On Sunday, July 26, shortly before 10:00 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop F responded to a crash on Louisiana Highway 4 just west of Jonesboro in Jackson Parish that claimed the life of 49 year old Carlos Scott of Jonesboro.

The initial investigation revealed the 2001 Ford F-150, driven by Scott was traveling west on LA 4. For reasons still under investigation the vehicle traveled off the right side of the road, struck a culvert and overturned several times. Scott, who was unrestrained, was ejected from the vehicle onto the roadway. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

On November 3^rd local residents will have the opportunity to make their choice of whom they want to not only become President of the United States but 23 other positions as well including who they want to see hold local offices. Of the sixty-six candidates that qualified for all the national, statewide and local offices up for grabs more than half of those are residents of Jackson Parish.

Statewide voters will select a United States Senator, 5^th Congressional District Representative, Associate Justice of the 4^th Supreme Court District and Public Service Commissioner while residents of Jackson, Bienville and Claiborne Parishes will make their choice for Judge of the 2^nd Judicial District Court in Divisions A, B & C and District Attorney.

In local elections residents will elect a Justice of the Peace and Constable  in Districts A thru E while in Chatham and Eros a Mayor and five Aldermen will be selected along with Chief of Police in Chatham.

See below for candidates who qualified for each election:

1. S. Senator (1 to be elected)
2. Beryl Billiot -No Party – Kentwood, LA
3. John Paul Bourgeois -No Party -Gretna, LA
4. “Bill” Cassidy –Republican – Baton Rouge, LA
5. Reno Jean Daret – No Party – Metairie, LA
6. Derrick “Champ” Edwards –Democrat -Harvey, LA
7. “Xan” John –Other – Lafayette, LA
8. David Drew Knight –Democrat – New Orleans, LA
9. V. “Vinny” Mendoza –Independent – Ponchatoula, LA
10. Jamar Montgomery -No Party – Shreveport, LA
11. Dustin Murphy –Republican – Eros, LA
12. Adrian Perkins – Democrat – Shreveport, LA
13. Antoine Pierce –Democrat -Baton Rouge, LA
14. Melinda Mary Price – Other – Luling, LA
15. Aaron C. Sigler- Libertarian – Hammond, LA
16. Peter Wenstrupt –Democrat – New Orleans, LA
17. S. Representative 5th Congressional District (1 to be elected)
18. Sandra “Candy” Christopher – Democrat – Alexandria, LA
19. Allen Guillory Sr. – Republican – Opelousas, LA
20. Lance Harris – Republican – Alexandria, LA
21. “Matt” Hasty – Republican – Pineville, LA
22. Jesse P. Lagarde – Democrat – Amite, LA
23. Martin Lemelle Jr. – Democrat – Ruston, LA
24. Luke J. Letlow – Republican – Start, LA
25. “Scotty” Robinson – Republican – West Monroe, LA
26. Phillip Snowden – Democrat – Monroe, LA

Associate Justice Supreme Court – 4th Supreme Court District (1 to be elected)

1. Shannon Gremillion – Republican – Alexandria, LA
2. Jay McCallum – Republican – Farmerville, LA

Public Service Commissioner – District 5 (1 to be elected)

1. Foster Campbell – Democrat – Bossier City, LA
2. Shane Smiley – Republican – Monroe, LA
3. Scotty Waggoner – Republican – West Monroe, LA

District Judge 2nd Judicial District Court, Div. A (1 to be elected)

1. Darrell Avery – Republican – Jonesboro, LA
2. Walter May – Republican – Jonesboro, LA

District Judge 2nd Judicial District Court, Division B (1 to be elected)

1. Rick Warren – Republican – Jonesboro, LA
2. Yumeaka Robinson Washington – No Party – Quitman, LA

District Judge 2nd Judicial District Court, Division C (1 to be elected)

1. Glenn Fallin – Independent – Arcadia, LA

District Attorney 2nd Judicial District Court (1 to be elected)

1. Chris L. Bowman – Republican – Jonesboro, LA
2. Daniel W. “Danny” Newell – Democrat – Homer, LA

Justice of the Peace District A (1 to be elected

1. “Tommy” Faber – No Party – Quitman, LA
2. Ronnie Clay Madere – Republican – Quitman, LA

Justice of the Peace District B (1 to be elected)

1. Vincent Jackson – No Party – Quitman, LA

Justice of the Peace District C (1 to be elected)

1. Janet Hinton – Republican – Chatham, LA

Justice of the Peace District D (1 to be elected)

1. David D. Womack – Republican – Quitman, LA

Justice of the Peace District E (1 to be elected)

1. Sharon Satcher – Democrat – Jonesboro, LA

Constable – District A (1 to be elected)

1. “Tom” Goss – Republican – Quitman, LA

Constable – District B (1 to be elected)

1. Walter Kotz – Republican – Eros, LA

Constable – District C (1 to be elected)

1. John Mize – No Party – Chatham, LA
2. “Matt” Palmer – No Party – Jonesboro, LA
3. “Eddie” Waggoner – Republican – Eros, LA

Constable – District D (1 to be elected)

1. Daniel Ponder – Republican -Hodge,

Constable – District E (1 to be elected)

No candidates

Mayor Town of Chatham (1 to be elected)

1. Ashlay Blanco – Independent – Chatham, LA
2. Dwight Cooper- Democrat – Chatham, LA
3. Gregory Harris – Democrat – Chatham, LA

Mayor Town of Eros (1 to be elected)

1. Kelly Gryder – Republican – Eros, LA

Chief of Police Town of Chatham (1 to be elected)\

1. Brandon Myers –Independent – Chatham, LA

Aldermen Town of Chatham (5 to be elected)

1. Brian Blanco – Independent – Chatham, LA
2. Marvin A. Davis – Independent – Chatham, LA
3. Tonja “Toni” Malone – Republican – Chatham, LA
4. Laverne Mixon- Democrat – Chatham, LA
5. Sue Proffer – Independent – Chatham, LA
6. “Mike” Wilson – Democrat – Chatham, LA

Aldermen Town of Eros (5 to be elected)

1. April M. Hammett – No Party – Eros, LA
2. John David Howard – Independent – Eros, LA
3. Joseph E. Spillers – Independent – Eros, LA
4. Natalie Waffer – No Party – Eros, LA
5. Justin Webber – Independent – Eros, LA

If you look up the name Maggie you will find that it is of English origin and means Pearl. Nothing could be more definitive of Maggie Guyotte, the vivacious pre-teen from Quitman, who has become a rare jewel on the softball diamond.

If you are associated with youth league softball in Jackson Parish you readily recognize her name as well as being well versed in her accomplishments. The daughter of Brian “Shorty” and Paula Guyotte has already made a name for herself not only locally but statewide as well following her exploits in the regionals and state tournaments over the past couple of years that includes bringing home a state title.

If you thought she was incredible then, you should see what she is doing now. On the mound she is virtually untouchable. This is no exaggeration and is evidenced by the fact that in the Jackson Parish 11-13 year old softball league she opened the season by throwing FIVE no hitters in a row. This is no misprint. FIVE! Most pitchers don’t register five no hitters in a career. She has done it in five straight games.

