The Red River High class of 2023 walked off the field Saturday morning into the rest of their lives. They carried with them their high school diploma, one of the first major accomplishments they will achieve in their life.
Red River School Board President Val Cox said, “Congratulations Red River High School Class of 2023. May God continue to bless you and guide your footsteps as you begin your next chapter.
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By Faerie Sedge
Here is Eric Breedlove of Coushatta with his 10.04 pound bass taken on May 23, 2023, at Grand Bayou Resort. Breedlove will have a replica made of the bass under the resort’s Lunker program.
Grand Bayou Resort and the Grand Bayou Reservoir Commission will pay for replicas of any fish caught at the lake over 10 pounds. If the fisherman wants a replica, the fish must first be officially weighed by resort personnel, then returned to the lake alive and in good condition. Now, get out there and fish!
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We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Legal Assistant to join our law firm specializing in personal injury cases. As a Personal Injury Legal Assistant, you will provide vital support to our legal team by managing correspondence, maintaining deadlines, communicating with clients, ordering medical records, and drafting legal documents. Your organizational and communication skills will be crucial in ensuring the smooth flow of operations and the efficient handling of personal injury cases.
To apply email Eddie Harrington at To apply email Eddie Harrington at eddie.harrington@theharringtonlawfirm.com.
Responsibilities:
1. Correspondence Management: Handle incoming and outgoing correspondence related to personal injury cases, including emails, letters, and faxes. Maintain organized filing systems for easy retrieval of case-related documents.
2. Deadline Management: Monitor and maintain case deadlines, including court filing deadlines, the statute of limitations, discovery deadlines, and other important milestones. Collaborate with attorneys and paralegals to ensure timely completion of tasks.
3. Client Communication: Act as a primary point of contact for clients and provide regular updates on case progress. Answer inquiries, schedule appointments, and relay messages between clients and attorneys. Maintain a professional and empathetic demeanor when dealing with clients.
4. Medical Records Management: Initiate and oversee the process of ordering medical records and other relevant documents for personal injury cases. Maintain an organized system to manage and update medical records, ensuring their accessibility to the legal team.
5. Legal Document Preparation: Draft, edit, and proofread legal documents, including pleadings, motions, subpoenas, settlement agreements, and correspondence. Ensure accuracy and adherence to formatting guidelines.
6. Case File Management: Organize and maintain case files, ensuring all relevant documents, pleadings, and evidence are properly cataloged and easily retrievable. Follow established protocols for document retention and disposal.
7. Court Filings and E-Filings: Prepare and file legal documents with courts and government agencies in compliance with procedural rules and deadlines. Familiarity with e-filing systems is essential.
8. Calendar Management: Maintain attorneys’ calendars, scheduling appointments, court appearances, depositions, and client meetings. Coordinate with internal staff, opposing counsel, and court personnel to arrange dates and times.
9. Research Assistance: Conduct legal research using online databases and other resources to gather relevant case law, statutes, regulations, and legal precedents as needed. Summarize and present findings to attorneys.
10. Administrative Support: Provide general administrative assistance, including managing attorney expenses, processing invoices, coordinating travel arrangements, and assisting with other day-to-day tasks as required.
Preferred Qualifications:
• High school diploma or equivalent; additional legal secretary or paralegal certification is a plus.
• Preferred experience working as a legal assistant, preferably in a personal injury law firm or related field, but not required.
• Solid knowledge of personal injury law and legal terminology is preferred but not required.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and legal research databases.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize assignments, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional demeanor with the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Familiarity with court filing procedures and e-filing systems, preferred but not required.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Friendly and approachable demeanor, promoting a positive and welcoming work atmosphere.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact effectively with colleagues, clients, and other stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to handle challenging situations with professionalism and empathy.
• Willingness to contribute to a workplace that values teamwork and treats colleagues like family.
Note: This job description is a general overview and may be subject to modifications and adjustments based on specific requirements and the needs of the law firm. We take pride in maintaining a very friendly work environment and fostering a supportive team culture, treating each other like family.
EOE
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By Teddy Allen
Two years ago, there was a now-forgotten late-season hurricane. It mustered up weak winds that couldn’t even knock a sick alley cat over and petered out before the eastern seaboard could offer much interest.
Its name was Teddy.
Soft. Mashed potatoes version of a “storm.”
