Freedom Worship Center presents a Movie night on March 18th at 7:00 pm. Pastor Rashad Cole Sr said “We would like to invite the kids if the community to come and fellowship with us. Feel free to bring whatever snacks your desire to bring.” Freedom Worship Center is located on East Carroll Street two blocks east of the high school.

Friends, family and former colleagues of Jimmy D. Long Sr. recalled his distinguished life and career at the dedication of the Jimmy D. Long Student Services Center at Northwestern State University Thursday. Long served eight consecutive terms in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1968 to 2000. He was appointed to Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System in 2001. Long passed away in August.

There will be a track meet at Pat Strother Memorial Stadium behind the high school this Friday. The community is encouraged to come out and support the track team. The track meet begins Friday March 17th at 3:30 pm.

You saw him, but you didn’t see him, at the ribbon cutting on the elementary school’s new playground equipment. He is Casey Davis and he is the RRES Bulldog. Casey said he enjoys being the school mascot. He performed all of the cheers with the cheerleaders at the ribbon cutting.

Work will begin soon on floodgates that keep the Red River from backing up into Coushatta during periods of high water. This is a joint project of the Levee Board and the Police Jury. One gate is under the levee in Old Town and the other is south of the courthouse on Highway 480. Their purpose is to allow Nichols Bayou to empty into the Red River. During periods of high water the gates will keep the Red River from flowing back into town.

At the last Police Jury meeting, the Jury agreed to help with the work and equipment to do the job of cleaning out debris that has accumulated over the years. In the event of high water the debris could cause the gates not to close to prevent flooding.

Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness Director, Shane Hubbard said in the past a large balloon was used to plug the gates. Divers would insert the balloon and blow it up to form a plug. But this did not work as well as using the gates themselves.

The Levee Board will secure the funding for the clean out. And then would check the gates for damage. Levee Board President William Waltman told The Journal any necessary repairs will be made to the gates to assure they would function correctly.

The date for the work to start has not been set, however Waltman and Hubbard agree now is a good opportunity because of the low level of the Red River.

The Walk for Honduras 2017, Family Fun Day and Bake Sale was held last Saturday (March 4th) in “downtown” Hall Summit. Events included a Color Run, a first for the community. There was a time of fun and fellowship with great Christian music playing in the background throughout the event.

No one went home hungry! Hamburgers cooked on the grill were enjoyed by all, along with lemonade and yummy baked goods. There were additional fun games, face painting, bubbles, and sidewalk chalk.

The main event was a hula-hoop contest with winners in several age categories. Each winner received a hula-hoop, including an adult fitness hoop for the adult winner. And Carla Farmer of the Martin community was the Fit Bit winner.

Funds raised will go to help fund a group of area residents who are going to Honduras on an annual mission trip this summer. The next fundraiser is “The Honduras Open” 4-person golf scramble to be held at the Coushatta Country Club on Saturday March 18, 2017 beginning at 9:00 a.m.

By Joe Taylor

Starting with the successful completion of the Marston well # 1 in 1914, in the Grand Bayou area, the oil boom, that had started several years earlier around Caddo Lake, came to Red River parish. Almost overnight former crop fields and pastures were turned into small towns and oil derricks sprouted by the hundreds. Jobs paying $2.50 a day for a twelve-hour shift were suddenly available by the hundreds for the locals.

The fields producing oil and gas were part of the “Bull Bayou” play that also included east Texas, Sabine and Desoto Parishes. In Red River several communities like Harmon and Grand Bayou became bustling communities. There were others like Lenzburg and Crichton that many never have heard of, but they too were thriving communities for a few years. For, as we’ve discovered with the recent Haynesville shale gas boom, the oil business tends to be a boom to bust affair all too often.

One consequence of the increased population was that modern brick schools were built in the area, one at Grand Bayou and another at East Point. Evidence that they were substantially built is the fact that they’re still standing.

All too soon the boom was over. Records show a decrease in oil production just a few years after the first well was brought in.

