Tragedy struck this past Thursday, October 22nd when Weston High baseball coach and Ruston resident, Chase Frasier, was killed in a two vehicle accident that took place on Hwy 167 just south of Clay, LA.  A memorial service was held at Temple Baptist Church on Monday, October 26^th followed by the interment that took place at Kilpatrick’s Memorial Garden in Ruston.

According to the report submitted at 9:22 pm Louisiana State Police Troop F responded to a crash on U.S. Hwy 167, just south of LA Hwy 818 near Clay. The initial investigation revealed the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by the 28-year-old Frasier was traveling northbound on U.S. Hwy 167.

For reasons still unclear, the Jeep rear-ended a 2013 Western Star 18-wheeler that was slowing to make a turn near the Hwy 818 exit.  After impact, the Jeep traveled off the road into the ditch.  Frasier, who was properly restrained, was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

“We are all still in shock and are going to miss him very much,” said Weston High Principal Ritchie Tolar. “Chase was a great asset to our staff, student body and our athletic program. He was a good coach and teacher but an even better person. “

The second year coach was a 2011 Ruston High School graduate where he played baseball and football all four years while also being a member of the FCA and FFA. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Health and Physical Education in 2017 before beginning his professional career at Weston High School as baseball coach and Louisiana History teacher.

Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Lillie Christine Frasier; parents, Shannon and Kristie Frasier; brother, Tanner Frasier (Lexi).  His maternal grandfather, Jerry Lott;  paternal grandparents, Robert and Gloria Frasier; aunts and uncles are Greg Lott (Cindy) and their children Henry and Mary; Robert Frasier (Donna) and their children Cassie Pearce (Hunter), Brooke McElduff (Mason); Lori Kelly (Craig) and their children Maddi, Cade, Audrey and Hadley; and a host of other family and friends.

You will want to make sure you check this out as you may have an early Christmas present coming. Actually it is something that was already yours but if you are like most you didn’t even know it existed but thanks to the work done by the Louisiana Department of Treasury (LDT)you can now claim it.

The names listed below have been reported to the LDT as being persons appearing to be owners of unclaimed funds subject to the provisions of LSA-R.S.9:151-182, Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. These funds have been presumed to be abandoned and taken into the protective custody of the LDT.

There is no deadline for claiming your money, however, you must provide proof of ownership before the funds will be released. A copy of photo identification will be required and other information that positively identifies the rightful owner may be needed.  You may file a claim for this money and securely upload your documents online at www.latreasury.com.

Information about the property and its return is available to a person having a legal or beneficial interest in the property contacting the Unclaimed Property Difision at 1-888-925-4127, Monday-Friday, from 8:30am to 4:30pm or by writing to: State Treasurer John M. Schroeder Sr., Louisiana Department of Treasury Unclaimed Property Division, PO Box 91010, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-9010.

Names of Jackson Parish residents that appear to have unclaimed funds: (last name, first name, middle)

