JC Schedules Most Beautiful Pageant
ELLISVILLE – Jones County Junior College will host its annual Most Beautiful Pageant on Tuesday, November 13, at 7 p.m. in the M. P. Bush Fine Arts Auditorium. The pageant is sponsored by the JCJC yearbook staff.
Twenty-six contestants will compete for the title of Most Beautiful. Serving as the emcees for the evening will be Mr. JC Jared Woullard and pageant director Tessa Flowers.
Entertainment will be provided by Jones OnStage show choir members and Joe Mauldin on piano.
There will be several additional awards, including Miss Congeniality, Essay Winner and People’s Choice. There will also be a Most Photogenic contest with photos on display.
Tickets are $6 general admission and $3 for those with a valid JC ID. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and there is no reserved seating.
For more information, call 601-477-4084.
“A Louisiana Holiday Lunch & Learn” features president and publisher of Louisiana Kitchen & Culture magazine
ELLISVILLE – The Culinary Arts department at Jones College is welcoming the President and Publisher of the magazine, Louisiana Kitchen & Culture, Susan Ford to campus to share her new holiday recipes on Tuesday, October 30. The event, “A Louisiana Holiday Lunch & Learn” will feature the New Orleans resident’s recipes in the upcoming holiday edition of her magazine in the Culinary Arts Dining Room located in the Information Technology Building at Jones College. The 1986 Jones alumna and Laurel native will discuss how the recipes are developed as the meal, prepared by 21 students in the culinary arts program supervised by Chef Micah Gatlin, will be served to a limited number of guests.
The menu includes smoked duck and andouille sausage gumbo, a holiday salad, Steen’s cane syrup glazed pork chop with apple demi-glace, potato and parsnip puree, roasted asparagus, Boston cream pie, ginger crackle cookies and more.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for my students to network with Susan Ford before and after the Lunch & Learn,” said Chef Micah Gatlin. “It’s all about introducing them to a variety of career options such as working for various magazines that employ chefs in test kitchens. It also helps students learn more about the contributions from chefs in our region.”
The cost of this special Lunch & Learn, which begins at 11:45 a.m., is $30. To make reservations for, “A Louisiana Holiday Lunch & Learn,” call 601-477-4206 and for more information about the menu or event, call Chef Micah at 601-477-4209.
Susan Ford was born in Laurel and then moved to Pascagoula when her father took a job at Ingalls Shipyard in 1969. The East Central High School graduate came to Jones in 1984. She graduated with an associate’s degree in business and transferred to USM on a full academic scholarship. While at USM, she changed her major to journalism with a public relations emphasis, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and a minor in business.
She started her publishing career in 1990 when she went to work for a commercial real estate magazine in Novato, California. While there, she was on the “launch team” for numerous magazines, websites and email newsletters, in both the high-tech and lifestyle categories.
After Hurricane Katrina, she left the San Francisco Bay Area and moved to New Orleans to bring her publishing expertise to Louisiana in 2007, as a consultant with Louisiana Cookin’ magazine. Becoming immersed in the Louisiana seafood, travel, tourism, hospitality, and culinary industries inspired her to form the business, Our Kitchen & Culture, LLC. In 2011, Ford launched “Louisiana Recipes,” a free, weekly email newsletter with more than 37,000 subscribers, and companion website, louisiana.kitchenandculture.com before her own magazine debuted in April 2012. The magazine is published six times a year and has paid subscribers in 50 states and several foreign countries. It is available nationally through North America’s largest newsstand distributor.
She has served on the membership committee of the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association since 2008, and she served a year as the first Associate Board Member of that association. Ford served two years as the chairman of the Louisiana Travel Political Action Committee and currently remains a board member. Ford has close ties to Louisiana’s most influential chefs, restaurateurs, and tourism professionals.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for their talents, and the perfectionist attention to detail they devote to their craft. I’ve made some great friends, I’ve learned a lot, and I look forward to continuing to create a magazine that celebrates the unique culinary culture, heritage, and cuisine of Louisiana,” said Ford.
