Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for the week ending January 31, 2021.

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Edith Mae Robbins Foster was born January 18, 1922 in Pelican, Louisiana and went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 28, 2021 at the age 99 years.  She was affectionately known to her family as Mimi.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard David Foster; one son, Stephen Wayne Adams; a sister, Virginia Robbins Foster; and a brother Harvey Robbins.

Mimi is survived by two grandchildren, Lori Ann Barney of Linden, Texas, and Tye Stephen Adams and wife, Amanda J. Adams of Coushatta, Louisiana; three great-grandchildren, Brailee Caroline Vaughan, Tylee Ireland Adams and Brodee Foster Adams of Coushatta, Louisiana and a daughter-in-law, Judy E. Adams of Coushatta, Louisiana; and by many friends.

It was said that Mimi was the Mayor of Crichton because she had lived there the longest.

Mimi saw many changes during her lifetime.  She grew up in a difficult era but she was a hard worker and she survived.  Cooking was her specialty and the family always loved to sit down to one of her meals, especially her chicken and dressing.  During pecan season, if you drove by her house, chances are you would see her out in the yard picking up pecans.  She did this until she became paralyzed in 2013.  Her flowers and yard were always tended and well cared for.

She taught the family many Christian values, morals and principles to live by which have been invaluable through the years.

Mimi was a long-time member of the Wesley Chapel Methodist Church where she had a loving church family that she enjoyed being with.

Private graveside services will be held at Mt. Zion Cemetery with Reverend John Kavanaugh officiating.  Visitation will be held from 6 P.M. until 8 P.M. Sunday, January 31, 2021 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home.

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LANE CLOSURES: US 84 near LA 1 in Red River Parish

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, there will be intermittent lane closures on US 84 at the Union Pacific railroad crossing, just west of the intersection with LA 1, in Red River Parish.

These lane closures are scheduled to take place from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and are necessary to allow railroad crews to make repairs to the track. 

Alternate route: N/A

Restrictions/Permits: N/A

This work will be performed WEATHER PERMITTING.

BRIDGE REPAIR

Also DOTD is working on the bridge over Coushatta Bayou on LA 515.  Detour around via US 71 & LA 514 to get to East Point.  That bridge work was originally scheduled to be wrapped up on Friday, however late Thursday night the barricades were still up on US 71 at LA 515.

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Join us this Saturday for a time of refreshing with Mark Lanier! Safety protocols will be observed and we will also be livestreaming on the church’s fb page!

On his website, Lanier said, “ I look forward to the chance to sing for you. Gospel music has always been a part of my life. My dad had the opportunity to sing bass with this group from Alabama called the Elco Four.”

Lanier added, “What motivates me is seeing God change lives”

Hear Mark Lanier Saturday night beginning at 6:00 pm at Social Springs Baptist Church.

 

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By Molly Seales

Saturday, January 23^rd, was an important day for the 5^th and 6^th grade Lady Rebels. It was a day that many of them had waited on since this time last year, when they came up just short of the championship title. They travelled to Franklin Academy in Winnsboro with one thing on their minds-the big trophy.

The Lady Rebels played in the semifinals against Tensas and defeated the Chiefs with a score of 19-12.  Kaleigh Pickett was high scorer with 8 points.  She also had 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 6 deflections.  Ally Kate Hillman was high rebounder having 8 boards. Hillman also had 2 points, 3 steals, and 1 deflection. Madelyn Chamberlin scored 3 points, had 6 boards, 1 assist, 4 steals, and 5 deflections.  Krista Mancil had 2 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 deflections.  Lexi Mancil had 2 points, 3 boards, 2 steals, and 2 deflections. Alissa Curry rounded out the scoring with 2 points.  She pulled down 5 boards, had 1 steal, and 2 deflections.  Maddie Baxley had 1 board and 1 deflection while Abbie Jowers pulled down 2 boards. 5^th grader Lily McCoy was unable to play Saturday due to illness, but she was an important part of the team this year.

