By Molly Seales

Last Friday evening Riverdale Academy hosted its annual alumni reception, football game, and homecoming court presentation. Court presentations began at 6:00 p.m. The court was driven around the track and then was escorted onto the field by a football player, who met the girls’ fathers at midfield for them to escort them off the field.

Freshman maid was Ayla Elizabeth Knotts. She is the daughter of Steven and Pamela Knotts. She was escorted by #2 Ashton Almond and her dad, Steven. Sophomore maid was Kacie Michelle Harper. She is the daughter of Robert and JoLynn Harper. She was escorted by #9 James Wagoner and her dad, Robert. Junior maid was Madalyn Grace Whittington. She is the daughter of Kristel Campbell and Cody Whittington. She was escorted by #6 Landen Barrett and her dad, Cody. Senior maid was Emily Anne Kirkland. She is the daughter of Jason and Carol Kirkland and Leslie and Patrick Murray. She was escorted by #1 Ben Almond, her dad Jason, and her bonus dad Patrick. Football sweetheart was Emma Nell Clemons. She is the daughter of Charles and Casey Clemons. She was escorted by #7 Ryder Huddleston and her dad, Charles.

This year’s football bearer was Joedy Wayne Wiggins, Jr. Joedy is the son of Joedy and Lauren Wiggins and is a 1^stgrader at Riverdale. Crown bearer was Jillian Ruth Shaver. Jillian is the daughter of Scotty and Kayla Shaver and is also a 1^st grader at Riverdale.

This year the high school student body chose senior Jessie Kate Cobb as Riverdale Academy’s homecoming queen. Jessie Kate is the daughter of Rodney and Mary Vay Cobb. She was escorted by #99 Hayden Hillman and her dad, Rodney. Jessie Kate was crowned by Riverdale’s 2002 homecoming queen, Lauren Adams Hillman.

At halftime, students in grades pre-k through 8^th, along with the JV and varsity cheerleaders, presented a fabulous spooky show that was a crowd pleaser. On Saturday night, the homecoming dance was hosted by the Riverdale Academy Student Council. Thanks to everyone who helped make homecoming week 2022 so special and successful!

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By Christy Suggs

The 2022 Homecoming at RR High School was a huge success! It started off with 2 parking lots full of alumni tailgating. Classes ending in “2” were the honored guest, but many former students came to celebrate. Both Coushatta Choctaws and Red River Bulldogs were well represented. Honored alumni were treated to refreshments made by the RRHS Prostart Culinary classes in the newly constructed Junior High Gym.

Before the game, the Blue Diamonds and Flag line performed before a packed crowd.  The RR JROTC presented the colors and the RRHS Band performed The Star Spangled Banner on the field for the first time this season. Throughout the game, class years were called out and graduates stood to be honored. The RR Dawgs hit the field with fireworks in a spectacular entrance.

At halftime, the 2022 Homecoming Court was presented. Representing the Freshman class was Kinya Gray daughter of Roxie Gray and Kintel Clark. Sophomore Maid was Caitlyn Jones, daughter of Jeffrey Jones, Jr and Crystal Jones. Bryan Danzy represented the Junior class. She is the daughter of Brett and Patience Danzy. Senior maids included Jaedynn French-Solton, daughter of Jocelyn French-Lewis and Jessie Solton, Jr.; Jolene Jones, daughter of Jodie and Phillip Sweeney; and Mynijah Williams, daughter of Chineasha Williams, Marco Lewis and Christopher Calhoune.

Voted Band Sweetheart was Senior Anniston Villapando, daughter of Michael Villapando and Ashley Grappe. Representing ROTC as their sweetheart was Shalayjah Gollum, daughter of Crisa Gillum and Reginald Newton. Ikaria Reeves proudly carried the honor of Football Sweetheart. She is the Daughter of Iversha Reeves.

Senior Leonard Mosley, son of Lanarda and Wanda Mosley, was crowned Homecoming King. Leonard plans to attend college and major in media and broadcasting. This season he has been the voice of the JV games.

Lastly the Queen was announced and crowned. 2022 Homecoming Queen Charity Ashton is the daughter of Sharon Newton and Derrick Ashton. Her future plan is to study pediatrics and neonatology to become a neonatologist, treating newborns.

The evening concluded with the Bulldogs beating Jonesboro-Hodge. And Saturday night the High students were treated to the first Homecoming dance in over three years.

Photo credit:  Jessica Korn Photography

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The Red River Parish Library is planning a Halloween event on October 31^st.  Come to the Library for a Spooky Good Time promises their promotional flyer.

