1 Lady, 1 Week, 2 DWI’s
September 24th, 2009 by Joe Burgess
Ann Hartness, age 36 of Monticello, was charged with DWI by the Monticello Police Dept. on Wednesday, Sept 16, following a 1 vehicle accident at the intersection of Patton and Edgewood.
Tuesday evening, September 22, between 7-8 p.m., Hartness was involved in another single vehicle wreck, this time on Barkada Road, just outside of the Monticello city limits, and was charged with DWI II by the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept.
The Ford Freestyle was towed Patton by Rod’s Wrecker, and from Barkada by Tommy’s Wrecker.
Hartness’ vehicle was also towed on Saturday, August 1 by J.A. Goad Towing., following another accident on Jefferson Street.
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Looks like she needs rehab and no car if that don’t work, jail…
i went to school with ann its sad to see someone that had such a bright future loose it all, and be willing to get behind the wheele and possibly cause someone else to loose it all too. Id be quick to comdem her if it wasnt for the fact, I know the girl I sat behind in class all thoughs years is still in there drownding. Please Ann get some help, and stop driving impaired. Its beens years since weve talked but I know enough about you that I know youd never recover if you took a life that way.
com on ann get together
YEP
One question: Who must die before she stops drinking and driving?
I have known this lady since high school. She does not need jail, she just needs counsaling and all of our prayers. I am glad she was not hurt and she did not hurt anyone else.
You are not alone, there are people out there who care.
who keeps giving her something to drive?
people in monticello better be careful on the roads until she gets taken off them!
I guess she figured since she didnt succeed the first time ,she would try again>…………..let me tell you that it does not work..i guess she thinks that she is one that would never be involved in ” VEHICLE HOMICIDE””
IF people would put more energy into prayer,than just downing people,this world would be a better place
UMMM, I am sure she gets plenty of counseling where she works….. Yes, she needs our prayers but also she needs off the streets where she can’t kill my family or yours, wasn’t it just a year ago a innocent young man died because of a similar occurence.. I honestly don’t think she should be able to drive for a long time.
ann most of these comments are faverable, its not to late its pretty clear we would love to see you beat this! we care, please try hard, it wont be easy but in a world gone sad, it would make it a happy place to see you succeed.
I agree that she needs our prayers but if people keep babying her and saying all she needs is counseling and a slap on the wrist she will keep this kind of stuff up. I have known her for a long time and this isn’t the first time she has had problems with substance abuse. Something more needs to be done or more people are going to be hurt or killed.
I agree that she should be taken off the street. Twenty-two years ago I had a brother, sister-in-law and nephew killed by a drunk driver and he may as well have put a gun to their heads!! Laws need to be stricter on DWIs. GET HER OFF THE STREET BEFORE SHE KILLS YOUR FAMILY OR THE REST OF MINE!!!!!!!!!!
What amazes me is that this keeps happening? This time a year ago, an innocent young man was taken from his family and friends by a drunk driver, who was in the same situation as Ann. However, she had been given 4 or 5 opportunities before she took his life. When does it stop? Why do we keep letting people get behind the wheel, when we should be seeing that they get help and stay off the roads. How many chances does one person get?
I know this person well enough to know that these 2 times arent the first 2 or atleast I know she has had a machine put in her car she had to blow into before it would start…This is very scary to me to think that someone is still driving after this…people are killed everyday by drunk drivers..will try to teach our children not to do this we even have fake drills so that they know what can happen so WHY are we still allowing this to happen?????? It does not matter WHO you are this has got to be STOPPED!!!!!!
This lady does not know me but, I know of her!!! This is not her only 2 times to be in trouble with drinking & driving….some of you say she just needs help & that she is a good person!!! Well she needs to be off the road to get that help. Come on do something with her this is ridiculous! What is it going to take to get her attention? Another innocent life taken! I know she has family that loves her & doesnt want to see her going through this but, I have a child that drives those same roads & would appreciate it if at this time she did not! I also have a sister-in-law that lives down one of the roads where she had her accident & my sister-in-law travels that road daily taking her two small children to & from school & daycare!
