Monticello Live

Beverly Burks has announced her candidacy for re-election to the office of Drew County Circuit Clerk.Burks, 58, is currently serving her fourth term in office.
“I have loved serving as circuit clerk,” Burks said in making her announcement. “I take my responsibilities to the public very seriously, and have worked hard to try and improve the operations of the office and ensure that everything is handled in a professional, transparent fashion.” The circuit clerk’s office is responsible for accepting all filings in felony criminal, civil, domestic relations and juvenile cases, issuing summonses, and recording deeds, mortgages, liens and other property-related instruments and orders. The circuit clerk also calls jury panels, communicates scheduling for jurors, and pays them for their service. Some child support payments are made through the office, and the clerk is responsible for compiling records of pleadings in appeals.
Just this month, Burks was notified that her grant application for a new land records system had been successful. The grant is funded by the Association of Arkansas Counties’ Automated Records System Fund and will be used to update the system by which deeds, mortgages and other instruments are recorded. Once it is in place, all new filings will be accessible online. Burks is also planning to implement a new notification system to help keep jurors better informed of their service dates.
Burks and her staff process dozens of documents in a variety of cases each day and have built solid working relationships with all the judges in the Tenth Judicial District and their assistants, the prosecuting attorney and public defender’s offices, lawyers, banks, title companies and the public to ensure that the important work of the circuit clerk’s office is accomplished.
“It has been a privilege to be entrusted with this job, and I again ask the residents of Drew County for their vote,” Burks said. “I appreciate the trust they have shown in me in the past and pledge to continue to work hard in return.”
Burks, who lives in Wilmar, is a graduate of Monticello High School and Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. She helps manage her family cattle operation and is a member of Monticello First United Methodist Church, where she plays in the handbell choir. She also serves as secretary of the Wilmar Cemetery Association, and is a life member of the Junior Auxiliary of Monticello, as well as a former member of the Seark Concert Association board. She is a member of the Monticello Book Group and Monticello Women’s Investment Club, and the daughter of the late James and Shirley Burks.

To Give Away:

Free Golden Retriever Puppies to a forever home due to relocating: 1 Male, 1 Female, preferably email first at stephaniechristensen59@gmail.com before Text at (352)533-2411

Dear Voter,

I am asking for your support and your vote for re-election as your Drew County Judge. Together, we have made great progress, and with your continued trust, I am confident that we can build an even stronger future for our county.

Let’s look forward – not backward – and continue working side by side to make Drew County the best it can be. We truly live in the greatest county in the State of Arkansas, and with all of us working together, our future will be be even brighter.

Thank you again for your support and your vote.

Sincerely,
Jessie L. Griffin, Drew County Judge

(Paid Political Ad)

Hello Citizens of Drew County,

After many thoughts, prayers, and conversations with family and friends, I have decided to run again for the office of Drew County Judge. I served as judge for ten years, from Jan. 1, 2013 – Dec. 31, 2022. Although my time away from office has included some of my favorite pastime activities such as driving a big rig across the country, cattle farming, and spending time with family, I’ve always felt something was missing. Serving the people of Drew County was truly the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. I enjoyed being out amongst the people and working alongside the wonderful Drew County employees. Your support will be greatly appreciated.

You can contact me with any questions at 870-723-0011.

Robert Lane, a native of Monticello, has always been fascinated with the many WWII veterans of his Drew County childhood. These men and women were people he saw every day–church members, community leaders, local businessmen, doctors, lawyers, teachers, farmers, grocers and restaurant owners, who, after the war, simply came back to Drew County and returned to their lives without any fanfare. To Lane, their service to our country during this pivotal era, as well as the broad field of where they had served, is local history that deserves to be documented and remembered.

On trips back home to visit his parents, the late Corine and Herbert Lane, and his sister, Judy Bynum of Collins, he often requested that local vets recount their WWII stories that are sadly being forgotten with the passage of time. Recently, as he began researching the countless communities of Drew County where these soldiers lived and the theaters of war where they were sent, respectively, he was amazed at the width and breadth of the contribution to the war effort from our tiny county.

?I am a retired teacher looking for a three bedroom house for rent in Monticello. I had previously lived there for 46 years, and I am wanting to move back.
I do have an indoor older chihuahua.
I am being honest when I say that I am looking for something in the area around no more than 700.00 dollars a month. I am wanting something nice, and I am a clean, responsible tenant. I plan to stay for as long as the good Lord allows.
I would love to move in the next few months. I will keep the place mowed, clean, and I am a quiet Christian person.

Thank you in advance, If you know of anything, I can be contacted at 870-723-1108.

