Samantha Kelly, Rotarian of the week and clerk of Winnfield’s City Court, introduced the special guest of the Rotary Club on July 14, 2021, Winnfield City Judge Keith Gates, also a Rotarian. Gates, who was elected without opposition last year and took office on January 1, 2021, spoke about the jurisdiction of Winnfield City Court and the division of duties between himself and Eighth Judicial District Court Judge Anastasia Wiley, who was also elected without opposition last year.

Judge Gates was raised in Goldonna. After completing a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration at Northwestern State University and a juris doctorate and a Bachelor of Civil Law degree at LSU Law Center, he clerked for a Louisiana Supreme Court justice, engaged in private practice in Lafayette, and helped found a legal organization called Cause of Action in Washington, D.C. Then he returned to this area and went into private practice as the Gates Law Firm, serving as Winnfield City Attorney for the last several years until his election as City Judge in 2020.

Gates explained to the group that Winnfield City Court was formed in about 1952 and was granted jurisdiction—the authority to decide legal disputes and criminal prosecutions—over the territory encompassing the town/city of Winnfield and any ward in Winn Parish which touches a boundary of Winnfield. Of Winn Parish’s seven wards, six borders on Winnfield, and are thus included within the territorial jurisdiction of Winnfield’s city court. The only ward in Winn Parish which does not fall within the jurisdiction of city court is the one which includes the area around Dodson and Sikes.

The legal matters within the city court’s jurisdiction, according to Judge Gates, include criminal misdemeanors (offenses punishable by incarceration up to six months). These are mostly traffic tickets, but also including disturbing the peace and assault. Felony matters (punishable by more than six months at hard labor) are prosecuted in district court. All DWI’s (driving while intoxicated) are heard by the district court as well, at the discretion of the district attorney.

As for noncriminal matters, the city court has jurisdiction over evictions, as well as debt collections, recovery of leased property, and other contract disputes and personal injury matters involving amounts up to $30,000. Jury trials are not available to litigants in city court, so most personal injury matters involving claims for more than $20,000—the amount which must be in dispute to qualify for a trial by jury—are filed in district court.

Judge Gates explained that the city judge and the district judge both have jurisdiction over and responsibility for magisterial matters within the city and the six wards covered by city court, and he and District Judge Anastasia Wiley share those duties. Magisterial matters include things like signing arrest warrants, holding probable cause hearings (48-hour hearings) for arrests made without a warrant, hearings to appoint an attorney to represent a defendant who cannot afford to pay for one (72-hour hearings), setting bonds for criminal defendants, and signing instantly effective protective orders. As city judge, Gates sets bonds for criminal offenses occurring within the city, while the district judge sets bonds on all offenses occurring within the parish outside the city limits. Judge Gates handles all 72-hour hearings assigned to him by telephone, three days a week.

Gates said that, while he is allowed to maintain a private practice, he devotes most of his time to his duties as city court judge.

To see if he could determine if COVID-19 has had an impact on the matters proceeding through Winnfield City Court, Judge Gates reviewed the number of filings in his court, the Eighth Judicial District Court and courts statewide for 2019 and 2020 and found that filings in 2020 in the district court went down by 21%, statewide down about 22%, and in Winnfield City Court down only about 8%. He said there seemed to be a lot more traffic violations, which he attributes to an increase in tickets by both the City Marshall and the Winnfield Police Department. He complimented WPD on the excellent job it is doing in patrolling the streets.

A lively question-and-answer session revealed that Winn Parish has six justices of the peace, who are not required to be attorneys to be elected, but who can perform marriage ceremonies and have concurrent jurisdiction with the city and district courts. It was also revealed that one who gets a traffic ticket in Dodson, keeping in mind that the ward Dodson is in does not touch the border of Winnfield, must go to Dodson’s mayor’s court if he wishes to contest the charges. The mayor’s court is not a court of record, meaning a record of the trial of the matter is not preserved. A defendant must appeal the findings of the mayor’s court to the Eighth Judicial District Court, that is, Judge Wiley’s court, and the case is tried as if the mayor’s court has not heard it because there is no record

At the completion of the “question and answer” portion of the program, the meeting was adjourned with the Rotary motto, “Service above self!”

