By Molly Seales

During their winter break, Riverdale Academy 9^th grader Shirley Boyd and her younger sister, 8^th grader Alaina Boyd travelled to Baton Rouge to compete in the LSU AgCenter State Livestock Show. The girls began showing on Wednesday, February 16, and had their last show Saturday, February 19. The countless hours they put in with their livestock each day paid off.

In the beef show, Alaina’s Brahman Marshmellow placed 8^th and 6^th in LA breed, Dolly placed 6^th and 4^th in LA breed, and Ash placed 17^th and 12^th in LA breed. In the commercial swine division, Shirley placed 8^th and 3^rd in LA breed and 5^th and 1^st in LA breed. In the barrow division, Shirley placed 4^th and 4^th in LA breed. In the duroc division, Alaina placed 1^st and 1^st in LA breed. In the Hampshire division, Alaina placed 1^st and 1^st in LA class. Alaina was also Grand Champion/Grand Champion LA breed in the Hampshire lightweight division. She was Reserve Grand Champion  and Reserve Grand Champion in LA Hampshire breed.

In the swine showmanship competition, Alaina and Shirley had a chance to show off their relationship with their pigs. In order to do well, 4H members must spend time daily with their animals building trust with them. Alaina placed 5^th in swine showmanship, and Shirley placed 6^th in swine showmanship. These were outstanding places at this level of competition.

Livestock is a family affair at the Boyd/Halbmaier home. Shirley and Alaina’s little sister Adalyn, mom Maressa, and Pops Tony all pitch in to help out, but the girls do most of the hard work themselves. Both Shirley and Alaina maintain the honor roll while taking on the responsibilities associated with raising show animals.

Riverdale Academy added their congratulations to the Boyd sisters.  “Both girls did an excellent job! Alaina placed 5th and Shirley placed 6th in showmanship. The girls placed in most every event they entered. Alaina won Grand Champion in the Hampshire lightweight division. We are proud of you for representing Riverdale so well!

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While many people experience acute sinus infections at some point in their lives, most sinus issues come and go without the need for medical care. However, chronic sinusitis that lasts for several weeks requires a trip to the doctor.

What happens for people with chronic sinusitis is that mucous does not drain the way it should resulting in a myriad of symptoms. There are four sinus cavities: one below each eye in the cheek area near the nose, in between the eyes, in the middle of the head, and one above each eyebrow. When these cavities become inflamed, swollen, or infected, patients can experience the following:

• Stuffy nose
• Pain or swelling in the cheeks, eyes, forehead, jaws, or across the nose
• Thick mucus discharge that tends to be gray or yellowish in color
• Sore throats and coughing caused from the mucous running down the back of the throat
• Bad breath
• Ear pain
• Headaches
• Tooth pain
• Jaw pain

“There can be many causes of chronic sinusitis including a persistent infection, nasal polyps, and other structural issues, so it is important to be seen” explained Dr. Lauren Anderson, Board Certified Otolaryngologist with NRMC Ear, Nose & Throat Associates. “After examining patients and listening to their history with sinus issues, and if needed getting CT of the sinuses or other tests, we can offer treatment options for chronic sinusitis and help people get well.

Some patients are candidates for Balloon Sinuplasty which is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of sinusitis. Using endoscopy, Dr. Anderson places a small catheter into the blocked sinuses and then inflates it which helps reposition the structures in the sinus cavities. Once opened, the sinus drains and functions properly. The entire procedure is done through the nostrils, often eliminating the need for bone or tissue removal or surgery.

“Most patients see results in a very short period of time,” Dr. Anderson noted. “Being able to breathe through their noses is a great outcome. What matters most is that we want to get the sinuses healthy again. My goal is to correct the drainage issues which contribute to chronic infections and inflammation.”

 Dr. Anderson also helps patients with allergy issues which can contribute to bouts of acute sinusitis and other respiratory issues. The most common symptoms include ongoing sneezing, coughs, earaches, and watery eyes. “We treat a lot of people for allergic rhinitis.  Commonly called hay fever, this issue is common especially in the fall and spring months. Grasses, pollens, trees and even flowers can trigger an allergic response, so we help patients understand their allergies and try to help them get some relief,” Dr. Anderson explained.