I am a praying person & will be praying for her but, until she can drive without alcohol SHE NEEDS TO BE LOCKED UP! How many times does it take? I have a family member that spent 1 yr. in prison over 1 DWI but, then again he didnt have anyone in his family to get him out of trouble….. but, our family believes ” You do the crime, you do the time” she hasnt learned yet so its time to teach her in a different way!!!
i dont condone drinking and driving theres a reason its a crime, but lets keep in mind there are other ways of driving impaired, think about that the next time your cell phone rings, or your way too sleepy to be behind the wheele. I dont think being thankful that no one has been so far is babying anyone, I just think prayers are needed as much as taking the keys, I was close to both involved in the fatality last september, it destroyes lives on both sides, and i just hope and pray that mabe this will be her wake up call, you got to hit bottom before you come up, and sometimes it does happen and people turn it around. No one has been hurt yet and I just hope she finds the strentgh to improve.
everyone has their opinion, but the problem is what is needed here is help, not just psychological but the help that comes from being stopped from doing these things. I have known this person for a while it seems she has no desire to get help. Drive by her apartment and see the beer cans and talk to the neighbors either new or old and see what happens at her house. No it isnt just a passing fun, but for her it is a constant every day thing. Not judging, just knowing that she needs help before as someone stated, someone dies. Ann get help…..how much before you end yoru life or someone elses!
I was Ann’s neighbor for a few months, and though I didn’t really get to know her that well, I must say that the “atmosphere” surrounding her doorway was less than sober. Every night there was a party. The next morning at LEAST one empty case of beer cans was left on the front doorstep for all to see. This is no small amount of intoxication that’s being discussed here. Admittedly, I cannot vouch for Ann’s character one way or the other. However, given the circumstances, suggesting that she find help is not the solution. A polite suggestion is not what she needs. I’m certain that most people posting here are her friends or relatives. If you really care about her like you say you do, don’t leave it up to her to help herself. You should all stage an intervention, and take away her keys. Then, if she’s too stubborn to get help, at least she won’t be endangering the lives of the people who are more responsible than to drink and drive.
Just my two cents.
Whoa! Slow down everybody. The fact that Ann was involved in an accident does not necessarily mean it was her fault, or anybody’s for that matter, let alone that somebody was DWI.
Joe’s blog certainly did hold Ann up to a bad light. Did you notice the headline? “1 Lady, 1 Week, 2 DWI’s,” How clever! It can really get the community up in arms.
I’m sure you will all be happy to know that Ann’s accidents were not the result of drinking and driving. There was a second vehicle involved in the Sept. 16 accident, and a deer was involved in the accident on Sept. 22.
I have it on good authority that the second accident, coming so close on the heels of the first one, gave some of the policemen an opportunity to have a little fun with Ann, taunting and laughing at her, and making rude, hateful and inappropriate remarks to her about her weight.
Enough is enough. Why did you publish that blog about Ann, Joe? You were just wanting to pile on, weren’t you.
Of course people do like like to see someone they ‘know’ get hurt or in trouble but these are serious offensives and requires a serious consequence. This is not some teenager making a dumb mistake. We can all pray for her once she’s off the road and innocent bystanders are safe.
well thats nice report .but only one thing she was not drinking on the second. she was completly sober .your such a good reporter you cant get it right was not a dwi for alchol she was just taking her meds. and has not been charged .its prolly gonna be droped. you should try channel 7, maybe we can see your real reports live
she needs help, period. if she doesnt get help… she will end up killing herself or someone else. and remember that “driving under the influence” doesnt always mean alcohol was involved. what she is doing is much worse than just a few beer. if she doesnt get help, she WILL end up dead. the sad thing is that she will prolly get a slap on the hand and maybe probation which will in return solve NOTHING.
i was one of the first to arrive on the wreck and i was informed the whole time she was giving a breath test and thine she hade to walk they fount no alchol in her. she hade been clean since the first wreck and i dont beleave in drinking and driving eather but when you just have a wreck from sweaving to miss a dear. i do understand she was giving a dui for her meds but they gave her a drug test at the hospital and if it comes back that she was taking the meds correctly thine the ticket is droped. and me personly no that she has been taking theme correctly. ive hade a f******g dwi but have not been charged about a year ago they gave me one and i hade to go to court a show a f*****g video and got the charges droped because i really wasent driving. and i bet thers been 100 dwis this year and none of them have been reported.so you cant beleave what you here .im not here to take up for this person i agree she dont need to drive for while but when you got a reporter that dont no what the f**k hes talking about. its ruins peaples reps so if i her anythang thats facts i will contact you joe because you not putting real honest stuff on here you need my help just contact me ill find out whats really going on for this is a live report from you no who the real reporter. yea buddy. would like if you check out the information.thanks sorry for comments this is what happen i just thalt i should share since our news reporter cant get facts straight.