But experience suggests that things ain’t always that away.
For everything—including hurricanes—there is a season.
But good news: the six-month 2023 hurricane season began June 1 and if the names are any indication, there won’t be much trouble. Lots of Teddy-like names in the crowd. Arlene, for instance, the first named storm of 2023, has come and gone with a whimper.
Then you have Bret and Cindy and Tammy and, well, you get the picture. No Brutus or Atilla. But let a professional explain, a man I would trust with anything, including my 7-iron or even my baseball glove …
He’s an old friend who’s found his way into the emergency business, including weather watching. Worked on The Tech Talk with him and then for almost 20 years at The Times in Shreveport. He’s a good golfer, a great dad, an intrepid reporter, and now works for some lucky people as their Director of Communications in a hurricane-endangered place. I can’t tell you where or his name because that would be indiscreet. (Don. Don Walker. In Brevard County, Florida, like Cocoa Beach and Port Canaveral and all that.)
So, this hurricane season, we have boots on the ground, and here is Don’s official early-season report:
“This year’s list of hurricane names includes ‘Don.’ Nice to get some name recognition, but I predict this will be a somewhat calm hurricane season due to the likes of others who made the list – like Hurricanes Gert, Nigel, and Vince. From an emergency communications standpoint, which is how I make a living, it’s going to be hard to convince people to evacuate when we show up in the ‘Cone of Uncertainty’ for a Hurricane Gert. No offense to any Gerts out there, but I see ‘Gert’ as something the doctor might say when what you’ve got is more of an upset stomach kind of thing, not so much a full-fledged stomach bug – but then I’m not a doctor, I’m just a man and a potential hurricane.
“Thank you for checking on us,” Don’s report concludes. “We’re already five days in and, so far, only one disturbance in the Gulf that didn’t faze us. We’re 1-0, but if and when the time comes, you can find me in the dugout – well, we call it a bunker – handling communications for Brevard County Emergency Management. It’s something I’m pretty good at. Well, that, and golf. But not during a hurricane.”
It’s around this hurricane-wary time of year that I thumb through Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larson, a book I’ve read three times. It starts like this:
“Throughout the night of Friday, September 7, 1900, Isaac Monroe Cline found himself waking to a persistent sense of something gone wrong.”
Isaac didn’t know half of it.
In the late summer of 1900, Galveston was home to 38,000 and the third-richest city in America, a boom town. As Larson explains in his book that reads more like a suspense novel than non-fiction, Isaac Cline was its young resident U.S. Weather Bureau meteorologist who “failed to grasp the true meaning of the strange deep-sea swells and peculiar winds that greeted the city that (Saturday, September 8) morning. Mere hours later, Galveston found itself submerged by a monster hurricane that completely destroyed the town and killed over 6,000 people in what remains the greatest natural disaster in American history …”
What Isaac and the gang wouldn’t have given for The Weather Channel. Or Larson’s book. While he didn’t get to read it, you might want to. Spoiler alert: as mentioned, I’ve read it three times; Storm is 3-0 so far.
A final note from Larson’s book:
“Galveston was too pretty, too progressive, too prosperous—entirely too hopeful—to be true. Travelers arriving by ship saw the city as a silver fairy kingdom that might just as suddenly disappear from sight, a very different portrait from that which would present itself in the last few weeks of September 1900, when inbound passengers smelled the pyres of burning corpses a hundred miles out to sea.”
It’s a story about “what can happen when human arrogance meets the uncontrollable force of nature.” It’s why I don’t gripe at rain and lightning delays anymore.
Have a great summer, but let’s be careful out there.
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu or Twitter @MamaLuvsManning
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First Baptist Church of Coushatta is seeking a full-time Administrative Secretary.
Please send resumes to:
First Baptist Church / Roger Cason
P. O. Box 465
Coushatta, LA 71019
Or email resume to fbccoushatta@bellsouth.net.
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By Molly Seales
It is with mixed feelings that I continue the next chapter of my journey at the University of Louisiana Monroe, as I will be leaving behind three wonderful years of writing for the Red River Parish Journal. This job has given me valuable experience that will help me as I prepare to move forward with my future.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my boss, Mr. John Brewer, for the amazing job with which he entrusted me. I have made quite a few errors along the way, but he was quick to help me correct them when possible. I would also like to thank my mom for the countless articles she has proofread and all the “different wordings” she gave me along the way. These articles would not have been possible without the people of Riverdale and Red River Parish who supported me, encouraged me, and did interviews along the way.
