It’s a small town and the “gossip fence” has been busy concerning a new head football coach for the Red River Bulldogs. So far, there has been no official release of the coach’s identity from the School Board.

“You know it’s true because I got it from…” and “I went to school with him back in the early 19___s” is all over town. Inquiring minds want to know!

The school board this week put out the word that a new football coach had been selected for Red River High School. A public meet-and-greet was announced for Thursday afternoon at 5:30 pm in the high school gym. But the board did not release the name of the person selected.

“We had about twenty applicants for the position,” said Superintendent Alison Hughes. She added, “The field was narrowed to eight who were interviewed on Wednesday. Then the winning candidate was selected.”

The public is invited to meet the new coach on Thursday, May 4th. The meet-and-greet will be held in the Red River High School gym at 5:30 pm.

Interim Athletic Director Billy Henry, Jr. has been conducting spring football practice. Hughes said, “The new coach will pick up spring practice.” Although Hughes declined to give any information about the new coach, she hinted to the Journal that he is someone familiar with the school and team.

The Journal has learned unofficially who the coach is and who his family is. The family still resides in Red River Parish. Our policy is not to repeat rumors, and not to report unless we have collaboration. So we, like you, will wait until for the official word on Thursday. It will be revealed in our Friday morning edition.

On Friday, Dezmond Bryant made history. He is the first athlete signed to a track scholarship from Red River Parish. Bryant was surrounded by parents, teammates, friends and coaches at a celebration held in the Red River High School Library.

Bryant signed with Western Texas College located at Snyder, Texas. He will be a member of their track team and he proudly wore a school shirt during the event.

The signing took place with Track Coach Billy Henry, Jr. at his side. Bryant graciously signed again and again with family members, with friends, with School Superintendent Alison Hughes and other officials, and with many well-wishers.

A huge cake congratulating the senior was prepared, as were sandwiches and snacks served by students of the school Pro Start program.

The Journal spoke with Bryant about the signing. He said, “I am just humbled. I thank God for everything.” Bryant added, “I want to keep my mind focused and I hope to add other first place finishes at the state track meet.” Bryant will compete in the 400 meter, 200 meter and 4-by-200 events at the state track meet scheduled Friday May 5th in Baton Rouge.

Superintendent Alison Hughes remarked, “If you ever see Dez run it’s beautiful. We had to bring in another table to hold all the medals he won at Red River High. We’re looking for ward to him winning many more.”

Track Coach Billy Henry, Jr. said, “Dez is the first to get a traditional scholarship I track from Red River Parish. No one has more state titles than Bryant.”

Bryant’s very proud father, Terrell Brown told the Journal “I’m very proud of him. He always has a good attitude in everything he does.

How to fix parish roads and make the repairs last took up the bulk of the meeting of the Red River Parish Police Jury Monday night. The discussion during committee meetings began with comments about the condition of Springhill Church Road. The conclusion is that the extraordinary wear on some roads is caused by heavy truck traffic associated with oil and gas exploration.

How to pay for road repairs was also the topic of conversation. Many jurors expressed frustration that repairs that have been made in recent years do not hold up. Again the cause came back to unusually heavy traffic.

Jury President Shawn Beard suggested, “getting someone in here to show us what to do.” Juror Jessie Davis said, “we already have a number of engineering studies, but they are for normal traffic.” Davis presented cost figures submitted to the jury that indicates a cost in the range of $200,000.00 per mile. But Davis said, “This is
for normal vehicular traffic. It would be much more expensive to repair the roads to handle heavy oil and gas traffic.”

Currently underway is work to have weight limits set for all parish roads. That was approved at the April jury meeting.

Discussion turned to who should pay for repairs. Beard wants to call the oil and gas firms and other truckers operating in the parish to a meeting to work out a solution. Juror Ben Taylor said “the oil companies are making money off using the roads. They are tearing them up. They should pay the cost of repairing the roads.”

At present the truckers are required to get a permit and are restricted to a certain route within that permit. However the cost of the permit does not cover the cost of repairing the roads. At Mondays meeting the jurors attitude was both to find a repair method that would hold up to heavy traffic, and to get those who cause the damage to parish roads to bear a greater share of the cost of repairs.

Darlene Martin teaches the Career Readiness elective course at Red River High School. The program helps students get ready to find their first job after school.

Martin said, “The course causes students to stop and think about their future. Whether they plan to go to college or go to work, they need to play for their future.” She added, “They need to know what opportunities are out there.”

Recently students were given the opportunity to go through mock interviews. These are offered by a group of school volunteers called “Wise Ones Working.” The ladies pictured below conducted the interviews last Friday at Red River High.

The volunteers were rewarded with a delicious brunch of eggs and sausage casserole, fresh fruit, and fresh brewed coffee. Brunch was prepared by another Red River High elective course titled Pro Start.

Wanda Lemoine is the Pro Start instructor. She said, “We teach culinary arts for the kitchen and also restaurant management.” If you have attended a school function with food service most likely you were served by students in the Pro Start program. Last Fridays servers are pictured above.

