Memories of the Harris Hill Boys
Some kids are more fortunate than others. I can’t help but feel a tiny bit sorrowful for those youngsters who were raised in urban settings where concrete, police and fire sirens, heavy traffic were a part of life. I was blessed to be reared out on the rural route, alongside a gravel road where the half dozen cars traversing the old road daily would stir up either dust or mud, depending on weather conditions.
I read about city kids who have their milk delivered by the milkman and who know to head back home when street lights came on. We got our milk from our milk cow that our mom was glad to turn over milking duties to us kids when we got big enough. Street lights? We didn’t have street lights growing up because for the first few years, we didn’t have electricity.
We had kinfolk like grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who lived on the same hill we did. Because there were so many of us there, the hill was called “Harris Hill”.
I had a brother, Tom, who was two years younger than me. Living over on another part of Harris Hill were our two cousins, Doug, a year younger than me and Sambo, a year younger than Tom. It was special to have a brother to do stuff with but it was extra special when Doug and Sambo were added to the mix. It was like instead of cousins, we were more like brothers.
Some folks called the four of us the Harris Hill Boys.
Thinking back the four of us enjoyed special times together although we didn’t necessarily think we were special because all the kids we knew grew up just as we did.
We had a couple of water sources that attracted our attention when it was warm enough to swim. We usually started our swimming earlier than our moms thought we should. That’s why we’d sneak off to the Tank Pond or Molideaux creek without asking for permission; we just did it and didn’t tell anybody.
Our growing up years together were extra special to us but with the passage of time, we grew up and went our separate ways. I graduated from college and became a teacher and social worker and eventually an outdoor writer. Doug graduated and became involved in the oil and gas industry. Tom got his degree in forestry and for years, worked as a forester. College wasn’t in Sambo’s plans so he joined the Marines and after serving his time, worked as a logger.
One day, Doug, who owned property which included a fine fish pond, got in touch with the other three of us and suggested that rather than us just rely on memories, how about we get together on his pond, catch fish and catch up with all we had done since we grew up and scattered. We jumped at the idea and on June 19, 2007, the four of us met at his pond for the first annual Cousin Fish Fest. For the next 15 years, it became an annual event for us that we looked forward to each spring.
We were all growing older and with age comes infirmities. Tom was the first to leave us as on April 30, 2015, he passed away. Doug, Sambo and I continued our annual Fish Fest until 2022 when Doug began having health problems that curtailed our gatherings and on January 6, 2023, Sambo and I were there to honor Doug at his funeral.
That left only two of us left, Sambo and me and last week, a heart attack ended Sambo’s life. He died on September 11, 2024.
That leaves only me to keep the memories of the Harris Hill Boys alive and so long as the Lord keeps me upright, I’ll hang onto those special memories of four country boys who spent their growing up years living a special country life.
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE – Bass are starting to school with shad imitation lures working best. Also early mornings they’re hitting around pads and moss on topwater lures and buzz baits. Later in the day, plastic worms and deep diving crank baits are working on deep drops off the channel. Night fishing is fair on dark spinners or plastic worms. Crappie are fair fishing shiners or jigs around the 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 – No report. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Bass fishing is best fishing buzz baits and plastic frogs around the the wind rows. Some big crappie are being caught on the flats on shiners and jigs. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – The river is falling because of a levee issue below Columbia. Water is muddy and fishing is slow. A few crappie have been caught. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – The lake is being lowered some 5 feet as the gates were opened September 4. Best to stay in the channel because of stumps exposed because of drawdown. Crappie fishing has been good fishing jigs or shiners on the edge of the channels. Bass are best fishing points with crank baits and swim baits. Some bass are schooling and hitting shad imitation lures. Bream are off the beds and scattered. 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 – Crappie fishing has been best early mornings on shiners or jigs. Stripers are starting to school and should respond to shad imitation lures. Bass should be schooling and once located will hit shad imitation lures. Some are caught at night fishing soft plastics and dark spinners and crank baits around lighted piers. Some have been caught early mornings on topwater lures fished along the edges of grass. Bream are slow. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfishing has been good. A few crappie have been caught on the south end in deeper water. Bass are slow. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water has fallen to pool stage. Catfish are biting with a few crappie being caught. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.
A special shout-out to the departments who were involved in this informative visit – Nursing, Respiratory, Radiology, Laboratory, Infection Control, and Employee Health, we appreciate you and your dedication! Thank you for taking the time to educate and inspire the next wave of medical professionals!
George Ellis Blount, age 78 of Quitman, made his way to his Heavenly home on Thursday, September 19, 2024. Mr. Ellis was born in Shreveport, La on September 27, 1945 to the union of Alfred and Minnie Blount. He served his country proudly in the United States Army and then was recruited and began his 40 plus years in the F.B.I. as a special agent. After working within the agency for 20 years he retired only to return and work another 20 plus years. He was a dedicated agent that loved his job. Mr. Ellis also enjoyed many things that life had to offer such as hunting. He enjoyed hunting doves and deer, but his favorite was to go duck hunting. Mr. Ellis liked to keep his hands busy and he did so with carpentry work or he could be found grilling. He was a master chef at grilling up brisket, ribs and especially steak. Mr. Ellis is a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many that will miss him dearly.
Marjorie Evelyn Harvey passed away at Jackson Parish Hospital on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. She was 106 years old. Marjorie was a resident of Forest Haven Nursing Home and a former resident of North Hodge, Louisiana. She was a devout Christian and loved her family and church very much. Marjorie taught Sunday school and sang in the choir at Hodge Baptist Church.
Come and take the opportunity to get your blood pressure, temperature, oxygen and glucose levels checked as well as receive a flu shots. If getting a flu shot, make sure you bring your insurance card with you. 
Mitchell’s Pharmacy, located at 202 East Main Street in Jonesboro, announces that flu shots are now available. Protect yourself from the notorious illness that is always so prevalent this time of year by calling (318) 259-7466 to schedule an appointment during regular hours of operation. 