Learn about our “slither- Honoring our Senior ing friends” baseball players Page 2B Page 9A ADVANCE-MONTICELLONIAN 75¢ WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 SERVING DREW COUNTY SINCE 1870 Mainline off ers free test to area residents, expands state testing BY MELISSA ORRELL [email protected] In an effort to increase testing across Arkansas, Governor Asa Hutchinson an- nounced a goal of 60,000 tests or 2% of Arkansans tested in the month of May. In the Southeast region, Mainline Health Systems, Inc. are doing their part by op- erating one day drive through free testing across the region. Area residents in Drew County were offered the chance to be tested Tuesday, May 19, at Pauline Baptist Church. There was no need for a physician referral, test takers did not need to be showing signs or be in a high risk category and the tests were free. According to Mainline CEO Gary Nichols, Mainline is doing their part, with help of grant money received for COVID-19, to make sure residents of ru- ral Southeast Arkansas have the chance to be tested and to help meet the gover- nor’s goal. Those who came through the site on Tuesday stayed in their cars where they were registered and given stickers and testing kits with their information on them. After registering the cars pulled around to another stopping point where nurses swabbed them for their tests. Mainline tested residents of Lake Vil- lage earlier and are adding new sites to ensure as many Arkansans as possible are tested. According to the Center for Disease Control and other health organizations, testing is key to reopening the economy in a safe manner. Arkansas has worked Melissa Orrell/Advance Monticellonian to test over 2,000 people a day and is on A Mainline nurse tests a family that came through the COVID-19 drive through testing center at Pauline Baptist Church, Tuesday, May 19. Mainline is working to help the state reach the track to reach the goal of 60,000 Arkan- gaol of 60,000 Arkansans tested in the month of May. Increased testing and testing capabilities are one of the keys to the federal government and CDC guidelines for state economies sans tested, according to Hutchinson at to safely reopen. his daily coronavirus update meetings. Memorial Day closings CONGRATULATIONS MHS GRADUATES! The Drew County Courthouse, Road is Monday; all other routes will remain Department & Landfi ll will be closed on the same. Monday, May 25 in observance of Me- The City of Monticello Offi ces will morial Day. also be closed in observance of Memo- Monday’s trash will be picked up on rial Day. Trash routes will not run but Tuesday with the regular Tuesday route. will be picked up with the regular routes The only route affected by this holiday Wednesday. AGFC accepting WRICE applications Arkansas Game and Fish Commission lor, waterfowl program coordinator cal component of Arkansas’s rich for the AGFC. “Last year, we added duck-hunting history. According to The Arkansas Game and Fish the public access requirement to the recent research, only about 20 per- Commission is accepting applica- program and still saw great interest cent of the 2 million acres of har- tions from rice fi eld owners to enroll from landowners. This grant will let vested rice fi elds in the Mississippi in its expanded Waterfowl Rice In- us expand that opportunity for land- Alluvial Valley are fl ooded each centive Conservation Enhancement owners and hunters even more.” year, and fall tillage appears to be on program. Landowners may receive Arkansas Rice Federation mem- the increase in many parts of Arkan- as much as $150 per acre annually ber Sam Whitaker of Monticello sas. “Getting farmers to suspend fall while still maintaining the current participated in the program’s public tillage and fl ood more of those fi elds production of rice fi elds by follow- access component last year. “The could have a major impact on real- ing post-harvest guidelines and al- WRICE program gives more peo- ized waterfowl food values,” Naylor lowing permit-based hunts during ple the opportunity to experience said. waterfowl season on their properties. the outdoors and enables the public “Interested landowners will work The program is aimed at enrolling to be more involved in conservation with us to provide improved water- rice fi elds within 10 miles of many efforts as a result of their participa- fowl habitat and public hunting op- AGFC wildlife management areas tion,” said Whitaker. “Many farmers portunities on their fi elds through a popular with duck hunters. are already engaged in the cultiva- managed draw system,” Naylor said. Now in its third year, the AGFC’s