The semifinal victory put them up against #1 ranked Briarfield Academy. Point guard Kaleigh Pickett is only a 5^thgrader, but she played with the poise and confidence of a senior, taking control of the floor and making things happen on the offensive end for her team. From that point on, the Lady Rebels settled in and played their kind of ball, which led them to the victory. When the final buzzer sounded, the score was 16-14, and the Little Lady Rebels were champions. Kaleigh told me, “I left it all out on the court because I wanted that first place trophy.” Kaleigh was high scorer and rebounder in the championship game having 10 points and pulling down 6 boards. Pickett also had 1 steal and 4 deflections.  Krista Mancil had 2 points, 2 boards, 1 steal, and 2 deflections.  Lexi Mancil had 2 points, 3 boards, 1 steal, and 3 deflections.  Madelyn Chamberlin had 3 rebounds, 3 steals, and 6 deflections.  Ally Kate Hillman had 4 rebounds, and 3 deflections. Alissa Curry had 4 boards, 2 steals, and 1 deflection. #5 on the opposing team rounded out the scoring putting 2 points on the board, which was the difference in the game.

It was a priceless moment for head coach Cody Hillman, and his daughter, Ally Kate, a 6^th grader on the team.  Several weeks ago, Ally Kate suffered a knee injury in practice, and it was uncertain until after her MRI if she would even get to finish out the season. After the MRI results came back and she got the okay from her doctor, Ally Kate was back out there fighting for what she wanted – the championship trophy. Coach Cody said, “Talent wins games, but teamwork wins championships.  That saying is perfect to describe this Little Lady Rebels team.  We do have some very good players, but it was the teamwork that led to a 9-3 season, ending with bringing the championship trophy home to Riverdale Academy.  Every single girl on this team contributed something that led to this amazing season, and I wouldn’t trade any of those girls for anything.  My coaching philosophy is to drive home the fundamentals and to play smart.  The girls bought in and worked hard to do just that, and it paid off for them.  One of the amazing things about Riverdale is that it is truly a family.  When the buzzer went off to end the last quarter not one single girl celebrated that victory as an individual.  They ran off that court crying happy tears and we had one huge team hug.  It was such a special moment.”

For Ally Kate, it was a moment she will never forget. She said, “It was such an amazing year. We cried together, we laughed together, and we fought together.  All of the girls on this team are my friends, and we will remember this forever.  It made it even more special since my dad was the coach, and I got to win a championship with him.”

One thing is for sure-the future of Lady Rebel basketball looks very bright!  Congratulations!  We are all so proud of you!

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By Molly Seales

On Monday, January 25, Impact Sports posted on its Facebook page its player of the week saying, “Male Player of the Week goes to Point Guard Ty Jones Junior from Riverdale Academy.  Ty averaged 20.5 points, 4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists with only 2 turnovers across 2 games last week.  The Rebels finished 3^rd in Class A last year and are currently 10-1!  They are ranked #2 in the Coach’s Poll and are looking forward to BLUE SATURDAY.

Congratulations and good luck to you and your team‼!

Ty Jones, known as Bones to many of the people at Riverdale, is a great teammate and leader. He is the son of Tyler Jones and Julie Jones, and his grandparents are Tommy Glen and Millie Jones. He has an older brother Tristan, a younger brother Will, and a younger sister Mary Claire, who all play basketball. It’s a family tradition!

When I asked Bones what he thought about this award he told me, “It’s a pretty cool accomplishment to be Impact Sports player of the week.  It’s nice to have a reminder every now and then that the hard work you’re putting in on the court is paying off.”

I also asked Ty “Bones” what he thought about state coming up.  He said, “I think we have a really good shot this year at winning it all.  We have been putting in the work all year long, and we hope to see it pay off.” 

Coach Ty Hester told me, “Ty is obviously a great player and he does a great job for us. I could go on and on about the specific things he does well with the ball in his hands, but what I appreciate the most about Ty is his competitiveness.” He went on to say, “I know he’s excited about this award, but Ty just wants to win. He approaches every game with a ton of confidence and holds himself to a such a high standard. I think it rubs off on our entire group.”

