Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for the week ending Sunday, May 30, 2021.

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As of Thursday mid-morning water service had been restored to residences and businesses that were affected by several breaks in water pipes.  Mayor Johnny Cox said the work was completed overnight and there will be no boil advisory issued.

The Journal noticed that Old Folks Café was closed Thursday.  One of the breaks had occurred in front of that location.

Many areas of Coushatta lost their water on Wednesday.  The mayor said  “People boring for fiber optic installation hit water lines.  One of those was in front of the Old Folks Cafe.”  In all Cox said they have water lines broken in five separate places. 

Mayor Johnny Cox said the repair work went on all night.  Cox said the water interruptions were in the Springville area, along US 71 east of town, and the Bogen Lane area.  These are areas serviced by the Coushatta water system including some areas outside the town limits.

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The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that, effective immediately, US 84 (East Carroll Street) between US 371 and LA 480 in Coushatta, Red River Parish is closed.  This closure is necessary to allow the Town of Coushatta to repair a sewer line that has failed.

DOTD will issue an update when the Town has completed their work, and the roadway has been reopened.

Alternate route: LA 480, US 71, and US 371

Restrictions/Permits: Total road closure at this location. All vehicles must use an alternate route.

This work will be performed WEATHER PERMITTING.

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Red River High is operating on the “Balanced Calendar” so the school year extends to the end of June.  This has opened up summer sports programs.  Both basketball teams, the baseball team and the softball team are all playing.

New Lady Bulldog Basketball Coach Kim Burton has wasted no time getting her team together.  She has scheduled two big play dates and she said more are possible.  The Lady Bulldogs will travel to Centenary College June 7^th for three games.  Red River plays Airline at 9:00 am in the Gold Dome, then they play Northwood in the Fitness Center at Noon, and wrap up the day at 2:00 pm back in the Gold Dome for a game with Mansfield.

Burton has the Lady Bulldogs in the Southwood Camp on June 17^th.  They will play two evening games at Parkway High’s Main Gym.  Red River vs Simsboro is at 7:00 pm and Red River plays Calvary at 8:00 pm.

The Lady Bulldogs Softball team will play two games next Thursday, June 3^rd at Doyline.  Red River plays Doyline at 4:00 pm and they play Lakeside at 5:30 pm.  The following week the softball team will be at Southwood on Wednesday and at Mansfield on Thursday.

The Bulldog Basketball team begins play on Tuesday, June 1st.  Coach Dadrian Harris said they begin at home with a game against Homer at 4:45 pm and vs Lakeview at 6:15 pm.  Also next week they will play Airline and Benton on Thursday.  The games will be played at Bossier High with the Airline game at 4:00 pm and Benton at 5:20.

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By Molly Seales

On the afternoon of Friday, May 14, the Riverdale Academy Class of 2022 held its ring ceremony and they officially became seniors at Riverdale Academy.  There is a tradition that the junior class has its ring ceremony the day after the seniors graduate.  At 1:30 p.m. family and friends gathered in the gym for the ring presentations.

Class of 2022 seniors and their ring presenters were Kaden Cason, who was presented his ring by his grandmother, Lisa Eddy; Sarah Dabbs, who was presented her ring by her parents, Bill and Kym Dabbs; Sidney Free, who was presented her ring by her grandmother Sandra Eddy; Rylee Hodge, who was presented her ring by her sister, Emily Hodge; Tyler Hodgin, who was presented his ring by his mom Lisa and Dwayne Baker; Reagan Huddleston, who was presented his ring by his parents, Matt and Celeste Huddleston; Ty Jones, who was presented his watch by his parents, Julie Jones and Tyler Jones; Kenley Loftin, who was presented her ring by her sister, Ansley Loftin; Caden Long, who was presented his ring by his brother, Braden Long; Jake Messenger, who was presented his necklace by his brother,, Paul Messenger; Chandler Nettles, who was presented his ring by his mom, Heather Nettles; Renee Prosperie, who was presented her ring by her parents, Carey and Donna Prosperie; Levi Shaver, who was presented his ring by his grandmother, Charlotte Shaver; Denver Williams, who was presented his ring by his parents, Rodney and Brandi Williams; and Rylee Kate Woodard, who was presented her ring by her family, Bo, Marie, and Alyssa Woodard.

