Quilts were presented to three veterans last Friday at the high school.  The State Coordinator for Quilts of Valor, Gayla Boyd was assisted by Rhonda Lenain and Debbie Edwards in making the presentations to two members of the high school staff and one member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.  The quilts are handmade by members of Quilts of Valor.

Recipients of the quilts were Billy Henry, Sr., his son Billy Lee Henry, and Susanne Wastlund.  The Henrys were in the Marine Corps and the Air Force.  Wastlund served in the Navy.  Billy Henry, Sr. is a member of VFW Post 7287 and Wastlund is a member of Auxiliary 7287.

The High School issued a statement on the event:  On Friday, October 23rd, 2020, two of our special education teachers, Billy Henry, Sr., and Billy Henry, Jr., were honored by the Quilt of Valor Foundation in front of the school. Billy Henry, Sr.’s son, Joshua, was also honored posthumously. The Henry family’s military service stretches over 100 years. The three have served in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force and have all been “touched by war”. Red River High School is extremely blessed to have these men on our campus, and we are grateful and excited to honor those who have served and are still serving. It is truly a blessing to bring back our men and women in service and then have them decide to teach our children. Their experiences and values offer life lessons that students may not get anywhere else. We love them, honor them, and are truly blessed to have them teaching at Red River High School. Thank you to the entire Henry family who have dedicated their lives to serving and protecting others.

Billy Henry, Sr. said, “I thank God and thank all of you for your support.  I give God the praise and thank Quilts of Valor for these special gifts that we will cherish.”

Wastlund said, “To have this is a true blessing.  Thank you for the quilt and the pillow case.”

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By Brad Dison

On the morning of February 20, 2005, Mike Bolesta and his son Christopher visited a Best Buy in Lutherville, Maryland, about twenty minutes north of Baltimore.  They were shopping for a cd player for Christopher’s car.  The carefully considered the pros and cons of each model until they finally decided on just the right one.  The technician assured Mike that the cd player would fit perfectly in Christopher’s dashboard without any alterations.  Mike agreed to pay a $114 installation fee in addition to the cd player once it was installed.  After a while, the technician returned with bad news.  The cd player would not fit but Best Buy had another model which would fit, and it was $67 cheaper.  Mike and Christopher were disappointed, but the technician’s offer to waive the $114 installation fee was too good to pass up.  Mike had the technician install the cd player.  After the technician completed the installation, Mike paid the cashier for the cd player and said he would be glad to pay the installation fee.  The cashier was aware of the technician’s offer and did not charge him for installation.  Mike and Christopher left the store pleased with their purchase.

As the old saying goes, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”  The following day, a representative from Best Buy called Mike and threatened to call the police unless he returns to the store and pays the $114 installation fee.  Mike mentioned that the technician had waived the installation fee because of their inability to install the cd player they had originally chosen.  The Best Buy representative stood his ground.  Mike agreed to come in the following day to settle up.

On the following day, Mike returned to the Best Buy to pay the installation fee.  He handed the cashier $114 in cash.  The cashier noticed that some of the ink on the bills was smeared.  She suspected the bills were counterfeit.  She pointed out the smearing to Mike and said, “I don’t have to take these if I don’t want to.”  Mike replied, “If you don’t, I’m leaving.  I’ve tried to pay my bill twice.  You don’t want these bills, you can sue me.”   The cashier took the money and checked each of them with an anticounterfeit pen.  The ink showed that the bills were real but the cashier was still uncertain.  Other employees became curious and inspected the bills.  “Are these real?” they asked.  “Of course, they are,” Mike contended, “They’re legal tender.”  They too suspected the bills were counterfeit.  One of the employees discreetly called the police.    

Within minutes, police arrived and inspected the bills.  One officer noticed that, in addition to the smearing, the bills ran in sequential order.  One of the officers asked where he got the bills and Mike replied that he got them from his bank.  “You got a problem, call the bank.”  By this time, all of the customers and employees in the area were gawking at Mike.  He later said, “I am 6 feet 5 inches tall, and I felt like 8 inches high.  It was humiliating.”  Like the Best Buy employees, the officers concluded that the money was counterfeit.  One of the officers handcuffed Mike and told him, “We have to do this until we get it straightened out.”  Mike retorted, “I can’t believe you’re doing this.  I’m paying with legal American money.”  The officers were unyielding.