Jones College celebrates Homecoming 2018
ELLISVILLE – Plans are underway to make Homecoming at Jones College a special event. The weekend of activities will incorporate the Homecoming theme, “Inspiring Bobcats through the Ages” beginning with the student Homecoming pep rally on Thursday, October 18 at 7 p.m. at the Lake. The “glow pep rally” is sponsored by the Student Government Association and will provide glow-necklaces and glow-sticks for everyone in attendance. This event will be canceled if there is inclement weather.
On Friday, October 19, the Homecoming festivities begin at 5 p.m. with a Legacy Tree Dedication Ceremony on the Jones Hall Plaza. Four Jones College alumni will be added to the “Legacy Circle of Honor,” which consists of a circle of live oak trees created in 2016 to honor the significant contributions of alumni. This year, the Honorable Judge Charles Pickering of Hebron will be honored and in memory, the lives of Harry Bush of Laurel, Julius “Judy” King of Heidelberg and Laurel, and Vic West of Wayne County and Laurel will be recognized for their dedication and service to Jones and their communities. A reception will follow this ceremony in the Tullos Suite of Jones Hall.
At 5:30 p.m., a State Historical Marker will be revealed on campus honoring the 1955 football team that played in the Jr. Rose Bowl. Following this event, the JCJC 1955 Class Reunion Dinner begins at 6 p.m. at the President’s Home.
The 50-year Reunion Dinner honoring the JCJC Class of 1968 will gather in the C.L. Neill Student Center at 6 p.m. Additionally, the 1983 and 1998 Football Team Reunion Dinner will meet in the C.L. Neill Student Center at 6 p.m.
Homecoming Day, Saturday, October 20, is slated with numerous activities for a day of fun for all ages. Events will begin at 9 a.m. with a brunch for alumni and friends at the Terrell Tisdale Library. Members of the Ellisville High School Reunion for the 1960-1965 classes are invited to register during the brunch.
At 10 a.m. the JCJC Homecoming Parade will wind through the streets of Ellisville and the campus. The parade will feature floats made by the student body incorporating the theme, as well as the Maroon Typhoon Marching Band, JCJC cheerleaders, Touch of Gold, and of course, the 2018 Homecoming Queen and her court. Parade Marshals are the 2018 NJCAA Division 2 National Championship Softball Team, led by their coaches, Chris Robinson and Bob Herrington.
At 10:45 a.m. the public is also invited to join the Jones family for a pep rally following the parade in front of the C.L. Neill Student Center. At 11:30 a.m. the JCJC Alumni Luncheon will be held in the A.B. Howard Gymnasium. During this luncheon, three JCJC alumni, Dennis Bohannon of Laurel, Paul Culliver of Raleigh and Clyde Dease, Jr., originally from Taylorsville and currently living in Picayune, will be honored. Reservations for the luncheon can be made through the Alumni and Foundation Office at 601-477-4145 or by emailing, jcjcalumniinfo@jcjc.edu.
Before the game, the Ellisville High School Reunion Classes of 1960 through 1965 will meet “Tailgating under the Tents” at the Sim Cooley Football Field, near the Tennis Complex beginning at 11:30. The cost is $10 per person with a reservation deadline of October 10, by calling 601-477-4049.
The Homecoming pre-game festivities will begin at 1:30 p.m. with the marching band’s pre-game show on the Sim Cooley Football Field at Bobcat Stadium. The game against Co-Lin Community College will begin at 2 p.m.
At halftime, the Homecoming Court will be presented with the crowning of the 2018 Homecoming Queen, Haley Smith. Also during halftime, the JCJC and the Ellisville High School honored classes, and the 2018 Honor Alumni will be recognized. The festivities will end with a performance by the Maroon Typhoon and Touch of Gold. For more information call the Foundation and Alumni Office at 477-4049 or email jcjcalumniinfo@jcjc.edu.