 For more information, call 318.214.5770

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By Brad Dison

Sam was born in Missouri in 1835, the sixth of seven children.  His father, John, was an attorney and judge in Hannibal during Sam’s childhood.  In 1847, when Sam was 11-years-old, his father died “after a protracted and painful illness,” which was later revealed as pneumonia.  In the following year, Sam quit school and went to work for the Hannibal Journal, a newspaper owned by his older brother Orion.

Beginning in 1859, newspapers reported the discovery of the Comstock Lode, a rich gold and silver ore deposit located in the Virginia mountain range in Virginia city, Nevada.  The Comstock Lode was the first major discovery of silver ore in the United States.  News of the find quickly spread across America and beyond.  It created an excitement reminiscence of the California Gold Rush ten years earlier.  Droves of prospectors flocked to Virginia City to make their fortune.  The population quickly rose from a few hundred and peaked at around 25,000 residents.  Businesses in Virginia City flourished and new businesses opened seemingly overnight with much success.

In March of 1861, during a two-hour Executive session, the Senate confirmed numerous nominations for office including Orion’s nomination as the Secretary of the Nevada Territory.  Orion’s appointment required him to move to Nevada.  Rather than going alone, Orion and Sam decided to move to Nevada together.  As Secretary, Orion would work under Nevada’s governor, James W. Nye, and Sam planned to make his fortune as a prospector in the gold and silver mines.  It would be an adventure.

Sam and Orion gathered their belongings and began the journey to Nevada.  For more than two weeks, Orion and Sam rode in a dusty, bumpy, and swaying Concord stagecoach.  Rather than a hard iron suspension, the Concord stagecoach had an improved suspension system which employed leather straps to produce a swinging motion when the coach was in motion.  Sam later described the ride on the Concord stagecoach as being like “a cradle on wheels.”  Another Concord stagecoach traveler described a “ride [which] will always live in my memory – but not for its beauty spots.”  He and the other passengers were “jammed like sardines on the hard seats.”  When traveling over rough terrain which required the stagecoach to creep along at a snail’s pace, the passengers would get out of the coach and “foot it” for relaxation.   The coachman made frequent stops to exchange horses with fresh ones and the closer they got to Nevada, the more stories they heard about minors becoming wealthy.  They trekked over 1700 miles from the Great Plains, over the Rocky Mountains, through Salt Lake City, and eventually arrived at the boomtown of Virginia City.

Almost immediately, Sam began working to unearth his fortune.  He toiled for months at the backbreaking labor but never found his fortune.  Unlike a lot of prospectors who continued searching in almost a maniacal fashion, Sam was smart enough to know that prospecting was not for him.  He needed a job.  His experience working for the newspaper owned by his brother enabled him to find employment at Virginia City’s Territorial Enterprise newspaper.  Two years later, in 1865, Sam had his first significant success as a writer when he published “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.”  He wrote a book called “Roughing It” based on his experiences in the American West.  Sam is most well known for two books based on his own childhood entitled “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” and “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”  However, we know Sam under a different name.  It was in 1863, in Virginia City’s Territorial Enterprise, the job Sam took when his prospecting career failed, where Samuel Clemens first used his pen name, …Mark Twain.

Sources:

1. Palmyra Weekly Whig (Palmyra, Missouri), April 1, 1847, p.3.
2. The Daily Exchange (Baltimore, Maryland), March 29, 1861, p.3.
3. Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York), March 30, 1876, p.3.
4. Reading Times (Reading, Pennsylvania), January 18, 1884, p.2.

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What kinds of legal problems can I handle myself?

Louisiana courts recognize that sometimes we have legal problems that are small enough that we can handle them ourselves. These are usually heard in Small Claims Courts in City Courts, Justice of the Peace Courts, or sometimes even in District Courts. These cases involve money disputes over amounts under $5,000, or requests that the court order someone to do, or stop doing, something. They can’t be used to resolve issues like bankruptcy, divorce, or guardianship.

Before filing a suit, it is always a good idea to try to resolve the problem without a lawsuit. If talking to the other person doesn’t work, try sending a polite letter explaining what you are unhappy about and what you’d like the other person to do about it. If that doesn’t work, then you may have no choice but to forget about it or file a suit. Louisiana has limits on how long you can wait before filing a suit. To collect damages for an injury, it is one year. For contracts it is up to ten years. The sooner you file the suit, the better, before memories fade and evidence is lost.

