Monette Manor holds grand reopening

Monette Manor held its grand reopening on Tuesday and welcomed the community into the new 39,840-square-foot skilled nursing facility located at 669 Hwy. 139 North, in Monette.

Monette Manor was tragically hit by a tornado on Dec. 10, 2021, causing the death of one resident, many injuries, and complete destruction of the facility.

“We may have endured a devastating blow from the tornado, but thanks to the love and support of our community we have been able to come back stronger and better than ever,” said co-owner Rick Sampson. “It has been our goal to welcome back our residents to their home and continue offering compassionate, quality care.”

Monette Manor Administrator Kevin Stewart welcomed a full house of well wishers to the facility’s open house. Family and friends pictured are, from left, Nicole Stewart, Zaylee Stewart,and Dolores Miller.

The 86-bed facility has been modernized to include luxurious private rooms and updated features. With 12 private rooms (double the number of the precious facility), a dayroom for gatherings of residents and family members, a central dining room for meals and activities, a therapy room for inpatient and outpatient therapy with kitchen and three treatment rooms, the expanded facility offers enhanced long-term care for residents.

“This is a big moment for all of us,” Monette Manor administrator Kevin Stewart said. “Welcoming our residents home is an honor. We are eager to serve them and our community with this incredible new facility.”

In attendance of the event was Arkansas State Senator David Wallace; Arkansas State Representatives Jon Milligan, Joey Carr, Jeremy Wooldridge and Johnny Rye, Monette Mayor Bob Blankenship, Black Oak Mayor Eddie Dunigan, and Osceola Mayor Joe Harris Jr. Also in attendance was Rachel Bunch, executive director of the Arkansas Health Care Association.

A full house of area residents, friends and employees spent hours touring the new Monette Manor facility.

“We are thankful for the unwavering dedication of the facility’s leadership team,” Bunch said. “The reopening makes it possible to once again offer a safe haven for residents and staff.”

The groundbreaking for the Monette Manor facility was held on July 14, 2022. Sampson expressed his sorrow for the great loss of his dear friend and owner/partner Bud Bulloch. Bulloch died on Sept. 19, 2022, while the facility was under construction.

“Bud and I were both looking forward to seeing Monette Manor rebuilt and serving the community again,” Sampson said. “I am thankful to have his family still be a part of this dream. We all take joy in seeing the day finally come when our doors are once again open. Bud would want us to do this right, and we have.”

Founder and former Monette Nursing Home owner Genevieve Lane (center) visited with Sarah Bulloch (right) and her daughter Clara Bulloch, family of Bud Bulloch, who was the co-owner of Monette Manor.

Sampson recognized Genevieve Lane, who along with her husband Cliff Lane were the founders and owners of the former Monette Nursing Home.

“I am thankful that Cliff and Genevieve had this dream and trusted us enough to pass the torch on to us,” Sampson said.

Sampson thanked RGL Construction, bankers, state legislators, and Monette Manor supervisors and employees for their help and support during the facility’s reconstruction.

City mayors and state legislators in attendance included Bob Blankenship, Joe Harris Jr., Dave Wallace, Joey Carr, Eddie Dunigan, Johnny Rye, Jeremy Wooldridge, and Jon Milligan.

Monette Manor is fully staffed and ready to welcome the arrival of new residents beginning Monday, Aug. 14.