Big scores & surprises in the first week of Jones College’s Bobcat Math League competition
ELLISVILLE – The big powerhouse high schools wasted no time in demonstrating they are on the road to the championship again with dominating performances and big scores. Proving they can repeat as champions, the Wayne County War Eagles seized the Heidelberg High School Oilers and didn’t relent with a commanding, 77 to 20 win. As two of the teams in the Engineering Division, Wayne County set the pace in the points column taking the lead in the division. Last year, the Oak Grove Warriors lost in the championship round to the War Eagles so expect the two foes to tangle all season. In their match this week, the Warriors slayed the Quitman Panthers, 70 to 26, giving Oak Grove the second place spot in the division and Quitman ended up in third place.
Returning Wayne County Math Coach, Ashley Phillips was part of the 2008 and 2011 Wayne County Math Bowl Championship teams. While he’s not new to the “competitive spirit” at Wayne County, he is new to the Bobcat Math League format.
“I understand after the first week how the Math League requires our students to earn their position in the finals, just as a football team would earn a spot in the playoffs,” said Phillips. “I am proud of the outcome of our first match and I am proud of all fifteen members that we have representing our school this year. I feel that we will be very competitive this season and have a great shot at being Champions again because that is the goal that we have set for the team.”
Surprises within the Science Division between perennial contenders Northeast Jones, Presbyterian Christian and West Jones High Schools allowed the Mustangs to land on top as Division leaders. The Mustangs trotted their way to the lead over the Raleigh Lions with a convincing, 44 to 29 win. The match between the Bobcats of Presbyterian Christian and the Tigers at Northeast Jones ended in a 40-40 tie. In the final playoffs in 2017, PCS managed to knock off West Jones, to capture the overall third place winners spot, leaving the Mustangs in fourth place. Anticipate a fierce fight in the Science Division over th
e next five weeks with three top teams each planning to be in the playoffs. With 13-teams participating this season, division rankings are likely to change often with at least one team being “forced” to take a “bye” each week. Laurel High School had this week off and West Jones has the “bye” in week two. These variables have West Jones Math Coach, Courtney Hagan, concerned.
“I am nervous about our team this year because most of my students are new to the team. I have three returning players. I am hopeful we will do pretty well since we only have four matches this year, but I know there is a learning curve for the students when it comes to the advanced STEM questions. I definitely miss the days of just math questions, but sometimes those STEM questions are the ones that help our score. Overall, I am excited to have some younger students that I can rebuild a team with for the next couple of years,” said Hagan.
In the Technology Division, it is not surprising that Sacred Heart dominated competition and is starting the season as division leaders. Fighting on home turf, the Sacred Heart Crusaders cruised to victory over the Wayne Academy Jaguars, 77 to 30. Columbia Academy’s Cougars trounced on the Perry Central Bulldogs, 45 to 5, taking the second place rank in the division with the clear win. Expect the Crusaders to prove they deserved more after going home in the 2017 playoffs in fifth place, tied with Quitman.
A three-way tie exists amongst the top students who accurately answered the most questions. The top Most Outstanding Players with a 70 percent accuracy rate are Matthew Morgan of Presbyterian Christian, Warren Parker of Columbia Academy and Benjamin Dunn of Sacred Heart. Seven “mathletes” tied for fourth place in the individual competition with students scoring a 60 percent accuracy average.
Next week, expect a battle to secure division rankings with Northeast Jones hosting Laurel High School, and Presbyterian Christian enters the lion’s den as they face Raleigh at Jones College. Perry Central hosts division leaders, Sacred Heart and the two academies face off with the match between Columbia Academy and Wayne Academy taking place at Jones College. The Quitman Panthers host its division leader, the Wayne County War Eagles, and Heidelberg hosts the Warriors of Oak Grove.
Results will be posted on the JC Bobcat Math League web page under “Division Standings/Schedules at: http://www.jcjc.edu/bobcatmathleague/ and scores in real time will be posted on the Bobcat Math League Facebook page: Bobcat Math League – Facebook. Weekly results can also be found in local media outlets. For more information about the Bobcat Math League contact Dr. Jessica Bunch (JC Bobcat Math League Commissioner) at 601-477-5422 or email at jessica.bunch@jcjc.edu.
