Update: the soft lockdown at Drew Central and Monticello School District has been lifted, and they are resuming normal operations. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Both Monticello School District and Drew Central Schools are on lockdown as the Monticello Police Department is trying to locate a dementia patient whose phone has pinged in the woods between MES and Drew Central. There is no imminent danger to students and staff.

Situations like this can understandably create concern for parents and community members, but precautionary lockdowns allow law enforcement to move freely and conduct a thorough search without any interference or risk to the public.

We will issue updates as they become available.

The Tenth DTF, Monticello Police Department, and Drew County Sheriff Department held Active Shooter training at Drew Central School on July 10, 2026.

Officers from all 3 departments and SRO”s from Drew Central and Monticello School District trained on faster response times, room clearing, and engaging the threat.

Sabina Day of Fayetteville has been named to the University of Arkansas Dean’s List for the 2026 spring semester. She is the daughter of Kyle and Rena Day of Monticello.

Day joins a distinguished group of students recognized for outstanding academic achievement by earning a grade-point average of 3.75-3.99 during the semester while completing at least 12 credit hours required for graduation. School of Law students are named to the Law School Dean’s List by earning a 3.0 grade-point average or higher for the semester.

The Razorbug Diploma Tour highlighted the first of two graduates on the tour who took part in the Impact Arkansas Principal Fellowship program. Executive director John Bacon presented Hope Caruthers with a framed diploma for her master’s degree in educational leadership. Hope directs preschool programs for Drew Central schools in Monticello.

Top mathematics high school students from throughout the region competed at the annual Arkansas Council for Teachers of Mathematics’ Southeast Arkansas Mathematics Contest hosted at the University of Arkansas at Monticello March 14. Pictured on the steps of the Science Center are the first, second and third place winners in each category, divided by row. 

It’s time to show your support! VOTE NOW for our Pirate, BLAKE CHANDLER #55, as the Area Most Outstanding basketball Player! Click the link and help us cheer him on! GO PIRATES!
https://arkansasprepsports.com/2025/12/15/vote-now-southern-arkansas-area-most-outstanding-boys-basketball-player-presented-by-shelter-insurance-poll-ends-12-23/

It’s time to show your support! VOTE NOW! Southern Arkansas Area Most Outstanding girls basketball Player. VOTE FOR OUR LADY PIRATE, CHLOE ANDERSON #32! Click the link and help us cheer her on! GO PIRATES!

https://arkansasprepsports.com/2025/12/15/vote-now-southern-arkansas-area-most-outstanding-girls-basketball-player-presented-by-shelter-insurance-poll-ends-12-23/

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The sky was the limit for approximately 30 aspiring scientists and engineers who participated in the 2nd Arkansas High-Powered Rocket Workshop, held from June 9 to 12 at Southern Arkansas University, culminating in the successful launch of nine high-powered rockets.

Sponsored by the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium (ASGC) through a $30,000 grant secured by Dr. Abdel Bachri, the workshop brought together high school students, college undergraduates, teachers, and professors from across the state for an intensive, four-day, hands-on aerospace experience all while residing on SAU’s campus.

Participants were grouped into interdisciplinary teams and worked through the entire engineering design cycle—from conceptual planning to rocket launch. Over the week, students engaged in a hands-on rocketry experience using OpenRocket software to simulate their own rocket designs. They machined parts in SAU’s engineering machine shop, cut fins using CNC and laser etching, and 3D-printed camera bays. Participants assembled parachute recovery systems, installed rocket motors, tested stability, and integrated payloads—including onboard video cameras and a Rocket Recovery Controller with a flight recorder and a barometric dual-deploy altimeter. Throughout the program, students learned rocket safety and propulsion principles, earning progress toward Level 1 certification.

“This workshop represents the very best of STEM education—bringing people together from diverse backgrounds and giving them the tools, mentorship, and opportunity to do something extraordinary,” said Dr. Abdel Bachri, workshop organizer and dean of SAU’s College of Science and Engineering. “Thanks to support from ASGC and NASA, we’re not just inspiring the next generation of engineers—we’re launching them.”

The event concluded with a thrilling launch day, where all teams successfully deployed their rockets in the open fields of the SAU Laney Farm. For many, it was their first time witnessing—and engineering—a rocket launch. Participants could take home their rockets after the projectiles returned safely to Earth.