The Halloween party will be Halloween night from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at the Library.  “Have a safe and happy Halloween and come join us for some spooky books.  Come and join us for some treats and a costume contest,” said their promotional flyer.

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By Steve Graf

In the tournament bass fishing world, there are certain bodies of water that anglers both hate and love. It’s kind of like the Dallas Cowboys, you either love them or hate them, and there’s not much in between. The mighty Red River falls into the hate category for a lot of anglers, but from my perspective, I love it!

Here’s why… if there’s one thing the Red River does for a bass tournament, it levels the playing field. It’s truly a body of water that can really frustrate anglers due to its unpredictability. Bass on the Red is like a magic act, they can literally disappear. The fish you find today cannot be counted on for tomorrow since the bait fish have a tendency to move. When the bait fish relocate, the bass go with them.  Another issue with the river is its reputation for burning anglers who try to go back to the same fish two days in a row. Professional angler, Chris Lane, proved this theory to be correct when he was asked what pattern he used to win the 42nd Annual Bassmaster Classic on the Red River in 2012. Chris said the key to his victory was to not fish the same areas two days in a row. He discovered this during his practice time preparing for this event.

When anglers are asked the best way to catch bass on the Red, they’ll make reference to what bass fishermen call “junk fishing.” This means that anglers will use a plethora of baits from spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and topwater to soft plastics all in one day just to fill their limit for weigh-in. This is what makes the Red such a unique body of water and tends to level the playing field for all anglers.        

So why do so many tournament anglers hate the mighty Red River? For starters, it has been known to be very hard on a boat. Too many lower units on outboard engines have been destroyed due to guys running in areas they should have been idling through. Rock jetties and sand bars, which at times can hide just under the water’s surface can create a navigation nightmare. The river is a constant changing entity as the water can fluctuate several feet depending on the time of year. This will create and rearrange sandbars all up and down the river system. But the number one problem is when boaters cut corners too close to the ends of rock jetties. It’s just like any other body of water that you’re not familiar with… if you’re not sure what lies beneath the surface….idle! So many anglers have boat damage because they don’t take the time to learn where you can and cannot run. The golden rule for boaters coming to the Red River…stay between the buoys on the main river and when entering the backwater cuts off the main river, idle through the first time so you can see how deep or shallow the cut really is.

With back-to-back historic floods in 2015 & 2016, the Red River underwent complete flushing of its ecosystem. This flood devastated the river and destroyed all vegetation that bass need to thrive. Before the floods, it was common to see five fish limits tipping the scales in the 16-to-20-pound range. But since the flood, the weights have really dropped off with anglers weighing anywhere from 10 to 13 pounds as evident with the recent B.A.S.S. Central Open event. The recovery has taken longer than anyone expected, but it appears better days are ahead as bass habitat is returning to the backwater areas that held so many bass.

As of October 1, 2021, thanks to the Red River Waterway Commission, the river is on the rebound as they have implemented a $100,000 bass restocking program for all pools 1 – 5. Pools one and two get 10%, pool 3 gets 20%, pool 4 gets 25% and pool 5 gets 35%. Each pool delivery will consist of 20% F1 hybrids and 80% pure Florida bass. That’s 72,000 pure Florida’s and 18,000 F1 hybrid largemouth bass being stocked all up and down the Red River.

Over the years, Red River has been very good to me with a few wins, a couple of runners-up and Top 10 finishes. For me, it really is like the Dallas Cowboys….I love the river! Every angler has what they call their “home water,” and for me, it’s the Red River! I hope you’ve enjoyed this angler’s perspective on the love-hate relationship that anglers have for this awesome body of water. Understand this, fishing the Red or any river system is a different animal and requires a different approach than fishing a lake. But the best advice for anyone fishing the Red River, keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to try different baits. Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and don’t forget to wear your sunscreen!

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Friday morning is Story Time at the Red River Parish Library.  Each Friday the Children’s Librarian Kala Sims reads from popular children’s books.  Then the kids get a chance to work a craft project related to the story.

Last Friday the story was Stone Soup.  It was about working together and sharing to benefit everyone.  It seems no one in the village could give the travelers any food, so the travelers proposed making a pot of soup with just a stone.

They suggested it would be better if there was a carrot added, and one resident had a carrot to contribute.  So it went, one by one each ingredient was suggested.  And one by one someone had a little to contribute.  Finally, the soup was ready, but it didn’t taste like stone, it tasted like carrots, beans, corn, and all those little ingredients contributed by the people in the visit.

What adventure is in store at Story Time this morning?  Bring the kids to the Library at 10:00 am and find out.

