With temperatures soaring into the upper 90’s, the National Weather Service Office in Shreveport, LA has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for residents of Jackson Parish and the surrounding areas to the east and north. An Extreme Heat Warning is issued when extremely dangerous heat conditions are expected or occurring.

Recommendations include avoiding outdoor activities, especially during the heat of the day, and if you must be outside, wear lightweight, light colored clothing; be sure to drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks in the shade. Stay indoors in an air-conditioned space as much as possible, including overnight. Check on family and neighbors.

At 4:08 pm on Monday, July 20th, an EMERGENCY ALERT was broadcast over the Town of Jonesboro Civic Plus notification system indicating a major natural gas leak had been reported on Industrial Drive and advising residents to stay away from the area until further notice.

The Jonesboro Fire Department (JFD) and local emergency crews quickly identified that the leak was coming from one of three tanks situated on the north side of Industrial Drive, just across from Fair’s Diesel Services. Through their trained responsiveness, the JFD secured a valve that was allowing the gas to escape and safely resolved the scary situation. During the repair effort, representatives from O’Neal Gas arrived and, after inspecting the tank, confirmed that there was no further danger, leading the Civic Plus notification system to give an ALL CLEAR signal to residents at 5:48 pm the same day.

Jonesboro Fire Chief Aaron Blalock expressed his appreciation to members of his department for their fast and effective response.

“I am extremely proud of the way our guys responded through the use of their training to quickly resolve a potentially very dangerous situation,” said Blalock.

Board members of the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame (JPSHOF) have finalized the plans for the 2026 Induction Banquet, where five local legends will be enshrined as new members of the Hall of Fame and one will be presented with an Outstanding Meritorious Award.

The 2026 JPSHOF Induction Banquet will be held in the Family Life Center of the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, located at 500 South Cooper Street. The gala event will begin at 5:00 pm with a “meet and greet” social hour, followed by the Induction program and dinner.

Seats for the ceremony and dinner are now being reserved at a cost of $25.00 per person and $225.00 for a table of eight. Reserved tables for induction members are $200.00. To make your reservation, contact Wilda Smith at (318) 426 – 6511 or by email at wsmithcoc@aol.com. Reservations and payments can also be made by mailing a check or money order to:
Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame
c/o Wilda Smith
PO Box 192
Jonesboro, LA 71251

Being enshrined as the Class of 2026 are Lowell Mize (JHHS football), Cynthia Loyd Stampley (JHHS girls basketball), Shelby Green (Quitman High boys basketball), Steve Treadway (JHHS football) and Joey Pender (JHHS coach). Being honored with the Outstanding Meritorious Award is Bill DeCou (Rundell Junior High Coach).

Also being recognized as the 2025-26 High School Male and Female Athletes of the Year after being selected by representatives of each of the schools of the Jackson Parish School District are:
Dakota Knox and Ciara Gray of Jonesboro-Hodge High School
Brayden Smith and Maggie Guyotte of Quitman High School
Livi Otwell and Drew Browning of Weston High School.

Stay Tuned! In the upcoming weeks, in-depth articles on each of the six new inductees and high school athletes of the year will be published in the Jackson Parish Journal.

The Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame was created from a vision held by Mr. Henry Kimp of a venue to recognize athletes, coaches, and administrators who have lived or worked in Jackson Parish and who have made a great impact in the arena of sports. In 2008, the first meeting of a loosely formed board of Henry Kimp, Bobby Culpepper, Leslie Thompson, Nathaniel Belton, and Raymond Jeffress took place and declared that the primary function of the Hall of Fame would be to create a venue of outstanding individuals and their accomplishments so that future generations would know more about the tremendous history of athletics in Jackson Parish and the people who helped make it great.

In 2009, the inaugural induction ceremony took place with John Garlington, Bob Hopkins, Jo Ann Jackson-Buckner, Dr. Arnold Kilpatrick, and Edgar Walker being the first class to be enshrined. With the inclusion of this year’s class, the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame will now boast 88 inductees and seven Meritorious Award winners.

Leading into 2026, the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame was located at the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Sports Complex, but due to the need to find a new location due to structural problems with the building it was housed in, it is now in a state of transition as a new location is being sought. To learn more about the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame and the ones enshrined, click here or visit https://www.jpsportshalloffame.com/

First Baptist Church in Jonesboro is excited to announce that Trey Ethridge has been named Senior Pastor, moving into the esteemed position following the departure of Brian McCallister, who took a similar position at First Baptist Church in Winnfield.

Ethridge, his wife Jessica, and their four children came to Jonesboro First Baptist Church as Pastor of Worship and Discipleship in 2018 after formerly serving as the Pastor of Briarwood Baptist Church in Reidheimer.

Twelve young ladies from Jackson Parish made memories of a lifetime this past week when the 10U All-Star team finished in 4th place among the 12 teams that competed in the Diamond Youth Softball World Series, held in Laurel, MS, from July 16-19.

Qualifying for the prestigious tournament that fielded nine state champions from across the Southeast United States as runner-up in the 10U Louisiana State Tournament played in Metairie, LA, the local “dandy dozen” played five games, including winning their first three contests.

Under the tremendous guidance of manager Kristen Allen and coaches Cheyenne Allen and Bethany Garner, the team members representing the state of Louisiana were Kylee-Ayn Allen, Malia Gunter, Lyla Hall, Kaylee Hammons, Caylee Mauthe, Ryleigh Puffer, Kadence Sampey, Natalie Sullivan, Mercedes Taylor, River Waggoner, Mez’Meri Walker, and Brenleigh Whitman.

“I am extremely proud of this group. They showed out all summer long,” said JP10U Manager Kristen Allen. “They have come so far from the start. It was a memorable experience being a part of the girls representing Jackson Parish and the state of Louisiana with so much character, grace, and dignity. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.”

With “LOUISIANA” emblazoned across the front of their jersey, signifying the representation of the state, Jackson Parish began the World Series competition by beating Columbia, Mississippi in a thrilling 6-5 pool play game. The locals then entered into bracket play, where they beat Hope Mills, North Carolina 19-0 and Adams, Tennessee 11-9 to advance as one of only three teams to remain undefeated. In a rematch of the Louisiana state championship game, JP10U fell to Jefferson Parish 14-4, setting up an elimination game against Rusk, TX, who defeated Jackson Parish 6-3, who finished with a 3-2 record and in 4th place in the tourney.

The 2026 Diamond Youth Softball World Series champion was Troy, Alabama, who battled back through the elimination bracket after losing in the first round to Saluda, South Carolina, to beat Saluda twice in the championship game. Louisiana’s other representative, state champion Jefferson Parish East, finished in third place, as the state produced two of the top four finishers.

The “final four” finish by JP10U capped off a tremendous All-Star season, which finished with District 4 champions winning 16 games and losing only four. Included was an 11-game winning streak through pre-district, district, and state competition.

