There will be a college athletic scholarship signing at Red River High today.  Morgyn Payne will sign during a ceremony to be held in the gym scheduled for 11:30 am.  The Journal will stream the signing live on our Facebook page.  Go to Facebook.com/RedRiverParishJournal to see it.

Magnolia Baptist Church is holding a BBQ sandwich fundraiser on Friday.  Get a homemade pork BBQ sandwich, chips, homemade cookie and drink for $10.  Call the church at 932-6340 to place orders.

Friday night is Fish Fry night at Clara Springs Camp.  Admission $10 for all the fried catfish and sides you care to eat.  Serving begins at 5:00 pm.

Lifeshare Blood Center said the area blood supply is critically low.  They have a blood drive planned at Riverdale Academy on January 31^st from 8:30 am until 12:30 pm.

The Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office (RRPSO) and Louisiana Livestock Brand Commission are trying to identify ownership of a stray bull. It was found “running at large” off of LA Hwy 1 in the Harmon Community in Red River Parish on January 8, 2020. 

The bull is currently stored with a local livestock contractor. If no owner comes forward the stray bull will be sold the next regular sale day at Red River Livestock, 6066 Hwy 1 Coushatta, LA.

The Owner, if found, will be responsible for all costs, catching, hauling, feed and care, as well as damages/mis-mate shots, etc., to the property owner. 

Anyone with questions or information may call the RRPSO at 318-932-4221 or the Livestock Brand Inspector locally at 318-949-3225.

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Report from the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office for the week ending January 19, 2020

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Funeral services for Elmer Potts, 88, of Campti, LA will be held at 2:30 P.M. Sunday, January 19, 2020 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel with Sister Linda Chance officiating and Bro. Peanut Walsworth assisting. Interment will follow in Black Lake Full Gospel Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 P.M. until 9 P.M. Saturday, January 18, 2020 at the funeral home.

Mr. Potts was born November 16, 1931 in Bienville, LA and passed away January 17, 2020.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lee Potts; one son, Jimmy Lane Potts; four brothers, L.V. Potts, I.V. Potts, Thomas Potts, and Hester Potts; five sisters, Doshia Smith, Eva Rae Tilley, Eula Mae Tilley, Dorothy Nealy, and Inez Silvie.

Mr. Potts is survived by one son, Elmer Lee Potts and wife, Sandra; two daughters, Jean A. Sullivan and husband, Sherrill, and Sandy Walsworth and husband, Mark; two sisters, Helen Hughes and Annie Bell Desadier; six grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Henry “Junior” McCart.

Pallbearers will be Chris Sullivan, Tracy Sullivan, Branden Sullivan, Cody Sullivan, Wyatt Sullivan, Houston Pardee, Jackie Perot, and Danny Ray Morgan. Honorary pallbearer will be Henry “Junior” McCart.

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Coushatta, LA – A funeral service celebrating the life of Mrs. Shirley Fry, 83, will be held at First Baptist Church in Coushatta on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 2:00 PM. Dr. Nathan Davis of First Baptist Church will officiate. Interment will follow in Springville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 PM on Saturday, January 18, at the Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Coushatta.

Mrs. Shirley was born on February 7, 1936 in Coushatta to Robert Edwin “Bobby” Posey and Elizabeth “Tap” Bogan Posey, and passed away January 16, 2020. She was a member of FBC and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and worked as a secretary for the Red River Mental Health Unit until her retirement. Mrs. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charles D. Fry; her grandson, Peyton Bass; and her brother-in-law, Dewitt Booty.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Denny Bass and Daryl Bass; daughters, Joni Bass and Jenni Bass Walker (Robert); sister Louise Booty; brother Robert Aldine Posey, Jr. and wife Shirley; grandchildren Chad Shirley (Kellie), Breanne Dupree (Kevin), Jesseca Korn (Patrick), Ryan Tomerlin, Sydney Bass, Samantha Bass, Dawson Bass, Logan Bates, Carson Walker, and Avery Walker; and 7 great-grandchildren.

Honoring Mrs. Shirley as pallbearers will be Ryan Tomerlin, Dawson Bass, Paul Moseley, Larken Doughty, Luke Doughty, and Logan Bates. Serving as honorary pallbearer will be C.W Belcher.

The family would like to give a special thanks to her sitter, Hattie Henry; special friend, Darlene Gates; and her card playing group, Janie, Hazel, and Jo-Ann, for all their love and companionship.

