Dr. Mark Bryant wins this week! DCHS State bound! Check out page C1 ADVANCE-MONTICELLONIAN 75¢ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 SERVING DREW COUNTY SINCE 1870 CCA HARVEST BALL HOMECOMING COURT MPD to open tip line Special to the Advance in making Monticello a safer based on the severity of the and better place for our chil- crime that is reported. Each Since taking the position dren and our future. It was de- caller will receive a code with earlier this year, Monticel- termined that everyone wants a which to check the status of lo Police Chief Jason Akers safer community, but that few their tip for tracking purposes. has made a lot of updates and opportunities were available Once information is re- changes to the police depart- for the average citizen to help ceived, it will be forwarded to ment. This week, the latest fight crime in our community. the appropriate law enforce- tool in Monticello law enforce- Chief Akers praised MEDC ment agency. For example, if ment’s tool box will become and Twenty for the Future for the caller reports a crime in the operational. their involvement and being county, that information will be The Monticello Police De- the driving force in this initia- forwarded to the Drew County partment, in conjunction with tive. Sheriff’s Department. If in- Monticello Economic Com- “MEDC and Twenty mem- formation is received about a mission and other law enforce- bers recognize that for Monti- crime in another county, state ment agencies, will unveil its cello and Drew County to have or city, that information will be fully operational crime Tips a vibrant economy, the city and forwarded to those agencies by Line on Thursday, Nov. 14. county must be a safe place to the Monticello Police Depart- The Tips Line number will be live and do business,” said Ak- ment. 870-723-LEAD, or 870-723- ers. Chief Jason Akers said that 5323. Through the Tips Line, call- the Tips Line is a tool for The program is the first of its ers may be eligible for a cash concerned citizens to use to kind in Drew County. It will reward if their information report crime, without having enable citizens to call the Po- leads to an arrest and in some to come to the police depart- lice Department, report crimi- cases, conviction. ment or have an officer come nal activity and remain anony- Akers praised the vision of to the complainant’s home. mous if the caller chooses. the MEDC staff and Twenty Many times, citizens want to The Tips Line was con- For the Future members and help make their neighborhoods ceived through conversations the local financial institutions, safer and they have valuable and meetings between mem- Citizens Bank, Commercial information but are afraid of bers of Twenty for the Future Bank, and Union Bank who reprisals from the people they (Twenty), the membership or- are contributing to the reward are calling about. The Tips ganization of the Economic fund. Line will allow anyone to re- Development Fund of Mon- “Without the financial con- port crime or information about ticello/MEDC, and local law tributions of our local banks, crime without that worry. enforcement. Twenty members this would not be possible,” he If anyone has a crime to re- asked how local business and said. port of information about a community leaders could assist Reward amounts will be crime, call 870-723-LEAD. Special to the Advance Community comes out for veterans 2019 Homecoming Queen Halle Wilson, Senior Maid Kayli Selby; Sophomore Maid Anslee Hayes; Freshman Maid Drew Brasher; Eighth Grade Maid Miri Bliss Jones. Cornerstone Christian Academy homecoming celebration kicks off with a pep rally Friday, Nov. 15 at 11 a.m. The evening ceremony and game will begin at 5 p.m., everyone BY MELISSA ORRELL Following the ceremony, the veterans present is welcomed to celebrate 2019 Harvest Ball Homecoming. [email protected] headed to First Baptist Church Monticello to enjoy a lunch prepared and served by the church mem- Drew County and Monticello citizens came out bers. Monday, Nov. 11, in the cold, wet weather to show While sitting down to enjoy their meal, those in Primary fi ling period over appreciation for local military veterans. attendance listened to a speech given by Jeremy The day’s festivities began in the Drew County Woodall, local Army veteran, who is now a mis- Courthouse courtroom with a fl ag folding ceremo- sionary. Following Woodall’s explanation of how it The fi ling period for the March 3, 2020 prima- Collins Township ny preformed by members of the American Legion feels when a service member gets out of the mil- ry elections closed Tuesday, Nov. 12. Today the John Beatty (Rep) Post #2. During the ceremony the meaning of each itary, the Drew Central High School Choir, under election committee will meet to review the names CITY OF WILMAR of the 13 