Month: March 2022

Judge Erin Leigh Waddell Garrett’s Meet & Greet

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Hosted by Joe Beauboef and held at the Clista A. Calhoun Center in Mansfield, La. On February 24th.  Shown pictured is Judge Garrett and her Husband, Michael with their three children.

The Calhoun Center was all lit up for Judge Garrett’s Meet & Greet at 6:00pm and was catered by Billy B’s Cajun Grill.  The event was very well attended in spite of the wintery weather.  The Judge told everyone about her unique experiences and success working in the Law Business and as a Caddo District Judge since 2014.  In fact, her dad, Bob Waddell, is a retired Judge and was the one who swore her in.  He also, introduced her to the crowd and told a few humorous stories about her as a child before turning the show over to her.  She stressed her ability to “multi-task” being a Judge, Wife, Mother of three children and, at this point, stopped her talk to tell the kids to, “Stop running in this room AND put that football down inside!” Then calmly resumed her talk of multi-tasking.  Everyone had a big grin after that

OPPORTUNITY: Sabine Parish Tourist & Recreation Commission

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BODY:

Sabine Parish Tourist & Recreation Commission is currently seeking a Marketing & Event Coordinator: Full Time

Required Education and Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree from an academic institution in public relations, journalism, marketing, communications, or hospitality management
  • Excellent organizational and writing skills
  • Strong attention to detail and proofreading
  • Strong computer knowledge mandatory
  • At least three years’ experience in marketing or public relations and practical experience in the Hospitality industry preferred
  • Experience in using video and photography equipment helpful

To view complete job description and employment application, please visit ToledoBendLakeCountry.com/about

All applicants must submit a completed application and resume to be considered for this position. Deadline to apply is March 8, 2022.

Local Student Completes RN Program

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The Louisiana Tech University Division of Nursing held a Pinning Ceremony for the Winter 2022 graduates Feb. 25. Thirty-six students received their degrees at Winter Commencement Feb. 26.  A student from Grand Cane, Abigail Davis, was among those receiving their pins.

The graduates – listed by hometown – are as follows:

Alexandria – Peyton Williams

Baton Rouge – Mackenzie Reeves

Benton – Beth Ann Glovier, Abby Smith, Anna Clare Toms

Bossier City – Ellie Adams, Maggie Alexander, Meloney Welch

Burleson, Texas – Dafni Pearson

Calhoun – Skyler Hill

Columbia – Maura Roberts

Downsville – Selena Navarro

El Dorado and Sheridan, Arkansas – Sydni Crisalli

Forked Island – Kenzie Gaspard

Grand Cane – Abigail Davis

Jonesboro – Machaela Morris

Minden – Jenni Nguyen, Kirsten Parker, Elizabeth Stone

Monroe – Ashleigh Cann

Natchitoches – Tabitha Dove

New Iberia – Marie Resweber

Shreveport – Ashlon Bumgardner, Summer Netterville, Lainey Ward

Sterlington – Ellie Nale

Ruston – Logan Caver, Jazmin Cirilo, Macy Goss, Lynzi Henry, Joshua Norred, Hannah Ward, Jack Witherspoon

West Monroe – Ally Dunn, Emily Smith

Winnfield – Savannah Green

Members of the Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society were presented cords: Ashlon Bumgardner, Ally Dunn, Summer Netterville, Dafni Pearson, Mackenzie Reeves, Emily Smith, Anna Clare Toms, Peyton Williams, and Jaquereon Witherspoon.

Graduates who were members of the Student Nurses’ Association were recognized with the presentation of cords.

Here are Friday’s special awards and winners:

Academic Excellence: Lainey Ward

Nursing Tenets of Tech: Hannah Ward

Spirit of Patient Care: Ashlon Bumgardner and Joshua Norred

Teamwork and Collaboration: Dafni Pearson

Military Service Recognition: Kenzie Gaspard – Learn more

Each student was also presented a commemorative Nightingale Lamp provided by Northern Louisiana Medical Center. Following successful completion of the NCLEX-RN National licensing Exam, the graduates are Registered Nurses.

Red River Campaign of 1864

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By Scott Dearman, Mansfield State Historic Site

Due to the small number of regiments involved and their use largely as guard and engineer troops, the participation of USCT (United States Colored Troops) units during the Red River Campaign is often overlooked. However some of these units did see combat during the campaign, likely more than was recognized and reported at the time.

Of the four USCT infantry regiments that took part in the campaign, two regiments, the 84th and 92nd, are documented as having seen combat. The 84th saw action at the battle of Pleasant Hill on April 9th, 1864, the day after Union defeat at Mansfield. The regiment was deployed as skirmishers to cover the left wing of XIX Corps, and were driven in when struck by Confederate divisions of Thomas J. Churchill’s infantry corps, enroute to overwhelming (temporarily) the left-center of the Army of the Gulf’s position at Pleasant Hill. Later in the campaign, during the Army of the Gulf’s retreat to Southeast Louisiana, the regiment saw action at the battles of Mansura and Bayou De Glaises (Moreauville), May 1864. A photo of the 84th’s National colors, showing the above engagements as a battle honors, accompanies this post.