A & S Fashions, 502 Beech Springs Road, Jonesboro

Alexander Roy Arnold, 202 Applegate Road, Jonesboro

Alexander Roy Arnold, Rt. 2 Box 34-C, Jonesboro

American Cancer Society, 2684 Hwy 505, Jonesboro

American Towing, 5882 Hwy 167, Quitman

Andrews David M, Country Club Drive, Jonesboro

Atkins Vernon C, PO Box 17, Jonesboro

Atkins Roy D, 1042 Lockhart Drive, Quitman

Barnes Marteal, 438 Mitchell – Apt. 438, Jonesboro

Bayles Billy E, 715 Chatham Ave, Chatham

Bennett, Davis C (Jr.), PO Box 401, Quitman

Bennett Olivia, PO Box r, Chatham

Booker Linda, 707 Morroco St. Jonesboro

Boston Felicia, 149 Bellwood Drive – Apt 16, Quitman

Bradford Charlotte, 116 Hawk St, Jonesboro

Brown Contractors Inc., Bear Knoll Drive, Quitman

Brown Sharon, PO Box 309, Jonesboro

Brown Theodis, 7013 Main St., Hodge

Bruner Jewel ., 123 Hawk St, Jonesboro

Caldwell Sandra K, PO Box 392, Hodge

Cannon Theresa S, 178 Hickory Nut Road, Quitman

Causey Kerry L, 253 Traina Road, Jonesboro

Chambless Hyrum, PO Box 148, Chatham

Cook Don, 287 Industrial Drive, Jonesboro

Cook Joshua, 919 ½ South Polk Avenue, Jonesboro

Cooper Brandon Scott 2214 Kelley Road, Quitman

Cunningham Darrell, 906 Northeast St., Jonesboro

Davis Jeroline T, PO Box1236 S 644, Jonesboro

Debnam Terrie L, 443 Pardue Loop, Jonesboro

Dill Chardae, 9013 Main St, Hodge

Donaldson Justin D, 475 Hwy 505, Jonesboro

Dowaingnoe Anderson, 108 Clarence Street, Jonesboro

Dupont John, 200 Critter Creek Road, Chatham

Ellis Cloteal, 438 Mitchell Street, Jonesboro

Emmons Mildred B, PO Box 702, Jonesboro

Estate of Will Henderson Jr., 307 Pearrie Street, Jonesboro

Estate of Arty Harris, 104 Stevenson Drive, Quitman

Estate of Bonnie W Terral, 903 Harvey Place, Jonesboro

Estate of Hixie A Potts, 223 Odenbaugh Road, Jonesboro

Estate of Purvis Lee Hunt, 106 Cedar St., Jonesboro

Exco Resources, 3716 Hwy 155, Quitman

Freeman Laura M, 1236S 3^rd Street, Hodge

Garner Cedrick J, PO Box 1071, Hodge

Gray Chris L, 3077 Walker Road, Jonesboro

Gray Sandra, 3051 Walker Road, Jonesboro

Haddox Velma, 924 Harvey Place, Jonesboro

Hall Lola, 302 Central Street, Jonesboro

Hammons Archie, 171 Thrasher Drive, Jonesboro

Hammons Martha, 171 Thrasher Drive, Jonesboro

Harris Ernest, PO Box 1002, Hodge

Hatch Ursula, 7444 Hwy 4, Jonesboro

Hay Wayne, PO Box 483, Jonesboro

Herndon Jacob, 1209 Hudson Avenue, Jonesboro

Hines Blanchard, 352 Stevenson Drive, Quitman

Poole Imogene, PO Box 683, Jonesboro

Jefferson Scottie, 839 Beech Springs Road, Jonesboro

Jett Tiffany C, 1519 E Main St., Jonesboro

Johnson Regina, 304 Sandy Acres Drive, Quitman

Johnson Stanley F, 2178 Hwy 146, Chatham

Kendera Joseph P, 1810 Walker Road, Jonesboro

Kilgore Lessie J, 1014 S Cooper Avenue, Jonesboro

King Jeffery W. 1102 S Polk Avenue, Jonesboro

Kyle Andrew H, 2248 Transport Road, Jonesboro

Lashley Rebecca, 416 Cooper Avenue, Jonesboro

Lebrun James, 5493 Walker Road, Jonesboro

Leonard Juanita, 1527 Public Road, Hodge

Lewis Gussie, 1248 Sweet Home Road, Jonesboro

Litton Elizabeth, 118 East 10^th Street, Jonesboro

Loyd H C, Rt 2 Box 160-C, Jonesboro

Margaret Calhoun Estate, 303 Holly Drive, Jonesboro

Martin Benny, 716 3^rd Street, Jonesboro

Martin Dorothy J, 1524 Cynthia, Jonesboro

Martinez Brenda, 216 Bond St – Apt 14, Jonesboro

May Clayton, 533 4^th Street, Jonesboro

McDonald Michele, 975 Hwy 4, Jonesboro

McMillan Calvin, 1083 Pardue Loop, Jonesboro

McMoy A, 616 Hickory Lane, Jonesboro

McMoy Concrete, 616 Hickory Lane, Jonesboro

Miles Melinda, 2400 Wayne Street, Jonesboro

Miller Angela, 107 Cooper Avenue, Jonesboro

Miller Tina, 201 Rita Lane, Quitman

Milstead Joyce H, 1778 Pardue Loop, Jonesboro

O’Bryan Heather, 317 Paradis Drive, Jonesboro

Patterson Louis, Rt 2 Box 248, Jonesboro

Plunkett Lane, 310 Seymore, Jonesboro

Plunkett Jimmie D, PO Box 36, Quitman

Rascoe Lamar, 915 Harvey Place, Jonesboro

Rascoe Opal L, 407 Harvey Place, Jonesboro

Reed Michael, 199 Hogan Road, Jonesboro

Richard Ollie M, PO Box 694, Hodge

Roberts James L, PO Box 422, Hodge

Rowe, Virginia (Estate), 1420 South Polk Avenue, Jonesboro

Scott Carlos, 1079 Evergreen Road, Jonesboro

Scully Thomas A, 106 Burnett Road, Quitman

Shively Tony, 905 South 4^th Street, Hodge

Shoemaker Brandi, 6906 Quitman Hwy, Quitman

Simon Sagel A, 4373 Hwy 4, Jonesboro

Simpson Shelby N, 1623 Gracie Lane, Jonesboro

Smith & Nephew Inc, 1450 Brooks Chapel Road, Quitman

Snowden Glenda J, 820 Pardue Loop, Jonesboro

Spillers Curatrix, 201 Rita Lane, Quitman

Spillers Tina Miller, 201 Rita Lane, Quitman

Staggs Lynwood R, PO Box 42, Hodge

Stewart Mattie M, 738 Hwy 505, Jonesboro

Swearengin Robin, 119 Tumlin Street, Jonesboro

Talton Booker, 619 E Main – Apt #16, Jonesboro

Thomas Mary McCrary, Rt 1 Box 264, Jonesboro

Thompson Ladarriel, 306 Northeast Street, Jonesboro

Thomas Billie, 1147 Bear Knoll Drive, Quitman

Truelove Joshua, 590 Barmie Dark Road, Jonesboro

Watts John W, 5753 Hwy 4, Jonesboro

Wayne Charles R, 393 Walker Road, Jonesboro

Westbrook Bailee, 310 Jimmie Davis Blvd – Apt #3, Jonesboro

Willis Carolyn, 1121 South 1^st Street, Hodge

Woodard Johnel, 1900 Cynthia Street, Jonesboro

Woods Brandon T, 2403 Troy Avenue, Jonesboro

Woods Walter (Jr), 2403 Troy Avenue, Jonesboro

Wyatt Zakalah, 247 Mount Mariah Church Road, Chatham

The best way to describe Jonesboro-Hodge’s opponent for their third straight home game this Friday night is the next up is loaded with next level talent. Last week the Tigers weren’t able to overcome the challenge presented by Mansfield but that doesn’t compare with the tall task ahead when Class 4A Huntington High of Shreveport comes to town. Game time is set for 7:00 pm.

“This shapes up to be the most difficult opponent we will face on the schedule this year,” said J-H head coach Terrance Blankenship. “They have talent and speed everywhere and a bunch of guys who will end up playing on the next level.”

Currently the Raiders boast four players who have already committed to or have been offered by Division One programs. On the offensive side of the ball is senior quarterback J’rell Joseph, who has committed to Valpariso and junior wide receiver Zyvion Claville, who already has multiple offers from such programs as Virginia, Kansas and Tulane.  Defensive backs De’Kelvion Beamon and Erron Bean have also made commitments to Oklahoma State and Louisiana Tech respectively.

Other players who are getting notice as well are running back Demajah Riley and speedy slot receiver Tahj Kochinskey while the defense boasts lineman Mon’kaylon Thomas, linebacker Ed Clark and safeties ZalinThomas and Tyrique Taylor.

“There is no question they are loaded,” continued Blankenship. “We have our work cut out for us.”

Fourth year head coach Steve Dennis has improved Huntington from a two win team in his first year to a .500 mark in the regular season a year ago and a playoff berth. This season the Raiders opened with three straight wins over Benton (27-26), Carroll (23-13) and Loyola College Prep (36-31) before falling 40-22 to Bastrop this past Friday.

Not only has the number of wins increased  but the amount of players now wanting to be a part of the program as evidenced by the 30 players who came out in his first year to the size of the current roster which numbers 84 players, which is an all-time high for the program.

“Coach Dennis has done a tremendous job with their program since he got there,” continued Blankenship. “When we first scheduled them they had about as many players as we did. Now they have twice as many.”

Last year the Raiders beat J-H 40-22 in a contest played at Independence Stadium in Shreveport but the loss ended up being a positive for the Tigers. Already down 28-0 after a quarter and a half the Tigers starting quarterback injured his ankle. Enter untested junior varsity QB Tydre Malone and at the half the score was 28-20. Malone stayed behind center the rest of the year that saw J-H win three of their last four and is now an experienced signal caller that has the Tigers sitting at 2-1 on the season.

Keys to victory!

1. Must hit home runs! Quick strikes for scores are going to be a must.
2. Can’t give any freebies! It is going to be a hard enough to keep them from scoring as it is.
3. Pass the gut check! Two-way players are going to have to dig deep to offset Raiders depth.

Prediction:  Mansfield manhandled the Tigers last week and Huntington is a much better team. If the Tigers win it would be considered a huge upset. Reality says to just hope J-H can come out of the game in without any injuries for the upcoming district run.            Huntington 32    JHHS 18

In yards all over Jackson, Bienville and Claiborne Parishes and along virtually every highway and backroad that runs through the three are campaign signs asking you to elect either Darrell Avery, Walter May, Yumeaka Robinson Washington or Rick Warren as Judge.

That’s four people running for a seat. Simple enough right? A closer look at the campaign posters gives more information such as the explanation that two are running for the 2^nd Judicial District seat in Division A while the other pair are running for the seat in Division B.

Divisions? What divisions? Isn’t there just one judge for the district? Why are there two divisions for the same district? Actually there are three but only two seats are up for grabs in this election. Maybe a little explanation will help shed some light for those who are confused.

The 2^nd Judicial District is comprised of three parishes: Jackson, Bienville and Claiborne. Each hold their own court that tries cases of that parish and are listed as a separate division of the district but the entire district votes for the judge of their choice in each division and a candidate can run for a seat in the division of their choice even though they may not live in that parish.

A perfect example is the race for Judge in Division A (Claiborne Parish). Neither, Darrell Avery or Walter May resides in Claiborne Parish but both filed to run for the seat that is being vacated by retiring Judge Jenifer Clason. They are the only two candidates running in Division A.  

The Division B race is between Jackson Parish residents Yumeaka Robinson Washington and Rick Warren who are attempting to gain the seat that is now open due to the retirement of Judge Jimmie Teat.  Division C, which is the Bienville Parish court, has Glen Fallin as the elected Judge and is not up for grabs in the upcoming election.

Hopefully this will help clear up the district judge race about who is running for what position and where. The most important thing is to make your voice heard and cast a vote on November 3^rd if you have not already done so in the early election phase.

Early voting information: The early voting period ended on Tuesday, October 27^th with a record number of ballots cast before Election Day.  Across the state nearly 800,000 people have already voted which destroys the previous record of 556,000 that was listed for the 2016 election.

According to information provided by the Louisiana Secretary of State the difference was two-fold. First was the acceptance of mail in ballot votes and the second was the difference in Democrats that have cast their early vote in the state compared to 2016.

Another record broken was the number of those registered. Of the roughly three million potential voters in Louisiana a little over 2.2 million residents have registered to vote. This represents almost 72% of the population.

By: Glynn Harris

Archery season for deer is underway in Louisiana and already some impressive bucks have been making the news.

As a writer for LA Sportsman magazine, I have had the privilege of covering the stories for three successful deer hunters who got their trophy bucks with either bow and arrow or crossbows.

First to come to my attention was 10 point buck taken with a crossbow by St. Amant hunter Dustin Clouatre on October 1, opening day for archery hunting. His story is especially interesting as the buck he arrowed was taken on a hunting club in E. Baton Rouge parish and the event took place 15 minutes from Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.

“I was putting out feed the day before season opened, returned to my side-by-side, looked up to see this big buck already sampling the rice bran I had just put out,” said Clouatre.

On opening day, the buck showed up at the bran pile that afternoon and Clouatre shot under him. Remaining in his stand feeling dejected that he had missed the buck, Clouatre was surprised to see the buck once again approach the feed. This time his shot was true on the big 10 point buck scoring 145 4/8 inches of antler mass.

Next up was Arcadia’s Mike Chandler, retired Lincoln Parish school bus driver, who hunts on a lease south of Simsboro. Chandler is a bow hunter but a back injury had reduced his capability to pull back a conventional bow so he opted for a crossbow.     

