The 15th annual “Bayou Jamb”, which has become the largest season opening jamboree in north Louisiana kicks off the 2021 season with Media Day and a tour of the Via College of Osteopathic Medicne (VCOM) – Louisiana Medical School on Monday, August 23rd.  Activities begin at 10:00am with head coaches from each of the twelve teams participating, along with two players from each, speaking to media representatives from virtually every newspaper, radio and television outlets in north Louisiana.

Quarterback Tydre Malone and receiver Devontae Mozee will represent JHHS along with head coach Terrance Blankenship, who in his ninth year at the helm has moved into a second place tie all time in tenure, will look to lead JHHS to their third consecutive Bayou Jamb victory. After the “presser” coached and players will be treated to a tour of the VCOM – Louisiana Medical School which opened the doors on at the University of Louisiana -Monroe (ULM) in 2020. Special guests in attendance include Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis, Bayou Jamb Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees Coach Mickey McCarty, Coach Billy Bell and Coach Johnny Mack Fowler along with Miss Louisiana Julia Claire Williams.

BAYOU JAMB LINE-UP – ULM Malone Stadium

Friday, August 27th

6:00 p.m. Jena vs. Oak Grove*

7:30 p.m. OCS vs. Sterlington*

Saturday, August 28th

1:00 p.m. – Jonesboro-Hodge vs. St. Frederick*

3:00 p.m.- Franklin Parish vs. Mangham*

5:00 p.m. TBD vs. Ruston*

7:00 p.m. Neville vs. West Monroe*

* indicates home team

TAILGATING – Friday, August 27th and Saturday, August 28th in the Grove @ ULM Malone Stadium. In addition to great football action, “Jambin in the Grove” starts at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday, with tailgating, music, team pep rallies, and an activity-filled Kid’s Zone sponsored by Firm Foundations Counseling. Football fans will be participating in the Grove Tailgating activities traditionally set up their RV’s, tents, and grills for some pre-football tailgating. The public is encouraged to bring your family out to enjoy the festivities in the Grove and join in the fun! Reserve your spot today by calling 388-2323 or stopping by The Radio People at 1109 Hudson Lane in Monroe.

---

Three separate Ordinances regarding amendments to the General Budget, Water Budget and Sewer Budget were introduced and a Public Hearing was set for September 14th, prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Jonesboro Board of Aldermen. The action was taken at the special session that took place on Thursday, August 12th after the original meeting that was to be held on Tuesday, August 10th was postponed.

After Jonesboro Mayor Leslie Thompson called the meeting to order a representative of the Jonesboro Riding Club commented on their desire to revamp the Rodeo Arena and stated they are eager to get started.

Board members Nia Evans-Johnson, Robbie Siadek, James Ginn, Pete Stringer and Devin Flowers then approved the August bills, financials and minutes before moving on the following three requests submitted by Jonesboro Police Chief, James “Spike” Harris.
(1) Termination of Brian Glenn
(2) Promotion of Kristopher Walker to full time duty
(3) Rehire Israel Smith to part time duty

The lease/purchase of a Grapple Truck and the placement of a mobile home at 1773 Firetower Road received approval followed by Mayor Thompson speaking to the council about hiring a company to start the “redistricting” process. He then gave an update on “Operation Clean-Up” which is the program designed to beautify Jonesboro by removing blighted and unsightly structures.

In a final action before the meeting was adjourned, Thompson was authorized to enter into an agreement with the law firm NeunerPate, who was chosen to represent the Town of Jonesboro in a lawsuit because of their federal trial experience.

 

---

It will be business as usual this coming Thursday, August 26th through Saturday, August 28th when a large throng of visitors will descend on Natchitoches, LA for the annual induction ceremonies of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (LSHOF). That is except for one person. 

For thirty one (31) years Doug Ireland has been the Chairman of the LSHOF and the one who has orchestrated the on-goings. This year, the 1978 Jonesboro-Hodge High School graduate will be in the unique position of finally getting to sit back and enjoy the ceremonies as he will be inducted as a member of the Class of 2021. With his induction Ireland becomes only the third Jackson Parish native to be enshrined in the elite hall, along with former Jonesboro residents Bob Hopkins and Dan McDonald. 

Ireland launched a 30-year run as the acclaimed, innovative sports information director at Northwestern
State. During his tenure he spearheaded efforts leading to construction and the 2013 opening of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum in Natchitoches. Ireland managed all aspects of the annual Hall of Fame selections and inductions from 1990-2010, and since has continued to coordinate elections while collaborating with LSHOF Foundation leaders to stage the Induction Celebration each year.

Ireland ended his SID career in the summer of 2019. His 1992 Demon football media guide won Best in the Nation for Division I-AA from the College Sports Information Directors of America, and a 1997 historical feature marking Demon great Joe Delaney’s induction in the College Football Hall of Fame was second in a national CoSIDA contest. In 18 months (1987-89) as a sportswriter for the Alexandria Town Talk, Ireland captured 15 top three finishes in the annual LSWA writing contest, including records of nine overall awards including six first places in the 1987-88 competition while he covered state colleges, high schools and did general assignment reporting. He picked up six more awards, two firsts, in the 1988- 89 contest despite leaving the LSU beat in January 1989 to accept the Sports Information Director post at his alma mater.

