The 2024 Junior High School basketball season comes to a close with girls and boys teams from Quitman and Weston both playing games on Thursday and Friday. Weston will be at home for their contests against Claiborne Christian (Thursday) and Dodson (Friday) with opening tip for the girls game in both being at 4:00 pm. Quitman travels to Simsboro on Thursday and Choudrant on Friday beginning with the girls game at 5:00 pm in both.
Tuesday Tilts
Quitman Junior High swept away the Weston girls and boys in the Wolverines final home contest of the 2024 season. With the 37-27 boys victory QJH improved to an area best 19-1 while Weston fell to 8-7 overall. The Lady Wolverines ran their season record to 6-8 with the 27-24 victory while WJH dropped to 7-8 with two game left to play.
Quitman 27 Weston 24 (Girls) It was a tale of two halves as Quitman raced to a 19-4 lead at the break and held on for the three point victory. Averi Hasley and Lily Duck scored six and five of their team high 8 points to pace the Lady Wolverines to the early lead. Ella Simonelli chipped in with all five of her points in the first half as well. Audrina Martin and Sophia Kliebert contributed three points each. Rachel Bandy scored 9 of her game high 11 points in the second half to lead the determined rally that saw Weston outscore QJH 20-8 over the last two quarters. Teegan Hall added six points in the third quarter to finish with 8 with Gracie Gray adding a three pointer and Ada-Claire Tidwell scored a fourth quarter basket.
Quitman 37 Weston 27 (boys) Eli Jackson led a balanced scoring attack to help lift the Wolverines to their 5th victory of the year without a loss over their parish rival. Luke Rowe scored seven and both Kaleb Maxwell and Lucas Leach added six points apiece. Hayden Seymore finished with five and Aiden Reed chipped in with four to round out the scoring for QJH. Leyton Younse and Colton Otwell led WJH with seven points apiece with Bryce Tolar finishing with five. Eli Henderson chipped in with four points and Malachi Harris sank a free throw.
The Jackson Parish Museum and Fine Arts, in conjunction with Cornerstone Christian Academy, will be hosting a Veterans Celebration on November 7, 2024. This special event is to honor and recognize our veterans for their service to our country.
Event Details:
Date: November 7, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: Jackson Parish Museum
Refreshments will be provided.
All veterans are invited to attend so that you may be thanked personally for your dedication and sacrifice. Not only veterans, but families and community members are also invited to attend to how appreciation for our heroes.
Please spread the word to help make this a successful event.
On Tuesday, September 24th the administration and staff of the Jackson Parish Council on Aging earned BLS / CPR certification. Instruction and hands-on demonstration was provided by the Jackson Parish Ambulance Service District in Jonesboro.
The Basic Life Support (BLS) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) knowledge is often vital for sustaining life prior to emergency medical technicians (EMT) arriving in emergency situations.
Donations from local businesses and individuals are now being accepted by Quitman High School for prizes that will be given away at their annual Fall Festival. Sponsored by the QHS Parent Teacher Committee (PTC) the always fun event will take place on Friday, October 11th.
If you would like to take advantage of a great advertising opportunity while supporting your local school by making a monetary donations, providing prizes for bingo or sponsor one of the many games that will be featured, reach out to PTC president, Juliann Pullig at (318) 245 – 1640.
The Jackson Parish Library is pleased to announce that a FREE cell phone basic usage class will be held from 1:00 – 2:00pm on Thursday, September 26th at the Main Branch, located at 614 South Polk Avenue in Jonesboro. The class will be taught by Jennifer Morgan Sanford of Cricket Wireless.
On September 22nd, a large contention of friends and family gathered in the Fellowship Hall at the Jonesboro-Hodge Methodist Church to help Mrs. Bettye Pate celebrate her 90th birthday. The longtime Jackson Parish educator and food service administrator was honored with a special presentation recognizing her years of service to the school system, her church, and her tremendous benevolent gestures to the community.
A happy 90th birthday to Weston’s very own Mrs. Bettye T. Pate! She was honored with a wonderful celebration at her church which was a testament to her years in education and food services administration, as well as her service to her church and her community. Mrs. Pate you will always be loved by your “pussycats.” Wishing you many more joyous birthdays to come! – Weston High School Alumni Association
Chester, Illinois, is a city on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River about 70 miles south of St. Louis, Missouri. What began as a ferry town on the Mississippi eventually became a major supplier of castor oil which was used as a lubricant. Chester had the advantage over other towns because of its location on the river. Wood-burning steamboats filled with castor oil delivered the lubricant to St. Louis, New Orleans, and even as far away as England.