World Series Recap For Jackson Parish 10U All-Stars

Jackson Parish 6, Columbia, MS 5 (Game One): Kadence Sampey scored on a grounder by Caylee Mauthe to give Jackson Parish a thrilling “walk-off” victory in extra innings that saw both teams scoring at will early on before the game turned into a pitcher’s duel over the last three innings. Playing under the extra innings rule of putting a player on second base to start the inning after the two teams battled to a 5-5 tie in regulation play, Sampey was placed on second base in the bottom of the extra inning, leading to Mez’Meri Walker getting hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. Natalie Sullivan ground out, advancing both runners. Mauthe then hit a comeback to the Columbia pitcher, who threw to first, but by reading the play, the heady Sampey got a tremendous jump and beat the throw home for the winner. Not overshadowed was the great defensive effort in the top half of the extra frame by Mauthe and Ryleigh Puffer, which put JP10U in position to win. With a runner on second to begin the inning, the Columbia batter hit a slow roller to third baseman Puffer, whose throw to first was late, but the alert Mauthe immediately fired the ball back across the diamond, where Puffer applied the tag to get the runner who was on second out. Winning pitcher Kylee Ayn Allen, who was a game hero in her own right after limiting Columbia to just one hit over the final three innings, then got two consecutive ground outs to keep Columbia scoreless. Both teams came out scoring, taking advantage of erratic pitching and play. Columbia tallied three times in the top of the first without a hit, thanks to two walks, a hit batter, and three errors. Undaunted, JP10U regained the lead in their half of the inning when Natalie Sullivan led off with a single, went to second when Mauthe walked, and scored on Malia Gunter’s single. A ground out by Allen scored the second run, setting up a walk to Brenleigh Whitman and a passed ball that evened the score. Puffer’s ground out led to the fourth run being scored. Columbia came right back to take a 5-4 lead, but once again Jackson Parish rallied thanks to consecutive walks to Kaylee Hammons, Sampey and Walker, leading to yet another walk to Mauthe that tied the game.

Jackson Parish 19 Hope Mills, NC 0 (Game Two): Nine walks and six hit batters by Hope Mills pitching, along with three errors, led Jackson Parish to the easy two and a half inning victory that saw the locals score 11 in the first inning and add 8 more in the second to compile the most runs in a game all summer. Malia Gunter got two of the four hits accumulated by Jackson Parish, with Kylee-Ayn Allen and Ryleigh Puffer also hitting singles. Every player either scored at least one run or had an RBI in the team effort. Scoring twice were Natalie Sullivan, Caylee Mauthe, Puffer, Brenleigh Whitman, Mercedes Taylor, Kaylee Hammonds, Kadence Sampey and Mez’Meri Walker, with Gunter, Allen and Lyla Hall also crossing home plate once. River Waggoner contributed with an RBI. Also coming up big was the duo of Sullivan and Allen, who combined to strike out eight and hold Hope Mill hitless. After Sullivan sandwiched three strikeouts around a walk to hold Hope Mills scoreless in the top of the first, JP10 sent seven batters to the plate and scored five runs before the first out was made. Sullivan started it off with a walk followed by Gunter and Allen hitting singles. A walk to Mauthe led to Puffer getting plunked and Whiman walking. Taylor then became the second JP10U batter to get hit by a pitch. With two outs, Hammonds got hit, Sampey walked, and Walker became the fourth batter to “take one for the team,” leading to Sullivan reaching on a fielder’s choice and Gunter getting her second hit of the inning to plate the 10th and 11th runs. The scoring continued at will in JP10U’s next at bat as Mauthe reached on an error, both Whitman and Taylor walked, and both Hall and Waggoner reached on what was determined as fielder’s choices. Sampey then got plunked with two outs, leading to Walker, Sullivan and Gunter all drawing walks to up the lead to 19-0, which is the way it ended after Allen struck out the side in the top of the third by getting 9 strikes in 14 pitches.

Jackson Parish 11 Adams, TN 9 (Game Three): With the score tied at 6-6, Jackson Parish plated five runs in the last two innings to outscore the game opponent. Caylee Mauthe and Natalie Sullivan led the team’s tournament-best 12-hit attack with three hits each, with Mauthe scoring three runs and knocking in four and Sullivan, who stroked a triple and got hit by a pitch, scoring three runs. Kadence Sampey added a pair of hits and two RBI, while Malia Gunter got a hit and walked twice, leading to her scoring three times. Kylee-Ayn Allen got a hit and knocked in a pair of runs, Ryleigh Puffer added a hit and an RBI, Kaylee Hammons hit a single, got hit by a pitch and scored, and River Waggoner scored a run after walking. Mercedes Taylor walked twice, and Brenleigh Whitman got a free pass. JP10U jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Sullivan and Gunter opened by getting hit by a pitch and singling, respectively, followed by Mauthe knocking in two with a single. Consecutive two-out walks to Brenleigh Whitman, Mercedes Taylor and Lyla Hall brought in the final run of the frame. After falling behind 4-3, JP10U took a two-run lead in the top of the third inning when Sullivan led off with a triple, Gunter walked, and Allen hit a sacrifice grounder to tie the score. Mauthe then hit an RBI single and later scored on an error. With the score tied at 6-6, Jackson Parish opened up a 9-6 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Sullivan got the rally started with a single followed by a walk to Gunter. Three consecutive singles by Allen, Mauthe, and Puffer led to the scoring. Two more runs, which ended up being needed, were added in the top of the sixth when River Waggoner drew a walk and went to second after Kaylee Hammons got hit by a pitch. Kadence Sampey then hit a single that scored both. The runs proved to be crucial as Adams scored three runs in the bottom of the inning on a pair of walks, a fielder’s choice, and two errors before the attempted rally was squelched.

JPRD East 14 Jackson Parish 4 (Game Four): Once again, JPRD East got the best of Jackson Parish, scoring five runs in the top of the first and, after Jackson Parish had clawed back to within one run, blew the game open with seven runs in the top of the fourth. Down five before their first at bat, JP10U showed their grit and determination to narrow the deficit to just one run, as the first six batters reached base before an out was made. Natalie Sullivan stroked a single to get things started and went to second when Malia Gunter walked. A Kylee-Ayn Allen single loaded the bases, leading to consecutive walks to Caylee Mauthe, Ryleigh Puffer and Brenleigh Whitman that narrowed the deficit to 5-3 and left the bases loaded with no one out. Another walk to Lyla Hall made it 5-4, but with the bases still jammed, all three runners were stranded when the JPRD East pitcher buckled down to get a pair of strikeouts.

Rusk, TX 6 JP10U 3 (Game Five): Playing three games in the Saturday afternoon/evening heat and turning around for an early Sunday morning contest took its toll as Jackson Parish opened up a 3-2 lead before simply running out of gas in the late stages. It was a valiant effort that saw JP10U score a run in each of the first three innings as Natalie Sullivan opened the contest by singling and scoring on a Caylee Mauthee grounder to give Jackson Parish a quick 1-0 lead. Rusk came back to score two in the bottom half of the inning, but JP10U came right back to tie when Mercedes Taylor reached on an error and scored on three wild pitches. With Sullivan keeping Rusk in check in their at-bat, JP10U regained the lead in the top of the third when Mez’Meri Walker got hit by a pitch, and Sullivan singled, setting up a sacrifice ground out by Kylee-Ayn Allen after both runners had advanced a base on a wild pitch. JP10U would go hitless the remainder of the way, with only Brenleigh Whitman getting on base with a walk in the top of the fourth inning. Rusk tied the game in the bottom of the frame and then drew ahead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to complete the rally in the contest that saw the lead tied or change hands five times.

2026 10U World Series Team Statistics

THANK YOU, SPONSORS!

While the World Series experience was one that won’t ever be forgotten by the coaches, players, family members, and supporters, it was also a costly one, having to pay for four days and nights of lodging, meals, transportation costs, and such. JP10U Manager Kristen Allen expresses her appreciation to all who stepped up to help defray the costs.

“We sincerely appreciate our sponsors,” said Allen. “Thanks to the wonderful support we received, our team was able to come and enjoy something special without a huge financial burden. The way our community stepped up was heartwarming, and we are very proud to say we are from Jackson Parish and surrounding areas.”