The clerk of the court will usually have a fill-in-the-blank form you can complete to explain who you are suing and why or, if you’re the one being sued, a form to explain whether you owe the money, some of the money, or none of it. There will be a fee to file your suit, but if you can’t afford it, you have the right to ask the judge to let you file without paying in advance. This is called filing “in forma pauperis”. Even if the judge agrees, you might have to pay some or all of the court costs when your case is over.

To prepare for your case, you should gather evidence to support your side of the dispute. This could be your testimony or that of an eyewitness. Photographs, contracts, recordings, letters and even email may be good proof that you are entitled to win. Experts like mechanics, electricians and plumbers are also good witnesses. Try to avoid getting drawn into arguments about things that are not key to winning your case.

Legal Aid has lawyers who may be able to help you with a letter to the other person which might avoid having to file suit. They can also provide you with advice on handling your suit and may even represent you in more complicated cases. Legal Aid has experienced lawyers who handle these kinds of questions. Call Cameron Council on Aging at (318) 932-5721 or Legal Aid of North Louisiana, 134 St. Denis Street, at (318) 352-7220 or (800) 960-9109 to find out if you qualify for free legal help.  If you would like to learn more about Louisiana law,  you can find information at LA-Law.org or LouisianaLawHelp.org la.freelegalanswers.org. 

Information provided by the Red River Council on Aging.

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BODY:

Food Service Worker

• Responsible for routine food service tasks in the kitchen, cafeteria, dining room, dish room and special function areas.
• Duties of this position include preparing, serving, and distributing food and may require working in various areas of the department.
• The ideal candidate must possess strong interpersonal and customer skills. Prior food service experience is preferred.

Cook

• Responsible for performing food preparation and production tasks efficiently and accurately while following safe food handling policies, procedures, and recipes.
• Duties of this position include, ensuring portion control, temperature, and appearance of food items is per standard.
• The ideal candidate will have prior cooking experience preferably in an institutional setting with an emphasis on scratch and high quantity cooking.
• The ability to read, write and understand directions and to work both independently and as part of a team is also required.

Requirements:

• Position requires standing, walking, and bending throughout the entire workday
• Ability to lift, stack and maneuver objects that may weigh 30 to 50 pounds.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned by management.

To view and apply to these openings, please visit: apply.jobappnetwork.com/elior?city=Natchitoches&keywordsFilter=&state=Louisiana

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By Molly Seales

On Saturday, February 19, the first-year Riverdale 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grade team travelled to Sterlington Sports Complex to take on PCA in a 3:30 p.m. game. These hard-working boys came away with the first-ever win for Riverdale 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grade baseball team, defeating PCA 11-4. 6^th grader Jackson Hillman got the win on the mound for the Rebels. He went all 3 innings, striking out 8 batters, while walking 3 batters, and allowing only 3 hits.

The Rebels showed great patience at the plate, getting on base with walks and hits. They were also very aggressive on the base path, stealing a total of 23 bases. 6^th grader Jax Hearold had a huge day at the plate, going 2 for 2 with both of his hits being home runs. He had a total of 3 RBIs. Jackson Hillman was 1 for 1 with a single, a walk, and 5 stolen bases. 6^thgrader Hayden Cason was also 1 for 1 with 2 RBIS, a walk, and 4 stolen bases. In the first inning, Karson Milner-Dortlon walked and was driven in by his cousin, Jax’s, homerun. Hillman scored on stolen bases. Carter Breedlove, Hayden Cason, and Kaden McNeely all walked in the 1^st, and all of them stole 3 bases each to score a run. In the 2^nd inning, Sam Murray led off with a walk, followed by Karson Milner-Dortlon with a walk. Both of them stole 3 bases each to score. Jackson Hillman drew a walk and stole 2^nd and 3^rd, and Carter Breedlove drew a walk and stole 2^nd. They were in perfect position for Hayden Cason to drive them home with his single. Jase Johnson led off the 3^rd inning with a walk and then stole 2^nd base. Ayden Moseley also drew a walk.

We are so proud of these boys and how far they have come so far this season. They will travel to the Minden Rec Complex on Saturday, February 26, to play CA at 8:00 a.m. and JCS Black at 11:00. Come out and support your Little Rebels baseball team!