When Elzie Crisler Segar was born in 1894 in Chester, the city had an iron foundry, machine shops, several mills, a few taverns, an opera house, and a number of stores. Elzie and his family often shopped at a general store on Pine Street in Chester which was owned and operated by Frank and Dora Paskel. When Elzie was growing up, Dora made an impression on him. Dora was a taller-than-average woman who wore long, black, fitted dresses which covered everything from her neck to her wrists and ankles. Dora usually wore her hair in a tight bun. Elzie remembered that she was strong-willed and feisty.
As a teenager, Elzie went to work in the Chester Opera House which was operated by J. William Schuchert. Elzie was such a good worker that William promoted him to projectionist of the opera house. William and Elzie’s relationship evolved from boss and employee to true friendship. When Elzie showed an interest in art, William paid for Elzie’s art correspondence courses. William often sent Elzie to the nearby Wiebusch tavern with enough money to get them hamburgers.
At the Wiebusch tavern in Chester, Elzie befriended a former Polish sailor who had emigrated to the United States named Frank Fiegel. Frank kept the tavern clean when the place was quiet, but his real job was to maintain order. Frank was a bouncer. Frank was known for his fighting skills and although he never looked for a fight, he never shied away from one. During one brawl, Frank received a blow that permanently disfigured one of his eyes. While waiting on hamburgers, Elzie often listened as Frank told stories about his adventures out of one side of his mouth while the other side held his pipe.
When he was about 20 years old, Elzie moved to Chicago to continue building his career as an artist. He never forgot Dora, William, Frank, or the lubricant that Chester was so well known for, including them in his art which became popular around the world. Sadly, 43-year-old Elzie Crisler Segar died of leukemia on October 13, 1938, cutting short his career.
Luckily, other artists have continued his cartoon work that we all know.
J. William Schuchert, Elzie’s boss who loved hamburgers, was the inspiration for a character named J. Wellington Wimpy. Elzie named a character after Chester’s lubricant called Castor Oyl. Dora Paskel, the operator of the general store in Chester, was the inspiration for Castor Oyl’s daughter, Olive Oyl. Frank Fiegel, the scrappy brawler from the tavern who had a deformed or “pop-eye” was the inspiration for… Popeye.
Kodak Atkins rushed for two touchdowns and Lamont Freeman added another along with several long runs but Cedar Creek scored too often and too many times to take the 38-20 victory in the contest played at Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School. Tyrese Martin also drew recognition for his play on defense.
The Tigers will next be in action on October 3rd when they host Red River for Homecoming. Game time is slated for 5:30 pm.
As a concession to age, about five days out of seven for the past 20-ish years I’ve eaten, for breakfast, cottage cheese and yogurt mixed up together.
It’s starting to get on my nerves. Not happening for me.
It is not cottage cheese’s fault and it is not yogurt’s fault, though they are each easy targets. Cottage cheese is good for you but it couldn’t run out of sight in a day and a half. So much for it being “healthy.”
Cottage cheese is supposed to be just about the most perfect man-made (no offense to cows) food there is. A fistful of it is packed full of protein. It is low in fat and has carbs, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron ore and tin, and a four-ounce serving contains more than 12 percent the daily recommended helping of cottage.
When I am eating it I try not to think of the word “curd.” Curd does not sound good but, well, there is no getting around that those are the little things half floating around in the other stuff, which is, I suppose, curd runoff.
It is not an especially ugly food – it is lumpy and white, like good homemade mashed potatoes – but it will win no beauty contest for you either.
Never until I started eating cottage cheese and yogurt together had I eaten cottage cheese alone. It doesn’t taste like anything really, but if you had to say it DID taste like something, you would think of something bad.
That is just my opinion.
But mix cottage cheese and yogurt together – say a vanilla or strawberry yogurt, whatever you prefer – and bingo!, you have a healthy combo that does not taste bad at all. Drop some blueberries or bananas and/or granola in there and you’ve got a most decent leadoff hitter.
Good, and good for you.
There are only two drawbacks.
One, after a while, curds and yogurt lose that sensual BAM!, you know, the one they never really had in the first place. After a couple of decades, you have an excuse for waking each morning and crying over spoiled (spoilt?) milk.
The second drawback: cottage cheese and yogurt is no bacon and eggs. And bacon and eggs is the flagship of the breakfast armada.
You’ve got your French toast. Your waffle. Even your morning pork chop or sausage, patty or link. Outstanding all.
But if the go-to breakfast foods were lined up and we’re choosing team captains, bacon and eggs would be my first selection. Cottage cheese is the healthy but uncoordinated kid who does not get picked.
The multi-talented egg needs no introduction, and just smelling a home where bacon fries makes you feel like you can make it one more day, no matter how tough the sledding.
Bacon is to meats what brown sugar is to sweets: it just makes everything better.