One of the officers transported him to the county police lockup in Cockeysville, about 10 minutes north of the Best Buy.  They walked Mike into a jail cell which had a metal pole attached to the floor and ceiling in the center of the room.  Next to the pole was a single chair.  An officer sat Mike in the chair and uncuffed one hand.  Mike assumed he would remove the handcuffs.  Instead, the officer handcuffed Mike to the pole.  Mike was even more shocked when the officer shackled his legs to the pole.  Mike said, “at this point, I’m a mass murderer.”  Mike sat and waited.

Three hours after being handcuffed and shackled to the pole, United States Secret Service agent Leigh Turner arrived at the jail.  She examined each bill for size, thickness, weight, tested the paper’s ink, and paid close attention to the sequential numbers.  She concluded that the bills were absolutely real, legitimate American currency.  She had the final say in the matter.  In her report, agent Turner noted that “sometimes ink on money can smear.”  Officers released Mike and apologized for the inconvenience.

A few days later, Mike’s son asked him for some money.  Mike pulled his wallet from his back pocket and pulled out a few bills.  Mike’s son suddenly remembered the story of Mike being arrested and decided that he no longer needed the money.  Why were the Best Buy employees and officers confused about Mike’s form of payment?  Why was he arrested?  Mike paid the cashier the $114 cd player installation fee in fifty-seven crisp, real… $2 bills.     

Source:

The Baltimore Sun, March 8, 2005, p.B1.

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By Royal Alexander

This election provides us with a choice as profound as it is clear: do we want America to remain America?

Do we wish to remain a nation that is governed by a constitution and adheres to a rule of law? Should we fight for and cling to the numerous, and rare, individual rights and liberties guaranteed to us; Do we continue to protect freedom of speech and freedom of religion and religious expression; do we really believe in the 2nd Amendment and the individual right to keep and bear arms; do we still believe that our life, liberty and property cannot be denied us without due process of law—while we are presumed innocent.

Should we citizens defer to government, or is government supposed to be responsive to us; do we preserve a limited federal government with specific, enumerated powers that governs only with our consent, or a socialist model of the kind we’ve seen fail throughout history in so many places; do we believe we know best how to run—and are better at running—our lives, as well as our families and our children’s lives than the government is, or do we cede those rights of self-determination to government bureaucrats, social engineers and the ever-encroaching tentacles of the “nanny” state.

Should we pay exorbitantly higher taxes to the federal government—a government that cannot even fully block robocalls—because if we do it will somehow be able to control the warming and cooling of the earth; do we allow abortion on demand, along with the violation of conscience entailed in using the tax dollars of we who are deeply opposed to the barbaric procedure, to pay for them; do we want a vigorous oil and gas industry—even as we continue to move toward renewable energy sources—so that we are not foolishly reliant on oil from hostile foreign governments. 

Do we believe that massive new taxes, regulation and a restricted, managed form of capitalism are necessary to provide our best life and society, or do we wish for a vibrant free-market economy where we may pursue our dreams of small business ownership; do we want the public schools to educate our children, or to indoctrinate them.

Do we want the best, highest-quality health care in the world, or do we turn the critical provision of health care over to government agencies and bureaucrats who are often more concerned with limiting and rationing care than with whether we are healed and cured; do we want to live under a government—as we’ve graphically witnessed this year—that defunds the police and tacitly condones violence, looting and destruction of property, or do we desire a society that is based upon law and order and a democratic process through which to seek lasting social change.  

Do we seek a society filled with free and robust speech, press, petition and peaceful assembly, or the kind of country in which Political Correctness and Groupthink get us shouted down and cowed by threats of one kind or another when we seek to express the truth and our beliefs in relation to it.

