The faculty, staff and students at Quitman High School thank the Jonesboro State Bank and their Pledge 10 Grant program for the gifts of CPR and Stop the Bleed Equipment. To show their gratitude and appreciation QHS provided the picture shown in the banner above.
Registration for the first annual Tucker Wallis & Lizzie Gray Co-Ed Softball Tournament is now underway. The tournament is slated to be played on April 23rd at the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Sport Complex. Proceeds of the tournament go to the Wallis and Gray family. Deadline to register is April 9th.
Cost per team is $200.00 with $10.00 individual home run bands or $50.00 for the entire team available. The tournament winner will get their entry fee back. The Co-Ed teams must be comprised of either 6 men and 4 women or 7 men and 3 women. Three home runs will be allowed per team each game with any home runs after being outs. Time limit for each game will be 50 minutes. Additional tournament rules are that the men must play with Classic M or Pro M balls with no frozen, senior balls or ultra bats allowed.
To register or for questions contact either:
Sandi Lowe @ 318-533-0283
Jeanie Wallis @ 318-243-8641
On Friday afternoon, March 30, 1984, 55-year-old Dobbs Ferry Police Department Chief of Detectives Sgt. Robert Cunningham stopped into his favorite pizzeria, Sal’s Pizzeria on Neperhan Avenue in Yonkers, New York. He had been a regular customer for seven or eight years. Robert took a seat and began filling out a lottery ticket he had purchased early that day. As he thought about the numbers to choose, 48-year-old waitress Phyllis Penzo walked to his table and asked to take his order. Normally, this would have been the extent of Phyllis’s conversation with a customer.
Robert placed his order and he and Phyllis chatted briefly about the lottery ticket. Most of us have had the passing thought about what we would do if we won the lottery, and Robert and Phyllis were no different. Entertained by their conversation, Robert playfully asked Phyllis if she would like to pick three of the six lottery numbers. They quickly decided that the numbers should be 7-9-21-28-29-43. Phyllis picked numbers that had personal meaning to her. 7 and 29 were the month and day of her daughter’s wedding anniversary, and 9 was for the month that her granddaughter was born. Robert picked the remaining numbers, 21-28-43, off the top of his head.
Before paying for his meal and leaving a tip, Robert gave Phyllis a choice. Robert, who considered himself “an average tipper,” said she could have a “chintzy tip or go half on the card.” Phyllis was used to the customary 15 percent tip, but if they won, she would receive 50 percent of the winnings. Although Robert and Phyllis knew the odds of winning were against them—3,529,562 to 1 to be exact—Phyllis decided to forgo the tip. She said “I just wanted to take a chance.” Robert paid his bill, left no tip, and exited the pizzeria.
On the following day, the numbers were selected. Robert held out little hope of winning. When he finally got around to checking the winning numbers, he took out the card showing which numbers he and Phyllis had selected. He compared the numbers on the card to those reported in the news. The first number was 7. Robert looked on the card and their first number was 7. The second number was 9. Their second number was also 9. His heart beat faster with every number he compared. 21-21, 28-28. His heart beat even quicker. 29-29, and finally, the last number was 43. Robert and Phyllis’s last number was also 43. In stunned silence, Robert checked the numbers again and again. His mouth dropped. In disbelief, Robert had his wife, Gina, compare the numbers to see if he had made a mistake. There was no mistake, the numbers matched exactly.
Robert, who by his own confession was “really uptight,” spent the remainder of Saturday, all day Sunday, and Monday morning “shaking like a leaf.” He had to wait until Monday for the New York Lottery to certify him as the winner and to certify that no one else selected the winning numbers. If other parties had selected the winning numbers, the winnings would be split. Robert waited impatiently. He had taken the morning off to visit the lottery office. Finally, a lottery spokesman congratulated Robert. He was the sole winner of the New York Lotto.
All weekend Robert had thought about his agreement with Phyllis, the waitress. Technically, Robert had no legal obligation to share the jackpot with anyone. He could have easily kept the winnings for himself. In the end, with the support of his wife, Robert split the jackpot with Phyllis. The jackpot was paid out in 21 installments over 20 years. It was the third largest jackpot in the history of New York’s lottery at the time, and is considered to be the largest tip paid to a waiter or waitress in history. Phyllis sacrificed her usual tip, which would have been a couple of dollars, for fifty percent of $6 million.
