UAM Fishing Monticello defeats Pirates team wins Page 12A Page 3A ADVANCE-MONTICELLONIAN 75¢ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 SERVING DREW COUNTY SINCE 1870 FLAGS ORDERED FLOWN HALF-STAFF DCSO participates in statewide Drug Take Back Day Editor’s Note: As part of a statewide Prescription Take Back Day, the Drew County Sheriff Office will be at Walmart parking lot Saturday, There are no April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rut- ledge is encouraging Arkansans to clean out obituaries for their medicine cabinets and bring any un- used or expired medications to one of the this week state’s more than 250 Prescription Drug Take Back Day drop-off locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 24. “Cleaning out medicine cabinets and turning the expired, unused medications over to law enforcement during a Drug Take Back event will save lives,” said Rutledge. “It is important now more than ever that we continue to properly dispose of these pre- Drew County scription drugs.” The Arkansas Attorney General’s Office hosts Prescription Drug Take Back Day COVID-19; twice a year in partnership with Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Depart- ment of Human Services, Arkansas Nation- BY MELISSA ORRELL al Guard, Arkansas Rotary Clubs, Arkansas [email protected] State Board of Pharmacy, DEA, FBI, Office of the State Drug Director and over 100 ad- Drew County logged a total of two new cases this ditional law enforcement and government week, two less than the four cases counted last agencies, community organizations and week, the number helped continue the sharp de- public health providers. cline in cases Drew County has identified for the Event sites are held at various locations third month in a row. The new cases this week were across the State but year-round locations identified on Wednesday, April 14 and Thursday, are also available and can be found at AR- Melissa Orrell/Advance Monticellonian April 15, one for each day and continued the down- TakeBack.org. The Attorney General’s office The American and Arkansas Flags are shown fl ying half staff Tuesday, April 21. The fl ags were also hosts take back events at mobile offices ward trend since the Thanksgiving spike of 74 as originally ordered to half-staff by President Biden on Thursday, April 15 in honor of victims in the highest number of cases in one day. Indianapolis, Ind. However, on the last day of the proclamation, the fl ags were ordered back around the State. Since the program began, Currently, Drew County has accounted for a to- to half-staff per United States Flag Code to honor former Vice President Walter Mondale who more than 206 tons of medication have been tal of 42 of the state’s deaths, with one new death passed away Monday, April 19 at the age of 93. Flags will remain at half-staff until the day of collected in Arkansas, which is over 412,600 interment; that date has not been disclosed at this time. recorded this week on Wednesday, April 14. thousand pounds of individual pills. For vaccinations, Drew County has administered one shot to 9.11% of the population; with 27.25% having received their second dose, an increase of 6.05% over last week for those with their second MSD board has full agenda; raises salaries shot. BY MELISSA ORRELL meet the $36,000 minimum The hours will be 8am-12 place worn out iPads for In its Tuesday update, the Arkansas Depart- [email protected] pay for a teacher with a Bach- noon. Buses will run, and $381,950.08. Along with ment of Health reported 198 new cases for the day; elor’s degree and no experi- students will receive both iPad Crayons for $43,856. 1804 active cases, an increase of 141 more cases With the passing of Senate ence. breakfast and lunch. ESSER The school will also sell the than those reported last week; 177 hospitalized, an Bill 504, now known as Act During the meeting the funds will pay each certifi ed iPads they currently have. increase of 13 from the previous day and increase 679, after Arkansas Governor school board approved teacher $2,000.00 and each • Purchase three year sub- of 29 from the same day last week; 24 on ventila- Asa Hutchinson signed it in • A $12,241 stipend with a paraprofessional $1,000, to law, the Monticello School scription for TeachTown tors, and increase of five from the same day last 200 day contract for a Head transportation and food ser- Board approved pay raises Curriculum, a special educa- week; deaths added today, 7, for a total of 5706; Jr. High Girls’ basketball vice cost and 21CC will pay for school district teachers. tion online curriculum that and a total of 333,709 total cases state wide since coach a site coordinator $32.00 an The current Act 679 was is currently used in 5 class- • A budget for Summer Ac- hour and