We repudiated and defeated communism in the last century.  It’s precursor, Socialism, is also a dark and hopeless ideology.  Today, desperate, freedom-seeking people all over the world continue to perilously strap themselves and their families onto “boats” consisting of broken boards and logs, buoyed by empty plastic milk jugs, risking their lives in the hope of reaching America.  They are fleeing Socialism.  Why would we even conceive of granting it a stronghold here?

Do we desire a country in which elites rule, or one in which any child, of any faith, background or upbringing may grow up to be president, or anything else they dream of, pray and work for?

Do we seek a society based upon “critical race theory” that has as its foundation the belief that every societal flaw stems from American sexism, racism or some other form of prejudice or “systemic bias”; or, one in which were are judged not “by the color of our skin but by the content of our character”? 

Do we want an admittedly imperfect country that never stops seeking to improve itself, or one in which social and cultural change is impossible because the ruling elite—our “government”—has arrogantly assumed it “knows better” than we, the unenlightened, the rubes, deplorables, or  “maggots” as Keith Olbermann said about Trump supporters.

We should pray and vote to have America remain America.

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Softball Coach Cymantha Smelser is holding Softball tryouts November 9th and 10th (Monday & Tuesday) at the RRHS Girls softball field.  Time is 3:30-4:45.

All girls trying out MUST have a softball glove, tennis shoes or cleats (non-metal), water bottle, and proper dressing attire (shirt and shorts). All girls should arrive at the softball field dressed out and ready to tryout. To attend tryouts the student also have all paperwork and physical completed. 

All tryouts are closed. Only coaches and girls who are trying out are allowed at the field. 

We will be checking temperatures and maintain our social distancing during these tryouts. 

Please contact Junior High Head Coach Cymantha Smelser or High School Head Coach Zachary Thrasher if you have  any questions

Coach Smelser graduated from Ouachita Parish High School in 2009 and attended University of Louisiana at Monroe(ULM). While at Ouachita Parish, she played varsity softball where she pitched and played second base. She chose to not continue her softball career after high school because she wanted to start coaching. She is married to Jared Smelser (Riverdale Head Football Coach). 

She didn’t waste any time getting her coaching career started.  In 2009 white attending ULM she was the softball student coach, under the guidance of Head Coach Chris Eubanks, and Soccer student coach, under the guidance of Steven Dickman, at Ouachita Parish Junior High, as well as an assistant to a 10u travel softball team from 2009 – 2011. She was the student coach at Ouachita Parish High School, under the guidance of Head Coach Tim Whitman, from 2011 – 2015. From 2009 – 2016, she coached several rec league teams and took one little league team to the World Series in Delaware. In 2015, after graduating from ULM, she went back to Ouachita Parish Junior High School to teach and coach softball, under the guidance of Head Coach Chris Eubanks. In 2016, she took over as the head softball coach at Ouachita Parish Junior High School. In 2017, she transferred to East Ouachita Middle School (the sister school to Ouachita Parish Junior High School), where she was the head softball coach and the head soccer coach until she recently moved to Red River. She will be the Red River Junior High School head softball coach and Red River High School pitching coach. 

Smelser said “I enjoy challenging and pushing the kids beyond their comfort zone. Doing this takes their confidence to the next level. We may not be the best team on the field all the time, but when we take the field, we will think we are the best team! Confidence is everything!”

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Parents and students are being notified this week that Red River High School will be making changes to our learning environment on Monday, November 2nd, 2020.  

Since the Governor’s announcement of moving into Phase 3 several months ago, we have been planning ways to maintain the safety of our students and faculty, and also be able to get back to a more normal school day.  

Beginning Monday, November 2nd, we will be inviting all of our virtual students who have requested to come back to campus to join our in person school.  We will be changing our static groups to accommodate those students and balancing them out by grade level.  

We will be transitioning our 9th and 10th grade in person students to having our teachers rotate in each group teaching our core subjects face to face. The 9th and 10th grade students will still maintain static groups when at all possible and the 4 core teachers will rotate to teach them daily Monday-Thursday for approximately 50 minutes each. By maintaining static groups, students will remain in the same class all day, but their teachers will change each period. Friday will still be a virtual day.  All electives for the 9-10th grade students will remain virtual and be delivered through Google Classroom.  