Well, that is against local competition, you say. OK! How about this? In late May she was named MVP in a prestigious southern regional tournament for her travel ball team the Diamond Dolls. This led her to being named All-State in Louisiana.

She followed that up in June by pitching Demarini Express, a 14 year old and under travel ball team, to a Fastpitch America Softball Association (FASA) regional tournament title where she went undefeated on the mound.

Heard enough? Not hardly! Just two weeks ago Guyotte played for the Texas Glory out of Longview, TX in the USSSA Southern Nationals 12U division where she threw two shutouts in five appearances on the mound and incredibly went 10 for 14 at the plate with 8 RBI’s. Her performance on day two of the tourney led her to being named MVP which qualified her for the Texas All-State team.

To sum it up, in roughly eight weeks Guyotte has been named MVP in two nationally sanctioned fast pitch tournaments in two separate states for two separate teams and was named All-State in both Louisiana and Texas.

Obviously she is a truly special talent and best of all is that even though she is on the national stage you can see her play each week night at the Jackson Parish Recreation Department for her Catfish Inn 11-13 year old league team.

Take some advice and make plans to watch her soon as talent like this is rare indeed. You had better hurry though as the season is drawing to a close.

Southern Nationals USSSA.Great group of girls and coaches. She was chosen MVP of game 3

Tired of hearing the gloomy statistics that are constantly being broadcast concerning the COVID-19 epidemic? This is not to make light of the terrible disease that has gripped the nation since March but there is also some good news to report as well.

According to the report issued by the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office as of July 27^th there has been 307 positive test cases reported in Jackson Parish. Of those, 208 of those infected have recovered.  That represents a 67.7% recovery rate, meaning two out of every three people who have become sick with COVID-19 have gotten over the disease. 

Further good news is that the Jackson Parish Correctional Center now shows there are no cases reported. It must be remembered though that 17 deaths have occurred and there are still 82 active cases shown in the parish with one remaining in the hospital. Please keep the in your prayers.

Statistics in Jackson Parish regarding COVID-19

Positive test cases – 307

Recovered – 208

Active cases – 82

Deaths -17

In hospital – 1

Cases at the JPCC – 0

 

By: Glynn Harris

            I joined the cadre of hunters who open hunting season in September rather late. When I was growing up, I didn’t hunt doves. I don’t know anybody who did and it could be that there wasn’t a season on these fast flying gray missiles back then.

            Years later I got in on the sport and really, it’s hard to call dove hunting dove “hunting”. It is more of a social gathering where friends get together in a field of bush-hogged sunflowers, millet or wild goat weed, have a barbecue beneath the shade of a big oak and scatter out, bellies full, to find a shade to sit under and take a crack at doves flying over.

            We’re a few weeks away from opening of dove season this year as it traditionally opens on Labor Day weekend. In the meantime, research is ongoing concerning doves to see what effect hunting doves has on the overall population.

            My friend Marty Edmonds, retired employee of the LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), is involved in research and he provided information about these popular game birds.

            “Mourning doves nest in every state except Hawaii. In Louisiana, nesting is observed throughout the year with peak nesting period being from May to July,” Edmonds wrote.

            “The male picks the nest site and both male and female doves incubate. The nests are poorly constructed with both males and females building nests that may take from a few days to a week to construct. The pair averages about five young per year.”

            According to information Edmonds furnished, doves feed almost entirely on plant seeds such as goat weed, rag weed, poke salad, foxtail, sunflower, corn and wheat.

            It is estimated that the mortality rate of doves is in the 70% range whether doves or hunted or not. Although they have the potential to live several years, most live only a year or so.

            A research program is on-going that is headed up by Jeff Duguay who is Dove Research Program Director for the LDWF. Doves are being trapped and banded not only around the state but nationwide at this time to determine the impact hunting may have on doves.

            “The trapping and banding program is part of an overall program to gauge mortality as banding and recovery of bands gives us information on hunting mortality,” said Duguay.

            “When a hunter harvests a banded dove, he goes on-line, reports the band number and this gives us an idea of what percentage of banded doves are bagged, which gives us an overall estimation of dove harvest not only in Louisiana but nationwide. It’s similar to the waterfowl banding program in this regard,” he said.

            How do you capture doves for banding and release? Duguay said that doves feed on bare ground and when suitable areas are located either on wildlife management areas or private acreage where permission has been granted for banding, feed such as milo, wheat or cracked corn is used to attract doves to the area, which can take a week or two before birds begin regularly coming to feed.

            “This is when we put out the wire traps which feature a funnel entrance that birds can readily utilize but can’t figure out how to exit. There is an opening on top where birds are removed for banding, recording band numbers and released,” Duguay continued.

            This coming season, I’ll not only be on the lookout for doves flying over my shade tree but just like in duck hunting, I’ll get an extra thrill should I be fortunate enough to hold in my hand, a dove when a silver band on its leg.

A picture is worth a thousand words

Editor’s note: I remember when I was 8 years old being so excited when my mother called out to me that my picture was in the newspaper. I quickly ran over and sure enough, there I was. My parents called everyone in the family and their friends to tell them. My friends called me to say they had seen it.  I was so proud.

What was the result? From that day on I would practice harder than I ever had before. It served as the best form of motivation than anything had ever done before or since. It is a goal of the Jackson Parish Journal (JPJ) to show as many pictures of the youth in our area as we can in hopes that they too may also gain the same motivation to be the best they can be.

With that in mind the JPJ asks for your help in achieving our goal.  If you have a picture of your child in game action and want to see them published in the JPJ so they can have their “15 seconds of fame” send an email to: jpjjacksonla@gmail.com

Please include the name of the child, what team they are on and the age group of the league. While it can’t be guaranteed that every picture sent will be published please know that the JPJ will show as many as we can. After all as the old saying goes “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

                                Leagues Results and Standings (As of July 26^th)

7 & 8 Girls

It was a big week for Jonesboro State Bank as they won their first two of the season after dropping their initial four games. Heyhunner opened up a big lead in league play with two more wins with Leach’s Line Drivers and Johnny’s Pizza falling off the pace with two losses each.

1. Heyhunners 5-0-1
2. Leach’s Line Drivers 4-2-1
3. Johnny’ Pizza 2-4-0
4. Jonesboro State Bank 2-4-0

7 & 8 Boys

Mercy Medical finally got in the win column and the race for the top spot got more crowded as Southern Kustoms lost a pair to drop into a tie for second with Traina’s Bakery. Both now trail SPS by a half game.

1. SPS 4-2-1
2. Southern Kustoms 3-2-2
3. Traina’s Bakery 3-2-2
4. Mercy Medical 1-5-1

9 & 10 Girls

Leach’s Turf Divas stayed unbeaten with two more wins with Extreme Nutrition sitting a game and a half back. Pro Car Sparkle & Shine tied one but they and Vanguard Realty are still searching for first win of the year.

