As part of their July Monthly Outreach Meal Program, the Jonesboro First Assembly of God Church announces the offering of free home-cooked meals for those in need on Saturday, July 26th.
Whether for yourself or for someone you know, plates can be reserved by calling Amber at (318) 533-0341 or Anita at (318) 480-9331 and can be picked up by coming to the church, located at 1490 South Hudson Avenue in Jonesboro, from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Delivery is also available.
Get paid to capture the heart of summer and your community!
That is what the Jackson Parish Hospital is offering by now, taking 3rd Quarter submittals for the 2025 Community Photography Contest as they are calling on local photographers of all skill levels to submit your best summer shots that highlight the places and moments that make our community shine.
Four winners will each receive $250 for the copyright of each photo that meets the necessary guidelines. There’s no limit to the number of entries you can submit, and if you have submitted photos prior, you can submit them again.
To enter click here or go to the Jackson Parish Hospital Facebook page.
One thing residents of Forest Haven Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Jonesboro look forward to each and every day is mealtime, as patrons know that a sumptuous offering will be served for their enjoyment.
In appreciation of her daily dedication to provide pleasing and nourishing meals, the administration of the award-winning, long-term care facility located at 175 Thrasher Avenue in Jonesboro shines the employee spotlight for the month of July on Dietary Manager, Shannon Thomas.
Since coming from Idaho fourteen years ago when she joined the staff as an unproven cook, who will tell you herself that she didn’t even know how to make cornbread or fry fish, Thomas learned and then led the Dietary Department while becoming a pillar of the senior leadership team.
Always the first to rock a costume on dress-up days and the last to take credit, Thomas lives out Forest Haven’s mission of improving the quality of life for residents and exemplifies the facility’s core values of faith in God, quality care, teamwork, integrity, and commitment.
The Louisiana High School Coaches Association held its annual convention on Monday, July 21st, in Baton Rouge. Part of the festive day for the attendees was the opportunity to compete in a four-man scramble golf tournament.
Apparently, there is a strong correlation between teaching the fundamentals of how to hit a softball and a golf swing. This was evidenced by four of the best softball coaches in north Louisiana, two who are local coaches, and three who have Jackson Parish roots, coming away with the 2025 LHSCA golf tourney championship.
By firing a 17-under-par round of 57 in the 18-hole tournament held at the Greystone Country Club course in Baton Rouge, the team of Justin Dodson (Quitman High School), Max Martinez (Quitman High School/ Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School), Peyton Bond (Simsboro High School), and Josh Foshee (Stanley High School) won first prize, earning each a 32″ HD Smart TV.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM!
It is a cry of young and old alike, especially during the dog days of summer, when a cool cup of ice cream is greatly desired to help beat back the heat.
This Wednesday, July 23rd, the Jackson Parish Library invites you to come celebrate National Vanilla Ice Cream Day with them, as patrons who visit either the Jonesboro or Chatham branches will receive a free cup of ice cream.
You can pick up your cup anytime during business hours at the locations of 614 South Polk Avenue in Jonesboro or 1500 Pine Street in Chatham, but it is recommended to get there early as the offering lasts only until the supply runs out.
Terrence was a troublemaker. As a teenager in the 1940s, he joined a gang and habitually stole hubcaps from vehicles which he then sold to people who were missing hubcaps. As a result of his troubled youth, his parents sent him to the California Junior Boys Republic in Chini Hills, California, a school for troubled boys.
In 1946, he joined the United States Merchant Marines and joined the United States Marine Corps the following year. Terrence was assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, where he was trained to be a tank mechanic. That should have straightened Terrence out, but he had trouble with authority. Terrence was in a constant cycle of promotion and demotion. He started as a private, would get promoted to private first class, then would thumb his nose at authority and get demoted back to private.
On one occasion, he abandoned his fellow soldiers and spent two weeks with his girlfriend. For that infraction, he was demoted and spent 41 days in the brig. Terrence recalled, “I was busted back down to private about seven times. The only way I could have been made corporal was if all the other privates in the Marines dropped dead.”