These 15 seniors are excited about their upcoming year, and the most common answer to, “What do you most look forward to about being a senior?” was getting to leave school early! Congratulations to the RA Class of 2022.  We hope you have an amazing senior year in 2021-2022!

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Jason Anderson made it official on Thursday.  His produce stand is open for the summer.  Anderson said, “Between rain, snow, and ice and a little bit of sunshine, we are finally getting it together!!!  

Anderson introduced his staff.  Emily Hodge and Chloe Nash will be at the produce stand every day.  Trey Scarbrough and Asa Nash are the field crew that will keep the stand stocked with fresh picked fruit and veggies.

Anderson has something new this summer.  He said, “We have a line of beef this year!!   Steaks, roasts, ground beef, and many more cuts. Grown locally from Dan Cason at Cason Plantation Meats.”

Flowers and ferns are available also.  “Everything is coming on,” said Anderson, “just a bit slow this year.”

Anderson’s Produce and plant farm is located between LA 1 and I-49 on LA 174.  Operating hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Saturday.  Call 319-932-1432 for information.

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RRPPS Athletics said, “Congratulations to RRHS Baseball players who made the LBCA All Region Team. Sr. Jaylon Grigg and Jr. Pierce Kellogg.

Grigg is a senior and he was named an All-Region Outfielder.  Kellogg was named a utility player.

The Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association All Region selection is shown below.  Eleven parishes comprise Region 2.  In addition to Red River they are Bienville, Claiborne, Grant, LaSalle, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Union, and Winn.

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By Steve Graf

With more anglers on the water today than in the previous 20 years, one thing has become very apparent. A lot of anglers cannot find their own fish! Now let’s address the main problem…overcrowded lakes. It is insane,  the number of boats on our area lakes and waterways compared to twenty years ago. The recent pandemic is also a major contributor to this issue as well. Boat’s sales soared in 2020 with many people not working and schools being shut down. A big majority of Americans all across the country took to the lakes and outdoors which is a great thing! Nothing bad can come of getting folks, old and young alike, out in the great outdoors. I mean what’s the worst thing that can happen?

Well, let me give you an idea and a few examples. First, overcrowded boat ramps! It amazes me at how seven days a week, you have to wait in line just to launch your boat. Just two short years ago, you could go to any boat ramp Monday thru Thursday and NEVER have to wait to launch or worry how far you’ll have to park your truck and trailer after you launch your boat. Many of today’s lakes, especially Sam Rayburn or sometimes at Toledo Bend, it might be necessary to request an Uber just to get back to the ramp after parking your truck and trailer. Several times this past year I’ve seen people parked almost a mile from the ramp they launched at. It’s insane!

Now that we’re on the water and ready to go fishing, now let’s crank our motor and head to our favorite spot. Oh wow… guess what, after you run 5 miles up the lake dodging jet skiers and pleasure boaters who have not had a boater safety course, you arrive at your favorite spot, and someone is already there.  It’s the same person who saw you yesterday catching fish there. Shocker…but that’s exactly how it is today. There are more people scouting and spying on other anglers like detectives trying to solve a murder mystery. I mean I’ve seen guys using binoculars and watching other anglers at a distance only to wait until they move and then swoop in and mark that location with their electronics so they can return on another day. Tournament anglers are especially targeted and it’s even worse if you have an advertising wrap on your boat. But one thing I’ve done several times just to throw off would be scouts and detectives, is to fake hook sets and I’ve gone as far as to pretend I just caught a fish by leaning over the side of the boat and acting like I’m releasing a fish. It’s quite amusing to watch who moves into the area I just left. I think anyone who has a pair of binoculars in their boat is pathetic.

Next, are what I call “GPS robbers.” These guys are the worst and most unethical anglers on the water. If they see a well-known angler, guide or pro, they will ride up and down the lake looking for these good anglers and will shut down and idle towards the area they are in and hit their GPS button on their electronic units to mark the spot so they can come back later after the angler leaves. While I have never shot anyone before, this is the one thing that I might consider as a consequence for anglers who practice this technique.

