The town of Jonesboro is under a Boil Advisory until further notice. The following announcement was issued to town residents through a text message on Tuesday at 11:50 am. 

Message from Jonesboro, Town of, LA

Due too a combination of water leaks on both private and public sides of the water distribution system a Boil Advisory has been issued. The advisory is to remain in effect until further notice.

Health departments issue a boil water advisory, or boil water notice, whenever a contaminant gets into drinking water. During an advisory be extra careful that water is clean before you drink it or use it. Typically, this means purchasing bottled water or boiling your tap water.

How to properly boil water

If your tap water is cloudy, give it time to settle. Strain the water with a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter to remove the sediment. If your tap water is clear, skip this step.
Hold water at a rolling boil for at least one minute to kill all harmful bacteria. In high elevation locations (over 6,500 feet) water has a lower boiling point and should be boiled for at least three minutes. Because coffeepots don’t boil water long enough to make it safe, you can’t use them to purify water.
Don’t forget to let the water cool before drinking or storing it!

You should boil your water before doing any of following activities:

Drinking
Making ice — also throw away any ice that may have become contaminated
Brushing your teeth
Preparing baby formula
Preparing food
Preparing drinks (even when the drink has its own filter, like coffee made with a coffee maker)
Giving pets water to drink

Water doesn’t need to be purified when doing laundry, washing hands, or bathing. However, you should be careful to avoid getting water in your eyes or mouth. It’s also recommended to use purified water for bathing young children, people with weak immune systems, and people with an open wound.

You can use unpurified water to wash dishes, but the dishes should be soaked in a mixture of water and bleach for at least a minute after washing.

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After starting the basketball season much later than most schools in the area, Jonesboro-Hodge will make up for some of the lost time by hosting Lincoln Prep on Thursday, December 29th and traveling to Arcadia on Friday, December 30th. These are the only games scheduled for the area this week as all other schools are out for the Christmas / New Year’s holidays.  

The JHHS boys enter the Thursday contest with a 4-5 record and sitting at #8 in the LHSAA “non-select” Division IV rankings, while Lincoln Prep comes in at 6-3 and ranked #7 among “select” schools in Division IV. Arcadia is 6-7 on the year and ranked #14 in Division IV “select” school rankings. 

In girls action, Lincoln Prep will be searching for their first win of the season after ten straight losses when they visit the Lady Tigers who are at 2-8 on the year. Both squads are ranked #29, in their respective divisions. The Arcadia girls are sitting at 11-6 on the year and  #11 in Division IV “non-select” rankings.

Thursday, December 29th

JHHS vs Lincoln Prep (Girls – 6pm / Boys – 7pm)

Friday, December 30th

JHHS at Arcadia (Girls – 6pm / Boys – 7pm)

 

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With the 2022 portion of the LHSAA in the books and the 2023 schedule ahead, here is a look at the individuals that are leading the statistical categories for Jackson Parish and at each school.

Jackson Parish Individual Stat Leaders – Girls

CATEGORY	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD
Total Points Scored	Emma Kate McBride (WHS) – 264	Briley Peterson (WHS) – 257	Cali Deal (QHS) – 207
Per Game Average	Emma Kate McBride – 13.9	Briley Peterson (WHS) – 13.5	Cali Deal (QHS) – 12.9
Total Rebounds	Briley Peterson (WHS) – 171	Cali Deal (QHS) – 124	Jessica Newton (WHS) – 106
Per Game Average	Briley Peterson (WHS) – 9.0	Cali Deal (QHS) – 7.8	Tyya Davis (JHHS) – 6/0
Total Assists	Emma Kate McBride (WHS) – 65	Bethany Leach (QHS) – 40	Cali Deal (QHS) – 34
Per Game Average	Emma Kate McBride (WHS) – 3.4	Bethany Leach (QHS) – 2.5	Cali Deal (QHS) – 2.1
Total Steals	Briley Peterson (WHS) – 50	Lainee Trosclair (WHS) -47	Bethany Leach (QHS) – 43
Per Game Average	Bethany Leach (QHS) – 2.7	Briley Peterson (WHS) – 2.6	Trosclair/Millien (WHS) – 2.5
Total Blocks	Jessica Newton (WHS) – 49	Nadia Siadek (WHS) – 16	Briley Peterson (WHS) – 13
Per Game Average	Jessica Newton (WHS) – 2.6	Nadia Siadek (WHS) – 0.9	Peterson (WHS) Deal (QHS) – 0.7
Total 3-Pointers	Emma Kate McBride (WHS) – 36	Lainee Trosclair (WHS) – 32	Brayli Stewart (QHS) – 30
Per Game Average	Emma Kate McBride (WHS) – 2.05	Bethany Leach (QHS) – 1.81	Brayli Stewart (QHS) – 1.76

Jackson Parish Individual Stat Leaders – Boys

CATEGORY	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD
Total Points Scored	Logan Ponder (QHS)- 220	Bryce Zehr (WHS) – 193	Eli Walker (QHS) – 168
Per Game Average	Mitchel Mathews (WHS) – 14.91	Ajay Tew (JHHS) – 14.70	Logan Ponder (QHS) – 12.90
Total Rebounds	Blake Carter (QHS) – 143	Logan Ponder (QHS) – 80	Savantez Phillips (JHHS) – 67
Per Game Average	Blake Carter (QHS) – 8.9	Savantez Phillips (JHHS) – 7.44	Zion Gray (JHHS) – 7.33
Total Assists	Logan Ponder (QHS) – 42	Ajay Tew (JHHS) – 28	Eli Walker (WHS) – 24
Per Game Average	Ajay Tew (JHHS) – 3.11	Logan Ponder (QHS) – 2.50	Jarrius Lumpkin (JHHS) – 1.88
Total Steals	Logan Ponder (QHS) – 39	Brayden Smith (QHS) – 27	Blake Carter (QHS) – 25
Per Game Average	Logan Ponder (QHS) – 2.3	Brayden Smith (QHS – 1.6	Blake Carter (QHS) – 1.6
Total Blocks	Blake Carter (QHS) – 35	Zion Gray (JHHS) – 7	Cameron Leonard (JHHS) – 3
Per Game Average	Blake Carter (QHS) – 2.2	Zion Gray (JHHS) – 0.77	Cameron Leonard (JHHS) – 0.43
Total 3-Pointers	Ajay Tew (JHHS) – 24	Eli Walker (QHS) – 23	Gavyn Caskey (QHS)- 14
Per Game Average	Ajay Tew (JHHS) – 2.67	Eli Walker (QHS) – 1.35	Gavyn Caskey (QHS) – 1.27

Jonesboro-Hodge High School – Girls

CATEGORY	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD
Total Points/per game	Morgan McGee – 55 / 6.1	Kaelin Palmer – 39 / 4.3	Tyya Davis – 30 / 3.8
Total Rebounds/per game	Tyya Davis – 48 / 6.0	Morgan Magee – 37 / 4.1	LeRonda McGuire – 36 / 4.0
Total Assists/per game	A’Joriana Hoggro – 14 / 1.75	LeRonda McGuire – 12 / 1.33	Jalenya Jackson – 8 / 0.88
Total Steals/per game	A’Joriana Hoggro – 18 / 2.25	Kaelin Palmer – 16 / 1.77	LeRonda McGuire – 15 / 1.67
Total Blocks/per game	Morgan Magee – 4 / 0.44	Tyya Davis – 3 / 0.38	Kselin Palmer – 2 / 0.22
Total 3 Pointers made	Morgan Magee – 5	Jalenya Jackson – 3	A’Joriana Hoggro – 2

