Bossier’s Earth Day Heroes: Alice Jeter

 Earth Day is around the corner (Monday, April 22nd), and March, Women’s History Month, is now over. But when it comes to stewardship of the environment, local women are front-of-mind. Last year in this column, we featured two women in Bossier whose names especially seem synonymous with the goals of Earth Day, a celebration of clean air, land, and water: Dianne Chandler and Ruth Tupper. Here is another local woman who believes in being a steward of her environment and her community, and has done so for decades, Alice Jeter of the Barksdale Annex neighborhood in south Bossier City.

As a concerned citizen and leader on many civic boards, including Keep Bossier Beautiful, the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Bossier Council on Aging and the Barksdale Annex Neighborhood Association where she serves as President, Alice Jeter has worked tirelessly to make Bossier City’s Barksdale Annex neighborhood a cleaner, safer place. She helped bring a park and recreation center to the Annex, and to enlarge its Hooter Park. She organizes National Night Out parties, prayer marches and back to school clothing and supplies drives, to name just a few of her projects.

On February 22, 2023, Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler made a Proclamation for Black History Month to recognize the day as “Black American Leadership Recognition Day” in Bossier City, asking Bossier citizens to honor “Black American Leaders whose lives have shaped our community.” In particular, he asked the community to honor Alice Jeter.

Mayor Chandler noted that Alice Jeter was born in Bossier Parish in 1944. As the oldest of twelve children, she had to quit school to help support her family. She worked as a domestic worker in Bossier Parish until 1971. In 1972, she took a job as a cafeteria worker at Parkway High School where she worked for 35 years. Following her years of paid employment, Alice Jeter became a fulltime volunteer for her community (and also resumed her education, earning her high school equivalency diploma). Mayor Chandler accoladed Ms. Jeter for “Seeing value where others saw insignificance, planting hope when many around her felt hopeless. This beautiful commitment to make life better for those around her made her dreams about community a reality. “

In cleaning up her neighborhood, Alice Jeter has worked with folks from all ages and walks of life, including the environmental team of the Halliburton company, that cut back overgrown areas in the Barksdale Annex, Boy Scouts who planted trees, and individuals under court order who picked up litter. These community service teams got special attention from her, as she personally supervised them and walked and talked with them as they worked. Recently Ms. Jeter worked with an Eagle Scout in her neighborhood, Parkway High School sophomore, LaMarcus Harris, whose Eagle Scout project was completed last August after he led 26 family members and friends in a gateway enhancement project for the Barksdale Annex subdivision in Bossier City.

Ms. Jeter has also focused on the importance of home ownership in her neighborhood, saying in the February 6, 2006 Shreveport Times, “When a person owns his own home, it makes him feel good about himself, and gives him pride in caring for his house and yard…It gives them goals and something to look forward to. They’ll want to improve their neighborhood.” She also stressed the importance of the older generation being an example to the younger generation. “If you see some paper, pick it up. Get them [young people] thinking it can be the best neighborhood it could be. If we let them know, as role models, what we want and what we expect of them, then everybody will fall into line.”

This impulse to be a good neighbor has not gone unnoticed in Barksdale Annex. When various Shreveport-Bossier civic organizations sponsored a contest called, “2,000 Reasons Our Neighborhood is the Greatest,” residents of Barksdale Annex put down Alice’s Jeter’s name as their reason they loved their neighborhood. Thus, in the announcement of the contest’s awards on March 20, 2000, Alice Jeter was named, “Neighbor of the Year.”

In concluding his 2023 Black History Month pronouncement honoring Alice Jeter as a Bossier City leader, Mayor Chandler concluded, “WHEREAS, every community has a hero and Bossier City has Alice Jeter. Her servant leadership is matched only by the twinkle in her eye. The City of Bossier City is honored to recognize Ms. Jeter. Thank you, for making our community a better place.”

If you have stories or photographs of some of the area’s civic-minded women, or environmentally-minded citizens, we’d love to see or hear them, and perhaps make copies for our collection, with your permission. We are located at 2206 Beckett St, Bossier City, LA and are open M-Th 9-8, Fri 9-6, and Sat 9-5. Our phone number is (318) 746-7717 and our email is history-center@bossierlibrary.org

For other fun facts, photos, and videos, be sure to follow us @BPLHistoryCenter on FB, @bplhistorycenter on TikTok, and check out our blog http://bpl-hc.blogspot.com/.