To John, you sound like an attorney who is posturing for a case. Are you?
To Justin and This Dude, this information came from police reports and interviews with law enforcement that was involved in the events that took place.
Although MonticelloLive has not covered every DWI, it has covered the DWI 4, the DWI 5, Monticello Man Arrested for Marijuana 3 Times in 8 Days, Man Arrested Twice in 1 Night, 1 Car-1 Traffic Stop-2 DWIs, Man Arrested for Driving Away from Court with a Suspended License, Man Arrested for Driving on Suspended License for Driving to City Hall, DWI 3 Driver Hits Church-Released from Prison Earlier that Day; which all involve multiple offenses in each case.
No, Joe, I’m not an attorney posturing for a case. I’m simply a person out there somewhere trying to get you to show a little decency. Don’t report that someone is dwi unless they truly are. That’s unfair.
I agree with everybody, until Ann can prove she’s safe to drive, she ought to be off the road. But, not for DWI.
Thanks for this opportunity to comment.
It really is sad when someone states that the second accident wasn’t because of drinking…uh, at least one was or the police reports would not have stated such information. Whether it was one of her wrecks or all of them that was a result of alcohol is not the point…drinking and driving is DEADLY! Would your attitude toward this be different if it were your child she killed? Three wrecks for one person in a week is excessive and if ole “Bob” from the east end of town, with relatives that weren’t so well known was to do the same thing then some of you would like to throw him under the bus…overall, something needs to be done…wake up, she has a problem. She is 36 years old and still getting drunk? I am in agreement that she needs some form of intervention whether it is by a court or her family. I pray that she succeeds in beating her alcoholism or at the very least, her battle with “bad luck” in her driving endeavors. Joe, report what is in the police reports and keep up the good work! I’ve not read anything on here that you didn’t investigate thoroughly before posting. People have the option of not clicking on the website to read it if they feel negativity or false reporting.
Ive known this lady all my life and this is an ongoing issue with her. I hate to see this happen to her, but only 5 years ago she had to breath into a device in her car before it would start! Ann’s had a lifetime of issues with alcohol, drugs and other behavior problems. Its amazing to me and so many others that dont take the time to post their oppinion…how much people get away with before killing theirself or an innocent person. For anyone on here that wants to “take up” for Miss Ann, you obviously dont know her very well or you are doing the same acts she is. Its plain and simple…..GROW UP! Its people like this that make good parents like me WORRY to death the entire time our young, new driving teens are on the roads!!! Take her keys away and her vehicle and give her some very much needed REHAB!
I agree with Kohle if it had been Ole “Bob” from the Eastend, he surely would’ve been thrown under the bus and ran over a few times. Someone mentioned that they said something about her weight. That is wrong!! Ann might have a issue with her weight. She has never been a small lady but you know some people cannot deal with weight gain and they deal with it in destructive ways i.e. drinking. I agree drinking and driving is deadly. My aunt’s daughter was killed by a drunken driver 38 years ago and the drunken driver later became a police officer….strange isn’t it? My aunt has never gotten over it. Lets not forget the Wells family that was killed by a big truck, drugs and alcohol were involved. Just dont drink and drive PLEASE!
This site used to be about news, now its just become the local gossip rag. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?
If the police department, court, or whoever else has the authority to do so does not do something to get her off the road until she can get help, and she kills someone, the blood will be on their hands. I have 2 young children and do not want their lives (or mine) to be put in any more danger than is already present on the highways. It’s fine if she wants to get drunk, but stay off the road!!
Joe, You just keep on reporting the news. She should NOT be given special treatment because of here last name, color of her skin, where she works, her education ect. . A driver that is drinking is a driver that is drinking. What is that repeat offender law? We appreciate the police for taking her off the road. Unless you people that are complaining were in the car with her, yoo dont know WHAT she was doing. And insulting our police officers is not helpful either. Those of you that are defending persons that are doing wrong need to think of what type of example you are setting for our youth. I thank Kohle for his intelligent input. If she needs help, someone please help her, but done make excuses for her behavior. She works at a Mental Health Agency so she has access!
I believe most of these attacks have less to do with the offense than an ongoing vandetta against her parent.
Ann has a condition that sadly a number of people in the same situation uses alcohol to medicate themselves. If you are reading any of these post just understand Ann that not everyone is against you. There are people who care for you and want to see get the help you deserve.
