You can make a difference in the lives of children and expand your social network.

A new Kiwanis club in Red River Parish will help kids thrive, prosper and grow.

“There are too many kids in Louisiana who need help learning to read, who need mentors to guide them, and who need help finding their opportunity to shine,” said Bert West, 2022-23 Kiwanis International president. “People who want to help children are invited to join us in forming this new club.”

Kiwanis exists to help children around the world. Some popular projects that help kids include installing reading rooms in schools, packing backpacks with school supplies and programs that teach skills or provide safety lessons. The members of this new Kiwanis club will look at the needs of children in the community and decide the projects that will benefit local kids. Some of those decisions will be made at the organizational meeting. Community members are invited to attend.

Thursday, October 13

6 p.m.

First United Methodist Church

2018 Front Street, Coushatta

facebook.com/RedRiverParishKiwanis

“Kiwanis clubs provide a great opportunity to meet new friends who believe in serving their communities, networking with business professionals, and making a significant impact on the community through volunteering,” said West. “Kids need Kiwanis in Red River Parish and in communities around the world so they can grow up in a world where they are happy, healthy, safe, and loved.”

“We understand the changing needs of today’s busy volunteers and encourage members to give a time when they can, whether that’s at a service project or at a meeting,” said West. “We hope that men and women of all ages will join us and help make a difference for children in our community.”

Those interested in membership but unable to attend the meeting can email membership@kiwanis.org.

About Kiwanis International

Kiwanis International is a global organization of clubs and members dedicated to serving the children of the world. Kiwanis and its family of clubs, including Circle K International for university students, Key Club for students age 14–18, Builders Club for students age 11–14, K-Kids for students age 6–12 and Aktion Club for adults living with disabilities, annually dedicate more than 18.5 million service hours to strengthen communities and serve children. The Kiwanis International family comprises nearly 558,000 adult and youth members 82 nations and geographic areas.

Contact: Steve Hadt, shadt@kiwanis.org

Phone: 317.217.6250

---

Sandra Juanice Rape

October 19, 1951 to October 5, 2022

Funeral service was held at 2:00 pm Saturday, October 8, 2022 at Hickory Grove Cemetery.

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.)

---

All Red River schools are in Fall Break October 10th-21st.  School will resume on Monday, October 24.  Intersession at the public schools is October 10th-13th (Monday-Thursday).

Fall Break at Riverdale runs through October 14^th.

Bailey Willis of Opelousas and Ebenezer “Eb” Aggrey of Baton Rouge were selected as queen and king of the 2022 Homecoming Honor Court at Northwestern State University. 

Willis and Aggrey are part of a 22-member honor court, which will participate in activities during Homecoming Week at Northwestern State and will be presented at halftime of the Homecoming game against Southeastern Louisiana on Oct. 23.

Jr. Beta members at Riverdale Academy are helping collect supplies for victims of Hurricane Ian. If you would like to help in our efforts donation items may be dropped off at Riverdale Academy until Oct. 20th.

The annual Sweet Potato and Pecan Sale by Red River 4-H is underway.  Students have been given order forms.  Contact any 4-H member or call the office and place your order.  932-4342.

A reminder that Red River Parish is under a ban on all outdoor burning due to dry conditions.  This week Natchitoches and DeSoto parishes also issued their own Burn Bans.

---

Joanne went to be with her Lord in the early hours of Monday morning.  She went peacefully in her sleep after a 4-month battle with the aftereffects of a stroke and dementia.

Joanne Bedsole Warren was born on July 16, 1936 and passed away on October 10, 2022.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Warren; parents, Jack Lang Bedsole and Louvanna Wallace Bedsole; two brothers, Billy Ray Bedsole (and Marie) and Jackie Bedsole; two sisters, Bettye Barton and Peggy Brooks (and Andy)

Left here on this earth to cherish her memory is one daughter, Debbie Cook (and William); one son, Donnie Warren (and Terri);  four grandsons, Kenny Martin (and Amber), Timmy Martin (and Amanda), Matt Warren (and Britiney) and Jason Warren (and Haley); seven great grandchildren, Jaden Womack, Alanna Womack, Audrey Martin, Marybeth Warren, Elijah Warren, Samuel Warren, and Claragrace Warren; and two sisters-in-law, Sue Warren and Joyce Bedsole; nephews and nieces; and six step-grandchildren (William’s children) and their families.

