If you are not registered to vote in the November 3^rd election, you can still register online.  The in person or mail deadline was Monday, but you may go online to geauxvote.com.  Last day to register online is October 13^th.

From the Louisiana Department of Education:  This month, high school seniors will begin checking off one of the to-do’s on their senior checklist – completing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is the application for federal, state and institutional aid and is available on October 1 each year. Today, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) is launching its FAFSA Now Pilot initiative, in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Education, and urging the Class of 2021 to complete their FAFSA early, by February 1, 2021. 

This is National 4-H Week.  Local 4-H members are observing the week with these special days:

Willing to Serve Wednesday,

Throwback Thursday, and

Family Friendly Friday

Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education will offer a beginner line dance class starting Tuesday, Oct. 13. The class will be held on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. in Room 1267 of the Health and Human Performance Building. The fee is $65.

Louisiana Tech University’s Construction Engineering Technology program in the College of Engineering and Science has received a $250,000 gift from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors and the Contractor’s Educational Trust Fund (CETF).  Representatives from the Louisiana Associated General Contractors, the Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board, and local contractors presented the check to Louisiana Tech President Dr. Les Guice at a luncheon Sept. 24. 

 Northwestern State volleyball can circle a date for the start of the 2021 spring season, with the Southland Conference announcement of a league-wide schedule on Monday. The Lady Demons take the court on Feb. 4 at Sam Houston State for the first of 12 Southland Conference matches that make up the first spring volleyball season. NSU’s first home match comes a week later when it hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Feb. 11. 

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Arrest report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for the week ending Sunday, October 4, 2020

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Yesterday was the day for students to bring their Bible to school.  Students at Riverdale Academy participated.

The Principal, Danny Rester lead the way, posing for the photo at the top of this article.  Many students took part, reading at their desks and other places around the school.

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Standing for family values was recognized this week.  The recipient of the recognition is our state representative Gabe Firment.

Firment posted, “I am honored to be recognized as an outstanding family advocate with a 100% pro-family voting record”. The recognition came at the 2020 Louisiana Family Forum Legislative Awards Ceremony.

Firment said, “As your state representative I will ALWAYS stand up for the values important to the people of District 22.”

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Both high school football teams in the parish will play at home tonight.  Red River hosts the Wolverines of Mansfield.  Riverdale is hosting Tensas Academy from St. Joseph, La.

Riverdale comes into the night with four wins and two losses.  Last week they destroyed Union Christian Academy from Farmerville.  It was their first district game and a huge 56 to 0 win.

Red River looked very strong against a bigger team from Bossier High (4-A) in their first scrimmage last Friday.  Red River scored three times and Bossier did not get on the board.  Final was 20-0.

An old rivalry will be re-engaged tonight as the Bulldogs play host to Mansfield.  Red River Athletic Director Norman Picou said all tickets allocated to tonight’s game have been sold out, therefore none are available at the gate.  Also all of the season pass packages have been sold.

Kickoff for Red River is 7:00 pm.  Riverdale kickoff will be at 7:30.

Journal Sports will provide a live video stream of both games on it’s Facebook page.  The games will be archived for later viewing.  Each video stream will begin about 15 minutes before kickoff.  To watch the game: Facebook.com/RedRiverParishJournal/videos.

Fans will be notified by text message about 15 minutes before kickoff that the game is about to begin.  If you would like to get those text message alerts, go to any Journal article and click “Join Text Club” on the menu bar.  Or you can click this link: https://form.jotform.com/63427407805154

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Workers were busy on Thursday getting the new Strother Stadium ready.  The new banner has been hoisted on the back of the press box.  And a Bulldog face is going on the stadium side of the press box.

Inside audio installation is going ahead full steam.  There are microphones, wireless mics and a huge audio amplifier being installed.  And the speakers on the light poles are being put in working order.

Journal Sports was there to make sure cameras, computers and everything else is in place for the live video stream of the game tonight.  Kickoff versus Mansfield is at 7:00 pm.

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The 46th Annual Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival will open its gates on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10-11. Exhibitors will display their wares beneath the gorgeous live oak trees of Melrose Plantation. Artists and crafters will showcase their original paintings, drawings, stained glass, gourmet foods, jewelry, clothing, photography, plants toys, woodworking, pottery and so much more.

The festival is sponsored by the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches (APHN) and all proceeds go directly to the preservation and conservation of Melrose Plantation, a National Historic Landmark.

Masks will be required to be worn at all times on site.