Bacon makes people smile. Bacon beats cottage cheese in a footrace 10 times out of 10. I wish my name were Sir Teddy Bacon.
My second draft pick: biscuit. The chef is key, but even a buttered canned biscuit will at least look at you in the eye.
Third draft pick: grits. But only if someone who knows how to make them are in charge. Bad grits might as well be cottage cheese.
Now you can come in with all your fillers, your pastries, Stuff With Syrup On It, fruit and hash browns. (I love sort-of-burnt hash browns.)
Chocolate milk. Orange juice. Coffee. Eat all that and your day is made and you haven’t even left the house yet.
MONROE, La. – United Way of Northeast Louisiana (UWNELA), in collaboration with the Northeast Louisiana Bar Foundation (NELA Bar Foundation), is proud to continue The Heirship Project, an ongoing initiative that provides free workshops focused on heirship and issues. As the lead organization, UWNELA is committed to ensuring that individuals and families across Northeast Louisiana have access to critical assistance and resources for handling heirship matters.
This year’s events will take place on Thursday, November 7, 2024, and Thursday, April 3, 2025, at United Way of Northeast Louisiana’s Monroe office. Each date will feature a Lunch & Learn for attorneys only from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM, followed by an evening session for the community from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. The community events will offer both in-person and virtual participation to accommodate a wide range of attendees.
Through The Heirship Project, UWNELA continues to address the complex challenges that many families face regarding property succession and inheritance. Participants will gain access to valuable materials, follow up legal consultations, and guidance – all at no cost. The NELA Bar Foundation will also support the initiative by offering Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits to attorneys attending the Lunch & Learn sessions and by providing follow-up pro bono assistance through the Foundation’s monthly “Ask a Lawyer” Clinic.
“United Way of Northeast Louisiana is proud to continue leading this essential initiative. Through The Heirship Project, we aim to equip community members with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate heirship issues, while also mobilizing local attorneys to provide critical pro bono services,” said Michelle Saucer, Senior Director of Community Impact at UWNELA. “Ultimately, United Way’s community impact is focused on lifting people and families to a better quality of life, and that’s what this project is about.”
Location: United Way of Northeast Louisiana, 1201 Hudson Lane, Monroe, LA 71201
Virtual Attendance Available for Community Event
Community participants will receive comprehensive materials, including heirship forms and guidelines specific to Ouachita Parish. Legal consultations will be available for those who attend the workshops, ensuring that participants can receive tailored advice and assistance.
Wesley Eby Johnson of E & P Consulting, LLC, will once again serve as the lead presenter, offering expert insights into the heirship process.
For more information or to register for The Heirship Project, visit unitedwaynela.org/heirship or dial 211 (a free call 24/7).
About United Way of Northeast Louisiana United Way of Northeast Louisiana works with volunteers, donors, and other organizations locally to create lasting community change in the areas of Education, Income, and Health — the building blocks for a good quality of life. For more information about United Way of Northeast Louisiana, visit unitedwaynela.org, dial 211 on any landline or mobile phone (a free call 24/7), or text your zip code to 898-211 (available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.).
When was the last time you had a good old fashioned belly laugh? Uncontrolled laughter lifts spirits and improves our health. My Dad was a troubled man; who often succumbed to chronic depression. Not many things tickled his funny bone enough to make him laugh.
Born in 1912 Franklin Freeborn Ford would have celebrated his 112th birthday today. I reminisce as I think of some of the times I heard him laugh. He worked two jobs in order to support us which allowed only snippets of television viewing. Dad was a big fan of Western paperback books and movies. Sunday night Bonanza was a favorite; especially episodes featuring the antics of Hoss.
Working 2nd shift as a General Electric security guard got him home in time for the late night Tonight Show (hosted by Jack Parr or Johnny Carson). I’m clueless as to what humorous segment developed during one 1960’s program but will never forget Dad’s reaction. I lay in my bed upstairs and heard his uncontrolled laughter.
“A joyful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22a NASB).”
Health coach Beverly Chesser once described laughter as internal jogging. It’s time for my joy jogging…
Joy is as a multifaceted diamond. Jesus has given us His joy; offering His presence, promises, provision and power.
“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full (John 15:11 NASB).”
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 or call 318-480-1206. Possible costs are dependent on content.
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Ultra Molds, LLC, located in Jackson Parish at 147 Bridge Creek Rd., Ruston, LA 71270, is currently seeking to fill the position of General and Operations Manager.
MQ: BA in Business Management, 8 months previous experience in Business Management.
Job duties/description: Daily meetings with staff, maintenance of company machines, including organizing the flow of company cutting queues, managing tooling & equipment, managing control of products produced & spot checking orders for consistency of quality, upholding of inventory/stock control, cash flow forecasting & client orders, collaborating with the Chief Executive Officer on new projects, development & management of marketing & social media. No remote work, must report to plant daily.