For those individuals who are being so critical remember the new cell phone laws in this state. If you get into a wreck and someone dies you will be subject to the same penalties as a drunk driver. Remember that the next time you choose to talk and drive.
I am a victim of Ann’s drinking and driving. A few years ago she hit my vehicle at Waffle Inn and pulled off. So happenly an officer acroos the street saw her and stopped her. Then she would not answer the telephone for the insurance company and it took me over a month to get the insurance to pay for my vehicle because she would not cooperate. She needs to be punished like anyone else, that is the only way she may get help.
I know her also, and whether or not she was DWI on the second or not, usually they take your license after the first. I have had family members get DWIs, it does happen but Thank God they learned from it and not continued that pattern. Maybe she wasnt over the legal limit but prescription medication taken can sometimes alter your behavior and slur your speech. That is another reason not to drive. Needless to say, she has a history of bad behavior and needs to change it. Maybe someone will intervene that truly wants to save her life and others as well. Maybe rehab is the answer, like a former neighbor said above about all the weekend parties. Grow Up Ann!
so john—you are saying the police lied and she wasn’t intoxicated? and you want joe to show a little decency? anyone who gets out driving when they have been drinking deserves what they get. this woman risked the lives of innocent people. how would you like it if she hit and killed your kids,wife,or mother? decency my butt!!!
Just a little FYI for “dude that sucks”. Your prescriptions that contain narcotics tell you not to operate machinery or “drive” while taking them. Even if you are taking them in the manner prescribed you are not to drive while doing so. So if you drive under the influence of “prescription” narcotics or any substance that impairs your motor skills you are DWI. Looks like somebody else doesnt know what he is talking about.
Look drew county. This lady has a problem. She has a history of drinkn & drivn. Most meds say do not drive will takn this med. I don’t give a damn if uve known her all her life so what. If she needs jail she needs jail. How are you gon 2 feel if she kills 1 of ur family members I bet u won’t be so quick 2 say ooohhh she jus need help. You are gon 2 be pissed. So let’s get ann off the streets b4 some gets killed
I think Mr. Burgess does a fantastic job on reporting the news!!
Great job Joe keep up the good work!! Also, it shouldnt matter who this lady is and what her problems are, Drinking and Driving is a bad, bad choice!
For those of you complaining about Joe printing that she was DWI, if you will “read” the article you will see that it says “charged” with DWI which means innocent until proven guilty. So stop bashing Joe for reporting the news and check facts before you complain so loud.
All I want to say is you folks down there in Monticello need to get a life, it is freaking stupid how everyone has something to say but what if it was your name being slandered. Believe me I don’t believe in drinking and driving nor to I believe people should sit on this site and make comments like this without seeing the reports with your own damn eyes. I’ve known Ann my whole life, she even was my babysitter, granted I hate to this but this is her matter, not yalls. As for Mr. Joe goes sometimes it is the best idea to put things on the website that honestly degrade people, there where many other ways you could have posted this, I feel you owe Ann and her family an apology. To John thank you for your comment, you tell em! Other than that yall down there in Monticello have a serious problem talking about people, some things never change, but when it gets in your personal lives you would feel like me, IT’S NO ONE’S BUSINESS
From reading the comments, it sounds like Ann is the only 36 year old in Monticello still partying. Just go to the bar on Friday or Saturday night, you’ll find out differently. It also sounds like if we can just get Ann off the streets, everyone will be safe. If only that were the case… Let’s focus on the issue, not just Ann.
To ‘This dude sucks’…before you contact Joe again you might want to buy yourself a dictionary.
I just want to say the police can only do their job they can issue tickets and take people to jail, What happens then is up to the Judges so concerned parent you a blameing the wrong group of people the police were during their job sometimes they get their hands tied.
this woman has been in two wrecks. and i beleave ther should be a puishment i personally thank she” is doing inhalents ive seen her on the roads and it did not look like beer this person is gonna kill someone if she dont get help?………………………….. please someone get her off the road and in to rehab she gonna die if anyone is there help her take her hand and bring her the lord she needs evryone. peaple say ther willing to do anythang for the lord but when you got a matter as stong as this one.what do you do . please community lets make her get help.
Ok MANDY, you’re obviously not traveling the same roads as most of us or our loved ones!! However, something still tells me that if you met her on the road going the opposite direction, you TOO would rather take the ditch!! So don’t tell me it’s none of MY business!!! As far as Ann keeping your children…I feel sorry for the kids!! Not as much for Ann being their sitter but because YOU as a mother would be so stupid!!
