Click here for the story about “school without books.”

The fact that MonticelloLive was recognized as the Chamber of Commerces’s “Business of the Year” was an honor, but the reason that this headline made the Top 20 list, is because this achievement was possible.

With the economy being a national topic, and the public impression being that most new businesses fail, this award proves that a new business (in operation only 4 years), with a dedicated owner, a small support staff, and big dreams, can still “keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars”, as Casey Kasey used to say.

MLive has had 2.7 million page views in the past 12 months, and over 30,000 video plays of local news and events. 

Several of it’s stories and videos have been picked up and aired by all 4 Little Rock television stations. 

MLive has also been included in articles in Arkansas Business and Arkansas Times, but owner Joe Burgess considers it’s most prized achievement to be the “Business of the Year” award.

Although a parade may not be considered a “news story” the 2011 Drew County Fair Parade was the 7th most watched video of the year, with the Chamber of Commerce’s “Carols of Christmas” Parade coming in at #11.

Tillar’s 2nd annual Christmas parade also earned an impressive view level.

Note: An “engaging” event that occurred at the Christmas parade, which earned statewide news coverage, will rank higher in the “Top 40 Stories”.

In sharing the Christmas spirit, MonticelloLive.com donated the toys shown here to 3 worth programs.

One group went to the Ryburn Motor Company sleigh, which are distributed by the Junior Auxiliary.

Another group went to Cablevision’s Toys for Tots program, which will find good homes for the goodies, through the assistance of DHS.

The final third of the Christmas toys was delivered to the Baptist Home for Children.

All items donated will remain in Drew County, and bring joy to our local childrem.

These two photos are of the Monticello Doctors exhibit at the museum there are numerous photos of Doctors including the first doctor in Monticello as well as the first African-American Doctor in Monticello, Also in the cases are the tools of the trade, I can remember as a tot going to Dr. Hyatt’s office on Main Street and usually if one in the family was ill all of the family was, but this particular time stands out, Myself and my brother were sick with colds and had to receive a shot, Dr. Hyatt came in with a ominous looking metal syringe full of white liquid stuck it in my arm shot half of it in and pulled the needle out and jabbed it in my brother releasing the remainder of the medicine. How many of you can remember the “old days of modern medicine”?

Come see this and many other interesting items on display at your Drew County Museum, We are open Fridays from 1pm till 4pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 2 pm till 4 pm.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Drew County Historical Society, memberships are $25 Dollars for a single membership or $40 for a family membership. Please mail your membership request to The Drew County Historical Society 404 South Main Monticello, AR 71655.

The Arkansas Airport Operator’s Association has announced that Monticello’s Ellis Field has been chosen as the 2011 Arkansas Airport of the Year.

The Monticello Airport was also selected as Airport of the Year in 2008.  Our Airport is the only “repeat winner” of this award in over 20 years. 

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When a resident of Oak View Apartments went to her car, last Wednesday morning, she discovered that it had been hit in the rear, overnight, and the accident was not reported.

When Monticello Police arrived, the investigation led to the discovery that the “hit & run” vehicle was actually a City of Monticello trash truck.  Estimates to repair the vehicle came in at around $3,000.

Since a city vehicle was involved, the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept. took over the case.

City truck #116 was identified as the vehicle involved, which was confirmed by paint marks.

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These 2 calves have found a comfortable home in the back yard of a Western Pines residence.

Friends say the owners treat them just like “the family dogs.”

In preparation for the coming dedication of the downtown square and Ridgeway Monticello, the Monticello Downtown Revitalization Committee and Monticello Economic Development Commission need photos to include in a slide show for the public.

They are looking for photos of downtown Monticello and the Ridgeway Hotel from the 1930’s and 1940’s period. If you have photos that we can copy electronically, please contact 367-3076.

Your photos will not be damaged and will be returned to you immediately.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Click on the >< to enlarge

Around 1:18, Friday afternoon, several 911 calls came into Monticello Dispatch, reporting the drowning of a 17 year old male, from Missouri, in Lake Monticello’s south end, near the boat ramp.

