Monticello Live

Last week, in the Drew County Circuit Court, the 3 juveniles, charged as adults for the attempted capital murder of a local man, and the theft of his truck and gun, all entered “not guilty” pleas, waived arraignment, and asked for jury trials.

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According to Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober, a deputy responded to a theft call at a residence located on Highway 425 North, Thursday. The owner of the residence reported that several yard ornaments and decorations were missing.

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Senator Pryor congratulates Kim Wilson, a visual art teacher at Monticello High School, on being chosen as Arkansas’s Teacher of the Year.

Wilson is Arkansas’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year and will spend the 2012-2013 school year working at the Department of Education as a special advisor.

The Monticello Fire Department held a training exercise for extinguishing LP gas fires at the Drew County Fairgrounds, Saturday.

Southern LP Gas Company donated 400 gallons of gas to be burned in the exercise.

At least 5 area fire departments took part in the training session, which practiced extinguishing propane fires on tanks and piping fixtures.

Circuit Judge Sam Pope reversed Warren School Board’s decision to terminate a teacher, Former Warren High School JROTC instructor Col. Robert Avery, saying that the board “was not a fair and impartial tribune in its decision making in this case.”

Col. Robert Avery was charged with first-degree sexual assault in 2009 when a 16 year old female alleged he assaulted her at his residence. Avery was found not guilty by a Drew County jury in October of 2010. His position at Warren High School was terminated.

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Stephanie Hill has announced her candidacy for Monticello City Council Alderman Ward 2, Position 2, in the upcoming 2012 Democratic Primary Election that will take place on May 22nd. The position is currently being held by Ms. Claudia Hartness.

Stephanie, a native of Southeast Arkansas, graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Arkansas at Monticello and has made Monticello her hometown for the past 22 years.

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Last week, the Drew Central Extension Homemakers Council made a huge investments in the future of Monticello, as they made a contribution totalling $30,000 to UAM.

The donation included a $15,000 endowed scholarship, a $5,000 endowed gift, and a $10,000 Centennial Circle contribution.

Chancellor Jack Lassiter told the group that their contributions will be benefiting “students 100 years from now.”

Kayla Jackson

Kayla Jackson threw her second no-hitter of the season the first of two wins over the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs, 3-0 and 3-2.

The UAM ace got her 25th win of the season in the seven-inning affair. She was two runners away from the perfect game, as the only blemishes on the day came in the third inning on a third-strike passed ball and a walk in the fourth inning.

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According to Sheriff Mark Gober, a 30 year old local resident was arrested and charged with Sexual Indecency with a Child, and Sexual Assault 2nd degree, following acts committed, as he slept in the bed with his 12 year old victim.

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Tonda L. Ellis of Monticello and the Arkansas State Society has been awarded the AMT Leona Lyons Carter Award for 2011.  The award is handed out by the American Medical Technologists and will be awarded during the AMT Award Ceremony in conjunction with the 74th Annual Meeting and Educational Program on July 9-14, 2012.

For the second time in recent months, a City of Monticello trash truck has been in an accident, and police weren’t notified.

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The Monticello Lions Club recently awarded the Policeman of the Year award.

Eddie Deaton, Police Chief, recommended Kenny Cox for the award.

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Johnnie Merrion “Cowboy” Hilburn 82, of Tillar, Arkansas passed away April 14, 2012. He was born July 23, 1929 in Bluffton, Arkansas to the late Thomas and Ocie Hilburn.

He was a member of Richland Baptist Church in the Richland Community and a retired farmer. His son Johnnie Hilburn and daughter Peggy Hood preceded him in death.

His wife Juanita Hilburn and two sons, Jimmy Hilburn of Monticello, Arkansas and Tommy Hilburn of Crossett, Arkansas, one sister Vivian Carter of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren survive him.

Visitation will be Tuesday, April 17, 2012 from 6-8 pm at Griffin Funeral Home Chapel and services, Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at Griffin Funeral Home Chapel at 2:00 pm and burial following at Jefferson Cemetery with Rev. Bill Hilburn officiating. Arrangements by Griffin Funeral Home, Dumas, Arkansas.

