Diamond Weevils Check out some of our win season Valentine’s Pet contestants opener C1 B1 ADVANCE-MONTICELLONIAN 75¢ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020 SERVING DREW COUNTY SINCE 1870 Search continues into second week for missing Wilmar man BY MELISSA ORRELL dren that were over there and talk is in control. We put it in God’s Give his mother the opportunity to [email protected] to them about making better choic- hands, it’s already in his hands, we learn the facts before you put it on es and making something of them- just have our hands on the steer- Facebook.” The community is still on the selves in their lives,” said Jack- ing wheel, we are trying to guide Wilmar Mayor Toni Perry has search to fi nd 26 year-old Wilmar son. “He is a hard worker. He did this thing, you know we can’t been supporting the family from man Marquis “Mac Daddy” Mar- a senior project with Sylvia Ngar, but coming together like this, for the beginning because, according tin. Martin was last seen the night when he did his Senior Project. He a community to come together, to her, Martin is all of Wilmar’s. of Sunday, Feb. 9, after being worked with her and the special Marquis’ family is grateful, I am “Mac Daddy is all our chil- dropped off at his home in Wilmar needs kids in the consortium and grateful.” dren,” said Perry. “All the little following a shift at the Monticel- he fell in love with those kids. He Attendees of the Prayer Vigil kids, the same thing that has hap- lo McDonald’s. He was reported got the opportunity to come back were asked to leave the rumors off pened to your child, the same love missing to the Drew County Sher- and work with those kids every of social media but to speak up if I have for Mac, I have for every iff’s Offi ce on Tuesday afternoon. day and he is making a difference anyone knows anything about the child in Wilmar, Arkansas and al- Martin is described as a 26-year- in their lives. I pray to God that he whereabouts of Martin. most every child in Drew County. old black male who is 5’10”. will have that chance again. Just “Social media has its place but Because I stay at Drew Central. On Friday, Feb. 14, Sheriff know that you are in my prayers social media can be unfriendly, These are our children and we live Mark Gober helped organize a and all of Drew Central has you She is upset because she has to in a world that takes us through search by DCSO and volunteers in in our prayers because you are our look at social media and see things things we never even thought we and posts…,” said Reed. “with all areas in and outside of Wilmar and family, he is our family and we are would have to go through.” family at Drew Central.” the uncertainty she has to deal the surrounding vicinity. “I experienced his love when he “We are searching these areas to For the family, its the wonder- with, with not knowing where her came to church,” continued Perry, eliminate them,” said Gober who ing and the waiting that is wearing son is at, then have to deal with “and he never walked in that door started the search around 10 a.m. on them, but the family is leaning social media and the rumors, that Friday, Feb. 14. in to their faith and putting their is just unfortunate. It adds to her and not hug. That boy is full of Martin grew up in the halls of worries on God.. dilemma, adds to her pain, adds to love and if we could love half as Drew Central Schools and re- “It is a diffi cult task because her uncertainty.” much as him we would be having turned as a paraprofessional in of the uncertainty,” said Martin’s “Pray that all avenues and veins it going on in Wilmar.” the Special Education Consortium Aunt, Marilyn Reed at a Prayer and highways and byways are The DCSO is still actively in- on Drew Central Campus after a Vigil held Wednesday, Feb 12. “It opened up for us to get some kind vestigating the disappearance of few years post graduation. Ac- is a diffi cult task that we wouldn’t of understanding as to the where- Martin as they continue to search cording to Trudy Jackson, Drew wish this on any mother, any fam- abouts of Marquis,” continued to eliminate areas and interview Central Elementary School princi- ily. It’s heartbreaking, just the Reed. “I appreciate social media, people who had contact with him pal, Martin brought an infectious not knowing, it has been the not if you hear something, say some- before his disappearance. Anyone smile and personality to the school