21 local business, education, and political leaders traveled to Washington D.C. last Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and met with Arkansas’ Congressional Delegation. (more…)

MonticelloLive.com would like to thank the members of the “20 for the Future” group that went to Washington D.C. for the photos that they have provided for public posting. 

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Joe Burgess, of MonticelloLive.com, complied with unofficial police dept. requests today and posted his own birthday on MonticelloLive.com.

After several readers pointed out, “if you posted my birthday, you ought to put your own out there for everyone to know about”, he agreed.

Shown here are Lt. Steven Stain, Burgess, and Sgt. Jerald Clarke.

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James Daniels, age 23 of Monticello, drove to the Monticello Police Dept, with the intention of filing a police report.  Upon arrival, Daniels was arrested and charged with DWI, after failing a field sobriety test.

He also admitted to the officer, during the test, that he had recently “smoked a blunt”.

Daniels’ vehicle was towed, and he was transported to the Drew County Detention Facility.

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Around 9 o’clock Monday night, people around UAM had their lights go out, soon the 9-1-1 phone at the police dept. received several reports about a overturned pick-up on Bowser road near HWY 425.

When the police dept. and a state trooper arrived, they heard about another truck that had left the scene…and a drag race. (more…)

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Calvin Murphy, of O&M Oil Co., is celebrating his ?? birthday today.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Calvin.
(Permission was granted to use the story title.)

Sheriff Newell Normand, of Jefferson Parish Louisiana, has released information about the arrest of four individuals for aggravated burglary and home invasion charges, including 2 UAM football players, (more…)

MonticelloLive recently spoke with Bill Horton, CEO of the DFI group, w conshich is contructing the Bio-Diesel plant at Jerome, and asked him about the progress of construction of the proposed faclity, which will possibly employ up to 250.  (more…)

After many fund raisers, enough money was raised to purchase the monument for Sgt Larry D. Smith of the Monticello Police Department.

His monument was set on December 23, 2008 which was Larry’s 51st Birthday.

There is no way his Police Department family could ever express our appreciation to everyone that helped from purchasing a ticket to making a donation and or physically helping during each fund raiser that we had, therefore those of you that did help please know we appreciate each and everyone of you. Larry very much deserved this beautiful monument.

We also would like to give a special thank you to Lyle & Kim Welch & all employees of Southeast Emergency Ambulance Service for everything you did to help make this possible. Larry is and forever will be missed but will Never be forgotten.

We Love you Larry. 1902 10-7 10-42 God Speed.

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Tuesday night the Chamber of Commerce and MEDC held their annual awards banquet, at the UAM University Center.

The winners are:

Monticello teacher of the year; Jennifer Touchstone, MMS science teacher, also awarded regional teacher of the year.

Drew Central teacher of the year;  Rose Ann Adcock, DCMS 6th grade teacher.

Industry of the year: UAM.  “UAM’s impact includes millions of dollars into the local economy.  More than buildings and books,” quoted from Truman Hamilton during the presentation.

Business of the year; Head of the Class Child Care and Learning Center, Sherrie and Shay Gillespie-10 years with 40 employees now.

Woman of the year;  Betty Lindsey, president of Drew Memorial Hospital auxiliary-recruited 12 new auxiliary members in last 2 years. Awarded state “auxiliary member of the year”.

Man of the year; Drew County Judge Damon Lampkin.

 

 

Drew County Farm Family of the Year; Jeremy & Michael Oltmann families.

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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
employees were taking a break. (more…)

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