Polar plunge is Lady Billies add 4A South Region success championship to trophy case 1B 1C ADVANCE-MONTICELLONIAN 75¢ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018 SERVING DREW COUNTY SINCE 1870 Branch, McKiever selected Man, Woman of Year BY HAROLD COGGINS learning new activities. AND ASHLEY FOREMAN “For the past 10 years, she has [email protected] organized bus trips for those resi- [email protected] dents interested in traveling. This endeavor has grown so much in Monday night was a star-stud- popularity, that not only Drew ded, at least in terms of Monticello County residents travel, but people dignitaries, gala at the annual Mon- from all over the state are includ- ticello/Drew County Chamber of ed. She spends countless hours to Commerce-Monticello Economic make sure these trips are fun for Development Commission ban- everyone.” quet. Highlight awards were pre- sented to the Man, Woman, Busi- Mainline, who had its Grand ness and Industry of the Year. Opening for its new facility just Rev. Alford Branch, pastor hours before the banquet Monday, of Holmes Chapel Presbyterian was established in 1978 by a group Church, was named Man of the of agricultural leaders in Portland Year. Community activist Charlotte who wanted access to healthcare McKiever was named Woman of for people in their community. the Year. Since then, Mainline has grown Mainline Health Systems, Inc. from the one location in Portland and Interfor Corporation were se- to six medical clinics, three dental lected as the business and indus- clinics, and 10 school based health try of the year, respectively. Other clinics in Southeast Arkansas. awards presented included: In 2010, Mainline opened a • Drew County Farm Family clinic in Monticello. Since then, of the Year—the Mike McGregor the Monticello clinic has expand- family ed from two providers to multiple • Drew County Homestead Fam- healthcare professionals across a ily of the Year—the Dwight Wells wide scope and they have recent- family ly completed the construction of a • Drew Central School District new, 1,500 square foot facility, lo- Teacher of the Year—Penny Vance cated on Jordan Drive. • Monticello School District Last year, Mainline won four na- Teacher of the Year—Terri Smith tional awards: The Clinical Quality • University of Arkansas at Mon- Photos by Harold Coggins and Ashley Foreman/Advance-Monticellonian Improvers Award, Health Center ticello Teacher of the Year—Dr. TOP AWARDS Rev. Alford Branch (left) and Connie McKiever were awarded Man and Woman of the Year at the Monticello/Drew County Chamber of Com- Quality Leaders Award, Enhanc- Kate Stewart merce-Monticello Economic Development Commission annual awards banquet at the John F. Gibson University Center Monday night. ing Access to Care Award and Ad- Branch, who said he was totally dressing Health Disparities Award. surprised at his being recognized here in Drew County often goes children. In addition, he has used ceed.” town the Shepherd’s Center, a pro- And Interfor, a mill which pro- despite having many of his church unnoticed and unrecognized,” the his position as pastor of a local In her nomination form, it was gram designed to promote healthy duces southern pine lumber, ac- members in attendance, was called person who nominated Branch church to open the church doors noted “since her retirement, McKi- lifestyles for seniors to Monticel- quired its Monticello Division in “a real unsung hero” in his nomina- wrote. “Year in and Year out, this and host adult education classes ever has been busier than ever, con- lo. Residents from the county and June 2015, recently announcing tion form. man goes to the courts, to the jails and a successful tutoring program tributing much to the community. the city attend classes once a week plans for a $46 million upgrade of “The endless work that he does and to the schools on behalf of our to better help young students suc- Several years ago, she brought to for six weeks participating in and its sawmill in the city. MSD, DCSD GROWING FOR THE GOOD Council votes agree to tax to open bids refund plan for fi re truck BY ASHLEY FOREMAN [email protected] BY HAROLD COGGINS [email protected] In Tuesday night’s Monticello City Council meeting, the mem- In an almost four-hour meet- bers present voted to pay the ing that included two expul- $630.34 bill for sales tax for the sion hearings Monday night, new water billing system and to the Monticello School District open up the bidding process to School Board put their stamp of sell the 1996 pumper fire truck. approval on an agreement with Alderman Joe Meeks and Al- the Drew Central School Dis- derwoman Beverly Hudson were trict to refund $339,856.18 in absent