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In late September, a group of interested individuals met to begin the process of placing a “wet / dry” vote, to allow beer, wine, and liquor sales in Marion Township, which include Monticello, and it’s immediately surrounding area.
Their effort is called “Vote for Growth in Drew County,”
By popular request we’ll continue our tour of Monticello’s Main Street by looking at the history of South Main Street. Let’s start of the corner of South Main and Gaines Streets and continue south. This corner spot has a colorful history that is still changing today. An old photograph made in the 1880s shows a two-story wooden building sitting there. This structure housed R. C. Bennett’s saloon on the ground floor; the second floor held a poker room.
From December of 2010 until January of 2011, local churches were suffering from unknown suspects breaking in and stealing from them. The count reached seven churches before the 20 year old suspect was apprehended.
Freddie Campbell, Jr. of Monticello plead guilty to six counts of commercial burglary and three counts of theft of property. He was sentenced to 24 months in Delta Regional Punishment Facility, with 96 months suspended, and ordered to pay over $6,000 in restitution.
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Katlin Lidge, 25 years old, of Monticello, was shot and killed at a local apartment complex in Monticello in March of 2011. The prime suspect, Nicholas Nix, fled to Salt Lake City, Utah after the incident, and turned himself in a few days later. Arkansas State Police and Monticello Police Department drove to Utah and brought him back to face charges.
Nix has since been tried twice, both trials resulted in hung juries. He is scheduled to be retried for the third time in March of 2012.
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One September Sunday morning around 12:30, a call came into MPD, reporting a stabbing on Davis Street.
Michael Ray Danzy, age 42 of Monticello, reportedly a family member of victim, was arrested by police, shortly after the crime.
The victim, Tony McCarney, age 48, of Pine Bluff, was transported to Drew Memorial by personal vehicle, and died in the emergency room, of laceration to the neck.
Danzy was charged with first degree murder. during his bond hearing in front of Circuit Judge Kenny Johnson. Danzy also faced on a probation revocation hearing filed in Chicot County.
A state police special agent told the court that Danzy said McCarney hit him, before he used the knife.: but continued of the 3 witnesses who saw altercation, “No one saw Mr. McCarney strike Mr. Danzy.”
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Numerous break-ins and armed robberies of Monticello businesses occurred over the past 12 months.
Western Sizzlin was broken into twice in one week. Other businesses hit included Pizza Hut, Sonic, EZ Mart (numerous times), Piggly Wiggly, Topps Pizza, Crackerbox North, and the Tobacco Superstore.
Far too many sex crimes made the headlines in 2011.
Those allegedly charged and/or convicted included (in no specific order):
James Dotson, Jeremy Hill, Arthur Lee Newton, Ronald Magness, Billy Ray Austin, James Green, and Alex Rayford
Eddy Deaton, a 22 year veteran of law enforcement, with 19 years experience with the Monticello Police Dept. will become the new MPD chief on January 6.
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.
Click here for the full story from January. The video comes in at #23 for the year.
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”.
The top story for the month of May was the Mississippi and Arkansas River Flood Warning, that covered Chicot and Desha Counties.
There was no regular online daily coverage of the event, so MonticelloLive stepped in, with total co-operation of the county judges and emergency personnel in both counties, to provide daily updates on the river levees and the battle to keep residents and property safe.
These two videos were viewed a combined total of 1600 times.
Arkansas Weather held true to it’s reputation. If you don’t like it, wait for tomorrow and it will change.
2011 brought with it a drought and long burn ban, and weeks of rain. Many trees fell, some because of thunderstorms and strong winds, some not.
This video of February’s snow reveived over 500 viewings.
In 2011, a few Monticello residents were exposed to national audiences, in their specific fields of talent.
The featured performers included Kellie Moore, Cashbox, and Taylor Eubanks.
This alligator was captured near Lake Wallace in May. An alligator may not be worthy of the #35 story of 2011, but this video ha been viewed over 2,300 times.
After several years of hard work, the “dream” of bringing the old Ridgeway Hotel back to life as a modern senior apartment complex, became a reality, in 2011.
