Attention all boys and girls, men and women. This Saturday, May 31st the Jackson Parish 8U Dixie Youth All-Stars will host a Whiffle Ball Tournament at the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Sports Complex located at 5254 Hwy 4 East of Jonesboro.
Gather your team and swing for glory in a fun-filled day of whiffle ball, music, and more to help JP8U defray expenses that will be incurred in the upcoming Dixie Youth District and possibly State tournaments.
The entry fee is $50.00 per five-person team, with a first prize valued at over $125.00 in items up for grabs in the double elimination tourney. Bats and balls will be provided, and concessions will be available for purchase.
For questions, contact Brittanty at (318)413-4337.
Rank Night 2024-2025 Members of Pack 523 who were recognized on Rank Night
(Cassie Dickenson) – Jonesboro Pack 523 closed out its regular scouting year with a Rank Night celebration, where family and friends supported scouts as they were recognized for achieving milestones in their Scouting America journeys. All scouts completed lessons, community service projects, and den activities in order to advance to the next rank, and each received a patch and belt loop to add to his or her uniform.
Of special note was the advancement of three youth from Cub Scout Pack 523 to Troop 523. These scouts have completed all of the requirements of the Arrow of Light rank, a prestigious accomplishment in the Cub Scout world, signifying that they exhibit readiness to continue their scouting journey at the next level. Anzlea McGee, Aramis “Arrow” Gomez, and Mercedes “Sadie” Gamache each received a patch, plaque and handcrafted arrow during a special ceremony to commemorate their achievement and signify their transition into the Troop. Anzlea and Sadie will be remembered in Jonesboro’s scouting history as the first females in Jackson Parish to earn the Arrow of Light distinction.
This has been a wonderful year of scouting, full of a variety of activities, from pack meetings to derby races to community service. As always, Scouting America is dedicated to growing youth into caring and active members of society who are responsible and trustworthy. Whether it is camping or serving in the nursing home, our scouts are continuously learning valuable life lessons and are being shaped into honorable members of our Jackson Parish community. If you have a young person who is interested in becoming a scout, now is the time to consider joining in on the fun! Contact Cubmaster Brian Hurt at (318) 734-3571, or visit http://www.beascout.org for more information.
Arrow of Light 2024-2025 Cubmaster Brian Hurt, Assistant Cubmaster Judd Rogers, Anzlea McGee, Arrow Gomez, and Sadie Gamache, who were recognized in the Arrow of Light Rank Ceremony.
The Town of Jonesboro and all of Jackson Parish were deeply saddened on May 11th when Tayvionne Tate perished as a result of an auto accident at the tender age of 26 years old.
Many friends and well-wishers came to express their sorrow and share in the grief of the Tate family at a special Celebration of Life ceremony held at the Shady Grove High School Gymnasium on Saturday, May 17th.
In wholehearted appreciation, the Tate family expressed their deepest gratitude by making the following statement.
“During this time of profound sorrow, we, the family of Tayvionne Tate, wish to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who reached out to us in love and compassion.
Your gifts, warm meals, thoughtful cards, sincere prayers, and overwhelming outpouring of support have been a source of comfort and strength as we grieve the loss of our beloved Tayvionne. Every kind word, every gesture, every act of kindness reminded us that we are not alone in our sorrow.
Tayvionne’s life touched so many, and your love has shown us just how deeply he was cherished. Thank you for standing beside us, lifting us in prayer, and helping carry us through this difficult time.”
With heartfelt appreciation, The Family of Tayvionne Tate
The 2025 Jackson Parish Recreation Department Spring Softball and Baseball Leagues ended play on Friday, May 30th, bringing to a close the two-month season for boys and girls from the ages of 3-13.
See below for the final standings of each league as well as team photos of all league champions. Special thanks to Ruffled Feathers Photography in Jonesboro and owner Ashley Wyatt, for allowing the Jackson Parish Journal to reprint team photos.
2025 JPRD Leagues Final Standings
11-13 BOYS
WINS
LOSSES
TIES
LeMoine’s Farm & Garden
6
0
2
Ables Farms
5
2
1
BFCU
2
5
1
9-10 BOYS
WINS
LOSSES
TIES
Barksdale Federal Credit Union
7
1
1
Mark Kennedy Plumbing
7
2
1
Volkert Engineering
6
3
1
Shannon Leasing
3
6
1
Jonesboro Animal Clinic
1
7
2
7-8 BOYS
WINS
LOSSES
TIES
Square One Renovations
8
0
0
Dugedmona Ranch Whitetails
7
1
0
RSH
6
4
0
Volkert Engineering
3
5
0
JM Neatherland
3
5
0
Armadillo Grill
0
6
0
11-13 GIRLS
WINS
LOSSES
TIES
Quitman Store
7
2
1
Jonesboro State Bank
6
3
1
Johnny’s Pizza
4
2
2
5A Pump & Hose
1
6
2
9-10 GIRLS
WINS
LOSSES
TIES
Shuler Consulting
7
0
2
Warriors
5
2
1
Diamond Divas
2
7
1
7-8 GIRLS
WINS
LOSSES
TIES
Peoples Bank
8
0
0
Jonesboro State Bank
7
3
0
Rook Ads
2
8
0
Mims Recycling
1
6
0
11-13 Baseball League Champion Lemoine’s Farm and Garden
9-10 Baseball League Champion Barksdale Federal Credit Union
7-8 Baseball League Champion Square One Renovations
Louise Ciccone was born in 1958 in Bay City, Michigan to Tony and Louise Ciccone. Because she shared the same name as her mother, her five siblings called her Little Nonnie. Little Nonnie was five years old when her mother died from breast cancer. Her father was a hard worker but struggled to provide for his large family. When one of the kids wanted something, Tony replied, “Get a job. I’m not paying for it.” Tony could barely afford the necessities.
