70 Years Ago

June 10, 1954

The movies playing at Pop’s Drive-In Theatre this week were “Shane,” “Pony Express,” “Jumpin’ Jacks,” “Miss Sadie Thompson,” “In Old California,” “Fighting Coast Guard” and “Mississippi Gambler.” All children are invited to join the “Reading Round-Up” this summer at the LaSalle Parish Library. The library is sponsoring a reading club from June 1 to August 15. Any boy or girl who wants to participate may. Reading certificates will be awarded to persons reading at least 15 books on his/ her reading level. Each child interested will be given a folder in which to keep a record of the books they read. Only 15 books are required to be awarded a certificate. For each additional three books read, a brand will be stamped on the certificate. Books may be read from any library’s branches or from the bookmobile. Last summer, approximately 300 children earned reading certificates. It is hoped that a larger number of certificates will be earned this summer.

At Kendrick and Son, half a ½ gallon of Borden’s ice cream is 69 cents, 2 large containers of Blue Detergent Rinso were 49 cents, a lb. of T. Henry coffee was 89 cents and 7 packets of Kool Aid were 29 cents.

60 Years Ago

June 11, 1964

The Father’s Day sale at Urania Lumber Company Store included $1 champ lighters, Timex watches for $7.95 and Amity Wallets with prices ranging from $4.95 to $7.95.

Sp-4 Jerry Lee Sharp, U.S. Army, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alton Sharp of Rhinehart and a 1960 graduate of Jena High School is on his way home. Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Army June 27, 1961. He has been stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany since November of 1961. He left there June 6, went to Bremerhaven, Germany and sailed for New York June 7. He should arrive there about June 15. He will then come by plane to Alexandria or New Orleans.

Sate Adjutant General Erbon W. Wise has assigned Maj. Gen. Raymond H. Fleming (Ret) the task of collecting historical items for the new military museum at Jackson Barracks. General Fleming has been associated with Louisiana’s military forces for nearly half a century. The museum, housed in the redecorated Library and Archives building which many years ago was the 108th Calvary club, is currently displaying an array of organizational colors of past and present Louisiana militia and National Guard units.

The movies featured at the Strand this week included, “The Prize,” “Diamond Head,” “Man from Galveston,” “Irma La Douce,” “Golden Arrow” and “Gladiator Seven.”

50 Years Ago

June 6, 1974

Mr. and Mrs. Herman Williams are shown in front of their Jena Western Auto Store, which was decorated for Howdy Neighbor Day. This is the second year in a row that the Williams have won the “Best Decorated Business” contest.

Penny Sue Franklin of Jena was in Nashville, Tennessee about six weeks ago to sign a recording contract and make her first record which is being released to major country-western radio stations throughout the United States this week. This record, released under “Owen’s Records” label is entitled, Side 1 “Lemon Baby” and on Side 2, “Mississippi Rainstorm.” The record is scheduled to be mailed Wednesday from Nashville to about 500 radio stations in the United States. She recently signed a recording contract with Oweman Records, Ron Manning, owner with Earl Paul, one of Nashville’s leading producers as producer of the first recording. Penny Sue Franklin, 12 years old, began her country-western singing over six years ago when she won an amateur talent show at Saturday night country music show known as the Catahoula Country Music Show. She was five years old at that time and sang songs made by Loretta Lynn, Norma Jean and other top female artists. During the last six years, Penny Sue has made numerous appearances at country and western music shows throughout Louisiana. When she was six years old, she appeared on a local show with Ernest Tubb and helped Tubb sing songs that he and Loretta had recorded, with Penny doing Loretta’s parts. She has also appeared om programs with several other top stars including Conway Twitty, Buck Owens, Norma Jean, Sammi Smith, Jerry Wallace, Jimmy Newman and others.

40 Years Ago

June 6, 1984

U. S. Olympic commemorative coins are now available at the LaSalle State Bank, downtown Jena. The U. S. Treasury is minting these gold and silver coins to commemorate and support the Olympic effort. The coins from left to right, are the 1984 $10 gold piece, the 1984 Olympic silver dollar and the 1983 Olympic silver dollar. Coins can be purchased singularly or in sets.

Paul Ott, nationally noted conservationist, and entertainer was in Jena recently and presented a program entitled “Energy, the Environment, and You” to students at Jena High, Jena Junior High and Goodpine School, and to the Jena Kiwanis Club. The LaSalle Homemakers Council sponsored a program for the general public. Ott’s appearance was made possible by the Louisiana Power and Light Company.

The LaSalle Parish Police Jury voted to declare a state of emergency and have a water well replaced at the Rogers Community during a brief special meeting Monday afternoon. The jury took the action so the Rogers Water System could begin drilling a new well without waiting to complete the regular bid process. The jury also approved a resolution to be sent to the state requesting funds for the project. The resolution was a matter of formality needed, although such funds have already been approved. The system will use operating funds to remake the old well which will be used as a back-up water supply.

25 Years Ago

June 9, 1999

Workmen with James Robbins Construction Company sandblast the framing of the arcades at Jena Junior High School as part of school board contract awarded in late May. Workmen removed all the old metal roofing on the arcades, will sandblast and paint the framing before installing new metal roofing. Robbins said most of the framing is in good shape and will not need replacement. The cost of this project is $115,000. The school board accepted bids totaling $661,268.22 for work at eight of the parish schools and much of that work is now underway.

A 25-year-old LaSalle Parish man was sentenced to dual five-year terms in state prison during a session of district court. He was sentenced to serve 5 years at hard labor with the Department of Corrections on the first charge of distribution of cocaine and ordered to pay cost. He was sentenced to serve five years at hard labor on a second charge and pay with sentences to run consecutive. Upon release from prison, he is to pay cost within six months. Special conditions of the court were that he be recommended for the Blue Walters program, after care and random drug testing.

Students at Fellowship Elementary School held a “School Pride Day” shortly before the end of the 1998-99 session. Students cleaned and weeded the flower bed in front of the school. Others help by painting, cleaning and raking leaves around the campus. When school opens in the fall, the facility will have four new classrooms which are now under construction.

10 Years Ago

June 11, 2014

The Jena Town Council has approved a proposal for the construction of the Third Street Plaza, to be paid for with funds from a $1 million DOTD Transportation Enhancement Grant, which was approved two years ago. The Plaza would start at the Jena Town Square and proceed south to Pine Street and include a trail and traffic lane on both sides, and parking for about 78 cars down the middle of the Plaza. The complete area would be resurfaced and scored to appear like the brick in front of the Town Square.

The Community Development Foundation held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, May 23rd to celebrate the new office facilities of ServiceMaster Commercial Cleaning Services in Tupelo, Mississippi. Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton was in attendance as well as other city and business leaders, ServiceMaster employees, friends and family. ServiceMaster Clean is a contract janitorial company that provides the latest and most efficient technology. Matt Copeland the Owner is a graduate of Jena High School and the University of Mississippi. He is the son of Terry and Pam Copeland of Fort Smith, AR, formerly of Jena.