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According to OneStat.com, the internet’s authority on website usage, MonticelloLive.com achieved our 1 millionth pageview (hit) last week, for the calendar year 2008.

Click on the weekly graph to the left to enlarge it, and see the steady growth the “Monticello’s Community Wesite” has achieved.

Website owner/operator, Joe Burgess, wants to thank the loyal readers, as well as the many contributors that helped bring this level of success with reach. 

A special “THANK YOU” goes out to the sponsors that help make this milestone possible.  Make it a point to tell them…….”I say your ad on MonticelloLive.”

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Two men who were stopped by Arkansas State Trooper Clayton Moss, near Lacey Wednesday, went before Monticello District Court Judge Ken Harper, Friday for first appearance bond hearings. (more…)

Drew Central’s Devin Horn, winner of the Drew County Fair’s Talent Show in the Variety Category, won the Arkansas State Fair’s District Competition earlier this week, and returned with the other district winners for Saturday night’s competition, where he was selected as the best in the statewide variety category.

Devin, shown here with his State Fair Trophy and prize money envelope, performed Billy Currington’s “I got a feeling”.

Congratulation, Devin!

Miss Drew County, Drew Higginbotham, is competing for Arkansas State Fair Queen tonight at the Little Rock Fairgrounds.

Drew competed Thursday evening at regionals and won a spot to compete for the finals held tonight.

Good luck Drew and represent Drew County well.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazzette held an unofficial, un scientific poll of the “Best College Quarterback in Arkansas”, which ended yesterday.Â

UAM’s Scott Buisson was voted “the best” with 37%, with the nearest 2 vote-getters receiving 30% & 29%.

Here’s the site, no registering, just vote and click Buisson’s name and hit vote.

Mike Layfield, Drew Memorial Hospital’s new CEO came on staff this week, and is currently spending most of his time getting to know the hospital staff at Drew Memorial.

Layfield, shown here with Vonda Russell at a “Meet & Greet” held in the hospital cafeteria Wednesday morning, wants to meet with all employees and physicians personally, and he seems to be making a positive impression on all.

Layfield told MonticelloLive, “I’m impressed with community’s interest and support of our hospital.”  “We are all partners in healthcare and health education: the hospital, the doctors, the Health Dept., and home health.” (more…)

 

The Arkansas  Airport Operator’s Association has announced that Monticello’s Ellis Field has been chosen as the Arkansas Airport of the Year by their organization.

 

Monticello was chosen as the top airport, over Arkansas’ 90 other airports, for the successful completion of six projects, among other accomplishments.

Most Monticello residents don’t realize how much the local airport is used by local industries. Currently there are 26 air-crafts based out of the Monticello facility.  An estimated 25 flights come and go from Ellis Field each week, and the day that MonticelloLive interviewed airport manager James Barnett, there were an estimated 15 flights in that singe day.

The airport has received a plaque recoginzing the honor, along with a proclamation and letter from the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics, describing the reasons that the honor was granted to the local field.

Monticello’s Airport began in 1947, and has been located in the same location since that time.

Goals for next year include studying possible approaches for the field, and completing the chain link fence, in order to prevent deer from entering the runway.

According to Arkansas State Police reports, David Parker of Monticello was pronounced dead at the scene of a tractor trailer-car accident at the intersection of HWY 65 and HWY 388 in Lincoln.  The intersection is better described as the turn-off that leads to the Dept. of Corrections for Cummins & Varner units. (more…)

A three vehicle wreck near the top of the hill in the 800 block of North Gabbert around 2 a.m. Sunday morning, sent two people to the hospital.

The Chevy Colorado, shown above, turned in front of the Olds Alero, which hit the tree on the west side of Gabbert St. according to the police report.

The driver of the Alero, Rodney Ridgell, was charged with DWI 2, no proof of insurance, and driving with a suspended license.

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Justin Arnold, age 19 of Camden, died at the scene of a Thursday auto accident that occurred around 6:15 p.m., apparently from internal injuries he received during the wreck.