POSITION: PRINCIPAL
LOCATION: L. P. Vaughn Elementary School
SALARY: According to the parish school salary schedule.
QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must be certified or eligible at the time of the application according to Louisiana State Department of Education requirements and must have 5 years of teaching experience.
DEADLINE: Friday, April 8, 2022; 4:00 p.m.
APPLICATIONS: Application packet should consist of a letter of application, resume’, official transcripts from institutions awarding degrees, a copy of Louisiana Teacher’s Certificate with principal/education leadership endorsement, three (3) letters of reference, (one being from your immediate supervisor).
WHERE TO APPLY: Linda G. Page, Director of Personnel
Natchitoches Parish School Board
310 Royal Street, P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
Phone: (318) 352-2358
Website: npsb.la
This week is Patient Access Week! This week is celebrated annually during the week of April 3rd through the 9th with a purpose of raising awareness and to celebrate Patient Access contributions.
Established in 1982, Patient Access Week is a celebration of the people in the Patient Access profession. The date marks the anniversary of the founding of the National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM), the only national professional organization dedicated to promoting excellence within the field. Each year, the celebrations span the entire week surrounding the anniversary, April 5.
On behalf of the Jackson Parish Hospital, we appreciate and thank all of our patient access professionals for their continued hard work, dedication, and passion for providing excellent patient care!
The Jackson/Winn Master Gardeners present a seminar on Container Gardening this Saturday, April 9th. The event will take place at the Winn Farmer’s Market from 9:00 – 10:30 am. Topics to be covered include Soil Preparation, Weed Control, Irrigation, Chemicals Needed and Plant Selection. Door prizes and kid’s activities will also be featured.
Editor’s Note: Jackson Parish suffered a hard blow this past Wednesday through the devastation caused by a tornado that ripped through the town of Hodge and caused widespread damage across the parish.
(Submitted by: Ben Ledbetter – Jackson Parish Journal) Early 1900’s American author, James Lane Allen, coined the phrase Adversity does not build character, it reveals it. To learn the true meaning of the proverb you must first look at the word character. According to Websters dictionary the character of a person is the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. Next is the definition of adversity which is referred to as difficulties or misfortune.
In summary, the meaning of Allen’s iconic phrase is that misfortune does not build the mental or moral qualities of a person but shows the world what kind of person he or she is.
Another famous quote by Allen, along the same lines, is Circumstances don’t determine a man, they reveal him.
This past Wednesday afternoon, adversity fell upon the residents of Jackson Parish in the form of a severe thunderstorm. Spawning from the powerful weather phenomenon was what has been classified as a F1 tornado. The aftermath revealed severe damage to the shopping center in Hodge, downed trees, snapped power line poles, damage to homes, crushed vehicles and even a flipped over 18-wheeler.
Fortunately, there were no injuries reported. There was something additional that resulted as well. A loosely kept secret was revealed. A secret about the people of Jackson Parish. Something local residents know and after the coverage by area news sources and social media sites, now the rest of north Louisiana knows as well.
Borrowing from the two phrases above, the circumstances faced on Wednesday revealed the character of the people of Jackson Parish.
Immediately after the storm passed, members of virtually every household could be seen checking on their neighbor. Many took to the highways and byways to help remove limbs out of the road or simply pick up debris. If there was a downed tree, there were neighbors with chain saws.
The social media sites like Facebook and Twitter exploded with shout-outs to their neighbors, friends, family members or just those in the same subdivision to make sure they were all right. Offers to give assistance were just as common.
When it was learned that the Mercy Medical Health Center (MMHC) and the Dollar General Store in Hodge had the roof blown away and water was pouring in, dozens of individuals came to the rescue to help move equipment and clean up.
Kim Brunson of Mercy Medical couldn’t have put it better about the “People from the Piney Woods” than what she wrote in a grateful Facebook post.
“Today was such an eventful day! I thank God for His hand of protection over us today. I also have to say I am truly thankful to the Mercy Medical staff who worked with community volunteers, sheriff, numerous mill employees, patients, friends, family, police, EMS, fire fighters, sheriff’s office staff, hospital employees and first responders who helped move our facility IN THE RAIN! I am truly grateful to live in this community!