Paraprofessional the beginning of the pandemic. passed in an eff ort to pro- rooms. The cost is $19,350. ademic Camps. The Summer $21.00 an hour. The Health Department reported that the top vide funding to schools to • Purchase a lawn mower Academic camps will be held • A $1,000 bonus for full counties for new cases are Benton, 29; Pulaski, 26; equalize teachers’ salaries for $16,640.35. The district at all campuses to address time employees. Any work- and Washington, 22. At the same time last week, after the minimum salaries has not purchased a mower the three counties were the same with Benton and were raised last year. In the credit recover, loss of learn- ing less than full time will ing, and remediation for stu- receive a pro-rata share since 2017. Washington switching positions. Act, Monticello Schools will • Purchase Ready curricu- On Monday, April 19, Arkansas Governor Asa receive $463,438.70 which dents. The dates of the camps based upon number of hours worked per day. A full route lum for $16,115.50. Hutchinson reported improved vaccination num- would allow the school to will be held June 7 through June 24. These camps will bus driver will receive $250 • Purchase TI-84 Calcula- bers state wide but stressed the importance of skip the 2021-22 approved be Monday through Thurs- and a half route driver will tors to replace worn out cal- keeping the momentum going and encouraging salary schedule. The law will provide $185 per student to day of each week. Students receive $125. No bonus will culators in Math classes for Arkansans to help end the pandemic by getting the schools, however, in or- will be taught by certifi ed be given to employees who $31,784.37. their vaccines. der to obtain the funding the teachers assisted by highly only work after school hours. • Approved April’s pay for “Today we saw fewer new cases with more test- schools would have had to trained paraprofessionals. • Purchase of iPads to re- extra duty ing than this time last week,” he stated. “The in- crease in vaccine doses was larger this week than last Monday. Our combined efforts are keeping the numbers low, but we will lose momentum if Community education fair scheduled we do not increase our vaccination numbers.” Special to the Advance register at a community educa- a stipend for expenses. Head Start programs starting tion fair Saturday April 24th at “It’s the perfect opportunity in August. And, they can tour Southeast Arkansas has had Dillard Funeral Home, 738 E. for our families to get a free ed- the new Dillard Funeral Home its fair share of issues after a Oakland Street, in Monticello ucation when they may not oth- and get to know the staff there. year of pandemic-fueled eco- from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where erwise be able to aff ord it,” said The goal of the AHDC organi- nomic job cuts and a health cri- there will also be refreshments Pear Lee Byers, Employment zation is to create opportunities sis that hit close to every home, and attractions for children. Specialist with the AHDC, who to help individuals achieve their but relief is in sight for farmers Organizers will observe social will be recruiting participants potential. Collaborations with and their families. distancing standards, and CDC at the event. “If they’re interest- local businesses is key to their The Arkansas Human Devel- public health recommenda- ed in going to school, we’ll pay strategy. opment Corporation is provid- tions. for it. If they want to continue “Job training and free ed- ing free training, education and The educational grants from to work on a farm, they can do ucation is just what the com- job placement to families who the AHDC will help farm work- that, but we’ll provide new skills munity needs, and right now it have worked in the farming ers and their college-age family and help them to negotiate for couldn’t be more timely,” said industry across Drew County, by covering a full year of tuition higher wages or a promotion.” Marvin Jones, manager of Dil- Ashley, Chicot and surrounding in a career of their choice. They The event is also an opportu- lard Funeral Home Monticello. communities. Individuals can can also get books, supplies and nity for families to register for See FAIR Page 6A INDEX Religion .............5B Calendar ............2A Sports ..............10A Classifi eds .........8A Kids’ Activities .. 2B Opinion ..............4A *No obituaries ADVANCE-MONTICELLONIAN OUR 150TH YEAR Subscribe Today! NUMBER 16 • 18 PAGES QHZVVSRUWVFODVVLÀHGV 870.367.5325 $34.00 ZZZP\PRQWLFHOORQHZVQHW SHU<HDU LQVLGHWKH]LSFRGHDUHD 2A | Wednesday, April 21, 2021 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 Monticel- lo is accepting recyclable items at the Transfer Station within the following guidelines: 1) Cardboard—must be flattened.