Yearly Salary: $44,100.00
Apply at Louisiana Workforce Commission online (Job Order #1618344) or e-mail resume to support@ultramolds.com
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Jackson Parish Council on Aging
In search of a part time Site Manager for Chatham Meal Site, an Annex of Jackson Council on the Aging. Site Manager duties include: (1) Being responsible for overseeing the operation of packing & serving meals in compliance with health & safety regulations. (2) Making sure facility is clean and functional and well maintained. (3) Ordering meals daily (4) Managing inventory by ordering supplies as needed.
Requirements: (1) Must have High School Diploma (2) Knowledge of food (3) Be able to work 5 days a week.
Applications taken at Jackson Council on the Aging office: 120 Polk Avenue Jonesboro, LA 71251 Mon-Thurs 8:30am-3:30pm
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Jackson Parish Council on Aging
The Jackson Council on Aging is seeking a Nutrition Coordinator. Prefer to have a background in food & nutrition, dietetics or related field. Must be able to be trained and work with Senior Citizens regarding their nutrition needs. Job duties will be assigned to full time operation of the Meal program for Jonesboro and Chatham. Must be able to compile weekly and monthly reports, monitor & order meals daily from Site Managers at Jonesboro & Chatham. Duties will be accomplished under close supervision of the Director of Jackson COA.
Applications being take at Jackson Council on the Aging Office 120 Polk Avenue Jonesboro, LA 71251
Jimmy Terral November 21, 1937 – September 22, 2024
Jimmy Terral, age 86 of Dodson, Louisiana peacefully passed away, Sunday, September 22, 2024.
He was owner and operator of Terral’s Upholstery Shop in Jonesboro, Louisiana.
He loved his family, God and all his many relatives and friends. All wonderful memories of their 62 years of married life are left to be cherished by his wife Lynda (Broomfield) Terral of Dodson, Louisiana; son Randall and wife Sandy of Dodson, Louisiana; his daughter Lisa Terral of Dodson, Louisiana; step son Phillip and wife Jessica Taylor of Dodson, Louisiana; step daughter Tammy and husband Nathan Blundell of Quitman, Louisiana; grandchildren: Jaden Amber Graham, Dodson, Louisiana, Nate, Kristan, Parker Blundell of Quitman ,Louisiana; Sadie Godeaux of Texas, London and Brylan Taylor of Dodson, Louisiana and six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Bailey and Eva Watts Terral, six brothers and five sisters.
Visitation has been scheduled for 9:00 – 11:00 am on Thursday, September 26th at the Dodson First Assembly of God in Dodson, LA. The Celebration of Life service will follow with Interment at Transport Cemetery under the direction of Paradise Funeral Home in Jonesboro.
The Boil Advisory that had been issued for the Village of Chatham Water System on Thursday, September 19th has been lifted. The good news was announced by Chatham Mayor Greg Harris, who said he got notification on Monday, September 23rd from Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Sanitarian and District Compliance Officer, Floyd Smith.
The Chatham Water System the Boil Advisory is being issued due to negative sample results and chlorine residual samples at or above the state minimum requirements of 0.5 ppm at the New Hope Processing Station.
“Thank you to our residents for their patience while we took care of the problems during this time,” said Harris. “I also want to applaud out Public Works Department for their effort to get us back on line.”
Baton Rouge – Louisiana State Police has been continuously monitoring incidents involving threats of violence made against schools.
At this time, Louisiana State Police is not aware of any credible threats to schools within the state. We are closely monitoring tips, leads, and information sources while working with federal, state, and local partners to investigate and share information, ensuring the safety of our communities.
It is important to note that making false threats against schools is not only dangerous but also illegal.
Under Louisiana law, the intentional communication of false information regarding the existence of a bomb or other explosive device, or threats of violence against any person or property, is a felony crime. Individuals found guilty of making false threats can face up to 15 years in prison and significant fines. These actions disrupt school operations, waste valuable law enforcement resources, and cause undue fear and anxiety among students, parents, and educators.
Anyone who wishes to report suspicious activity or concerning threats against the public are encouraged to contact the Louisiana State Analytical and Fusion Center (LA-SAFE) at 225-925-4192. The Louisiana State Police also offers an online reporting system through a secure form, which is submitted directly to the appropriate investigators. Anyone can access this form by visiting the LA-SAFE website.
After two disappointing weeks of football for the Jonesboro-Hodge Tigers, the week three matchup vs Delhi Charter felt like the perfect opportunity for the team to finally come alive. While the 45-26 outcome was not J-H’s first win of 2024 season, there were many positive takeaways, and even a record-breaking performance to celebrate.