As SID at NSU Ireland added dozens of LSWA awards for writing and publications in 30-plus years, including 33 since 2000. In 2016, he won the LSWA’s Story of the Year award as a correspondent for the Natchitoches Metro Leader. In
February 2008, he was presented the “Distinguished American Award by the S.M. McNaughton Chapter of the
National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Additionally, Ireland was named the Alexandria Town Talk’s Cenla Sportsman of the Year for 2012, an acknowledgement of his dual roles with the Hall of Fame and NSU Athletics. He was also the recipient of the Southland Conference’s 2016 Louis Bonnette Sports Media Award for impact in the NCAA Division I league.

Ireland launched his career at age 14 as a sportswriter and columnist at the weekly Jackson Independent. He also was a broadcaster for the local radio station (KTOC) all while playing two sports at Jonesboro-Hodge High School, where he was a member of the 1977 Class 2A state runner-up team and an All-District baseball player.

While earning his journalism degree at NSU, he was a news reporter for the Shreveport Times for two years, running the Times Natchitoches Bureau in 1981-82. He spent the next three years as the first-ever assistant SID at UL-Lafayette, then was an award-winning sports editor of the Natchitoches Times before joining the Town Talk sports staff in 1987.

 

---

Jonesboro-Hodge and Cedar Creek battled for roughly two hours in a controlled scrimmage this Friday that earned mixed reviews from the JHHS coaching staff. The contest was played at Caldwell-Peacock stadium in Jonesboro and was conducted by both teams taking twenty “field” snaps each with their first team and second offenses, ten “goal line” snaps each and ended with the two teams playing full field with a live 12:00 minute clock. 

“We have a long way to go and a short time to get there,” said JHHS head coach Terrance Blankenship, who is entering his ninth year as the leader of the Tiger braintrust.

JHHS started slowly in the “field” snaps portion of the scrimmage on both sides of the ball causing Blankenship and assistants Carlos Hicks, Justin Durbin, Anthony Anderson and Robert Hunter plenty of opportunities to provide correction.

“We looked bad at the start. Guys were in the wrong place or ran the wrong routes,” reflected Blankenship. “I not surprised though as we have had several players not able to practice as much as I would like due to obligations they had before school started.”

As the number of plays that the Tigers ran increased though so did the production, especially on the offense which looks to be geared toward the passing game this year if the plays that were ran is any indication.

“After the guys got loose they played better but we have a lot of things we are going to have to improve on a lot of things if we are going to be the kind of team we expect to be.”

When it came to the “goal line” portion of the scrimmage Blankenship had nothing good to say.

“We were horrible. That was as ugly a performance by our defense as I can remember,” said the disgruntled head coach. “We had a distinct size advantage on Cedar Creek but they blew us off the ball time and again. That has to be fixed and quick.”

Maybe it was just that the Tigers needed to feel like it was a real game because when the clock started running, J-H  began to look like the team that the coaching staff was hoping to see. 

“As bad as we looked early on we did some good things in the “live” portion of the scrimmage, which I am happy about as it showed the guys were correcting the mistakes they made at first,” concluded Blankenship. “Hopefully they will continue to improve this week in practice so we can make a good showing at the Bayou Jamb.”

There were a couple of players that Blankenship pointed out as having a good scrimmage and deserved to be recognized. 

“Jay Lewis  and Catavious Waters did a good job for us today,” said Blankenship. “They both played with a lot of heart and made plays when they had the chance.”

 

---

You can usually identify a serious duck hunter by checking the back window on his pick-up. You’ll see a replica of a brace of mallards with wings cupped, gliding in. Same thing is true for deer hunters. A set of massive antlers is likely to adorn his window.
Ruston’s 80 year old Tommy Smith displays his area of interest in a slightly different way. I don’t recall seeing anything on the back window of his vehicle but if you look at the covering of his trailer hitch, you’ll see a golden emblem of the brass of a shotgun shell. Smith has made his name as an expert marksman when it comes to blasting clay targets in trapshooting competition.
He passed his love for the sport along to his son, Trey, who developed into a fine trap shooter himself. However, the best of all may be Thomas Smith IV, Trey’s son and Tommy’s grandson. Just returning from national competition in Illinois with a group of youth from the area, young shooters who ended up with several awards, the 19 year old Smith was the big winner when he the championship of Junior Gold in the national event.
What did Smith do to collect the gold? All he did was break 199 out of 200 targets to best some of the nation’s top young shooters. We visited with the teenager, now a student at LA Tech, to get his take on his impressive feat and to learn how he got started.
“I got involved when I was 12 or 13 years old when my grandfather, who had already made his mark as an expert trapshooter, started working with me. I shot off and on as a youngster but I didn’t have the time I needed to really get good at it until after I graduated from high school,” Smith said.
After graduating, Smith decided to start working on his skills as a shooter again and it has paid off big for him.
“The week before I went to Illinois for the national competition, I went out to the range where we practice, the Arcadia Gun Club, and for the first time ever, I broke 100 straight clay targets. That gave me confidence that maybe I could compete with those on the national level,” he said.
Amie Skipper is head of the local organization and accompanied the group of shooters to Illinois for competition.
“For youth up to age 22, the organization is called AIM, which stands for Academic, Integrity and Marksmanship. After that age, they transition to the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA). There are about 60 kids in AIM in Louisiana with a good group from here in Lincoln Parish. I got involved by working with the local 4-H shooting program,” Skipper said.
Here’s what the ATA has to say about what is involved in Trapshooting …
”Trapshooting is a game of movement, action and split-second timing. It requires the accuracy and skill to repeatedly aim, fire and break the 4 ¼ inch disc which are hurled through the air at the speed of 42 mph, simulating the flight path of a bird fleeing a hunter.”

