Three and a half years ago a Coushatta resident was killed in the Red River Estates apartment complex on East Riddle Street. Sheriff’s Deputies responded and took two men into custody.
The victim, Earl Moore died of his injuries after he was transported to Christus Coushatta by private vehicle.
Now sentencing is expected in November for Daniel Waites. He agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter charges. Prior to sentencing there will be a hearing in which Moore family members may present statements on the impact of Earl Moore’s death on the family.
Here is the link to The Journal’s original report on the shooting incident:
On Wednesday, September 23, Riverdale Academy’s FCA organized the annual See You at the Pole, which began in September of 1990 by a group of teenagers who were broken and burdened for their friends. They met at the flagpole to pray, and now, 30 years later, the See You at the Pole movement has reached millions of students in countries around the world.
Wednesday morning students from grades Pre-K through 12, along with faculty and staff, gathered in the school gym to observe See You at the Pole. FCA President Brennan Edie welcomed everyone, and then sophomore FCA member James Wagoner opened in prayer. Then Brennan Edie and Tinley Ogden read the history of See You at the Pole. 8th Grader Jadyn King then led in prayer.
Principal Danny Rester and his daughter, Jeralyn Wilhite, led the music with the songs “Days of Elijah” and “What a Beautiful Name It Is.” Then 2nd grader Jonathon “Junior” Curry prayed. Dr. Nathan Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church Coushatta, brought the message based on Proverbs 3:5-6. He reminded us that we need to trust in the Lord at all times. Then all of the students, faculty, and staff gathered around the flagpole and sang “Sanctuary.” Mr. Rester then closed us in prayer.
This year’s See You at the Pole theme was “Return, Restore, Revive.” The verse was II Kings 23:25, which says, “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did-with all his heart and with his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with the Law of Moses.” Students at Riverdale are blessed to be able to pray without fear. FCA is led by Dr. Hunter Brown and Mrs. Kelly Azlin. This year’s FCA members are Madison Chamberlin, Will Jones, Molly Seales, James Wagoner, Kenley Loftin, Rylee Kate Woodard, Renee Prosperie, Ty Jones, Denver Williams, Jake Messenger, Tinley Ogden, Abby Jones, Brennan Edie, Matthew Seales, Parker Almond, and Paul Messenger.
There is a lot of talk about the upcoming Town Council election and the Presidential Election November 3rd. Will you take part? Will you be eligible to vote?
This week is Voter Registration Week, but it ends today. It is a good time to register if you are not registered to vote. See the flyer below for full details.
Etta Calhoun was a favorite of teachers and students. She drove a school bus for elementary students for years. She recently passed away and a black ribbon was placed on the front of her bus.
The elementary school posted, “On behalf of RRES Principal Mike Beck and RRES faculty and staff we offer sincere condolences to the family of Etta Calhoun! Rest in Love and you will be greatly missed by Red River Elementary and the entire RED RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT!!!”
Due to COVID-19, this year has been anything but normal for the students and staff at the Red River High School. Throughout this school year, students and staff were not sure if the football season would even take place. However, with a recent decision from the governor, the Red River Bulldogs will take the field today in a scrimmage against the Bossier Bearcats.
Coach John Bachman spoke to The Journal this past week about his outlook on the football season and how he believed this year would go. “COVID has changed everything; you no longer are just having to think about coaching, but also about the guidelines set for the season. From what I have seen and heard from colleges and the NFL, everything is pretty normal during the games and that’s what I’m looking forward to.
Bachman said, “I am very excited for the season to begin. We have a great, group of talented young men. I always ask the boys before a game, ‘Are we gonna play as a team?’. I really think that if we play and execute, we can win against anybody we come up against, I don’t care what the A is behind their name.”
Due to COVID-19 guidelines only 400 fans are allowed in the bleachers; RRHS is selling season tickets for all the home games for $40.00. Fans of the Red River High School football team better act fast before the tickets are gone. If a fan is not lucky enough to be able to purchase a ticket, The Journal is offering livestream action of the Bulldogs for all their home and away games.