Following his stint in the brig, Terrence changed his attitude toward the Marines. He began to excel as a soldier and was put in command of his own tank despite his being a lowly private first class.
During a training exercise, Terrence’s tank crew was among several sent to the Labrador Sea in the Arctic for an amphibious training exercise. While en route, the transport ship from which they we preparing to disembark struck a sandbar with such force that it sent several tanks and their crews overboard.
Without hesitation, Terrence dove into the icy water and saved five Marines from a sinking tank. His superiors regarded him as a hero, but Terrence considered himself anything but a hero because numerous other Marines drowned. He was unable to save them all.
Despite his poor service record, Terrence’s heroic act led to his being assigned to the honor guard aboard the USS Williamsburg, the presidential yacht for President Harry Truman. He served on the presidential yacht for the remainder of his time in the Marines and was honorably discharged in 1950.
Terrence considered his options in life after the Marines. In 1952, he used the G.I. Bill to pay for acting lessons at the Herbert Berghof Studio. In that same year, he appeared as Freddie in a TV movie called “Family Affair.” In 1953, he had a small uncredited part in his first film, “Girl on the Run.” In 1955, he made his Broadway debut in “A Hatful of Rain.”
From 1952 until 1960, Terrence appeared in numerous Broadway plays, over a dozen TV productions, and half a dozen films. During the 1960s and 1970s, Terrence became wildly popular for his roles in films such as “The Towering Inferno,” “The Magnificent Seven,” “Bullitt,” and “The Great Escape.”
Although the Marines considered him a hero, Terrence became known around the world as an anti-hero, the “King of Cool.” Terrence the troublemaker was Terrence Steven “Steve” McQueen.
Mrs. Vanessa Brown, Regional Director for the Boys and Girls Club of North Louisiana, together with her dedicated team and numerous enthusiastic volunteers, recently organized a fantastic end-of-year “Fun Day” filled with activities designed to bring joy and excitement to the children of Jackson Parish.
The event that was held at the McDonald Recreation Center, located on 400 Jeffress Street in Jonesboro, featured a variety of games and interactive activities that kept the kids engaged and smiling all day long. This special celebration not only provided a memorable experience for the children but also highlighted the importance of community support and volunteerism.
For more information about the Boys and Girls Club of North Louisiana or how to get involved, please contact Mrs. Vanessa Brown at 1-501-563-6564
Things were going well. Charlie received timely rains on his crops but failed to fall on his neighbor’s fields. The chickens in Charlie’s hen house laid double yoke eggs and the mail carrier brought an unexpected income tax return.
‘It must be all that good clean living!’
Charlie was blessed but had his share of trouble too.
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock (Matthew 7:24-25 NKJV).”
Years passed and friends heard that Charlie had died peacefully in his sleep. The small rural church was full on the afternoon of his funeral and the preacher brought a powerful gospel message before the eulogy. Heads of family and friends nodded in agreement. Charlie lived a good clean life. He was respected in his community; a man of integrity, upright and honest.
“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward (Psalm 19:9-11 NKJV).”
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.
Jackson Parish School District is seeking two elementary school teachers for the upcoming school year at Quitman High School. Those interested should apply at www.jpsb.us
Winn Parish School Board is seeking qualified and passionate educators to join our team for the 2025–2026 school year. We are committed to providing a high-quality education and fostering a positive learning environment for our students.
Open Teaching Positions
– English Language Arts
– Science / Mathematics / Social Studies
– Elementary Education
– Special Education
How to Apply
Interested candidates are encouraged to send their resumes to the Winn Parish School Board. Please submit your application through our website: winnpsb.org
Winn Parish School Board
304 East Court Street
Winnfield, LA 71483
Phone: (318) 628-6936
Quitman Store, LLC is seeking three applicants to work from 3:30 am – 12:00 pm or 12:00 – 8:00 pm each day. To apply or learn more, go to the Quitman Store at 8562 Quitman Hwy. in Quitman, call (318) 395-1062, or send an email to quitmanstorellc@gmail.com
On March 7, 1952, Elder Catherine Blankenship Nicholson, a precious woman of God from the hand of God was born to the late Joe Nathan and Poneva Blankenship in Arcadia, Louisiana.