JP10U Sponsors:

Jackson Parish Sheriff Brent Barnett
Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office
Karl Malone Toyota
Hand in Hand Hospice
Golden Gate Nursing
Jackson Parish Hospital
Jackson Parish Ambulance
Louisiana Family Medicine
Chief Bridge & Concrete
Dirt Road Apparel
Jackson Parish Journal
Honey Hush Boutique
Blades Electric Company
Aegis Chemical
Dr. Wyche Coleman
Gibsland Bank and Trust
Jay Morris
Jack McFarland
Benoit Ford
Rachel Rachel McClure Shively
Ables Farm
Culpepper & Carroll
Glenn Kirkland
Jackson Parish Bank
Jonesboro State Bank
Always Evas
Thompson Loan
Pardue Builders
Mitchell’s Pharmacy
La Construction
Stassons Catfish Inn
Animal Clinic
Hodge Bank
Fair Diesel
John McGee
Port Au Prince
Imperative Chemical
Lucky Services
Tanya Norred
Lasalle Lumber
Rob Moore
Farm Bureau
Karl Malone Toyota
Specialty Trackhoe
Keppler Nutrition
McCoy Electric
Shuler Enterprise Alice Shuler
Colby Bowman
Courtesy Chevrolet
Kay’s Designs

Registration is now open to reserve a spot in the annual Redneck Rendezvous Parade, scheduled for 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 22nd, at Jimmie Davis State Park on Caney Lake, located at 1209 State Park Road, Chatham, LA.

Line-up for the parade will be at 1:45 pm at the East boat launch, and the parade will roll at 2:00 pm. Be sure to bring your water guns and buckets of water for reloading for the always fun and entertaining “gun fights”! This will be fun for the whole family! Regular day use fees apply.
If you would like to be in the parade, call 318-249-2595 to sign up!

Calling all youth in Jackson Parish! You are cordially invited to come to the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Sports Complex, located at 5254 Hwy 4 East of Jonesboro, at 5:00 pm on August 1st to attend YOUTH NIGHT.

Bring a friend and/or family members and come ready for an evening of faith-based fun complete with food, drinks, dessert, games, and fellowship. As a special treat, you will also be able to witness the testimony of Jackson Parish’s own Ashad Harris.

The administrators and staff of the Jackson Parish Ambulance Service (JPAS) Training Center are proud to announce that Christian Foster has passed the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) Cognitive Test to become a licensed Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

“Thank you for trusting Jackson Parish Ambulance Service Training Center to assist you on this journey. Be well and be safe.” – JPASD Administration

Christian is already serving Jackson Parish with his skills through his commitment to emergency medical services at the Jackson Parish Ambulance Service District (JPASD). Please join JPASD in congratulating Christian Foster – Advanced EMT!

It’s almost time for some football, and the Booster Club for Jonesboro-Hodge High School (JHHS) and Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School (JHMS) invites all members and Tiger Fans interested in showing their support by joining to come to the first meeting of the year, a “Meet and Greet” scheduled for Thursday, July 23rd. The event will take place at 6:00 pm in the JHHS Cafeteria. Refreshments will be served.

Time is running out but you still have a few days left to sign up for the Junior Golf Camp for those aged 6-17 that will be held at the Jackson Parish Golf Course from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm on July 27-29. The cost to attend is $30.00 per camper. The attendance cost includes a daily lunch.

During the three-day camp, golfers will learn golf terminology, learn what each club does, hit on the driving range, and play a couple of holes on the course! We will also have some friendly competitions, including a longest drive and putting contest! Each golfer will receive a starter bag that includes a sleeve of golf balls, a divot tool, golf tees, and more! And don’t worry, we will have clubs available for the kids to use if they do not have their own!

To register, call (318) 259-724, click here, or use the QR code shown below.

9th Annual Piney Woods 3-Man Scramble

Registration is now open for the 9th annual Piney Woods 3-Man Scramble, recognized as the biggest tournament of the year at the Jackson Parish Golf Course and one of the largest payouts of any amateur tournament in north Louisiana. The 36-hole, two-day event, played entirely in a scramble format, is slated for August 8 & 9, with 7:30 am and 1:00 pm shotgun starts each day. The entry fee is $225.00 per player or $675.00 per team, which includes one mulligan per player for the Saturday round. Flighting will be determined at the end of play Saturday, with first, second, and third place payouts expected in each flight based on a full field. A cash prize for closest to the pin on each day will also be given. To register, call or text Peyton Mitchell at (318) 245 – 4915 or Josh Stringer at (318) 475- 0812. You can also call the Jackson Parish Golf Course Pro Shop at (318) 259-7247.

Foursome Shoots 11-Under Par to Win Tuesday Scramble

The foursome of Cooper Williams, Seth Peterson, Josh Williams, and Daniel Rollinson fired an 11-under par round of 25 over the par 36 nine holes at the Jackson Parish Golf Course to win the July 21st edition of the weekly “Tuesday Scramble” that saw 26 players brave the summer heat as temperatures soared over 90 degrees.

Coming in second place in a scorecard playoff were Marty Wells, Hunter Wells, Chris Williams, Dennis Robertson, and Cody Donaldson, with Dwayne “Snook” Harrell, Roby Surber, David Chestnut, and Wayne Hay finishing in third after both teams shot 10 under par.

Tuesday Scramble Final Results

11 under par: Cooper Williams, Seth Peterson, Josh Williams, Daniel Rollinson

10 under par: Marty Wells, Hunter Wells, Chris Williams, Dennis Robertson, Cody Donaldson

10 under par: Snook Harrell, Roby Surber, David Chestnut, Wayne Hay

9 under par: Reeves Pullin, George Pullin, Remy Kennard, Liam Weaver

7 under par: Cecil Barham, Jase Martin, Sawyer Barham, Jeff Conville

6 under par: Lance Seymore, Andrew Seymore, Hayden Seymore, Tucker Barnett

The administration and faculty of Weston High School announce several important dates to remember for Kindergarten students before the upcoming school year. Letters will be mailed out soon with the day and time of your child’s appointment for testing along with more information.

Dates To Remember!
August 17-19: Testing Appointment
August 20: Girls Only Day
August 21: Boys Only Day
August 24: All Kindergartners Attend

Attention all JHHS and JHMS students who wish to take part in the “Tropical Thunder” Marching Band. If you wish to be a member of the JHHS marching band, you need to prepare to attend Band Camp that is scheduled for July 27 – August 13. The first two days (July 27-28) are for JHMS members only. The camp will run from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm, Monday through Thursday each week. Participants are asked to wear a white T-shirt, black shorts, and tennis shoes, while also bringing 2 cases of water and an proof of an updated physical. The band fee is $150.00 for high school students and $100.00 for Middle School students.

JHHS Flagline Tryouts

As part of the Band Camp, young ladies in the sixth grade and up will have the opportunity to try out for the award-winning JHHS Flagline. If you love to dance and want to represent your school, then come each day to the band hall on the JHHS campus from 8:00 – 3:00 pm Monday – Friday during July 27 – August 13. Participants should wear a white T-shirt, black shorts, and tennis shoes, bring a positive attitude, and be ready to work.

“The Unwelcome Tenants”

In the early months of 1915, New York policemen knew unsavory characters had been living rent-free in the dilapidated and seemingly abandoned building across the street from their station house in Brooklyn. Finally, in late April, construction workers began demolishing the old building. Only then did the policemen realize the scope of their problem.

As each floor was systematically disassembled, the unwelcome tenants just moved closer to street level. The tenants that left the building took up residence in adjoining buildings or lived in the street. They even began occupying the police station itself. When policemen chased one away, it seemed that two or three more would take its place.

The New York Times reported, “Policemen who have faced all kinds of danger unflinchingly do not hesitate to say that it makes them feel decidedly uncomfortable.”

That was an understatement. The problem with the unwelcome tenants was out of control. It affected all of the policemen in one way or another. Some were unable to eat properly. Others were unable to get a good night’s sleep. Their work performance waned. The whole area was going to pot.

