Click here for the full story from January.  The video comes in at #23 for the year.

Although a parade may not be considered a “news story” the 2011 Drew County Fair Parade was the 7th most watched video of the year, with the Chamber of Commerce’s “Carols of Christmas” Parade coming in at #11.

Tillar’s 2nd annual Christmas parade also earned an impressive view level.

Note: An “engaging” event that occurred at the Christmas parade, which earned statewide news coverage, will rank higher in the “Top 40 Stories”.

The top story for the month of May was the Mississippi and Arkansas River Flood Warning, that covered Chicot and Desha Counties.

There was no regular online daily coverage of the event, so MonticelloLive stepped in, with total co-operation of the county judges and emergency personnel in both counties, to provide daily updates on the river levees and the battle to keep residents and property safe.

These two videos were viewed a combined total of 1600 times.

Arkansas Weather held true to it’s reputation. If you don’t like it, wait for tomorrow and it will change.

2011 brought with it a drought and long burn ban, and weeks of rain.  Many trees fell, some because of thunderstorms and strong winds, some not.

This video of February’s snow reveived over 500 viewings.

In 2011, a few Monticello residents were exposed to national audiences, in their specific fields of talent.

The featured performers included Kellie Moore, Cashbox, and Taylor Eubanks.

This alligator was captured near Lake Wallace in May.  An alligator may not be worthy of the #35 story of 2011, but this video ha been viewed over 2,300 times. 

Another alligator was caught near Tillar in August.

After several years of hard work, the “dream” of bringing the old Ridgeway Hotel back to life as a modern senior apartment complex, became a reality, in 2011.

While recycling has only affected those who volunteer to take part, it will take a more prevalent roll in our lives in the near future.

Here’s an article that Mandy Moss recently posted on MLive about recycling in Drew County.

This 2007 article, Recycling, What It’s All About, was enough to stop my family from throwing away 1,000’s of aluminum cans (without any extra work).

In sharing the Christmas spirit, MonticelloLive.com donated the toys shown here to 3 worth programs.

One group went to the Ryburn Motor Company sleigh, which are distributed by the Junior Auxiliary.

Another group went to Cablevision’s Toys for Tots program, which will find good homes for the goodies, through the assistance of DHS.

The final third of the Christmas toys was delivered to the Baptist Home for Children.

All items donated will remain in Drew County, and bring joy to our local childrem.

Jay Dyson, of Monticello, invited his girlfried to watch the Christmas Parade, Tuesday night, at the Monticello Town Square.

Meagan Wilson, of Longview, TX, a senior at UAMonticello, was surprised when Jay “won” the chance to introduce the 4 guest judges.

Meagan was even more surprised when Jay proposed to her in front of the hundreds of onlookers, there for the parade.

She said “yes.”

We think events like this only happen at big league baseball games and in jewelry commercial, but having it take place at the Monticello Square, and on MLive video, was truly a unique event.  

The video of them shairng that special event has been viewed over 1,600 times, and was featurede on FOX16 news, Wednesday night. 

A Warren police officer was arrested earlier this week, and charged with abuse of the public trust for accepting bribes.

Here’s the story from SalineRiverChronicle.com.

A 26 year old Dumas man, likely to be charged with Capital Murder and Felon in Possession of  a Firearm, appeared before Circuit Judge Bynum Gibson for a First Appearance Hearing, Monday afternoon, at the Drew County Courthouse.

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In the true spirit of Thanksgiving, Pauline Baptist Church members spent yesterday morning preparing, serving, and delivering around 400 Thanksgiving dinners to Monticello area residents.

Giving their holiday to serve and minister to others; now that’s really celebrating the meaning of Thanksgiving.

A Monticello man, arrested for stealing multiple items from his employer, was released on a $20,000 bond in February.

He allegedly fled to Los Angeles, CA, and was recently arrested there by U.S. Marshals.

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Fredrick “Alex” Rayford was arrested Sunday, and charged with the rape of a juvenile victim in Drew County, earlier that day.

Rayford is a registered sex offender and was on probation at the time of the alleged event.

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On Monday, James Edward Green, Jr., was convicted of Failure to Register as a Sexual Offender, and Registered Sex Offender Living Near a School or Daycare, by a jury in the Drew County Circuit Court.