These pictures give a better idea of the impact this “boom” had on the parish. The aerial photo is of Lenzburg. It was located on Red river about a half mile from Crichton. Crichton was located on the railroad in the large curve as you go north toward East Point. Thereis also a picture is of a nearby compression station.

The Journal thanks Joe Taylor for writing this article. He has a wealth of knowledge of the history of Red River Parish and a passion for preserving and sharing it.

Members of First United Methodist Church in Coushatta served lunch for international students last Tuesday (March 7th). About 60 students who attend Northwestern State University dined on pulled pork sandwiches with all the trimmings including cake for desert.

NSU’s Wesley Foundation serves lunch for international students each week. Lunch Tuesday was prepared and served by Pastor Doug Cain and his wife Marty, Tom and Debbie Jones and Barbara McCoy from the Methodist Church.

In addition to the meal, First Church and Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church collected $1,200 to furnish Wesley Foundation with a new washer and dryer plus a resupply of their paper products and cleaning supplies.

The Spring Formal and Masquerade Ball is coming Friday March 31st to Red River Junior High School. Early ticket sales are going on now.

Admission is $15 per person if tickets are purchased before March 17th. They will be $20 per person after that date.

The Masquerade Ball and Spring Formal will be held in the Junior High Gym from 6:00 to 10:00 pm on March first. Attire is formal to semi-formal.

This event is for students in grades 6 through 9. RRJrHS students may bring a guest from another school, however they must provide proof of grade attended.

Article republished courtesy of KALB-TV News

 
The Town Talk and two other Gannett newspapers in the region will cut publication schedules to three days a week, according to sources connected with the announcement. In addition to The Town Talk, Gannett’s newspapers in Opelousas and Hattiesburg were also affected.

News Channel 5 has confirmed that staff at The Town Talk was told Wednesday morning.

The decision to reduce publication comes after years of hits within the newspaper industry. Last October, Gannett reduced its workforce by 2-percent. When those layoffs were announced last year, The Town Talk’s general manager, news director, and a longtime reporter lost their jobs.

We’re told in 2005, there were roughly 53 staff members in the newsroom at The Town Talk. Now, there are 12.

The new publication schedule will be Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.

We reached out to Jim Smilie, the news director at The Town Talk for comment, he told us he had “no comment at this time.”

You can reach the Town Talk with questions at 1-800-292-0581 or email thetowntalk@gannett.com.
READ RELATED ARTICLE

The TownTalk – A letter to our readers (Watch for popups)
http://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2017/03/08/letter-our-readers/98902418/

CORRECTION: to the Police Jury story of March 8th. The spray truck the Police Jury is purchasing is to be used for controlling weeds, grass and brush along parish roads, not mosquitoes. Police Jury President Shawn Beard says the jury is looking to spraying growth along roads themselves to save the considerable cost of hiring private contractors to spray, or hiring someone to bush hog the right of way.

REVIVAL SCHEDULED IN MARTIN: The Martin Baptist Church will have revival services this coming Sunday through Wednesday. The pastor, Richard Kaufman said “Mike Goforth from Boaz, Alabama will be preaching each night. And Price Harriss is leading the music.”

Kaufman says each evening there will be a meal at 5:30 and the service will follow at 6:30. Martin Baptist Church is located on Highway 507 at Highway 155.

WHAT’S NEW ON THE PLAYGROUND? Red River Elementary School is dedicating new playground equipment tomorrow afternoon at 1:30. They are also having field day this week.

GUEST COLUMN: This issue features our first column by a guest writer. He is Joe Taylor of Coushatta. Joe retired from managing the Sunbeam plant when it was closed a number of years ago. He remains active in the community and takes a keen interest in preserving and passing along the history of Red River parish. His first contribution to The Journal is about the oil boom in the parish in the early decades of the 20th century. Read carefully. There are many parallels between those times and recent history of our Haynesville Shale activity. Thanks Joe for your contribution.