Jonesboro-Hodge High School – Boys

CATEGORY	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD
Total Points/per game	Ajay Tew – 132 / 14.7	Zion Gray – 97 / 10.8	Savantex Phillips – 78 / 8.7
Total Rebounds/per game	Savantez Phillips – 67 / 7.44	Zion Gray – 66 / 7.33	Jarrius Lumpkin – 40 / 4.44
Total Assists/per game	Ajay Tew – 28 / 3.11	Jarrius Lumpkin – 17 / 1.88	Zion Gray – 9 / 1.0
Total Steals/per game	Ajay Tew – 14 / 1.55	Jarrius Lumpkin – 13 / 1.44	Savantez Phillips – 13 / 1.44
Total Blocks/per game	Savantez Phillips – 8 / 0.88	Zion Gray – 7 / 0.77	Cameron Leonard – 3 / 0.43
Total 3 Pointers made	Ajay Tew – 24	Edward Beard – 6	Zion Gray – 5

Quitman High School – Girls

CATEGORY	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD
Total Points/per game	Cali Deal – 207 / 12.9	Bethany Leach – 177 / 11.1	Brayli Stewart – 171 / 10.1
Total Rebounds/per game	Cali Deal – 124 / 7.8	Emma Carter – 68 / 4.0	AJ Gray – 56 / 3.3
Total Assists/per game	Bethany Leach – 40 / 2.5	Cali Deal – 34 / 2.1	Brayli Stewart – 31 / 1.8
Total Steals/per game	Bethany Leach – 43 / 2.7	Cali Deal – 36 / 2.3	Summer Grillette – 34 / 2.0
Total Blocks/per game	Cali Deal – 11 / 0.7	Anna Leach – 7 / 0.4	Brayli Stewart – 6 / 0.4
Three Pointers made	Brayli Stewart – 30	Bethany Leach – 29	Anna Leach – 3

Quitman High School – Boys

CATEGORY	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD
Total Points/per game	Logan Ponder 220 / 12.9	Eli Walker – 168 / 9.9	Blake Carter – 163 / 10.2
Total Rebounds/per game	Blake Carter – 143 / 8.9	Logan Ponder – 80 / 4.7	Brayden Smith – 54 / 3.2
Total Assists/per game	Logan Ponder – 42 / 2.5	Eli Walker – 24 / 1.4	Blake Carter – 23 / 1.4
Total Steals/per game	Logan Ponder – 39 / 2.3	Brayden Smith – 27 / 1.6	Blake Carter – 25 / 1.6
Total Blocks/per game	Blake Carter – 35 / 2.2	Logan Ponder – 2 / 0.1	5 tied with 1
Three Pointers made	Eli Walker – 23	Gavyn Caskey – 14	Logan Ponder – 11

Weston High School – Girls

CATEGORY	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD
Total Points/per game	Emma Kate McBride – 264 / 13.9	Briley Peterson – 257 / 13.5	Lainee Trosclair – 180 / 9.5
Total Rebounds/per game	Briley Peterson – 171 / 9.0	Jessica Newton – 106 / 5.6	Lexie Millien – 101 / 5.6
Total Assists/per game	Emma Kate McBride – 65 / 3.4	Briley Peterson – 28 / 1.5	Lainee Trosclair – 16 / 0.8
Total Steals/per game	Briley Peterson – 50 / 2.6	Lainee Trosclair – 47 / 2.5	Lexie Millien – 45 / 2.5
Total Blocks/per game	Jessica Newton – 49 / 2.6	Nadia Siadek – 16 / 0.9	Briley Peterson – 13 / 0.7
Total 3-Pointers	Emma Kate McBride – 36	Lainee Trosclair – 32	Anslee Aldy – 21

Weston High School – Boys

CATEGORY	FIRST	SECOND	THIRD
Total Points Scored	Bryce Zehr – 193	Mitchel Mathews – 164	Tait Henderson – 130
Per Game Average	Mitchel Mathews – 14.91	Bryce Zehr – 12.87	Tait Henderson – 11.82

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In good ol’ 2022, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of Love Languages, a lady named Amy earned $1 million-plus and made the Jeopardy! TV game show cry “Uncle!”, LSU’s football team won more games than even the Tigers’ most loyal and optimistic fan thought possible, and Port-O-Lets again made their presence known during Mardi Gras as one of the best inventions since indoor plumbing — which turned out to be heavy plastic outdoor plumbing.

Good times.

These were just some of the more light-hearted and trivial happenings of a somewhat gray 2022, a year that had this One Big Thing going for it: it wasn’t 2021 or, Lord help us all, 2020, when our leaders didn’t.

I was born at night, but not last night.

Actually, I was born at 8:15 in the morning, just in time to clock in, and have been carrying my little tool box and lunch pail since. Like you, the past two years have beaten all I’ve ever seen and have tried, overly hard, to beat us down.

But here we are, still flying the flag, like the old man in Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, a little thinner and gaunt, showing some deep wrinkles and splotches, some deep-creased scars, but our eyes are bright and cheerful and undefeated.

We can hardly afford to buy the toot off a whistle if they were selling for a nickel apiece, but we soldier on. The world keeps spinning and we’re happy to be along for the ride into what we trust will be a more upbeat 2023.

2022 was the year that brought us Wordle. Remember last year this time when everybody was Wordleing? The fad has worn off a bit, but last spring, Wordle was almost as popular as Taylor Swift.

2022 was also the year when Top Gun: Maverick became required viewing. Is it the best sequel since The Godfather Part II?

Fair Grounds Field was demolished in 2022 — until it wasn’t. Red tape and bat poop sort of sums up the year; the higher-ups don’t want to admit a mistake and get things back on greased grooves.

Closer to home, we became grandparents in July 2022, a definite highlight. She’s a healthy five months old. Because we are good grandparents, we took her to see Top Gun: Maverick five times and sold all we have except our toothbrushes to get her a Taylor Swift concert ticket. She’ll have to go alone because one is all we could afford but the kid has got to learn to stand on her own at some point.

We did not get her a ticket to Monday’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando when 9-4 LSU takes on 8-5 Purdue/Purdon’t because although we love Chees-Its, one of the highest quality dairy foods you can eat, who knew LSU could threaten a 10-win season? This is a team that started a receiver at quarterback and had 38 players on scholarship in last year’s bowl game, something called the TaxAct Texas Bowl when Kansas State beat what was left of the Tigers, 42-20.

Hat tippage to new coach Brian Kelly and Tiger fans everywhere for their expectation-exceeding results this fall.

Since this is the first time ever the two programs have met and since the only alum of Purdue people in these parts might know is New Orleans Saints forever-hero Drew Brees, you might find it of interest that the nice lady who invented Stovetop Stuffing, Ruth Siems, went to Purdue, as did Orville Redenbacher, the popcorn magnate. Doubtful that either of those things will come into play during Monday’s game — unless the Boilermakers have Stovetop Stuffing and popcorn for pregame. Then we really like LSU to cover the two-touchdown spread. Kick is at noon Monday, Jan. 2.

