DeAnn Nash
September 18, 1956 – June 22, 2024

Roberta DeAnn Nash passed away in Ruston, Louisiana on Saturday, June 22, 2024. She was 67 years old. DeAnn loved to sing gospel music and play the piano. She was also an avid writer and had a passion for young people. DeAnn’s calling was to help those less fortunate. Her favorite thing in the world was being “Granny” to her grandchildren.

DeAnn is survived by her husband, Glen Nash; children: Steven McCorkle (Amanda), Lauren Weyrick (Matt), Michael McCorkle (Brooke), David Nash (Tiara), and Rebecca Dixon (Jeron); 8-grandchildren: Alex, Marla, Aaron, Ethan, Isaiah, Alexis, Connor and Brady; sister, Linda Aymond (Jimmy); 3 nieces: Christie, Danielle and Lindsay.

She was preceded in death by her father, Leonard B. Camp; and her mother, Dorothy Grainger Camp.

The funeral service will begin at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, June 26 at the Southern Edmonds Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Amos McFalls officiating. Burial will be in the Antioch Cemetery near Quitman.

Sam Roby, Jr.
August 17, 1958 – June 14, 2024

Sam Roby, Jr., 65, of Union City, TN, passed away unexpectedly Friday evening, June 14, 2024, at his home.

Funeral services held in the chapel of Edmaiston Mosley Funeral Home in Union City. Pastor Justin Hiens will officiate. Burial followed in East View Cemetery, located in Union City.

Pallbearers were Scotty Hayes, Vince Wright, Lynn Jenkins, Wes Morton, Randy Ursery and Jason Ellison. Honorary pallbearer was Steve Smith.

Sam was born August 17, 1958, in Ruston, Louisiana, son of Sue (Triplett) Saragusa and the late Samuel Roby, Sr. He was an avid LSU football fan and Tom Brady fan. Sam’s family described his as a loving, caring father and a hard working man. He was employed as general manager of Car Mart in Union City.

He is survived by his son, Trip Roby of Union City; his daughter, Olivia Roby of Union City; his mother, Sue Saragusa of Jonesboro, Louisiana; and two sisters, Susan Roby and Janet Roby both of Jonesboro, Louisiana.

He was also preceded in death by his step-father, Tony Saragusa.

Aleta Rae Crabtree
February 22, 1943 – June 21, 2024

Aleta Rae Crabtree passed away at Forest Haven Nursing Home in Jonesboro on June 21, 2024. She was 81 years old. Aleta lived on Caney Lake and enjoyed being outdoors watching the boats pass. She also loved gardening and flowers. Aleta would sit for hours gazing at the birds, squirrels, and other wildlife that came near.

She is survived by her son, Billy Crabtree and his wife, Dawn; daughter-in-law, Pam Crabtree; grandchildren: Dustin Crabtree (Robin), Bruce Crabtree (Hollie), Wesley Crabtree (Ruth), Matt Crabtree (Searcy), and Lance Crabtree; great-grandchildren: Makenna Crabtree and Taya Crabtree.

Aleta was preceded in death by her parents; Joe and Frances Best; husband, Bill Crabtree; and sons: Bobby Crabtree and Blake Crabtree.

As per Aleta’s wishes, she will be cremated. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Houma, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you have a glass of wine in Aleta’s memory.

Betty Sue Cogburn
August 20, 1952 – June 23, 2024

Betty Sue (Garrett) Cogburn, age 71 of Jonesboro, was called home on Sunday, June 23, 2024. Ms. Betty was born to in Concordia Parish, Louisiana to Glen and Annie-Pearl (Evans) Garrett on August 20, 1952. She enjoyed many things such as reading, playing computer games and collecting purses and Native American trinkets. She loved children; especially her nieces and nephews. She was there to watch them grow and helped out in raising them whenever she could.

Those left to cherish her memory are her nieces, Linda Harlan and Jeff, Sheree Rankin, Nancy Rankin; nephew, Glen Garrett; numerous cousins and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Glennell Franks, JoAnn Benette; brothers, Shelby Rankin, Jimmy Garrett; nephews, Charles Wood, Glen Wood.

As per Betty wishes she will be cremated.

 

 

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With wife, Suzanne, by his side Jackson Parish Sheriff Andy Brown took his official Oath of Office on Friday, June 21st, marking the beginning of an unprecedented sixth term. The one time youngest Sheriff in the state of Louisiana is now the longest tenured in the history of Jackson Parish. 

First elected in 2004 at the age of 38, Brown’s recent swearing into office by Jackson Parish Clerk of Court, Laura Culpepper, puts him alone atop the list of longevity among Sheriff’s in Jackson Parish breaking the tie with Neil Thomas (1928-1948) and Van Beasley (1980 – 2000).

Next year, Brown will be entering his 40th year in law enforcement, beginning his illustrious career in 1985 as a Deputy working the radio room before being promoted to Patrol and then Investigator. In 2000, Brown became Chief Deputy, a position he held for four years before winning the vote to become Sheriff in 2004. 

Winning unopposed in every election before the most recent one held this past November, Brown has turned the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office from a small, understaffed department into the second largest employer in the parish. During his tenure he has also fortified the department with the some of the most advanced law enforcement technology and modern prisoner housing available. 

“When I first started we had the capacity to house only 38 inmates at our jail, which was at the top floor of the Courthouse,” reflected Brown in an exclusive interview with the Jackson Parish Journal. “We were forced to ship out most of our inmates to other facilities across the state. This put undue time and cost burdens on our department.”

