The Jackson Parish Library (JPL)is pleased to announce two new additions to their awesome staff. Joining as Youth Services Coordinator and working out of the Jonesboro Branch is Lynn Matherne. Pamela Stevens is the new Circulation Specialist at the Chatham Branch. Join the Library Board and the JPL administration in welcoming these two talented and creative ladies who are sure to make a tremendous impact for all parish patrons.
A woman received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left work and stopped by the pharmacy for some medication. Upon returning to her car, she found she had locked her keys inside.
She had to get home to her sick daughter and didn’t know what to do. She called home, and the sitter told her that her daughter was getting worse. The sitter suggested that the woman get a coat hanger to unlock the door.
The woman found an old, rusty coat hanger on the ground. Not knowing how to use it, she bowed her head and asked God for help. An old rusty car pulled up, driven by a dirty, bearded man with a biker skull rag on his head. The woman thought, “Great, God, this is what you sent to help me?” But she was desperate and hopeful.
The man got out of his car and asked if he could help. She said, “Yes, my daughter is very sick. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?”
He said, “Sure.” He walked over to the car and in seconds had it opened. She hugged him and through tears said, “Thank you so much. You’re a very nice man.”
The man replied, “Lady, I’m not a nice man. I just got out of prison for car theft
The woman hugged the man again and cried out loud, “Thank you, God, for sending me a professional!”
If you have a medical problem, you want a physician. If your troubles are legal, then you want an attorney. If you have a challenge with this bigger challenge called life, you need another kind of professional. I have good news for you, His name is Jesus.
He is as close as a prayer.
Cornerstone Christian Academy concluded the 2022 volleyball season by winning second place in the Slice Leaguie Junior Varsity Co-Ed Tournament. Kaden McNaughton was named Team MVP. The JV team ended the regular season with a 3-3 record to place second among the four schools competing for the conference crown. 
The Sports League for Independent Christian Educators, or SLICE, is a private sports league specifically tailored to small, faith-based educators in Louisiana and Texas. The goals of SLICE are simple:
Teaching athletes to play their sport with a Christ-like attitude by respecting teammates and opponents, and exhibiting good sportsmanship at all times
Provide opportunities for fellowship outside of athletics
SLICE is currently made up of ten member institutions: Bethel Christian Academy, Center Academy, Cornerstone Christian Academy, Heritage Baptist Christian School, Hope Baptist School, Kingston Christian Academy, the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, Northside Christian Academy, and Provencal Christian Academy; and one associate institution: Northeast Christian Academy.
AgMagic at the Louisiana State Fair was “Racing to Success” and Jackson Parish 4-H Junior Leaders Ally, Easton, Mallorie, Makayla, and Madeline AgMagic played a big role by serving as teaching assistants and tour guides to hundreds of elementary-aged students this past Thursday and Friday. Their participation helped students from across Northwest LA to interact with activities and gain information across all aspects of Louisiana agriculture… animal production, entomology, horticulture, row crops, forestry, and wildlife.
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered with a little extra Gobble, Gobble on the side!
Jackson Parish 4-H Jr Leaders wrote notes of appreciation to our local veterans who are residents of Forest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in honor of the Veterans Day holiday. In addition the Jonesboro Hodge Middle School 4-H club got into the act as well by creating paper turkeys to jumpstart the Thanksgiving holiday spirit for the residents.
Those who earn good grades should be recognized for their hard work and acheivement. The administration and faculty at the Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School showed that they believe in that line of thought this past week as the students who have maintained a 3.0 grade point average received a trip to Louisiana Tech University in Ruston to attend Education Day. Adding to the celebration of their dedication to their school work was the addtional special treat of having the opportunity to attend the Lady Techsters game against Arkansas State.
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is launching a new program that will provide thousands of families with $1,000 tutoring vouchers to help children learn to read.
The Steve Carter Literacy Tutoring Program connects families of eligible K-5 public school students with high-quality literacy tutors. Starting today, Louisiana families can visit the online portal to learn more about the program and share their email addresses to be notified when student registration opens this year.
“This voucher is another tool in the toolbox to help kids learn to read,” said State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley. “Steve Carter believed in helping kids – that’s what this program does.”
The Steve Carter Literacy Tutoring Program is named after the late Baton Rouge State Representative. The program is the result of Act 415 of the 2021 Legislative Session (RS 17:4032.1). The LDOE has invested $40 million to fund the program as part of the state’s comprehensive strategy to combat Louisiana’s literacy crisis.
School systems are now identifying eligible students and will notify families if they are eligible. Students in grades K-3 are eligible if they scored below proficient on their beginning-of-year screener. Students in grades 4-5 are eligible if they scored below Mastery in ELA on the spring 2022 LEAP assessment. Families who are unsure of how their child scored should contact their school for additional information.
