January 2021

Benoit selected as post’s 2020 Citizen of the Year

This month, the American Legion post in Jennings honored Carl Benoit as 2020’s Citizen of the Year for Jennings.

Benoit has a long history of service in the area. He has been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 55 years and the American Legion for over 20 years. In the past, Benoit was on the boards for the Carnegie Library as well as the city’s zoning commission, and currently, he volunteers at the Jennings hospital.

Even so, Benoit said he was not expecting to be receive such an honor.

Welsh observes MLK Day

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WELSH - What is the purpose of observing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?

Welsh resident and parade organizer Eddie “Bruiser” Achane said the answer to that question is easy.

“It’s about educating ourselves and those around us about coming together, no matter who we are,” he said. “Our communities are growing. We can find people of every background you can think of in our communities. They need to know the power of Dr. King’s message, which was felt around the world.”

USDA: CFAP assistance available for ag producers

Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, D.V.M., said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing additional assistance for agricultural producers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

Now eligible for assistance are contract producers of swine, broilers, laying hens, chicken eggs and turkeys. Producers could receive up to 80 percent of their revenue loss subject to the availability of funds. Producers of pullets and turfgrass sod are also eligible for CFAP payments.

JPD Students of the Year recognized

The Jeff Davis Parish School Board has announced the names of three individuals who have been deemed Students of the Year for the parish.

This year on the high school level, Elton High student Kaleb Lemoine received top honors. Lacassine High student Kinzie Brassell earned the title for the middle school category and for the elementary level, Welsh Elementary student Hyacinth Williamson was the winner.

Over a dozen students competed for the parish title after winning their respective school’s competitions.

Those winners and their schools include the following:

Lady Tigers Chop Down Div III No. 1 LCA

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The Class 2A No. 1 Lake Arthur Lady Tigers slayed their district 6-2A nemesis Lafayette Christian 58-48 on the road Friday night. Guard Brooke Daboval drives around an LCA defender in the win. Check Wednesday’s printed Jennings Daily News for a full recap of local games throughout the area.

Rescuers should use compression-only CPR during pandemic

Dear Doctor: A few years ago, you had a column about why it’s important to know CPR. My boyfriend took the Red Cross class, and he actually ended up helping someone once. But what about now, during the pandemic? Is it safe to give or get CPR?

Dear Reader: Considering that a main avenue of transmission of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is believed to be respiratory droplets from an infected person, your question about CPR is a timely one.

Louisiana taking nominations for state poet laureate

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana is taking nominations for state poet laureate.

John Warner Smith’s two-year term ends in August, and Louisiana’s poets laureate cannot serve two straight terms.

People can send nominations through Feb. 24 to the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.

The position requires traveling the state for two years, encouraging people to explore and engage with poetry.

Poets must be born in or living in Louisiana, and must have published works in books, anthologies, literary journals or magazines.

Put Your Resolutions in Easy Reach

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Setting New Year’s resolutions is one thing but keeping them is another. Look for ways to make it easy to stick with your plan this year so you can celebrate victories when you reach your goals.

The first step in achieving your resolutions is setting yourself up for success. Arm yourself with the resources you need to eliminate obstacles. That might mean finding the right gear, like exercise equipment or cooking supplies, or using tech tools to learn about the benefits of certain foods for better health.

Disaster unemployment aid available for Hurricane Zeta

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — People in six parishes whose jobs or businesses were lost or interrupted when Hurricane Zeta struck Louisiana in October can apply for disaster unemployment aid through Feb. 12, according to the state labor department.

The unemployment aid became available last week when President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Louisiana because of Zeta. The storm made landfall Oct. 28 in Lafourche Parish as a Category 3 hurricane.

Risky behaviors that can lead to chronic disease

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