“One of my first goals was to develop a way to keep our inmates in the parish so that we could not only cut our costs but also generate money for the department,” continued Brown. 

The result was the building of the Jackson Parish Correctional Center, located on Industrial Drive in Jonesboro in 2007 that could hold up to 1,000 inmates. Now not only could Jackson Parish house all of their inmates but also those from other parts of the state, creating a large tax revenue for the parish. It also provided for tremendous employment opportunities for a large number of residents of Jackson Parish. 

In 2009, Brown was the recipient of the distinguished Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award (shown at right) which represents the highest
recognition given by the U.S. government to employers for their outstanding support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

In a progressive move that brought even more revenue to Jackson Parish and increased employment opportunities, in 2019 the Jackson Parish Correctional Center became an official ICE immigration detainment facility, housing upward to 1200 illegal immigrants. It also forced the Louisiana Department of Corrections inmates that had been housed at the prison to be moved elsewhere. 

This led to the building of a new 7 million dollar facility in 2023, housing upward to 400 inmates that allowed the JPSO to once again house their own inmates and those from other parishes. Included was the incorporation of a juvenile division, one of the few in the state. 

“This was all part of the plan, once we sold the correctional center to LaSalle Management to house ICE immigrants,” said Brown. “It has always been a goal of mine to have juvenile housing in the parish. For years there has been a serious shortage of juvenile housing facilities in the state and I felt it would be good for the parish and for the state. I hope that one day soon we will have a facility for women as well.” 

When Sheriff Brown finalized the swearing in procedure by uttering the words “I DO”. it was the seventh time in his life that those words made an act official. Six have been for starting a new term as Jackson Parish Sheriff. The first and the one he considers the most important, was when he married Suzanne (Walsworth), consecrating a love affair that has continued for more than 40 years now.  

“They say that behind every good man there is a great woman,” laughed Brown, who quickly took on a solemn tone and explained why asking his high school sweetheart to marry him was the best decision he ever made. “I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today were it not for her. I say this in all seriousness when I tell you she saved my life and helped save my soul. She is the one who led me to the Lord and I have always been able to lean on her for guidance.”

When asked to reflect on his career, Brown was quick to point out that he was proud of many strides his department has made, including the formation of civic divisions that help all aspects of the community and the move to the new JPSO headquarters.  

“We have a fully staffed Senior Patrol Division whose only objective is to help the seniors citizens of our parish. We also have a great team of SRO officers that work in our school system,” noted Brown. “Of course I am especially pleased with our ability to move from the cramped area we used in the Courthouse to this state of the art facility that we now are in.”

That led Brown to also give credence to the large team of men and women who work in the department. 

“I have been blessed to have some really great people with me,” said Brown. “Our department would not be where it is today without all the folks who have been with me over the past 20 years. Nothing that has been accomplished could have been done without their input and support.”

“I also am very appreciative of the people of Jackson Parish who have trusted me to lead this department. I hope they know that every move that has been made has been done with their best interest at heart.” 

It is safe to say that residents of Jackson Parish know that. Six terms in office validates it. 

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The weather forecast for north Louisiana this summer predicts that excessive heat will blanket the area. That normally brings a cause for concern, especially for low income senior citizens but thanks to the generosity of a non-profit organization, close to 30 residents who are at least 65 years old and is a home owner in Jackson Parish will get to enjoy the summer in cool comfort. 

On Saturday, James Joseph, the director of Big Brown Reaching Back Organization out of Baton Rouge met with community volunteers at the Jonesboro City Hall to distribute air conditioner window units to the elderly of the Jackson Parish in need. 

Assisting in the organization and distribution of the A/C units was Jonesboro Mayor James “Spike” Harris, Pine Belt Community Action Center Director Conchita Doyle, and former Jonesboro Mayor James Bradford. Pardue Builders in Jonesboro also played a vital role by donating all set up equipment and supplies. 

The distribution is part of an ongoing outreach program started by Joseph, a former member of the world renowned Harlem Globetrotters, in 2009 which has now seen more than 24,000 A/C units placed across the state. 

“It all started when I was delivering a package to an elderly person in Lettsworth, LA,” said Joseph who works for UPS, thus the “Big Brown” moniker. “It was a really hot day and the old couple was sitting outside on their porch, as there was no air conditioning unit  in their home. It gave me the idea that something should be done to help older people from suffering in the heat so I started having fundraisers and reaching out to organizations and companies for donations.” 

The way residents of Jackson Parish became beneficiaries of the “very cool” (pardon the pun) outreach program was when Bradford came in contact with Joseph while he was doing work at Grambling State University. After learning about the benevolent program, Bradford then contacted Doyle and Mayor Harris, who got with Joseph and set a date for delivery of the A/C units. 

“It was a matter of being in the right place at the right time,” said Bradford who spends much of his time with local civic concerns. “I am really happy that I was able to get the ball rolling to help our seniors be able to cope with the coming hot days,” said Bradford, who spends much of his time with local civic concerns. 

Jonesboro Mayor Harris and Pine Belt Director Doyle echoed those sentiments.

“It seems each summer gets hotter and hotter,” said Harris. “It has gotten to the point that a home without air conditioning is a dangerous place for elderly people. I am very thankful for Joseph and “Big Brown” as they have made a real difference for our elderly.”

“Last year we assisted in getting fans donated to our elderly, which helped some but really was only a band aid to the problem of dealing with the heat of the summer,” said Doyle. “I am so grateful that this summer we are in the position thanks to “Big Brown” to really do some good for our seniors.”

