Some local flags, like the large flag at HWY 425 and 278, are being flown at half staff, in memory of Friday’s school shooting in Newtown, CT, that took the lives of 20 children and 6 adults.

School security and it’s importance to administrators and students was evident at Tuesday’s Monticello School Board meeting.

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Meteor from Geminid Meteor Shower – Click to Enlarge

This photo of a meteor from the Geminid Meteor Shower was taken over Monticello Friday morning by a MLive reader.

Thanks for sharing the photo.

The Monticello Fire Dept. responded to a silo sawdust system around 10:30 this morning at Bayou Wood, located on Wilson Mill Road, next to Maxwell Hardwood.

The fire was contined to the system housing, except for an occasional flair up.

Firefighters reiained on the scene til just before 1 pm.

It appears that only minor damage was done to the equipment.

The new city trash truck arrived this week.  A training driver from the manufacturer was in town, Wednesday, to show city drivers the operation details of the new truck.

The new truck be likely be put into operation next week, as the new mini-dumpsters are distributed throughout the city.

An information packet will be delivered with each new can, explaing how nad where to place your new min-dumpster.

A family has lost their brown and white spotted Jack Russell terrier, on Ras Pace Road in Greenhill.

Please call 367-8037

The Panorama Ristorante, Monticello’s new authentic Italian restaurant, will open for business Wednesday at 11 am.

The restaurant hours are Tuesday – Sunday, 11am-3pm for lunch, and 5-9pm for evening meals.  They will stay open on Friday and Saturday till 10 pm.

Sun Country Tanning Salon has been a staple of the small business community of Monticello for over 15 years. Beginning December 1, Sun Country opened a new chapter in its history by welcoming it’s new owner, Mandy Hogg. Sun Country still offers the finest tanning experience in Southeast Arkansas and will continue offering its full line of tanning lotions and accessories. The Salon will also offer the massage therapy services of Olivia Milstead.

Mandy encourages everyone to stop by 518 E. Gaines or call 367-1111 and see what Sun Country has to offer. As a celebration of the new ownership, Mandy is offering all single visit tanning purchases at 50% off the regular price. The visits must be purchased and used prior to Dec 21, 2012.

Sun Country’s hours are M-F 9am – 7pm and Saturday 10am – 3 pm. “Like” us on Facebook.

Dewayne Graham, best known for his “7 on your Side” series from 1989-1999, passed away last week.

When someone is a part of our everyday activities, like the folks on the 6:00 news, we often just refer to by their first names, like we know them personally.  Dewayne Graham did that well.  He always took up for the little guy, and usually helped the “good guys” get their money back, and then saw the “bad guys” get run out of town.

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The Monticello Fire Dept. responded to a house fire at 5 am, this morning, to a residence on East Trotter St., near Jordan Park.

The fire seems to have started in the back of the residence, where the most damage was located.

A Wilmar man, formerly of Monticello, accused of kidnapping and raping a woman, accepted a plea to the charge of second degree sexual assault, in Drew County Circuit Court, Monday.

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$9,000,000 in bonds have been approved for upcoming renovations to the Bankston and Horsfall Hall dormatories on the UAM campus.

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Sunday night, for the second straight evening in a row, a fire was reported at or near a local convienence store.

Around 7 pm, a caller reported seeing a large fire in the old Town & Country area, behind the Crackierbox store.

Monticello Fire Dept. trucks quickly arrived, and put out the fire, which was reported to be a brush fire.

Monday’s light rain was enough to make a rainbow, which was seen from Drew Central.

Photo provided by a MLive reader.  Thank you.

A previously registered sex offender has been arrested for the alleged rape of a 5 year old child.

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As a local 5 year old was on her way from her home to the bus stop, Wednesday morning around 7:30,  she was reportely attacked by a pit bull.

KARK TV and KTHV TV have covered the story, but questions still remain about the details of the event.

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Around 5 pm, the Monticello Fire Dept. responded to the report of a grease fire at Brook’s Get & Go, known to many as the “Old Big Jax”.

The fire was quickly extinguished, and no damage was done, according to the owners.

In October, 2010 Mark David Johnson had been served divorce papers by his wife.

Two days later he was involved in an automobile collision, where she and another passenger were severely injured, and an expectant mom in the vehicle was killed.

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David Funderburg was re-apppointed by the Drew County Quorum Court to serve on the county’s Public Facilities Board, at their last meeting.

The committe members include Funderburg, Charles Searcy, Edward Wells, Peggy Doss, and Norman Hill.

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An 18 year old male was traveling towards Monticello around 10 am, Wednesday, on Winchester Road, near the new Pine Hill Store. 

As he came around a curve, he swerved to avoid hitting a squirrel in the road, causing him to lose control of his Toyota Camry, which rolled and flipped across the ditch, striking the line of trees, and coming to rest upside down in the ditch.

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New County Judge Robert Akin, being congratulated by former candidate Jessie Griffin, Tuesday night.

Robert Akin, the independent candidate, won Tuesday night’s run-off election and will be the next Drew County Judge.

Robin Hood, the chief deputy of the Sheriff’s Dept. won the general election, but lost to Akin in the run-off.

The final,unofficial ballot totals by voting wards are posted below.

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