New BCS superintendent to be hired before nightfall

Lionel Jackson

Jackson. Louise Smith.

Louise Smith. Lionel Jackson.

Familiarize yourself with the names, because if you live in Bogalusa or have a child who attends school in Bogalusa, one of those two will be chosen as the district's next superintendent before nightfall today.

Board members will gather at 5 p.m. at the district office to meet and formalize their decision, hiring one of what was originally a field of 15 applicants. The position is expected to pay around $100,000 — including incentives.

The board had initially planned to announce its decision on Tuesday, but postponed that when it could not reach a consensus decision. At that time, in a move veteran observers called "a total surprise," the board announced it would eliminate one of the candidates and bring the remaining two in for interviews on Wednesday.

Louise Smith

The board eliminated Dr. Daniel Slack of the East Carter R-II School District in Elsinore, Mo. and re-interviewed Jackson, one of two assistant superintendents in the Tangipahoa Parish School District, and Smith, staff support specialist with the Poplarville (Miss.) School District.

When the schedule for interviews was first released, the board indicated it would prefer to have the new superintendent on the job today.

Both Jackson and Smith have sought top leadership positions in the past.


Three years ago, Smith was a finalist when board members selected Ruth Horne to lead the district. Now, Smith competes for the position left vacant when Horne abruptly resigned in mid-March.

When asked why she would leave her current position, she was brief and to the point: "I want to be a superintendent."

Smith has spent her entire career in Poplarville and has held a variety of positions, including principal, grant writer, classroom teacher and athletic director in the district that most closely mirrors Bogalusa in several statistical categories, including campuses and student census.

Jackson was one of three finalists for the superintendent's position in the Monroe City Schools earlier this month and was also a finalist this spring for the superintendent's job in St. Helena Parish. He currently serves as one of two assistant superintendents in the 30,000 student, 37 campus Tangipahoa district and has been a classroom teacher, principal and administrator in both Orleans and Tangipahoa parishes.

July 4 weekend means watermelons, queens, parades, picnics, patriotic music and fireworks

A pair of John Gallaspy's melons
await the Fourth of July knife.

It's Friday, and the July 4 weekend — when we celebrate Bogalusa's 97th birthday and the 235th for the United States of America.

When you think watermelon around these parts, it's Washington Parish melons, and some of the best are grown by local attorney John Gallaspy and longtime educator Mickey Murphy.

Late Thursday afternoon, Gallaspy went to his five-acre melon patch and gathered two pickup loads to take to Travis' Supermarket so customers could have a fresh, local melon for the weekend.

Gallaspy is growing at least three varieties this year, including one called "Desert Storm," which has a sort of sage green, dusty color to it.

"Obviously," he said, standing by the bed of one of the trucks, "that one came out after the first Iraqi war."

There are folks selling watermelons on almost every street corner, parking lot and wide spot by the side of the road. In Covington on Thursday, heading out on Highway 25 towards Franklinton, one vendor had a "special" on Washington Parish melons — two for $20.

A word of advice ... stay close to home, pay much less and you've got a greater chance of actually getting a Washington Parish melon.

With 725 acres and a cash value of nearly $1 million, Washington Parish is among the state's four top melon producing parishes.

Along with the melons, there are picnics and beauty pageants — like Saturday night's Paper Queen Ball and Coronation at American Legion Magic City Post No. 24.

Queen Karlie Wheat will make her first public appearance at the ball, then will turn right around and participate in Monday's July 4th Independence and Birthday Parade through Bogalusa.

On Monday, lining up for the parade will begin about 8 a.m. near the corner of 6th and Columbia,  with a 10 a.m. scheduled start.

Capt. Jim Montgomery, U.S. Coast Guard, said the parade carries a dual theme this year — “Citizen Soldiers” and “Protect What Matters” in honor of the Louisiana Army National Guard and Louisiana Air National Guard.

Governor Bobby Jindal, along with Maj. Gen, Bennett C, Landreau, Adjutant General of the Army National Guard and Lt. Gen. Brod Veillon, Commander of the Air National Guard, have committed to participate in the parade. In addition, an Army Band, numerous local floats and a flyover event are also scheduled.

After the parade there will be a brief break before activities get under way at Cassidy Park at 2 p.m.

In a revival of one of the greatest traditions of political campaigning in the South, all candidates for public office are invited to take the stage at the park and greet and talk with the public

The park will also feature food vendors, music and a first-ever bike parade.  Kids of all ages are invited to decorate their bicycles and parade along the new, asphalt track at 3 p.m.  The entry fee for the bike parade is a donation of a perishable food item, which will be given to the Bogalusa Help Center.

Following the activities at Cassidy Park there will be another break until dark, when the sky will be lit up by the explosions of fireworks launched from the Temple-Inland pond. The Bogalusa City Schools will open Lewis V. Murray, Jr. Stadium so that persons may view the fireworks in an open-air setting.