Ty has been playing the game of basketball since he was old enough to walk and dribble and already received many awards in his basketball career. His most recent awards include the following:

• 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th Grade JV District Championship team
• 7^th and 8^th Grade Class A State Championship team
• 8^th Grade 2^nd Team All District
• 8^th Grade Class A State All-Tournament Team
• 9^th Grade 1^st Team All District
• 10^th Grade 1^st Team All District at St. Mary’s
• In 2020 Made it to Class A Division 4 State Semi Finals at St. Mary’s
• AAU Ball Louisiana Select Team Paul Millsap
• 9^th Grade Washington DC Big Shots Tournament 15 and Under Champs

Ty not only exceeds on the court but also off of it. He maintains an A average and is enrolled in numerus dual enrollment classes.  His leadership extends past any sport he plays; around the school you can see him interacting with the younger students at Riverdale teaching them what it means to be a leader and a Riverdale Rebel.  It is safe to say that from the little guys on campus, teammates, faculty, and all of Riverdale fans, “We are proud of you, and we can’t wait to see where all of your accomplishments take you!”

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The Junior Leaders showed off the new red river parish 4-H shirts last Thursday night at our January meeting.  They also were able to try something new, making edamame wontons!  

If you missed the meeting, don’t forget that the Challenge camp sign up deadline is Feb. 1st.  I’d love to see all of our 7/8th grade 4-Hers there!

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 By Steve Graf, Co-host Tackle Talk Live 

Even though 2020 was one of the worst years on record for obvious reasons, boat dealerships had what many would say was their best year ever. As more people turned to the waterways for their quarantine entertainment, bass boat companies could not keep up with the demand heading into 2021 as they were three months behind. Of course, you’ll also need a motor for that new bass boat and these manufactures are four to five months behind. With all this being said, dealerships will still be selling boats. Even though most boat shows will be canceled for 2021, some dealerships will be doing in-house boat shows and offering great deals. Over the next two weeks, I’m going to give you some advice and some really good insight on how to buy a new bass boat.

Know your needs….Are you fishing big waters like Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend or are you just fishing local cypress tree lakes. This will determine what length of boat you need to consider. For big water lakes, you would prefer nothing less than a 20-to-21-footer. The length really makes a huge difference when crossing the big water lakes in terms of ride, comfort and staying dry. But shorter boats (17 to 18 feet long) make navigating smaller cypress tree lake thickets a lot easier.  

How big a boy are ya……If you’re 6’3” or taller, the one thing you don’t want is your knees banging on the console. Take the time to sit in the boat (or test drive) to make sure you have plenty of leg room. Also take a good look at the seats; you want seats with good padding like Ranger Boats SRS (Soft Ride Seat system).

Storage capacity….I will go ahead and tell you now, it’s like your house, you can never have too much storage capacity. You want room for all your rods & tackle but make sure the rod locker has guide tubes which really helps protect your rods. I also want lighted boxes and rod lockers. This makes it a lot easier to find things early in the morning when you’re on the water before sunrise. But the one thing that is of the utmost importance is that the storage lockers STAY DRY. Make sure the lids have a good tight seal when you open and close them.

Deck space….one thing that I really like is a wide front deck like the Ranger Z Series of boats. This gives you plenty of room to lay several rods on the front deck without stepping on them. I also look for a boat that has at least a 3-inch rail lip because it keeps you from kicking & losing rods over the side. Beware of boats where the deck is flush with the top of the hull.  Also make sure the boat has good rod tie downs on the front deck on both sides.

Dual or single console….I like dual console for several reasons. As a guy that has fished as a co-angler at one time, I really appreciated having that protection in front of me while traveling down the lake in bad weather. It also gives me another storage compartment to put things that I have quick access to. Plus, it also makes for a better-looking boat and can really be an asset when you resell the boat.

Bass boats today are a major purchase and the choices you make now will have a big impact on whether you’ll get a good return when you sell or trade-in this boat. Next week we’ll talk about your motor choices, and accessories. Till next time, don’t forget to set the hook! For great angling tips, tune in every Monday at 12:00 noon to Tackle Talk Live on Facebook or catch us on our You Tube channel.

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Red River 4-H Agent Jacque Fontenot told the Journal, “Lots of events going on in February!  Don’t miss out!  You can still join any meeting even if you haven’t been before!”

The February calendar is below.

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By Curtis R. Joseph, Jr.