Bass fishing is hard enough today with so many anglers competing for a limited number of fishing spots. It just makes an angler mad when you have people on the lake spying on other fishermen and looking to raid their best spots, especially the guides who work very hard to build a reputation for catching fish. This is how they make a living, and it affects their pocketbook when other anglers pull up on their best spots and catch fish. If you are one of those who needs help finding fish, hire a guide and let him show you how to read your electronics so you can find your own fish. It’ll be the best money you ever spent and well worth your time. Till next time, find your own fish and don’t forget to set the hook!

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A new weight room is nearing completion at Riverdale Academy.  Football Coach Jared Smelser said, “The floor is down for the new weight room. Getting closer to getting done. Just waiting for the New racks, weights, and machines to be put in.”

Smelser thanked to the workers and the donors for making the project a reality.  Smelser said, “This will be a huge addition once it is completed.”

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The River Parish School Board is accepting applications for the following position:

Red River Elementary Head Start Teacher.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education or advanced degree in early childhood from an accredited university.

Deadline to submit applications is June 1, 2021, at 12:00 pm. All interested applicants should apply online at http://www.rrbulldogs.com.

For more information, you may contact Nicole Eason at 318-271-2150.

Nicole M. Eason

Red River Parish School Board

Human Resources Department

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In recognizing the incredible work of our hospital and Associates over the last year on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, CHRISTUS Coushatta Health Care Center is celebrating its amazing team with Hospital Week festivities.

CHRISTUS Coushatta Health Care Center has achieved many successes over the last year in fulfilling our commitment to the community to provide access to advanced care for everyone, here in the Coushatta community. Most notably, the CHRISTUS Coushatta family continues to grow with recent additions to OB/GYN and Behavioral Health services provided by new nurse practitioners. Patients now have the most advanced mammogram available-Digital 3D Mammography is available at the clinic. Improvements continue throughout the center, including the newly renovated Outpatient Clinic Waiting Area. The CHRISTUS Coushatta team also administered the COVID-19 vaccine to more than 3,200 individuals in the region helping deliver a dose of hope one shot at a time.

The last year was a very challenging time for health systems across the nation; reflecting on the journey, it is evident the CHRISTUS Coushatta team remained focused on fulfilling the CHRISTUS mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ in Coushatta and Red River Parish. Patient care by the numbers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 9, 2020-February 26, 2021) is proof our Associates worked tirelessly on every front, answering the call to provide compassionate care:

• Nearly 5,000 visits to the CHRISTUS Coushatta Emergency Room 
• Over 750Mammograms performed
• Nearly 13,000visits to the CHRISTUS Coushatta Clinic
• Over 2,000 visits to the CHRISTUS Coushatta Dental Clinic
• More than 3,400 patient hospital days

“On behalf of our leadership team, I would like to express our gratitude to each of our outstanding Associates for all they do every day for our ministry and the patients we are privileged to serve. We have made it through some unprecedented times; it’s our turn as leaders to serve this team as a token of our appreciation, said Brandon Hillman, Administrator, CHRISTUS Coushatta Health Care Center.

Hospital Week is celebrated daily with themes and special treats including donuts, Sugar Walk Popcorn, Streetcar Sno Balls, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Associate BINGO games for great prizes daily. Friday festivities culminate with a Crawfish Boil. 

“This is our chance to celebrate the work that we get to do for this community and the people that serve this community and this facility so well,” said Kay Sour, Administrative Director of Nursing, CHRISTUS Coushatta Health Care Center.

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The 2021 Women’s Conference “Explosion” is this weekend at Elizabeth Full Gospel Baptist Church.  First Lady Carma D. Logan is the host with Pastor Jacqueline Mason and First Lady Christy Burton presenting sessions Saturday and Sunday.  Check the church social media pages for details.

Northwestern State University’s nurse anesthesia program received full accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs.  The program is approved for five years, the maximum accreditation period for a new program, and was also approved to offer distance education didactic courses. 

The pool at the Northwestern State University Recreation Complex will open June 1.  Hours of operation will be 2-7 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Daily rates are $8 for adults (16 years and up) and $5 for children (15 years and below).  All children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

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Many areas of Coushatta are without water Wednesday evening.  Crews are working to repair breaks in at least five places.

Mayor Johnny Cox said the repair work would go on all night “until all of the leaks are found.”  Cox says the water interruptions are in the Springville area, along US 71 east of town, and the Bogen Lane area.  These are areas serviced by the Coushatta water system including some areas outside the town limits.