In high school, Little Nonnie was intelligent, got straight A’s in school, but struggled to fit in. Little Nonnie felt like a country bumpkin around her rich classmates. They wore the finest and most fashionable clothing while she often wore the same inexpensive clothing for several days in a row. Little Nonnie’s home life was difficult. As the eldest daughter in a family without a mother, she was responsible for doing the laundry, cleaning the house, fixing meals, taking care of her younger siblings, and a myriad of other tasks required to keep a household running while her father was working. For these reasons, Little Nonnie did not associate with her classmates.
Little Nonnie graduated from high school early and attended the University of Michigan for a year as a dance major. She planned to become a professional dancer to escape from Michigan, and she was a natural. With the encouragement of one of her teachers, Little Nonnie decided to move to New York to fulfill her dream despite her father’s objections. Her first time in an airplane was her flight from Michigan to New York. From the airport, she took her first taxi ride. With no idea where to go, Little Nonnie told the taxi driver to take her to the center of the city. He dropped her off in Times Square. Little Nonnie immediately experienced the culture shock of coming from the suburbs of the Midwest into the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. She knew no one, had no place to stay, had about $35 in cash, and wore all of the clothing she brought with her. She quickly made friends with someone who asked why she was wearing a winter jacket in the middle of summer. He allowed her to sleep on his couch until she found a place to stay.
Little Nonnie began going to auditions. She knew her dancing career waited just around the corner, but getting around that corner proved harder than she had expected. In the meantime, Little Nonnie worked at whatever job she could find including a short stint as a hat check girl at the Russian Tea Room, a job she was fired from for wearing fishnet stockings although she was only visible from the waist up, and an even shorter stint at Dunkin’ Donuts, a job she was fired from for playfully squirting jelly on customers. While waiting for her big break, Little Nonnie’s apartment was burglarized repeatedly. She was mugged. She was raped.
Despite all the obstacles, Little Nonnie never gave up. She eventually became a dancer, but her talents led her to a blend of world renown and controversy. The highest selling musical artists of all time in order are Elvis, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, and then Little Nonnie. Although some members of her family still refer to her as Little Nonnie, the rest of the world knows Louise Ciccone by her first name, Madonna.
The roster of the Quitman High School Alumni Baseball Game that is scheduled to be played on Saturday, June 28th has been released featuring 32 men from days of your, some as young as members of the 2024 QHS state baseball championship team and others that have been out of school for 30 years.
See the names of those who signed up to participate in the banner above.
I consider myself fortunate. Years ago, I attended many concerts for popular entertainers. I think ticket prices were only about $6 to see Bobby Vinton, Tony Orlando, Ray Stevens, Herman’s Hermits and the Four Seasons. Without a doubt, the Beach Boys and Elvis were my favorite concerts.
To be honest, I don’t remember names of their opening acts. Yet, somebody was there to warm up the crowds and heighten anticipation for those top on the bill.
John the Baptist set the gospel stage for Jesus and multitudes hung on his messages in the opening act.
“There was a man named John who was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world (John 1:6-9 HCSB).”
John the Baptist’s opening act turned the attention of the world to Jesus.
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the One I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me (John 1:29-30 HCSB).”
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Keir M Lain (Winnsboro, LA) – Simple Escape Keontrae Adams (Winnsboro, LA) – Simple Escape Roxie N Potts (Jonesboro, LA) – Warrant Outside Agency Christ D McGuire (Jonesboro, LA) – Turn Signal Violation, Driving Under Suspension, Open Container, Driving While Intoxicated – First Offense Danielle Knots (Jonesboro, LA) – Driving While Intoxicated First Offense, License Required D’Unte Paggett (Jonesboro, LA) – Warrant for No Seat Belt Charge Scotty T Harrison (Farmerville, LA) – EOS Non Support Warrant Jayden R Givens (Houston, TX) – Reckless Operation, Possession with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm in Presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance Trendon T McMillion (Winnfield, LA) – Possession with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm in Presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance Jack D Lafield (Ringgold, LA) – Fugitive From Justice Bossier Parish Dakota Brewer (Jonesboro, LA) – Theft Russell Tucker Jr. (Jonesboro, LA) – Theft Jaret Hurst (Jonesboro, LA) – Warrant, DUS for DUI, No Seat Belty Logan T Funk (Pollock, LA) – Warrant x2 Rapides Sheriff’s Office Dominique Davis (Jonesboro, LA) – Possession of Synthetic Cannabinoids, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Xana Robert D McKnight (Chatham, LA) – Fugitive From Justice Union Parish Victoria Wright (Jonesboro, LA) – Warrant, Filing False Report Dakota Doughty (Jonesboro, LA) – Warrant on Failure To Appear, Introduction of Contraband Jason Ponder (Jonesboro, LA) – Warrant on Domestic Abuse Battery Ryan Feirn (Goldonna, LA) – DWI First Offense Steven Kujawa (Hodge, LA) – Domestic Abuse Battery Tasha Knox (Jonesboro, LA) – Warrant, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile Joseph Howard (Quitman, LA) – DWI 2nd Offense
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.
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
Benoit Ford – Need two outgoing people to train for professional sales representatives! Guaranteed income with unlimited potential commission! We offer a full benefit package including insurance and 401k. Apply in person Monday – Friday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm at the dealership located at 601 Hudson Avenue in Jonesboro or call Anthony Gray @ 225-200-8289.
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice To Bidders
Sealed bids will be received by the Procurement Section of the Division of Administration, 1201 N. 3rd. St., 2nd. Floor, Suite 2-160, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 10:00 A.M. for the following:
RFx No. 3000024830, *Rebid* Electrical Equipment for CRT, 6/03/25
Bid proposal forms, information and specifications may be obtained by accessing the bid number in LaPac at http://www.doa.Louisiana.gov/osp or from the procurement section listed above. No bids will be received after the date and hour specified. The right is reserved to reject any and all bids and to waive any informalities.
David Matthew Walker October 18, 1965 – May 23, 2025
David Matthew Walker passed away on Friday, May 23, 2025 at his residence near Quitman, Louisiana. He was 59 years old. David worked for O’Neal Gas and enjoyed his job very much. He thought very highly of his O’Neal customers and co-workers. David loved the outdoors. He enjoyed yard work and loved to deer hunt when he had the chance. David loved the Lord and he loved to attend his church, Sweetwater Baptist.