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A leading Propane provider in the USA, Pinnacle delivers Propane gas for homes and businesses. The company proudly serves its valued customers in Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The company’s focus is on customer experience and satisfaction, innovation, and safety, which forms the foundation of its success.

However, at the end of the day, it’s all about the customers!

Marcus Collins has been a customer for the past three years. 

“Pinnacle Propane is very personal to deal with, always willing to help, and the secretary is always very nice and knowledgeable,” he shared.

The most important thing for Marcus is that when he needs propane, a Pinnacle truck is on its way within 3-5 days.

Dwaine Sampey is an old Southern customer and a former employee. The reason he stayed with Pinnacle when they bought out Southern is because he likes the customer care and the people that work there.

“I’ve been a customer for about 4 years with no complaints!,” Dwaine shared. “Anita at the Natchitoches office is #1. When I need a fill up just a quick call and my order is placed! I also like the service and usage hints that are mailed to us every so often!”

Pinnacle offers 3 Price Protection Plans:

Propane Budget Pay Fixed-Price Agreement- A consistent monthly payment at an affordable price, making it easier to budget.

Lock-in Residential Agreement- Pay a small deposit in advance to lock in your special rate.

Pre-Buy Residential Agreement- Purchase 12 months of propane in advance and receive an exclusive price per gallon.

The Pinnacle office in Natchitoches, located at 147 Blanchard Rd., is open Monday-Friday from 8 am – 5 pm (closed 12-1 for lunch). Order online without the hassle of calling your service center or paying a bill safely and easily through pinnaclepropane.com. Customers are always welcome to call their local office to handle business or stop in for a visit. Call the Natchitoches office at 318-354-4434. When the office isn’t open, customers can leave a voicemail over the weekend and receive a return call.

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Advertising Salesperson wanted.  Immediate opening for a person to market local businesses using the Journal.  Digital news is the platform a rapidly increasing number of people look to for their information.   Your future success could be marketing your clients products and services on the Journal’s digital platforms.

The successful candidate should possess:

-a friendly smile and helpful attitude

-knowledge of the area and local businesses

-reliable transportation

-be a self-starter

-desire to earn a quality salary

This is a commissioned sales position.  The Journal offers high commissions coupled with bonuses and incentives based upon performance.

Send your resume and contact information by email to:  RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com

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The Red River Parish Journal has experienced tremendous growth in the past year.  Therefore, an Assistant Publisher is needed to assist the gathering and production of local news items.

This is an immediate opening for a newly created position.  Salary and benefits to be negotiated.

Skills the successful candidate should possess include:

Covering local news events and boiling down the important aspects of the event into a news article.

Photographic skills to portray the event.

Research skills to supplement coverage of an event, including preparation prior to an interview, meeting, etc.

Journalistic ethics including being able to distinguish between the facts of an event and the “spin” of the event. 

Acute observation and note taking to assure accuracy of reporting, especially quotations from individuals involved in the story.

The ability to ask relevant questions and keep the subject of an interview on track.

And appreciate hard work and diligence in the gathering, writing, and disseminating local news.

Interested candidates should submit a brief resume, photo, and all contact information.  Submissions via email should be addressed to:  RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com

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Get Ready for A Great TappedTober

The Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Foundation is working behind the scenes to finalize all the great plans for this year’s 4th Annual TappedTober Craft Beer and Wine Festival. Get ready for the best TappedTober yet! The event takes place this Saturday, October 15th in downtown Natchitoches along the famous Cane River! – Beer & wine tasting, college football, kids zone, mechanical bull, fireworks and music.

We are saddened to find out that Tracy Lawrence has an unexpected illness that has canceled all of his performances this weekend.

“Natchitoches! Due to unforeseen circumstances, I am unable to perform at this incredible fundraiser for the NRMC Cancer Center. Please continue to support their efforts and all they do.” -Tracy Lawrence
But never fear we have scheduled Tracy for the 2023 TappedTober.

Now the great news. In addition to the amazing talents of Nashville breakout artist HunterGirl and Bossier’s own David Daniels, we’ve locked in a legendary singer-songwriter and performer. Grammy award-winning Pam Tillis is coming with her six Number One hits, seventeen Top Ten Hits, three County Music Association awards (including Female Vocalist of the Year), platinum albums, Grand Ole Opry membership, and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer.

Gates open at Noon with college football on the big screen, beer and wine tasting from 2:00 to 5:00 pm and music begins at 5:00 pm, so don’t be late.

We are deeply grateful to our Title Sponsor – Cane River Waterway Commission, our Entertainment Sponsor – Cunningham Financial Group and Ameriprise Financial and VIP Experience Sponsor – Vaughn Chevrolet of Natchitoches and appreciate all of their generous support.