As I leave for ULM in the fall, I am happy to pass the torch of this job on to Riverdale student Chloe Spradley. Chloe is very mature and is a fabulous writer, and I have no doubt that she will pick up where I left off and do an amazing job. Look for her articles to begin soon!
Riverdale and Red River Parish will always hold a special place in my heart. This is not a goodbye…it is a “see you later” as I prepare to further my education. To all my readers and supporters…to all the people who have given me material for my articles…thanks for the memories! “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 Molly Seales signing off.
Editor’s Note: Sadly, I say goodbye to Journal Reporter Molly Seales. Maybe not goodbye forever. Perhaps whenever someone from Red River parish accomplishes something at ULM, Molly can drop us a note so we can all celebrate.
Thank you Molly for an outstanding job these past three years.
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Louisiana Tech University has announced the names of students on its Spring Quarter 2023 President’s and Dean’s honor lists. Two are from Coushatta.
Students whose names are followed by an asterisk earned recognition as members of the president’s honor list. That distinction signifies achievement of at least a 3.8 academic grade point average on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher), with no grade lower than a B.
To be eligible for the dean’s honor lists, a student is required to earn at least a 3.5 academic grade point average with no grade lower than a C on a minimum of nine semester hours completed (100-level or higher).
Students from Coushatta on the list were Adam T. Bryant on the president’s honor list and Brennan Thomas Edie on the dean’s honor list.
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By Royal Alexander
It’s difficult to overstate what a tremendous natural economic asset a river can be, and the Red River is no exception.
As we know, in 1832, Capt. Henry Miller Shreve (Shreveport’s namesake) led the mission to break through the Great Raft which was nearly 160 miles of concentrated dead wood on the Red River that completely impeded steamboat traffic. Shreveport was the site of the worst section of the Red River, and where “The Raft” was impenetrable.
However, to reach its potential any economic asset must be developed and marketed successfully. Based upon what I saw on my recent tour of the Caddo-Bossier Port, that has and is happening.
I am chagrined to admit that although I was born and raised in Shreveport—and have driven past the Port all of my life—I had never stopped in. Well, I remedied that defect recently.
My tour guide, Director of Marketing and Sales, Kathy French, and Executive Port Director, Eric England, provided me with a wealth of information regarding the essence of what occurs there daily. What I saw is remarkable.
Let me try to summarize.
The Port of Caddo-Bossier is part of the 7-parish Red River Waterway Commission (RRWC). The RRWC includes Caddo, Bossier, Red River, Natchitoches, Grant, Rapides, and Avoyelles parishes. Over the last 50 plus years the RRWC has attracted federal and state dollars to create and maintain a navigable waterway. Of course, by making the Red River navigable, new industries have been attracted to our region.
(By the way, as economist Dr. Loren C. Scott points out, if the navigable waterway is the reason our riverboat casinos landed here then we can also add the economic impact of the casinos to our total RRWC-induced dollar amount).
One of my mistaken assumptions was that every entity that calls the Port home was directly connected to the river itself. Not so. There are multiple businesses that are located at the Port simply because it serves as a great regional location from which to launch to other markets.
Several of the Port industries do directly use the river to ship inbound or outbound cargo. However, other industries do not directly use the river but still benefit from water-compelled rates—i.e., as a bargaining chip, they use the option of choosing barge transportation to get more favorable rates from trucking and/or rail transportation.
I was curious about the broad economic impact of the RRWC, and I reviewed Dr. Scott’s most recent economic update.
In 2018 dollars, the RRWC has attracted $14.4 billion dollars since 1968. Dr. Scott also estimates that since 2018, significant additional private dollars have been injected into our region with the expansion of several of the tenants at the Port.
Of course, we shouldn’t overlook the enormous multiplier effect on our regional economy. Using the $14.4 billion in inflation-adjusted real spending, Dr. Scott concluded that:
1). Business firms in the 7-parish region gained over $23.9 billion in real new business sales since 1968.
2). Households in the 7-parish region saw real earnings rise over $6.9 billion since 1968.
3). In 2018, spending attracted to the region supported 4,741 jobs in the 7-parish area.
