Advance-Monticellonian Is the LAST CHANCE Annual Black Friday Edition
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BLACK FRIDAY EDITION This week’s edition of the Advance-Monticellonian is the LAST CHANCE annual Black Friday Edition. We would like to help make your *****************ECRWSS**** holiday shopping experience wonderful, so we send every res- THIS WEEK ident in Drew County a copy of the newspaper. Our annual Gift Guide is enclosed—and an opportunity to get a year’s Local subscription to the Advance-Monticellonian is on page 9A. Postal Customer We hope you take this chance to not only check out the great Black Friday sale advertisements but also catch on local news, John Vance wins tiebreaker sports and holiday events taking place in Southeast Arkansas. 6C ADVANCE-MONTICELLONIAN 75¢ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2017 SERVING DREW COUNTY SINCE 1870 Drew County Museum case fi nally over BY HAROLD COGGINS with theft of property following a lengthy costs and fees and paying restitution to the and Wolfe; Jack Bennett, current president agreement in the matter of the state of AND ASHLEY FOREMAN legislative audit of the fi nances of the mu- Drew County Historical Society/Museum of the historical society; and Drew Coun- Arkansas v. Elizabeth Thurman and Terri [email protected] seum. The charges followed a state police in the amount of $156,306. ty Judge Robert Akin were in agreement Wolfe, Drew County Ciurcuit Court case [email protected] investigation and state audit of fi nancial It was determined by the state auditor on the recommendation of dropping all No. CR-16-175, whereby, in exchange records. that $26,140 of the missing money was charges against Thurman, according to fora plea oif guilt and the immediate pay- After nearly a year of ruffl ed feelings, Tommy Gray, then president of the his- spent on legitimate museum work, accord- court records. ment of $156,300, Terri Wolfe will receive the case of the missing Drew County Mu- torical society and a member of the muse- ing to court documents. This plea deal comes just before the pair a sentence of fi ve (5) years probation and seum money has fi nally come to a close. um commission, told the Advance-Monti- Thurman was cleared of all charges. was set to appear in court the week of Nov. the charges against Elibeth Thurman will But it’s not the closure most people fol- cellonian he was satisfi ed with the charges In Wolfe’s sworn statement to the court, 27. be dismissed; lowing the case or friends of the musuem and said the future of the museum is bright. she said that Thurman was unaware of her Wolfe will serve no jail time and accord- “Whereas, we believe that this resolution wanted or expected. “I feel like we’re going to come out bet- actions and “had nothing to do with the im- ing to court offi cials, the $156,306 in res- is in the best interest of the Drew County Terri Wolfe, 56, who served as Treasurer ter because of this investigation,” Gray, proper transactions.” titution has been paid in full to the Drew Historical Commission and the citizens of of the Drew County Historical Society from who initially uncovered the discrepancies Wolfe’s statement also said that checks County Sheriff’s Offi ce. Drew County, Arkansas. We are requesting Jan. 1, 2011 to her resignation on Sept. 8, and brought them to the attention of Deen, that appeared to be endorsed by Thurman The conditions of her supervised pro- that the prosecuting attorney accept this 2015, allegedly misappropriated $182,446 said at the time. “As a businessman, you that were deposited into Thurman and bation are standard for those charged with plea offer.” by writing checks to herself and family get a feel for your cash fl ow—and some- Wolfe’s joint bank account, were fraudu- Class B felonies. Yet, Gray, still a member of both orga- members out of the museum’s account to thing was defi nitely wrong.” lently endorsed by Wolfe. On behalf of the historical society, Ben- nizations, said a lot of people are upset pay for fi ctitious work done at the museum. In Drew County Circuit Court Friday, The prosecuting attorney for the case, nett submitted a resolution on Nov. 16 to with the court’s decision. He noted it was Back in January, Wolfe and Elizabeth Wolfe pled guilty to Class B felony charges Tenth Judicial District Deputy Prosecut- the court, which read: the preference of some the case go forward (Beth) Thurman were charged by Tenth and was sentenced to fi ve years of super- ing Attorney Frank Spain; along with Hani “Whereas, the Drew County Historical to a jury trial and that the entire sum of Judicial District Prosecutor Thomas Deen vised probation, along with paying court Hashem, legal representative for Thurman Society has been advised of a potential $182,446 be returned to the museum. RAISING AWARENESS BY CELEBRATING Area experiences two homicides within 12 hours BY ASHLEY FOREMAN twice in the abdomen, [email protected] by two men who were at his home earlier the Recently, Drew same day, and died lat- County experienced er at Drew Memorial two homicides within Health System. 