Images:

LaMarcus Harris pictured with community leader and mentor, Ms. Alice Jeter, upon completion of his Eagle Scout project enhancing the gateway (also partially pictured) into the Barksdale Annex community of south Bossier City. August 26, 2023. Photos courtesy of Keep Bossier Beautiful

Article by: Pam Carlisle

Liberty Garden, a Place for Remembering

Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of what many consider the darkest time in our nation's history. It was Sep. 11, 2001, between 8 a.m. and 8:41 a.m., when terrorists hijacked four planes. The flights were as follows: 8:00 a.m. American Airlines Flight 11, 92 souls; 8:14 a.m. United Airlines Flight 175, 65 souls; 8:21 a.m. American Airlines Flight 77, 64 souls, and 8:41 a.m. United Airlines Flight 93, 44 souls.

Five minutes after the fourth flight departed, flight 11 crashed directly into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York. Before the 9 o'clock hour was over, the second and third flights also crashed—flight 175 into the south tower of the World Trade Center and flight 77 into the Pentagon. At 10:07, the fourth and final flight hijacked by terrorists crashed into a field southeast of Pittsburgh.

Later, we learned that some flight crew members and passengers learned of the three other hijacked planes through phone calls. Determined to stop their hijackers from completing their mission, several passengers and crew members attempted to storm the cockpit. After a struggle, the aircraft crashed into a field, thwarting the hijacker's plan and preventing the terrorists from reaching their intended target.

While we don't know the exact target, we know that one of the hijackers had reset the autopilot to head back toward Washington. Today, we know that the target could have been the White House, but many believe it was more likely the U.S. Capitol, where the Senate and House were in session. Later that day, some 150 members from the Senate and the House—both Republicans and Democrats—stood on the Capitol steps and sang, "God Bless America."

Most of us remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when we first heard the news of the first plane that plowed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. We numbly carried on our tasks while listening to and watching the terror unfold as news of the other crashes came across the airwaves. Thousands of lives were lost that day. Since then, hundreds of first-responders have passed in the years afterward from illness and injury suffered while working selflessly to rescue their fellow man.

As a nation, we will never forget the enormous tragedy of the 9-11 terrorist attacks, the sacrifices made, and the lives lost. Around the country, there are thousands of 9-11 remembrance ceremonies every year. Many have erected memorials such as the Liberty Garden memorial here in Bossier City between the police and fire departments in the municipal complex.

About a month after the attacks, Diane Chandler, director of the Bossier City Clean City Committee, conceived the idea of having a memorial garden to honor those who died on 9-11. They broke ground precisely nine months after the attack with hopes of dedicating the memorial on the first anniversary of the attack. There were delays, including Chandler's death in Dec. of 2002. Dawna Barrera became the new director of the Clean City Committee and pledged to complete the project by August and formally dedicate the Liberty Garden on the second anniversary of 9-11.

The Liberty garden includes a reflection pool, iron benches designed like the American flag, etched granite panels, professional landscaping, and the Bossier City Seal. Janet Wells, an Arcadia native, designed the garden. In 2015, a unique new feature was added to the memorial garden; an artifact from ground zero. A 16-foot tall, 823-pound steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center was formally dedicated during Bossier City's 14th annual 9-11 remembrance ceremony. 

The Associated Press reported, "The 16-foot beam traveled by trailer from New York to the Municipal Complex in the city Tuesday. It was led by a processional of fire trucks and law enforcement vehicles and welcomed with a ceremony that included local officials and dignitaries. One of the fire engines had belonged to a fleet from a fire station in New Jersey and responded on Sept. 11, 2001."

Tom Lawson, Keep Bossier Beautiful president and local business owner, was instrumental in bringing the artifact to the city. He conceived the idea after being inspired by a memorial he saw in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2011, which consisted of twisted pieces of metal from the Twin Towers. Those involved in bringing the artifact to Bossier City included his son, Scott Lawson; Bossier Sheriff Julian Whittington; Charles Cost of Calumet Specialty Products; and Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker.

Bossier City's Liberty Garden is a place of reflection and hope. It was built to remind us not only of the lives lost and the bravery of those who selflessly rushed into danger to rescue others. More importantly, it reminds us how great America is when we are united as a nation. Bossier City and Keep Bossier Beautiful hold an annual 9-11 remembrance ceremony at Liberty Garden located at the Municipal Complex between the Police and Fire Stations at 620 Benton Road, Bossier City.