folds were explained to the audience as the the direction of Cara Akin, entertained the crowd. for the primary ballots and will meet on Monday, After enjoying their meal, local veterans were in- Recorder/Treasurer fl ag was folded. Nov. 18, to draw for positions on the ballots. Following the ceremony, remarks were made vited to attend a program, “We Honor You,” a musi- As we head into an election year, there are Takendra McNeary Webb (Dem) about the appreciation the citizens of Drew County cal honoring servicemen and women and veterans. Ward 1 Position 1 quite a few races voters will be asked to weigh in and Monticello have for veterans by Drew County The musical was preformed by the Drew Central on during the primary election and still some sur- Deborah K. West (Dem) Judge Robert Akin, Mayor Paige Chase and prose- third and fourth graders at the Earl Willis Audito- Ward 1 Position 2 prises yet to come ahead of the general election. cutor Frank Spain. rium. In the primaries, Josh Mahoney announced Charles Saff old (Dem) two hours before deadline that he was exiting the Ward 2 Position 1 race against Senator Tom Cotton (Rep), citing Shirley D. McNeary family concerns. Monticello School Board Candidates fi ling for both the March 3 primary, Keith Wells non-partisan judicial races, Justice of the Peace, Drew Central School Board constables, school boards and the City of Wil- Laura Whitaker mar’s elections are listed below: NON PARTISON JUDICIAL STATE SENATE DISTRICT 26 Court of Appeals Associate Judge District 5 Ben Gilmore (Rep) James McMenis Bill Dunklin (Rep) Court of Appeals Judge Mark Klappenbach DREW COUNTY QUORUM COURT State District Court District 28 State District Court Judge Bruce Anderson JUSTICE OF THE PEACE State Supreme Court Associate Justice Position 4 District 1 Barbara Womack Webb Orlando Jones (Rep) Judge Morgan “Chip” Welch District 2 CIRCUIT JUDGE Steven Morrison (Rep) District 1 Subdistrict 10.2 District 3 Tim Leonard Roger Harris (Dem) District 4 City Attorney James A. Hamilton Crews Puryear Carole Bulloch (Dem) District 10 Division 2 At Large Brad Alexander (Rep) District 5 Priscilla Copelin-Abernathy Laurie Bridewell Tommy Gray (Dem) Frank Spain Steve Pigott (Rep) District 10 Division 3 At Large District 6 Robert Gibson Chris Barnett (Dem) Donna Harton Usry (Rep) Candidates listed under a category alone are District 7 running unopposed. Circuit Judge positions listed Joe Williams, Jr. (Dem) as “At Large” will be voted on by everyone. The District 8 District 1, Subdistrict 10.2 will be voted on by Frank Appleberry (Dem) those who live in that subdistrict, the school bard District 9 issue will also be divided based on where a voter Rene’ Knowles (Dem) lives. The election committee will know which ballot belongs to the voters based on where they CONSTABLES are registered. Winners in the contested races in Marion Township the March primaries will face candidates from Steven Stain (Rep) other parties in the Nov. 3, 2020 general election, Veasy Township voters must register by Oct. 5, 2020 to be eligible Melissa Orrell/Advance-Monticellonian Scott Chapman (Rep) to vote in the November general election. American Legion Post #2 members George Matthews, Billy Edwards and Larry Gragg demonstrate the correct way to fold a fl ag as Monticello Mayor Paige Chase looks on. INDEX Opinion ..............4A Calendar ............2A Religion .............3B EXTRA! Classifi eds ........ 3C Sports ............... 1C ROVING REPORTERS Obituaries ..........8A Weddings ..........1B EXTRA! OUR 148TH YEAR ;OPZ`LHYTLTILYZVM[OL(K]HUJL4VU[PJLSSVUPHUZ[HќHYTLK NUMBER 46 • 20 PAGES with their smartphone cameras, will be out about town looking for interesting subjects. WILL YOU BE NEXT? 2A | Wednesday, November 13, 2019 NEWS Advance-Monticellonian | mymonticellonews.net | 870-367-5325 COMMUNITY CALENDAR GOING ON NOW City recycling guidelines THE ROVING Each Wednesday, barring a catastrophe, the city of Monticello is accepting recyclable items at the Transfer Station within the follow- ing guidelines: 1) Cardboard—must be flattened. Not accepted are cereal boxes, drink can boxes or egg cartons; 2) Plastic bottles—lids must be removed and the bottles must be bagged. Only No. 1 and No. 2 bottles are accepted (the number is located on the bottom of the bottle). No wide-mouthed bottles can be accepted; 3) Newspa- REPORTERS pers—bagged or boxed; 4) Aluminum cans—must be bagged. No tin cans or pet food cans can be accepted; and 5) Shredded office paper—must be bagged. To have recycled items picked up, contact City Hall at 870-367-4400. Note: Electronics (EWaste) are accepted at the city transfer station, 1466 Old Warren Road, but are not eligible for Look who we found this week! pick up. The city reminds all citizens to not mix household trash with recyclable items.