take on High Point University on Monday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the championship match of the PlayVS College League Ranked Central Division.

The UAM Esports League of Legends team was seeded second in the single-elimination playoffs, earning a first-round bye after a 7-1 regular season record. The team defeated Grace Christian University in the semifinals on April 13, earning a place in the finals on Monday. 

This appearance marks the second consecutive spring season that the UAM Esports League of Legends team has advanced to the division championship.