Chandler’s trail cameras had been capturing images of a good buck for the past four years and on the afternoon of October 2, he was hoping for a chance at the buck.

“I don’t use conventional feeders because it seems to me that a mature buck can become leery of feeders so I just put feed on the ground,” said Chandler.

Late that afternoon, Chandler was sitting in his ladder stand when three bucks appeared. He recognized the buck he had been seeing on his camera as one of the three. Waiting until the buck presented a broadside shot, Chandler dropped the big eight point that measured at least 140 inches of antler bone.

Chris Felder lives in the village of Ethel in E. Feliciana Parish and the area he hunts is private land in adjoining W. Feliciana Parish.

The buck he was targeting was still in velvet but had been a no-show on his trail camera; his image finally appeared on the camera one time the week before season opened.

Late on the afternoon of October 1, Felder placed rice bran on the ground before climbing into his lock-on stand he had hung in the woods in a big pine that was located next an oak flat. Momentarily, he began hearing something walking in the woods. It would take a few steps and then stop.

“I thought it may have been one of the smaller bucks I had seen so I reached in my bag and got my phone to start videoing what I thought would be one of the smaller bucks. When the buck stepped into a small clearing with his rack showing, I put down my camera and picked up on compound bow,” Felder said.

The buck finally stepped out and Felder was able to put the pin on the buck’s vitals and released his arrow after which the buck took off through the woods.

After an extended search utilizing the help of friends, he was finally able to retrieve the impressive velvet-racked buck that measured 152 inches of antler. When dressing the buck, Felder was shocked to find the deer had been shot twice before as he retrieved a mushroomed bullet in the bucks shoulder as well as a handful of small shotgun pellets in the neck.

As evidenced by the success of this trio of hunters, this season promises to be one not only exciting but full of intrigue.

FISHING REPORT –

BUSSEY BRAKE – Bass fishing has been fair around grass and timber on soft plastics, jigs and crank baits. Crappie fishing is fair around deep water off the boat dock on shiners or jigs. A few bream are being reported. No report on catfish. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

BLACK BAYOU –  Bass are fair around the grass on jigs and soft plastics. Bream and crappie are slow. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.

OUACHITA RIVER – Bass have been best fishing the river at the junction of river lakes on a variety of lures. Crappie have been best in the river lakes on shiners or jigs. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE D’ARBONNE – The lake is some 5 ½ feet low due to the scheduled drawdown. Look for crappie in the channels where they’re fair on shiners and jigs. Bass have been best in the deeper holes in the channels on soft plastics, crank baits or jigs. Bream fishing is slow but catfish continue to bite cold worms or night crawlers all around the lake. For latest reports, call Anderson’s Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE CLAIBORNE – Bass fishing has been best with some with some small to medium sized fish caught along the sea walls on spinner baits. Stripers are schooling with some caught on shad imitations or trolling white bucktails when they go down. A good many catfish are being caught on trotlines baited with either blood bait or chicken livers. Crappie are fair around the deep tops on shiners or jigs. Bream are slow. For latest information, call Tim Loftin at Kel’s Cove at 927-2264.

CANEY LAKE – Bass to 3 to 4 pounds have been caught on drop shot rigs, tail spinners or Flukes around the grass. Crappie fishing has been fair around deep tops on shiners or jigs. Catfishing has been good tight-lining cold worms. Bream are slow to fair on worms. 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.

LAKE POVERTY POINT – Crappie are fair on shiners or jigs with better results coming in late afternoons. Catfishing has been good. No report on bass or bream. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318-878-0101.

LAKE ST. JOHN – The bass are improving on topwater lures early and jigs and soft plastics later in the day. Crappie and catfish are slow.. For information, call Ken Mahoney at 318-201-3821.

LAKE YUCATAN – The water is on a slow fall with bass and catfishing both being good while crappie have been fair. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.

LAKE BRUIN – Bass have been fair on topwaters or soft plastics. Other species are slow For information, contact Carlos Gray at 318/766-0075.        

Thanks to the many J-H supporters the Tigers improbable 42-41 rally over Rosepine, which was one of the most exciting games that has taken place at Caldwell-Peacock stadium in recent history,  wasn’t the only victory enjoyed by the team .

The fans of the team gave the footballers two more victories by providing the most votes in the TEAM OF THE WEEK competition held by Channel 8 KNOE-TV in Monroe and K104 radio’s Scoreboard Show BIG WIN OF THE WEEK contest.

“I want to thank our fans for their support,” said Blankenship. “I can’t tell you how much it means to the guys to know that our fans are behind us and want to see us get recognized. “

By virtue of the victory J-H was featured on the Channel 8, KNOE-TV 6:00 and 10:00 pm sports segments last Wednesday after capturing 51% of the vote against three much larger fan bases from West Monroe, West Ouachita and Ruston High schools. Team members Justin Calahan and LaJavion Nichols as well as head coach Terrance Blankenship were interviewed and the team was presented pizzas compliments of Little Ceasar’s Pizza of Monroe.

The K104 Friday Night Scoreboard Show sponsored by Down’s Law Firm also recognized the Tigers by announcing the team as BIG WIN OF THE WEEK on subsequent radio broadcasts and making posts through social media sites Facebook and Twitter.

Judge Jay McCallum does not have to run a negative campaign because he has a pro-life, pro-family, and pro-second amendment conservative record of being fair…

Political Ad Paid for by the McCallum Campaign

Amending the 2020 budget and approving the 2021 budget were the main items of business handled by the Jackson Parish Recreation District Board in their regular monthly meeting on Monday, October 19, 2020 at the Dr. Charles H. Garrett Community Center in Jonesboro.

Members present were Brent Barnett – President, Ricky Cash, Jeff Hairston, Brandon Lamkin and Chris Womack. Rodney Potts and Sullivan Stevens were absent. Also present was Steven Gatlin.

After the President called the meeting to order the invocation was given by Cash and Barnett led the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. The floor was then opened for public comments of which there was none.

Minutes and financials of the September meeting was then approved leading to the

approval to amend the 2020 Budget and adopt the 2021 budget. Under old business, the board discussed Weyerhaeuser land purchase.

Ms. Kayla McGuire, 4-H Agent for Jackson Parish then took the floor to discuss dedicating the archery trail located at the Recreation Department’s Complex on Hwy 4 East in honor of Mr. Steven Morgan. The board then authorized Ms. McGuire to do further research for the trail to be named in honor of  Morgan and present her findings at the November board meeting.

Jackson Parish Recreation Director Tommy Smith followed by giving the board update on some of the ongoing programs at the sports complex including Fall baseball/softball, flag football, soccer, archery and golf clinic. Ms. Rebecca Williams also provided the board an update on the golf course including membership, banquet rentals and roofing quotes.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 16, 2020 at 12:00 noon at the Dr. Charles H. Garrett Community Center, Jonesboro.

As we enter the final weeks of the 2020 election year, many citizens are biting their nails and sitting on the edge of their seats in awe and suspense especially as it relates to the presidential race, uncertain about the outcome of the race.  For many citizens, the result of this election is expected to be a political upset, a thriller that will dwarf the “who shot JR” finale in the weekly sitcom Dallas.  The 2020 election has been a super charged event inundated with false and misleading information, an election that’s been led by greed, and an uncontrollable appetite to succeed, one filled with hunger and thirst to hold on to power.  It is an election that portrays a prediction of things to come.

The last four years and this election year have been like none that citizens have seen or experienced before.  America is reeling and rocking from the devastation of an unseen, out of control, deadly enemy called COVID 19 which has already killed over 225,000 citizens.  COVID 19 is now on the uptick again, resurging and regaining more strength each day as citizens take it for granted by not following the recommended health guidelines of simply wearing a mask and practicing social distancing.  While citizens may claim that they are finished with COVID 19, the virus is not finished with them.  Adding to the nation’s problems is a besiege of raging wildfires in the west that have consumed millions of acres of land and property, flattening, and destroying small towns in western states.  More problems are mounting because there is evidence of election interference by foreign nations.  Racial unrest and tension is gripping and hovering over the nation like the plagues that descended upon Egypt in Biblical times.  Racial injustice and inequality is a sin that is destroying the fabric and the very essence of the republic, a sin that it  must confess and finally get on with the business of ensuring justice and fair treatment to all citizens.

