In the summer of 2018, Clay Williams of Jonesboro became the first person to receive the Raymond Jeffress Scholarship Award. After completing his undergraduate work at Louisiana Tech, this past week he received his master’s degree in Sports Administration from Arkansas State University.

Raymond “Doc” Jeffress was an iconic journalist who covered sports while working for the now-defunct Jackson Independent for over 77 years. He was a tremendously accomplished writer, publishing over a thousand Doc’s Diagnosis columns and even authored a book entitled Six Decades of Jonesboro-Hodge Sports. He was heavily involved in countless civic clubs and activities, served on the Jonesboro United Methodist Church Council for 55 years, and was a charter member of the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame.

One of his greatest joys though was teaching a young person the art of sports journalism. Nothing filled him with pride like seeing someone show an interest in the field that he dearly loved and had dedicated his life to.

Through his tutelage, scads of local youth learned the art of sports writing, with many ending up making it a career including Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) Hall of Fame members, Dan McDonald, and Doug Ireland.

Following Doc’s passing in January of 2018, a fund was started so that a scholarship in his honor could be awarded continuing his legacy of helping young people pursue a career in sports journalism or a sports-related field. The criteria were that the applicant would be a graduate of a Jackson Parish High School, pursuing a degree in a sports-related field and be civic-minded. 

Williams, the son of Steve and the late Paula (Jones) Williams, was the first recipient and now is the latest to be a “Doc’s Disciple.”

“I realized during my junior year of high school that my dream was different from seemingly everyone else’s in my family, and I wasn’t going to be a teacher or a nurse,” commented Williams. “My life has revolved around sports for as long as I can remember, so why not make it my career? Very excited to see where the future takes me!”

“Doc” would be proud!

 

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Cooper Delaney had a breakout season for Weston High School this past spring, helping the Wolves baseball team to the District 2B title and a berth in the LHSAA Division IV state semifinals. This summer he is starring for Team Louisiana 16U Arceneaux.

The up and coming hurler, who had two no hitters to his credit during the LHSAA prep season,added another gem to his resume this past week. Playing in Tomball, TX, Delaney was perfect, allowing no hits and no walks in a seven inning complete game 2-0 victory. 

Earlier this month Delaney was named Player of the Game after giving up just one earned run and striking out five in five innings to lead his team to victory in a Hub City Classic contest played in Hattiesburg, MS.

 

 

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The cheering section from Jackson Parish at St. Julian Park in Broussard, LA,  will be significantly larger now. By virtue of their runner-up finish in the District 5 “Coach Pitch” tourney played at the JPRD Sports Complex this past weekend, the JP8U girls All-Stars became the second local team to punch their ticket for state tourney play joined the JP10U team that will also head south for the July 7-10 games. 

“I am so proud of everyone of these girls. They have put in hours of hard work and their dedication is inspiring,” said JP8U head coach Kyle Allen. “I know I speak for all the coaches when I say we have been blessed to coach this team.” 

Jackson Parish 32 Vivian 21: JP8U opened district play by setting a scoring standard for one team that was never eclipsed in any of the games played in the three All-Star tourneys that was played at the JPRD. The 53 total combined runs also stood supreme after all said and done. Still another tourney mark was set when the two squads combined to score 25 runs in the fourth inning alone. 

Caylee Mauthe and Macie Halbrook feasted the most on JP Coach Halee Siddon’s offerings as each reached base in all five at bats and score five and four runs respectively. They weren’t the only ones who took multiple trips around the base paths. 

Presley Carpenter, Cadie Conn, Kylee-Ayn Allen, Savannah Porter, Ryleigh Puffer and Carrington Bond all scored three times with Abigail Sullivan crossing home twice. Ella Siddon, Charley Linton, and Miriam Shuler chipped in with a run apiece as all 12 batters joined in the fun. 

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	TOTAL
JP8U	5	8	3	12	4	32
Vivian	5	0	2	13	1	21

Sterlington 18 Jackson Parish 17: After the highest scoring game of the tourney came one of the most exciting. Nine runs over the last two innings brought Jackson Parish back from a large deficit to tie the game but Sterlington scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to slip past with the win. JP was behind 8-1 after two innings and 12-6 after three but by coming alive for 6 runs in the fifth inning after tallying two in the fourth, the locals trailed by only a 17-14 margin heading into the final frame. Showing their spunk, the locals scored three in the top of the sixth to tie the game setting the stage for Sterlington to win it on three straight hits. 

Presley Carpenter scored three runs and reached base in all four at bats as did Abigail “Abby” Sullivan and Kylee-Ayn Allen who added two runs each. Cadie Conn, Charley Linton and Miriam Shuler all got on three times and scored three, two and one run respectively. Caylee Mauthe, Ella Siddon, Miriam Shuler and Ryleigh Puffer scored one each. 

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	TOTAL
Jackson Parish	1	0	5	2	6	3	17
Sterlington	5	3	4	0	5	1	18

Jackson Parish 8 Bossier 3: Abigail Sullivan fell just a double short of the cycle as she hit a home run, a triple and a single in three at bats and a scored three times. Presley Carpenter also hit a “round trippler and added a double and a single while scoring twice and and Cayle Mauthe tallied twice as the top of the order did almost all of the damage. Miriam Shuler chipped in with a run as JP8U built an 8-0 lead before Bossier put three on the board in their final at bat. Cadie Conn went 3/3 and Carrington Bond got two hits in her two at bats.

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	R
Bossier	0	0	0	0	0	3	3
Jackson Parish	2	0	3	0	3	x	8

Sterlington 14 Jackson Parish 8: For the second time Sterlington jumped out to a large lead only to see JP make it interesting but like in game one the deficit was to big. Taking some of the sting of losing to the team that JP8U beat twice the week before in a warm up tourney, was the knowledge that even with the loss a trip to the state tournament was in the offering. 

Presley Carpenter scored her 9th and 10th runs of the tournament and Miriam Shuler stroked a triple and added a run. Abby Sullivan scored a run and rapped out a pair of singles as did Kylee-Ayn Allen, Carrington Bond and Savannah Porter and Caylee Mauthe. Charley Linton and Ryleigh Puffer both got a hit and scored a run. 

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	R
Jackson Parish	3	0	0	1	3	1	8
Sterlington	5	2	2	0	5	x	14

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We’ve been taught since we were stuffing our jaws with Fruit Loops that breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day.

That might be true, though some would agree with me that the most important meal of the day is the one you are eating Right Now.

