The Monticello/Drew County Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards banquet at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 4, at the Gibson Center on the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus.
Jeff Newton and Dr. Peggy Doss were awarded the 2023 Man and Woman of the Year. Bill and Beverly Burchfield won the Lifetime Achievement Award.
UAM chose Dr. Amber Turner as their Educator of the Year. Kelsey Tucker took home the award for the Drew Central School District, and Mrs. Bennie Vincent won the award for the Monticello School District.
Hales Repair Service was awarded the 2023 Small Business of the Year, and Maxwell Hardwood Flooring took home the award for the Large Business of the Year. Feed the Kids was honored as the 2023 Non-profit of the Year.
2023 Man of the Year Award winner Jeff Newton is a Monticello native who graduated from Monticello High School and UAM. He serves as a deacon at the Monticello Church of Christ, where he attends with his wife Sara and their two sons.
Many people know Newton for his work as a photographer, where he has taken countless photos of many families’ most treasured moments.
His most recent endeavor has been working on the development of the Lakewood Trails located at Lake Monticello. Newton has spent countless hours working on the project, has helped to secure multiple grants to fund different areas of the project, has organized many fundraisers, and has spent out of his own pocket to see the project succeed.
Newton also started the first National Interscholastic Cycling Association Mountain Biking Team, which he will be coaching. He has also worked with Monticello Schools in developing the All Kids Bike program which resulted in the school receiving 24 strider bikes along with helmets for the “Little Billies” bikers.
Newton also serves on the Monticello Youth Baseball Board, and serves on the Monticello Parks and Recreation Commission. He also volunteers with the swim team.
Additionally, Newton can be seen on stage at SEARK Concert Association productions. He has frequently played leading roles, including Peter Pan in the upcoming production, over the past five years. He is often seen encouraging younger cast members and helping make sure they have a positive experience.
Dr. Peggy Doss, 2023 Woman of the Year, has a lifetime of experience in the education field. From the classroom setting, to be the leader of UAM, Doss shows a level of passion and love for the students that is unmatched.
She has been instrumental in sustaining and enhancing the university’s impact on the community.
Dr. Doss has strengthened the ties between the university and the surrounding community during her tenure as chancellor. She focuses on providing invaluable opportunities for students to connect with and contribute to the city of Monticello. Doss’ commitment to student success is evident by her initiatives and improving retentions rates and promoting timely graduation thereby preparing the future leaders and workers of the Monticello community.
With a wealth of experience in education and a strong academic background, Dr. Doss brings a unique perspective and depth of knowledge to her role as Chancellor. Her leadership is characterized by integrity, dedication, and a genuine concern for the welfare of others, leaving a lasting impact on the university and it’s stakeholders.
Dr. Doss has worked tirelessly with legislators to ensure that UAM is always at the forefront of their minds as they go into sessions. She uses every opportunity possible to tell of all of the good things happening on campus and to remind all of the economic impact that UAM has on not only Monticello, but the entire southeast Arkansas region.
Dr. Doss earned her Bachelor’s Degree from UAM and is the only UAM graduate to serve as the university’s Chancellor. She serves as a true example that you can take a South Arkansas girl and do great things.
2023 Lifetime Acheivement Award winners Bill and Beverly Burchfield are staples in the Monticello community. The generous and extremely talented couple has made it their life mission to reach out and share their musical talent with the people of Drew County. The Burchfields sponsor the “Old Time Hymn” singing event each year.
The couple is dedicated to education and continue to work diligently with the Pauline Baptist Church college ministry, as well as being members of the Pauline Paces.
They also have a Sunday morning gospel music program on Facebook as part of their extended outreach ministry.
Additionally, the couple makes themselves available to provide inspiring and comforting music for families during some of the families most important life events.
Added to all these services is their willingness to offer their talent, whenever needed, by serving as substitute musicians in many of the churches in our area, to provide beautiful and inspiring piano and organ music for congregations.
2023 Small Business of the Year, Hales Repair Service, has been in business in Monticello and Drew County for over 40 years. Not only do they serve Drew County, but they also serve Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, and Desha Counties as well. George Hales and his son Chris are unfailingly pleasant, honest, dependable, and trustworthy.
Hales’ wife answers the phone calls, and George and/or Chris take care of the service calls, and clean up whenever the job is done. They even have the ability to deliver unwanted and expensive news in a pleasant manner.
They attend regular trainings to stay current on today’s appliances.
This is a family owned business with a stellar reputation.
The Large Business of the Year for 2023 is Maxwell Hardwood Flooring. Since 1992, they have been a staple in Monticello and Drew County, and an integral part of the economic growth of the county.
The family owned and operated company has grown from just 33 employees to over 170 dedicated and skilled craftsmen in the hardwood flooring industry.
Maxwell Hardwood Flooring is among the top three producers of unfinished solid and engineered wood floors in the nation, with their flooring in some of the most prestigious places around the state and country, including Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock, and The White House in Washington D.C.
Over the last several years, the company has made substantial capital investments with upgrades in new equipment throughout the facility. These investments ensure steady employment for families in Monticello and Drew County.
Helping communities and families has always been a top priority since the company began, they have always put people first. Early on, Beth Maxwell initiated training and development programs for their employees, for both professional and personal growth. These programs are still implemented today and are an important part of the success of the organization.
Locally, the company supports numerous organizations such as UAM, Vera Lloyd, Monticello and Drew Central Schools, Junior Auxiliary, Hope Place, The Call, and Log-a-Load.
Nationally, Maxwell Hardwood Flooring has been a supporter of the Gary Sinise Foundation, which helps built smart homes for injured veterans and first responders. Maxwell has also supported industry wide programs to train hardwood flooring professionals and helped provide industry scholarships through the National Wood Flooring Association.
The 2023 Non-Profit of the Year winner, Feed the Kids, was born from a Drew Central field trip in 2006. During the field trip a hungry child was identified. While the other children played, this child sat at a table and slowly ate her lunch. Her teacher gathered unopened chips, snacks, and some fruit and placed it in the child’s backpack at the end of the day.
“She only eats at school,” the teacher explained.
A circle of women at the First Presbyterian Church heard this story and decided that no child in Monticello should have to go without food whenever they are not in school. They chose Matthew 25:35 as their verse, “For I was hungered and you gave me meat…” as their guide verse.
They created a snack bag with enough food to sustain a child for a weekend. They chose a test grade at Drew Central and identified students who may need assistance.
The response was overwhelming and soon students in grades K-3 at both Drew Central and Monticello received a snack bag over the weekend. These bags contained two breakfasts, two lunches, and two suppers, as well as snacks and a drink.
First Presbyterian Church serves as the assembly and storage site for the bags. First United Methodist Youth have adopted the project as a mission project with support from other community youth groups, businesses, and civic groups who volunteer to pack the bags monthly.
To qualify, any school employee can recommend the children, or the child themselves can request their own bags. The bags are placed in the child’s backpack at the end of the school day on Fridays. The only criteria is that the child is hungry over the weekend.
The project has expanded over the years. Approximately 100 students receive bags each week. That’s over 3,600 bags per school year, and over 67,800 over the past 18 years. The cost of each bag is $7.25 which equals nearly $3,000 each month.
Funds are locally provided through donations from individuals , business, churches, and some grant funding. Every cent donated goes to buy food for the snack bags.
For 18 years, Feed the Kids has quietly met a need in the Monticello community to feed children who may not have enough food to eat on the weekends.