2023 kicks off the day before.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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In observance of the New Year’s holiday both branches of the Jackson Parish Library will be closed on Saturday, December 31st and Monday, January 2nd. Both branches will reopen on Tuesday. 

Kids Storytime on Wednesday at Jonesboro Branch

The final Storytime of the year for the kids will take place on Wednesday, December 28th at the Jonesboro Branch. The book Snowmen Are Snow Awesome will be read at 10:0am in the Multi Purpose Room.Join for the reading of the book, songs and fun. No registration is required. 

Movie Mania at Chatham Branch on Wednesday

At 2:00pm on Wednesday, the movie Tiger Rising will be shown at the Chatham Branch, located at 1500 Pine Street. There is no cost for admission. Free popcorn and refreshments will be available as well. 

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Jackson Parish 4-H members were busy throughout the month of December. At each of the parish schools and at the monthly session held at the Charles H Garrett Community Center the 4-H’ers held meetings, had contests and participated craft projects. See below for a pictorial of some of the activity that took place. 

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For 18 years Ronald B. Washington, owner and director of Paradise Funeral Home in Jonesboro and his wife Yumeaka, has spread the Christmas spirit through their annual bike and toy giveaway. This year was the biggest and best yet as over 50 families from across north Louisiana received bicycles and toys through their benevolence.

“We were blessed to serve over 50 families this season commencing with my hometown (Cooper Road, LA) and concluding with Jackson, Bienville and Union Parishes during our annual bicycles and toys giveaway,” said Washington. 

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The American Red Cross will run its Sound the Alarm home fire campaign from Jan. 7 to Jan. 28, 2023.

The Red Cross says they respond to a house fire or other disaster every 8 minutes in Louisiana, and the Sound the Alarm event allows them to ensure public safety during such house fires.

This year, the Red Cross says they are hoping to install 50,000 free smoke alarms in high-risk neighborhoods in 50 cities around Louisiana.

Along with installing smoke alarms, volunteers will also be giving information on escape plans and tips to use during a house fire.

American Red Cross is asking for volunteers to help install smoke alarms, pack bags and give out information throughout the neighborhoods.

With the help of this event, the Red Cross says they have been able to install over 37,000 smoke alarms in homes, make over 13,000 escape plans and replace over 3,000 batteries in smoke alarms.

If you cannot afford a smoke alarm or are unable to install one yourself, the Red Cross allows you to request a smoke alarm.

A list of fire safety tips can be found on the American Red Cross website.

If you or your group would like to volunteer, contact Paige Chatelain at paige.chatelain@redcross.org.

If you would like to donate, visit their website.

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No doubt you have heard that when something bad happens to you, get ready; your problems are about to triple.

Such was the case during this recent bout of Arctic weather that caught all us southerners unaware. Actually, the weather folks had been telling us to get ready for one of the coldest blasts in recent times but I’m not sure we were prepared for temperatures dropping suddenly into single digits accompanied by strong icy north winds.

At our house, we took the precautions we had been told to do, things like wrapping pipes, putting those Styrofoam do-hickeys on outside faucets, letting water drip in the sinks and such.

We were settling down to a long winter’s hanging with it when just before dark on Thursday, the day the blast hit, our house went dark. I mean, totally dark. Our power was out. Calling Entergy to report the outage, we sat, we waited, it was getting colder as each minute passed. Finally 4 ½ hours later, we found out the problem; the high winds had knocked down a power pole just down the road. They fixed it and bingo – the lights and blessed heat came on.

Everything was okay then, right? We assumed it was but during the night, we were having to add more cover because even though the heating unit was running, we determined that the air it was producing was akin to the temperature of the wind howling outside. In short, our heating unit was on the fritz.

It was not until the following afternoon as we huddled for warmth and even drove to town in a warm car and got a bite to eat that we were able to get a technician from one of the three companies we called to come out, locate and fix the problem. The power surge when we lost power had knocked out the breaker to our heating unit. It was fixed and we watched with sighs of relief as the temperature in the house was starting to climb.

Finally, we were back in business and would be able to ride out the Arctic blast. We thought we were until I hit the start button on my computer to get back to work and nothing happened; it was deader’n a doornail.

Calling my computer guru in Bossier City, Rex Moncrief, he determined that the problem was in the monitor; it was as dark and lifeless. I had my radio program to put together for Tuesday afternoon’s broadcast and there was no computer to create the program. I reverted to what I formerly did when I began as a writer half a century ago. I wrote it all out in long-hand,
read it to my phone and emailed it to the station.

That was one deadline I met but I was faced with another critical one; I had to come up with my weekly column for the newspapers for which I write, columns that I email after putting them together. With email not available, I was stuck until Tuesday morning when shops were back in business after the holidays. Locating a monitor at Office Depot, I brought it home,
unpacked it and called my buddy Rex to help me get it installed. What you are reading now is my first effort on my restored computer. If it’s a little scatter brained, you’ll hopefully understand.

That makes three problems in a row that we faced and eventually conquered and I pray to the Good Lord that things will be on the up and up now. Let’s just hope when everything thaws when the freeze lets up that there won’t be water spraying everywhere. The plumbers are busy enough without me adding to their workload.

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(reprint from the Lincoln Parish Journal)

Ruston is getting a new mattress business.

Robby Compton, who has owned and operated American Mattress Outlet in West Monroe since 2017, is now opening a store in Lincoln Parish.

The new store will open on Tuesday, Jan. 3, and will be located at 208 West Alabama Avenue.

“Opening a store in Ruston has been a goal of mine since we opened in West Monroe,” said Compton. “I have always loved Ruston, and I was just waiting on the right space and the right store manager.

“I think the new store being downtown is perfect. The spot is perfect. We will have the same great products and service that we have always had at our West Monroe location.”

According to Compton, the Ruston store will carry mattress collections from Southerland that include American Sleep, Scandinavian Sleep, Thermo Balance, and Signature by Southerland,” said Compton. “We will also carry Bed Tech, American Bedding, and MD Mattress.”

Compton said the store will also carry Bed Tech and Malouf adjustable bases as well Malouf sheets and pillows.

John Aaron Green will serve as the Ruston store manager after working at the West Monroe location for the past four years.

American Mattress Outlet’s slogan is: “You don’t have to go into debt to get a great night’s sleep.”

“I think the great folks of Ruston and in Lincoln Parish will be happy with our selection and prices,” said Compton.

For more information on American Mattress Outlet, go to: www.AmericanMattressOutletRuston.com

NOTE: American Mattress Outlet is an advertiser in the Jackson Parish Journal. 

 

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The coming of a new year brings hope for us all. It is a chance to wipe the slate clean and start anew. Many of us will set goals that we could never achieve, but we must believe that we can achieve anything. We must believe in ourselves. No matter what happens this coming year, don’t stop believing in yourself.