The cause, said Cox, “People boring for fiber optic installation hit water lines.  One of those was in front of the Old Folks Cafe.”  In all Cox said they have water lines broken in five separate places.  Cox said they are getting some people to come in from Shreveport to assist with locating the leaks.

As of about 10:00 pm, Cox said, “We are still finding other leaks.  The town crews are working all night and into the morning to restore water service.”

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Following months of improvement in COVID-19 hospitalizations and with nearly three million vaccine doses administered, Gov. John Bel Edwards on Tuesday signed an updated public health emergency order that removes all remaining business capacity restrictions and the vast majority of masking requirements. This week, Louisiana hit its lowest level of COVID-19 hospitalizations since the very early days of the pandemic.

“For nearly 15 months, Louisiana has operated under necessary public health restrictions designed to save lives by slowing the spread of COVID-19,” Gov. Edwards said. “Thanks to the wide availability of vaccines and the 1.4 million Louisianans who already have gone sleeves up and after hitting a new low in hospitalizations, the order I have signed today contains the fewest state-mandated restrictions ever.”  The Governor’s announcement came during a live news conference carried by social media.

Masks will be required in educational settings until the end of the current academic semester at which time state and local oversight boards will set their own masking policies.

Under order of the State Health Officer, masks continue to be required in healthcare settings, which is a federal mandate. In addition, masks are required on public transportation and in jails and prisons, as per federal guidance.

Local governments and businesses may choose to have stronger restrictions than the state does and the Governor encourages Louisianans to respect all local or business mandates, especially when it comes to masking.

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Northwestern State University Awarded 964 degrees to 935 graduates during Spring 2021 commencement ceremonies. Five of them were from Red River parish.

Local grads and their majors were:

Erikka Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of General Studies.

Jameson Campbell, Abby Hubbard, Elizabeth Ross, and Jasmine Taylor graduated with Bachelor of Science.

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If you suffered damage from recent storms, it is time to report it.  Governor John Bel Edwards said to go online and fill out the forms.

Edwards said, “Homeowners & renters should report damage from last week’s severe weather go to damage.la.gov.”  More than 1,500 reports have been submitted & this information will help officials collect data to move forward with the recovery process.

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The last Riverdale Fishing Tournament for the 2020-2021 season took place last weekend. 

Nicki Caskey said, “What a great way to end the fishing season!! We have an amazing group of kids and it starts with the parents! We had lots of food, fishing, and fellowship.”

Caskey said, “We ended the weekend with an amazing church service at the park. I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing this service was! And they think they are just fishing…Fishers of Men in training!”

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The 1970 graduating class of Coushatta High held its 50 year class reunion on April 24, 2021, at the event center at Grand Bayou Resort. The reunion was originally scheduled for 2020 and postponed twice due to COVID.

Thirty-nine classmates graduated in 1970.  Seventeen attended the reunion in person and four others enjoyed taking part by Zoom meeting. Coushatta residents who attended with their spouses were William (Buster) Bailey and wife Fay, Jim Bethard and wife Florence, Joy Cox Cannon and husband Jerry, Lynette Kelone Giddings and husband Red, David McCoy and wife Barbara, and Faerie Lafield Sledge and husband Sammy.  Janet Bierden Rogers from Coushatta also attended.

Out of state residents enjoying the event were Deborah Ettredge Wells and husband Wayne from Franklin, TN,  and Henry McCurdy and wife Deana from Houston, TX. Shreveport residents attending were Donna Morgan Branch, and Claude Bundrick and wife Bethia.

Also present were Becky Robinson Trammel from Haughton, Ellen Gaddis Howell from Natchitoches, and Pat Ingram Brumley from Converse. Ginger Coleman Barker and husband Len came from Greenwood, LA.  

St. Francisville and Baton Rouge resident, Susan Stephens Lambert and husband Pal attended as well as   Greg Bolan from Roswell, GA, and Jupiter, FL.

Taking part by Zoom meeting were Kenny Anderson from Shreveport, Claire Lester Bausch from Frisco, TX, Julie Nelson (Dooley) from Milton, FL, and Becky Leysath Gourlay from Burns Lake, British Columbia, Canada, who coordinated the Zoom meeting.

