There is no better gift to give during the Christmas season than the gift of life. LifeShare invites you to come to Quitman High School and Mercy Medical Health Center in Jonesboro on December 7th and 8th to donate blood and help those in need. Donors will receive a free pair of LifeShare socks. The LifeShare Bus will be at QHS, located at 181 Wolverine Drive from 8:30am – 2:00pm on December 7th and at the Mercy Medical Health Center in Jonesboro from 11:00am – 4:00pm on December 8th.
On November 28, 2022, Kathy Allen hosted the Ladies Study Guild of Jackson Parish at the Jackson Parish Museum & Fine Arts in Jonesboro. In attendance were Stacy Allbritton, Kathy Allen, Jolene Carson, Mary Cryer, Rosemary Ewing, Dawna Keys, Lisa McConathy, May Saulters, Wilda Smith, and Glo Weaver.
Stacy Allbritton presented a program on the American hero, 1st Lt. Thomas Smith, Jr. In 2011, Stacy was the guest speaker at a monument dedication in Incarville, France that had been spearheaded by Pierre Portier. Mr. Portier was a sixteen-year-old boy during World War II when he witnessed an American bomber, whose mission was to destroy a bridge, being hit by German combatants. The airplane was destined to crash into the small town of Incarville, but the pilot, FLt. Smith commanded his crew to eject as he stayed with the bomber to guide it away from the village. His plane circled above the town twice before crash-landing into a barn, killing Lt. Smith. Several of the crew were captured by the Germans, while others were hidden by the townspeople, including a parachutist that Mr. Portier helped to safety.
Mr. Portier never forgot the sacrifice that this American pilot made not only for the ideal of the liberation of France but for the very real lives of the villagers in Incarville. “We have the duty to remember,” insisted Mr. Portier, “and this monument will help us achieve such.” After several years of fundraising, he and the Monuments Association of Louviers realized the dream of a memorial in FLt. Smith’s honor.
The monument was dedicated on September 3, 2011, on the Rue de St-Cyr Circle near Incarville, France. It is a stone on which the following words are etched (translated from French):
IN THIS PLACE
Was found the field of Incarville
Destroyed by the fall of a
Flying American Fortress B17
Shot down by the Germans
13 August 1944
In memory of pilot FLt. Thomas Smith
Who was killed at the controls
U.S. Air Force B17 Fifinella
91st Bomb Group H 322nd Squadron
After the program, the meeting was adjourned and the ladies enjoyed hot cider and a delicious homemade bread pudding provided by Kathy Allen. The ladies will meet again on December 12, 2022, at the Hodge Baptist Church Fellowship Hall for their annual Christmas party.
The selections of Student-Athlete of the Week for November 25th – 30th 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.
Morgan McGee (10th Grade) – Varsity Girls Basketball player at Jonesboro-Hodge High School
Mitchel Mathews (12th Grade) – Varsity Boys Basketball player at Weston High School
Cali Deal (10th Grade) – Varsity Girls Basketball player at Quitman High School
Food, fun, and fellowship will take center stage at the Jackson Parish 4-H Junior Leaders meeting this Monday, December 5th at the 4-H Office in the Charles H Garrett Community Center located at 182 Industrial Drive in Jonesboro. Participants will get to enjoy a Holiday Potluck supper beginning at 5:30pm. Mrs. Kristi will be providing the ham but participants are invited to bring a favorite dish, a coloring book to donate, and a $15.00 or less gift to exchange. Activities will include ornament making.
I hope you gave thanks for all your blessings on Thursday. It is my prayer that in these days of natal preparation you will discover that God has blessed your life. I was thinking about being blessed and my mind wandered to Matthew 5, where Jesus gave a list of those who are blessed. We call that list the beatitudes.
Nadia Bolz-Weber in her book Accidental Saints offers a list of “blessed people” if Jesus were here today to bless them. Some of these blessed folks caused me to ponder them and that is the point.
“Blessed are the agnostics.
Blessed are they who doubt. Those who aren’t sure, who can still be surprised.
Blessed are they who are spiritually impoverished and therefore not so certain about everything that they no longer take in new information.
Blessed are those who have nothing to offer.
Blessed are the preschoolers who cut in line at communion.
Blessed are the poor in spirit. You are of heaven and Jesus blesses you.
