Welcome to January 2025! Did 2024 disappear faster than paper napkins at the church barbecue or what?! In case you missed it, a brief review.

January: Striking yet another blow for time-rich champions of political correctness, a woman named Susan returned a Christmas gift, sued the maker and had the name of the “Lazy Susan” legally and forever changed to “Energy Challenged And Genderless Rotating Food Server.” Her husband Lester snored through the entire episode, comfortably, in his La-Z-Boy.

February: Friends, Roman numerals, countrymen, lend me your ears. In Super Bowl XIX, the Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints, XXI-XVII, with a touchdown late in the IVth quarter. The Falcons new head coach Bill Belichick, wearing one of the less moldy tops from his NFL-licensed Bereaved Sweatshirts Collection, said, “The New Orleanians are a good team. If we played them X times, we’d probably win V and they’d probably win V. We were fortunate to win this I.”

March: Larry the Cable Guy, in an unfortunate comeback, stars in “True Grits,” billed as a “culinary comedy” that will leave you “hungry for more.”

April: Apple introduces the I-Gadget, a thing that does something but no one is sure just what. Cost: $1,299 per unit. It is the size of a thumb tack. Supply cannot keep up with demand.

May: Marring a month made for affection, a power-broking Hollywood couple announces in a joint statement that they have, “after much thoughtful consideration, decided to split at this time.” The pair’s Facebook page read, “We remain committed and caring friends.” Each Tweeted and TikTok-ed that they would “have no more comments” about the “amicable separation.” Their personal skywriter wrote in the skies over the Hollywood Hills that the pair would “appreciate privacy in this difficult time.”

June: From Joy Story to … this. After falling in love on the set of “Toy Story 3,” Buzz Lightyear and Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl announce the end of their two-year courtship, beginning a nasty split-up. “No one can live with her, I don’t care how big his batteries are,” Lightyear said. “‘Light’ is in his name for a reason,” said Jessie.

July: A postal worker described as “disgruntled” does something bad. Also, a fire “guts” a home, stimulus dollars “make an impact” on the local economy, and a “person of interest” is divorced by a person who didn’t find that person interesting at all. Why do so few people seem happy and gruntled anymore?

August: It was hot.

September: Following Larry the Cable Guy’s lead, Soap-on-a-Rope makes a comeback, as do Pet Rocks and The Waltons — with an expanded cast: there are now 112 Waltons, and four granddaughters are pregnant. Even Brooks & Dunn, the most awarded act in Country Music Association Awards history, scored their first No. 1 since 2005 with their smash single, “Losing Your Love in Fractions, A Fifth At A Time.”

October: Apple introduces the I-Don’t-Like-U, a device that gets you even further away from actual people but still allows you to communicate. Cost: $2,599 per unit. It is the size of a lint ball. People are still standing in line.

November: In between a demanding schedule of shooting commercials for Nestle, Auto Zone, Cream of Wheat, Chevrolet, Dr Pepper, Depends, Junior Mints, Senior Mints and Frosted Flakes, Jesse “Get Your Hands Off My Heisman!” Richards held a press conference to say he’d be returning for his junior season as quarterback at Southern Cal, squashing rumors he would go to the NFL early. “My dream has always been to play in the pros — but I’m already sort of doing that in the NCAA,” he said. “Plus, I just can’t afford to go to the NFL and take the pay cut right now.”

December: Doctors report that more sex decreases worry. But a government study shows that since people worry so much about how much sex is needed to decrease anxiety, the whole thing is counterproductive. The study costs a whopping and worrisome $255 million, plus tax. A government spokesman propped his feet up, lit a smoke and said, “We aren’t that worried about it.”

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

---

Weston High School Jr Beta students hosted a food drive this month at their school. They ended the food drive with a day at Dollar General in Weston collecting canned goods. Then, on Monday, January 22nd, students and sponsors took the food to the Chatham food bank and volunteered their time. They helped sort and package food they brought, as well as food that the food bank already had.

“The students had a great time and worked very hard. I am so proud of them and their efforts to help the community,” said WHS BETA Director Cecilia Chamblee

---

The Jackson Parish Library Board will hold their rescheduled board meeting at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, January 23th. The session will be held in the McBride Room of the Main Branch, located at 614 South Polk Avenue in Jonesboro. The first meeting of the year had been scheduled for January 16th but was rescheduled due to the winter weather that blanketed the area last week.

Headlining the agenda that board members Paula Essmeier, Judy Cooper, Lisa Nunn, Ann Standley, Vicki Jenkins, Robin Tew, Carol Massey and Jackson Parish Police Jury ex-officio, Amy Magee, will consider will be the nomination and election of President, Vice-President and Treasurer for 2024.

Additional Agenda items:

1. Discussion and possible action on adopting a resolution for the elected officers’ signatures to be added to the signature cards for
the special fund accounts at Sabine State Bank (if changes are necessary).
2. Consideration and action on setting 2024 meeting dates, time, and location
3. Consideration and action on setting the 2024 library holiday schedule
4. Update on current projects
4. Consideration of a request to add fruit plantings near Library Park (LSU Ag grant project). 
5. Committee assignments set by the Board President
6. Announcement that Ethics and Sexual Harassment Training Due by 3/31/2024.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance, please contact Floyd Knox at (318) 259-5697.

