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The Jonesboro Fire Protection District #1 will have a parcel fee renewal on the November 5th ballot. We ask that you continue to support us and vote yes. This is not an increase but the same $72.00 parcel fee that has been renewed since 1995. This is also the only funding the fire district receives. Please continue to support the Jonesboro Fire Protection District #1 so we can continue to serve you.
Under the guidance of director Sandra Billings, Forest Haven Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center is no stranger to winning awards, evidenced by the 2023 and 2024 Commitment to Quality Award received over the past couple of years.
Now the one of the staff members of the nationally recognized retirement and assisted living facility has received an award as well. Congratulations go to Erica Gilmore who on October 23rd was named as LPN of the Year by the Louisiana Nursing Home Association.
The administration and staff of Forest Haven invite you to come and help celebrate the Halloween weekend by participating in their annual Forest Fest that will be held on October 29th from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. Highlighting the festivities will be the Trunk or Treat event where you can line up in the parking lot and provide treats to the residents. To reserve your spot call (318) 259 – 2729 or come to Forest Haven, located at 175 Thrasher Road in Jonesboro.
The Jonesboro Hodge High School Band is proud to announce that they have received a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development in the amount of $4000.00.
This grant will be utilized for supplies and materials that will enhance the learning experience of the band members as they continue to strive to develop and promote excellence in the art of music.
Music education positively impacts students’ academic performance, social skill development and creativity. Mr. Trey Porchay, band director, and his students are very excited about this grant opportunity.
The arts program is supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
The administration of Jonesboro-Hodge Elementary School is pleased to announce the selection of student, teacher and support staff selection for the 2024-25 school year. Congratulations to each!
At Weston High School they are known as the “Fab Four”. The reason that Cejay Colvin, Cory Tucker, Collin Shows, and Abel McBride have earned the designation is their prowess in FFA state and national competition.
Since teaming up as freshman, they have won state honors every year including the 2024 CDE in Floriculture where they finished first overall. Now they can add being named as a National Silver Emblem Team, won in the National FFA Floriculture CDE that was held in Indianapolis, IN on October 24th.
Individually each came away with awards as well with Cory Tucker winning a gold medal, Abel McBride and Cejay Colvin earning silver medals and Collin Shows coming home with a bronze medal.
“They were pretty infamous as soon as they walked into the contest, being the only all male team at the CDE and apparently the only one that had made it that far in several years,” said Weston FFA Director Derek Shields who also gave thanks to everyone who supported the team.
“We would like to thank everyone who made monetary donations to help get us to the event in Indianapolis. We would like to thank Cathy Sonnier and Barbara Bailey of the Louisiana Floral Board for coming in and working with the team for a couple of long days last week. And lastly we would like to give a HUGE shout out to Mrs. Terry and her crew at Always Eva’s Flowers for putting in so much time and effort with our guys over the past several months to get them to the point they are today, without your knowledge, patience, and support we would not have been as prepared as we were for the contest.”
Jason and Monica LeMoine is pleased to announced that they have purchased J& L Farm Supply. The nursery and gardening store, located at 7035 Hwy 4 east of Jonesboro will now go under the name of LeMoine’s Farm and Garden.
Whether you need feed, seed, hardware, gardening supplies or hunting needs LeMoines’s Farm and Garden is your one stop shopping spot. For more information or questions, call (318) 259 – 7677 or send an email to: lemoinesfarmandgarden@gmail.com
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Please pick the beep you like best.
Beep is defined as “a short, relatively high-pitched tone produced by a horn, electronic device, or the like as a signal, summons, or warning.” It is also a way of describing how some forms of media edit out unseemly words.
If I were doing this on the radio you might hear, “Oh BEEP, I dropped the hot casserole dish on the floor after I removed it from the microwave upon hearing the aforementioned microwave emit a beep.”
Beep is example of onomatopoeia.
I’m wondering if you have discovered that beeps have become BEEP annoying.