For someone to connect with the target 199 times out of 200 is quite an achievement and we tip our hat to a youngster from our area, national champion Thomas Smith IV, who did just that. I’m betting his dad and granddad are both mighty proud.

 

FISHING REPORT

CANEY LAKE – Bass fishing has been fair with best catches made fishing the deeper drops with drop-shot rigs, tail spinners or spoons. Crappie fishing has been best fishing jigs or shiners around the deeper tops. Bream fishing is fair on worms and crickets around bedding areas. Catfishing is fair fishing a variety of baits around the piers and boat docks. For information contact Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop
at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass fishing has been fair with some schooling fish hitting topwaters and Rat-L-Traps. Bigger fish are in the deep channels with some caught on jigs, crank baits and soft plastics. Crappie are in the channel with some caught on shiners and jigs fished 15-22 feet deep in 25-30 foot water. Best jigs have been Critter Glitter, Key Lime Pie, Green Tomato and Halo. Bream fishing is fair around the beds on worms and crickets while channel cats are biting
cold worms off the banks. For latest reports, call Anderson’s Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Bream fishing continues to be fair to good on worms and crickets. Crappie have been best fishing 12-14 feet deep around submerged tops on shiners or jigs. Bass are fair around the boat docks and piers fishing with a Shaky Head. Some catfish are being caught on trotlines and stump hooks baited with a variety of baits. No report on stripers this week. For latest information, call Misty at Kel’s Cove at 331-2730 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Bass have been fair on spinner baits, Wobbleheads and soft plastics. The crappie are scattered while the bream are fair. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BLACK BAYOU – Bream are fair; crappie are scattered and slow to fair. Bass are best around the edge of the grass and trees on soft plastics and jigs. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.
OUACHITA RIVER – Bass have been fair at the mouth of the run-outs where there is a bit of current with crank baits and spinners taking a few. Crappie are around the tops in the river and in the river lakes. Jigs and shiners are taking a few. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfishing has been fair with mostly smaller fish being caught. Bass, crappie and bream are slow. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE ST. JOHN – Crappie are quite slow. Bream are scattered and fair. Bass are best early mornings on topwaters. Catfishing is fair to good. For information, call Ken Mahoney at 318-201-3821.

---

Minutes from the July 19th meeting of the Jackson Parish Recreation Board have been released. While the discussions did not get down and dirty it was about getting dirt down so the projects of building a new golf cart storage shed and revamping the spillway could get underway.

Board members Ricky Cash, Jeff Hairston, Brandon Lamkin, Sullivan Stevens and Chris Womack accepted the bid of $29,000.00 from T&S Brown Contractors for dirt work on the golf cart shed. They also hired Riley Company of Ruston, LA to work up plans for reconstructing and replacing the spillway and to get quotes on the work.

In other business regarding the Golf Course, Jackson Parish Recreation Department Director Tommy Smith let the board know that he would be penning a letter to all golfers that they must check in before playing and that there is a no dog policy in place, subject to loss of golfing privileges if not adhered to.

Attorney Steven Gatlin and Engineer Paul Riley followed by stating the land survey is almost finished and a preliminary plat of the acreage that the JPRD is proposing to buy has been submitted to Weyerhaeuser for approval.

---

In an effort to assist Jackson Parish residents in being able to “go to church” when they are not actually able to take in a service at their favorite place of worship last week the Jackson Parish Journal (JPJ) introduced a new section called “Sunday Service.” The hope is soon Churches from all over the parish will be able to have their services shown each Sunday. To have your Church  participate in this section, please contact the JPJ at (318) 480-1206 or by email at: jpjjacksonla@gmail.com

 This week’s featured sermon is coming to you once again from Brian McAllister, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro. Special thanks to Pastor of Worship and Discipleship, Trey Etheridge for helping provide access.

To view simply simple click on the link below and follow the three easy steps outlined.

http://fbcjonesboro.net/livestream

1. press RESOURCES tab located on the tool bar at top of the page
2. press RECENT VIDEO icon
3. press arrow to play

May God’s blessings be granted unto you!

---

If you have not done so already, time is running out to sign up your child for the many programs that are on the fall schedule at the Jackson Parish Library that will begin in September. See below for a pictorial description of all the programs that are offered.  

---

From 1910 to the mid 1920’s the Davis Bothers Lumber Company continued to prosper and grow. A hardwood mill, the third Davis enterprise in the locale, was built in 1914. As new families continued to pour into the community, it led to the birth of the “Tin Top Quarters” which was what we would today call a subdivision for the workers families.
All went well until the world-shaking “Great Depression” struck in 1929 sending the federal and state government, businesses and families into a tailspin that shattered the way of life that Americans had grown accustomed to in the “roaring 20’s.”

The Davis Brothers could have ceased operations like many companies did but instead the kept the mills running best they could and stayed true to their incredible benevolent ways. The effort to run the mills was a spasmodic at best due to the lack of orders. For a long period of time work was done only one or two days per week but unlike thousands of others across the nation, at least the employees of the company were still able to earn some wages.