Arnold was a passenger in a pick-up being driven by Richard Rudolph, age 20, of Drew County.  The truck was traveling toward Midway Route, on Old Troy Road, in the area of Firing Range Road, when it crossed the roadway, traveled down an embankment, and struck a “metal carport” break area, where four Price Industries
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Soon after the terrorists crashed the planes into the Twin Towers in New York City, and most Americans realized that we were not as safe as we all thought we were, country singer Alan Jackson released a song that summed up how a lot of people felt, and how they reacted.

The song asked, “where were you” on that September 11 morning, 2001.

Everyone is welcome to join in, and remember where you were, and what you did that morning, seven years ago.

Witnesses on the scene at Sav-A-Lot Friday afternoon, shortly after a 3:30 accident in which a GMC Envoy reportedly collided with a pedestrian crossing the parking lot toward the store, told MonticelloLive that “good Samaritans” nearby helped lift the vehicle up enough to remove the injured woman from under the vehicle.

Monticello Police and Fire & Rescuse responded.  MASI transported the pedestrian to Drew Memorial for treatment.

(Photo taken at intersection of S. Main and E. Bolling)

According to Lt. Jason Akers of the Tenth Drug Task Force, Task Force Agents and Monticello Police arrested two local residents, as well as a Pine Bluff man, on drug charges Monday afternoon.

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Wolf Creek Baptist Camp, which in located south of the Collins community, has had a positive effect on several generations of South Arkansas young people.

After a long day of volleyball, kickball, and waiting in line at the “snack shack”, I remember sitting in the same tabernacle back in the ’70’s, listening to speaker preaching to “kids my age”. Then everyone would gather around the campfire for “current” favorites, like Pass It On and He’s Everything To Me.

Well, Wolf Creek’s history of bringing kids out into the country, and into a spiritual week, filled with wholesome activities, as well as Bible study and worship, is still taking place, with the Delta Baptist Assocation’s Camp, which will be concluding today. 

This year, 107 children took part in the week long camp, representing 15 different churches.

The camp pastor this year is Terry Sayers, from Kelso Baptist Church. The director, Teresa Kelley, attends Bayou Mason Church, near Lake Village.  Also leading in the activities were Coy & Vivian Sample, who serve as Missionaries to Africa.

With all of the trials and temptations that our young people face everyday, it sure is good to see that God is still using camps like Wolf Creek, to give them a Godly based backgound to build upon.

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Paramedic Jason Beckman and Mr. Taylor are shown here in a phot taken from Taylor’s appearance Saturday night, here in Monticello.

SouthEast Emergency Medical Services had posted an ambulance at the matches, and Jason was present night of the fight and had the  picture made.

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Last week it became official, when Randy Pogue, of Greenbrier, visited Monticello on behalf of the Arkansas Forestry Commission, and signed over ownership of the “new to Monticello” 1989 Pierce Arrow ladder truck with a 105 foot ladder.

One of the features of the new unit, is that is has a remotely controlled nozzle, with a maximum output of around 1000 gallons per minute.

Shown here, members of the Monticello Fire Dept., Fire Chief Steve Faulkner,  Randy Pogue, MEDC Director Truman Hamilton, local Forestry Agent Joe Friend, and Mayor Joe Rogers.

The estimated value of the ladder truck is around $400,000, if it were to be purchased.

The grant was a part of the Federal Excess Property Program, which has distributed 412 vehicle throughout the state of Arkansas, and has sent aid to 70 of Arkansas’ 75 counties.

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Sgt. Larry Smith, Sr.
Criminal Investigator
Monticello Police Department
 

I have known Larry Smith for several years, but never really spent much time around him, until my wife’s truck was broken into a couple of years ago, and he worked the case.

When I started covering the Police Dept. for MonticelloLive,  I began to consider Larry to be a good friend.  I, like so many others was shocked to here about Larry’s battle with cancer.  There are a couple of links below that will take you to the story about the wristbands that local police officers are selling, information about the cook-out to help cover Larry’s medical expenses on April 11 & 12, and photos from Larry’s recent plane ride over Lake Monticello. 