knowing that is the most diffi cult thing, if you see something, say with information regarding his and would mentor the students in for Keisha (Martin’s mother) and something. As Keisha was saying whereabouts is urged to contact In School Suspension during his the rest of the family. We love I don’t want to learn it on social the Drew County Sheriff’s De- lunch and breaks throughout the Marquis, and we are, we just want media. So, the overarching thing partment at 870-367-6211, Sheriff Facebook photo day. She said he spent a few days to know. We want to know what I want to leave with you, the one Mark Gober at 870-723-0832 or Marquis Martin, a Drew Central employee, has been missing since the night over there. happened. And I always tell my- thing, no matter how it turns out, Investigator Rick Harvey at 870- of Sunday, Feb. 9. “He would mentor those chil- self, no matter the outcome, God please don’t post it on Facebook. 723-7875. Th e Sound of Music comes to Drew County Special to the Advance Traditional performance times for ing tickets on February 18 • SEARK Ticket Line (870-460-1888) Arts Center Room 110) will be open for SEARK’s annual community theater presen- • SEARK Website (www.searkconcert. starting at 8:30 a.m. in person visitors that day from 9 a.m. to The SEARK Concert Association an- tation remain the same as years past: Thurs- org) starting at 6 a.m. • SEARK Ticketing Offi ce (UAM Fine 8 p.m. nounces its community theater presentation day, March 12 at 7 p.m.; Friday, March 13 at of The Sound of Music March 12-14, 2020 7 p.m.; and Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m. and at the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s 7 p.m. Tickets for these performances are Fine Arts Center. $25 ($20 for children and $23 for veterans). The musical, directed and choreographed For the second year in a row, SEARK is by Kathy Lyon and Dalene Stephenson, in- proud to offer a senior adult matinee. Tickets volves two casts of more than 80 children for the matinee are $15, and the show will and adults from across Southeast Arkansas. take place on March 11 at 3 p.m. Local talent showcased in this production All tickets go on sale to the public on include Haley Greer of Monticello (playing Tuesday, February 18, and community mem- Maria Rainer) as well as T.J. Files of Warren bers are encouraged to purchase tickets early and Jeff Newton of Monticello (both playing as the annual musical is always a series of Captain Georg von Trapp). sell out performances. Full cast announcements, including the In addition to the regularly scheduled Von Trapp children and friends, are avail- shows, patrons of the arts are invited to at- able on the SEARK Concert website: www. tend a special premiere showing. Patrons for searkconcert.org. the premiere will be invited to a reception A total of 12 performances will take place prior to the show with light hors d’oeuvres this March, including complimentary mat- and a meet-and-greet of the cast members. inees for school children on March 9 and Tickets to the premiere are $100 per seat and 11 as part of SEARK’s SMArts (Schools include a $75 tax-deductible donation to- Majoring in the Arts) program. These are ward necessary improvements to the UAM scheduled through partnerships with each Fine Arts Center. individual school district. There will be three methods for purchas- Drew County heads to polls for March 3 primary election The March 3, 2020 prima- DREW COUNTY QUORUM COURT District 7 Deborah K. West (Dem) State Supreme Court Associate tions listed as “At Large” will ry elections are quickly ap- Ward 1 Position 2 be voted on by everyone. The JUSTICE OF THE PEACE Joe Williams, Jr. (Dem) Justice Position 4 proaching with early voting District 8 Charles Saff old (Dem) Barbara Womack Webb District 1, Subdistrict 10.2 will already open. As we head into District 1 Frank Appleberry (Dem) Ward 2 Position 1 Judge Morgan “Chip” Welch be voted on by those who live the election, there are quite a Orlando Jones (Rep) District 9 Shirley D. McNeary CIRCUIT JUDGE in that subdistrict, the school District 2 Monticello School Board bard issue will also be divided few races voters will be asked Rene’ Knowles (Dem) District 1 Subdistrict 10.2 Steven Morrison (Rep) Keith Wells based on where a voter lives. to weigh in on during the pri- CONSTABLES Tim Leonard District 3 Drew Central School Board The election committee will mary election.