 

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After beating host Bossier twice in two days, the Jackson Parish 12U Girls All-Stars will play for the Little League District 5 tournament championship on Sunday. The contest is slated to begin at 8:30 am on Field 1 of the Bossier Parish Sports Complex, located at 4800 Shed Road in Bossier City. 

The “dandy dozen” will face Sterlington, who beat JP12U 15-0 in the locals second game of the tourney. Both teams will advance to the Little League State Tournament in Broussard, LA that is scheduled to begin on July 12th. 

JP12U 18 Bossier 3: It was over early as Jackson Parish plated nine runs in both the first and second inning while limiting Bossier to just two hits and three runs in the 2 1/2 inning contest that was called due to the “mercy rule”. Jackson Parish collected only three hits in the contest but took advantage of 13 walks and two errors to waltz their way to the victory. Every batter in the lineup scored at least one run paced by two each from Teegan Hall, Kamryn James, Gracie Gray, Charleigh Newton, Sophia Kliebet and Raleigh Guilliams, whose double was the only extra base hit by the locals. Isabella Blewer, Tessa Reeves, Amelia Staggs, who was the winning pitcher, Kellyn Brister, Camryn Ashley and Anna Pardue also scored a run. Ashley and Kliebert got the other base hits. 

TEAM	1	2	3	R	H	E
Bossier	0	0	3	3	2	2
Jackson Parish	9	9	x	18	3	3

Sterlington 15 Jackson Parish 0 – Nothing went right in the winners bracket finals of the three team tourney as Jackson Parish. On offense, nine of the ten batters who went to the plate struck out and no hits were recorded. Defensively JP made five errors that combined with 8 Sterlington hits and 8 walks given up led to the 2/12 inning “mercy rule” loss.

TEAM	1	2	3	R	H	E
Jackson Parish	0	0	0	0	0	5
Sterlington	7	8	x	15	8	0

Jackson Parish 10 Bossier 1 – Amlelia Staggs earned her second win in two days against Bossier by limiting the host team to just two hits and striking out ten in five innings. As in the first game, JP12U took advantage of weak Bossier pitching who threw only 30 strikes in 87 pitches, gave up 8 walks and hit a batter. Sophia Kleibert smacked the first home run of the tourney for the local and Anna Pardue stroked a double for both of Jackson Parish hits in the game. The deciding factor was the superb base running display put forth by JP12U who stole 11 bases as a team led by four swipes by Gracie Gray. Isabella Blewer had three steals and Teegan Hall took two bases. Charleigh Newton and Kamryn James also stole a base. 

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	R	H	E
Bossier	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	2
Jackson Parish	1	3	1	5	x	10	2	0

Game Balls

 

 

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A Public Hearing will be held by the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office on Monday, June 24th. The session will take place at 10:00 am at the JPSO headquarters, located at 150 Old Winnfield Hwy in Jonesboro. 

Items on the Agenda include:

1. Adoption of the 2023-24 amended budget
2. Adoption of the 2024-25 proposed budget
3. Adoption of the millage rate(s)

Any interested parties may inspect the Budgets at the Sheriff’s Office between the hours of 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. 

In accordance with the American with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance, please contact Sheriff Andy Brown at 318-259-9021, describing the assistance that is necessary. 

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Folks around Jackson Parish knew from the summer league regular season how dominant a pitcher Ryan Wyatt was. It is now well known in DeSoto Parish and Sterlington as well. 

Wyatt pitched a pair of shut outs in 12-0 and 11-0 victories to lead JP10 to the Little League Softball District 5 championship game that is scheduled to be played at 7:00 pm on Sunday, June 23rd on Field 3 of the Bossier City Recreation Complex located at 4800 Shed Road. Regardless of the outcome from this point, JP10U has qualified for the State Tournament in Broussard, LA that will begin on July 12th. Wyatt allowed only one hit to DeSoto and three meaningless singles to Sterlington while striking out a total of 21 batters over the combined 8 innings pitched. 

While not much offense was needed, JP10U supplied plenty. Scarlett Parks and Sally Keiffer led the hit parade by going 4/4 over the two games, Elliot Savage and Charlee Mauthe getting a pair of hits, that included a double each. Brooklyn Keiffer added a double and Ryleigh McCormick, Lizzie Sullivan, Wyatt, Hannah Aldy, Presley Carpenter and Brelaina Hall contributed a base knock apiece. 

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

TEAM	1	2	3	4	R	H	E
Jackson Parish	3	3	0	5	11	12	0
Sterlington	0	0	0	0	0	3	1

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Christian McGuire, a senior at Jonesboro-Hodge High School, recently attended Tulane’s Pre-Med Summer residential program. While there, the son of Cortez and Tyrhonda Mcguire participated in college workshops, college classes, completed a Biomedical Engineering course and was given a Certificate of Completion.

Even though the program was educational and intense. It was not all work and no play. While there Christian also celebrated his 17th birthday where his mentor Rolland Keller Jr., friends, and Tulane staff greeted him with the happy birthday song, cake and gifts all caught on camera. Recognized as an up and coming wideout on the JHHS football team, he also took advantage of an invitation tendered by the Tulane football coaching staff to participate in their 1-day football camp. His weekends consisted of motorboating, museum and arcade visits as well as dining at some of New Orleans finest restaurants.