We also want to welcome our VIPs and encourage them to take full advantage of the Ultimate VIP Experience, sponsored by. VIP guests receive access to our private pavilion fully catered with your own TVs, premier eating, and premium VIP “Front Row” stage access.

We greatly appreciate all our sponsors and ticket holders and their support. Proceeds from the event will help fund the addition of the PET scanner at the NRMC Cancer Center. Cancer cells show up as bright spots on PET scans due to their high metabolic activity. This type of imaging is an important tool for detecting cancer and can also be used by doctors to assess whether or not a particular cancer has spread. Thank you to everyone for helping make this technology a reality here in Natchitoches.

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Fredrick T. Taylor

July 20, 1981 to October 2, 2022

Saturday Service October 15, 2022 at 11:00 am. Freedom Of Worship Coushatta.

Joanne Bedsole Warren

July 16, 1936 to October 10, 2022

View full obituary here:

https://redriverparishjournal.com/2022/10/11/joanne-bedsole-warren/

The Red River Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. The obituary will be included in the emails sent to subscribers and to social media.  Contact your funeral provider or RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above with no link to the obituary are FREE of charge.)

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Support your local football team tonight.  Red River, fresh off a win at homecoming last week, travels to Lakeview tonight.  And number one ranked Riverdale Academy makes the long trek to south Mississippi to play Wilkinson County Christian Academy.  The Journal will have results early Saturday morning.

Red River Junior High noted both of their teams had a big night this week beating football powerhouse Haynesville. 7th grade won 16-0 and 8th grade won 24-6. They finished the year 6-0 in 7th grade and 6-1 in 8th grade.

The Junior High Lady Bulldogs Softball team took the win this week beating Simsboro 8-6.  They made a triple play for the W. The mascot was out in full force cheering everyone on.

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Several members of the Legislature and this area’s member of the BESE Board along with local officials met with School Superintendent Alison Strong last Thursday for a tour of the new vocational facilities, the sports complex and the almost finished new administration building.  Strong told the Red River Parish School Board on Monday about the visit.

Strong told the gathering that the higher test scores the schools in the parish have received in recent years are a credit to the balanced calendar and the hard work by the staff and students.  She tied that in with the multiple improvements in classroom facilities at the schools.

Senator Robert Mills from District 36 told the Journal, “It is good getting the community to support schools.  We celebrate successes and this will definitely generate greater success in the future.”

District 35 Senator Barry Milligan told the Journal, “With vo-tech training kids are job ready before they walk out of high school.  The school is producing professional people before graduation.”

Red River High  commented, “As Red River keeps going and growing our partnerships are expanding. We appreciate the investments these Louisiana Dignitaries have taken in Red River Parish Schools. Our endeavor is to become a parish of excellence.”

High School Principal JC Dickey said, “We had some very important and amazing guest come out today to Red River High and we are so honored to show what our Parish has to offer.”

Those in attendance included Senator Robert Mills, BESE Member Michael Melerine, Rev. Dr. Mayor Johnny Cox, State Representative Alan Seabaugh, Representative of Attorney General Jeff Landry, Laura Seabaugh, Senator Barry Milligan, Coushatta Chief of Police Kevin Stafford, and Red River Parish School Board President Susan Taylor.

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Buy Molly Seales

Homecoming fans saw an exciting game with the Southwest Louisiana Knights last Friday.  Riverdale pulled off the win.  It was a great spectator’s game and was down to the wire, but the Rebels managed to come away with a 28-20 homecoming win.

Prior to the game, an Alumni reception was held at 5:30 pm followed by court presentation at 6:00 pm and the kickoff at 7:00 o’clock. Their opponent for the evening was a very good SWLA Knights from the Lake Charles area.

The Rebels had 307 total offensive yards with 4 touchdowns. Quarterback Ryder Huddleston had a fabulous game on offense and defense. He was 3 for 6 in passing for 43 yards with a touchdown pass. Kyle Guillory was on the other end of Huddleston’s touchdown pass for a 35 yard score. Ben Almond had 2 receptions for 16 yards. Almond also had a punt return for 41 yards. Most of the Rebel offense came on rushing yards. Huddleston had 17 carries for 122 yards and 3 touchdowns. Guillory had 14 carries for 114 yards, and Almond had 5 carries for 28 yards.