Still, word to the wise, the complimentary breakfast at a hotel is NOT the most important meal of the day. It is just a buffer to get you out of the hotel and on your way to your next meal — and out of the hotel with the feeling that you’ve stolen something free.

Let’s review.

Summertime, the best of all the seasons — including Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons — begins today.

No school. The fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high. Your daddy’s rich and your ma is good-looking.

Summer! Watermelon. Baseball. Sunshine until 9 at night. Fireworks. Fireflies.

It’s a beautiful thing, summer is.

So, what’s not to love? — besides it being 110 degrees and many of us not having power — a common North Louisiana peculiarity.

Nothing, really, except the oasis that is the complimentary hotel breakfast.

Many of you will go on a summer trip soon. Or now. Awesome. Have a ball.

Just don’t have a big expectation over the complementary hotel breakfast.

The trend began a decade or so ago. You pay $130-ish to stay in a hotel. And they say, “Hey, breakfast is on us.”

Which is beautiful. I’ve eaten dozens.

But I know it’s just a powdered egg and maybe a sausage that is intended to get me on my way. Don’t do as I’ve seen hundreds do: they complain that this isn’t hot or the toaster doesn’t work or the bacon is microwaved.

Hey: it’s a bonus. It’s complimentary. It’s “free.” That waffle iron has been used by hundreds of people, not just by your wife or daughter. You eat your hotel waffle made by yourself, you take your chances.

Most of us have stayed in nice hotels once or twice. Omelet stations. Waitresses or waiters. Bacon fried instead of microwaved.

We still have that option. But if you stay at a Complimentary Breakfast place, you know going in that the plates will be Styrofoam. So don’t ask for something for nothing. Grab a bite and move along.

Somewhere, there is a great Complimentary Breakfast Hotel Staff that makes sure all is ship shape. I’ve seen them and adore them. But more times than not, the hotel is just giving you a pat on the back — or on the stomach — and telling you to move along.

I appreciate their trying. We should too. Grab a pre-frozen biscuit and hit the road.

Find a good place for supper. Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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The 14th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship will be held from June 21-24 on Mississippi River pools 7,8, and 9, located near La Crosse, Wisconsin. High school anglers from across the globe, including three teams consisting of anglers from Jackson Parish, will try their luck in an attempt to claim their piece of the $3 million prize pool. Everything from fishing tackle, rods, and reels to electronics and college scholarships is up for grabs for the field of high school anglers.

Representing Quitman High School is Hayden Smith and Maddox Duck while the all girl team of Addison Ledford and Hailey Chatham carry the banner for Weston High. Landin Chatham of Weston High and Jessie Parker from West Ouachita High School will also be putting their skills against other prep anglers from all over the United States and international teams from Canada and as far away as Zimbabwe, South Africa. 

About the Fishery: Pools 7, 8, and 9 of the Upper Mississippi River are known for their vast backwaters systems that each offer diverse features. Locking upriver to Pool 7 means searching through expansive grass flats where anglers will find themselves on the hunt for quality largemouth bites. Staying put in Pool 8 gives a wider variety of cover for the field to play in. While grass flats can be found and exploited, it’s the variety of wing dams and current breaks, backwater cuts and sloughs that allow anglers to spread out and find a fishing style that best suits them. Locking down to Pool 9 offers anglers yet another opportunity to explore backwater areas and winding sloughs that are known to hold both largemouth and smallmouth. Traditionally, largemouth dominate a summertime bite in La Crosse, but finding the right smallmouth certainly will launch a team up the leaderboard and into contention for the National Championship title.

In addition to the college scholarships and prizes offered, the High School Fishing National Champions will also advance to the 2023 Major League Fishing Toyota Series Championship, held Nov. 2-4 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri. There they will compete as co-anglers for a shot at the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit https://highschoolfishing.org/https://highschoolfishing.org/ or click here. 

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Four in a row with one to go! Jackson Parish 8U boys All-Stars beat host Pineville 14-3 on Monday for their fourth straight win in the Dixie Youth “Coach Pitch” 8U All-Star District Tournament. With just one more win the locals will punch their ticket to the state tournament that will be played in Jefferson Parish July 13-16.

It was a familiar script as the locals continued to pound the ball while also turning in a another superb defensive effort. For the tournament, JP8U has now scored 54 runs while giving up only 9 leading to a complete dismantling of all four of the Rapides Parish teams faced.

JP8U ended the contest with a tournament best 24 hits led by Asher Norred who had four hits with a pair of doubles, drove in four runs, scored three and stole two bases for good measure. Maddox Graham also had four hits with a double, scored twice and knocked in a run.

Ridge Lewter hit three singles while Cruz Nomey added a pair of doubles with each scoring a run. Koplen Taylor’s triple was one of the two hits he got on night to go along with two runs scored, 2 RBI and a stolen base. Remi Davis, Carter Kelley, and Kutter Blalock, who scored twice, collected two hits. Landry Garrett, Andrew Seymore and Brock Craighead each chipped in with a hit as JP8U scored in every inning. Cruz Nomey picked up the win allowing just seven hits and three earned runs thanks to a sterling effort by the players on defense who did not make a single error in the game. 

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Jackson Parish	3	3	1	1	3	3	14	24	0
Pineville	0	0	2	0	1	0	3	7	0

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If you owe over $100.00 the Jackson Parish Hospital will take 25% off the amount due when payment is made in full on self-pay accounts. You need to act now though as the deadline to take advantage of this very generous offer is June 30th. To pay call 318-259-4435 or go to the accounting office of the Jackson Parish Hospital, located at 165 Beech Springs Road in Jonesboro. 

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Have questions about what you need to do or not to do when the power goes out? Then make sure to set your calendar for Wednesday, June 21st to go to either the Jonesboro or Chatham Branch of the Jackson Parish Library.

Mrs. Arnetra King from Entergy will be at the Jonesboro Branch at 10:00 am and at the Chatham Branch at 1:00 pm to answer your questions and discuss the importance of being “safety conscious” during power outages.

You will also learn how linemen brave dangers during storms to restore power to disaster-stricken communities and be provided with in-house and take home activities. There will also be a bucket truck on site for your to explore. 

LDWF presents Baby Alligators on Thursday

Want to see an alligator up close? Ms. Tanya Sturman of the Louisiana Department Wildlife and Fisheries will be presenting baby alligators at both branches of the Jackson Parish Library on Thursday. The interesting display as well as a discussion on animal furs and skins will take place at the Jonesboro Branch at 10:00am and at the Chatham Branch as 2:00 pm.