To learn more about Bossier City memorials and their histories, visit the Bossier Parish Libraries History Center at 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City. Can't come in, call 318-746-7717 or email history-center@bossierlibrary.org with your request. Follow us @BPLHistoryCenter on FB, @bplhistorycenter on Tiktok, and check out our blog, http://bpl-hc.blogspot.com/.

By: Amy Robertson

Campaign Against Litter Creates State Law

It's National Keep America Beautiful Month, which is about the shared responsibility we have in building and maintaining clean, green, and beautiful spaces. Improving our environment includes planting trees, flowers, and gardens and applying a fresh coat of paint on fences, decks, and buildings. It also involves reducing waste by repurposing and reusing old items, recycling, and picking up litter on our streets, highways, and in our communities.

While the initiative for keeping America beautiful began in 1953, Bossier Parish's strong efforts started in 1929 when Lettie Van Landingham came to Bossier Parish to start her long-time career as Bossier Parish Home Demonstration agent. In a Bossier Press article written by Van Landingham, she talks about her fight against litter in this parish.

(L to R) Mrs. Cason, Mrs. Dalrymple, Mrs. Kilgore, and Miss Lettie Van Landingham
Baton Rouge, 1933

“’Thank you’ is not enough to say to the Bossier City Quota Club and all of the other people who have been so wonderful to help carry out our civic programs.

“Therefore I shall give a brief history of my work along this line.

“As a little county girl I attended Minden High School. At that time Mrs. Joe Miller was president of the Minden Civic Club. This club had annual spring clean-up each year.

“This being in the day of one horse delivery wagons, owned by the grocery stores, the merchants furnished the drivers, and all school children assisted in picking up litter surrounding the school and the downtown area and putting it in the wagons.

“Therefore, I was like the little nine-year-old boy whom I picked up one day when he was on his way to the auction barn. He said, ‘I’m going to the auction, you know once you get it in your blood you can’t get it out.’

“The first group I organized was in 1918 in a small town that needed everything. This organization was made up of high school boys and girls. We followed Mrs. Miller’s plan and the town was greatly improved. The remains of wood walks and outdoor toilets were piled and later carried away by the merchants.

“When I came to Bossier in August, 1929, one of the first things the rural women asked was to please help to get the people not to throw their litter on their roads and land.

“Plain Dealing led the way with a good clean-up program. The report was sent to a magazine which awarded them with a plaque. This was placed in the Bell Hotel where the Lions Club held their meetings. Like many other valuable things, it was burned with the hotel.

The home demonstration club women and I worked in many ways to improve the sanitation and beautification of the parish. The members of the Police Jury also assisted and on April 8, 1949, passed ordinance No. 182. A few years later, through our efforts, the state passed a law prohibiting dumping litter on the highway.

“In 1953 Mrs. M.E. Tipton had the idea of getting the heads of the departments together and trying to accomplish more. This was done, the meeting being held at the State Highway building with representatives of the Police Jury, lumber companies, highway department, women’s organizations and others present.

“The name ‘Keep Bossier Beautiful’ was selected for the organization and Harry Balcom was elected president. We worked closely with the state organization, ‘Louisiana Associated Clubs for Roadside Development, Inc.,’ with Mrs. H.H. Harris of Alexandria as chairman.

“This organization, ‘Keep Bossier Beautiful,’ has worked continuously since it was organized and has contributed much to the improvement of highway beautification and sanitation.

“Thier first meeting of the 1967-68 year was held at the Amber Inn October 11 at 12 noon.

“Again thanking all of those individuals and organizations who have assisted in making our parish a more beautiful and better place in which to live.”

Keeping Bossier beautiful has been important to Bossierites since its beginning. Looking at newspapers from the late 1800s, you will see admonishments in there like "Clean up your yards" and "Clean up the front yard; tack on that loose board or picket, slick up and make home and its surroundings as neat and cheery as possible. You will live just as long, have just as good crops and feel a great deal better if you tidy-up a bit. Try it."

What do you want to know about Bossier Parish's history? Visit, call or email the Bossier Parish Library History Center for help with your research. We are at 2206 Beckett Street, Bossier City, 318-746-7717, history-center@bossierlibrary.org.

By: Amy Robertson