Click here to see the map of those 29 states.

Wilmar’s Juneteenth Celebration is recognized nationwide as one of the largest celebrations that commemorate the abolition of slavery in 1865. 

This year, at least 29 states were represented at Wilmar’s celebration, based on visits with guests and license plates seen over the weekend.

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For generations, the Robertson family grew up in their home at the intersection of 7th Street,and Hart Avenue, in Wilmar.

They lived in, what is now, the only remaining 1800’s era house in Wilmar.  The others have gradually disappeared.

The Robertson parents have passed away, but their adult still respect their family tradition of gathering at the homestead for Wilmar’s Juneteenth.

Shown here are some of the immediate family, along with a cousin or two who joined in this year.  Family members traveled form California, Georgia (moved there from Michigan), and even Alaska to attend Juneteenth this year.

According the Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober, around 8:15 Monday evening. a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Durango on W. Conrad Street.   The Durango then failed to use their turn signal and almost caused an accident on HWY 425, while turning south.

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According to the information in the chart below, it seems every other city and/or town in southeast Arkansas has lost population, except for Monticello.

The information is from the Census Bureaus’s Population Estimates between the 2010 census and July 1, 2012.

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Drew County seems to be the only county in the region that showed an increase in population (since the 2010 Census, through the period ending July 1, 2012) based on the US Census Bureaus’s population estimates.

The graphic below shows the population decreases that have taken place in our neighboring counties: Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Desha, and Lincoln Counties.

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After several months of being a 2-way stop, the intersection of Cherry and Jackson Streets has now been changed back to a 4-way stop.

The proposed purpose of the original change was due to large trucks using the street.

Be careful of the revised change, til every gets back into the habit of stopping on both streets.

The Jordan Park entrance sign has recently been rebuilt by city employees, following its March destruciton, apparently after being struck by a large vehicle, who left the scene. 

Workers were able to salvage the lettering and most of the brick from March to rebuild hte sign.

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The Monticello Fire Dept was paged to the report of a fire in the attic of a College Street home, Monday afternoon, just before 3 o’clock.

The fire was quickly extinguished, and the smoldering materials removed from the area..

The probable cause in fires like this is usually electrical.

Hubert and Evelyn McKeown, longtime fair supporters and Rock Springs residents, have been selected to serve as the 2013 Drew County Fair Parade Marshals.

The fair parade will be held September 17.

Around 6:00, Sunday morning, a city employee noticed that two Ford F-150 pick-up trucks, with “City of Monticello” decals on the doors, had been stolen from the city warehouse, located between E. McCloy and E. Trotter Streets.

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Swimming teams from Magnolia,  El Dorado, Warren, Mena, and Pine Bluff, along with their coaches, parents, and familes were in town, Saturday for the Monticello Marlins first swimming meat of the season.

Tuesday at 11:30 am, the fate of Daniel Pedraza was turned over to 12 jurors, who had heard more about child abuse and suffering, than any of them had ever imagined was possible.  Saturday, Pedraza had accepted a guilty plea, which took his possible death sentence out of their hands, but admitting that the 2 year old’s step-father had “knowingly caused the death” of Aubriana Coke. left as little as 10 of prison time, ranging to as much as the rest of his life in jail as options.

MLive spoke to an anonymous juror, after the sentence was read, who mentioned these thought’s about the jury’s deliberation….

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Monticello Police confirmed the Thursday arrest of Jimmy Kincade, Jr., who along with his brother, Jermaine Kincade (arrested Friday), allegedly shot a shotgun at three Turtle Creek Apt. residentS, last Thursday, seriously injuring two of the victims.  The pair of brothers then fled the scene, to be found later at Pilgrim Rest Apts., when they then fled on foot.

Both were arrested in Chicot County, due to the co-operative efforts between the Chicot County Sheriff’s Dept. and Monticello Police.

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A 19 year of lost his life, and a 17 was air-lifted to JRMC, following a single vehicle crash on Old HWY 13, Monday morning, around 3:45 am.

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Friday, around noon, the Monticello Fire & Rescue Dive Team was called to Lake Monticello, where a couple fishing were trying to load their boat onto its trailer.

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Friday afternoon, around 3:30, the Collins-Comonto Fire Dept. responded to a building fire just off of HWY 35 East, near Cominto.

The building that was destroyed had housed the transmitters for KXSA radio, 103.1.

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