In the early 1970s, Jonathan moved from his hometown of Chicago to Los Angeles, California. The only being Jonathan knew in “the City of Angels” was his beloved dog that he brought with him from Chicago. Jonathan, a talented musician, hoped to “make it big” in the music industry. At eight years old, Jonathan began taking accordion lessons. As a teenager, he made extra money playing accordion and piano in clubs and at parties. Following high school, Jonathan attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music. His parents, teachers, and friends all thought he had the talent required to “make it,” and encouraged him to give it a shot.

Jonathan was hopeful when he arrived in Los Angeles, but he quickly began to struggle just to survive. There were opportunities for up-and-coming musicians to play, but the market was saturated with fine musicians who often played for little or no pay. More often than not, Jonathan’s income from playing music was too little to allow him to pay his bills and eat, too. He became one of Los Angeles’s many starving artists. When he became desperate, which happened often, Jonathan ashamedly called his father and asked for a small loan. His father always sent Jonathan what money he could and reassured him that one-day things would be better.

Then, an event happened which brought Jonathan to the point of giving up on his dream, his beloved dog was hit by a car and severely injured. He had no money to pay the vet. Once again, he called his father for another loan. His father could hear the discouragement in his voice more than any other time that Jonathan had called. “Dad,” Jonathan asked in a dispirited voice, “should I just give up on this thing and come home?” His father reassured him as he always had. “No. Don’t come home,” his father said. Always full of encouragement, his father gave him another piece of advice which Jonathan thought important enough to jot down in his notebook.

With his father’s reassurance, Jonathan kept searching for the right opportunity. He thought that opportunity had finally arrived in 1976 when he recorded a solo album which he named after his hometown, “Windy City Breakdown.” The album failed to chart, and Jonathan’s struggle continued. In 1978, Jonathan joined a British rock group called The Babys. Jonathan recorded two albums with The Babys, but the band failed to achieve the level of success they had hoped for and, in 1980, the group disbanded. In that same year, Jonathan joined another band and began working on an album with them. The band needed two more songs to complete the album, and the band’s lead singer asked Jonathan if he had any song ideas. Jonathan flipped through his notebook and read again the advice his father had given him several years earlier. Those three simple words of encouragement became the inspiration of and title of one of Jonathan’s band’s biggest hits. It has been described as the “perfect rock song” which featured Jonathan playing “one of the best opening keyboard riffs in rock.” The song was the best-selling digital track from the 20th century. The band was Journey. The name of the song and the advice his father gave Jonathan Cain was,… “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

Those three words were good advice from Jonathan’s father then and have remained good advice to listeners for over forty years. If we “Don’t Stop Believin’” in ourselves, we can accomplish anything in the coming new year.

Happy New Year!

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Disclaimer: The Jackson Parish Journal welcomes letters to the editor. The letters may be edited for clarity, legal ramifications, length, or general taste at the editor’s discretion. We also reserve the right to refuse to publish submitted letters for the same reasons. All letters must be signed. Letters published do not necessarily reflect the views of the Jackson Parish Journal, its Publisher, its staff, or its advertisers.

U.S. Law bars insurrection, with our Code stating that “whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the Laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined
under this Title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States”. If democrats can get President Trump convicted of insurrection, then the job is done.

Is now the time to mention “Russian collusion”? F.B.I. manipulation of Federal Judges to sign warrants authorizing spying on American citizens? The two-year, 32 million dollars, character assassination called the Mueller Report? The 100% fabrication of all this, not by Russia or China or Iran, but by the democrats and their members. How could any real American not be upset over the lies these people told every day? Is there a border crisis?

If you mean the 1.7 million crossings in the last 12 months, 221,000 last month, that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
dealt with, yes. The largest number since they started tracking it in 1960. These illegals are not given health screens or checked for criminal history. That makes sense. The Biden administration is sending them, by bus or plane, around the country. In fact, Tennessee just got told, that ICE would be transporting at least 50 illegals, twice a week by bus, from New Orleans, starting now.
No one asked Tennessee if they wanted them. The State doesn’t have the money to take care of people that are not American citizens because Joe Biden wants to do away with the middle class. Biden wishes he could control us like the Chinese do
their people, and I don’t know why he can’t. Look what a great job his supporters did on January 6th. Hard to believe, isn’t it?

The Capital Police opened the barriers to let the people on Capital grounds, then opened a door or two, letting some in. I have never heard of an insurrection where the government takeover was done by an unarmed group of militants. One gun was fired, by a Police Lieutenant with 28 years experience, standing in the doorway of a room, shooting across the hall, through the glass of a steel door, into an unarmed American citizen, Ashli Babbitt, stripping her of her life, because he feared for his safety and the safety of the members of Congress. A 28-year veteran shoots an unarmed female because he feared for his life and the lives of the members of Congress. The democrats keep calling it a deadly insurrection, yet it was a veteran Capital police officer doing the killing. It is a really good thing the “black lives matter” protesters didn’t riot, no telling what would have happened.

Why would anyone be in favor of taking away the American Dream? Embracing this kind of transition into bondage? There will be no more reasons to “dream”. The history of your family’s time in America and their struggle to immigrate here and the customs and heirlooms handed down to you will no longer matter. What matters now, is that you support the communist party leaders and embrace communism and its history. How could anyone not be ready to shed their heritage and be proud of their children’s education centers on the history of the communist party? You have overthrown the evil, racist United States and made it to your
nirvana. Go forth and fulfill your destiny.

Shannon Morris
Eros, LA

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NOTE: This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Charles Comeaux (Inglewood, CA) – Fugitive from Justice for Domestic Abuse Battery charge – Bossier City Police Department 
Chadwick Rogers (Pineville, LA) – Rapides Sheriff’s Office Warrant on Contempt of Court charge
Rocky S. Davis (Jonesboro, LA) – Possession of Schedule II, Registration light
Robin J. Jiles (Quitman, LA) – Issue of Worthless Check
Thomas Kennedy (Giblsand, LA) – Bossier Parish Sheriff Office Warrant x 2
Losalind H. Brown (Natchitoches, LA) – Possession of Schedule I, Possession of Schedule I Synthetic
Ayden Watkins (Jonesboro, LA) – Domestic Abuse Battery Involving Strangulation
Timothy Lamay (Jonesboro, LA) -Possession of Schedule I, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Tag Light, Driving Under Suspension, Hodge Bench Warrant x 2
John M. Willis (Columbia, LA) – Flight from an Officer, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Reckless Operaton
Crystal Howell (Eros, LA) – DWI 1st Offense, Improper Lane Usage
Mary R. LeBrun (Jonesboro, LA) – Simple Battery

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Stump Removal and Grinding: Call James Stewart at (318) 243-1009 or (318) 768-2554 for your stump removal and grinding needs. Free Estimates! 

 

JOB OPENING

First Baptist Church  – Jonesboro: Actively searching to fill the position of secretary. The job will require approximately 4-5 hours per day (M-F). Applicant needs to be proficient in general reception duties, Office 365, and basic financial record keeping. A good rapport with people and a teachable spirit are required. Resumes can be mailed to 500 S Cooper Ave, Jonesboro, or emailed to office@fbcjonesboro.net. You may also call the church office at (318) 259-4467 for more information.