The game began with J-Hodge receiving the kickoff and picking up a couple first downs before inevitably punting the ball to Delhi Charter. But then two plays later, the hosting Gators fumbled the ball on a handoff, and J-Hodge’s Kyron Atkins pounced on it to set the Tigers up with great field position on the 28-yard line. There already was a sense of positive energy for the Tigers during this game.
Dakota Knox and Christian McGuire worked the running game down to the 2-yard line, and the Tigers were knocking on the door for their points of the season. A false start on 3rd down pushed back J-H, and two plays later Delhi Charter would take over on their own 7-yard line.
This was when Delhi Charter leaned on their two-headed monster backfield of Keidron Thomas and Tayven Carter. The pair helped the Gators go on a 19 play, 93-yard scoring drive that consumed almost 10 minutes of the game clock.
It was a 7-0 lead for Delhi Charter with 3:43 left in the 1st half, and that would be the score at halftime. While there were only six offensive drives between the two teams in the 1st half, there would be PLENTY of fireworks in the final 24 minutes.
Delhi Charter got the ball to open the 2nd half, and just like their first offensive drive of the game, they fumbled the ball on their third play with Kyron Atkins recovering it again. This time though, Jonesboro-Hodge made the most of their great field position when Dakota Knox connected with Christian McGuire on a 31-yard touchdown pass, the first points of the Tigers season. J-Hodge would not get the 2-point conversion, and it’d be a 7-6 Gator lead very early in the 3rd quarter.
Over the final 11 minutes of the third quarter the two offenses would combine for 5 touchdowns, 351 yards, and 34 points. The Tigers would be behind 27-20 going into the final frame. What was a slow and physical game in the first half, had turned into a track meet in the blink of an eye.
There were many highlights from Jonesboro-Hodge’s 3rd quarter offensive explosion. After numerous injuries and cramps for the Tigers, freshman Ja’Marlon Johnson entered the game and he immediately sparked the Tiger offense with two big receptions, including one for 41 yards. Dakota Knox found the end zone on a quarterback sneak. Christian McGuire inched his way towards the record books with a few more receptions, the most noteworthy one being at the end of the quarter when he juked a Gator and sprinted 76 yards to the house.
The fourth quarter was one that felt like it should’ve been played with an asterisk given how many J-Hodge defenders were sidelined due to injury, cramps and fatigue, a result of playing on both sides of the ball in humid Louisiana conditions. Delhi Charter took advantage by breaking several long runs for scores.
Regardless, the Tigers never gave up. Two more fumbles were forced and recovered by Ken’Wuan Atkins and Dakota Knox, bringing the impressive total to four on the night.
At the LHSAA instituted water break that came at the 6:00 mark in the 4th quarter, J-H trailed 39-20. Logic called for the Tigers to start looking forward to next week but Dakota Knox and Christian McGuire had other plans.
Knox took the snap out of the shotgun, and immediately lofted the ball deep down the field. The Gator defenders were not ready for this pass, and McGuire sprinted past them and under the ball for what would be a 74-yard pitch and catch to cut the deficit to 13 points.
While in the moment this play didn’t seem like much more than the Tigers continuing the fight until the last whistle, it was actually a record-breaking play.
Christian McGuire set the Jonesboro-Hodge single-game receiving yards record on this play with 230 yards on just 6 catches, surpassing Devontae Mozee’s 188-yard semifinal performance vs Amite in 2021. Dakota Knox also achieved 295 yards passing on this play, good enough for 2nd on the J-H single-game passing yards list, only behind Tydre Malone’s 312 yards in that same semifinal matchup vs Amite in 2021.
The final score was in favor of the Gators, but it was a night where Jonesboro-Hodge saw many things to be excited for the rest of the season, and school history that could last a lifetime.
The Tigers will be on back at home next week, where they will open district 1-1A play by hosting the Lincoln Prep Panthers. Kickoff will be at 7:00 on Thursday Night.
The “Student / Athlete of the Week” Award for the week of September 15-21 has been selected. The award, that is sponsored by the Jackson Parish Hospital, recognizes an outstanding student / athlete chosen by select members of the faculty and staff from each of the three Jackson Parish School District high schools.
The honorees are chosen for best exemplifying what it means to be a true student-athlete through academic achievement and athletic accomplishment. Each recipient is recognized by the Jackson Parish Hospital through social media and receives a special commemorative shirt.
Earning accolades this week are Quitman High School 8th grader, Sophia Kliebert; Jonesboro-Hodge High School sophomore, Carlayzia Walker and Ada-Claire Tidwell, who is in the 8th grade at Weston High School.