Jones College’s Bobcat Math League begins seventh season
ELLISVILLE –Since the inception of the Bobcat Math League, change has been a constant theme. Rules have changed and teams have come and gone and this year is no different. The League has lost three teams, Collins, South Jones and Sylva Bay Academy due to coaches retiring or moving to other schools, or there were not enough students to form a team. Remaining in the hunt to be the Bobcat Math League Champions are the current champions, 
Wayne County and the runner-up team, Oak Grove. They are both in the Engineering League along with Quitman and Heidelberg High Schools.
“This year, Oak Grove only has two returning members. Eighty-six percent of the team is underclassmen. This will definitely be a rebuilding year but we are looking forward to the matches and competition,” said Oak Grove Math Coach, Whitney Necessary.
Wayne Academy’s Jaguars just missed the championship playoffs last season and could be a threat to Technology Division members, Columbia Academy, Perry Central and Sacred Heart who have done well in the past but struggled some last season. Wayne Academy math coach, Heidi Leggett said her team has the potential to be in the final playoffs this year with seven returning players and several seniors on the team.
“With our returning players and new additions, I believe this is the strongest team we have had at Wayne Academy. All the team members are excited about participating in the program and with this being our fourth year to compete the members have a better understanding of the competition. Our goal each year is to improve in our overall total points from the previous year,” said Wayne Academy Math Coach, Heidi Leggett.
Perennial contenders, the Northeast Jones Tigers have a rich history of success in the JC Bobcat Math League. In 2016, the Tigers landed in fourth place and have tied for fifth place every subsequent year since 2013. However, for the first time since the League was formed in 2012, they missed the cutoff for the 2017 playoffs. This season, the Tiger powerhouse has to overcome some new challenges while contending with the 2013 and 2014 Championship Presbyterian Christian winners, Raleigh, West Jones ( 2nd place in 2016) and Laurel High School in the Science Division. Northeast Jones’ long tradition of being the division winner or earning a wildcard spot has put new Math Coach, Casey Stroo in a difficult spot as he tries to quickly motivate a young team.
“Only five players are returning from last season, and we will be adding a multitude of 9th-grade talent to the team. We definitely will have our work cut out for us this season, being in a strong and competitive division of schools. My goal as a coach is to get my team as close to winning as possible, but I’m also constantly trying to increase their math/STEM knowledge base to prepare them for college and the ACT exam. I look forward to a great season and hope the students enjoy their time participating in this amazing program and opportunity,” said Northeast Jones Math Coach, Casey Stroo.
At the end of the six-week regular season and the final playoffs, the winning top two- teams have the potential to split monetary prizes with their teammates. While winning money and trophies may be a motivating factor for some high school students to become the Jones College Bobcat Math League Champions, ultimately, League Commissioner and JC math instructor, Dr. Jessica Bunch said the League has a bigger purpose which benefits students and their communities.
“Our coaches and teams seem to work harder every year as they strive not only for the title of JC Bobcat Math League Champions but also to improve ACT math scores and high school math subject area grades,” said Bunch. “I think each of this year’s coaches and teams will be just as determined to reach for the goal as they have always been. We enjoy seeing the excitement students have for this competition season after season — we never tire in witnessing their triumphs in success and their comradery and support when a question is missed.”
Mathletes answer STEM-based questions like computational and visual math and history questions related to STEM fields. However, fifty-five percent of the questions will be math-related. Teams face off for the first week of competition September 17, with the regular season ending Tuesday, October 23. The final playoffs and Math “Super Bowl” will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2018, at Jones College.
Results will be posted on the JC Bobcat Math League web page under “Division Standings/Schedules at: http://www.jcjc.edu/bobcatmathleague/ and scores in real time will be posted on the Bobcat Math League Facebook page: Bobcat Math League – Facebook. Weekly results can also be found in local media outlets. For more information about the Bobcat Math League contact Dr. Jessica Bunch (JC Bobcat Math League Commissioner) at 601-477-5422 or email at jessica.bunch@jcjc.edu.