Another example of the mental and moral qualities folks from Jackson Parish have was exhibited by one of the younger residents, as explained by her teacher, Jordyn Wallis.
“One of my sweet babies raised her hand while we were in the hall with all of first grade and kindergarten and said Ms. Jordyn, I just want to pray right now. That sweet girl prayed and all of the kids clapped after. I was so proud of her. There were definitely a few tears shed at how sweet it was.”
This was a 1st grader! Obviously from the home of parents who taught her the importance of turning to God in times of trouble.
That is mental and moral quality! That is exhibiting character!
Adversity does not build character, it reveals it!
Wednesday’s troubles revealed what kind of people live in Jackson Parish and their response to the adversity deserves admiration.
I too, am very grateful to live in this community!
A pair of standout local post players, Cali Deal of Quitman and Ethan Roberts from Saline were named to the Class B All-State basketball team, as voted by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. (LSWA)
Only a Freshman, Deal burst onto the prep scene in such dominating fashion that by season’s end she was one of the premier girls post player in north Louisiana. Her late season achievements basically changed Quitman from a perimeter scoring team to a well-rounded district champion that won 24 games on the season.
What makes her designation even more impressive is that basketball isn’t even considered her best sport after the lanky lefty earned first team Class B All-State honors as a pitcher as an 8th grader last year.
Roberts, a burly 6’3” senior, earned second team honors after averaging 18 points a game and leading Saline to the Class B quarterfinals. According to Saline head coach Klint Robinson the award was well deserved.
“Ethan is very deserving of this recognition. It’s not often at our level that kids are developed enough to start as freshmen, but he was. He is the guy every opposing team prepared for and his best games were usually against the bigger & better teams,” reflected Robinson. “I am very proud to have been able to have a front row seat to watch him during his basketball career. He will be successful in life as well because of his character. Not only has he been a great performer on the court, he is a great guy off it.”
After leading Simsboro to their fourth, Class B title in five years, Jordan Crawford was named boys MVP with Rylee Cloud who paced Fairview to their third straight girls championship being the girls MVP. Class B state title. Kaci West of Oak Hill and Lacassine’s Micah Rasberry netted Coach of the Year honors.
Jordan Crawford, Simsboro, 6-2, Sr., 16.0
Kenneth Montgomery, Zwolle, 6-0, Jr., 19.0
Dustin Welch, Anacoco, 6-3, So., 20.0
Nick Maryland, Simsboro, 6-3, Sr., 16.0
Aaron Garcia, Lacassine, 6-0, Jr., 20.0
Outstanding Player: Jordan Crawford, Simsboro
Coach of the Year: Micah Rasberry, Lacassine
Second team
Jamaria Clark, Doyline, 6-2, Jr., 31.0
Chilaydren Newton, Simsboro, 6-4, Jr., 18.0
Bret Jinks, Fairview, 5-8, Jr., 17.0
Chris Williams, Choudrant, 6-2, Sr., 20.0
Ethan Roberts, Saline, 6-3, Sr., 18.0
Honorable mention: Brylon Tyler, J.S. Clark; Jamaria Markray, Doyline; Jake Forbes, Holden; Steve Seamons, Forest; Gage Remedies, Florien; Tyren Thomas, Zwolle; Landon Strother, Fairview; Conner Ashford, Lacassine; Bennett Briggs, Christ Episcopal; Decorien Dixon, Country Day University Academy; Alex Kovall, Episcopal of Acadiana; Chase Taylor, Anacoco
Rylee Cloud, Fairview, 5-5, Sr., 24.0
Alexis Dyer, Oak Hill, 5-10, So., 17.0
Bailey Davis, Anacoco, 5-10, So., 14.0
Madison Suire, Hathaway, 5-4, So., 17.0
Reesie Jinks, Fairview, 5-5, Fr., 15.0
Outstanding Player: Rylee Cloud, Fairview
Coach of the Year: Kaci West, Oak Hill
Second team
Chloey Guidry, Hathaway, 5-4, Sr., 21.0
Latoya Holmes, Florien, 5-6, Jr., 10.0
Bella Smith, Fairview, 5-11, Jr., 14.0
Cambree Courtney, Holden, 5-9, Jr., 15.0
Natalie Yancey, Glenmora, 5-4, So., 15.0
Honorable mention: Jalexia Caldwell, Castor; Kylee Portilloz, Choudrant; Cali Deal, Quitman; Ikeia Brown, Simsboro; Lexi Parker, Family Community; Maggie Walker, Stanley; Olivia Sepulvado, Zwolle; Emma Tucker, Oak Hill; Gracie Miller, Midland; Sydnie Cooley, Lacassine; Kaiya Causey, Negreet; Paige Mayo, Anacoco
On the day before the NCAA “Final Four” games were played, a “Fab Four” from Jonesboro-Hodge signed scholarship papers to continue their football career in college. Three will take their skills to the same place as Tydre Malone, Brantrel Thompson and Jamarriyea “Big Play Jay” Lewis all signed to play with Southern University in Shreveport (SUSLA). Javeon Andrews also penned his named to a letter of intent at the University of Mary Hardin – Baylor, located in Belton, TX.