The Rotary Club of Winnfield meets every Wednesday at Noon for lunch at Lynda’s Country Kitchen. For more information about the Rotary Club of Winnfield, you may contact President, Jodi Taylor (832) 573-5085. You can also find club information on Facebook at Rotary Club of Winnfield Facebook Page or online at Rotary.org.

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The Winn Parish Healthy Initiative Coalition is happy to present the 4th Annual Back to School Bash set for July 30, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church of Winnfield from 9a.m. to 1p.m.

The Back to School Bash is held each year to assist children of Winn Parish with their back to school needs. Each child is given a book that resembles a passport. They visit each station and participate in an activity that the vendor has. Then their “passport” is stamped then they continue to the next station. When the book is filled up, the child receives a lunch, and a bag of school supplies they can use at home. Many of the vendors are resources for parents who may need help not only getting their child ready for school but also for things throughout the year. Community service organizations also participate and provide information on the services they can offer to the community. Door prizes are given away throughout the event.

This event is free to children as well as vendors. If you would like more information on your child participating or about becoming a vendor, you can contact either Kimberly Bruce at 318-413-0040 or Kimberly Nation at 318-729-6756.

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For the past twenty-seven years I have had the blessing, although some would not agree, of working in the insurance industry. Growing up, never did I ever imagine that life would lead me in that direction. It is certainly surprising to me that I am knocking on three decades door in my career. I am fairly certain that you are quizzically doing the math and wondering how on earth I look so youthful or old enough to have a career for this long.

As soon as high school was over, I entered the world of business. But, where on earth did the time go?

One of the things that I have always enjoyed about the insurance industry was the fact that literally there is never a dull moment. It is a fast paced business that heavily relies on the relationship between the agent and the client. As an agent, I love the sheer surprise of picking up the phone and not knowing what to expect from the caller on the other end.

Through the decades I have assisted clients while they navigate the fear and uncertainty of auto accidents, home fires, theft claims and loss of earthly possessions. Most of the time it is not a celebratory occasion that I am contacted. I have attended funerals and held the hands of clients who have had life insurance claims after the loss of a precious family member. I have had the pleasure of counseling clients when they are contemplating opening a business and unfortunately I have had to counsel them when they decide to sell or close their business.

On the other hand, I have answered the phone to hear the excitement of a young couple buying their first home or buying life insurance for a newborn. And, how many times have I comforted a parent who is adding a driver who just earned a driver’s permit? This was the first clue that indicated that I may be getting old. I remember when these babies were born and now they have their own ride home from school.

As many surprises that I have had during the years, nothing prepared me for the phone call that I received a few weeks ago.

It started as a routine day as my phone began to ring. In my most professional voice, I answered as normal, “This is Reba, may I help you?”.

The voice on the other end said, “Well hey Mrs. Reba, how are you?”.

I could instantly tell this client was having a great day and by all accounts, he was not calling to file a claim.

Trying to match his energy, I went on to say, “I am doing just wonderful, how are you?”.

Without hesitation my Sabine Parish client said, “I am so blessed, I have nothing to complain about. I am healthy, my family is healthy, I have a great job that supports my family, I love my church and my pastor, the weather is perfect today, I have food on my table, I have transportation, and I have had good days and bad days but I am alive…. and If I died and went to heaven today, I would simply tell Jesus, ‘Thank you, I have had an amazing life and you blessed me more than you should have’ and do you mind telling me how much my bill is this month?”

When I heard these authentic words of gratefulness, I just let them permeate for a moment.

In all of my decades of building relationships with customers and making new friends I had never heard someone so genuinely thankful for the cards that life had handed him. He had the merriest heart of anyone I had ever met in my line of work. It was so refreshing and personally blessed me as well.

Anytime that I may be having a mediocre day I try to remember the enthusiasm, cheerfulness and merry heart of my client whose monthly bill did increase, just a tad.