Eligible families can expect communication from their school system about the program and how to access the user platform. Once student registration opens, families can use the online portal at www.louisianatutoringinitiative.com to register, browse available tutors, and manage their $1,000 voucher. Families who have additional questions after contacting their school system can email LouisianaLiteracy@la.gov
This program connects families with high-quality tutors who have been approved through the LDOE. Tutors are certified teachers in elementary or reading or have a degree in education, English, or another subject indicative of expertise in reading and literacy.
Once student registration opens, families will utilize the online portal at www.louisianatutoringinitiative.com to choose from the approved list of tutoring providers. In some cases, a child’s school system may be a tutoring provider. Tutoring appointments are scheduled between the parent/guardian and tutor and may take place at a mutually agreed upon location which may be a physical or virtual location. Multi-lingual tutors will be available to accommodate students who do not speak English as a primary language.
So, do you think you want to be a professional bass fisherman? Well, we’ve already covered this once, but today we’ll look at what and how some of the greatest anglers in the world spend their off-season or downtime. After being on the road for weeks and months at a time away from family, pro anglers are looking to slow down and catch their breath. Because of the everyday grind and dedication, it takes to compete at the highest level, anglers need to recharge their batteries. Let’s look at the different ways these guys re-energize themselves and get ready for another long season of fishing.
Most professional anglers grew up either in the woods or on the water. Most have an extensive past of hunting big game, ducks, squirrels, or hogs. Most cut their teeth and might have even been in diapers when they shot their first deer. But nothing brings them back down to earth more than spending quality time at their favorite hunting camp. It’s not about the kill as much as it is about just getting away from the pressure and demands anglers are under during the regular season. It’s going out and sitting in a deer stand where all you can hear is the wind blowing, squirrels barking, and the cracking of the sunflowers seeds they’re eating. Yes, it’s true they do fall asleep once in a while when the deer aren’t moving, but that’s okay. They take no phone calls and are unavailable for interviews. The only calls they take are from their publicist or from one of their many sponsors….oh and maybe their wives or children. Sometimes they won’t even talk to their friends! But it’s the time back at the camp talking to their hunting buddies about the big deer they saw or missed while enjoying some of the great meals, that makes a hunting camp special. It’s the stories they tell year after year about previous hunts, stories they’ve already told time and time again. But no one really cares, because the stories (lies) just get bigger and better with every passing year.
Amongst the many professional anglers, some would rather hunt waterfowl and sit in a duck blind for hours…again telling more stories about how many ducks they’ve killed over the years, or they discuss why there are not as many ducks as there used to be. But one thing that makes a good duck hunt…the biscuits and sausage they cook and share in the blind while waiting on the next group of birds to come into the hole they are sitting on. One common theme for any hunting trip is the food. For some reason, hunting camp or duck blind food is always better than any meal you can get anywhere else on the planet. Not sure why, but it’s true!
But one thing I’ve always found strange is another way some of the pros relax; they go fishing! Yes, I said fishing! Who would have thought that since these guys are on the water trying to make a living from January through September, that fishing would be a way for them to relax? Let me help you understand this. There’s a huge difference between fishing tournaments and fun fishing. Some of the pros use this time to test new lures they’ve been involved with designing for the companies they’re representing like Strike King and Berkley. This is something pro anglers really enjoy…designing baits that will hit the market one day with their name on it. But fun fishing for some of these guys is a trip into the marsh or saltwater fishing for speckled trout and redfish. This is when they can be with their family or friends and just enjoy a day on the water without cameras or a boat official watching their every move.
The life of a professional bass fisherman can be a hectic one. There’s a lot of pressure to not only perform at a high level but put food on the table for their families. The stress is off the chart for all of these guys because if they’re not successful, they will be eliminated from the pro tour and replaced by another up-and-coming young angler. Just because you make it to the highest level of bass fishing, does not guarantee you a spot for life. Anglers still must go out and perform. This is why they need that downtime to relax and get away from the everyday grind it takes to be a professional bass fisherman. Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and don’t forget to wear your sunscreen.
Steve Graf
Hook’N Up & Track’N Down
Show & Tackle Talk Live
Spring Creek Water System, while under previous ownership, was in violation of the requirements indicated below. The violation require notification to the public. Even though these were not emergencies, as our customers, you have the right to know what happened and what we are doing to correct this situation
What Happened?
The Spring Creek Subdivision Water System is currently in violation of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for total trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids as set forth by the State [Part XII of the Louisiana State Sanitary Code (LAC 51:XIl) and the Federal Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141).