Blessed are they for whom death is not an abstraction.
Blessed are they who have buried their loved ones, for whom tears could fill an ocean. Blessed are they who have loved enough to know what loss feels like.
Blessed are they who don’t have the luxury of taking things for granted anymore.
Blessed are they who can’t fall apart because they have to keep it together for everyone else. Blessed are the motherless, the alone, the ones from whom so much has been taken. Blessed are those who “still aren’t over it yet.”
Blessed are those who mourn. You are of heaven and Jesus blesses you.
Blessed are those who no one else notices. The kids who sit alone at the middle school lunch tables. The laundry guys at the hospital. The night shift workers working while the world sleeps.
Blessed are the forgotten.
Blessed are the unemployed, the unimpressive, and the underrepresented.
Blessed are the teens who have to figure out ways to hide the new cuts on their arms. Blessed are the meek. You are of heaven and Jesus blesses you.
Blessed are the wrongly accused, the ones who never catch a break and the ones for whom life is hard, for Jesus chose to surround himself with people like these.
Blessed are the foster kids and the trophy kids and the special needs kids and every other kid who just wants to feel safe and loved.
Blessed are the burned out social workers and the overworked teachers and the pro bono case takers.
Blessed are the kids who step between the bullies and the weak.
Blessed are they who hear that they are forgiven.
Blessed is everyone who has ever forgiven me when I didn’t deserve it.
Blessed are the merciful, for they totally get it.”
It is a blessed time for soon we tell the story of one who came down to the manger, kept descending to the cross so that He might reach down in the mess of our lives and lift us up.
We are blessed! Could our Christmas calling be to become a vehicle for God’s blessing to those who don’t feel so blessed?
Jayda Anderson is regularly seen cheering on the JHMS athletic teams. This past week the school was cheering for her as she was named the 2022-23 Student of the Year. From the moment she walked onto campus where she was voted Student of the Week in the first week of her 6th-grade year, Anderson has been a leader at JHMS. Congratulations Jayda!
It is not unusual to see a shut-out in junior high athletic competition but that is usually reserved for the football field. This past week the JHMS 7th-grade boys team achieved the feat in a basketball game, as they blasted Lincoln Prep 34-0 during 8th grade recognition night. Channing Gray and Jaquan Qualls led the way with ten points each. In 8th grade action, the JHMS boys fell to LP 38-16 with Tysen Burks scoring 7 points.
Later in the week, both the 7th and 8th-grade boys lost to Ruston Jr. High with the 7th grade falling 32-12 and the 8th grade losing by a 60-10 margin.
It is what is called a win-win! Now and through December 20th or until all is sold out, the creative members of the JHHS Ag Department under the tutelage of Ms. Shows are selling custom Christmas Yard decorations and signs. By purchasing the holiday-inspired works of art you not only show your neighbors your holiday spirit but help the JHHS Ag Dept. as all funds go toward costs incurred for supplies and materials.
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.
Bobby E Barnes (Jonesboro, LA) – Simple Battery
Ladrius T Jefferson (Saline, LA) – Bienville Warrants on charges Simple Criminal Damage to Property and Resisting an Officer
Charles Wainwright (Downsville, LA) – Ouachita Warrants on charges of Possession of Marijuana and FTA on Seatbelt charge
Louis Lopez III (Jonesboro, LA) – Possession of Synthetic Marijuana
Billma B Childs (Jonesboro, LA) – Simple Battery
Eddie McGuire (Jonesboro, LA) – Simple Battery
Milton B Houston (Jonesboro, LA) – Simple Assault
Charles Beaudion (Cloutierville, LA) – Contractors Fraud, Contractors Misapplication of Payments Prohibited
Eric Parker (Hodge, LA) – Execution of Sentence x 2
Jeffery W King (Jonesboro, LA) DWI 1st Offense, Failure to Dim Headlights, Flight from an Officer
Christopher O’Neale (Jonesboro, LA) – Possession of Marijuana – 3rd Offense, Possession of Schedule II drug
To have your job opportunities, business services, items, or any Legal/Public Notices, Advertisements for Bid, Requests for Proposals, and/or Quotes listed – send an email to: jpjjacksonla@gmail.com
Stump Removal and Grinding: Call James Stewart at (318) 243-1009 or (318) 768-2554 for your stump removal and grinding needs. Free Estimates!