1. Leach’s Turf Divas 7-0-0
2. Extreme Nutrition 5-1-1
3. Pro Car Sparkle&Shine 0-5-2
4. Vanguard Realty 0-6-1

9 & 10 Boys

Rhode’s Farm won one and tied one to open up a two and a half game lead over Southern Kustoms who split a pair of games. Hodge Bank, which still has a game to be made up due to rain tied one and lost one.

1. Rhode’s Farm 5-1-1
2. Southern Kustoms 3-4-0
3. Hodge Bank 1-4-1

11-13 Girls

Catfish Inn continues to dominate with seven wins in a row. Next closest is Family Pharmacy sitting at four games back with Listle Real Estate two more behind.

1. Catfish Inn 7-0-0
2. Family Pharmacy 3-5-0
3. Listle Real Estate 1-6-0

11–13 Boys

Jonesboro Glass won two to take over the top spot from Academy Mortgage who sits one game back. Pardue Builders and Six Point both tied one and lost one.

1. Jonesboro Glass 5-2-0
2. Academy Mortgage 4-3-0
3. Pardue Builders 2-4-1
4. Six Point 1-5-1

By Brad Dison

Miller was a tall, broad, outdoorsman.  His father wanted him to become a doctor.  His mother wanted him to become a cellist.  Miller, however, wanted a life filled with adventure.  He served in both World Wars and was an avid sportsman.  Some of his favorite sports included watching bull fights, deep sea fishing, and hunting in remote locations around the world.  

In the Winter of 1953-54, Miller and his fourth wife, Mary Welsh, enjoyed a vacation in Africa.  They spent the second week of January, 1954, at Amboselli National Park, whose main feature is Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain on the African continent.  As a late Christmas present to his wife, Miller chartered a 600-mile flightseeing trip from Nairobi, capital city of Kenya, over Lake Victoria and Lake Albert, with the main attraction being the breath-taking 400-foot Murchison Falls on the Victoria Nile River in Uganda.  Due to the length of the trip, a distance of over 1,000 miles, they planned to land at the halfway point, Masindi, to refuel the Cessna.     

On Saturday, January 23, 1954, Miller and Mary met pilot Roy Marsh, a former Royal Air Force pilot, at the airport in Nairobi.  After stowing their luggage in the small, single-engine silver and blue Cessna, Roy, Miller, and Mary set out on the beginning of what turned out to be an unforgettable, yet exciting, adventure.  The trio took in the beautiful scenery as they flew over 500 miles toward Murchison Falls.  They flew over some of the most inaccessible spots in Uganda.  From the safety of their airplane, they gazed at crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, lions, and a plethora of other wild game in their natural habitat.  

Within three miles of Murchison Falls, they ran into trouble.  Without warning, a flock of Ibises, large black and white jungle birds with long, down-curved bills, descended toward the Cessna.  Flying through the flock was not an option.  Just one of the birds was large enough to crash the plane.  Roy flew lower to try to avoid the birds, but they descended as well.  Roy quickly looked in every direction but the plane was surrounded by the large birds.  As they neared treetop level, Roy realized they would have to land the plane.  Roy had to choose between landing on a small sandbar which was teeming with crocodiles or on an area covered by thick shrubs surrounded by a herd of elephants.  Roy chose the better of the two bad choices, the elephant herd. 

Roy flew just over the shrubs and slowed the engine to just above stall speed.  Just before the tires on the Cessna touched the shrubs, Roy pulled back on the controls, which forced the front of the airplane into the air, and they struck the ground on the underside of the plane.  The Cessna sustained only minor damage, and Roy, Miller, and Mary were unharmed.  Their adventure had just begun as dusk approached.

The crash survivors assessed their situation.  They were unable to call for help because the Cessna was not equipped with a radio.  They knew it would be hours before anyone realized their plane was missing.  They had emergency supplies but no water.  They set up a campsite, and Roy and Miller took turns going to the river for water.  Elephants trumpeted warnings to Roy and Miller as they walked to the river bank, which was crowded with hippos and crocodiles.  That night, they built a fire for warmth and to keep predators away.  Several times during the night, wild animals ventured near their campsite.  Miller, being an avid outdoorsman, used a trick he had learned years earlier on one of his many jungle safaris.  He howled like a wild dog, which all other animals detested.  Each time he howled, the other animals answered and gave away their positions.  

Searchers began looking for the missing plane when they failed to land at Masindi for refueling.  A police boat left Butiaba, a small town on Lake Albert about sixty miles from Murchison Falls, but it would take several hours for it to reach the search area.  When the Cessna failed to return to Nairobi, the East African Airways ordered search planes from Entebbe to join the search on the following morning.  There was little anyone could do.  

The next morning, search planes scoured the hills and forests around Murchison Falls for the downed aircraft.  British Overseas Airways Captain R.C. Jude diverted his airplane off course and joined the search.  He began his search at Murchison Falls and made larger and larger spirals until he located the downed Cessna.  He radioed in the location of the crash and notified them that he saw no signs of life.  He pointed out that the plane had sustained only minimal damage and reported that he suspected that the trio had survived.  

Miller, Mary, and Roy did not wait around to be rescued.  After a weary night in the jungle, they walked to the river and saw a tourist boat heading back from Murchison Falls.  They yelled and waived to the boat and the captain sped to their location.  They explained their predicament and they joined the tourists for the remainder of their return trip to Butiaba. 

Miller jokingly told reporters at Butiaba that his wife’s snoring attracted elephants to their campsite.  “We held our breaths about two hours while an elephant 12 paces away was silhouetted in the moonlight, listening to my wife’s snores.”  Mary retorted, “I never snore.  You’ve got a fixation about it.”  To which Miller replied with a sly grin, “So has that elephant.”

As Miller’s adventure seemed at an end, another adventure was beginning.  At about dusk, Miller and Mary boarded a DeHavilland Rapide, a twin-engine bi-wing airplane piloted by T.R. Cartwright enroute to Entebbe, a town about 175 miles to the southeast.  The pilot taxied the plane to the runway and increased its speed for takeoff.  As they sped down the runway the airplane hit a bump, bounced, hit another bump, and veered off of the runway where it rolled over and burst into flames.  Miller forced the rear door of the airplane open and he, Mary, and T.R. scrambled from the burning plane.  Miller sustained cuts, burns, and bruises.  Mary suffered two cracked ribs, an injured leg, and multiple bruises.  T.R. was uninjured.  Miller and Mary went to a local doctor, who bandaged the cuts and burns on Miller’s head.  The doctor suggested they X-ray his injured arm, but Miller just shrugged him off because he thought the injury was minor.  

Through his entire weekend’s adventures, surviving two airplane crashes in two days, Miller kept his sense of humor.   Clutching a bunch of bananas in one hand and a bottle of gin in the other, Miller remarked with a smile, “My luck—she is running very good.”  Not wanting to test his luck further, he declined an offer for another airplane ride out of the jungle.  

