Last week, the Drew Central Extension Homemakers Council made a huge investments in the future of Monticello, as they made a contribution totalling $30,000 to UAM.

The donation included a $15,000 endowed scholarship, a $5,000 endowed gift, and a $10,000 Centennial Circle contribution.

Chancellor Jack Lassiter told the group that their contributions will be benefiting “students 100 years from now.”

According to Sheriff Mark Gober, a 30 year old local resident was arrested and charged with Sexual Indecency with a Child, and Sexual Assault 2nd degree, following acts committed, as he slept in the bed with his 12 year old victim.

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For the second time in recent months, a City of Monticello trash truck has been in an accident, and police weren’t notified.

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With the Drew County Sheriff’s election 5 weeks away, both Sheriff Mark Gober and candidate Ronnie Adcock spoke to the Barkada Community citizens group about their campaigns.

Topics covered included background, expectations, and how much time deputies spend working inside the Monticello city limits.

Charlie Searcy and Michael Booker, both candidates for the job of Drew County Treasurer, took part in the Barkada Community forum, to discuss the upcoming election.

Both men complimented the other, during their presentations. However they disagree on their plans, if elected. Searcy said he plans to keep the Treasurer’s Office open, but use his current accounting office as a “remote office” to serve the county, adding that his accounting staff would also be an asset to the county, since he doesn’t plan to give up his existing business.

Booker plans to operate and work full-time out of the current office inside of the courthouse.

Due to recent legislation, the sheriff’s office and collector’s office have been separated.

There are 3 candidates for the newly created position;  Josh Frost, Tonya Lovelesss, and Cheri Norris.  All 3 have courthouse experience, with Loveless currently serving as the executive collector, until the new position takes effect in January.

As the Drew County fair and livestock show continues to recover from the damage caused by a tornado in May of 2009, the fair board and UAM, actually the University of Arkansas system, have agreed to terms oa a 25 year lease agreement on the fairgrounds.

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The Monticello Parks and Recreatin Committee spent almost 20 minutes of their Thursday meeting going over the history of the commission / committee, and it’s ongoing issues with the Monticello Babe Ruth league.

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A heated argument broke out Monday night between members of the city’s Advertising and Promotion Commission, on the topic of the 3% hotel tax being used exclusively for the Convention Center project, or whether some Adverting and Promotion funds should be used to “advertise and promote” our local events and activities.

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MonticelloLive has an Eater tradition of honoring Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for us by featuring a special One Monticello Life, written by a local pastor, on Easter Sunday, each year.  This year we present ONE EXTRA-ORDINARY LIFE by Larry Doggett, of Fountain of Life Christian Center, the speaker at tonight’s Community Easter Service.

The extra-ordinary life that I write about today is about a man called, Jesus, who is also known as the Son of God, and also, Christ–the anointed One of God, and the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Growing up in the Bible belt, I have heard about Jesus all of my life. There are many things that I could share and here are some from A through Z about this extra-ordinary life of Jesus.

The life of Jesus is extra-ordinary for His:
Authenticity. Jesus is Emanuel, God with us. Matthew 1:23
Behavior. Jesus was and is sinless, the living Son of God. 1-Peter 2:21-25
Creation & Cause Jesus is the creator of all things and the abundant life giver. Colossians 1:16, John 10:10
Death: Jesus said that no man would take His life for He gave it for us. John 10:11,15-18
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The Supreme Court of Arkansas denied a petition from a Drew County man convicted of capital murder and agravated robbery to reinvest jurisdiction in the trial court to consider a petition for writ of error Coram Nobis, last week.

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Attorneys Robert Bridewell of Lake Village and Gary Potts of Monticello last week obtained a reduction in sentence of Michael Dancy.

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At Monday night’s Farm Bureau board meeting, where county judge and county sheriff candidates addressed the group, Ronnie Adcock announced that as of 3:30 pm, this afternoon (Tuesday), he would be out of the towing and tire business.