Graduates who did not attend were Helen Barbo, Carol Bohannon Miciotto, Edgar Cason, Terry Cox, Danny Hester, Pam Jones Prothro, Linda Ebey Layfield, Dora Lester Herrington, Kendall Martin, Vernon Morgan, Jeanette Price Dupree, John Roberson, Eddie Smith, Kathy Tomme Young, and Sue Whatley Humphreys.

Five deceased class members were honored at the event with a “memorial” table. They were Cecil Almond, William Almond, Billy Joe Gray, Leslie Rachall, and Joe Tune.  The class was pleased to have William Almond’s wife Becky from Coushatta and their daughter Laura Almond from Shreveport at the reunion, too.  Fay Bailey who attended is the sister of Joe Tune.

Matt Huddleston (Hudd’s Grill) catered the event, serving fried fish and shrimp with all the trimmings. The class holds reunions every 10 years.

Article and Photo credit Faerie Sledge: 

Back row (men): William (Buster) Bailey, Claude Bundrick, Greg Bolan, Jim Bethard, David McCoy, and Henry McCurdy

Middle row (ladies):  Ellen Gaddis Howell, Lynette Kelone Giddings, Pat Ingram Brumley, Donna Morgan Branch, Becky Robinson Trammel, Ginger Coleman Barker, Deborah Ettredge Wells, and Susan Stephens Lambert

Front row: Joy Cox Cannon, Janet Bierden Rogers, Faerie Lafield Sledge

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A highlight of any student’s high school career is Prom.  Red River High held their prom last Friday night at Grand Bayou.  Faculty and staff put up the decorations.  Students wore their finest outfits to the memorable evening.

There was a special treat this year.  Valet parking was offered by the Prom Valet Crew.  Pictured are Principal JC Dickey, Assistant Principal Norman Picou and retired teacher and coach Earl Martin. They said, “We are a full service crew.  Drive up get out and we even bring it back to you when you are ready to leave.”

The King and Queen of the 2021 prom were introduced.  They are Prom King Joseph Steele and Queen Ariuna Johnson of the class 2021.

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By Brad Dison

Blowing Off Steam is an oft-used expression to describe someone who is doing or saying something to relieve built-up feelings or energy.  Sometimes the person exerts a sudden act of verbal or physical violence.  This expression has its roots with steam engines.  Steam engines use boilers to boil water.  The boiling water produces steam pressure, which, when channeled properly, can propel vehicles including pre-diesel train locomotives and water vessels.  When functioning properly, safety valves on the engines release or blow off steam to keep the boilers operating at a safe pressure.  When not functioning properly, the boilers are unable to release the built-up steam and the pressure increases until the boilers rupture which creates a massive explosion.

In the mid-1850s, steamboats which travelled along the Mississippi River were seen by many as romantic.  Children and teenagers idolized the crew of these large vessels, especially the pilots.  Steamboats were at the height of technology and offered thrilling adventure with a twinge of danger.  Like so many other young men, Henry dreamed of working on a steamboat and eventually becoming a steamboat pilot.  Henry’s older brother was a crewman on the sidewheeler steamboat Pennsylvania, and, in the first week of June of 1858, got Henry a job on the same vessel as a “Mud Clerk.”  This was an entry level position with no salary but would become a paid position once the crewman proved himself.  On June 5, 1858, Henry’s brother and the Pennsylvania’s pilot got into an altercation which resulted in Henry’s brother’s resignation.  Following his brother’s departure, Henry knew he would have to work even harder to impress the pilot.     

On Sunday, June 9, 1858, the Pennsylvania left New Orleans, Louisiana bound for St. Louis, Missouri.  It was Henry’s first trip as a member of a steamboat crew.  Although the work was grueling, Henry was ecstatic.  On June 13th, four days into the trip, the Pennsylvania neared Ship Island, about sixty miles south of Memphis, Tennessee.  The crew noticed that the steamboat’s boiler was building up pressure to a dangerous level.  The safety valves had failed.  The crew tried to manually open pressure release valves, but the pressure continued to climb.  At about 6:00 a.m., the Pennsylvania’s boiler exploded.  Within an instant, red-hot metal shrapnel, wood splinters, and scalding hot water violently shot in every direction.