“It was a really great experience I will always remember,” said Christian who plans on becoming an orthopedic or sports medicine doctor in the future. “Tulane University is a great school all-around and I really enjoyed the opportunity.” 

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Despite fielding a team from the smallest population among the six competitors that are participating in the Little League 8U District 5 Softball Tournament in Bossier City, Jackson Parish is making a big impression.

In the field of teams from Bossier City, Shreveport, Sterlington, Vivian and DeSoto Parish, the local girls won two of their first three games to stay alive in the double elimination tourney. 

JP8U got the tourney started on a good note on Friday by beating DeSoto Parish 11-7 then fell to Shreveport 10-9 on Saturday morning dropping the locals into the losers bracket. Undaunted Jackson Parish began their climb to the championship game by crushing host Bossier by a 24-0 margin. 

The locals will now play an elimination contest at 10:00 am on Sunday on Field 6 of the Bossier City Recreation Complex located at 4800 Shed Road between the winner of Sterlington and DeSoto Parish.  A victory there sets up a matchup against the loser of Vivian and Shreveport with the winner of that one guaranteed a trip to the state tournament. 

JP8U 11 Desoto Parish 7: After spotting DeSoto Parish a three run lead after their first at bat, JP8U came storming back to score 8 runs over the next three innings to take a commanding lead that held up. It was the proverbial collective team effort as Jackson Parish pounded out 27 hits and every one of the 12 batters got at least one hit. Cadie Conn, whose triple was the only extra base hit and who led the team with 3 runs scored, was one of five who went 3/3 in the contest including Caylee Mauthe, Malia Gunter, Natalie Sullivan and Aria Dodson. Matilyn Otwell, Marlee Bates, Kylee-Ann Allen, Landrie Watson and Kaylee Hammons all got two hits each with Ellie Shultz and Ryleigh Puffer chipping in with a single apiece. 

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
DeSoto Parish	3	1	0	0	0	3	7	13	0
Jackson Parish	3	4	1	0	3	x	11	27	0

Shreveport 10 Jackson Parish 9: In a contest that had more swings than a school yard playground, Shreveport got the last blow to take the narrow victory in the high scoring affair that saw both teams collect 24 hits. Despite the high volume of hits each team only scored in two innings. JP8U got off to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Malia Gunter scored on a steal of home and Natalie Sullivan was driven in by Aria Dodson after the the scoring pair opened the frame with a single and a double. Shreveport then rallied to score 8 in the top of the third only to see JP8U tally seven in their half of the inning to take a 9-8 lead. Singles by Kaylee Hammons, Landrie Watson, and Matilyn Otwell followed by a double by Caylee Mauthee narrowed the deficit to 8-5 with one out. Two more singles by Marlee Bates and Ellie Shultz and a double by Cadie Conn closed the gap to 8-7 followed by base hits from Gunter and Sullivan to give JP8U the 9-8 lead. The game stayed that way until the top of the fifth inning when Shreveport plated two to take the winning margin. Bates, Gunter and Allen led the hit parade with three base knocks each. Mauthe, Conn, Sullivan, Dodson, Watson and  Puffer had two hits apiece with Otwell, Shultz and Hammons contributing a single each.

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Shreveport	0	0	8	0	2	0	10	24	0
Jackson Parish	0	2	7	0	0	0	9	24	0

Jackson Parish 24 Bossier 0: A tremendous offense outburst led to 17 runs in the second inning to lift JP8U to the 2 1/2 inning victory and keep the locals alive to fight another day. Once again virtually the entire team played a role in the onslaught with Malia Gunter, Caylee Mauthe, Marlee Bates Matilyn Otwell  getting thee hits and scoring three time each. Cadie Conn and Aria Dodson also got three hit while scoring two and one run respectively. Ellie Shultz, Kylee-Ann Allen, Natalie Sullivan and Ryleigh Puffer all got two hits and scored twice and Landrie Watson added a a hit and a run. Of the 27 hits, 10 went for extra bases with Sullivan hitting the first home run of the tourney for the locals. Conn gathered her second triple and Bates added three doubles. Mauthe added a pair of two baggers and Gunter, Otwell and Puffer also hit a double. 

TEAM	1	2	3	R	H	E
Bossier	0	0	0	0	2	0
Jackson Parish	7	17	x	24	27	0

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Thirteen Jackson Parish 4-H members returned from a week at 4-H University in Baton Rouge on Saturday, many coming home with top awards from the statewide competition. 

Leading the way was Luke Dietrich, who was crowned state champion in Tractor Operations. Jana Potts and Syerra Lewis was also big winners, earning third place in Child Development. Addtional top ten blue ribbon winners were Alley Hines for her 5th place finish in Visual Arts and Jake Potts, who finished in 8th in Tractor Operations. 

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Head coach Nick Sampey made the statement following the Jackson Parish 7U boys All-Star baseball team’s third place finish in the Dixie Youth District 8 tournament last week that he felt his team was one of the best there. 

Apparently, Dixie Youth officials agreed. 

This was confirmed a few days after the tourney when Jackson Parish Recreation Department Director, Tommy Smith, got notice that JP7U was one of a few third place teams across the state to qualify for the Dixie Youth “Coach Pitch” State Tournament that will be played in July.

“We have some really talented players on our team and I am really happy that we are going to get a chance to continue to play,” said Sampey. “The district tournament was the first time ever that the guys on our team had been in that kind of atmosphere. Now that we have that experience under our belt, I expect us to play even better.” 