---

Over the many decades of professional bass fishing, electronics have made more advances in a shorter time than any other item on a bass boat. These are even more advanced than the high-tech engines that push a bass boat today in speeds exceeding 80 MPH and are more fuel efficient and quieter than ever before. But nothing has created more controversy than the latest advancement in electronics. Forward-facing sonar is the newest and most controversial technology to come along maybe ever. Today I’ll give you my perspective as a guy who both uses and competes against guys that have one of these $5000 units on their boat.

Let’s start with the fact that I am not against any form of advancement that makes fishing better. Baseball has made changes to the ball itself in order to get more distance off the bat. Golf has made the same type of strides with their new and innovative advancements in both golf balls and the clubs, so much that golf has decided to pull the reins back and make golf balls that don’t fly as far because they are making certain golf courses obsolete.

Forward-facing sonar has created the same controversy with a unit that literally shows you fish swimming up to 100 feet away. You can see them in real time on a screen as big as the one in your living room. So why the controversy? Well, the fishing purists, or old timers as we call them, hate this new piece of equipment because they feel like some anglers (especially the younger anglers) have a distinct advantage. It’s made instant champions out of anglers who have just gone through puberty; young boys who have just put away their GI Joe collection.

No longer are fishing instincts or years of experience important like they were 10 years ago. Young anglers today are making a quicker rise to the professional ranks without having “paid their dues” like so many of the legends we know today. Tournament bass fishing is a whole new ballgame all due to forward-facing sonar. This technology has made finding fish too easy and allows anglers to target the bigger fish in the school and pick them off one big fish at a time.

That’s right, I said BIG fish. Here’s part of the controversy in that forward-facing sonar allows an angler to zero in on the bigger fish in a school, brush top or isolated stump, picking them off like black berry’s on the vine. This new technology is also a direct threat to the breeding population of bass and other species like crappie.

Gone are the days of an angler wasting time pulling into a pocket and fan casting for fish until he caught one. Now anglers pull into a cove, put the trolling motor down with a transducer for FF sonar and start to scan the area in a matter of seconds like some form of radar. They locate the fish and then attempt to catch those fish with whatever techniques work best.

It’s still not clear where this new technology is headed with regards to tournaments. But it’s about 50/50 on opinions for or against it. The B.A.S.S. organization is going to interview anglers after each of their Elite Series events in 2024 in order to come to a conclusion, which may possibly result in rule changes for 2025. So, stay tuned…. more to come on this as we go further into the B.A.S.S. and Major League (MLF) tournament schedules.

Based on my personal experience and talking to people involved, I can see it both ways, either being banned or allowed. One benefit tournament, like the DeSpino Tire Children’s Miracle Network event on Toledo Bend, has decided to ban this technology in order to level the playing field. As far as I can report, this is the first tournament to make such a decision. It will be interesting to see if it affects the number of entries.

But as far as professional anglers are concerned on the topic, it all depends on which angler you ask. Here’s the bigger question; are we developing top level anglers today with this new technology or are we creating robotic angling nerds who don’t have the skills that professional anglers should possess? These skills would include reading the water and understanding bass behavior and how they react under different conditions. Most young up-and-coming anglers today do not have this type of knowledge or the instincts to compete at the highest level WITHOUT this new forward-facing sonar.

Here’s a great example. A friend of mine fished the co-angler (amateur) side of a recent tournament at Sam Rayburn and drew a young 18-year-old as his pro for the day. Around mid-morning all the electronics went blank on his boat, sending the young angler into panic mode. He had no idea how to fish without his forward-facing sonar or how he would navigate the rest of the day. It was as if his XBOX video game went out and he could no longer play! This is just one example of how unprepared some of today’s young anglers are. Most do not possess the skills necessary to compete with anglers much older who have years of experience to fall back on if they lose their electronics.

In some ways, we are not doing a good job of developing the next generation of anglers. We are really setting them up for failure, especially if major organizations like the B.A.S.S. Elite Series and MLF (Major League Fishing) decide to ban this new technology. All this being said, these electronic companies who created this monster have too much money invested to just stop making them. Tournament anglers make up a small portion of the overall bass fishing population. Even if some tournament organizations decide to ban this technology, the average weekend warrior (non-tournament angler) will continue to use it.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to apply your sunscreen even during the cold weather months.

Steve Graf
Angler’s Perspective

---

The Jackson Parish Youth Basketball League will be back in action on Saturday after being forced to cancel games this past weekend due to water issues in the town of Jonesboro. Of special note is that team photos will be taken on Saturday as well so all participants are encouraged to attend. 