The problem was not relegated to a single station house. Other New York police station houses, including Morrisania Police Station, Alexander Avenue station, and West 152d Street station, were facing similar crises.

In May 1915, the New York City Police Department added more than 100 new officers from a certain local tribe whose sole purpose was to rid their areas of the unwanted tenants by any means necessary. A team of new officers at the Morrisania Police Station was led by an officer named Peter, whom that station’s Lieutenant Peter Brady had adopted and named after himself years earlier.

In some cases, the police department filled the position by using the local homeless population, which solved two problems at the same time. At the Alexander Avenue station, one new officer was not only homeless but nameless as well. At the time of the New York Times’s report, the other officers at the Alexander Avenue station were trying to come up with a name for him.

One of the new officers at the Brooklyn Station who was described as being large and battle-scarred took the “by any means necessary” portion of his orders to heart. The New York Times reported, “No count was kept of the number of [them] which [he] dispatched, but those he failed to slay he routed completely from the station house, so terrifying them that, according to the police, [none] since has had the temerity to show his nose in the place.”

With the help of the new officers, the crisis of the New York Police Department was resolved. Why have you not heard of this murdering cop or his fellow officers who certainly performed similar atrocities against the unwelcome tenants? They were from, as the New York Times reported, the “Feline Tribe.” Those police officers and the unwelcome tenants were respectively… cats and rats.

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.

Perry J Thomas (Columbia, LA) – Warrant for Failure to Appear on Non-Support Charge
Jamarlin Johnson (Jonesboro, LA) – Illegal Carrying of a Firearm
Richard A. Pardue (Chatham, LA) – Aggravated Second Degree Battery, Aggravated Assault with a Firearm
Brett D. Vines (Chatham, LA) – Criminal Trespass
Ashley L. Scott (Eros, LA) – Attempted Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Dangerous Substance
Temeria Jefferson (Saline, LA) – Aggravated Assault, Simple Criminal Damage to Property, Simple Battery
Matthew J. Gray (Jonesboro, LA) – Possession of Schedule I
Carl L. Lee (Deville, LA) – Disturbing the Peace

Vacation Bible School is scheduled to begin at many churches in Jackson Parish. A schedule and themes of Vacation Bible Schools at area churches are shown below. 

Vacation Bible Schools in Jackson Parish

Hodge Baptist Church
1100 South Holly Street
Hodge, LA
Date: July 20-24
Time: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Theme: Illumination Station

Grace Community Church
814 Pershing Hwy
Jonesboro, LA
Date: July 24-25
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Theme: Radical Kids VBS: God’s Masterpiece

FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK: It is always the goal of the Jackson Parish Journal (JPJ) to provide the most up-to-date and ACCURATE news, sports, and information about what is taking place in Jackson Parish. It has been brought to the publisher’s attention that in the July 19th edition of the JPJ, the statement that the JP13U All-Star baseball team was the first team from Jackson Parish to compete in a youth league World Series tournament was inaccurate.

Thank you to the dedicated readers who helped point out the error, and please accept our apologies for the misstatement.

With the gracious help of Jackson Parish Recreation Department (JPRD) Director Justin Dodson, the Jackson Parish Journal is currently upgrading the historical records we have on file of the JPRD youth All-Star teams, especially regarding Little League, Dixie Youth, and Diamond Youth state champions, state runner-ups, and World Series qualifiers.

Seeking help! While the JPRD has much of the needed information on the teams and years they played that either won, finished as runner-up, or qualified for a World Series berth, the JPJ asks that anyone who has ACCURATE information on this please forward the name of the team, the year they competed, and, if possible, a team picture and team members.

The goal is to have a complete historical record of all the youth teams who have represented Jackson Parish as a state champion, state runner-up, or in World Series competition. Please help the JPJ make lemonade out of this lemon by sending your information to: jpjjacksonla@gamail.com.

Your assistance is appreciated, and congratulations to all who were selected to represent Jackson Parish in state or World Series play.

To have Public/Legal Notices, Business Services, Job Opportunities, Items for Sale, and Wanted-to-Buy items published, send an email to jpjjacksonla@gmail.com  or call 318-480-1206. Possible costs are dependent on the content.

SHERIFF’S SALE

PARISH OF JACKSON
STATE OF LOUISIANA

FIRST HORIZON BANK
#37730
DARRY LAMAR NELSON & JUDITH ANN HUMBYRD NELSON

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the Honorable Second Judicial District Court, Parish of Jackson, State of Louisiana, and to me directed, I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale for cash at JACKSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE, Jonesboro, Louisiana, on Wednesday, the 29 day of July, 2026, between the hours governing judicial sales, the following property to wit:

ALL THAT PART OF THE NE 1/4 OF SW 1/4 OF THE SE 1/4 OF SECTION 30, TOWNSHIP 16 NORTH, RANGE 1 WEST, LAND DISTRICT NORTH OF RED RIVER, JACKSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, LYING SOUTH OF THE CENTERLINE OF LOUISIANA HIGHWAY 146, CONTAINING 1.3 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, TOGETHER WITH ALL IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, APPURTENANCES THEREUNTO BELONGING AND COMPONENT PARTS.
AND
A TRACT OF LAND IN THE SOUTH 1/2 OF THE SW 1/4 OF THE SE 1/4 OF SECTION 30, TOWNSHIP 16 NORTH, RANGE 1 WEST, LAND DISTRICT NORTH OF RED RIVER, JACKSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS, TO-WIT:

COMMENCING AT AN ANGLE IRON FOUND MARKING THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF SAID SECTION 30, THENCE ALONG THE SOUTH LINE THEREOF NORTH 89 DEGREES 51 43” WEST 2635.82 FEET TO THE UN-MONUMENTED SOUTH QUARTER CORNER; THENCE ALONG THE WEST LINE OF SAID SOUTH 1/2 OF SW 1/4 OF SE 1/4, NORTH 0 DEGREES 17 ‘30” WEST 658.48 FEET TO THE UN-MONUMENTED NORTHWEST CORNER THEREOF; THENCE ALONG THE NORTH LINE THEREOF, SOUTH 89 DEGREES 54’ 07” EAST 467.28 FEET TO THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE GLADYS NELSON ESTATE 2 ACRE TRACT; THENCE CONTINUE ON THE LAST DESCRIBED COURSE, AND ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF SAID 2 ACRE TRACT, 295.68 FEET TO A 3/4” IRON PIPE SET MARKING THE NORTHEAST CORNER THEREOF, AND THE POINT OF BEGINNING, THENCE ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF SAID SOUTH 1/2 OF SW 1/4 OF SE 1/4, SOUTH 89 DEGREES 54’ 07” EAST 208.71 FEET TO A 3/4” IRON PIPE SET; THENCE DUE SOUTH 208.71 FEET TO A 3/4’ IRON PIPE SET; THENCE NORTH 89 DEGREES 54’ 07” WEST 208,71 FEET; THENCE DUE NORTH 208.71 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, CONTAINING 1.00 ACRES OF LAND, TOGETHER WITH ALL IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, APPURTENANCES THEREUNTO BELONGING AND COMPONENT PARTS, SITUATED IN JACKSON PARISH, LOUISIANA; SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS, SERVITUDES, RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND OUTSTANDING MINERAL RIGHTS OF RECORD AFFECTING THE PROPERTY.

Seized as the property of the above-named defendant and will be sold to satisfy said Writ and all cost, sale to be made for cash WITH benefit of appraisal.