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Donald Roy Dupree

December 10, 1943 to February 20, 2022

Funeral service at 2:00 pm Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at First Baptist Coushatta.

Tommy Gene Hatcher

December 16, 1931 to February 12, 2022

Funeral 2:00 pm Monday, February 23 at Rocket Nettles Chapel.

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Friday is the Fourth Friday Fish Fry at Clara Springs Camp.  Social Springs Baptist Church will be doing the cooking.  Catfish and all the trimmings just $10 per plate.  Serving begins at 5:00 pm.

It’s that time again for the Coushatta Community to rally at the High School and donate blood this coming Thursday! All units collected will help the school’s grant from LifeShare Blood Center. This grant is given as a scholarship to a student who has donated blood and meets the school’s GPA requirements. Please sign up now to donate! Here’s the sign up link:

forms.gle/dWnxgG2WKswLFWW98

Northwestern State reports Sharon Leone has joined the staff at NSU and will serve as development coordinator for the Office of University Advancement. Leone will assist with donor relations, facilitating key tasks and procedures for the entire office of Development and will help with announcements and events in the department.

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Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for the week ending February 20, 2022.

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Wednesday night was Senior Night for the Red River Bulldogs.  There are five members of the team graduating this year. 

Each senior and his family was introduced during a brief celebration ceremony before the game against Loyola.  The graduates are:

#3 Antron Williams.  He lettered two years for the Bulldogs.  Williams will continue school majoring in visual arts for fashion designing.

#11 Zin’Tavious (Trey) Smith.  He lettered four years at Red River.  Smith will attend West Point on a four year football scholarship and he will study mechanical engineering.

#12 Stanley Sibley.  He lettered two years at Red River.  Sibley plans to become a diesel mechanic.

#30 D’Evin McDonald.  He earned his letter for four years.  McDonald said after graduation he planned to go to college, get a degree, and play ball.

#50 Ashanti Cole, Jr.  He lettered two years for the Bulldogs.  Cole said he would attend Grambling State University on a full football scholarship.  He will study biology and pursue a career in pharmacy.

The seniors lead the Bulldogs to a 14-14 season.  They finished 3-3 in district play.  And Red River is headed into the state playoffs with an anticipated home game next week.

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The Rebels and Lady Rebels were eliminated from the MAIS 2A Basketball Tournament on Thursday.  The boys lost to Delta Academy 60-46 and the girls were defeated by Regents of Oxford 55 to 48.  Both of those teams are ranked #1 in the state brackets.

Riverdale’s teams had success in the first round of the tournament on Tuesday.  The Lady Rebels had defeated Shakey Issaquena 53 to 38.  The Rebels had defeated Prentiss Christian 58 to 43.

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Are you worried that the government would take whatever money is left when someone dies? You may even hear that you should put all your belongings into a trust to avoid these taxes. Neither is true.

There are many reasons to see a lawyer about filing the legal papers to transfer property from the person who died to his heirs (called a “succession”). As part of this process the lawyer will be able to determine if any of these taxes are owed. For persons who die after July 1, 2004, there is no inheritance tax in Louisiana. In 2021, there is a federal exemption from estate taxes on the first $11,700,000 in assets. As a result, there is little chance that most people will have to pay any inheritance or estate taxes.

While there are good reasons to create a trust, such as managing money for children who will not have the ability to manage it well, avoiding taxes is not one of them. There are people out there doing seminars and marketing “living trusts” to avoid taxes or succession proceedings, but these do not save taxes, and usually will cost you more in lawyer’s fees to draft, execute and put into effect than your heirs will pay a lawyer to handle your succession.

This is only general information. If you have specific questions or concerns about whether you should establish a trust, open a succession for someone who is deceased, or about inheritance or estate taxes, you should consult a lawyer. Legal Aid has experienced lawyers who handle these kinds of questions. Call Red River Council on Aging at (318) 932-5721 or Legal Aid of North Louisiana, 134 St. Denis Street, at (318) 352-7220 or (800) 960-9109 to find out if you qualify for free legal help.  If you would like to learn more about Louisiana law,  you can find information at LA-Law.org or LouisianaLawHelp.org la.freelegalanswers.org. 