But first, here is this week’s One Monticello Life edition, written by Larry’s longtime, family friend, Trish Harvey.

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Sgt. Larry Smith, a detective with the Monticello Police Department, has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Larry had recently told another employee of the police department that one thing he’d really love to do, would be to fly over Lake Monticello, and of course, go fishing.

Several of his friends knew of someone who had a plane that he used for business trips.

By now, you can see where this story is leading. 

Wednesday morning, Larry’s wish came true, when Ward Rabb took him for an aerial view of Lake Monticello and the surrounding area.

The photos above show Larry in the plane, waiting for take-off, taking off, and landing.  Larry’s expression shows how much he enjoyed the ride.  When asked how everything looked, Larry simply said, “Small.”

Shown here are Drew County deputy, Larry Smith, Jr., Monticello Police Dept. members, Jerald Clark, Larry Smith, Eddy Deaton, and Trish Harvey.  Also shown are Ward Rabb, and Chief Robert Rosegrant.  Not shown are Game & Fish officer John Paul Greer, MPD’s Ginger Norris, and Shelly Rabb.

Special thanks to Ward and Shelly Rabb for making this possible.

Oh, yeah, I forgot something.

Larry is shown here crappie-fishing in Gail Hyatt’s pond, later on in the day.

Although these fish were caught in Alaska, last year, I put them in because Larry said if he didn’t catch many, to find a good picture. 

Well, that’s Larry for you.

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“20 for the Futrue” listens to Congressman Mike Ross, as he explains how he will support issues in Monticello & Drew County.

Monticello delegatin with Congressman Mike Ross ouside of his office.

Senator Blance Lincoln, Benny Ryburn, Dave Dickson, Sheilla Lampkin, and Judy Lassiter discussing Drew County’s needs in Senator Lincoln’s office.

Senator Blanche Lincoln with “20 for the Future”.

Photos courtesy of Curtis Larsen, of Union Bank.

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Monticello’s “20 for the Future” group left Tuesday, on their annual trip to Washington D.C., and returned late Thursday night.

While in Washington, they met with Congressman Mike Ross, Senator Blanche Lincoln, and staff members for our area’s other representatives.

They were also able to watch U.S. Senator Mark Pryor making a presentatin from the Senate floor.

MonticelloLive spoke to a couple from the group.  One member said, “with an effort like this, it will be next year before you know how much was accomplished”.  Another who was present commented, “Everyone we visited with seemed to be concerned.  They were also helpful with suggestions on other, possibly better, ways to achieve our goals.” 

Last year the group flew in to Nation’s Capitol during a snowstorm, and this year they arrived in Little Rock on the return trip with reports of snow as well.

Monticello’s Fire Dept.’s new ladder truck came in today.

The 105 foot reach ladder truck was the result of an application that was made to a grant program, involving the Arkansas Forestry Commission.

The unit had been involved in the Navy’s station at Corpus Christi, TX, where our firefighters went to pick the truck up, and drove it to Monticello, arriving around 4 p.m. this afternoon.

Notice the size of the vehicle compared to the men standing next to it.

Usually, One Monticello Life is done in an interview type format, but this week will be a little different.

Someone suggested that we feature Kasey Earl a couple of months ago.  When I heard that he was playing at “the Coffee Bean” Friday and last night, I had to go.  It was great. But that’s not all.  Kasey is also the drummer for Gary Meggs & Ezekiel 3:18, who will be featured in the “Branson Comes to Monticello” event tonight.  It’s been a busy week for Kasey Earl, this week’s One Monticello Life.

This weeks edition may be in a different format, but I think you will be blessed by learning more about Kasey Earl.

When I asked Kasey to tell me about himself, and how he got to where the Lord has led him today, he sumed it up this way……

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The link below gives details of a car wreck in which a life was lost.  There is also a photo of the vehicle.

Reader descretion is suggested.

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Last Thursday, Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober and 10th Judicial Drug Task Force Special Agent John Carter arrested Keith Tenner, of Monticello, with a large amount of what appeared to be crack cocaine.

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