JPYB League Games of January 27th 

Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School Gym

9:00 am –  Suns vs Warriors (Age 5&6 League)
9:45 am –  Bulls vs Lakers (Age 5&6 League)
10:30 am – Bucks vs Warriors (Age 5&6 League)
11:15 am – Aces vs Stars (Age 7-8 Girls League)
12:00 pm – Thunder vs Hawks (Age 7-8 Boys League)
12:45 pm – Aces vs Sparks (Age 7-8 Girls League)
1:30 pm – Kings vs Magic (Age 7-8 Boys League)

JHHS Girls Gym

9:00 am – Sky vs Fever (9-10 Girls League)
10:00 am – Grizzlies vs Jazz (9-10 Boys League)
11:00 am – Bobcats vs Fever (9-10 Girls League)
12:00 pm – Rockets vs Raptors ((9-10 Boys League)
1:00 pm – Grizzlies vs Celtics (9-10 Boys League)

JHHS Boys Gym

9:00 am – Lynx vs Liberty (11-12 Girls League)
9:45 am – Dream vs Wings (11-12 Girls League)
10:30 am – Bucks vs Bulls (11-12 Boys League)
11:15 am – Spurs vs Mavericks (11-12 Boys League)
12:00 pm – Bucks vs Lakers (11-12 Boys League)
12:45 pm – Blazers vs Magic (13-14 Boys League)
1:30 pm – Magic vs Pelicans (13-14 Boys League)

---

In 1930, Kenneth and Ruth Wakefield bought an old colonial house on Bedford Street in Whitman, Massachusetts. At the time, the house was located on a toll road about halfway between Boston and New Bedford, Massachusetts. Because it was located on the toll road, the Wakefields called it the Toll House Inn. The Wakefields advertised that the house was built in 1709, but some people claimed the house was built in 1817 and the earlier date was used as a marketing ploy. The Wakefields rented rooms to tourists who were passing between the two historic towns. Ruth, a former dietician, served home-cooked meals to travelers. Before long, people began coming to the inn, not for its colonial charm, but for Ruth’s wonderful cooking. The inn became a tourist destination in itself.

Guests began asking for Ruth’s recipes, which she was happy to share. So successful was her cooking that a Boston newspaper printed some of her recipes. In 1936, Ruth compiled her “Tried and True Recipes” into a cookbook which became a best seller. Her most requested recipe was for a dessert that came about in 1930 as an accident. Ruth had run out of an ingredient without which the dessert would be a disaster. She had no time to go to a grocery store to buy more powdered baker’s chocolate, so she substituted it with broken pieces of a chocolate bar. When she removed the dessert from the oven, she was disappointed. The chocolate had not melted properly, but there was no time to make another dessert. She had no choice but to serve it as it was. She watched anxiously as her guests tried the dessert. Most of her guests replied, not with words, but with “Mmmmm.” Everyone loved her accidental creation and wanted her recipe. In her recipe, Ruth included the name of the company which made the chocolate bars. So many people began making the dessert that the company noticed an increase in sales of their chocolate bar.

Everyone, it seemed, wanted Ruth’s recipe. The company which made the chocolate bar used in Ruth’s creation also wanted the recipe, so they made Ruth an offer. In exchange for the rights to her recipe, they would provide her with a lifetime supply of chocolate. Ruth had been giving the recipe away to her guests and had shared it in Boston newspapers, so she instantly accepted their proposition. The company began packaging chocolate specifically for Ruth’s recipe and, to help sales, the company printed Ruth’s recipe on every package.

In 1966, the Wakefields sold the inn and retired. In 1984, seven years after Ruth’s death, the inn was destroyed by a fire which began in the kitchen, the same kitchen that she had accidentally invented one of the most beloved desserts in history—Chocolate Chip Cookies. Rather than being named after herself, Ruth named her cookie recipe after the inn. You and I know them as Nestle’s Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies. “Mmmmm.”

---

The second annual “Carnival on Caney” will take place on Saturday, January 27th, at the Jimmie Davis State Park. Festivities will begin at 9:00 AM at campsite #56 with the Parade set to roll at 2:00 pm. The local chapter of the Louisiana Dutch Oven Society will be cooking a jambalaya lunch with sides and desserts and there will also be a booth serving fresh beignets! Let The Good Times Roll! 

---

Heard any rags to riches stories lately?

Someone was previously stricken by adversity and is now strengthened with success. A life of poverty suddenly changed into wealth and prosperity. All things are possible; even the down and out are able to look up in hope.

Spiritually, all are paupers and dressed in rags of defilement until transformed by the LORD. By grace, He robes us in His righteousness.

“I greatly rejoice in the Lord,
I exult in my God;
for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation
and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10a HCSB).”

The Book of Jeremiah reveals a miraculous rags to rescue reality. (Jeremiah 38:9-13)

Enemies of the prophet had cast him into a dungeon and friend Ebed-melech approached the king requesting his release. The king honored the urgent request and soon concrete plans were in place.

“So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and went to the king’s palace to a place below the storehouse. From there he took old rags and worn-out clothes and lowered them by ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. Ebed-melech the Cushite cried out to Jeremiah, ‘Place these old rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.’ Jeremiah did so, and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, but he continued to stay in the guard’s courtyard (Jeremiah 38:11-13 HCSB).”

Rags have not only shined shoes; they once lifted a prophet from a pit cistern.