Special thanks go to Jeff Sumner, SAU’s engineering machinist, and to Frankum Royce of Frankum Performance Rocketry Products, who helped guide teams through safe fabrication techniques and ensured all rockets met critical safety standards.

About SAU College of Science and Engineering:

Southern Arkansas University provides students with the complete college experience in a caring environment of service, innovation, and community. With more than 100 degrees in four distinct colleges and the School of Graduate Studies, SAU initiates new degree programs to fit the needs of career and professional trends of today. To learn more about SAU, visit www.saumag.edu. SAU College of Science and Engineering is committed to excellence in hands-on STEM education, research, and outreach, providing transformative opportunities for students across the region.

About Arkansas Space Grant Consortium (ASGC):

Funded by NASA, ASGC aims to promote aerospace-related research, education, and workforce development in the state of Arkansas through partnerships between academic institutions, industry, and government agencies.

Seventeen third through eighth grade students from Drew Central and Monticello schools competed in the Drew County Spelling Bee on February 4. Dr. Kay Walter of UAM served as the pronouncer, and Belinda Carpenter, Ashley Griever, Trudy Jackson, and Brandon Weekley were the judges.

After 33 intense rounds, the bee ended with Mackenzie Hawkins (DC) in 3rd place, Ralph Cuadras (MMS) in 2nd place, and Lily Copico (MMS) as Champion. Commercial Bank awarded $100 and a goody bag to the Champion, and 2nd place and the Champion both received a year’s subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica.

Lily will go on to represent Drew County in the Arkansas State Spelling Bee on March 8 in Little Rock. The state bee is hosted by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, and is a preliminary for the Scripps’ National Spelling Bee in Washington D. C. Lily is the daughter of Ryan and Rebecca Copico.

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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Drew Huffman of Hamburg High School receives scholarship from University of Arkansas at Monticello Choir. Drew the son of MonticelloLive.com’s A.J. Huffman he is pictured with Hamburg High School Choir Director Leigh Rice and UAM Choir Director Dana Ihm.

Congratulations to these amazing choir students for their outstanding achievement in making the 2022 Region 3 All Region Choir.

MHS – Brett Birch earned 5th chair, Bass 1 mixed choir. This rating qualifies him for all state tryouts in February.  The Sr. High Region 3 concert will be Saturday, November 12 @ 4:00 p.m. in the Bryant High School auditorium.

MJHS – Shakira Walton , Chair 5,  Alto 1   Eddy Grace Birch, Chair 17,  Soprano 2

Congratulations to these amazing choir students for their outstanding achievement in making the 2022 Region 3 All Region Choir.

MMS – Students pictured left to right.    Sophie Barrillieux, Ja’Niyah Goodman, Emily Castillo, Cynthia Walton, Laila White, Malea Phillips, not pictured Emma Ellis

The Jr. High Region 3 concert will be Friday, November 11 @ 4:00 p.m. at the Magnolia Performing Arts Center.

South Arkansas Community College has released its Dean’s List for the spring 2022 semester. To be eligible, a student must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average for the semester, and be classified as full-time.

The students are: (more…)

Alayna Holland, a senior at Drew Central High School, has accepted a Freshman Recognition Scholarship to attend South Arkansas Community College this fall. She is the daughter of Terry Holland of Hamburg.

More than two dozen students were inducted into the South Arkansas Community College chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa academic honor society recently. (more…)

In conjunction with Education First Tours, The Travel Club logged 9,433 miles during spring break.  First, students flew to London and explored famous sites like Piccadilly Circus, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, witnessed changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, (more…)

Junior and Senior students from Drew Central, McGehee, and Monticello school districts attended a TheatreSquared production of, The History Show, on March 7th at the Drew Central auditorium.  The four actors had one goal: cover the entire timeline of US history in just 45 minutes.  They had to get through all the important dates, names and places from the year 1000 through the most recent events in politics. (more…)

The Travel Club sponsored by group leader Eva Arrington in conjunction with Education First Tours for students will be traveling July 2022 for 9 days to Ireland, England, and Wales. (more…)

South Arkansas Community College has released its Dean’s List for the fall 2021 semester.

To be eligible, a student must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average for the semester, and be classified as full-time.

The students are: (more…)