The past few months of political campaigning and jockeying among candidates have put the public on a roller coaster ride.  The campaigns have been quite colorful, with candidates pulling out all the stops in an effort to win the race.  At the local level smear tactics are being levied against opponents.  Some campaigns, at both the national and local levels, have become downright ugly and nasty.  Candidates have no shame when it comes to murdering and burying their opponents politically.  There are no limits to what politicians will say, do, or go to in order to remain in power or win an election.  Many citizens are baffled and still trying to make sense of President Trump’s rhetoric “suburban women won’t you please like me; I saved your damn neighborhoods.”  The question is what did he save them from?  Does he mean that he saved them from the poor, unemployed, hungry, and forgotten people of the nation entering their living spaces?

Poor people are hurting, hungry, and suffering because of an economic meltdown, none to their doing.  Food lines across the nation are expanding each day.  The FBI has uncovered a terrorist plot orchestrated by vigilantes to kidnap, and kill governors and take over local governments.  These hate groups are being told to stand down and stand by.  There are vivid attempts to suppress voter participation, flaming and fanning efforts to pack the US Supreme Court and federal courts with hundreds of young, politically conservative Justices whose directive is to scale back years of progress and to rule in favor of cases that will make America great for the elite, major corporations and Wallstreet  Because of the atmosphere and climate in which the nation finds itself, citizens have been heard to remark, “I don’t know my country anymore.”  Citizens are asking a Biblical question, is there no balm in Gilead to heal a sin sick nation.  Citizens are stunned at the lack of a national response to COVID 19 and the constant wrangling to demean and denounce the health experts, statements flowing from the lips and mouth of the President.  “I could care less; people are tired of hearing Fauci”.  What citizens are tired of hearing is that they are losing loved ones every single day.  These kinds of statements and misinformation have led people to falsely believe that they do not have to subscribe to the national guidelines so we choose to go it our way!  How shameful!!  There are more than 71,000 reported cases of infections being reported every day and thousands of deaths daily.  Please adhere to the safety guidelines established and recommended by the scientists–wear a mask and practice social distancing. 

Again, please go out and vote on November 3^rd.  Your vote will help to determine the future direction of the nation.

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.

Talk about what a difference seven days can make. From accumulating 515 yards and scoring 22 points in the final six minutes to take an incredible 42-41 victory the game before, J-H was held scoreless in the 36-0 debacle against Class 3A Mansfield this past Friday night.

It was a mistake filled second quarter that ruined any hope for victory as Mansfield took advantage of a pair of Tiger fumbles that help stretch a 6-0 first quarter advantage to a 30-0 halftime lead. A less than stellar defensive effort didn’t help either.

“We simply didn’t give the kind of effort needed,” said disgruntled head coach Terrance Blankenship. “I can overlook mistakes but I am not going to abide our guys not playing hard. That is unacceptable.” 

The stats proved out what Blankenship was referring to. The Tigers could muster only 121yards of total offense on 28 plays compared to the 550 yards on 56 plays that was registered by Mansfield. A deeper look shows an even worse disparity beginning with Mansfield running 56 plays to just 29 for J-H

The J-H ground game managed only 49 yards on 22 carries which comes out to a 2.4 yards per carry average. Twenty eight of those came on one run by Brantrel Thompson. Other than that the Tigers rushed for 21 yards on 20 carries. This is compared to the 350 yards gained by Mansfield that came out to an 8.8 yard average or nearly four times as good.

The passing stats were even worse. J-H Quarterback Tydre Malone, who only played one half before sitting out the final two quarters due a calf injury, finished with 5 completions on seven attempts for 66 yards. Forty one of those yards came on one completion to Datre’Vion Bowie. Conversely Mansfield QB DeKeldrick Thomas hit on 9 of 16 passes for 202 yards and two TD’s for a 22.2 yard per reception average. 

 

JHHS (2-1)           0              0              0              0 -0

MHS (1-2)            6              24           6              0- 36

Sometimes things don’t go according to plans. That was the case on October 15th when the scheduled Concert in the Park performance by Jon Sorenson was cut short due to rain and some of his equipment received damage.

Fortunately for the performer all was not lost thanks to the action taken by the Jackson Parish Tourism Board (JPTB) at their regularly scheduled monthly meeting held on October 19^th at the Charles H. Garrett Community Center in Jonesboro.

Board members Phillip Lawrence, Christie Weeks, Dawn Slezak, Joyce Amos Smith and Denise Barlow voted to allow Sorenson to not only return on October 19^th as the opening act for the regularly scheduled concert featuring the Victory Belles but also pay an additional fee of $200.00 to cover the cost of lights and sound equipment provided by Hank Staples of WHS Productions.  Additional action taken on behalf of Sorenson was the agreement to purchase a new keyboard for an amount not to exceed $900.00 to replace the one that was damaged in the rain.

In further action the recognition of the student winners of the JPTB Art Contest was also rescheduled for October 19^th and a new logo was agreed upon. The Tourism Promotion Assistance Guide was also adopted along with a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement.

The meeting began with the September meeting minutes and payment of bills being approved and ended with the 2021 budget being discussed and having action tabled until the next regularly scheduled meeting that will be held on November 16^th.

On the morning of February 20, 2005, Mike Bolesta and his son Christopher visited a Best Buy in Lutherville, Maryland, about twenty minutes north of Baltimore.  They were shopping for a cd player for Christopher’s car.  The carefully considered the pros and cons of each model until they finally decided on just the right one.  The technician assured Mike that the cd player would fit perfectly in Christopher’s dashboard without any alterations.  Mike agreed to pay a $114 installation fee in addition to the cd player once it was installed.  After a while, the technician returned with bad news.  The cd player would not fit but Best Buy had another model which would fit, and it was $67 cheaper.  Mike and Christopher were disappointed, but the technician’s offer to waive the $114 installation fee was too good to pass up.  Mike had the technician install the cd player.  After the technician completed the installation, Mike paid the cashier for the cd player and said he would be glad to pay the installation fee.  The cashier was aware of the technician’s offer and did not charge him for installation.  Mike and Christopher left the store pleased with their purchase.

As the old saying goes, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”  The following day, a representative from Best Buy called Mike and threatened to call the police unless he returns to the store and pays the $114 installation fee.  Mike mentioned that the technician had waived the installation fee because of their inability to install the cd player they had originally chosen.  The Best Buy representative stood his ground.  Mike agreed to come in the following day to settle up.

On the following day, Mike returned to the Best Buy to pay the installation fee.  He handed the cashier $114 in cash.  The cashier noticed that some of the ink on the bills was smeared.  She suspected the bills were counterfeit.  She pointed out the smearing to Mike and said, “I don’t have to take these if I don’t want to.”  Mike replied, “If you don’t, I’m leaving.  I’ve tried to pay my bill twice.  You don’t want these bills, you can sue me.”   The cashier took the money and checked each of them with an anticounterfeit pen.  The ink showed that the bills were real but the cashier was still uncertain.  Other employees became curious and inspected the bills.  “Are these real?” they asked.  “Of course, they are,” Mike contended, “They’re legal tender.”  They too suspected the bills were counterfeit.  One of the employees discreetly called the police.    

Within minutes, police arrived and inspected the bills.  One officer noticed that, in addition to the smearing, the bills ran in sequential order.  One of the officers asked where he got the bills and Mike replied that he got them from his bank.  “You got a problem, call the bank.”  By this time, all of the customers and employees in the area were gawking at Mike.  He later said, “I am 6 feet 5 inches tall, and I felt like 8 inches high.  It was humiliating.”  Like the Best Buy employees, the officers concluded that the money was counterfeit.  One of the officers handcuffed Mike and told him, “We have to do this until we get it straightened out.”  Mike retorted, “I can’t believe you’re doing this.  I’m paying with legal American money.”  The officers were unyielding.

One of the officers transported him to the county police lockup in Cockeysville, about 10 minutes north of the Best Buy.  They walked Mike into a jail cell which had a metal pole attached to the floor and ceiling in the center of the room.  Next to the pole was a single chair.  An officer sat Mike in the chair and uncuffed one hand.  Mike assumed he would remove the handcuffs.  Instead, the officer handcuffed Mike to the pole.  Mike was even more shocked when the officer shackled his legs to the pole.  Mike said, “at this point, I’m a mass murderer.”  Mike sat and waited.