With the earlier signings of Devontae Mozee to Louisiana Tech and Justin Calahan to Kilgore Junior College that brings the total number of JHHS football players to have signed scholarship to six, which is a new school record.
On March 24, 2022 the United Way of Northeast Louisiana held their Celebrating Excellence Program at Louisiana Tech University. Sheriff Andy Brown and the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office was honored this year with two awards. The first, was the New Campaign Award and the second was the VolunteerUNITED Award.
“It was an honor to be recognized and we thank United Way for all that they do,” said Brown.
| TEAM | RANK | OVERALL | DISTRICT |
| Lakeside | #12 | 14-6 | 6-0 |
| North Caddo | #28 | 10-9 | 3-3 |
| D’Abonne Woods | #31 | 7-15 | 3-3 |
| Jonesboro-Hodge | #39 | 2-12 | 0-3 |
| TEAM | RANK | OVERALL | DISTRICT |
| Weston | #1 | 12-5 | 0-0 |
| Choudrant | #2 | 15-6 | 0-0 |
| Quitman | #6 | 7-10 | 0-0 |
| Simsboro | #10 | 11-6 | 0-0 |
| TEAM | RANK | OVERALL | DISTRICT |
| Doyline | #13 | 9-7 | 4-0 |
| Saline | #15 | 7-4 | 0-1 |
| Castor | #23 | 1-10 | 1-1 |
| Dodson | #24 | 4-9 | 0-1 |
Upcoming games
April 4: Weston at Simsboro, Quitman at Choudrant, Saline at Castor
April 5: Weston vs Union, Saline at Dodson
April 7: Weston vs Simsboro, Quitman vs Choudrant, Saline at Calvin
April 8: Weston at Winnfield
| TEAM | RANK | OVERALL | DISTRICT |
| D’Arbonne Woods | #17 | 10-11 | 2-0 |
| North Caddo | #25 | 3-14 | 2-0 |
| Lakeside | #30 | 4-12 | 0-2 |
| Jonesboro-Hodge | #38 | 1-11 | 0-2 |
| TEAM | RANK | OVERALL | DISTRICT |
| Quitman | #5 | 18-6 | 3-0 (Champion) |
| Choudrant | #10 | 20-4 | 2-1 |
| Simsboro | #22 | 8-15 | 0-2 |
| Weston | #23 | 3-8 | 0-2 |
| TEAM | RANK | OVERALL | DISTRICT |
| Doyline | #11 | 10-5 | 3-0 |
| Saline | #18 | 7-12 | 1-1 |
| Castor | #24 | 4-12 | 0-1 |
| Dodson | #27 | 0-8 | 0-2 |
Upcoming games:
April 4: Quitman at Winnfield, Weston at Calvin, Saline at Lakeview (DH)
April 5: JHHS vs Lakeside, Weston at Byrd, Saline vs Southwood
April 6: Saline vs JHHS (Senior Night)
April 7: JHHS vs Choudrant, Quitman vs Calvin, Weston at Delhi Charter
April 8: Quitman at Buckeye Tournament, Weston at Downsville, Saline at Southwood Tourney
Davis Tolar hit two home runs and Caleb Waters pitched a two hitter over four innings as Weston beat Castor 13-1 to continue their streak of winning by the “ten run rule” in all twelve of their victories this season.
A six run, second inning after the Wolves opened the contest by plating a pair broke the game open. Five more in the fourth put Castor away. The Wolves, ranked #1 in Class B, now stand at 12-4 on the year while former district foe Castor fell to 1-10 on the year.