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By Congressman Mike Johnson

Illegal drug overdoses recently became the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, killing more people in this age demographic than car accidents, cancer, and COVID-19.

In Louisiana, opioid deaths increased by 40% from 2020 to 2021, mostly driven by an increase in illicit Fentanyl.

What is Fentanyl?

It is a synthetic opioid that’s 80 to 100 times stronger than Morphine, created with chemicals often shipped from China to Mexico and trafficked by cartels across our southern border.

According to recent testimony from the National Border Patrol Council, Customs and Border Patrol agents are struggling to stop just 5% of all the Fentanyl flooding across our border.

Fentanyl’s potency means the smallest amount—just enough to fit on the tip of a sharpened pencil—is considered a lethal dose. And now it’s fueling one of the worst drug epidemics in American history.

In 2021, there were 100,306 drug overdose deaths reported in the United States. That number is up from 78,056 just a year earlier.

When the federal government identifies a threat to the safety and security of our country, its number one responsibility is to mobilize to help keep Americans safe.

We commenced the Manhattan Project to produce the first nuclear weapons that ended World War II. We initiated Operation Warp Speed to create the tests, treatments, and vaccines that helped mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, the flow of illicit Fentanyl into our country is rapidly becoming the number one threat to the well-being of our communities, and yet, the Biden Administration’s response to date has been outrageously counterproductive:

They have refused to secure our southern border to stop the flow of these drugs. They have failed to prosecute drug offenders and have instead supported progressive D.A.s in their quest to reduce felony offenses to misdemeanors. They have further fueled the drug abuse crisis by actually including in their “American Rescue Plan” a provision to distribute drug paraphernalia at taxpayers’ expense.

Fentanyl deaths are certain to increase unless we act with the same resolve that we have used to attack other, less deadly threats.

To help in the fight against this growing epidemic, I introduced the CEASE Overdose Act in the House of Representatives to permanently classify illicit Fentanyl as a Schedule I narcotic under the federal Controlled Substances Act.

There is no reason in the world why Congress should be required to reauthorize this deadly substance’s temporary Schedule I classification multiple times each year. Our law enforcement agencies need more certainty to aggressively prosecute Fentanyl-related offenses.

My bill will help our law enforcement agencies get control of the crisis that is destroying so many American families and communities. The criminals responsible for this tragedy must be put on notice that we will no longer tolerate their illegal activities.

To help reverse the growing Fentanyl crisis, we need a full-court press on our streets, at our borders, and abroad—and this bill is a critical step in that effort. But it’s just one step.

The Biden Administration needs to work with Republicans immediately to secure our border. Our cities need to be tougher on drug distributors, and all of us need to do the work in our communities to prevent drug abuse rather than accommodate it.

This epidemic of tragic overdoses can end, but only if we work together. Politics must take a back seat when so many countless innocent lives are at stake.

Congressman Johnson represents Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District. He is the Vice-Chairman of the House Republican Conference, a member of the House Judiciary and Armed Services Committees, and a former constitutional law litigator.

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By Steve Graf

All our lives we have heard of things we should “never do,” things like never play with matches, never kiss a girl on the first date, never ride in the back of a pickup truck, never run with a knife, never run at the pool… and the list goes on and on. Our parents took the time to teach us these, and many others, that you should and should not do. Now we did not always follow their teachings, but at least we were told. It was your own fault if you went against these teachings and got hurt. As we all know, it’s human nature to disregard the advice of our parents. It was more fun to be a rebel, no matter what the consequences were.  Bass fishermen are no different, and today we’ll go over a few things you should never do as an angler.

Let’s first start with launching the boat. This can be a circus to watch, as you know, if you’ve spent much time around a boat ramp. You could make some really funny YouTube blooper videos with some of the antics I’ve seen at a boat ramp. But the most important thing to remember…never block the boat ramp while launching your boat. I’ve seen this so many times; an angler backs his boat down to the ramp and then starts to put all of his gear in the boat!  Major no-no!!! Load your boat BEFORE you back it down to the ramp!!!!