Three hours after being handcuffed and shackled to the pole, United States Secret Service agent Leigh Turner arrived at the jail.  She examined each bill for size, thickness, weight, tested the paper’s ink, and paid close attention to the sequential numbers.  She concluded that the bills were absolutely real, legitimate American currency.  She had the final say in the matter.  In her report, agent Turner noted that “sometimes ink on money can smear.”  Officers released Mike and apologized for the inconvenience.

A few days later, Mike’s son asked him for some money.  Mike pulled his wallet from his back pocket and pulled out a few bills.  Mike’s son suddenly remembered the story of Mike being arrested and decided that he no longer needed the money.  Why were the Best Buy employees and officers confused about Mike’s form of payment?  Why was he arrested?  Mike paid the cashier the $114 cd player installation fee in fifty-seven crisp, real… $2 bills.      

For more Real Stories about Real People …with a Twist, order your copy of “Remember This?” at http://www.BradDison.com or from Amazon.com.          

Source:

The Baltimore Sun, March 8, 2005, p.B1.

1. Carlton A Sampson (Hodge, LA) – Resisting an officer
2. Henry L Lassere (Hodge, LA) – Warrant for failure to appear on driving under suspension charge
3. Carlos Andrea (Jonesboro, LA) –Bench Warrant for failure to appear on driving under suspension charge
4. Michael E Edmonds (Dodson, LA) – Resisting an office, Unauthorized entry of an inhabitant, Remaining after forbidden
5. Patience D Dubois (Jonesboro, LA) – Bench Warrant for failure to appear on seat belt charge.
6. Jason L Rachall (West Monroe, LA) – Bench Warrant on charge of Possession of Schedule I drug, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Illegal Carry of Weapons, Improper Display
7. Paul Grezaffi (Bathelor, LA)- Felony Warrant on Illegal Possession of Stolen Things charge, Bench Warrant on Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving Under Suspension, No Insurance, No License Plate, Failure to Register Vehicle
8. Amanda M Walsworth (Jonesboro, LA) – Bench Warrant for Driving Under Suspension charge
9. Jonathan Singleton (Quitman, LA) – Possession of Schedule I drug, Possession of Stolen Firearm, Resisting Arrest, Driving While Intoxicated , Running of a stop sign
10. Lance G. Andrews (Jonesboro, LA) – Warrant for failure to appear on charges of failure to comply with PFD requirements
11. Milton Woodard (Grambling, LA) – Residential Contractor Fraud
12. Alicia Ramos (Ruston, LA) – Domestic Abuse Battery, Criminal Damage to Property, Remaining after being forbidden

Jonesboro-Hodge’s contest against Rosepine this past Friday night lived up to the billing of an expected shootout. What no one saw coming though was the way the Tigers would rally three separate times from 15 point deficits to take the 42-41 victory.

Coming into the game the Tiger coaching staff knew their team was talented.  What they didn’t really know how they would face adversity or how resilient they were. Sure J-H was forced to play their season opener with virtually all of their starting linemen sidelined due to be quarantined after being exposed to the Coronavirus but that was against lowly Delta Charter. The victory while sweet was expected.

Rosepine presented an altogether different challenge. Even though the Tigers would be at full strength for the home opener at Caldwell-Peacock stadium this was against a team that had beaten J-H last year and had won their first game of the year by a 46-6 margin.

“We felt that we would find out what we were made of,” said J-H head coach Terrance Blankenship. “I have to admit there were times during the game where I wondered if we had what it took but the guys proved they can face adversity and come out on top. I don’t know if I have ever been prouder of a team since I have been coaching.”

Not only did J-H fall behind by two touchdowns not once, not twice, but three times in the contest they rallied to take the lead and then held Rosepine off when the visitors tried to steal the game on a two point conversion with just seconds left to play. It is safe to say that now J-H can be described as talented, tested and resilient. They also can be described in another way…….

UNDEFEATED!  There was a time in J-H lore where maybe being 2-0 wasn’t that big a deal. It could be said that is was even expected to win the first two year in and year out but that was many years ago. Today it is the cause of tremendous excitement as the last time J-H won their first two the 43 players on the roster weren’t even in grade school yet.

IN A HOLE!  It was all Rosepine in the first quarter as J-H was experiencing a severe case of “fumbleitis.” The result was a Grant DuCote 15 yard scored followed by a two point run and a Ethan Frey to Bryant Merriwether 23 yard connection and ensuing PAT to give the Eagles a 15-0 lead after the first 12 minutes.

“We dug ourselves a hole for sure,” said Blankenship laughingly after the contest. “We couldn’t do anything right on offense or defense at first but they guys didn’t quit and fought through it.” 

BRANTRELL BREAKS FREE! The Tiger offense finally started to click in the second quarter. Tailback Brantrel Thompson, who ended the night with 205 yards and three TD’s on just nine carries got J-H on the board by dashing in from 14 yards out and then later scored again in the quarter on a 67 yard breakaway. He would score another from 53 yards out later in the game.

“Brantrel has home run speed and is just starting to realize his potential,” said Blankenship. “He is incredibly fast and if he gets a step ahead he can take it to the house from anywhere on the field. Hopefully this is just the start of what he will do this year.”

DEFENSE STILL BEING FREYED! While it was a good sign that the Tigers finally started moving the ball the problem was that the J-H defense was still getting shredded by Rosepine QB Ethan Frey. The talented signal caller threw for two more touchdowns to help Rosepine go into the half with a 29-14 lead and maintain the 15 point advantage.

“I don’t know if we will face a better QB than theirs the rest of the year,” complimented Blankenship. “He has a good arm and has good vision. He also plays smart. You can tell he has been well coached.”

The third quarter was much like the second. Both teams continued to move the ball up and down the field with each scoring a touchdown. LaJavion Nichols did the honors for J-H by rumbling in from 23 yards away while Frey threw his fourth TD pass of the game as Rosepine  took what seemed to be a commanding  35-20 lead into the final frame.

“We had proved that we could play with them after spotting them the 15 points,” said Blankenship but we weren’t making up any ground. We needed the defense to step up to give us a chance.”

FANTASTIC FINISH! Whatever defensive coordinator Carlos Hicks told his troops before the fourth quarter worked. Suddenly the J-H defense started getting some stops. Offensively J-H continued to roll as Devontae Mozee reeled in a 7 yard pass from Tydre Malone and Justin Calahan sprinted 23 yards with a pass for another score to narrow the margin to 35-34 after the first two possessions of the final frame.

“It was a complete team effort that turned things around,” beamed Blankenship. “When we scored the second time you could see in our guys eyes that they felt they were going to win this game.”

There was still work to be done but that only took as long as the next possession when Thompson broke outside and outran the Eagle defense for a 53 yard touchdown, his third of the game. This was followed by him running over what turned out to be a very important two point conversion and give J-H their first lead of the game at 42-35.

To their credit Rosepine came right back down the field and scored on a Frey run to close the gap to one. The contest that would have almost 1000 yards in total yards and 83 points scored on the night between the two would be settled on one play. Frey tried to take it over himself but was stuffed by the Tiger defense to preserve the thrilling victory.

RECAP! As a team J-H would crank 515 yards in really what amounted to just three quarters of offensive production after the first quarter debacle.  Thompson, who averaged 22.78 yards a carry wasn’t the only one to have a big game as Malone threw for 230 yards and two TD’s on 12 completions in 25 attempts.  Justin Calahan also caught 5 passes for 119 yards and a score.

LaJavion Nichols led the defense with 10 tackles and five assists that included three tackles for a loss. Davion McGuire added seven stops and Chance Leonard got six. Connor Webb also came up big with 5 tackles and five assists. JaMarriyea Lewis got his second interception in as many games and Calahan recovered a fumble. 

JHHS (2-0)    0          14       6          22 – 42

RHS (1-1)      15       14       6          6   –  41

1^st quarter scoring

RHS – DuCote 15 yard run (DuCote 2-pt run)

RHS – Frey 23 yards to Merriwether ( Smith PAT)

2^nd quarter scoring:

JHHS- Thompson 14 yard run (Malone 2-pt run)

RHS – Frey 15 yards to DuCote (Smith PAT)

JHHS – Thompson 67 yard run (2 pt failed)

3^rd quarter scoring:

JHHS – Nichols 23 yard run (2-pt failed)

RHS – Frey 37 yards to Smith (PAT failed)

4^th quarter scoring:

JHHS – Malone 6 yards to Mozee (Malone to Boston)

JHHS – Malone 23 yards to Calahan (2 pt failed)

JHHS – Thompson 53 yard run (Malone 2 pt run)

RHS – Frey 2 yard run (2 pt run failed)

For Jonesboro residents this year it wasn’t the Grinch that was threatening to steal the Christmas spirit and more importantly the well know “Christmas Lights” tradition the town is known for. This time it was the double whammy of dealing with COVID-19 and a lack of funds that was normally allotted by the town that ALMOST did for residents of Jonesboro, Louisiana. That ALMOST is capitalized because Jonesboro residents are banning together to save Christmas for the whole town. Just a few weeks ago it looked like it was going to be a dark holiday season.

