ARDOT to cut a ribbon in Monticello
Arkansas Department of Transportation leaders and local officials will meet in Monticello at 11 a.m. July 23 for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Scogin Drive Extension.
The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at Monticello Elementary School, 1037 Scogin Drive in Monticello. At the conclusion of the ceremony, officials will cut a ribbon at the roundabout at Scogin Drive and Jordan Drive.
This project constructed a new railroad overpass and two roundabouts – one at the Scogin Drive and Arkansas 83 Spur (Jordan Drive) intersection and one at the Scogin Drive and Old Warren Road intersection — which will ensure smooth and efficient traffic flow, according to a news release.
This connector project also provides direct access from Arkansas 83 Spur to U.S. 278 in Monticello. These improvements will increase safety and improve connectivity for the region, including those traveling to Baptist Health Medical Center-Drew County and Monticello schools, according to the release.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The $30 million project was awarded to Mobley Contractors Inc. This was a partnering project between ARDOT, the city of Monticello, and Drew County. The city of Monticello provided $2.5 million ($709,000 of this was awarded by the Delta Regional Authority) and Drew County provided $505,000 toward the cost of the project. ARDOT will turn over portions of Arkansas 83 Spur and Arkansas 83 to the city and county once this project and the resurfacing of Arkansas 83 are completed.
“Partnering projects allow us to work with cities and counties to directly respond to the needs of a community,” ARDOT Director Jared Wiley said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the City of Monticello and Drew County on this project. We believe it will lead to increased safety for the traveling public in this area of the state.”
Rice for beer among field day topics
The July 31 field day at the Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center will not only have two field tour circuits covering rice, soybeans and corn, but also indoor seminars on rice in beer, the Endangered Species Act and updates on agricultural policy and economics.
The keynote speaker is Jennifer Hare James, a fourth-generation rice farmer from Jackson County. She manages the family farm and Delta Soy, a specialty soybean business, alongside her father, husband, and son.
The 2025 rice field day opens at 7:30 a.m. July 31 with registration. The first round of field tours departs at 8 a.m. and round two departs at 10 a.m. The seminar series starts at 8:30 a.m. and is repeated at 10:30 a.m. in the Arkansas Farm Bureau Boardroom. The lunch program begins at 12:15 p.m., with James’ keynote, “Rooted in Resilience: Navigating the Future of Rice Farming,” at 12:40 p.m.
The event at the newly opened Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center is located at 15327 AR-1 in Harrisburg, part of the Rice Research Mile.
The lunch program also includes updates from Deacue Fields, head of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, and Peter Bachmann, president and CEO of USA Rice Federation, according to a news release.
“This marks our second annual field day event at the newly opened Northeast Rice Research and Extension Center and I am thrilled about the diverse educational opportunities it will present,” said Tim Burcham, center director. “We have curated an outstanding program that offers attendees the latest research updates on rice, soybean, and corn row crops.”
In addition to the traditional field tours, “we are excited to introduce the NERREC Seminar Series in the Arkansas Farm Bureau Boardroom,” he said. “The series will include presentations from Hunter Biram on farm economics and policy, Brigit Rollins and Emily Stone on Make America Healthy Again and the Endangered Species Act and Scott Lafontaine on new markets for Arkansas rice in the brewing industry.”
The first round of seminars begins at 8:30 a.m. and the talks repeat at 10:30 a.m.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.