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones”
Proverbs 17:22

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Job Vacancy: Principal, Dodson High School

Qualifications: Applicant must hold a Master’s degree or higher AND either

1. Type A Certificate with endorsement as principal or
2. Education Leader Level 1, 2, or 3 be eligible to receive Education Leader 1 upon employment

Preferences: Five or more years of successful teaching experience

Terms of
Employment: 12 months

Deadline for
Application: Friday, July 16, 2021 10:00 AM

Remarks:

• Copies of all credentials, including current Louisiana teaching certificate, MUST accompany application.
• Selected applicants will be scheduled for interviews.
• Submit letter of application and resume to:
  • Mrs. Aaron Durbin
    Winn Parish School Board
    PO Box 430
    Winnfield, LA 71483

The Winn Parish School Board is an equal apportunity employer, and provides equal educational opportunitities in all programs and activities, No person is discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disabling condition.

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Job Vacancy:        Bookkeeper for the Winn Parish School System

Qualifications:     Applicant must be a high school graduate. Applicant must meet the Winn Parish School Board testing requirements A minimum of two (2) years of bookkeeping experience and computer proficiency is preferred. Experience in computerized accounting is preferred. (A B.S. degree in accounting may substitute for work experience.)

Terms of
Employment:      12 months

Deadline for
Application:      Friday, July 16, 2021 10:00 AM

Application Should
Include:         Letter of Application
                       Resume
                       Test results

Make Applications
To:                 Mrs. Aaron Durbin
                      Winn Parish School Board
                      PO Box 430
                      Winnfield, LA 71483

Remarks:      Applications will be screened and selected applicants will be interviewed 

The Winn Parish School Board is an equal apportunity employer, and provides equal educational opportunitities in all programs and activities, No person is discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disabling condition.

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WINN:
None to report

NATCHITOCHES:
Terry Glenn Smith
February 15, 1954 – July 14, 2021
Service: Wednesday, July 21 from 4:30-6 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches

Betty Matthews
August 18, 1938 – July 10, 2021
Service: Friday, July 16 at 2 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Christie A. Williams
October 07, 1966 – July 13, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Alcide Beaudion
July 10, 2021
Service: Saturday, July 17 at 11 am at the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, located at 911 5th Street in Natchitoches

Lessie Small
August 09, 1952 – July 06, 2021
Visitation: Saturday, July 17 from 9-10:30 am at the Greenville Baptist Church of Clarence (Walk through viewing only) prior to internment in the church’s cemetery

Cynthia D. French
May 15, 1958 – July 05, 2021
Arrangements TBA

SABINE:
Beulah “Faye” Dees
September 13, 1940 – July 14, 2021
Service: Saturday, July 17 at 10 am at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel

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Name: Martavion L. Chatman
Date: 7-6-2021
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Age: 20
Charge: Burglary of Inhabited Dwelling, Illegal Possession of Stolen Things, Burglary- Simple

Name: April Dubois
Date: 7-7-2021
Race: White
Gender: Female
Age: 35
Charge: Failure to Appear

Name: Chasta Ann Rasberry
Date: 7-9-2021
Race: White
Gender: Female
Age: 35
Charge: Resisting an Officer by Flight, Reckless Operation No Accident, Obstruction of Court Orders

Name: Jackie D. Folden
Date: 7-9-2021
Race: White
Gender: Male
Age: 53
Charge: Failure/Owner Secure Registration, Improper Display License Plates, Spot Lights And Auxillary Lamps, Violation of Registration Provisions, Expired, or No Inspection Sticker Under 30 Days, Reckless Operation No Accident, Aggravated Flight From an Officer, Refusal to Give Name, Proper Equipment Required on Vehicles 

Name: Mickal A. Riggs
Date: 7-10-2021
Race: White
Gender: Male
Age: 44
Charge: Failure To Appear X6, Flight From an Officer-Aggravated, Reckless Operation No Accident, Illegal Carrying of a Weapon, Driver Must Be Licensed-Never Obtained, Speeding 45mph or Over

Name: Tony Orlanda Brown, Jr.
Date: 7-10-2021
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Age: 21
Charge: Illegal Possession of Stolen Things

Name: Shirley C. Desadier
Date: 7-11-2021
Race: White
Gender: Female
Age: 43
Charge: Failure to Appear

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Owner of E.F.F.E.C.T Fitness and Winnfield, LA native Keundric “Dooley” Loucious along with Donald Alexander and Zan Johnson also from Winnfield invite the community to Winn”Field” Day on Saturday, July 31st at the Winnfield Recreation Center 800 N. Grove St.