“People were saying “We have to have lights, Jonesboro has to have lights,” said Jackson Parish Chamber of Commerce President Johnny Horton. “So, everyone has just come together with suggestions and bring the community together. People want to get out and do things.”

As a result, the Jackson Parish Chamber of Commerce and the City of Jonesboro came up with a solution. The city would still put up lights on town property, but the local businesses would have to put up their own. One business owner says she doesn’t mind as it wouldn’t be a “Christmas Wonderland in the Pines” without the lights.

“We know the community is kind of struggling right now,” said Amber Lowe, owner of Grit and Grace. “We are pretty much known for this in Jonesboro, so we are going to do our part and help in the community where we can.”

 These Christmas lights have gone up every year since 1983. However, they’re more important than just making the town festive. It is a big revenue producer for many main street and downtown businesses as well as putting Jonesboro in the minds of people from neighboring towns.

“For our small businesses, the lights have always been something that is very important. It gets a lot of foot traffic out. Some people may not know a lot of these businesses are here, so they get the opportunity to kind of explore and see what we have to offer,” said Lowe.

The chamber of commerce has set up a donation account at the Jackson Parish bank that will help by lights for small businesses. On Saturday, volunteers will be out in the community helping put up the lights on businesses in the community.

McCallum is currently on the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal. Before that, he served as a judge of the Third Judicial District (Lincoln and Union Parishes). Prior to being elected judge, he served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Third Judicial District, and as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives (1992-2002).

As the only candidate who has rendered decisions as a trial court judge, McCallum is uniquely qualified to be our next Supreme Court Justice given that the job requires reviewing other judge’s decisions.

To be fair, how can someone grade the decisions of others if they have no experience making those decisions? In order to do the job and to be fair in the decisions a Supreme Court Justice is asked to make, that person should have experience in making those decisions. McCallum is the only candidate in the Louisiana Supreme Court race who has presided over trials and sentenced criminals.

McCallum has also been endorsed by the PACs of the Associated General Contractors, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Louisiana Oil & Gas Association, the Louisiana Home Builders Association, and the Associated Builders and Contractors. These PACs represent thousands of members and workers who have endorsed Judge McCallum because of his record of fairness.

McCallum is the only candidate in the Louisiana Supreme Court race who has a pro-life, pro-second amendment, pro-family record as a legislator who co-authored NRA legislation supported by Charlton Heston and Wayne Lapierre.

Again, he is the only candidate who has experience as a Prosecutor, a State Representative, a District Court Judge, and a Court of Appeal Judge. McCallum has the most judicial experience in the race for Louisiana Supreme Court with 18 years as a judge and the most legal experience with 35 years as an attorney.

Because of his record of working with law enforcement to help keep our families and communities safe, McCallum has the law enforcement endorsement of Sheriffs, retired Sheriffs, District Attorneys, retired District Attorneys, Chiefs of Police and retired Chiefs of Police from 15 of the 20 parishes that comprise the Supreme Court district:

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; Chief of Police Tommy Clark, Grambling; Sheriff Kevin Cobb, Franklin Parish; Chief of Police Bim Coulberston, Farmerville; Chief of Police Mark Dodd, Marion; District Attorney Penny Douciere, 5th JD; Chief of Police Don Dufour, Dubach; District Attorney Brian Frazier, 37th JD; Chief of Police Sandy Freeman, Simsboro;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; Chief of Police Jerry Melton, Grambling University; Chief of Police Bobby J. Milner, Choudrant; District Attorney Chris Nevils, 8th JD; District Attorney Danny Newell, 2nd JD; Sheriff Jason Parker, Webster Parish; Ret. Chief of Police Minor Patton, Bernice; District Attorney Jimbo Paxton, 6th JD; Ret. Sheriff Jerry Philley, West Carroll Parish; Chief of Police Earl Roberts, Downsville; 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.

Early voting begins Friday, Oct 16 and goes through Oct 27, 2020 with Election Day Nov 3

Political Ad Paid for by the McCallum Campaign

At 12:00 pm on Wednesday, October 21^st the Jackson Parish Police Jury (JPPJ) Operations Committee of Chairman Amy Magee, Lewis Chatham and Lynn Treadway will meet in the Jury Room at the Jackson Parish Courthouse to discuss the Jackson Parish Road System.

First on the agenda is the consideration and recommended action regarding the following roads.

1. Canard Road
2. Ironwood Road
3. Mary West Road
4. Burney Road
5. Culpepper Road
6. Cypress Branch Road
7. Bill Cole Loop
8. Branch Creek Road
9. Tree Lane
10. Jade Road
11. Thunder Road

 After that the committee will discuss and recommend action for the 2021-2023 Road Priority List as well as discuss a schedule for road traffic counters for the Parish Road System. There will also be a discussion on how to handle debris hauling on private roads.

Judging by the records it would seem Jonesboro-Hodge will be in great shape to win their third straight game to open the season. J-H comes into the contest with a 2-0 mark following a thrilling 42-41 victory over Rosepine. Mansfield is 0-2 and hasn’t come close to winning a game.  Yet according to JHHS head coach Terrance Blankenship the second straight game at Caldwell-Peacock Stadium will be the Tigers biggest test to date.  Game time is set for 7:00 pm

“Don’t let their record fool you,” warned Blankenship. “Mansfield is a very dangerous club with speed everywhere.  A whole lot of teams would be 0-2 after starting the season against Red River and Minden.”

The Tigers will face a team that has several playmakers. Junior Monquavirus Wells is the leading rusher with 151 yards in two contests. Senior scatback Marcus Bryant, who only goes 5’6” and 160 lbs. is a threat to break it from anywhere but their main thrust is through the air.

“They have three seniors who can hurt you on the outside,” said Blankenship. “Our defensive backs are going to have their work cut out for them.”

 The “tres amigos” that Blankenship is referring to is 6’3” Joshua Ford who is averaging 18 yards a reception, Adrian Green who caught six passes in the season opener against Red River and cat quick Marvin Garrett who is also a threat to run the ball on reverses. Quarterbacking Mansfield is Sophomore DeKeldrick Thomas who saw his first action of the year two weeks ago against Minden where he threw for 97 yards and rushed for 80 more.

JHHS will attempt to gain revenge from a year ago for the second straight week with an offensive attack that looks to be hitting on all cylinders. Brantrell Thompson is having a breakout year having gained 308 yards and scoring four touchdowns in two games to lead the rushing attack. Junior QB Tydre Malone has passed for a pair of scores in each of the contests and receiver Justin Calahan has close to 200 yards in receiving.

Blankenship knows the contest is like trying to climb another rung higher on the ladder as Mansfield will be the first school from a higher classification the Tigers have faced this year. They will also be the biggest with a front line averaging close to 300 pounds.

“We started with a 1A team, last week played a 2A team and now play a 3A team,” reflected Blankenship. “Also they will have the biggest team up front we have seen so far. They have four or five that go over 300 pounds.”

Keys to victory!

1. Come out ready to play! For the second week in a row the Tigers have bumbled, fumbled and stumbled their way through the first quarter. That has got to stop.
2. Hang tough up front! The Tiger line has to play Mansfield’s “big boys” even. If not the Wolverines depth will wear down the Tigers.
3. Playmakers must make plays! JH has as many playmakers as anybody. They have to perform.
4. Ride the wave! JH is on a tremendous high following the stirring win last week. Hopefully they can bring that momentum into this week.

Prediction!

This isn’t a “homer” pick.  JH should be able to capitalize off the confidence and resilience they showed last week. Mansfield on the other hand hasn’t tasted success so a quick lead by the Tigers could crush their spirit. Look for J-H to move to newly charted territory and move to 3-0 in a close one. 

JHHS 26     Mansfield 20

By: Glynn Harris

            As an outdoor writer for going on half a century, there is one style of writing I have always wanted to master, a style that I occasionally and accidentally stumble on but with no consistency. Humor writing.