David leaves behind his wife, Jean (Fauchere) Walker; daughter, Theresa Fauchere; father, David Gale Walker; mother, Bessie Mae Ramsey; sisters, Diann Walker, Martha Lowe and Tammy Walker; as well as a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held at Sweetwater Baptist Church near Quitman on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home in Jonesboro with Dr. Wilton Wall officiating. As per David’s wishes, he will be cremated.
Harry Lynn Barnes December 17, 1953 – May 23, 2025
Harry Lynn Barnes passed away at his residence in Jonesboro, Louisiana on Friday, May 23, 2025. He was 72 years old. Harry worked for 42 years as a planer technician at Weyerhaeuser in Dodson, Louisiana. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Dodson. His quick wit and “Jokester” attitude drew people to him. Harry loved to deer hunt, what he loved the most was spending time with this son and daughter and his 14 grandchildren.
Harry is survived by his wife, Cindy (Johnson) Barnes; son, Daniel Barnes (Cara); daughter, Deedra Thompson (Ronnie); step-daughter, Camile Nomey; step-son, Trey Nomey; grandchildren, Kaylyn Thornton, Lathan Thornton, Lilly Barnes, Mattie Barnes, Kylianne Barnes, Cooper Barnes, Jaxon Brown, Dustin Nomey, Caleb Searcy, Caden Searcy, Sunni Nomey, Lain Thompson, Myles Thompson and Luci Thompson; sister, Phyliss Fontenot (Joe); brother, Dale Barnes (Sandy); and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Robert Barnes; mother Ada Doice (Chaddick) Barnes; sister, Margaret Whetstone; brother, Robert Lee Barnes; sister, Jennifer Barnes; and brother, Gale Barnes.
There will be a graveside service at Transport Cemetery in Winn Parish on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM. Bro. Gary Robertson and Bro. Lathon Hubbard will officiate.
Serving as pallbearers will be David Kirkham, Butch Johnson, Billy Edward, Shawn Vines, Brian Canerday and Hayden Vines. Honorary pallbearer will be Dale Barnes.
No seat belt? Odds are against you during “Click It or Ticket.”
Wearing your seat belt increases the odds of surviving a motor vehicle crash, and it guarantees you don’t get a $50 ticket for not buckling up during the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s Click It or Ticket law enforcement campaign.
LHSC reminds drivers and passengers that not wearing a seat belt is a primary traffic offense in Louisiana, and a first-time violation costs $50. Across Louisiana, police will be looking for seat belt violators through June 1 as the Memorial Day holiday period marks the unofficial start of summer vacation season.
“Fifty bucks is an expensive lesson, but it’s nothing compared to the price an unrestrained driver or passenger pays if they get into a serious crash,” LHSC Executive Director Lisa Freeman said.
LHSC’s latest observational survey shows that 88.4% of Louisiana travelers are wearing their seat belts. However, that percentage is still below the national rate of 91.2%, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Additionally, the remaining 11.6% of people not buckling up in Louisiana accounts for hundreds of crash fatalities, according to 2023 statistics from the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS) at LSU.
“That small majority of less than 12% of drivers who don’t buckle up make up 46% of the drivers who die in Louisiana crashes,” Freeman said. “In other words, buckling up could save hundreds of lives each year.”
According to CARTS, in 2023, where safety belt usage was known in Louisiana:
• 46.22% of the drivers killed in motor vehicles were not wearing a safety belt. • 64.42% of passengers ages 6+ killed in motor vehicles were not wearing a seat belt. • 60.00% of the children killed, ages 5 and under, were not in a child seat.
Louisiana law also mandates that every passenger, including those in the back seat, must be properly restrained with a seat belt or an age and size-appropriate child car seat or booster seat. Anyone who is not restrained in a vehicle is subject to getting a $50 ticket.
“It is every seat, every time, day or night,” Freeman said. “Seat belt safety does not take a vacation, and neither do our law enforcement partners during Click It or Ticket.”
Click It or Ticket is a national enforcement mobilization. For more information about seat belt use, including tips on how to properly use a seat belt, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/seat-belts.
Cali Deal (LSU Jersey in front) on the day she signed with LSU to play softball
This past week, a tremendous feature article about Cali Deal, the prep softball sensation who recently graduated from Quitman High School, entitled Kind of a Big Deal: All-State pitcher, LSU signee gives gutsy performance to lead Quitman to repeat state title was written by GeauxPreps.com contributing journalist William Weathers.
It is such a good read that the Jackson Parish Journal wanted to give local viewers the opportunity to have a chance to review this excellent piece of journalism about one of the most acclaimed athletes in the history of Jackson Parish sports, and thanks to the generosity of GeauxPreps.com, permission was granted to run the article shown below.
Kind of a Big Deal: All-State pitcher, LSU signee gives gutsy performance to lead Quitman to repeat state title
by William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor
Defending Class B state softball champion Quitman was locked in a quarterfinal battle, holding a precarious one-run lead in the fourth inning over visiting Holden.
That’s when coach Justin Dodson heard a familiar voice in the dugout asking to enter the game.
The voice belonged to all-state pitcher and LSU signee Cali Deal, who hadn’t pitched in nearly three weeks because of thoracic outlet syndrome, imploring her coach to allow her to return to action.
Deal had only gotten the green light from her doctor to return to throwing the day before the playoff, hardly the kind of ramp-up needed to pitch in a competitive game that could determine the end of someone’s season.
“She comes to me and says she’s ready,” Dodson said. “I told her she hadn’t pitched in three weeks, what do you mean you’re ready? You’ve got to give it some time. She said no, that she was good. She said she was going to the circle and that I could put everybody else where they needed to go.”
Quitman’s fan base stood in unison at the sight of Deal heading to the circle for the first time since April 1, while the reception was somewhat subdued on the opposite side of the field.