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) set drinking water standard and requires the disinfection of drinking water. Where disinfection is used in the treatment of drinking water, disinfectants combine with naturally occurring organic and inorganic matter present in water to form chemicals called disinfection byproducts (DBPs). EPA and LDH set standards for controlling the levels of disinfectants and DBPs in drinking water, including trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and haloacetic acid (HAA5). Some people who drink water containing TTHMs in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of
getting cancer. Some people who drink water containing HAA5 in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
In December 1998, EPA set enforceable drinking water standards for TTHMs at 80 parts per billion (ppb) and for HAA5 at 60 parts per billion (ppb) to reduce the risk of cancer or other adverse health effects. Compliance with the TTHMs and HAA5 standards are determined by calculating a locational running annual average (LRAA) of quarterly TTHMs and HAA5 sample results. Compliance calculations performed for the second quarter of 2022 show that the system’s current TTHMs LRAA is 92 ppb at DBP (disinfection byproduct) 03 – POC #l 518 COLBY JEAN RD. The system’s current HAA5 LRAAs are 65 ppb at DBP02- POC#4 255 SANDY POINT DR and 79 ppb at DBP03- POC #l 518 COLBY JEAN RD; thus, the system is currently in violation of the TTHMs and HAA5 standards.
What is being done?
Central States Water Resources Louisiana (CSWR-LA) purchased the facility in July 2022 and personnel are working to correct the problem. CSWR-LA will continue to work with LDH to ensure compliance with the TTHMs and HAA5 standards accordance with State and Federal requirements.
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. EPA and LDH do not consider this violation to have any serious adverse health effects on human health as a result of short-term exposure; however, continued long-term exposure to TTHMs and HAAS levels above the standard (e.g., 20 years of exposure) has the potential to have serious adverse
effects on human health.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
Magnolia Water UOC is committed to bringing our customers safe, reliable water services and will continue to work with the LDH to carry out this commitment.
For more information, please contact Magnolia Water at 1-855-643-8152.
This notice is being sent to you by Spring Creek Water system. PWS ID# LA1049028
Date distributed: November 15, 2022
The Jackson Parish School Board met in regular session at 11:00 a.m. on November 7, 2022, at Jackson Parish School Board, 315 Pershing Highway, Jonesboro, La.
The following were present for roll call: Gloria Davis, Calvin Waggoner, Dennis Clary, Rickey McBride, Gerry Mims, Mary Saulters, and Wade McBride
Absent: None
Mary Saulters gave the Invocation.
Calvin Waggoner led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The meeting was called to order by Gloria Davis.
Motion was made by Mary Saulters seconded by Calvin Waggoner and carried to approve the minutes as presented from the regularly scheduled meeting held on October 3, 2022.
Motion was made by Dennis Clary, seconded by Wade McBride, and carried to add Item 4A: Consider accepting low quote of $93,850.00 from Victory Tracks for materials and labor to resurface and re-stripe the running track at Jonesboro Hodge High School, to be paid from Jonesboro District funds.
Motion was made by Dennis Clary, seconded by Wade McBride and carried to accept low quote of $93,850.00 from Victory Tracks for materials and labor to resurface and re-stripe the running track at Jonesboro Hodge High School, to be paid from Jonesboro District funds.
Motion was made by Wade McBride seconded by Rickey McBride and carried to approve the minutes as presented from the Special Called meeting held on October 13, 2022.
An update on Reimagine Schools was presented by Rebecca Womack and Tristen Bergholtz.
A motion was made by Dennis Clary seconded by Mary Saulters and carried to approve updating the list of hearing officers for use in review hearings.
Motion was made by Mary Saulters, seconded by Wade McBride and carried to approve updating those procedures which govern reviewing hearings.
A motion was made by Wade McBride, seconded by Mary Saulters and carried to enter into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation in that matter styled, Josephine M. Burns vs. docket no.35,581 Property Casualty Alliance of Louisiana, Jackson Parish School Board and Dana D. Bell and any action deemed necessary upon returning from such executive session.
A motion was made by Gerry Mims, seconded by Dennis Clary and carried to return to Open Session with no action taken.
A motion was made by Dennis Clary, seconded by Calvin Waggoner and carried to accept the recommendation of Hammonds and Sills, LLP in regards to pending litigation in that matter styled, Josephine M. Burns vs. docket no.35,581 Property Casualty Alliance of Louisiana, Jackson Parish School Board and Dana D. Bell.
Mary Saulters reported to the Board on the meeting of the Executive Finance Committee held prior to the Board meeting.
A motion was made by Rickey McBride, seconded by Dennis Clary and carried to approve for payment the following bills: General Fund, Federal Program, Food Service, Sales Tax, Special Education, District Maintenance bills.
A motion was made by Gerry Mims, seconded by Dennis Clary and carried to approve paying Employer’s Share of Office of Group Benefits insurance premiums from General Fund for the December 2022 sales tax distribution.
A motion was made by Wade McBride, seconded by Gerry Mims and carried to approve payment of $20,230.00 to La. Delta Community College for dual enrollment fall courses, to be paid from 2022-2023 Supplemental Course Allocation funds.
A motion was made by Calvin Waggoner, seconded by Rickey McBride and carried to accept low quote of $12,750.00 from Veritiv Operating Company for copy paper, to be paid from General Fund.
A motion was made by Dennis Clary, seconded by Gerry Mims and carried to approve accepting low quote of $16,881.00 from Dell Computers for 20 laptops for classroom instruction at Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School, to be paid from Title 1 School Based funds.
