Beginning in July the membership dues at the Jackson Parish Golf Course will be going up. Fortunately, it is only a small $10.00 a month increase that was voted in by Jackson Parish Recreation Board members Ricky Cash, Brandon Lamkin, Rodney Potts and Sullivan Stevens at the regularly monthly meeting held on Monday, April 18th. Brent Barnett, Jeff Hairston and Chris Womack was not present. 

The cost of a one day and weekend rental of the Clubhouse and Banquet Room and the amount required for the refundable security deposit has risen as well. The new rates are in effect for any new rentals while those already registered will remain at the old prices.

New Rental Rates as of April 18th, 2022

1 Day Rental: $500.00
2 Day Rental: $750.00
Security Deposit: $250.00

The board also agreed to purchase three flag poles and additional playground equipment to be placed at the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Sports Complex located on Hwy 4 east of Jonesboro. It was also agreed to hire certified high school officials to call behind home plate at the youth league games and that they will be classified as independent contractors. The purchase an outdoor gazebo was also approved in order that the Golf Course will have an outdoor structure where gatherings can be had and pictures taken. 

JPRD Director Tommy Smith announced that summer league youth baseball and softball has begun play as of Monday, April 18th with 46 teams in all competing. This is comprised of 20 T-ball/Coach Pitch teams and 26 baseball/softball teams.

In regard to the Archery Program, Smith reported that a new target will be on the range soon and that each month throughout the spring and summer there will be tournament hosted by the Jackson Parish Bowhunters Association. 

The meeting began with Dusty Tolar stating that the netting on the batting cages at the Sports Complex needs to be repaired or replaced. He also requested the board look into the problems youth league teams are having scheduling practices due to lack of field availability because of the high schools playing on them. 

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Maybe springtime made me think of it. Could have been the smell of fresh cotton on Easter.

Or my neck just hurt.

But in an instant, it was boyhood again, and with it the hazy memory of a red streak on your sweaty little neck, a sign of a rite of passage, long gone now thanks to all the modern conveniences.

In sports, getting “clotheslined” means getting knocked down by a guy’s outstretched arm at neck level. Your neck is just running along minding its own business when suddenly an angry arm hits it and stops it; the bottom part of your non-neck body keeps going, but obviously not for long.

This happens often in TV wrestling. Standard move. It is the cousin of the “lariat,” which is the classic clothesline, only with the offending arm moving forward like a hatchet.

Crowd pleaser.

But in unrehearsed arenas, most often on the football field and daily ‘way back when’ on the school playground, the clothesline was Standard Operating Procedure. Everyone’s neck knew this going in and, if you were a victim, you held no hard feelings … at least not at once you’d caught your breath and felt your neck pipe would live to breathe again.

But the saying itself — clotheslined — would be lost on the youth of today. We knew exactly what it meant and why it fit perfectly. We knew because our moms had clotheslines.

They are rare as an honest soul these days, the clotheslines of our youth. We all have inside clothes dryers now. Even in the 1960s, some people had electric clothes dryers inside their actual homes. Awesome.

But the rest of us had dryers, too. They were just non-electric and hung in the backyard.

The most basic of rural clotheslines were a pair of cross pipes about 20 feet apart, maybe 30, and three or four rows of heavy twine or light wire connected the two. On those were clothes pins holding up various blouses and socks and jeans and underwear.

Very few secrets in rural life concerning haberdashery.

The ends of the cross pipes were hollow, so we’d stick 6-ounce Dr Pepper bottles in the ends to keep the wasps from homesteading. There was a step stool, in case little sis had to help “hurry and get in the wash” before a brewing rain.

You didn’t want the clothesline right in the middle of the backyard because that would mess up playing, but you couldn’t hem it in; the wind needed a fair shot to dry the clothes. Our backyard was big enough so that our clothesline was pushed to the back third. Sweet. It just made the run to the back door a little longer if you were hurrying in under a sprinkle with a quickly gathered load.

The only problem with clotheslines came if you were playing around one you weren’t familiar with. You were the visiting team in another kid’s yard. The lines were high enough so we wouldn’t run into them unless … unless you were on your bike. If you hit a clothesline, it was like being whipped off your bike by an invisible and unforgiving, very healthy and surprisingly strong string.

What the…?!

The days you saw a buddy get clotheslined while on his bike — the bike would keep going and your friend would half somersault in the air before landing on his back — those days were the jewels of childhood.