At an early age Sister Catherine accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. She united with Triumph Church of God in Jonesboro, Louisiana under the leadership of Pastor . L. R. Calahan. Later in life, she joined Union Star Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Donald Ray Hall.
She graduated from Jonesboro Hodge High School Class of 1970 and went on to Grambling State University where she received her A.A, BS, and MBA. She recently received a Master’s degree in Theology from The New Testament School of Theology.
Catherine met and married the love her life Charles Nicholson. Together, they had three children. They lived a beautiful life and was happily married for 44 years. After marriage, her husband became Pastor of The New Testament Church formerly located in Grambling, Louisiana and now Jonesboro, Louisiana. There, Catherine served as a help mate and teacher.
She was employed at Grambling State University where she held many positions (President’s Secretary, Financial Aid, Fundraiser Coordinator, and Adjunct Faculty member) for more than thirty years before retiring. Catherine was a dynamic speaker, teacher and cook who loved to serve the lord. She served as Vice President of The New Testament School of Theology (TNT/SOT), Jonesboro, LA. She also served as Director of the Board of Trustees. Catherine joined her husband in ministering in many cities and several states in America and in the Caribbean. They both received a special invitation to minister in Ariana, Trinidad. She had a shepherd’s heart and great love for believers and an evangelistic spirit for the unsaved. She delighted herself in the Word of God and rejoiced in the manifestation of changed lives. She always held onto her faith.
On July 17, 2025, Catherine transitioned from the earthly pulpit to the heavenly pulpit at Willis Knighten Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana. She is preceded in death by her parents the late Joe Nathan and Poneva Blankenship; grandson Breunte’ Hicks; father-in-law Lewis Nicholson Sr. and mother-in-law Henrietta Nicholson.
She leaves the memories of her gentle love with her husband of 44 years Dr. Charles E. Nicholson of Jonesboro, LA; sons: Terrance (Jacqueline) Blankenship and Charles Jacolby Nicholson both of Jonesboro, LA; daughter Sharonda (Dewayne) Calahan of Jonesboro, LA; sister JoAnn Rachel of Winnfield, LA; brothers: Joe Nathan Blankenship Jr. (Connie) of Atlanta, GA, Martiner Tatum (Melba) of Jonesboro, LA and Dexter Tatum of Calhoun, LA; grandchildren: Sierra, D’Vontae, Tre’Vaun and Justin Calahan; great grandchildren: Jaicee Watkins, Josiah Knox and Aceon Calahan and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Kenneth Paxton Wyatt, age 83, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2025, following a lengthy illness. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, Kenneth was known for his strong work ethic, unwavering love for his family, and quiet strength.
Born on November 8, 1941, Kenneth spent the majority of his life working tirelessly to provide for those he loved. He dedicated many years of service to the railroad industry, where his commitment and reliability earned him the respect of coworkers and friends alike.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Gaylon Wyatt, and his parents, Maxine and Paxton Wyatt.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving children:
Son: Keith Wyatt and wife Kimberly
Daughter: Tracy Brown and husband Steven
He was a proud and devoted grandfather to six grandchildren:
Caylin Brown, Cade Brown, Lauren Blundell and husband Alex, Macie Wyatt, Caney Wyatt, and Adley Wyatt.
He is also survived by his brothers:
David Wyatt and wife June
Bill Wyatt and wife Wanda
And his sisters:
Janelle Self and Ginger Babcock
Kenneth leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family members who will remember him with deep affection and gratitude for the example he set and the love he gave so freely.
His legacy of hard work, dedication, and love for family will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” – Matthew 25:23
Friends, family, and well-wishers will be able to gather for a public viewing from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Thursday, July 24th, 2025, at Sweetwater Baptist Church in Quitman. A graveside service will take place at 11:00 am on Friday, July 25th, 2025, at Ebenezer Cemetery in Jonesboro under the direction of Paradise Funeral Home.