A motion was made by Wade McBride, seconded by Rickey McBride and carried to approve payment to OWL Equine Center in the amount of $14,100.00 for LEAP Connect classes, to be paid from IDEA funds.
A motion was made by Rickey McBride, seconded by Wade McBride and carried to approve hiring a Parish Wide Paraprofessional II on a year by year basis, to be paid from IDEA funds.A motion was made by Dennis Clary, seconded by Calvin Waggoner and carried to approve stipends and benefits for staff to provide after school tutoring in all Jackson Parish Schools for up to eight hours per week and to provide Saturday tutoring and ACT workshops for up to 12 hours per month. Employees are to be paid at a rate of $30.00 per hour for certified staff and $15.00 per hour for support staff. Additionally, bus drivers will be paid $70.00 for Saturdays and $17.70 per hour for afterschool tutoring. Tutoring is to be provided up to nine months per school year. All components of salary and benefits to be paid from ESSER funds.
Presentation of Monthly Financial Report by Kristi Bass, Business Manager.
Dennis Clary presented to the Board on the meeting of the Building and Grounds Committee held prior to the Board meeting.
A motion was made by Wade McBride, seconded by Mary Saulters and carried to accept low quote of $168,000.00 from Southern Roofing & Vinyl Siding, LLC for materials and labor to replace the roof at Jonesboro Hodge High School auditorium, to be paid from ESSERS II.
A motion was made by Gerry Mims, seconded by Dennis Clary and carried to accept low quote of $23,388.00 from Wood Electronics, LLC to replace intercom system at Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School, to be paid from Jonesboro District funds.
A motion was made by Mary Saulters, seconded by Rickey McBride and carried accepting low quote of $119,193.00 from Provision Security for cameras at Bus Barn, Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School, Jonesboro Hodge Middle School, Weston High School, Jonesboro Hodge High School, Quitman High School and Central Office, to be paid from ESSERS II.
Wade McBride presented to the Board on the meeting of the Transportation Committee held prior to the meeting.
A motion was made by Dennis Clary, seconded by Calvin Waggoner and carried to approve purchasing 2 Type C 71 passenger gasoline buses from Ross Bus Sales at $129,261.49 per bus for a total of $258, 522.98, to be paid from ESSERS III.
A motion was made by Calvin Waggoner, seconded by Calvin Waggoner and carried to adjourn at 12:10 p.m.
Jackson Parish residents made their choices known on Election Day Tuesday with the results showing a mixed bag between wanting new leadership in the top spots in Jonesboro and North Hodge and other than a few exceptions, keeping with the status quo in all other positions that were up for grabs. Complete results were posted by the Louisiana Secretary of State website at 10:00pm on Tuesday night confirming the final tabulations.
The Town of Jonesboro and Village of North Hodge both will be run by new electees for the next four years as James |”Spike” Harris and Joanie Moffett Cannady used a large Election Day turnout to claim the Mayor’s Office for each municipality. Also taking office for the first time will be Israel Smith as Jonesboro Chief of Police, Robert Hunter as Town of Jonesboro Alderman for District D and Paulette Belton as Jackson Parish School Board Representative for District 5.
Those returning to office were: Robert “Bobby” Dillon and Terrence S. Leonard as Chief of Police in North Hodge and East Hodge, Nia-Evans Johnson and Devin Flowers as Town of Jonesboro Aldermen, Dennis Clary as School Board Representative for District 7. Martha Buchan, Willard Willis and Steve Fox won re-election as the three Village of Hodge Aldermen while the trio of Andrea Woods, Ernie Roden and Sarah Heard were elected to serve North Hodge as Aldermen.
It was believed that the Mayor’s race between incumbent Leslie Thompson and Jonesboro Chief of Police Harris would be a be a hotly contested battle that would be seperated by the thinnest of margins. It turned out to be just that! Despite trailing after early voting returns by a 356 – 299 margin, Harris benefitted from a large turnout of voters on Election Day Tuesday, that was measured at 63.1%, to overcome the deficit and win by A 685 – 665 count. The thin margin is believed to be the closest race ever for Mayor.