In 1954, Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding, published his highly regarded novel, Lord of the Flies.  The story is set against the backdrop of an unspecified war and chronicles the plight of a marooned group of British schoolboys, who must establish a framework of governance to survive on an isolated, remote island in the Pacific Ocean.  Free from adult supervision, the boys initially bask in their freedom; however, the group soon splits into two factions—one seeking to adhere to the discipline and order that had been instilled within them by society, and the other opting to pursue basic instinct and impulse. 

In many respects, the novel is a microcosm of our society.  By that, it examines the conflicting human impulses of civilization on the one hand and the will to power on the other.  Essentially, one group of boys chose to be civilized (i.e., polite, well- mannered and conscientious), but the other group gave vent to their more savage nature.  By today’s meaning, the term “savage” has developed an association that means awesome or fierce.  However, historically, when someone or something was described as being savage, the intent was a derogatory one typically used by someone from “civilized” society. 

In terms of word roots, our modern-day concept of civility comes from the word civilis which, in Latin, means “becoming a citizen”.  Essentially, this concept assumes that there is something about us that requires elevation and, as such, it tends to suggest that earning the status of a “citizen” is necessarily a work in progress. 

To that point, when an immigrant goes through the naturalization process, they are advised of their rights (i.e., voting, serving on a jury, the right to a fair and speedy trial, freedom of expression, freedom to worship how you wish (or, to refrain from worshiping), and the freedom to register for Selective Services to defend the country, to name a few).  They are also advised of their responsibilities (i.e., to support and defend the Constitution, to participate in the democratic process, to respect and obey federal, state and local laws, to pay your taxes, to stay informed on issues that affect your community and your country, and to respect the rights, beliefs and opinions of others). 

Along those same lines, the early Greeks believed that civility was both a private virtue and a public necessity, which functioned to hold the state together.  In other words, civility amounted to respect.  And in addition to the rights associated with citizenship, one became obligated to take on responsibility to the public…responsibility to the whole. 

Interestingly enough, many religions also teach that we are essentially born in need of reformation.  Which begs the age-old question…is mankind, in its natural state, born either “good” or evil”?  I doubt that we will ever get a conclusive answer to that question.  Certainly, we’d be hard pressed to obtain verification one way or the other.  Nevertheless, it goes without saying that our ordered society is dependent upon our ability to coexist.  This can only be accomplished if we treat one another with respect. 

Evidence points to the fact that our civic bonds are becoming more and more strained by an overall decline in civility.  Look no further than the typical day-to-day exchanges between every day, ordinary people.  The ability to disagree without being disagreeable is a lost art.  Disagreements devolve immediately into name calling, followed by threats of violence.  We see this behavior modeled by our so-called leaders and, unfortunately, parroted by our young. 

But there is guidance for us in the Golden Rule—“in everything, do unto others what you would have them do unto you.”  Crystal clear in its simplicity, the Golden Rule is the common thread that runs through most, if not all, cultures and organized religions.  This time-tested maxim sets forth an agreement that assumes a two-way street which places the burden, first, upon us. 

I am reminded of the Saturday morning cartoons that presented the hero at a crossroads, faced with a dilemma.  There he stands, with an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other.  In this scenario, the angel represents civility, and the devil represents civility’s alternative.  We’re faced with such choices all day, every day.  To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, let’s make a habit of yielding to the better angels of our nature.  Our society hangs in the balance.

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The Natchitoches Livestock Club came to Coushatta last Saturday to hold their livestock show.  The club had difficulties finding a facility in Natchitoches.

Here is the report on the show by Natchitoches Parish Livestock Club Reporter Tatum Roberts:

It was a cool, cloudy day in Coushatta at the livestock show barn, but that did not dampen the spirits of the Natchitoches Parish 4-H members who were ready to kick off 2021 and show off their livestock projects.  Organized by Extension Agents, Randall Mallette and Pam Pearce the event featured eight youth showcasing three species of animals:  hogs, goats and beef.  Serving as judge for the day was Dr. Ashley Edwards, Livestock Agent for the Northern Region of Louisiana. 

The morning started with the showmanship competition.  The judge was tasked with selecting the 4-H’er who best handled and presented their animal. 