The microwave cooks food quickly and it beeps. Mine will emit a beep until you open the door or select the stop button. I guess the microwave doesn’t want you to forget the sumptuous TV dinner you have just warmed up for your evening repast.
The oven beeps. It beeps when it is heated to the selected temperature. It beeps when there is one minute remaining for the cooking time. It beeps until you hit the shut up button and turn the timer off. The oven will beep at you all night until you do something.
The house alarm system beeps. It beeps when you turn it on or off, when the power is interrupted for more than three minutes or so. I guess if the house is burning down or being burglarized the thing will beep. If the power goes off and you don’t reset the alarm, it beeps until you reset it acknowledging the “power went off recently and stayed off a while” beep.
Each button you press on the control panel beeps when you press it. That is four beeps to set the alarm which then does this chirping beep thing to let you know it is set. It then beeps to let you know you have a certain number of seconds to get out of the BEEPING house before alarm goes off.
To avoid the beeping madness, I escaped to the BEEPING car. The car has a mystery beep that I have yet to interpret. I have one of those pushbutton cars. Sometimes when I shut it off and open the door, it beeps at me. I have yet to figure out what I have done wrong or what I have left on for the car to protest my exit. Maybe the car is saying, “Bye.”
The car beeps at me when I’m too close to another car, the wall at the bank drive thru, when someone is crossing behind me in the parking lot, when I change lanes without signaling, when I change radio stations, and when I select the apps button to turn on the map functions.
This morning, I pulled into the office parking space. The car beeped at me. I sat down at my desk and my computer was doing some kind of beeping about something Bill Gates and Microsoft didn’t like. Oh BEEP!!!
Because things beep at us, we develop a BEEPING immunity. I was only paying attention because I was researching the beeps around me.
We condition ourselves to filter out the annoyances of life, such as the things that beep.
Please Lord do not allow us to filter out people, they are not annoyances but people you love for whom you died.
I need to go now and spend time confessing my sins in this area, what about you?
The Jackson Parish Library Board of Controls held their regular quarterly meeting on Thursday, October 24th. The session, that had to be rescheduled from the original date of Monday, October 21st due to the inability to establish a quorum took place in the Multipurpose Room of the Main Branch located at 614 South Polk in Jonesboro.
During the meeting, board members Paula Essmeier, Vicki Jenkins, Judy Cooper, Robin Tew, Lisa Nunn, Carol Massey Ann Standley and Jackson Parish Police Juror Ex-Officio, Amy Magee adopted and approved the following:
Adopted amended 2024 budget
Adopted 2025 budget.
Approved Judy Robertson and Emily Webb to attend Secretary of State Records Management Class in Baton Rouge on December 10, 2024. A
Adopted a resolution to maintain a bank account at Sabine State Bank.
Amazing, isn’t it, what half a century of time can do to a place. I grew up in rural Natchitoches Parish near the village of Goldonna and I’ve been gone from there over five decades. I go back today on occasional visits and hardly recognize anything.
There were four of us who grew up together, one year apart. I’m the oldest; my cousin Doug is a year younger; my brother Tom a year younger than Doug and Sambo a year younger than Tom. The four Harris Boys, they called us. Living less than a quarter mile apart, we could have been brothers. Summer days were spent barefooted and bare-backed in the woods and creeks around our homes bird hunting, fishing, killing snakes, playing “deer and dog” and swimming.
One particular area served as a catalyst for our summertime outdoor activities….the Tank Pond. On a visit back home several years or so ago, I took a walk down through the woods to visit the Tank Pond but to my surprise and dismay, it was no longer there. Thick buck brush grew over a damp spot where we once swam and played. If I listened closely though, I could hear a trickle of water somewhere down there in the brush. I could only rely on my memory to bring to life the old pond where the four of us learned to swim. Back then, fresh spring water coursed over a concrete spillway that had been built there maybe a century ago to impound the little creek into a nice sized pond.
