After months of pre-planning and meetings, Jeff Glover, managing partner of the MGM Development Group has reported that final closure on the long awaited financing package took place this past Friday and that construction is now officially set to begin next week on the Jonesboro Senior Village. A drive down Industrial Drive in Jonesboro shows that clearing the land has already taken place for the planned 50 unit, gated, certified green retirement community. Plans call for the expected the developmentto be completed by late 2023.

“I can’t tell you how happy we are that we have finally been able to get the financial package pushed through,” said Glover. “I am very excited that soon we will see actual construction on the development begin.” 

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During August through May, except for holiday periods, hundreds of youth from across Jackson Parish get up in the early hours of the morning during the week and make their way to school. Some ride a bus. Others are taken by family members or friends. Then some are older that drive themselves. They come in all shapes and sizes, colors and creeds, ranging from wee little, pre-K kids to tweens and teens, yet they are all the same in the sense that they are students who are doing what they have to do to get their education.

That is, except for a select few.

These are the ones who don’t just go to school because it is required, always looking at the clock wishing the class would get over and the last bell would ring. They aren’t the ones who have a bad attitude, are always late to class, and never have their lessons done on time.

These are the ones who apply themselves and pay attention to what is being taught because they want to learn. These are the ones who do the little extra things and offer to assist their classmates, their teachers, and the school’s administration. These aren’t the ones that examples aren’t made of, but the ones who set the example of what a student should be like. 

These are the ones who have risen above the norm to stand alone among their peers.

These are the ones who have been selected as Student of the Year! 

This past week the Student of the Year was selected at Jonesboro-Hodge High School and for the Elementary, Junior High, and Senior High divisions at Quitman High School. 

Logan Wiggins – Jonesboro-Hodge High School: An exemplary student, Wiggins is a two-sport athlete, who earned 1-2A All-District honors last spring and is the returning MVP of the Tiger baseball team. The senior also was a member of the JHHS football team this past fall. Upon graduation, Wiggins will serve in the United States Armed Services, having enlisted this past September.

Blake Carter – Quitman High School: The son of Matt and Angela Carter is a standout two-sport star for the QHS baseball and basketball teams and has been a member of BETA since he was in the 6th grade. He is an outstanding student that has maintained a 4.0 GPA during high school and his peers look up to him as a leader and a role model. Blake is a New Prospect Baptist Church member and plans to attend La Tech University and major in Sports Marketing.

Libby Morgan – Quitman Junior High: The 8th-grade daughter of John and Tracey Morgan maintains a 4.0 GPA and is a phenomenal student. She is a co-captain of the junior high cheer squad having already been named All-American three times and won the “Pin It Forward” award twice at the competition. Libby also competes for the QHS tennis team and is a member of the Beta Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). She is an active member of Sweetwater Baptist Church where she is currently involved with her favorite outreach program, Operation Christmas Child. In her free time, she enjoys painting & visiting with friends.

Ella Simonelli – Quitman Elementary: The daughter of Michael and April Simonelli is in the 5th grade, holds a 4.0 grade point average, and is very active in sports. She is a member of LA Gunsmoke, which is an elite 10U independent softball travel squad, and has represented Jackson Parish for the past 4 years on summer All-Star teams, including being an integral part of the 2021 Little League 8U State Runner-Up squad. Ella also plays in the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Youth Basketball League and is a huge fan of the Lady Wolverines junior high and varsity basketball teams. She is a member of Sweetwater Baptist Church and is in the Children’s Choir.

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When coaches think about a prep basketball season, one way they look at it is by breaking it down into different sections. First, there is the early season before the Thanksgiving holiday break kick in. Normally that will run between 8-12 games depending on how many a school plays in the various tournaments they enter. Then there is roughly the same number of games that will be played up to the Christmas break followed by the stretch run which is composed of a few games followed by the district schedule.

With the first “section” in the bag, let’s take a look at how the girls and boys at Quitman and Weston fared along with who is leading in individual statistical categories. if you are wondering about Jonesboro-Hodge, they don’t play their first game until November 29th.

Weston girls: With a 10-1 record, the Lady Wolves claim the most wins in the first section of the season. Weston set a new school record for the start of a season by winning their first nine games and their impressive 63.2 points per game scoring average are more points than ever before at this stage of the season. Currently ranked #10 in Division V, where so many small school powers reside, the Lady Wolves are the highest-ranked team from North Louisiana. 

Quitman girls: While at 7-2 the record is not quite as good as their fellow neighboring district 1B rival, Quitman’s strength of schedule, especially in the last five games, makes their mark just as impressive. The two losses are to a pair of south Louisiana powers and last week the Lady Wolverines took down Class 2A Winnfield and perennial Class A power Ouachita Christian, who over the last 3+ seasons has compiled a 96-8 record. At #19 in the Division V power ratings, the Lady Wolverines are the 4th highest-ranked team in north Louisiana. 

Quitman boys: Win one, lose one, win again! That has been the season story for the Wolverines to date en route to their 5-4 record. Being the fact that only three games have been played at home, including two at their “|new” home, the JHHS gymnasium while their gym is getting renovated the record is pretty impressive. 

Weston boys: The Wolves started the season by losing their first four but have shown improvement by winning two of the last four as losses of key personnel played a big role in the slow start. The future is promising as the problem with scoring seems to be rectified. After averaging only 41 points per game over the first four contests, Weston averaged 60.25 in the last four. against a stronger schedule. 