FOR SALE

Book – “100-year history of JHHS football”  Comprehensive year-by-year description of the first 100 years (1919-2019) of JHHS football. Includes categorial individual and team top ten rankings. Perfect gift for that family member or friend who would enjoy remembering their “glory days”. The cost is $25.00 per book plus $3.00 for shipping and handling. To order call (318) 480-1206. 

Commemorative Plates – Beautifully etched china plates commemorating Jonesboro-Hodge High School and Jackson Parish. To order contact Wilda Smith at (318) 426-6511 or Barbara Johnson at (318) 450-5561.

PUBLIC NOTICES

SPRING CREEK SUBDIVISION WATER SYSTEM
PWS ID# LA1049028

The SPRING CREEK SUBDIVISION WATER SYSTEM is currently in violation of the treatment technique requirements for minimum residual disinfectant level as set forth by the State (Part XII of the Louisiana State Sanitary Code). Although this incident is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we are doing to correct this situation.
What happened?
The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has determined that the presence of microbiological contaminantsis a health concern at certain levels of exposure and requires the disinfection of drinking water to kill disease- causing organisms. Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. These symptoms, however, are not just associated with disease-causing organisms in drinking water, but also may be caused by a number of factors other than your drinking water. LDH has set enforceable requirements for treating drinking water to reduce the risk of these adverse health effects.
Treatment such as filtering and disinfecting the water removes and destroys microbiological contaminants.
Drinking water which is treated to meet LDH requirements is associated with little to none of this risk and should be considered safe.
We are required to monitor your water for the residual disinfectant level. This tells us whether we are effectively treating the water supply. During the compliance monitoring periods of (10/1/2022) through (10/31/2022), and (11/1/2022) through (11/30/2022), the SPRING CREEK SUBDIVISION WATER SYSTEM failed to provide the minimum residual disinfectant level in the treated water supplied to customers. The violation occurred because the treated water chlorine residual was less than 0.5 milligrams per liter in over five percent of the samples collected in the water system in two consecutive months.
What should you do?
You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.
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.
What is being done?
Our operations partner (Clearwater Solutions) is looking into the issues and are planning to install a new chemical feed pump that is flow paced with the new master meter. The estimated completion date is Q1 (quarter one) 2023.
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.

 

 

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Saman Ezell
March 9, 1944 – December 25, 2022

Saman (Saisompool) Ezell passed away on Sunday, December 25th, 2022 at Northern Louisiana Medical Center in Ruston. Saman was married to the love of her life, John Robert Ezell for 52 years. Saman loved to fish and she and John enjoyed traveling. She was accomplished at crocheting and sold her wares at many festivals. Saman had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening very much. Her cats were very special to her and she spoiled them constantly.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, John R. Ezell; sisters-in-law, Sybil Arnold (Millard) and Betty Deaton; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Preceding Saman in death were her parents, Ma and Sawang Saisompool; 2 brothers; and 2 sisters.

Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home Chapel in Jonesboro from 1 pm until 2 pm. The funeral service begins at 2 pm officiated by Bro. David Essmeier. Burial will follow in Gayla Traina Memorial Cemetery in Jonesboro, under the direction of Southern-Edmonds.

Serving the family as pallbearers will be John Slaughter, Jody Slaughter, Tommy Slaughter, Dennis Ezell, Benny Deaton, and Jimmy Eames.

Casket Bradford Jr. 
February 12, 1975 – December 21, 2022

Mr. Casket Darnell Bradford, Jr. affectionately known as “Cat Jr.” by his family and friends. He was the second-born child to the late Casket Bradford, Sr. and Brenda Osborne on February 12, 1975. Cat Jr.
departed this life at Methodist Charlton Methodist Center in Dallas, TX on December 21, 2022.

Cat Jr. attended Jonesboro-Hodge High School where he dated Katherine McNeal and to this relationship, Selebrity and Sympathy McNeal were born.

Cat Jr. moved to Chicago, ILL to live with his dad, while there he met and married Tynisa Gordon, and to this union Casket “CJ”, Catera “Punkin”, and Kyla “Baby” was born. Cat Jr. was a truck driver for many years. They later divorced but remained friends.
Later he married Cozette Elizalde while living in Texas. Cat. Jr. was employed with Niagara Bottling Company in Dallas, TX as a Machine Operator at the time of his illness and later departure.

Cat Jr. was preceded in death by his father, Casket Bradford Sr.

He leaves to cherish his memory: mother Brenda Osborne of Jonesboro, LA; wife Cozette Bradford of Arlington, TX; four sisters: Kathryn Bradford of Columbus, MS, Cathy Jackson of Dallas, TX, Katrina Bradford of Jonesboro, LA, and Katina Bradford of Jonesboro, LA; one brother Roderick Thompson of Kansas City, MO; his children: Selebrity McNeal, Dallas, TX, Sympathy McNeal, Shreveport, LA, Casket “CJ” Bradford, Chicago, ILL, Malik Hopkins, Louisville, KY, Catera Bradford, Chicago, ILL, La’Chiya O’Donald, Dallas, TX, Kyla Bradford, Chicago, ILL; other children he helped to raise: Angel Elizade, Dallas, TX, Tiara (George) Colleens of Germany, Antchill Thomas, Chicago, ILL, Landell Gray (Stephanie), North Carolina, TaNeechie Gray, Arlington, TX, and Agai Gray, Dallas, TX, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, Masonic Lodge of Chicago, ILL, and co-workers.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, December 28th at the Paradise Funeral Home in Jonesboro. Interment will follow at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery under the direction of Paradise Funeral Home. 

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Many people think Christmas Day is a time when friends and family members gather to eat and give gifts to each other than wait for Santa Claus to come to visit with gifts of his own. and that’s all there is to it. They know nothing of how the gift-giving tradition came to be, the origination of Santa Claus, why Christmas is celebrated on December 25th, and most importantly what the real meaning of Christmas is. 

Why are presents given? 

One of the main reasons we have the custom of giving and receiving presents at Christmas is to remind us of the presents given to Jesus by the Wise Men: Frankincense, Gold, and Myrrh. Christmas itself is really about a big present that God gave the world about 2000 years ago – Jesus! As John 3:16, says: ‘God loved the world so much, that he gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him may not be lost but have eternal life.’.

Who is Santa Claus? 

Most children around the world believe in a Christmas gift bringer. In the United States, the legend of Santa Claus or St. Nick, as he is also referred to, originates from the Clement Clarke Moore poem  penned in 1822 “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”  In 1881, political cartoonist Thomas Nast drew on Moore’s poem to create the first likeness that matches our modern image of Santa Claus. There are similar figures and Christmas traditions around the world as well. Christkind or Kris Kringle was believed to deliver presents to well-behaved Swiss and German children. Meaning “Christ child,” Christkind is an angel-like figure often accompanied by St. Nicholas on his holiday missions. In Scandinavia, a jolly elf named Jultomten was thought to deliver gifts in a sleigh drawn by goats. English legend explains that Father Christmas visits each home on Christmas Eve to fill children’s stockings with holiday treats. Père Noël is responsible for filling the shoes of French children. In Italy, there is a story of a woman called La Befana, a kindly witch who rides a broomstick down the chimneys of Italian homes to deliver toys into the stockings of lucky children.

Why called Christmas and why on December 25th?