With the Drew County Sheriff’s election 5 weeks away, both Sheriff Mark Gober and candidate Ronnie Adcock spoke to the Barkada Community citizens group about their campaigns.

Topics covered included background, expectations, and how much time deputies spend working inside the Monticello city limits.

Charlie Searcy and Michael Booker, both candidates for the job of Drew County Treasurer, took part in the Barkada Community forum, to discuss the upcoming election.

Both men complimented the other, during their presentations. However they disagree on their plans, if elected. Searcy said he plans to keep the Treasurer’s Office open, but use his current accounting office as a “remote office” to serve the county, adding that his accounting staff would also be an asset to the county, since he doesn’t plan to give up his existing business.

Booker plans to operate and work full-time out of the current office inside of the courthouse.

Due to recent legislation, the sheriff’s office and collector’s office have been separated.

There are 3 candidates for the newly created position;  Josh Frost, Tonya Lovelesss, and Cheri Norris.  All 3 have courthouse experience, with Loveless currently serving as the executive collector, until the new position takes effect in January.

As the Drew County fair and livestock show continues to recover from the damage caused by a tornado in May of 2009, the fair board and UAM, actually the University of Arkansas system, have agreed to terms oa a 25 year lease agreement on the fairgrounds.

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R. David Ray, provost, vice chancellor for academic affairs, and dean of the graduate program at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, has announced his retirement effective June 30.

Ray has been a member of the UAM faculty for 42 years since coming to Monticello from Texas Tech in 1970 and created the school’s debate and forensics program, one of the most successful and respected in the nation.

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The Monticello Parks and Recreatin Committee spent almost 20 minutes of their Thursday meeting going over the history of the commission / committee, and it’s ongoing issues with the Monticello Babe Ruth league.

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A heated argument broke out Monday night between members of the city’s Advertising and Promotion Commission, on the topic of the 3% hotel tax being used exclusively for the Convention Center project, or whether some Adverting and Promotion funds should be used to “advertise and promote” our local events and activities.

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MonticelloLive has an Eater tradition of honoring Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for us by featuring a special One Monticello Life, written by a local pastor, on Easter Sunday, each year.  This year we present ONE EXTRA-ORDINARY LIFE by Larry Doggett, of Fountain of Life Christian Center, the speaker at tonight’s Community Easter Service.

The extra-ordinary life that I write about today is about a man called, Jesus, who is also known as the Son of God, and also, Christ–the anointed One of God, and the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Growing up in the Bible belt, I have heard about Jesus all of my life. There are many things that I could share and here are some from A through Z about this extra-ordinary life of Jesus.

The life of Jesus is extra-ordinary for His:
Authenticity. Jesus is Emanuel, God with us. Matthew 1:23
Behavior. Jesus was and is sinless, the living Son of God. 1-Peter 2:21-25
Creation & Cause Jesus is the creator of all things and the abundant life giver. Colossians 1:16, John 10:10
Death: Jesus said that no man would take His life for He gave it for us. John 10:11,15-18
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One young girl caught the attention and the heart of one local mom (and the rest of Monticello) last week when she showed an act of kindness to the mom’s son who came up empty handed during a mad rush at the Easter egg hunt. Seeing the young man with an empty basket, the young girl gladly shared her spoils. The mom was so moved, she wrote in to MonticelloLive to share the story. A story which ended up with a new day, but similar story when the same two children crossed paths again the next day, and, again, a moment of grace was exchanged when the young girl shared her eggs with her newfound friend (see the story below). At the recommendation of a few readers, this week’s One Monticello Life highlights BrookLynn White.

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The Supreme Court of Arkansas denied a petition from a Drew County man convicted of capital murder and agravated robbery to reinvest jurisdiction in the trial court to consider a petition for writ of error Coram Nobis, last week.

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Attorneys Robert Bridewell of Lake Village and Gary Potts of Monticello last week obtained a reduction in sentence of Michael Dancy.

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