Next, always wear your life jacket. This is a must, no matter how much experience you have. Unfortunately, this is something some people ignore. Just like driving a car and wearing your seatbelt, sometimes things happen beyond your control that can result in serious injury or even death.  Even the pro’s, who basically run a boat every day, wear their life jackets all the time. Too many deaths have occurred on our waterways due to people not wearing their life jackets. Today, there are more anglers on the water than ever before, many who are young and inexperienced. Don’t take a chance, put your life jacket on!

On a lighter note, never go fishing without snacks. This is a major no- no as well. Snacks can turn a bad day into a not-so-bad day, especially when the fish aren’t biting. Here are a few items I like to bring every time I hit the water. Number one for me is a turkey sandwich. Now I have a special bread I use for my turkey sandwiches. I really like the Hawaiian Bread sub rolls, along with either a good Hellman’s low-fat mayo or mustard. Most tournaments I’ll bring one for my co-angler and I’ve had several that have said they would like to marry me after they’ve eaten one of these. But I always tell them that I’m already married to the best lady on planet earth…. sorry!!!  If I don’t have any sub rolls, I’ll just take a sandwich bag full of smoked turkey or sliced Honey Baked Ham. But there’s one thing I will always have in the boat…beef jerky. This is a great filler food that will hold you over until you get back to the house.

Obviously, these are just a few of the thing’s anglers should never do. Of the three I’ve listed today, none is more important than wearing your life jacket and yet, there will be someone who will totally ignore what I’ve just written. Next week we’ll look at more things that anglers “should or should never do.” Till then, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

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The Loyola Flyers Wednesday night traveled to Red River for a non-district game.  Red River began in control but lost the momentum and the victory.  Final score Loyola 53 and Red River 45.

The game was a sloppy one for both teams. They had trouble controlling the ball, grabbing a rebound, or keeping possession.  The Bulldogs began strong, got the opening tip, and scored the first basket.  But they had their troubles controlling Loyola.

It wasn’t all roses for the Flyers either.  Some of the same troubles with ball possession and control.  Loyola gave control to Red River early and the Bulldogs stretched the lead to ten at the half.  After the break Loyola slowly gained momentum to lead by 4, 29 to 25 at the end of the third quarter.

Loyola continued to widen the gap in the final period.  Red River came back strong several times, however Loyola’s shooting for three points widened the gap.  They had the momentum.  Their three point shots were hitting.  Free throws fell.  And their drives up the middle also resulted in the points needed to hold off a last quarter Bulldog charge to secure the victory.

Red River will be in the playoffs and should finish the season ranked #11 or #12.  The playoff brackets are expected to be published by LHSAA over the weekend.

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Following updated guidance from the University of Louisiana System, Northwestern State University is eliminating the mask mandate that has been in effect at all university campuses and other educational sites and facilities. The announcement was made by the school on Thursday.

Although the mask requirement will end effectively immediately, students, faculty, staff, and visitors on NSU campuses are still encouraged to wear masks regardless of vaccination status, according to NSU President Dr. Marcus Jones.

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Earlier this week, Governor John Bel Edwards extended Louisiana’s COVID public health emergency order to support Louisiana’s response to the pandemic, but without any remaining required mitigation measures.

The Governor’s Office, the Louisiana Department of Health and the CDC still recommend that all people wear masks when they are indoors in public or in a large outdoor crowd while all areas of the state are considered high transmission areas for the coronavirus.

“While we remain in an Omicron-fueled surge, we are definitely on the down swing. There is a lot of COVID out there in Louisiana, and fortunately we have many more tools available to us now to prevent severe illness and death including safe and effective vaccines, booster doses, therapeutic interventions, and better quality masks. While my order does not include any required mitigation measures, it is very important that people continue to take into account their own personal risk of serious illness if they get COVID, including if they are immunocompromised, have comorbid health conditions or are unvaccinated,” Gov. Edwards said. “I hope we never go back to the kind of strict mitigation measures needed before the vaccines. I also pray each day that more Louisianans will go sleeves up against COVID and get their vaccines and booster doses, because we know these save lives.

“As we move deeper into the Mardi Gras season and with the continued return of big events and gatherings, people should be aware that the CDC recommends that in communities with high transmission rates, currently all 64 of our parishes, people wear masks in public in crowds, especially indoors,” Gov. Edwards said. “If you got your booster dose today, you could have supercharged immunity by Mardi Gras.”