This year, the event has been modified to ensure a safe experience for visitors, vendors, and workers. Hand sanitizing stations will be erected. All vendor booths will be spaced out and the number of people on site will be carefully monitored to ensure social-distancing guidelines are met.

Tours of the plantation home, the “Big House,” will be available, with guides. Tickets for tours of the Big House are $5 and will be available for purchase on the day. Self-guided tours of the grounds and viewing of all the historic buildings are free.

Festival Hours: Saturday, October 10th: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sunday, October 11th: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

To purchase tickets go online to http://www.melroseplantation.org/shop. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for children ages 6-12, and children 5 and under are free!

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Growth in ministry and a second, perhaps a third location is on the horizon for Abbie Lane.  Founder Wayne Spears said, “Abbie Lane Retreat Ministry is being taken to new heights by the Lord for His glory.  Charles and Vanita Gibbs are doing an outstanding job of service and ministry to guest who come to our Coushatta Louisiana location.”  

A new location has been secured in Big Sky Country.  Spears said, “The Lord has provided for us to open an Abbie Lane Montana in the Livingston MT area.  We believe we will be open for business by June 1, 2021. I also have been in search of a possible location in Texas.  We think we may have found something, but it is still in the ‘possibility’ stage.  I am excited about the possibility.  The Lord has chosen to accelerate the ‘enlarging of our tent.’”

Spears said, “I believe our ministry is important because of the great changes taking place in the church today.  Pastors/minsters are under great stress due  to these changes.  Abbie Lane Retreat Ministry is a non-profit organization dedicated to the facilitation of rest and renewal for individuals in vocational ministry.   The ministry focuses on spiritual renewal, proactive self-care, burnout recovery, crisis intervention, and deliverance from spiritual strongholds.  The serene environment and spiritual resources available to Abbie Lane guest are designed to provide the space to drawn near to God.  I urge you to pray for the ministry of Abbie Lane.”

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These are the fire calls the fire department reported for September 30^th.

09-30-2020 @ 2:30 pm. Toned out to 218 Old Hanna Road for a control burn out of control. FD units stayed on scene to continue helping with the control burn.

09-30-2020 @ 9:30 am. Assisted with a control burn at 209 Patton Street.

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The fifth grade class at Riverdale Academy is getting into their geography study. The school posted that their teacher, Mrs. Williamson’s 5th grade class started sharing their Geography landforms during class! They did a great job creating, writing, and presenting each one!!! Great job, 5th grade!

Who among you remembers the silly rhyme that taught us how to spell g-e-o-g-r-a-p-h-y?

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COVID-19 case numbers are down in Red River Parish this week. The good news is reflected in the number of new cases and in the number of cases at the nursing home.

The bad news first.  The parish has recorded another death attributed to COVID-19.  The parish death toll is at 23 this week.

The good news is that the arrow over Red River points down (on the state map).  That means our rate of cases as a percent of tests conducted is dropping.   Roughly 8.4% of tests come back positive, according to figures from the Louisiana Department of Health.

At Green Meadow Haven there were no new cases reported since last week among residents.  There were also no new cases reported among the staff.  Of the 71 cases reported among residents, 59 are listed as recovered.  Among staff members all 33 cases are now listed as recovered.

Some visitation of family is being allowed at Green Meadow Haven.  Call for an appointment and to get information on how staff visits are being carried out.

 

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October public meetings to note.  The Red River Parish Police Jury meets on the first Wednesday, October 7^th.  They begin with committee meetings at 10:00 am and the regular meeting follows.  They meet on the third floor of the Courthouse.

The Red River Parish School Board is scheduled to meet on the second Monday, October 12^th.  That meeting begins at 4:30 at the School Administration Building on Alonzo Street.

Coushatta Town Council meets at 5:30 on the second Tuesday, October 13^th.  They meet at Town Hall on East Carroll Street.

The National Weather Service office in Shreveport said smoke from fires in Northern Colorado & Southern Wyoming will likely make it into the area, resulting in possible hazy skies and a lowered Air Quality Index (AQI). For those sensitive to reduced AQI levels, please monitor this closely before spending too much time outdoors.

Monday is the last day to register to vote in the November 3^rd election.  If you are not registered and wish to do so, go the Registrar of Voters office in the Courthouse.

Early voting began today in some states for the Presidential election.  Early voting in Louisiana will be Friday, October 16^th through Tuesday, October 27^th.

Monday is the scheduled beginning of the drawdown of Grand Bayou.  The drawdown is expected to continue into January.

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