The name ‘Christmas’ comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus). A Mass service (sometimes called Communion or Eucharist) is where Christians remember that Jesus died and then came back to life. The ‘Christ-Mass’ service was the only one that was allowed to take place after sunset (and before sunrise the next day), so people had it at Midnight! So we get the name Christ-Mass, shortened to Christmas.

A very early Christian tradition said that the day when Mary was told that she would have a very special baby, Jesus (called the Annunciation) was on March 25th – and it’s still celebrated today on the 25th of March. Nine months after the 25th of March is the 25th of December!

The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (he was the first Christian Roman Emperor).

What is the real meaning of Christmas?

Nothing explains the real meaning of Christmas other than the true account of the birth of Jesus known as:

The Christmas Story

Long ago when King Herod ruled Judea (now part of Israel), God sent the angel Gabriel to a young woman who lived in the northern town of Nazareth. The girl’s name was Mary and she was engaged to marry Joseph.

The angel Gabriel said to Mary: ‘Peace be with you! God has blessed you and is pleased with you.’ Mary was very surprised by this and wondered what the angel meant. The angel said to her ‘Don’t be afraid, God has been very kind to you. You will become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and give birth to a baby boy and you will call him Jesus. He will be God’s own Son and his kingdom will never end.’ Mary was very afraid but she trusted God. ‘Let it happen as God chooses.’ she replied to the angel. Gabriel also told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth, who everyone thought was too old to have children, would have a baby boy whom God had chosen to prepare the way for Jesus.

Mary said goodbye to her family and friends and went to visit her cousin Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah. Elizabeth was very happy to see Mary. She knew that Mary had been chosen by God to be the mother of his Son. An angel had already told Zechariah that Elizabeth’s baby would prepare people to welcome Jesus. He was to be called John. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home to Nazareth.

Joseph was worried when he found out that Mary was expecting a baby before their marriage had taken place. He wondered if he should put off the wedding altogether. Then an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said: ‘Don’t be afraid to have Mary as your wife.’ The angel explained that Mary had been chosen by God to be the mother of his Son and told Joseph that the baby would be named Jesus which means ‘Saviour’ because he would save people. When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel had told him to do and took Mary as his wife.

At this time, the land where Mary and Joseph lived was part of the Roman Empire. The Roman Emperor Augustus wanted to have a list of all the people in the empire, to make sure they paid their taxes. He ordered everyone to return to the town where their families originally came from, and enter their names in a register (or census) there. Mary and Joseph traveled a long way (about 70 miles) from Nazareth to Bethlehem, because that is where Joseph’s family came from. Most people walked but some lucky people had a donkey to help carry the goods needed for the journey. Joseph and Mary traveled very slowly because Mary’s baby was due to be born soon.

When they reached Bethlehem they had problems finding somewhere to stay. So many people had come to register their names in the census, that every house was full and every bed was taken in all of the guest rooms. The only place to stay that they could find was with the animals. People often kept animals in the house, especially at night, and used them like ‘central heating’! People normally slept on a raised/upper level with the animals below to give them extra warmth.

So in the place where the animals slept, Mary gave birth to Jesus, the Son of God.

In those days it was the custom to wrap newborn babies tightly in a long cloth called ‘swaddling clothes’. Jesus’ bed was the manger where the animals ate their hay from.

In the hills and fields outside Bethlehem, shepherds looked after their sheep through the long night. As the new day began, suddenly an angel appeared before them and the glory of God shone around them. The shepherds were very, very scared, but the angel said, ‘Don’t be afraid. I have good news for you and everyone. Today in Bethlehem a Saviour has been born for you. You will find the baby lying in a manger.’

Then many more angels appeared, lighting up the sky. The shepherds heard them praising God singing: ‘Glory to God in highest, and peace to everyone on earth.’ When the angels had gone the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem to see what has happened.’ So the shepherds went to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph. The baby Jesus was lying in a manger as they had been told. When they saw him, they told everyone what the angel had said and everyone who heard the story was astonished. Then the shepherds returned to their sheep, praising God for sending his Son to be their Saviour.

When Jesus was born, a brand new bright star appeared in the sky. Some Wise Men in faraway countries saw the star and guessed what it meant. They were very clever men that studied the stars and had read in very old writings that a new star would appear when a great king was born. They set out to find the new king and bring him gifts.

The Wise Men followed the star towards the country of Judea and when they got to the capital called Jerusalem they began to ask people: ‘Where is the child who is born to be king of the Jews?’ Herod, the king of Judea, heard this and it made him very angry to think that someone might be going to take his place as king. Herod sent for the Wise Men to come to him. He told them to go on following the star until they had found the baby king. He said: ‘When you have found him, let me know where he is so that I can go and worship him.’. But Herod did not tell them that he really had an evil plan in mind to kill the new king.

The Wise Men followed the star towards Bethlehem (where it said that the king would be born in the old writings). It seemed to stop and shine directly down upon the place where Jesus was.

The Wise Men entered the house where they now lived and found Jesus with Mary, they bowed down and worshipped him. The Wise Men spread the gifts they had brought before Jesus. The gifts were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Wise Men were warned in a dream, by God, not to go back to Herod. So they returned home to their countries in the East in a different way.

When the Wise Men had gone, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ the angel said, ‘take Jesus and Mary and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for Jesus to kill him.’ So Joseph got up, took Jesus and Mary, and during the night they left for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod died.

When Herod realized that he had been tricked by the Wise Men, he was furious and he gave orders to kill all the boys aged two or younger in Bethlehem and the surrounding area. This was to try and kill the new King, as his plan to find the location of the new king from the Wise Men had failed.

After Herod had died, Joseph had another dream in which an angel appeared to him. The angel said, ‘Get up, take Jesus and Mary and go back to Israel, for those who were trying to kill Jesus are dead.’

So Joseph got up, took Jesus and Mary and they went back to Israel. But when he heard that Herod’s son was now king of Judea, he was afraid to go there. So instead they went to Galilee and lived in their old town of Nazareth.

 

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The message given to the large crowd that packed the Charles H Garett Community Center this past Wednesday was that eventually, everyone in Jackson Parish will have access to broadband internet capability and for a good portion, fiber optic cable network service will be in place in a matter of months. 

This and more information were disseminated by ConnectLA and Altice USA /Optimum officials who are collaborating to provide broadband internet coverage for Jackson Parish through a $2,029,929.87 Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunity (GUMBO) grant. The designation for Jackson Parish is part of a multiple-round, statewide initiative that totals $300,189,224.13. Expectations are that in the first round of funding fiber optic network services will be provided to an estimated 2,100 residents that have no internet service and roughly 6,000 who have none to marginal service by the end of 2023. 

“We are very excited that by the end of the year, GUMBO will make a huge impact for several thousand residents that have none to marginal internet capability,” said Vyneeth Iyengar, Executive Director for ConnectLA. “What is more, is that as the funding continues to be provided everyone in the parish will be part of the network.”

To learn more about GUMBO click here.

Jim Campbell, Vice President of Government Affairs for Altice USA, then took the floor to give an idea of what the initial stages of work would entail and provided a project timeline over the next 12 months.  