It was always funny — when it happened to somebody else.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

 

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The Quitman girls track team won their first meet of the year by taking the team title at the Choudrant Invitational while the boys came in third – just two measly points out of first. It was a total team effort that led to the fine showings as the Lady Wolverines scored in 15 events and the boys in 13. That included a combined total of 6 first place finishes, 3 seconds and 5 thirds. Eight times Quitman ended up in fourth in an event and seven times in fifth and sixth. 

Gold medal winners were Bethany Leach in the long jump, Ansley Folks in the pole vault and the 4×200 meter relay team. The 4×100 and 4×400 meter relay teams came in second and Llian Crawford (3200 Meters), Emma Carter (High Jump), Summer Grillette (Pole Vault), and Lajaesha Bailey (Shot Put).

On the boys side Bailey Keys (Shot Put), Bryan Lay (Pole Vault) and Gage Horton (1600 Meter) all won gold medals. Hunter Folks took second in the Pole Vault and Chance Chaplin grabbed third in the 3200 Meters to round out the podium placers. 

Weston High didn’t win an event but had three girls and two boys come in second. All three boys relay teams came in third as did Gage Albert (Javelin) and Nadia Siadek (Discus). Silver medal winners were Corroll Foshee (Pole Vault), Raelynn Shell (Javelin) and Nadia Siadek (Shot Put) for the girls. Darin Allen (Javelin) and Rylee McBride (Shot Put) took earned second place finishes for the boys. 

Both Quitman and Weston will compete for the District 2B championships on Wednesday, April 20th that will be held at Quitman High School. 

 

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PLAY BALL! Forty-six teams comprised of boys and girls from the ages of 3 thru 13 that make up eight separate leagues began summer league baseball and softball play this past Monday.

Games are slated to be played each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Sports Complex, located at 5254, Hwy 4, just east of Jonesboro. 

Game for boys and girls aged 3 – 4 (Wee Ball), 9 – 10 and 11-13 will be played on Mondays and Thursday’s, with games for Tee Ball (5 & 6) and Coach Pitch (7&8) Leagues played on Tuesday and Friday.

The 9-10 and 11-13 Boys leagues are sanctioned by Dixie Youth while the girls 9-10 and 11-13 leagues will play under Little League Organization rules. 

Schedule for games on Thursday and Friday. 

Thursday, April 21:

LEAGUE AGE	HOME	VISITOR	FIELD	TIME
3-4 Wee Ball	Jim Neatherland	Mitchells	T Ball 1	6:00pm
	Red Sox	Yankees	T Ball 2	6:00pm
	Maxwells	Grit & Grace	T Ball 1	7:00pm
	Tigers	Jonesboro State Bank	T Ball 2	7:00pm
9-10 Boys	Trainas	Ables Farms	Field 2	6:00pm
	Mercy Medical	HD Remodeling	Field 2	7:30pm
9-10 Girls	Pardue Builders	4T Exterior Cleaning	Field 3	6:00pm
	Leach Lawn Care	Bucket Boat	Field 3	7:30pm
11-13 Boys	VP Oil Change	Centric Fed Credit Union	Field 1	6:00pm
	Johnnys Pizza	Elite Roofing	Field 1	7:45pm
11-13 Girls	Barksdale Fed Credit Union	Southern Kustoms	Field 4	6:00pm
	Farm Bureau	Listle Real Estate	Field 4	7:45pm

Friday, April 22:

LEAGUE AGE	HOME	VISITORS	FIELD	TIME
5-6 Tee Ball	J&L Works	David Mauthe Trucking	T Ball 1	6:00pm
	Six Point	Astros	T Ball 1	7:00pm
7-8 Boys	Jackson Parish Hospital	Cubs	Field 1	6:00pm
	5A Pump & Hose	Jonesboro State Bank	Field 2	6:00pm
	Klassy Kleen	Uptown Tanning	Field 2	7:30pm
7-8 Girls	Ruffled Feathers	Family Pharmacy	Field 3	6:00pm
	Barksdale Fed Credit Union	Grit & Grace	Field 3	7:30pm

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Quitman High School paid tribute to the five seniors on the baseball team on April 16th with an on-field presentation. Being honored were Cam Hollis, Luke Morgan, John Tyler “Ty” Simonelli, Kaden West and Kyler West.

Despite having parts of two seasons cut short due to the Coronavirus Pandemic the group has won a district 2B championship, played in the Class B state semifinals and this year is currently the #1 ranked team in Class B. Perhaps even more impressive is that the fivemembers of this group have a conglomerate 3.96 grade point average.