Miller was one of only a handful of people who were able to read their own obituary.  Many newspapers around the world got the news that Miller was missing and assumed he had perished in the first crash.  They compared Miller’s might to those of the characters in his books “From Whom the Bell Tolls,” “A Farewell to Arms,” and his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Old Man and the Sea.”  Miller was the middle name of…Ernest Hemingway.      

 

Sources:

1. Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 24, 1954, p.1.
2. Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, Pennsylvania), January 25, 1954, p.1.
3. The Tribune (Scranton, Pennsylvania), January 25, 1954, p.1.
4. The Shreveport Times, January 26, 1954, p.1.
5. The Cincinnati Enquirer, January 27, 1954, p.4.
6. Corsicana Daily Sun, January 27, 1954, p.4.

The “Remember This” book is now available for preorder online at BradDison.com.

When it comes to catching big bass there has been no better place in Louisiana over the years than Caney Lake.  The roughly 5,000 acre fishing hole in Jackson Parish still holds the record for the largest bass ever caught (15.97 lbs.) and lays claim to having six of the top ten biggest bass caught in the state. udging by recent results the “Jewel of the Piney Woods” may be getting some competition soon for bragging rights.

Three years ago the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries staff from Monroe began working diligently on the Bussey Brake Wildlife Management Area located in Morehouse Parish. Of top priority was getting the 2,200 acre reservoir ready for fishing for the public. On July 15^th Bussey Brake was opened and already a bass that weighed 10.01 pounds was caught.

Renovations included restocking important game fish species, the addition of boat lanes, and upgrades to the property. The public will also be able to utilize eight miles of levee surrounding the reservoir for hiking, biking and horseback riding.  The WMA features three fishing piers (including a new, Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible fishing pier), a wave break for those without boats to fish from, as well as a three-lane concrete ramp for launching boats. There will also be a site at the south entrance to drag kayaks or small boats over the levee.

Though the reservoir is not yet at full volume, LDWF officials have determined it can be safely utilized at the current water level. It may not reach pool stage (100 feet above mean sea level) until sometime next year. The boat launch will be open, and boaters will be able to safely navigate around the lake utilizing the marked boat lanes and the canals that were dug out to form the levee.  Due to the lower water levels, the new boat mooring dock will not be available for use yet; instead, boats can be docked on the shoreline adjacent to the launch. 

Area Fishing report

CANEY LAKE – Bream are fair on worms and crickets. Bass are fair fishing around the deeper drop-offs and points on crank baits and soft plastics with some caught at night on dark colored worms or black spinner baits. Catfishing has been fair tight lining cold worms. Crappie fishing has fair fishing around the deep tops on shiners or jigs. Night tournaments are being held Thursday nights at Hooks Marina with a 3-fish limit. For latest information, contact Bateaux on Caney Lake at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249- 2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

BUSSEY BRAKE – The lake opened for fishing July 15. Hearing reports of some big bass in the 9-10 pound range caught mostly on crank baits fishing edges of the lily pads. No report on crappie; bream are scattered.

BLACK BAYOU – Crappie are slow. Bream have been fair to good on crickets and worms. Bass are fair fishing soft plastics around the grass. Contact 323-8707 for latest information.

OUACHITA RIVER –Crappie fishing is best fishing jigs or shiners in the river lakes. Bass are hitting shad imitations around the mouth of the run-outs. Bream are fair on worms and crickets. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE D’ARBONNE – Crappie are fair on the flats fishing shiners or jigs. Bass have been best fishing up the creeks around grass beds on soft plastics and plastic frogs. Some are also being caught along the edges of the channel on crank baits and soft plastics. Bream are fair on crickets and worms but overall they’re slowing down a bit. Catfishing has been good fishing off the banks with cold worms and night crawlers. For latest reports, call Anderson’s Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE CLAIBORNE – Stripers are schooling and fishing has improved trolling bucktails and spoons. Bass fishing has been best at night with a few in the 6-7 pound range caught on dark colored Shaky Head worms. Bream are fair and are running medium sized. A good, many crappie are being caught fishing 12 feet deep in 20 foot water around submerged brush tops. Catfishing is fair on trotlines and tight lining with cold worms working best. For latest information, call Tim Loftin at Kel’s Cove at 927-2264.

Judge Jay McCallum qualified Wednesday, July 22, 2020, to run for the open Louisiana Supreme Court position, formerly held by retired Justice Marcus Clark. Judge McCallum received a big campaign kick-off boost with endorsements from law enforcement in 15 of the 20 parishes that comprise Supreme Court District 4. (See attached map)

Judge McCallum, who currently serves on the Second Circuit Court of Appeal, is a much sought-after Continuing Legal Education (CLE) instructor, motivational and inspirational speaker, as well as law enforcement educational instructor. He is best known for using humor to instruct, inspire, and motivate his audience, including commencement audiences of Louisiana Tech University and University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Judge McCallum is a Northeast Louisiana University (now ULM) graduate who received his Juris Doctor law degree from Louisiana State University Law Center.

Judge McCallum is the only candidate for Supreme Court who has experience as a Prosecutor, a State Representative, a District Court Judge, and a Court of Appeal Judge.

Judge McCallum has the most judicial experience with 18 years as a judge and the most legal experience with 35 years as an attorney.

For years, Judge Jay McCallum has enjoyed widespread support from the legal and the law enforcement communities. Judge McCallum has law enforcement endorsements from 15 of the 20 parishes that comprise the Supreme Court district, including the following:

Sheriff John Ballance, Bienville Parish
District Attorney John Belton, 3rd JD
Chief of Police Andre Benson, Junction City

Sheriff Clay Bennett, Caldwell Parish
Sheriff Andy Brown, Jackson Parish

Chief of Police Joe Bryan, Spearsville
Sheriff Sammie Byrd, Madison Parish
Sheriff Kevin Cobb, Franklin Parish
Chief of Police Bim Coulberston, Farmerville

Chief of Police Mark Dodd, Marion
District Attorney Penny Douciere, 5th JD  
District Attorney Brian Frazier, 37th JD
Sheriff Dusty Gates, Union Parish
Sheriff Gary Gilley, Richland Parish
Chief of Police Randal Hermes, Louisiana Tech

Chief of Police Eddie Horton, Bernice
Ret. Sheriff Wayne Houck, Lincoln Parish
Sheriff Rickey Jones, Tensas Parish
Sheriff Cranford Jordan, Winn Parish
Ret. District Attorney Mack Lancaster, 5th JD
Sheriff Scott Mathews, West Carroll Parish
Ret. Sheriff Steve May, Caldwell Parish

Chief of Police Van McDaniel, Homer
District Attorney Chris Nevils, Winn Parish
District Attorney Danny Newell, 2nd JD
Sheriff Jason Parker, Webster Parish
District Attorney Jimbo Paxton, 6th JD
Ret. Sheriff Jerry Philley, West Carroll Parish
Sheriff Jay Russell, Ouachita Parish
Chief of Police Lewis B. Russell, Oak Grove
Ret. Sheriff Gary Sexton, Webster Parish
Ret. Sheriff Mike Stone, Lincoln Parish
District Attorney Steve Tew, 4th JD
Sheriff Mike Tubbs, Morehouse Parish
Ret. Sheriff Ken Volentine, Claiborne Parish
Sheriff Stephen Williams, Lincoln Parish
Sheriff Wydette Williams, East Carroll Parish

Judge McCallum and his wife Deanna Dunham McCallum, a Franklin Parish native, have two children. Their daughter Sarah Katherine, a sophomore at LSU, was Miss Louisiana’s Outstanding Teen 2016. Their son John, a Harvard graduate, and his wife Brooke live in Seattle, Washington and are expecting their first child in September.