Steve’s Snaketuary to be at JPL on Friday

Steve Kennedy, owner of Steve’s Snaketuary in Shreveport will be at both branches of the Jackson Parish Library this Friday to give an educational presentation about snakes. The Chatham Branch will be the first to hold the informative session at 10:00 am followed by a 1:00 pm engagement at the Jonesboro Branch.

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Quitman High School will be playing in their newly refurbished gymnasium this coming fall. One of the additions planned is new banners depicting the national and state championships, state runner-up, regional and district titles won by the various sports programs of the school. 

Painstaking research is currently ongoing in an effort to include all the titles won by the boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls track, tennis, golf, fishing and cheerleading squads.

See below for the information that has been gathered to date. If you have any information to add to the list please call Quitman High School at (318) 259-2698 or list on the QHS Wolverine Athletic Club Facebook page. 

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It was the 1969 Toronto Pop Festival and Malcolm “Mac” John Rebennack Jr.’s band was scheduled to perform. Mac looked like something from a strange other world. He had strands of beads and other trinkets interwoven into his hair and “powders coming out of his ears.” Strips of colorful rags hung from his clothing. He used a walking stick which looked like its intended use was for casting spells rather than walking. The 18-year-old musician was in perfect health and did not require any type of apparatus for walking. The stick was just part of who Mac was. When Mac walked in a room, everyone instinctually turned their gaze his way.

The concert was held at an outdoor venue, and it had been raining periodically throughout the day. Mac and his band were onstage playing their unique mixture of jazz, blues, rock and roll, and funk which the media nicknamed “voodoo rock,” when the rain began to pour. As if it were a part of the show, Mac raised the unique walking stick toward the sky and held it there for a few moments. His eyes focused on the dark clouds. Some say he mumbled a few words. Suddenly, as if under Mac’s spell, the rain stopped completely.

Mac was born and raised in New Orleans’s middle class Third Ward. His father owned and operated an appliance store. In addition to household appliances such as washers, dryers, and refrigerators, Mac’s father sold sound systems and records in a variety of genres Mac later described as “gospel, bebop, real filthy party records, and hillbilly stuff like Hank Williams.” Mac’s father also repaired appliances and sound systems. Mac was first subjected to the gypsy world of musicians as a child when he accompanied his father on sound system repair jobs at local clubs. Mac was more than a decade away from the required age to enter the clubs, but he was allowed since he was helping with the repairs. Mac was entranced. He recognized at this early age that he wanted to be a performer just like them. Within a short time, Mac learned to play multiple instruments with almost no instruction.

By the time he was a teenager, he was writing songs for other artists and playing guitar for recording sessions. Mac said, “New Orleans produced a lot of good piano players and some good drummers, but for some reason there weren’t a lot of guitar players around, so I kind of filled the need.” Mac was always modest. Aaron Neville recalled that “the ratty dude,” which is how he referred to Mac, “was a bad dude on guitar.” But that changed when Mac was 20 years old.

In 1961, Mac was on tour with his friend, fellow New Orleans native Ronnie Barron. When Mac and Ronnie were not performing, they spent most of their time at a local motel. During their stay, Ronnie and the motel manager’s wife became friends, maybe more than friends. The motel manager confronted Ronnie about the possible infidelity and an argument ensued. In a fit of rage, the motel manager pulled a pistol from his pocket. Mac grabbed the pistol with his left hand just as the motel manager pulled the trigger. POW!!! Because of Mac’s quick action, the bullet missed its intended target. For Ronnie, Mac was in the right place at the right time. For Mac’s left ring finger, Mac was in the right place at the wrong time. The bullet passed through his finger and left it “hanging by a thread.” Surgeons repaired his mangled finger to the best of their abilities, but Mac’s career as a guitar player had ended with that pistol shot. Mac transitioned from guitar to bass and then to piano, his first instrument.

Mac fell into a deep depression and tried to dull it with drugs. He was arrested for possession of narcotics and spent time in a federal prison. Upon his release in 1965, Mac moved to Los Angeles, California where he became a session piano player for artists such as Buffalo Springfield and Sonny and Cher. In 1967, Mac recorded his first album, Gris-Gris, with other transplanted New Orleans musicians. While working on the album, Mac began working on a way to incorporate the Mardi Gras tradition that he was so fond of into his live shows. He created a character for his live shows that he named after a 19th-centuryth century Louisiana voodoo priest. In creating this character, Mac said he was “just tryin’ to hustle album deals, just tryin’ to hustle money.” Rather than being a one-off character as Mac had planned, he became known as the character. Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. may have been known as Mac to his close friends, but the world knows Mac as Dr. John. He is most associated with his biggest hit single released in 1973 called “Right Place, Wrong Time.”

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The Jackson Parish Watershed is excited to announce that after a year in the planning, construction is set to begin on the new public fishing pier at Ebenezer Park on Caney Lake. The contractor was scheduled to begin work on Tuesday, June 20th, with an estimated completion time of mid-July, weather permitting. 

Serving as a recreation opportunity for those that enjoy fishing and do not have a boat, the fishing pier will be 16’ x 24’ and extend out 90 feet from the shore line. It will be handicap accessible, have an opening in the middle that can be fished, and have underwater lights for night time fishing. 

Funding this project is Jonesboro State Bank Pledge 10, Jackson Parish Recreation Department via a Cooperative Endeavor agreement with the Watershed Commission and the Watershed general fund. Once the Fire Marshall and Jackson Parish Building Inspector approves the pier it will be open it up to the public

The Watershed Commission would like to also thank Mr. Jody Braud, who is building on the lake  for provided the CAD drawing for this project and Mr. Stuart K. Wilson for his Engineering work. 

 

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The Jackson Parish Heritage and Fine Arts Museum, located at 515 South Cooper Avenue in Jonesboro, is requesting your assistance! What is needed are volunteers to help keep the Museum open so that visitors can come and enjoy learning about the wonderful history of Jackson Parish! If you would like to volunteer your time to work at the museum, even if it’s for a few hours once a week, or once a month, you are needed! If interested, please contact Jackson Parish Museum Board President, Barbara Johnson, at 318-450-5561. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

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Slander

Do you gossip?

Many might remember playing the childhood game of gossip.

