Polar Plunge takes breath Hall of Fame-sounding names for good key for Boll Weevils’ success cause 1B 1C ADVANCE-MONTICELLONIAN 75¢ WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2017 SERVING DREW COUNTY SINCE 1870 Monticello’s city council has busy Tuesday night BY ASHLEY FOREMAN with updates on progress for the site. Pre- made in the last month. She told the coun- county who has helped me get settled in.” told the council members that the only [email protected] sentations are being made to all four gov- cil members that she was going above and On the third reading of an ordinance thing the state does not audit is water and erning entities involved (Monticello, Drew beyond to make contacts and keep lines of amending Chapter 9.7 of Monticello City sewer funds, the city is responsible for In a regularly scheduled meeting, the County, Warren and Bradley counties). communication open with industries. Code, concerning elections, the council sending out bids for those jobs. Monticello City Council members met Robert Milton then spoke to the council Rodgers gave a positive report, telling unanimously approved to repeal party pri- The council approved the decision to alongside Interim Mayor David Ander- about the fi nancial standing of the facility. the council members that citizens who mary procedures. accept bids for this job. son to discuss the Intermodal Facility, “We are so close to being debt free with have been contacted about nuisance prop- Monticello Fire Chief Kelly Reid spoke At the end of the meeting, the council the Monticello Economic Development this site, we can almost see it,” Milton erties were in compliance. Also, 18 Spe- to the council about the purchase of a members were presented with the idea of Commission report, Judge Bruce Ander- said. cial Needs Assistance Program applicants new fi re truck. Reid and a representative condemning property 719 U.S. Highway son’s District Court report and several or- At the end of the presentation, the Inter- were accepted. Three projects are under from the Pierce Manufacturing Company 278 West. dinances and resolutions. im Mayor told the representatives for the construction and one is complete. explained the cost and answered ques- Rodgers told the council that the nui- The meeting opened with the Interim Intermodal Facility that the city of Mon- “I expect any day now we will here tions from the members. The members sance letter was sent out to the property Mayor welcoming guests and Brian Rod- ticello would be writing a $35,000 check from the banks about the remaining proj- approved the purchase of the new truck owners in January. The owners were pres- gers giving the invocation. City Clerk An- to cover their part of this year’s expenses ects,” Rodgers said. which will cost $200,000 and the city will ent at the meeting and they explained their drea Chambers called the roll and it was related to the site. District Court Judge Bruce Anderson receive a $2,500 credit for the timely ap- process and plans for the property. Now determined that a quorum was present. City Finance Director Vickie Norris addressed the council members about his proval—and a $5,000 credit for trading in that the design phase in complete, the own- The minutes for the regularly scheduled gave her usual report to the council mem- fi rst two months in offi ce over the newly the old fi re truck that is a 1989 model. ers plan to spend approximately $200,000 meeting and the special called meeting in bers. combined judicial district. David Anderson informed the council in the next 120 days to completely update January were approved unanimously. Monticello Economic Development “Everything is running smoothly as that Lake Monticello dams needed repair the building and parking lot. John Lipton of the Intermodal Facility Commission Executive Director Nita Mc- far as I can see,” Bruce Anderson said. and that is a job that bids must be sent out This site will be home to a Subway Board came forward to present the council Daniel spoke to the council about progress “I want to thank everyone in the city and for. The council approved. Also, Norris restaurant. MSD board Babin leaves legacy takes care of quiet leadership of routine BY JIM BREWER rights movement. It was UAM Media Services Babin who spent most of his 15 years as president business Being president of and chancellor rebuild- Arkansas A&M College ing the school’s image BY ASHLEY FOREMAN was never at the top of in the eyes of a national [email protected] Claude Babin’s wish list. accrediting agency and it When then-President was Babin who helped In the Monticello School Dis- BABIN trict regularly scheduled meeting Jack Mears resigned in facilitate the merger of for February, the school board met early 1962 after reaching Arkansas A&M with the to discuss student expulsions, bus an impasse with the A&M board University of Arkansas. bids, a heating and cooling