On Friday July 17^th, the nation lost one of its great statesmen in the person of Congressman John Lewis from the State of Georgia.  Born the son of a sharecropper in Troy Alabama he grew up under times and conditions of oppression where people of color in the state of Georgia were marginalized.  John Lewis was well acquainted with poverty, racial injustice, discrimination, voter suppression and all the byproducts of segregation.  Nevertheless, he was filled with compassion and at an early age set out to make a difference and make some changes in the nation.  He became a towering figure and symbol for freedom, justice and equal rights all over the world.

In a letter written to himself as a teenager, he mentioned that in 1956 at the age of 16 he and some family members went to the local library and were met at the door and told that the library was for whites only, not for coloreds.  That was the spark that ignited a fire in Congressman Lewis’ belly that led to a long and storied career in the Civil Rights Movement.  Inspired by the work of Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he later wrote a moving letter to Dr. King, Jr. and was invited by King to join in the none violent movement, a relationship that lasted throughout Dr. King’s life.

Congressman Lewis was well acquainted with the Civil Rights movement, struggles for freedom and justice, Jim Crow laws, voter suppression, systematic discrimination to keep African Americans bound to poverty and relegated to second-class citizenship.  He participated in Civil Rights marches and protests in the south, in sit ins at all white lunch counters where white citizens rushed and viciously attacked him and poured hot water and coffee down the back of his shirt.  Lewis became a freedom rider and was arrested more than 45 times for participation in marches and sit-ins at segregated facilities throughout the south.  With the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which Lewis was actively involved in drafting, he noted that he was proud to witness the moment when his mama and daddy could vote and to see the first black citizen elected President of the United States.  Sadly to mention, although the fifteenth amendment to the United State Constitution guaranteed African Americans the right to vote, this right was deliberately stripped away from them through the passage of a wave of Jim Crow laws that ultimately disenfranchised people of color (poll taxes, literacy tests, etc.) thus disallowing them to participate in the political process.

Emboldened by the non-violent movement, John Lewis was never deterred by the often violent and inhumane treatment he received from white racists and bigoted men.  Because of overt racism and discrimination in Alabama during the sixties, Congressman Lewis along with hundreds of civil right marchers set out to lead a Civil Right demonstration march from Selma to Montgomery (Alabama’s state capitol.)  As they descended from the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, Alabama, marchers were met with a large contingent of white police officers (State Troopers) on foot and horseback, who called to the crowd of marchers to immediately disperse. When the marchers refused, the police began to push and beat them with billy clubs and trample marchers with horses.  John Lewis was severely beaten and injured along with hundreds of other marchers.  He commented, “I thought I was going to die that day.”  Bloody and injured bodies were left unattended to die.  Tested time and time again, brutally beaten by a mob of white police officers; Lewis never gave up on the human race.  He continued to maintain that we are “ONE”.  Fifty years later dignitaries from all over the nation gather each year to celebrate what has become known as “Bloody Sunday.”  His faith in God and country kept him going until; the very end.  Several weeks ago, (though with weakened and compromised body strength), Lewis stood with the mayor of Washington DC on the Black Lives Matter street sign that was painted in front of the White House and proclaimed “never to give up.”  

The “good troubles” his grandfather warned him not to become involved in, allowed him to see his mom and dad cast their vote in the state of Georgia.  Through his work he witnessed the removal of the “white only & for Colored signs” come down.  And many years later after releasing his book entitled “Walking in the Wind,” the same library that he was unable to enter because it was for “white’s only” invited him back for a book signing and presented him with a library card.  My, my, my what a story!

John Lewis served for more than thirty years in the U.S. Congress.  His ability to work across the aisle, and his propensity to continue getting in “good trouble” propelled him to the fulfillment of our ancestors “wildest dreams.”  As an early leader and one of the organizers of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNNC), as the youngest speaker to address the 1963 March on Washington, his work has inspired generations of men and women of color to become engaged in a national movement for justice and equality for all.  Though an incredibly courageous leader, he seems to have had a perfect pitch for the work that was set before him.  He was, often described as a man of humility, integrity and power.  In his speech before the 1963 March on Washington, he touted:  “we want our freedom, we want it now.”  Lewis continued to remind us to “Wake up, we cannot go back.”  John Lewis was often referred to as the conscious of the nation.  Our condolences go out to the Lewis family.  The nation thanks the Lewis family for lending The Honorable John Lewis to the world for the brief moment in time we call life.  Rest in peace good brother.

Dr. Herbert Simmons, Jr. is an associate Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, Grambling State University, former President, Grambling State University Faculty Senate and former Chair, Department of Consumer Education and Resource Management, Howard University, Washington, D.C.

Eddie Bonine, executive director of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) posted a letter on Wednesday, July 22, intended to let parents and athletes know the association is committed to fall sports.

“The LHSAA is committed to conducting fall sports to the direct benefit of your student athletes however, we will not put schools in conflict or in harm’s way,” Bonine wrote. “We have no intention of cancelling fall sports unless schools are closed or the pandemic dictates that it is not safe to play.”

Bonine stated the letter was in response to the numerous emails received from the public asking that fall sports not be cancelled. He also had advice for people to help make fall sports happen.

“Gathering in large groups, not wearing masks, not staying home when symptoms are present, and not taking the appropriate steps to quarantine when symptoms are present will only delay and possibly drastically effect fall sports,” Bonine added.

Click here to read the full letter.

In a normal summer, every high school knows the timeline for fall sports and week one kickoff for football.  Although everything is staying on script as of right now in Louisiana, it could all change quickly. Even Bonine admitted Thursday, July 23, that it remains a very fluid situation in which time is closing in on them.

“We’re reaching the date where we need to make a final decision,” said Bonine. “If we’re going to have fall sports, what’s the date or dates going to look like if we establish a modification of the schedule and what’s this going to entail?’

Bonine added that the hope is that the football season will begin around August 10th which is near the normal time that fall season kicks off. Nationwide, decisions on when the prep season will begin varies greatly. As example the state of California announced the delay of fall sports until the spring of 2021 while the UIL in Texas announced a two-week delay to the football season for 5A and 6A schools.

Marvin Davis has been named assistant boys basketball coach at Class 5A Airline High School in Bossier City. The 1996 Quitman High and Louisiana Tech graduate is the son of Mertis and longtime Jonesboro-Hodge High School football coach Jimmie Davis who passed away in 2018.

