The Monticello Fire Dept. and Arkansas Forestry Commission responded to a woods fire in the Windy Hills area of Old Hwy 13, Saturday afternoon, around 1 pm.

Fire fighters battled the blaze, and had it contained, controlled, and extinguished in approximately an hour.

No structures were harmed, and only an estimated acre of weeds was damaged.

Photos provided by MLive readers.

The restitution hearing for former Drew County Circuit Clerk Pat Savage Montgomery was held Monday morning, at the Drew County Courthouse.

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MonticelloLive.com reached a new milestone, Sunday, when we received our 2 millionth “click” in a 6 month period.

In recognition of this accomplishment, MLive promoted a “Click, call, & win” over the weekend.

Keba Brown saw the “CALL NOW” post, Sunday around 7:30 pm; was the first caller; and won $100 from MLive.

Other recent accomplishments include having stories and photos picked up by ESPN (NFL DWI charge), CNN (DWI 3 & 4 case), Good Morning America (tornado damage), and all Little Rock TV news depts.

Monticello’s Taco Bell has recently been purchased by K-MAC Enterprises, of Ft. Smith.

K-MAC is a franchise of Taco Bell® and KFC® restaurants, and operates restaurants in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas and Indiana.

Sources have reported that all local employees will transfer to the new company.

This tractor and equipment traveling between farm sites on HWY 425 serves as a reminder of local farmers investments in the local economy.  It just shows us once again that “Ag business is still Big Business.

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 A City of Monticello employee was injured in what likely was a work related accident, Thursday morning, at the Monticello City Warehouse.

After a 10:19 call to 911, he was transferred by ambulance to Drew Memorial Hospital by MASI.

Unconfirmed rumors indicate a vehicle was involved in the situation.

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The new Livestock Barn has been completed, and will be in use for this year’s fair.

“Country Nights, Carnival Lights” is the theme of the 2013 Drew County Fair & Livestock Show.

This year’s fair dates are Sept. 16-21. with the Fair Pageants and talent show scheduled for Sept. 9-14

A Junior Fair Board has been formed and will be assisting with this year’s fair.

Remember to start planning your exhibits, now.  The County Extension Office can provide information to help you.

Also, make plans to include your business, club, or organization in the Commercial Booth area.  Call Brenda Reed at 723-6740 to reserve your booth.

A local 25 year old man accepted guilty pleas in Desha County on aggravated robbery and theft of property, among other charges, Monday, for 40 years in prison.

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Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Deen has filed misdemeanor criminal charges against 9 Drew Central graduation seniors following their “out of hand” senior prank, which closed the high school for part of a day, and cost an estimated $5,000 in clean up and replacement damage.

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If MonticelloLive has looked different on your monitor, today, the best solution should be to update to IE9.

This link to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 9 download page is safe and secure, and deals directly with Microsoft’s website.

This is just a case of technology advancing (like when they started selling only unleaded gasoline).

Thanks for reading MLive.com

Local businessman Mike Akin was sworn in to serve on the Drew Memorial Hospital Board, Monday, by Drew County Judge Robert Akin, with DMH CEO Mike Layfield.

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Between Saturday night and Monday morning,  at least 5 Hyatt Street residences had reported having vehicles broken into.

Most of the vehicles were unlocked, but one vehicle was forcefully entered.

At least two handguns were taken, during the theft spree.

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The Arkansas Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a Monticello resident against the Warren School Board, following his termination after he was cleared of any wrongdoing by a Drew County Court, following allegations from a former student.

SalineRiverChronicle has more coverage of the case.

According to AshleyCountyLedger.com, Ashley County law enforcement offficers  have arrested  Tommy Kendall, following a t2o day manhunt for the Louisiana burglary suspect, wanted by Morehouse Parish, West Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office and Bonita Police.

Couty Judge Robert Akin is shown swearing in former County Assessor J.D. West as a new member of the Drew County Equalization Board, as well as reappointed members Cass Dattilo and Bob Kizer.

The equalization board is responsible for making sure county property taxes are equal, as compared to other similar properties.

Monticello Police have been receiving multiple complaints about Vivint Security salesmen, much like they did last August, see Insecure Home Security Salesmen Invade Monticello for a surprise  interview with one of their door-knockers..

Detailed below are 3 cases, since Saturday, where MPD has been called about the orange-clad solicitors.

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Sunday afternoon around 4 pm, the Monticello Fire Dept. was called to the mobile home fire on Seventh Day Camp Road, of off Old Troy Road.

The cause was likely an electrical fire in the laundry area.  Fire damage was contained of the hallway, but smoke damage spread throughout the home.

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.