I’m not sure when I first played the game. Was it in 1st grade? 2nd? I do remember that my elementary school teacher taught the class how to gossip. First, she had us sit in chairs that were arranged in a large circle.

We eagerly listened as she explained how to play the game. All we had to do was listen to a secret. The person sitting to one side of us whispered in our ears. Then, we whispered it to the child sitting on the other side of us.

The teacher started our game by whispering a secret to the first child in the circle. It didn’t take long for the gossip to reach the very last child. The teacher then asked the first and last child to tell the secret to the whole class. The secret whispered by the teacher had changed. It was not the same by the time it reached the end of the circle.

We giggled as we heard how much it had changed (as it was passed around).

Gossip isn’t really a harmless game.

“The words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body (Proverbs 18:8 NASB).”

Gossip is a serious sin.

… “people having been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, and evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice; they are gossips, slanderers… (Romans 1:29-30a NASB).”

We don’t want people to gossip about us.

Why do we slander the reputations of others?

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To have your Business Services, Job Opportunities, Items for sale, and Public / Legal Notices published – send an email to: jpjjacksonla@gmail.com. Possible costs are dependent on content. 

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Forest Haven Nursing Home – Facility Maintenance Position. Must possess general knowledge in Plumbing, Electrical and performing inspection of building to confirm safety guidelines while following LTC, Life Safety and OSHA standards. Apply in person at 171 Thrasher Drive, Jonesboro, LA.

Jackson Parish Ambulance Service District – Full time Paramedic Supervisor, Paramedic and EMT positions available. For more information call JPASD Director Aaron Johnson at 318-259-2877. Resumes can be emailed to: jacksonparishambulance@jpasd.com or sent by regular mail to: JPASD, attn: Aaron Johnson, 115 Watts St., Jonesboro, LA 7125

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Jackson Parish Police Jury is hiring for the following open position. Please submit all applications to: Jackson Parish Police Jury Administrative Building, 160 Industrial Drive, Jonesboro, LA 71251. Applications will be received until 4:30 pm on Friday, June 30, 2023. To request a detailed job description, please contact our office at (318) 259-2361 or by email: egibbs@jppj.org.

POSITION: Supervisor
DEPARTMENT: Jackson Parish Maintenance Department

Description:
Under administrative direction of the Operations Manager (or the Secretary-Treasurer in the absence of the Operations Manager), this position is a working supervisor role that plans, oversees, and coordinates the various operations of employees who repair, clean, and maintain Police Jury buildings and grounds. Supervisor performs complex maintenance tasks and other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:
• Must be 18 years of age.
• High school diploma, or equivalent, required.
• Class E Driver’s License required; progression towards Class B Commercial CDL a plus.
• Requires specialized training beyond high school that can be obtained in one year or less.
• Three (3) years of journey-level experience in construction and/or maintenance work, including one year of experience in a specialty building trade and as a lead worker or supervisor or have equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities.
• Must be able to lift up to 100 pounds frequently.
• Able to work safely in all weather conditions, including adverse conditions.
• Understands, follows, and communicates oral and written instructions.
• Able to work in elevated areas, confined spaces, and on and off ladders.
• Must be able to sit and stand for extended periods of time.

Basic Responsibilities:
• The Maintenance Department Supervisor is responsible for carrying out orders given by the Maintenance Superintendent which includes performing periodic (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) inspections of assigned areas, maintaining documentation records, and following up with staff to make corrections, adjustments, etc.
• Expresses ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, to groups and individuals.
• Performs periodic (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) inspections of assigned areas and maintains documentation records; is expected to follow-up with staff to make corrections, adjustments, etc.
• Prepares work schedules, work orders, purchase orders, voucher requests, and other required forms.
• Reviews, approves, and submits Maintenance Department timecards in the absence of the Superintendent.
• Estimates material and labor costs for repairs, remodeling, alterations, and installation projects.
• Orders and issues tools, equipment, and supplies.
• Maintains material and equipment inventories; places orders when necessary while managing to budget.
• Performs complex repair and maintenance tasks.
• Oversees a staff of skilled and semi-skilled workers, as well as inmate trustees, in such maintenance duties as painting, carpentry, masonry, cement work, custodial tasks, building and grounds, and general upkeep involving structures, furnishings, equipment, floor coverings, acoustical ceiling, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical, and related systems.
• May establish new preventive maintenance programs and procedures.
• Directs and works alongside Maintenance Department staff.
• Handles routine personnel matters, recommends pink slips and other disciplinary actions or customer-related items that arise to Superintendent.
• Acts as fill in/backup staff in the event of absent personnel.
• Acts in the absence of the Superintendent and assists in managing the Maintenance Department staff and its overall operation.
• May be required to be on 24 hour call out.
• Works directly with the Secretary-Treasurer in Superintendent’s absence.
• Attends any required Police Jury or Committee meetings, training classes, or seminars that relate to the incumbent’s role within the department.
• Assures that incumbent’s performance meets or exceeds all Police Jury expectations.
• Sets forth a professional appearance and attitude on and off the job.
• May be required to lift equipment, tools, or any combination in excess of 100 pounds.
• Adheres to all traffic laws, applicable Federal and State health and safety rules, local ordinances, and Jackson Parish Policy Jury rules and regulations and policies and procedures.
• Able to drive various pieces of equipment used by the Police Jury.
• Follows safety procedures and practices as required, as well as wearing required safety equipment.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Detailed Job Description available upon request.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

The Jackson Council on Aging has declared the following items as surplus property and authorized disposal of each item separately by sealed bids to the highest bidder.

One(1) 2010 Ford Transit
One(1) 2016 Ford Transit T-35 Passenger Van

These items may be inspected Monday-Thursday 8am-4pm & Friday 8am-2:00pm at Jackson COA Office, 120 Polk Ave. Jonesboro, LA
(318)259-8962

Bids submitted for each vehicle item must be submitted in sealed envelope, clearly marked SEALED BID no later than 1:00pm Friday July 14, 2023.

All items are to be sold “as is”.

The Jackson Council on Aging reserve the right to reject any or all bids.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Affidavit of Succession and Certificate of Service

NOTICE OF VACANCY

APPOINTMENT OF JACKSON PARISH REGISTRAR OF VOTERS

THE JACKSON PARISH POLICE JURY SHALL APPOINT AN INDIVIDUAL TO SERVE AS THE JACKSON PARISH REGISTRAR OF VOTERS. ALL INTERESTED APPLICANTS MAY PICK UP AN APPLICATION FROM THE JACKSON PARISH POLICE JURY OFFICE.