Current tenants of the Caddo-Bossier Port include: Benteler Steel, Calumet Packaging, Oakley Louisiana, Odyssey Specialized Logistics, LLC, Omni Industries—Omni Specialty Packaging, Omni Industrial Solutions, Pratt Industries Paper Mill, Ronpak, Ternium, West Louisiana Aggregates, LLC. and Alpine Silica (formerly Performance Proppants).
There is also considerable investment in infrastructure presently being made.
The Port will soon begin the bid process for a new $35 million waterline that will bring millions of gallons of water from Bossier City to the Port. The waterline is considered one of the first improvements needed to attract larger manufacturing facilities—which can create hundreds of new jobs for the area—by providing a redundant, or secondary, source of water for manufacturers that require it.
The Port is also working on a rail spur and plans on adding electric substations, natural gas lines and transload facilities, so the sites are “shovel ready”—often imperative to win a prospective tenant—for construction. (Biz Magazine, 4-25-23).
(Port tenants also frequently have job openings).
It is encouraging that with the largely self-inflicted explosion of inflation in the last 2.5 years and a challenging job market, the RRWC and the Port of Caddo-Bossier are a hopeful reminder that even in a difficult economy, a well-directed and marketed economic asset can flourish.
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The Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association is conducting Underclassmen All State Games at SLU in Hammond through today. Pitcher Tyler Hughes is representing Red River High at the games.
The top 80 underclassman in the state are competing at Southeastern Louisiana University. Tyler’s proud mother Alison Strong told the Journal that he is the first baseball player ever to make the games from Red River.
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The Red River Parish School System is accepting applications for the position of Assistant Principal for the Red River Elementary School.
The Red River Elementary School Assistant Principal reports to the Principal and Superintendent of Red River Parish Schools. The Assistant Principal is responsible for providing high caliber educational leadership to the school, ensuring the safety and well-being of students, building strong family partnerships, selecting, hiring, supervising and evaluating staff in accordance with district policies, preparing and administering the school budget, and overseeing the school building and its operations and activities.
Salary: 75K starting pay for no experience (supplements are included in salary) Commensurate with experience.
Qualifications:
Provisional Principal, Principal, Educational Leadership or eligible for LDOE licensure once employed in administrative position.
Master’s and/ or Advanced degree from an accredited college or university, with graduate level courses in school administration and educational leadership.
Excellent communications and interpersonal skills.
Experience in staff supervision and evaluation and in budget development and administration.
Knowledge of early childhood/developmental learning and growth, behavioral response and best SEL practices.
Ability to provide inclusive and effective educational leadership of general and special education instructional programs.
Deadline for application submission June 16, 2023.
Apply online at http://www.rrbulldogs.com or you may contact Nicole Eason 318-271-3150 for more information.
Nicole M. Eason
Red River Parish School Board
Human Resources Department
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The River Parish School Board is accepting applications for the following position:
Reading Specialist/Interventionist (salary starting at 60K including supplements)
Qualifications:
Minimum of 3 effective years of experience as a certified ELA teacher. Teaching experience in 6-12 grade level. Proven results when working with struggling readers. Strong knowledge of how children learn to read. Knowledge and experience working with high-quality reading curriculum.
Certified in the following areas:
Secondary Grades 6-12
Reading Specialist 1-12
Louisiana Trained Mentor Teacher
Submit applications at the Red River Parish School Board and at http://www.rrbulldogs.com under “Employment”. Deadline for submission is June 2, 2023.
For more information, you may contact Nicole Eason by email neason@rrbulldogs.com or 318-271-3150.
Nicole M. Eason
Red River Parish School Board
Human Resources Department
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The Red River Parish School System is accepting applications for the position of Algebra 1 teacher.
Salary for 1st year teacher with no experience: 60K (this includes supplements)
Qualifications:
Valid Teaching Certification (884 Algebra 1, 388 Math 6-12, 389 Math K-12, or 889 Math for Professionals) or
Eligible for a Practitioner’s License as confirmed by a local university or alternative certification program
Apply online at http://www.rrbulldogs.com or contact Nicole Eason 318-271-3150 for more information.
