A Grand Marshal Worthy of the Title

From the Editor:

Every week, when you pick up a copy of The Jena Times, you’re holding something that passed through the capable hands of a woman many of our readers have never met. Today I want to change that.

Her name is Kathy Duncan, and she is the Production Manager at Louisiana State Printing, where The Jena Times and our other newspapers are printed. On Saturday, Oct. 17, Kathy was honored as Grand Marshal of the 89th annual International Rice Festival Parade in downtown Crowley. The Rice Festival staff chose her in recognition of her many contributions to the rice industry and to Acadia Parish. I can’t think of anyone more deserving.

Over the years, Kathy has become a dear friend to this newspaper and to the Franklin Family. She makes sure our print quality doesn’t just meet the standard but rises above it. When this newspaper was named Newspaper of the Year, we knew part of that credit belonged to Kathy. Good stories and good photographs only shine when they’re printed right, and Kathy sees to it that they are, week after week.

She has bailed us out of more tight spots than I can remember. Late pages, last-minute changes, deadlines that seemed impossible. She has helped us so many times that we’ve honestly quit counting. And she always does it with a smile and a warm word.

If you’ve ever met a true Cajun lady from South Louisiana, you already know the kind of person I’m describing. Kathy is one of the kindest, sweetest people you will ever meet, the sort who treats everyone like family and means it.

So from all of us at The Jena Times and the Franklin Family: Congratulations, Kathy. Thank you for your friendship, your hard work, and all the times you’ve gone above and beyond for us. Crowley picked the right person to lead the parade.