ALL INTERESTED APPLICANTS FOR THE POSITION OF REGISTRAR OF VOTERS SHALL SUBMIT AN APPLICATION AND RESUME TO THE JACKSON PARISH POLICE JURY AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:

JACKSON PARISH POLICE JURY
160 INDUSTRIAL DRIVE
JONESBORO, LA 71251-3446

OR THE APPLICATION AND RESUME MAY BE HAND DELIVERED TO THE JACKSON PARISH POLICE JURY OFFICE AT THE

JACKSON PARISH POLICE JURY ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
160 INDUSTRIAL DRIVE
JONESBORO, LA 71251-3446

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN 4:30 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2023. THE JACKSON PARISH POLICE JURY SHALL CONDUCT INTERVIEWS OF ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPLICANTS FOR REGISTRAR OF VOTER:
• SHALL BE A REGISTERED VOTER. IF APPOINTED TO FILL THE OFFICE OF REGISTRAR OF VOTERS, THE APPLICANT SHALL BECOME A RESIDENT AND REGISTERED VOTER OF JACKSON PARISH PRIOR TO TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE, AND SHALL POSSESS AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT:
• POSSESS A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE FROM AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION AND TWO YEARS FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
• POSSESS AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE FROM AN ACCREDITED INSTITUTION AND FOUR YEARS OF FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
• SEVEN YEARS OF FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
• FIVE YEARS OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT IN A REGISTRAR’S OFFICE IN LOUISIANA

NOTE: PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE MEANS EXPERIENCE IN AN OCCUPATION WHICH REQUIRES SPECIALIZED AND THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE USUALLY ACQUIRED THROUGH COLLEGE TRAINING OR THROUGH WORK EXPERIENCE AND OTHER TRAINING WHICH PROVIDES COMPARABLE KNOWLEDGE.

 

 

 

Melvin Carroll “Sonny” Watson
May 2, 1936 – June 17, 2023

Mr. Melvin Carroll Watson passed away on Saturday, June 17, 2023 in Jonesboro, Louisiana. He was 87 years old. “Sonny,” as he was known to his family and friends, was a residential and commercial painter for 60 plus years and was an avid fox hunter. He also enjoyed coaching slow-pitch softball over the years. Sonny especially loved attending his grandchildren’s sporting events. In his early years, Sonny played high school basketball and baseball and he participated in rodeos as a bareback rider.

Mr. Watson is survived by his son, Sonny Watson and wife, Stacey; daughter, Sabrina McDonald and husband, Nathan; grandchildren, Kristopher Watson (Anna), Marley Ammons (A.J.), Zach Watson (Jessica), Logan McDonald (Abbie), Landon McDonald; great-grandchildren, Isabella Ammons, Sawyer Ammons, Jack Watson, Molly Watson; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Sonny was preceded in death by his wife, Brenda Sue (Kelley) Watson; father, Elbert Jack Watson; mother, Vernice (Rowe) Watson; and sister, Lanelle (Watson) Nolley, infant sister, Sandra Ann Watson.

Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home Chapel in Jonesboro. The funeral service will begin at 1:00 PM on Thursday, June 22, 2023 in the chapel, with Bro. Robert White officiating. Burial will follow in the Zion Rest Baptist Church Cemetery near Weston, under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.

Serving the family as pallbearers will be Travis Reed, Don Reed, Matt Reed, Rodney Kelley, Mark Kelley and Keith Burns. Honorary pallbearers will be Steve Kelley, Danny Kelley and Travis Caskey.

David Gene Humphrey
November 27, 1955 – June 16, 2023

David Gene Humphrey of Saline, Louisiana passed away on Friday, June 16, 2023 after a brief courageous cancer related battle. He was thought to have turned the corner on the road to recovery, however God had different plans.

Gene was born in Jonesboro, Louisiana on November 27, 1955 to Paul and Margie Humphrey. Above all else, he loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and his church family at Old Saline Baptist Church, where he faithfully served as a deacon and treasurer for many years. He also enjoyed singing bass in the church choir and in quartets. He was gentle and quiet, but had the biggest and most caring heart.

Gene graduated from Saline High School and then earned his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology from Northwestern State University in 1977. He spent his entire professional career as a public educator in the Bienville Parish School System, teaching Trade and Industry at Shady Grove High School, Castor High School and Saline High School. After retiring in 2013, he loved living the simple life; working his daily puzzles, watching Jeopardy, gardening, working to restore his Chevy Nova and searching for automotive parts to sell at swap meets.

Gene was extremely talented with mechanical and fabrication skill along with an innovative imagination. He fabricated countless custom: toys, tools, race cars, trailers, and vehicles over the years. He built his first championship winning race car engine in 1973 as a senior in high school. He was also an accomplished circle track race car driver and earned numerous wins along with multiple track championships over the years. He always made sure all of his grandkids, nephews, and nieces had plenty of motorized toys to ride while growing up.

Gene was preceded in death by his father, Paul Humphrey. He is survived by his wife Gail Dement Humphrey, mother Margie Humphrey, brother Douglas Humphrey and wife Gail of Saline, brother, Ronnie Humphrey and wife Janice of Shreveport. Children include Chris and Shannon Fife of Sterlington, Matt and Kristi Fife of Sterlington, Leigh Ann and Nick Hamburg of West Monroe. Grandchildren include Otayia “Ty” Fife, Ariana Fife, Saphire Harris and Race, Sidney Harris and Nikki, and one great grandchild Daisy Harris. Nephews and nieces include, Tanya and Jeremy Paul of Ruston, Trent and Emily Humphrey of Haughton, Ryan and Amy Humphrey of Shreveport, Alyson Humphrey of Shreveport, Ashlin and Heath Thompson of Shreveport, seven great-nephews and one great-niece, and a host of family and friends.

The funeral service was on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at Old Saline Baptist Church with Bro. Michael Reed officiating. Burial followed in Old Saline cemetery under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.

Serving the family as pallbearers were Donald Dement, Ronald Dement, Matt Fife, Ryan Humphrey, Trent Humphrey, Hudson Paul, Jeremy Paul, and Heath Thompson.

James Corbitt
October 5, 1943 – June 10, 2023

James William Corbitt, Jr passed away peacefully at Spring Oak Assisted Living in Warrenton, VA on June 10, 2023. Jim was born in Maryland on October 5, 1943 to James W. Corbitt, Sr. and Demma Ione Wafer Corbitt.