“Holden’s fans were cheering and into it,” Dodson said. “When she walked out all of their fans sat down and went flat.”
Deal’s synergy was palpable for a team that had lost five of their last six games of the regular season. The Lady Wolverines had advanced in the regional round past Florien in decisive run-rule fashion when Holden had put up greater resistance until Deal entered play. She helped ignite a stretch of 11 unanswered runs for a 17-5 run-rule triumph and a date in the state semifinals.
“The whole time I pitched this year my hand was completely numb,” Deal said. “There was no feeling, it was swollen. They just let me finish it out because it couldn’t get any worse than it was. I was having surgery regardless.”
Top-seeded Quitman returned to the state tournament in Sulphur where Deal threw a complete-game shutout over fourth-seeded Grace Christian followed two days later by a 10-0 rule-run victory in another complete-game effort over second-seeded for a second straight state championship.
“The impact Cali has given to us, just for being out there, I can’t describe it,” said Dodson, who has coached at Quitman since 2018. “We hit better when she’s pitching because we know there’s not as much pressure. We field better. Just because she was in there, we felt like we were OK.”
The 6-foot Deal, a left-handed pitcher, said the genesis of her nagging injury was traced back to the start of the season. A five-year member of the school’s basketball team, Deal has played 32 minutes of a 47-39 quarterfinal loss to Anacoco in the state quarterfinals and as it’s been customary, quickly turned the page to softball season.
Deal pitched five innings in her first softball game the following day and recalled her arm being sore and tired thereafter.
“It had never felt like that,” she said. “I just thought it felt that way because my body hadn’t had enough time to rest. I did have a lot of free-throw air balls this year. … More than usual. I wondered why and that’s probably why when I couldn’t feel my arm sometimes.”
Quitman had a game the following day and Deal logged a complete game, pitching seven innings and feeling numbness in her arm again.
“I figured it would just go away,” she said. “Eventually I started to deal with it. It was kind of frustrating because something felt off the whole time. I wasn’t as good as I felt I could have been. When you can’t feel your hand it’s kind of hard to know where you’re throwing the ball. I threw well. I trusted it would get better, but it didn’t.”
Deal pitched for more than a month of the season before sitting out for nearly three weeks and finally getting a diagnosis following a doctor’s visit.
The explanation Deal received was that she had a pinched nerve because of a narrow space between her clavicle and rib cage, thus causing the numbness in her lethal left hand. Surgery was scheduled after the season on May 14 to remove her top rib in a procedure that was initially set for 1 ½ hours before turning into a 7-hour ordeal.
“I was born with an enclosed artery in a muscle, and they nipped the artery in surgery,” she said. “The doctor said that in 30 years of performing that surgery that had never happened. It was because of a defect that I was born with. The artery wasn’t supposed to be inside of a muscle, but mine was. It’s perfect now. “
Deal followed her team’s victory over Holden with a complete-game semifinal win (4-0) over Grace Christian with another superb effort in the state final. She allowed two hits in another shutout effort, striking out 12 and powering her team to an early lead with a three-run homer in the first inning against Stanley.
Michael Odendahl – GeauxPreps Photography
The Lady Wolverines also enjoyed a five-run sixth inning and junior Maggie Guyotte, a Louisiana Tech commitment, drove in the game-clinching run to left.
Deal (11-4, 1.25 ERA with 165 strikeouts in 100.2 innings) was named the Most Outstanding Player on the strength of her two complete-game victories and 22 strikeouts. She also batted .378 with 12 doubles, five homers, and 27 RBIs for the season.
“This was the first year to go through any type of pain or discomfort while I pitched,” Deal said. “Offensively, my grip felt a little weak. Once I got used to it, I felt I was able to push through that. It was a lot easier to deal with hitting than pitching.
“I was definitely not at my best,” Deal said of the state final. “I had a lot of adrenaline. People had said stuff online and the Stanley people were saying things, and I think that kind of lit a fire in me. I went out there and trusted the work I had previously done and my defense behind me.”
Deal has more than upheld the family’s legacy at Quitman High, a school 20 minutes south of Ruston where 154 residents live in rural Jackson Parish.
Robert Humble, a great-grandfather of Deal, pitched at Louisiana Tech and later served as principal, teacher, and coach at Quitman High. Her grandmother, Laura Culpepper, was part of only two teams in school history to reach the state tournament and finish as state basketball runner-up; the other was with her mother Syble Deal.
One of her great uncles, Lee Humble, won three state titles at Quitman in basketball before continuing to play at Louisiana Tech. She also had another great uncle and aunt who graduated from Quitman.
“Sports at Quitman’s kind of a legacy for my family,” Deal said. “It’s really a family thing for us and I’m proud to be part of that legacy.”
Deal’s first season varsity season at Quitman was the shortened 2020 COVID year where she was limited to a 5-1 record when the season was cancelled.
The scope of Quitman’s softball program increased with the rise of Deal to phenom, both in the circle and on the mound. She helped the Lady Wolverines to three straight trips to the state tournament, the first ending in a marathon 2-1 loss to Converse in nine innings.
Quitman won its first state championship a year later, defeating Stanley 8-1 in the final, with Deal enjoying a career-best season with a record of 20-3, 0.98 ERA and 218 strikeouts.
Deal enjoyed a sterling career with an 84-21 record, four saves, 1,061 strikeouts (single-game high was 18 twice), 174 walks, and a 1.74 ERA. She’s also thrown one perfect game with seven no-hitters – two of which were against Class 5A teams Ruston and West Monroe – with four one-hitters, 11 two-hitters with 21 shutouts.
Photo Courtesy: Cali Deal on Instagram
Since the ninth grade, Deal’s batted .438 with 44 doubles, 27 homers and 144 RBIs. She was selected District 1-B MVP and Class B All-State from the eighth grade to her junior season – including the state’s Most Valuable Player – with this year’s honors still to be determined.
“No. 1,” Dodson said of Deal’s ranking on his list of players he’s coached. “I’ve told people that in a million years I couldn’t ever get another one like her. Not so much her talent but her personality and work ethic.”