Nicole M. Eason
Red River Parish School Board
Human Resources Department
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By Molly Seales
Despite the recent departure of Coach Jared Smelser as he goes to PVA to coach and be their athletic director, the Riverdale Rebel football team isn’t letting up to prepare for next season. The guys have been doing workouts on their own, and official workouts begin Monday, June 12. The guys are geared up, excited, and ready to go!
Despite losing five seniors, the Rebels return a solid core of starters, including senior 1st team all-district offensive lineman, district defensive MVP and All MSAIS defensive tackle Hayden Hillman and senior first team all-district running back/defensive lineman and All MSAIS running back Kyle Guillory. The Rebels also return senior first team all-district quarterback/athlete Ryder Huddleston and senior first team all-district defensive lineman Landen Barrett. Look for 2nd team all-district senior offensive lineman Jaxon Gates and 2nd team all-district sophomore linebacker Ashton Almond to factor in big for the Rebels. Another player to watch is junior Kaidyn Williams who became a force to reckon with in the playoffs. Williams is a very versatile player at linebacker, running back, and receiver. Riverdale also has some outstanding upcoming underclassmen.
Senior Hayden Hillman had this to say about the upcoming season: “Even though we are losing a head coach, I think it’s going to be a great year. The Rebels always manage to adapt to whatever is thrown our way. We are going to continue to work hard and are hungry for a state championship.” The 2023 schedule has been released, and a highlight is senior night/homecoming on October 13. This year the Rebels will be playing hard for their “Mimi” Debbie Johnson who entered the gates of Heaven on May 28 after a courageous five-year battle with cancer.
Good luck to our Rebels as they work hard this summer and prepare for a wonderful 2023 season!
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Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for May 26 – June 2, 2023
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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At Red River Elementary School, the Pre-K 4 end of year program is today. Tomorrow there is field day for K through 2. Also, tomorrow it is the 4th grade field trip.
The slab for New Life Church’s worship center was poured this week. The church said, “God is at work. A lot of work ahead of us, but God is blessing and will continue to bless this good work.”
Camp Rainman Campers arrived this week at Clara Springs Baptist Camp for the first official camp of the summer.
Riverdale Academy has announced the date of their annual Rebel Fest. It will be September 16th beginning at 3:00 pm.
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Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for May 26 – June 2, 2023
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
To report an issue or typo with this article – CLICK HERE
Thursday was the first day of the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said, “It is the perfect time to get a game plan.”
Thursday the National Weather Service Shreveport office said, “Thunderstorms associated with an area of low pressure over the Gulf of Mexico have become better organized this morning. Conditions are marginally favorable for further short term development but become unfavorable this weekend. No impacts to the Four State Region are expected.”
Edwards said, “Storms form quickly once they enter the Gulf and leave little time to prepare. Take time now to make sure you and your family have a plan in the event a storm heads our way.”
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The Red River Parish Library is offering an entry level genealogy course during June. This service is provided in cooperation with the Coushatta Chute Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The class will be led by Red River Parish native, Dr. Virginia Webb and will focus on tracing your ancestors. Forms to record family information and practical tips will be provided. Library staff and DAR volunteers will be on hand to assist participants in using class principles to trace their own ancestors. Computer skills are not necessary but would be helpful.
Class dates and times:
Tuesday June 13, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Thursday June 15, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday June 20, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Thursday June 22, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday June 27, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Thursday June 29, 2023, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
The class is provided at no charge, but registration is required. Space will be limited to allow assistance to be provided to individual participants. To register, call 318-932-5614.
We look forward to seeing you at the library to learn some history.
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While you are sitting in your recliner with the air conditioner blowing frigid air on your face, think what it would be like not to have A/C. Or not to have even a fan to circulate the warm air.
The annual Fan Drive put on by the Red River Council on Aging is underway. They are now accepting donations of fans, or cash to buy more fans. Executive Director Liz Cannon told the Journal now is the tine to donate a fan.
Cannon told us of the generosity of Robert Earl Bamburg of Hickory Grove Baptist Church. He donated 12 fans to the council to help senior citizens.
Bring your fans to the Council on Aging on Front Street. You may also donate to the fan drive if you don’t have time to shop.
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We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Legal Assistant to join our law firm specializing in personal injury cases. As a Personal Injury Legal Assistant, you will provide vital support to our legal team by managing correspondence, maintaining deadlines, communicating with clients, ordering medical records, and drafting legal documents. Your organizational and communication skills will be crucial in ensuring the smooth flow of operations and the efficient handling of personal injury cases.