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 Christmas 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.
Early Notice and Public Review of a Proposed Activity in a 100-Year Floodplain and/or Wetlands
This is to give notice that the Town of Chatham has determined that the following proposed action under the Town’s 2022 LCDBG Public Facilities Program is located in the 100-year floodplain and wetlands, and the Town will be identifying and evaluating practicable alternatives to locating the action in the floodplain and wetlands and the potential impacts on the floodplain and wetlands from the proposed action, as required by Executive Order 11988 and 11990, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands.
The Town of Chatham proposes to rehabilitate the town’s existing sewer system and lift stations. This will consist of demolition for existing lift station enclosure, piping/valving, pumps, motors and controls, temporary facilities, inclusive of by-pass pump, controls, fuel/power, operation, and related items, lift station inclusive of submersible pumps, motors, v-belts, controls, electrical, discharge piping/valving, and related items, wet well rehabilitation, station piping, site work inclusive of earthwork, concrete pad, erosion control, access drive, and related items, cure in place pipe, manhole inspection, cleaning and inspection of sewer, pipe bursting, manhole restoration system, manhole adjustment, connection to manhole, point repairs, emergency power system (WWTP), emergency power system (Lift Station 4 and 5), Lift Station 4 enclosure and
wet well riser, and watertight manhole frame and lid.
There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in floodplains and wetlands those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public
educational tool. The dissemination of information about floodplains and wetlands can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas. Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in floodplains and wetlands, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.
Written comments must be received by the Town of Chatham at the following address on or before December 22, 2022: Gregory Harris, Mayor, Town of Chatham, P.O. Box 7, Chatham, LA 71226-0007. The Town of Chatham can be contacted by phone at 318-249-2541. A full description of the project may also be reviewed at the Chatham Town Hall.
The Town of Chatham is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Mr. James Newton Wyatt, age 94 of Weston, was escorted through Heaven’s gates on Monday, November 28, 2022. Mr. James proudly served his country in the United States Army. He will be best remembered as a hard-working man. He had restaurants, a steak house, developed land, and even cows that he used to earn a living. He could take something that did not amount to anything, work hard putting in his time and effort, and he would turn nothing into something worthy of making a profit. Mr. James could spend a dollar and make a hundred. Some called him a “Tight-Wyatt” and in fact, this term became a nickname of endearment for him. He also had many house rentals that he rented to those who might not have been able to afford to house otherwise. He felt a need to help. He also loved his community and the people in it. He always tried to support his fellow neighbor as much as possible and tried his best not to miss a funeral. He also had a fun side and had many things that he enjoyed doing in his free time. He loved to spend time with his family. He loved to fish and he loved the color red. He also had a dirt track that he enjoyed racing on as well. He was born on March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day, and many, many Irish celebrations were held for him throughout the years. He and his family loved having these fun green celebrations and will cherish these wonderful memories. Mr. James will be greatly missed.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Patsy Marie (Boswell) Wyatt; children, Suzan Wyatt, Daniel Wyatt and Janet, Jennifer Wortham and Bobby, Allison Garner and Scott, James Wyatt, Jr. and Linsey, Billy Lamm, Scott Lamm; grandchildren, Tara Steinnerd Talley, Weston Thaggard, Janna Weaver, Adam Wortham, Andrew Wortham, Jake Garner, Seth Garner, Breanna Lamm, Alyssa Lamm, Christopher Lamm, Riley Lamm, Cheyenne Lamm; great-grandchildren, Ashton Wyatt, Caitlynn Weaver, Wyatt Weaver, Autumn Grace Weaver, Harrison Thaggard, Holland Thaggard, Henry Wortham, William Wortham, Henley Faith Buckelew; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Autumn Wyatt Henderson; parents, John Walter and Maggie Virgie (Staggs) Wyatt; siblings, Lawrence Wyatt, Leonard Wyatt, Virginia Caskey, and Polly Slaughter Raborn.
Funeral services were held Thursday, December 1, 2022, in Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Lance Huckaby and Rev. Chris Witt officiating. Burial followed in Ansley Cemetery under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.
Serving the family as pallbearers were Weston Taggart, Jake Garner, Seth Garner, and Ashton Wyatt.
