Monticello Live

Tobacco and drug use remain issues that affect the health and viability of children and families. This presentation will inform participants about the new and growing trends in drug and tobacco use, and the effects of usage. Topics will include laws that govern use of tobacco and various substances around children. New and emerging drug and tobacco trends (Special K, Bath Salts, Snus and Dissolvables). Information regarding stash gear will be included. Particularly relevant for those working with children and families impacted by substance abuse, and those dealing with adolescents and teens.

Training Opportunities:
June 27, 2012 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m.
June 27, 2012 1:00p.m. – 4:00p.m.

You must be register at Mid-South Training to attend. Registration closes 6/25/12.

The “Other Way Store” at 203 East Trotter will be closing effective June 29, 2012.

No further donations will be accepted.

Drew County Developmental Disabilities would like to say thank you for the support of this program.

Alanon is for friends and families of problem drinkers. Our meetings are confidential.

Alanon members find understanding, strength and support at meetings.

We meet from 6- 7 pm on Tuesday evenings at First Presbyterian Church, 821 N. Main.

For more information, call Jane at 870-723-2493.

Bekka McIlvoy, who was critically injured in the boating accident in Pine Bluff, recently, is 9 years old and attends Drew Central Elementary School.

A donation fund has been set up in her name to help her family with medical and travel expenes. It is at Union Bank and Trust under the name “Bekka’s Donation Fund”.

The Family wants to thank everyone for the prayers, thoughts, phone calls during this very difficult time.

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Saturday, the city of Winchester celebrated 100 years as an established city.

Shown here are Chief Deputy Robin Hood, State Representative Sheilla Lampkin, County Judge Damon Lampkin, former Mayor Merle Jackson, Miss Ruth Peacock, and Lary Zeno.

Miss Peacock celebrated her 103rd birthday during the event.

Winchester native Lary Zeno, whose dad ran a “general store” on  HWY 138 near Old Hwy 65 and the railroad, took the birthday celebration to announce that He was donating the land where the celebration was being held to the city of Winchester for use as a park.

Good luck, Laurel Ashley Beal,

 when competing for Miss Teen Arkansas this weekend!!!

We love you!!

Your family and friends

Downtown 1st Friday Jam Session from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Tonda L. Ellis of Monticello and the Arkansas State Society has been awarded the AMT Leona Lyons Carter Award for 2011.  The award is handed out by the American Medical Technologists and will be awarded during the AMT Award Ceremony in conjunction with the 74th Annual Meeting and Educational Program on July 9-14, 2012.

The Monticello Lions Club recently awarded the Policeman of the Year award.

Eddie Deaton, Police Chief, recommended Kenny Cox for the award.

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“I would like to thank District 1 for the opportunity to serve on the Quorum Court and hope that I have reprented well. I do have the people at heart. It is with this thought in mind that I decided to file as a Republican this term.

Although locally we may share similar views, the Democratic Party has increasingly moved away from the principles and values that I grew up on. I hope that my decision is viewed with my heart’s intent and that everyone will take a closer look at the direction our country is headed. I will do everything in my power to stand for what I believe.”

Grant presented by Delta Kappa Gamma

FEED THE KIDS RECEIVES GRANT

Delta Kappa Gamma recently awarded a grant of $500 in support of Feed the Kids weekend snack bags. The Extension Homemakers also contributed the proceeds from their winter fundraiser and the Shepherd Center gave a portion of their fall session registration to support the project. Feed the Kids is funded strictly through donations with some assistance from Rice Depot and a few grants. The group is awaiting final determination from the IRS to become a 501c3 entity.

Bags prepared for students.

Feed the Kids is a snack pack weekend feeding program active in Monticello and Drew Central Schools. The mission originally started by the Presbyterian Women of First Presbyterian Church has grown in the past five years from an experiment with six children to more than 150 children in both school districts. Children in Pre-K through 8th grade are identified by counselors, teachers, other school personnel, and sometimes even the children themselves as needing additional food.

beanie weenies to be distributed

The cost of each snack bag is about $6.00 and contains enough food to supplement a hungry child over the weekend. Clean-up bags are sent home on a quarterly basis and contain soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and seasonal items like socks, hats, and gloves. The cost to provide the bags has grown to over $2,000 per month.

Volunteers from the Methodist Youth Group, Second Baptist Church ladies’ mission group, Vera Lloyd Achievement Club, and individual community members pack and deliver the bags. The bags are packed the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. during the school year at the Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church. For more information, to volunteer, or to donate to Feed the Kids, contact Louisa Smith, Chair 367-7439 or Allison Collins, Vice Chair 367-2987

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Kellie Moore, a sophomore at Drew Central High School, performed in the 2011 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade, which aired on ABC nationwide. Kellie performedwith the National Cheerleading Association. She qualified for this by being chosen as an NCA All Star Cheerleader at cheer camp last summer.