To watch the games, go to the Red River Parish Journal on Facebook. The stream will be live about fifteen minutes prior to kickoff. The Journal is sending text alerts to fans to alert them to the broadcast of each athletic event. To join the text message service, go to this link and sign up. https://form.jotform.com/63427407805154
Red River 4-H asked, “Are you ready for a Livestock Show & Sale? We Are!!! It’s officially Entry Time! Here is what you need to know about the 2020 Livestock Shows!”
Entries: Entries are now being accepted. You may access online entries via our website at https://www.statefairoflouisiana.com/events/2020/2020-livestock-show . All entries will be completed using our online platform. If you have any trouble with online entries or processing your payment, please contact our office at 318-635-1361. Entries will be open through October 2, 2020.
Vehicle Parking and Gate Passes: FREE Vehicle Parking and Gate Admission.
Livestock Trailer Parking: For security purposes, all Livestock Trailers will need a $15.00 parking permit to be unhitched and/or left on the fairgrounds. ALL Livestock Trailers will be parked in a secured area.
Trim Chute: All trim chutes will need a $10.00 trim chute pass.
T Shirts: 2020 Livestock Show Commemorative T Shirts will be available for PRE-SALE only. You may order shirts during your entry process or contact us at 318-635-1361. Our T Shirt design will be released later this week but will be similar to the design below.
Vendors: Food and Show Supply Vendors will be available.
The start of Halloween season is upon us which means, normally, dozens of haunted house attractions would be under construction and preparing to open to the public all across Louisiana.
However, this year, the state’s COVID-19 pandemic emergency is restricting many of our normal activities. Gov. John Bel Edwards’ latest proclamation regarding COVID-19 mitigation measures for businesses and religious organizations, 117 JBE 2020, currently calls for indoor amusements like haunted houses to remain closed. But the proclamation also allows for amusements like this to submit a proposal to be given special permission to open.
Haunted house operators can access details on how to submit these requests, as well as what type of considerations should be included in the proposals, on OpenSafely.la.gov in the document for “Other Amusements.”
In addition, the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM) would like to remind operators about the regular life safety and fire safety requirements our deputies will be looking for when inspecting attractions for approved occupancy, if allowed to open.
For temporary “special amusement structures” and/or “Ghost Walks” (i.e. not operational for more than 30 days):
A sketch of the facility, along with documentation and materials, emergency plans and equipment must be submitted to the SFM for review and approval prior to the use of the building or space as a temporary “Special Amusement” activity
Interior finishes and decorations/props shall be flame-resistant
If the building operates in a reduced lighting environment, the building should contain an approved automatic smoke detection system that (a) will sound an alarm louder than the greatest ambient noise level (b) will sound at a constantly manned location where the attendant will be capable of turning on additional lighting for emergency evacuation
Occupant load constantly controlled to no more than 25 occupants at any given time
Fire department presence during all periods of activity OR ABC-type fire extinguishers in each room with a person trained in their proper use AND a garden hose connected to adequate water supply long enough to reach into every area of the structure
Exit and directional signage
Artificial smoke is prohibited; dry ice is acceptable
Accessible parking and an accessible route to the entrance of the attraction is required and should include stable, firm and slip-resistant walking surfaces.
For permanent “haunted house” or “special amusement” structures, projects must be submitted to the SFM for a full plan review prior to construction. Visit lasfm.org for plan submittal instructions and requirements.
If you’re planning to patron a haunted house attraction, we encourage you to develop an emergency meeting location with the group you are attending with and/or instruct children to locate uniformed personnel in the event they find themselves lost and without an emergency meeting location.
The SFM encourages reporting any concerning conditions at special amusement structures to 1-800-256-5452 or filing a complaint through our website, lasfm.org.
The arena at Red River Cowboy Church will host the 2020-21 Winter Playday Series. There will be events for cowboys and cowgirls of all ages, infant to adult.
First event in the series will be held October 3rd. These are all day events with fun for every member of your family.