Girls Individual Stat Leaders

CATEGORY	FIRST	SECOND
Points per game	Emma Kate McBride (WHS) – 14.6	Cali Deal (QHS) – 14.4
Rebounds per game	Briley Peterson (WHS) – 9.6	Cali Deal (QHS) – 7.0
Assists per game	Emma Kate McBride (WHS) – 3.9	Bethany Leach (QHS) 2.8
Steal per game	Lainee Trosclair (WHS) – 3.0	Briley Peterson (WHS) – 2.9
Three Pointers made	Bethany Leach (QHS) – 33	Lainee Trosclair (WHS) – 27

Boys Individual Stat Leaders

CATEGORY	FIRST	SECOND
Points per game	Bryce Zehr (WHS) – 12.7	Logan Ponder (QHS) – 12.0
Rebounds per game	Blake Carter (QHS) – 10.1	n/a

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Jack McFarland, Louisiana House Representative for District 13 which encompasses Bienville, Jackson, Ouachita, and Winn parishes announces that as of November 17th and stemming from legislation he authored earlier this year that the “Greaux the Good” farmers market match program has been launched. 

What the “Greaux the Good” program does is create a match program for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and/or Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) which benefits both consumers and vendors who can now buy local farm products and support local businesses.

“I am proud of being able to bring all sides to the table to create this great program to help our families and businesses. With 27,000 farm operations in Louisiana, agriculture is one of the top economic drivers in the state. Of those, a little over 1,000 operate as ddirect-to-consumer” said McFarland.  “Unfortunately, many families were shut out of this access to quality farm products due to economic reasons. This hurt our local businesses and contributed to Louisiana’s generally poor health outcomes. With the renewed interest and growth in farmers’ markets, many families have been able to improve their health while simultaneously supporting local businesses.”

If you operate a farm, here is the link to become a partner in the Greaux the Good Program: https://greauxthegoodla.org/become-a-partner

 

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On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, the Louisiana Department of Education released the 2021-2022 school performance scores for the state’s public K 12 schools and systems. To the delight of the Jackson Parish School District and Superintendent David Claxton, the three high schools in Jackson Parish, (JHHS, Quitman & Weston) earned a cumulative score average of 80.2, which relates to a B average.

“I would like to congratulate all our faculty, staff, students, and parents for their hard work to help increase our district performance score for the past two years. I would also like to recognize the support our community has shown us over the years. I appreciate everyone for everything that you do for Jackson Parish schools,” – JPSD Superintendent, David Claxton

The scores of each school were the highest recorded since the Covid pandemic that began in 2019 and the third consecutive year that scores have risen. Individually, Quitman High School led the way with an 87.0 average followed by Weston High at 80.2 and JHHS at 73.5. In addition, Weston High School was noted as a Top Gains Honoree among all Louisiana High Schools, while Quitman High showed an impressive 5.8-point improvement.  

 

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Every year on the last Saturday of November, the annual Christmas Wonderland in the Pines ushers the holiday season into the town of Jonesboro, Louisiana. With over 5 million Christmas lights dotting the small town, visitors flock from all over the state and region to experience the charming southern community.

On Monday, the television personality who broadcasts the ever popular Where in the ArkLaTex is Rick Rowe feature weekly on KTBS – Channel 3 was in Jonesboro to promote the annual gala event. He arrived to a large throng of Christmas Festival supporters who braved the cold and sang Christmas Carols on Main Street as a backdrop to the segment.

To see the video in it’s entirity click here. 

You can also see another video of the event that was filmed locally by clicking here.

 

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For the past two years, Cartavious “Hambone” Waters has been a stalwart lineman for the Jonesboro-Hodge High School Tiger football team. Now the 2021 1-2A All-District member has the opportunity to continue his playing career at Manchester College in Indiana who last week presented “Tavy” with an official offer. Founded in 1987, the school is one of 10 members of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. 

This past season Waters recorded 48 tackles, including 42 solo stops. Included were 15 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. In his career that JHHS, Waters made 122 tackles, 24 tackles for a loss, recovered four fumbles, and forced and forced a fumble. Waters also played with the offense where he was a lineman and every now and then lined up in the backfield, mainly as a blocking back. In 2021, Waters carried the ball twice and scored a touchdown.  

 

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This past Saturday all the members of the Jonesboro Fire Department (JFD) came to the Fire Station this past Saturday. For once though it wasn’t because of an emergency call but instead to enjoy food, refreshments, and, fellowship with family members as all enjoyed the 2022 Christmas Party. Highlighting the evening was JFD Fire Chief, Brandon Brown, presenting Kristina Whitman with the JFD Firefighter of the Year Award. 

The Jonesboro Fire Department encourages all residents to be especially safe and careful over the next couple of months and sends their wishes that all have a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season. 

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The Jackson Parish Tourism Board held their regulary scheduled monthly meeting on November 15th in the Sunshine Room of the Jackson Parish Police Jury Administration. During the session board members Kelly Spangler, Tammy Gunter, Christie Weeks, Yumeaka Washington and Deneise Barlow discussed the Fishing Tournament that is to be held on Caney Lake in March and agreed to host a 4th annual Art Contest. The 2023 budget was also approved.

In old business it was noted that only a few photos were left to acquire for the Civil Rights Trail and that Christmas ads were up and running on billboards and facebook pages. In corresponding action it was agreed that the amount to be spent on billboards at the three locations chosed was not to exceed $6,000.00. Board members also decided to look into a rental to house tourism board equipment and approved changes to the Promotion Assistance Document Form. The session started with Gary Joyner, Vice President of the Jackson Parish Watershed Board asking for assistance with upcoming events.