A stirring video has been put together in recognition of these young men. To view click on the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/1356792137/videos/711829236639389/

The Jackson Parish Library Board met this past Monday in the McBride Room of the Jonesboro Branch where Director Floyd Knox introduced a “Resolution of Respect” that was drafted in the loving memory of Mrs. Carolyn Sue Crawley.

Mrs. Crawley, who passed away on March 4th, will be best remembered for the 35 years that she was a high school librarian and was a dedicated member of the Jackson Parish Library Board.

Resolution of Respect

in Loving Memory of 

Mrs. Carolyn Sue Crawley

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may
overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Whereas, Mrs. Carolyn Sue Crawley of Jackson Parish passed from this life on March 4, 2022, and

Whereas, Mrs. Carolyn Sue Crawley was appointed to the Jackson Parish Library Board in 1986.

Whereas, Mrs. Carolyn Sue Crawley was an enthusiastic supporter of the Jackson Parish Library, and

Whereas, Mrs. Carolyn Sue Crawley wilt be best remembered for the 35 years that she was a high school librarian, and

Whereas, Mrs. Carolyn Sue Crawley will be missed dearly by her family, friends, church family, and acquaintances, as all were touched by her kindness and generous spirit, and

Now therefor be it resolved, that we the Board members and Staff of Jackson Parish Library, do hereby wish to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Mrs. Carolyn Sue Crawley.

This Resolution issued this 18th day of April, 2022 By the Jackson Parish Library Board

In other action taken by board members Carol Massey, Paula Essmeier, Ann Standley, Lisa Nunn, Judy Cooper and Lewis Chatham, who were present, a change order was approved for structural improvements to the previous design at the Chatham Library. A proposal for E-Rate technology from Dempsey Business Solutions, budget adjustments in the amount of $17,500.00 and the decision to dispose of a media box was also approved. The approval of the proposal received from Kenneth Folden and Company for accounting services was tabled until additional information could be ascertained. 

Angela Walsworth closed the meeting by giving an update on the StoryWalk that is being constructed at the Chatham Branch Library and the plans for the grand opening. 

 

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Burl Jackson Brashear may be the fourth in line in regard to family name but he is first when it comes to Louisiana Tech pole vaulters. This was confirmed in Tech’s initial outdoor track and field meet of the year when the freshman won the Jim Mize Invitational in his first collegiate competition.  While Brashear lives in Ruston and graduated from Ruston High School if you are from Jackson Parish, in particularly Jonesboro, Hodge or Quitman, then you probably recognize the name. 

Jackson, as he goes by, is the son of Tre and Deidra (Mathews) Brashear, who was raised in Jonesboro and Quitman respectively. His paternal grandparents are Burl and Alma Brashear of Jonesboro. Maternal grandparents are Butch and the late, Linda Mathews of Quitman. 

While the victory is a good story in itself, the simple fact that the fourth generation of the namesake even competes on the collegiate level is better. As a junior in high school, Brashear suffered a devastating fracture to the shin of his plant leg, or if you are not familiar with the sport, the leg that you jump off of when you place the pole in the pit. The initial prognosis was dire, with the thought that his career was over before it really had a chance to begin. After several surgeries and intense rehabilitation Brashear defied all odds by not only competing in the pole vault again his senior year but winning the district 2-5A championship. Now he is a collegiate champion. 

Brashear won the competition by vaulting 12′ 11.5″ in his final attempt to take the event by six full inches over the second place finisher, Adrian Holland, also from Louisiana Tech. Brashear will compete next in the ULM Invitational in Monroe this Saturday, April 23rd. 

 

 

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The star of her high school team may become a member of the Stars in college. Saline High School standout guard, Georgia Robinson, has received an offer to play basketball for the South Arkansas Community College Stars, located in El Dorado, AR. The first team 2B All-District member and winner of the Northwest Louisiana 3-point shooting championship visited the campus on Saturday.

Robinson is the daughter of Danville residents, Klint and Autumn Robinson, who both coach at Saline High School, with Klint over the boys basketball team and Autumn, the girls track team.

South Arkansas Community College is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II.

TO CONTINUE SERVING YOUTH AT JONESBORO UNIT

The Boys & Girls Club of North Louisiana in partnership with Jackson Parish School Board intend to submit an application to the Louisiana Department of Education for a 21st CCLC grant. The grant will support an academic-focused after school program for students at Jonesboro-Hodge Elementary and Middle Schools.

Our Jonesboro unit continues to benefit from the 21st Century Grant awarded in 2019 by bringing growth and prosperity to the Jackson Parish area through our high-quality, afterschool program. With help from the community, Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana
was able to provide more services to more students in the area. The grant allowed us to hire certified teachers that will teach on subjects like science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Because the students received help outside of school hours, their Math and
Language Arts grades improved, their homework completion and class participation increased, and their behavior became more positive.