Jim graduated from William and Mary College in Williamsburg with a doctorate in Constitutional Law. Jim graduated in 1965 from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science degree in commerce. He then joined the US Army artillery and served in Vietnam. Afterward he entered the College of William and Mary School of Law and earned his JD degree in 1971.

Jim worked as an attorney for the US Department of the Treasury. He loved to travel and was a train enthusiast. He traveled all over the world on the antique trains that he adored so much. He collected trains of all types and was a member of multiple railroad societies.

Jim will be especially remembered for his kind, non-judgmental and positive outlook on everything. Anyone who knew Jim also knows how attentive he was to his mother after his father’s death up until she passed at the age of 99.

Those left to cherish his memory are his cousins, Audry and Rebecca Jemerson of Saline, Dr. James Ed Barron D.D.S. and Judy of Monroe, Carolyn Kirkpatrick of Epps, Gloria Sue Williams of Macon, Georgie, Cerry and Hein Sanderlin of Houston, Texas. His train traveling, lifetime friend, Jack Feldman; special friend and caregiver, Carolyn Singleton of Virginia; friends and neighbors, Billy and Jackie Lewis. He was preceded in death by his parents, James W. Sr. and Demma (Wafer) Corbitt.

The family would like to extend a special, love-filled thank you to his faithful and devoted friend, Carolyn Singleton for all the loving care she provided Jim up until he drew his last breath. A special thank you to the wonderful neighbors, Billy and Jackie Lewis, that took care of everything while Jim was away; you have been such a blessing. A special thank you to the wonderful staff at Heartland Hospice and also to the staff at Spring Oak Assisted Living for all of the support, kindness, and care given to Jim over the past months.

His family will hold a memorial service on Friday, June 23, 2023 at 2:00pm in the chapel of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home.

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Mother Nature delivered a devastating one-two punch to Jackson Parish this past week as a pair of severe thunderstorms barreled through causing widespread damage and a myriad of utility problems. Fortunately, no lives were lost.

It all began on Wednesday afternoon when around 3:30 pm a small but powerful system ripped its way across northern Jackson Parish. Torrential rain, high winds, and quarter-sized hail pummeled the Quitman, Clay, and Ansley area causing trees to be downed, including one that forced the southbound lane of Hwy 167 north of Quitman to come to a halt for a short period while work crews feverously attempted to clear the roadway.

That was nothing compared to what took place the next night.

At 2:15 am the National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for residents in Jackson Parish as a storm stretching from as far north as Union Parish and south into Grant Parish raced its way eastward. Packing winds estimated as high as 80 miles per hour the system blasted across the parish in a period of roughly 30 minutes. While no rotation was ever spotted, the damage left behind by the straight-line winds and heavy rain was staggering.

Trees toppled onto roadways and houses from one end of the parish to the other as traffic on every major highway in the parish and many smaller byways came to a virtual standstill up into the morning hours of Friday. Several remained closed as late as Saturday.

Downed lines caused up to 1000 residents all over the parish to be without electricity on Friday and even into Saturday as Entergy crews worked round the clock attempting to restore power. Especially feeling the wrath was the Chatham and Eros area which remained in the dark through the weekend. Adding to the misery, those on the Chatham Water System also were forced to endure a boil advisory due to the plant losing power causing possible contamination of the water supply.

Not only was electricity transmission in the area halted but in Jonesboro a large pine tree that toppled onto a house just south of the railroad bridge on South Cooper Avenue destroyed a gas main forcing closure of the road and requiring emergency repairs to be made.

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If you have recently traveled along the Richard Zuber Thruway (Hwy 167) just past where Hwy 4 and Jimmie Davis Blvd intersects in Jonesboro you have seen a flurry of activity going on beside the Popeyes Chicken Restaurant. What the workers complete with earth moving equipment are doing is clearing the grassy expanse in initial preparation of the new Civil Rights Trail in Jonesboro.

A dedication ceremony is planned for July 6th at the Charles H. Garrett Community Center in Jonesboro, where Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser will be a featured guest. Following, those in attendance will move to the Civil Rights Trail location where markers commemorating local members of the Deacons of Defense will be unveiled.

“This will be a great addition to our town as it not only will give residents a safe walking trail to use but also pays homage to some of the town’s former leaders who helped make our community what it is today,” said Jonesboro Mayor James “Spike” Harris. 

Examples of the Civil Rights Trail Markers 

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By virtue of winning their first two games at the district 5 softball tournament played at the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Sports Complex this past Friday and Saturday, the Jackson Parish 10U Girl All-Stars have qualified for the Little League state tournament. The locals played for the district title on Sunday.

Under the guidance of head coach Justin Wyatt and assistants Corey Aldy and Tamala Keiffer the “dandy darlings” opened play on Friday by blasting Bossier 22-1 followed by a come from behind 8-7 victory over Sterlington on Saturday.

Jackson Parish 22 Bossier 1: Fueled by a Sky Watkins inside the park grand slam JP10U exploded for 12 runs in the second inning that saw 16 batters come to the plate on their way to the easy three inning victory. Hannah Aldy hit a double and a single in the frame and Kate Keiffer, Kynleigh Leach, Amelia Staggs and Charleigh Newton all hit singles to contribute to the impressive offensive outburst.

Elliot Savage and Scarlett Parks got the big inning started by reaching on errors and later both reached base again via a single and getting hit by a pitch respectively. Ryan Kate Wyatt and Ella Simonelli coaxed walks to play a role in the scoring as did Raleigh Guilliams who got plunked for the second straight time.

The locals opened the contest by scoring four runs in the top of the first on the strength of Aldy and Simonelli slapping singles, Leach and Newton drawing walks, Wyatt and Guilliams getting hit by a pitch and Staggs reaching on an error.
Six runs were added in the top of the third when Leach, Wyatt, Newton, Watkins and Ryleigh McCormick were issued free passes, Simonelli singled and both Staggs and Guilliams reached on errors and came all the way around to score.

Pitching and defense also played a key factor in the contest. Wyatt struck out the side in the first inning and Staggs K’d five in two innings of work as the pair faced only two batters over the minimum and combined on a no-hitter while Bossier gave up 13 free passes and committed 10 errors in the field.

TEAM	1	2	3	R	H	E
JP10U	4	12	6	22	12	1
Bossier	0	1	0	1	0	10

Jackson Parish 8 Sterlington 7: It was a much different story in the finals of the winners bracket on Saturday as Sterlington opened with six runs in the top of the first inning only to see Jackson Parish come storming back with three in their half of the frame and five more in the bottom of the third.