The defense worked hard on their side to hold the Knights to just 3 touchdowns. Hayden Hillman had 3 tackles, including a TFL and 2 assists. Ashton Almond had 4.5 tackles, including 2 TFL, an assist, and .5 sack. Huddleston was in on that sack for .5, along with 1.5 tackles and 1 PBU. Landen Barrett had a tackle, an assist, and a sack, while Guillory had a tackle and 2 assists. Kaidyn Williams and 2 tackles and 2 PBU, while Aston Hester had a tackle and an assist. Ben Almond had 2 PBU and an interception, and Jace Wilhite had a tackle, a PBU, and an interception.

The Rebels will travel to Woodville, MS, Friday to take on WCCA for their final district game. A win would secure 1^stplace in district for the Rebels. Good luck and safe travels to our Riverdale Rebels!

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The Red River Parish Journal issued a “Thank You” statement to their readers in appreciation of them making the Journal the top local news source again for 2022.  Figures released October 1, 2022 reveal the Journal has a greater circulation in the parish than any other local media.

The Journal outperforms the other local news outlet by greater than two-to-one.  The Journal also has a greater readership in the parish than outside news outlets that cover occasional stories from Red River.

Journal Publisher John Brewer said, “I want to thank you.  When the Journal debuted in 2017 I had hoped that a hundred or so people would enjoy the local news coverage provided.  Boy was I off on that projection!”

The Journal is seeking to increase its local staff and to bring you more of the news, sports and events happening in Red River.  Brewer said, “I am looking for an Assistant Publisher to help beef up local news gathering and reporting.  I am also looking for a Salesperson to assist local businesses market their businesses to the Journal’s large readership.”

Keep enjoying the Journal.  We’ll continue to earn your trust as Red River Parish’s source for local news.

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These are the results of the Red River Parish Fair Livestock Show from September 29th and October 1st.:

Best of Show Rabbits: Xander Loftin

Champion Broilers: Addi Delaney

Beef Champions:  Grand Champion Beef Showman: Madelyn Chamberlin, Reserve Champion Beef Showman: Alaina Boyd, Grand Champion Brahman Bull: Brooklyn Giddings, Grand Champion Brahman Heifer: Madelyn Chamberlin, Reserve Champion Brahman Heifer: Brooklyn Giddings

Swine Champions:  Grand Champion Swine Showman: Shirley Boyd, Reserve Champion Swine Showman: Alaina Boyd, Grand Champion Market Hog: Shirley Boyd, Reserve Champion Market Hog: Alaina Boyd, Grand Champion Commercial Gilt: Katelyn Allbright

Goat Champions:  Grand Champion Goat Showman: Brylee Halbmaier, Reserve Champion Goat Showman: Grant Halbmaier, Grand Champion Market Goat: Brylee Halbmaier, Reserve Champion Market Goat: Brylee Halbmaier

Sheep Champions:  Grand Champion Sheep Showman: Madison Chamberlin, Grand Champion Market Lamb: Madison Chamberlin, Reserve Champion Market Lamb: Madison Chamberlin

Thanks to Jacque Fontenot, Red River 4-H Agent for contributing to this report.

Click on the link below to view a gallery of all winners provided by Red River 4-H.

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By Teddy Allen

Dr. James Andrews brings quite a resume to Shreveport Thursday night when the internationally known sports surgeon returns to his home state to educate and inform concerning the development and protection of young athletes, an issue near and dear to his football-playing, pole-vaulting, ligament-repairing heart.  

The one-hour community forum, free and open to the public, begins at 5:30 p.m. at BHP Billiton YMCA, 3455 Knight Street in Shreveport. 

The event is hosted jointly by YMCA Northwest Louisiana (a continuation of its community lecture series) and Ochsner LSU Health; earlier this year, Ochsner Health announced an exclusive five-year partnership with Andrews and the Andrews Institute he co-founded to form the Ochsner Andrews Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute.  

This won’t be a one-and-done appearance by Andrews, 80 and a proud son of Claiborne Parish and Homer. 

“The thing I’ll stress most is we have to try to prevent injuries in youth sports,” said Andrews, a vigorous proponent of young athletes playing more than only one sport. “Injuries in youth sports have increased 10-fold since 2000. One of the things I’m most passionate about is getting the message out about injury patterns and what we can do to prevent that. We’ll try to take that message all over the state through Ochsner. I’ve been to all their facilities and I’ll be coming back periodically.”  