The day will entail an E.F.F.E.C.T Fitness Bootcamp class begining at 10AM, a back to school drive at 2 where school supplies, hyginene items and non parishable food will be handed out to the community, and then a softball tournament that everyone is invited to participate in. The entery fee to register a team for the softball tournament is any amount you would like to donate. 

All three event organizers are WSHS graduates. Loucious in 2003 and Alexander and Johnson in 2002. Loucious and Johnson went on to graduate from Southern Arkansas State and Alexander from Grambling. Loucious moved to Atlanta, GA in 2010 and started E.F.F.E.C.T Fitness in 2013. Alexander and Johnson joined Loucious in Atlanta last year and help him manage the fitness center. 

The Atlanta City Council recently awarded Louscious a Proclamation that piled on praise for his efforts in the Atlanta community. The Proclomation states that it is awarded in recognition of his outstanding community leadership, for being an enthusiastic and engaging entrepreneur dedicated to changing the community’s mindset about health. “Kindness defines Mr. Louiscious. He inspires collegues, family and friends alike with his tireless advocacy and sponsorship of community events, like food and toy giveaways. His legacy will continue to resonate with the many families whose lives he has enriched,” states the Proclamation.

E.F.F.E.C.T Fitness is the go to HIIT class in Atlanta often attended by super stars like Cam Newton.

You can find out more information about Winn”Field” Day at the event Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/2021-FIELD-day-106543321708181

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The Louisiana Nursing Home Association (LNHA) announced that Teddy Darrell Price, licensed nursing facility administrator and vice president of operations at Central Management, has been chosen by the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living (AHCNNCAL) as a national, future leader in long term and post-acute care. Teddy Darrell Price will join AHCNNCAL’s Future Leaders program, a year-long program that offers training and guidance for long term care professionals.

“Now more than ever, we need to build a pipeline of diverse leaders for our profession,” said Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCNNCAL. “Our profession has been through the most challenging year, and we need dedicated, up-and-coming leaders to continue to innovate and improve long term care. We are excited to work with Teddy Darrell Price and help him develop his career and passion for serving our nation’s seniors.”

“LNHA is proud of Teddy Darrell Price for being selected as a Future Leader and recognized as a rising star in the long term care profession,” said Mark Berger, executive director of LNHA. “His hands-on experience, combined with his strong passion for providing quality care and superior service, will make him an excellent addition to this highly respected program.”

Teddy Darrell Price is the vice president of operations at Central Management, a management company that operates 21 nursing facilities in Louisiana. Teddy Darrell earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2019 and became a licensed Louisiana Nursing Home Administrator in 2020. In addition to his role at Central Management, he is a current participant in the Leadership CenLA program, an interactive leadership series through the LSU Alexandria College of Business.

AHCNNCAL developed the Future Leaders program in 2004. Selected participants demonstrate both leadership potential and represent the interests of state and national long term care providers. The program covers the latest theories and practical applications in quality management, customer satisfaction, and leadership. The year-long program kicks off with a two-day symposium held each year in Washington, D.C. This year’s symposium will take place September 28 -30, 2021.

About Louisiana Nursing Home Association
The Louisiana Nursing Home Association (LNHA) is a nonprofit organization representing nearly 250 member nursing
facilities and assisted living facilities that care for more than 25,000 of Louisiana’s elderly and disabled individuals each day. Learn more at http://www.lnha.org.

About AHCA/NCAL
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) represents more than
14,000 nonprofit and proprietary skilled nursing centers, assisted living communities, sub-acute centers and homes for
individuals with intellectual and development disabilities. By delivering solutions for quality care, AHCA/NCAL aims to
improve the lives of the millions of frail, elderly and individuals with disabilities who receive long term or post-acute care in our member facilities each day. For more information, please visit http://www.ahcancal.org.

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Winn Parish Superintendent, Al Simmons, announced the successful completion of summer learning activities in Winn Schools, “With the exception of Summer Jump Start classes that are still ongoing, we have completed summer learning with very positive results.”