Waters gave the Wolves a first inning lead when he singled in Bryce Zehr who had opened the game by getting hit with a pitch and stealing second. Cooper Delaney double the lead with a two out single.
Weston poured in on in the top of the second as Colton Blundell singled and Kaden Shirley doubled with one out. Tait Henderson followed with a two out walk and both he and Shirley scored on Waters second hit in as many innings. Davis Tolar then turned on an 0-2 pitch for a two run “jack” setting up three straight singles by Delaney, Drew Browning and Braden Theriot that upped the lead to 8-0.
Tolar led off fifth with his second shot of the day to almost the identical place beyond the left centerfield fence and Weston added four more with two outs three coming on Bryce Zehr’s round tripper giving him 4 RBI’s on the day.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | R | E |
| Weston | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 2 |
| Castor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
WP – Waters
LP – Cox
2B – Shirley
HR – Tolar 2, Zehr
RBI – Zehr 4, Tolar 3, Waters 3, Delaney, Blundell, Theriot
RS – Zehr 2, Waters 2, Tolar 2, Blundell 2 Shirley 2, Henderson, Delaney, Theriot
SB – Theriot 2, Delaney, Henderson, Shirley, Waters, Zehr, Browning
Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to an opposing player. That was what Weston had to do to Logan Clampit after the West Ouachita hurler struck out seven and limited the Wolves to just four singles in the 4-0 loss. Clampit also helped his own cause by hitting a double and scoring a run. Kaden Shirley took the loss despite allowing only six hits and suffering through a first inning where two runs scored on passed balls and a sacrifice fly. The loss dropped Weston’s season record to 12-5 while Class 5A West Ouachita improved to 9-12 on the year.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| Weston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| West Ouachita | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 4 | 6 | 1 |
WP – Clampit
LP – Shirley
SB – Waters
This past Wednesday, March 30th was dedicated across the United States as National Doctors’ Day. In honor of the Doctor’s on the staff the Jackson Parish Hospital recognizes Ed and Sheila Mariano, William J. Slusher, Rebecca Crouch and Paula Parkerson.
The Jackson Parish Hospital would like to thank our physicians for all they do in sharing their skills and expertise, their care and compassion, and for making a difference every day. We appreciate each of you!
With the 2022 spring wild turkey season being launched in most of the state April 2, hunters all over are heading out in the pre-dawn darkness to try their hand at out-smarting one of
the wiliest critters on the planet. When this happens, there is a feeling of satisfaction like no
other.
While most turkey hunters are content to bring down any legal gobbler, there are those
who aspire to take it to the next level. If you are able to move about the country to take the four subspecies in the US, Eastern, Rio Grande, Merriams and Osceola, you meet the qualifications for a Grand Slam.
Add to this the Gould’s and you qualify for the Royal Slam while being able to down an
Oscellated in Mexico and you have a World Slam. The ultimate is the U.S. Super Slam which
means you have taken a gobbler in each of the 49 states that have wild turkeys; there are none in Alaska. Thirteen hunters have been able to accomplish this amazing quest.
When it comes to challenges, seven years ago a then 19 year old Rachel Barr, West Monroe High School senior, reached for a mark that was other worldly. She set out with a goal very few have attempted and fewer still have accomplished.
Her mission? Take a World Slam of wild turkeys. That in and of itself would be quite a
feat but she added a kicker to her challenge.
“I wanted to take the World Slam with my bow before finishing high school,” Barr said.
Believe it or not, Rachel did exactly that, adding the final sixth notch to her bow with a Rio Grande gobbler one month before high school graduation.
“When I was little,” Barr explained, “my dad bought me a rifle but I never took an animal with it. I didn’t like the noise, the smell, the kick that broke a pair of my glasses once. I told my dad I wanted to hunt with a bow so he sold my rifle and bought me a bow. I have been hooked
ever since.”
Barr’s first turkey with her bow was taken March 29, 2011 when she arrowed an Eastern
subspecies and at that point she shared her dream with her dad.
“In checking the NWTF site for information on ‘Slams’, I told dad I wanted to try for a
World Slam with my bow. My dad, who is a surgeon in W. Monroe, was all for it and agreed to arrange for trips necessary to make it happen,” Barr continued.