The 21st Century Grants are the only federal funding source dedicated to providing after school and summer learning opportunities for children and youth. Those who get this grant are generally school districts, very few are organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana. With the opportunities now available, the Club’s biggest goal is to help the kids in the Jonesboro schools who need it most.

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The Jackson Parish Museum and Fine Arts Association will be receiving a visit from a group from the state of Minnesota on Wednesday, April 20th. The visit, which is part of a multiple day tour of the state of Louisiana, was coordinated by the Jackson Parish Tourism Board upon receiving a request from the tour director to be able to learn more about Louisiana’s “Singing Governor” Jimmie Davis. Upon their arrival which is expected to be around 2:30pm the visitors will get a tour of the museum and have questions answered by JPM board members. Gift bags that contain interesting items will be given to each visitor as well.

After a couple of weeks of trying the Jackson Parish Golf Course finally got to hold their first Tuesday Scramble of the year. Winners were the five-man team of Hunter Wells, Matt Jordan, Mason Scotch, Sam Lolley and Len Williams who shot 10 under par over the 0-hole course. 

The way a scramble tournament is played is each team member hits a tee shot. From there the team picks out what ball they want to play among all the shots made and then all hit again from the position of the ball they chose. This continues until the best shot that is on the green is selected and all members put from that spot. 

Each Tuesday a scramble tournament will be played. To register in advance call the Clubhouse at (318) -259-7247 or sign up 30 minutes prior to tee time on Tuesday.

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Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School was represented well at Amy’s Gymnastics Annual Recital on Saturday, April 16 at the Ruston Sports Complex. Gymnastics is a sport that includes physical exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, dedication, and endurance. Each young lady photographed, Jaidon Venzant (8th Grade), Sanaa’ Tatum (7th Grade), Jayda Anderson (7th Grade) and Ja’Khorielle Lard (6th Grade), displayed advanced skills performing not once, but three times!!! J-HMS is so very proud of you all!

J-HMS Spring Social

ON Friday, April 22nd, the Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School will host their Spring Social from 12:00 – 3:00pm in the courtyard. Entertainment will be provided by special guest and JHMS alumni Godjrocko. Crawfish plates, that inlcude potatoes, corn and a drink will be available for $15.00 while burgerr and hot dog meals are $5.00.

Tickets must be purchased in advance

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Paul was born in Quincy, Illinois in 1915. Five years later, Paul and his family moved to Davenport, Iowa, where Paul’s father became a candy wholesaler. In 1924, Paul and his family moved to Hialeah, Florida, a principal city of the Miami metropolitan area. By this time, Paul’s father was a partner in the Tibbets & Smith wholesale candy company. Paul’s father’s work as a candy wholesaler put Paul in a situation which changed the trajectory of his and countless others’ lives.
Doug Davis was an aviation enthusiast. In 1917, when Doug was eighteen-years-old, the United States entered World War I. Doug quit school and enlisted in the United States Air Service, forerunner of the Air Force. Doug excelled as a pilot and graduated at the top of his class. His talents were such that, rather than sending him into combat, the Air Service determined that Doug’s talents would be better utilized as a flight instructor, a job he excelled at for two years. In 1919, Doug was discharged from the Air Service, but was determined to keep flying. He purchased a surplus Curtiss JN “Jenny” trainer biplane from the government and formed the Doug Davis Flying Circus.

Flying Circuses were a popular form of entertainment following World War I. In flying circuses, daredevil pilots called barnstormers performed dangerous airplane stunts which seemed to defy the laws of physics. Some of these death-defying stunts included spins, dives, loop-the-loops, barrel rolls, wing walking, stunt parachuting, target shooting, dancing on the plane’s wings during flight, midair plane transfers, and even playing tennis.

In 1924, Otto Schnering, owner of the Curtiss Candy Company, was looking for an innovative way to advertise his company’s new candy bar called Baby Ruth. After witnessing the large crowds that gathered for the stunt shows, Otto decided to sponsor a flying circus. He convinced Doug to merge the Doug Davis Flying Circus with another flying circus and formed the Baby Ruth Flying Circus.

