During the “Mayor’s Report” at the City Council meeting, Mayor Allen Maxwell told the council an architect and an engineer will be here Friday to determine what will have to be done to repair the City Hall, MEDC, Fire Dept. and Police Dept. structures.

Maxwell said his goal is to get it to where “this entire building doesn’t leak”.  He specifically mentioned the leaks and falling ceiling tiles in the police dept., which have pans and buckets scattered around to catch the water.  He described the drippings as “tobacco juice” that has accumulated over the years.

Maxwell also updated the council on his work assembling a new parks commission and planning commission, and asked voluteers to contact him.

He also outlined his recent meetings with city  dept. heards.

Drug Task Force agents and Monticello Police arrested two Fordyce men on felony drug charges according to Lt. Jason Akers.

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At Thursday night’s City Council meeting Mayor Allen Maxwell informed the council about financial issues faced by the city’s water department.

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In Drew County Circuit Court, last week, a 51 year old Monticello area man pled guilty to multiple charges of “2nd degree sexual assault” against 3 female victims, under the age of 14.

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Around 4 pm, Friday, Monticello Police were called to a car crash on HWY 425 South, near Fred’s.

According to witnesses at the scene, the driver of a Buick Roadmaster was crossing Bolling Street, toward the Fred’s parking lot, and pulled in front of a southbound Buick Skylark.

One person from each vehicle was transported to Drew Memorial by MASI. The Skylark was towed by Triple A Towing.  The Roadmaster was removed by Rod’s Wrecker.  Drew County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted MPD.

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In 1993, the UAM Boll Weevils won the last AIC Football Championship under Coach Tommy Barnes..

2 of the defensive leaders on that team were #99, nose tackle, Rodney Mack and #91, linebacker, Sweet Daddy Jones.(middle of row 8 in team photo).

Rodney Mack and Sweet Daddy Jones will be returning to Monticello, tonight, as Downsouth Championship Wrestling invades the National Guard Armory, with the doors opening at 6 pm, and bell time set for 7:30.

Mack is best known for his battles in WWE and ECW.  Also on tonight’s card is former 2 time WWE Women’s Champion, Jazz, and WCW star, Ron Rage.

General admission tickets are available at Larry’s Pizza and Mazzio’s Pizza, for $10.00

While most businesses in town were still closed Tuesday morning, not only was City Drug open, but business owner Mike McKeown was out in the ice and snow, delivering prescription to his customers.

Now, that’s customer service.

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A 74 year old Monticello man lost his life Monday morning, during a house fire at his home on HWY 425 North.

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In the spirit of Christmas, MonticelloLive.com donated toys to local Christmas projects, including Cablevision’s Toys for Tots and the Chamber of Commerce’s Santa Train.

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Tillar residents began a tradition, Thursday evening, with their 1st Annual Tillar Christmas Parade.

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The Arkansas Supreme Court on December 16 issued two opinions denying Kenneth Isom’s post-conviction appeals. Isom was convicted in 2001 in the Drew County Circuit Court of the capital murder of Bill Burton and of the rape and attempted murder of an elderly relative of Burton who was staying with him while he recuperated from surgery. He was also convicted of aggravated robbery and residential burglary. Isom was sentenced to death on the murder and to life plus 100 years on the other charges. (more…)

Judge Randall L. Williams, 86, of Little Rock, passed away at home on December 14, 2010, due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. 

Judge Williams practiced law in Monticello from 1950-l960, serving in several official capacities such as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Municipal Judge, and State Representative.

He was Monticello’s 1st Municipal Judge, beginning in 1957.

It seems to have been an interesting week at the Monticello Parole & Probation Office, with arrests being made of “clients” on both Thursday and Friday. (more…)

Among the items on the City Council meeting agenda Thursday night were resolutions to approve the city’s operating and sales tax budgets for 2011. 

When it came time for the operating budget’s approval, Carolyn Brown made a motion to postpone the vote until January to allow input from Mayor-elect Allen Maxwell on the decision. The motion to postpone the budget vote failed with a 4-4 tie, allowing the vote to approve the budget to proceed.

The operating budget for 2011 then passed with a 5-3 margin. Alderman Tim Chase (one of the three “no” votes)  stated, “I vote ‘no’ solely for the reason that I feel we should wait til January to pass it.  The budget’s fine. I just would like for the incoming mayor to have some input on it.”

When the budget for the sales and use tax came around,  Brown again made a motion to postpone the vote til January and it also failed with a 4-4 tie.

City attorney Bill Daniels reminded the council they can make an adjustment to the budget at anytime in the upcoming year, not just in December, as is the usual practice.

This budget also passed with a 5-3 margin.

A 19-year-old Monticello man died upon impact in a single car crash on East Jackson Street around 12:30 Sunday morning.

Note: The photos on the attached page may be alarming to sensitive readers.

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The Drew County Industry of the Year award was recently presented to Launius Enterprises, also known as The Marketplace, at the MEDC/Chamber of Commerce banquet. The Marketplace is a 47,000 square foot building in which space is offered to individuals and businesses in order to sell their products. This week’s One Monticello Life tells of the beginning and growth of The Marketplace and its owners, Gene and Shelly Launius.

When Gene and Shelly Launius moved to Monticello from Hector in order for Gene to continue his education in forestry, an idea like The Marketplace never crossed their minds. Years later after owning J&L Timber Company and Prestige Home Furnishings, they purchased the old building that currently houses The Marketplace in hopes to lease the property to other companies. After numerous failed attempts, Gene had an idea and started the wheels rolling.

The Marketplace opened in September of 2009 with 77 booth spaces available and one man’s dream of becoming “THE” place to shop in Southeast Arkansas. The booths completely filled up within a few months so work quickly began to open up more of the building for additional spaces. Located at 249 Hwy 425 North in what most Monticellonians remember as the old Safeway grocery store, The Marketplace currently has 190 retail booth spaces between two parts of the building with future plans of more being added once the third phase of the building is finished.

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The Monticello City Council approved an additional $20,000 to add to the currently allocated $45,000, from several years ago, to be used for renovations and improvements to the Monticello City Square.

The modernization project will take place in four stages:

1.   fountain
2.   sidewalks
3.   columns
4.   sod

This is the same topic of last week’s meeting, where council member Claudia Hartness argued with the rest of the council over the improvements.  At that meeting, the council asked the square improvement committee to provide a drawing and cost estimates, which led to Wednesday night’s meeting.

Last week’s video has been viewd 425 time, so far.

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.