Summer learning activities ran from June 1 through June 24 with classes in session four days each week.  Over 500 students were enrolled throughout the parish with an average attendance rate of greater than 85%.  “Students were served at each one of our campuses which was a change from previous editions of our summer program,” said Simmons.  The summer activities for elementary and middle students consisted of instruction in literacy, mathematics and enrichment activities.  High school students completed coursework in order to either recover credit that was not successfully completed during the school year or in preparation for retaking End of Course Assessments. 

In order to provide the necessary instructional program during summer learning 61 teachers, 12 paraprofessionals, 8 custodians, 7 bus drivers, and 4 nurses were employed under the direction of the principal at each school.  Funding for this ambitious program was available through monies provided by the state and federal government in response to the COVID -19 pandemic. 

Jump Start classes which aim to provide high school students with career-readiness credentials will continue throughout the summer.

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The time has come to consider expanding the scope of the First Amendment to cover these huge and powerful entities that have—hiding behind a powerful federal law—completely redefined the landscape of human communication.

President Trump this week filed a class action lawsuit against tech giants Facebook, Twitter, and Google asserting that he is the victim of their censorship.

We may recall that Mr. Trump was banned from his social media accounts in January over so-called “public safety” concerns on the heels of the Capitol protest on January 6th.   In a statement regarding the suit, Mr. Trump declared that “we are demanding an end to the shadow banning, a stop to the silencing, and a stop to the blacklisting, banishing and cancelling that you know so well.”

If these tech giants can censor a president (and thousands of prominent conservative social media accounts), they can censor you and me, which explains why millions of Americans trust neither the national media nor social media.

The allegations in the suit will be easy to support because the examples of censorship are abundant:

Recall that the New York Post, one of the oldest and largest newspapers in the world, broke a story prior to last year’s presidential election regarding the discovery of credible evidence in the form of emails revealing that Hunter Biden, the son of Joe Biden, clearly leveraged his dad’s then-position as Vice President by gaining favors from his dad that benefited the Ukrainian energy company, Burisma. There was also evidence that the then-presidential candidate himself was directly involved in and profited from the arrangement.  Suppress and silence.

In fact, a poll after the election revealed that one in six (17%) of Biden voters would not have voted for him had they known about even one of the news stories that were suppressed by big tech and the social media platforms. Some of these stories include former Biden staffer Tara Reade and her sexual assault allegations against Biden, the Hunter Biden laptop scandal, then-Senator Kamala Harris’s Leftist voting record in the Senate, the U.S.’s economic jump in the third quarter with millions of new jobs added, America’s energy independence, Operation Warp Speed covid vaccination success, and Trump’s achievement of multiple peace deals in the Middle East.  Suppress and silence.

As I have previously, let me again make clear that I realize that as so-called “private” companies, Twitter, Facebook, and Google are not restricted by the First Amendment, which is a restraint on government actors.  But the truth is these tech giants are really not private companies in the traditional sense because they enjoy an enormous and lucrative federal benefit: immunity from legal liability for defamatory content that may be posted on their sites by third parties.  This benefit is contained in Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, and it is a game changer.  (I note that if the U.S. Supreme Court ever does deem Facebook, Google, and Twitter to be “state” or “government” actors and, therefore, subject to the 1st Amendment’s prohibition on the suppression of free speech, their censorship policies will be deemed unconstitutional and struck down).

Big Tech has demonstrated a clear ideological (Leftist) bias, and Congress and regulators should take steps soon to ensure that the great legal and economic benefits these social media platforms were given in 1996—when these fledgling companies promised to be fair and impartial clearinghouses of all speech and content—are curtailed until a marketplace of ideas truly returns.  They shouldn’t be allowed to selectively censor.

Social media in America has truly become to freedom of speech and freedom of expression what public parks, radio, newspapers, television stations and neighborhood pamphleteering were in decades past.  As such, powerful, private, unregulated but legally insulated actors like these social media giants are just as capable of censorship as a public one.  This is why the U.S Supreme Court has generally held that Congress may not use private actors to accomplish something (i.e., censorship) the Constitution prohibits Congress from doing itself.

I don’t know if President Trump’s lawsuit will succeed because these companies will claim they are private actors and can choose what speech and expression they allow on their sites.  However, whether it succeeds or not it will bring much needed scrutiny to the legal status and immunity from legal liability these behemoth companies unfairly enjoy and that will hopefully lead to a change in federal law on this issue.