As part of their flying circus show, Doug would select a spectator seemingly at random from the crowd to join him in a flight to perform a special task. In reality, the spectators were preselected and were somehow connected with the Curtiss Candy Company. In 1927, the Baby Ruth Flying Circus was scheduled to perform at the Hialeah Park Race Track, a dog racing and horse racing track near Paul’s home. As the son of Curtiss Candy Company’s main wholesaler for the area, Paul was chosen to fly with Doug. Before the show, Doug explained the task that Paul would perform. Paul was excited but nervous because it was his first flight in an airplane. Doug and Paul took off from the racetrack and flew a large sweeping turn over the racetrack. As they flew over the crowd, Paul began throwing Baby Ruth candy bars from the biplane as he had been instructed. Each candy bar was attached to a small parachute which enabled them to coast safely down to the cheering crowds. Paul said later, “From that day on, I knew I had to fly.”

Paul wanted to become a pilot but Paul’s father wanted him to become a doctor. In 1933, Paul graduated from Western Military Academy. Paul went to the University of Florida to work on his undergraduate degree. While there, with the encouragement of his mother, Paul took flying lessons. To satisfy his father’s wishes, he began his pre-med studies at the University of Cincinnati, but, after a year-and-a-half, Paul decided against becoming a medical doctor. Instead, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps to become a pilot.

Paul had a distinguished military career. In 1938, Paul was commissioned as a second lieutenant and received his pilot rating. In 1940 and 1941, Paul served as Brigadier General George S. Patton’s personal pilot. When the United States entered World War II, Paul was the commanding officer of a bombardment squadron of B-17s. He captained numerous bomber aircraft during his military career, rose through the ranks, and retired in 1966 as a Brigadier General. Paul is remembered for a single bombing mission he flew in the final year of World War II. On August 5, 1945, eighteen years after Paul dropped Baby Ruth candy bars from an airplane, Paul Tibbets flew the Enola Gay, a bomber named after his mother, that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

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Baton Rouge, La. — The Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) provided $2.3 billion in retirement income in Fiscal Year 2021, with north Louisiana retirees and beneficiaries taking home $422 million. Of that, the 313 members from Jackson Parish received $8,226,947.00.

Almost 90% of the retirement dollars TRSL pays out goes to individuals who live in Louisiana, where they buy local goods and services. The average monthly benefit for a regular retiree of TRSL is $2,282.00.

“As the largest public retirement system in Louisiana, we are proud of the positive impact we have on the state’s economy,” said Katherine Whitney, director of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana. “TRSL’s benefit payments give more than 81,600 retirees and beneficiaries the buying power to support their communities. Their years of hard work are rewarded with a stable retirement income that allows them to invest in the local economy. Whether they’re buying groceries at the supermarket or picking up plants at the nursery, they are a powerful part of Louisiana’s economic engine.”

For more information you can visit the TSRL website at trsl.org

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Lawrence Tatum (Jonesboro, LA) – Criminal Trespass
Jequilan Thompson (Jonesboro, LA) – Warrant on Attempted Second Degree Murder charge
Amanda H. Walsworth (Jonesboro, LA) – Bench Warrant on Speeding charge, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving under Suspension
Robert Harmon (Chatham, LA) – Probation Violation
Ethan Howard (Quitman, LA) – Battery of a dating partner, Home invasion, Sexual Battery in presence of a minor, Tracking devices prohibited, Stalking
Dakota Carter (Jonesboro, LA) – 2nd offense DWI, Headlight out
Whitley Leonard (Jonesboro, LA) – Driving under suspension, Speeding
Michael Pixley (Jonesboro, LA) – Theft
William C. Roach (Jonesboro, LA) – Aggravated 2nd degree battery
Michael Bland (North Hodge, LA) – Admin Sanction
R.J. Nash (Jonesboro, LA) – Bench Warrant
Kelsi Moss (Jonesboro, LA) – Execution of Sentence
Randall Lewis (Houston, TX) – Possession of a stolen firearm
Joseph Howard (Quitman, LA) – DWI first offense, DUI, Improper Lane usage
Stacy O Washington (Ruston, LA) – Simple Battery, Battery of Infirm, Hit & Run, Driving under Suspension, No Drivers License

Gladys Maxey
July 12, 1933 – April 16, 2022

Gladys Lyle (Childres) Maxey, age 88 of Jonesboro, met her Lord and Savior on Saturday, April 16, 2022. She was born and raised in Alabama before moving to Louisiana. Gladys married her beloved husband, Harold on May 29, 1955 and together they were blessed with two sons. When she began working she was a kindergarten teacher for First Baptist Church and eventually she moved onto working as a sales associate at Walmart in Jonesboro, in which she retired from. She enjoyed hobbies such as making ceramic figurines and crocheting and was a pet lover.