While recycling has only affected those who volunteer to take part, it will take a more prevalent roll in our lives in the near future.
Here’s an article that Mandy Moss recently posted on MLive about recycling in Drew County.
This 2007 article, Recycling, What It’s All About, was enough to stop my family from throwing away 1,000’s of aluminum cans (without any extra work).
Kellie Moore, a sophomore at Drew Central High School, performed in the 2011 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade, which aired on ABC nationwide. Kellie performedwith the National Cheerleading Association. She qualified for this by being chosen as an NCA All Star Cheerleader at cheer camp last summer.
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.
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.
Now let’s begin our look down the north side of West Gaines from the Square to North Hyatt. Today that first block is filled with the main branch and drive-thru of the Commercial Bank.
A Warren police officer was arrested earlier this week, and charged with abuse of the public trust for accepting bribes.
Here’s the story from SalineRiverChronicle.com.
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.”
This is a 1930’s Icebox. Back in the day, delivery people would make weekly trips and deliver everything from groceries to milk and even ice from the ice house. A block of ice would be set in the top portion of the icebox, with the perishables in the bottom portion. The old ice house in Monticello is still located on McCloy Street. It is not a ice house anymore, but you can still see remnants of the operation out front, including the chute that the ice would come out of onto the loading dock.
Come see this and many other interesting items on display at your Drew County Museum, We are open Fridays from 1pm till 5pm, and Saturdays from 2pm till 5 pm and Sunday by appointment..
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.
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.
This week we will continue our tour of Monticello by looking from the Square down the south side of West Gaines Street.
Here are the links to the series of articles on Sheilla Lampkin’s “Tour of Monticello’s North Main Street
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Part 11
Part 12
Part 13
Part 14
Part 15
Part 16
Denmark won CFL Catch of the Year earlier this season.
The former Weevil wide receiver was the starting slot back for the Blue Bombers in their 34-23 loss to the British Columbia Lions in the CFL Championship, but the loss didn’t dampen the experience for Denmark. “The atmosphere of the game was great. This is the Canadian Super Bowl.”
A 26 year old Dumas man, likely to be charged with Capital Murder and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, appeared before Circuit Judge Bynum Gibson for a First Appearance Hearing, Monday afternoon, at the Drew County Courthouse.
In the true spirit of Thanksgiving, Pauline Baptist Church members spent yesterday morning preparing, serving, and delivering around 400 Thanksgiving dinners to Monticello area residents.
Giving their holiday to serve and minister to others; now that’s really celebrating the meaning of Thanksgiving.
This week we will continue our “look” at some remembered businesses along the south side of East Gaines Street in Monticello. Starting at the business on the corner of East Gaines and South Main, one of the earliest businesses there was a dry goods store owned by a Mr. Ely, a Russian Jew. It has been pictured as a two-story building with a wooden sidewalk on the south side.
However, records also indicate that one of the two water wells for the courthouse preceded the mercantile store. (There were originally two wells for the 1870 structure – one for people and one for the livestock.) That well is believed to still be buried under the present buildings.
Old Milo Farms Christmas Tree 2024 (Start Nov. 15th)
Farm Bureau
Mr. Bug
UAM Trotter House B
Union Bank 2
Immanuel Baptist Church
ESA Staffing
AGUp Equipment
BCMC Family Care Clinic 2
Drew Farm
Burgess Process Service
Baker’s Electrical
Quality Plus Dry Cleaners
Malco Theater 2
Union Bank 1
La Terraza
Mullis Insurance
UAM B
Small Bites Pediatric Dentist
Farmer’s Insurance One
Citizen’s Bank 2
Seark Motorsports
Monticello Realty
Bone’s Auto Parts
SEEMS
UAM Trotter House A
A.J. Huffman Graphic Design
Frazer’s Funeral Home
South Arkansas Business Solutions
Searcy & Associates 2
Citizen’s Bank 1
BCMC Family Care Clinic 1
Malco Theater 1
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