 

---

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

LEGAL NOTICE

AFFIDAVIT 0F SUCCESSION

PUBLIC NOTICE

Spillway NOV HAA5 MCL 4Q2023

Utilities, Inc. of Louisiana Spillway Water Supply 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:Xll)] and the Federal Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141).

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH) set drinking water standards 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 LDHH set standards for controlling the levels of disinfectants and DBPs in drinking water, including trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acid (HAAs). Some people who drink water containing THMs 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 HAA5s 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 for public water systems servicing less than 10,000 individuals initially became effective and enforceable on January 1, 2004. Compliance with the HAA5 standard is determine by calculating a locational running annual average (LRRA) of quarterly HAA5 sample results. Compliance calculations performed for the fourth quarter of 2023 show that the system’s current TTHMs LRAAs are 90 ppb at sample location DBP02 – 133 Suanna Road and 101 ppb at DBP03- 211 Spruce Drive. The system’s current HAA5 LRAAs is 62 ppb at DBP03- 211 Spruce Drive; thus, the system is currently in violation of HAA5 and TTHMs standards.

The construction work for the water system upgrades is currently in progress. The contractors are nearing completion of the transmission main between Spillway Estates and Paradise Point. UIL is now under contract with a well drilling company. Later construction phases will include drilling a second well at Spillway and installing a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter. UIL appreciates your patience during the construction period.

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. If you have any questions, contact the UIL Compliance Administrator, Vicki Spence at 985-893-6646 – Opt. 2.

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 HAA5 levels above the standard (e.g., 20 years of exposure) has the potential to have serious adverse effects on human health.

Jackson Parish School Board Meeting Minutes
January 18, 2024

The Jackson Parish School Board met in regular session at 1:00 p.m. on January 18, 2024 at Jackson Parish School Board, 315 Pershing Highway, Jonesboro, La.

The following were present for roll call: Gerry Mims, Paulette Belton, Rick Barlow, Calvin Waggoner, Mary Saulters and Wade McBride

Absent: Dennis Clary

Rick Barlow gave the Invocation.

Calvin Waggoner led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The meeting was called to order by Gerry Mims.

Motion was made by Calvin Waggoner, seconded by Wade McBride and carried to approve the minutes as presented from the Regular Scheduled Meeting held on December 4, 2023.

Motion was made by Mary Saulters, seconded by Paulette Belton and carried to grant Superintendent Claxton permission to sign the sharing agreement between the Jackson Parish School Board and the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office for the period November 3, 2023 – June 30, 2024.

Mary Saulters reported to the Board on the meeting of the Executive Finance Committee held prior to the Board meeting.

A motion was made by Rick Barlow, seconded by Calvin Waggoner and carried to approve for payment the following bills: General Fund, Federal Program, School Food Service, Sales Tax, Special Education, District Maintenance bills.

Presentation of Monthly Financial Report by Kristi Bass, Business Manager.

Paulette Belton reported to the Board on the meeting of the Policy Committee held prior to the Board meeting.

Motion was made by Mary Saulters, seconded by Rick Barlow and carried to approve revision of the following policies:
• CG – Administrative Records
• EBBH – Use of Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
And Cardiac Emergency Plan
• GBG – Probation
• IHAD – Parent Conferences
• JGB – School Wellness
• JGC – Student Health Services

A motion was made by Calvin Waggoner, seconded by Paulette Belton and carried to adjourn at 1:10 p.m.

Village of Chatham Council Meeting Minutes
January 9, 2024

The Village of Chatham held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, January 9, 2023, at 6:00 pm.
Present were Mayor Gregory Harris, council members Bernadean James, Toni Malone, Laverne Mixon,
and Sue Proffer. Council member Mike Wilson was absent. The meeting was called to order by Mayor
Harris. The pledge was led by council member Toni Malone and prayer was given by Mayor Harris.
Toni Malone motioned, and Bernadean James seconded and was approved by all to accept the minutes as read of the regular meeting held on December 12, 2023.
Toni Malone motioned, seconded by Bernadean James, and approved by all to pay the monthly bills.
Toni Malone motioned, seconded by Sue Proffer, and approved by all to make no changes to the cleanup Ordinance #12-133.
Toni Malone motioned, Bernadean James seconded and approved by all to table the discussion on the picking up of limbs within the city limits until the next regular meeting.
Toni Malone motioned, seconded by Bernadean James, and approved to add to the agenda to discuss the work attire for the utility department.
Toni Malone motioned, seconded by Sue Proffer, and approved to accept financial statements as presented.
Lavern Mixon motioned, seconded by Bernadean James, and approved by all to adjourn the meeting.

The Water Boil Advisory for residents of the Town of Jonesboro that was issued on this past Thursday remains in place until further notice. Mayor J. “Spike” Harris sent the update out on the town’s RED ALERT notice system on Saturday afternoon. It marks the fifth day in a row that the town or parts of it, has been under a boil advisory after the winter storm caused water mains to blow and water tanks have critically low levels. 

Recommended Precautions During a Boil Water Advisory 

During a boil water advisory, bottled water is the best option until officials say otherwise. If you do not have bottled water available, the next best option is to boil your tap water for at least one minuteto make it safe to drink. If boiling your tap water is not possible, you can disinfect it to make it safe to drink.