Red River Cowboy Church is located at the intersection of LA 1 and LA 174 at Lake End. For more information, call 318-652-2553.
When John Brewer approached me about writing an article about mental health, mental illness and suicide, he was unaware that my daughter had called me that very morning to let me know that one of her childhood friends had taken her own life last week. Last year, on World Suicide Prevention Day, one of my granddaughter’s friends also took her life. This is a subject that many people are uncomfortable talking about – but it is critical that we do.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The first full week of September is National Suicide Prevention Week with September 10 being World Suicide Prevention Day. Mental Illness Awareness Week takes place every year during the first full week of October. 46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition. 90% of people who die by suicide had shown symptoms of a mental health condition, according to interviews with family, friends and medical professionals.
Mental health conditions include anxiety disorder, ADHD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder and depression. Some warning signs are excessive worrying, confused thinking, problems concentrating and learning, extreme mood changes and avoiding friends and social activities.
1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year. 1 in 25 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year. 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14 and 75% by age 24. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34 and the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. The overall suicide rate in the U.S. has increased by 31% since 2001. A large percentage of people experiencing homelessness, incarceration, the juvenile justice system and veterans have a serious mental health condition. Worldwide 800,000 people die by suicide each year. For each death, there are an additional 25 attempts.
These are disturbing statistics!!! The theme “Worth Living For” was inspired by the conviction that together we can remind ourselves and each other that there is so much worth living for.
That is what we do in a program called CELEBRATE RECOVERY (CR). CR is a Christ-centered 12-step program for hurts, habits and hang-ups (i.e., anxiety, grief, depression, drugs, gambling, anger, sexual addiction, alcohol). We meet every Thursday evening at Open Door Fellowship Church, 285 Esperanza Rd., Coushatta. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we can no longer serve a meal but bring a “brown bag” and join us for dessert, coffee, tea and fellowship at 5:30 p.m. Large group meets at 6:00 p.m. and small group at 7:00 p.m. For more information, contact Justin Wiley (318-471-7889) or Virgie Rose (318-218-5853).
There was a good turnout of 4-H members last week for the Junior Leader meeting. Jacque Fontenot, Red River 4-H Agent, posted, “It was so exciting to have 22 junior leaders at our meeting. They brought donations toward goodie bags for special needs students in our parish.
During the meeting the students decorated pumpkins for the nursing home patients.
Fontenot said, “It’s not too late to enroll in 4-H by going to the following link: http://lsuagcenter.com/4henroll To enroll in one of our project clubs, call 932-4342 or email jfontenot@agcenter.lsu.edu.”
Here are the Red River Fire Department calls made in recent days:
09-13-2020 @ 6:29 pm. Toned out to 155 Jenny Lane for a fire alarm. No smoke or fire found.
09-12-2020 @ 10:57 pm. Toned out to 139 Arlington Street for a fire alarm. No smoke or fire found.
09-15-2020 @ 2:15 pm. Toned out to1624 Ringgold Avenue for a fire alarm. Arrived to find no smoke or flames found. Dust from construction work being done set the alarm off.
09-21-2020 @ 1:05 pm. Received a phone call needing assistance at 233 East Carroll Street.
09-19-2020 @ 7:24 pm. Toned out to 146 Brushy Creek Road for a tree on fire. Arrived to find a control burn still under control.
09-23-2020 @ 6:01 am. Toned out to the Hwy 507 end of WPA Road for a power line catching a tree on fire.
09-22-2020 @ 9:08 pm. Toned out to a single vehicle MVC on Hwy 1 just north of Harmon Curve.
09-23-2020 @ 9:54 pm. Received a call from RRSO about a snake in an apartment at 1910 Jones Street. Firefighters arrived and got the snake out of the apartment and relocated the snake to another area.
09-23-2020 @ 12:18 pm. Received a call of a smell of smoke inside the building at 5036 Cutoff Road. After searching, firefighters found a water heater shorting out.