| MAYOR OF JONESBORO | VOTES | % |
| James “Spike Harris | 685 | 51 |
| Leslie Thompson | 665 | 49 |
| JONESBORO CHIEF OF POLICE | VOTES | % |
| Israel Smith | 711 | 54 |
| Tim Wyatt | 599 | 46 |
| TOWN OF JONESBORO – ALDERMAN AT LARGE | VOTES | % |
| Nia Evans-Johnson | 657 | 51 |
| Danettia Cooper Hayes | 634 | 49 |
| TOWN OF JONESBORO – ALDERMAN, DISTRICT C | VOTE | % |
| Robert Hunter | 214 | 59 |
| Aaron “Pete” Stringer | 151 | 41 |
| TOWN OF JONESBORO – ALDERMAN, DISTRICT D | VOTE | % |
| Devin Flowers | 213 | 55 |
| Cassandra D. Wiley | 172 | 45 |
| MAYOR OF NORTH HODGE | VOTES | % |
| Joanie Moffett Cannady | 82 | 55 |
| Kathy Robertson | 53 | 10 |
| “Tony” Duffey | 15 | 35 |
| NORTH HODGE CHIEF OF POLICE | VOTES | % |
| Robert “Bobby” Dillon | 94 | 62 |
| Kevin Spencer | 39 | 39 |
| Paul Frith | 18 | 18 |
| EAST HODGE CHIEF OF POLICE | VOTES | % |
| Terrence S. Leonard | 33 | 52 |
| Barron Dill | 31 | 48 |
| ALDERMEN FOR VILLAGE OF HODGE | VOTES | % |
| Martha Buchan | 107 | 30 |
| Willard Willis | 96 | 27 |
| “Steve” Fox | 80 | 23 |
| Kimberly L. Reed | 68 | 19 |
| ALDERMEN FOR VILLAGE OF NORTH HODGE | VOTE | % |
| Andrea Woods | 90 | 26 |
| “Ernie” Roden | 81 | 23 |
| Sarah Heard | 71 | 21 |
| Lee Brown | 68 | 20 |
| Samanda Parker | 36 | 10 |
.
The Village of Hodge Water System remains under boil order. The order was announced by the Hodge Fire Dpartment on November 5th and will remain in effect until further notice.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) If your local health officials issue a boil water advisory, you should use bottled water or boil tap water. This is because a boil water advisory means your community’s water has, or could have, germs that can make you sick.
Boil water advisories usually include this advice:
Use bottled or boiled water for drinking, and to prepare and cook food.
If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes). After boiling, allow the water to cool before use.
Boil tap water even if it is filtered (for example, by a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water).
Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.
Breastfeeding is the best infant feeding option. If you formula feed your child, provide ready-to-use formula, if possible.
Handwashing
In many cases, you can use tap water and soap to wash hands during a boil water advisory. Follow the guidance from your local public health officials.
Be sure to scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Then, rinse them well under running water.
If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Bathing and showering
Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
Brushing teeth
Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.
Washing dishes
If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.
Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if:
The water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66°Celsius), or
The dishwater has a sanitizing cycle.
Sanitize all baby bottles.
To wash dishes by hand:
Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
Let the dishes air dry completely before using again.
Laundry
It is safe to wash clothes as usual.
Cleaning
Clean washable toys and surfaces with:
Bottled water,
Boiled water
Water that has been disinfected with bleach
Caring for pets
Pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people or spread germs to people. Give pets bottled water or boiled water that has cooled.
If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes). After boiling, allow the water to cool before use.
Boil tap water even if it is filtered (for example, by a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water).
Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.
Caring for your garden and houseplants
You can use tap water for household plants and gardens.
The first round of the LHSAA football playoffs will be a tale of two Tigers. Just like the last regular season game and the contest two games before that. Jonesboro-Hodge is hoping that in regard to this tale that the third time is the charm. For the record JHHS will travel to Logansport for a #26 vs #7 matchup in the “non-select” Division IV playoffs. Game time is set for 7:00pm.
For the local Tigers the matchup is like having a new life as it was thought that after the loss to Winnfield in the regular season final that the season was over. As it worked out, even with the loss JHHS that dropped the season record to 3-7, the Tigers climbed three spots from their previous, out of the playoffs, ranking of #29 allowing them the opportunity to keep playing.
JHHS head coach Terrance Blankenship hopes that his squad will take advantage of the unexpected break.
“Like I told the guys, you are playing on house money now,” laughed Blankenship. “Might as well take advantage of it and make it pay off.”
The local Tigers face a tall task ahead in order to advance to the second round. Loganport will welcome JHHS to their field sporting a 7-3 overall record after a second place finish in District 3-1A. The teams have played two common opponents this year in Mansfield and Red River. In comparison, Logansport won by 52-8 and 32-16 scores while JHHS lost to both by scores of 28-22 and 20-12. An addtional comparitive is that Logansport has scored less than 22 points only one time all season, while JHHS has scored more than that total only once.
That was during the regular season though and coach Blankenship knows that now that the playoff has started it is like a new season.
“Every year you always see first round upsets,” said Blankenship. “Sometimes just the fact that it is the playoffs brings out the best in a player and team. We are going to hope our guys respond that way.”
Keys to victory!
How to get to Logansport:
The trip will take you roughly two hours. There are a couple of ways you can go, one being go to Winnfield, get on Hwy 84 west and just stay on that until you reach Logansport. Another way is to take Hwy 4 west to Hwy 155 and follow that all the way to Coushatta where you then get on Hwy 84 west the rest of the way to Logansport.
There is no place like home! Even it is at your new home for the rest of the year. With construction going on at their on campus gymnasium, Quitman High School was forced to play the rest of their home schedule at Jonesboro-Hodge High School. Apparently the old saying that home is where the heart is has credence because QHS had no problem in settling in at their Jackson Parish neighbors gym to sweep Saline in boys and girls action.