---

The fans who braved freezing temperatures to watch the only games being played in the parish on Friday got their money’s worth as the homestanding Quitman girls and boys took thrilling victories over Choudrant in the final tuneup before district play begins this week. 

The Lady Wolverines won 40-37 for their 7th straight win and 12th in the last 13 games played to improve to a parish best 18-7 record, while the boys won a close 62-60 battle to improve to 17-7 on the year and climb to #6 in the Division V “non-select” rankings. 

Quitman 62 Choudrant 60 (boys): Something about playing Choudrant brings out the best in Noah Leach. In a pre-season scrimmage, Leach made 10 of 16 shots to end up with what was a career high 23 points. That didn’t count. The 12 of 16 shots he poured in on Friday, that led to a new, career high 26 points, did. 

On the night when the spotlight was on teammate Logan Ponder for eclipsing 1000 points in his career, it was Leach who stole the show, scoring 12 points in the final quarter, including the last six, to lift Quitman to the thrilling victory. 

Ponder added 18 on his special night while Riley Duck, who was averaging around 3 points a contest heading into 2024  continued his late season scoring splurge with 8 points for the second game in a row. Eli Walkeer scored six and Brayden Smith finished with four for the Wolverines, who is now the highest ranked Division V school in north Louisiana. 

TEAM	1	2	3	4	TOTAL
Quitman (18-7)	16	11	21	14	62
Choudrant (16-10)	9	21	13	17	60

Quitman 40 Choudrant 37 (girls) Cali Deal scored six of her game high 20 points in the final quarter to help lift the Lady Wolverines to the hard fought victory. Anna Leach scored 11 on the strength of three, 3-pointers, including one in the final frame that was part of her five, fourth quarter points. Taylor Borland added four and it was her last two points that put the final nail in the coffin after Choudrant had rallied to within one point as time was winding down. Jaleigh Burns nailed a three pointer and Emma Walker hit a basket to round out the scoring for Quitman, who continued to stay unbeaten in the new year. 

TEAM	1	2	3	4	TOTAL
Quitman (18-7)	10	9	7	14	40
Choudrant (8-18)	10	6	10	11	37

---

The dream of local seniors citizens to be able to live in a safe and secure, state of the art, housing complex is fast becoming a reality as the Jonesboro Senior Village is getting close to opening. 

Potential residents are urged to apply for housing now as space is getting limited due to the overwhelming response that has resulted in many of the units already being leased. 

“The number of available units are getting scarce so anyone who wishes to secure housing needs to apply now,” said Jonesboro Senior Village Property Manager, Ben Ledbetter. 

For those wishing to receive help with the application process, you can come to the Jonesboro Branch of the Jackson Parish Library from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Monday – Friday through the end of the month in January. Appointments are not required but are recommended to avoid wait times. For more information or to set an appointment call 318-669-4664 or send email to jonesboroseniorapts@rampartmgt.com.

Fully equipped with electrical appliances including washer/dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher, stove/oven the one or two bedroom units are beautifully situated in the gated community, located at 121 Jay Odom Way, which is right off Industrial Drive in Jonesboro. 

 

---

Logan Ponder has achieved a milestone that puts him in select company of a very few all-time among Jackson Parish High School prep basketball players. By scored 18 points in the game between Quitman and Choudrant this past Friday, Ponder eclipsed 1000 points for his career. 

Ponder has blossomed this season to become one of the area’s top scorers, totaling 335 points to date for an average 16.8 points per game, with six regular season games and postseason action left.  Even more impressive is that according to stats on Gamechanger.com, Ponder has made 128 of 254 shots for a sparkling 50% field goal percentage. Added is 33 made 3-pointers in 76 attempts for a sterling 43% shooting percentage from behind the arc. 

---

A heavy slate of games await area girls and boys high school basketball teams the early part of this week as several games that were postponed last Friday will be played as well as the  regularly scheduled Tuesday tilts. Games to be played will be part of the “second season” which has arrived for all local schools as district competition dominates the schedule. 

Jonesboro-Hodge and Saline High open the week by hosting district contests on Monday, January 22nd that had to be rescheduled after being postponed due to winter weather on Friday. JHHS will welcome Winnfield in a district 3-2A matchup, while Saline will be at home against Calvin for a district 2C contest. 

JHHS and Saline will be at home again the next night, Tuesday, January 23rd for more district action against Many and Dodson. Quitman will also be at home for their district 1B opener against Castor while Weston hits the road for their first district game of the year as well, traveling to Doyline.

Prep Schedule for Monday/Tuesday

Monday, January 22nd

Home	Visitor	Games	Time
JHHS	Winnfield	JV, G, B	5:00 pm
Saline	Calvin	G,B	6:00 pm

Tuesday, January 23rd

Home	Visitor	Games	Time
JHHS	Many	JV, G, B	5:00 pm
Quitman	Castor	G, B	6:00 pm
Saline	Dodson	G, B	6:00 pm
Doyline	Weston	G, B	6:00 pm

---

After a recent arrest on January, 19th, by the the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) a warning has been issued to be aware of a scam that is being perpetrated on Facebook Marketplace online site.