Red River is getting additional equipment to control weeds and brush along roadways.  The Red River Parish Police Jury Monday night approved acquisition of a spray truck. And they are looking into the purchase of a replacement dump truck.

Jurors cite aging equipment in their inventory, and the purchase a couple of used vehicles as an opportunity not to be missed. Juror William Brown says the truck to be used for spraying is already equipped, but needs minor repair to the spray equipment.

Juror Ben Taylor presented figures on the cost of purchasing a new spray rig at $22,500 to $23,500. And that does not include the vehicle. The jury is looking at purchase of two used vehicles, of which Taylor said “buying a new spray rig is half the cost of the two used trucks, including the truck already rigged out to spray.”

As for the dump truck, Brown said the jury could trade in or dispose of a small dump truck it now has. Brown says the dump truck under consideration will haul a larger load and has a crew cab, meaning it could carry all workers to the jobsite.

Jurors decided to buy the used truck with spray rig. They decided to look into the dump truck purchase in the near future.

The jury discussed the condition of parish roads, the impact oilfield and coal mine traffic is having on them, and the need for repairs that last. Jury president Shawn Beard said “oilfield people are tearing up the roads with their heavy equipment. They say they will fix the road when they get through working in there. Meanwhile the people living along that road suffer.”

There was a discussion of the condition of several parish roads leading into the coal mine. Again heavy traffic is the reason cited for repairs or resurfacing not holding up. Liberty Church Road was mentioned as an example of repairs that are not holding up.

Several suggestions were made including applying blacktop instead of chip seal to get a longer life out of the repair. And several jurors wanted a tightening of permitting and weight limit enforcement. Parish Manager Jessie Davis was asked to look into revising the weight limits on parish roads.

 

Two Coushatta men have been arrested in connection with drug and weapons charges. Cody R. Dubois and Danny Ray Lewis remain incarcerated.

Danny Ray Lewis is being held on $127,000 bond in connection with his arrest on drug and firearms charges. He was arrested on February 27th by the sheriff’s department. Lewis is charged with two charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a stolen firearm.Other charges include possession of marijuana, schedule II CDS with intent to distribute, possession of a legand drug, drug paraphernalia, and possession of schedule III CDS.
On January 30th, Cody R. Dubois was arrested on simple burglary and illegal carrying of weapons charges. Bail was set at $20,000. The arrest of Dubois grew out of the sheriff’s department investigation of a home burglary and theft of firearms from a residence in the 100 block of Bluebird Lane west of Coushatta. That happened on January 27th. Dubois was taken into custody on January 30th.

The sheriff’s office says “as the investigation continued, investigators developed probable cause that a second individual was in possession of one of the unrecovered firearms. An arrest warrant for the suspect and a search warrant for his residence were issued on February 1. The search warrant was served later the same day and yielded a sawed-off shotgun, illegal narcotics and materials typically used in the packaging of drugs for resale. Following the search, additional arrest warrants were issued for Lewis.

 

The Coushatta-Red River Chamber of Commerce will hold it’s first event of 2017 at the Grand Bayou Event Center on Thursday March 16th. The event begins at 5:00 pm and will include dinner and guest speakers.

The chamber’s meeting notice notes that “the Chamber Board of Directors has dedicated 2017 as a year of renewal. Our goal is to encourage new membership and show our appreciation for our established members.”

The brochure says the Membership Appreciation Dinner will “highlight the work of the chamber for the past two years, explore opportunities for area businesses, and celebrate one of Coushatta’s favorite ‘Hometown’ success stories.

The chamber is recruiting new members. New businesses will be given tickets to the event based upon the size of the business. The chamber asks that new businesses sign up by March 9th. Contact the chamber offices at 318-932-3289 for more information.

The evening’s program includes a presentation on Online and Technology Safety by Buddy Weaver. Another presenter is Chris Lee of CP-Tel. And guests will hear from Coushatta pro football player Bennie Logan.

The story says the house had been used by the church youth pastor, and it had been used as rental property. The house belongs to First Baptist Church and is across Alonzo Street from their sanctuary. But this “old” house has a whole “new” purpose.