BRENT BARNETT, SHERIFF
EX-OFFICIO, AUCTIONEER

June 17, 2026
July 22, 2026

SHERIFF’S SALE

PARISH OF JACKSON
STATE OF LOUISIANA

VANDERBILT MORTGAGE AND FINANCE, INC
#38157
MARLON M. JARRELL, JR., MARLON JARRELL, JR., MARLON JARRELL

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the Honorable Second Judicial District Court, Parish of Jackson, State of Louisiana, and to me directed, I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale for cash at JACKSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE, Jonesboro, Louisiana, on Wednesday, the 5th day of August, 2026, between the hours governing judicial sales, the following property to wit:

2006 CMH LOCEL MOBILE HOME BEARING SEARING NUMBER CS2008343TNAB, IMMOBILIZED ONTO AND INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY: LOT 2, 3, 4, & 5 OF BLOCK 1 OF EROS, LOUISIANA, AS SHOWN BY ORIGINAL PLAT AND SURVEY OF SAID TOWN OF EROS, NOW ON FILE AND OF RECORD IN THE RECORDER’S OFFICE OF JACKSON PARISH, LOUISIANA, TOGETHER WITH ALL IMPROVEMENTS THEREON AND APPURTENANCES THEREUNTO BELONGING, SITUATED IN EROS, JACKSON PARISH, LOUISIANA.

Seized as the property of the above-named defendant and will be sold to satisfy said Writ and all cost, sale to be made for cash WITH benefit of appraisal.

BRENT BARNETT, SHERIFF
EX-OFFICIO, AUCTIONEER

June 24, 2026
July 29, 2026

SHERIFF’S SALE

PARISH OF JACKSON
STATE OF LOUISIANA

SELENE FINANCE, LP
#38172
SKYLOR HOUSE, SKYLOR STEPHEN HOUSE, WHITNEY HOUSE, WHITNEY MORGAN HOUSE

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the Honorable Second Judicial District Court, Parish of Jackson, State of Louisiana, and to me directed, I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale for cash at JACKSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE, Jonesboro, Louisiana, on Wednesday, the 12th day of August, 2026, between the hours governing judicial sales, the following property to wit:

A certain tract of land being situated in the Southeast quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 19, and in the Southwest quarter of the Southwest quarter of Section 20, Township 15 North, Range 1 West, Land District North of Red River, Jackson Parish, Louisiana, and being more particularly described as follows:

Commence at a 1 1/2” pipe found marking the Southeast corner of Section 19, township 15 North, Range 1 West, Land District North of Red River, Jackson Parish, Louisiana, for the POINT OF BEGINNING; thence proceed North 89 degrees 46 minutes 10 seconds West along the South line of the Southeast quarter of the Southeast quarter of said section 19, a distance of 1,336.51 feet to a P.K. Nail set in Sandy Ridge Road and marking the Southwest corner of the Southeast quarter of the Southeast quarter of said Section 19; thence proceed North 00 degrees 22 minutes 13 seconds West along the West line of the Southeast quarter of the Southeast quarter of said Section 19, a distance of 4.97 feet to the center of said Sandy Ridge Road; thence proceed the following courses along the center of Sandy Ridge Road: North 42 degrees 47 minutes 41 seconds East, a distance of 16.08 feet; North 53 degrees 03 minutes 48 seconds East, a distance of 56.17 feet; North 55 degrees 00 minutes 24 seconds East, a distance of 60.56 feet; North 55 degrees 26 minutes 45 seconds East, a distance of 119.18 feet; North 54 degrees 13 minutes 51 seconds East, a distance of 118.63 feet; North 51 degrees 35 minutes 36 seconds East, a distance of 55.43 feet; North 48 degrees 58 minutes 10 seconds East, a distance of 56.57 feet; North 45 degrees 07 minutes 08 seconds East, a distance of 56.26 feet; North 39 degrees 36 minutes 52 seconds East, a distance of 56.25 feet; North 34 degrees 38 minutes 27 seconds East, a distance of 54.39 feet; North 32 degrees 36 minutes 33 seconds East, a distance of 56.44 feet; North 30 degrees 36 minutes 51 seconds East, a distance of 49.18 feet; North 26 degrees 31 minutes 42 seconds East, a distance of 49.91 feet; North 20 degrees 13 minutes 21 seconds East, a distance of 52.69 feet; North 12 degrees 10 minutes 41 seconds East, a distance of 51.47 feet; North 07 degrees 54 minutes 35 seconds East, a distance of 49.51 feet; thence leaving said Sandy Ridge Road, proceed South 81 degrees 40 minutes 31 seconds East, a distance of 731.75 feet to a 3/4 inch iron pipe found on the East line of the Southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of said Section 19; thence proceed South 89 degrees 51 minutes 40 seconds East, distance of 398.20 feet to a set 5/8 inch rebar; thence proceed South 00 degrees 15 minutes 02 seconds East, a distance of 604.29 feet to a 5/8 inch rebar set on the South line of the Southwest quarter of the Southwest quarter of Section 20, Township 15 North, Range 1 West, Land District North of Red River, Jackson Parish, Louisiana; thence proceed North 89 degrees 51 minutes 40 seconds West along the South line of the Southwest quarter of the Southwest quarter of said Section 20, a distance of 394.59 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, containing 20.000 Acres, more or less, and being subject to the right-of-way of Sandy Ridge Road and being further subject to all other rights of way, easements and servitudes of record and/or use. Together with all buildings and improvements located thereon (“Property”).

Seized as the property of the above-named defendant and will be sold to satisfy said Writ and all cost, sale to be made for cash WITHOUT benefit of appraisal.

BRENT BARNETT, SHERIFF
EX-OFFICIO, AUCTIONEER

July 1, 2026
August 5, 2026

SHERIFF’S SALE

PARISH OF JACKSON
STATE OF LOUISIANA

NEWREZ, LLC, ET AL
#38199
STEVEN J. MORRIS, STEVE MORRIS, SUSAN MORRIS

By virtue of a Writ of Seizure and Sale issued out of the Honorable Second Judicial District Court, Parish of Jackson, State of Louisiana, and to me directed, I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale for cash at JACKSON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE, Jonesboro, Louisiana, on Wednesday, the 2ND day of September, 2026, between the hours governing judicial sales, the following property to wit:

LOT 38 OF GLENDALE ADDITION TO THE TOWN OF JONESBORO, LOUISIANA, AS PER THE PLAT OF SAME ON FILE AND OF RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE JACKSON PARISH CLERK OF COURT TOGETHER WITH ALL IMPROVEMENTS THEREON, APPURTENANCES THEREUNTO BELONGING AND COMPONENT PARTS (PROPERTY).

Seized as the property of the above-named defendant and will be sold to satisfy said Writ and all costs, sale to be made for cash WITHOUT benefit of appraisal.

BRENT BARNETT, SHERIFF
EX-OFFICIO, AUCTIONEER

July 22, 2026
August 26, 2026

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Jackson Parish Ambulance Service District – This is more than a job, it is a Calling! From the developing Pre-Hospital Blood administration program to Dialysis transports, from Community Paramedicine to the East Coast of the United States for Disaster Response. We are forward-thinking and seek to hire the best Paramedics to accomplish our mission of serving Jackson Parish and being a blessing to our neighbors.

Part-Time and Full-Time positions available for all levels of experience (Tuition Reimbursement available with an Employment agreement for Full-Time status) Part-Time EMT and AEMT positions are also available.

For more information, call the JPASD Office at 318-259-2877 or by Fax: 318-259-2099 or go to: www.jpasd.com

Mail/Email applications to:
Attn: Aaron Johnson
115 Watts St.
Jonesboro, LA, 71251
jacksonparishambulance@gmail.com

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

BUSINESS SERVICES

BUSINESS SERVICES

BUSINESS SERVICES

BUSINESS SERVICES

FOR RENT

Inflatable Slide available for rent. Cost is $150.00 for 24 hours. Free delivery. To learn more or to make a reservation, call (318) 265-0027.