Scott Burrell has been named director of The Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University. Brian Gabriel will remain as interim head of the Department of New Media, Journalism and Communication Arts and Terrie Sanders has been named as interim head of the Department of Music. The appointments have been approved by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.
Burrell recently coordinated a $500,000 renovation to NSU’s A.A. Fredricks Auditorium that will enhance the facility which hosts a variety of university and community events.
Before becoming Director, Burrell was the head of the NSU Theatre and Dance program for 12 years. Burrell has been a member of the theatre faculty since 1998. Under his guidance the theatre/dance program grew its enrollment by 30%, established a BFA in Dance, four faculty lines were created and over $300,000 in grant funds were awarded.
Burrell has graduated a number of successful students who have moved into all areas of professional theatre and dance. Before the pandemic, there were five NSU Theatre/Dance alum on Broadway. His educational background includes a B.A in Theatre from Catawba College and an M.F.A. in Directing from Virginia Commonwealth University.
He has served in a number of leadership roles at Northwestern including the University Registrar Search Committee Chair, Grievance Committee Chair, Vice President of the Faculty Senate, and many other committee memberships. He was also awarded the NSU Faculty Advisor of the Year in 2017. Burrell is a member of the University of Louisiana System’s Management and Leadership Institute. Institute participants include faculty and staff members from each of the System’s nine member institutions who have exhibited upper management potential and a desire for leadership development.
Gabrial served as interim department head in 2019-20. Over the past year, Students and faculty in the department were awarded a Bronze Telly Award in the Non-Broadcast Educational Institution category for a March 19 NSU-TV Newscast. Gabrial served as executive advisor for the newscast. He joined NSU’s faculty two years ago as the Erbon and Marie Wise Endowed Chair in Journalism. Gabrial serves as chair of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.
He was a member of the journalism faculty at Concordia University from 2004 to 2018. Gabrial was the Mitchell V. Charnley Visiting Professor of Journalism at the University of Minnesota in 2011-12.
Gabrial was a news producer at RFD-TV, KETV-TV in Omaha, Nebraska, and at KSTP-TV and KARE-TV in Minneapolis. He was also a research project manager for the Minneapolis-based National Jury Project. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Creighton University and a master’s and doctorate at the University of Minnesota.
Gabrial was the recipient of the Hazel Dicken-Garcia Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Journalism History, presented at the Symposium on the 19th-century press, the Civil War, and Free Expression, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. He is the author of the book “The Press and Slavery in America, 1791-1859: The Melancholy Effect of Popular Excitement” published by the University of South Carolina Press. He has published four peer reviewed journal articles, two co-authored articles and seven book chapters along with book reviews and more than two dozen professional presentations along with participating in panels at professional conferences.
Sanders has been a member of NSU’s faculty since 1992, teaching voice and vocal pedagogy.She holds degrees from Emmanuel College, Lee University and Northwestern State University. She also holds a certification with the McClosky Institute of Voice and is a Master Teacher for that organization. Sanders is a doctoral student at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Sanders is an active performer and lecturer. As a soloist, some of her Oratorio appearances include Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” Handel’s “Messiah,” Poulenc’s “Gloria,” Brahms’ “German Requiem,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Requiem,” Haydn’s “Nelson Mass,” Bach’s “Magnificat,” Mozart’s “Requiem,” Vaughn Williams’ “Hodie,” Mendelsohn’s “Elijah” and Honegger’s “King David.” Her opera performances include Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” and “La Bohѐme,” Menotti’s “The Telephone” and Warren Martin’s “The True Story of Cinderella.”
Sanders has been a member of the Summer Seminar Faculty for the McClosky Institute of Voice based in Boston since 2005. She has presented at state, regional and international conferences including the International Congress of Voice Teachers (2012 and 2017) and the Southern Region Conference for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (2014). She regularly presents master classes and lectures throughout the state and region on alignment, relaxation and breathing techniques for the singer.