Mrs. Daisy Annette Grissom, nee Durbin, passed from this life on Monday, November 28, at her home in Quitman. Miz Daisy, as she was known to all, was born on March 27, 1922, which gave her 100 years, eight months, and 1 day of life. Services will be held Friday, December 2, at Beech Springs Baptist Church, followed by internment at Antioch Cumberland Presbyterian Church cemetery.
Miz Daisy was born and raised in Ward 10 of Winn Parish where her family had lived for generations. She came to Jackson Parish on her marriage to John Henry Ponder during the Great Depression. A homemaker and cub scout leader in her early years, when her children were older, she trained as an LPN. She worked as a surgical and obstetrical nurse at Jackson Parish Hospital for almost twenty years, where she helped to deliver to hundreds of area residents. These were some of the happiest and most fulfilling years for her.
Miz Daisy always had a smile for everyone. She loved to dance and, with her second husband, Selma Grissom, was active with the local AA chapter and also in the “Red Bandana Gang”, an energetic group of retirees that attended dances and music shows all over northern Louisiana. She enjoyed visitors, was a wonderful cook, and occupied her spare time in cool weather with reading and crocheting. However, her greatest pleasure was working in her yard among her flowers. When well into her 90s, she grew her own fresh vegetables in a small backyard garden and mowed her two-acre lawn with her riding lawn mower.
Miz Daisy was preceded in death by her three sisters, Tavie Hurley, Eva Bagwell, and Opal Rushing, and her two brothers, Patrick Durbin and James Wesley Durbin. Also preceding her was her first husband, John Henry Ponder, second husband Selma Grissom, and eldest son, James Michael Ponder. She is survived by four children, Sherry Atkins of Clay, Patricia Maxwell of Quitman, Johnny Ponder with wife Rhonda from Transport, and Barry Ponder with wife Karen of Nashville, AR. Fifteen grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren, and seventeen great-great-grandchildren also survive, along with a host of nephews and nieces.
Funeral services were held on Friday, December 2nd at Beech Springs Baptist Church with Bro. Jason Womack and Bro. Craig Stephens officiating. Burial followed in Antioch Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.
Pallbearers for the service were Richard Maxwell, Barry Ponder, Floyd Miles, Patrick Duck, Ray Brown, Jason Womack, Billy Ponder, and Tony Savanna.
Klayton Andrew Delaughter, age 30 of Quitman, made his way to his Heavenly home on November 28, 2022. Klayton loved to hunt and fish and was a proud Eagle Scout. He enjoyed hunting season and being a member of The Sandhill Hunting Club. He was known to have a pure heart and loving soul and there was no obstacle that he couldn’t overcome. Klayton battled diabetes since the young age of seven. He will be remembered by his siblings as the “Best Bro”. Klayton could be counted on no matter the situation when it came to family and friends. He never left a friend in need and would always be there when needed to help. He will always be remembered as “The Best Daddy” in the world and Jameson Kreed was his whole world, he loved him above all else! Klayton absolutely had a love of life and would probably tell you not to grieve for him now as he is hunting on the grandest scale in Heaven. He will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him.
Those left to cherish his memory is his beloved son, Jameson Kreed Delaughter; father, Anthony Delaughter and Beth; mother, Debbie Pardue and Darrell; brother, Patrick Ford and Candra; sisters, Kristin Delaughter, Ashlynn Delaughter; paternal grandparents, Johnny and Cathy Delaughter; maternal grandmother, Mary Lou Pepper; a host of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Hodge Baptist Church with Rev. Keith Thomas and Rev. Freddie Shows officiating. Burial followed in Gayla Traina Cemetery under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.
Serving the family as pallbearers will be Patrick Ford, Josh Smith, Jeremy McDuff, Cody Holland, Casey Lewter, Josh Graham. Honorary pallbearers were Josh Delaughter, Zoe Griffini, The Sandhill Hunting Club, Liberty Hill Hunting Club.