COWABUNGA! In the Ark-La-Tex, riding the wave of generosity by donating blood is a radical way to save lives, just like catching the perfect swell. Your blood donation can make a huge impact by helping accident victims, patients in need, and those weathering natural disasters. Hospitals and blood banks depend on donors to keep their supply as steady as the ocean tide. So, paddle out, HANG TEN, and be a lifesaver – your donation is totally tubular.
On Monday, July 21st, from 2:00 – 6:00 pm, you can give blood at the Jackson Parish Ambulance Service District Office, located at 115 Watts Drive in Jonesboro. Donors will receive a limited edition Lifeshare koozie duo while supplies last.
Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) in Jonesboro invites all prospective students for the 2025-26 school year to come to an interest meeting on July 30th that will be held on the LDCC campus located at 236 Industrial Drive in Jonesboro.
At the session that will run from 4:00 – 5:30 pm, prospects will be able to ask questions, get information, and register for this fall’s upcoming classes, as well as, tour the facility and meet personnel.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has released its 2025-26 hunting regulations pamphlet online at the LDWF website. For the complete regulations, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations.
The pamphlet contains hunting rules, regulations and season dates for the 2025-26 season, including hunting information on LDWF’s Wildlife Management Areas and Louisiana’s federal lands.
Printed copies of the pamphlets will be available in August at LDWF offices throughout the state and at vendors where hunting and fishing licenses are sold.
This season’s regulation pamphlet also has season schedules for the state’s 10 deer hunting areas and major changes for the 2025-26 season.
Following the 2016 death of our mom, Pat Thomas, the Thomas Family Scholarship Fund was established to honor her legacy of service to God, her Church, her family, her community, and to Quitman High School. For the past seven years, the Thomas Family has been awarding a one-time $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior at Quitman High School. In addition, three grandchildren were awarded a one-time $1,000 legacy scholarship during this time as well.
The scholarship fund has awarded a total of $10,000 in scholarships to date, including this year’s recipient, Lily Kate Odom (previously announced). Our family considers it an honor to continue Mom’s legacy and be a small part of each recipient’s journey. Each has continued to excel not only in their education and career, but also in life. So, let’s catch up with our past recipients!
The Jackson Parish Library is pleased to announce that beginning on Monday, July 21st and running to Friday, July 25th, the Main Branch, located at 614 South Polk in Jonesboro, will be hosting a special Summer Movie Matinee.
Each day, two movies will be showing, with the first starting at 1:00 pm and the second following at 3:00 pm. There is no charge to attend, and popcorn and water will be provided. Patrons are also invited to bring their own snacks and refreshments if they prefer.
A total of 31 players braved the heat this past Tuesday to compete in the weekly Tuesday Night Scramble at the Jackson Parish Golf Course. Coming out on top of the six-team field were Taylor Bentley, Carter Cornelius, Collin Coleman, Jake Pieri, and Hayden McFarland, who fired a 9-under round of 27, over the par 36 course.
One stroke back in second place after checking in with an 8 under par score of 28 was Tre Pardue, Daniel Rollinson, Jeff Conville, Davis Tolar, and Carson Carrico, with Gage Heard, Colin Lahaye, Clayton Cline, Maddox Manthei, and Derek Kennard taking third with a 7 under par score of 29.
1. (9 under par) – Taylor Bentley, Carter Cornelius, Collin Coleman, Jake Pieri, Hayden McFarland
2. (8 under par) – Tre Pardue, Daniel Rollinson, Jeff Conville, Davis Tolar, Carson Carrico
3. (7 under par) – Gage Heard, Colin Lahaye, Clayton Cline, Maddox Manthei, Derek Kennard
4. (6 under par) – Ben DeCou, Jonathan DeCou, Cecil Barham, Sawyer Barham, Jase Martin
5. (6 under par) – Snook Harrell, David Chestnut, Roby Surber, Bretton Williams, Brennan Surber, Cody Donaldson
6. (5 under par) – Blake Smith, Ian Tilley, Kyler West, Logan Ponder, Gary Nunn, Jason Statham
Pamplona Spain is best known for a wild and crazy event that takes place each July in this city of 100,000. Men with more sense of adventure than smarts take to the streets of this European village for the “running of the bulls”, a week-long event that promises to result in scores of injuries and almost always a few fatalities as bulls are released into the narrow streets of Pamplona behind throngs of men and boys who are no match for the speed of the animals.