Nursing the one run lead, Ryan Kate Wyatt, who grabbed the victory with a complete game, 10 strikeout performance, slammed the door on the potent Sterlington offense by not allowing a hit over the final three frames, including K’ing the last five batters she faced.

After spotting Sterlington six runs on the strength of two of the three hits the visitors got in the game, including a two-run triple, three free passes and two errors, Jackson Parish responded by cutting the deficit in half. Hannah Aldy got the inning started by coaxing a walk and went to second on a Kate Keiffer single. Kynleigh Leach smashed a double to center field to plate the first run followed by Wyatt hitting a single to score two more.

Leach, Amelia Staggs and Wyatt hit three straight singles followed by a double from Ella Simonelli and another single by Charleigh Newton to pull JP10U to within one at 7-6 in the bottom of the third. Raleigh Guilliams followed by hitting a ground ball to the right side of the infield and was forced out at first for the second out of the inning, but the at-bat was productive as Simonelli scored to tie the game and Newton went to third. The eventual winning run came across two pitches later when Newton was able to take home on a pitch that got away.

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Sterlington	6	0	1	0	0	0	7	3	1
Jackson Parish	3	0	5	0	0	x	8	9	6

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Councilmembers for the Village of Chatham has called for a Public Hearing to be held on August 8th in regard to the millage rate for the 2023 property taxes. The declaration came during the normal monthly meeting of the Council held on June 13th.

With Chatham Mayor Gregory Harris presiding, Bernadean Jones, Toni Malone, Laverne Mixon, and Sue Proffer also agreed to adopt three Ordinances and a Resolution. In additional action, the Ruston Daily Leader was approved to be the official journal for fiscal year 2023-2024. Mike Wilson was absent.

The Resolution and three Ordinances that were adopted are as follows:

Resolution #2023-05: Updating the signatories at Peoples Bank.

Ordinance #2023-01:  Amending the budget for fiscal year 2022-2023.
Ordinance #2023-02: Setting the budget for fiscal year 2023—2024.
Ordinance #2023-03: Entering into a Twenty-five (25) Year Franchise Agreement with Entergy.

 

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Some called it a miracle. Others downplayed the event saying it just took a little while for the girls to settle in.  Then there were those that declared it was the “Rally Dino” that was the reason. Describe it how you will but what transpired in the opener of the Little League District 5 tournament played at the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Sports Complex on Friday goes down as the most incredible comeback in Jackson Parish Little League Softball All-Star history.

By scoring eight runs in their final at-bat of regulation play in the bottom of the fifth inning and then adding a run in the seventh, Jackson Parish completed a rally for the ages to defeat Bossier 12-11. That is correct. EIGHT runs in their final at-bat. WOW!

For 5 ½ innings it looked bleak for the home team. Bossier had methodically been picking apart the locals, scoring 2, 3, 4, and 2 runs in each of the first four innings to build a seemingly insurmountable 11-3 lead. Needing only three more outs to move ahead to face the winner of DeSoto and Sterlington in the second round, it seemed a simple enough task. After all, JP12U had managed only one hit over the first four frames. Surely an eight-run lead was safe enough, right?

“When the girls came in for their last at bat, I could see in their eyes that they were still focused and had their heads in the right place,” said head coach Brandon Lamkin. “I am not going to say I knew that we would come back like we did but I knew they were going to battle.”

With their backs squarely against the proverbial “wall” and in a seemingly hopeless situation, the JP12U bats suddenly came to life. Emma Kate Toms led the improbable rally off with an infield single and advanced to second in the attempt to throw her out at first. Gabby Edwards then smacked a double to center field that scored Toms. A walk to Gracie Gray and a grounder to the pitcher by Kylianne Barnes that was ruled a fielder’s choice loaded the bases.

With the home crowd, who had gone all game with nothing to cheer about, starting to make some noise a faint hope started to materialize. Skylar Lamkin worked the count to 3-1 and then got hit by a pitch forcing in Edwards. Kamryn James saw a pitch and then got plunked as well, scoring Gray to make the score 11-6 with one out and the bases still jammed.

It had been a great response so far but there was still a long way to go. As one person reflected after the game, “At that point, I was thinking that we would probably end up losing but at least they went down fighting. I mean how many times does a team come back from eight runs down in the last inning?”

That is a great question. The answer – One time for sure!

Ryleigh Trahan and Bella Blewer both coaxed walks scoring Barnes and Lamkin and the bases were STILL juiced. You could feel the tension starting to thicken as fans from both sides were now screaming wildly as what had once looked like an easy, blowout victory for Bossier was now down to having the tying runs on base.

Tessa Reeves stepped to the plate next and quickly fell into a 0-2 hole after fouling a pitch off and having a strike called against her. The next pitch came in and SMACK! A hard shot flew toward centerfield, landing safely. Trahan scored. Blewer scored and Reeves stood triumphantly on second with a double.

The nightmarish night prior was turning into an impossible dream! The score that had been 11-3 at the beginning of the inning was now 11-10 with the tying run on second and still only one out! It was like a script from a fairy tale. Only it was for real!

In the stands and dugouts the two sides were in stark contrast. Pandemonium had broken out on the home side while the visitor’s section sat in stunned belief as what had seemed impossible was close to coming into fruition.

Still, Jackson Parish trailed by a run.

No matter though as it felt now like it was almost a certainty that Jackson Parish would complete the task. When Teegan Hall hit a sharp grounder to first a memory that will last forever was achieved.

SCORE TIED! ARE YOU KIDDING ME????

Not only that, but the ball was misplayed allowing Reeves to advance to third, still with only one out. Now it looked like Jackson Parish would win it but this dramatic sports production was too good to end at that point.

As fate would have it Jackson Parish didn’t win it in that at-bat as Bossier managed to make a double play to get out of the inning. It was just a matter of time though. Rachel Bandy made sure of that. Since coming in relief in the top of the fourth inning the hurler had been nearly perfect, totally shutting down what had been the potent Bossier offense without a single hit and no runs.

Bandy struck out the side in the sixth inning but ran into trouble in the first extra frame when after walking the lead-off batter and striking out the next two, she hit the next two batters to load the bases. It looked now that the script had flipped and Bossier would end up winning after all. NOT! The next batter hit a grounder that Reeves cleanly fielded at shortstop and fired to first for the final out. WHEW!