The Tank Pond was used as a water source for the steam engines of the L&A Railroad trains that stopped there for water to generate steam. Near the pond was an elevated tank where the water was pumped from the pond. A boom was lowered and water flowed from the tank into the boiler of the engine where it was heated by a coal-fed fire box, thus generating the steam that served as a power source for the train.
I recall lying in bed at night, listening to the train grind to a laborious halt with screeching wheels and hissing steam as it stopped at the Tank Pond for water. Once the boiler was filled, the engine would begin a slow CHUG…..CHUG….CHUG before the wheels lost their grip on the rails with a rapid CHUGCHUGCHUG. I knew what was next. The train had to back up all the way below Goldonna, nearly a mile distant, to get a running start at the gradual grade that culminated on Oshkosh Hill a couple of miles on up the track past the Tank Pond.
That’s all gone now. The L&A railroad is no more, the tracks long abandoned, the right-of-way overgrown. My sister told me that the rails were pulled up and sold to a company that transported them to Chile. I find it odd that the rails I walked barefoot as a kid are now supporting train traffic and barefoot boys in South America.
Water that coursed over the spillway trickled through a culvert beneath the railroad tracks where it spilled into Molido Creek fifty yards from the tracks. Just below where the Tank Pond waters met Molido, a deep hole in the bend of the creek made for a fine swimming hole, one that holds a plethora of memories.
The only snake bite I ever had was inflicted in this swimming hole as a snake bit me behind the knee while we were swimming. One look at Doug’s rusty Barlow and I decided to take my chances of dying of snake bite rather than to have Doug whittle on my leg with his dull knife. Luckily, the snake was a common water snake and I survived without my cousin’s help.
I visited the area awhile back and to my surprise, the Tank Pond is there again, much as it was when Doug, Tom, Sambo and I swam in it as youngsters. I learned that some 20 years ago, the brush, debris and sediment were removed, the pond excavated to recreate our old swimming hole much like it was when we were boys.
Some things old and forgotten can be brought back to life. I’m thankful our Tank Pond is now breathing new life.
CANEY LAKE – Crappie fishing has been good with some slabs caught fishing shiners around the deeper tops. Bass are best fishing topwater lures early around the grass lines. Later, best fishing has been on secondary points on soft plastics and crank baits. 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 the wind rows and tree lines early with topwater lures. Later, flipping soft plastics around the brush is picking up some good fish. Crappie are still hitting shiners and jigs around deep brush. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – The river is low because of a levee issue below Columbia. Launching is possible at Joe Bob’s but it’s difficult. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – The lake is down 5 feet and bass fishing has been good if you can find any moving water at mouth of creeks. Crappie are bunched up on the channel edges and shiners and jigs are working on them. Bream are slow; catfishing good 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 good with some slabs caught fishing shiners or jigs around the deep tops.. No report on stripers. Bass 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 – A crappie tournament was held last week with some slabs caught with the winning five fish stringer weighing more than 11 pounds. Crappie are improving in deeper water on the south end as well as some being caught on the north end. Catfish are fair to good. No report on bass. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water has fallen back to pool stage. Catfish are biting and commercial fishermen are catching a good many buffalo. No report on bass and crappie. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.
‘You’re only as old as you feel.’ Right?
‘Age is just a number.’
So they say (whoever they are).
I have identification; my birth certificate and driver’s license date me. 75 is the number. My heart still beats; I have a pulse and can stand on my feet. I’m alive and blessed. Many women are extremely sensitive about their age and birth date.
I once took part in voter registrations. I recall the hesitation of one lady in documenting her birth date. Time not only flies it tells no lies. We might try to hide it by coloring our hair, face lifts or tummy tucks; results are temporary at best.
Remember how early automobiles needed to be cranked? I’ll try not to be cranky. I’d compare myself to a dependable used car. Maybe I just need my battery charged; maintenance and repairs will keep me running and on the road.
“Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 HCSB).”