Unlike places all over the nation there were no “soup lines” in Ansley as the Davis Brothers did everything in their power to take care of their employees. No worker or members of their family went unfed, unclothed or without shelter. From anything to leaky faucets to replacing shingles on a house, tradesmen were dispatched to do the work at no expense to the families. When the original school house burned in 1930 the company had a new bigger and better one built.Families who were leasing a home saw their rent lowered to just a few dollars each month and anyone who had cattle was allowed to graze on company land. If goods were needed the employees could go into the store and get necessities on credit. As the years of depression continued countless numbers ended up leaving owing hundreds of dollars to the Davis Brothers. Yet not one time did the company file a lawsuit to recover the money owed to them.

Much of the credit for the incredible act of generosity goes to “Miss Lottie” who was the wife of “Mr. Bob” (Robert W. Davis) and president of the Davis Lumber Company enterprise from 1935 until her death in 1961. It is recalled of the time when she was packing large boxes of food and items to be taken to destitute families of the logging community, she was asked by her husband “Who is going to pay for this?” Miss Lottie was overheard saying “Why you are R. W. and there will be no more said about it.”

While the company stayed in operation for another 25 years following the depression, it never really recovered. The lack of orders over too long a period of time took its toll. One by one the skilled members of the workforce and their families were forced to move away for better working climates. To make matters worse, capable replacements were not able to be hired.

In March of 1957 the whistle of the “big mill” blew at the end of the workday for the last time. It not only marked the end of an era but also signaled the beginning of the decay and disappearance of Ansley. By 1963 virtually all of the houses and buildings had been torn down leaving only the memories of what used to be.

Next Week – The birth of Eros!

---

The Jackson Parish Museum and Fine Arts Association (MFAA) Board elected officers for 2021-22 at their regularly scheduled monthly meeting held Thursday, August 19th. Board members: Barbara Johnson, Mary Hoover, James Fitzpatrick, Wilda Smith, Ben Ledbetter and Mark Culpepper also discussed the ongoing membership drive, physical condition of the museum, officers who will be authorized to sign checks and working with the community and schools. 

The Museum Board Officers for 2021-22 will be:

President – Barbara Johnson
Vice President  – Mary Hoover
Secretary – Mark Culpepper
Treasurer – Wilda Smith|
Reporter – Ben Ledbetter

The meeting began with the board agreeing to move forward with the integration of the ADT security system with the phone system and accepting the Financial Report that was presented by Wilda Smith. President Johnson then stated a good response had been received from current members about continuing their membership and that letters had also been sent to prospective members about joining.

A report regarding the physical condition of the Museum followed with the Board acknowledging their appreciation to: Randy Layfield for helping with the replacement of light bulbs, Robbie Siadek for repairing the A/C, Ty Garrett for pressure washing work and Andrew Brown who assisted in the clean up.

President Johnson and Vice-President Hoover being authorized to sign checks on behalf of the Museum. Specifics on the “Work-Day” that took place on Saturday was then discussed along with how the Board could work in concert with the community and Jackson Parish schools about setting up tours to the Museum. 

The next meeting of the MFAA board will be at 4:00 pm on Monday, September 20th at the Jackson Parish Museum, located at  515 South Cooper Avenue in Jonesboro.

---

---

(submitted by John Singleton) Ansley resident Mrs. Tillie Overstreet went on an all-expenses-paid trip to France in 1931, and the trip was paid, in full, by none other than the United States government. That’s the good news. The bad news, however, was that this was no vacation. Sadly, Mrs. Overstreet was going to visit her son’s grave in a military cemetery in Lorraine, France. But I’m getting way ahead of myself. Please allow me to rewind this story to Kansas, November 6th, 1895. On that day, Robert Earl LaGrone was born, and why his Arkansas born parents were in Kansas, I have no idea. I tend to think they were typical of the “pioneer” families of that era, always ready to strike out for the land of milk and honey. I can almost picture them in their wagon, perhaps pulled by a team of mules.

I’m a volunteer researcher studying WWI soldiers who resided in Louisiana, and when I first stumbled upon the records of Wag Robert LaGrone, I had to Google “Wag” to find out what that rank was in the US Army. 95% of the soldiers I’ve studied have the familiar Pvt rank preceding their name. Wag? What the heck is a Wag? It’s simply a shortened version of Wagoner. And Robert LaGrone was a Wagoner, which reinforces my belief that the LaGrone family likely spent a great deal of time traveling in a wagon, and, also very likely, a young Robert might well have been steering the team of mules. I assume there weren’t many Wagoners in WWI simply because the auto-age was in full bloom by 1917 when America made its entrance into the “Great War”.

Large trucks with gasoline engines were the norm, but in the muddy battlefields of France, horse or mule power might have actually been more efficient. Wagoner LaGrone piloted not any old wagon. Nope, his team pulled a wagon-mounted machine-gun. And considering how deadly this weapon was in WWI, LaGrone’s entire Company B, 13th Machine-Gun Battalion was probably a high-priority target for the Germans. And, since Wagoner LaGrone was killed-in-action November 9th, 1918, that’s likely what happened.