She didn’t connect on a gobbler in 2012 but beginning the spring season of 2013, the
determined young lady was off and running, arrowing a Merriam’s near Holt, Nebraska on
March 28 and a Gould’s in Chihuahua, Mexico on April 19.
With graduation looming in May, 2014, Barr went to work, skewering an Oscellated gobbler in Campeche, Mexico on February 16 and an Osceola near St. Cloud, Florida on March 15. This left only the Rio Grande to complete her World Slam, a bird that gave her the most
trouble.
“On our initial trip to Texas, the weather was not in our favor and I was not able to get a shot at a Rio. However, we were able to return the following weekend but problems cropped up.”
Barr was beginning to doubt if she could reach her goal of a World Slam.
“We did not hear a single gobble that morning but did have some turkeys come in silently
but I could not get a shot. That afternoon, a big Rio broke away from a flock of gobblers and
jakes and when he stopped at 15 yards, I made the shot and down he went,” a relived Barr said.
A check of the records www.nwtf.org validates Rachel Barr’s incredible feat.
Any hunter able to qualify for any of the Slams deserves a pat on the back. What Rachel Barr was able to complete, a World Slam with her bow before finishing high school, in my opinion, tops them all.
BLACK BAYOU – Fishing is slow. No report this week. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-
8707 for latest information.
OUACHITA RIVER – The river is high and rising and water is cold. No fishing reports this week. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – The bass are in transition with some moving shallow and some still deep
in the channels. Crank baits and soft plastics are best bets. The crappie are also in and out with some moving in and others still holding back. Some have also been caught below the spillway in the bayou. Shiners and jigs are both working. Bream have not started yet but catfish are still biting cold worms fished off the banks. For latest reports, call Anderson’s Sport Center at 368- 9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie fishing has been good on shiners and jigs with some still hanging out in deep water out from the dam while some are starting to move into shallow
spawning grounds. Best fishing has been at night fishing shiners around the lighted piers. Bass are starting to move more shallow with best catches made on spinners and plastic lizards in fairly shallow water. A few stripers have been caught in deep water on shad imitations. No report on catfish or bream. For latest information, call Misty at Kel’s Cove at 331-2730 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
CANEY LAKE – The crappie are starting to move up to spawn and some nice fish have been
caught using ultra-light tackle to cast shiners in and around the lily pads. Bass are starting to
move up as well but best fishing has been when they move back deeper and sinking jerk baits are picking up some fish. The chinquapins are starting to bite a bit but they’re in 10-20 foot water hitting crickets and red wigglers. No report on catfish. For information contact Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfishing has been good on cold worms. Crappie fishing has
improved this week around the boat slips with a couple near 3 pounds reported. No report on bass or bream. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE ST. JOHN – The water is back to pool stage and bass are good on jigs and soft plastics.
Crappie fishing is fair while catfishing is good. For information, call Ken Mahoney at 318-201-
3821.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is high and over the roads with a slow fall expected. Still too high for fishing. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.
Weston High School has received several Pledge 10 grants from Jonesboro State Bank this school year. The first grant was one written by the Jackson Parish School board for CPR and AED training equipment as well as a Stop the Bleed kit. With this equipment, high school students will be trained in life saving measures and proper techniques for CPR, first aid and AED usage.
The Weston Wolves baseball team also received a Pledge 10 grant for field maintenance equipment and a new storage building. Equipment is used to maintain the practice area at the school and around the cages housed on campus.
Mrs. Simpson’s second grade class received new tables and flexible seating. Flexible seating allows the students to move and wobble while at their desks. It increases blood flow to their brains, keeps them more alert and focused.
WHS would like to thank the Jonesboro State Bank for funding all of these activities through the Pledge 10 grant and for their continued support of the schools in Jackson Parish.
Through the Pledge 10 program, Jonesboro State Bank also provided Jonesboro-Hodge High School with CPR/AED equipment. Below is a “Photo-Thanks” the students at JHHS put together to show their appreciation.
No one can say that Quitman head baseball coach Joe Lockhart padded his schedule this spring. In fact, it would be hard pressed to find a more difficult schedule among all Class B schools in the state. Seventeen times the Wolverines have stepped on the field this year. In sixteen of those, it has been against schools from a higher classification. This includes the last eight in a row, which have all resulted in losses against teams with a winning record.