Playing against much larger schools on back-to-back nights was too much of a hill to climb for the Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School 7th and 8th-grade boys basketball teams as both fell to Neville and Natchitoches Junior High schools. The odyssey began with a trip to Monroe this past Wednesday to face Neville, where the 7th grade lost 33-25 and the 8th grade fell 40-14. On Thursday, the junior Tigers welcomed Natchitoches to their home gym but again lost by scores of 32-25 and 51-15. 

J-HMS will be in action again on Monday, November 28th when they host Lincoln Prep on 8th grade recognition night. 

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This past week the students at Gracepoint Christian Academy (GCA) participated in Operation Christmas Child. Coordinated by Mrs. Anita Williams, the young children at GCA packed shoeboxes with a wide variety of toys and fun items. After the boxes were filled and labeled the young ambassadors and faculty members who assisted with the program prayed over the packages to be shipped overseas.
Operation Christmas Child is a program of evangelism and discipleship that through multiplication benefits children from all over the world. From children to seniors, people pack shoebox gifts each year to bless children in need around the world. Parents often use the project to teach their kids about giving and year-round volunteers support these efforts across the country.

The administration and staff of GCA would like to thank all parents, families, and friends who donated to make this a success!

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With the Pilgrims held up as our example, we learned early to “be grateful.”

As they dragged us to various in-laws’ in assorted neighborhoods for turkey and pumpkin pie and secondhand smoke, our parents reminded us that at the first Thanksgiving in 1621 (give or take), the settlers of the New World had it much tougher than we do. They had to eat outside. They didn’t have potatoes over here yet. The yeast rolls didn’t rise. William Bradford forgot to pick up a Marie Callender’s Apple Crumb Cobbler at the store, and the cable went out halfway through the Detroit Lions-Chicago Cardinals football game.

“And they didn’t even complain,” our parents said.

“Bet they got drunk then,” I said.

“No, they most certainly did not!”

The Pilgrims really WERE tough; I would have complained if there’d been no potatoes. Loud and clear. They could have heard me back over in England.

But to hear our parents testify, no one 40 years ago ever complained about anything, especially on Thanksgiving. When you are spoiled like I am, that is setting the bar sort of high. But hey, I’m old school too and really not much of a complainer – as long as everything goes right. That’s just me.

This week, complaining is a given. This week is about the pre-Thanksgiving misgivings about “where we’re going for Thanksgiving.” Do you know where you’re going yet? Or what you’re bringing? Or the order in which you’re going to whomever’s house when? Are we all on the same page?

It can be dicey.

“Are we going to grandmama’s?”

“Not this year. But we’re not sure. We might.”

“When will we know?”

“I don’t know. Who are you, Dan Rather? We’ll know when we hear from everybody and decide.”

“It’s Tuesday.”

“Then good! Since Thanksgiving is on Thursday, as it usually is, that means we don’t have to know yet.”

“We’re cutting it close.”

“I’ll show you what cutting it close is, mister!”

“I was just asking…”

“Well just quit just asking, mister man. Your grandmother might meet us at Big Aunty’s. We might go there.”

“Not to Big Aunty’s! Big Aunty can’t cook, momma. Big Aunty won’t have nothing even done until supper. We’ll starve.”

“She most certainly will have and you most certainly will not starve. I’ll make you a pimento cheese to hold you over. We might just all bring different things.”

“What do you mean, ‘we all?’ Who all is coming?”

“Aunt Jean will bring the macaroni and cheese and we’ll bring the bean casserole and…”

“Momma that means Uncle Lester is coming. He’s a professional smoker. We’ll all smell like something burnt. They’ll be ashes in the macaroni.”

“No there will not!”

“There was last year.”

“You’ll think last year if you don’t shut up! Now I mean it!”

“Can we just stay home and make hamburgers?”

“NO! We can be thankful and not complain about gummy rice and ashes in the food and Jello with nuts in it and getting your picture taken. And if I hear one word, ONE MORE WORD….”

Precious memories. And Happy Thanksgiving; I hope you get where you’re going.

(Originally ran Nov. 20, 2009)

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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Jay Mallard Ford, located at 601 Hudson Avenue in Jonesboro is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in the area. From the moment you walk into the showroom, you know our commitment to Customer Service is second to none. Jay and staff strive to make your experience  Whether you need to purchase a new or used vehicle, vehicle information from our on-site specialist, or service your vehicle, Jay and staff strive to make your experience a pleasant one. 

Anyone who has tried to purchase a new car this year knows that inventories have been at an all-time low. Currently, Jay Mallard Ford has a great stock of new models on-site, but it is assured that they won’t last long. Want to provide the ultimate Christmas gift? Come today to take advantage of the great deals that Jay is offering, 

Below are just a few of the models that are currently in stock.

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The Jackson Parish 4-H Club held its 2022 Holiday Treats Cookery Contest at the Charles H. Garrett Community Center on Monday. Fourteen winners were selected in six separate divisions by special guest judges Bettye Pate, Thurston Allen, Amy Magee, and Katelyn Duck. Door prizes were also awarded that were sponsored by Johnny’s Pizza House, Traina’s Bakery, and Sonic Drive-In. Special thanks also go to parent volunteers Kari Potts and Kristy Jordan. 