Good thing, because this is a subject right in the good doctor’s wheelhouse. Because before he became a certified and trained doctor and surgeon dedicated to injury prevention, education and research in orthopedic and sports medicine … 

before he became one of the most well-known orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists in the world … 

before he operated on top-shelf athletes such as John Smoltz, Drew Brees, Jack Nicklaus, Michael Jordan and Bo Jackson …  

before he became team doctor for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Tampa Bay Rays, Auburn University Tigers and Washington Redskins … 

before he became a Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee in 2008 as the recipient of the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award …  

before he was honored with his own bobblehead doll at a Pensacola Blue Wahoos minor league game last summer (I know, right?!) …  

Before all that, he was other things.  

Like a Homer High School Iron Man. 

He and his Pelican teammates captured the imagination of the state in the fall of 1957 when Homer High finished 11-2-1 and state AA runners-up — despite fielding just 18 players. The storied Iron Men. Six of those players went to LSU and played sports other than football, including Andrews, an SEC champion pole vaulter. 

Like his close friend and C.E. Byrd High grad Dr. Billy Bundrick, now retired but for more than 40 years the area’s renowned sports medicine doctor and surgeon — Louisiana Tech’s training room and new softball stadium are named in honor of the former Bulldog football team captain — Andrews knew sports up close. 

“He’s one of the best orthopedic sports medicine doctors ever to come out of Louisiana,” Andrews said of Bundrick. “He was a couple of years ahead of me, and when he put on any sports medicine conference, I was there. He was taking care of Tech when he could barely get over there to do it because of the demand for him from his patients and local teams.  

“He knew how athletes thought, how football players thought,” Andrews said. “That gave us one-upmanship about being a team physician because we were so directly involved in athletics.” 

“Plus,” Bundrick said, “James was like I was: we were both just eaten up with it.” 

They do love it. 

“It’s what we were put on Earth to do,” Bundrick said.  

So, concerning your children, it’s not a waste of time to listen to nearly 100 years of celebrated sports medicine practice talking when both Andrews and Bundrick, Dr. A and Dr. B, warn of the serious issues confronting young athletes. 

“We (parents and coaches) have to start paying better attention,” Bundrick said.  

Andrews’ goal through Ochsner is to preach the S.T.O.P/Sports Trauma and Overuse Prevention program and to stress the need for the state to adopt sports injury accreditation programs for youth coaches. 

“We’re going to get our athletic trainers around here up to date about what we’re doing,” Andrews said. “Trainers are our first responders when it comes to athletic injuries. We’ll have programs for players and coaches and parents to attend. That’s the main message: we’re going to learn how to keep from getting hurt at a young age.” 

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu 

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The most recent winner of $100 in the Journal’s High School Football Pickers contest is Tyler Jones of Coushatta.  He got the outcome of 9 out of 10 games correct.

Easy $100!

More money for the current week’s winner, $100 available.  Here is the LINK to the sign-up form.  Deadline is 4:00 pm Friday.  So, get Picking!

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By Christy Suggs

Friday night the RR Bulldogs hit the turf looking for their first district win against Jonesboro-Hodge in front of a packed Homecoming crowd.

Bulldogs started their first drive moving nowhere causing them to punt. J-Hodge was also forced to punt on their opening drive. Teams were evenly  matched with neither team scoring in the first quarter.

Second quarter started with J-Hodge having to punt to the Bulldogs. After 5 plays the Bulldogs opened up scoring with a fullback dive from Senior Trenton Grigg. Senior Kicker Miguel Allen kicked in the PAT. RR 7- JH 0 8:39 2nd quarter.

Well backed up in their own half of the field, the Bulldogs would force a fumble that would be recovered by Jacob Kellogg, being tackled at J-Hodges16 yard line. On the next play the Dawgs handed the ball off to Senior Jyrel Jones for a 16 yard touchdown. 14-0 at the halftime.

The court was presented, and Senior Running back Leonard Mosely was crowned Homecoming King. 

Jonesboro-Hodge started the second half off with the ball capping off their opening drive with a touchdown and a 2 point conversion. RR 14- JH 8 7:10 3rd quarter. The Bulldogs bounced right back with a 13 yd run by Leonard Mosely resulting in a touchdown. RR 21-8 JH 4:18 3rd quarter. Dawgs defense forced J-Hodge to punt giving the Dawgs the ball on J-H’s 45 yard line. The bulldogs score a few plays later; Mon’traevon Smith made the touchdown bringing the score to RR 28- JH 8 11:54 4th quarter. J-Hodge scores on their next drive making the score 28-14 and just a few plays later the Bulldogs cause a safety, RR 28-JH16.  During a field goal attempt by the Bulldogs the ball was blocked. J-Hodge recovered the football, running it back for a touchdown, but a stopped 2 point conversion. The score was RR 28-JH 22 with 2:41 to go in the 4th. Red River using good time management and slowly moves down field to run the clock out. Final Score 28-22. Record 2-4 (1-0) The Bulldogs travel to Campti to play the Lakeview Gators Friday night for the 2nd district game. 