It’s not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived. This note was found in some of our father’s papers. That this was important enough for him to take note of, lets you know what kind of man he was. May we all learn by the example he set. He was a true gentleman and loved others, selflessly. Our father Marvin Arnold Davis left this world on November 30, 2022. He passed away peacefully at the age of 81, surrounded by family. He will be missed daily and will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Marvin will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 61 years, Susan and his children, Kathy (George) Harmon, John Goodwin, Johnny (Gayla) Davis, Paula (Mike) Mercado, and Lin Claborn. He will also be cherished by his grandchildren, Yeew (Ashley) Cornejo, Samuel Harmon, Annie (Katie) Skow, Alecia (Chris) Bryant, Allen (Lark) Goodwin, Dakota (Tiffany) Goodwin, Tiffany (TJ) Vines, Kaylee Davis, and John Aaron Davis. He will be missed by all of his great grandchildren Emmitt and Kaylie Cornejo, Parker and Avery Bryant, Annie and John Calvin Goodwin, Aiden and Remi Goodwin, Brenna, Emma, and Abygayle
Fenn. He will also be missed by many other relatives and friends.
Marvin is preceded in death by his parents, John Aaron and Pearl Davis, his brothers Jimmy, John, Roy, George, and Jody, an infant sister, his beloved daughter Rhonda Davis Goodwin, and granddaughter Wendy Harmon.
Marvin graduated from Chatham High School in 1959, followed by 4 years in the United States Army stationed in Thule, Greenland where he manned the control room for ballistic missile silos. After returning stateside, Marvin and Susan settled in Chatham where they raised their family. He went to work for Graphic Packaging in West Monroe, where he retired as power house supervisor in 2007 after 43 years of service. Even though work kept him busy, he always made time for coaching and attending
all sporting events for his children and grandchildren. He was also quick to say how proud he was of you, and he was so very proud of all his family and their accomplishments. He was a loyal husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was always willing to help and loved making people laugh. He never had a bad day, “just some are better than others.” After retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his wife and family, sitting in his chair watching TV, reading a good novel and volunteering in the community.
He was a devoted member of Chatham Community Church, but more importantly he had a strong relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ. He was a civil servant for many years for the Town of Chatham in which he lived all his life. He served as an Alderman and when appointed, he welcomed the opportunity to serve on committees to better the community at large. Marvin was also a Mason for over 55 years. He served as lodge master multiple times, served as the 3 rd District Deputy Grand Master, held a proficiency gold card and was the Grand Lecturer for District 3. He was a member of the Eastern Star, The Shriner’s and the Royal Arch. He valued all of these organizations and the services provided to the communities, but more importantly all the friendships developed through these.
A celebration of life service will be held at Chatham Community Church on Sunday, December 4 at 2PM, with a Masonic graveside service to follow. Sister Layla Ball, Grandsons Allen Goodwin and Chris Bryant, and Justice Jay McCallum will officiate the service.
The technical issues that the Jackson Parish Journal is experiencing is expected to be resolved by Wednesday. Tlhe situation was thought to be resolved which allowed for a portion to be published today but then the problem resurfaced. Thank you for your patience through this trying ordeal.
The tree has been lit, the Parade has been run and the fireworks exploded. Christmas in the Pines, one of north Louisiana’s favorite holiday festivals that will draw thousands of visitors to Jonesboro to see the millions of lights that adorn the town of Jonesboro has officially begun.
The festivities began this past Wednesday evening with the lighting of the Christmas tree that is on the Courthouse lawn. Commemorating the event was the Jackson Parish Gifted and Talented Music Group who led the crowd that had gathered to witness the lighting of the tree with Christmas carols.
On Saturday, Grand Marshall Bart Waggoner was introduced with a Coffee in his honor that took place at the Jonesboro City Hall followed by the annual Parade that was well attended despite the rain that fell continually. Several concerts, including one performed by the student choir of JP Gifted and Talented Music Group, Cornerstone Christian Academy, and Gracepoint Christian Academy students took place in the afternoon at the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro took place in the afternoon followed by a fireworks display that evening.
Activities continue throughout December leading up to Christmas with Santa being at his “house” located on the corner of 4th Stree and Polk Avenue in Jonesboro each Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5:00pm – 9:00pm. Carriage rides will also be available in the evenings on those days.
The Jimmie Davis State Park was featured on the KTVE-MyArkLaMiss special Destination Louisiane on Saturday. See below for a reprint of article that was published and video that ran that was authored by Aysha Decuir and Christina Jensen.
CHATHAM, La. (KTVE/KARD) — The Jimmie Davis State Park is located in Chatham, Louisiana. Some call it a waterfront refuge.