Deal dreamed big when she was younger, telling anyone who would listen she would play both basketball and softball in college.
“I guess that was really high dreams I had,” she said with a laugh.
Once she reached the travel ball circuit, Deal continued playing basketball for Quitman but set her sights squarely on pitching at the collegiate level.
She remained a vital part of the Lady Wolverines’ basketball program, earning all-district honors each season since her freshman season, and has been the league’s MVP the past two seasons and honorable mention all-state.
Deal averaged 21 points and 7 rebounds last season, reaching a career-high 39 points during the season, and averaged 19 points and 8 rebounds for the state quarterfinalists Lady Wolverines (21-10) this season.
“I still worked hard at basketball to finish my high school career,” said Deal, voted the school’s Most Athletic Female athlete. “I’m thankful that I kept playing. I’m thankful for the memories I have playing basketball.”
Photo Courtesy: Cali Deal on Instagram
Deal joined one of the nation’s top travel ball programs – Texas Bombers – as a 13-year-old and a year later, experienced difficulty trying to balance a fall schedule of travel ball and high school basketball.
A shaky outing resulted in a rare outward outburst from the even-keel pitcher.
“My (travel ball) coach told me she promised that I would be able to do what I wanted to do,” Deal said. “She said these college coaches are looking at you, they want you. You will be able to accomplish your dreams. You just have to trust in yourself to do that. Just knowing from then on that I didn’t have to be perfect, I could still achieve my dreams. That’s when I finally started to do big things at big levels.”
Deal started displaying her talents on bigger stages, under the scrutiny of college colleges, and showed she belonged against the increased level of competition. She wound up the fall of 2023 among the nation’s leaders in ERA at the 16U level.
In between, Deal was the winning pitcher in a best-of-three championship 14U series for the Texas Bombers in a tournament played at Cal State Fullerton. She also got the ball in the final game to win a national championship at the prestigious Patriot Games Tournament in Denver, and last summer the Bombers (44-5-2) were third in the National Alliance 16U event in Indianapolis, Ind.
“I’m not a very overpowering pitcher at all,” Deal said. “I pride myself in off-speed pitches that I can spin and locate the ball.”
Dodson said that the understated Deal throws with plenty of velocity and her fastball has consistently been clocked at 65-67 miles-per-hour. He expects, with additional weight and strength gain next season at LSU, she’ll throw closer to 68-70 which would elevate her to among the league’s hardest throwers.
“In five years, I may have called her fastball 20 times because that’s not her (modus operandi) ‘M.O’.,” Dodson said. “Yes, she throws hard, but she can throw her curveball on either side of the plate. She has an off-speed curveball that moves as well and a rise(ball). She’s always worked to try and make her spins perfect.
“She has movement on the ball,” Dodson said. “Anybody that’s worth anything in softball will tell you they’d rather face a 70 miles-an-hour fastball than a 52 miles-an-hour curveball. You can time up speed, but it’s hard to figure out spin.”
Sacrifices were in order for Deal to reach her objective of a college scholarship and signing with LSU. While friends either went to Ruston or Jonesboro for entertainment, she loaded into a vehicle for trips to either College Station or Houston in Texas to practice with the Bombers and head into tournament play.
Weekends were spent in the heat of competition with the payoff still far in the distance.
“It was definitely hard at times,” Deal said. “I had a dream since I was little. It didn’t stop me or get in the way because I knew I needed to do that in order to reach my dreams.”
LSU coach Beth Torina called to offer Deal a scholarship last Sept. 1, 2023 – the first day colleges could extend overtures to prospective junior student-athletes. The next day, she made the drive of more than 200 miles to Baton Rouge for an unofficial visit and committed in person.
“She talked to me about them wanting me to be a Tiger,” Deal recalled of her phone conversation with Torina. “I told her I wanted to be Tiger, too. I’m ready. I told her the next day that I was ready to do it.
Torina welcomed Deal to her seven-member signing class last December where LSU was ranked No. 1 nationally by several different media outlets.
“Some of it still doesn’t feel real,” Deal said. “I’m living a dream that I get to do it. The people there are incredible and make you feel you’re not just an athlete. They love you as much as you love them. Growing up in Louisiana it’s a big sports culture. For as long as I can remember I wanted to play softball at LSU. There was nowhere else I wanted to go because I’ve been a Louisiana girl.”
Dodson believes some of Deal’s intangibles are just as prevalent in her success as her pitching repertoire.
“I tell people all the time you can’t coach Cali’s mentality,” he said. “She never got rattled. Her mentality is perfect for college softball.”
Deal’s final season was unconventional to say the least, getting a chance to pitch against some of the state’s top programs where Quitman faced its usual gauntlet of a schedule to prepare for the postseason.
“When you’re at a small school everybody knows you, knows who you are and what you do, you constantly have a target on your back,” Deal said. “You get everybody’s best. They want to beat you just because of who you are. Pitching against that is almost as hard as going against the best hitters in the country just because they want it so bad.”
When the irregularity in her arm and hand made it impossible to pitch at full strength, Deal remained present in the team’s dugout. She sat next to Dodson discussed each pitch thrown and showered her teammates with encouragement.
With her final season whittling away, Deal remained committed to returning for her teammates and her tight-knit school.
“At that point, I wanted to come back, and it wasn’t for me,” Deal said. “Just to be able to go out there and do it. It’s probably one of the hardest things I’ve had to go through I’ve been a part of the Quitman softball program for seven years, starting since the seventh grade. Being at a small school like Quitman, it’s more like a family than anything. Everybody knows you personally. It just means a lot more.”
Less than two weeks later Deal, one of the school’s valedictorians with a 4.5 GPA, used her malady to inspire her valedictorian address during Tuesday’s graduation ceremony to celebrate the 40-member senior class.
“I said that our plan is not always the same as God’s plan,” Deal said, “but I know he’ll probably use what I went through, and what I’ll continue to go through, for probably while to bring something good out of it. He’ll make a light out of it, and it will end up better for me.”