Sanders has served as coordinator of academic advising activities for the School of Creative and Performing Arts and the program coordinator for the BM degrees. She was chair of the Music Curriculum Committee. Sanders is the Danny and Lenn Dohmann Endowed Professor for 2020-21. She is a two-time recipient of the Donald F. Derby Endowed Professorship and was the 2017 recipient of the Joanna Magale Endowed Professorship, which funded an invitation to present at the 2017 International Congress of Voice Teachers in Stockholm, Sweden.
We have all heard to wash your hands often to prevent COVID-19 and other diseases. It is worth this reminder that was posted by Red River schools:
Remember Bulldogs, one of the easiest ways to stop the spread of the Coronavirus is to wash your hands. The CDC recommends these five easy steps to washing your hands… Wet Lather Scrub Rinse Dry Keep those paws clean and have a great rest of the week!
Editor’s Note: The grandkids sing “My A-B-Cs” twice to make sure they have washed long enough.
Riverdale Academy is having its Fall blood drive October 8 from 8:30a to 12:00p. The area’s blood supply is still needing your help to meet the hospital’s demand.
Tryouts are today for boys wishing to play basketball on the Red River Junior High team. They will be held in the high school gym from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Get there about 3:30 for temperature scans and wear a face mask. You will also need proper shoes, gym shorts and a t-shirt.
Red River 4-H reminds students the Sate Fair BB gun Contest is October 31 in Shreveport. It is for ALL youth, ages 9-19. Details were posted on social media by Red River 4-H.
Today is the deadline to sign up for the ACT October testing cycle. Test dates are October 10th, 17th, 24th and 25th.
The Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band may not be performing on Saturday nights this fall, but the band’s directors remain active working with students and raising the profile and reputation of the program. Director of Bands Dr. Jeffrey C. Mathews was recently appointed Louisiana state chair for the National Band Association. The National Band Association is the largest professional organization for bands in the world. It was organized for the purpose of promoting the musical and educational significance of bands and is dedicated to the attainment of a high level of excellence for bands and band music.
Don’t forget to get your mums ordered from 4-H! They’ll be here the 2nd week of October. Call this week to make sure you can get your favorite colors! Mums are $15. The 4-H office number is 932-4342.
A Ringgold man accused of a firearm murder in Red River Parish in 2017 has agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter, leaving his father facing related charges.
Daniel Waites, 37, faced second-degree murder charges in the shooting death of Earl Moore, 25, within the Red River Estate Apartments in Coushatta in 2017. Waites’ father, Carrel Waites, 63, was charged with principal to second-degree murder. The Waiteses were arrested on March 30, 2017.
Thursday, September 17, 2020, Red River Parish District Attorney Julie C. Jones and Assistant District Attorney George Winston III accepted a plea deal that allows Daniel Waites to plead guilty to manslaughter. Waites is scheduled to be sentenced in November, pending a sentencing hearing in which the Moore family will present victim impact statements. Judge John Robinson, appointed to the cases by the Louisiana Supreme Court, will sentence Daniel Waites to an agreed term of 20 to 40 years in prison.
Carrel Waites, who is free on a $1 million cash bond, is awaiting trial.
The original arrest report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office is pictured below.
The state health department is out with new figures on the percentage of people testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. And the federal guidelines that shut down visitation at all nursing homes and adult long care facilities are easing. The local nursing home is now allowing family members to visit residents, with some restrictions.
The Journal has three reports dealing with the impact on nursing homes and on facilities taking care of our veterans. We begin with the changes in virus positivity here in Red River Parish.
The Tuesday report from Louisiana Department of Health shows a dramatic change in the percent of persons testing positive. The rate of positive tests was at 14.7% the last week of August. The rate dropped 40.82% during the week of September 3 through 9. As of the most recent report 354 cases have been confirmed of 4,149 tests administered.
The parish death count is at 21. We have gone more than a week without an additional death attributed to the virus.
At Green Meadow Haven family members are now allowed to visit their relatives who reside there. Administrator Gabe Reynolds told The Journal, “We are allowing one family member per visit and the visits are outside. We will allow more family members on future visits.”