“Come early when you come in the summer because you will want a spot and you will want to enjoy the beach and enjoy this area of the park,” said Fouad Harb, District 3 Manager for Northern Region State Parks.
The state park is popular with families, cyclists, campers, fishermen and boaters.
“People come here with the primary purpose, they want to fish, they want to catch those nice, tasty beautiful fish in the state. Crappie, a visitor caught the largest size crappie in the park and the second largest bass was also caught here,” said Harb.
Hikers and bikers can also enjoy scenic areas.
“There is a kids hiking area, we also have a disc golf trail that is being finalized and it’s around 2 and a half miles long and that can also be for hiking,” said Harb.
The park also features lakefront cabins, group lodges or RV camp spots.
“This park has a very nice beautiful RV site and many of them oversee the water. We have 17 cabins here and we also have two lodges. We don’t only get people from the state, we get snowbirds people from out of state,” said Harb.
The park opened in the fall of 1996 and was originally named Caney Creek Lake State Park.
In 2003, it was renamed in honor of two-term governor Jimmie H. Davis.
To view the video segment click here.
Weston High Schoolinvites you to come and celebrate the presentation of the 2022 Homecoming Court at 5:30 pm on Friday, December 2nd. The festivities will be conducted in the WHS gymnasium prior to the boys basketball game against Choudrant High School. Being crowned as Homecoming King and Queen is Mitchel Mathews and Emma Kate McBride. The Maids and their Escorts are:
Senior Class:
Heili Bryant
Bra’naja Burns
Kinleigh Harvey
Landon Lutrick
Bryan McMillan
Dillon Pardue
Junior Class:
Baylee Broomfield
Alaina Trosclair
Quetzal Webster
Tayton Culpepper
Cooper Delaney
Rylee McBride
Sophomore Class:
Anslee Aldy
Olivia Marsh
Jacob Gill
Bryce Zehr
Freshman Class:
Jakayla Fourd
Arianna Marsh
Colton Blundell
Kason Roberts
The Thanksgiving holiday is a reminder to all to be thankful for all we have received. Thanks to the benevolence of a local youth group, residents of Jackson, MS not only celebrated the weekend by counting their blessings of the past but what they have just received.
The beleagured city has been dealing with problems with their drinking water over the past several weeks but in a true act of benevolence, Making Provisions for All Children, Inc. (MPAC) a local youth organization founded and operated by Jackson Parish Police Jury member, Tarneshala “Niki” Cowans, came to their aid by bringing pallets of drinking water to be distributed.
“Mr. Stanley Welsey, the distributor there said that although the water has gotten better they still have a long road ahead of them,” said Cowans. “We wanted to do something to make a difference for them and I appreciate all the support we received.”
MPAC is an upcoming youth organization that is geared to giving the local community’s youth a place to be empowered and help them enjoy being young. If you would like to be a part of this tremendous movement, contact Ms. Cowans at (318)475-0893.
Region 8 directors of the Louisiana Department of Health announce that Vaccinations will be offered from 8:00am – 4:30pm beginning on Wednesday, November 30, and running through Friday, December 2 at the Jackson Parish Health Unit, located at 228 Bond Street in Jonesboro. To schedule an appointment call (318) 259-6601. Also, from 10:30 – 12:00pm on the following Monday, December 5th, you can get COVID-19 and Flu vaccines at the Jackson Parish Council on Aging, located at 120 Polk Avenue in Jonesboro.
He operates a successful deer processing business; he is a garbage man; he teaches concealed firearms classes, he is a farmer who sells his produce; he is an award winning author; he is pastor of his church. And he does all this while being blind. Yes, you read it right; Ben Dupree is functionally blind.
Dupree is a 42 year old graduate of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches with a master’s degree in education.
“After college I began work as a teacher, basketball coach and assistant principal. Then I began having these strange problems with my eyes. I had 20-20 vision but I began having difficulty keeping my eyelids open and I sought medical treatment. I was finally diagnosed with a rare condition, Blephrospasm, a condition that forced my eyelids to close,” Dupree explained.
“I go to Shreveport quarterly to have injections around my eyes so they can stay open.”
After doing something he was trained for in the education system that he absolutely loved, he was forced to have to give it all up after 10 years because of the diagnosis; he was declared functionally blind.