The 92nd USCT was involved in battle on May 17, 1864, late in the the Army of the Gulf’s long retreat and just prior to its crossing of the Atchafalaya River and return to Union-held soil. The regiment’s brigade commander, William H. Dickey, reported that the regiment “behaved with the utmost coolness, and delivered its fire with excellent effect. No one who witnessed their conduct…can doubt that it is perfectly safe to trust colored troops in action, and depend upon their doing their full share of fighting.”

The 92nd’s commander, Lt. Col. John Chadwick, also praised the regiment’s conduct in his official report:

“This was the first time that this regiment, as a whole, had been engaged with the enemy, and I must say that their conduct was as good as that of any new troops. There were instances of cool courage and determined bravery which would compare with the conduct of any veteran. Antoine Davis, acting first sergeant of Company E, was shot in the head, left breast, and groin by the same weapon, a pistol…but could not be moved from his ground until the shot in the groin laid him upon the earth. He received the enemy’s fire with the muzzle of the pistol resting against his left breast. I regret to be obliged to report his death in hospital at New Orleans…”

There were also two black engineer regiments, the 3rd and 5th, who took part in the campaign and should not be left out. These regiments, along with the above USCT regiments, were instrumental in helping the Army of the Gulf construct dams and fortifications on Red River at Alexandria, enabling Admiral Porter’s fleet (and army QM vessels) to escape its low-water entrapment and possible destruction.

Black regiments involved in the Red River Campaign of 1864:

ENGINEER BRIGADE – Col. George D. Robinson

3rd Engineer Regiment, Corps d’ Afrique – Lt. Col. George A. Harmount

5th Engineer Regiment, Corps d’ Afrique – Lt. Col. Uri B. Pearsall

FIRST DIVISION – CORPS D’ AFRIQUE

First Brigade – Col. William H. Dickey

73rd USCT Regiment – Maj. Hiram E. Perkins

75th USCT Regiment – Col. Henry W. Fuller

84th USCT Regiment – Capt. James Corrin

92nd USCT Regiment – Col. Henry Frisbie/Lt. Col. John Chadwick

Photo Credit: National Museum of American History, Smithsonian

ETC… For Wednesday, March 2, 2022

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“Thank you Social Springs Baptist Church,” said Clara Springs Camp.  The church helped serve 321 people last Friday night.  It was the February Fourth Friday Fish Fry.  The March Fish Fry will be held of Friday, March 25th.

From the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office:  Last week we reported on a runaway juvenile by the name of Johnny Ray Greer Jr. We want to inform the public that Johnny Ray Greer Jr. has been located and is safe.

Mildred (Millie) Elizabeth (Batton) Wright

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Long-time Mansfield resident Mildred (Millie) Elizabeth (Batton) Wright went to her heavenly home on Friday, February 25, 2022, after a short illness.  A visitation honoring Millie’s life will be held Tuesday, March 1, 2022, from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 943 Polk St., Mansfield, Louisiana. Graveside services will be on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at Bethlehem Cemetery in Homer, Louisiana at 11:00 A.M. 

Millie was born to Clarence Loys Batton and Beulah Mildred Taylor on November 12, 1936, in Homer, Louisiana, and entered into rest the night of February 25, 2022, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Millie was a resident of Mansfield, Louisiana for 41 years.  She moved here with her beloved husband, Kerry, who was on the start-up crew of International Paper (IP) Company’s Mansfield Paper Mill.  Millie worked primarily as a homemaker and mother during her 64-year marriage to Kerry, but also worked at various times as an office administrator at IP’s Springhill mill, as a church secretary for Wesley United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and as a job placement coordinator/assistant for disadvantaged youth.

Millie was a believer in Jesus Christ and a faithful member of First United Methodist Church in Mansfield since 1981. She was a devoted wife to Kerry, and she loved her family deeply.  Millie was a graduate of the Meadows Draughon Women’s Business School in Shreveport.  Along with Kerry and her family, she enjoyed following the Dallas Cowboys and Kerry’s alma mater, Texas A&M. She enjoyed playing basketball in high school, loved playing in numerous bridge clubs, playing Rook, and fitting puzzles with family, visiting with friends and was an extensive traveler.  Those who knew Millie would say she was a loving, hard-working, and loyal woman, who loved her family, and Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Millie was preceded in death by her husband, Kerry, her parents, her sister, Louise Reeve, her brother, Clarence (Buster) Batton, and her sister, Earlene Prince.   Left to cherish her memory are her children:  son, Eugene Wright (Lisa);  daughter, Judy Low (Bill); and son Allan Wright (Claire); grandchildren, Trey Low (Margaret), Lindsey Briscoe (Matthew), Annie Low and PFC Nathan Kerry Wright (USMC); great-grandchildren, Ellie Grace, Evie, Graeme, and Cate Low, and Austin Briscoe; sister, Barbara Batton Brown (Rickey); sister-in-law Peggy Batton; niece, Jill Batton (a frequent first responder); sister-in-law Juanita Taylor (Silas), along with numerous nieces, nephews, and other loved ones.

The family wishes to thank the members of First United Methodist Church and the Upper Room Sunday School class for the love and support shown to Millie and Kerry and our family through the years.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4 NIV

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also. ” John 14:3 KJV