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Former Drew County Judge Damon Lampkin and newly appointed District Court Judge P. Luevonda Ross were honored for their achievements at Monday night’s Martin Luther King birthday celebration by the NAACP.

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A MLive reader sighted a pair of White-tailed Kites just off 16 Section Rroad, near the cemetery, recently.

She submitted the photos to Whatbird.com and the birds were verified as White-tailed Kites.

Those are scarce in our area and usually restricted to the south Texas  and Mexico area.

Thanks for sharing your discovery.

According to Sheriff Mark Gober, Drew County deputies responded to separate theft related calls at the same residence.

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According to this graphic from FlighAware.com, even though there wasn’t much traffic on local roads, the skies around the Monticello airport were busy, around 8:30, Tuesday.

KLLQ is the reference for Ellis Field.

Mayor Allen Maxwell, in a recorded statement Monday morning, confirmed that Fire Chief Steven Faulkner had been placed on administrative leave, and an interim Fire Chief had been appointed. Today, a few more details have been released.

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Around 11 am Tuesday, as most of Drew County was getting pelted by ice pellets, several ice related accidents occurred.

On HWY 278 East, just before Dead Man’s Curve, a maroon Chevy pick-up was off in the ditch.

Just past the curve, near Bordeaux Road, a gold sedan had lost control in the ice, and came to a stop in a nearby bean field.

Just past the next gradual curve, were 3 vehicles, all involved or partially involved,  in another mishap .

It started as a gray, westbound Mitsubishi lost control in the ice.  The driver avoided colliding with an eastbound Chevy pick up, but the Chevy truck  swerved and ended up in the ditch.

The Mitsubishi then struck an oncoming, white Volkswagen Jetta, which was being driven by the wife of the Chevy driver. sending both vehicles spinning into the ditch area.

Drew County Sheriff’s deputies worked the accident(s).  No one was reportedly injured, however an ambulance resonded to check out one of the drivers.

The recent ice storm has produced fewer fallen trees and broken limbs than earlier predicted.

The top photo shows a tree that fell on Jordan Drive, Tuesday afternoon.

The lower photo was taken of a North Main St. home, Monday evening.  No damage was reported.

Around 10am, Tuesday morning, a UAM student was traveling back to class, westbound on Jordan Drive, when he felt his Jeep loose traction in the ice, “fishtail”, and then rollover on the bridge.

The driver was not injured.  Monticello Police worked scene, assisted by Arkansas State Police. The Fire & Rescue Squad was also paged out.  Dan’s wrecker towed the vehicle.

Mayor Allen Maxwell, in a recorded statement Monday morning, confirmed that Fire Chief Steven Faulkner has been placed on administrative leave, and an interim Fire Chief has been appointed, effective last Friday.

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The AHTD provides statewide highway road conditions at 1-800-245-1672.

Around 10 am, the AHTD was putting salt/sand on the HWY 425 / Jordan Drive overpass, because of ice accumulation.

Roadways and sidewalks are beginning to become slick in some areas, so use caution as you’re out and about, today.

When city hall employees arrived at work this morning, one of them went into the City Council meeting room, and found parts of the ceiling laying on the floor.

It is believed that the weight of the recent heavy rains cause a minor sag in the roof, which caused enough of a bowing effect for the staples holding the ceiling tile to pull loose. 

Around 4 am, Sunday, flooding was reportedly enter homes homes on North Gabbert St.

In an interview with the family, they said they heard water running, and when they got out ot bed to see what was wrong, their feet touched the carpet, and that’s when then knew their home was flooded.

The family told KARK and MLive that they had requested the city and state clean out a culvert under North Gabberrt St. that was clogged up with leaves, but no one taken care of the impending problem.

After their hause was flooded, the AHTD cleared the culvert, and the water (in their yard) was soon gone.

Also see the KARK report.

Around 8:30, Wednesday night, the driver of this eastbound Dodge Dakota lost control of her vehicle in the rain, near Dead Man’s Curve, on HWY 278 East. 

Arkansas State Troopers worked the accident, assisted by the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept.

SEEMS transported the victim to Drew Memorial. Rod’s Wrecker removed the Dakota.

With another 100% chance of rain, today, be aware that hydroplaning can easily occur.

Monticello Police arrested three Walmart employees, Friday, based on evidence that they were involved in the theft of around $5,000 each from the store. 

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5 Year Old Bitten by Pit Bull
Sex Offender Arrested on Child Rape Charges
Man Charged with Rape & Kidnapping Accepts Plea
Panorama Restaurant Opens
New Library Groundbreaking – Video
No Bond Set for Capital Murder Suspect
UAM Planning Major Changes To On-Campus Residential Living
Humane Society Leader Addresses City Council about Pit Bulls
Judge, Treasurer, & JPs Honored with Plaques on Retirement
Monticello Superintendent to School Board on Security
Monticello School Board & Administrators Discuss School’s Drug Policy
Gillespie & McKiever Honored for City Council Service
10 Year Old Becomes Christmas Example During “Shop with a Cop”
Drew Central Hires LR Lawyer to Fight Discrimination Suit by Former Employee
Quorum Court Declares Position Vacant – Appoints New Circuit Clerk to Serve Current Term
Local Fire Chief / Constable Dies, Following Dec. 22 Accident

McDonalds on HWY 425 North is advertising a new product on their front sign.

Apparently, I’m not the only one who needs to use spell-check more often.

Billies to Honor Zach Towers, Injured Star City Player
County Judge Race Ends in Run-Off
Sex Offender on Probation, Pleads Guilty to Another Sex Assault
UAM Professor Responds to Recent Arrest
UAM Chancellor Appointed To NCAA Division II Presidents Council
Update on Sadie Johnson Community Center Construction
“I”m Not Worried About the Cracks” (in the Floor of the Sadie Johnson Center)
MHS Player Signs Letter of Intent to Play for SAU 
Attempted Capital Murder & Armed Robbery Charges Lead to 30 Year Prison Sentence for Last of Manhunt Suspects
Sunday Shooting Sends 1 to Hospital, 1 to Jail
Ross Sworn in as New District Judge – Video 
Election Results – Robert Akin Wins County Judge Race 
Calhoun Named Regional Library Director
4 Mayors Attend Groundbreaking at New Whaley Fire Station
Ashley County Man Receives 2 Life Sentences + 50 Years for Death of Expectant Mother