Reynolds said, “We will have to go 14 days with no new cases before we can offer inside visits. We had no positives last week and we were tested today (Tuesday). If those tests are all clear, we hope to meet the 14-day requirement by next week.”
To schedule a visit, family members are asked to call Pat Woodall for an appointment. The number is 318-932-5202.
Louisiana will move to quickly implement new guidance from the federal government easing restrictions on visits to nursing homes during the COVID pandemic, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Friday.
The new guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) late Thursday allows nursing homes to conduct outdoor visitation with social distancing. Nursing homes located in parishes with no more than 10 percent test positivity and without any new onset of COVID cases in the last 14 days can allow indoor visitation. CMS does recommend a number of mitigation measures, including that nursing homes limit how many visitors a resident can have at one time, as well as limiting the number of visitors that can be in the facility at once. The guidance also says face coverings, social distancing of at least six feet between people should be adhered to at all times and that all visitors must be screened for symptoms of COVID-19, including fever.
CMS imposed restrictions on nursing home visitation in March in an effort to control outbreaks of the coronavirus and protect one of our most vulnerable populations.
“Recognizing the impact of isolation and the importance of connectedness, Louisiana’s Department of Health was slated to release details today of a nursing home visitation pilot in our state; instead, we will move quickly today to implement this new federal guidance,” Gov. Edwards said. “We know these past several months have been tough, especially for our nursing home residents and their loved ones. It’s time for us to do something. At the same time, we are still in the middle of a pandemic and these residents are among our most vulnerable. We all must do our part to make sure this new policy is successful. That means wearing our masks and staying six feet away from others, including when we visit our loved ones in nursing homes.”
“I want to thank the Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Nursing Home Association for their collaboration on this issue and the nursing homes across Louisiana that have worked to manage the health of their residents in a very difficult time.”
To date, a total of 2,225 nursing home deaths have been identified in Louisiana. These deaths make up 43.4% of the all COVID-19-associated deaths in Louisiana. Nursing homes in Louisiana have reported more than 10,000 COVID-19 cases among residents and staff. Nearly every nursing home in the state has had at least one COVID-19 case among residents or staff.
Under the direction of Governor John Bel Edwards, the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs will begin conducting an initial outdoor in-person visitation program on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at four of its veterans homes following new guidance from the CDC and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The homes included in the initial visitation program are the Northeast Louisiana Veterans Home in Monroe, the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home in Bossier City, the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home in Reserve and the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home in Jennings. LDVA will conduct the program at facilities which are 14 days past the most recent resident or staff COVID-positive test result. This outdoor visitation program will be conducted for at least 28 days.
“I am so pleased to be able to offer this outdoor in-person visitation to our residents’ families beginning next week,” LDVA Secretary Joey Strickland said. “We will continue to follow the guidance of our federal and state partners as we move forward through this pandemic in terms of other visitation options. We greatly appreciate the support that our residents’ families and the local communities have shown us during these unprecedented times.”
All visitation will be outdoors in an area that allows for social distancing and no visitors will be allowed to enter the building. Visitors will be screened, including a temperature check, as well as asked to use hand sanitizer and wear a facemask covering for the duration of the visit. Children under 14 may not visit at this time. Anyone who does not pass the screening criteria will not be allowed to visit a resident at that time. Visitation will be conducted Monday through Friday from 9-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. Family members will need to contact the individual homes to schedule their appointment for visitation prior to making plans to go to the facility.
Per CDC and CMS guidance, these outdoor in-person visits may and will be stopped by the facility at any time at which a new resident or staff COVID-positive test result is received which originated within the facility. We will continue to test our residents and staff weekly following current medical protocols from our public health authorities.
For more information about LDVA, visit vetaffairs.la.gov, email veteran@la.gov, call 225.219.5000 or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is joining registrars of voters across the state the week of Sept. 21-25, 2020 to host Voter Registration Week activities aimed at registering eligible citizens to vote.
