Around 5:30, Saturday morning, the driver of the trailer of hay bales (shown below) seems to have pulled out in front of the Tyson 18-wheeler.  Both vehicles were traveling north on HWY 25 South. 

The collision occurred between All-Occaision Florist and Jordan Drive.

The driver of the Tyson truck was transported to DMH to be checked for injuries.

Triple A Towing removed the big-rig, so the roadway could be re-opened.

Monticello Police, assisted by Drew County Sheriff’s deputies, worked the crash site.

HWY 425 South, just north of Ladelle, was the scene of a fatal motor vehicle collision, Wednesday morning around 6:15, as this Ford pick-up collided head on with this Toyota Corolla.  Monticello’s Fire and Rescue Team was called out to extricate the occupants from one of the vehicles.

(more…)

A Monticello woman was arrested Friday, around noon, after MPD responded to a call reporting that she had attacked a local beautician.  The woman was charged with battery, and bonded out of jail, upon being taken to the County Detention Facility.

But that wasn’t the only time she was arrested, that day.

(more…)

The Monticello City Council, at their recent meeting, approved the yearly city street overlays, which are divided as close to evenly between the city’s wards as possible.

(more…)

Johnny Donaldson, age 68, of Monticello, died in the waters of Big Bayou Meto, southwest of Gillett, Tuesday morning.

According to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Donaldson, died Tuesday, around 11:30 a.m, when he apparently fell into the water, near a floodgate, near the Arkansas river.  No one knows how he fell into the water.

Donaldson, who was fishing alone that morning, was best know in Monticello as a contractor, and as owner of several apartment complexes.

James Glenn, age 85, of Drew County, died Monday from injuries sustained Friday afternoon around 3 pm, in an automobile accident on HWY 293, near Selma Mill Loop.

According to Arkansas State Police reports, Glenn’s Ford Ranger failed to stop and ran into the rear of a loaded log truck, which had stopped, and was waiting to turn left.

Glenn was transported to Drew Memorial Hospital, and them transferred to Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, where he died from his injuries.

A call of “shots fired” came through the Monticello Police Department’s dispatch at approximately 1:00am on Monday.

(more…)

Click here for the story from SalineRiverChronicle.com.

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Luna Bro’s Circus will put on an exciting performance for children of all ages, Friday at 7 p.m. in front of the Marketplace, at the intersection of HWY 425 and HWY 278.

Clown, animals, jugglers, vendors, and all types of circus entertainment will be presented.

Luna Bros. Circus thrilled the crowd in Monticello back  in 2008, and again in 2010.  The show has grown since that time, so come on out and see the many new attractions, and their new “Big Top”.

700 employees to be laid off.

Paper and Chemical Operations Not Affected.

Click here for the full story from AshleyCountyLedger.com

Local college football fans watching the Ole Miss vs. BYU game, Tuesday night, couldn’t help but smile when they heard the name of former Monticello Billie Brishen Mathews getting credit for a tackle on a Cougar’s kick returner, early in the second half of the nationally televised game.

Good work, Brishen.

Drew Memorial Hospital’s phase I and Phase II of the building modernization project were discussed. The new inpatient wing under construction should be completed and ready for occupancy by February 1, 2012. The allied health building should be completed and ready for occupancy by March 1, 2012. The final phase of this project, which is the new surgery center and a new concept and a line drawing, was reviewed. A cost estimate should be available within the next few weeks, based on the new concept of locating the Women’s Center on the front side of the hospital rather than on the backside and relocating the new geri-psych unit closer to the hospital.

Reports indicate that the construction of the new Pre-Post/Op area should be complete by October 1, 2011.

Reprinted from DMH Hospital Report.

SeaArk Marine, a Monticello industry for 52 years, announced Tuesday that they plan to discontinue most of their plant operations at the end of 2011.

(more…)

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Around 5:20, Monday morning, this alligator, estimated to be approximately 6 ft. long, was found crossing HWY 277, near Tillar.

The gator’s presence prompted a phone call to the Monticello Police Dispatch, who sent a Drew County Sheriff’s deputy to the scene.

The gator was safely  taken into custody by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Another alligator, estimated to be 9 feet in length,  was captured by AG&F officers in May, while trying to cross HWY 165, south of Dermott, in the Lake Wallace area of Drew County.  Drew County Sheriff’s deputies were also present.

The video of the May alligator capture has been viewed over 2,000 times on MLive.

Captured alligators are generally re-located to an appropriate habitat, where they will not be around people.