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Jay Dyson, of Monticello, invited his girlfried to watch the Christmas Parade, Tuesday night, at the Monticello Town Square.

Meagan Wilson, of Longview, TX, a senior at UAMonticello, was surprised when Jay “won” the chance to introduce the 4 guest judges.

Meagan was even more surprised when Jay proposed to her in front of the hundreds of onlookers, there for the parade.

She said “yes.”

We think events like this only happen at big league baseball games and in jewelry commercial, but having it take place at the Monticello Square, and on MLive video, was truly a unique event.  

The video of them shairng that special event has been viewed over 1,600 times, and was featurede on FOX16 news, Wednesday night. 

Well, it’s that time of year again.  Time change.

Tonight, most parts of the country will turn their clocks BACK.  So if it’s 2 a.m., it becomes 1 a.m. again.

Now that’s a deal, an extra hour of sleep.

By the way, using the excuse of, “I forgot to set my clock” won’t justify missing Church in the morning.  It would only explain why someone was there an hour TOO EARLY.

So, see you in Church.

The MEDC and the Chamber of Commerce hosted the dedication ceremonies for the Ridgeway Monticello and the Downtown Civic Center, Tues afternoon.

Ridgeway tours  led into the ceremony at the fully renovated hotel, where around 100 people attended.

The Downtown Civic Center dedication followed, and had an estimated 75 present.

Cablevisin’s “Hometown Monticello” program on Channel 19 will include a special video segment of the Ridgeway Monticello dedication event, repeating from Sunday at 5 pm, until Monday at 7 am, this weekend.

On May 27, 2011, Monticello lawyer C. C. “Cliff” Gibson, III, was appointed by Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe as a Special Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court regarding a case in which Supreme Court Justice Don Corbin recused.

This is Gibson’s fourth time to serve as a Special Justice on the Supreme Court. He is a senior partner in the Gibson & Keith law firm in Monticello, and also serves as County Attorney for Drew County. Gibson has also been active in state and local community affairs by serving over 10 years on the governing board of Legal Services of Arkansas, and as a director and president of both the Monticello-Drew County Chamber of Commerce and the Monticello Economic Development Commission.

A past recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of the City of Monticello, Gibson is also a 32nd degree Mason and has twice served as Master of Eureka Lodge No. 40 in Monticello. He and his wife Lisa are members of the First United Methodist Church in Monticello, and their children are Joy O’Neil Sills and C.C. “Chad” Gibson, IV.

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

Wireless Internet is now available at Monticello’s McCloy Park, thanks to the City of Monticello and Cablevision.

Wireless service will soon be installed at Jordan Park, as well.

After four years with KTHV, Charles Crowson is leaving Arkansas for a new position as morning anchor/multi-media journalist with WMAR in Baltimore, Maryland.

“It was an opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up,” Crowson said while signing off during his final broadcast on Today’s THV This Morning Oct. 29. “Arkansas is my home. It always has been and always will be, regardless of where my career takes me.” (more…)

This year’s Drew County Farm Family of the Year title has been awarded to James and Rene Knowles. Both were raised in farming families and made the decision to keep that tradition alive in their own family, that now includes two sons and a grandson.

“I’ve been farming all my life,” James said as he recalled growing up in Valley Community.  “Dad (Pharris Knowles) was originally a cotton farmer; when I was old enough to help farm he was a commercial hay farmer. He sold hay all over southeast Arkansas.”  James’ mother is Marjorie Knowles Craig.

James graduated from Drew Central High School, is a member of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association, and a member of the American Quarter Horse Association. He worked on the farm with his father until he was married to Rene.

Rene’s dad (Bob Person) owned a hog farm and raised cattle over the years. Rene’s mom was the late Joyce Person, “but  dad’s wife, Mrs. Judy, has been ‘mom’ for over 20 years.”  Rene graduated from Monticello High School and completed 3 years of college. Rene is a Drew Central School board member and was just re-elected to her second term on the Quorum Court. They are active members of Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

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The weekend’s two day free dental clinic, sponsored by ArMOM (Arkansas Mission of Mercy) has come to an end, with a lasting benefit to 1,254 south Arkansas residents.

Dr. Terry Fiddler, director of the program, told MonticelloLive that 3,001 teeth were extracted from patients, and thousand’s of fillings were done.

The value of the services that were provided for free would have cost, $760,000, if they had to be paid for.

125 dentist and 798 volunteers made the event possible.

Comments from patients included, “Thank you so much, I couldn’t afford to have this done,” “This is such a  blessing,” and “This will make my life so much better, I’ll be able to eat regular food again.”

Thanks to everyone that made this event possible; dentists, volunteers, UAM, and the other businesses that provided products and services. (more…)