Free Puppies

Our sweet FREE male and female AKC registered Yorkshire Terrier puppies are ready to be rehomed. They are playful and affectionate, and they will make wonderful companions. If interested, contact: malyschristine65@gmail.com

Garland Pepper
Mar 12, 1940 — Jul 19, 2026

Garland Pepper, age 86, of Sikes, Louisiana, was called to his heavenly home on Sunday, July 19, 2026. He was born in Sikes, Louisiana, on March 12, 1940, to Lawson and Essie Pepper. Garland was the seventh of eight children in the family.

Garland graduated from Northeast Louisiana State College in 1962 with a degree in Science Education. He immediately began his working career as a high school science teacher at Colfax, Louisiana High School. This love of teaching and educating was woven throughout Garland’s life. He spent the bulk of his working career at the Texaco Louisiana Plant Refinery in Convent, Louisiana, where he finished his career as the director of Human Resources, once again conducting training and administering employee benefits among other responsibilities. Further, Garland spent a lifetime teaching Sunday school to adults at various churches they attended in Louisiana. Garland was instrumental in establishing and leading Baptist Men groups that traveled across North America from Alberta, Canada to Mexico, from Binghamton, NY to Pioche, NV, and many places in between, working with other Bible-believing people to construct dozens of churches where people could gather to worship. These same Baptist Men groups served victims of various natural disasters by performing acts of service, from clearing downed trees to helping to prepare and serve meals to victims and fellow workers. He truly lived a full and meaningful life that impacted those he met in a positive way. James 2:22-27 was a perfect description of how Garland lived his life. He was a doer of the word and not a hearer only.

Growing up on their family farm in Sikes, Garland developed a love for gardening, always sharing the fruits of his labor with family and friends. He was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, and papaw.

Garland was preceded in death by his parents, Lawson & Essie Pepper, and four brothers, Lewis, Leroy, Dale & Carl Pepper, and two sisters, Lorene Greene and Geraldine Compton. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Parker Pepper; children, David Pepper and Regina Hamilton and their respective spouses, Shari Pepper and Richard Hamilton; grandchildren, Matthew Hamilton and fiancé Chelsea Drake, Dana Pepper, Benjamin Hamilton, Whitney Buerkens and husband Robert Buerkens, and one great-grandchild, Chase Hamilton, son of Benjamin and Cynthia Baldazo; and brother Howard Pepper

Cheryl Pepper and family will receive friends and family in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, Louisiana on Saturday, July 25th from 9:30 am until 11:00 am, with a funeral service to follow immediately at 11:00 am, officiated by Reverends Brian McCallister and Trey Etheridge. Burial will follow at Wright Cemetery in Sikes, Louisiana, under the direction of Southern-Edmonds Funeral Home in Jonesboro, LA.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you support First Baptist of Jonesboro or Samaritan’s Purse, two organizations Garland served through.

JONESBORO, LA – Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana hosted a special check presentation on Thursday, July 16 at their Jonesboro Club. Company representatives from Smurfit Westrock and Boys & Girls Club staff, along with several Town of Jonesboro dignitaries, were joined by over 300 Club kids from across North Louisiana to celebrate this momentous dedication to investing in local youth.

The contribution of $171,357.00 euros, approximately $200,000.00, is funded by the Smurfit Westrock Foundation, an international organization that focuses on driving sustainable, positive change in local communities. By expanding resources for local children, the Foundation aims to bridge gaps in extracurricular development, giving Jackson Parish youth access to more tools, academic support, and leadership opportunities.

“Investing in the communities where our employees live and work is at the core of who we are,” said Rick Whiddon, General Manager of Smurfit Westrock’s Hodge Mill. “Our mill and the Smurfit Westrock Foundation are incredibly proud to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana. By helping to provide safe spaces, dedicated mentors, and enriching programs, we are building a brighter, more secure future for our local kids.”

This generous gift will fund essential facility upgrades at the McDonald Recreation Center, located at 400 Jeffress Street in Jonesboro, which is the home of the Boys and Girls Club. The first improvements to the facility since the 1950’s will expand the organization’s capacity to provide youth services and help ensure it can maintain its high standard of after-school programming and mentorship.

“We are so grateful for the generosity shown by the team at Smurfit Westrock and the Smurfit Westrock Foundation,” said Eldontá Osborne, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana and Jonesboro-Hodge High School alum. “This investment ensures our Jonesboro Club can continue to serve as a vital resource for local families. This funding doesn’t just fix up a building; it expands our capacity to keep rural youth safe, engaged, and inspired after the school bell rings.”

In interviews with KNOE-TV, Channel 8 in Monroe, which covered the event, Residents and town officials said the club provides kids with guidance that can shape their future

“It’s an opportunity for them to learn how to succeed overall in life,” Pine Belt Director Conchita Malone-Doyle said. “We have had many success stories for boys and girls.”

Jonesboro Mayor J. “Spike” Harris said the donation helps create positive opportunities for children and offers reinforcement amid challenges many young people face.

“The biggest thing is creating opportunities for our children,” Harris said. “Our children … get a lot of negativity. So this is a positive reinforcement for our children.”

Jonesboro resident and Smurfit Westrock lobbyist James Bradford said the contribution gives him hope for local youth.

“It lets me know that the boys and girls from Jonesboro have a future,” Bradford said. “And we look forward to it, doing even bigger and better.”

Organizers said renovations are expected to begin in the coming months. They plan to break ground by the end of July and start the construction process within the next two weeks.

About Smurfit Westrock Foundation
Smurfit Westrock Foundation is a registered charity in Ireland, established to create positive and lasting change in the communities where Smurfit Westrock operates. The Foundation supports sustainable, community-led initiatives focused on health and nutrition, education, and access to basic care, helping to improve quality of life for people in need.
For more information, visit www.smurfitwestrockfoundation.com.
Registered Charity Number (Ireland): 20078270.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana
Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana provides a safe, positive, and supervised environment for local youth to learn, grow, and succeed. Serving communities across North Louisiana, the Club delivers high-impact after-school and summer programming designed to foster academic success, healthy habits, and strong leadership skills. They are committed to ensuring every child has the mentorship and resources they need to build a great future. For more information, visit www.bgcofnl.org.

Beginning on July 24th, the Jackson Parish School Board will no longer issue student work permits based on a new state law that has shifted the responsibility for issuing minors’ employment permits from schools to employers. As a result, school access to the Louisiana Works Employment Certificate will be permanently discontinued.

Per Act 61, passed during the 2026 Louisiana legislative session, employers will now verify a minor’s age, maintain the required documentation, and issue the certificate through the new Louisiana Works process. If a minor presents an outdated worker’s permit application at a school, please direct them to the new employment certificate or to the Louisiana Works Office of Workforce Development at employmentcertificate@la.gov

For more information or questions, you can also call (225) 342-2683.

NOTE: (Reprint of Lincoln Parish Journal article published on July 15, 2026)

A traffic stop on Interstate 20 in Lincoln Parish last week resulted in the arrest of a driver after authorities reported finding suspected marijuana and firearms during a vehicle search. Deiondre C. Hall, 24, of Jonesboro, LA was arrested by state police at about 9:46 p.m. July 11.

According to an arrest affidavit, a state trooper saw a red Nissan Sentra traveling east on I-20 near milepost 74 move into the right lane without first signaling. The vehicle later activated its left turn signal and changed lanes without signaling at least 100 feet before the movement, before exiting at the milepost 77 exit ramp.