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What if I told you that someone buried in Oakland Cemetary had risen from the grave? What if I told you that their burial place was broken open and no body could be found? What would be your first impulse?

“But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however got up and ran to the tomb.” Luke 24.11,12a (NIV). 

Some would probably think it was crazy. Some would consider it mere nonsense. But some, like Peter, would run to the tomb to see for themselves. It stands to reason that those who had the most to lose or gain would be the first to examine the site. Everyone of any importance knew where Jesus had been buried. I wonder how many people visited there over the first few days. Perhaps a hundred? Maybe a thousand? Is it reasonable to believe that it was a large number?

If a large number of people examined that grave and found it to be empty, wouldn’t that help to explain why so many people converted to following Jesus on the day of Pentecost? That might also explain why “The Way” spread so rapidly in such a short time. It could also help us understand why such a story would survive such great persecution, span so many borders and boundaries, and continue to shape history as radically now as it did 2000 years ago.

“Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.” Luke 24.12b

Peter eventually came to a conclusion about what he’d seen and his life, and the world, changed forever.

Have you come to a conclusion? What will it change?

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  Romans 10:9

by Rob Leonard, Pauline Baptist Church, MBSF.

Earlier this afternoon, the Monticello Fire Dept. and Ark. Forestry Commission spent several hours battling  a large forest fire, located near Drew 22 Lane and Old Deene Road, just off of Old Dermott Road.

The blaze origionally began near Old Troy Road.

It has been estimated that approximately 80 acres of forest was damaged by the fire, as it was fanned by winds with gusts up to around 20 mph.

4 trucks, 2 dozers, and at least 3 planes were used in the battle against the raging fire.

The Arkansas Foresty Commision remained on the scene at 5 pm, still dropping water on the “hot spots” and running plows to keep the blaze contained.

ComputerGuys Snowcam

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The Computer Guys are located next to the Fire Dept. on Church Street, next to the railroad tracks.

Thanks to our dedicated readers, MonticelloLive is proud to announce MLive has had over 2 million pageviews in the past 12 months according to OneStat.com.

2,038,518 times in the past 12 months, readers have clicked on MonticelloLive.com to keep up-to-date with news and information about their city, county, schools, weather, court system and other items of local interest.

Our appreciation goes out to our readers for their dedication; and to our sponsors for making MonticelloLive possible.

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

The Monticello City Council Thursday night voted to removed all city funding of the Monticello/Drew County Chamber of Commerce following new Monticello Mayor Allen Maxwell’s recommendation. (more…)

Bill and Beverly Burchfield are a well-known duo in Monticello. Both have devoted their lives to God, the church, and serving others. Many in the community have referred to them as a great choice for the next One Monticello Life due to how they touch other’s lives every day.

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“I grew up in a different time than what kids today are. Living was foot-loose and fancy-free! You didn’t lock your doors, you left your windows open, you left your car unlocked. We kids would get together on our bikes early in the morning and ride all around town and we wouldn’t get back home until dark. I don’t think any of our parents ever knew where we were, but they knew we’d be back home.” (more…)

Since 1964, the name “Ray” has been well known throughout Monticello and surrounding areas. It all began when C.L. Ray started “Ray’s” restaurant 46 years ago, and the family tradition has carried on since.

C.L. Ray’s grandson, Chris Ray was born February 24, 1974 to Mark and Laurie Ray. Chris grew up here in Monticello, and described it as “a great place to live, and a wonderful place to raise a family.” (more…)

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

The Drew County Industry of the Year award was recently presented to Launius Enterprises, also known as The Marketplace, at the MEDC/Chamber of Commerce banquet. The Marketplace is a 47,000 square foot building in which space is offered to individuals and businesses in order to sell their products. This week’s One Monticello Life tells of the beginning and growth of The Marketplace and its owners, Gene and Shelly Launius.

When Gene and Shelly Launius moved to Monticello from Hector in order for Gene to continue his education in forestry, an idea like The Marketplace never crossed their minds. Years later after owning J&L Timber Company and Prestige Home Furnishings, they purchased the old building that currently houses The Marketplace in hopes to lease the property to other companies. After numerous failed attempts, Gene had an idea and started the wheels rolling.

