INSIDE TODAY Marlins’ season opener is Saturday at Chase Pool 1C ADVANCE-MONTICELLONIAN 75¢ WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2019 SERVING DREW COUNTY SINCE 1870 FREEDOM ISN’T FREE Arrests keep DSCO busy BY MELISSA ORRELL Koble was transported to the [email protected] Drew County Detention Facility and booked for aggravated as- Several arrests for aggravated sault. assault, breaking and entering, Drew County District Court and theft of property were made Judge Bruce Anderson set bond in the past month by the Drew at $5,000 on May 3 when Koble County Sheriff’s Office. appeared before him. Koble later DCSO Deputy Daniel Garrison bonded out. But that was not the was dispatched to U.S. Highway last time the DCSO would see 425 North on Thursday, May 2 for Koble. an altercation that took place on Garrison and DSCO Deputy the side of the highway. Brandon Wright were dispatched An attempted hit and run be- to Bordeaux Lane on Sunday, gan when Stephen Koble, a May 12, in reference to a break- 28-year-old Drew County resi- ing or entering. Items reported dent, stopped his vehicle along missing were from a storage the side of Highway 425 North shed and included a dryer. and began a verbal altercation Witnesses reported seeing a with another white male who white male, identified as Ste- had been walking along the phen Koble, on the property on highway, according to witnesses Saturday, May 11, in a black at the scene. Ford truck with California li- Koble returned to his vehicle cense plates, known to belong to and drove the vehicle off the Koble. Witnesses also reported highway and into a ditch while seeing a black Ford truck leav- attempting to hit the other man ing the property early Sunday with his vehicle. The victim morning. jumped into the tree line to avoid An arrest warrant for break- being struck. The witnesses fur- ing and entering was issued for ther reported Koble reentered Koble by Anderson on Thurs- Photos by Harold Coggins/Advance-Monticellonian the highway and left the scene day, May 16. Koble was arrest- SOMBER REMINDER Monday’s annual Memorial Day ceremony in front of the Drew County Courthouse on South Main Street drew a large traveling north on Highway 425. ed later that afternoon by DSCO crowd. Those in attendance heard speeches from State Rep. LeAnne Burch, Monticello Mayor Paige Chase, Drew County Judge Robert Akin, A description of the vehicle Chief Deputy Brian Slaughter Monticello Police Chief Jason Akers and Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober, among others. The ceremony included the traditional bell ringing as was sent to Lincoln County, and booked into the Drew Coun- names of the Drew County veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifi ce were read and the playing of “Taps” to end the proceedings. A half-staff according to a DCSO press re- ty Detention Center. American fl ag was fl own in remembrance of all military veterans who gave their lives in the line of duty. lease. Deputies stopped the ve- ARRESTS hicle shortly after the incident. See Page 6A Flooding has STAYING HOME Annual area festival almost here BY JENELLE LIPTON for little girls in the world. It will be ing contest; a steak cook-off; turtle ADEM tense Special to the Advance held on Saturday, June 15. races; a talent show; an all-tomato Activities will begin on Saturday, luncheon; a salsa contest; a fi ve-ki- Special to the Advance Plans are well underway for the June 8 with a new event, the Le lometer walk/run; arts and crafts; Tour de Tomato, a bike ride through a cutest baby contest; and the Fes- NORTH LITTLE ROCK—The 63rd Bradley County Pink Tomato Bradley County. The bike ride will tival parade. There will be vendors State Emergency Operations Cen- Festival to be held on June 8-15. include three distances from which offering a large variety of food. The ter activated to Level I (full activa- The annual festival draws people riders may choose. Other events the grand fi nale on Saturday night will tion) at 8 a.m. Tuesday in response from all parts of the country—es- fi rst weekend will be pageants for be a giant fi reworks show. to rising water levels and fl ooding pecially from all around Southeast all ages, including the Miss Pink Entertainment is always a big part along the Arkansas River. Arkansas Arkansas. Activities include events Tomato Pageant. of the annual festival. The headlin- Department of Emergency Man- for all ages and many of the events The following week is fi lled with er band this year will be Restless agement staff have been joined by have been around for years. many activities. Many events have Heart, taking the stage on Saturday, representatives from other state and The Little Miss Pink Tomato been favorites