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staffing shortages are hitting rural communities hard. Here in Jonesboro, the Jackson Parish Ambulance Service District (JPASD) is providing a solution to the problem.
In the face of a national EMS workforce shortage, the Jackson Parish Ambulance Service District (JPASD) is leading by example. Through its nationally recognized training center, JPASD is preparing the next generation of EMTs and AEMTs and making a measurable impact on the quality, speed, and availability of emergency care for Jackson Parish residents.
The JPASD Training Center proudly congratulates 18 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) (pending National Registry test results) and 3 Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMTs) on their graduation. We wish the best of luck to the EMT students taking, at their own pace, the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification tests and congratulate the three students who recently passed National Registry testing and completed their Advanced EMT (AEMT) certification. At the same time, the organization offers encouragement to five dedicated JPASD employees currently pursuing Paramedic certification — the highest level of pre-hospital care — in a continuing effort to serve the community with excellence and preparedness.
Across the United States, EMS agencies are struggling to maintain adequate staffing levels. According to the American Ambulance Association, the turnover rate among EMTs and paramedics is alarmingly high, with over 30% leaving the profession within five years (American Ambulance Association, 2022). A recent survey by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) shows that 60% of EMS agencies report a staffing shortage, many of them critical (NAEMT, 2022). In rural and underserved areas like Jackson Parish, the challenge is even more pronounced.
For local residents, these national trends aren’t abstract statistics — they directly affect how quickly help arrives when 911 is called, how well-equipped EMS teams are to handle complex medical emergencies, and whether there are enough trained professionals available to serve during natural disasters, major vehicle collisions, or widespread health crises.
Lifesaving Investment in Local Healthcare
The graduation of 21 highly trained individuals from JPASD’s program marks a turning point for Jackson Parish. These 18 prospective EMTs and three prospective AEMTs will now be available to fill critical staffing gaps, increase coverage during high-demand hours, and reduce response times across the parish. For residents, this means faster emergency interventions, shorter wait times during 911 calls, and more robust care during critical transport to hospitals in nearby cities.
Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMTs) bring additional capabilities, such as starting IVs, administering a wider range of medications, and handling more complex airway procedures — vital skills that can make a significant difference in trauma or cardiac events (NHTSA, 2021). By adding more AEMTs to the provider pool, JPASD increases its ability to deliver high-quality, on-the-scene care, especially in rural parts of the parish where immediate access to emergency rooms is limited.
Every newly trained EMT and AEMT strengthens the EMS infrastructure in Jackson Parish—not just for day-to-day emergencies but also for major events such as storms, industrial accidents, and community health crises.
A Nationally Recognized, NAEMT-Accredited Training Center
JPASD’s Training Center isn’t just producing quantity — it’s producing quality. The center has earned national recognition and is officially accredited through the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) — the gold standard in EMS certification and credentialing (NREMT, 2024).
This NAEMT accreditation means that all educational programming, testing, and skill assessments meet the most rigorous national standards for EMS training. Students graduate fully prepared to sit for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification exams and enter the field with confidence, competence, and nationally recognized credentials.
JPASD’s reputation for excellence attracts top-tier instructors and healthcare professionals from across Louisiana and beyond. The program includes extensive simulation-based training, live scenario exercises, and partnerships with hospitals and specialty care facilities — giving students real-world experience before they ever enter the field. The result: graduates who are not only certified but genuinely prepared for the demands of modern emergency care.
For Jackson Parish residents, this means peace of mind — knowing that when an ambulance arrives, it’s staffed by professionals trained at one of the best EMS programs in the region. It also means that as JPASD continues to grow its training programs, it will serve as a pipeline for keeping highly skilled EMS professionals in the local area, rather than losing talent to larger urban centers.
Investing in the Future: The Paramedic Pathway
Looking ahead, JPASD is proud to support five of its current employees as they work toward Paramedic certification. These individuals are already active in the community as EMTs or AEMTs and have now committed to advancing their skills to the highest level of pre-hospital care. Becoming a paramedic requires hundreds of additional hours in clinical training, classroom instruction, and real-world fieldwork — a commitment that reflects not only professional ambition but deep care for the people they serve (CAAHEP, 2023).
For Jackson Parish, the addition of more paramedics will have a profound impact. Paramedics are trained to handle the most life-threatening emergencies: heart attacks, severe trauma, stroke, airway obstruction, and pediatric crises. They can interpret EKGs, perform advanced airway management, administer cardiac medications, and initiate treatment protocols en route to the hospital — interventions that often mean the difference between life and death (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023).
These five future paramedics represent the continued evolution of emergency care in Jackson Parish — more advanced, more responsive, and more capable of delivering lifesaving services no matter the challenge.
A Message to the Community: This is Your Success Too
To the graduates, we offer heartfelt congratulations. Your hard work, resilience, and commitment to service have equipped you to make a real difference in the lives of your neighbors, friends, and families. You have chosen a path that requires both skill and heart, and Jackson Parish is stronger because of you.
To the five paramedic students, we salute your drive and determination. Your pursuit of the highest level of EMS certification reflects a leadership mindset and a desire to go above and beyond. Your success will uplift every person who calls 911 and every team member who serves beside you.
To the community of Jackson Parish, we thank you for your support. The continued success of the JPASD Training Center is possible because of the strong partnership between the district and the people it serves. Together, we are building a safer, healthier future.
Looking Ahead
JPASD remains committed to addressing the EMS shortage not just with recruitment, but with high-quality training, internal development, and long-term retention. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, so will JPASD — bringing the best in emergency medical care to every corner of Jackson Parish.
For more information on upcoming training programs and community outreach events, please contact our administrative office at (318) 259 – 2891 or visit the education tab on our website at JPASD.com.
JPASD Announces Advanced EMT Class in July
JPASD is pleased to announce that registration is underway for the next Advanced EMT Class that will begin on July 21st at the Training Center, located at 115 Watts Street in Jonesboro.