Fast forward 13 years to August 19, 1931. Tillie LaGrone, after the 1904 death of her husband Robert Fernando LaGrone, was now married to Leander Overstreet. Mrs. Overstreet, along with thousands of other Gold Star Mothers, was invited by our government to make a pilgrimage to see their son’s graves in France, Belgium and England. I’m guessing most of the Gold Star Mothers were somewhat apprehensive to make the long voyage to France, but I’m betting Tillie Overstreet wasn’t intimidated at all. She likely summoned her pioneer spirit and took the journey in stride. When she boarded the ocean liner “President Roosevelt” on that warm summer day, she was simply thinking about her boy, who was killed just 3 days shy of his 23rd birthday.

I think our Congress is to be commended for voting to approve funding for the Gold Star Pilgrimages which took place from 1930 to 1933. Some may consider it sad to have a son or husband buried thousands of miles away on foreign soil, but Wagoner Robert Earl LaGrone is buried in a beautiful, well-kept military cemetery called Meuse-Argonne. What most Americans don’t realize is that the government had made an earlier offer to grieving families shortly after WWI was wrapped up in 1919: Any family who had a soldier buried in Europe could file a request for their loved-one’s remains to be shipped back to the US. Thousands of families chose that option.

Sadly, in my research, I’ve learned of dozens of Louisiana soldiers whose final resting places aren’t documented in any manner. It is a tragedy that these American heroes languish, often in unmarked graves, here in their own country. I’ve not found a single American soldier buried overseas whose burial location isn’t fully documented. Rest in peace, Wagoner LaGrone.

There is no guarantee on how well Jonesboro-Hodge will look on the field this season but one thing is for sure. Where they will be playing is looking good. No! Make that great! Thanks to the effort of the JHHS coaching staff along with the Jackson Parish School Board, Caldwell-Peacock stadium has received a much needed paint job and improvements in the restrooms, as well as, sporting a fine a playing surface as can be remembered from recent memory.

“We have been working hard over the last several weeks,” said assistant Coach Justin Durbin, who assisted with the painting. “It was worth it though as the field and stadium both look good.”

It is not only the stadium that received a new coat of base gray and royal blue but the “Powerhouse”, which is the adjoining weight room, as well. As good as the stadium looks the field looks even better as a plush, thick carpet is in place for the upcoming season. Much of the credit for the field goes to head coach Terrance Blankenship and assistant Carlos Hicks, who have spent countless afternoon and evening hours watering and cutting grass over the last month.

“I don’t know how well we will play this year,” said Blankenship. “But I do know that our fans are going to get to come to a much better looking and cleaner stadium and see us perform on a great looking field.”

---

C & J Show Goats along with the LSU-Ag Center held a Northeast LA Goat Field Day on Friday at Garrett Farms, located at 1006 Gansville Road in Jonesboro. A good crowd assembled to take in the three hour seminar that covered a myriad of topics regarding the raising of “show goats” including: breeding, pens and equipment, nutrition, health care, milking, feeds and supplements. 

Hosting the event was Jesse Magee and Chuck Garrett, owners of C & J Show Goats along with Rodney Johnson of the LSU-Ag Center. Speakers included Dr. Clare Scully – LSU Vet School; Dr. Ashley Edwards – LSU AG Center; Dr. Christine Navarre – LSU Ag Center; Dr. Gary Hay – LSU Ag Center; Rodney Johnson – LSU Ag Center and Jennifer Caldwell of Purina Corp. 

 

---

To have your service business shown or list items you have for sale, send email to: jpjjacksonla@gmail.com

Quality Electrical & Controls Service:

Over 60 years of combined Licensed and Certified experience in Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Control Panels, Electrical, HVAC and Inspections service. Located at 5039 Hwy 4 East, Jonesboro, LA. For free estimate contact: Billy Earl Wilhite: (318) 475-2403 or Richard Andrews: (318) 475-5136. “Call us when you want the job done right.”
www.qualityecs.com

4T Exterior Cleaning:

House wash, Metal roof wash, gutter cleaning, concrete, deck, and brick/ patio cleaning. For free estimates call Trevor Hall at (318) 475-0347 or email Trevor.hall62@yahoo.com

B3 Lawn Services:

No job to large or small. For complete lawncare and select landscaping services contact: Todd Lowe (318) 623-8532, TJ Wilkerson (318) 480-1328 or Josh Henry (318) 480-1596.
email: littleballgame93@yahoo.com

Harris Yard Beautification Service: 

For all your lawn and landscaping needs contact Greg Harris at (318) 245-2349. Free estimates and professional service guaranteed. Based out of Chatham. 

5G Exterior Cleaning:

“Service you can trust at affordable prices” Commercial and residential cleaning services. Be it commercial buildings, homes, driveways, patio’s, truck’s and trailers, no job to big or small. For free estimates call or text: Ty Garrett at (318) 243-7772 or send email to: tygarett23@yahoo.com 

Book for sale: 100 year history of JHHS football 

A year-by-year description of the first 100 years (1919-2019) of JHHS football. Included is summary of early beginnings, yearly results, rosters, updated team and individual records and a gallery of pictures. Perfect gift for that grandfather, father, uncle or cousin who would enjoy remembering their “glory days”. Cost is $25.00 per book plus $3.00 shipping and handling. To order call (318) 480-1206 or send email to: jpjjacksonla@gmail.com

 

Public Notices

Jackson Parish Recreation District Board Meeting Minutes
July 19, 2021
Jonesboro, Louisiana

The Jackson Parish Recreation District met in regular session on Monday, July 19, 2021 at 6:00pm in the Dr. Charles H. Garrett Community Center, 182 Industrial Drive, Jonesboro, Louisiana. Members Present: Mr. Ricky Cash, Mr. Jeff Hairston, Mr. Brandon Lamkin, Mr. Sullivan Stevens and Mr. Chris Womack. Absent: Mr. Brent Barnett and Mr. Rodney Potts. Also present, Mr. Steven Gatlin.