The views and opinions expressed in the My Opinion article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Winn Parish Journal. Any content provided by the authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

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The Goldonna High School Reunion was a rousing success! The estimated one hundred guests in attendance would agree. The high school officially closed in 1981 but this did not stop the crowd from gathering and remembering the many lifelong friendships that were made on this campus. Some of the reunion goers were in their 70’s and 80’s and they were jubilant to see other again for this special occasion. Many faces held genuine smiles as the recognized their fellow classmates. The event was so successful that it had the guests requesting more of the same next year!

Roy Dupre and his sons; Sam, Dan and Ben, John Dupree and School Board Member, Eugean Garner, freshly caught and cleaned 1100 catfish fillets! According to the reunion goers they were cooked to perfection.

Eugean Garner then took about fifty guests on a tour of the Goldonna Elementary School facilities. He shared that they were so excited that you would have thought they were in Disney World! They were most impressed with he recent upgrades and the way the campus was being well cared for by the new administration.
Please enjoy the photos below of some of the attendees of the reunion. There appears to be an unconfirmed rumor that Sherrie Moore was using a metal pan as her plate because the food was so amazing but when contacted for a statement she simply replied, “I was merely serving others.”

Goldonna Baptist Church is in the middle of hosting their, “Destination Dig”, bible school at 6:00pm that started on July 11 and will run through July 16. A kid-friendly supper will be served to the VBS goers nightly. The church is still serving meals on Wednesday nights utilizing the donation from the Tony Chachere Company. This is the gift that keeps multiplying and feeding the five thousand. Dinners are served beginning at 5:30 every Wednesday night except for the Wednesday of VBS week. These meals will continue until the end of August. The week after Labor Day they will resume their Kingdom Kid ministry on Wednesday nights 6:00 to 7:15. This ministry was put on hold during COVID19. Everyone is looking forward to this excitement as it is one of
the community favorites!

Dont forget two major youth events coming up this month as well.

On July 24th the committee will be hosting an “Etiquacy Tea Party” for young girls ages 5-14 at the Goldonna Baptist Church. Drop off is 12:00p.m. and pickup will be at 5:00pm. The girls are encouraged to dress up in a fun dress. They will decorate their own cupcake, learn to make punch and enjoy a fun tea party while learning proper etiquette. Limited spaces are available but you contact Cesa Day for more information.

Not to be left out, there will be a “Boys Outdoors Back to Basics” event targeting ages 5-14. They will enjoy a game day and learn the basic skills of tool recognition, knotting ropes, how to tie a tie, and they will learn the fine skill of shining shoes. The location of this event will also be Goldonna Baptist Church with a drop off time of 12:00pm and pick up time of 5:00pm. All of these proceeds will benefit the funnel cake booth at the Christmas in the Park festival.

As you can see the Village of Goldonna is having an amazing and family friendly summer that is filled over the excited of what is yet to come. High Speed Internet.

If you have news to share please email Reba Phelps at jreba.phelps@gmail.com

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By Brad Dison

In the early morning hours of Saturday, November 5, 1960, 19-year-old Texas A&M student James E. Davis was driving his pickup truck on Hwy 79 near Milano, Texas. The student had spent most of that Friday night drinking, which carried over into the wee hours of Saturday morning. Davis drove his truck at a high rate of speed. The alcohol had dulled his senses. His vision was blurred. His reaction time had slowed. He was too drunk to drive.

Three friends, Tillman Franks, Gerald “Tommy” Tomlinson, and John LaGale were driving from Austin, Texas, to Shreveport, Louisiana, on Highway 79 in a Cadillac sedan. The trip should have taken about six hours to complete. LaGale was driving and conversing with front seat passenger Tillman Franks. Gerald Tomlinson, was lying down in the back seat, attempting to sleep.

Between 1:35 a.m. and 2:30 a.m., sources vary on the exact time, James Davis drove his pickup truck at high rate of speed as he approached the railroad overpass in Milano. The trio in the Cadillac sedan approached the railroad overpass from the opposite direction.