Green still faces drug charges from an arrest last week, while he was out on bond, for this trial.

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Monticello District Judge Ken Harper reportedly agreed to accept letters of reprimand and censure by the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, last week.

By reaching an agreement with the JDDC, Harper will remain in the position of District Judge, with no other disciplinary action being taken against him. if he follows the guidelines outlined in the agreement.

Below are the context of those 2 letters.

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Click here.

According to Lt. Jason Akers of the Tenth Drug Task Force, a multi-county investigation by the Task Force has resulted in the arrest of three suspects the Task Force believes were involved in the illegal distribution of prescription narcotics.

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Approximately 50 local residents attended Thursday nights public meeting to see the presentation of the proposed Convention Center at UAM’s Fine Arts Center.

The video of the meeting is posted above, along with the question and answer session. (more…)

The displayed price of unleaded seems to have sky-rocketed, following a strong gust of wind (at least on the Walmart side of Murphy’s).

Thank you to the many readers who told MLive abou this great photo opportunity.

Well, it’s that time of year again.  Time change.

Tonight, most parts of the country will turn their clocks BACK.  So if it’s 2 a.m., it becomes 1 a.m. again.

Now that’s a deal, an extra hour of sleep.

By the way, using the excuse of, “I forgot to set my clock” won’t justify missing Church in the morning.  It would only explain why someone was there an hour TOO EARLY.

So, see you in Church.

According to Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober, DCSO arrested a 26 year old man, formerly of Monticello, for failure to register/failure to comply with reporting requirements as a convicted sex offender after receiving information that the residence in which he had last reported to be residing in had been vacant for the past month.

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These two photos are of the Monticello Doctors exhibit at the museum there are numerous photos of Doctors including the first doctor in Monticello as well as the first African-American Doctor in Monticello, Also in the cases are the tools of the trade, I can remember as a tot going to Dr. Hyatt’s office on Main Street and usually if one in the family was ill all of the family was, but this particular time stands out, Myself and my brother were sick with colds and had to receive a shot, Dr. Hyatt came in with a ominous looking metal syringe full of white liquid stuck it in my arm shot half of it in and pulled the needle out and jabbed it in my brother releasing the remainder of the medicine. How many of you can remember the “old days of modern medicine”?

Come see this and many other interesting items on display at your Drew County Museum, We are open Fridays from 1pm till 4pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 pm till 4 pm.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Drew County Historical Society, memberships are $25 Dollars for a single membership or $40 for a family membership. Please mail your membership request to The Drew County Historical Society 404 South Main Monticello, AR 71655.

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When a resident of Oak View Apartments went to her car, last Wednesday morning, she discovered that it had been hit in the rear, overnight, and the accident was not reported.

When Monticello Police arrived, the investigation led to the discovery that the “hit & run” vehicle was actually a City of Monticello trash truck.  Estimates to repair the vehicle came in at around $3,000.

Since a city vehicle was involved, the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept. took over the case.

City truck #116 was identified as the vehicle involved, which was confirmed by paint marks.

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Around 12:30 Sunday afternoon, the Monticello Fire Dept. responded to the report to a mobile home fire in the Koala Bear Trailer Park on Scott Street.

The resident of the trailer, Eric Burton Bell, attempted to get close to or enter the burning structure while firefighters were still battling the blaze and was arrested by MPD.  Bell was charged with Disorderly Conduct, Obstructing Governmental Operations, Possession of Controlled Substance, and Resisting Arrest.

The cause of the fire was undetermined, but it appears that most of the damage was done in the living room / kitchen area of the trailer.

Another local resident was arrested after she set her own trailer on fire, and assaulted a family member, earlier this month.

A Monticello woman was very busy, Saturday, October 8, being arrested 3 times, on a wide variety of charges by the Arkansas State Police and the Monticello Police Dept.

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A Dermott man was arrested by the Monticello Police Dept., Tuesday, and charged with voyeurism for his actions outside of a Monticello home.

James E. Dotson, Jr.’s bond was set at $15,000 by District Judge Ken Harper.

Dotson has since bonded out of jail.

A 22 year old Monticello man died of injuries he received Friday morning, in a single vehicle car crash, in Pine Bluff.

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