A 28-year-old Dermott resident has been arrested for the arson fire at Dermott’s Fred’s discount store.  Twelve area fire departments battled the blaze for two days last weekend during the annual Dermott Crawfish Festival.

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WE NOW CUT AND PROGRAM KEYS AND REMOTES FOR MOST VEHICLES:

GM, FORD, MAZADA, LEXUS, TOYOTA, DODGE, AND MANY MORE.

WE ALSO HAVE A MAXIMUM RANGE BATTERY STATION IF YOU NEED A NEW BATTERY FOR YOUR REMOTE

ALL BATTERIES $5.00.

According to the Arkansas state board of embalmers and funeral home directors, Christian Brothers Funeral Home, of Monticello, reportedly violated state policy in the case of a July, 2011 funeral.

Larry Brown is the registered manager and a funeral director for Christian Brothers.  Robbiezine Owens is also a licensed funeral director, there.  Michael Jones is owner of Christian Brothes , and is an apprentice funeral director.

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The Local Economy

2011 brought with it many changes in Monticello’s business climate.  In August, SeaArk Marine announced their closing as of this month (SeaArk Boats remains unaffected by this change).  Last month, Drew County Speedway told of their operations ceasing, as well.  Larry’a Pizza, Topps Pizza, and other businesses closed during the year.

Even while experiencing the loss of several employers, and several dozen jobs, Monticello still remains one of the “brighter” spots in southeast Arkansas, based on the number of businesses that either started, expanded, hired more workers, were purchased by new owners, or added important equipment.  Each of these entities showed a commitment to their employees, and their intentions to remain a part of Monticello’s future.

Those  75   businesses, industries, and organizations include…..
(Hold mouse over image to view business identity)

2011 was definitely “the” year for Monticello’s airport, Ellis Field. Numerous improvements have been made, and well deserved honors and awards have been given to the airport over the past year.

A few of the impressive improvements the airport has seen over the past 12 months include moving the fuel pump from their old office building to the new one, and resealing of the runway pavement.

A new office building and hangar is under construction, thanks to hard work by aiport commission chairman Bennie Ryburn III in applying for grants, to be leased to EFS Geo-Technologies, the MEDC / Chamber of Commerce Industry of the Year.  This will provide long-term income to the airport, to help achieve it’s goal of being self sufficient.

Ellis Field had National recognition when Bob Worthington, writer for Fly Low magazine, wrote about his experience with the airport and its staff. His story of how the staff pulled together to provide him with transportation, when he was stuck due to weather, and being there to help problem solve was but one example of the prime service Ellis Field Airport provides to each of its customers.Benji Ryburn, Airport Commissioner, accepted the Outstanding Airport Award on behalf of the airport from the FAA. Monticello’s Airport was also given the honor of being chosen as Arkansas Airport of the Year in 2011. This was the second time the airport had received the award, the first time being in 2008.

Ellis Field definitely made news, and made Monticello quite proud in 2011.

Click here for the story from SalineRiverChronicle.com.

U.S. Representative Mike Ross and U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman have announced the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department will receive a $2,721,435 federal grant to rehabilitate and improve 40 miles of railroad track along the Warren Branch of the Arkansas Midland Railroad, a short line railroad located in southeastern Arkansas. The grant will help fund improvements to tracks in Bradley, Chicot and Drew counties.

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700 employees to be laid off.

Paper and Chemical Operations Not Affected.

Click here for the full story from AshleyCountyLedger.com

SeaArk Marine, a Monticello industry for 52 years, announced Tuesday that they plan to discontinue most of their plant operations at the end of 2011.

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Story revised from MagnoliaReporter.com.

The United States Postal Service said that 179 post offices in Arkansas are among 3,653 locations that will be reviewed for possible closure.

Winchester’s Post Office is on that list, as are Banks, Jersey, New Edinburg, Yorktown, Pickens, Montrose, and Parkdale.

CLICK HERE to see the complete list of Arkansas post offices that will be studied.

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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.

Phoenix Renewable Energy, based out of Hot Springs, received a “cease and desist” letter from the Arkansas Securities Dept., for inducing investors to put up around $1.4 million, to be converted to stock in the German Stock Market. 

A press release from the state also stated that over $330,000 had been paid out to Phoenix’s development director, Stephen Walker, and CEO Sam Anderson.

Phoenix Renewable Energy is the company that held their ceremonial ground breaking in Camden 9 months ago, but has done little else, there.  They were also discussed at an Intermodal Facility meeting last year, as having contacted several other southeast Arkansas communities, about the possibility of expanding in this area, along with their $180 million Camden facility.

Locations toured in hopes of adding a large employer like Phoenix promised to be, included Monticello, Warren, and Rison, among others.

The “cease and desist” order doesn’t close the company, but certainly limits the availability of funds for a potential start-up.

This story has been covered by KTHV channel 11 and Arkansas Democrat, among others, but didn’t include the local references, except for Camden.

Phoenix Renewable is not affiliated with either of the other two bio-mass, bio-fuel entities that are also interested in expansion into the Monticello area.

MonticelloLive recently spoke with Bill Horton, CEO of the DFI group, w conshich is contructing the Bio-Diesel plant at Jerome, and asked him about the progress of construction of the proposed faclity, which will possibly employ up to 250.  (more…)

This photo shows Monticello people eating a Monticello meal at Ray’s, who is having Monticello’s LA Graphics install a new lighted sign for them.

LA Graphics advertises with MonticelloLive, who took this picture on the way to Monticello Exxon.

That’s 5 levels of “Shopping Monticello First.”

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Sheilla Lampkin, shown here accepting her plaque, accompanied by her husband, Judge Damon Lampkin.  As UAM Chancellor Jack Lassiter and Governor Mike Beebe listen to her comments.

Pastor Al Womack, of First Assembly of God Church is shown here with his award.  Pastor Al was at the event for the invocation, and did not know he was going to receive the honor.