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.

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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.

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 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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-

This photo of Lake Monticello at sunset  was submitted by a MonticelloLive.com reader.

Thank you for sharing that sunset with the rest of us.

Vandalism has taken place in our local Monticello parks again over recent weeks, as shown by the photos above.

The top left shows (inside of the circles) where a loud speaker was taken from the ball field at Jordan Park. City workers discovered the speaker missing Monday morning when they arrived at work.

The top center pic shows where the “men” and “women” signs were removed from the new restrooms at McCloy Park, last week.

The bottom row of photos show where the pavilion at Lake Monticello’s table were “re-arranged” with litter scattered around the receptacles on both ends of the lake earlier this month.

Between the closing times of Western Sizzlin’ and Pizza Hut and when employees arrived at work Monday morning vandals forcefully entered both local restaurants in apparent efforts to get money.

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Several Monticello area musicians have been making “Music News” lately.

CashboX, recently featured on the cover of Cashbox Magazine, were featured KATV Channel 7’s “Good Morning Arkansas” program, Friday.

Also, “Roots Country” True County Music Chart, based on internet radio airplay, includes Monticello’s Brison Reed at #10, and Shay Hood at both #14 and #20, with her 2 latest releases.

Around 5:30, Friday morning, a Drew County Sheriff’s deputy and SEEMS ambulance responded to a home on HWY 83 North, in response to the report of a man accidentally shooting himself in the shoulder with a rifle.

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Robert Jackson, of North Bailey St., was arrested by Monticello Police, Thursday evening around 10 pm, and charged with DWI 5, driving with a suspended license, and fleeing.

Jackson was seen by a police officer, whom he refused to stop for, until he’d made several turns, and driven across a yard to get to his residence, as he allegedly made several turns without a signal and ignored a couple of stop signs.

Judge Bynum Gibson set Jackson’s bond at $20,000

According to reports from the Arkansas State Police, the reason for the May 19 crash of a log truck, where the driver was air-lifted from the site near Enon Baptist Church, was that the log truck first collided with a utility trailer that came loose from a passing vehicle, causing the driver to lose control.

After hitting the utility trailer, the loaded big rig swerved right, then left (into a bridge railing), across a deep ditch, into a line of trees, where the tractor-trailer came to a stop. with the load of logs crushing the cab.

According to Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Deen, Jimmy Shrum stated that he initially did not realize that he had lost his trailer.  He did go to the sheriff’s office and ultimately did return to the scene of the accident to provide the needed information.   Based on that information, the state declines to pursue felony prosecution. The misdemeanor charge filed in district court remains (more…)

According to reports, at 10:39, Sunday night, Monticello Police Dispatch received a 911 call from the Sonic drive-in, reporting an armed robbery where the manager and an employee were confronted by an unidentified black male, wearing a black hoodie and other dark clothing, carrying a gun.

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Ramien Collins was on trial, Wednesday, on 2nd degree battery charges, for the alleged beating of Mario Gilbert on October 8, after Gilbert had entered Collins’ parents home with a “sawed off shotgun”, forcing 3 men outside the residence to go into the Florence Road home with him.    (more…)

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