           Showmanship placings were as follows:

Hogs

Champion:  Cole Johnson

Reserve Champion:  Cooper Johnson

Goats

            *Senior division:  first place – Cooper Johnson

                                         second place – Cole Johnson

                                         third place – Madeline Mitchell

 

            *Intermediate division:  first place – Addison Ivy

                                                   second place – Taylor Allen

 

            Champion:  Cooper Johnson

            Reserve Champion:  Addison Ivy

 

           

            Beef

            *Senior division:  first place – Layton Parks

            *Intermediate division: first place – Tatum Roberts

            *Junior division:  first place – Bayla Procell

 

            Champion:  Bayla Procell

            Reserve Champion:  Tatum Roberts

 

 

Following the showmanship competition, the youth then exhibited each of their animals by species and breed.  According to Mallette, total of 26 animals were shown, representing numerous hours of work and care to get ready for this show.  “It was a great day for our youth to be able to exhibit their projects.  They are preparing for the district show that will be February 5”, said Mallette.  Assisting as ring-steward was Travis Rachal, a member of the Natchitoches 4-H Junior Leaders.

Placings that were awarded are listed below by each participant. 

 

Taylor Allen:

*First place Pygmy Doe, in 3 separate classes

*Champion Pygmy Doe

*Reserve Champion Pygmy Doe

 

 

Addison Ivy:

*First place Full Blood Boer

*Reserve Champion Full Blood Boer

*First place Percentage Boer

*Second place Percentage Boer

*Reserve Champion Percentage Boer

 

 

Cole Johnson:

*First place Market Hog in 2 classes

*Champion Market Hog

*Reserve Champion Market Hog

*Second place Market Goat

 

 

Cooper Johnson:

*Second place Market Hog in 2 classes

*First place Market Goat in 2 classes

*Champion Market Goat

*Reserve Champion Market Goat

 

Madeline Mitchell:

*First place Full Blood Boer

*Champion Full Blood Boer

*First place Percentage Boer

*Champion Percentage Boer

*First place Commercial Doe

*Champion Commercial Doe

*First place Myotonic Doe

*Champion Myotonic Doe

*Supreme Breeding Goat Champion

 

 

Layton Parks:

*First place Commercial Heifer

*Champion Commercial Heifer

*First place Brahman Bull

*Champion Brahman Bull

*First place Hereford Heifer

*Champion Herford Heifer

*First place early junior yearling Brangus heifer

 

 

Bayla Procell:

*First place early summer yearling Brangus heifer

*Reserve Champion Brangus heifer

 

 

Tatum Roberts:

*First place early junior Brangus heifer calf

*Champion Brangus heifer

*Supreme Champion Breeding Heifer

*First place Brangus bull

*Champion Brangus bull

*Supreme Champion Bull

 

The Natchitoches Parish 4-H livestock participants would like to extend a sincere thank you to the Red River Parish Police Jury and Nancy Nettles for the use of the facility and Natchitoches Farm Bureau for the sponsorship. Additionally, thank you to Tractor Supply, Raisin’ Canes and Dairy Queen for the kind donations.

 

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The Furr-H pet club watched Mrs. Lisa groom a poodle named Silver virtually from her groom shop! They also learned about taking care of animals in the winter.

Silver also had his ears painted with animal chalk in 4-h green!!  This club normally meets on the 2nd Monday of each month. You don’t have to own a pet to join. Thank you, Mrs. Lisa and Silver, for our virtual field trip!

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01-17-2021 @ 7:53 pm. Toned out to 1326 Suzanne Street for a kitchen fire that had been extinguished by the homeowner. Arrived on scene and used thermal camera to search for more hot spots. Found large amounts still smoldering in the attic. All fire extinguished.

01-17-2021 @10-07 pm.  Toned out to 3713 hwy 155 for homeowner smelling something burning. Checked home with thermal camera and found nothing.

01-18-2021 @ 8:37 pm. Assisted RREMS on a special detail.

01-18-2021 @ 4:40 pm. Toned out to 170 Bates Road for a grass fire. FD arrived to find a large grass fire that had gotten way out of control. Requested RRSO to contact LSF but RRSO was unable to get in contact. FD was finally able to get fire under control and stopped.