For those of you who wonder why Ann is still driving…it’s her idiotic friends like Mandy who tell her “it’s ok”.
WOW, you go MADD! …a person was complaining about ” yall down there in Monticello have a serious problem talking about people”… ‘it is freaking stupid how everyone has something to say”…I believe you just contradicted yourself
For Joe you do an awesome job.
Here is to MADD- I’m not saying it’s right for Ann to be drinking or driving or that she should go unpunished, I’m strictly saying that I don’t feel it’s right that everyone is talking about this as they are. Yes I understand it’s your right to keep you and the children/people of Monticello safe but there is no need to down grade a person and/or talk about people like so. I would so wish that people of Monticello would realize that they should stop talking about everyone or what they do any worry about their own lives. If you would like to help someone or see that something is done about it, take it up with that person, not slander them. I’m not a mother and I’m not so stupid but if I did have children I would let them see what drinking and driving or anything to that matter effects your life and would hope to see that the person involved would be punished, but I would also let my children see how freaking STUPID people are when all they want to do is gossip and talk about people all day-every day. I was raised in Monticello and believe me it’s bullshit how people live their lives always in other people’s business because when you yourself or your family is envolved it’s not so funny and it’s wrong!! My reason for saying something is because it’s time someone said something to you people.
After this post I will not comment any further on this subject.
Whether you live in Monticello or not, if you don’t like the “gossip”, as one person has called it, then simply don’t go to this site. I can’t understand that if you don’t like gossip of why you keep coming back to this site to post more comments…contradictory, I would say.
It is my hope that we all pray for Ann and that her family will push her to get help, for all our sake. With that being said, I also hope that there is a follow up on this story. Just hoping for a good outcome for her and everyone else affected by her actions.
Just one thing Mandy…someone who is “dwi” is our business!!!
Ok…maybe one more thing. You said in ur last post that we should “worry” about our own lives…trust me, we are!!!!! You guys think it’s enough our business to want to “help” Ann, “pray” for Ann, and realize Ann has a “condition” but when it comes to the public getting angry because she CHOOSES to drink and drive it’s suddenly not our business!!!!
Driving is a privilege, not a right. Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs (legal or illegal) impairs one from excercising the privilege of driving safely. If one wishes to destroy one’s body with alcohol or drugs or needs legal medication, go to it. But KEEP IT OFF THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. It is MY right to drive along the highway without meeting someone who is doped up or loaded. A driver with this kind of history is a tragedy looking for a place to happen. If she wipes herself out, that would be bad enough, but if she takes other people with her, it would be unconscionable. She needs protection from herself and the public needs protection from her. Of course Ann has problems and has had for many years. My heart goes out to her family, and to Ann herself. But get real. If one CHOOSES to drink then one should CHOOSE to protect the unsuspecting public by staying out from behind the wheel of a potential lethal weapon. Anyone with such a checkered driving record will not cause someone else to die in an ACCIDENT. Such a death would be MURDER.
By the way, discussing people who are involved in unsavory behavior is not “gossip”. It’s news. And it’s not confined to people in Monticello. Who’s arrested, who died, married, was hired, fired or retired is news in Monticello, Hollywood, Washington, D.C. and everywhere else in the world. Local, state, national or international news. We don’t have to be deaf, dumb and blind to what is going on around us. As for slander, it’s not slander if it’s true. Quoting a police report is not slander. Neither is quoting an obituary, which is what drivers like this lead to.
Mandy, since you are planning on teaching your kids right from wrong, why dont you clean up your language while your at it, b/c young people do read this web site.
Nana-I absolutely agree with you!! What happens in the news or around our community is our business that’s why it’s called a “community”. We all have a right to our own opinion that comes back to “Freedom of Speech” so there is no sense in anyone getting mad just because we dont agree. I know Ann but have not seen her in years so I can’t say whether or not she was drinking or on meds and its none of my business but if she is on the streets doing it then yes it is my business. That does not just go for Ann though it goes for anyone who makes the choice to drink and drive.
Mandy-I find it very amusing how you can say “you people” in Monticello because you yourself said you dont live here and you are acting just as alot of them. If you don’t like what goes on in Monticello all I can tell you in your on the wrong web site..it is called MONTICELLOLIVE!!
Joe- I think you do a wonderful job. You get tons of good response and feedback from this site and you always make sure you touch all basis of the news..good or bad.