Now that we are moving 9th and 10th grade students to face to face instruction for our core subjects, parents and students will have to make a choice to either return to campus for face to face instruction, or move to a totally online learning platform through the Edgenuity program.  This will mean they will no longer have daily communication or instruction from their teacher.    For the students who want to return, they must call the office and inform us of their move and bring their Chromebook to school with them. They will leave the Chromebook in their classroom   for daily use. If the student chooses to remain virtual, then the Edgenuity Online platform will be customized to give credit for the first 9-weeks that was completed through Google Classroom.  The last three grading periods will be completely online without daily teacher interaction.   

It is imperative that we start transitioning back to face-to-face interaction with our students to make sure our students are learning everything that is required in order to take and pass the graduation requirements of the Leap 2025 test given in June.   

All 11th and 12th grade students wanting to return to in-person learning may also come back on November 2nd, however their courses will remain on Google Classroom and Edgenuity for now.  Red River High School’s plan is to start some face-to-face instruction with their core teachers after Thanksgiving break and possibly before in the testing subjects of Geometry and US History.  

Parents, I would encourage you to look closely at your student’s first nine weeks grades. If your student is not performing at levels from past years or is failing any course, you should consider coming back to in person school immediately, the longer you wait the harder it will be to earn a passing grade to award credit for that course.  

As we start this process of coming back to a more normal setting of education, remember a few things.  

**Static groups will be maintained the majority of time with little to no interaction with other groups.  This is extremely important for contact tracing.    
**Lunch will still be in the classroom. 
**Mask must be worn at all times except for eating and drinking.  
**Classrooms will still be sanitized at least twice a day. 
**Social distancing will be enforced to the extent possible. 
**Restrooms will be cleaned every 2 hours and when possible between groups. 
**Hand washing and sanitizing is required every 2 hours. 

Remember, starting Monday, November 2nd all 9th and 10th grade students will be placed in new static groups and their core teachers will rotate to teach them in face-to-face interaction.  Please call the school for any additional information.

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By Col. Mark Duffield

On Saturday, 24 Oct, 12 cadets got up real early, made their way to Shreveport well before the sun came up, and braved the colder-than-expected weather, and occasional drizzle, to attempt a 14-mile hike.  5 ½ hours later, all 12 had crossed the finish line.  

All were tired and sore, and a few were struggling the last few miles, but every single one of them crossed the finish line to earn the Bataan Death March ribbon for their JROTC uniforms.  But more importantly, they earned the pride of having completed a very difficult physical challenge and raised an estimated $700 in pledges for the Wounded Warrior Project.  

This hike was in honor of the World War II event.  The Bataan Death March was the forced march of over 60,000 American and allied POWs by the Japanese, in the Philippines, in the early days of World War II.  Cadet Commander Chloe Pickett expressed her pride in all of the cadets.  

After the hike, the cadets had a fantastic lunch at the Armadillo Grill which graciously sponsored this event with a free meal for all of the cadets.     

Cadets completing the hike:
Chloe Pickett
Jasmine Thomas
Brianna Latson
William Craine
Kameron Jordan
Daniel Bailey
Gracie Conway
Anthony Hernandez
Nathan Dyer
Ryan Hinds
Kenya Smith
Sydni Tingle-Smith

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The National Weather Service expects Hurricane Zeta to make landfall on the far southeast coast of Louisiana.  Their advisory said, “In combination with a strong upper trough over Texas, Zeta will bring widespread showers and thunderstorms to the entire area on Wednesday. However, no significant flooding or wind impacts are anticipated in the ArkLaTex region.

Governor John Bel Edwards urged residents in the path to make their preparations now.  Edwards said, “It is unfortunate we face another tropical threat this late in a very active season. We must roll up our sleeves, like we always do, and prepare for a potential impact to Louisiana.  As we’ve seen this hurricane season, a tropical threat during the ongoing COVID-19 emergency is challenging, but something we can handle. 

