Around a year ago, the photo for the MLive Sunday Bulletin changed.  It may not have been noticed by many readers, but there was a reason behind it.

When you operate a public medium (like MLive) there’s a certain amount of your personal life that you have to include; but there is also a limit.

Although only very close friends (and folks who read local church bulletin prayer lists) knew it, Sue (my wife) had a severe heart attack just over a year ago, spending two weeks in Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock.  After a double-bypass and a “valve job”, she was released, to come home and continue recovery.

MonticelloLive was posted twice every day, as usual, from the hospital, since “business MUST go on.”  (My Iphone and BMC wi-fi were awesome.) 

But when your nights are spent on a waiting room couch, and you don’t know if they’ll even be able do perform surgery, there are few sources of comfort to be found.  But there was one place I found……

The photo change took place so that every Sunday, I would go back to that same place of comfort I used for those two long weeks.  The Prayer Chapel at Baptist Medical Center. 

I hope that you can see the light and love of my Saviour, Jesus Christ, shining through, like I did then, and still do today.

This photo was taken on HWY 278, as combine was loading farm trailer.

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Several strong thunderstorms rolled across Drew County, last night, with strong winds, heavy rains, and dangerous lightning.

The first storm came through around 8:20, another around 11 pm, with 2 more storm systems (one near Florence and another near Lake Monticello) around midnight.

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Tuesday afternoon, around 1 pm, the Monticello Fire Dept. was called to the scene of a house fire in the 200 block of West College Street.

MPD & DCSO blocked traffic on the busy street, while firefighters limited the damage from the flames to a dining room / hutch area.  However, smoke caused damage throughout the residence.

No one was home when the fire began.

4:30 Wednesday was the deadline for supporters of the proposed alcohol sales issue to turn in their petition to the Drew County Clerk, in order to get the “wet vote” on the November ballot.

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A 19 year old Drew County man remains in jail, following his Sunday arrest for the assaulting his 67 year old grandmother, at her home.

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Tuesday morning, around 9 am, there was a 4 vehicle collision, on HWY 425 near Lacey.

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A Baxter County man received a $400,000 bond, Monday, from District Judge Ken Harper for his role in the arrival of 1/4 pound of methamphetamine in Southeast Arkansas.

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 Click here to read the Arkansas Business article about 9 Southeast Arkansas banks working together in difficult economic times.

The Arkansas Forestry Commission battled a 179 acre woods fire, just south of Drew County, on Berea road in Ashley County.

AFC brought in 6 dozers and a spotter plane to battle the blaze, with the help of 3 local fire depts.

The dozer photo is courtesy of AshleyCountyLedger.com.

The smoke photo is from a MLive reader who saw several fire and emergency vehicles turning onto Goose Hollow Road, from HWY 425 South.

Click here for MonticelloLive.com’s Community Calendar.

1st Friday Singing on the Square from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

The fire at this mobile home, located on Vincent Lane, of off HWY 425 North, was reported to the Monticello Fire Dept. around 8:20, Saturday morning.

Firefighters and trucks responded, but the residence was a total loss.

Judge Sam Bird Roasts Lassiter from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Richard Reinhart Reminises from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Mark McElroy Introduces Mike Layfield from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

DMH CEO Layfield Diagnoses Dr. Lassiter from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Leigh Lassiter Counts, “My Dad” from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Mayor Maxwell Toasts Lassiter’s Accomplishments from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Dr. Jack Lassiter Responds to Roasters from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

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A heat advisory is in effect for Southeast Arkansas today, and that will likely be extended further into the week.

Heat index values will exceed 105 degrees across the region with temperatures ranging between 100 and 105 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Heat index values as high as 108 are expected. Isolated heat index values will be above 105 degrees from around noon until 7 p.m. in the evening.

Construction has begun on the new amphitheater at City Park.

The stage will be build on the side near the gate, with seating being on the side towards the creek and sidewalk.

Around 9 am, this morning, the Monticello Fire Dept. responded to their second house fire of the day.

A home on Pinecrest Dr. received heavy fire damage in the kitchen and dining area, and severe smoke damage throughout the rest of the home.

One of the residents was gone when the blaze started.  The other occupant was able to use her walker to safely escape the blaze, and was transported to Drew Memorial by MASI, due to previously existing conditions.

The fire reportedly re-kindled early in the afternoon, with MFD being paged out again..

Around 1 am, the Monticello Fire Dept. responded to the report of a house fire in the 300 block of East Pope St, where smoke and flames had been reported in a residence.

It is believed that smoke woke someone in the house, who escaped safely.

From a distance, the home appears to be a total loss.