In the category of “not your everyday activity”, around 12 noon, an 18-wheeler dump truck, hauling “used chicken litter” caught fire as it was driving south on HWY 425 North.  The driver turned on HWY 278 East, unaware of the blaze that he was hauling.   The truck was pulled over by Monticello Police Officers, near Jordan Park.

Monticello Fire Dept. members quiclky arrived to extinguish the fire, which seemed to be contained to the cargo area of the big-rig.

Reports did not indicate if the cargo was damaged.

Photo and original info submitted  by a MLive reader.

The MEDC and the Chamber of Commerce hosted the dedication ceremonies for the Ridgeway Monticello and the Downtown Civic Center, Tues afternoon.

Ridgeway tours  led into the ceremony at the fully renovated hotel, where around 100 people attended.

The Downtown Civic Center dedication followed, and had an estimated 75 present.

Cablevisin’s “Hometown Monticello” program on Channel 19 will include a special video segment of the Ridgeway Monticello dedication event, repeating from Sunday at 5 pm, until Monday at 7 am, this weekend.

(more…)

Former Monticello Schools choir director, Michael Binns. Sr, passed away Sunday, at 4:38 pm.

Binns was convicted  by a Drew County Circuit Court jury on July 14 on 2 counts of 2nd degree sexual assault,  Binns was hospitalized at Baptist Health Center in Little Rock on Wednesday, July 20, before returning to the Drew County Detention Facility on Thursday, July 21, and being transferred to the Arkansas Dept. of Corrections on Friday, July 22.

(more…)

Story revised from MagnoliaReporter.com.

The United States Postal Service said that 179 post offices in Arkansas are among 3,653 locations that will be reviewed for possible closure.

Winchester’s Post Office is on that list, as are Banks, Jersey, New Edinburg, Yorktown, Pickens, Montrose, and Parkdale.

CLICK HERE to see the complete list of Arkansas post offices that will be studied.

(more…)

According to the Monticello Police Dept., an investigation is underway in the case of  the armed robbery of Monticello Western Sizzlin’, Friday night, around 10 pm.

(more…)

These 2 calves have found a comfortable home in the back yard of a Western Pines residence.

Friends say the owners treat them just like “the family dogs.”

In preparation for the coming dedication of the downtown square and Ridgeway Monticello, the Monticello Downtown Revitalization Committee and Monticello Economic Development Commission need photos to include in a slide show for the public.

They are looking for photos of downtown Monticello and the Ridgeway Hotel from the 1930’s and 1940’s period. If you have photos that we can copy electronically, please contact 367-3076.

Your photos will not be damaged and will be returned to you immediately.

Thank you in advance for your help.

  (more…)

According to Lincoln County Sheriff Larry McGee, Tuesday evening, Lincoln County Deputy Hudson received a call reporting a reckless driver on HWY 425, north of Star City.  The caller gave a complete description of the vehicle, and it’s license plate number.

(more…)

Melvin LaRon James was sentenced by a Drew County Circuit Court jury Friday to serve 24 years for the robbery of EZ Mart, on the corner of Gaines and Hyatt Street, April 20. (more…)

Recently, a discussion at a City Council meeting included the public confirmation that a couple of dumpsters at McCloy park are available for public use.

A sign was recently posted, explaining the “household garbage” rules.

Who ever tried to put the Jacuzzi whirlpool into the dumpster, apparently didn’t read the sign.

Click on the >< to enlarge

(more…)

Last Thursday night, local citizens, serving as committee members interested in rebuilding the Sadie Johnson Community Center met with ETC engineers and Mayor Allen Maxwell, and approved the preliminary drawings of the new structure to be built at Jordan Park on the site of the old building which was destroyed by fire last year.

(more…)

John Wayne & April Ross

Dwight, Sherri, Callie, and Justin Witcher

The Drew County Fair Board voted at their last meeting to recognize 2 local families, both well known for their decades of farming traditions, and both longtime supporters of the Drew County Fair, as the “2011 Drew County Fair Farm Families of the Year.”

John Wayne and April Ross, of Florence, and Dwight and Sherri Witcher and family, of Selma, were honored for their lifelong dedication to farming, and to the Drew County farming tradition.

Both families will serve as Parade Marshalls for the 2011 Drew County Fair Parade.

Around 7 o’clock, Saturday morning, Monticello Police received a phone call reporting a break-in at Western Sizzlin’ restaurant.

This was the 2nd burglary at the restaurant this week, after the one discovered Monday morning.

Monticello Police are investigating the crime, and encourage anyone who may have seen a suspicious vehicle or person to call them at 367-