Edwards issued a state of emergency in advance of Hurricane Zeta,.  The Governor and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) have been monitoring Zeta for several days and began coordination calls with local emergency managers on Sunday. A state of emergency allows GOHSEP and other state agencies to use state resources to aid in storm response efforts. 

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Kier Jackson

June 23, 2003 to October 21, 2020

https://redriverparishjournal.com/2020/10/27/kier-jackson/

Lydia Ann Carter

April 10, 1957 to October 22, 2020

https://redriverparishjournal.com/2020/10/24/lydia-ann-carter/

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Coushatta’s First United Methodist Church has announced it will hold worship services virtually only on Sunday.  An increase in the incidence of COVIOD-19 among church members is given as the reason.  The church is also suspending other activities at the church.

Riverdale Academy has published the list of the big winners at Rebel Fest last Saturday.  The Raffle Winners: $10,000-Belinda Crow
Swaha Lodge-Jeremy Pickett
Gun-Lisa Eddy 

Tickets are limited to the last home football game of the season.  The Bulldogs vs Menard on Friday,10/30/2020, at 7:00 PM.  It will be senior night for band, cheer, dance, volleyball, JROTC and Football.  General sales tickets will be limited to 350 tickets.  They went on sale Tuesday, 10/27/2020, and tickets remaining will be sold today, Wednesday, 10/28/2020, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM under the bus awning behind main high school building.     $10 per ticket and must have cash or money order.  No checks accepted and all sales final. No refunds or exchanges.   LHSAA cards must pick up there ticket during this time to be guaranteed admission.

Springhill Baptist Church is holding a Trunk or Treat at the church Saturday night.  The hours are 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  Kids can check out all the trunks and fill their bags with candy.  There will be hot dogs, music and entertainment.  Bring your lawn chair.

The award-winning Northwestern State University Chamber Choir will livestream their fall concert on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. from Magale Recital Hall. There will be no audience for the concert. A livestream will be available at capa.nsula.edu/livestream. Director of Choral Activities Dr. Nicholaus B. Cummins will lead the choir.  The program is called “How Can I Keep from Singing?” and features music that is either popular tunes, upbeat music or famous folk music.

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In loving memory: memorial services set for Kier Jackson, 17 year-old fatally shot in Coushatta.

Final moments with Kier Jackson has been set. An open viewing for the public will be Saturday, October 31, 2020. 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. You can view Kier while he sleeps at Red River High School.

The homegoing celebration will be held Saturday October 31, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. It will be held at the Red River High School, located at 915 E. Carroll Street, Coushatta, Louisiana 71019.

Funeral services will be provided by Precious Memories Mortuary.

Absolutely no photos/videos at all. A professional photographer will handle the job. Feel free to repost footage from the funeral home page once it’s posted

Gone But Never Forgotten

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Report issued by the Red River Sheriff’s Office for the week ending Sunday, October 25, 2020.

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Funeral services for Lydia Ann Carter, 63, of Coushatta, LA will be held at 10 A.M. Monday, October 26, 2020 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Carl Word officiating.  Interment will follow in Roselawn Cemetery, Calhoun, LA.  Visitation will be held from 9 A.M. until service time on Monday.

Mrs. Carter was born April 10, 1957 and passed away October 22, 2020.  Lydia was the matriarch of her family.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren and working in her yard.  She had a passion for shopping.  She will be loved and missed by all those who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Georgie Prestridge; and brother, Jack Russell Caples, Jr.

Mrs. Carter is survived by her husband, Russell Lane Carter; two sons, Jason Lane Carter and Justin DeVance Carter; one brother, Robert Caples and wife, Sandra; one sister, Rhonda Bennett; and five grandchildren, Taylor Lane Carter, Jacob DeVance Carter, Amy Rebecca Carter, Jaci Diane Carter, and Caden Joel Carter.

Pallbearers will be Matthew Allums, Cameron Honeycutt, Tomas Vargas, Brandon Caples, Howard Brown, and William Brown.

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Students, faculty, and staff of Red River High are mourning the death of one of their students.  He died following a shooting late Wednesday afternoon.