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.
T L Services – For all your pressure washing needs. Driveway, house, deck, porch, sidewalk, or any additional residential or commercial applications. Free estimates. Quick turnaround. Call (318) 514 – 8753.
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
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
Seeking bi-vocational pastor – Friendship Baptist Church, located between Saline and Jonesboro Louisiana (16511 Hwy4, Bienville, La 71008 ) is seeking a bi-vocational pastor. In addition to the salary, the parsonage is available as part of the compensation package. Please email resumes to salinebrown@yahoo.com.
The Eros Community Water System is currently in violation of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for trihalomethanes as set forth by the State [Part XII of the Louisiana State Sanitary Code (LAC 51:XII)] and the Federal Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141).
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) set drinking water standards and requires the disinfection of drinking water. Where disinfection is used in the treatment of drinking water, disinfectants combine with naturally occurring organic and inorganic matter present in water to form chemicals called disinfection byproducts (DBPs). EPA and LDH set standards for controlling the levels of disinfectants and DBPs in drinking water, including trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acid (HAAs). Some people who drink water containing THMs in excess if the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
In December 1998, EPA set enforceable drinking water standards for TTHMs at 80 parts per billion (ppb) and for HAA5 at 60 parts per billion (ppb) to reduce the risk of cancer or other adverse health effects. Compliance with the TTHMs and HAA5 standard for public water systems serving less than 10,000 individuals initially became effective and enforceable on January 1, 2001. Compliance with the TTHMs standard is determined by calculating a locational running annual average (LRAA) of
quarterly TTHMs sample results. Compliance calculations performed for the third quarter of 2024 show that the system’s current TTHMs LRAAs are 81 ppb at DBP02- 2311 Hwy 548 and 98 ppb at DBP02- 290 Century Loop; Thus, the system is currently in violation of the TTHMs standard.
The chlorinator on the well at Rayburn Loop malfunctioned. We have made all necessary repairs to correct this issue. We have also been repairing multiple leaks on the water service lines.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. If you have any questions, contact the water system’s secretary, Heather Lewis, at 318-417-6700.
This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified immediately. EPA and LDH do not consider this violation to have any serious adverse health effects on human health as a result of short-term exposure; however, continued long-term exposure to TTHMs and HAA5 levels above the standard (e.g., 20 years of exposure) has the potential to have serious adverse effects on human health.
Charles Alan “Al” Newsom, age 65, a Jonesboro native and 1978 graduate of Jonesboro-Hodge High School, who was currently residing in Haughton, Louisiana, passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.
Left to cherish his memory is his mother, Patsy Carter, sister Anna Beth and her husband Joel Crowson, and sister Lori Newsom along with a host of extended family members. Preceding Al in death was his father, Warren Newsom and his brother Dale Newsom.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, October 29, 2024 from 9:00 – 10:00 AM at Hill Crest Memorial Chapel, located at 601 Hwy 80 in Haughton, Louisiana, followed by a celebration of life service at 10:00 AM.
Jay Mallard has given a countless keys to many satisfied new and used car purchasers over the past two decades. At the end of October, the owner/operator of the Ford Dealership in Jonesboro, LA will pass on keys one final time.
Only this time it won’t be keys that starts a vehicle. Instead, these will be the keys to the dealership that will be presented to the Benoit Auto Group, signifying the start of a new chapter in his life and the end of a glorious era of the longest running car dealership in Jackson Parish history.
“It is time,” said Mallard, who has seen industry that his family has been a part of for nearly half a century go through many changes. “I am looking forward to this next chapter of my life and spending more time with my grandchildren.”
It is a well deserved reward for the man who has been an icon in the Jackson Parish business realm and a benevolent supporter of local civic, school and organizational events since the beginning of the new millennium.
When reflecting on his many years of serving the people of Jackson Parish and the surrounding area, Mallard was quick to thank everyone involved in making his professional career a tremendous success story.
