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. 

Mandy Moss, reporter, and Joe Burgess, the "MonticelloLive Guy"

The Business of the Year Award is given to a business that strives everyday to provide outstanding community service while developing a quality product that attracts a wide range of customers. MonticelloLive is pleased and honored to accept the title of MEDC/Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year for 2011.

After purchasing MonticelloLive only 4 years ago, owner Joe Burgess has transformed a small, local website into a news site that, in the past 12 months, has had more than 2.7 million page views. In the past two months alone, MLive has also been linked on state-level news websites 3 times for its coverage of important local stories.  The business has been mentioned in Arkansas Business twice, and in Arkansas Times once

Burgess’ entertaining acceptance speech ranged from stand-up comedian to lay-preacher, as he took the opportunity to thank his sponsors, employees, and readers, but most of all, he took time to say, “I want to thank the Lord.”

Kathy Smith of the Walton Family Foundation spoke to MIS and MHS students, and guests, at a “surprise” meeting this morning. She said, “We have some very exciting news today that we’ve been keeping secret.”

Smith spoke about how most adults with careers will always point back to a teacher that helped guide them in that direction.

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Monticello Municipal Airport received yet another award this year. Benji Ryburn, Airport Commissioner, went to Fort Worth, TX on Tuesday to accept the Outstanding Airport Award from the FAA. Five states were represented at the event.

Only one airport from each state is selected.

“To put into perspective what a big deal this is, there are 91 airports in Arkansas. If you were the worst, it could take you 91 years to get one [the award].” – Benji Ryburn

In other airport news, Mr. Ryburn asked the council to consider looking into a match grant, an 80/20 grant, to pay for a hanger to house larger planes. This is based on one of the airport’s client’s decision to possibly purchase a plane too large to be housed by any existing hangers at Ellis Field.

Approximately 50 local residents attended Thursday nights public meeting to see the presentation of the proposed Convention Center at UAM’s Fine Arts Center.

The video of the meeting is posted above, along with the question and answer session. (more…)

During last week’s special city council committee meeting, Rick Shepherd and Dennington Moss with Faulkner Pipe Company addressed the Council about the city’s current water meter problems.

Samples of replaced city water pipes, shown at meeting.

Based on 25 randomly selected old meters pulled from different areas around Monticello and sent to Austin, TX to Fluid Meters for testing, it was determined that the old meters are costing the city quite a large sum of money each month.

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MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

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Around 5:20, Monday morning, this alligator, estimated to be approximately 6 ft. long, was found crossing HWY 277, near Tillar.

The gator’s presence prompted a phone call to the Monticello Police Dispatch, who sent a Drew County Sheriff’s deputy to the scene.

The gator was safely  taken into custody by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

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 MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Another alligator, estimated to be 9 feet in length,  was captured by AG&F officers in May, while trying to cross HWY 165, south of Dermott, in the Lake Wallace area of Drew County.  Drew County Sheriff’s deputies were also present.

The video of the May alligator capture has been viewed over 2,000 times on MLive.

Captured alligators are generally re-located to an appropriate habitat, where they will not be around people.

Click on the >< to enlarge

District Judge Ken Harper was on the meeting’s agenda to speak to the City Council Thursday night about the recent incident involving the MEDC and the courthouse doors, which led to an alleged incident between MEDC executive director Nita McDaniel and Harper.

MEDC president Benny Ryburn asked for a few minutes to speak about the incident. Ryburn said McDaniel and judge Teresa French had agreed on how to handle the door situation.

“I think everything has been blown out of proportion,” he said. “Mrs. McDaniel nor the MEDC have been in the wrong. She consulted with judge Teresa French, they came up with a solution to the problem of overcrowding at the front of the building. (more…)

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Spring break is over, and this is worth a re-post for the MMS students, who are returning to school today.

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Monticello 6th grade students raised $4,773 for World Vision, to provide a water well in an undeveloped country.

Principal Jerry Martens is shown in the video swimming across the school pond, like he agreed to, if the students reached $3,100.

Also, 4 teachers agreed to spend Thursday night at school if $3,000 was reached, including Blake Abbott, who spent the night in a tent on top of the roof.

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A candlelight vigil was held Wednesday night at UAM’s Weevil Pond for Katlin Lidge.  Katlin was a member of the Kappa Eta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. fraternity, and was planning to graduate in May.

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Discussion of the need for a 3% water rate increase was brought before the Council by Mayor Allen Maxwell.

Because of an aging water system, maintenance, repairs and replacement costs are increasing significantly. It was pointed out that Monticello has some of the lowest water rates of any of the surrounding cities. Data for last year’s costs will be compiled and this matter will be discussed at upcoming meetings.

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Also in the meeting, the Mayor advised the Council about the circumstances surrounding the Mt. Zion Water Association. It was decided that no further action would be taken until representatives for Mt. Zion appear before the Council.

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

The 2010 Monticello Billies, who returned only 3 starters from their State Championshiop team, and still made it into the 2nd round of the playoffs, were recognized at the annual Billie Booster Banquet, Monday night.

Here is a list of the individuals award winners;

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During the “Mayor’s Report” at the City Council meeting, Mayor Allen Maxwell told the council an architect and an engineer will be here Friday to determine what will have to be done to repair the City Hall, MEDC, Fire Dept. and Police Dept. structures.

Maxwell said his goal is to get it to where “this entire building doesn’t leak”.  He specifically mentioned the leaks and falling ceiling tiles in the police dept., which have pans and buckets scattered around to catch the water.  He described the drippings as “tobacco juice” that has accumulated over the years.

Maxwell also updated the council on his work assembling a new parks commission and planning commission, and asked voluteers to contact him.

He also outlined his recent meetings with city  dept. heards.

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

At Thursday night’s City Council meeting Mayor Allen Maxwell informed the council about financial issues faced by the city’s water department.

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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…)

MonticelloLive on Vimeo

Tillar residents began a tradition, Thursday evening, with their 1st Annual Tillar Christmas Parade.

Among the items on the City Council meeting agenda Thursday night were resolutions to approve the city’s operating and sales tax budgets for 2011. 

When it came time for the operating budget’s approval, Carolyn Brown made a motion to postpone the vote until January to allow input from Mayor-elect Allen Maxwell on the decision. The motion to postpone the budget vote failed with a 4-4 tie, allowing the vote to approve the budget to proceed.

The operating budget for 2011 then passed with a 5-3 margin. Alderman Tim Chase (one of the three “no” votes)  stated, “I vote ‘no’ solely for the reason that I feel we should wait til January to pass it.  The budget’s fine. I just would like for the incoming mayor to have some input on it.”

When the budget for the sales and use tax came around,  Brown again made a motion to postpone the vote til January and it also failed with a 4-4 tie.

City attorney Bill Daniels reminded the council they can make an adjustment to the budget at anytime in the upcoming year, not just in December, as is the usual practice.

This budget also passed with a 5-3 margin.