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The Jackson Parish Recreation Department announces that the Golf Course and Clubhouse will be closed for one day on Tuesday, June 25th due to work on the road leading up to the facility. The course and clubhouse will reopen for normal activity on Wednesday. 

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Members of the Weston High School BETA Club enjoyed the benefits of their hard work this past week when they attended the national convention in Savannah, GA. Capping off the memorable trip was several coming home with top ten awards. 

National BETA Convention Winners

Makayla Johns – Sculpture (Division 1) – 5th place

Molly Beaubouef, Carroll Anne Foshee, Kari Beth Gates, Livi Otwell, & Abram Toms –  Service Learning Showcase – 7th place: 

Raelynn Shell – Recyclable Art (Division 2) – 8th place: 

 

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BATON ROUGE- With fireworks tents and stands popping up across the state this week, the State Fire Marshal’s Office wants to encourage all Louisiana residents to not only be safe when using fireworks, but knowledgeable when buying them.

More than 300 retail fireworks permits have been issued for the 2024 Fourth of July season, as it is state law for wholesale and retail fireworks business operators to be appropriately licensed by the SFM, in the parishes and municipalities where they are legally allowed. The sales season extends through 11:59 p.m. on July 5th.

The SFM encourages, first and foremost, that families choose to enjoy public fireworks displays over creating their own. However, if purchasing fireworks is your preference, we advise families to be mindful of whether the stand they are purchasing from has been permitted by this office. You can request to see permitting information from any retail fireworks business you visit. The SFM encourages reporting any suspicious or illegal sales of fireworks to 1-800-256-5452 or by visiting our website, http://www.lasfm.org.

In addition, we want everyone to enjoy fireworks in the safest way possible. A study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) shows that more than 200 people on average go to the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday.

To avoid becoming part of this statistic, the SFM advises:

Detonating devices at least 200 feet away from structures, vehicles and rubbish
Never allowing children to light fireworks; instead, provide glow sticks and trinkets as alternatives
Never use fireworks while impaired
Lighting devices one at a time and monitoring embers released with a bucket of water or hose nearby
Discarding detonated items by wetting them down to prevent reignition and do not dispose them in a trash container until they have been doused with water

In addition, we encourage everyone to be mindful of the weather conditions in your area when considering whether to pop your own fireworks. Make sure you are aware of any burn bans established and take into account the dryness of your surroundings when choosing a safe location for popping fireworks.

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My Dad, They Called Him “Doc”

He was no doctor. His formal education ended when he graduated from high school after the 11th grade; more than 65 years ago, there was no 12th grade. As a kid, Thomas Ernest Harris, born March 5, 1909, was given the nickname by an older gentleman who for some unknown reason, began calling him “Little Doc”.

The Doc Harris I knew growing up was a dad that I cherished and wanted to emulate. His career with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries working in Predator Control, made me the envy of kids at school. I got to go with my daddy to run his traps where we would find a variety of wildlife such as wolves and bobcats in his traps. When I told classmates about what dad had trapped, I’m sure my chest stuck out a bit as I noticed their envy.

Dad enjoyed squirrel hunting but never had the passion for deer hunting. Yet on his one and only deer hunt, he brought home a trophy 9 point buck weighing over 200 pounds.

Working for Wildlife and Fisheries, one of his annual tasks was to assist at wildlife management areas, checking in hunters and recording the deer taken.

One year, his assignment was on a wildlife management area in Sabine Parish and after checking in the hunters, there was a lull before they began trickling back with their deer. Dad, not being a deer hunter, didn’t have a deer rifle but one of the guys working with him at the check station had brought his 3030 but had no plan to use it that day, asking dad if he’d like to use it.

Dad borrowed the rifle, walked out back behind the check station and took a seat on a log, probably enjoying the coolness of a fall morning. His enjoyment came to an abrupt end when this big buck stepped out of the thicket in front of him, dad shot, brought down the only buck he would ever take on the only deer “hunt” he would ever make.

Before starting work as a trapper, he held a variety of jobs, one of which was a salesman for Watkins Products. He’d sometimes take me with him as he drove around the countryside visiting with folks and I never remember him as a high pressure salesman. He would sit and visit and tell tales with customers and if they were interested in what he was selling or if they weren’t, he enjoyed just sitting and visiting.

Once I went along with him and at one of his stops, while visiting, the customer he was talking with pulled out a plug of Brown’s Mule chewing tobacco. He cut off a chunk, handed it to daddy who followed suit. Being the curious kid I was, I asked if I might try it – I was maybe 6-7 years old.

Daddy thought it was a good time to teach his young son a lesson on the evils of tobacco, so he cut a piece off, handed it to me with the expectation of watching me retch and turn green and never want to fool with tobacco again. To his surprise, I loved it and instead of being repelled by the nasty stuff, I wanted more.

Daddy grew up on his dad’s farm in Goldonna. After his Naval career ended, he met and married a pretty young lady from the neighboring village of Readhimer and together, they raised three children, me, my brother Tom who was two years younger than me and our sister, Linda. Daddy was a Christian, deacon and Sunday School teacher and faithful church member.

The daddy I knew was a mixture of seriousness and fun, mostly fun. He could turn any project into fun and that’s why today, my memories of my daddy were basically all good ones.

On the day he died from lung cancer in 1976, I had taken my mom to visit him in the Veteran’s hospital in Shreveport. For a few moments, he and I were in the room alone when he told me he had overheard his doctor tell a colleague that his condition was terminal. He told me to take mom back home, that he was tired of fighting it and was ready to go meet Jesus. I got a call from the hospital that night telling me daddy had passed away.

