Busy awareness UAM tabs announces new weekend women’s basketball, softball coaches 1B 1C ADVANCE-MONTICELLONIAN 75¢ WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 SERVING DREW COUNTY SINCE 1870 LOCAL GRADUATES SEE THE FIRST GLIMPSE INTO THEIR FUTURES Photos by Melissa Orrell/Advance-Monticellonian END OF THE BEGINNING 2019 graduates from Drew Central (left) and Monticello high schools donned their cap and gowns last week. Drew Cen- tral held its commencement ceremony last Friday at the Drew Central Gym- nasium, while Monticello handed out diplomas Tuesday at Dan Coston Field House. Top: Seventy-one students participated in the Drew Central gradua- tion while Monticello had 140. Bottom: Students at both schools enjoy the accomplishments. PRESERVING HISTORY City, county CASA volunteers holiday closings In observance of Memo- rial Day on Monday, the support children city of Monticello, Drew County and the state of Ar- kansas will all close their BY MELISSA ORRELL offi ces. [email protected] Part four • In the city: The transfer station will be closed. Mon- For children who experience As part of bringing day’s trash route will run on the devastating trauma of being awareness to Foster Care Wednesday. separated from their families in Arkansas, the Ad- • In the county: The court- and find themselves in the unfa- vance-Monticellonian is house, road department miliar and often confusing legal highlighting the agencies and landfi ll will be closed. system, there is a team of volun- who support our children County trash will not be teers who dedicate their time to in Foster Care. Each week picked up on Monday. Mon- being a voice and a neutral party we will run a story about day’s trash will be picked up for those children. They are the the agencies that support on Tuesday with the regu- Court Appointed Special Advo- the children in our com- lar Tuesday route. All other cates, also called CASA volun- munity. routes will remain the same. teers. Please make sure all trash According to Jerri Willis, is out by 6 a.m. the morning CASA of the Tenth Judicial Dis- of pickup. trict executive director, CASA times.” • In the state: State Cap- volunteers are appointed by a Volunteers for CASA can be itol offi ces and all state judge to speak for the safety and that one person that the child buildings will be closed. well being of abused and ne- knows is there for them and who The State Capitol building glected children. they can learn to trust and who will, however, be open to “We want to be that stable per- won’t leave. visitors from 10 a.m. to 3 son for that child,” said Willis. “Once you sign on to be a “There are so many people that CASA volunteer we do ask that p.m. Monday. As usual, there will be are in and out of their lives when you do a 12-to-18 month mini- Melissa Orrell/Advance-Monticellonian they are in foster care. Turn over mum commitment so hopefully a local Memorial Day cer- is really high so you see differ- the case is over in that 18 months WILMAR MEMORIES Barbara Beatty (foreground) and Pat Leggett work to clean the graduation composite photo- emony at 10 a.m. in front ent therapists sometimes or see graphs of the old Wilmar High School before they are transferred to Drew Central High School. The schools consol- of the Drew County Court- and that child only has that one idated for the 1991-92 school year. A team of volunteers has worked to preserve the photos of Wilmar graduates different DHS (Department of house. CASA from 1948 to 1986. The pictures were still in the old school building. The team said it would like to thank the mayor Human Services) workers some- See Page 6A and city council of Wilmar, the DC School Board and to all the volunteers who have helped make this happen. 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 21 • 22 PAGES with their smartphone cameras, will be out about town looking for interesting subjects. WILL YOU BE NEXT? 2A | Wednesday, May 22, 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 OH, THE ANTICIPATION home energy related emergency situations. The following information is needed to determine eligibility: 1) Proof of total monthly household income for the month prior to submitting application; 2) All household members’ birthdates, social security numbers and applicant’s identifi cation; and 3) Proof of an electric or gas bill—or other energy related statement—for regu- lar assistance. Applications will be taken from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1-2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday (offi ces are closed on Friday). For more information, contact either Andrea Crowder, Drew County SEACAC rep- resentative, at 870-460-0842 or SEACAC Central Offi ce LIHEAP Program Director Carolyn Davis at 870-226-2668, extension 307. Crowder’s offi ce is located in the Monticello Department of Human Services building, 444 U.S. Highway 425 North. Drew County Museum The Drew County Museum, 408 South Main Street, will be open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For special events or for more information, contact Connie Mullis at 870-367-2431 or Tommy Gray at 870-367-2401. Support for local schools Show support for local schools by purchasing a school mascot yard sign for only $20. All three (University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils, Drew Central Pirates and Monticello Billies) may be purchased for $50. For more information, contact the Monticello-Drew County Chamber of Com- merce at 870-367-6741 or stop by the chamber offi ce at 335 East Gaines Street. Library after-school program The Southeast Arkansas Regional Library, Monticello Branch, 114 West Jeff erson Avenue, is conducting its after-school program. This program is off ered from August to May from 3:30-5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. These activities are free for children. Children ages 9 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, contact Jennifer at 870-367-8583. Ireland, England and Wales tour Drew Central fourth-grade teacher Eva Arrington will be leading an edu- cational tour for nine days in June 2020 to England, Ireland and Wales. Students from any school district are eligible to travel. Those taking the tour will experience castles, cathedrals, coastlines and countrysides that will become the classroom for this unforgettable journey. The British Isles have inspired imaginations for centuries. From the rolling, rugged beauty of the Ring of Kerry to magnifi cent man-made cathedrals like St. Patrick’s in Dub- lin and Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford, students will feel the spirits of history by their side every step of the way. A detailed itinerary of the trip can be reached by visiting eftours.com and watching the video on the England, Ireland and Wales tour. For more information, contact Arrington at 870-224- 6545. Melissa Orrell/Advance-Monticellonian Yard of the Month GATHERING CROWD Parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, other relatives and friends wait for the 2019 Monticello High School graduation ceremony The Monticello-Drew County Chamber of Commerce is now taking nomina- to begin Tuesday night at Dan Coston Field House. This scene was repeated at the Drew Central High School graduation four days earlier at Drew Central tions for Yard of the Month. Nominations may be made by calling 870-367- Gymnasium. The Advance-Monticellonian congratulates all who earned their diplomas. 6741. Now streaming “A Southern Gothic Tale” a feature fi lm that takes place at Monticello’s own, The Allen House, is now streaming on Amazon Prime. The fi lm can also be rented or purchased digitally at Amazon.com. The fi lm features local actors. Best Care Connected: 5 hours online The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s Research and Extension Department is off ering a course in Building Parent-Teacher Partnerships through Eff ective Communication through Monday, Sept. 16. To enroll, visit courses.uaex.edu. For more information, contact Hazelene McCray at 870-460-6270 or [email protected],or Rachel Chaney at 501-671-2069 or [email protected]. SATURDAY, MAY 25 SOR meeting The Bayou Bartholomew Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution will meet at 6 p.m. Saturday at Leon’s Catfi sh and Steak House, 3801 Chapel Village in Pine Bluff (about one-fourth mile west of Interstate 530). This is a reorganization meeting to get the dormant chapter reactivated.