“We are currently going all over the parish to best determine how transmission should be handled and are in the process of getting the required permits needed,” said Campbell. “When that is complete we will begin the procurement stage along with ISP make-ready and construction work, leading up to the activation of the network and home readiness stage.”

A graphic timeline chart was then introduced showing how long each developmental stage should last during the next 12 months.

STAGE

Jan

Feb

March

April

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

WALKABOUT

X

X

X

DESIGN

X

X

X

PERMITTING

X

X

X

PROCUREMENT

X

X

ISP MAKE READY

X

BACKHAUL CONSTRUCTION

X

X

X

X

X

X

LAST MINUTE CONSTRUCTION

X

X

X

ACTIVATION

X

X

HOME READINESS

X

Michael Shaffer, Vice President of Local Market Engagement then informed the audience about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford broadband services. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

Those eligible for ACP include:

Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income internet program;
Participates in one of these assistance programs: (1)Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, (2) SNAP (3) Medicaid (4) Federal Housing Assistance, including Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8 Vouchers), Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)/Section 202/ Section 811, Public Housing (5) Supplemental Security Income (SSI), (6) WIC (7) Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits (8) Lifeline

To learn more about ACP click here. 

This was followed by Shaffer introducing a map showing what parts of the parish would be covered through the GUMBO program and also showing what areas are covered through an FCC program that is not expected to take effect for several years yet.

To view the interactive map which can be enhanced to view your exact location click here.

Blue areas are those covered by GUMBO while gray areas are in the FCC program area.

Shaffer also encouraged residents to contact his office if they are not in the original plans of coverage to allow his group the opportunity to see if any could be included.

“I am your point of contact for Jackson Parish. If you see that your residence falls outside the areas that we currently have designated, I invite you to contact my office so that we can examine the possibility of having you included,” said Shaffer.

Contact can be made either by calling: (903)407-0925 or by sending an email to: michael.shaffer@alticeusa.com

The session finalized with a description of what it will cost to be connected and what levels of service will be offered as shown below.

Broadband Cost Projections

Service Level	Speed	Cost
Tier 1	100 Mpbs	$29.99
Tier 2	300 Mpbs	$39.99
Tier 3	500 Mpbs	$59.99
Tier 4	1 Gbps	$79.99

Timewise, the LHSAA prep basketball regular season runs roughly from the first of November until the end of January, with a spattering of games slated in February before the start of the playoffs. Other than one game scheduled for December 30th, you can put a bow on the 2022 portion of the LHSAA basketball season for the four schools in the Jackson Parish Journal coverage area. It’s a wrap!

In the not-so-distant past, the Christmas holiday break from school meant contests being played virtually every day, sometimes even more than one in a day if a tournament was going on. Nowadays, it means a two-week break from competition.
The coaches and players will be busy though. The staff will be pouring over film daily, so they can decide what to continue doing and what to discard. The players will be putting in lots of practice time attempting to iron the wrinkles out and working on their shortcomings. All of this is to prepare for the 2023 portion of the schedule, which is mainly district play and the stretch run to “Marsh Madness,” as the LHSAA state tournament is affectionately called.

Let’s take a look at each of the four boys and girls teams in our area and recap their season to date.

Boys:

Jonesboro-Hodge (4-5) While the other three schools in the area started their season around the first of November, JHHS didn’t play their first game until November 29th allowing time for football season to end. The Tigers opened by winning their first three games, climbing to the top of Division IV “non-select school rankings. Then, by the design of head coach Allen Tew to toughen his squad up for the rigors of the District 3-2A battles ahead, the schedule got considerably tougher with their next six contests being against traditionally strong programs from Class 3A and above. The result has been five losses in their last six games, but the Tiger’s power rating has not suffered much as they enter the next phase of the season ranked #9 in the state.

Quitman (11-6) Head coach Mike Black’s bunch has been a pleasant surprise so far this season and was one group that probably hated to see the break in play come along. After treading water at 5-5 over the first 10 games, the Wolverines caught fire during December breaking off a pair of three-game win streaks and winning six of their seven contests during the month. Two victories over a Class A team and a pair of Class 2A squads were included. Making the showing even more impressive is that this has been done while playing only one game in their own gymnasium which is undergoing renovation forcing the Wolverines to play their “home” games at Jonesboro-Hodge. If there is a drawback to the season so far is that despite the winning record, Quitman is sitting at only #18 in Division V, as nine games against Class C opponents have hurt their power rankings.

Saline (7-10) If you think there was a difference in the fortunes of November and December at Quitman, it is nothing compared to what has occurred at Saline. The Bobcats lost 9 of their first 10 November games heading into the Bienville Parish Tournament. They also lost to Arcadia on December 2nd, but head coach Klint Robinson noticed a difference as his squad played with an intensity not seen before this season. The spark has turned into a roaring inferno. Saline has now won six of their last seven, with five of the victories coming against teams from higher classifications. The victories combined with “playing up” have vaulted the Bobcats to #16 in the rankings, being the only team in the top 18 with a losing record.

Weston (7-11) The Wolves are another team that started slow but showed improvement over the last three weeks before the break. Injuries and illness played a big factor in Weston losing six of their first seven but since back at full strength, head coach Jacob Otwell’s group has put together a winning record buoyed by a stretch of three wins in a row, including a victory over a Class 5A opponent. A strong finish is going to be needed though if the Wolves have any designs on seeing post-season action. With only three games on the schedule being against schools from a higher classification and 11 contests being played against Class C opponents, Weston is currently ranked #35 in Division V and on the outside looking in at what will be a 28-team field.

Girls:

Jonesboro-Hodge (2-8) Head coach Kris Cash is hoping for a repeat of last year which saw JHHS make an astounding reversal of starting 2-10 to finish at 13-14 and winning district. For that to happen though he must find a replacement for all the points that graduated, something that up to this point is still a work in progress. Signs are that the Lady Tigers are moving in the right direction as after starting 0-6, the Lady Tigers have split their last four games and in three of the four registered their 1st, 2nd, and 4th highest scoring total of the year. The trend must continue if JHHS is going to make the playoffs as they are currently #31 in the rankings.

Quitman (13-4) The Lady Wolverines look to be strong contenders for district title considerations once again under head coach Kyle Leach. As usual, QHS will fill it up from “downtown” but what has been different this season is that for the first time in several years, the Lady Wolverines have a strong post presence as well. The result has been an impressive showing. So far, Quitman has lost only to a pair of south Louisiana perineal powers in an early season tournament while being forced to play shorthanded and to a pair of Class 5A squads. Their victims include three Class 2A opponents and three from Class A helping QHS to a #13 ranking in Division V and the third highest among north Louisiana schools.

Saline (4-11) The Lady Bobcats season is quickly becoming “twice as nice.” That is because of the suddenly inspired play of the Gray twins that has caused their recent opponents to see blue. The season started horribly at 1-12 but head coach Chris Toms’s girls will enter the next phase on a three-game winning streak. Confidence will also be sky-high, especially for Alaya Gray, who turned in the first “triple-double” of the season among players from area schools. A strong January is going to be needed as Saline is sitting squarely on the “bubble” at #27 in the rankings.