Student-Athlete of the Week
Sophia Kliebert (8th grade) – Quitman Junior High School basketball team
Ada-Claire Tidwell (8th grade) – Weston Junior High School basketball team
Carlayzia Walker (10th grade) – Jonesboro-Hodge High School cheerleading team
How often do you find beauty, brains and incredible athletic ability all packaged in one of the most team oriented and congenial people you could ever meet?
The answer is hardly ever.
Local sports fans know where there is such a person though. She resides in Quitman, LA and just a few years back was one of the best kept secrets in the state prep athletic scene.
Not anymore.
Now Cali Deal is not only well known and highly decorated statewide but on a national platform as well. Pardon the pun but when it comes to overall athletic ability and especially “in the circle” on the softball field, she is without question the “Real Deal”.
Another way to describe the daughter of Syble and Brian Deal, who is a senior at Quitman High School, is a “generational talent”, which is defined by Websters Dictionary as – someone who is so far above their competition that their level of dominance is only seen once in a generation.
That would be an accurate description. Her being selected as a three-time, first team Class B All-Stater, Class B MVP, 3-Time District MVP and Division IV state champion for what she has accomplished in the LHSAA verifies that. You can also add winning multiple regional and national championships with her Texas Bombers Gold Summer Travel Ball team.
Recently, Deal was voted as the 6th ranked Pitcher in the Class of 2025 according to national media outlet Extra Inning Softball. Added to the outstanding accolades is her being named to the National Elite Scholars List for maintaining a 4.0 or above grade point average.
Deal has already committed to play softball for Louisiana State University who will certainly enjoy the benefits of having such a rare person as part of their team. Fortunately for us in Jackson Parish we get to have her around for one more year.
The 2024 Jonesboro-Hodge High School Homecoming celebration is fast approaching. This year’s theme is “Tigers in the Enchanted Forest”. The JHHS administration and staff takes this opportunity to inform the public of changes that are being made to this annual event. Along with the already established policies for Caldwell-Peacock Stadium, the following will be in place for Homecoming.
Jonesboro-Hodge High School thanks you for helping make Homecoming Day enjoyable and safe for all. The scannable QR code is located below. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Coach Terrance Blankenship or Assistant Principal Kristopher Cash at (318) 259-4138.
Quitman Junior High will host Jackson Parish neighbor Weston for a girls and boys junior high basketball contest on Tuesday, September 24th. The pair of contests that has the first game slated to be tipped off at 5:00 pm is the final home game of the 2024 season for Quitman, whose boys enter the contest with an area best 18-1 mark and the girls check in at 5-8 on the year. Both the girls and boys teams from Weston will be looking for their 10th win of the season, with the Lady Wolves also seeking to extend their three game winning streak.
Wolverines splits with Castor Junior High
Quitman hosted Castor Junior High this past Tuesday, Sept. 17th, that featured what has turned out to be the two top teams in the area in both the girls and boys divisions. The pair of contests followed the season script to a tee as the Castor girls won by a 36-26 score and the Quitman boys waltzed to a 54-21 victory.
Castor 36 Quitman 26 (Girls) Amelia Staggs scored six and Audrina Martin chipped in with five as QJH outscored Castor 15-5 in the final quarter. Unfortunately, the Lady Tigers still took the victory after leading 31-11 heading into the final frame. Kynleigh Leach led QJH in scoring with 11 points, including a season best pair of three pointers. Sophia Kliebert pitched in with four points as well for the Lady Wolverines who fell to 5-8 on the season.
Quitman 54 Castor 21 (Boys) Hayden Seymore and Eli Jackson scored nine first half points each and Kaleb Maxwell added eight more as QJH exploded for 40 first half points to win improve their season record to a sterling 18-1. Lucas Leach also contributed to the first half barrage with six points and both Luke Row and Aiden Reed added three pointers. Mason Thomas, Connor May, Noah Spillman, Cason Rogers and Ryder Gray all tallied in the second half.
Weston Takes Two from Cedar Creek
Both the girls and boys basketball teams at Weston Junior High continued their late season run with a pair of victories at Cedar Creek in Ruston on Thursday and a split of two games against Choudrant on Friday.
Weston 23 Cedar Creek 19 (Girls): Teegan Hall scored all six of her points in the first quarter to help pace Weston to a 9-4 lead that the Lady Wolverines made stand up the rest of the way. Ada-Claire Tidwell added the other three first quarter points as well as four more points down the stretch to lead Weston in scoring with seven points. Mallory Malone hit a three pointer and Gracie Gray, Rachel Bandy and Tessa Reeves all chipped in with two points each. Brileigh Fair contributed a clutch four quarter free throw as well.