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A 59 year old white male was crossing HWY 425, traveling east on foot, around 12:35, Friday afternoon, when he was struck by a Chevy pick-up truck.

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A 911 call came into MPD dispatch, at 3:39, Thursday afternoon, reporting an accidental, self-inflicted gun shot to a 68 year old man at a deer camp, on Mamie Martin Road, in extreme southern Drew County.

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According to Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober, a 20 year old Inverness, Mississippi man surrendered himself to the Drew County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday, March 15th, based on a warrant issued for sexual indecency with a minor.

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In the game of golf, a “do over” on the tee shot is often called a “mulligan”.

Around 8 am, Tuesday morning, the driver of this Volkswagen certainly needed a “do over” as the vehicle lost control as it topped Country Club Hill, crashed through a fence, narrowly missing a power pole, before flipping, and finally coming to rest between a group of trees (on the sidewalk near the 9th hole of the golf course). 

According to reports, the driver was not injured.

A neighbor told MLive, in 17 years living nearby, she has seen 8 major wrecks near that hill and intersectin.

MPD and DCSO worked the accident,  C&L Wrecker towed the VW.

Wayne Fawcett, Drew Central School’superintendent for the past 4 years, will be leaving the district, in order to accept the superintendant’s position in Paris, AR.

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Around 2:30 Sunday morning, an 18 year old Drew County youth was reportedly involved in a 4-wheeler accident in the Possum Valley  area.

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After an email was sent by Monticello Mayor Allen Maxwell to city council members, that e-mail found it’s way to the courthouse.  A meeting was called Wednesday morning, to “air out” the issues pertaining to the ongoing battle over the Juvenile Court’s use of the MEDC / District Court building.

This long-running soap opera earlier led to the “back door” sign being posted on the MEDC / Court door; the front court room door being locked; and most recently to City Hall’s “No Public Restroom” policy, which in turn led to an “old fashioned outhouse” being placed on the City Hall yard, outside of the Mayor’s window.

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According to Sheriff Mark Gober, on Sunday, March 11th at approximately 1:00 AM, Drew County Sheriff’s Deputies were notified that an officer needed assistance with a fight that had occurred after a fraternity party at the Drew County Fairgrounds. (more…)

Joe Meeks has announced his candidacy for Monticello City Council, Ward 3, Position 2. He has been a resident of Monticello for the last 19 years, having graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello with a degree in Political Science. He has been employed as an engineer with AT&T for over 12 years. Mr. Meeks currently serves the community as a member of the Library Building Committee and as a volunteer fireman with the Monticello Fire Department. He is married to Kristi McKinley Meeks, a 3rd grade teacher at Drew Central. The couple has two children, Nathan 9, and Hannah 7. They are active members of First United Methodist Church, where Kristi sings in the Praise Band and Joe serves on the finance committee.

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WE NOW CUT AND PROGRAM KEYS AND REMOTES FOR MOST VEHICLES:

GM, FORD, MAZADA, LEXUS, TOYOTA, DODGE, AND MANY MORE.

WE ALSO HAVE A MAXIMUM RANGE BATTERY STATION IF YOU NEED A NEW BATTERY FOR YOUR REMOTE

ALL BATTERIES $5.00.

A 59 year old Winchester man died around noon, Thursday, during a house fire at his residence on Old Highway 65.

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The driver of a Bayou Grain 18-wheeler fertilize delivery truck apparently took a curve on Florence Road too fast, around 10 o’clock, Tuesday morning, resulting in a hopper trailer of farm fertilize being dumped into a road ditch.

The driver was extricated from the crushed cab of the vehicle by the Fire & Rescue Team, and them transported to the JRMC trauma center.  Someone at the scene said his injuries didn’t appear to be life threatening.

Triple A Towing is shown in the video, setting the truck upright.

A “bobcat” was cleaning up the spilled product, as evening was approaching, along with several individuals with buckets, collecting fertilize for their personal use.  Contact Ronnie Adcock at 723-2260 for info.

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