The affidavit states the trooper made contact with Hall, the vehicle’s sole occupant, and detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. When asked, Hall said there were two firearms in the center console and marijuana in the trunk. A records check showed Hall’s driver’s license was under suspension

A search of the vehicle located a Glock 9mm pistol and a Glock .40-caliber pistol. Suspected marijuana and two short-barreled rifles were found in the trunk. According to the report, one bag contained approximately 80 grams of suspected marijuana, and another contained approximately 54 grams. Material used for packaging drugs for distribution was found.

Hall was booked for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of firearms in the presence of a controlled substance.

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.

Other than the host state, which has three teams competing, no other state had more than one team chosen to participate in the 10U Diamond Youth Softball (DYS) World Series, currently being played in Laurel, MS, which fields state champions from nine states, except one. That is the state of Louisiana represented by 10U state champion Jefferson Parish Recreation Department (JPRD) East and the local “dandy dozen” from Jackson Parish, who finished as state runner-up.

You have to give the DYS organization officials credit. They knew what they were doing when they chose Louisiana as the only other state to be awarded multiple representatives for World Series play. Heading into Saturday evening, only three teams remained unscathed, one of them being Saluda, the state champion from South Carolina. The other two? Both teams from Louisiana.

Some might think it is a surprise for a state runner-up to be one of only three undefeated teams at that point in the competition. They just don’t know how good Kylee-Ayn Allen, Malia Gunter, Lyla Hall, Kaylee Hammons, Caylee Mauthe, Ryleigh Puffer, Kadence Sampey, Natalie Sullivan, Mercedes Taylor, River Waggoner, Mez’Meri Walker, and Brenleigh Whitman under the guidance of manager Kristen Allen and coaches Cheyenne Allen and Bethany Garner.

A look back shows that JP10U is 16-2 overall against DYS teams across the state, the only losses coming against JPRD East, who beat the locals twice in the state tournament. On June 12-13, JP10U won all five games in a pre-district tournament in West Monroe. That was followed by four straight victories in the District 4 tournament played at the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Sports Complex on June 26-28. Two victories to open the state tournament, held in Buckeye, LA, from July 2-5, stretched the winning streak to 11 straight before JP10U faced JPRD East, which saddled JP10U with its first loss. Two more victories in the elimination side of the bracket put JP10U in the championship game, where once again they fell to JPRD East.

Fast forward to the DYS World Series, which concludes on Sunday. Jackson Parish opened by winning their two Pool Play games, first a thrilling 6-5 victory over Columbia, Mississippi, followed by an 19-0 trouncing of Hope Mills, North Carolina. In bracket play, Jackson Parish took a hard-fought 11-9 victory against Adams, Tennessee, setting up a game against, guess who? Yep, you got it, JPRD East, who beat Jackson Parish 14-4 late Saturday evening, dropping the locals into the elimination side of the bracket.

Jackson Parish is now scheduled to play Rusk, Texas, who lost 4-3 to Adams, Tennessee and beat Petal, Mississippi 5-1 in Pool Play before losing 8-1 to Saluda, South Carolina in the first round of bracket play and staying alive by beating Adams, Tennessee 7- 0 in an elimination game.

The first pitch is scheduled for 11:00 am on Sunday, with the winner of that game playing the loser of JPRD East and Saluda at 4:00 pm for the right to play for the World Series title at approximately 6:00 pm, or one hour after the end of the previous contest.

World Series Recap For Jackson Parish

Jackson Parish 6, Columbia, MS 5 (Game One Pool Play): Kadence Sampey scored on a grounder by Caylee Mauthe to give Jackson Parish a thrilling “walk-off” victory in extra innings that saw both teams scoring at will early on before the game turned into a pitcher’s duel over the last three innings. Playing under the extra innings rule of putting a player on second base to start the inning after the two teams battled to a 5-5 tie in regulation play, Sampey was placed on second base in the bottom of the extra inning, leading to Mez’Meri Walker getting hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. Natalie Sullivan ground out, advancing both runners. Mauthe then hit a comeback to the Columbia pitcher, who threw to first, but by reading the play, the heady Sampey got a tremendous jump and beat the throw home for the winner. Not overshadowed was the great defensive effort in the top half of the extra frame by Mauthe and Ryleigh Puffer, which put JP10U in position to win. With a runner on second to begin the inning, the Columbia batter hit a slow roller to third baseman Puffer, whose throw to first was late, but the alert Mauthe immediately fired the ball back across the diamond, where Puffer applied the tag to get the runner who was on second out. Winning pitcher Kylee Ayn Allen, who was a game hero in her own right after limiting Columbia to just one hit over the final three innings, then got two consecutive ground outs to keep Columbia scoreless. Both teams came out scoring, taking advantage of erratic pitching and play. Columbia tallied three times in the top of the first without a hit, thanks to two walks, a hit batter and three errors. Undaunted, JP10U regained the lead in their half of the inning when Natalie Sullivan led off with a single, went to second when Mauthe walked, and scored on Malia Gunter’s single. A ground out by Allen scored the second run, setting up a walk to Brenleigh Whitman and a passed ball that evened the score. Puffer’s ground out led to the fourth run being scored. Columbia came right back to take a 5-4 lead, but once again Jackson Parish rallied thanks to consecutive walks to Kaylee Hammons, Sampey and Walker, leading to yet another walk to Mauthe that tied the game.

Jackson Parish 19 Hope Mills, NC 0 (Game Two Pool Play): Nine walks and six hit batters by Hope Mills pitching, along with three errors, led Jackson Parish to the easy two and a half inning victory that saw the locals score the most runs in a game all summer. Malia Gunter got two of the four hits accumulated by Jackson Parish, with Kylee-Ayn Allen and Ryleigh Puffer also hitting singles. Every player either scored at least one run or had an RBI in the team effort. Scoring twice were Natalie Sullivan, Caylee Mauthe, Puffer, Brenleigh Whitman, Mercedes Taylor, Kaylee Hammonds, Kadence Sampey and Mez’Meri Walker, with Gunter, Allen and Lyla Hall also crossing home plate once. River Waggoner contributed with an RBI. Also coming up big was the duo of Sullivan and Allen, who combined to strike out eight and allow no hits.

Jackson Parish 11 Adams, TN 9 (Game One Bracket Play): With the score tied at 6-6, Jackson Parish plated five runs in the last two innings to outscore the game opponent. Caylee Mauthe and Natalie Sullivan led the team’s tournament-best 12-hit attack with three hits each, with Mauthe scoring three runs and knocking in four and Sullivan, who stroked a triple and got hit by a pitch, scoring three runs. Kadence Sampey added a pair of hits and two RBI, while Malia Gunter got a hit and walked twice, leading to her scoring three times. Kylee-Ayn Allen got a hit and knocked in a pair of runs, Ryleigh Puffer added a hit and an RBI, Kaylee Hammons hit a single, got hit by a pitch and scored, and River Waggoner scored a run after walking. Mercedes Taylor walked twice, and Brenleigh Whitman got a free pass. JP10 U jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Sullivan and Gunter opened by getting hit by a pitch and singling, respectively, followed by Mauthe knocking in two with a single. Consecutive two-out walks to Brenleigh Whitman, Mercedes Taylor and Lyla Hall brought in the final run of the frame. After falling behind 4-3, JP10U took a two-run lead in the top of the third inning when Sullivan led off with a triple, Gunter walked, and Allen hit a sacrifice grounder to tie the score. Mauthe then hit an RBI single and later scored on an error. With the score tied at 6-6, Jackson Parish opened up a 9-6 lead in the top of the fifth inning. Sullivan got the rally started with a single followed by a walk to Gunter. Three consecutive singles by Allen, Mauthe, and Puffer led to the scoring. Two more runs, which ended up being needed, were added in the top of the sixth when River Waggoner drew a walk and went to second after Kaylee Hammons got hit by a pitch. Kadence Sampey then hit a single that scored both. The runs proved to be crucial as Adams scored three runs in the bottom of the inning on a pair of walks, a fielder’s choice, and two errors before the attempted rally was squelched.