“Registering to vote is the critical first step in making your voice heard at the ballot box,” Ardoin said. “This fall, voters will select leaders at all levels of government, and I encourage all unregistered voters to register to vote. Check your registration status at GeauxVote.com or on the GeauxVote app.”
Louisiana was one of the first states in the nation to implement an easy, convenient online voter registration portal. Citizens with a valid Louisiana driver’s license or Louisiana Special ID card can register online 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the convenience of their home or office by visiting https://voterportal.sos.la.gov.
Residents of Louisiana can also register in person at their parish Registrar of Voters Office, when they apply for or renew their driver’s license at any Office of Motor Vehicles or when obtaining services at public assistance agencies and Armed Forces recruitment offices. Citizens wishing to register by mail can download and print the application from our website at GeauxVote.com, or complete an application found at public libraries or through registration drives.
To register and vote in Louisiana individuals must: • be a U.S. citizen; • be at least 17 years old (16 years old if registering in person at the Registrar of Voters Office or at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles) to register and 18 years old prior to the next election to vote; • not be under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony or, if under such an order not have been incarcerated pursuant to the order within the last five years and not be under an order of imprisonment related to a felony conviction for election fraud or any other election offense pursuant to La. R.S. 18:1461.2; • not be under a judgment of full interdiction for mental incompetence or partial interdiction with suspension of voting rights; • be a resident in the state and parish in which you seek to register and vote; • apply at least 20 days prior to an election if registering online or 30 days prior to an election if registering in person or by mail.
The deadline to register to vote in person or by mail is Monday, October 5. The deadline to register to vote online is Tuesday, October 13.
For a complete listing of voter registration activities in individual parishes, visit the Secretary of State’s website and social media platforms. For more information about elections and voting, contact the Secretary of State’s Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.
Open Door Sports, a ministry of Open Door Fellowship is excited to announce a Fall Football league. As the state of Louisiana moves into phase 3 this allows us to offer a football season for our community to enjoy. Flag football is an alternative to full contact football. ODF Flag Football ministry is designed to introduce young athletes to the game while providing a safe environment to grow in the sport.
ODF Flag Football teaches athletes the fundamental skills of the game. At the same time our goal is to create healthy competition among the teams. Athletes are sure to gain an understanding of the sport and further develop their technique and motor skills.
We will only have a TWO (2) -week window to register, so please do not delay sign up today! We have lowered our fees this season to 40.00 per player. Sign-ups are now open but will end on October 4. Be sure and visit www.odfsports.com for more information and to register.
ODF Sports also needs coaches to help mentor young athletes on and off the field. If you can spend a couple of nights a week for 6-8 weeks investing in your players please go to our website and click on “coach.”
We look forward to seeing you soon on the field at Open Door. If you have a question the website does not answer, please call the church office at 318-932-6267.
It was a beautiful night for the Riverdale Academy homecoming football game and court presentation on Friday, September 18. Before the game, the 2020 homecoming court was presented. Freshman Maid was Madison Chamberlin, daughter of Rob and Stephanie Chamberlin. It was a special night for mother and daughter as her mom Stephanie was honored as a member of the class of 2000. Sophomore Maid was Emma Clemons, daughter of Charles and Casey Clemons. Junior Maid was Rylee Kate Woodard, daughter of Bo and Marie Woodard. Senior Maid was Tinley Ogden, daughter of Stephen and Jamie McCoy. Football Sweetheart was Ronda Black, daughter of Bobette Black. Crown Bearer was Hadley Brice, daughter of Jake and Ashton Brice, and Football Bearer was Jesse Jowers, son of James and Jessica Jowers. This year’s homecoming queen was Pacey Lindsey, daughter of John and Christie Lindsey. She was crowned by a member of the first graduating class of Riverdale, Mrs. Cissy Cox.
Riverdale took on the visiting Rebul Raiders from Learned, Mississippi and showed them who owned the field. Riverdale jumped out to a huge first quarter lead and never looked back, defeating the Rebul Raiders 54-6. Coach Jared Smelser began subbing in his second team late in the first quarter and gave them some valuable minutes to gain experience for the future.