 2022 Holiday Treats Cookery Contest Winners

Cake Division
1st – Evie Carpenter – QHS – Pumpkin Roll
2nd – Jayna Woods – QHS – Hershey Bar Cake
Candy Division
1st – Alley Hines – WHS – Snowman Chocolate Bark
2nd – John Turner – JHES – Pecan Pralines
Decorated Cookie Division
1st – Brooke Harvey – JHES – Christmas Tree Brownies
Fudge Division
1st – Alley Hines – WHS – Sugar Cookie Christmas Fudge
2nd – Evie Carpenter – QHS – Egg Nog Fudge
Homemade Cookie Division
1st – Tailen Bearden – WHS – Snickerdoodle
2nd – Jayna Woods – QHS – Peanut Butter
3rd – Jana Potts – QHS – Cookie Monsters
Pie Division
1st – Jana Potts – QHS – Lemon Ice Box Pie
2nd – Brogan Carpenter – QHS – Pecan Pie
3rd – Tailen Bearden – WHS – Turtle Pumpkin Pie
3rd – Rachel Bandy – WHS – Cherry Kool-Aid Pie

Louisiana Pecans offered for sale

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The Jonesboro-Hodge High School Drama Club attended Grambling State University’s Visual and Performing Arts Department’s annual presentation of their fall production, “Knock Me A Kiss” by Charles Smith. The drama club is under the direction of Mr. Jon Sorenson and Mrs. Amiee Larche. Drama Club members would like to give a special thanks to Ms. Vickie Joe (chaperone) and Coach Justin Durbin (driver)!

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Youth from all over Jackson Parish and the surrounding area are invited to attend the One Way Youth Rally on Wednesday, November 30th. The always inspiring event will be held at 6:00pm at Sweetwater Baptist Church, located at 5638 Beech Springs Road in Quitman. The rally will feature a dynamic, special guest speaker, Luke Hockenjos of “Give ’em Jesus” ministries. Enrique Magana and Crew, from Calhoun Baptist Church, will provide the music worship. Following the program, a Pizza Party will be held. 

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Residents at Forest Haven Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, located at 175 Thrasher Avenue in Jonesboro, have been busy preparing for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Activities this past week include hand painting exercises to create paper turkeys and making holiday wreaths through the help provided by the staff of the Jonesboro Branch of the Jackson Parish Library. The administration and staff of Forest Haven wish each and all a very Happy Thanksgiving and encourage you to come to visit and share the holiday with your loved ones that they have the honor to care for.

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The morning of September 16, 1976, was chilly in Yerevan, Armenia. The streets were busy with commuters heading to work and other various destinations. The city used trolleybuses powered by electric lines above the highway to transport the masses of people to their destinations. Windows wrapped around the entirety of the upper half of the trolleybuses to allow for better visibility. As it was a chilly morning, all the windows were closed to keep the cold air out. One such trolleybus was loaded with 91 people and its driver. As the trolleybus neared Yerevan Lake, something happened. Some people claimed the passengers and the driver got into a physical altercation, while others argued that the driver had a medical emergency, probably a heart attack. Regardless of the cause, the trolleybus veered off the roadway. The arms connecting the trolleybus to the electric wires snapped. Although the trolleybus had lost its power source, it rolled on its wheels down an embankment and straight into the frigid waters of Yerevan Lake. One witness said the sound was “so loud, as if a bomb went off.” Within seconds, the trolleybus was completely submerged.

Sometimes it seems like the right people are in the right place at the right time. 23-year-old Shavarash Karapetyan and his brother Kamo were nearby, heard the crash, and rushed to the water’s edge. Both Shavarash and Kamo were finswimming champions, a sport in which the swimmers wear fins to increase their speed in the water. At the time, Shavarash had won 37 gold medals and held nine world records for finswimming. He had earned nicknames such as “Goldfish” and “Amphibian.” On this day, however, neither Shavarash nor Kamo had their fins. Without hesitation, Shavarash sprang into action. As they ran, Shavarash told Kamo to help him from the shore.

Shavarash dove into the frigid water and swam to the spot where the trolleybus sank. He swam down 33 feet where the trolleybus rested on the lake floor. Shavarash tried to look into the windows of the trolleybus but, at that depth, all he saw was darkness. Shavarash knocked out one of the trolleybus’s windows. Air rushed out of the trolleybus. The change in air pressure by the broken glass forced shards of glass into Shavarash’s skin. Nine of the passengers exited through the window and swam to the surface.

Shavarash swam in through the trolleybus’s broken window and used his hands to feel around for passengers in the darkness. When his hands felt something, he clutched it, swam to the surface, and handed the person off to Kamo. Then, he dove down again and repeated the process. Each dive took Shavarash about 25 seconds. Although he was a champion swimmer, Shavarash was quickly losing strength. He would not give up. He could not give up. Shavarash dove down 38 times before his body could go no further. He almost drowned several times but somehow barely made it to the surface in time, gasping for air. On his last dive, Shavarash felt around inside the trolleybus for a passenger, clutched something, and swam up. On the surface, Shavarash was horrified to learn that, rather than a victim, he was grasping one of the trolleybus’s seat cushions.

Shavarash could swim no more. His body was exhausted. His lungs were injured and he could hardly breath. Shavarash wanted to go back down but Kamo pulled him from the water. He could do no more. In all, Shavarash helped get 46 people to the surface—nine escaped when Shavarash broke the trolleybus’s window, and he pulled 37 people to the surface.
Within minutes of the crash, doctors from a nearby hospital rushed to the scene to render what aid they could right there on the shore. Once Shavarash’s strength gave out and Kamo pulled him from the water, the doctors struggled to save his life as well. Ambulances loaded with survivors raced to the hospital and returned to the shore to transport more survivors, one of them being Shavarash. Of the passengers Shavarash pulled to the surface, 20 survived. Shavarash spent over a month in the hospital. He was diagnosed with septic fever, double-sided pneumonia, and nervous prostration.