It has been a privilege to serve you as Drew County clerk. As I seek re-election, I remain steadfast in my commitment to providing courteous and efficient service while upholding the highest standards of honesty, security, and transparency in our elections and county government as a whole.

Since assuming office, I have worked diligently to enhance public access and improve services. From the addition of Passport application processing, the digitization of all Ordinances, Court Orders, Election documents and Marriage Licenses dating back to 1940, I have and will continue to move Drew County forward.

I believe that public trust in local government is built upon accountability, professionalism, and accessibility. With your vote, my staff and I will continue to work towards that goal if re-elected.

It would be an honor to continue serving the citizens of Drew County and to earn your support once again in 2026.

Thank you for your support, and may God bless you and yours.

You’re invited to an important meeting to help Develop a Better Future for Southeast Arkansas. Your unique perspective and input are vital as we discuss important topics like the Benefits of Early Education, a Growing Workforce, Local Revenue & Tax Benefits, and Building a Thriving Economy.

Join us on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM!

RSVP today by calling 870-367-4864 or emailing jessica.griffin@searkcoop.com.

The Republican Party of Drew County announces that filing for county and township offices will begin at noon on Monday, November 3^rd and end at noon on Wednesday, November 12^th. The courthouse will be closed on November 11^th for Veterans Day.

Candidates, including county committee members, may file in the County Collector’s Office.  A member of the local Republican Party will be present to accept candidates’ filing fees and provide appropriate forms on the following dates and times:

November 3^rd, noon – 4:30 pm.

November 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, and 10^th, 10 am – 3 pm

November 12th, 9am – noon.

Filing fees may be paid with cash, check or CashApp.

After filing with the Republican Party of Drew County, candidates must provide written evidence of filing fee payment and additional paperwork to the Drew County Clerk (located in the Drew County Courthouse) before noon on Wednesday, November 12^th.

Individuals with questions or candidates wishing to file should contact DCRC Chairman Mike Akin at 870-723-3710 or drewcorepchair@gmail.com

The primary election is March 3, 2026.

The 2025 Fountain Hill Alumni Reunion and Banquet…or All Classes Reunion, will be held Saturday October 18, 2025 at the JYM in Fountain Hill. Social hour will be from 4pm to 5pm. The program honoring our 50-year Class of 1975 to follow. Hamburgers, Hotdogs or Pulled Pork Sandwiches with chips and drinks will be served.  Look us up on Facebook at “Fountain Hill Alumni Association” to see the graduates of 1975.

On August 6, 2025, Derek Logan Simmons was convicted by a jury in the Circuit Court of Bradley County, Arkansas, on three felony counts stemming from a May 2023 drug and weapons investigation.The charges arose from a search conducted on May 24, 2023, at Simmons’ residence on Bradley Road North in Warren. Agents from the Tenth Judicial District Drug Task Force, Arkansas Community Corrections, and the Bradley County Sheriff’s Department executed the search based on his parole conditions and search waiver. During the search, law enforcement officers discovered methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a loaded shotgun in Simmons’s reported address. Additional evidence included digital scales, multiple smoking devices, and men’s hunting clothes.

Following a jury trial, Simmons was found guilty of Possession of Methamphetamine, Simultaneous Possession of Drugs and Firearms, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Dermott native, Zelma Johnson, was convicted by a Chicot County jury on July 31, 2025.
The conviction is the result of an investigation by the Tenth Judicial District Drug Task Force (DTF), the Dermott Police Department, and the McGehee Police Department. On July 8, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence at 905 N Knox St in Dermott, Arkansas. During the search, officers located and seized approximately 12.77 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia. Johnson, a registered sex offender, was found to be living at the residence without having properly registered as a sex offender.
During the penalty phase of the trial, the jury heard about Johnson’s extensive criminal history spanning over three decades, involving multiple felony convictions. In 1991, he was convicted in Chicot County for possession of crack cocaine. He was again convicted in 1997, in Pulaski County, for manufacture, delivery, or possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. In 2003, Johnson received two separate convictions in Chicot County for possession and possession with intent to deliver cocaine, both resulting in prison sentences. His most serious conviction came in 2011, when he was sentenced to ten years in the Arkansas Department of Correction for Rape, a Class Y felony.
The jury returned a verdict fixing the following sentences:
Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose to Deliver (Class A Felony): 17 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction and a $1,500 fine.
Failure to Register as a Sex Offender (Class C Felony): 17 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction and a $1,500 fine.
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Class D Felony): 3 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction and a $1,000 fine.
The jury recommended that all sentences run concurrently. Circuit Judge Quincey Ross followed the recommendation of the jury and sentenced Johnson to a total term of 17 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction with a total fine of $4000.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney William Bridewell represented the State of Arkansas in the case. “I’m pleased with the jury’s verdict and sentence,” said Bridewell. “Cases involving habitual offenders like Mr. Johnson are typical of the types of jury trials we conduct in the Tenth Judicial District.” Additionally, Mr. Bridewell explained that if Johnson earned the maximum amount of good time credit while incarcerated, he would be eligible for release after serving one-fourth of his sentence or approximately 4.25 years.
At the request of the Chicot County Sheriff’s Department, Johnson was released pending bed space due to a lack of available jail space.
This conviction underscores the commitment of the Tenth Judicial District Prosecutor’s Office and its Drug Task Force to combat drug-related offenses and uphold public safety. Convictions against drug dealers play a critical role in protecting communities and saving lives. Drug trafficking fuels addiction, which often leads to overdoses, long-term health deterioration, and death. By removing dealers from the streets, law enforcement disrupts the supply chain of dangerous substances like fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, reducing their availability and preventing potential harm to vulnerable individuals. Additionally, drug-related activity is closely linked to property crimes such as burglary and theft, as individuals struggling with addiction often resort to these offenses to fund their habits. Prosecuting and convicting habitual offenders like Zelma Johnson not only holds them accountable but also helps reduce the ripple effects of drug crime, making neighborhoods safer and more stable.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available. Call the Arkansas Department of Human Services Mental Health & Addiction Support Line at 1-844-763-0198 for free, confidential assistance in locating treatment providers and support services in your area.