Classes will be held from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm every Monday and Thursday for 15 weeks. Students will need a laptop computer as Chromebooks, cell phones, and tablets are not sufficient. Loaner laptops will be available.
To register and inquire about tuition, call (318) 259 – 2891.
The Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association has released the 2025 All-Region 2 team, and Jackson Parish is well represented with five players from Weston High and two more from Quitman High earning designation to the 28-man team. Players chosen to the elite team are from schools whose coaches are members of the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association.
Representing Weston High are Cole Tolar (catcher), Drew Browing (infielder), Ty Henderson (infielder), Bryce Zehr (outfielder), and Colton Blundell, selected as a utility player, which is a designation given to an all-around player. Chosen from Quitman High are Hayden Davis (pitcher) and Hudson Pullig (designated hitter).
Family, friends, and a host of well-wishers gathered in Howard Auditorium on the campus of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA, on Tuesday, May 20th. Quitman High School held its 2025 graduation ceremonies.
The grand event carried special meaning as not only were the 40 students taking part in their final activity as students at Quitman High School, but it also marked the last time that Principal Billy Carter would be handing out the diplomas, as he will assume duties as the Jackson Parish Schools Superintendent on July 1st after a 24 year career at QHS, the last nine as School Principal.
“The Quitman High School Class of 2025 is truly an exceptional group of students. For years, they have exemplified leadership, integrity, and excellence on our campus, setting a high standard for the classes that follow. Their influence has been deeply felt across our school community.
Academically, they have set a remarkable benchmark with six valedictorians, four salutatorians, and nine recipients of the Diploma of Excellence—a testament to their hard work, determination, and dedication to excellence. Beyond the classroom, their legacy extends into athletics and extracurriculars, having contributed to five state championships over the past two years.
They will be deeply missed, but their impact will remain. I am incredibly proud of all they have accomplished and confident in the bright futures that await them. It has been one of the great honors of my career to serve as their principal. As I transition to my new role at the central office, I can think of no finer class to graduate alongside.Congratulations, Class of 2025—you’ve made us all proud.” – Billy Carter
(Reprint of 446 Sports Facebook Page Post on May 11)
Class B has been owned by Quitman High School for the last couple of years, and Coach (Justin) Dodson has them ready to play with anyone in the state. Behind the pitching of LSU-bound Cali Deal and the hitting and leadership of Louisiana Tech commit junior shortstop Maggie Guyotte, the Lady Wolverines dominated our All-Tournament team.
As a reminder, these are our picks and not associated with the LHSAA. These picks are for entertainment purposes only and YES, we make many mistakes… with that said, here is the 2025 Class B State Softball All-Tournament team.
The FBI has issued an advisory to all cell phone users warning them against what it calls an “ongoing malicious text and voice messaging campaign.”
In a Public Service Announcement this month, the FBI warned of “malicious actors” that have been impersonating senior US officials as part of a scam beginning in April of 2025. The FBI notes that many of those targeted by the scam have been current or former senior U.S. federal or state government officials and their contacts.
The FBI warns that if you do receive a message from someone claiming to be a U.S. official, “do not assume it is authentic.”
“The malicious actors have sent text messages and AI-generated voice messages — techniques known as smishing and vishing, respectively — that claim to come from a senior US official in an effort to establish rapport before gaining access to personal accounts,” the FBI wrote in a recent advisory.
“One way the actors gain such access is by sending targeted individuals a malicious link under the guise of transitioning to a separate messaging platform. Access to personal or official accounts operated by US officials could be used to target other government officials, or their associates and contacts, by using trusted contact information they obtain. Contact information acquired through social engineering schemes could also be used to impersonate contacts to elicit information or funds,” the FBI’s alert warned.
The FBI offered a few tips for how to spot one of these fake messages:
1. Verify the identity of the person calling you or sending text or voice messages. Before responding, research the originating number, organization, and/or person purporting to contact you. Then independently identify a phone number for the person and call to verify their authenticity.
2. Carefully examine the email address; messaging contact information, including phone numbers; URLs; and spelling used in any correspondence or communications. Scammers often use slight differences to deceive you and gain your trust. For instance, actors can incorporate publicly available photographs in text messages, use minor alterations in names and contact information, or use AI-generated voices to masquerade as a known contact. 3. Look for subtle imperfections in images and videos, such as distorted hands or feet, unrealistic facial features, indistinct or irregular faces, unrealistic accessories such as glasses or jewelry, inaccurate shadows, watermarks, voice call lag time, voice matching, and unnatural movements. 4. Listen closely to the tone and word choice to distinguish between a legitimate phone call or voice message from a known contact and AI-generated voice cloning, as they can sound nearly identical. 5. AI-generated content has advanced to the point that it is often difficult to identify. When in doubt about the authenticity of someone wishing to communicate with you, contact your relevant security officials or the FBI for help.
The FBI warns never to share sensitive information with people you have met only online or over the phone. The bureau also warned never to send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to someone you do not know, never to click on any links in an email or text message until you independently confirm the sender’s identity, and to be careful what you download onto your devices.
With AI becoming more and more advanced, criminals are increasingly able to make voices and messages sound like someone you may know. The FBI suggests using a secret word or phrase with your family members to verify their identities.
The Jackson Parish Shooting Sports Banquet will be held at 6:00 pm on Friday, May 30th, at Gracepoint Christian Academy, located at 1427 South Hudson Avenue in Jonesboro.
Invitations have been mailed by Jackson Parish 4-H Director, Kristina Bourgeous and those who are planning to attend are asked to RSVP to the Jackson Parish 4-H office by May 23rd.
In October 2023, Jackson Parish Hospital (JPH) kicked off the Community Photography Contest – a celebration of our local communities’ history, beauty, and scenery, captured through the lenses of those who call it home. The winning images from this contest are proudly displayed throughout the hospital, highlighting the stunning beauty of Jackson Parish and the surrounding areas!
Every three months, winners are selected, and the JPH is beyond excited to announce the pictures selected for the 2025 Community Photography Contest, January-March quarter!