In the past year it has been transformed into a home for “Sewing For God,” a program started by Susan Taylor and other ladies at First United Methodist Church. They were crowded and shared a multi-purpose room at first church and needed a place of their own.

The Baptist and Methodist churches came together and now “Sewing for God” has the room they need to lay out all of their projects in progress. Anyone who likes to sew is invited to lend a hand.

The Journal visited the other day and found C’ann Norman and Mary Smith knitting “chemo caps.” They are attractive headwear for cancer patients who loose their hair during chemotherapy. Smith says “requests for the caps come from this area and some have been sent out of state.” Norman says “be sure to tell your readers that caps are made as requested.” Over a hundred caps have been handcrafted to date.

Another favorite of the ladies is making prayer quilts and fidget quilts. The Journal had to ask Susan Taylor what is a fidget quilt. Her response “you know, something to keep a person’s hands busy. “

Taylor says “we have Methodists, Baptists and ladies who go to various different churches in the community. And we welcome anyone who enjoys sewing, knitting, cross stitch, and arts and crafts.”

“Sewing for God” meets Monday at 9:30 at the house with the green porch across from First Baptist Church. For more information, call First Methodist Church at 932-4069 or First Baptist Church at 932-4023.

Coushatta Mayor Johnny Cox is concerned that the town live on the money it takes in. So there have been adjustments to the operating budget, and downsizing of the city workforce.

The Journal spoke with the mayor on the need for the adjustments. Cox said “the adjustments were made so that the city would operate within the current tax base. “ And Cox said “any reduction in staff was done through attrition. When people left they were not replaced.”

Recently a new chief of police was hired and several members of the force left. The mayor says “Coushatta is blessed not to have the crime rate of other towns. But at some point we will have to consider not having a police department.” Cox adds that there is at present one position open on the city police force. He expects a new officer will be hired soon.

Other budget considerations include upgrading Coushatta’s “curb appeal.” Mayor Cox says improving the look of Front Street and replacing damaged sidewalks are part of his plans to make the town more attractive to tourists. Also on Cox’s agenda are replacing the roof on the old Sunbeam plant, upgrades to the city water and sewage infrastructure, and building a new park on the old trade school property.

The Journal asked how the city would pay for these improvements, and what is the priority for accomplishing them. Cox says the sidewalk upgrades are moving ahead because there were funds available.

“We had a meeting recently at city hall with Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, Congressman Mike Johnson, State Representative Kenny Cox. They are up to speed on our needs and will help Coushatta with state and federal funding for water and sewer repairs” said the Mayor.

As for the timing of projects, Cox said “repairing sidewalks costs less than rebuilding the sewer and water systems. And it is quicker to do.” The sewer and water system upgrades have been in the works for seven years. Cox said “repairing the water system is a $1,000,000 project. We should have everything in place in another year to get the loan for a water system upgrade.”

Homebound residents of Red River Parish can get hot lunches every weekday. The Council on Aging’s Home Delivered Meals program delivers thousands of meals a year to people 60+.

Council on Aging Director Liz Cannon explains that delivering meals is one of the many services the council provides. There are a few requirements. Cannon explains, “The program is only for residents living in Red River Parish. They must have reached their 60th birthday and a contribution of $3 per meal is requested.”

Red River’s Council on Aging is unique in northwest Louisiana because they prepare their meals daily in their own kitchen. Cannon says this means the food is fresh and hot when it arrives.

There are three vans making daily routes to every area of the parish. The drivers are Peggy Evans, Alzonia McIntyre and Charlotte Bolden. The meals are delivered at lunchtime Monday through Friday. In 2017 Cannon says they will deliver 12,000 meals in the parish.

For an application for Home Delivered Meals contact the Council on Aging on Front Street in Coushatta. Phone 932-5721.

Family, coaches and friends packed he Red River High School Library Friday to witness Greg Wallace signing on with Louisiana College. Wallace said he chose LC “because it feels like home.”