Principal J.C. Dickey expressed the school’s shock and sorrow:

“Never in my time of education have I lost a student in this way.  I am completely heart broken and still in shock over the loss of Kier Jackson.  Everyone here at RRHS is grieving and mourning over one of our beloved seniors.  Kier came to us half way through his sophomore year and immediately became a Bulldog.  Kier always had a smile on his face and a joke coming out of his mouth.  This year Kier was set to graduate from Red River High and start the next portion of his life’s journey.  I personally have loved getting to know Kier these last few years. Every day I would look forward to seeing him, talking with him, and loved joking with him.  He had an amazing smile and a personality that was infectious.  

“As we all grieve and mourn this loss, we have set up several counseling spots across campus using our own school counselors and other counselors from other schools in our parish.  We will continue to reach out to our students, faculty, and staff to make sure we provide them the resources they need to get through this terrible tragedy.”

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Senator Louis Bernard is delighted that the Senate has passed a bill to provide extra pay for election commissioners this fall.  Final Senate vote of 37-0 came late morning Thursday.  Bernard said the bill now goes to the Governor.

“I don’t think there is any opposition to the Governor signing it,” said Bernard.  The money for the November 3^rd election is in the CARES Act and funding for December 5^th election will be in the Supplemental Budget the Legislature is working on.

The Journal spoke with Senator Bernard on the chamber floor.  He said the bill started out in the house, introduced by Rep. Beau Beaullieu of New Iberia.  The state House passed the bill on October 13^th.  Bernard told The Journal he managed the bill in the state Senate.  The goal was to get it passed and over to the Governor before the special session ended.

“It’s not a lot of money,” said Bernard.  Commissioners will get an additional $100 for working an election.  The bill states that it goes into effect when there is an emergency situation called by the Governor,  as is the case during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senator Bernard said, “Election commissioners were our unsung heroes of the election process. They have to sit at elections 15 hours, even when turnout is very slow.”

Many commissioners may be already at a health risk during the pandemic.  Bernard said, “They are exposing themselves to more people than they normally would.  This is an expression that we think you are doing a good job and we appreciate it.”

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Woman Church, a new worship experience for ladies in the parish, will hold its first meeting November 10^th at the Shop on Highway 507.  One of the organizers is Dovie Beard.  She said they plan to meet every three months initially.

Speaker for the first session is Sheila Cason Breazeale and the Worship Leader will be Ammer Gayle Whatley.

A light supper will be served beginning at 6:00 pm and worship will follow at 6:30.

The Shop is located at 1942 Hwy 507 north of Coushatta.

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The accomplished Peter Drake is a favorite son of Coushatta, LA who has the distinguished resume’ of being a veteran of the United States Army, a 1954 graduate of Springville High School, the holder of an Associate’s Degree from Trade and Technical College.

His return to his hometown has been favorably marked with nearly twenty years in the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Department and a citizenship marked with service.

As a sitting Council member, he has been an integral part of forward movement marked with spectacular updates to the town’s park including new walking trails and playground equipment along with pavilions for picnicking and family outings.  Additionally, new bathrooms and a closely-supervised ballpark that can be used for schools, families and groups are a part of the improvements recently added.  Lighting, even more playground equipment and barbeque pits are on the way.    He has asserted himself in the complete renovation of the downtown, Front Street area as well as the installation of new sidewalks throughout the City.  Additionally, he is a part of securing a $7,000,000.00 amount for the improvement of the local water system. Another amount of $187,000.00 sewer grant has resulted in an upgrade of the sewerage and drainage works.  Mr. Drake works closely with Mayor Johnny Cox on projects for the betterment of Coushatta!

Another milestone of accomplishment has been the securing of a grant for $123,000.00 for LED lighting throughout the city.  Coushatta is fortunate indeed to have a gentleman of service as a part of its City Council who has elected to again run for a seat on this governing board.  He is ready, willing and able to enhance the brand of our city that we proudly call home.

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This great member of the Coushatta City Council is using this medium to announce her candidacy for re-election. 