Shavarash survived the trolleybus accident, but it haunts him to this day. Shavarash nearly drowned several times. He said later, “I could imagine the agony of those 92 people and I knew how they would die. I had nightmares about that cushion for a long time. I could have saved someone else’s life. In difficult moments like this, your love for fellow humans grows even stronger.”

Shavarash returned to swimming upon his release from the hospital, but he would never be the same. Swimming underwater was physically and mentally painful. True to form, however, Shavarash would not give up. Just a few months after the trolleybus accident, Shavarash competed in a finswimming championship. Knowing how he was struggling, Kamo ran alongside the pool just in case Shavarash lost consciousness. But Shavarash did not lose consciousness. He came in first place and set another world record. Following this win, Shavarash retired from the sport he so dearly loved. He could no longer bear to be underwater.

Shavarash was awarded the Medal “For the Salvation of the Drowning” and the Order of the Badge of Honor. What was Shavarash doing just before the trolleybus accident you wonder? What was he doing just before he dove down to a depth of 33 feet 38 times and helped 47 people from the sunken trolleybus? You see, Shavarash was already exhausted when he entered the water. Shavarash had just completed the final portion of that morning’s rigorous training event, a 12-mile run.

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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

BUSINESS SERVICES

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 OPENINGS

Lakeview High School: New Head Football Coach

JOB VACANCIES: Head Football Coach
SCHOOL: Lakeview High School
QUALIFICATIONS: Louisiana Teaching Certificate
SALARY: According to the parish school salary schedule
DEADLINE: Tuesday, December 20, 2022; 4:00 p.m.

WHERE TO APPLY: Linda G. Page, Personnel Director
Natchitoches Parish School Board
P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
Phone: (318) 352-2358
Fax: (318) 352-8138

APPLICATION WEBSITE: www.npsb.la

EOE

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 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.

 

PUBLIC/LEGAL NOTICES

*****Important Information About Your Drinking Water****
Magnolia Water UOC – Spring Creek Water System, PWS# LA1049028
Notice of Violation of Non-Compliance for Disinfectants/Disinfection By-Products Rule

Spring Creek Water System is in violation of exceeding the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for total trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids. The violation requires notification to the public. Even though this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have the right to know what happened and what we are doing to correct this situation.

What Happened?

The Spring Creek Subdivision Water System is currently in violation of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for total trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids as set forth by the State [Part XII of the Louisiana State Sanitary Code (LAC 51:XIl) and the Federal Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141).
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) set drinking water standard and requires the disinfection of drinking water. Where disinfection is used in the treatment of drinking water, disinfectants combine with naturally occurring organic and inorganic matter present in water to form chemicals called disinfection byproducts (DBPs). EPA and LDH set standards for controlling the levels of disinfectants and DBPs in drinking water, including trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and haloacetic acid (HAA5). Some people who drink water containing TTHMs in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of
getting cancer. Some people who drink water containing HAA5 in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

In December 1998, EPA set enforceable drinking water standards for TTHMs at 80 parts per billion (ppb) and for HAA5 at 60 parts per billion (ppb) to reduce the risk of cancer or other adverse health effects. Compliance with the TTHMs and HAA5 standards is determined by calculating a locational running annual average (LRAA) of quarterly TTHMs and HAA5 sample results.
Compliance calculations performed for the third quarter of 2022 show that the system’s current HAA5 LRAA is 67 ppb DBP02- POC#4 255 SANDY POINT DR thus, the system is currently in

What is being done?

Central States Water Resources Louisiana (CSWR-LA) purchased the facility in July 2022 and personnel are working to correct the problem. CSWR-LA will continue to work with LDH to ensure compliance with the TTHMs and HAA5 standards in accordance with State and Federal requirements.

This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. EPA and LDH do not consider this violation to have any serious adverse health effects on human health as a result of short-term exposure; however, continued long-term exposure to TTHMs and HAAS levels above the standard (e.g., 20 years of exposure) has the potential to have serious adverse
effects on human health.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Magnolia Water UOC is committed to bringing our customers safe, reliable water services and will continue to work with the LDH to carry out this commitment.

For more information, please contact Magnolia Water at 1-855-643-8152.
This notice is being sent to you by Spring Creek Water system. PWS ID# LA1049028
Date distributed: November 21, 2022

 

 

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Robert Clarence Martin
November 4, 1939 – November 21, 2022

Robert Clarence Martin, known to everyone as R.C., was born on November 4, 1939, to Levon Hershel and Hazel Grace Martin. He was delivered at home in a sharecropper’s house near Douglas, Louisiana in Lincoln Parish. He married the love of his life, Hazel Ann Crawley on December 18, 1960, and had their son, Scott on December 11, 1961. Hazel passed away on August 6, 2018, after an extended battle with Alzheimer’s. R.C. kept her at home and took care of her until her death.

The funeral service will be at 10 AM at First Baptist Church of Jonesboro on Wednesday, November 23, 2022, with Reverend Brian McAllister officiating. Interment will follow at Gayla Traina Memorial Cemetery in Jonesboro under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.

R.C. is survived by his son, Scott, and wife, Jeanna; four grandsons, Daniel, Jonathan and wife, Miya, Andrew, and wife Fernanda, Stephen, and wife JoJo; four great-grandchildren, Joy, Marisol, Justus, and Hazel Mae due in February; and sister, Liz Robinson. He is preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and his brother, Bo.

R.C. graduated from Jonesboro-Hodge High School in 1957 and soon after went to work at Continental Can Company. He retired in 2000 after 42 years. He was a loyal husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He never said “no” when asked to help somebody. He spent several years as head of buildings and grounds at First Baptist Church of Jonesboro. He made numerous mission trips with a group from First Baptist to help churches all over the United States.