Davis, who resides in Shreveport makes the move to Airline after spending the last five seasons as head boys basketball coach at Class 3A Mansfield. There the Louisiana Tech graduate compiled an overall record of 54-83 that includes a district championship in 2016-17.

The Jackson Parish Journal is pleased to add a new Classifieds section where you can post your items for sale or services that you have available. Cost per post is $10.00 per week and can be submitted by email at jpjjacksonla@gmail.com or by text to 318-480-1206.

For Sale:

5.06 acres of land (Price Reduced) – located one mile East of Jimmie Davis Tabernacle on Hwy. 542, Beech Springs Road, Quitman, LA.  Call (706)745-3933 for more information.  

Church Bus – Jonesboro-Hodge United Methodist Church is selling small Bus that is equipped with Handicap accessibility. Engine work needed. Contact Paul Sterns for more information at (360) 399-8347.  

Book for sale – “The 100 year history of JHHS football” – An in-depth, year by year review of each season that includes names of players from virtually every year and individual/school records. Cost is $25.00 per copy plus $3.00 shipping and handling. To place your order, call 318-480-1206.

Organizations:

Boy Scouts of America – For boys in 6^th grade through 18 years old. For more information contact: Dawn Slezak at (713) 824-1772.

Cub Scouts of Amercia – For boys and girls in Kindergarten through the 5^th grade. For more information contact: Dawn Slezak at (713) 824 – 1772.

Services offered:

Harris Yard Beautification – Professional Lawn Care provided at reasonable rates. Call Greg at (318) 245-2349

A1 Honey Do, LLC – Boat house, deck building and repairs. A Limited Liability Corporation (LLC). For estimates contact Mark Droesser, Owner at 318-366-7598 “We do what your honey can’t do”.

Patricia Nash                      April 17, 1958 – July 21, 2020

It is always difficult saying goodbye to someone we love and cherish. Sadly, family and friends said their farewells to their beloved Patricia Nash (Bernice, Louisiana), who passed away at the age of 62, on July 21, 2020.

A graveside service for Ms. Nash, whose family hails from Jonesboro-Hodge, was conducted by the Paradise Funeral Home in Jonesboro on Sunday, July 26^th at the Liberty Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Simsboro, LA.

Betty Ann Hall                   September 11, 1947 – July 26, 2020

Betty Ann Masters Hall was born September 11, 1947 in Jonesboro LA to Oliver S Masters and Dorthy Boddie Masters. Betty passed away July 26, 2020 at Ochsner Medical Center in Monroe, LA. She was joined in marriage to Terry Gene Hall on September 27, 1962. In 57 years, their marriage was blessed with 5 children, Gayla Smith (Jim Bradford), Terry “Bubba” Hall, Melinda “Lindy” Hall, Michael Chad (Wendy) Hall, and Angela Hall. Her blessings continued with 13 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. Betty was an operator at the bag mill and retired from Graphic Packaging.

She is proceeded in death by her beloved father (Oliver S Masters), her maternal grandmother (Vergie Mae Boddie), and granddaughter (Amber Hall). Those left to cherish her memory are her husband Terry Gene Hall, Children: Gayla Smith (Jim Bradford), Terry Bubba Hall, Melinda “Lindy” Hall, Michael Chad (Wendy), and Angel Hall. Grandchildren: Bradley Smith (Leslie), Chris Oncale, April Brooks, Ashley (David) Howard, Rebecka (Michael) Sellers, Brandon (Reva) Hall, and Brittany Hall (Warren), Siblings: James Sonny (Betsy) Masters, Patsy (Ed) Flores, and John (Pam) Masters and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 28^th at the McDonald Memorial Baptist Church in Jonesboro with Reverend Randy Dark officiating.  Interment followed in the McDonald Cemetery under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home of Jonesboro.

Sonja Shryock                    May 19, 1953 – July 21, 2020

Mrs. Sonja Shryock, age 67, of Jonesboro was escorted through the gates of Heaven Tuesday, July 21, 2020 following a lengthy illness.  Mrs. Shryock was a member of St. Lucy Catholic Church and was originally from Germany.  It was in Germany where she met and married her husband John Shyrock while he was stationed there in the U.S. Army.  Mrs. Shryock was an industrious and hard-working lady who had earned a nursing degree in Germany and held many varied jobs here.  She loved animals and was certified to work and train Therapy Dogs which she often carried to nursing homes and hospitals.  She loved her family deeply and enjoyed spending time with them.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 49 years, John Shryock; children, Helene Shryock, Lewis Shryock & wife Kacee; grandchildren, Brittiny Shipley, Alex Webb, Carley Perry, Emiley Shryock, Bradley Shryock, Elizabeth Maxwell, Emalee Maxwell and Christopher Maxwell, Jr.; brother, Roland Hartig.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Helene (Myre) Hartig.

Apparently Jonesboro is moving in the right direction in regard to financial stability.  This is evidenced by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor agreeing to temporarily remove the town from their non-compliance list. Now the town can move forward with attempting to fix the problems associated with the utility system.

In June Mayor Leslie Thompson sent a request to the Auditor’s office to take Jonesboro off the list so it would be eligible to apply for available grants so that the town’s utility system could be brought up to required standards set forth by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LEDQ) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“I am pleased that the Legislative Auditor has agreed that we taking better care of our finances” said Thompson. “There is still a lot of work to be done but this proves that the efforts we have made to be accountable have been well received.”

According to a correspondence received from the Auditor’s office the reprieve was granted under the following conditions.

1. The Town of Jonesboro can only seek funding necessary to bring the utility system into compliance with LDH, LEDQ and EPA regulations.
2. All grants received must be expended only in accordance with requirements set forth.
3. The Town of Jonesboro must report the use of the funding to the Legislative Auditor’s office on a monthly basis.
4. The Town of Jonesboro must continue to work with state auditors to complete the 2019 fiscal year as soon as possible.

A notice will be sent to customers that on August 31, 2020 the Recycling Program for plastic, aluminum and paper/cardboard materials will end in Jackson Parish. Included in the announcement will be a statement that the program may be brought back in the future.

President Amy Magee, John McCarty, Regina Rowe, Lynn Treadway and Todd Culpepper agreed on the suspension of the program at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Jackson Parish Police Jury held on July 13th at the Charles H. Garrett Community Center in Jonesboro. Tarneshala (Niki) Cowans and Lewis Chatham were not present.

“It is our hope that eventually we will be able to re-instate this but at present the cost of this program is simply too much to continue,” said Juror Todd Culpepper.

The meeting opened with public comments where Mr. Walter May addressed the panel and announced his candidacy for District Judge in Jackson, Bienville and Claiborne parishes. The approval of minutes from June meetings and payment of all bills followed.

Minutes of the Road, Finance, Operations, Policy and Personnel, Project and Economic Development Committee meetings were then approved and reports from the heads of the Road, Solid Waste, Maintenance, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Finance departments were heard.