12 hours of each other. According to Drew County Sheriff Mark Arnold LaRon White Jarell Terry Sr., 55, of Monticel- Gober, Jarell Terry, 25, lo was arrested and of McGehee was arrest- Photos by Vicki Kelly/ charged with manslaughter in ed last Friday by U.S. Marshalls Advance-Monticellonian the death of Harold Miller Jr., in Pulaski County. He is current- 54, also of Monticello. ly being held at the Drew Coun- BITTERSWEET TIME Students, Monticello Police Department ty Detention Facility. He was workers and friends of the Head taken for his first appearance in of the Class Childcare and Learn- officers responded to a shooting ing Center held their annual Mimi- incident around noon on Tues- Drew County Circuit Court on March to raise awareness of cancer day, Nov. 14 at 513 West Shelton Monday and is being held with- last Thursday from the HOTC build- Street where the officers found out bond. ing around the downtown square Miller dead. In the early hours Tuesday, and back. This year’s march also Miller’s body was transported Dominez Figures, 24, of Mc- celebrated the memory of HOTC to the Arkansas State Crime Lab Gehee, was arrested in Dermott co-founder Shay Gillespie, who died for an autopsy. in connection with the Wilmar in July. Top: Marchers get ready to White appeared in Drew shooting, too, Gober said. walk. Left: Gilliespie’ wife Sherrie County Circuit Court Thurs- Figures turned himself in to poses by the street sign declaring day morning where a bond of Dermott police, Gober said, af- the area on South Boyd Street in $30,000 was set. ter his mother escorted him from front of the HOTC campus to now In an unrelated event, a Wil- Pine Bluff to Desha County. be deemed Shay Gillespie Avenue. mar man was shot and killed Gober said Figures is now be- Right: Young participants enjoy the around 11 p.m. that same day at ing held in the Ashley County day’s activities. his home. Detention Center. No court date Christon Sheets, 20, was shot has been set. ANOTHER RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY STAYING HOME Ashley Foreman/Advance-Monticellonian Ashley Foreman/Advance-Monticellonian MONTICELLO’S GROWING AGAIN Monticello-Drew County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Glenda FROM BILLIE BLUE TO WEEVIL GREEN Mason Philley (seated, left) recently signed a National Letter-of-Intent Nichols (fourth from left) joins owner Donna Young (fourth from right) to offi cially introduce yet another new business to further his baseball career at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Joining Philley in the celebration in the into the Monticello and Southeast Arkansas area. Coff ee Cakes, featuring soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts, Monticello High School library are, on Mason’s left, Jeremiah Philley, his adopted brother and (standing from left to is now open in the Market Place ll in Monticello. The hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. right) mother Stephany Philley, Billies’ head coach Trevor Durham and father Ben Philley. INDEX Opinion ..............4A Calendar ............2A Religion .............3B HOLIDAY SUBSCRIPTION SPECIAL Classifi eds ........ 7C Sports ............... 1C Obituaries ..........8A Weddings ..........1B Ends December 31st! • See details on Page 9A To start a subscription to The Advance-Monticellonian call (870) OUR 146TH YEAR Reg. $39 367-5325, Mon. - Fri. 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Offer good through NUMBER 47 • 46 PAGES Zip codes beginning in 716 $17.00 Newsstand December 31, 2017. In order to comply with U.S. Postal regulations Price for periodical mail, all mail subscriptions must be paid in advance by check, money order or credit card. Newspapers are mailed out every Reg. $45 All other zip codes $40.00 Subscription Price Wednesday afternoon (unless holidays force an adjustment). 2A | Wednesday, November 22, 2017 NEWS Advance-Monticellonian | mymonticellonews.net | 870-367-5325 COMMUNITY CALENDAR GOING ON NOW Drew County Museum open on select Saturdays The Drew County Museum will be open the fi rst and third Saturday of each Educator of the Week month. The hours will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For special events, contact Connie Mullis at 870-367-2431 or Tommy Gray at 870-367-2401. Editor’s note: The Ad- Support for local schools vance-Monticellonian is high- CHRISTY ARMBRUST, MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL Show support for local schools by purchasing a school mascot yard sign lighting one educator each week for only $20. All three (University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils, to call attention to their accom- Drew Central Pirates and Monticello Billies) may be purchased for $50.