70 Years Ago
December 31, 1953
The Jena Garden and Civic club members entertained their husbands and other invited guests with a covered dish in the Fellowship Hall of the Nolley Memorial Methodist church on the evening of December 15th. The serving hostesses for the occasion were Mrs. Georgia Butler, Mrs. Lillie Flowers, Mrs. Setta Stephens and Mrs. Grace Spinks. The tables and lovely Christmas decorations were arranged by Mrs. Mildred Stevens, Mrs. Catherine Richey, Mrs. Stella Drewett and Mrs. Myrtle Holmes. After a bountiful dinner, Mrs. Grace Spinks directed games, which were heartily enjoyed by all.
At Save-Way Super Market a lb. of chocolate drops were 25 cents, two 10 oz. bags of Curtiss marshmallows were 29 cents and Aunt Jemima Meal was 69 cents for a 10 lb. bag.
The Strand played “Killer Ape,” “Susanna Pass,” “Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Society,” “Bad for each Other,” “Hannah Lee” and “Wings of Hawk.”
60 Years Ago
January 2, 1964
Pvt. Tommy G Paul, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willie H. Paul, who live in Jena, completed eight weeks of military police training at the U.S. Army Training Center, Fort Gordon, Ga., December 13. During the course, Paul received instruction in such subjects as civil and military law, traffic control, map reading, prisoner of war control and self-defense. Paul entered the Army in August of this year and completed basic training at Fort Polk. The 23-yearold soldier is a 1958 graduate of Jena High School.
At Doughty’s Department Store you could buy men’s suits for $25, ladies’ hats for 99 cents, suiting materials for 99 cents per yard, and pants for $2.99.
This week the Strand featured “Kiss of the Vampire,” “The Bravados,” “Kettles on Macdonald’s Farm,” “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” and “The Man Who Knew Too Much.”
50 Years Ago
December 27, 1963
Women comprise 1.9 percent of the nation’s 29 million veterans. The Veterans Administration reported today. The figure includes 8,500 separated from military service in fiscal year 1973. Acting VA Regional Office Director Anthony R. Lentini said there are 542,000 women veterans, 305,000 of whom are credited with World War II service. Nurses that served during the Spanish-American War and World War I women veterans totaled 15,000. Vietnam-era women veterans numbered 91,000 through June 30, 1973. During World War I, women served as military nurses, Navy Yeomanettes and women Marines. The Women’s Army Corps was now established until World War II.
Goodpine 4th grade winners in the Parish-wide 4-H Forestry slogan contests were Jo Ann, Nelson, Brenda Philips, Kenneth Young, Dewayne Mitchell, Lorri Butler, Shonda Thaxton, Mona Biles, John Charles, Danny Ainsworth, Mike Barnes and Mike Wilson.
A three-day youth revival will begin this Thursday, December 27th at the Chickasaw Free Methodist Church, and continue through Friday and Saturday. Reverend Bill Robinson will be filling the pulpit during the revival effort with serviced at 6:30 p.m. nightly. On Monday, December 31, the church will host an All-Night Singing Festival, starting at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to join in singing the old year out and the new one in.
40 Years Ago
December 28, 1983
Two Libuse men and an 11-year-old boy were found today safe late Saturday night after they spent all day in a duck blind on Catahoula Lake, when their boat failed to start early in the day. LaSalle Sheriff Wayne Mc-Guffee said his department received a call about 9 p.m. Saturday night reporting the three were missing on the lake. Willie Tradewelll, Wildlife Agent and Shelby Master’s, sheriff’s deputy, found the trio about 11 p.m. They were identified as Ronnie Jenkins, Jeffrey Jenkins and Mike Jenkins all of Libuse. The three had went on the lake before daybreak Saturday to duck hunt. When they attempted to return to land their boat’s motor wouldn’t start, and the trio remained in the duck blind. Sheriff McGuffee said the men had a heater, which was nearly out of fuel when they were rescued and the boy was terribly cold.
A resident of Trout received her diploma from Louisiana State University at Alexandria December 20 in ceremonies on the LSUA campus. Doris Rhame Price received an Associate Degree in Nursing from Dr. Martin D. Woodlin, president of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College.
25 Years Ago
December 30, 1998
Leaders of the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA), the oldest youth rodeo organization in America, appointed J. D. Coon of Jena to the Wrangler High School All Star Rodeo Team, the first-ever corporate-sponsored youth rodeo team. The Wrangler High School All Star Rodeo Team fashioned after Wrangler’s Champion Pro Rodeo Team which includes superstars like Ty Murray and Dan Mortensen. J. D. Coon earned a position on the team based on leadership qualities, academic eligibility and athletic achievements. J. D. is a team roper and his roping partner is Dustin Gilcrease of Leesville. A senior at Jena High School, J. D. has competed for four years in the Louisiana High School Rodeo Association. He is a member and serves as president of the 4 Rivers High School Rodeo Club of Jonesville. His parents are David and Sharon Coon.
Site preparations for the new Sabine State Bank is underway on U.S. 84 west in Jena and bank officials are hopeful to be able to occupy the new facility by spring, according to Jakki Richardson, Vice-President. The new bank is being modeled after facilities in other locations and will feature 4,000 square feet of floor space, four offices, a meeting room, four teller windows and three drive-through lanes. The bank will be accessible from U.S. 84. Sabine State Bank presently operates from a building on Pine Street in Jena, across from the old post office building. Sabine officials are looking forward to their new facility.
Forty-four area families received food baskets to help them enjoy a brighter Christmas holiday, thanks to efforts of the Kiwanis Club and La-Salle Ministerial Alliance.
10 Years Ago
January 1, 2014
Officers, directors and committee members if the Olla-Urania- Tullos-Standard Economic Development District (O.U.T.S) met at the site of the new German Pellets plant, which will be built at Urania within the coming year. German Pellets announced last week that construction on the plant will begin immediately, and production is expected to begin at the plant in the Spring of 2014. German Pellets estimates that the new Urania plant will create 500 jobs, directly and indirectly.
Jena High School students from Mike Doughty’s English II Honors class and Lynn Enterkin’s gifted classes recently held a mock trial centering around the book, “Lord of the Flies,” by William Golding. J. Christopher Peters, Judge of the 28th Judicial District Court, presided over the mock trial as the students served as attorneys, witnesses, the bailiff, etc. The mock trial was held in the LaSalle Parish Courthouse before the Christmas holidays. During the trial, students were able to observe and learn how Court functions. The old “Zeke Hudnall dog trot house,” built around 1895, was moved into the Jena Town Park last week and will be used as they interpretive center on the nature trail in the park. The house was donated to the town by Zeke’s great-grandson, Curtis Hudnall of Liberty, Texas, with Hudnall donating the funds to have the house moved and set up in the town park.