Kristin, Ben’s wife and mother of their two sons, is a registered nurse and the couple was faced with a “what’s next?” dilemma.
“Kristin encouraged me to do something I had always wanted to do, and that’s write a book. So I did and I eventually won an Excellence in Craft award from the Louisiana Outdoor Writer’s Association. I was a commercial fisherman for awhile, I cut and sold firewood and then I got into deer processing. The first year I processed a few deer for friends, an activity that took
place in my wife’s kitchen but she thought it best that I find another place to cut up deer and make sausage. My dad helped me construct a building in our back yard and from something that started simply five years ago, K&B Processing is in a fully operational building with concrete floor, drains and a custom trolly system and I expect to process 400 to 500 this season,” said
Dupree.
Serious health problems forced Kristin to have to give up her job in the nursing profession as a nursing instructor and today, she’s at home keeping records and handling book keeping for the family businesses. Sons Reagan, 15 and Michael 12, are home schooled and assist Dupree in his deer processing business and they take turns on Wednesdays helping their dad on the weekly garbage run, which was the next venture he explored.
The idea of developing a garbage collecting system for folks in the community took shape and today, Dupree has 92 customers throughout north Natchitoches Parish, furnishing cans and drum liners with each Wednesday designated as garbage collection day, garbage taken to the land fill in Natchitoches.
“I’m the only garbage man I know who has a master’s degree,” he quipped.
Rev. Jason Womack, pastor of Goldonna Baptist Church was called to pastor a church in another community recently and before he left, he advised Dupree, who is a licensed minister, to expect to be asked to be interim pastor.
“The church did ask me to consider the interim position which Kristin and I prayed about and I felt led to do. Then the church voted, in a unanimous vote, to call me as pastor. I explained that with all the businesses that I operate, they would have to consider me a bi-vocational pastor and they agreed,” he said.
He might have had to give up his profession of being an educator because of his functional blindness but being a renaissance man, he fits the definition of the word exactly…”a person with many talents or areas of knowledge.”
BLACK BAYOU – Crappie fishing has improved on jigs and shiners. No report on bass or bream. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707 for the latest information.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Bass fishing continues to be quite good with the best catches made on fake frogs around the pads. A couple of fish over 10 have been reported along with several 8 and 9-pounders. Crappie fishing has been good also on jigs or shiners.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water is low with no current and fishing has in general been fairly shown. A few crappie have been caught and catfish are fair on jugs and in traps. For the latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Crappie fishing had continued to be good along the edges of the deeper channels on shiners or jigs. Bass fishing has improved along the channel edges on crankbaits with the Corney Creek area producing the best. in the channels on shiners. Bream are slow while catfish are biting cold worms fished off the banks. For the latest information, call Anderson Sport
Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie fishing has been good in the deeper channels with shiners seeming to be preferred over jigs. Bass has been fair fishing crankbaits off the points. A few catfish have been caught on cold worms. The bream and stripers are slow. For the latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
CANEY LAKE – Best bass fishing has been fishing deep water with jigging spoons and tail spinners working best. Soft plastics and deep diving crank baits have been producing some of the bigger bass in the 7 to 8-pound range. Crappie fishing continues to be the 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 has improved both around the slips and on the lower end of the lake on shiners or jigs. Catfishing has been good on a variety of baits. No report on bass or bream. For the latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is quite low. While both crappie and bass fishing has been fair, some really big fish are being caught. No report on bream or catfish. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.
The Weston High Cross Country Youth Team held thier year end banquest recently where head coach and sponsor Cyndi Pardue handed out several awards to her team. Each member of the team received medals while several others who were deserving earned special awards. The varsity team also took part in the celebration but will receive their awards at the spring athletic banquet in May.
“I am so proud of all our young participants who gave it their all this fall,” said Pardue. “I would like to thank all the parents and sponsores for helping us throughout the season and special thanks goes to Ebenezer Baptist Church for letting us use their church gym for our celebration.”
MVP or (most valuable runner): Anna Pardue and Miriam Shuler. They both placed in the top 10 at every meet this year.