2025 First Quarter Community Photography Contest Winners
“Kisatchie Bayou Campground” by Jonas Thompson “Job 38:31” by Catrina Willis “Bayou Heat” by Jonas Thompson “Foggy Morning Duck Hunt” by Ken Jones
Your creativity and talent have truly shone! JPH thanks you for participating and encourages you to participate again in the future.
But wait, the journey doesn’t end here!
JPH is now accepting entries for the 2025 April-June quarter. You can submit as many entries as you like, and if your entry isn’t selected this time, it will roll over into the next quarter as long as it was submitted in 2025! Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase our community and your talent!
Enter now and let your creativity shine by sending your submissions to https://bit.ly/484jjzM
Two more local schools have released their 2025-26 team rosters this past week. Congratulations to the young men and women shown below from Quitman High School, Quitman Jr. High, and Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School on being selected to represent your school.
The Jackson Parish Library has developed a well-earned reputation for being more than just a place where you can check out books for reading. Their wide array of activities, events, and programs created by the incredibly talented administration and staff at both the Jonesboro and Chatham branches gives residents of Jackson Parish a tremendous resource to better themselves mentally, emotionally, and yes, even physically.
School may be out but the JPL is still dedicated to assisting the education of students this summer and is pleased to announce that Math and Reading Tutoring sessions are available as shown below.
Want a sure-fire way of motivating your young boy or girl to practice harder and gain more enthusiasm about playing baseball or softball. Let him see his name in the newspaper.
Make sure that when your child, age 7-13, scores a run in a Jackson Parish Recreation Department Spring Baseball / Softball league game that you show him his name in the Jackson Parish Journal, the only newspaper dedicated to covering news, sports and events in Jackson Parish.
Shown below is the schedule of games for May 26-27 as well as the updated standings for the 7-8, 9-10 and 11-13 year old leagues as of games played through May 20th. Also included are game recaps from contests played this past Thursday and Friday, May 22-23.
Stay up to date with game schedules, league standings and results of each game played, including names of every single player who scored runs by accessing the Jackson Parish Journal free of charge at jacksonparishjournal.com, the Jackson Parish Journal Facebook page or by having the Jackson Parish Journal delivered to your email address by simply clicking the JOIN tab and entering your email address.
Schedule of Games for May 26
LEAGUE
VISITOR
HOME
FIELD
TIME
3-4 Mixed
Maxwell Services
Dodson Enterprises
Field 6
6:00 pm
3-4 Mixed
Reverie Hair
Jackson Parish Bank
Field 7
6:00 pm
9-10 Baseball
Mark Kennedy Plumbing
BFCU
Field 1
6:00 pm
9-10 Baseball
Shannon Leasing
Volkert Engineering
Field 2
6:00 pm
9-10 Softball
Castor
Shuler Consulting
Field 3
6:00 pm
11-13 Softball
5A Pump & Hose
Quitman Store
Field 4
6:00 pm
9-10 Baseball
Jonesboro Animal Clinic
Castor
Field 2
7:30 pm
9-10 Softball
Diamond Divas
Warriors
Field 3
7:30 pm
11-13 Baseball
Lemoines Farm & Garden
Castor
Field 1
7:30 pm
11-13 Softball
Jonesboro State Bank
Johnny’s Pizza
Field 4
7:45 pm
Schedule of Games for May 27
LEAGUE
VISITOR
HOME
FIELD
TIME
7-8 Baseball
Square One Renovations
Volkert Engineering
Field 2
6:00 pm
7-8 Baseball
Castor
RSH
Field 4
6:00 pm
7-8 Softball
Jonesboro State Bank
Castor
Field 3
6:00 pm
7-8 Baseball
JM Neatherland
Armadillo Grill
Field 2
7:30 pm
7-8 Softball
Rook Ads
Peoples Bank
Field 3
7:30 pm
Recap of Games Played May 22-23
7-8 Baseball League
Armadillo Grill 12 Square One Renovations 1 Armadillo Grill Scoring: Krew Siddon 3, Ryker Whitman 2, Sawyer Fair 2, Luke Turner 2, Lex Walsworth, Alan McCormick, Brooks Dison Square One Renovations Scoring: Uriah Hall
Dugdemona Ranch Whitetails Scoring: 21 Castor 11 Dugedmona Ranch Whitetails Scoring: Ryker Savage 5, Kolton Laffitte 4, D J Hudson 3, Kreed Delaughter 3, Isaac Roper 3, Reece Altheimer, Lucas Jones, Jackson Jones Castor Scoring: n/a
RSH 14 JM Neatherland 0 RSH Scoring: Sam Jones 3, Levi Norred 3, Duke Henderson 2, Oliver Lee 2, Brennon Otwell 2, Jackson Linton 2 JM Neatherland Scoring: none
9-10 Baseball League
BFCU 6 Jonesboro Animal Clinic 6 BFCU Scoring: no scoring available Jonesboro Animal Care Clinic Scoring: no scoring available
Mark Kennedy Plumbing 9 Volkert Engineering 8 Mark Kennedy Plumbing Scoring: Asher Norred 2, Andrew Seymore 2, Ridge Lewter 2, Abram Thrower, Denton Glaze, Slade Gray Volkert Engineering Scoring: Matthew Earl 2, Clay Burton, Asher Matthews, Kutter Blalock, Cameron Pardue, Holden Barr, Lane Woods
2025 Jonesboro Study Guild Officers (l-r) May Saulters – President, (Paula Jimmerson – Vice President, Marylin Walker – Secretary (not shown) Wilda Smith – Treasurer
The Jonesboro Study Guild (JSG) group held its end-of-the-year luncheon on May 12th in the Fellowship Hall of Hodge Baptist Church. Members enjoyed a delicious meal catered by Linda Peevy, followed by outgoing President, Jo Ann Teat, recognizing the incoming 2025 JSG officers.
2025 Jonesboro Study Guild Officers
President: May Saulters Vice President: Paula Jimmerson Secretary: Marylin Walker Treasurer: Wilda Smith