01-18-2021 @ 12:24 pm. Toned out to 186 Brushy Creek Road for a fire in a shed. FD arrived on scene to find a heat lamp shorting out.

01-20-2021 @ 7:05 pm. Toned out to area near 5401 Duke Avenue for an MVA. No extrication needed. FD found low hanging power lines across the road. Power company was called by RRSO.

01-21-2021 @ 5:47 am. Toned out to the intersection of Halbmaier Road and hwy 1 for a single vehicle MVA. No extrication needed.

 

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Looking for 3 ethical, personable, highly-responsible and highly-accountable experienced healthcare supervisors to run OMC clinics in Natchitoches (largest), Leesville, and DeSoto (RHC) under established policies and procedures. Outstanding, energetic, and experienced candidates are encouraged to apply.   Must have a record of successful business management experience.  Salary based on degree of job-related experience and qualifications.  For information or to apply, email info@outpatientmedical.org or call 318-357-2071. EOE.

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From Red River Elementary School Paw Parents:
Just a reminder students will be off on Intercession/winter Break from Monday February 1-12. Kids return to school February 15.

Epic Touch internet service to much of Coushatta was interrupted Thursday afternoon when one of their fiber optic cables was cut.  The person answering their tech support line at the company office said one of those underground boreing machines did the damage.

JirNeicia Ward made the decision it was now or never. And saying now was the time led to her being named as the 63^rd Miss Northwestern – Lady of the Bracelet at Northwestern State University. Ward, a senior computer information systems major from Bossier City, will represent the university at this summer’s Miss Louisiana Pageant in Monroe.

The Lady Bulldogs will host the Lady Gators from Lakeview High tonight at 6:00 pm in the Dawg Pound.  Journal Sports will be on the air a few minutes prior to tip-off.  Here is the link to listen to that game:  http://69.64.65.171:8192/dogs.

Riverdale Academy has added a game to their basketball schedule.  They will play Providence Classical in Bossier on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 6:00 and 7:00.  Here is the revised, revised schedule.

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The Red River Council on Aging will distribute the “Food for Seniors” food boxes this Friday morning.  Distribution will run from 8:00 to 10:00 am at the council office on Front Street.

The Council on Aging distributes the boxes furnished by Catholic Charities.  If you are not currently receiving the food boxes you may sign up or check eligibility by calling 932-5721.

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The new board of the Red River Parishwide Fire Protection District will meet Monday February 1^st at 10:00 am.  They will meet at the fire station on US 71.  The Journal will video stream the meeting live on the Journal’s Facebook page.

There was a standing room only crowd that showed up for a meeting last Monday.  Board member Shawn Beard told The Journal that meeting was postponed to next Monday morning. 

The new fire board will hold regular monthly meetings on the first Monday of each month at the fire station at 10:00 am.

Earlier this month the Red River Parish Police jury voted to remove the old board members.  They also established seven fire districts in the parish and they appointed the new board from residents of the individual districts and set their initial terms of office.

At that special called police jury meeting it was revealed that the fire board members are supposed to serve two year terms, however the last year any members were appointed was 2016.

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By Molly Seales

On Saturday, January 23, the 5^th and 6^th grade Rebel basketball team travelled to Franklin Academy in Winnsboro to play in the championship tournament.  They came in as the #4 team, which set them up for a first-round game against #1 Briarfield. The Briarfield Rebels were every bit as good as their #1 ranking showed.  The Riverdale boys 5^th and 6^th grade team had a good season leading them to play in the semifinal game against Briarfield.  Briarfield dominated each quarter and led by a score of 25-6 after 3 quarters.  However, the Rebels never backed down. We then saw the Rebels come alive and play like they and all the fans know they can. Cannon Breedlove’s shot got hot and we were making a comeback, but unfortunately it was too late to win the game. The final score was 29-20 in favor of Briarfield.

