70 Years Ago November 12, 1953
A fire destroyed the Denton Lumber Co. sawmill, of Goodpine, last Friday night. Damage was estimated at $30,000 by the owner L. O. Denton. No one was injured. The fire which broke out about 8:30, was started by a diesel engine which pulls the mill. The slab conveyor was in operation since clean-up work was being done at the time. The fire, of course, halted operation at the mill, but rebuilding work started Wednesday. Denton said the mill would be in operation by the first of 1954, providing everything went along according to present plans.
60 Years Ago November 14, 1963
A late model car driven by Mrs. Joy Gail Thompson headed toward Jena and hit a cow Wednesday, November 6, sideswiped a truck, and spun off the highway, stopping in a shallow ditch. Mrs. Thompson and her sister, Miss Barbara Bruce, were not seriously injured. They were treated at the Jena hospital for cuts and bruises. The car was a total loss. The accident happened about six miles west of Jena as the car was coming from Tullos and crossed the bridge at Funny Louis creek. It hit the cow as it came off the bridge, knocking the cow about 60 feet into the front of an empty truck and trailer. The left side of the cab was damages. Elmo Taylor was driving the truck and was unhurt. He tried to avoid the wreck by going off the shoulder of the road. However, the Thompson car, out of control from the impact with the cow, crossed the highway and stopped in the ditch. The women were thrown from the car.
Alvie D. “Bubba” Hawthorne of Jena was promoted to airman third class in the United States Air Force. Airman Hawthorne, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert R. Hawthorne of Jena, was a student at the Keesler Technical Training Center at Keesler AFB, Mississippi. The airman, a graduate of Jena High School, attended Northeast Louisiana State College at Monroe.
50 Years Ago November 8, 1973
Navy Ensign Ralph C. McCrory, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray C. McCrory of Jena was designated a Naval Aviator and received his “Wings of Gold” during ceremonies here. He completed a year of intensive ground and inflight training and was assigned to specialized advanced training. He was a 1962 graduate of Jena High School.
John Mackey Francis enlisted in the U.S. Navy on October 29. John is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Francis of Jena, La. John is a 1973 graduate of Jena High School and worked for Amberg Trucking Co., prior to enlisting in the Navy. According to Navy Recruiter, Chief Pete Farmer, John was at the U.S. Naval Training Center in Orlando, Florida, to undergo recruit training. John was trained in the Aviation field of the Navy and was stationed on the East Coast for shipboard
duty.
40 Years Ago November 9, 1983
The Jena Fire Department answered eight calls during the month of October, according to a department report submitted to the Jena Town Council last Thursday night by Chief Eugene Waits. Special activities sponsored in October during Fire Prevention Month included fire department demonstrations to who Boy Scout groups, Trout Goodpine Kindergarten, Jena Head Start and Walmart. In the other department business, fireman Mickey Baher and David Dyer attended special schools on breathing apparatus at the Pollock Volunteer Fire Department; and Ed Gaudet attended a three-day school on firemanship at Louisiana State University.
The Grant family will be featured singers at a gospel singing Saturday night, November 12 at 7 p.m. at the Aimoch Baptist Church. The pastor, Rev. Kelly Clark and members invites everyone to attend. Refreshments will be served afterwards.
25 Years Ago November 11, 1998
About three hundred seniors attended the first annual Health and Safety Fair held last Saturday at the Jena Fair Barn. A color guard from the 1086th Transportation Company, Louisiana National Guard, stationed at Jena to present the “colors” during the opening ceremony. The LaSalle Parish TRIAD, sponsor of the event, termed it a tremendous success. Seniors were treated to a variety of health and safety program, fed a delicious lunch, and entertained during the event. The meal was made possible by Ginny’s Restaurant of Jena, Mac’s Big Star, Coca-Cola bottling company of Alexandria and meat cooked by members of Whitehall Pentecostal Church. Despite the bad weather on Saturday, the turnout was great and TRIAD expressed their thanks to everyone who attended and participated.
Louisiana State Police recovered a small pipe bomb near the diversion canal off La. 28 in lower LaSalle Parish last Wednesday afternoon, November 4. Troopers were dispatched to the Catahoula Lake Diversion Canal after a call was received from a local resident. Upon arrival, troopers found a half inch-long plastic pipe bomb fitted with a fuse, string and weight. A state police bomb squad detonated the bomb without incident, authorities reported. Lt. Young Kilpatrick said the bomb carried a charge equal in strength to a half stick of dynamite. The maker of the bomb likely intended to use it for fishing, Kilpatrick stated.
10 Years Ago November 13, 2013
Jena Mayor Murphy McMillin signed a proclamation last Friday, November 8th, declaring Monday, November 11, 2013, Buddy Poppy Day in the Town of Jena. On hand for the signing ceremony was Dina Liles, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Whatley-Flaherty Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5502 of Jena. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the World War I Buddy Poppy. VFW Buddy Poppies are assembled by disabled veterans and proceeds from this worthy campaign are used exclusively for the benefit of disabled and needy veteran and for widows and orphans of deceased veterans. Auxiliary members delivered the Buddy Poppies in Jena on Veterans Day, and accepted donations for the program.
Good Pine Middle School held their fall carnival, which was a great success with dozens of students and their families in attendance. Attendees participated in various activities like bingo, a cake walk, dunking booth, costume contests, games and the haunted hallway. The GPMS PTO used the proceeds to purchase a new sound system fir GPMS and extended their appreciation to all who came out to enjoy the carnival.