            I have been an admirer of the writing of one fellow who had it down ” pat”, as in Patrick McManus who died in 2018 at the age of 85. He could reduce me to thigh-slapping guffaws every time I picked up a copy of Outdoor Life or Field and Stream magazines and read one of his humor columns.

            I even got up the nerve one time to write him a letter asking about how I could improve my humor writing. I was astounded and dumbfounded when he answered my letter with a two-page handwritten reply. One thing that stands out in my memory of his reply was that to evoke laughs from readers, the punch line was the key. Have your readers expecting what should be the obvious conclusion to one of his tales was to come out of left field with a zinger that was totally  unexpected. I have three of his books in my library that I’m going to read again after recalling what a special type of writer he was.

            I have a friend, Jim Mize, who writes humor pieces for a number of publications. The title of his three books gives an indication of what you’ll read when you pick one up….”The Summer of Our Discount Tent”; “A Creek Trickles Through it” and “Hunting With Beanpole”

            I had Mize as my guest on my Glynn Harris Outdoors radio program recently and had him discuss how he got into humor writing.

            “I’ve been writing humor stories for more than 30 years and it’s sort of interesting the way I got started,” said Mize. “I had an assignment from a magazine for a fishing story and I injected humor in my introductory and ending paragraphs. The editor contacted me and asked why I didn’t make the middle of the story funny like the beginning and end so I did.”

            Mize said that he began studying humor, how stand-up comics came up with their jokes and how they learned to create them.

            One thing Mize shared was the same thing McManus had said, and that had to do with the punch line.

            “If you’re ending your story with a predictable punch line, something the reader expects, he’s not likely to be impressed. However,” Mize continued, “if the punch line involves an element of surprise, something totally unexpected, that’s what grabs his attention.

            “My first two books contain the stand-up comedy style of stories while ‘Hunting with Beanpole” puts the main character into situations. This fictitious character is unpredictable and jumpy; he is constantly digging himself deeper into the hole he’s created. He is the sort who manages to find the cloud in every silver lining.”

            Chapter titles give you an inkling of what you’re about to enjoy as you follow along on hunting trips with this guy who always finds a way to get himself entangled in one zany episode after another. “When Boxer Shorts Save Your Life”; “The Premonition and the Talking Frog”; “The Stuffed Moose” and “The Campfire Ghost” are among the 25-plus chapters in Mize’s book.

For my readers who are interested in any or all of Mize’s humor books, each of which is illustrated by well-known cartoon artist, the late Cliff Shelby, visit his website www.acreektricklesthroughit.com. You won’t be disappointed.

FISHING REPORT

BUSSEY BRAKE – Bass fishing has been fair around timber with soft plastics picking up a few. Crappie fishing has improved with some caught out from the boat launch on shiners or jigs. Bream are fair with no report on catfish. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

BLACK BAYOU –  Bass are fair around the grass on jigs and soft plastics. Bream and crappie are slow. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.

OUACHITA RIVER – The river is fairly high and best crappie fishing has been in the river lakes. Bass are best where there is current with Baby Brush Hogs, crank baits and soft plastics working best. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE D’ARBONNE – Heavy rains and run-off has caused the drawdown to be effected as water rose with current and muddy water causing problems. Bass have been best in the deeper channels on crank baits and soft plastics. Some crappie have been caught along the channel edges fishing jigs or shiners 10 feet deep in 15 foot water. No report on bream but channel catfish continue to bite off the banks on 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 – Bass fishing has improved with mostly small to medium-sized fish caught but there was a report of a 9 pound bass caught last week. Most are hitting chartreuse spinner baits and Shaky Heads in fairly shallow water as the shad are shallow and the bass are following them in. Crappie continue to hit hair jigs around the deep tops in 16 foot water. Catfishing has been good on trotlines using blood bait and cold worms. Bream are slow and stripers are best trolling white bucktails. For latest information, call Tim Loftin at Kel’s Cove at 927-2264.

CANEY LAKE – Crappie fishing has been fair around the deeper tops on shiners or jigs. Bass have been best around the channel drops on soft plastics and crank baits. A few bream are being caught on worms and crickets with no report this week on catfish. 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.

LAKE POVERTY POINT – Crappie are improved somewhat with some caught early mornings on jigs. Catfishing has been fair to good on blood bait. No report on bass or bream. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318-878-0101.

LAKE ST. JOHN – Crappie are improved on shiners and jigs. Bass have been fair while catfish are fair and bream are slow. For information, call Ken Mahoney at 318-201-3821.

LAKE YUCATAN – The water is near standstill and fishing has been good this week. Bass, crappie and catfish are all biting much better. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.

LAKE BRUIN – Crappie are fair on shiners while catfish are fair on cold worms. No report on bass or bream. For information, contact Carlos Gray at 318/766-0075.

Bob Garrett is well known as a former Louisiana Tech quarterback.  In Jonesboro his exploits on the football field are legendary.  As well as he is known If you were to run into him these days in Ruston where he has been a coach and teacher at the Ruston Junior High School for nearly two decades the question would be…….

“Are you Lily’s father?”

That is because Lily, who runs Cross Country for Ruston High has become quite a phenomenon and as one of the elite runners not only north Louisiana but the entire state. Only a sophomore at Ruston High and whose mother Karen was also a tremendous athlete exhibits the kind of dominance hardly ever seen in someone so youthful in a sport that requires incredible stamina and determination usually found in those much older.

Her time recently of 18.43.39 in the three mile run set a new course record at the prestigious Benton Invitational and was a full sixteen seconds better than the runner-up. This was against the best competition in north Louisiana that included such schools as West Monroe, C.E. Byrd and Airline High as well as many other smaller schools.

The mark ranks second in Ruston High School history in the three mile only behind the 18:41.12 ran by Adaiza Austin in 2012. This is now the second time that Garrett has entered the record books at RHS as she already has the best time in the girls 5,000 meters eclipsing the mark set by Marina Givens last year.

Garrett will next be in action at the NSU Pre-State Cross Country Meet on Saturday, October 24^th before vying for the District 2-5A championship on Wednesday October 28^th. From there she will compete in the LHSAA Regional 1-5A Qualifier on Thursday, November 5^th.

For citizens of color this election could well mean the death nail in the coffin, especially in view of the fact that federal courts are now being stacked with young ultra conservative Republican judges and justices who will sit on the bench for the next thirty or forty years.  These conservative judges and justices are predicted to move quickly and with vengeance to overturn or weaken the existence of national liberal policies and ultimately overturn the Affordable Health Care Act, the case of Roe V Wade, overturning gay and lesbian marriages, deciding in favor of striking down the 1965 Voting Rights Act as being unconstitutional and no longer needed.

 The successful appointment of a new justice to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will create a conservative majority on the United States Supreme Court and whoever is appointed is expected to repay the favor of having been selected and appointed by the president by rubber stamping and doing the president’s bidding as has been done by the people’s Attorney General Bill Barr.  These new federal bench appointments will in all probability waste no time in moving swiftly to uphold state’s requests to limit voter participation, uphold the government’s goal to outlaw a free press, ruling favorably on state’s requests to limit expansions of Federal Medicare and Medicaid programs, addressing issues regarding lack of fair and affordable housing opportunities embedded throughout our society as well as gentrification of communities across America, the notion of scaling back Social Security benefits, outlawing affirmative action programs and  granting more powers to the executive branch of government should president Trump be re-elected.

Stacking the Federal courts with young, white, aggressive, conservative judges is indicative of President Trump’s goal to seal the fate of his non supporters and reward his supporters.  The Trump administration has taken a page from the playbook of the late former President Richard Nixon.  Nixon defined Politics as “rewarding your friends and punishing the hell out of your enemies.”  Over the last four years President Trump is credited with having appointed more Federal Judges and Justices than any President other than former President Jimmy Carter. Research data show that President Trump with the aid of Senate Majority leader and fellow Republican Mitch McConnel has made 198 appointments to federal benches across the nation. Of this record- speed breaking number of appointments, (198 being appointed), there has not been one African Amerian appointed under the Trump Administration.