“Words can’t express how thankful I am for the trust and support given by our customers, town and parish officials and for all the friends I have made over the years,” said Mallard. “I hope they all feel I have been a good steward.”
“I also want to thank all the people who have worked with me and have been so instrumental in helping the dealership earn it’s reputation,” continued Mallard. “I hope they all know I appreciate and love each and everyone of them.”
When asked what brought about the timing of the dealership sale, Mallard said it had been on his mind for a while, but that he wasn’t going to sell until he was ensured that it was to the right people and that the conditions were right.
“I have been thinking about this for many months, but I wasn’t going to sell it to just anyone. It was important to me that the new owners would be agreeable to keep on everyone who worked for me if they wanted to stay and that they would stay committed to keeping a dealership in Jonesboro,” said Mallard.
“There were a lot of people and groups to make proposals, including several who offered more money, but that wasn’t the most important thing in my mind,” said Mallard who explained further. “My top priority was being guaranteed that my people would be taken care of and be able to continue their career here in Jonesboro and that the change in ownership would be beneficial to our residents.”
Mallard feels he is leaving the dealership in good shape and in good hands, verified by the fact that last month the service department’s score of 94 was top ranked in the Memphis zone.
“Little Gary (Smith) and Sheri (Roane) will still continue to be here to help make our service department the best you can find,” beamed Mallard. “To give you an idea just how good a job they do, our score was 32 points better than the average of all other dealerships in the region.”
Mallard is also confident that the Benoit Auto Group will continue the fine reputation of service and sales that he and his team has built over the years and improve on it.
“I feel I am leaving the dealership in good hands. I watched for several months how Benoit handled the buyout of other dealerships and how they improved things for the people of the area,” said Mallard. “They (Benoit) have several dealerships across the state, a great inventory to choose from, tremendous financing resources and are committed to being here for the long term. Having them as owners of the dealership is going to be better for our residents. There is nothing negative about this as what they will bring is all positive improvements.”
When asked if he was just going to “ride off” into the sunset, Mallard laughed and said that he planned on staying around to help with the transition.
“I’m still going to be around for anyone who wants to talk to me. If I am not at the dealership, I will be just one phone call away,” said Mallard who smiled and added, “I still have to sell all these used cars I have on the lot before I can quit.”
The staff of Jay Mallard Ford invites all to come show their appreciation to Jay for his years of service at the “farewell” party that will take place from 2:00 – 5:00 pm on Friday, October 25th at the dealership.
Jonesboro-Hodge High School was expected to take an easy Homecoming game victory over Plain Dealing this Friday. Not this easy though!
In a shocking development that took place on Tuesday, October 22nd, the football game between Jonesboro-Hodge High School and Plain Dealing has been cancelled. JHHS will be awarded a victory by forfeit that will improve the Tigers record to 2-6 overall and 2-2 in district 1-1A play. Plain Dealing will drop to 0-8 overall and 0-6 in district.
According to JHHS head football coach and athletic director, Terrance Blankenship, the reason for the cancellation was because of Plain Dealing not having enough players to field a team.
“We got a call on Monday from the Plain Dealing head coach saying that he didn’t have enough players to field a team,” said Blankenship. “He told us he only had 10 players left after several quit to start basketball and one was out due to injury.”
Blankenship said that he tried to get them to come with what they had and the two schools would make whatever adjustments needed to be made to ensure a game would be played for the fans attending Homecoming.
“We told him that even thought the game wouldn’t count in the standings if we needed to play 7-on-7 or with 8-man teams that we would do what ever best fit them,” explained Blankenship. “They still refused.”
Already once this season, JHHS was forced to scramble to find a replacement for a team that was originally scheduled to play the Tigers. When asked if there was a possibility of replacing Plain Dealing with another team, Blankenship said it was impossible.
“When Ringgold cancelled their game against us it was before the season started it put us in a bad position but we were able to scramble and get DeQuincy (who the Tigers played last week) to come and play,” explained Blankenship. “This week everywhere in the state, teams are playing their district schedules so unfortunately there was no chance of getting another school to come in and play.”