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By Hayley Loe

Hall Summit has a new church in its small village.  The church, named New Life Church was opened by Mr. Collin Wimberly and his family.

Around 32 people attended the first service this past Sunday at the community center in Hall Summit. They hope they will be able to soon get a bigger building and bring more people in to its doors.

The church service starts at 10:30 every Sunday at the community center in Hall Summit.  All are welcome to come.

The first church service was  called “Welcome Home.”  The message was on the Luke 15: 11-24, the story of the prodigal son.

The music is was by Seth Wimberly and included Everlasting God, Mighty to Serve, Reckless Love, and ‘Tis so Sweet.

New Life Church invites you to come the for next Sunday’s service.  They meet in the Hall Summit Community Center near the walking track.

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A college athletic scholarship signing is scheduled for Wednesday at Red River High School.  Senior Morgyn Payne will sign her scholarship at 11:30 am in the school Gym.  And you can watch the whole thing live on Facebook.

Morgyn Payne is a starter for the Lady Bulldogs.  She is wearing #4 in the team picture. The schools and terms of the signings will be made public on Wednesday.  Payne plays Point Guard for Red River and she is one of the team’s leading point scorers.

Coach Missy Antilley told The Journal other members of the team are being offered scholarships.  The paperwork on them is being processed. Antilley said signing ceremonies will be scheduled for the other players at that later date.

The signing ceremony will take place in the Red River Gym at 11:30 am Wednesday, January 22^nd.  Journal Sports is making arrangements to stream it live on The Journal’s Facebook page.  Subscribers to The Journal’s text messages will receive an alert with a link to the event shortly before it is to begin.  Also you’ll see it if you follow RedRiverParishJournal on Facebook.

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Both local schools are on the road tonight.  Riverdale Academy boys and girls are at Central School for games tonight (Jan 17th).  The girls game begins at 6:00 pm followed by the boys game.

Red River Girls currently are ranked #3 in class 2-A.  They are seeking to increase their power rating tonight (Jan 17^th) when they travel south to Zachary, LA to play Zachary High School.  Zachary is ranked #4 in class 5-A.  A win could boost the Lady Dogs to first place in the power rankings.

The Lady Bulldog game will be broadcast live on Journal Sports.  Coverage begins a few minutes before the 6:00 pm tip-off.

Red River and Riverdale teams return home next Tuesday.  Red River hosts Winnfield and Riverdale hosts Tensas Academy.

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The December and January Employees of the Month were presented to the Red River School Board last Monday.  The awards are made monthly by Taylor & Sons. 

Agency representative Jwilee Freeman presented plaques to the employees.  They are December Employee of the Month Kelli Moseley and January Employee of the Month Megan Inman.  Both work at Red River Elementary.

Kelli Moseley works in the Food Service Department at the elementary school.  Her nomination statement said, “She has served our parish for sixteen years.  She is dedicated to her job, always on time, and never complains.  She gets the job done!!”  Freeman added, “Thank you Ms. Moseley for your hard work and dedication.  You are much appreciated.”

Megan Inman is a 5^th grade English Language Arts teacher at Red River Elementary and has been there for six years.  Her Principal, Shenell Deville said, “If we could clone her, we would.  When you visit Megan’s classroom you will see students engaged in meaningful discussions, students answering and asking high level questions, students writing quality texts and using various evidence to support it, and students respecting each other.”  Deville noted, “Her December LEAP interim test results reflected that 67% of her students are already performing at a proficient or above level in English.”

Kelli Moseley is pictured at the top of this article.  Megan Inman is at the bottom.

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This is fishing country.  Just about everyone likes to spend some time on the water.  So it is appropriate that Red River High School should offer fishing as a varsity sport.

This week the school’s 1st Fishing Team recieved their new jerseys, hoodies, hats, and face mask.  They have some of the best looking athletic gear on campus.  

The school posted, “We are excited to see them compete this year.  We would not have gotten this done without our sponsor Roger Longino.  Roger we thank you for your passion and help in getting this team started and you will be forever missed.”  

Lt. Longino passed away Nov. 24, 2019.  The school said, This season these boys are fishing for him.”
Pictured is the 2019-2020 Fishing Team.  Standing Left to Right: Jeremiah Roberson, Tyler Wood, Tyler Hughes, Ken Lazarus, and Lance Soles.  Kneeling: William Crane, Ethan Cole-Morgan, and Brett Danzy.