More than one Spanish version of “hey y’all; hold my beer and watch this” from some goober-headed Spaniard has resulted in a bull’s horn being thrust through a kidney.
This version of the running of the bulls calls for a thirst for excitement often exacerbated by a thirst for booze. No sane, sober person would risk life and limb facing down a beast weighing half a ton.
If the running of the bulls is something you feel you must try, I have a suggestion. What I propose is far less dangerous, the foe likely weighs not half a ton, but half a pound, and you don’t have to travel halfway around the world to give it a try. And you can still tell your buddies you just got back from participating in the running of the bulls.
This “running of the bulls” refers to bull bream. This time of year, big pug-nosed bull bluegill run en masse to the shallows of Louisiana lakes with one purpose in mind; they’re there to make baby bluegills.
April and May are primary months for the bluegill spawn but they are still getting after it now that the weather has turned hot. Early mornings can still produce some bragging-sized catches of these scrappy fighters.
When the Good Lord created the bluegill, He must have had in mind dads and kids. There is no species better suited for a youngster to cut his/her teeth on a lifetime of fishing than the bluegill.
For starters, our lakes are full of them. From tiny bait-stealing punkin’ seeds to those weighing in excess of a pound, they’re here in abundance. Secondly, when bluegills spawn, they congregate by the hundreds, or thousands, onto suitable areas for this activity.
In most Louisiana lakes, a suitable area is usually relatively shallow with a hard sandy or gravel bottom where males fan out dinner plate-sized depressions on the bottom into which females will lay their eggs. The male fertilizes the eggs and stands guard over the nest until the little ones hatch.
Thirdly, spawning bluegills will attack virtually anything that ventures close enough to be perceived as a threat to the eggs, or that appears to be a tasty morsel. A gob of red wigglers or a gray cricket skewered onto a thin wire hook dangling beneath a split shot and cork is usually all that is needed to ensure a quick bite.
Few fishing experiences rival spawning time for bull bream. Quietly trolling to within the flip of a cane pole of a bed of bluegills is usually all that is involved. Anchor or tie off the boat to keep it from drifting over the beds and it’s often a “pitch ‘til you win” proposition.
Ready for the running of the bulls but don’t want to travel all the way to Spain and risk getting trampled or gored? Try bull bream. They’re in all our ponds, streams and lakes and they’re just waiting to run with you.
CANEY LAKE – Bass are best at night on soft plastics and dark colored crank baits. Some are caught early morning around the grass on topwater lures. Smaller bass are chasing shad on the surface and are schooling. Shad imitation lures are working best.. Crappie are suspended with shiners and jigs taking some nice fish. Bream both chinquapins and bluegills are moving off the beds but can still be caught on crickets and worms. 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.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Bass, some double digit fish, have been good early mornings on topwaters Sinkos and on plastic worms. Crappie are on the flats and are biting on shiners or jigs. The bream bite has slowed a bit. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water is falling and fishing is improving. Crappie are good fishing the tops with shiners or jigs. Bass have improved fishing shad imitations in the cuts. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass fishing has been best on crank baits, Wobbleheads and soft plastics with topwaters best early mornings in the shallows. Crappie are suspended and best fishing has been in the hottest part of the day on jigs and shiners. Bream bedding shallow is ending and the fish have moved deeper. Catfish are good fishing 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 fair to good on jigs and shiners. Bass are around the banks and hitting topwaters early while later hitting hit jigs, spinners and soft plastics. Night fishing has improved around lighted piers and boat docks on soft plastics and crank baits. Bream are moving off the beds and are more scattered. Stripers are schooling and hitting shad imitations. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfish are biting. A few bass to 7 ½ pounds have been caught on crank baits. Cappie and bream are slow. For information, contact the marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is slowly falling and the road to the landing is open and camps are set up. Fishing has picked up with lots of bass, crappie and catfish coming in. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.