QHS 48 Saline 28 (boys) While Quitman didn’t seem to have much of a problem finding the range after the first quarter, Saline certainly did, especially in the second frame that saw Quitman take a 14-1 advantage that basically put the game away. Eight Wolverines tallied in the contest led by Logan Ponder with 16 as head coach Mike Black employed wave after wave of reinforcements. Maddox Williams, D.J. Rager-Radley, and Will Dyson scored five each for Saline who suffered their lowest scoring output of the year. With the victory, Quitman improves to 3-1 on the year, while Saline fell to 0-4
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | TOTAL |
| Quitman (3-1) | 6 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 48 |
| Saline (0-4) | 7 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 28 |
Quitman 60 Saline 34: Bethany Leach set a new career high and tied a school mark of 8 three pointers to pace the Lady Wolverines
to their fourth straight victory to open the season. While Leach was going wild from “downtown” for a game high and season high 27 points, Cali Deal dominated the paint for 13 points and 11 boards and Brayli Stewart was 5-7 from the free throw line to add seven as the three scored all but 13 of Quitman’s highest point total of the season. Anna Leach and Emma Carter added four apiece, Ansley Folks scored three and Taylor Borland added a basket to round out the scoring. Saline, which fell to 1-3 on the year, was led by Alaya Gray with 11 and X Lard with 9. Sydney Thomas and Kasidy Sims scored four each and Alana Gray added a basket.
Quitman led the whole way taking a 13-7 first quarter advantage and stretching it to 27-18 at the half. With Leach hitting three treys, QHS doubled up the lead to 48-24 in the third. Even with coach Kyle Leach to emptying his bench the Lady Wolverines continued to find the basket for 22 points in the final frame giving them 43 in the second half, by far their best production of the year.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | TOTAL |
| Quitman (4-0) | 13 | 14 | 21 | 22 | 60 |
| Saline (1-3) | 7 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 34 |
The selections of Student-Athlete of the Week for October 30th – November 6th have been announced. The award, which is sponsored by the Jackson Parish Hospital, recognizes a student-athlete from Jonesboro-Hodge, Quitman, and Weston High Schools as chosen by select faculty and staff from each school. Each honoree is selected after best exemplifying what it means to be a true student-athlete through academic achievement and athletic accomplishment.
Kynnedi Aaron (9th Grade) – Tiger Paw at Jonesboro-Hodge High School
Dillon Pardue (12th Grade) – Varsity Cross Country runner at Weston High School
Logan Ponder (11th Grade) – Varsity Basketball player at Quitman High School
The Jackson Parish Police Jury announces that a Veteran’s Day Brunch Celebration will be held at 10:00am on Friday, November 11th at the Charles H. Garrett Community Center, located at 182 Industrial Drive in Jonesboro. All veterans, family members and friends are invited to attend the event that celebrates the brave men and women from Jackson Parish that have served in the United States Armed Services.
On May 13, 1938, the 11th of November was made a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.” This was a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954 at the urging of veterans who fought in World War II and Korean along with service organizations, the word “Armistice” was replaced with “Veterans.”
The opportunity to serve is always good but to serve two times on the same night is “twice as nice.” Ebenezer Baptist Church is providing the unique experience to serve the Lord and serve volleyballs at 6:00pm on Saturday, November 12th when they hold their monthly “Serving Him” volleyball tournament in the EBC gymnasium. To pre-register either an adult and/or youth team call the EBC office from 8:30am – 4:30 pm at (318) 259-8889 or send email to office@ebenezerfamily.com
See below for photos of last month adult and youth team winners:
It wasn’t too many years ago that Caldwell-Peacock Stadium on the campus of Jonesboro-Hodge High School was considered one of the premier high school track and field settings in north Louisiana. Year in an year out, district and regional track meets were held there because of the friendly access for both competitors and fans as well as the surface of the track.
Over the past several years though the track surface has deteriorated to the point that not even a regular season home track meet last spring could be held on their own campus. That has all changed now thanks to the Jackson Parish School Board who decided on Monday, November 7th to accept the low quote of $93,850.00 from Victory Tracks for materials and labor to resurface and re-stripe the running track at JHHS, to be paid from Jonesboro District funds.
Additional considerations included:
Approve paying: General Fund, Federal Program, Food Service, Sales Tax, Special Education, District Maintenance bills.
Approve paying Employer’s Share of Office of Group Benefits insurance premiums from General Fund for the December 2022 sales tax distribution.
Approve payment of $20,230.00 to La. Delta Community College for dual enrollment fall courses, to be paid from 2022-2023 Supplemental Course Allocation funds.
Accept low quote of $12,750.00 from Veritiv Operating Company for copy paper, to be paid from General Fund.
Accept low quote of $16,881.00 from Dell Computers for 20 laptops for classroom instruction at Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School, to be paid from Title 1 School Based funds.