Since first taking the bench in 2021, Judge Gibson has presided over a wide range of cases with impartiality and diligence. He has built a reputation for fairness, accessibility, and steady leadership in the courtroom.  

“It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of southeast Arkansas as Circuit Judge,” said Judge Gibson. “Every case is important, and every person who enters the courtroom deserves respect, fairness, and integrity. From day one, I pledged to uphold those values, and that commitment remains as strong today as it was when I began.” 

In addition to his judicial duties, he serves on the Committee for Civil Practice and Procedure, an appointment made by the Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court, helping ensure clarity and consistency in Arkansas courtrooms statewide.  He also serves on the Sentencing Commission, an appointment made by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. 

“As I seek re-election,” Judge Gibson adds, “I do so with a deep sense of responsibility to the people of the 10th Judicial District. Our communities deserve a judge who will apply the law fairly, without bias or favor, and who will continue to safeguard the trust placed in this office. I look forward to continuing this work in the years ahead.” 

About Judge Robert B. Gibson, III 

Judge Gibson is a graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law and has been admitted to practice in both state and federal courts. Prior to taking the bench, he built a respected legal career in Crossett at Streetman & Gibson, PLLC.  His experience prepared him for the complex and varied caseload of Arkansas’s 10th Judicial District.  Judge Gibson is deeply involved in his community. He serves on the board of directors for the Crossett Rotary Club, is a volunteer baseball coach for the Ashley County Boys & Girls Club, and a member of the Crossett School District Booster Club.   He and his family attend First United Methodist Church in Crossett. 

A native of southeast Arkansas, Judge Gibson and his wife, Macy, are raising their two sons, Ivey and Turner, in Crossett. His dedication to both family and community informs his perspective on the bench, where he strives to balance accountability, compassion, and the rule of law. 

Frank Spain, Prosecuting Attorney for Arkansas’s 10th Judicial District, has formally announced his candidacy for re-election.

Spain has served the citizens of Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Desha, and Drew counties for over two decades. First appointed as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in 2001, he has led the district’s criminal prosecutions through thousands of felony cases. 

“It has been a privilege to serve the people of Southeast Arkansas,” Spain said in a statement. “As Prosecuting Attorney, I’ve worked hard to protect our communities, uphold the law, and deliver justice for victims. I’m running for re-election to continue that mission.”

Spain has earned a reputation for being tough on violent and repeat offenders, while also supporting alternatives such as mental health and drug treatment programs when appropriate. 

He also works closely with local law enforcement agencies throughout the 10th Judicial District and other joint efforts aimed at targeting criminal activity and improving public safety.

Spain said his priorities in the upcoming term include continuing to hold violent offenders accountable, expanding support for victims and their families, and strengthening partnerships with law enforcement and community organizations.

“The work of a Prosecuting Attorney is about doing what’s right—ensuring the law is applied fairly and consistently, and making sure our communities feel safe and heard.”

 Frank and his wife, LaDonna, live in Monticello. They have three daughters and four grandchildren. 

2004 Kia Optima

202,000 miles

has oil leak but runs good

$1500 cash  Sold “as is”  no radio  

Call/Text 870-224-1621