To apply email Eddie Harrington at To apply email Eddie Harrington at eddie.harrington@theharringtonlawfirm.com.
Responsibilities:
1. Correspondence Management: Handle incoming and outgoing correspondence related to personal injury cases, including emails, letters, and faxes. Maintain organized filing systems for easy retrieval of case-related documents.
2. Deadline Management: Monitor and maintain case deadlines, including court filing deadlines, the statute of limitations, discovery deadlines, and other important milestones. Collaborate with attorneys and paralegals to ensure timely completion of tasks.
3. Client Communication: Act as a primary point of contact for clients and provide regular updates on case progress. Answer inquiries, schedule appointments, and relay messages between clients and attorneys. Maintain a professional and empathetic demeanor when dealing with clients.
4. Medical Records Management: Initiate and oversee the process of ordering medical records and other relevant documents for personal injury cases. Maintain an organized system to manage and update medical records, ensuring their accessibility to the legal team.
5. Legal Document Preparation: Draft, edit, and proofread legal documents, including pleadings, motions, subpoenas, settlement agreements, and correspondence. Ensure accuracy and adherence to formatting guidelines.
6. Case File Management: Organize and maintain case files, ensuring all relevant documents, pleadings, and evidence are properly cataloged and easily retrievable. Follow established protocols for document retention and disposal.
7. Court Filings and E-Filings: Prepare and file legal documents with courts and government agencies in compliance with procedural rules and deadlines. Familiarity with e-filing systems is essential.
8. Calendar Management: Maintain attorneys’ calendars, scheduling appointments, court appearances, depositions, and client meetings. Coordinate with internal staff, opposing counsel, and court personnel to arrange dates and times.
9. Research Assistance: Conduct legal research using online databases and other resources to gather relevant case law, statutes, regulations, and legal precedents as needed. Summarize and present findings to attorneys.
10. Administrative Support: Provide general administrative assistance, including managing attorney expenses, processing invoices, coordinating travel arrangements, and assisting with other day-to-day tasks as required.
Preferred Qualifications:
• High school diploma or equivalent; additional legal secretary or paralegal certification is a plus.
• Preferred experience working as a legal assistant, preferably in a personal injury law firm or related field, but not required.
• Solid knowledge of personal injury law and legal terminology is preferred but not required.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and legal research databases.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize assignments, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional demeanor with the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Familiarity with court filing procedures and e-filing systems, preferred but not required.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Friendly and approachable demeanor, promoting a positive and welcoming work atmosphere.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact effectively with colleagues, clients, and other stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to handle challenging situations with professionalism and empathy.
• Willingness to contribute to a workplace that values teamwork and treats colleagues like family.
Note: This job description is a general overview and may be subject to modifications and adjustments based on specific requirements and the needs of the law firm. We take pride in maintaining a very friendly work environment and fostering a supportive team culture, treating each other like family.
EOE
To report an issue or typo with this article – CLICK HERE
By Brad Dison
It was Christmas Day in 1982. J.R. and his family and friends, which amounted to about a dozen people in all, were enjoying a wonderful and relaxing Christmas at J.R.’s home in St. James, Jamaica. The day was bright and cheerful. Due to Jamaica’s warm climate, there was no snow. The warm temperature did not hinder their festive holiday moods in the least. They thought back on previous Christmases they had spent together and looked forward to many more. As the day slowly turned into evening on the tropical island, the dozen people readied themselves for dinner. The dozen people entered the large dining room from other parts of the house through three large doors. They began taking their places at a table large enough to accommodate 20 people which took up almost all of the space in the room.” They were just about to say the blessing when something happened which would make this Christmas the most memorable of their lives.
At precisely 6:00 p.m., with everyone seated, they bowed their heads to say the blessing. At that instant, three masked young men quickly entered all three doors of the dining room. One had a knife, another had a hatchet, and the third one had a pistol. One of the masked intruders said, “Somebody’s going to die here tonight!” J.R. and the others at the table were completely shocked. Some of them screamed while others were too afraid to make a sound. One of J.R.’s friends fainted out of fright. J.R. calmly looked at the intruders. He showed no fear but followed their instructions. The intruders had them lay on their stomachs on the floor. J.R. looked at each of the other 11 people who, before 6:00 p.m., had been enjoying a wonderful Christmas together. J.R.’s wife, June, slowly moved her hands under her body to hide her jewelry, especially her wedding ring. Seconds felt like hours.