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There will be an organizational meeting Thursday night for people interested in forming a local Kiwanis club.  The Natchitoches Kiwanis Club is sponsoring the effort and Coushatta native and former President of Kiwanis International, Nettles Brown and others are in town trying to round-up support for the new club.

Brown spoke to the Red River Parish School Board on Monday.  He described Kiwanis as a global organization with a focus on children.  Brown said, “I was a student in this community years ago and there were great parents who gave of themselves.  We’ll try to go back and instill that in all of our kids and in all of our schools.”

Several of the Kiwanis programs for children were mentioned.  The one getting the most attention from school board members is Terrific Kids.  Brown explained, “Terrific Kids will recognize one student in every classroom that has just been a good kid.  They behave, are respectable, the things you would expect a student to do to be a good student.” And Brown added the program in the Natchitoches schools is a great motivator to other children to become a terrific kid as well.  “It is a great self-motivated program, a peer group thing,” added Brown.

Superintendent Alison Strong will be the first member of the Kiwanis club here.  She said, “I want to be member number one!”  Other board members signaled similar support.

The organizational meeting will be Thursday night at 6:00 pm.  It will be held at First United Methodist Church on Front Street in Coushatta.

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By Royal Alexander

In what sane world does a nation kill its own domestic energy industry—and national security—while at the same time it sells its emergency reserves to its enemies and then begs hostile actors and enemies of the U.S. to increase their oil production to fill this gap?

This past week—with the Biden Administration begging them not to—Saudi Arabia and its allies in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) voted to cut their oil production by 2 million barrels a day.  These nations want higher prices on the global oil market and, as everyone knows—including the Climate Change Religionists in the Biden Administration—when you reduce the supply of a product, the price increases where demand is constant or increasing.

Unsurprisingly, oil prices have been rising since the announcement of the OPEC production cuts and those cuts will—once again—drive up the price of gas for American families already struggling with 40-year high Biden-inflation.

This is all just too stupid for words.

Let’s look back.

In Pres. Trump’s last month in office, Jan. 2021, America was producing more oil than it was consuming for the first time in 50 years and was exporting energy to the European Union.  The Trump Administration had made America energy independent, meaning we not only were providing for our own national energy needs but, in fact, had become a net exporter of energy to other nations who are also vulnerable to Russian President Vladimir Putin through their dependence on Russian oil.

However, under the Biden Administration we’ve gone from energy independence back to dependence and are now reduced to begging Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, OPEC and perhaps even our archenemy, Iran, for oil. 

Why? 

Mostly to satisfy the green energy delusions of the Climate Change Religionists.  It’s an embarrassing and untenable position for the world’s only superpower to be in.

As the Wall Street Journal previously observed, “in the year since the Biden Administration froze new drilling leases on 26% of federal land and more than a third of the nation’s resources in productivity, the U.S. has been falling further from energy independence, putting national security at risk. (WSJ, Harold Hamm, 3-13-22).

The fundamental question remains: knowing as we do that energy security is national security, why would our government ever choose to be dependent on—and therefore vulnerable to—foreign nations who hate us for our energy needs?

Additionally, let’s not forget that we are also now selling our emergency oil capacity from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to other nations including China.

Obviously, the point of having a national energy reserve is to support our country if an energy shortfall arises.  That’s why we should be protecting our national stockpile and not selling our strategic crude reserves to the Chinese Communist Party.  Otherwise, the reserve will be depleted when America is faced with an energy emergency.  However, after six months of the Biden Administration’s misusing the emergency reserves in the SPR, our nation’s emergency oil reserve is at a 40-year low.

As U.S. Senator John Kennedy has stated “America’s strategic petroleum reserve protects our country during national emergencies.  Selling off American oil to countries that hate us undermines the security that the oil reserve is supposed to deliver …”

In short, the fastest and easiest way to provide hope to millions of struggling Americans and drive the domestic energy market up is for President Biden to announce tomorrow that we are going to re-invigorate the U.S. oil and gas industry.   This includes repealing all so-called “green” regulations prohibiting the production and development of, and investment in, American energy.

We are not going to be able to be free of fossil fuels for decades if not generations.  Renewable energy sources can’t come anywhere near meeting America’s energy needs right now.  In the meantime, the self-inflicted harm the Green leftists are doing to our country is increasing the leverage over us of Russia, China, and Iran, making us vulnerable and compromised.

This governmental malpractice and policy insanity must end now. 