The Marketplace opened in September of 2009 with 77 booth spaces available and one man’s dream of becoming “THE” place to shop in Southeast Arkansas. The booths completely filled up within a few months so work quickly began to open up more of the building for additional spaces. Located at 249 Hwy 425 North in what most Monticellonians remember as the old Safeway grocery store, The Marketplace currently has 190 retail booth spaces between two parts of the building with future plans of more being added once the third phase of the building is finished.

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Allen and Ruby Lee Maxwell gave life to six children, one of which they named Tommy. It was May 4, 1949 when Tommy Maxwell came into the world in Warren, AR. Warren would be the city he would call home for all of his years growing up.

Life growing up was good in the Maxwell home. Allen worked with Arkansas Power and Light plus other side jobs that the kids were allowed to work with him.

“As kids, we helped dad with little odds and ends jobs like wiring and trimming trees. For fun, we loved to hunt and play sports. My favorite sport was football. I played until I hurt my back as a Junior in high school. I was injured during a game against Monticello High.” (more…)

The local blogs are back.

The local blog list is back in operation, at the top of the page. It had been for updates.

If you have a blog on the list, now would be a great time to update it.

To add your blog to the list, send an e-mail to Joe@MonticelloLive.com.

MonticelloLive.com celebrated it’s 3rd birthday last week, since operations were taken over by Joe Burgess (“the MonticelloLive guy”) back in October, 2007.

Readership has grown consistantly over the 3 year period, as shown by the 1.8 million pageviews that the site has received over in the past year, averaging 150,000 pageviews each month.   Just click on the black, white, & orange One Stat.com logo at the bottom left of MonticelloLive newspages, to view updated statistics.

MonticelloLive is still designed to be “User Friendly”, with all current news stories on the front page.  For school lunch menus, obituaries, yard sales, or the classifieds, they’re just one click away, at the top of the page.

News and events may be submitted to MonticelloLive by sending an e-mail to joe@MonticelloLive.com.

If you are around town and see a guy in a MonticelloLive.com shirt, that’s probably Joe. You many want to slow down, because there may be a car wreck, fire, or other event nearby that would be better to read about, than be a part of.

And, of course, “Happy Anniversary” to the sponsors that make our time together each morning possible.

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At this time, we’d also like to announce that MonticelloLive has implemented a new policy concerning the posting of reader’s comments.

Positive comments are welcome and encouraged.

However, certain readers have felt that MonticelloLive was designed to be a forum to annonymously post comments intended to start rumors, stir up controversy, emphasize their specific causes, or insult another party.

While comments have been moderated in the past, before being posted: that policy will now be more specific, as to the negativity that has previously been accepted.  I agree with everyone’s “Freedom of speech”, but that does not include the “freedom to insult.”

Comments that are supportive of someone receiving an honor, or losing a loved one are appropriate; while, name-calling and comments that appear to only be meant to “draw fire” will not be posted.

While the embarrassment of someone that has been arrested may begin with an article that tells the public of that person’s list of charges, it does not seem appropriate to publicly detail every act that led them to this point.

Please remember, with over 1.8 million pageviews in the past year, MonticelloLive continues to be Monticello’s leading daily news source; a locally owned and operated business, providing a service to it’s readers.

Since taking over operation of MonticelloLive, it has been my intention to cover the news and events that affect Monticello and Drew County, not to provide a public discussion forum for the benefit of annonymous individuals hiding behind false e-mail addresses.

All comments will be read by MonticelloLive management, but the standards that must be met for them to be publicly posted has been raised.

MonticelloLive.com reserves the right to reject or remove any comment.  MonticelloLive.com does not endorse or adopt any comment.  Comments do not reflect the views or opinions of MonticelloLive or it’s owners, employees or associates.

Your understanding in this matter is appreciated.

The oldest of seven children, Sylvia Simon describes life growing up as “very busy.” Raised mostly in Warren, AR, she says that things in her family were a little different than in your traditional family.

“We didn’t watch TV at all, so we entertained ourselves in other ways like gardening, quilting, crocheting, and things like that. I’m really an old lady I guess because those are still the things I do.. those are my hobbies now.” (more…)