In additional business Mr. Paul Riley of Riley Company in Ruston gave the June Engineering report and 2020 Road Program I & II was awarded to the successful bidders. Amethyst Construction Inc. won the Road Program I award with a bid of $789,470.00 while Dreher Contracting LLC nabbed Road Program II with a bid of $438,265.00.

Employment considerations were then taken with Mathew Conner, Paul Aldy, Jeremy Davis and Ju’Won Jack being hired as Level 1 General Laborers in the Road Department and Jack Williams being promoted from Operator Level 1 to Operator Level II. Lisa Nunn was also appointed to the Library Board for a five year term effective 1/1/2020 to 12/31/2024.

The meeting was adjourned following the announcement that the next JPPJ would be held on August 10^th and panel members providing their closing comments.

In the regular monthly meeting of the Jonesboro Board of Aldermen held on July 14^th at the Jonesboro City Hall the date of August 11^th was set for a Public Hearing to allow residents to discuss raises for the Town Council and Tax Collector.

Council persons Devin Flowers, Pete Stringer, Robbie Siadek, James Ginn and Nia Evans-Johnson agreed to introduce the Ordinances regarding the potential raises. Three additional Ordinances in relation to the Town of Jonesboro Water and Sewer Budget and the declaring of a Juneteenth Holiday were also introduced. Each will also be able to be discussed at the same Public Hearing.  

The meeting was opened by Jonesboro Mayor Leslie Thompson bringing welcome news that the town has been temporarily removed from Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s non-compliance list. Thompson, who requested the action a month ago, said this was done so the town can move forward with attempting to gain funding to repair the utility system.

In other action the contract for Obstruction Removal at the Jonesboro Airport was awarded to Womack and Sons Construction Group, who submitted a bid of $136,032.00. Dr. Herbert Simmons was named Airport Manager and LOTT Oil was awarded the fuel purchase contract.  

Additional action taken was the agreement to allow Fire Chief Brandon Brown to pursue bids for two pre-owned fire apparatus’s and to declare two old fire trucks as surplus property pending the purchase of new fire trucks. David Thompson’s bid for two lots of surplus property was also agreed upon.

The normal paying of monthly bills, acceptance of meeting minutes from the prior month and approval of department head reports also took place as well as Public Works Director Calvin Wortham announcing a letter is set to be sent to town residents about infiltration issues in the utility system.

“Perception is reality” – American political strategist Lee Atwater

Most people believe this is true but is it really? According to Ph. D Jim Taylor, a contributing columnist for Psychology Today, in actuality this aphorism is often used to justify a perception that may be objectively unjustifiable or just plain out of touch with reality.

“Perception acts as a lens through which we view reality,” said Taylor. “Our tendency is to assume that how we perceive reality is an accurate representation of what reality truly is.

Among the residents of the town of Jonesboro there is perception that there is a serious rift between Mayor Leslie Thompson and Police Chief James “Spike” Harris. This was brought to the forefront during the most recent meeting of the Jonesboro Board of Aldermen held on July 14^th. In this instance, even if the perception is a reality, both agree that they must work together for the betterment of the town.

“It is no secret that in the past our Mayor tried to defund the Police Department which caused us to have opposite opinions,” said Harris. “Regardless, our opinions don’t matter. My only focus is to enforce the laws and ordinances of this town that have been set forth and this is what I intend to do.”

Mayor Thompson echoed those sentiments in a statement he made during the Town Council meeting.

“As stated in the Larson Act the Police Chief does not answer to the Mayor but to the people of the town he was elected by” Thompson responded to a person commenting at the meeting. “Any problems between the Chief and I would only impeded progress so it is my hopes that we can work together to continue to move the town forward.”

By: Glynn Harris

            It’s been a long time ago, 26 years ago in fact, but I can still remember my first and only visit to Bussey Brake and I came way anything but impressed. I watched a pair of commercial fishermen come to the launch ramp with their boat filled with carp and buffalo. When I looked out across the lake, it certainly didn’t look like a lake I’d enjoy trying to fish for bass, crappie or bream.

            Bussey was constructed in the mid-1950s by International Paper Co. to be used as an alternate water source for the company’s paper mill. Once the mill closed, the lake was donated to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) some eight years ago. Since that time, the state agency has been at work on creating a new lake out of the original impoundment.

            First off, the lake was basically drained and the abundance of “trash” fish, such as common carp and buffalo were removed and the work to give the lake a new lease on life began.

            Mike Wood, retired fisheries biologist with the LDWF spent many hours on Bussey both professionally and as an angler who loved the lake.
            “At one time,” Wood said, “Bussey was a nationally recognized area with some great fishing and was a blessing to International Paper Co. which allowed public access to the lake.”

            As years passed, the lake started developing a serious problem; it became infested with what some call “trash” fish such as common carp and buffalo.

            “These fish became abundant so much so that the water stayed muddy and fishing in general declined. The removal of these undesirable fish was one spoke in the wheel of getting the lake back to where it originally was,” Wood said.

            One problem that has always faced anglers occurs right at the launch ramp. Steady breezes have made launching and getting a boat on a trailer a major problem.

            “The boat ramp was in dire need of protection from heavy wave action. All it took was for a storm to blow up out of the southwest that created a serious hazard to boats trying to launch or leave the lake. A beautiful wave-break levee has been constructed in front of the ramp leaving calm water for launching. In addition, there is a pretty deep hole in the lake where material was extracted to build the levee. This deep area should be a fine crappie fishing spot especially during winter time,” Wood said.

            Although there are still some “rough” fish in the lake, their numbers have been reduced to the point that game fish that were released and are growing in the lake should have a good chance to create healthy populations of fish. The lake has been restocked with largemouth bass, sunfish, crappie and channel catfish.

            Since Bussey is actually a wildlife management area, certain requirements must be met for anglers to enjoy fishing the lake. A self-clearing permit will be used and wildlife enforcement agents will be on the lake to insure that proper regulations are in order. For example, the lake will have certain limits and length regulations in effect. For bass, there is a five fish limit with a 16 inch maximum length with one fish over 16 inches allowed in the creel. Crappie limit is 25 with a 10 inch maximum length while the bream limit is 50 with no maximum.

            There are now clearly marked boat lanes that will keep boaters from slamming lower units into stumps. These lanes are of particular importance because the lake still lacks some two feet reaching pool stage.

            Oh, there is one more problem. There are no rest room facilities around the lake. A word to the wise might be to GO before you GO.

There is nothing like having fun in the sun but you have to be careful as well. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Shreveport has announced that throughout the remainder of July that Heat Index values will be in the dangerous level in Jackson Parish.

 The Heat Index (HI) is a measure of how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature.  To determine the actual Heat Index temperature, look at the Heat Index Chart below. As an example, if the air temperature is 96°F and the relative humidity is 65%, the heat index–how hot it feels–is 121°F.

The red area without numbers indicates extreme danger. The NWS issues a heat advisory when the HI reaches 105° and a heat warning when 105°F for more than 3 hours per day for 2 consecutive days. Exposure to full sunshine can increase heat index values by up to 15°F.