Cannon Breedlove was high scorer with 12 points. He also had 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 6 deflections.  Kaden McNeely put 6 points on the board and had 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals and 3 deflections.  Preston Eaves was high rebounder with 5 boards.  He also had 1 steal, 3 deflections and rounded out the scoring with 2 points.  Jackson Hillman had 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 4 deflections. Hayden Cason had 1 rebound, 2 steals, and 2 deflections.  Jax Herold had 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 2 deflections. Kane Milner had 2 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 deflections.

Head Coach Brandon Hillman told me, “The Riverdale 5/6 grade boys basketball team faced Briarfield in the semifinal game on Saturday. The boys came up short of victory, but they left everything they had to give on the floor that day.  This group of young men is one of the most hardworking, aggressive, and competitive that I’ve ever seen at this age.  They learned what it means to play Riverdale basketball, how to win as a team, and how to lose as a team this year. We will miss Cannon Breedlove, Layken Gates, and Preston Eaves as they move forward to JV next year.  I look forward to coaching Jax Hearold, Jackson Hillman, Kaden McNealy, Kane Milner-Dortlon, and Hayden Cason next year. The future of Riverdale basketball is bright with this group of young men.”

With 5 players coming back next year, this team should be in contention to bring a championship home to Riverdale.  Their future looks bright, and we are very proud of them!

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Here is another scholarship opportunity posted by Red River High:

Attention Class of 2021! The Linda K Hinson Memorial Scholarship is now taking applications. All contact information is listed below. Contact Tina M Horton Thomas with any questions.

 

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Red River’s boys and girls basketball teams traveled to Many for their second district games of the season.  Many dominated and sent the dogs home with two losses.

The Lady Bulldogs fought hard but came out on the short end.  Two Many players scored 20 or more as the Lady Tigers took home the win 72 to 43.

Top scorers for the Ladies were Jriyah Hamilton with 8, Jaedyn French-Solton with 6, and Kaitlyn Antilley with 5.

The Bulldogs opened strong and kept up with a fast Tiger team during the first half.  They were only down 1 point at the half.  But in the third quarter Many poured on the heat and the Bulldogs were unable to keep up.  Final score saw the dogs down by ten at 56-46.

Marcus Brewer turned in outstand performance for the Bulldogs putting 19 points on the scoreboard.  BJ Harris put up 11 and Antron Williams scored 10, but it was not enough to overcome district rival Many Tigers.

Red River has most of this week off.  The Lady Bulldogs will host the Lady Gators from Lakeview on Friday.  There will not be a boys game.  Gate opens at 5:30 and tip-off is at 6:00 pm.  Seating is very limited by COVID-19 restrictions.  All tickets were sold in advance.

Journal Sports will broadcast the girls gave vs Lakeview beginning a few minutes before tip-off.

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Churchgoers rolled up their sleeves and donated Sunday at Martin Baptist Church.  Lifeshare said their goal for the blood drive was surpassed.

Spokesman Philip Maxfield told The Journal they were there from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm.  The goal for the drive was 16 units.  Maxfield said they got 20.  Other recent blood drives in the parish have yielded either goals reached or exceded.

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Starting this Wednesday, January 27 RRCC will resume serving supper prior to our Wednesday night service. We have been certified in Food Handling and all proper COVID precautions will be taken so we can serve each of our members safely.

Please join us Wednesday night for a meal at 6pm followed by small groups for adults, youth and children/nursery at 6:30pm.

 

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By Brad Dison

On April 28, 1956, Reverend Donald P. Schneider, a graduate of Northwestern Lutheran Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, made it his mission to create a new church in North Hollywood, California.  Building a church from scratch, even with the support of the United Lutheran Church, was an enormous task.  Before constructing a dedicated building for worship, Schneider had to build a congregation.  Before building a congregation, Schneider needed a building in which a congregation could gather.  Reverend Schneider’s predicament was reminiscent of the old catch 22 in which you cannot get a credit card unless you have credit, but you need a credit card to establish credit.  Schneider began searching for a place for his potential parishioners to meet.  He needed a local space which was large enough for his congregation to grow.  After a thorough search, Schneider located a company who had a spacious building and agreed to allow him to hold church services.

