News, Reflections of the Past, April 12, 2000, LaSalle Parish, La. REFLECTIONS OF THE PAST ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Copied by: Pat Ezell, PatEzell@worldnet.att.net Submitted by: Kathy LeMay Kelly, P.O. Box 219, Trout, La. 71371 From the Jena Times - Olla Tullos Signal, Wed., April 12, 2000, Section B, Page 10 Thank You to the Times -Signal for allowing the following to be added to the Archives. From The Files… REFLECTIONS OF THE PAST 50 YEARS AGO APRIL 13, 1950 Four years past the century mark and still going strong. That is the distinction achieved by Mr. William D. Townsend of Olla, reported to be the last surviving Confederate Veteran now living in Louisiana. Having long outlived the Biblically-allotted three score and ten years, Mr. Townsend and his wife of the past 10 years this Sunday, April 16, will receive his friends and well- wishers at their modest little home at Olla in observance of his 104th birthday which occurred April 12. Three recent enlistments through the Jena U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force recruiting station were reported this week. The young men were Carl E. Boyette, 18, of Olla; Aaron P. Wilson, 17, of Urania; and William H. McBroom, 18, of Urania enlisted for 3 year periods in the Coast Artillery Corps of the U.S. Army. All three were assigned to the 10th Infantry division, Fort Riley, Kansas, where they will take their basic training together. Election sidelights - Sherman Harp, who will go down in local history as the man who rode a wheelbarrow down the main street of Jena, told us that just before he and Emmanuel Jones shoved off, W.T. Hodges ran up and demanded that Emmanuel show his driver's license. 40 YEARS AGO APRIL 14, 1960 Coach James Gilbert reported this week that 19 more youngsters have reported for spring football practice and the squad now numbers 34. Reporting for the team this week were: Jimmy Willis, Tony Wilson, Ken Duke, Mike Steed, Don Smith, David Taylor, Tommy Carraway, Johnny Lamb, Edwin Burnum, Lyndell Willis, Allen Fortson, Johnny Williams, Gregg Wilbanks, Tony Tarpley, Kenneth Cockerham, Bennie Cockerham, Hoss Claire, Butch Ganey, and James Willis. Duane and Reggie LaCour, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Lester LaCour of Tullos, were honored on April 4 at 7 p.m. with a birthday party. Three cakes, cold drinks, and coffee, were served to the following: James and Janice Allbriton, JoAnne Loberg, Howard, Randy and Jesse McCarty, Orville, Larry and Glenda Sandifer, Bruce, Sherry, and Annette LaCourt, and Edward Beckwith. Richard L. McPherson, fireman apprentice, USN, returned to Alameda, Ca., aboard the attack aircraft carrier USS Midway after a 7 month tour of duty with the U.S. Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. The 62,000 ton war ship, Flagship for the Commander Carrier Division Five, furing the cruise, visited Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. R.L. Brown, president of the LaSalle Wildlife Association, announced this week that the armadillo and possum rodeo appears to be headed for a great success. He related that Tom Otwell stated "the woods are full of armadillos and most of them have lost their ears." 25 YEARS AGO APRIL 10, 1975 A birthday part was given for Steven Grimm on his 1st birthday, April 3rd, in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Grimm. Refreshments of cake and Kool-Aid were served to the guests. Those attending were: Rodney Smith, Teresa, Ginger, and Matt Grimm, Teena, Sarah, and Emmett Green, Todd Coon, and other members of the family. The LaSalle Heart Fund Drive is underway and every effort will be made to reach the quota of $2,500. Each person is urged to make a contribution to this worth cause. Suzzone Veerkamp, 4-H Club member at Urania Elementary School, placed first in the third annual forestry slogan contest. Suzzone was awarded a white nylon jacket decorated with the 4-H emblem. Dan Evans, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Evans, was the recipient of the DeKalb Senior Award at the Jena FFA Parent and Son Award. Presenting the award was Lee McDowell, Advisor of the Jena FFA. 10 YEARS AGO APRIL 11, 1990 Olla Elementary School students raised more than $1,900 while Jena Elementary School third graders raised $350 to benefit the Central La. Chapter of the state Multiple Sclerosis Society during the recent MS Read-A-Thon. Leading Olla in funds raised was Cassie Taylor, third grade, who read the most books (128) to bring in $123.00 for the cause. At Jena Elementary, Tessa Thaxton was the top fund raiser with $325.00. Claudie J. Hill, a student at Jena High School, and daughter of Wayne and Beck Speaks of Jena, recently enlisted in the U.S. Army Delayed Entry Program. She will be attending basic training at Fort Dix and advanced training at Fort Same Houston as a Patient Administration Specialist. Winners of the parish wide Elementary Spelling Bee sponsored by Delta Kappa Gamma last Saturday were: Brent James, 1st place from Jena Elementary School; Amanda Hooter, 2nd place from Jena Elementary; and Chasity McGee, 3rd place from Olla- Standard Elementary School. P.J. Westbrooks, senior Automotive Technology student at Jena High School, placed first in the La. Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VIC) Skills Olympics (Automotive Technology Division) held in West Monroe. P.J. was awarded the VICA gold medal, a $6,000 scholarship to Denver Auto-Diesel College in Denver, Colorado, and a tool box.