Having just experienced Father’s Day, I had to write this column in my daddy’s memory and honor. How blessed I am to have been raised by a daddy like Doc Harris.

FISHING REPORT

CANEY LAKE – Bream fishing for chinquapins and bluegills has been good around shallow bedding areas. Big oversized plastic worms and crank baits are picking up some good sized bass in deeper water around the secondary points especially at night. Crappie are best fishing jigs or shiners around submerged tops. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BLACK BAYOU –Bream are bedded and biting crickets and worms around the trees. Lots of moss and pads. Crappie best fishing shiners or jigs in holes in moss. Bass best on topwater lures early mornings. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Summer pattern is starting and bass are scattered but some big ones can still be caught on fake frogs early and soft plastics later. Crappie fishing has been good fishing around deep brush. Bream are on the beds and hitting worms and crickets. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water is falling. Crappie are best fishing shiners or jigs in the sloughs. Bream are beginning to bed in the backwaters. Bass fishing has been fair to good fishing the mouth of sloughs. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass have been best early morning on topwaters with soft plastics, swim baits and crank baits working best later. Crappie are good on the flats and are hitting shiners and jigs in 14-16 foot water. Bream are on the beds and taking crickets or worms. Catfishing is good fishing cold worms off the banks. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – There have been some reports of stripers starting to school and hitting shad imitation lures. Bass fishing is best fishing around the boat docks and piers with spinners, crank baits and soft plastics. Crappie have moved deep and are best around submerged brush on shiners and jigs. Bream should still be around shallow bedding areas and hitting worms and crickets. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Fishing overall has been quite slow this week. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is falling, the road is open. No fishing reports so far but should start to improve. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.

 

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As temperatures rise and the summer season begins, an alarming increase in domestic violence incidents has been reported across the country. Social services and law enforcement agencies are observing a troubling trend, with numerous factors contributing to this seasonal surge in domestic abuse cases.

Experts indicate that the combination of extended periods at home, financial strains, and increased substance use during summer months are significant contributors to the spike in domestic violence.

Schools being out for summer break often lead to families spending more time together, which can escalate existing tensions. Additionally, the economic pressure of vacations and childcare can exacerbate already strained relationships.

Recent data from the National Domestic Violence Hotline reveals a 20% increase in calls during the summer months compared to the rest of the year.

Substance abuse tends to increase during the summer due to social gatherings, festivals, and holidays like the Fourth of July. Alcohol and drug use are known to impair judgment and reduce inhibitions, often leading to more aggressive behavior. According to a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), there is a 30% uptick in alcohol-related incidents during summer months, correlating with the rise in domestic violence cases.

In response to the rising numbers, support organizations are ramping up their efforts to provide assistance and resources to victims. Shelters and crisis centers are extending their hours, and many are launching summer-specific awareness campaigns.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) has initiated a new program aimed at educating communities about the signs of domestic abuse and providing resources for those in need.

Law enforcement agencies are also taking proactive steps to address this surge. Many departments are increasing patrols in neighborhoods with high incidences of domestic violence and working closely with social services to ensure swift intervention when necessary. Restraining orders and legal aid services are being expedited to provide immediate protection to victims.

As summer continues, it is imperative that the community, support organizations, and law enforcement work together to mitigate the increase in domestic violence cases. By raising awareness, providing resources, and ensuring swift intervention, there is hope that the trend can be reversed.

Victims of domestic violence are encouraged to reach out to DART at 395-8006 or the 24- hour crisis line number at 251-2255. Remember, help is available, and no one should have to suffer in silence.

Andrea Malone, Jackson Parish DART Rural Advocate
208 Hudson
Jonesboro LA 71251
318-395-8006

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School may be out but that hasn’t stopped Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School student Levi Martin from continuing to excel. This past week the son of Fred and Nyesha Martin, who will enter into the seventh grade this fall was named Tiger of the Week by the JHMS football coaching staff following two weeks of summer workouts. 

“Our team has shown a great attitude and willingness to work, making it crucial for coaches to recognize their efforts in a secret competition initiated by the coaching staff. Congratulations to Levi Martin for being named TIGER OF THE WEEK.” – Max Martinez – JHMS Head Football Coach

 

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The idea was to show community pride by residents coming together in a fun way that shows unity. It started with a green head plopped next to the pathway at the Civil Rights Trail in Jonesboro and a sign next to the oddity.

“This is Jackson, the parish snake! Add your painted rock to Jackson and see how long he can get,” the sign declared.

The rocks quickly started to come: rainbow rocks, floral rocks, be-kind rocks, rocks denoting the names of business and organizations, giving words of wisdom and celebrating activities and holidays. 

Now to enhance the ever growing ” rock snake” the Jackson Parish Chamber of Commerce is encouraging people to participate by not only bringing a rock to add to the trail but by helping with donations for the purchase of signs to be placed along the path. 

Six signs are planned to be placed at a total cost of $122.00. If you would like to donate to the cause, you are invited to come to the Jackson Parish Chamber of Commerce office at 601 South Cooper Avenue in Jonesboro or to the State Farm Office at 826 Pershing Hwy. (ask for Debra)

Join the fun and show your community pride and make Jackson, the Rock Snake, one of the longest in the nation. 

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Point of View

What’s the point?

Moms chase energetic toddlers; while speakers chase rabbits.