bid, ex- over a variety of issues, Board Add in the construction of the tra duty pay and personnel employ- Chairman Clifton Trigg asked Science Center, Fine Arts Center ment and resignations. Babin to apply for the position. and Royer Hall, and it’s not a bad With all members present except “My primary love was always resume for a man who didn’t want for vice president Keith Wells, the classroom teaching,” Babin said in the job in the fi rst place. board voted to expel fi ve unnamed an interview in the fall 2007 edi- “In the brief time I knew Dr. students. The reasoning for the ex- Special to the Advance tion of UAM Magazine. “I did not Babin, he impressed me as a man of pulsion was not made available to PRESENTING FINDINGS Hannah Kling, a student at Arkansas State University, relays her research set out to be president of Arkansas compassion who truly loved UAM the public. on neurodegenerative disorders and spinal cord injuries at a recent conference. A&M.” and all that it stands for,” current The board approved the districts Babin may not have wanted the UAM Chancellor Karla Hughes request to ask for bids for a 77-pas- job, but the A&M board refused said. “He always viewed himself, senger school bus equipped with to take no for an answer. He was fi rst and foremost, as a teacher, air conditioning. named interim president in May but his leadership has had a lasting The board approved a bid for a STUDENT PROJECT 1962, then reluctantly accepted the impact on this university. I think I new heating and cooling unit for position full-time in July, begin- speak for the entire UAM commu- the construction shop of the Oc- ning a 15-year term as the last pres- nity when I say how saddened I am cupational Education Center. After Monticello’s Kling aff orded big opportunity ident of Arkansas A&M and the by his passing. Our deepest condo- the unit went out, the board was fi rst chancellor of the University of lences to his family and the many told, it created an emergency situ- Arkansas at Monticello. who called him their friend.” ation for the students as they were BY ASHLEY FOREMAN Neurodegenerative disorders and spinal cord Dr. Claude H. Babin died Sat- Born February 6, 1924, Babin without heat. The lowest bid was [email protected] injuries result in permanent loss or damage of urday, February 25, 2017, at the grew up 30 miles north of Baton approved for $11,800 from Dean neurons. Unlike other cells, neurons do not di- age of 93, leaving behind a legion Rouge, La., in the little town of Brothers. Hannah Kling of Monticello, is in her second vide to replace dead neurons so these injuries of admirers and a legacy of quiet, Clinton. He graduated from high Extra-duty pay for the month year at Arkansas State University. The 19-year- and disorders lead to an irreversible functional steady leadership that guided Ar- school in 1941 and entered Louisi- of February was approved and the old isn’t your average college sophomore, how- loss. kansas A&M and UAM through ana State University at the age of turbulent times. board moved to executive session ever. “Personally having family members or know- 17. Babin earned a degree in His- to discuss employment and resig- ing individuals impacted by neurodegenerative It was Babin who helped rebuild Kling has taken on a major research project tory from LSU in 1945 after twice nations of staff. All administration disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s the frayed relationship between being rejected for military service in addition to her studies. Aspiring to go into the was rehired for another year. disease, really inspired me to become involved the College and the A&M board for poor eyesight. The board also approved the pur- medical fi eld, Kling recently had the opportu- in this lab,” Kling said. “Since there is current- of trustees, who helped rebuild He received a master’s degree nity to intern in a research lab studying neuro- chase of a new lawn mower for the See KLING Page 6A sagging faculty morale and guided from the University of Wisconsin district from the lowest bidder, Es- biology. the campus through a peaceful in- See BABIN Page 6A telle Farm Equipment. tegration at the height of the civil Monticello branch library, partners to host SEARK literary arts program Pace named Special to the Advance director for KARK-TV in Little Rock, man- shows); the novel “The Weary Motel;” and “We are just so very pleased to bring this type to AFB post aging 34 news professional news coverage the short-story collection “Trespassers.” of free event to the entire community.” for four daily television broadcasts; and as His work has received four national awards The authors will share their inspiration for In observance of March as National Read- Special to the Advance ing Month, the Southeast Regional Library, a special assignment reporter and anchor for including the Faulkner Award for Fiction.