R.C. loved to fish, but his main passion was hunting. He used most of his vacation time to deer hunt, during his graveyard weeks if possible. He had four main hunting partners in his life; his dad, his brother, Bo, Bill Phillips, and his son, Scott. His and Scott’s hunting adventures lasted over 50 years. Some of their favorite times were spent in Kansas.

A special thanks to Laura Ables, Dr. Ray Germany, and the four angels that took care of him 24 hours a day in his final weeks; Sadie Ayres, Gloria Relaford, Juanita Brown, and Patty Keys.

Pallbearers will be Daniel Martin, Jonathan Martin, Andrew Martin, Stephen Martin, Eric Hall, Russ Robinson, and Keith Duck.

Douglas Pepper
March 2, 1936 – November 20, 2022

Mr. Douglas J. Pepper passed away Sunday, November 20, 2022, at Forest Haven Nursing Home in Jonesboro. Douglas worked for decades as a forester for Ewing Timber Company and he loved being outdoors. He enjoyed fishing and hunting he could always be found in his vegetable garden during the spring and summer months. Douglas often attended auctions and was especially fond of dirt track racing.

Douglas leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Bonnie (Rape) Pepper; children, Steve Pepper and wife, Gloria, David Pepper and wife, Becky; 13 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; sister, Mary Lou Pepper; brothers, Gerald Pepper and Noah Pepper, Jr.

Douglas was preceded in death by his parents, Noah, Sr. and Louise (Mayes) Pepper; and sister, Ann Litton.

Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home Chapel in Jonesboro from 11:30 AM until 1:30 PM. The funeral procession will travel to Sikes Baptist Church Cemetery in Sikes, Louisiana where a graveside service will begin at 2:15 PM officiated by Bro. John L. Mixon. Interment will follow under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.

Serving the family as pallbearers will be Lawson McCarty, Landon McCarty, Jeff Pepper, Zach Pepper, Brandon Williamson, and Zeb Pepper.

John Paul Davis
December 12, 1954 – November 20, 2022

John Paul Davis, age 67, gained his heavenly wings on Sunday, November 20th. “Mr. Paul,” as he was affectionately known by all those who he befriended, was a very loved and respected, long-time employee at Weston High School. A graveside service will be held at 12:00pm on Wednesday, November 23rd at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Jonesboro under the direction of Paradise Funeral Home.  

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(Troop F News Release) On Saturday, November 19, 2022, shortly after 11:00 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop F responded to a one-vehicle crash that occurred on LA Hwy 151 north of Clark Springs Road. This crash claimed the life of 17-year-old Landon Garsee of Eros. The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2003 Ford Ranger, driven by Garsee, was traveling south on LA Hwy 151. For reasons still under investigation, the Ford exited the roadway and struck a guardrail which caused it to overturn.

Garsee, who was unrestrained, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Ouachita Parish Coroner’s Office. An additional, unrestrained juvenile passenger, sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the crash. A toxicology sample was obtained and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

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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.

On Wednesday, November 16th, Eros Mayor Kelly Gryder and town employee Brian Costin were arrested by the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office on two counts of felony theft. Gryder was also charged with Malfeasance in Office. The charges stemmed from an investigation that was held earlier this year in June by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office.

According to what was reported by the News-Star in Monroe on June 28th, Gryder and Costin improperly received unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic while still working for the town. During the period between April and September 2020, the town paid Gryder her salary of $456 per week and paid Costin’s regular salary, which was $460 per week, then increased to $500 per week. These records also confirmed that payroll checks issued to Gryder and Costin were not processed through the computerized accounting system but were handwritten and appear to have been issued by Gryder.

Auditors held that state law may have been violated as the town paid $8K more than it should have.

“This amount included improper leave payouts totaling $7,080 and Christmas bonuses totaling $850,” the audit read. “During this period, these employees/officials did not complete timesheets and may not have been entitled to leave benefits. Further, the payment of Christmas bonuses may have violated the Louisiana Constitution, which prohibits the donation of public funds. The payment of excess compensation to Town employees/officials may have violated the Louisiana Constitution and state law.”

Auditors also found town records indicated utility payment transactions totaling $28,088.00 were received and/or recorded in the utility system but were not deposited into the town’s bank accounts between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2021.

“During this period, Mayor Gryder and four different Town clerks were responsible for handling utility collections,” the audit read. “Records show that the Town did not issue receipts for all payments collected and failed to deposit collections daily into the Town’s bank account. By failing to ensure that all monies were properly documented and deposited on a daily basis, Mayor Gryder may have violated state law.”

Arrest Report (November 7 – 19)

Ivory J Betts (Jackson, MS) Monetary Instrument Abuse, Theft of a Motor Vehicle
Lisa M Lindsay (Eros, LA) Fugitive from Justice (Caldwell Parish), Simple Criminal Damage to Property, Aggravated Assault with Firearm
Dakota D Scallion (Goldonna, LA) Non-Support Warrant
Mary J Calloway (Hodge, LA) Winn Parish Warrant on Felony Theft charge
David L Harrell Jr (Jonesboro, LA) Domestic Abuse, Aggravated Assault
Kelly A Gryder (Eros, LA) – Felony Theft x 2, Malfeasance in Office
Brian Costen (Eros, LA) – Felony Theft x2
Cornelius Graves (Eros, LA) – Criminal Trespass
Jason L Jordan (Eros, LA) – Driving under Suspension, No Proof of Insurance, Improper Display of Plates
Jeremy K Robinson (Forest Hill, LA) – Second-Degree Battery
Rodney Lowery (Shreveport, LA) – Non-Support
Matthew Pixley (Jonesboro, LA) – Non-Support
Cecil E. Masters (Eros, LA) – Possession of Schedule II
Lionel Cantu (Eros, LA) – Angling without a License
Bobby E Barnes (Jonesboro, LA) – Simple Battery

 

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With a lineup of top Class 5A schools, Ruston and Haughton, Class 2A stalwarts Lakeview and Winnfield and one of the top girls programs in the state in Ouachita Christian, you might think the three day tournament that was just played was held at one of the larger places in north Louisiana.