Those she has left behind to cherish her memory include her sons, H. Craig Maxey, Reggie M. Maxey and wife Michele; grandsons, Andy Maxey, Mark Maxey, Nicholas Maxey; great grandson, Colton Maxey; sister, Mae Ellen Holley, brother, Houston Howard Childres; a host of other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Harold Lagreer Maxey; parents, Horace Greely and Pearly Mae (Singleton) Childres.

Friends may visit on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 in the chapel of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home from 11:00AM until time of services. A memorial service is set to begin at noon with Rev. Brian McAllister officiating.

James William Ray
April 12, 1935 – April 16, 2022

James William Ray, age 87 of Jonesboro, went to his Heavenly home on Saturday, April 16, 2022. James retired from the papermill in Hodge. In his younger days he enjoyed spending time hunting and fishing in his free time. He has been a faithful member of Walnut Ridge Baptist Church since 1952 and was honored to serve them as a Deacon.

His brother, Robert D. Ray is left to cherish his memory. He is preceded in death by his parents, William Theo and Gladys Eunice (Jones) Ray; sister, Martha Ann Ray.

Friends may visit on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at Walnut Ridge Baptist Church at 11:00AM until time of service. Funeral services are set to begin at 1:00PM with Rev. Bobby White officiating. Burial will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.

Peggy (Freeman) Kelly
November 7, 1947 – April 17, 2022

Peggy Lee (Freeman) Kelley, age 74 of Jonesboro, made her way through Heaven’s gates on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022. Peggy is a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, cousin and friend to many. She was a life member of the VFW Ladies Auxillary- Jonesboro #4317. She enjoyed using her creativity in many ways, but creating oil paintings and water color painting was her favorite way to express herself. She also had fun spending time doing her puzzles, especially word puzzles. Those that knew her best know that she adored three things in this world which is her family, beautiful yellow roses and her beloved canary, she was her feathered Baby Lee.

Those left to cherish her memory is her sons, Dudley Weeks and wife, Ester, Sherman Freeman; grandchildren, Aubrie Whittaker, Tyler Whittaker, Asher Weeks, Kasen Weeks; great grandchild, Kamden Thrift; siblings, Linda Williams and husband, Paul, Annette Garrett and husband, Mike, Patricia McElligott, Stanley F. Freeman and wife, Paula, her feathered baby, Baby Lee; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by two husbands; parents, Armo Guy and Essie Mae (Fowler) Freeman.

Friends may visit with the family in the parlor of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home on Thursday, April 21, 2022 from 5:00-8:00PM. Friends may visit again on Friday, April 22, 2022 in the chapel of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home from 10:00AM until time of funeral service. Her funeral service is set to begin at 1:00PM in the chapel. Burial will follow in Ebenezer Baptist Cemetery under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.

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A Public Hearing will be held by the Jackson Parish Police Jury so comments can be voiced about the recommendations to have the disposition of 15 roads in the parish road system changed. The hearing will take place at 5:15pm on Tuesday, April 19^th at the Charles H. Garrett Community Center, located at 182 Industrial Drive in Jonesboro. Following the hearing the JPPJ will meet for their regularly scheduled monthly session.

Below is a listing of the roads and recommended action.

1. Aberdon Road: remove from the parish road system
2. Annie Tatum: remove from the parish road system
3. Bolds Road: remove from the parish road system
4. Bryant Road: adjust the parish maintenance end point to stop at 183 Bryant Road mailbox
5. Buddy Gibson Road: remove from the parish road system – property owners changed the surface type
6. Canard Road: adjust the maintenance end point
7. C. Osborn Road: remove from the parish road system
8. Flat Creek Road: adjust the maintenance points and remove the middle portion
9. Flowers Road: remove from the parish road system
10. Henderson Road: remove from the parish road system
11. Jackson McCarty Road: remove from the parish road system
12. McKeever Road: remove from the parish road system (public hearing held 1/19/2021)
13. Poverty Lane: adjust the maintenance end point
14. Quail Ridge Road: adjust the maintenance end point
15. Viola Road: remove from the parish road system

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance, please
contact Brad Roller at (318) 259-5691 describing the assistance that is necessary.

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The final week of the LHSAA prep baseball season is filled incredible intrigue after the past week saw a couple of statements made and the birth of a question. Starting the week is the Monday matchup between Quitman and Weston that just a week ago was thought would determine the district 2B winner. The two will play again on Wednesday. 