According to OPSO, a local Marketplace seller was contacted by someone they thought wanted to buy their 2023 Chevrolet Corvette. When the person agreed to pay the price listed by the seller, they set up a wire transfer. The seller later learned that the wire transfer was reversed and notified the authorities. However, the agreement to sell the car was still in place. OPSO was on the scene when the suspects arrived to pick up the vehicle.

In light of the recent developments individuals are strongly urged that if they are selling an item on a social media platform, verify with their bank that the funds being received are good. In some cases, it may take up to seven days until the transfer is complete and for the bank to receive a notification. Until the funds are secured with the bank and they have given you confirmation, the seller should maintain possession of the item.

 

 

---

What better way to open a season than a dramatic, come from behind, walk-off win. If Quitman’s 7-5 victory over LaSalle is an indicator of how exciting the upcoming softball season is going to be, then “buckle up” Lady Wolverine fans, there is some fun ahead. 

Down 5-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Quitman High scored four runs without making an out, highlighted by a two run, walk-off double by Maggie Guyotte to take a 7-5 victory over LaSalle High. 

It took a little while for the Quitman offense to get warmed up on the blustery day that saw the temperature hover in the low 40’s as the Lady Wolverines managed just four hits, including Guyotte’s first two bagger of the game over the first four innings. 

Defending district 3-1A champion and Division IV state quarterfinalist, LaSalle, also started slow but in the top of the fourth scored three runs and added another in their next at bat to put Quitman in a 4-0 hole heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.  

Three hits and two errors later, Quitnan had narrowed the margin to 4-3. Addison Fenn got the inning started by reaching on an error and scored when Northwestern State University signee, Madison Chaplin roped a triple to center field. Guyotte singled to score Chaplin, followed 8th grader, Hallie Kate Pullig smashing a double and Karlee Huckaby reaching on an error that scored Guyotte. 

The final frame dramatics began with Marley Bell drawing a walk and Kinsley Ponder reaching on an error. Three straight singles by Brenna Lamkin, Briley Bowers and Chaplin, tied the game at five each setting the stage for Guyotte’s third hit and second double of the contest. 

Chaplin and Guyotte both got three hits with Pullig, Ponder, Lamkin, and Bowers all getting one hit apiece. Brenna Lamkin got the win after 2.2 innings of relief of Guyotte who pitched 3 innings of one hit ball. 

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
LaSalle	0	0	0	3	1	1	5	5	4
Quitman	0	0	0	0	3	4	7	10	2

---

The Jackson Parish Hospital has made great strides over the past couple of years to bring the best in healthcare to the community by providing new state of the art equipment and making facility upgrades. 

In continuation of keeping current with modern times, JPH now is offering a way to stay up to date on health-related news and awareness topics, as well as, involvement with both the staff and public communities.

You can now follow JPH on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, and LinkedIn. For complete access link info see below. 

---

It was one of those NFL playoff weekends that suggested someone put another log on the sideline bonfire.

The National Frozen League.

Consider the piercing minus-4 degrees in Kansas City Saturday afternoon when the Chiefs beat Miami, 27-7, easily a record for the coldest game at Arrowhead Stadium. The hard part was the 25 miles-per-hour wind gusts that equated to a tear-inducing minus-27.

A day at the beach compared to Sunday afternoon in Buffalo, where the Wild Card Round matchup between the Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers was delayed until Monday because of high winds and blinding snow.

“When I heard they were delaying it I told somebody that sets a bad precedent,” said Bo Harris, who starred at Captain Shreve and LSU before playing eight years for Cincinnati, including a start in Super Bowl XVI in 1982, a 26-21 loss to San Francisco inside the Pontiac Silverdome (while outside, a blizzard semi-paralyzed Detroit).

“Hours later I saw what was happening in Buffalo and had to call the guy back and say, ‘Check that,’” Harris said with a laugh. “My mind wasn’t understanding what was happening.”

What was happening was you couldn’t see the field. Visibility near zero. The team even hired fans to shovel snow for $20 an hour Sunday to help clear the stadium. The online video of Buffalo crazies doing just that is as fun to watch as the game was, won by the Bills, 31-17, in a clear but cold Highmark Stadium.

Kyle Williams watched that game from the comfort of his couch in Lincoln Parish, six seasons removed from a 13-year career playing defensive tackle in Buffalo after four years starting for Ruston High (he was a hard-to-bring-down running back as a freshman!) and after helping the Tigers win a national championship at LSU. Grew up hot, but figured out quickly that life in the National Football League can be a cold business.

“In Cleveland my rookie year, during warmups it looked like just a normal winter day game,” said Williams, a father of five who helped coach Ruston High to a state football championship this fall in his semi-retirement. “Field was green … perfect. Twenty minutes later we come back and the whole field is snow.”