Most Improved- Jax Davis, Cameron Pardue, Rylee Sonnier, and Landry Thomas
100% award- Elsie Flynn, Brooklyn Johnson, Eli Jones, and Jeremiah Jones
Best Teammate- Aubrie Allen and Sam Jones
Biggest Heart- Raegan Hall, James Lewis
Mark your calendar for this upcoming Holiday Workshop, December 2 at Jackson Parish Library/Chatham branch. Three LSU AgCenter Area Nutrition Agents, Shannan Lang Chevallier, Cathy Schimmel Judd, and Kimberlyn Jones will help you get ready for the holiday by sharing holiday recipes and delicious food samples. Please call 318-249-2980 to reserve your spot.
It doesn’t matter how good you think you are or how many tournaments you have won, there will come a time when you just can’t figure the fish out and you come to the scales with nothing. This is the number one fear amongst all anglers who fish in tournaments. Anglers will literally wake up in a cold sweat at night when they have this nightmare. But let’s take a deeper look at the psyche of what goes through an angler’s mind as the day unfolds and they come in with no fish in the live well.
Very few times an angler left the ramp on tournament day because he did not feel good about his game plan. Most anglers usually have a good idea about what and how they’ll catch them on that particular day. But as the day unfolds and the clock is ticking, if an angler does not have fish in the live well by 10:00 AM, at some point he starts to second guess his game plan. He starts thinking (which is usually not a good thing) about how he should have started out deep rather than shallow, how he should have thrown a topwater bait early instead of a worm. Maybe he should have run up the lake instead of staying on the south end or how he should have fished the grass instead of the bushes. But no matter what, pressure starts to build especially when the clock strikes one o’clock with no fish in the box and a weigh-in time of three o’clock. For me, I tell myself, “If I’m going to catch them, I’ve only got two hours to figure them out!”
The next thing you know it’s two o’clock and you still have nothing to show for all the casts you’ve made. It’s at this point most anglers start to panic and start to visualize coming to the weigh-in with a big fat zero. You start to fish too fast and make bad casts, you get hung up more often and have to go and retrieve your bait in places you can’t get to. So, then you end up breaking off whatever bait you’re throwing, with the internal clock in your head moving faster, as you waste even more time looking for another bait and having to re-rig. It’s during these high-pressure times that you backlash a reel so bad that you have to put it away so that you can cut the backlash out when you get home. Then with only minutes to go, you hook the fish of a lifetime, only to watch it come off and swim away right before you get ready to swing it into the boat. A fitting end to a very frustrating day!
Then it’s time to head for the weigh-in and you hope everyone is gone by the time you get there…but that’s never the case. It’s funny how when you have twenty pounds of fish in the live well, no one ever asks how you did. But when you have zero, it seems everyone in the tournament, including their grandma, wants to know what you’ve got. But oh, the shame and embarrassment of having to say, “Zero!” It just doesn’t get any worse than that! So, it’s at this time you head straight for the boat ramp, load your boat, tuck your tail between your legs, pull your cap down low so maybe no one recognizes you, and head home. If you want to see who did not catch fish that day, watch the parking lot at the ramp and see just how fast an angler can load his boat and get out of there.
Hope you enjoyed hearing about the misery of what an angler goes through on those days when he just doesn’t catch them. But the thing that’s great about the end of a tournament is it means there’s an opportunity for redemption at the next event. Forget it and move on because that tournament is over and there’s nothing you can do to change the outcome of that event. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen.
Steve Graf
Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show
Tackle Talk Live
NOTE: Pam Ford Davis publishes Devotionals in Mature Living Magazine, Devotions for the Deaf, The Secret Place, Coosa Journal, Mary Hollingsworth’s The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter, Jo Krueger’s Every Day in God’s Word. You can find more of her inspirational work at::
http://www.pamforddavis.com
http://www.faithwriters.com/member-profile.php?
To have your job opportunities, business services, items, or any Legal/Public Notices, Advertisements for Bid, Requests for Proposals, and/or Quotes listed – send an email to: jpjjacksonla@gmail.com
Stump Removal and Grinding: Call James Stewart at (318) 243-1009 or (318) 768-2554 for your stump removal and grinding needs. Free Estimates!
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 Christmas 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.
Due to unforeseen technical difficulties, the Jackson Parish Journal will not publish today – Sunday, November 27, 2022.
The Jackson Parish Journal will proudly resume publishing on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 6:55 a.m.
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