Both games play tremendously important roles in determining not only the district 2B champion but also has effect on the state playoff seedings as Quitman enters the final week of play still ranked #1 while Weston sits at #3 in Class B. In between the two is Choudrant, who has a leg up on the 2B crown having already played both Quitman and Weston and sporting a 3-1 district record. Simsboro is in position to play spoiler as the Tigers have two games each against Quitman and Choudrant still to play

In other games to be played, on Monday Saline will travel to Doyline for a district 1B title deciding game. Currently the Bobcats sit a game back but after a late season surge that has seen them win 8 of their last 9 games, the Bobcats can forge a tie for the title with a victory. At JHHS a contest against Downsville will close out the year as the Tigers seemed destined to miss out on making the Class AA playoffs. 

In regard to the statements and questions when Choudrant “mercy ruled” Weston by an 11-0 score after thumping the Wolves 9-0 the game before the Aggies made it known that once again the road to the district 2B championship goes through Choudrant. They also let it be known that they are primed to defend their Class B championship.

Quitman also made a major statement that they are deserving of the #1 ranking they ascended to last week. At the time the Wolverines were an anomaly as they had a losing record but after victories against #8 Glenmora, #10 Holden and #22 Stanley they are now back over .500 mark and winners of four in a row for the first time all season.

The back-to-back beatings along with a loss to #4 Converse leads to the question of just how strong a team Weston is? Virtually all season long the Wolves have been ranked #1 in Class B after applying their own plethora of whippings, many against schools from higher classifications. A closer look at the schedule though reveals that of the 15 victories achieved, only three were against schools that had a winning record and two of those were against district foe Simsboro. In games against teams with a .500 or winning record the Wolves are 1-9 that includes a current four game losing streak.

Records, district standings, state rankings and upcoming schedule for area schools

District 1-2A Baseball

TEAM	RANK	OVERALL	DISTRICT
Lakeside (Champion)	#13	20-8	9-0
D’Arbonne Woods	#24	11-17	6-3
North Caddo	#29	11-14	3-6
Jonesboro-Hodge	#37	3-16	0-9

District 2B Baseball

TEAM	RANK	OVERALL	DISTRICT
Choudrant	#2	21-7	3-1
Quitman	#1	12-11	1-1
Weston	#3	15-9	2-2
Simsboro	#13	14-9	0-2

District 1B Baseball

TEAM	RANK	OVERALL	DISTRICT
Doyline	#11	11-10	5-0
Saline	#16	12-5	4-1
Castor	#23	3-13	2-4
Dodson	#27	4-12	0-6

Schedule of games for week of April 19 – 23

Tuesday, April 19
Saline at Doyline, Quitman at Weston, JHHS at Downsville

Thursday, April 21
Weston at Quitman

Friday, April 22
Saline vs Ebarb, Saline vs North Webster

Saturday, April 23
Weston vs Grace Christian at Field of Dreams in Iowa, Saline at Natchitoches Central, Quitman at Simsboro (2 games)

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Quitman High got to take the first round of the LHSAA Class B state softball tournament off, while Weston and Saline will hit the road for their opening round games. Jonesboro-Hodge will not even get a chance to compete as they did not qualify for the Class AA tournament. 

By virtue of their #5 ranking the District 2B champion will host the winner of #12 Monterey and #21 Pitkin. No date has been set yet for the contest. Weston, who received a #22 seeding will travel to #11 Zwolle for a 6:00 pm game on Tuesday while Saline plays at Negreet at 4:00 pm on the same day. 

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The Jackson Parish Police Jury will meet at 5:50pm on April 19th at the Charles H. Garrett Community Center, located at 182 Industrial Drive in Jonesboro,