While masks are not required statewide in Louisiana, there are still federal regulations requiring them in health care settings and on transit. In addition, local governments, school districts and businesses may choose to require masks as they see fit, based on the level of COVID in their communities.

The Governor’s current order expires on March 16, 2022, though he may end it before that date. The original COVID public health emergency was signed on March 11, 2020 and has been extended and altered as the COVID situation in Louisiana has changed. The Governor’s office is working with Cabinet officials to determine if allowing the order to expire would hinder Louisiana’s response to COVID.

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By Royal Alexander

In the last two weeks we have seen another clear example of how the Cancel Culture suppresses and silences speech and seeks to destroy those with whom it disagrees.

Joe Rogan, former UFC fighter, actor, and sports commentator, hosts a daily show and podcast entitled The Joe Rogan Experience.  Spotify, an audio streaming platform (i.e., songs, podcasts) hosts the Rogan program and the approximately 11 million people who listen or watch the program daily.  On the show, Rogan invites guests of literally all kinds, from business and industry, entertainment, and all across the political spectrum. Recently, he hosted Dr. Robert Malone, a very experienced, highly esteemed virologist.

As a Doctor of Virology, Dr. Malone has been an integral part of creating the Covid vaccines being used in America.  And, on the Rogan program, Dr. Malone, who invented the mRNA technology in Covid vaccines, had the audacity to question the “mainstream” narrative regarding Covid treatments.  Malone was not responded to on the merits of his informed viewpoint, but was rather shouted down, attacked, and ostracized for these dissenting views, as was Joe Rogan.  This, notwithstanding that the CDC itself has admitted that cloth masks generally don’t work, and vaccines do not prevent transmission as we know from the recent surge of Omicron among the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. time.com/6130704/breakthrough-infections-omicron/. 

As a result of the sharing of this speech and these ideas of Dr. Malone—labeled “disinformation” and “conspiracy theories,” music artist Neil Young demanded his music be removed from Spotify.  A sprinkling of other musicians have now done the same.

My point is this: a highly experienced researcher, scientist and medical doctor, whose specialty lies at the very heart of the debate regarding Covid treatments, has shared a viewpoint (obviously credible and well supported given his profession) that runs counter to the New Revealed Wisdom, a ‘wisdom’ of the experts on the China Virus who have been proven wrong time and time again over these past two years. 

Another recent report from the health and science experts at Johns Hopkins concluded that the destructive shutdown of our economy “didn’t work, should be ‘rejected out of hand’ in the future”.

padailypost.com/2022/02/07/johns-hopkins-study-finds-lockdowns-didnt-work-should-be-rejected-out-of-hand-in-the-future.

Dr. Malone merely expressed an idea, an informed, educated expert opinion which happens to run contrary to the Left’s efforts to ignore the science and to weaponize the China Virus not primarily to achieve better health for American adults and children, but rather as a tool to control the American people.   So those like Neil Young and others who are clearly NOT experts and who are pontificating far afield from any known knowledge base, want him canceled and silenced.  This is the literal madness of the Cancel Culture of Wokism.

(I simply can’t resist reflecting on that timeless Southern Anthem “Sweet Home Alabama” by the rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the lyric—in response to Neil Young insulting the South in a song—“… Well I hope Neil Young will remember a southern man don’t need him around anyhow.”   Well, freedom-seeking men and women wherever they live “don’t need him around anyhow”, either!)

Well, Spotify—after being threatened and browbeaten into pressuring Rogan to retract or apologize for that segment—reversed itself.  After hearing from many Rogan listeners, Spotify decided to allow the airing of these thoughts, opinions, and ideas as well as not wanting to risk the millions of advertising dollars it receives from the Rogan program.  This is a victory of free speech and the free market!  

(And now, unofficial reports are that Rogan’s daytime viewership is surging to new heights precisely because of this controversy. All the while his chief attacker in the MSM, scandal plagued CNN, continues to hemorrhage daytime views, now reporting barely 500,000 daytime views.)

Well informed Americans must be allowed to vote with their dollars in the marketplace of ideas and to receive information from news sources of their choice among the greatest possible variety of sources.