The Vice President, Mr. Cash, called the meeting to order. The invocation was given by Mr. Cash and Mr. Womack led the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Cash opened the floor for public comments. There were no public comments.

Motion Womack seconded Mr. Lamkin to approve minutes (July). All in favor. Motion carried.

Mr. Paul Riley, engineer, gave board update on the dirt work for the golf cart storage building and spillway at the golf course.

Motion Mr. Womack seconded Mr. Sullivan to accept bid from T&S Brown Contractors, LLC for golf cart storage building dirt work in the amount of $29,000. All in favor. Motion carried.

Motion Mr. Hairston seconded Mr. Womack to hire Riley Company to work up plans for replacing spillway as it presently is and plans for reconstructing with subsurface and also authorize to get prices. All in favor. Motion carried.

Mr. Smith gave board update on some of the ongoing programs at the sports complex including archery/shooting range, all-star tournaments and high school baseball/softball. The 1st Annual Stephen Morgan Memorial Archery Shoot is scheduled for September 18th.

Ms. Rebecca Williams gave board update on the golf course including membership, banquet rentals and tournaments.

Mr. Smith discussed problems with dogs on the golf course. He will pen a letter to all golfers which will include all golfers must check in before rounds and no dog’s policy. Anyone that does not follow the policy may lose golfing privilege.

Mr. Gatlin and Mr. Riley gave the board an update on the land purchase at the golf course. The land survey is almost finished and a preliminary plat has been submitted to Weyerhaeuser and awaiting approval.

Next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 16, 2021 at 6:00p.m. at the Jackson Parish Golf Course.

Motion Mr. Hairston seconded Mr. Womack to adjourn meeting. All in favor. Motion carried.

 

---

(Troop F News Release) On August 16, 2021, just before 5:00 p.m., Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a two-vehicle fatality crash on LA Hwy 34 near Salem Road. The crash claimed the life of 52-year-old Jimmy Howell.

The initial investigation revealed that a 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage, driven by 20-year-old Jose Reynoza, of Eros was traveling south on LA Hwy 34. At the same time, a 2012 Toyota Corolla, driven by Howell was traveling north on LA Hwy 34. For reasons still under investigation, Reynoza briefly exited the roadway, then crossed the centerline, and struck Howell’s vehicle.

Reynoza, who was restrained, was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Howell, who was wearing his seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Jackson Parish Coroner. Howell’s two passengers, who were also restrained, were transported to a local hospital, where one received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and a juvenile was treated for life-threatening injuries.

Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in this crash; however, routine toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation. In 2021, Troop F Troopers have investigated, 33 fatal crashes, resulting in 40 deaths.

---

Tickets to the 2021 Bayou Jamb are on sale at Jonesboro-Hodge High School. Cost is $15.00 per person. Jonesboro-Hodge will open the Saturday, August 28th, session of North Louisiana’s biggest Jamboree by taking on St. Frederick of Monroe at 1:00 pm. Games are to be played at the Raymond Malone stadium on the campus of the University Louisiana-Monroe (ULM). Tiger fans are asked to purchase your tickets in advance at the school as Jonesboro-Hodge get to keep all proceeds from tickets purchased at JHHS. 

“We ask that if possible you come to the school to purchase your tickets,” said JHHS head coach Terrance Blankenship. “This way the school benefits the most.” 

---

The application period for JSB Pledge 10 grants is underway. Jackson, Bienville, Winn, and Lincoln parish non-profit organizations and public agencies are eligible. Grant awards range from $2,500 to $10,000, to assist with innovative new or expanded projects that promote education, youth development, financial literacy, or community enrichment in this four-parish service area. Recent Pledge 10 grant awards have ranged from inclusive playground equipment to equipment for fire departments to enhancing outdoor wellness spaces.

“We are proud to assist with creative projects that benefit our area citizens,” said Jonesboro State Bank President Thurston Allen. 

The grant application, instructions and guidelines are available at www.Pledge10.com. All applications must be submitted online by September 15, 2021. Please send questions to Pledge 10 Director Christie Weeks at Pledge10@jboro.com.

---

While heading north on Hwy 167 just a few miles past Quitman there is a sign that points toward an open area and an adjacent road. It says Ansley. If you travel along it a little ways you will come to a big curve at the top of a hill where a church and a cemetery is located. Today, that is all you will find of Ansley. There was a day not many years ago when that wasn’t the case. Oh no, far from it!

From 1900-1950 that same area was a vibrant collection of structures. Hundreds of people bustled about daily enjoying the amenities of everything from a huge hotel, hardware store, grocery market, lumber yard, Post Office, churches and a large school complex complete with gymnasium and auditorium. Employment was had through a large saw mill, timber working and on a railroad line. The town had its own water tower, electric company and even a gas station for the few who had “motor” vehicles.

Ansley was founded around the turn of the 20th century. It came about as result of four brothers – John Melvin, Virgil, James and Robert Davis, who had been successful timbermen in south Arkansas, wanting to relocate their empire. They focused their search for a new location in north Louisiana along the Arkansas Southern Railroad which ran from Little Rock, AR to Winnfield, LA.