JPRD East 14 Jackson Parish 4 (Game Two of Bracket Play): Once again, JPRD East got the best of Jackson Parish, scoring five runs in the top of the first and, after Jackson Parish had clawed back to within one run, blew the game open with seven runs in the top of the fourth. Down five before their first at bat, JP10U showed their grit and determination to narrow the deficit to just one run, as the first six batters reached base before an out was made. Natalie Sullivan stroked a single to get things started and went to second when Malia Gunter walked. A Kylee-Ayn Allen single loaded the bases, leading to consecutive walks to Caylee Mauthe, Ryleigh Puffer and Brenleigh Whitman that narrowed the deficit to 5-3 and left the bases loaded with no one out. Another walk to Lyla Hall made it 5-4, but with the bases still jammed, all three runners were stranded when the JPRD East pitcher buckled down to get a pair of strikeouts.

Jackson Parish 13U All-Stars recently became the first local baseball team ever to play in World Series competition. Making history would, in itself, be a memory that lasts a lifetime, but even though it is hard to believe, it gets even better. They made history not once, but twice!

When JP13U beat Chester, South Carolina, 11-6 in the opening round of bracket play of the Dixie Boys Baseball World Series played in Sterlington, LA, this past week, the squad representing the Jackson Parish Recreation Department made history once again by becoming the first-ever local youth baseball team to WIN a World Series contest.

Sadly, the tremendous experience of playing against the best teams from the southeastern United States came to an end when they were eliminated from the tournament after losing to, ironically, another team from north Louisiana, Bossier City, by a 7-3 score. It was the second time that Bossier City beat JP13U following a 12-2 defeat in the first game of pool play on Wednesday, July 15th. This was followed by another pool play loss, this time by a 9-1 margin to West Columbia, South Carolina.

Managed by Dusty Tolar and coaches Brandon Reed and John Ables, the JP13U team consisted of Thatcher Savage, Mason Tolar, Jaxen Culpepper, Grant Griffin, Shepard Norred, Caston Zimmerman, Aiden Reed, Jackson Ables, Jase Reed, and Carter Powell.

Managed by Dusty Tolar and coaches Brandon Reed, John Ables the JP13U team consisted of Thatcher Savage, Mason Tolar, Jaxen Culpepper, Grant Griffin, Shepard Norred, Caston Zimmerman, Aiden Reed, Jackson Ables, Jase Reed, and Carter Powell.

Eleven teams participated in the 2026 Dixie Boys Baseball World Series, including 4 from Louisiana (Jackson Parish, Winnsboro, Bossier City, Sterlington) and two from South Carolina (West Columbia, Chester). Additional teams hailed from Texas (Texarkana), Florida (Spring Hill), North Carolina (West Robeson), Tennessee (Dyersburg), and Arkansas (Texarkana).

Dixie Boys Baseball 13U World Series Recap

Bossier City, LA 12 JP13U 2 (Game One Pool Play): A ten-run second inning by the northwest Louisiana opponent was too much to overcome in the opening game of pool play. Down 12-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning, JP13U demonstrated great heart and determination by refusing to roll over and scored two runs before making the final two outs of the inning. The attempted rally started when, with one out, Sheppard Norred drew a walk, and Aiden Reed got hit by a pitch. After both advanced a base on a wild pitch, Jaxon Culpepper plated both with his second hit of the day, the other being a first-inning double. Jackson Parish got three other hits in the four-inning contest, one each by Reed, Thatcher Savage and Mason Tolar. Grant Williams, Jackson Ables and Jase Reed also got on base via walks.

West Columbia, SC 9 JP13U 1 (Game Two Pool Play): Jackson Parish gained their first lead of World Series play when Jaxon Culpepper singled, stole second and third base and scored on a Grant Griffin sacrifice fly but West Columbia rallied to score four runs in both the bottom of the first and second innings to pull away. JP13U managed only two more hits in the contest, one being a Caston Zimmerman double adn the other coming from the bat of Griffin. Jase Reed also reached base on an error.

JP13U 11 Chester, SC 6 (Game One Bracket Play): Jackson Parish put together their most complete game of the World Series, collecting 7 hits and 10 free passes that led to at least one run being scored in all five frames, including three in the second, third, and fifth innings. JP13U jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Aiden Reed opened the contest with a walk and scored on Grant Griffin’s sacrifice groundout. Caston Zimmerman followed with his second double in two games, and Thatcher Savage drew a walk, but both were left stranded on base. Reed, who was the winning pitcher, struck out two to keep Chester scoreless, leading to JP13U upping the lead to 4-0 when Jaxon Culpepper hit a bases-clearing double after Jase Reed and Sheppard Norred drew walks and Aiden Reed got hit by a pitch. A nifty double play orchestrated when pitcher Reed caught a liner and fired to first to double up a Chester runner who had walked to keep Chester scoreless in the second led to JP13U adding three more runs to the lead in the top of the third whenThatcher Savage opened with a single and scored on a Jase Reed base hit. Mason Tolar then got hit by a pitch, and Aiden Reed smashed a triple to plate both. Chester narrowed the deficit to 7-4 in the bottom of the third, but JP13U added another run in the top of the fourth inning when Grant Griffin walked and scored on Thatcher Savage’s double, the fourth extra-base hit of the game for the locals. With the score 8-6, JP13U put the game away with the final three runs when Jase Reed walked, Mason Tolar reached base on a dropped third strike, and Sheppard Norred drew a base on balls to load the bases. Aiden Reed singled to score one, leading to Norred scoring on a passed ball and Jaxon Culpepper getting an RBI with a sacrifice groundout.

Bossier City 7 JP13U 3 (Game Two Bracket Play): It looked like JP13U would be enjoying sweet revenge early on, but a 3-0 lead after two at-bats disappeared over the final three innings, eliminating the locals from the tournament. Opening the game as the visitors for the third straight time, Jackson Parish quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to Jaxon Culpepper coaxing a one-out walk, both Grant Griffin and Caston Zimmerman hitting back-to-back doubles, and Jackson Ables getting an RBI on a sacrifice groundout. The lead expanded to 3-0 in the next inning after Jase Reed and Mason Tolar walked and Culpepper hit a clutch two-out single. JP13U held the lead until Bossier City scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning before adding two more in the bottom of the fifth for the final runs.

Tournament Summary: As a team, JP13U scored 17 runs in the four games and achieved a .324 batting average with 22 hits in 68 official plate appearances, which included 8 doubles and one triple. Jaxon Culpepper led with a sterling .600 batting average with 6 hits in 10 at-bats, three of which were doubles. He also led the team with 7 RBI. Thatcher Savage scored a run and knocked one in while his double was one of his four hits, leading to an even .500 batting average. Hitting .375 was Aiden Reed, who had the only triple of the tourney, knocked in a pair and tied for the team lead with 4 runs scored, and Grant Griffin, who hit a double, scored twice and was second on the team with 3 RBI. Caston Zimmerman, who had a team-tying best 3 doubles, was close behind with a .364 average. Jase Reed hit .250 with a hit in four official plate appearances but led the team with four walks, was tied for the team lead with four runs scored and had an RBI. Mason Tolar reached base three times with a hit, a walk, and getting hit by a pitch, while Sheppard Norred scored three runs and drew three walks, and Jackson Ables drew a walk and knocked in a run