She is a person who is committed to making Coushatta a better place to live for all of our residents.  Her energy is boundless and she is persistent in trying to elevate every aspect of our existence here.

Councilwoman Lewis can be counted on for her reliability and her steadfast commitment to duty on the Council.  Working with Mayor Johnny Cox,   she played an assertive role in the elevating of our local park with installation of the walking trails, new sidewalks, new bathrooms, and a ballpark that is very carefully supervised.  Citizens can look forward in the near future to the addition of greater items of playground equipment, better lighting and barbeque pits.   This caring member of the Council has been insistent about the securing of a $7,000,000.00 amount for the water system, a $123,000.00 grant for LED Lighting throughout the city as well as a $187,000.00 grant for the sewerage and drainage issues that have plagued the City.  She has been a very important part of the renovation of our downtown, Front Street area and in trying to take action that brings new jobs into our locale and sidewalks throughout the City.

This service-driven lady has a deep love for the place that she is pleased to call home.  She is very dedicated and is full of energy that transforms into forward movement and progress for the seat of Red River Parish.

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Coach Brian Nash has been a true team-player with the Coushatta Council for a number of years.  Fortunately, he is so committed to the progress of our town that he has offered himself to become a candidate for this position again.  He has been unrelenting in placing Coushatta in a better light locally and beyond.  Councilman Nash  has consistently worked with Mayor Cox on numerous improvements.

One of his strongest interests was in the upgrading of the downtown, Front Street area.  He was an important part of the restoration of the buildings in that area in an effort to increase local revenue.  Additionally, he pressed for the renewal of our park offerings.  He was instrumental in the addition of walking trails, new sidewalks, bathrooms, and a ballpark that is enhanced and well-monitored.  Furthermore, he is anxious to see the proposed lighting and additional playground equipment along with barbeque pits become a reality.

Councilman Nash has become known and well recognized for his being a people’s person and a man who is in touch with the citizens and students in his community.  He involves himself with many activities designed for the uplift of Coushatta and makes himself accessible to the general public.   He, too, was an important spoke in the wheel that resulted in a $7,000,000.00 amount for the water system, a $187,000.00 grant for the sewerage and drainage improvement and a grant for $123,000.00 for LED lighting throughout the City.

Coach Nash was very much a part of having sidewalks installed throughout the City. 

This memorable man is again asking for your vote and support in the upcoming election on November 3, 2020. 

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Service for the people has been a watchword of Coushatta City Councilman Reginald Prealow.  He remains consistently excited about being involved with activities and actions that improve life quality for Coushatta Citizens.  He has maintained an open door policy for the citizens in his district and throughout the City of Coushatta.  He is always ready to hear their problems, concerns and suggestions for the uplift of our locale and work with Mayor Johnny Cox on these matters.

He has earned a rightful position as a Councilman who has played a real significant role in our city’s image being improved.  It includes the improvement of our city’s park— walking trails, new sidewalks, new bathrooms, and a sufficiently supervised ballpark.  Councilman Prealow is anxiously waiting the bringing in of better lighting, more playground equipment and barbeque pits for the community.

Prealow is glad to be a part of the new face of downtown, Front Street Coushatta.  The buildings have been brought up to a new visual level.  This action will serve to bring in more revenue in the main shopping district coming from locals as well as visitors.

This dedicated public servant was an integral part of getting $7,000,000.00 for the water improvement, $123,000.00 for LED Lighting throughout the City and $187,000.00 sewerage and drainage.  He pressed forward for sidewalks throughout the City as well.

Your vote and support will be greatly appreciated for a man who will join with you in mind, heart, spirit and hand in making Coushatta a better place to live for those who reside here now and for the new citizens we hope to have locate here in the future.

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Mrs. Webb is a Coushatta citizen who has the city’s improvements for the residents in mind and at heart.  Furthermore, she is the type of public official who will go the length of the way to elevate the quality of life for every segment of the town.  Her great relationship with the people and community-based organizations in Coushatta have placed her in a pivotal position to know the needs of the people and, thankfully, she has the energy to work toward addressing them.