AGENDA OF JACKSON PARISH POLICE JURY MEETING

Call to Order
Invocation & Pledge of Allegiance
Public Comments
Adopt the minutes of the March 15, 2022 Jury Meeting, monthly purchase orders, and the
payment of all bills
Adopt the minutes of the March 29, 2022 Road Committee meeting
Adopt the minutes of the March 31, 2022 Project Committee meeting
Consider and act on the recommendation of the Project Committee to proceed with Phase I of the Courthouse office relocations.
Adopt the minutes of the April 7, 2022 Finance Committee meeting
Consider and act on the recommendation of the Finance Committee on replacing the
gutters at the Jury Administrative Building.
Consider and act on the recommendation from the Finance Committee on formally
withdrawing from DR 1603-254, the Hospital Drainage Project.
OEP Director Report – Mr. Brad Roller
Operations Manager Report – Mr. Brad Roller
Road Superintendent Report – Mr. Jody Stuckey
a. Accept the Emergency/Off-Schedule Report
Solid Waste Superintendent Report – Mr. Robin Sessions
Engineering Report – Mr. Paul Riley, The Riley Co. of Louisiana
Consider and act on authorizing the Parish Engineer to advertise for bids for the 2022 Road Program
Consider and act on the following road recommendations:
a. Aberdon Road: removal from parish road system
b. Annie Tatum: removal from parish road system
c. Bolds Road: removal from parish road system
d. Bryant Road: adjust the parish maintenance end point to stop at 183 Bryant Road
e. Buddy Gibson Road: removal from parish road system – property owners changed the
surface type
f. Canard Road: adjust the maintenance end point
g. C. Osborn Road: removal from parish road system
h. Flat Creek Road: adjust the maintenance points and remove the middle portion
i. Flowers Road: removal from parish road system
j. Henderson Road: removal from parish road system
k. Jackson McCarty Road: removal from parish road system
l. McKeever Road: removal from parish road system
m. Poverty Lane: adjust the maintenance end point
n. Quail Ridge Road: adjust the maintenance end point
o. Viola Road: removal from parish road system
Consider and act on bids to prepare, paint, and seal the Community Center (Note all bids have been verified).
Consider and act on proposals for employee health benefits
Consider and act on Parish Board Appointments
Announcements & Notifications
Juror Comments
Adjourn

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance, please
contact Brad Roller at (318) 259-5691 describing the assistance that is necessary.

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Chatham Town Council members Marvin Davis, Toni Malone, Laverne Mixon, Sue Proffer and Mike Wilson, along with Mayor Gregory Harris held their regularly scheduled monthly meeting this past Tuesday, April 12th.

During the session several Resolutions were adopted that would allow for the application of loans and grants that would improve the Public Works and Utilities Departments. Two Mobile Home Permits were all approved contingent on all requirements being met before utilities will be turned on.

Resolutions adopted:

1. Resolution 2022-03: Apply for a loan through the Community Facilities Grant Funding to purchase an excavator and trailer.
2. Resolution 2022-04: Apply for loan with the Community Facilities Grant Funding to purchase a diesel single axle water jetter.
3. Resolution 2022-05: Re-appropriate fund from Chatham Medical Clinic account to Surplus Fund and change the name on the account to Water Sector Program Grand New Hope Consolidation.
4. Resolution 2022-06: Apply for the 2021-2022 LGAP grant to be used to purchase water meters and supplies.

For a copy of the entire meeting minutes go to Public Notice section. 

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Cloudy skies with sporadic sprinkling of rain was predominant but it couldn’t stop hundreds of area residents and visitors from enjoying the Sunshine Festival that was held in Jonesboro this past Saturday. Highlighting the day long activities was the 24th annual Jackson Parish Classic & Antique Car Club Show, a children’s parade down Main Street and a free concert by Brian Sivils. Patrons also enjoyed browsing open-air booths of many local businesses, organizations and vendors, as well as getting the opportunity to meet author and former Hodge resident Joel Crowson, who was introducing his first novel.  

Dozens of classic and antique cars and trucks at least 25 years old were on display at the car show held on the grounds of Jay Mallard Ford. First thru third place trophies were presented in 16 classes: Antique Cars; Antique Trucks; 1955, 1956, & 1957 Chevy’s; Mustangs, Sport Car; Muscle Car; Street Cruiser; Street Rod; Open Modified; and Late Model. There were also trophies given for Best of Show, oldest automobile, automobile that traveled the greatest distance and to the visiting club with the most cars entered. 

Photos of the 2022 Sunshine Festival

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After suffering extensive damage to their site in the Hodge Shopping Center on Hwy 167 from the tornado that ripped through Hodge a few weeks back, Mercy Medical Health Center and Pediatric Care will reopen on Monday, April 18th in their temporary location at 244 Bond Street in Jonesboro.

In regard to other divisions, Mercy Medicine Pharmacy is still a week or so from opening and Mercy Medical Quick Care is still located at 123 West Central in Hodge

The hours of operation at the Bond street location will be the same as before which is as follows:
7:00am – 4:00pm (Monday – Thursday)
7:00am – 12:00pm (Friday)

The Mercy Medical family extended their appreciation and gratitude through the following statement that was posted on their Facebook page. 

“We would also like to extend our gratitude to our wonderful community, outstanding staff and anyone that has contributed in any way to help us during this time! We could not have done this without everyone’s help! We appreciate our patients for their patience and understanding. We definitely never expected to go through anything like this, but we have most definitely came back MERCY STRONG! Last but certainly not least, we thank God for keeping us safe during the storm and there were no injuries!”

 

 

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