Listeners get lost in the chase and wonder; what’s your point?

We have a personal point of view; an opinion on a myriad of subjects. State your case; are you pro or con? The case goes on and on…

To be honest, I can be optimistic one minute and pessimistic the next. You might consider me courageous in times of trouble; yet, cowardice could resurface in the blink of an eye.

From my current point of view, things are looking up.

Jesus looked up; I should follow suit.

“And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He gave them to the disciples again and again to set before them; and He divided the two fish among them all (Mark 6:41 NASB).”

Gratitude and fulfillment precede and follow a positive point of view. Scripture nourishes my spirit and satisfies my hunger; I’m fed and fulfilled through the word of God. The bread of life isn’t found on supermarket shelves. Jesus alone provides and sustains eternal life.

What’s your point of view?

Look up; discover a new outlook on life!

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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. 

JOB OPPORTUNITY

McDonald Memorial Baptist Church in Jonesboro, LA is seeking a bi-vocational Southern Baptist minister. If interested please send resume to mmbcchurch318@gmail.com

JOB OPPORTUNITY

The Jackson Parish Council on Aging is seeking part-time help for Nutrition Site Aid in Chatham, LA. A high school education is required and interested parties should expect to work four (4) hours a day, Monday – Friday while providing an exceptional attitude to senior citizens. Applications will be taken at the JPCOA office at 120 Polk Avenue in Jonesboro. 

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Jackson Council on Aging is having their Annual Membership Drive. Please come by the office at 120 Polk Ave. Jonesboro if you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jackson Parish has long been known as a wholesome, family-oriented community, but like many cities across the country, we have seen an increase in crime, drugs, and incarceration in recent years.

After a meeting called by Mayor Harris in November 2023, a group of pastors in the Jackson Parish area were inspired to set aside denominational and cultural differences and join forces to make a difference.

The Jackson Parish Unity Team is comprised of twenty-one churches with the goal of addressing economic needs and introducing people to Jesus Christ, whom they believe is the solution to the many challenges facing the community.

Through this collaboration, they hope to strengthen the bond between the church and the community, encouraging residents to return to the church and foster a relationship with God.

The Jackson Parish Unity Team has developed a plan to hold quarterly events, for a total of four initiatives per year. Since coming together in October, they have raised over $10,000 to make an impact in the area.

One of their first successful initiatives was the Annual Unity Service at the North Hodge Assembly of God, where nearly every church in Jackson Parish was represented and a Unity Choir performed to a full house.

In April, Pastor Jeremy Fontenot and Grace Community led the Jackson Parish Unity Team in a City Clean-Up event, where the churches came together to clean up and pray for residents after a recent storm.

The group also showed support for Paradise Funeral Home in their recent fire loss of the funeral home by donating $8,425.00 to help them rebuild as their business is an important stakeholder of the community. In addition, the team supported a STOP THE VIOLENCE campaign event back in January entitled “The Funeral is Canceled” hosted by Mr. Tyrone Cowans where each of the churches had youth represented, encouraging them to refrain from gun violence.

Currently, the Jackson Parish Unity Team is working on their third quarter initiative, Back 2 School Bash, recognizing the financial struggles many families face in purchasing school supplies. The event will take place at Jonesboro Hodge Elementary School on July 13, offering basic school supplies, free haircut vouchers, and personal hygiene products for students in grades K-12. 

The efforts of the Jackson Parish Unity Team demonstrate the power of setting aside differences to come together and make a positive impact on the community. Stay updated on upcoming events by following the Unity Team on Facebook @ Jackson Parish Unity Team.

For more information on the Back 2 School Bash, please contact the host church, Place of Change, at 318-533-3220.

Participating Churches:
1. Bethany Baptist Church
2. Brown Grove Baptist C
3. First Baptisthurch
4. Full Gospel
5. Galilee BC (Hodge)
6. Grace Community
7. Hodge United Pentecostal
8. Kingdom First Church
9. New Galilee BC
10. New Rasberry BC
11. North Hodge Assembly of God
12. Pentecostals of Jonesboro
13. Pilgrim Rest BC
14. Place Of Change
15. Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
16. River Of Joy
17. The Assembly of God (Jonesboro)
18. Travelers Rest Baptist Church
19. Union Star Methodist Church
20. Victory Temple COGIC
21. Greater Jonesboro COGIC

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If you think you notice a distinct shortage of 8-12 year old girls in the area this weekend you will not be mistaken. That is because 36 of the best youth softball players from Jackson Parish will be in Bossier City competing in their respective Little League District 5 tournaments in an attempt to qualify for the state tournaments in July. 

JP8U, JP10U and JP12U All-Star teams will all be in action at the Bossier City Sports Complex, located at 4800 Shed Road, on Friday, June 21st but if you hope to see all three in action be prepared to move around a good bit. 

JP12U will be the first to play as they open their three team bracket at 6:00 pm on Field 1 against host Bossier. The winner gets Sterlington, who drew a bye, at 8:30 am on Saturday with the loser playing against the loser of game two at 5:30 pm on Saturday. The championship game is slated for 8:30 am on Sunday, June 23rd.

At 7:00 pm on Friday, JP8U will play DeSoto Parish on Field 6 in their first game of the six team District 5 bracket. The winner plays at 10:00am on Saturday with the loser playing at 7:00pm, also on Saturday. 

Just 30 minutes after the 8U team contest starts, the JP10U girls will play on Field 3. They will also play DeSoto Parish with the winner playing at 7:00 pm on Saturday and the loser playing again at 10:00am on June 22nd. The championship game is scheduled for 7:00 pm on Sunday. 

