It will be a busy month of activities for the Town of Jena as members of the Jena Town Council learned last week during their regular monthly meeting held October 2.

Jena Mayor LaDawn Edwards told of four big events taking place this month, starting first with Jena High School’s homecoming that occurred last Friday, October 8.

At the end of the month, three big events will take place, including a fundraiser for breast cancer.

“There will be a Breast Cancer Awareness Parade through town on Saturday, October 28,” Mayor Edwards said. “We will leave the town park at 4 p.m. and make our way through town and circle back to the park.”

Any person wanting to participate in the parade will be asked to donate $10 or more and all types of vehicles will be permitted in the parade.

“You can decorate your bike, scooter, motorcycle, golf cart, side-by-side, jeep, etc.,” the mayor said. “Forms, donations and wrist bands are available at Miss B’s and I would like for as many people to join us as possible so we can paint the town pink!”

Following the parade that same day, Saturday, October 28, the Town of Jena’s annual Trunk or Treat event will take place at the town park from 6-8 p.m.

“This is always an exciting and safe time for the local children,” Edwards said. “We are asking our churches, businesses, groups, individuals and organizations to help by providing a trunk.”

In previous years, hundreds of children attend the event dressed in their Halloween costumes and walk around the amphitheater park area where all types of “trunks” in the form of booths are set up where the children are given candy and other gifts.

To join the festivities by providing a station at the event, contact the Jena Town Hall at (318) 992-2148.

The Mayor also noted that the official Trickor- Treating night for the town will be held on Halloween Day, Tuesday, October 31st, from 6-8 p.m.

Edwards also informed the Council that other important meetings were held during the month of September, including a post Sales Along 84 meeting with organizer Lavelle Evans.

“The inaugural event held this year was a great success and I can tell you that they are in full swing for next year,” she said. “We are looking forward to its growth.”

She also noted that on September 21, she and Council Members Lester Francis and Donny Richardson attended the LEDD Legislative Update at First Baptist Church Olla and on September 27 the town held the first of many meetings with the engineer and architect concerning the Water Sector Grant that the town recently received.

“I just want to commend the town employees who attended the meeting because their knowledge of our water lines helped tremendously,” Edwards noted. “They knew every detail about our lines, including sizes, locations and types.”

In departmental reports, Superintendent Ronny Steele noted that water production decreased during the month of September from August by 22%.

“This is due to the extreme hot weather days in August where we produced a lot of water and since the weather has cooled down not as much water is being used,” Steele said.

He also reported that the town continues to experience water, sewer and gas issues, mainly due to the work of contractors in the area. He noted that other towns and communities are experiencing the same problems as out of town crews work to install fiber internet lines.

“The street improvement project (East Jena) was completed on September 26 and they will be repairing a couple of manholes that were damaged during the project,” the Superintendent noted. “A final inspection is set for this week (Oct. 2-6).”

The Superintendent also said that on September 25, the motor on the Welch Water Well burned up and was taken to Alexandria to see if it could be repaired.

“We had a new motor on hand, which was installed within hours, and the well was back in service,” he noted. “The bad motor has been repaired and will be brought back to the shop, which will give us a spare motor for any future breakdowns.”

Steele also informed the Council that they will be picking up two new town work trucks last week, trucks that were ordered over a year and a half ago. Also being picked last week was the town’s new excavator.

Jena Fire Department Firefighter Jeffery Benson delivered the monthly fire report, noting that compared to the summer months, September was a relatively “slow month.”

The department responded to 17 alarms during September, including five forest, grass or brush fires, four rubbish fires, and one alarms of the following: Tree removal, gas leak, structure, service, vehicle, alarm activation, powerline/ electrical and unauthorized burning.

Benson noted that as of last week the burn ban is still in place for LaSalle Parish and tickets continue to be issued for those refusing to abide by the ban.

Also during September, department members attended three training meetings, including a two-part search and rescue class that included classroom and hands-on training and a fire department communications training.

In the police report, the submitted document noted that during September, the Jena Police Department made two arrests, issued two citations, had 11 vehicle assists, worked three vehicle accidents and responded to 90 complaint calls.

During September, the department collected $2,810.50 in fines and other costs.