It’s one thing to have a school cancel a game. It is another when the cancelled game was scheduled for Homecoming. So what do the Tigers do for a Homecoming game?
As the old saying goes, “when you are handed a lemon, the best thing to do is make lemonade”. In an effort to give all the alumni, fans and supporters the best Homecoming experience now possible, the JHHS administration announces that a Homecoming Flag Football game featuring alumni has now been schedule. Depending on how many offer to participate, the format will be a game between what has been deemed as a New School vs Old School alumni game where older alumni will take on newer grads. The other option is that if not many sign up to play then two teams will be formed among the alumni.
If you wish to participate you are asked to go the Jonesboro-Hodge High School Facebook page and submit your information on the form that is listed. Help make the 2024 Homecoming experience something to remember.
The Jackson Parish Chamber of Commerce and President, Karen Tolar, is pleased to announce that Debra Fordham has been selected as Grand Marshal for the 2024 Christmas Wonderland in the Pines to be held on November 30th.
Debra is married to Jim Fordham and together they are the proud parents of two sons and grandparents to three grandchildren. Debra began her professional life working at State Farm Insurance Agency in Jonesboro while still in high school and college. After graduation from Louisiana Tech, she became a full-time employee at State Farm in the position of Office Manager.
She served in the Jonesboro Hodge Lions Club as Treasurer and then later as Secretary. Debra was honored by receiving the Lion of the Year for two years. She was also a member of the professional secretarial organization, Beta Sigma Phi, and WMU at First Baptist Church. Debra served in several civic clubs and is a member of First Baptist Church where she has been the organist for over 50 years. She has also served as a Commissioner in Charge at the voting precinct. Debra‘s employer, Shawn Murphy, says, ”she an awesome employee that never has to be asked to do anything because it is always taken care of”.
Debra’s outstanding contribution to our Town and Parish is it to enhance the Deacon of Defense park area. Debra introduced “Jackson – the Rock Snake” to Jonesboro after seeing a similar rock snake while on vacation. She immediately embarked on her journey to install a rock snake and brilliantly brought the community together to watch Jackson the Rock Snake growth in not just length, but community pride as well. Debra has encouraged the Jackson Parish community to paint a rock with their favorite Bible verse, flower, children and grandchildren‘s names, to honor our Veterans, or to share a memory of someone.
Debra is a true prayer warrior. She is the first to get a food train started when
needed for her Sunday school class, she visits the sick, takes food to the shut-ins, and has been asked to play organ at many weddings and funerals.
For all of the above reasons, we congratulate Debra Jean Fordham as the Grand Marshal for the Christmas Wonderland in the Pines on November 30, 2024. Please plan to attend the Coffee in her honor on the morning of our Christmas Wonderland in the Pines Parade.
How may remember those amazing days at Fairground Hill, riding the Ferris wheel, devouring funnel cakes, cotton candy, and popcorn? Maybe you are too young to have gotten the chance to enjoy what used to be one of the top events of the year in Jonesboro.
Well, get ready to make memories for the first time or relive it all – because the fair is coming back to Jonesboro!
From October 23-26, Fairground Hill will once again be alive with fun, laughter, and all the delicious treats you love thanks to Jonesboro Mayor J. “Spike” Harris, the Jackson Parish Tourism Board, and the Jackson Parish Chamber of Commerce for making this happen!
Mark your calendars, and let’s bring back and make new unforgettable memories!
Quitman High School is invoking the “Wild, Wild, West” as the theme of Spirit Week which is taking place leading up to the presentation of the 2024 Homecoming Queen and Court which will take place when the Wolverine basketball teams will take on Choudrant in attempt to “Rope up the Aggies.”
Wednesday: Welcome to the Wild, Wild, West – Dress in your best western gear!