After three losses in three days to top fifteen ranked schools in their respective classes, Class 4A North DeSoto (4-3), Class 5A Airline (6-1) and Class 3A Sterlington (6-3), the Wolverines now stand at 7-10 on the year.
The hope Lockhart and his staff has is that this “gritty gauntlet” will play out in Quitman’s favor. There is no doubt that Quitman has been tried and tested. It is a good thing too, as when they begin to wage war in district 2B competition it will be against the strongest collection of teams from one district in the state in any class. All four teams, including Quitman are in the in the top ten of Class B. Weston and Choudrant rank #1 and #2, while the Wolverines, despite their losing record sits at #6. Simsboro checks in at #10.
The Wolverines won’t have long to wait to see. On Monday, Quitman will travel to the defending Class B champion and then turn around and host Choudrant on Thursday as district play takes priority on the schedule for the next three weeks.
The first time the two played, Jena scored four runs to almost come back and win the game. This time they did as three runs in the bottom of the sixth and a single score in the bottom of the seventh erased what had been a 7-4 Quitman lead. With the loss the Lady Wolverines saw their season best seven game winning streak come to a screeching halt and dropped their record to 18-6 on the year. Resurgent Jena, who has won two of their last three after losing eight straight, improved to 9-19 on the season.
The loss overshadowed a tremendous day at the plate by Cali Deal who went 4/4 with two home runs and five RBI. It failed to take the sting out of being the losing pitcher though, despite allowing just three earned runs and striking out eight. Eighth grader, Maggie Guyotte, continued to impress with her team leading sixth home run of the year while Averie Williams and Karley Huckaby got two hits each and Skylar Hall scored twice. Madeline Vail and Madison Chaplin both hit a double.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| Quitman | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 5 |
| Jena | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 1 |
WP – Decker
LP – Deal
2B – Vail, Chaplin
HR – Deal 2, Guyotte
RBI – Deal 5, Guyotte, Huckaby
RS – Deal 2, Hall 2, Guyotte, Huckaby, Bell
SB – Williams
Did you know that March was NATIONAL READING MONTH?
Shawn Murphy State Farm Insurance celebrated by team member, Cheri Harveston, sharing and reading one of our favorite story-time books, “The Story of Sparky the Fire Dog” to Jackson Parish kindergarten students!
Each student was also given their very own copy of “Fido, Friend, or Foe” child activity book to read on their own as we want to encourage these young readers in every way possible.
“We are so appreciative of all the schools welcoming us into their schools to read to the students, and we are already looking forward to NATIONAL READING MONTH next year,” said Murphy.
Jonesboro-Hodge and North Caddo have played some very entertaining football games over the last several years. Virtually every time the pair have battled it has been for the district 1-2A championship. The two squared off again this past Thursday and Friday for a three-game series but this time it was to see who would climb out of the 1-2A cellar as both entered play winless in three district games.
There is an old saying that it is lonely at the top. It is even worse when you are at the bottom, which is where the Tigers sit after dropping all three games by scored of 21-7, 12-3 and 12-0. Overall, JHHS now has a 2-11 record. North Caddo improved to 10-9 overall and 3-3- in district play.
In the first two games JHHS took early leads but North Caddo pounded Tiger pitching the rest of the way. Six stepped to the hill for the Tigers over the three game set. It didn’t matter who the Tigers threw, North Caddo pounded them, all as indicated below.
| NAME | INNINGS | HITS | RUNS |
| Allen Tew | 4.0 | 14 | 13 |
| Tydre Malone | 4.1 | 11 | 12 |
| Dominick Strickland | 1.1 | 5 | 8 |
| Pierce Ulloa | 1.2 | 5 | 4 |
| Julian Paggett | 0.2 | 4 | 5 |
| Ethan Taylor | 0.1 | 3 | 3 |
Offensively, Logan Smith continued to be scorching hot at the plate getting six hits in seven at bats (.857) that included two doubles, a triple and three RBI. For the year now, Smith is batting .690 which according to MaxPreps is the top batting average in the state. Marcus Thompson and Allen Tew also had a good series, with Thompson batting .429 (2-2B, 2 RBI, 3 RS, 2 SB) and Tew hitting .400 with four runs scored. Ethan Taylor hit .333 and Dominick Strickland slapped a double, had 3 RBI and scored twice.
