70 Years Ago October 29, 1953
Lula Robertson, daughter of Mrs. Sally Robertson, of Routon Route, was brought to Jena hospital Oct. 21 from a San Antonio, Texas hospital where she was being treated for injuries received when struck by a truck on Oct. 6. Her right leg was broken and her left one was severely bruised. The accident occurred while Miss Robertson was walking across a San Antonio street to a café. She was employed at Brooks Air Force Base. Roy and Howard Robertson, brothers of the injured girl, brought her here from San Antonio.
Homecoming at Louisiana Polytechnic Institute in Ruston is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31. The Queen will be Claire Nattin, of Homer. Maids are Louise Murchison, of Ruston; Marinelle Coon, of Jena; Patsy Stephens, of Shreveport; Emma Jean McLaurin, of Ruston; Jo Ann Evans, of Minden; Millie Tinsley, of Ruston; Rebecca Whisenhunt, of Minden; and Jan Cooksey, of Shreveport. The queen and her attendants will preside at the homecoming football game between Tech and Southwestern Louisiana Institute at 2 p.m., and at the annual T club dance in the women’s gymnasium at 8 p.m.
On the weekend of October 29, 1953, The Strand played “Conquest of Cochise,” “Grand Canyon Trail,” and “Jungle Woman.”
60 Years Ago October 31, 1963
Jimmy Huff, a quick thinking and fast running salesman of Winnsboro, prevented a truck run-away Wednesday, Oct. 16. Huff had just parked his truck on a hill in Jena when another truck was beginning to move. The truck was minus a driver. Huff quickly saw the truck rolling downhill, gathering speed as it moved. He ran after the truck, caught it, jumped inside, and braked it to a halt. He drove the truck back up the hill and parked it, this time in gear. “You never know what to expect when you are a salesman” he remarked. “I am just glad I was able to stop the truck before it rolled out on the main highway and caused a lot of damage and maybe killed someone.” Huff had been a salesman with Martin’s Ice Cream Co. for one and a half years and has a “no accident record.”
Jesse B. Allbritton, towerman at Bay Springs for Louisiana Forestry Commission, has been awarded a certificate for 15 years outstanding service. The award was presented at a recent district meeting of the Commission. Allbritton has aided the Commission over the past decade and a half to establish one of the best fire records in the state in the Bay Springs area.
At Save-Way Super Market you could buy 25 lbs. of Pillsbury flour for $1.79, 3 lbs. of shortening for 57 cents, and 3 lbs. of bacon for 59 cents.
50 Years Ago October 25, 1973
A National Guard Dozer operated by Sgt. E. E. Jones Jr., of the Jena National Guard Unit, clears ground for a new baseball field to be in the new addition to the Jena Town Park. The dozer worked over the weekend on the baseball field in effort to clear all underbrush and make way for leveling and construction of another baseball field. The Jena Town Council recently acquired a large portion of land across the blacktop street from the park for new additions, which will include the new baseball field, nature trails, picnic tables, and designated picnic areas. Council member, A. D. (Buddy) Willis, was put in charge of the development of the new park area, worked with the national guard in this work last weekend. He is hopeful that the new field will be ready for use in the spring.
Halloween Specials at Walker’s Discount Food Center included a dozen medium eggs for 59 cents, a pound of ribs for 79 cents, and a 2 ½ lb. jar of peanut butter for 99 cents.
They had a special at Butch’s Place for all you can eat catfish for $2.
40 Years Ago October 26, 1983
Four forest fires in September burned four acres in Lasalle Parish, according to the monthly report of the State Office of Forestry. The September to 32 the number of fires which have burned 144 acres in Lasalle so far this year. Statewide, 153 fires were reported during September with 682 acres being burned off. For the year, 3,089 fires have burned 25,552 acres. Through September 1982, 4,183 fires had burned 41,744 acres, meaning the acreage burned in 1983 dropped by 38.8 percent from the 1982 totals. The average size of the fires also dropped from 9.9 acres in 1982 to 8.3 acres this year, the report shows. Of the 153 fires in September, 67 were classified as having been caused by incendiary burning and 53 by debris burning.
The Annual Jena Jr High Halloween Carnival was hosted on Monday, October 31.
The Annual homecoming of the Georgetown, Rochelle, and Selma alumni association was held at the Georgetown High School on November 6. Reverend U.K. Fletcher was the guest speaker.
25 Years Ago October 28, 1998
Old Glory, torn and tattered, is removed from the flagpole at the LaSalle Shooting Range last Tuesday afternoon for a unique flag burning ceremony. Sheriff Dennis Warwick contacted the leaders of Wolf Pack No. 14 of Jena to assist in the “official flag burning ceremony” which was held at the shooting range. Explorers Robert Atkins and Andy Hailey removed the flag as JHS Band Director John Duskey played the “taps” as part of the official ceremony.
Chonda Pierce, a well-known Christian singer/comedian made an appearance at East Jena Baptist Church on December 3.
The 1998 Colonial Trails Christmas beauty and sportwear pageant was held on Saturday, November 14, at the Woodmen of the World Lodge in Jena.
The annual working and memorial service at Pine Grove Cemetery was held Saturday, November 7, 1998. Reverend Ken Gilmore brought the message.
10 Years Ago October 30, 2013
A Live Scan fingerprinting workstation has been added to the line of services provided by the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office. Fingerprints are placed along a glass plate and electronically scanned. The new service will allow private employers, state agencies and other entities the ability to submit an applicant’s fingerprints to the FBI LPD for the purpose of positively identifying prospective employees.
Members of the Jena maintenance crew along with Superintendent David Miller stand at the site of the Jena’s Vision Community Garden, which is located across Bradford Street from the town barn and near the Council on Aging building. Jena Mayor Murphy McMillian has announced that turnips and mustard greens are ready to be harvested and invite everyone to come, take what you need, and if you know of a shutin, gather enough for them too. The garden will be prepared and fertilized by the town crew and be ready to plant in early spring. Those obtaining a plot will be responsible for planting, cultivating, and harvesting their crop. Mayor McMillan said town officials want to see how much interest there is for citizens to have a place to plant a small plot of ground. If there is enough interest, the town will provide a small storage building on the site for storage of hand tools used in the garden. Town officials again invite everyone to get a mess of turnips or mustard greens, and to let the folks at town hall know if you are interested in a garden plot in the spring.