Thursday: Barbie vs. Ken – Dress as either!
Friday: Dress Your Best or Blue/Gold Day!
REMINDER:
All bottoms must be within school dress code lengths
No spaghetti straps
Leggings can only be worn under skirts or shorts
All articles of clothing/props must match each days theme
Quitman vs Choudrant (girls and boys)
First game starts at 6:00 pm on Friday, October 25th
Wear your Western wear to the game
A glorious past and the future come together at 10:30 am this Wednesday, October 23rd, when a traditional Ribbon Cutting ceremony will commemorate the grand opening of Stassen Catfish Inn, located at 1650 Arcadia Hwy in Quitman.
Long recognized as one of the premier dining locations in Jackson Parish, the gala event will mark the re-opening of the eatery now owned by Robert Stassen who purchased the business from Ms. Robbie McConathy in September.
Hours of operation are from 11:00 am – 8:00 pm on Wednesday – Saturday. To place orders to go call 318-259-2777.
Jonesboro-Hodge High School is pleased to announce the 2024 Homecoming Court along with the Football Sweethearts from each class. The King and Queen will be chosen from the seniors shown above and introduced at the Homecoming Assembly that will take place at 9:45 am on Friday, October 25th in the JHHS auditorium.
Freshman Class: Lakayla McGuire, Brookelyn Burks, and Victoria Leonard
Sophomore Class: Brooklynn Thompson, Oddyssey Brooks, Jayda Anderson, and Sanaa Tatum
Junior Class: Ciara Gray, Madasyn Watkins, Sa’Tavia Qualls, and Jaidon Venzant
Senior Class: Dantayja Allen, S’Naya Dill, and Teairra Burns
The Jackson Parish Police Jury held a Special Called meeting on Monday, October 21st in the Nathaniel Zeno Jr. Meeting Room of the Jackson Parish Administrative Building located at 160 Industrial Drive in Jonesboro.
Five items were on the stated agenda that Jury members Todd Culpepper (President), Lewis Chatham, Amy Magee, Sheketia Combs, Regina Rowe and Keith Burris discussed and considered, including two that required a roll-call vote. Tarneshala “Niki” Cowans was absent.
Business handled by the police jury members present were:
1. Adoption of minutes of the October 15th regularly schedule Police Jury meeting.
2. Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) request for Mr. Kenneth Moore
3. Unanimous approval by roll call vote of the Annual Bridge Certification and authorization for the President to sign the “Official Listing of Off-System Bridges” report for 2024.
4. Authorization to advertise for the 2025 Material Bids.
5. Unanimous approval by roll call vote to approve the Annual Parish Transportation Fund Certification.
For close to a hundred years, a student staff has annually produced the Jonesboro-Hodge High School “Kraftsman” Yearbook which documents the activities, events, student information and pictures of that year.
You can find one in the home of virtually every single student that graduated from Jonesboro-Hodge. Thanks to the incredibly talented staff of the 2024 Kraftsman, the yearly annual is now recognized ALL OVER THE WORLD!.
This past week the administration of Jonesboro-Hodge announced that the 2024 “Kraftsman” Yearbook has been selected to be in the 2024 Picaboo Yearbook Hall of Fame.
Each year Picaboo Yearbooks hosts an international competition in order to recognize students, staff and yearbook advisors who demonstrate outstanding achievement through the creation of their yearbook. There are four contest judging categories: Overall Yearbook, Cover Design, Page Design and Picaboo Originals
Jonesboro-Hodge was selected to the Hall of Fame by winning first place in the Yearbook Cover division and second place in both Page Design and Picaboo Originals.
“This achievement recognizes Jonesboro-Hodge High School for putting together a notable Picaboo Yearbook original at the high school level. The JHHS yearbook was selected from hundreds of schools that submitted entries from around the world,” Picaboo quoted in a statement.