Then there was December 23, 2007, “the coldest I’ve ever been,” he said. Final regular season game, the Giants needing to win to get into the playoffs, New York at Buffalo, and it’s a first-half downpour, a storm front off Lake Erie. “After halftime, it drops down to 19 degrees and the wind starts blowing. It got colder the more we kept trying to hang on to (Ahmad) Bradshaw (151 yards rushing) and (Brandon) Jacobs (143 yards). We never got going.”

The Giants won, 38-21, and went on to upset New England in the ‘Helmet Catch’ Super Bowl. Good news?: Williams, a Class of 2022 Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer, lived to play another day.

“You can never really prepare, gear-wise, for the cold,” said the sneaky funny Williams, a master of understatement. “You’ve got Spandex pants, a Spandex jersey, cotton socks, and athletic shoes. Your attire’s not covering all your parts that need covering.”

There’s chicken broth on the sidelines, and those welcoming and lush heated benches thank the good Lord, but it’s a “never ending tango,” Williams testifies, of what to keep warm and just how warm to keep it, like managing your helmet’s insides so the plastic pads will stay warm and loose instead of getting too cold so they’re brittle or too hot so holes are burned in them.

“All kinds of issues,” said Williams, recalling from the warmth of his den a time of ice and mud, a calm man with a security blanket, a man who can now go to bed at halftime if he wants. “Easy for guys in those conditions to make a mistake doing what they’re needing to do to stay warm.”

This weekend when he heard about the delay in Buffalo, he knew how bad it must be. A decade-plus of living there coached him up on how prepared Erie County is for the worst. “The world does not stop,” he said, not for any ol’ storm; businesses and road crews are ready to counteract just about anything.

“In all my years up there, only one time did the weather affect us where we had to postpone or cancel,” he said, recalling a “wall of snow” halfway up the house he and wife Jill shared with their very young, very cold family.

Once the county got 80 inches of snow in a 48-hour period. The Bills Emergency Alarm went off — picture the Bat Signal above Gotham — and players were hiking to the interstate to get rides on snowmobiles to the airport so the team could fly to Detroit, practice a couple of days, and play a “home game” against the New York Jets in Ford Field. Weather won, the Bills won, the Jets lost.

If you’re in the mood to shiver, you can Google “Freezer Bowl” and watch Bo Harris and his Bengals teammates beat San Diego, 27-7, in Riverfront Stadium in January 1982 to win the AFC Championship. The temperature was between minus-8 and plus-5, but it was the wind chill — a mind-numbing minus-57 during gusts — that made it the coldest NFL game ever.

“San Diego came out during warmups with ski masks on under their helmets and defensive backs were backpedaling with their hands in their pants,” Harris said. “I looked at one of my guys and said, ‘Oh yeah. We’re winning today.’”

Dan Fouts. Gary Johnson. Louie Kelcher. Kellen Winslow. Wes Chandler. Charlie Joiner. Chuck Muncie. San Diego had a very good team. That Sunday in Cincinnati, they had a very cold team. And the Bengals had a secret weapon.

“Vaseline and panty hose saved the day,” said Bo, who coated himself in the stuff to protect his skin, then layered up with the hose. Any port in a storm; dude had one of Cincinnati’s two sacks in the win.

Also now retired in Lincoln Parish, Petey Perot is a Natchitoches Favorite Son and former Northwestern State Demon and Philadelphia Eagle. And like Bo, he played in a chillier-than-chilly Conference Championship game.

“1980 against Dallas in the Vet,” Perot said. “Minus-17. Santa Claus had gotten beat up in the stadium the week before,” (a true story illustrating that it’s cold in Philly in more ways than one; you can look it up).

“I don’t think it ever really bothered me,” said Perot, who was 23 at the time, an age of blissful unawareness. “I didn’t think about how cold it was. I didn’t even know how cold it was when we went out there. We wore fishnet jerseys and a half shirt and didn’t even try to do anything to keep from being cold. Our deal was, we were just focused on trying to get to the Super Bowl: who cares how cold it is?”

And if he had free tickets and great seats to the same kind of game today?

“I wouldn’t go,” he said with zero hesitation, almost offended at the suggestion, a man warm and wise.

At left guard, Petey and the gang sprang Wilbert Montgomery for a 42-yard touchdown run on the Eagles’ second play from scrimmage that icy day as Philadelphia beat the Cowboys, 20-7, and made it to Super Bowl XV. The bad news? They lost to Oakland. The good news? It was in the Superdome and 72 degrees with no wind.

This Sunday at 7:15 p.m., Kansas City will visit Buffalo in one of four Division Round weekend playoff games. The expected forecast is like Houston at Baltimore at 3:30 p.m. Saturday: 16 degrees with a 15 percent chance of snow and light winds.

Like taking a candy football from a warm baby.

Contact a very toasty Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

---

High School and Junior anglers from all over the state of Louisiana will descend on Toldeo Bend on the weekend of January 27-28 to participate in the Student Angler Federation (SAF) State Championship Tournament. 

A large contention of anglers from Jackson Parish and the surrounding area, including several teams from Quitman High, Weston High and Gracepoint Christian Academy, is expected to compete. 