“We want a million dollars, or somebody’s going to die!” the pistol-wielding intruder yelled. J.R. raised his head, looked at the intruder’s eyes, and explained that they did not have a million dollars. “You’ve got money!” he insisted. J.R. explained that they had some money but not such a large amount. One of J.R.’s companions began screaming, “I’m going to have a heart attack! I’m going to have a heart attack!” This shook the intruders who told one of their captives to go into the kitchen and fetch a glass of water. They let J.R. and the others change into a sitting position. J.R. realized that people who intended to kill would never show this sort of compassion. J.R. studied their movements and the tones of their voices. Although they were wearing stocking masks, J.R. was able to determine that the boy with the pistol was probably in his early 20s and the other two were only teenagers. He knew they were not professionals.
J.R. felt certain that if they could remain calm, they all might survive. J.R.’s wife began to break down when one of the intruders began to forcibly remove her jewelry. The intruder with the pistol grabbed J.R.’s eleven-year-old son and put the gun to his head. “Everybody do as I say!” For the next two hours, the armed robbers led the whole group of people through each room of the house and gathered anything of value that they could carry. All the while, the gunman held the pistol to J.R.’s son’s head.
At first, the intruders were rough with their captives. Through it all, J.R. spoke softly and calmly. Rather than try to hide things of value, he pointed out the most valuable items in the home. His family and friends were more valuable to him than anything else. After two hours together, the intruders began to relax and became friendly, polite, and even chatty. They started calling J.R. “sir.” The gunman asked J.R.’s son “What do you like to do in Jamaica? Do you like to snorkel?” The gunman still held the pistol to his head. The gunman asked J.R.’s son, “Do you want to feel my gun?” For the first time, J.R. was terrified by what the gunman meant. J.R.’s son calmly replied, “No, sir. I don’t play with guns. I have a lot of respect for them. They’re very dangerous.” The gunman grinned behind his stock mask and said, “Hey, I like you man!”
Once the intruders bagged up all they could carry, one of them said, “We’re going to lock you in the cellar.” The intruders led them to the cellar, closed the door, and wedged a two-by-four across the outside of the door. J.R. and the others could hear their footsteps fading as they walked away. Before they had a chance to relax, they heard footsteps approaching the door. Although none of the captives spoke, they all wondered if the intruders were coming back to kill them so as not to leave any witnesses. Suddenly, they heard a scraping sound on the floor on the other side of the door. Someone slid a large plate of turkey under the door. “We want you people to have your Christmas dinner after all,” one of the intruders said. “We don’t want to take that away from you.” Again, they heard footsteps fading. Moments later, when J.R. decided the intruders had gone, he and his brother-in-law began ramming the large, solid door. After several tries, they finally broke the door down. J.R. calmly called the police. Within a few days, police captured each of the three intruders.
The captives credited J.R.’s calmness for saving their lives. On the rare occasions that he spoke of the armed robbery, J.R. said that for them to escape unharmed, he knew he had to remain calm. Perhaps his stint in the U.S. Air Force helped him in this situation. It was an Air Force rule that required J.R. to assume a name in place of the one his parents gave him. J.R. chose John. You and I know J.R. Cash as Johnny Cash, the Man in Black.
Source: Cash, Johnny, and Patrick Carr. Cash : The Autobiography. San Francisco, Ca, HarperSanFrancisco, 1997, p. 34-43.
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First Baptist Church of Coushatta is seeking a full-time Administrative Secretary.
Please send resumes to:
First Baptist Church / Roger Cason
P.O. Box 465
Coushatta, LA 71019
Or email resume to fbccoushatta@bellsouth.net.
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Men of Courage Red River invited all men to join them for the June Man Church on June 8th. They will welcome Bro. Philip Reid Caples to the Coushatta area.
Shawn Beard said, “He has a timely message for all of us, you don’t want to miss June 8th at the Shop. Caples is the new Pastor at 1st Baptist Coushatta.”
Man Church promises a Manly Meal of Jambalaya, Manly Music, and a Manly Message. Beard said, “It’s for guys of all ages (12-120) so make sure to bring a friend. We will see YOU there!”
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