Weston 39 Cedar Creek 10 (Boys) Leyton Younse nailed a season best three, 3-Pointers on the way to 15 points and the Wolves defense limited the Cougars to just two points in three of the four quarters played. Bryce Tolar, Malachi Harris, and Colt Guyotte all chipped in with six points each while Colton Otwell, Cason Conn and Jacolby Lowe added two each.
Weston 26 Choudrant 23 (Girls) Rachel Bandy, who led the team in scoring with 13 points, scored all five of Weston’s points in the fourth quarter to help the Lady Wolves break a 21-21 tie after three quarters. Kate Keiffer also came up big with 8 points while Ada-Claire Tidwell and Tessa Reeves tallied two each. Addison Faulkner made a free throw.
Choudrant 45 Weston 34 (Boys) – The Wolves outscored the Aggies 25-23 in the second half but a slow start that led to Choudrant jumping out to a 22-9 first half lead was to much to overcome. Colton Otwell scored 11 to lead Weston with Aundra Spence contributing 7 and Leyton Younse adding five to the total. Bryce Tolar scored four, Jacolby Lowe chipped in with three and both Cason Conn and Malachi Harris tallied two.
Andrew Watts has been selected by the administration and staff at Willis Knighton Hospital in Shreveport as the “Resident of the Year” at the WNH North Campus.
The former Jackson Parish resident and son of Gayla Gunter, works as a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Willis Knighton Health, located at 2600 Greenwood Road in Shreveport.
Prior to working at Willis Knighton, Watts was a Paramedic at Southern Berkshire Volunteer Ambulance Service and a Firefighter / Paramedic with the Ruston Fire Department.
The Day Surgery waiting room of any hospital is a slice of our culture. If you want to know what is happening in the world pay attention to folks waiting to be called back for their surgery. Watch and listen as family and friends deal with the anxiety this environment and situation produces.
That poor besmirched fellow was sitting in the waiting room, awaiting his turn to go back, and be prepped for his surgery. I will tell you that any surgery is an anxiety producing event. This guy, and the whole waiting room was listening to his wife, whom I have designed “Helga the Horrible.” From listening to her and believe me no one on the second floor missed a word she said; she was having a tough time with her husband’s surgery.
“Helga” had dropped her husband off by the front door of the hospital and then parked the car. While she was parking the car, she “lost” her husband. When she found him on the second floor at Day Surgery, he was moments away from being called back for the big operation. There in front of God and all of us, Helga let her husband have it. She blasted him for not waiting for her by the front door.
His defense was that the orderly came and moved him to the second floor. She blasted him for the stupidity of the orderly who moved him without telling Helga that he had been moved. Her husband reported that he was not in charge of personnel at the hospital and that in fact the orderly had been very kind to him. She reloaded and blasted him for not having a newspaper for her to read while she waiting, as she had left her device in the car and didn’t want to go back to the car to retrieve it. The nice man got up and found Helga a newspaper. She was not happy that it was a day old.
Then Helga got upset because her husband was not more upset about his surgery. She catalogued every ache he might face. She described every pain her friend had after the same surgery. She went into brutal detail about every danger he could face during surgery and after surgery. Her Scandinavian ire was up that he was calm before this procedure and how dare he leave her to worry about all that could happen to him. Then she stood and said to a man who hadn’t eaten since midnight and was about to have surgery, “I’m hungry and I’m going to get breakfast.”
When “Helga” walked off, the poor fellow breathed an audible sigh of relief. I’m thinking that if his wife is like that all the time, major surgery likely gave him some relief. He was probably happy that he was going to get some sleep.
When you get up to leave….are people glad you came or glad you’re going?
Having Fun When We Run! QHS Cross Country at Ruston High Invitational
Clay Burton of Quitman High School finished in first place out of 127 runners to win the Grade 3-4 Boys division at the Ruston High 2024 Cross Country Invitational that was run at the Lincoln Parish Park on Friday and Saturday, September 20-21.