After finding miles and miles of timber at their disposal they selected a spot ten miles south of Ruston for their next mill operation. How good were the prospects of the area? An example is a picture of a felled log that measured 6 feet 8 inches in diameter.

In 1900 the brothers sold their properties in Arkansas and along with their faithful employees moved to the new town that would be named Ansley, after the wife of Virgil Davis. A new mill was built and completed in 1902 and on December, 17th of that year P.N. (Pamie) Davis sawed the first line. Two days later Davis Brothers Lumber Company, Ltd. was incorporated. In 1908 another planer mill was constructed and in 1914 a new hardwood mill was erected.
As the mills prospered so did Ansley.

Soon it became known as one of the most desired places to live and work in north Louisiana despite its isolation from more populated areas. The area was virtually inaccessible except by horseback or the train that came through once a day each way. As an example it took a three hour horseback ride to reach the community of Jonesboro.
Regardless the community grew by leaps and bound over the first twenty years of existence.

This was mainly due to the incredible benevolence of the Davis brothers. Employees did not earn cash money but rather “chits” that were redeemable at the “company store” which housed virtually anything and everything needed or desired and at prices far below market value.

The Davis Brothers went out of their way to give their employees the best of everything. They donated the land and lumber for the Union Church to be built in 1902. The first school was in the house of Dixie Young but by 1909 a two story building had been constructed, once again with materials and on land donated by the Davis Brothers Lumber Company. A majestic, two story, hotel was erected in 1908 and at their expense the David Brothers installed a “dynamo”, which was what a power generator was called and wired each of the employees homes with electricity.

Next week: Ansley – From Boom to Bust!

---

The Finance and Grants Committee’s of the Jackson Parish Police Jury will meet Wednesday, August 18th in the Nathaniel Zeno Jr. Meeting Room at the Jackson Parish Police Jury Administration Building. The two sessions will kick off with the Finance Committee meeting at 12:00pm followed by the Grants Committee holding session at 12:15pm.

It is possible that a quorum of the Police Jury may be in attendance at the meeting, but no action of the Police Jury as a whole will be taken.

Finance Committee Agenda Items

1. Review month-to-date financials, POs, and recommended budget amendment

Grants Committee Agenda Items

1. Discuss and recommend action, if necessary, on ARP expenditures:
a. Software and hardware upgrades
b. Employee hazard pay
c. Solid Waste infrastructure
2. Discuss other American Rescue Plan projects
3. Discuss and recommend action, if necessary, on committee suggestions or requests concerning grant funding
4. Discuss and recommend action, if necessary, on any requests concerning grant funding

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance, please contact Gina Thomas at (318) 259-2361, extension 3 describing the assistance that is necessary.

Operations Committee has meeting on Tuesday, August 17th

The Operations Committee of the Jackson Parish Police Jury met on Tuesday, August 17th where the following agenda items were discussed.

1. Departmental concerns and requests of Maintenance Department 
2. Departmental concerns and requests of Administrative Department
3. Departmental concerns and requests of Road Department including: Enterprise Lease program and 911 signs
4. Departmental concerns and requests of Solid Waste Department including: Hwy 148 Bin Site project and other future sites

 

---

Jonesboro native and 1978 JHHS graduate, Doug Ireland, will be member of the Class of 2021 to inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (LSHOF)during festivities held in Natchitoches, LA on August 26th-28th. Ireland was selected as a winner of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism after a distinguished career as a multiple award winning Sports Journalist, Sports Information Director at Northwestern State University (NSU) and Chairman of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

The 2021 class of also includes:
Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints star receiver, Major League Baseball All-Star Rickie Weeks from Southern Rickie Weeks – Major League Baseball All-Star Rickie Weeks from Southern University, and three of LSU’s greatest Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf – LSU and NBA basketball player formerly known as Chris Jackson
Glenn Dorsey  – LSU and NFL football great
Pat Henry – national-champion track coach at LSU
Villis “Bo” Dowden – 1980 Bassmaster Classic champion
Courtney Blades Rogers – college softball pitching great at Nicholls State and Southern Mississippi
Terry McAulay – 20-year NFL official who refereed three Super Bowls. Now the NBC Sports officiating analyst for Sunday Night Football and Notre Dame football, McAuley is the 2021 winner of the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award.
Ro Brown – New Orleans television sports anchor and LSWA’s Distinguished Service Award winner 
Sheldon Mickles – Baton Rouge Advocate sportswriter and LSWA’s Distinguished Service Award winner 

The 2021 Induction Celebration will kick off Thursday, Aug. 26 with a press conference carried live on Cox Sports Television, followed by a free to the public reception at 5:00pm at the Hall of Fame museum, located on Front Street in Natchitoches. The three-day festivities include two receptions, a free youth clinic, a bowling party, and a free Friday night riverbank concert in Natchitoches. The full schedule of events and purchases for ticketed events culminating with the Induction Ceremony are available through the LaSportsHall.com website or by calling 318-238-4255.

The Induction Celebration will be hosted by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, the support organization for the Hall of Fame. The LSHOF Foundation was established as a 501 c 3 non-profit entity in 1975 and is governed by a statewide board of directors. For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Foundation President/CEO Ronnie Rantz at 225-802-6040 or RonnieRantz@LaSportsHall.com. Standard and customized sponsorships are available.