Judges and justices who sit on the United States Supreme court and on lower subordinate federal courts speak and rule on important matters affecting the entire nation, matters regarding job discrimination within corporate America, racial injustice and inequality across the land,  disparities in our educational and health care systems, voter’s rights and voter suppression by states, women’s rights and who and how many citizens will sit in trial court jury boxes to name a few.  They will have the final say about the nation’s important business affairs, its social, economic, and political agenda.  It is believed and felt by many political commentators that these judges and justices (who are appointed for life) will play to the politics of reshaping America’s future, rather than being concerned about what is the just, fair and honorable thing to do. Consequently, the playing field of justice will never be leveled.

Thoughts concerning the outcome of the 2002 election have given writers and legal scholars and pundits much to think and write about.  The stakes are high, and reporters and writers must continue to cover as many aspects concerning this election as possible.  I will continue to write about the 2020 election because there is a need for the public to be kept abreast as to what is going on, the public needs to hear both sides of the story.  Having worked in the field of  Criminal Justice and consumer advocacy for much of my professional life and having been subjected to a life of fending for  poor and disadvantaged citizens across the nation, witnessing firsthand the cruelty and unfair treatment visited upon citizens who were barely hanging to the last rung of the social and economic ladders. These experiences have provided me and other troopers with a unique perspective a frontline view and have compelled us to become an advocates, a trench men,  servants of the people,  soldiers for justice, racial equality and fairness, and to become a small faint voices for those who have no one to speak for them. Our work has been and continues to be about the fulfilment of justice in America.

We learned very early in the struggles for civil rights and social justice that complacency is not an option. Why? Because the call of justice is an upward and lofty call that requires one to never give up or give in. It requires one to be persistent, keep praying, keep hoping, keep knocking, keep protesting, and keep beating on the doors of justice and equality until they are opened for all citizens. Advocates of social justice must never choose to become spectators during an election and opt to sit on the sideline while a game of life is being played down on the field by a team of questionable and unsavory politicians. What is important and needed most at this juncture is for citizens to get in the game, mobilize, REGISTER and VOTE and do so as if their life depended upon it. Believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that YOUR vote will count and that you will have made a difference in the outcome of the 2020 Presidential Election. Every waking hour of the day, citizens and advocates must pursue the call of justice and equality and do so with a resolve never to turn back, to stop or turn around. Someone once reminded us that “justice will not arrive like a lightning bolt, but with persistent and resolve it will occur, all the days of our lives we must pursue justice”.    

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.

Stanley Bert Eisen was born on January 20, 1952 in New York City.  On that day, doctors and nurses immediately realized Stanley had been born with a congenital deformity known as Microtia.    The deformity prevented his ear from forming properly and left him deaf in his right ear.  Rather than being deaf in his right ear, it would be better stated that he was deaf on his right side because there was no right ear.  Stanley was born with a stump where his right ear should have been.    

Stanley recalled that he had a “less than optimal childhood.”  His parents refused to acknowledge that Stanley had a deformity.  Rather than explaining his deformity and that he was half-deaf, his parents simply ignored the issue altogether.  Stanley recognized his deformity at an early age when people would stare at the right side of his face.  Stanley looked into mirrors and compared his left ear and the stump on the opposite side.  He knew he was different.  Stanley had trouble hearing on his right side but his family never spoke of his half-deafness.  Stanly recalled, “I was an angry, dysfunctional kid with a real image problem and a hearing problem that put me under constant scrutiny.  My family’s way was, ‘Everything’s OK.  Forward, march.’  But the idea that you make someone stronger by ignoring their pain shouldn’t be called ‘tough love.’ It should just be called ‘no love.’”

Stanley also struggled to fit in at school.  Being deaf on his right side, Stanley found it hard to tell from which direction sounds originated.  When everyone else responded to a sound by looking in a certain direction, Stanley usually looked the other way.  In a crowded room, he had a hard time differentiating people’s voices.  All of the voices sounded like jumbled up gibberish.  Because of his deformity the other students at his school treated him cruelly.  They teased and bullied him endlessly.  Stanley struggled with depression and social isolation.  He became a loner as his distrust of people grew. 

Stanley found solace in music.  His parents listened to classical music, which Stanley loved.  Stanley aimed his good toward the speakers and eagerly absorbed everything from Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach, to Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, and Stephen Sondheim.  On February 9, 1964, the Beatles played the Ed Sullivan Show in what were the early years of the British Invasion.  Twelve-year-old Stanley watched in awe.  The Beatles wore their hair long, which quickly became fashionable.  Stanley realized that wearing his hair long would hide his deformed ear and it was in style.  Once his hair grew long enough, strangers stopped staring at his deformity.  “What I found over the years,” Stanley said, “was that what you deny and cover up doesn’t cease to exist, and even if you can hide something from the public, you can’t hide it from yourself.”

Stanley became an artist.  Through the years, he has earned millions of dollars off of his artwork which includes portraits, abstracts, and logos.  Art collectors around the world proudly display his work among their collections.  The prestigious Wentworth Gallery still sells his original artwork in their galleries.  Stanley’s work in the arts afforded him the required surgeries to rebuild his disfigured ear.  In 1982, 30-year-old Stanley had fiver surgeries in which doctors removed cartilage from one of his ribs and constructed a new right ear.  Still self-conscious, Stanley kept his hair long, which was in style in the 1980s.

In 1988, Stanley saw the London company perform Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera.  He claimed that that show changed his life.  Stanley said “I had this momentary revelation, an epiphany where I went, ‘Wow, I can do that.”  For ten long years, Stanley dreamed of playing the part of the Phantom, a disfigured musical genius who was in love with a young protegee whom he had trained.  Finally, in 1998, Stanley got an audition to play the Phantom in the Toronto, Canada, production of The Phantom of the Opera.  In its ten-year run at the Pantages Theatre, the play had sold more than seven million tickets at $135 each for decent seats.  Stanley felt a personal connection to the Phantom.  He explained, “Here’s somebody who has a disfigurement that they’re covering and they’re trying to reach out to a woman, and, as much as they want to do it, they don’t know how.  Well, that pretty much summed up my life…”                     

To play the part of the Phantom required multiple auditions for singing, movement, and acting.    Stanley realized that this audition process was probably his only shot to play the Phantom.  Stanley prepared as best he could.  He had seen the play numerous times and knew the songs by heart.  There was no need for Stanley to worry.  Stanley passed the audition and got his coveted role.  For the first time since the 1960s, Stanley cut his long hair.  He had a month of rehearsals and voice lessons six days a week to prepare for the production.  Stanley told a reporter that playing the part was “the hardest work [he had] ever done.”  The critics, doubtful at first, thought he brought something special and new to the character.  Once his stint with the Toronto company ended, Stanley returned to his artwork. 

His most recognizable piece of art is well known around the world.  He was the artist who created the logo for the band KISS with its lightning bolt s’s.  He created the artwork for several of their album covers as well.  He was also one of the four artists who created KISS.  Stanley adopted the first name of one of the Beatles, the band he watched on the Ed Sullivan Show so long ago.  For the last half century, the world has known Stanley Bert Eisen as Paul Stanley. 

Sources:

1. The National Post (Toronto, Canada) March 12, 1999, p.4.
2. The Windsor Star, March 12, 1999, p.16.
3. The Star-Phoenix, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada), May 26, 1999, p.29.
4. Calgary Herald, May 27, 1999, p.48.
5. Lansing State Journal, June 27, 1999, p.40.
6. The Leader-Post (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada) January 3, 2001, p.20.
7. New York Daily News, April 7, 2014, p.34.
8. The Daily Item (Sunbury, Pennsylvania), April 13, 2014, p.B2.
9. The Vancouver Sun, April 25, 2014, p.42.
10. WentworthGallery.com. “Paul Stanley.” Accessed June 14, 2020.
    http://wentworthgallery.com/stanley.html.

1. Robert L Daniel III (Pineville, LA) – Bank Fraud
2. Bradley A. Lutrick (Jonesboro, LA ) – Possession of Synthetic Marijuana
3. Christian B. Bowen (Calhoun, LA) – Disturbing the Peace, Resisting an Officer, Remaining after being forbidden
4. Joshua W. Turner (Jonesboro, LA) – Driving under suspension
5. Albert J. Morton (Winnfield, LA) – Theft , Aggravated flight
6. Cnarles L. Stevenson (Hodge, LA) – Domestic Abuse Battery
7. Kacy Greer (Jonesboro, LA) – Theft, Criminal Conspiracy
8. Contavious Adams (Jonesboro, LA) – Theft, Criminal Conspiracy
9. Edward J. Wyatt (Jonesboro, LA) – Bench Warrant for theft  and execution of sentence.