I want to again note that our 1st Amendment prohibits the restriction of speech by our government, but government censorship is not the only kind.  Private sector suppression of speech is just as threatening, chilling, and destructive. This is particularly true where Big Tech platforms become news editors and ‘state actors’ and make common cause with the Deep State and presidential campaigns, such as in the suppression of the New York Post article on the Hunter Biden laptop. foxnews.com/media/big-tech-and-media-suppression-hunter-biden-laptop-story-lingers-year.  

[According to post election surveys, media suppression of news damaging to the Biden campaign regarding the Hunter Biden laptop scandal could well have made the difference in the outcome of the presidential election. About 17 percent of Democrats indicated they would not have voted for Biden had they known the full story on the laptop issue. “Had one of six voters not voted for Biden in the swing states, or voted for Trump instead, the election would have turned out differently.” 

timesfreepress.com/news/opinion/freepress/story/2020/nov/26/cooper-biden-voters/536784/.]

The internet and social media have become the modern-day public fora, a role served by city center squares, public parks, and country fairs 30 years ago, and American principles of freedom should adhere there as well. 

This kind of censorship simply cannot be allowed if our Republic—and the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution—are to endure.  The greatest virtue of free thought and free speech is that all kinds of ideas are thrust into the rough and tumble of the marketplace of ideas where the best idea prevails.  It is this collision of, this testing of, speech and thought in a free and open exchange that produces the best results—and leads the nation to wise and popular policy results on challenging national issues.

In memory of the over 850,000 who have died from the coronavirus, (upi.com/Top_News/US/2022/01/16/United-States-surpasses-850000-COVID-19-deaths-800000-daily cases/2211642348674/) and with more Americans dying under the Biden Administration than the Trump Administration—which was gifted three vaccines by the Trump administration (nypost.com/2022/01/02/with-more-covid-deaths-in-2021-when-does-trump-get-his-apology/ ) we must be vigilant in demanding that the free flow of information in the Public Fora is never suppressed again. 

As many wise Americans have noted, just as freedom is not free, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

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The Red River Parish Schools are seeking teachers in all areas.

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The Red River Fire Department reported two calls this week.

Last Thursday there was a small grass fire on Davis Road.

And at 1:00 am last night Firefighters made a excellent stop on a working structure fire at Red River Estates Apartments.

Everyone is reminded that Red River Parish and all of Louisiana are under an outdoor burn ban.  The order was from the State Fire Marshall and is effective until further notice.

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Members of the Red River Archery Team returned to practice this week after the recent two week school break.  Archery practices Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after school in the Elementary School Gym.

Instructor Doyle Bell put the boys and girls through an hour and half of shooting practice.  He has players ranging in experience from beginners up.  They practiced shooting in flights of five arrows.  They are shooting at a target seven yards away and some of the youngsters shot tight patterns.

Red River Archery has students in 4^th through 12^th grades.  Bell said, “We don’t have enough students to make a team for district in Elementary, Jr. High, or High School so we’ll take our best students to the regionals coming up in March.  They will shoot as individuals.

Soon the targets will move back from seven to ten yards.  And with a bit more practice the students will be shooting from 15 yards, the distance at the regional meet.

“The secret is repetition,” said Bell.  He noted, “This is their first day (Tuesday) back from break and their accuracy will improve a lot in the next few practices.”

Archery requires lots of discipline.  Bell said, “We do everything on whistle command.  They learned the commands and how to perform every step during an introductory five hours of commands, safety, tournament shooting and other instructions.”

On Tuesday, the team gained one student from the Elementary school.  Bell said archery are welcome to join the team at any time.  Just come to a practice.

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Diana Joyce Foster

January 25, 1962 to February 16, 2022

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church.

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Northwestern Theatre and Dance will present “Cinderella,” an original contemporary ballet, on Feb. 24-26 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. 

Tickets are $15 and $12 for senior citizens. NSU, Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts students are admitted free with a current I.D. Those attending are asked to wear a mask in keeping with School of Creative and Performing Arts protocol. The show is directed by Brett Garfinkel and Kirstin Riehl with choreography by Garfinkel, Riehl, Michael Lomeka and Rebecca Morgan.

 

The Red River Parish Library has available to a good home 4 display cases we received when we first moved into the new building but no longer have room for.  We have three glass slant front and one rectangular case.   Price negotiable.  These will be first come first serve but you must pick them up at the library and be able to move them yourself and they are very heavy.  If interested please call the library 932-5614.

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