On September 9, a handful of curiosity-seekers gathered at the temporary church for the first time.  They held Sunday school at 9:30 a.m., followed by a 10:45 a.m. worship service.  At the worship service, Schneider explained his plans for the new church.  The small congregation was enthusiastic.  On the following Sunday, Schneider noticed that there were a few more people in the congregation.  On each subsequent Sunday, the number of people in the congregation grew.             

By December, the congregation had grown from just a handful of parishioners to over seventy.  At the Sunday service held on December 2, the congregation took one more step towards becoming official.  Seventy-one people signed the organizational charter as charter members of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.  With help from the United Lutheran Church, the congregation had purchased four acres of land for the new church site.  At the time the congregation signed the organizational charter, construction workers had already begun leveling the ground in preparation for the church’s building. 

By January of 1957, leveling and grading of the building site was completed.  The congregation formed several new church groups including an adult choir, Luther League for children between the ages of twelve and seventeen, adult instruction classes, and a committee to oversee the church building’s design, construction, and administration.  By September, on the church’s first anniversary, the congregation numbered more than 200 members.

At a ceremony held on February 9, the congregation officially broke ground on the chapel.  Construction on the building was slow because the congregation paid construction costs upfront when funds were available.  When funds ran out, construction stopped.  To speed up construction, the congregation held a banquet and started a fund drive to help pay for constructions costs.  Most people in attendance donated generously.  For over a year, construction started and stopped in a seemingly endless cycle.

In May of 1958, the Prince of Peace congregation had another unfortunate setback.  Workers of the company where the congregation held their temporary worship services went on strike.  The congregation searched unsuccessfully for another suitable place to hold their worship services while the strike was being negotiated.  Construction on the church building had begun, but it was little more than a partially framed building.  The congregation agreed to postpone Sunday school classes until the strike was over.  They were determined not to postpone the worship services, however, and decided to gather in the open-air construction site.  The Mother’s Day service was plagued with a light rain and large gusts of wind.  Although the building site had no roof and the congregation’s clothing soaked up the rain, they were undeterred.  They simply ignored the weather.  Reverend Schneider fumbled only momentarily when a large gust of wind blew his prepared sermon away.  Taking the situation in stride, the congregation chuckled.  With a warm and gentle smile, Reverend Schneider continued his sermon from memory.  The reverend expected the strike and the open-air services to lower attendance.  To his surprise, attendance increased.  Donations to the building fund drive increased as well.  Within weeks, the strike ended and the congregation resumed having Sunday school and worship services inside in their previous venue.  It seemed as though the congregation had passed some sort of divine test.          

At 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 31, 1958, the congregation held a dedication service for the newly completed building.  On the following Sunday morning, September 7, the congregation held its first regularly scheduled Sunday service in the new chapel.  Reverend Schneider had succeeded in his mission of building a church from scratch.    

For almost two years, Reverend Schneider and the congregation of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church had held their worship and Sunday school services in the most unsuspecting of places.  At their last worship service in the temporary venue, Reverend Schneider presented a plaque which bore an inscription of their gratitude to the company for allowing them a place to hold their worship services.  In his sermon, Reverend Schneider said, “This morning we close a chapter on the history of our mission congregation.  We have worshiped here and, through this experience, we have formed many new friends, and God has given to us many new joys and blessings…  We have worshiped in a strange place.  We have seen strange events.  Let us be a strange people of whom others beholding us say ‘See how they love one another!’”  The “strange place” in which the congregation worshiped was the Anheuser-Busch Corporation’s Budweiser Beer tap room and cafeteria.

Sources:

1. Valley Times (North Hollywood, California), August 29, 1956, p.7.
2. Valley News (Van Nuys, California), November 15, 1956, p.36.
3. Valley News (Van Nuys, California), December 6, 1956, p.56.
4. Valley News (Van Nuys, California), January 31, 1957, p.78.
5. Valley Times (North Hollywood, California), September 7, 1957, p.7.
6. Valley Times (North Hollywood, California), February 8, 1958, p.9.
7. Valley News (Van Nuys, California), May 8, 1958, p.93.
8. Valley News (Van Nuys, California), May 22, 1958, p.53.
9. The Van Nuys News (Van Nuys, California), August 28, 1958, p.88.
10. The Los Angeles Times, September 1, 1958, p.67.

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