through the years, June 15. The previous night, Blane federal agencies to support Arkan- Pageant, for girls ages 4 and 5, will Photo courtesy of Kristy Mitchell with new events added each year. Howard will be entertaining. Other sas’ response efforts. be celebrating its 60th anniversary. JUST DOWN THE ROAD Monticello’s Kendevion Hughey (left) signed a na- The pageant has remained the same Events scheduled for the 2019 Fes- entertainers are Fortunate Sons + since its beginning in 1959—and tival include a quilt show; toma- FLOODING tional letter-of-intent Friday to play basketball at UAM. Enjoying the moment FESTIVAL See Page 6A with Hughey is his cousin, Markeveon Strickland. may be the only swimsuit pageant to-eating contests; a tomato-pack- See Page 6A MAY’S YARD OF THE MONTH 2020 Census FINS service covers committee entire family unit meets Th ursday The 2020 Census Com- plete Count Committee BY MELISSA ORRELL meeting will be 6:30 p.m. [email protected] Part fi ve Thursday at the Monticel- lo Economic Development For Anita Swift, Drew and Brad- As part of bringing Commission offi ces, 211 ley counties’ juvenile intake offi - awareness to Foster Care West Gaines Street. cer for the Tenth Judicial District in Arkansas, the Ad- At the meeting, the com- Court, her work is not a job but a vance-Monticellonian mittee will be identifying calling. has been highlighting the sectors and developing “The work that I do; it’s a min- agencies who support our istry, it’s not just a nine-to-fi ve,” strategies tailored to specifi c children in Foster Care. groups to leverage our rela- said Swift. “I know it’s a calling Each week, we have run and when they say, ‘When you fi nd tionships within the com- a story about the agencies munity. Sector examples something you love you will nev- that support the children er work another day in your life,’ I include churches and faith- in our community. This is feel like I am achieving that.” based groups, school dis- the fi nal installment in the As the juvenile intake offi cer, tricts, businesses and indus- series. Swift’s work is mostly out in the tries, neighborhoods, and streets, in the communities, that she the University of Arkansas is responsible for. Even though the at Monticello students. The public is invited, as area she covers is more than one out in the community and that is person can comfortably handle. one thing Judge (Teresa) French is Photo courtesy of Glenda Nichols the committee needs every- one’s ideas on the best way “We (Tenth Judicial District big on. She wants us to be out in the PRETTY AS A PICTURE Fran Calvert, who resides on Bear Tooth Pass, receives congratulations from Monticel- to make sure everyone in Court) service fi ve counties, Ash- communities. I have two counties lo-Drew County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Glenda Nichols (right) for having won the Yard of the ley, Bradley, Chicot, Desha and Month for May. The Yard of the Month contest is sponsored by the Town & County Garden Club and the chamber. Monticello gets counted. Drew,” explained Swift. “We get See FINS Page 6A To nominate a deserving yard in the Monticello area, call the chamber at 870-367-6741. INDEX Opinion ..............4A Calendar ............2A Religion .............3B EXTRA! Classifi eds ........ 5C Sports ............... 1C ROVING REPORTERS Obituaries ..........8A Weddings ..........1B EXTRA! OUR 148TH YEAR ;OPZ`LHYTLTILYZVM[OL(K]HUJL4VU[PJLSSVUPHUZ[HќHYTLK NUMBER 22 • 36 PAGES with their smartphone cameras, will be out about town looking for interesting subjects. WILL YOU BE NEXT? 2A | Wednesday, May 29, 2019 NEWS Advance-Monticellonian | mymonticellonews.net | 870-367-5325 COMMUNITY CALENDAR GOING ON NOW Market in the Park THE ROVING Market in the Park will be open each Saturday from 8-11 a.m. at the Rod- ney Shelton Foss mini-park, next to the Drew County Detention Center. For more information contact the Monticello/Drew County Chamber of Commerce at 870-367-6741. Library book sale The Southeast Arkansas Regional Library, Monticello Branch, 114 West Jeff erson Street, is off ering a $5 book sale, with the proceeds going toward library programs. Anyone may fi ll a bag with any book that fi ts in the bag, REPORTERS and it’s just $5—while books last. For more information, contact the library at 870-367-8583. LIHEAP applications The Southeast Arkansas Community Action Corporation is taking applica- tions for Fiscal Year 2019 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Look who we found this week! winter regular program. The applications will remain open until funds are depleted. The program is designed to assist low-income households with APPRECIATED CUSTOMERS FOUND home energy related emergency situations.