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The Cammie G. Henry Research Center at Northwestern State University will host an exhibition of photographs on loan from NSU alum Ed Chopin of Shreveport.  The collection is a glimpse of Shreveport from 1918 that shows the commercial and industrial side of the city more than a century ago.  The exhibit will open with a reception from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 and run through March. Attendance is free and open to the public.

“The series shows the ‘working side’ of 1918 Shreveport industry with interiors of businesses ranging from accounting offices to boiler rooms,” said NSU Assistant Archivist Sharon Wolff.  “The candid nature of the pictures makes them a unique and valuable window into everyday working life, both blue and white collar, in the early 20th century.”

Chopin, a retired educator and history buff, was helping friends pack to move out of state when he discovered a burlap-covered scrapbook from their attic that was about to be thrown away.  The scrapbook turned out to be a collection of photographs prepared by the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce as a mechanism to promote the city by showing the working environment, along with information on the city’s population and infrastructure in hand calligraphy.

“I do not know who the photographer was, but he was extremely talented,” Chopin said. “The depth of field is phenomenal.  Some pictures were taken in offices and you can look through the windows and get an idea of which building the photo was taken from.”  Many details reveal themselves after a first glance at a picture, he said.

“You might see workers in an industrial environment, but you can also see tools, the lack of safety equipment, children and women working and black and whites working side by side.”

Chopin has always had an interest in history, photography and journalism.  His mother, Ann Chopin, worked for the Natchitoches Enterprise, the rival paper of the Natchitoches Times, and he worked there after school.  One memorable event they covered was the Tennessee Gas Pipeline explosion in Natchitoches in 1965 that killed 17 people.  The Chopins photographed the fireball that soared approximately 400 feet before the flow of gas was cut.   The Natchitoches Times later bought the Enterprise and his mother wrote feature stories for other publications.

Chopin earned a degree in industrial education with a minor in journalism at Northwestern State in 1971 and a master’s in industrial technology in 1978. He retired after teaching 46 years in public schools and at Bossier Parish Community College.

The photo collection has previously been exhibited at Centenary College and provides a glimpse at a time in history that would quickly change with industrialism. 

“The unique thing about the photos is that 99 percent are interior of people working.  Every photo is labeled by the photographer.  For instance, the labels in a wood manufacturing company indicate it was the millworks or the accounting office. A picture of the Southern Pacific Railroad shows the ticket office.  You can see dates on the calendars and read the clock as to what time of day and what month it was,” Chopin said. 

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The Winnfield High Tigers will be in Coushatta Monday night.  They play boys and girls games at the Dog Pound beginning at 6:00 pm.

Tuesday is “Meet the Seniors” night.  Currently the Lady Bulldogs are the number 3 ranked girls team in 2-A. The Bulldogs are the number 4 ranked boys team in 2-A.  Fans will also be treated to the new individual player posters.

Come out and support the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs.  Senior night is Tuesday, January 21^st.  Meet the seniors on the team.  The Bulldog seniors are Jaylen McDonald, Tyriq Beavers, T.J. Williams, and K.J. Bradley.  Seniors on the Lady Bulldogs are Morgyn Payne, Danielle Burton, Ma’kaila Lewis, and Equipment Manager Shronica Triggs.

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Want to work at summer camp?  Camp Grant Walker has openings for helpers at 4-H summer camps.  Contact Adam O’Malley at 318-765-7209 for more information and to apply.

The Kids Retreat at Clara Springs Camp has been rescheduled for January 31^st and February 1^st.  A schedule of events and registration information is on the camp’s Facebook page.

Saturday night is dance night at the Council on Aging on Front Street.  Dance from 7:00 until 10:00 pm to the music of the Playmates.  Admission is $6.00.

The School Board will meet earlier.  At the meeting Monday of the Red River Parish School Board, the board voted to move their meeting time for 2020.  The board will continue to meet on the second Monday of each month, however the meeting will begin at 4:30 pm.  The earlier time is to allow administrators to get home to their families earlier.

Bassist Yung-chiao Wei and pianist Chaoi Chou will perform at Northwestern State University on Monday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

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Funeral services for Leon Lamar Wren, 68, of Fairview Alpha, LA will be held at 12 P.M. Friday, January 17, 2020 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Buster Bailey officiating and Bro. Truman Leach and Bro. Jimmy Cox assisting.  Interment will follow in Union Hall Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 6 P.M. until 9 P.M. Thursday, January 16, 2020 at the funeral home.