The Jackson Parish Library Board of Controls will hold its regularly scheduled quarterly meeting on Monday, July 21st. The session that will take place at 4:30 pm will be conducted in the McBride Room of the Main Branch, located at 614 South Polk Street in Jonesboro.
Board members expected to attend are Carol Massey (President), Ann Standley (Vice-President), Paula Essmeier (Treasurer), Judy Cooper, Lisa Nunn, Vicki Jenkins, Robin Tew, and Lewis Chatham (Ex-Officio), as well as JPL Director Floyd Knox, Jonesboro Branch Manager Angela Walsworth, and Chatham Branch Manager Phyllis Moore.
Call to Order
Invocation
Roll Call
Public Comments
Approval of Minutes
1 Review and adopt the minutes from the May 19, 2025 board meeting
Report of Director: Statistical and Financial
2 Review and adopt the 2nd quarter financial reports
3 Review and adopt the April, May and June statistical reports
New Business
4 Discussion regarding 2025 millages
5 Consider and act on other business
Unfinished Business
6 None
Other Business/ Announcements
7. If you have not done so please turn in your ethics and sexual harassment training
Adjournment
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance, please contact Floyd Knox at (318) 259-5697.
Each month, the administration and staff of Forest Haven Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center go to great lengths to provide a tremendous activity schedule for their residents.
On Thursday, July 17th, a special field trip took place for all who wished to participate for a special preview of the upcoming Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat production that is ongoing at the Dixie Theater in Ruston, LA
The administration and staff of Forest Haven would like to thank the cast and crew for hosting the residents and giving such a great performance.
The Heritage Quilt Guild of Jonesboro held their Summer Retreat this past week, enjoying three fun-filled days of sewing, ripping, and sewing again. Using their talents of old-fashioned quilting and stitching, the ladies let their imagination run wild to create all kinds of quilted products, including tote bags, hand towels, placemats, throws, teddy bears, and of course, quilts.
Heritage Quilt Guild of Jonesboro is a charity organization that shares the love of quilting, sewing, embroidery, and fellowship and provides a means for quilters and guild lovers to promote the appreciation and preservation of quilts. The guild, which meets every Wednesday at the Jonesboro-Hodge Methodist Church, located at 402 4th Street in Jonesboro, is a forum in which the skills of the quilt makers are shared so the art will be handed down to others.
(to move from one picture to the next use tabs at either side of picture)
Each week, football head coach Max Martinez and the staff at Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School select a representative to be awarded the “Coach Tate Tiger of the Week” Award for demonstrating team spirit, dedication, and effort during practice and meetings. Congratulations go to this week’s recipients are Graylon Hendricks and Ashton Paggett.
Let’s talk about the most overconfident, underperforming button in modern technology: the “Close Door” button on an Otis elevator. A button so bold, so brimming with promise, that you can’t help but press it like your entire timeline depends on it. Yet, more often than not, it sits there, mocking your urgency with silent defiance—like a cat watching you call it from across the room.
Imagine this: you’re running late, Starbucks in hand, nerves frayed, and you finally reach the elevator. Someone’s trailing 20 feet behind you, clearly aiming for the same vertical destination. You eye the “Close Door” button with steely determination, channeling all your willpower into one righteous jab. And… nothing. The doors pause, dramatically, as if considering your plea… before staying open long enough to let your trailing co-rider slip in with a smug nod. You didn’t close the door—you just sent a polite request to the elevator gods, who promptly ignored it.
Why does Otis even have a “Close Door” button? Well, turns out, it’s largely a placebo. For many elevators, especially in buildings built post-1990, the button is deactivated or overridden by a timer, reserved for emergencies or maintenance personnel with magical keys. For the rest of us mortals? It’s basically an adult version of a toy steering wheel. We press it to feel in control, because pushing buttons is what we do when we don’t actually have time for real solutions.
Scientific studies (conducted primarily in crowded office lobbies and hotels at 8:58 a.m.) have shown that humans are 73% more likely to hit the “Close Door” button repeatedly than just wait patiently. This behavior stems from our deep distrust of time and other people. Pressing the button repeatedly creates the illusion of productivity, much like reloading your inbox when you’re waiting for that one important email, or opening the fridge for the sixth time, hoping chocolate has materialized.