 

 

---

Virginia “Ginny” Patterson Hensley was born in 1932 in Winchester, Virginia. Her father, Sam, was an alcoholic with a short temper. He was often without work. Her mother, Hilda, was, by all accounts, a feisty woman out of necessity. She was afraid of Sam at times, but she never let it show. Yelling matches between them were common. Ginny witnessed many arguments between her parents, and, like her mother, developed a feistiness out of necessity.

At four years old, Ginny surprised her family and friends when she won a street fair talent contest with a tap dance routine. Her prize was a new electric lamp. She had never taken dance lessons. No one knew exactly how or when Ginny learned to tap dance. They suspected she copied the moves from her idol, Shirley Temple. Confident in herself after the win, she proclaimed to her mother that she was going to become a dancer when she grew up. Her dreams were dashed when she realized there was no money for dance lessons.

When she was a little older, she joined her parents in the church choir. Singing in the choir was her escape from her miserable home life because her parents never fought in church. On her eighth birthday, Ginny received an old piano. Although piano lessons were too expensive for the family to afford, Ginny learned to play by ear. She told her mother that she was going to be a pianist when she grew up. As with dancing lessons, there was no money for piano lessons.

Finally, Ginny focused on singing because, as her mother noted, “It was the one thing she could do that wasn’t going to cost us.” Listening to the radio was free. Ginny sang nonstop. Family and friends recalled that Ginny sang while walking to and from school, while playing with other children, and pretty much any other time she was awake. They remember that, even as a young girl, she sang pretty good.

When Ginny was thirteen-year-old, she developed a terrible throat infection. Ginny’s throat infection progressed into rheumatic fever. The simple act of breathing became a struggle for Ginny. The lack of oxygen put a strain on her heart. At one point, her heart stopped beating. Doctors revived her and put her in an oxygen tent which forced oxygen into her lungs. Her heart began to beat normally again and her condition slowly improved. Doctors determined Ginny’s illness had left none of the long-term negative effects usually associated with rheumatic fever.

Following her serious illness, Ginny noticed a change in her voice. Before her illness, her voice was pretty but somewhat weak. After her recovery, Ginny’s voice was strong and booming. She compared her voice to that of “The First Lady of Radio,” Kate Smith, an American singer with a powerful voice whose signature tune was Irving Berlin’s patriotic song “God Bless America.”

When Ginny was 15 years old, she requested and was granted an audition for the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Ginny and her mother drove through the night and arrived in Nashville before daylight the next morning. With no money for a hotel room, they slept in their car until the time of the audition. Ginny, dressed in her best and flashiest cowgirl regalia, performed well at her audition. Representatives of the Grand Ole Opry were impressed but were afraid to hire such a young girl. They said they would be in touch. Ginny anxiously awaited a letter from the Grand Ole Opry that never came, well, not yet.

Undeterred, Ginny kept performing. In 1952, she joined Bill Peer’s Melody Boys and Girls. It was Peer who suggested the Ginny adopt a more professional sounding stage name. In 1953, Ginny met and married a man named Gerald. Although the marriage only lasted four years, Ginny performed under her married name for the remainder of her life. For her stage name, Ginny used a shortened version of her middle name along with her married name. Ginny only recorded three albums as a solo artist before her untimely death in an airplane crash. Ginny is considered one of the most influential vocalists of the twentieth century. Her three albums contained such hits as “Walking After Midnight,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Crazy,” and “She’s Got You.” You and I know Virginia Patterson Hensley as… Patsy Cline.

---

The goal is to raise $1200.00. That is what it costs for a full page ad in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame program. The reason is to show Jackson Parish native and 1978 Jonesboro-Hodge High School graduate, Doug Ireland, how proud his hometown and parish is of him for being selected as a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (LSHOF) Class of 2021.

RARE OCCASSION! It doesn’t happen often that a person that was raised in Jackson Parish is inducted into the LSHOF. Actually Ireland will be only the third since the first class was enshrined in 1959. The other two are Bob Hopkins and Dan McDonald. Glynn Saulters of Quitman is also a member but he was raised in Lisbon, LA. 

PLEASE ACT NOW! Already nearly half of the money has been raised but a little over $600.00 is still needed and it is needed now. Deadline to secure the full page ad is Thursday, August 19th. To donate simply call or email the Jackson Parish Journal with your pledge. The phone numbers to call is 318-480-1206 and the  Email address is: jpjjacksonla@gmail.com.

 

 

 

---

A good turnout was had at Jackson Parish Bowhunters Archery Club tournament held on August, 7th. Seven different classes shot for top prizes with the winners from each class shown below. 

Men’s 40-yard known
1st Earl Steele-score of 150
Men’s Bowhunters
1st Daniel Laffitte- score of 191
2nd Jared Morris- score of 139
3rd Keith McCaskill- score of 112
Women’s Bowhunter 30-yard max
1st Patricia Warner- score of 176
2nd Cortney Harvey- score of 134
3rd Teresa McCaskill-score of 120
Junior High 30-yard max
1st Easton Hall-score of 197
Youth 20-yard max
1st Landen Hatten- score of 153
2nd Jase Warner- score of 131
3rd Jaxon Harvey- score of 127
Juniors 6+ 15-yard max
1st Layden Hatten-score of 122
2nd Branden Laffitte-score of 43

The Jackson Parish Bowhunters Archery Club is thankful to all participants that shot. 

---