Weston (17-4) Without a question the “feel good” story of the year for the 2022 portion of the schedule. Never in recent memory has the Lady Wolves started a season in such impressive fashion. The nine-game winning streak to open the year set a new modern-day mark for the best start to a season as did scoring over 70 points in the first three games. Head coach Stacey Tucker and assistant Jennifer Tolar, who has had to take over the reins recently due to Tucker being out with COVID, have one of the deepest squads in the area with several players being able to light it up at any time. Only four times all year has Weston failed to score at least 50 points. Only three games against schools from a higher class has hurt Weston’s power rating though. Currently, the Lady Wolves are #22 despite having the fourth-highest total of wins among Division V schools.

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Tyson Burks and Dylan Hayes made a lot of memories this past fall while playing football for Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School. Now they have made history! This was accomplished recently when they both became the first from J-HMS to be selected to the p Louisiana Gridiron Football Junior All-American Bowl Game. The contest that matches up the top junior high football players  from the state of Louisiana will be played at 7:00 pm on Dec 30th in Orange Beach, Alabama.This is the fourth year that Gridiron Football has hosted an All-Star football game for varsity players but the first that includes a junior high contest and the first time that the bowl games will be played out of state.  

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Let’s Get Vaccinated! That is the message the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is trying to convey. To help make that possible LDH Region 8, of which Jackson Parish is a part of, has scheduled dates for free vaccinations in each parish of the region.
The times and dates for Jackson Parish are from 8:00am – 4:30 pm, this coming Monday thru Thursday, (December 27-29) at the Jackson Parish Health Unit located at 228 Bond St. in Jonesboro. To schedule an appointment call (318) 259 – 6601.

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Remember when you made the choice to become a paramedic? You were excited. You looked forward to helping people in your community. You wanted to be part of something larger and do something for the greater good. If this is you, then you are in luck. The Jackson Parish Ambulance Service is looking to hire Paramedics at a Full-Time status.

Contact JPASD Director, Aaron Johnson, if you’re looking for a work atmosphere where you’ll remember why you wanted a career in Emergency Medical Services. JPSAD offers competitive benefits and wages and we’re probably not like any other service listed on your resume.

To make an appointment with Aaron at the Jackson Parish Ambulance Service District Headquarters located at 115 Watts Street in Jonesboro call (318) 259 – 2891 or send an email to: JacksonParishAmbulance@jpasd.com

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Christmas is here but it is sometimes difficult to get a clear vision of what it’s really all about when filtered through clouds of war, political upheaval, famine and disease in every corner of the world.

Yet, the time for celebrating the birth of Christ is here and we’re often faced with how to best honor Him in the midst of all that is going on around us.

Our church has an annual food drive where bags of groceries are accumulated from donations and distributed to needy families in the community. A few years ago, Kay and I helped bring a bit of joy to some families in our community. Seeing the faces of children and grateful parents and being able to take a bit of edge off what pain and anxiety they may be facing was
worth giving up the few hours we spent.

As we handed out bags of groceries and received heartfelt thanks, my thoughts turned to memories of the season when I was growing up in the country.

Our Christmases were relatively simple, but that didn’t make them any less special.

When it came time to put up the tree, we didn’t go to the shopping center and select an artificial one. We didn’t go to a Christmas tree farm and cut our own from a neat row of cloned trees.

We walked out behind the house to the woods with the hope of finding a cedar growing away from other trees. This didn’t happen often; you’d find a tree that looked just right and nicely shaped, until you checked the back side and saw that the oak next to it had robbed it of sunlight, leaving it shapely on one side and skimpy on the other. If this was the best one you could find, you cut it and put the skimpy side next to the wall.

For decoration, there was red roping, icicles and colored balls. We didn’t have strings of lights those early Christmases because there was nothing to plug them into. Electricity hadn’t found its way to Goldonna yet.

My mama’s kitchen was a mixture of sights, sounds and aromas as the special day neared. Dad, my brother and I made sure we saved a couple of wood ducks shot down at the Sand Flats for mama’s special recipe. I recall seeing those ducks, roasted almost black in a Dutch oven, swimming in a dark sea of the richest gravy you can imagine.

There was a pan of dressing mama made from cornbread she’d cooked the day before and set aside. A fat hen provided the broth and zest to the dressing.

On the side, there was a bowl of ambrosia, pecan pies, chocolate pies, divinity, fudge and the traditional applesauce cake mama made from homemade fig preserves, raisins and pecans from our tree in the yard.

As we handed out bags of groceries that day, I recalled a parallel event from childhood that made me want to have a part in sharing with other folks this time of year. Before we sat down to our Christmas dinner, Mama would always prepare a big tray from the bounty of our table and our whole family would walk through the pine thicket to the home of an old couple, our neighbors, whose Christmas dinner would have been meager had it not been for mama’s generosity.

Times change, and they do it in the blink of an eye. All the older participants in those early Christmases are gone; Mom and Dad, the old couple down the road. The memories of those events came into focus though, in the eyes of appreciative folks whose Christmas may have been bleak without the provisions we brought them.

If you run into me during the next few days, don’t expect me to greet you with Happy Holidays, Merry X-mas or Season’s Greetings. You’ll hear “Merry Christmas” in honor of the One this day is all about.

FISHING REPORT 12-21-22

BLACK BAYOU – No report this week. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707 for latest information.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Crappie fishing has been best on jigs or shiners around the boat ramp and nearby trees. Bass have fair to good flipping creature baits around structure. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – Crappie fishing has improved a bit with best catches made on jigs or  shiners around structure. Bass have been best in the cuts and run-outs on shad imitation lures. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Crappie fishing had been good with best catches made on shiners or jigs fished along the channel edges. Bass fishing has been best fishing the points with soft plastics  and crank baits. Bream are slow while catfish are biting cold worms fished off the banks. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie fishing has been best fishing around the lights at night with shiners or jigs as well as around the tops in 12-14 foot water. Bass fishing has improved with some in the 4-5 pound range caught on a variety of lures. No report on catfish, bream or stripers.For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
CANEY LAKE – Jigging spoons and tail spinners are working best on bass bouncing these lures off the bottom in 18-20 foot deep water. Soft plastics and deep diving crank baits have been producing some around humps just off the channels with a few in the 7-8 pound range. Crappie
fishing continues to be best fishing the deep tops on shiners or jigs. No report on bream or 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 – Crappie fishing is improving with fish caught around the boat slips as well as on the lower end of the lake on shiners or jigs. Catfishing continues to be good with mostly smaller sizes reported. No report on bass. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water continues to rise and is now coming in through the chute. Duck hunters are having good luck. No fishing reports this week.. For information, call Surplus CityLanding at 318/467-2259.

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Chatham Branch features Movie Mania

The Chatham Branch of the Jackson Parish Library invites you to come to their location at 1500 Pine Street in Chatham at 2:00pm on Tuesday and Wednesday for Movie Mania. Featured films are Spiderman – No Way Home on Tuesday and Tiger Rising on Wednesday. There is no cost for admission and refreshments will be available. 

Grab-n-Go at Jonesboro Branch

Beginning on Tuesday come by the Jonesboro Branch of the Jackson Parish Library located at 614 South Polk Avenue in Jonesboro at any time during normal business hours to pick up an adorable mitten Grab-N-Go

Sponsorships of Library Park still available

 

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