Anglers will launch form Cypress Bend State Park, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive in Many, LA at 7:00 am each day or as soon as first safe light with High School Anglers going opening the tourney on Saturday, January 27th, and Junior Anglers competing the next day, Sunday, January 28th. Weigh-ins will begin at 3:00 pm each day. Anglers are allowed to weigh in a limit of five (5) fish per team of largemouth, smallmouth or spotted bass that are a minimum of 14″ inches in length. 

Points earned during the tournament will be counted toward the Northeast Louisiana High School Anglers (NELAHS) Tourney Trail season long standings. 

Current NELAHS Anglers Trail Point Standings

---

We live in a “throwaway” culture.

We throw away just about everything.

Not that we haven’t noticed. We’ve been using this expression since LIFE magazine published an article in 1955 about a new phenomenon that emerged in the prosperity of the 1950s. “Throwaway Living” the article was called.

Instead of blowing our noses using washable handkerchiefs (as did our eco-friendly grandmothers), we use tissues and throw them away.

We diaper babies’ bottoms, and then throw them away — the diapers, not the bottoms.

We buy a pair of shoes and throw them away.

We buy water packaged in plastic bottles, drink the water — and throw the bottles away.

Almost everything we purchase comes in what many call excessive packaging which … is thrown away. If in fact, you can get into these excessively protective plastic packages. Last week it took two pairs of scissors and my wire cutters to open the “plastic package” in which the new scissors were located. Who oversees this crazy world?

We buy small and large appliances and when they break down, we buy new ones and throw away the old ones.

We buy TVs and throw them away.

In an era long past, small shops existed to repair items that consumers were then loath to throw away. Used to be that a small repair shop could provide a modest income. You could get your TVs, toasters, radios, and irons repaired for a small charge and they were good to go.

The archetype for such small businesses is Emmett’s Fix-It Shop in the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, as depicted on the 1960s television series “The Andy Griffith Show.” Emmett Clark fixed clocks, lamps, radios and more. These shops, for the most part, have disappeared.

We don’t fix things; we toss them out. Our throwaway culture involves more than antiquated electronics.

We also throw away friendships, values, traditions, manners, decency, and common sense. Some might say that we too often throw away our souls in pursuit of some elusive dream we hold dear. We cast aside the spiritual component of our lives thinking, perhaps, that we will focus on spirituality later.

Then, one morning, we wake up wondering who we are and where we’ve been and where our life has taken us.

“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans,” according to Beatles legend John Lennon.

Whatever you want to call it, we sense deep down that something is wrong. Something is broken. Something is in desperate need of fixing.

Good thing, God is in the repair business!

 

---

The Jackson Parish Hospital is still taking entries for the first quarter of their 2024 Community Photography Contest. This is a quarterly contest that will result in sixteen winning photos being selected annually through votes by our staff and then put on display, with artist recognition, throughout our facilities. The winners of the previous quarter will be announced at the end of this month.

At Jackson Parish Hospital, we care about our patients and our community. JPH is not only committed to supporting the health and well-being of Jackson Parish and the surrounding areas, but also to showcasing the history, beauty, and scenery of our communities through the people who call it home.

Jackson Parish Hospital strongly encourages you to enter into the JPH Community Photography Contest so that our patients, families, visitors, and our staff can admire our community and all of its beauty through your eyes and lenses!

There is no cost to enter; Terms and Conditions apply, see the contest link below for more information.
ourcommunity.jphmd.com

---

Beautification Plan

I once took advantage of a free Mary Kay beauty treatment. The woman didn’t have much to work with (in me) but it was nice to be pampered. Many women spend big bucks on spas and cosmetics. In hopes of looking beautiful and younger; some choose more extreme measures with Botox and plastic surgery.

Esther, as prospective queen, would receive the full beauty treatment.

“Then the king’s young men who attended him said, ‘Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king. And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in Susa the citadel, under custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women. Let their cosmetics be given them. And let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.’ This pleased the king, and he did so (Esther 2:2-4 ESV).”

The beautification plan was carried out.

“So when the king’s order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king’s palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women. And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king’s palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem (Esther 2:8-9 ESV).”

Blessed, Esther had an inner beauty.

That’s my desire.

… “but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious (1 Peter 3:4 ESV).”

---

Updated COVID-19 vaccines that protect against the most common circulating strains of the virus are now available at some parish health units (PHUs) throughout Louisiana, which adds to the supply already available at pharmacies and other locations. State health officials urge residents to take advantage of the best protection against the COVID-19 virus by getting the updated vaccines.

PHUs are a vital resource for uninsured and underinsured residents to access the latest COVID-19 vaccines with ease and affordability. As part of the Bridge Access Program, local PHUs and participating Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) will be offering free COVID-19 vaccines to adults without health insurance or with health plans that do not cover the vaccine.

Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved two new vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna that target the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant of the COVID-19 virus.

The updated vaccines are recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older and are expected to provide increased protection against severe disease and death that may result from infection with the COVID-19 virus.

Upcoming Vaccination Event:

In Jackson Parish a Vaccination Event will take place on January 25th at the Jonesboro City Hall, located at 128 Allen Avenue. 

---