Senior quarterback Witt Almond was once again on top of his game for the hometown crowd. He completed 3 of 4 passes for a total of 103 yards and 2 touchdowns. On the receiving end senior Parker Almond also made a good showing in his final homecoming football game. He had 2 catches for 85 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ty Jones had 1 catch for 11 yards and James Wagoner had 1 catch for 7 yards. Witt also had 77 rushing yards on 3 carries and scored a touchdown. Senior Paul Messenger dominated on carries with a total of 10 carries for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jake Messenger had 1 carry for 16 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Hodgin had 4 carries for 28 yards. Riverdale had 389 total yards on the night. Riverdale had one other senior football player, Brennan Edie, who was unable to play due to a shoulder injury, but he was on the sidelines encouraging his teammates the entire game.
The Riverdale defense was on fire for homecoming, holding the Rebul team to 1/5 in passing and a total of only 103 yards and 1 touchdown. Junior Jake Messenger had 2 solo tackles, 2 assists (3 TFL,) 1 FF, and 1 fumble recovery. Paul Messenger was in on the defensive action with 9 assists, while his cousins Parker Almond and Ben Almond had 1 assist each. Ty Jones was in on the action with 3 solo tackles, 5 assists (4 TFL,) 1 FF, and 1 fumble recovery. Kyle Guillory had 7 assists, Tyler Hodgin had 5 assists, and Kaden Cason had 3 assists. James Wagoner had 2 solo tackles and 7 assists, and Jaxon Gates had 1 solo tackle and 3 assists. Tyler Parker had 1 solo tackle and 6 assists, including 1 TFL. Denver Williams and Hayden Hillman each had 4 assists, and each had 1 TFL. Ryder Huddleston had 3 solo tackles and 6 assists, including 2 TFL. 8th grader Logan Gryder finished the defensive effort with 1 solo tackle and 1 assist. Out of these defensive players, only 2 are seniors, so the defense should be outstanding next year as well.
Riverdale cheerleaders and elementary and junior high students performed a Disney-themed halftime show, and alumni from the classes of 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010 were honored with a reception before the dance. As always, it was a great night to be a Riverdale Rebel!
Thursday, September 17, 2020 will be an unforgettable night for those in attendance at the Riverdale Academy Powderpuff Court Presentation and football game. The powderpuff court and game is a long-standing tradition at Riverdale, and this year did not disappoint. Just a little after 6:00 p.m. a flatbed truck driven by Levi Shaver rolled down the track carrying one of the most beautiful court’s in powderpuff history. The freshman maid was Ryder Huddleston, aka Diamond N Da Ruff. “Her” escort was Madison Chamberlin. Next was the sophomore maid, James Wagoner, aka Candy Crush. “She” was escorted by Emma Clemons. The beautiful junior maid was Tyler Hodgin, aka Tyreka Hodgepodge, who was escorted by Rylee Kate Woodard. This year’s senior maid was Parker Almond, aka Paprika Dash. “She” was escorted by Tinley Ogden. Our football sweetheart was Witt Almond, aka Wittney Walnut. “Her” escort was Ronda Black. Last but not least, the 2020 Powderpuff Court Queen Paul Messenger, aka Paulina Prissypants was introduced. “She” was escorted by Pacey Lindsey.
After the presentation of the court, the members of it, along with many more of the high school boys who were great sports, got dressed in their cheer uniforms and dance line outfits to prepare to cheer the girls on. These cheerleaders put on an OUTSTANDING halftime show that included some great stunts.
The game this year consisted of the traditional freshman/junior girls (the white team) and the sophomore/senior girls (the red team.) It was a very close game this year, but the white team came away with an 8-0 victory. Late in the first half Rylee Kate Woodard scored a touchdown. She then connected with Kenley Loftin for the 2 point conversion. The defense for both teams was strong as evidenced by flags being pulled all over the field.
I think it’s safe to say that everyone in attendance had a wonderful time!
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