That is unless you are familiar with what takes place at Saline High School every year. Continuing a long tradition that was first started by iconic head coach William Britt and continued by current head coach Klint Robinson, the Saline Tournament once again was the sight of several of the top girls and boys teams in north Louisiana.

Ruston and Lakeview proved why they are ranked in the top six of Division 1 and IV on the boys side as did the Winnfield, the 3rd ranked team in Division III on the boys side but the team of the tourney was the Quitman girls. The Lady Wolverines beat not one, but two teams ranked in the top 20 in higher classifications in Class 2A Winnfield and defending “non-select” Division IV state semifinalist Ouachita Christian.

Saline head coach Klint Robinson was very appreciative of the schools that participated.

“I can’t say enough about how much I appreciate the support that was given to us by so many great programs and their coaches,” said Robinson. “It was really fun to have all these quality teams at our place and the fans got to see some of the best basketball you can find in north Louisiana.”

Thursday

Quitman 49 Winnfield 46 (Girls) A furious second half rally fueled by pristine foul shooting down the stretch erased an eight-point deficit as Quitman shot their way past Winnfield in the scintillating opener of the Saline Tournament played on Thursday afternoon. The impressive victory over the opponent from two divisions higher improved the Lady Wolverines record to 6-2, while Winnfield fell to 1-1 on the year.

Down 29-21 midway through the third quarter the Lady Wolverines went on an 11-3 run to knot the score at 32 heading into the final frame and then outscored Winnfield 17-14 in the fourth with all but four of the points coming from Bethany Leach and Brayli Stewart.

Even more impressive was how the tallies came. With the crowd roaring at a fever pitch, fourteen times combined, Leach and Stewart stepped to the free throw line. Eleven times the pair connected. Five of the charity shots re-established the lead for Quitman after Winnfield had tied the score. The final six freebies with time winding down kept the Lady Tigers at bay. 

Leach, who led Quitman in scoring with 14 after returning to the lineup from an ankle injury, did most of the damage by sinking 8 of 10 free throws in the critical frame. Stewart, who canned a pair of three pointers in the contest and chipped in with 11 points on the night, calmly sank three of four freebies down the stretch.

AJ Gray played a pivotal role as well with 8 points and 8 rebounds, including four points that helped fuel the third quarter rally and four critical rebounds in the fourth period. The great “8 and 8” are both new season highs and marks the second straight game the recent sparkplug has established new scoring and rebounding bests. Cali Deal chipped in with 6 points and 7 boards, despite being hampered by foul trouble and Anna Leach added five, including a first quarter trey. Emma Carter scored four and Summer Grillette made a free throw to round out the scoring. As a team, Quitman made a season best 18 of 24 free throws (75%) compared to Winnfield making 12 of 23 charity shots.
Quitman (6-2)   12 9 11 17 – 49
Winnfield (1-1) 14 10 8 14 – 46
QHS Scoring: B. Leach 14, Stewart 11, Gray 8, Deal 6, A. Leach 5, Carter 4, Grillette 1

Winnfield 80 Quitman 36 (boys) Winnfield scored only 9 points in the fourth quarter but by then it didn’t matter as the game had been long decided as the aggressive Tiger defense forced almost as many turnovers (31) as the amount points (36) they allowed. The worst loss to date this season at the hands of the higher classified opponent dropped Quitman to 4-4 on the year, while Winnfield claims a season opening victory.
It was over early as Winnfield raced to a 21-10 first quarter lead that was expanded to 48-26 at the half and 71-34 by the end of three. Blake Carter scored nine points and grabbed ten rebounds to lead Quitman while Logan Ponder scored five and both Nicholas Kleibert and Grant Williams added four each. Noah Leach scored three and Riley Duck chipped in with 6 boards and 3 steals.
Quitman (4-4) 10 16 8 2 – 36
Winnfield (1-0) 21 27 23 9 – 80
QHS Scoring: Carter 9, Ponder 5, Williams 4, Kliebert 4, Leach 3

Haughton 66 Saline 48 (boys): No one can accuse Saline head coach Klint Robinson of padding the tournament schedule as the nightcap of the opening round of the Saline Tourney pitted his one win, Division V (Class C) Bobcats, against the 13th rated team in Division 1 (Class 5A). As expected, the host didn’t have the most as Saline fell to Haughton 66 – 48. The Bobcats hung tough in the first quarter thanks to five points each by Will Dyson and Kenton Lee Crawford to offset the four three pointers made by Haughton but the bigger Buccaneers took control by doubling up Saline 20-10 in both the second and third quarters. Dyson led Saline with 19, Shawn Staggs scored 10 and Crawford added 9. Jacob Jones chipped in with six, and both D.J. Rager-Ridley and Gavon Dailey tallied two. McClinden scored 17 to top four players that reached double figures in points for Haughton, who won their first of the season after opening with a pair of losses.
Saline (1-6) 10 10 10 18 – 48
Haughton (1-2) 12 20 20 14 – 66
SHS Scoring: Dyson 19, Staggs 10, Crawford 9, Jones 6 Rager-Ridley 2 Dailey 2
HHS Scoring: McClinden 17, Ross 12, Delaney 12, Antoine 10, Antoine 6, Carey 4, Turner 3, Howell 2, Youngblood 2