Wallace is anxious to get on the field at Louisiana College. “I am looking to bring pressure in the middle of the defense as an inside linebacker” said Wallace.

Before the signing took place there was a lunch and a huge cake declaring “Congratulations Greg”. Afterward there were media interviews and more congrats from fellow teammates and coaches.

Wallace’s head coach, Reginald Prelow described him as “a good ballplayer, outstanding young man of good character who works hard on the field and in the classroom.” Wallace says of Prelow “I learned how to be disciplined. Coach stayed on me, reminding me that you have to work hard to go anywhere.”

There was a little excitement late Friday morning when a huge plume of gray brown smoke covered the southern sky. You could see it anywhere in town. Something was burning down the Red Oak Road.It was a controlled burn on private property across from the Coushatta airport.

The Red River Lady Bulldogs softball team participated in the Mansfield Lady Wolverines Classic this past weekend (March 3-4). They defeated Bossier 6-0 in the quarterfinals and the host Mansfield 12-9 in the semi-finals.

They then advanced to the finals and lost a hard fought game to Ebarb 10-4. The Lady Bulldogs brought home the 2nd place trophy and are now 7-1 on the year!

The courthouse will be getting a new look for the Christmas holidays. The photo above shows the lights on the courthouse several years ago when they were first installed. However today many lights are broken and old wiring may present an electrical hazard.

The Coushatta-Red River Chamber of Commerce has agreed to purchase new, lighted decorations for the courthouse. And the Police Jury is going to remove the present lights and clean the building in preparation for the new decorations to be installed.

The youth and children of Fairview Baptist Church are holding a crawfish boil this Saturday. It’s their fundraiser for summer camp. Crawfish are $4 per pound, potatoes 4 for $1, and corn is 2 for $1. Pre-order at 932-5940 or online at http://www.myfairviewbaptist.org. Pick-up is Saturday between 4:00 and 6:00 pm.

The dates for the spring car show have been announced by the Coushatta-Red River Chamber of Commerce. The show will be Saturday April 29th at Grand Bayou. Look for further details and registration information in the near future.

Coushatta Mayor Johnny Cox said the “Boil Advisory” for the municipal water system was lifted Thursday morning. The advisory had been issued last Friday. This affected schools, restaurants, businesses and homes that get water from the Town of Coushatta.

Sources at Coushatta town hall say an interruption of the water supply last Friday (February 24th) to repair a fire hydrant on Ringgold Ave. was the reason for the boil advisory. That advisory was in effect until tests of the water supply showed the water was again safe to consume.

All around town, notices were posted on drink machines that soft drinks are temporarily not available. Restaurants made bottled water available to their patrons.

Schools were affected as well. Principal Mike Peter at Red River Junior High School said “the drinking fountains have been turned off. And we’re supplying hand sanitizer because the children have no safe water to wash their hands.”

Peter explained that “we were notified by the town and school board about the boil advisory. And we check daily for the status.” Meanwhile Peter says “we are providing bottled water for students to drink. “ He estimates it costs about $100 a day to supply bottled water to the Junior High.

The Farm Bureau’s Sporting Clays Shootout is scheduled for March 24th. Coushatta Farm Bureau Agency Manager Brandon Stout said now is the time to register.

Chris Long handles registration and contact information. Call him at 318-210-4254. Individuals, teams and 4-H teams are welcome. Registration is $125 per person or $500 per team.

Meals will be provided for all shoot participants. Individuals furnish their own gun, ammunition, gear and protective eye and ear wear. Personal utility vehicles are welcome, however 4 wheelers are not.

“This event will benefit Farm Bureau causes.” Stout said “that includes scholarships for young people studying any field of agriculture at Louisiana universities. And the sporting clays shootout will also benefit the Louisiana Ag in the Classroom program which instills an appreciation for our renewable food, fiber, and fuel systems through education.”

