The Drew County Extension Homemakers Clubs will be offering financial support in the form of two scholarships for the 2025-2026 school year to a student who is a Drew County resident and will be attending the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

The scholarships will be available at the rate of $1,000 each, paid as $500 per semester and may be applied to tuition, books, and/or room and board. Payments will be made to UAM in parts upon proof of registration for each semester. Application forms for this scholarship are available from the counselors’ offices at Monticello High School, Drew Central High School, and the Financial Aid Office at UAM. Forms can also be obtained from the Drew County Extension Office in the Drew County Courthouse. All entering and current UAM students are eligible to apply regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Applications must be received by Hazelene McCray, Drew County Extension Agent by Friday, March 14, 2025. For more information contact the Drew County Extension office at 870-460-6270.

The Drew County NAACP Branch 6042-B held its swearing in ceremony of the elected officers and appointed standing committee chairs for 2025-2027 at the December General Membership meeting. Councilman Al Peer conducted the ceremony.

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Jacob Oliva (center), secretary for the Arkansas Department of Education, speaks Monday, January 6, 2025, at the Hermitage School District January Back to School Professional Development inside the Hermitage High School Cafeteria at the Hermitage School District in Hermitage, AR.Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva visited the Hermitage School District on Monday, January 6, 2025, as a special surprise guest to speak to the educators while they were learning about key Literacy strategies to implement across the curricula, student character-building principles, and the enhancement of the Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) processes.

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“The sun will come out TOMORROW!”

Annie JR tryouts have moved to First United Methodist Church Monticello’s Family Life Center.

317 S. Main, Monticello, AR at 9am January 11!

Look for the Annie JR tryout signs to enter the building!

“TOMORROW! TOMORROW! I love ya TOMORROW!!

Click here.

Cadet Second Lieutenant Emily Garrison has been a member of the Civil Air Patrol’s 67th Composite Squadron located in Monticello, Arkansas since February 2023. She is the first cadet in her squadron to receive their Mitchell Award, since the squadron reformed at the beginning of 2023. (more…)

Mainline Health Systems, Inc. has partnered with the Blue & You Foundation for Healthier Arkansas to improve patient outcomes using remote patient monitoring.

The MHSI program implemented in early 2024, Breaking Barriers, provided remote monitoring equipment to 780 patients already enrolled in Chronic Care Management. Since the program’s initiation, 98% of patients surveyed reported an increased sense of control over their chronic illness and 32% of patients reported improved med compliance. These improvements also contributed to the prevention of ER visits and hospital stays, as MHSI staff were able to identify arising issues more quickly. Other improvements noted by the program were lower glucose and blood pressure levels, as well as a decline in Chronic Heart Failure exacerbations and a decrease in admissions for COPD. (more…)

For work battling hypertension, Mainline Health Systems, Inc. was recognized as Million Hearts® 2024 Hypertension Control Champions.

Awarded jointly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Million Hearts 2024 Hypertension Control Champions are highlighted for their “exemplar rates of hypertension control.” Practices that achieved blood pressure control for at least 80% of their adult patients with hypertension (also known as high blood pressure) received the award from Million Hearts, which has a goal to avert 1 million preventable cardiovascular disease events by the end of 2026.

Only 32 health providers nationwide met the criteria.

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Come out and visit with Santa Clause today at the Monticello Wal-Mart from 2pm till 9pm.