Visitation for Joanne will be Wednesday night, 5-8 p.m., with family visitation from 4 to 5. The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. Both of these events will take place at Foster Arbor Assembly of God Church in Castor, Louisiana.

Officiating the funeral service will be Bro. Greg Patten.  Music will be provided by Bro. Jeff and Sister Sheryle Phillips of Abundant Life Worship Center.  Piano music will be played by Sue Guin.  Pallbearers will be Aunt Jo’s nephews:  Larry Carr, Terry Carr, Ronnie Warren, Randy Warren, Rick Warren, and Bill Wallace, Jr.  Honorary pallbearers will be Mamaw’s grandsons:  Kenny, Timmy, Matt, and Jason.

---

Under the lights Friday night both schools in the parish had their homecoming games.  Fans were not disappointed.

Red River defeated Jonesboro-Hodge 28 to 22.

Riverdale Academy defeated Southwest Louisiana Knights 28 to 20.

---

Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for September 30-October 7, 2022.

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

---

From JC Dickey, Principal

Graduation index rates were released this week by the Louisiana Department of Education, and we are excited to share that Red River High School has achieved one of the highest indexes in the state, with 97% of our senior students graduating high school on time. Over the last 5 years, our graduation rate has increased from 83% to 97%.

Of the 97% of graduating seniors from the 2021-2022 school year, 29% of students graduated with Advanced Statewide diplomas (Statewide Jumpstart credential, college board CLEP test passed, dual enrollment courses, and/or College Board Advanced Placement Course/Test Passed).

46% of students graduated with a Basic Statewide Diploma including Basic Jumpstart Credentials, Dual Enrollment Courses, or passing College Board Advanced Placement Courses.

In all, over 74% of our graduates received a diploma with credentials above and beyond what the state of Louisiana requires of graduating seniors. 

We have had an abundance of athletic successes in the football, basketball, baseball, softball, track, and volleyball programs. But what should truly be celebrated is the academic achievements of our students and their attainment of skills that prepare them for college and the workforce. We have incorporated a wealth of new courses, programs, practices, curricula, and instructional methodologies that will continue to support the growth of our school.

The current success of Red River High School and Red River Parish is rooted in the achievements of our alumni. This HOCO 2022, let’s remember that we are all a part of an “A” school with one of the highest graduation rates in the state! Bulldogs, stand tall and let’s celebrate the past, present, and future success of Red River Parish. 

---

By Molly Seales

On October 1 and October 3, the Lady Rebel Softball team traveled to Magee, MS, to play in the Class 2A State Championship tournament. They went 2-2 on the weekend and finished 4^th in Class 2A. They never gave up in any of the games and left it all on the field.

In their first game, the Lady Rebels fell to Delta Academy 16-9. Hanna Catherine Huddleston and Jadyn King both had a single and a double and scored a run each, with King having a stolen base and 2 RBIs. Chloe Jordan was 2 for 4 with an RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base. Jessie Kate Cobb had 2 hits and 3 RBIs, and Emma Clemons had a hit and scored a run. Mary Claire Jones added a hit, 2 RBIs, and scored a run. Julia Grace Riggs doubled, had an RBI, and scored a run. Haylee Smith scored 2 runs, and Kylie Donald scored a run.

Later on Saturday, the Lady Rebels defeated West Memphis 20-2 in 3 innings. Cobb got the win for the Rebels, allowing only 1 hit and striking out 4 batters. Huddleston had a double and a triple with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Jones had a double with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored, while Smith doubled and scored 2 runs. Donald doubled, had an RBI, and scored 2 runs. King had a hit, an RBI, and 2 runs scored, while Cobb had 2 hits, an RBI, and scored a run. Riggs had a hit, an RBI, and scored 2 runs, while Jordan had a hit and scored 3 runs. Clemons scored a run for the Lady Rebels. Emma Giddings and Lilly Guillot each scored a run. The team had 8 stolen bases, with Jones and Giddings having 2 each, and Guillot, King, Smith, and Clemons having 1 each.

On Monday, the Lady Rebels faced SIA and avenged their loss to them at South AA last week, winning by a score of 5-3 in extra innings. Cobb picked up another win, allowing 7 hits and striking out 14 batters. Riggs tripled and singled with an RBI. King doubled and scored a run. Cobb had 2 hits, and Clemons tripled with 2 RBIs. Donald, Jordan, and Smith each had singles, with Smith scoring a run. Huddleston had an RBI, and Giddings had 2 stolen bases. This win set them up to play a tough Hebron Christian team.