As the trio in the Cadillac reached the overpass, Davis, his vision blurred from the effects of alcohol, slammed the passenger side of the truck into the bridgehead at approximately 90 miles per hour. In a split second, the truck ricocheted off of the bridgehead and back onto Hwy 79.

LaGale had no time to react. The truck and Cadillac met in a head-on collision with enormous force. Tomlinson, flew from the back seat of the Cadillac into the back of the front seat. Franks crashed into the Cadillac’s metal dash. LaGale struck the steering wheel and dash. Davis hit the steering wheel of his pickup truck.

The force of the head-on collision crumpled the driver’s sides of the Cadillac and pickup truck. Both drivers were pinned in their vehicles.

After freeing the drivers from the vehicles, paramedics transported the four men to a hospital in Cameron, Texas. LaGale received numerous injuries and died in the ambulance as it sped to the hospital. The drunk driver received multiple abrasions and a fractured ankle. Franks had multiple abrasions and bruised ribs. Tomlinson received multiple abrasions, along with multiple fractures and blood vessel damage to his left leg. Over a period of eighteen months, Tomlinson had numerous operations but doctors were forced to amputate his left leg.

Two days after the crash, family and friends gathered at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Haughton to pay their last respects to LaGale. Despite his injuries and against the advice of his doctors, Franks was determined to attend LaGale’s funeral. Finally, the doctors relented and transported Franks to LaGale’s funeral on a hospital stretcher.

James E. Davis, the driver of the pickup truck, received a suspended sentence for drunk driving. Two years later, he was killed in another drunk driving accident.

The three friends in the Cadillac were more than buddies, they were a rockabilly band. Gerald “Tommy” Tomlinson was a guitar picker who worked with artists such as Jim Reeves, Claude King, Marty Robbins, David Houston, and many more.

Tillman Franks had multiple roles in the band. He played the upright bass, wrote or cowrote several hit songs, and was also the manager for the band. In a career which spanned more than three decades, Franks managed and aided in the careers of such acts as Hank Williams Sr., Faron Young, Elvis Presley, and several others.

John LaGale was the star singer of the band. He recorded several hit songs including “Sink the Bismarck,” “North to Alaska,” “Springtime in Alaska,” and “Honky Tonk Man.” His best-known song was the 1959 single “The Battle of New Orleans.” His full name was John LaGale Horton…Johnny Horton.

Sources:
1. The Courier-Gazette (McKinney, Texas), November 5, 1960, p.1.
2. The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana), November 6, 1960, p.1.
3. The Shreveport Journal, July 12, 1976, p.25.
4. Rockabilly Hall of Fame. “Tommy Tomlinson.” Accessed July 6, 2021. rockabillyhall.com/tommytomlinson.html.
5. Hillbilly-Music Dawt Com. “Tommy Tomlinson.” Accessed July 6, 2021. hillbilly-music.com/artists/story/index.php?id=11263.

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Whether you’re a historian; a hopeless romantic; a business, social, or school group; or an avid traveler, come celebrate, discover, and explore Historic Natchitoches aboard the Cane River Queen Riverboat.

The Queen’s Captain, Paul Lohr was raised north of Kilgore, TX with a passion for boats. Retiring after 38 years in the trucking industry Paul began fulfilling his lifelong dream of being a riverboat captain.

Step one: build the “Cane River Queen.” Paul put many hours and a lot of his own sweat into the boat’s construction. It’s a labor of love and Captain Paul is sure you’ll fall in love while cruising down the waters in the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase.

So, why did the Cane River Queen come to Natchitoches? Paul visited Natchitoches several years ago and immediately fell in love with the tranquil waters of Cane River Lake. He knew the City of Lights was where he and his Queen needed to be.

The 60-passenger Cane River Queen made her debut on March 15, 2019. She currently resides at the south end of the newly renovated Rue Beauport downtown riverbank. Tours up and down the Cane River give passengers a chance to enjoy the natural beauty of the area while learning some of its history.

If you’re looking for a unique location to host a family reunion, private party or corporate event the Queen offers private bookings 7 days a week. Or if you’re just wanting to relax and unwind, there’s a seat waiting for you!

All cruises are BYOD, so please feel free to bring your own food and drinks. For a tour schedule go online to http://www.caneriverqueen.org. To book private party or corporate event call 318-663-7787.

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