but Mayor David Ander- misplaced ad valorem tax reve- son declared a quorum was pres- nue to DCSD. ent and the meeting was called The problem arose when the to order at 6:01 p.m. Whit Bar- Drew County tax assessor er- ton, the Monticello city attorney, roneously assigned the revenue was not present due to obliga- collected from the real estate tions with the Monticello School and personal property tax of Board meeting. Hood Packaging Corporation, City Clerk Aundrea Cham- 1829 Arkansas Highway 35 bers explained to the council South, as though it was locat- Ashley Foreman/Advance-Monticellonian members that the reason for the ed 100 percent within MSD OPENING NEW DOORS Mainline Health Systems, Inc. held its Grand Opening and had a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday at its new loca- $630.34 water billing system bill boundaries between the years tion, 535 Jordan Drive. The updated 1,500-square-foot building houses all types of healthcare providers that serve patients with or without was due to her error in not post- of 2007 and 2015. In actuality, insurance. Executive Director Allen Nichols (with scissors) joins Monticello/Drew County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director (to right ing it in the information when Hood Packaging is situated on of Nichols), the Mainline staff an friends for the day’s festivities. Drew County real estate parcel See COUNCIL Page 6A Nos. 703-03146-000-C and 703- 03148-00-C, which lies within the school boundaries of DCSD, according to a copy of the agree- Local man dies ment on which the MSD board Th ird annual Highway 35 Junk Hunt upcoming voted Monday. from gunshot “This was completely an over- BY BRITT TALENT city. sight,” MSD Superintendent Cleveland County Herald Historic Highway 35 Junk Hunt A complete map of the route, including the loops, BY ASHLEY FOREMAN Sandra Lanehart said. “We have tab inside today’s edition can be found in a special Highway 35 Junk Hunt tab- [email protected] a good working relationship RISON—If feedback is any indication, this year’s loid that is included in today’s newspaper. The tabloid with Drew Central and worked Historic Highway 35 Junk Hunt set for March 8-10 is will also be available for viewing online. At approximately 11:30 Pioneer Village at Rison, the old Grapevine School The tabloid is a joint effort between the Cleveland a.m. yesterday, the Mon- with them to correct this mat- shaping up to be perhaps the biggest one yet. in Grant County, and the Marketplace in Monticello. Jennifer King of Rison, the catalyst behind the fi rst County Herald at Rison, the Advance-Monticellonian ticello Police Department ter. It was not the fault of either Sharon Gray of Friends of Pioneer Village said Junk Hunt three years ago, said she is hearing that at Monticello and the Sheridan Headlight at Sheridan. was dispatched to Davis school district.” they still have booth space available at the Pioneer there will be several more vendors participating this King also encouraged those who are setting up Street after a call regarding The DCSD board had previ- Village. The cost is $10 per day for an indoor or out- ously approved this agreement. year and that more people will be coming for the fi rst sales as well as businesses along the route to post a person being shot. door booth. Gray can be reached at 870-692-3130 or their sales on the Historic Highway 35 Junk Hunt The school districts agreed: time this year. A male victim was found “I’ve had a phone call from one lady in Mississip- 870-325-6567. page on Facebook. She asked that those making posts • That MSD refund DCSD King said the Grapevine hub is reporting several at the location and appeared pi and another from Louisiana wanting to know how be specifi c about their location by including their ad- to have a gunshot wound to the ad valorem tax revenue due to get here, where to go, where to stay,” King said. more vendors this year than last year, and that Monti- dress as well as the town or community where the DCSD from the assignment er- cello has changed the location of its hub from the Drew the upper body. “It seems like there are a lot more people planning to sale/business is located. The victim was later ror of the Drew County Tax As- come this year.” County Fairgrounds to the Marketplace on Hwy. 425/ King said she is also encouraged with the fact that sessor for calendar years 2007- The Junk Hunt will be along about a 100-mile Hwy. 35 in the main business district of the city. the Junk Hunt now seems to be taking on a life of See MURDER Page 6A 2015 at the personal property stretch of Arkansas Highway 35, extending from the “Loops” (special side routes that will feature sales) its own.