Haughton 57 Saline 34 (girls): Alaya Gray hit a pair of three pointers and scored 8 points to help Saline stay even with Haughton in the first quarter but Haughton used a 21-6 second quarter advantage to pull away. The fifth straight loss dropped the Lady Bobcats to 1-6 on the year while Haughton improved to 2-0. Gray ended the night with four trey’s to her credit and 18 points. Kasidy Sims scored five and both Alana Gray and Tyla Malone added three each. X. Lard had two.
Saline (1-7) 10 6 9 9 – 34
Haughton (2-0) 10 21 13 13 – 57
SHS Scoring: Alaya Gray 18, Sims 5, Alana Gray 3, Malone 3, Lard 2
HHS Scoring: Washington 19, Browder 10, Armstrong 8, Marshall 7, Frazier 5, Poydras 4

Friday:

OCS 58 Saline 43 (Girls): Saline gave defending Division IV state semifinalist Ouachita Christian out of Monroe a run for their money but by winning each quarter by small margins the Lady Eagles managed to win their second straight to open their season. The Lady Bobcats held OCS to just six field goals in the first half but by making 13 of 18 free throws OCS held a 27-18 lead at the break before methodically pulling away in the second half. Alana Gray scored a season high 22 points to lead Saline followed by twin sister Alaya and X Lard with seven. Tyla Maline and Kassie Hood added three each.
Saline (1-7) 10 8 11 14 – 43
OCS (2-0) 12 15 15 16 – 58

Ruston 38 Lakeview 31 (boys) Two of north Louisiana’s top defensive teams slugged it out with Class 5A Ruston slipping past Class 2A Lakeview. The win was the third straight to open the year for the Bearcats, coached by Weston native, Ryan Bond. Lakeview fell to 1-1 on the year despite allowing only an average of 31.5 points per game.

Ruston 51 Haughton 44 (girls) The 2nd ranked Ruston girls made it three straight with the victory over previously undefeated Haughton, who now sits at 2-1 on the year. The Lady Buccaneers were making a second trip in two days to Saline having played the tourney host night before.

Saturday

Quitman 49 Ouachita Christian 44 (Girls) Down 44-42 with time winding down in the opener of four games played Saturday, Quitman went on a 7-0 run to blow past the defending “non-select” Division IV state semifinalist. With their second straight victory over teams from higher classifications, the Lady Wolverines ran their record to 7-2 while OCS fell to 2-1, suffering only their 8th loss in the last 96 games played over three plus years.
After the lead see-sawed back and forth in the early stages of the final frame as it had done all game, Brayli Stewart found Bethany Leach for a three pointer to put Quitman up 45-44. Leach then made the back end of two free throws after OCS missed two charity shots. Desperately, OCS tried to get back in the game by fouling only to see Summer Grillette make her only two points of the game with two clutch free throws to put Quitman up 48-44. After another foul, Cali Deal, who led Quitman with 20 points on the night on the strength of making 10 of 13 free throws, made the front end of a pair to close out the game. Brayli Stewart and Leach also finished in double figures with 12 and 10. Anna Leach added three and AJ Gray scored two.
QHS (7-2) 11 11 10 17 – 49
OCS (2-1) 10 9 15 10 – 44
QHS Scoring: Deal 20, Stewart 12, B. Leach 10, A. Leach 3, Grillette 2, Gray 2

Quitman 47 Saline 43 (boys): Quitman made only one field goal in the fourth quarter and three the entire second half but by making 13 of 20 free throws kept scrappy Saline at bay in the finale of the three day tourney. The victory improved the Wolverines to 5-3 on the year while Saline fell to 1-8 after a fourth straight loss. It was Saline that made only one basket in the first quarter as Quitman stormed to a 14-6 lead which proved to be to much of a hill for the Bobcats to climb despite outscoring the Wolverines in each of the last three quarters. Brayden Smith came up big for the Wolverines, especially down the stretch where he made five of six clutch free throws in the final period, to give him a team high 13 in the contest. He was assisted by Eli Walker who made three trey’s in the first half en route to 11 points on the night. Blake Carter ended with 10 points and 15 boards for his third “double-double” of the year and both Gavin Caskey and Logan Ponder chipped in with six each. Kenton Lee Crawford scored 13 to lead Saline, who also got a season high 9 points by Gavin Dailey and 8 from D.J. Rager-Ridley. Will Dyson, Shawn Staggs and Maddox Williams added four each.
Quitman (5-3) 14 12 10 11 – 47
Saline (1-8) 6 13 12 12 – 43
QHS Scoring: Smith 13, Walker 11, Carter 10, Caskey 6, Ponder 6, Williams 1
SHS Scoring: Crawford 13, Dailey 9, Rager-Ridley 8, Dyson 4, Staggs 4, Williams 4, Ledbetter 1

Ruston 71 Winnfield 52 (boys): Ruston High, ranked 6th in Division I, made easy work of the 3rd ranked team in Division III, by scoring a season high to run their record to 4-0 in the second game played on Saturday. Winnfield fell to 1-1 on the year. 

Lakeview 76 Haughton 62 (boys): It was just the opposite in the third game as the smaller school blew past the bigger one as  Lakeview rebounded from their loss to Ruston by taking down the Class 5A Buccaneers. Lakeview, who opened their season at the Saline Tourney improved to 2-1 on the year while Haughton fell to 1-3. 

 

 

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