Approve payment to OWL Equine Center in the amount of $14,100.00 for LEAP Connect classes, to be paid from IDEA funds.
Approve hiring a Parish Wide Paraprofessional II on a year by year basis, to be paid from IDEA funds.
Approve stipends and benefits for staff to provide after school tutoring in all Jackson Parish Schools for up to eight hours per week and to provide Saturday tutoring and ACT workshops for up to 12 hours per month. Employees are to be paid at a rate of $30.00 per hour for certified staff and $15.00 per hour for support staff. Additionally, bus drivers will be paid $70.00 for Saturdays and $17.70 per hour for afterschool tutoring. Tutoring is to be provided up to nine months per school year. All components of salary and benefits to be paid from ESSER funds.
Accept low quote of $168,000.00 from Southern Roofing & Vinyl Siding, LLC for materials and labor to replace the roof at Jonesboro Hodge High School auditorium, to be paid from ESSERS II.
Accept low quote of $23,388.00 from Wood Electronics, LLC to replace intercom system at Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School, to be paid from Jonesboro District funds.
Accept low quote of $119,193.00 from Provision Security for cameras at Bus Barn, Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School, Jonesboro Hodge Middle School, Weston High School, Jonesboro Hodge High School, Quitman High School and Central Office, to be paid from ESSERS II.
Approve purchasing 2 Type C 71 passenger gasoline buses from Ross Bus Sales at $129,261.49 per bus for a total of $258, 522.98, to be paid from ESSERS III.
In additonal action, an update on Reimagine Schools was presented by Rebecca Womack and Tristen Bergholt and an update on the list of officers and procedures which govern reviewing hearings was approved. The board also went into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation in that matter styled, Josephine M. Burns vs. docket no.35,581 Property Casualty Alliance of Louisiana, Jackson Parish School Board and Dana D. Bell. No action was reported taken upon returning to open session.
The Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School girls and 8th grade boys basketball team will travel to Coushatta on Wednesday to play Red River Junior High. The contest is slated for 5:00pm. This will mark the 4th game of the year for the 8th graders, under th4e direction of first year coach Tre’Vaun Calahan. To date the Junior Tigers are 2-1 on the season including a 25-23 victory over Arcadia this past Monday with Tysen Burks scoring 16 points and Dylan Hayes finishing with twelve.
See below for schedule of remaining games.
You are invited to come to Quitman High School on Wednesday, November 9th where the Jackson Parish Gifted and Talented Music will present a Veteran’s Day Celebration honoring all who served. The gala presentation will take place in the QHS Auditorium at 8:30am for the elementary classes and 10:00am for the junior high and high school classes. This is the first of other celebrations scheduled at other schools in the parish on different dates to be announced.
Quitman High School 4-H representative Jastyn Jordan and entry, Zeus, won two ribbons at the Louisiana State Fair Livestock Show this past week. Jordan and Zeus took third place in the Class competition and came in seventh overall in Showmanship.
By: April Clark Honaker, Lincoln Parish Journal
Ryan Bond is well into year four of coaching boys’ basketball and teaching world geography at Ruston High School. Prior to Ruston High, Bond coached and taught a range of ages from pre-k to high school for 11 years at Weston High School in Jonesboro, La.
As a seasoned coach and educator, Bond brings a unique combination of experience and education to the classroom and the court.
After graduating from high school at Weston, Bond earned a Bachelor of Science in business management from Louisiana Tech University while playing on the men’s basketball team. Then, for 10 years, Bond played professional basketball overseas.
While earning his bachelor’s Bond had thought he would return to north Louisiana after playing professional ball and start a business of some kind. When Bond returned home from playing basketball, he was recovering from an injury when the assistant principal of Weston High School reached out to him with a request to help coach.
After serving there briefly as a volunteer coach and substitute, a position opened and Bond was hired full time at Weston. During that time, he earned an alternative teaching certification through Louisiana Tech.
Since being at Ruston High, Bond has also earned a master’s in educational leadership from Northwestern State University.
Given that Bond has traveled to 35 countries in Europe, he is able to bring some of his own experiences into the classroom while teaching world geography. “I talk a lot about Europe because I played basketball there,” he said. “It’s something different. It’s something unique.”
Bond likes to make his class fun and relatable and said, “It’s rewarding to see a kid say, ‘I want to go there.’ I tell them, ‘Go. Go to Paris. Go to Rome. Explore.”
Bond said it’s also rewarding to see his players be successful, and in many ways, the basketball court is like a classroom. “Coaching is teaching,” he said. “It’s mentoring, and I try to set a good example as far as how to conduct yourself, how to treat people, how you’ve got to leave an environment better than you found it and take care of your responsibilities in the classroom.”
Bond said he acts a little differently in the classroom than on the court. He’s a little softer and mellower in the classroom. “I want to make sure the kids are in a safe learning environment and that they want to come to class,” he said. If a kid is having a bad day, he wants to make it better.