tion of waterfowl habitat through the “The hunts are highly controlled, WRICE program has been awarded post-harvest fl ooding of rice fi elds, and hunters have shown incredible a grant from the National Resources which can provide a completely respect for this great new oppor- Conservation Service’s Voluntary different hunting environment than tunity. We hope to expand from Public Access and Habitat Incentive fl ooded timber.” last year’s 941 acres of huntable Program. The grant will boost the Naylor says landowners with land WRICE fi elds to 3,750 acres this program to the tune of $2.1 million, already enrolled in Wetland Reserve year.” distributed during the next three Program easements also can apply Landowners interested in be- years to participating landowners. for some of these funds if they are coming part of this innovative “The fi rst year, we focused on willing to allow public access for conservation and hunter access paying landowners to leave the hunting and wildlife-viewing on program can visit www.agfc.com/ Melissa Orrell/Advance Monticellonian waste rice in the fi elds instead of their property. wrice or contact their local private tilling before spring and fl ooding the The program’s main goal is fo- lands biologist through the web- Drive Thru Diplomas. Monticello High School seniors drove thru the school Tuesday, May 20, to receive their diplo- land to make that food more avail- cused on increasing waterfowl site www.agfc.com/habitat to learn mas from a dancing and cheering high school staff . Principal, Susan White, greeted each graduate and spoke briefl y to each one as they marked the end of their high school career and the beginning of their journey into adulthood. able to waterfowl,” said Luke Nay- resources on rice fi elds, a criti- more. INDEX Opinion ..............4A Calendar ............2A Religion .............5B Classifi eds .......10A Sports ................9A Kids’ Corner As we all adjust to the measures put in place to protect our community and Obituaries ..........8A Kids’ Activities .. 1B nation, we at the Advance have dedicated two pages for the kids who are at Page OUR 149TH YEAR & Education home during this unprecedented time. It is our hope we can bring quality, fun, NUMBER 21 • 20 PAGES educational materials the kids will look forward to every week. So kids, this is for 1B & 2B Page you! Look on pages 1B and 2B to see what we rounded up for you this week. 2A | Wednesday, May 20, 2020 NEWS Advance-Monticellonian | mymonticellonews.net | 870-367-5325 COMMUNITY CALENDAR GOING ON NOW City recycling guidelines THE ROVING Each Wednesday, barring a catastrophe, the city of Monticello is accept- ing recyclable items at the Transfer Station within the following guidelines: 1) Cardboard—must be fl attened. Not accepted are cereal boxes, drink can boxes or egg cartons; 2) Plastic bottles—lids must be removed and the bottles must be bagged. Only No. 1 and No. 2 bottles are accepted (the number is located on the bottom of the bottle). No wide-mouthed bottles can be accepted; 3) Newspapers—bagged or boxed; 4) Aluminum REPORTERS cans—must be bagged. No tin cans or pet food cans can be accepted; and 5) Shredded offi ce paper—must be bagged. To have recycled items picked up, contact City Hall at 870-367-4400. Note: Electronics (EWaste) are accepted at the city transfer station, 1466 Old Warren Road, but are not eligible for pick up. The city reminds all citizens to not mix household trash Look who we found this week! with recyclable items. The city does not accept glass or any item not listed above at this time. CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES! 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. Germany, Switzerland, & Italy tour Drew Central fourth-grade teacher Eva Arrington will be leading an educa- tional tour for Germany, Switzerland, & Italy including Venice June 2021 and Japan July 2021. Parents, grandparents, and students from any district can travel. For more information, contact Arrington at 870-224-6545 or e-mail at [email protected] Nursing Assistant Courses UAM College of Technology McGehee and Career Pathways Initiative will be hosting a series of Nursing Assistant Courses. Summer I begins Tues- day, May 26, through Thursday, June 25; Summer II runs from Wednes- day, July 1, through Friday, July 31; and the Fall 2020 course will being in August. Call career pathways staff to see if you qualify at 870-460-2102 or 870-460-2129. Drivers License testing knowledge test Driver license testing is now restricted to Arkansas State Police Troop Headquarters (with the exception of Troop J at Clarksville).