The town’s people are grateful for her being a part of the restoration and the remodeling of the buildings in the downtown, Front Street section of Coushatta.  She has played a pivotal role in the enhancements to the town’s park including new walking trails, new bathrooms, a monitored ballpark and sidewalks for the use of the whole city.  Councilwoman Webb has joined the governing body in getting $7,000,000.00 for the local water system.  She was not content with just that accomplishment.  She was important in getting $187,000.00 sewer grant to rid the city of sewerage and drainage issues as well.

This outstanding City Councilperson has been very active in community affairs who as a servant of the people and an advocate for those who have been marginalized.  She is a spokesman for her people and is motivated to again run for re-election on this Council where she has served in such a sterling manner.   Mrs. Webb has been consistent in joining hands with Mayor Johnny Cox to make Coushatta a better place for all.

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United Way of Northwest Louisiana is thanking their Pacesetters.  Locally, the Bank of Coushatta is a Pacesetter Partner.

United Way posted, “We want to send a huge thank you to our Pacesetter Partners! Your drive to get the ball rolling this campaign season puts us on track to building a stronger and prosperous community. Your spirit and ambition to LIVE UNITED truly sets the pace for a successful campaign season despite the challenges we faced in this year.”

Here is the complete list of Pacesetter Partners:

AEP SWEPCO, Atmos Energy, Argent Financial, Bank of Coushatta, Brookshire’s, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, CenterPoint Energy, Coldwell Banker, Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, Heard McElroy & Vestal, IBEW Local 329, Progressive Bank, Providence House, Querbes & Nelson, Red River Bank, Shreveport Bossier Rescue Mission, UPS Freight, UPS Freight Forwarding, UPS Shreveport, United Way of Northwest Louisiana, Volunteers for Youth Justice, and Volunteers of America.

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Op-Ed by State Representative Beau Beaullieu

Balancing a budget is something all Louisiana families must do. When funds come in lower than expected, we take the measures necessary to curb our spending and save for the future. But, if this is expected of individuals and families in our state, why shouldn’t our government have to abide by the same rules?

Most Louisianans may not realize that Louisiana’s budget framework keeps government spending levels the same or higher, even during tough economic times like we’re dealing with today. Fortunately, we have an opportunity during the current election to fix this outdated process by voting, “Yes,” for Constitutional Amendment 4.

The way we approach spending now does not take into account how the economy is performing or how much Louisianans are taking home from their jobs. This essentially puts a blindfold over the legislature’s eyes, making it very difficult to save and plan for the future. If we want to be adequately prepared to handle a crisis situation like we’re facing today, we must fix this approach to budgeting.

If you look at the growth of our state budget over the last several years, the problem becomes more obvious. During this time, Louisiana’s general fund has grown by 12 percent, while our state’s population decreased, workers fled to more job-friendly states, and our economy remained flat at best.

It’s clear that the business-as-usual approach to budgeting isn’t cutting it anymore. We can’t afford to continue dealing with one fiscal cliff after another, and our taxpayers can’t afford to continue footing the bill for this antiquated budget process. Voting, “Yes,” on Constitutional Amendment 4 means making our budget process more stable and predictable. It will do this by basing spending limits on indicators that actually impact budgeting, like the growth of our state’s economy.

The benefits of Constitutional Amendment 4 aren’t just limited to a more fiscally responsible Louisiana government. By making budgeting more predictable and reliable, Amendment 4 will also make our state more inviting to job creators.

Entrepreneurs and others seeking business investments in new states always take a close look at the government’s stability. That means that by making our state government more stable, we will encourage job growth that provides a better life and strengthens Louisiana working families.

From fostering better planning for future disasters to encouraging job growth, Amendment 4 is a good government measure that will benefit everyone in our state. I hope you’ll join me in seizing this opportunity by voting, “Yes,” for Amendment 4. Let’s make responsible, stable, and predictable budgeting a reality in Louisiana.

State Representative Beau Beaullieu lives in New Iberia and represents District 48 in the Louisiana House of Representatives.  This article appeared in The Center Square.

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