“I’m here for them,” Bond said. “I want to try to help kids out. I’ll do anything I can to help them be successful. I believe kids want to be mentored. They want to be pushed. I believe they want to be the best versions of themselves.”
Since coming to Ruston High from Weston, Bond said, “The kids at Ruston have been tremendous.”
Everyone from the coworkers and administration to the counselors and janitors is awesome in Bond’s eyes. “I can’t say enough good things about Ruston High School,” he said.
We had already sort of figured this was the way it was going to go, but in 1979 it was official when he released Rockin’ My Life Away.
The life of showman extraordinaire Jerry Lee Lewis — rockin’ was a good way to put it, but there was more, lots more — came to an end last week, Friday, Oct. 28, when he passed away, age 87, at his home in DeSoto County, Miss.
Services were this past Saturday afternoon at the Hernando Funeral Home in his hometown of Ferriday. Cousin and fellow singer/piano player Jimmy Swaggart spoke, and a boots-on-the-ground old friend in Ferriday told me that at one point during the 40-minute service, with Swaggart speaking, there was laughter after one story and not a dry eye in the house after the next.
“Swaggart’s still got it,” my friend said. Cousins Jerry Lee and Mickey Gilley, who passed away in May, had it too.
Of course, my Grandmama Ruth had all Swaggart’s gospel records, which I loved and listened to on a record player setup the size of a deep freezer in her West Monroe living room.
She didn’t listen to any Jerry Lee — but I did. (At least I don’t think she did. I’m told she took a swig of Pabst Blue Ribbon now and then, and I never saw that either. She had ‘it’ too.)
Jerry Lee Lewis, the last living member of the Million Dollar Quartet — add Carl Perkins, Elvis, and some guy named Johnny Cash — a member of both the Rock and Roll and Country Music Halls of Fame, he was the supreme showman and, according to another guy named Elton John, the best rock ’n’ roll piano player. “I can’t play that fast,” he told Rolling Stone in 2007.
His heyday shows in the 1950s-’80s were before all the lights and pyrotechnics, yet every friend I’ve talked to who saw him live — I sadly did not, have seen only the mind-bending recordings — said he was world-class as a performer. Just Jerry Lee back by Kenny Lovelace and the Memphis Beats. All you needed.
With a tip of the cap to a man who has brought many of us so much joy, we offer The Top 10 Jerry Lee Lewis Songs, According To Me, and you’re welcome to disagree because he was very good and there is a lot of fields to plow here:
10. Pink Cadillac, with Bruce Springsteen: Even though it’s not a Jerry Lee Original, it makes the Top 10 because it’s an older Killer and he’s still got it.
9. Whole Lotta Shakin’: A standard. He had to have gotten tired of playing this.
8 Who’s Gonna Play This Ol’ Piano: “… after the Killer’s gone …” I guess nobody. Hurts me.
7. She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye: “…Baby’s packed up all her things and she’s left me …”
6. What Made Milwaukee Famous, Has Made A Loser Out Of Me: “It’s late and she is waiting/and I know I should go home/but every time I start to leave/they play another song…” Schlitz Problems.
5. Another Place, Another Time: “One by one, they’re turning out the lights/I been feedin’ that ol’ jukebox, just to hold you tight” I wonder if I was the only pre-teen spinning all these albums back in the day? Not sure I even know what the lyrics meant then.
4. One More Time With Feelin’: “Something good got lost along the way …” Kris Kristofferson wrote it so, this was a case of game recognizing game.
3. Who Will The Next Fool Be: “After all is said and done, you wouldn’t be satisfied with anyone …” Hard to even imagine anyone trying to cover these and coming close to Jerry Lee’s performance.
2. Great Balls of Fire: “… you rattle my brain …” I think this was No. 96 on Rolling Stone’s all-time rock songs.
1. Think About It Darlin’: I like the Jerry Lee ballads better than the fast ones and this one’s the best. It’s on the Who’s Gonna Play This Old Piano album from 1972 and was produced by Shreveport music wizard Jerry Kennedy, as so many of these were. Every one of the Jerry Kennedy/Jerry Lee Lewis ballads is a masterpiece, expressive and dynamic, just like the Killer. Hope to meet him one day, another place, another time.
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu
It won’t be long that the citizens of North Hodge and especially the children will get to enjoy a new addition to the playground at the Kirkpatrick Family Park, located along Hwy 167 in North Hodge. The soon to be installed, Double Camel Back Climber (shown in banner above) was made possible through funding provided by the Jackson Parish Recreation Department.
“We appreciate them and what they do for our community,” said North Hodge Mayor Kathy Robertson. “The citizens of North Hodge will enjoy the new equipment for many years to come.”
The Jackson Parish Library will be closed on Friday, November 11th in observance of Veteran’s Day but in an effort to honor all those who served the Chatham Branch invites you to come and pay your respects to local Veteran’s on Thursday, November 10th. The celebration will begin at 9:00am and run till 12:00pm (noon). Donuts and coffee will be served. For more information call the Chatham Branch at 318-249-2980.