“Our students were immediately drawn to the Gold Standard theme,” stated JHHS yearbook advisor Emily Carpenter. “They were hoping for something clean and bold and this one fit the bill. We used the backgrounds, blocks of color, and lines to bring all the pages together.”
Congratulations to the yearbook team at Jonesboro-Hodge High School who also will receive a $100.00 award towards their 2025 yearbook purchase.
In just a few weeks, the 2024 “Fall Ball” schedule for the junior high softball and baseball teams from Quitman and Weston will be coming to an end. All four teams have had a successful season with each sporting at least a .500 record to date.
As far as games remaining, the WJH baseball team has the fewest number of games remaining as they end their season on Thursday, October 24th, with a doubleheader at Downsville. The WJH softball team has just two games left with the QJH softball team showing five games still to be played, albeit two being on the same day. The Quitman Junior High baseball team have a whopping eight games left as their last four playing dates are doubleheader events with the Gold team and Blue team both seeing action.
Highlighting the remaining schedule is Quitman making the short trip to the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Sports Complex for a softball showdown against parish rival Weston on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 pm.
| DATE | EVENT | HOME | VISITOR | TIME |
| October 24th | Softball | Weston @ JPRD | Quitman | 5:00 pm |
| October 24th | Baseball – DH | Quitman | Simsboro | 5:00 pm |
| October 24th | Baseball – DH | Downsville | Weston | 4:30 pm |
| October 28th | Softball | Simsboro @ Choudrant | Quitman | 5:00 pm |
| October 28th | Softball | Choudrant | Quitman | 6:00 pm |
| October 28th | Baseball – DH | Quitman | Castor | 4:30 pm |
| October 29th | Softball | Downsville Charter | Weston | 5:00 pm |
| October 29th | Baseball – DH | Quitman | Claiborne Christian | 4:30 pm |
| November 4th | Softball – DH | Quitman | Castor | 5:00 pm |
| November 4th | Baseball – DH | Quitman | Choudrant | 4:30 pm |
Quitman “Gold” 6 Weston 2 (Baseball): Three runs in the first and fourth innings extended the “Gold” team’s season long winning streak to seven while also establishing Jackson Parish supremacy in the battle of previously undefeated teams. Hayden Seymore and R Gray paced the Wolverines with each hitting home runs, driving in two and scoring one. Noah Spillman also came up big with a hit, two RBI, two stolen bases and a run scored while Jake Moak chipped in with two hits, including a double, two runs scored and a steal. Tucker Goss reached base twice with a hit and a walk, stole a base and scored a run and J Cheatwood added a hit for the Wolverines. Bryce Tolar, Eli Henderson and Jensen Waggoner all got a hit for Weston, with Grant Griffin and Colt Guyotte scoring. Seymore got the win for Quitman while Tolar took the loss as Weston fell to 7-1-1 on the year.
Weston 7 Choudrant 1 (Softball): The Lady Wolves scored three in both the first and second inning and Rachel Bandy struck out 10 of the 14 Choudrant batters she faced over the four inning contest in the nightcap of the doubleheader. After spotting the Lady Aggies to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first following a walk and a double, which was Choudrant’s only hit of the game, Weston walked their way to a 3-1 lead after one. Gracie Gray, Bandy, Teegan Hall, and Brooklyn Keiffer all walked while Tessa Reeves and Eva Delaney reached base after getting hit by a pitch. The free passes continued early on in the second frame as Karley Whitehead and Hannah Aldy coaxed walks setting up a double by Gray, a single by Reeves and a triple by Bandy to up the lead to 6-1. The Lady Wolves added their final run in the bottom of the third when Kate Keiffer walked and scored on a double by Hall. With the victory Weston improves to 7-4 on the season.
Choudrant 8 Weston 3 (Softball): In the opener, Choudrant jumped out to a 6-1 lead after three innings and never looked back. Halle Coody, Braniah Malone and Braelynn Turner got the three singles that Weston managed while Coody, Malone and Eliza Crocker scored. Turner and Malone also both earned an RBI.