After a year and a half I returned to LaSalle Parish to check on old friends and see the progress being made in the area. Of course we had been kept updated by the Jena Times-Olla-Tullos-Urania Signal but there is no better way than a personal visit to our former home in Jena, Louisiana.

Mary Ann and I spent time in LaSalle and on down to Catahoula Parish to do some fishing in Tew Lake and remembering the good old days in my early years. Gosh I hate to think of how many years ago that was!!

We were able to attend First Baptist, Jena’s midweek prayer service and later had a chance to have dinner with friends at Ms. B’s restaurant in downtown Jena. After dinner on Thursday, we walked around town and at that time we got our first look at the newly completed LaSalle Parish Library. What a great addition to Jena’s down town renovations and beautification.

We were pleased with the architectural design and placement of the new building on the property. The landscaping around the building and the positioning of parking for library use and after hours parking for the, soon to open, Strand Theater (Performing Arts Center) were well done. When we were able to read about the new facilities and services added to the interior we were even more impressed.

I remember all those years the LaSalle Parish Library Board worked to raise and save funds to completely renovate the Olla Branch of the Parish Library and now the replacement library building adds to Jena’s downtown beautification. I salute the efforts of the board: Anita Tarpley, Barbarean Elmore, Joyce Lynn Holcomb, Melba Pugh, Sammy J. Franklin, and Ex-Officio member June Fowler; and to those who served earlier as board members.

After getting back home to Lumberton, Texas, I received my copy of the latest edition of the Jena Times covering the “Business-Industry Appreciation Week-2021.” (Another well deserved salute to the government, community, education, public service and industry of LaSalle Parish.)

I called Editor Sammy Franklin to compliment his good efforts as owner/editor and his volunteer efforts as President of the Library Board and their most recent success. Each time I mentioned his name he would interrupt to give someone else credit. That’s the Sammy we all know. I didn’t know Sammy prior to our moving to Jena in the 1990’s, but one can conclude that he was advised in his early years to follow the second golden rule: “If you don’t worry about who gets the credit, it is amazing how much can be accomplished.”

We plan to return to Central Louisiana for a family reunion in late October and have already requested a guided tour of the new LaSalle Parish Library.

Murphy McMillin