News

The 2019-20 public school session in La-Salle Parish officially got underway on Tuesday of this week when school personnel met for professional training and continued on Wednesday. Students will report to classes tomorrow (Thursday) throughout the parish.

Classes at the Head Start School in Good Pine will also begin on Thursday, Aug. 15th.

Classes at Temple Christian Academy in Jena will begin on Thursday, August 15th.

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The audit for the year ending December 31, 2018, reveals the town of Jena is in very sound financial condition, as the mayor and members of the Town Council learned during the regular August meeting held Tuesday night of last week.

Wes Gore, CPA, with the auditing firm of Silas Simmons, LLC of Natchez, Mississippi, met with the council and mayor to go over the contents of the latest town audit.

“The audit for the year ending December 31, 2018, shows the town to be in good financial condition and we did not have any findings in our audit,” Gore said. “We gave the audit an unqualified opinion, which is the best an audit can receive. This is thirteen years in a row that you have received an audit of this nature.”

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When qualifying ended last Thursday afternoon, a total of 74 candidates had thrown their hats into the ring for 27 offices in which LaSalle Parish voters will be helping to decide at the fall elections.

No statewide or district candidate escaped opposition. However, on the local level, three officials will be returned for another term of office without opposition. They include Clerk of Court Steve Andrews, who will be in his fourth term; Assessor Tom Kendrick, who will be in his third term; and District 6 Police Juror Jack Zeagler.

One other office only had one qualifier and he will be declared elected - Dr. Mathew Erickson as LaSalle Coroner. Incumbent Coroner Dr. I. C. Turnley, Jr., who is ending his 15th term, or 60 years as coroner, did not seek re-election because of health issues.

Gabe Firment of Pollock has qualified as a candidate for Representative to represent District 22, which includes a majority of LaSalle Parish, all of Grant, and portions of Winn, Natchitoches and Red River parishes.

Firment has issued the following statement to voters in District 22, which includes all of LaSalle except District 5, 6 and 10:

“I am running for LA State Representative in District 22 in 2019 because I am gravely concerned about our state and what the future holds for our children and grandchildren.

“The state of Louisiana has been blessed with abundant natural resources and is home to the greatest people in the world, however, decades of mismanagement, corruption, and good ole boy politics have decimated our communities and forced our family members to flee to other states to make a decent living.

The 2019-20 public school session in LaSalle Parish officially gets underway next week under the watchful eye of third-year LaSalle Superintendent of Schools Janet Tullos.

Teachers will report for in-service training at Jena High School on Tuesday August 13th. Other training has been planned for Wednesday, Aug. 14th, as well as teachers will be getting their classrooms ready for the new school year.

Public school students will report to school for a full day of classes on Thursday, August 15th. Classes at the Head Start School in Good Pine will also begin on Thursday, Aug. 15th.

Classes at Temple Christian Academy in Jena will begin on Thursday, August 15th. Open house at the school will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 13. Pre-K 3 and 4 students will not report to classes until Monday, August 19.

This old house…

“There may be other houses older but this is the only one I know of that is still being lived in,” Malcolm Jameson said while rocking on the front porch swing of his 1860’s home in Urania.

A story in the July 3, 2019 issue of The Jena Times noting early landowners in Urania prompted Jameson to reach out to the newspaper with the story of his 150-plus year old house.

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Qualifying for this fall’s state election began on Tuesday, August 6, and will continue through Thursday, August 8.

Legislative and local candidates can qualify at the LaSalle Clerk of Court’s office in Jena. Clerk Steve Andrews reminds candidates that qualifying fees (listed elsewhere in this issue) must be paid by cash, certified check or money order. (Personal checks will not be accepted.)

Statewide candidates will qualify with the Secretary of State in Baton Rouge. Candidates will receive a campaign finance package when they qualify

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