August 2019

Veterans council makes improvements

The Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home Council announced a host of improvements that have been approved over the last few months.

Social services director Jodi Frey shared details of what the council members have been working on.

“The council requested a new 86-inch smart television for Unit 3,” said Frey. “It is now mounted on the wall for residents to enjoy.”

Willard Smith

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Funeral services for Mr. Willard Smith, 87, of Jennings will be held Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, at 2 p.m. in Miguez Funeral Home in Jennings ,with Bro. Jack Harris officiating.

Visitation for Mr. Smith will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 30, 2019, and continue until time of service.

Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Miguez Funeral Home.

STATE BRIEFS

Authorities: Suspect wounded, deputy’s belt deflects bullet

RIVER RIDGE (AP) — Authorities in Louisiana say a deputy was spared a serious injury when his gun belt deflected a bullet and a suspect was shot and wounded during an incident that began with a call to help someone with mental health issues.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Ca pt. Jason Rivarde tells news outlets the suspect was also bitten by a police dog Thursday night. He says deputies were at the River Ridge scene more than an hour when someone pulled out a gun and fired at a deputy.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Calendar Guidelines

Thornwell street dance gains festival status

The Jeff Davis Police Jury reached a decision this week on a request to officially declare the Thornwell Harvest Street Dance a festival.

In June, organizers approached the police jury looking to obtain festival status, saying it would help them obtain local and state grants and attract more visitors into the parish. At the time, police jury president Donald Woods asked that the police jurors have more time to research issues such as liability insurance before making a decision.

The bloody truth about US immigration policy

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Last week, I got an email from my friend Chris Casazza, a partner with the immigration firm Solow, Isbell and Palladino in Philadelphia. He reached out to tell me about something that had happened to a former client, and he hoped that I could tell the story.

Here is the part of Chris’ email that convinced me I needed to write this column:

JAMBOREES KICK OFF SEASON

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The Jennings Bulldogs dropped a heartbreaker to the Iowa Yellow Jackets 10-7 on a 67-yard TD pass with 50 seconds left on the clock in the second half at the Bubba Oustalet/ Jennings High School Jamboree Thursday night. The Dogs were clinging to a 7-3 advantage with just under a minute to go on third-and-long, however a long throw-and-catch led to the Jackets ultimately snatching victory from defeat.

Coming Home

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After serving nearly 23 years with the U.S. Army and living out the rest of his life in other cities, one Jennings native found it fitting to retire here in his hometown.

Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence Phillips made the decision to take up residency at the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home.

“I recently arrived here from Texas to be with my fellow comrades while each of us, in our own way, awaits our final roll call,” said Phillips.

Born to Lorenza and Louis Phillips Sr. on March 24, 1931, Phillips said he grew up in a time where work was a must.

Tigers nudge Panthers in double overtime

LAKE ARTHUR - To say the least, it was an emotionally-draining contest.

And when Kip Carter hauled in a pass in the back of the end zone, sheer bedlam broke loose in Lake Arthur.

Fans in the stands rose as unison in one. Those who had ringed the field were submerged in ecstasy. They had watched their Tigers fight back from a 15-0 deficit and overcome a determined, battling Bunkie Panther team, 22-15, to take a Class 2-A regional playoff win in double overtime.

This column has no one topic

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I’M JUST SAYIN’

When I have no one topic to discuss or complain about, I like to touch on a medley of topics. These are my lagniappe columns, containing a little bit of everything.

• The balls are back in town

Football and basketball season are getting underway, meaning I need to take out a small loan to afford admission fees. This week I paid $5 to get into a junior high game for an hour. A few friends said I was lucky since they have children to pay for as well at $5-$8 per head.