Little League District 5 Tournament Brackets

JP12U Girl All-Stars

JP10U Girl All-Stars

JP8U Girls All-Stars

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The Miss Louisiana pageant concluded on Saturday, June 15, with Quitman native Sadie Brown, who had qualified as result of being crowned as Miss Heart of Pilot, earning a talent award. The 61st annual pageant was held in Monroe, LA and marked the second year in a row that Brown has competed in the Miss Louisiana Pageant. 

The daughter of Michelle (Barr) and Scott Brown and Louisiana Tech student was the recipient of one of the two, non-finalist talent awards, that was given to those who did not finish in the top ten among the 32 contestants. 

Crowned as Miss Louisiana 2024 was Olivia Grace George, who had earned the right to compete by being selected as Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival. She will represent the state at the Miss America competition later this year.

Additional competition winners were: 

1st runner up: Miss Natchitoches Parish – Felicia McGill
2nd runner up Miss Louisiana Port City – Lily Gayle
3rd runner up Miss Ouachita Parish – Leah Thompson
4th runner up Miss University of Louisiana at Monroe – Gabrielle McLeod
Dancer Award: Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival Olivia Grace George
Instrumentalist Award: Miss Louisiana Port City Lily Gayle
Vocalist Award: Miss Belle of the D’Arbonne Anna-Katherine Thompson

 

 

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By virtue of winning two of the four games played , the Jackson Parish 7U boys All-Star team took third place finish in the seven team, Dixie Youth Baseball District 8 All-Star “Coach Pitch” tournament in Pineville that was played on June 14-18. ay evening. 

Under the tutelage of head coach Nick Sampey and assistants Raimey Hall, Keith Johnson, Brittany Samey and Taylor Mathews, the locals lost their first game to the  Alexandria All-Stars before storming back to take two straight wins over Winn Parish and host Pineville. JP7U then lost to tournament champion Jena. 

“I was really pleased with the way our guys played” said Sampey. “After seeing all the teams play, I believe we have one of the top two teams here. We lost the first one but we had the better team. Not making excuses, but it was the first time ever the guys have been on this stage and it took a little while for them to settle in. We showed what we could do the next two.”

JP7U hit a collective .648 as a team with 81 hits, including 12 that went for extra bases, that amounted to a total of 43 runs over the four games for an average of 10.75 runs per game. 

Alexandria 16 JP7U 11 – Falling behind 6-3 and 8-5 over the first three innings, JP7U rattled off six runs in the top of the fourth to take a an 11-8 lead but Alexandria plated 8 over the last two frames to secure the victory. 

The locals pounded out 17 hits over the five innings with 11 of the 12 batters reaching base. Rowan Sampey led the way with three hits followed by Uriah Hall, Kaden Blewer, D.J. Hudson and Kase Mathews with two hits each. Also chipping in with a hit was Luke Turner, Reed McMillan, Samuel Jones, Emmett Thomas, Lucas Womack and Matthew Buchan. 

Down by three, Jones and Thomas got the rally started in the fourth with back to back singles followed by Buchan plating them both with a double. Hudson kept the momentum going with a single setting up a Mathews double that gave the locals their first lead of the tournament at 9-8. Uriah Hall then stroked a single to bring up Sampey, who smacked the third double of the inning to score two more. 

JP7U 17 Winn Parish 13 – Unlike the first contest, JP7U never trailed in this one. The locals were scorching at the plate, churning out an incredible 31 hits over the six innings, including six that went for extra bases.

Jackson Parish opened by plating five runs in the top of the first inning and adding 3 more in the third. Holding on to a slim 8-7 lead, the locals put the game away with a seven spot in the top of the fifth.

Matthew Buchan led the hit parade by going 4/4 that included a home run and a triple, scoring four runs and driving in two more. Luke Turner and Kaden Blewer, who added a triple, also got four hits and drove in a run while scoring three and two runs respectively.

Three more had three hits in the contest in Reed McMillan (3 RBI, 3 Runs), Samuel Jones (2RBI, 2 Runs) and Uriah Hall. Collecting two hits each were Emmett Thomas (3RBI), Kase Mathews (2 Runs, RBI), Oliver Lee (RBI, Run), D.J. Hudson (RBI, Run) and Rowan Sampey (RBI). 

JP7U 14 Pineville 10 – With the scored tied a 8-8 after three innings, Jackson Parish tacked on three more in both the fourth and fifth frame to take the victory. Once again JP7U hit the ball well as eight players had at least two of the 24 hits the team collected. 

 

D.J. Hudson (3RBI, 2 Runs) was one of five who got three hits. Oliver Lee (3RBI), Reed McMillan (2 Runs), Kaden Blewer (RBI, Run) and Rowan Sampey (RBI, Run) also had tri-fectas.

Kase Mathews (2 Runs, RBI), Luke Turner (Run), and Matthew Buchan (2RB) chipped in with two hits while Uriah Hall (Run), Samuel Jones (RBI) and Emmett Thomas (RBI, Run) added a single each. 

Jena 14 JP7U 0 – Matthew Buchan and Rowen Sampey got two hits each but JP7U was unable to punch any runs across resulting in a loss to tournament champion Jena. Uriah Hall added a double while Kase Mathews, Lucas Womack, Luke Turner and D.J. Hudson, who went 8/8 in the tourney, chipped in with a hit each.

 

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