On April 27, 2017 Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies and detectives organized an effort to execute an arrest warrant at a residence in the Rolling Hills Trailer Park south of Coushatta. The subject, Victor Demery, was wanted for Possession of Schedule I Synthetic Cannabis which stemmed from a previous investigation/arrest.

As units arrived, Demery exited the residence, yielded to authorities and was taken into custody without incident. Deputies noted a strong odor consistent with the smell of marijuana emanating from the person and residence of Demery. Upon request, detectives were given verbal consent by Demery to search his residence for illegal narcotics.

Upon entry, detectives encountered a second subject identified as Morgan Cunningham. In plain view, detectives observed what appeared to be smoked marijuana “blunt roaches” in anashtray. The items were collected as evidence and Cunningham was placed under arrest.

Following her arrest, Cunningham admitted to concealing additional narcotics and drug paraphernalia on her person. The items were surrendered and taken into evidence. Demery and Cunningham were subsequently transported to the Red River Parish Jail for booking.

Victor J. Demery, B/M, age 38 of the 1200 block of Postell Road, Coushatta, LA was charged with Possession of Schedule I Synthetic Cannabinoids, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Failure to Honor a Written Promise.On April 28, 2017 he posted a $14,000 bond and was released pending a trial date.

Morgan L. Cunningham, W/F, age 25 of the 3100 block of Highway 507, Coushatta, LA was charged with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On April 28, 2017 she posted a $5,000 bond and was released pending a trial date.

A Coushatta college student has been inducted into Northwestern State University’s Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She is Caroline G. Doughty, daughter of Larkin Doughty and Ann Hester. She is pictured above with Dr. McAlister, Dean of the NSU Education Department and Dr. Ron McBride, professor of Education Technology and coordinator of the graduation program for education technology.

Doughty told the Journal “Phi Kappa Phi recognizes excellence in academic success. Only the top 10% of college seniors get this award.”

Doughty graduates next week from NSU in elementary education. She said “I will be certified to teach grades one through five. I have applied to Red River and surrounding parishes for a teaching position.” Doughty said she would like to teach close to home.

Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society. Its mission is to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engage the community of scholars in service to others. This years inductees are pictured below.

Members of VFW Post 7287 and Auxiliary 7287 hosted the Veterans of Foreign Wars Louisiana District 12 meeting on Saturday, April 29th. Delegates from Posts and Auxiliaries in Northwest Louisiana attended.

Six members of the Coushatta Post and Auxiliary were elected to serve District 12. They are shown above. From the left, David Fields was elected Commander of District 12 and Barry McCoy was elected District Trustee.

Four members of the local Auxiliary were elected to district offices. They are Susanne Wastlund, elected District President, Ramel Fields elected District Secretary, Dawn Brewer elected District Trustee, and Heather McCoy elected District Patriotic Instructor.

The new officers will assume their duties at the state VFW Convention to be held in Alexandria in late June. They will serve through June 2018.

VFW Post 7287 and Auxiliary 7287 serve the community through service to the local National Guard unit, the War Veterans Home in Bossier City, and Americanism programs for children in kindergarten through 12th grade, among other activities.

Military veterans are welcome to the next VFW meeting, May 18th at 7:00 pm at the Post home located at 5049 Highway 71.

Starting Thursday there will be intermittent lane closures on I-49 just south of the Coushatta exit. They’re preparing for the movement of a large crane later this summer.

The state highway department says the lane closures will be in both the north and south directions beginning May 4th. The closures are expected to last about 5 days.

The work is to prepare the Interstate to withstand the heavy weight of a coal-mine crane. It is to be moved from the east side of I-49 to the west.

Earlier the transportation department said the movement of the crane would be later this summer and would require I-49 to be completely closed for a time. The movement is to take place at night and notice will be sent out in advance.

Another Spring Storm. There was a lot of wind and rain and lightning, but apparently only minor damage from the storm that moved through the parish Saturday midday. Individuals report 2 and 3 inches of rain at their homes. Rain appears to have been the heaviest in southern parts of Red River Parish.

The Sheriff’s Office reports a few trees down on the roadway, otherwise no damage reported. CLECO says some of their customers in Red River were without power for a period of time. At one time, CLECO says 1200 of its customers were without power, but only 58 of those were in Red River.

The Chamber’s Car Show was ended early by the storm moving through about mid-day. Trophy presentation and other events will be rescheduled soon.

Pre-Need Seminar. Representatives of Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company will hold a pre-need seminar at Rose-Neath Funeral home in Coushatta on Thursday. Agent Joni Bass said, “We will explain the need to set up final arrangements in advance and the relief pre-planning brings to families in a time of stress.”

A Reader’s Comment. Journal reader Jullie Mikkalo writes, “God has laid it on my heart to be praying for my fellow Christians around the world that are suffering persecution and to help spread the awareness of this persecution. I have been following the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and they are sponsoring a “Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians” (by invitation only) in Washington D.C., May 10-13. Please join me in praying at Noon everyday through May 15th, whether you are at home or work, to cover the people attending the conference, their safe travels and that the United States would also stand up in defense for Persecuted Christians! Thank you!” And thank you Julie for putting your faith into practice.