Additional top ten finishers from Jackson Parish in the meet that had over 1100 runners from the grades of K-12 compete in 10 separate races were: (Grade 5-6 Boys): 10th Place – Shepard Norred, Quitman High School 5:40.43 (Grade K-2 Boys): 13th Place – Cole Burton Quitman High School 6:58.34 (Grade 5-6 Girls): 15th Place – Arrie Maza, Weston High School 6:46.35 (Grade 7-8 Girls): 20th Place – Audrina Martin Quitman High School 11:14.64
2024 Ruston High Cross Country Invitational Results
3-4 Boys (0.9 Miles) 127 Runners
1st Place – Clay Burton Quitman High School 5:34.74 16th Place – Colton Haney Weston High School 6:30.22 19th Place – Mason Caldwell Quitman High School 6:34.42 21st Place – Levi Norred Quitman High School 6:37.59 16 22nd Place – Carter Hall Weston High School 6:41.02 49th Place – Lyndon Walsworth Quitman High School 7:28.28 51st Place – Mayson Terral Quitman High School 7:28.87 59th Place – Easton Buchan Quitman High School 7:35.17 87th Place – Reese Altheimer Quitman High School 8:33.28 111th Place – Kree Perkins Quitman High School 10:20.84 112th Place – Austin North Quitman High School 10:34.61 113th Place – Thomas Sessions Quitman High School 10:35.34
3-4 Girls (0.9 Miles) 144 Runners
46th Place – Maddi Spillman Quitman High School 8:00.98 86th Place – Katelyn Smith Quitman High School 9:06.07 140th Place – Hilary Foster 3 Quitman High School 13:05.57 0
5-6 Boys (0.9 Miles) 112 Runners
10th Place – Shepard Norred Quitman High School 5:40.43 26th Place – Asher Norred Quitman High School 6:10.42 31st Place – Travis Maza Weston High School 6:24.71 44th Place – Kaine Stassen Weston High School 6:47.69 0 M 45th Place – James Lewis Weston High School 6:47.89 66th Place – Klay Roge Quitman High School 7:31.67 68th Place – Maddox Narron Quitman High School 7:39.32 80th Place – Coran Richmond Quitman High School 8:03.75 84th Place – Avery Buchan Quitman High School 8:10.86 106th Place – Colton Caraway Quitman High School 9:53.55 107th Place – Evan Causey Quitman High School 10:20.05
5-6 Girls (0.9 Miles) 86 Runners
15th Place – Arrie Maza Weston High School 6:46.35 22th Place – Henley House Weston High School 6:57.66 34th Place – Elliott Savage Quitman High School 7:34.29 38th Place – Karlee Altheimer Quitman High School 7:44.60 50th Place – Raegan Bell Quitman High School 8:26.92 73rd Place – Aubrie Allen Weston High School 10:15.31 74th Place – Braelynn Turner Weston High School 10:20.57 79th Place – Joni Hicks Weston High School 10:46.82
Varsity Girls (3.0 Miles) 105 Runners
29th Place – Megan Kelley Quitman High School 22:28.34 66th Place – Kaleigh King Quitman High School 25:45.05 97th Place – Laina Hatfield Quitman High School 30:13.25 102nd Place – Lindsey Woods Quitman High School 33:09.22
Varsity Boys (3.0 Miles) 168 Runners
43rd Place – Joseph Horton Quitman High School 18:22.14 108th Place – Mathew Odom Quitman High School 21:43.69 122nd Place – James Brown Quitman High School 22:22.56 125th Place – Jayden Harts Quitman High School 22:25.20 166th Place – Emery Caskey Weston High School 29:38.47
7-8 Boys (1.5 Miles) 160 Runners
29th Place – Luke Sims Quitman High School 10:12.71 40th Place – Josiah Ramsey Quitman High School 10:28.40 53rd Place – Carson Savana Quitman High School 10:50.85
7-8 Girls (1.5 Miles) 148 Runners
20th Place – Audrina Martin Quitman High School 11:14.64 26th Place – Anna Pardue Quitman High School 11:27.84 36th Place – Addi Faber Quitman High School 11:57.97 41st Place – Bella Caskey Quitman High School 12:06.56 42nd Place – Teyton Naron Quitman High School 12:06.56
K-2 Boys (0.9 Miles) 119 Runners
13th Place – Cole Burton Quitman High School 6:58.34 22nd Place – Matthew Buchan Quitman High School 7:26.04 29th Place – Kolton Laffitte Quitman High School 7:50.19 33rd Place – Jayce Linton Weston High School 8:01.38 36th Place – Rhett Bell Quitman High School 8:02.80 39th Place – Brennon Otwell Weston High School 8:06.82 50th Place – Jacob Patton Quitman High School 8:23.22 80th Place – Julian Causey Quitman High School 9:25.78 93rd Place – Edmon Norman Quitman High School 9:56.07 97th Place – Lex Walsworth Quitman High School 10:09.12 102nd Place – Tyson Spivey Quitman High School 10:36.18
K-2 Girls (0.9 Miles) 116 Runners
50th Place – Adalee Russell Weston High School 9:25.23 73rd Place – Lennyn Rogers Quitman High School 10:21.88 76th Place – Eva Martin Quitman High School 10:28.83 99th Place – Charlotte Delaney Quitman High School 11:18.22 100th Place – Nora Kenney Quitman High School 11:19.69
Jimmy Terral, age 86 of Dodson, Louisiana peacefully passed away, Sunday, September 22, 2024.