District play hasn’t been any kinder to the softball team either. The Lady Tigers fell 19-1 to D’Arbonne Woods and 13-3 to North Caddo this past week with only a contest against Lakeside on Tuesday left to play. In six of the eight innings over the course of the two games, JHHS showed only a four run deficit but it was the second inning in both games that made the ultimate difference. Against D’Arbonne Woods the Lady Tigers trailed 3-1 after 1 1/2 innings but in the bottom of the second DWC scored 18 to put the game away. Against North Caddo, the Lady Titans put up a seven spot. The pair of losses leave the Lady Tigers with an 1-11 overall record and 0-2 in district 1-2A play.
Jonesboro-Hodge High School students, Serenity Mallard and Honesty Poland, have qualified to attend the National Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Conference in Chicago, IL. The pair earned the right per their achievements at state FBLA convention this past week through the tutelage Mrs. Alberta Foster, Business Teacher and FBLA sponsor.
FBLA is the high school division of the Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) dedicated to preparing students for careers in business. The mission of FBLA is to “inspire and prepare students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.”
In an effort to curb expenses the FBLA chapter at JHHS is asking for donations. The letter below gives specific details. JHHS and the FBLA thank you for supporting the future business leaders of tomorrow, today!
Weston High standout, Caleb Waters, has been selected to play in the2022 Louisiana High School Baseball Coaches Association All Star game that will be held at Louisiana Christian University (formerly Louisiana College) on May 20th and 21st.
As a testament to his talent, Waters is the only player from Class B chosen to the East squad that is made up of 22 players primarily from Class 2A and above. As one of the primary catalysts to leading Weston to the top ranking in Class B, Waters leads the Wolves with 6 home runs, 30 runs scored and 29 RBI. His also carries a robust .528 batting average.
Included in the Bossier Parish Community College signee’s statistics this season is a game where he blasted three home runs in two innings and drove in eight runs. Waters also has 8 stolen bases on the year and has compiled a .964 fielding average at short stop, making only one error in 28 total chances.
Anna Pardue and Addy Phares of Weston High School won 1st place in the recently held Patriot’s Pen Competition sponsored by the Jackson Parish Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post. Both also won 3rd place for their essay at the district level which encompasses all of Northeast Louisiana
Coming in second place in the VFW Post competition was Lily LeBlance while Kinzi Bass to took third.
The competition awards those who are judged to have completed the bests essay that promotes citizenship and the patriotic principles of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
If you have ever competed in golf then you know that one of the hardest things to do is win a tournament. It is one thing to go out and play nine holes. There is not much more of an enjoyable thing to do. It is quite another when the pressure of representing your school in competition is added to the mix. That is a whole different thing altogether.
It may be one of the hardest things to do but it is also one of the most rewarding. Win a tournament once – You are lucky. Win a second in less than a month – You have skills! Eli Walker of Quitman High is proving that he has skills.
For the second time this season Walker took home medalist honors by shooting an even par, 36 over the nine holes of Frenchman’s Bend in northern Monroe on Tuesday, March 29th. Tayt Culpepper of Weston High came in 5th. Pete Simonelli ended up in a tie for 20th, with Noah Leach coming in 33rd. Tyler Pardue of Weston High finished one stroke back of Leach for a 37th place finish with Kennard Jackson (WHS) and John Davis (QHS coming in 50th and 52nd respectively.
In Junior Division Medalist play Blake Smith finished 8th for Quitman followed by Ethan Pilgreen who came in 10th. Austin Durbin of Weston, ended up in 12th place.
Walker third, Simonelli eighth at Morehouse
On Thursday, March 31st, Walker followed up his victory with a third-place finish at Morehouse Country Club in Bastrop. Pete Simonelli gave Quitman a solid one-two punch in the top ten by coming in 8th place, his best finish of the year to date. Tayt Culpepper finished in 12th and Tyler Pardue (33rd) for Weston.
In team competition, Quitman came in 5th behind winner Neville High School, Ouachita Christian School, Sterlington and Ruston.
Additional varsity competitors for Quitman included Noah Leach (23rd place) and John Davis (38th) while Ethan Pilgreen placed 6th and Blake Smith 9th in Junior Varsity play.
