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According to Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober, last Wednesday, a Cominto area man saw flames coming up on the outside of his home near the kitchen area.  At the time, the man and two children were inside of the residence, (more…)

Monticello’s  Dr. Sylvia Simon was recently appointed to serve  on the Arkansas Medical Board by Gov. Mike Beebe

Dr. Simon’s term will expire on December 31, 2014.

Tuesday, Veronica Wells, along with her family and a friend, went to the site where her daughter and grandchildren were killed on July 14, 2007, on HWY 425 North, near Pine Bluff.   The family cut grass, and removed the old flowers that marked the location where 5 family members lost their lives in a collision with a tractor trailer, 2 years ago.

A new cross was placed with all the names on it.

A special thank you goes to Mr. Cornelious Branch, Mr. Darrell McDaniel, and Rev. Melvin Foster for the construction of the everlasting cross.

Ms. Will asks that as you are traveling HWY 425 N., approximately 4 miles south of Pine Bluff, take a look to your left at the piece of art and remember her daughter, Ketria, and grandchildren, Kiyah, Kayla, Keshon, and Kaleb.

This is the classic feel good story, but it is also true.

On a recent, hot June Friday afternoon, a “momma dog” and her litter of approximately 2 week old puppies, were dropped off inside the gate at the city’s trash transfer station, which also houses the city pound.  (this is not an appropriate or responsible action to take with animals.)

One of the small puppies fell into a drain pipe in the area, and couldn’t get out. (more…)

Just after 8 o’clock, Monday night, a single vehicle accident occurred a few miles northeast of Monticello.

The driver of the vehicle was killed in the crash, and the passenger was critically injured, and has been airlifted by helicopter to Little Rock. (more…)

UAM alumni, fans, and supporters may disagree with the “stupider than an aardvark” analysis that “the Weevil” has been honored with, but still it is a good thing for UAMonticello to have their mascot featured on a national TV commercial campaign for KGB 542542, a text message based search engine that provides answers to its customers.

The commercial has been featured on ESPN and other networks, and features “the Weevil” with UAM’s permission.  It has also been approved by NCAA athletic licensing procedures.

UAM media relations director, Jim Brewer describes the commercial as, “a great way to give our university national exposure.”

If the “stupider than an aardvark” is offensive, at least we have the pleasure of seeing our local hero beat the stuffing out of the aardvark at the end of the spot.

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Click on the “box in a box” on the video player, to make the video full-screen.

While responding to a report about a woman running down the street, being chased by 2 men in a pick-up, Thursday night around midnight, Monticello Police officers stopped the truck, spoke to all persons involved, and then arrested all 3 persons. (more…)

Stanley Lucas, a former convenience store owner, and supporter of legalizing the sale of alcohol in the Wilmar area, pled guilty to the chard of “election canvasser making a false statement” in last years wet/dry township election, during a hearing in Drew County Circuit Court this week.

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According to Lt. Jason Akers of the Tenth Drug Task Force, a Drew County man is facing methamphetamine manufacturing and related charges after a search warrant was executed at his residence last week. (more…)

Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober has released the attached press release detailing information leading to the arrest of the “Bolt Cutter Bandit”, the man who got out of jail Tuesday, and then was arrested Thursday for cutting the chain link fence to the Walmart garden center (Wednesday night).

Apparently the man called the Sheriff’s Dept., to return a “stolen laptop”, but actually gave them a “different stolen laptop.”

Other stolen items were also recovered. (more…)

Allegedly, a Wednesday night residential burglary near the intersection of Union and Bailey Streets, wasn’t the first time this man had been arrested for breaking into a home, but this time the “loot” was different.

Aside from items un-named, because of an ongoing investigation. several of the items taken included SEVERAL stuffed teddy bears and other animals. (more…)

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4 courthouse employees are shown leaving work Tuesday afternoon, across the newly paved parking lot at the Drew County Courthouse.

Tuesday’s business was conducted as usual, with a little extra walking to get inside the building.

The paving was done in one day, and the parking lot is expected to re-open Wednesday morning

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Sheriff Mark Gober confirmed information, today, about a shooting that took place in the Ladell community, around 12:15, Saturday night. (more…)

Current research indicates that for students to grow as readers they need to read 1,000,000 (yes, that’s one million) words per year. In terms of books, that’s approximately 25 books of 200 pages in length.

To encourage students to make 1,000,000 words their goal for the year, Melissa Eason, literacy coach for grades 4-8 issued to middle school students at Drew Central the chal-lenge to read 25 books this school year. The campaign was known as the Twenty-five Book Campaign. The theme of Read Like a Rock Star was chosen. Drew Central students, Aaron and Alan Jones, wrote a rock song, “You Gotta Read to Succeed,” and their rock band, which includes their father, performed it at the campaign kick-off.

DC’S MRS EASON GET HEAD SHAVED AFTER STUDENTS READ 3400 BOOOKS from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Each student and staff member at Drew Central signed a pledge to try to read 25 books and kept a list of books read. To get credit for the books, students had to make 70% on the AR test or turn in a satisfactory literary letter about the books read. As an added incentive to get kids to read,

Mrs. Eason promised to shave her head if students read 3,100 books which would be the same as of if one-half of all fifth, sixth, and seventh graders read 25 books. This week when teachers turned in their class totals, students were congratulated for having met and surpassed the 3,100 book goal.

Drew Central Middle School Students read 3,400 books this year! It was time for Mrs. Eason to live up to her end of the bargain. At an early morning assembly today, (more…)

Monticello Fire Chief Steven “Blue” Faulkner went on what so many times may be considered a “normal fire call” to a trailer fire in the back of the mobile home park in the 500 block of Winchester Road, Sunday around 4:15 p.m., and arrived just in front of the fire trucks.

Upon arrival, someone nearby was heard saying, “I think there’s a man still in there.”

Faulkner went to the front door, opened it, and didn’t get any response; then did the same at the back door: he then knocked on the front window.  The house was filled with smoke too much to just enter and begin looking, without breathing equipment.

When he knocked on the front window, he had woken up the sleeping man, who began calling out.  Faulkner then returned to the back door, near where the man was, and entered the burning home. 

Faulkner told MonticelloLive, “He was close to the door, but fell backwards, when the door opened.  I just went in and brought him out.”

Monticello Police Sargent Carlos Garcia, who also responded to the call to assist with traffic, said, “Faulkner definitely saved that man’s life.”

MPD Patrolman Mark Grant, who also serves as fireman, added, “one thing about “Blue” is that he won’t ask you to do anything that he won’t do, and he proved that this afternoon.”

Faulkner, trying not to draw attention to himself, said, “I didn’t go that far inside.”

Once again, one of Monticello’s First Responder’s has done something that has saved or changed someone’s life. 

Once again, we all need to thank, not only Faulkner, but all of our law enforcement, firefighters, ambulance workers, and others who run towards the emergency situations, that everyone else runs away from.

Rhonda Brooks recieved “Hospice Volunteer of the Year” at a volunteer appreciation “Luau”, Saturday, hosted by Hospice Home Care staff of Monticello.

Rhonda’s husband, Sanders Brooks serves as pastor of Northside Baptist Church, here in Monticello.

RELAY FOR LIFE-CARRIE WELLENBERGER’S TESTIMONY ABOUT HER CHILDREN-2009-04-24 from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

RELAY FOR LIFE AWARDS-2009-04-24 from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

RELAY FOR LIFE LUMINARIAS-2009-04-24 from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

According to Monticello school district officials, 4  elementary students were suspended, following an incident that occurred on the school’s playground after lunch Thursday. (more…)