With prolonged exposure and/or physical activity you can expect the following:

Caution level:  General Fatigue

Extreme Caution: Sunstroke, muscle cramps and heat exhaustion possible

Danger level:  Sunstroke, muscle cramps and heat exhaustion likely

Extreme Danger: Sunstroke, heat stroke likely

Let’s be real!  America is in a state of metamorphosis, a change that is long overdue.  America is not in a good place as President Trump would proclaim, certainly not for people of color, when they are being attacked, rebuked and scorned, threatened and demeaned for supporting the Black Lives Matter movement that is currently taking place across the world.  The truth of the matter is that no nation can lay claim to “greatness” until all of its citizens are included as full participants in the American experiment.  We can no longer live a lie, touting to the world that America is the land of the free.  People of color will and must not submit to second and third-class citizenship. I want to believe that America is at a turning point, not because of a desire, but because of the deafening cries or demands for justice for ALL people.  The old guard cannot and will never accept the fact that America is changing demographically, culturally, socially and economically.  America must become a nation of one people where justice and equality is afforded to all.  The plea that is being heard from protesters all over the nation and the world is that communities of color are here to stay.  America’s greatest tragedy, most public national embracement and greatest divide has never been about what African Americans have done to white America, but it is all about what white America has done and continues to do to Black, Brown, and Yellow America 

As a side bar, in my research I came across an article entitled “Guam Residents Get Payments for Suffering During Occupation.”  The article goes on to note that the U.S. Territory of Guam was attacked and captured by Japanese forces in December 1941, and thousands of native islanders suffered horribly at the hands of their captors.  In 1951 a peace treaty relieved Japan of the burden of paying reparations, and early this year (2020) the US government began making payments ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 to certain residents of Guam as compensation for the hardships they or their family members endured during the occupation, as reported by the Associated Press.

Wow!  When I read this article, I began to reflect upon and weep at the dismal plight of slaves ancestors and their descendants who have fought long and disappointing battles to be respected, to be treated as humans, and compensated for the pain, humiliation, anger and suffering endured for more than four hundred years.  While a federal review commission determined that the nation had a “moral obligation” to offer compensation for the suffering and loyalty of the residents of Guam, African Americans have been given no such consideration.  They have been in a holding pattern waiting for a commission to review requests for reparations to members of the Back community for the years of suffering and ill treatment at the hands of white Americans with the government having taken the lead in the mistreatment of Black Americans.

Please do not misunderstand me, (I am grateful for the generosity extended to the residents of Guam), however, my frustrations and concerns are that the United States of America is quick to  dismiss or discuss any claim(s) advanced by the descendants of African Americans, of slaves, who were subjected to forced labor, personal injury, rape and murder, separation of families, denial of education and of the most basic human rights, while claims are being funded and awarded to citizens of Guam for far less atrocities than those suffered by Black Americans!.

Even more interesting, conflicting, confusing and disturbing, I came upon another article revealing the fact that slave owners received reparations from America for losing slaves when slavery finally ended.  ln April 1862 President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill, known as the District of Columbia Act, which paid loyal unionists up to $300.00 for every lost or freed slave. Yes, reparations are nothing new to America!  Slave-owners received reparations and enslaved African Americans got nothing for their broken, strapped, beaten and worn bodies, for their years of misery and suffering, for their free labor, and their years of frustrations in being forced to build a nation that they would never be truly welcomed in, compensated for or accepted as equals.  The only benefit that African American slaves received was the appearance and symbolism of freedom from legal bondage.  It is amazing that slave owners were the beneficiaries of public outrage and of having enslaved humankind and were rewarded for having abused innocent slaves.  Slave owners were also compensated throughout the nation by local, colonial and state legislatures for any loss of slave labor, (chattel as slaves were commonly referred to). The only benevolence extended to African Americans following slavery was a trip “back to Africa” ($100 per person back to Liberia or Haiti).  Wow!  Unbelievable but true!!

Back to “getting real;” again I stress that we are in the midst of a major health crisis, a life and death situation, a pandemic where more than three thousand citizens in the US are dying each day, no cure in sight, and a time when we are experiencing more than 10 thousand new COVID infections per day, yet citizens are seemingly taking these phenomena for granted.  It is evident and quite shameful that many citizens are saying I don’t care, I will not be forced to wear a mask, it will happen to someone else, not me, no it won’t happen to me, or I am too young to contract the virus, it only affects older citizens, I am white, the disease is killing more African Americans than any other race, so why should I be that concerned.  Citizens are refusing to adhere to the basic recommendations and warnings of public health experts for limiting the spread of and defeating this virus, an enemy that if not stopped, could be around for many years to come.

We must begin to view this virus for what it is, acknowledge that it is real, it’s not fake news or something that will be gone in a few days, it is a serious and deadly virus, a life and death situation, one that encourages citizens not to gather in large groups, to practice public health guidelines, to wear masks when in public settings, practice social distancing, wash and sanitize hands and affected surfaces frequently and staying at home to avoid contact with the individual who may be vectors of the virus.  More people must be tested to determine the level of the virus, and contact tracing must become more aggressive.  The virus is controlling us at this moment and while there is hope that a vaccine may be available at the end of the year, the public is growing more skeptical about seeing an end to the pandemic any time soon.  Other countries have flattened the curve in the spread of the virus by adhering to mask wearing, social distancing, lockdown at home, and not reopening governments too soon.  We encourage citizens to remember the wisdom from an old African saying that “fools do last what wise men do first and wise men do last what fools do first.”  Let’s get real, wise men are following social distancing, wearing masks, staying at home, staying away from large gatherings, for these are the measures, the formula and prescription that America must ultimately mandate and follow if we are to overcome this pandemic.

Dr. Herbert Simmons, Jr. is an Associate Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, Grambling State University, former President, Grambling State University Faculty Senate and former Chair, Department of Consumer Education and Resource Management, Howard University, Washington, D.C.

This past week recent Quitman High School graduate Stormie Snowden was recognized by KTVE – Channel 10 sports anchor Chris Demirdjian and the website myarklamiss.com in their segment called “Senior Night”. 

Snowden, who was a member of the national champion Quitman High School Cheerleader squad and individual All-American award winner, becomes the second senior  from QHS to be recognized this year. She was also a member of the QHS Beta Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

“Senior Night” is sponsored by Creed & Creed Law Firm and spotlights special 2019-20 high school from northeast Louisiana. Congratulations Stormie!

Qualifying for the November 3, 2020, election begins Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. and continues through Friday, July 24, 2020, until 4:30 p.m. at the Jackson Parish Clerk of Court office located in the Jackson Parish Courthouse in Jonesboro. 

Payment must be in the form of CASH or MONEY ORDER. All persons qualifying will need to go by the Registrar of Voters office and pick up a certificate of registration prior to qualifying in the Clerk’s Office. Everyone entering the Courthouse will be required to wear a face mask upon entry. More information can be obtained by calling 318-259-2424.