Mr. Wren was born July 31, 1951 in Coushatta, LA and passed away January 14, 2020.  Leon was a hard worker beginning at the early age of sixteen.  He was a kind-hearted man and would give anyone the shirt off his back if they were in need.  Leon left this world much richer than the way he entered this life. 

He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing.  He received great joy in teaching the younger kids how to hunt.  However, Leon’s real passion was his grandkids.  He will be truly missed by all those who knew and loved him.   

He was preceded in death by his parents, Payton and Ida Jewel Wren; our Mama, Laverne Wren; one sister, Murleen Friday and her husband, Bubba Friday; brother-in-law, Ronnie Eddy; niece, Rebecca Ann Stiles; and great-nephew, Dylan Dingler.

Mr. Wren is survived by his children, Tammy Bass and husband, Steve, Amy Kelley and husband, Shane, and Will Wren; daughter-in-law, Candace Wren; siblings, Billy Wren and wife, Sandra, Dianne Stiles and Terri Rehmann (Tom); brother-in-law, Gerald Eddy; sister-in-law, Wanda Eddy; grandchildren, Brooke (Rachel), Matt (Alejandra), Shane (Chelsey), Caleb (Allie), Kaity, Nick, Alison, and Gabe; great-granddaughters, Shyanne and Peyton; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends that love him.

Pallbearers will be Nick Kelley, Matt Bass, Caleb Bass, Shane Kelley, Will Wren, Gabe Wren, Lee Corley, Jerry Brigmon, and Richard Gourdon.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Jimmy Wayne Williams, Ed Barns, Johnny Bailey, Maurice Barron, Red Giddings, Ronnie Key, Richard Cox, Red Robinette, Duke Waters, Tommy Waters, Danny Saffel, Jeff Eddy, Bubba Eddy, Sonny Friday, Zach Friday, Will Rehmann, Jake Guin, Jason Cheatwood, Randy Dingler, Richard Corley, Johnny Woods, Michael Waters, Jeremy Williams, and Juju Lester.

“I’m not the man I used to be.”

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Congratulations to Bailey Pate on being selected the Impact Sports player of the week! Bailey is a senior at Riverdale Academy. We are proud of you Bailey! 

Catch Bailey and the other Lady Rebels in action at home Thursday, January 16th at 6:00 pm.

Chris Wagoner will broadcast the game on Thursday evening.  Girls game starts about 6:00 pm and the boys game will follow.  The Rebels host Tallulah Academy.  The link to the broadcast will be in the text message that goes out shortly before game time.

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Monday evening was the first meeting of 2020 for the Red River Parish School Board.  The new board and officers were sworn in by Superintendent Alison Hughes.

All board members had been re-elected in the fall.  They are beginning new, four-year terms.  Also at the meeting on Monday, the board elected a new President and Vice President for the year.

Cleve Miller was elected President and Gary Giddens was elected Vice President for the new year.  Miller said, “I want to thank my fellow board members for showing confidence in me to do the job for 2020.  I also want to thank Mr. Longino for the job he did in 2019.  He worked through some difficult times.”

All board members signed their Code of Ethics and Oath of Office statements.  Miller assumed the President’s position and presided over the remainder of the meeting.

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Next year Riverdale Academy will celebrate it’s 50^th anniversary.  Headmaster, Dr. Robert Peters reports on recent improvements and additions to the academic courses now offered.

Riverdale Academy, a private school located in Red River Parish, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) through the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (MSAIS) and is designated by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDE) as an approved non-public school. Riverdale Academy participates in LEAP-2025 testing and offers a state diploma to students who successfully test and meet the state standards. The high school courses offered meet the state standards for TOPS for those students who successfully complete each course in the TOPS curriculum.

In the fall of 2019, some programs were renewed such as the annual Christmas program, and some programs were introduced such as onsite Latin for the TOPS language requirement.

The 2019 Christmas program was constructed around a special tops project of the Religion 1 class, itself an innovation for the semester. The class memorized the entire Christmas story from Luke, Chapter 2, and from Matthew, Chapter 2, and provided the narrative for each of the other classes to sing carols, play bells, and do skits. The event, held on 19 December 2019, was well attended by parents , grandparents and friends.