There’s also a social strategy involved. The way you press the “Close Door” button says everything about you.
• The tap and glance: You’re pretending not to notice the other person running toward the elevator.
• The full press with body shield: You’ve decided to betray basic human decency for your own schedule.
• The fake press: You press it while smiling warmly, signaling, “I tried,” while fully aware it does nothing.
Otis elevators have essentially turned us into actors in a moral drama performed 50 times a day.
In many ways, the Otis “Close Door” button is a symbol of adulthood itself. Full of buttons that seem to do something but don’t. Mortgage refinancing, printer troubleshooting, and dieting after 5 p.m.—all have the same energy. The illusion of control is the lifeblood of modern living. We love the illusion of control, don’t we?
And yet, even as we know its futility, we still press it. Every single time. Because hope, however unscientific, beats standing next to a stranger who insists on loud phone calls or eye contact.
So next time you find yourself jabbing that shiny, unyielding button, – hold your head high. You are a dreamer. A doer. A hero in an elevator shaft. You know it may be a lie, but you press it anyway.
After all, your hurry is more important than the other guy’s hurry. I wonder, what do we impatient people do with the invitation Jesus issued to the disciples, “Hey guys, let’s get away from the crowds and rest.”
The Barnes-Wright Family Reunion will be held July 24–27 at Jimmie Davis State Park in Jackson Parish, bringing together 126 family members from across the country—including California, Washington, D.C., and New York. Among them, there are more than 20 children, making this a vibrant, multigenerational gathering.
We’ve been fortunate to engage a local caterer from Jonesboro for the entire weekend—from Thursday through Sunday—and the Jackson Parish Tourism Board has generously donated a full collection of items for our reunion distributions. As part of preserving our roots and celebrating our host community, the reunion’s souvenir book includes a section on the history of Jackson Parish and Jonesboro. Guests will be staying in cabins at the State Park, local hotels, and the homes of welcoming relatives in the area.
Highlights of our itinerary include a guided visit to selected cemeteries and the Jonesboro Civil Rights Trail—an experience many of our family members are deeply looking forward to, especially those returning to Louisiana after many years away.
All activities occur at the Group Camp Conference Center, unless otherwise noted.
Thursday, July 24, 2025
6:00 pm Check-In
Meet-and-Greet
Welcome Dinner
8:00 pm Group Sound Check/
Prep for Tomorrow
10:00 pm Park Quiet Hours Begin
Friday, July 25, 2025
6:00 am Group Photos with Reunion T-Shirt
6:40 am Bus Boarding (Front Reserved for Elderly/Handicapped; Rear Reserved for Families with Small Children)
7:00 am Bus Departure
Heritage Tour Begins
Breakfast in Transit
7:40 am First Tour Stop
12:10 pm Lunch in Transit
2:10 pm Last Tour Stop
2:40 pm Arrive at Jimmie Davis State Park/
Heritage Tour Ends
3:00 pm Rest, Relax, Refresh
6:00 pm Casual Business Dinner, featuring Youth Talent and Family Memorial
10:00 pm Park Quiet Hours Begin
Saturday, July 26, 2025
6:15 am 30-Minute Morning Stretch
7:00 am Sweet Hour of Prayer
8:00 am Breakfast
9:15 am Outside: Old School Field Games
10:00 am Business Owner Showcase
Outside: Open Water Play
11:00 am Genealogy Workshop
12:00 pm Lunch, featuring Oratory Contest and Old Timer Storytelling
1:30 pm Inside: Edible Engineering, Arts & Crafts, Board Games, and Card Games
Outside: Open Water Play
5:00 pm Dinner (same menu as lunch)
6:00 pm Choir Rehearsal
10:00 pm Park Quiet Hours Begin
Sunday, July 27, 2025
7:00 am Breakfast
10:00 am Church Service, Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 908 Evergreen Rd, Jonesboro, LA 71251
11:00 am Park Check-Out Time
11:45 am Farewell Lunch in Church Fellowship Hall
