Monticello Live

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.

According to Bill Sadler, public information officer for the Arkansas State Police, Chicot County Sheriffs Deputies, Dermott Police and Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division are investigating an incident reported yesterday (Sunday, April 17th 2011) that resulted in the death of two children and the injury of their mother.

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Around 4 pm, Tuesday afternoon, the driver a a Chevy Tahoe lost control of his vehicle, causing it to crash into a Buick Sentry, which was parked in the driveway of a residence at the corner of East Jackson and South Conley.

The Buick was then pushed into the corner of the home by the momentum of the Tahoe.

Monticello Police, assisted by the Arkansas State Police and Drew County Sheriff’s Dept. investigated the accident scene.  No one was injured.

Witnesess told police that the lady who lives there was sitting on the front porch in one of the two chairs there, reading her Bible, when the porch was hit by the vehicle.  She was not touched, but the other chair on the porch was thrown across the yard.

Myron Briggs, age 36,  was charged with drinking in public and failure to maintain control of a vehicle.   The vehicle he was driving reportedly did have insurance.

Triple A Towing and Rod’s Wrecker removed the vehicles.

Monticello Police Department patrolman Kenny Cox was recognized Thursday by the Monticello Lions Club as the “Officer of the Year” for the second consecutive year.

Cox, a native of Dumas, was raised in law enforcement, and has served five years as an officer.  He began his career in Crossett, and has served the past three years as an MPD patrolman.

Police Chief Robert Rosegrant and Lt. Carlos Garcia presented the award to Cox, and explained the criteria for earning the award is based on a point system.  Points are awarded for DWI, drug, and felony arrest, and also take into account the number of accident and incident reports done.   “Going above and beyond the call of duty” is also taken into consideration.

Rosegrant and Garcia both thanked the members of the Lions Club for their continued support of the Monticello Police Department and its officers.

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.

Monticello Fire Dept., along with 3 other fires, Sunday, were called to the site of a fire at Curry’s Pest Control, on N. Hyatt Street.

The building, along with the 3 pick-up trucks inside received major damage.  One of the truck was backed out of the building, after the fire was brought under control.

A strong chemical smell could be detected for several hundred yards away from the burning structure.

A possible cause of the fire, currently being considered, is a nearby brush/leaf fire.

Top photo courtesy of Robert Crawford.