With the momentum fully back on the side of the locals and buoyed by “dodging the bullet” Jackson Parish made it pay. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Barnes hit a shot to left and with the ball being misplayed hustled all the way to third. Taylor then lined the next pitch to right field. GAME OVER! WE WIN! WE WIN!

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Bossier	2	3	4	2	0	0	0	11	5	5
JP12U	0	2	1	0	8	0	1	12	6	4

Sterlington 12 Jackson Parish 0: What goes up must come down. It is a law of physics. It also holds true when a team climbs to the top of the emotional ladder and achieves something special like the improbable victory of the night before. Especially when you are dealing with young people. A let down was almost as certain as the sun coming up the next day. It didn’t help that powerful Sterlington was the next opponent either. 

The visitors from Ouachita Parish broke out on top with four runs in the first inning and then added five more in the second. This time there was no comeback in the offering. Jackson Parish was unable to do any damage against any of the three Sterlington hurlers who threw one inning each of no hit and shut out ball leading to the game being called after  3 1/2 innings. 

TEAM	1	2	3	4	R	H	E
Sterlington	4	5	1	2	12	7	0
Jackson Parish	0	0	0	0	0	0	8

Bossier 20 Jackson Parish 18: Talk about flipping the script. In what has become somewhat of a norm in the series between the two team over the last couple of years, this time it was Bossier who made an incredible rally that eliminated the locals with a 1-2 record. 

After falling listlessly in the game before that set up a rematch of between Bossier and JP12U, all the momentum the locals had from the first game between the two reappeared from the get go. The problem with “ole mo” as it is commonly called is that it can be a fickle thing. One second it is on your side, the next on theirs.

Jackson Parish stormed out to a 5-0 lead after one inning only to see Bossier bounce back to tie it in the top of the second. “Mo” swung back to the locals in the bottom of the frame as JP12U regained the lead by a 9-5 margin. Bossier would add a run in the top of the third but Jackson Parish looked primed to send the visitors packing by posting a six spot upping the margin to 15-6 after three. 

Then the emotions that both team felt during the first game resurfaced only this time it was working the other way around. Bossier scored five to narrow the margin to 16-11 after four and then scored six to go up 17-16. Three more runs in the top of of the sixth made the game 20-16 with Jackson Parish coming up for a final at bat. 

With the knowledge of their incredible rally in the first game fresh in their minds hope was abound for another comeback. Teegan Hall reached on an error and Jennalee Hall, Gabby Edwards and Emma Kate Toms all were given free passes to narrow the deficit to three runs. Was Jackson Parish going to grab victory out of the jaws of defeat once again?  A second out made it look doubtful but then another walk, this time to Kylianne Barnes, scored another run and set JP12U up with the tying runs in scoring position. Sadly, this time it wasn’t to be as Bossier escaped by getting a strikeout to end the game. 

“What can you say,” shrugged head coach Brandon Lamkin. “This is the way the games these two teams have played the last couple of years always turns out. One team takes a big lead, the other comes back to win it. This time it was Bossier’s turn.”

Teegan Hall turned in a tremendous performance in the loss with two hits, including a triple, four runs scored, and 4 RBI. Jennalee Hall also came up big by reaching base three times, once touching them all after her first home run of the tournament and totaling three runs scored and an RBI. Barnes knocked in three by virtue of her single and double and a walk and Hallay Taylor scored three times. Emma Kate Toms would add a pair of runs and Bella Blewer, Tessa Reeves, Gracie Gray, Kamryn James, Ryleigh Trahan and Skylar Lamkin all scored a run. 

 

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Bossier	0	5	1	5	6	3	20	5	3
JP12U	5	4	6	1	0	2	18	9	5

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At their regularly scheduled monthly meeting regularly scheduled monthly meeting held on June 13th the Jackson Parish Tourism Board announced that they had received $2,500.00 from the state of Louisiana’s Lieutenant Governor’s Office.

The award was presented at the Louisiana Tourism Conference held on May 3-5  and given in recognition of the Tourism Board’s commitment to the state’s tourism industry. 

The session opened with the perfunctory approval of the meeting minutes, financials and bills that were paid for the month of May. Board members Christie Weeks, Tammy Gunter, Kelly Spangler, Yumeaka Washington and Deneise Barlow then discussed the upcoming Civil Rights Trail presentation that is set for July 6th and corresponding art contest. It was also agreed to order promotional items in the amount of up to but not exceeding $3,000.00 dollars. 

An agreement to purchased shelving for the storage room for an amount up to but not exceeding $200.00 dollars was the final action taken before the meeting was adjourned. 

 

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The players on the Dawgs 16U summer travel ball team accomplished a goal this past spring when they made it to the state tournament while playing for Weston High School. This past week they realized a dream. 

With LSU taking part in the college World Series in Omaha, Nebraska the local group of teens played a pair of games at Alex Box Stadium on the LSU campus, dropping the first before smashing their way to a victory in the final contest. 

Perhaps it was getting used to the iconic environment but after managing just one hit while falling to NOCA American 12-0 in the first game, the Dawgs took a big bite out of NOCA Orr in game two by a 15-3 margin.

Leading the way was Colton Blundell (2 – 2B, 3B) and Hudson Pullig (2B, 3B) who each went 4/4 while scoring four runs and driving in five respectively. Tait Henderson got into the act as well with a two for three effort, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI and a stolen base while earning the win on the mound. Dawson Lacomb got a hit, knocked in two and scored two runs, while Cole Tolar chipped in with a hit and 2 RBI and Beaux Oliver scored twice. Drew Williams and Jacob Gill both scored a run and Sawyer Watkins got on base twice with a hit and a walk as everyone contributed to the victory. 

 

 

 

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In case you haven’t heard, after many years of being without, Jonesboro-Hodge High School will have a band again this fall. Thanks to Mrs. MarcaSue DeLacerda one of the sounds emanating from Director Trey Porchay’s group will be percussion bells. 

This past week Mrs. DeLacerda presented JHHS Principal Chevonda Leonard with the tremendous donation in memory of her husband, Mr. George DeLacerda, who was an alumnus of J-HHS.

If you would like to assist with providing the new band with instruments or make a cash donation to help fray expenses of buying band equipment, uniforms or gear call 318-259-4138 or come by the main office on the JHHS campus, located at 225 Pershing Hwy. 

Your support in helping re-establish this once proud program is greatly appreciated. 

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