The Farm Bureau Sporting Clays Shootout will be held at Los Paloma Sporting Range at 900 Seven Pines Road in Benton. The date is Friday, March 24th and registration begins at 7:30 am with the shoot starting at 9:00 am.

A Coushatta springtime tradition continues in 2017. First United Methodist Church invites you to share their Lenten Lunches each Wednesday. Be part of the preparations to celebrate the resurrection of Christ at Easter.

The first Lenten Lunch will be held on Wednesday, March 8th at 12:00 noon. The lunch series will continue until Easter.Each Wednesday a light lunch will be served. This is followed by a short devotional featuring a guest speaker. The entire program runs about half an hour.

March 8th speaker will be David Coffee, a Coushatta businessman and Sunday School teacher. Other speakers will be announced at the luncheon March 8th.

Do you have a favorite recipe for chili? Show off your culinary talent and enter Cowboy Church’s Chili Cookoff March 18th.

Individuals or cooking teams are invited to enter the cookoff. Bring everything you need to prepare at least two gallons of your finest chili. Make it mild, make it spicy, make it traditional or ??? (you get the idea – all chilis are welcome).

Cooking begins at any time on the 18th and all chili must be prepared at Cowboy Church. So gather together all the ingredients and a great big pot.

Not a chili cook but like to eat some great chili? There is a chili supper and concert beginning at Cowboy Church at 5 pm on March 18th. Please pass the crackers!

In February, students from Red River High School had the opportunity to tour three colleges in South Louisiana: Baton Rouge Community College, Louisiana State University, and Southern University. This trip was sponsored by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Aid (LOSFA).

The trip gave students a chance to tour college campuses and learn about financial aid availability. Several seniors were honored during the trip for serving their peers and classmates through leadership opportunities.

During a stop in Baton Rouge, the students had an opportunity to visit with LOSFA staff. The tour was sponsored by LOSFA which paid for transportation, accommodations and also treated the students to lunch.

The Red River Parish Registrar of Voters can assure people living out of the parish will have an opportunity to vote. Registrar Mary Jones tells The Journal they are participating in the Federal Voting Assistance Program. She said, “we can help them or they can go online and register there.”

The program is for all citizens living overseas. This includes members of the armed services and their eligible family members. Jones adds, “In some cases Red River residents living in other parts of the US are eligible.”

Contact the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) at 1-800-438-VOTE (8683) or email to vote@fvap.gov. Locally Jones can be contracted at the courthouse, 318-932-5027.

Registrar Jones said that Red River Parish would not have elections this spring, during the March-April election cycle. However there will be elections in October and November. Therefore, anyone in need of this opportunity to get a ballot has plenty of time to assure they will get it.

How does your garden grow, or how beautiful are your blossoms? We are having a contest to show-off your yard. Take a photo of your home or business, or a particular scene of your flowering plants.

The Journal is offering a $50 gift certificate from CBS Home Express for the person submitting the most beautiful flower pictures. So snap away and email your pictures, with your name and return email, to TheRRJournal@gmail.com. See the March 1st edition of The Journal for details.

Brother Clyde Miley says the Wild Hog hunt has been cancelled. The hog hunt was to be held this weekend. Miley says organizers of the hunt became concerned with state laws dealing with the transporting of the hogs. He adds he believes there are pending changes in state laws that will clarify the situation. And Miley said they may schedule the Wild Hog Hunt later.

The Student Services Center at Northwestern State University is being dedicated in memory of the late Jimmy Long, who served this area in the state legislature and as a member of the Board of Supervisors. Acting NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio said “Jimmy Long was a giant in education in Louisiana. Countless thousands of students benefitted from his leadership on educational issues.”

The renaming program will be held at 11 am on March 9th. The ceremony will be held outside the Student Services Center on the NSU campus. The public is invited.

A reminder that today, Friday March 3rd is the deadline for signing up your children for Pine Belt Head Start and for the Kindergarten program at Red River Elementary School. Today is also the deadline for signing up for the spring Tee Ball and Coach Pitch leagues. Look back at the March 1st issue of The Journal for details.