A survivor of the explosion wrote, “The boilers seemed to be heaved upward and forward parting the cabin at the gangway and rendering the upper works of the boat from that point forward a complete wreck.  When the steam and smoke had cleared up from the wreck, there indeed was a mournful spectacle to be seen by the few survivors.  The boilers and smokestacks were twisted together like hungry serpents, locking in their hot embrace scores of human beings, dead and dying.  Some were killed instantly; others were buried beneath the rubbish to await the advance of the flames which as yet slumbered in the hold.”

Survivors scrambled to aid the wounded.  The pilot and some surviving crew members commandeered a local flatboat and, after nearly half an hour, returned to the drifting wreck.  The crew loaded survivors and victims onto the flatboat. Using buckets, survivors had nearly extinguished all of the small fires in the forward part of the Pennsylvania when a much larger fire suddenly erupted in the middle of the ship.  The heat from the fire was so intense that the crew on the flatboat had to abandon their rescue operation.  Survivors, many of whom were wearing cork life vests while others grabbed anything which would float, jumped into the swift current of the Mississippi River.  The fire aboard the Pennsylvania burned the steamboat down to the waterline.

The current carried the flatboat and the floating survivors down the Mississippi River.  Up ahead was Ship Island, which was mostly underwater due to high rainfall.  The crew aimed the flatboat toward the island.  Survivors who had enough energy swam to the island.  The burning steamboat, survivors who were too weak to swim, and others who were less fortunate, coasted down the river past the island.

Henry had survived the initial blast, but his body was scalded by the boiling water from the steamboat’s boilers.  Survivors loaded Henry onto the flatboat and transferred him to Ship Island.  Henry’s brother stayed with him in the hospital, but there was little hope for his recovery.  On June 21, 1858, eight days after the explosion, Henry died from his wounds.  He was just nineteen years old.

Henry’s brother regretted getting Henry the position on the Pennsylvania for the rest of his life.  He wrote, “My poor Henry — my darling, my pride, my glory, my all, will have finished his blameless career, and the light of my life will have gone out in utter darkness. O, God! This is hard to bear … ” 

Henry’s brother continued to work on steamboats until the Civil War crippled the shipping industry in the south.  Following the war, Henry’s brother entered into an entirely different career field.  Had Henry’s brother not argued with the ship’s pilot, he too would have been on the steamboat when it exploded, and he might not have lived to write the literary classics “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”.  Henry’s brother was Sam Clemens, who is known around the world as Mark Twain.

Sources:

1. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), June 14, 1858, p.1.
2. The Greenville Journal (Greenville, Ohio), June 23, 1858, p.2.
3. WorldHistoryProject.org. “Henry Clemens (Mark Twain’s Brother) Dies While Working On Steamboat.” Accessed May 18, 2021. worldhistoryproject.org/1858/6/21/henry-clemens-mark-twains-brother-dies-while-working-on-steamboat.
4. Julia Keller, “Death of Sibling Crucial Moment,” Chicago Tribune, December 29, 2005, chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-12-29-0512280422-story.html.
5. Find A Grave. “Henry Clemens.” Accessed May 18, 2021. findagrave.com/memorial/21751/henry-clemens.

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Ladies Loving Christ of Red River Parish has issued an invitation to the June edition of Woman Church.  The date is June 8^th beginning at 6:00 pm.

Dovie Neal Beard is the organizer of Woman Church.  She distributed a flyer stating that the Speaker for the evening is Jodi Weatherall-Johnston.  The Worship Leader will be Becky Birdwell Kniffin.

Beard’s invitation states, “This is an invitation for women from all over the community to come together and worship with us in spirit and truth. 

Dinner will be provided.  And the LifeShare bus will be there accepting blood donations beginning at 6:00 pm.

Woman Church will be held at The Shop, 1942 Hwy 507.

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Eighth Grade students at Red River Junior High have begun the transition from middle school to high school.  They were given information folders this week to begin scheduling their classes for next year.

Each folder contains a Welcome Letter,  Freshman High School Transition Pamphlet, Louisiana High School Diploma Options Pamphlet, and Individual Graduation Plan (IGP). The school asked students and parents to thoroughly review all of this information with your child. The Individual Graduation Plan and Freshman High School Transition Pamphlet MUST be signed by both the parent and student and returned to school by Thursday, May 27th for a 9th grade schedule to be created for your child.

Please ensure that all signature forms are signed and returned so that electives of choice and schedules can be created. If you have any questions about your child’s transition into high school, please contact us at 318-932-5265.

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