Latin has been introduced and is being taught by the headmaster, Dr. Robert Peters. The text being used in Lingua Latina, an all Latin text, takes the students into the lives of a Roman family. Learning Latin disciplines the mind, strengthens English vocabulary, enhances the understanding of grammar, and serves as a window into the worlds of Antiquity and the Middle Ages.

This spring, Riverdale Academy is offering three new courses: Business English, Business Math and an English elective which focuses on novels and film. These electives are broadening the experiences of Riverdale students and providing them opportunities for practical applications of knowledge and further intellectual experience.

It is the mission of Riverdale Academy to provide a safe and secure place and a challenging environment in which students can grow and thrive spiritually, intellectually, emotionally and physically as they engage the curriculum, participate in extra-curricular activities and pursue their strengths in sports. We invite you to come join us in that mission.

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The Red River Parish Library will host an unveiling event in the lobby of the library on Tuesday, January 21^st at 5 pm.  The public is invited to see this interesting display.

Karen Gill has worked for months crafting a Caddo Indian diorama display which will be housed in the foyer area of the library.    It is the largest such design she has done to date. 

Karen has other work on display at the Natchitoches Fish Hatchery and the Caddo Adai Cultural Center in Robeline.

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Riverdale Academy has announced its outstanding spellers.  The school posted, “Fourth grader Hayden Cason, fifth grader Destiney Bohannon, and seventh grader Aston Hester will represent Riverdale Academy In the MSAIS Overall Spelling Bee.”

The students will travel to Jackson, Mississippi, on Friday, January 17. Riverdale said, “Good luck to you all! We are proud of you.”

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The Louisiana Beta Convention was held last weekend in Baton Rouge.  Several students participated from Riverdale.

These students represented Riverdale Academy at the State Beta Convention in Baton Rouge on January 8-10, 2020. They did a wonderful job and made RA proud!

Back row, l-r : Brennan Edie, Adam Bryant, Matthew Seales, and Tylar Bare. Middle row, l-r: Abby Jones, Heidi Murray, Georgia Dowden, and James Wagoner. Front row, l-r: Molly Seales, Emma Clemons, Luke Greer, and Mason Murray. Their sponsor is Amanda Cason.

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Red River 4-H clubs are meeting at every school in the parish.  Here are a couple of highlights.  Last week the 4-H Club at Red River Junior High met. 

They received lots of materials about contests and camps.  After the meeting the local 4-H Extension Agent posted, “Sign up for summer camp today!  Grades 4-6  Limited Spots!”

The January Club meeting at the Junior High heard from Colton Kerby. He shared some fishing skills with the group.

The Louisiana 4-H office is planning the 2020 Junior Leadership Conference.  It is right around the corner, and the State Executive Board would like to formally invite you to attend. Contact your parish agent for more information!

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Social media is all abuzz over the LSU victory over Clemson.  Many Red River residents and alumni made the trip to the Superdome for the game last night.  Some traveled great distances just to cheer for the Tigers (LSU of course).  The rest of us tried to stay awake for the final seconds.  No fan was disappointed.

LSU has won the national championship in college football.  And many fans want memorabilia.  The university would like to remind Tiger fans shopping for LSU memorabilia to always look for the “Officially Licensed Collegiate Product” label when purchasing merchandise. This label assures the consumer that the product has been approved and represents the goodwill of the university. Products that do not bear the label, but use the marks of LSU, may represent trademark infringement.

Friday is the third Friday of the month.  That means the lunch at the Council on Aging will be fried catfish and all the trimmings.  Citizens over 60 eat for just $4.00.

We are into a new year and it seems that more things than ever are happening in Red River Parish.  Many Journal readers send us tips and photos and we hope more will in the coming months.  Please send everything in a new email to RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com.

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Report from the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office for the week ending January 12, 2020.

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Qualifying has ended for local races this spring.  The only positions to be filled are the Mayor, Police Chief and three Aldermen in the Village of Martin.  Here is the list of those who filed:

Mayor of Martin

Name: Phillip Walsworth Jr.

2778 Hwy. 507  Coushatta, LA 71019

318-471-5151

Police Chief of Martin

Christopher Mangham 

2770 Hwy. 507  Coushatta, LA 71019

318-771-2788

Alderman of Martin – Three to be elected

DeRay Pullig 

159 Benton Adkins Rd.  Coushatta, LA 71019

318-471-7605

All candidates will be elected because there were no opposing candidates in any race.

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