Again, in what sane world does a nation kill its own domestic energy industry—and national security—while at the same time it sells its emergency reserves to its enemies and then begs hostile actors and enemies of the U.S. to increase their oil production to fill this gap?

I believe in the Congressional Elections on November 8, Louisianians and all Americans will make their objections to this insanity heard loud and clear.

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Join us on October 15^th and 16^th at Melrose Fall Festival located on the grounds at historic Melrose on the Cane.  Melrose Fall Festival will host over 50 vendors who will be selling handcrafted items. You’ll find original artwork, candles, jams, jewelry, seasonal home décor, and more – it’s the perfect way to kick start your holiday shopping! There will also be food vendors, an arts and crafts table for kids, a photo backdrop, and home tours. (Tours are not included in the price of admission).   

Pre-purchase your tickets at Eventbrite.com or MelroseOnTheCane.com/festivals.  

October 15 (9am-5pm) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/melrose-fall-festival-tickets-373327842627

October 16 (10am-3pm) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/melrose-fall-festival-tickets-373353659847 

Sponsored by the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission. 

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It’s Official! TappedTober is back for 2022 presented by the Cane River Waterway Commission! Clear your calendars for Saturday October 15th as we once again rock the Natchitoches Riverfront Stage. This annual event is known for its family-friendly environment, top-notch entertainment, and ever-expanding beer and wine tasting selections, without missing a second of everyone’s favorite fall activity, football, on the gigantic riverfront screen. Headlining this year’s musical lineup is country legend, Tracy Lawrence, brought to you by Cunningham Insurance and Ameriprise! Visit our website at http://www.thetappedtober.com or find us on Facebook @Tappedtober for the latest information.

Proceeds from this event will support the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Foundation & the NRMC Cancer Center in their efforts to improve access to healthcare in our community!

The ticket link is below.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tappedtober-craft-beer-wine-festival-2022-featuring-tracy-lawrence-tickets-353999160017?aff=erelexpmlt

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What is your organization and purpose?  

The Bridge Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center is a non-profit organization, formerly called the Alzheimer’s Agency of Shreveport/Bossier. The name was changed to better illustrate our local mission. 

Our mission is to provide resources, education, and support services for those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias; their family members and their caregivers in the local area; as well as to promote awareness in the community.  

Our vision is to “Create a community where no one affected by Alzheimer’s and Dementia makes the journey alone.” 

What are the Alzheimer’s stats nationwide?  

Nationwide, more than 6 million people, age 65 and over, are living with Alzheimer’s and that number is expected to increase 20% by 2025. 

How many people are affected by Alzheimer’s in our area?  

The Center for Brain Health at LSU Health, Shreveport estimates over 85,000 people are affected by Alzheimer’s within a 75-mile radius of Shreveport.  

What is your organization doing to help this community?  

We are working diligently and with urgency to address the unmet needs of people in Northwest Louisiana affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. We help by assessing individual client needs, guiding, and supporting caregivers, responding to requests for help and information, educating the public, providing resources, and overall helping to navigate the care system.  

What services do you provide?  

We have care navigators to help you through the journey and a Licensed Professional Counselor for one-on-one meetings or to talk with family members.  We offer memory screenings, monthly education workshops, fun and engaging activities for caregivers and their loved ones with dementia, a printed and online local resource directory, and assistance in legal matters. We teach families how to maintain dignity of their loved ones and help nurture relationships throughout the disease process. We have a speaker’s bureau for education and training for civic groups, healthcare providers, faith-based organizations, law enforcement agencies, and other organizations. We also facilitate caregiver support groups in the community. 

Tell us more about the caregiver support groups. 

Support groups are vital to the caregiver. It’s an opportunity for the caregiver to express their emotions in a non-judgmental way. Caregivers learn that they are not going through this journey alone and they have a peer group that knows exactly what each other is going through. Groups meet for an hour once or twice a month – you can attend as many as you need. 

Do you have events the public can attend?  

The Second Annual Education Conference in Northwest Louisiana, “A Positive Approach to Dementia,” is scheduled for Friday, November 4, from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm at First United Methodist Church, Shreveport. The keynote address will be given by a national speaker with the Teepa Snow Foundation, well known in the world of dementia. This conference is the only one of its kind in Northwest Louisiana.  

Where are you located?  

We are located in the heart of Shreveport at 851 Olive Street. However, we are willing to travel to where we are needed in Northwest Louisiana. 

Can you give us some fun tips for improving brain health?  

Try brushing your teeth with your non-dominate hand, wear earplugs to experience the world without sound, or learn a new musical instrument or something that is completely new to you. 

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