The Lady Rebels trailed Hebron Christian 10-1 after 3 innings, but in true Rebel fashion, they fought their way back, going into the bottom of the 7^th inning tied at 12-12. Hebron managed to get a run across and defeated the Lady Rebels 13-12, ending their season. Huddleston singled and doubled with an RBI and had a stolen base. King singled and scored a run, while Cobb singled and scored two runs. Riggs doubled 3 times, had 4 RBIs, and scored a run. Donald doubled with an RBI and a run scored. Clemons doubled and singled twice, picked up 3 stolen bases, and scored 2 runs. Smith singled with an RBI and scored 2 runs. Chloe Jordan singled and hit a homerun, picking up 3 RBIs and scoring 2 runs.

Seniors Emma Clemons and Jessie Kate Cobb have had great careers as Lady Rebel softball players, and their talent and leadership will be greatly missed next year. Great season, girls!

---

Red River Junior High School cheerleaders will host the “Little Bulldogs” cheer camp on Saturday, November 12th, 2022. We are excited and will be hosting ages 4 to 13.

Camp will be held at Red River Jr High School in the main gym from 12:30 to 3:30 pm. The cost for each participant will be $40.00. Price includes a 2022-2023 Little Bulldog t-shirt and pizza. 

Registration will begin at 11:30 am. An adult must register each child on that day.  Applications and fees can be collected during registration or pre-register at your school. Please make your check out to Red River Junior High School with Little Bulldogs written in the memo line. The deadline for fees to guarantee a t-shirt will be October 24, 2022.

The camp participants will be performing the cheer and dance routine they learned during camp on November 17th, at 4:30 pm at RRJH basketball game during halftime of the boys game. Little Bulldogs will also cheer on the sideline with the RRJH cheerleaders for the first half of the game.

For more information, please contact Erikka Caldwell cheer sponsor at Red River Junior High 318-932-5265.  Caldwell said, “We look forward to working with all the ‘Little Bulldogs.’”

---

By Brad Dison

On June 29, 1994, a 45-year-old pilot took over the controls of a BAe 146 jet airliner as he often did from the senior pilot, Flight Captain Graham Laurie.  The pilot had been flying for about 30 years.  In the mid-1960s, he began taking private pilot lessons and earned his pilot’s license.  He soon joined the Air Force, just as his father, grandfather, and two of his great-grandfathers had done.  In the Air Force, he began flying jet aircraft.  His aviation career expanded a few years later when he earned his license to fly helicopters.  In his three decades of flying, the pilot had an exemplary record.    

After a short, non-eventful flight, the pilot steered the jet to a landing strip at Islay, the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, about 100 miles west of Glasgow.  It appeared as if it was going to be a textbook landing until something went wrong.  A sudden gust of wind hit the jet and the nose of the jet was pushed slightly lower than it should have been.  The front landing wheels, which were smaller in comparison to the rear, main landing wheels, struck the landing strip first.  The weight of the jet rested on the front wheels.  Under immense pressure, the front wheels burst.  In a split-second decision, Flight Captain Laurie instructed the pilot to complete the landing rather than to increase speed, return to the sky, and make another landing approach.  The pilot did exactly as he was instructed.  The jet overshot the runway and careened off the end of the runway into a grassy field.  Although the jet sustained £1 million in damages, no one was injured.

As with any airplane crash, investigators had to determine the cause of the crash and who was responsible.  During a board of review, Flight Captain Graham Laurie, not the pilot who was in control of the jet when it crashed, was ultimately held responsible for being negligent because he was the senior pilot.  In the following year, 1995, the pilot gave up his pilot’s license for good.

The pilot has four names, which has occasionally caused confusion.  Even on his wedding day, his bride, while saying her vows, got his name wrong.  In quick response, the groom leaned over and whispered, “You’ve just married my father.”

You see, technically, the pilot was not supposed to be flying the jet because he was not a member of the flight crew, he was a passenger, albeit a royal one.  The pilot who narrowly escaped disaster was Charles Philip Arthur George.  At the time he was Prince Charles.  He is now King Charles III.

Sources:

1. “Prince Charles Gives up Flying,” UPI, accessed September 27, 2022, upi.com/Archives/1995/07/19/Prince-Charles-gives-up-flying/4243806126400/.
2. “Secrets of Royal Travel,” TV series episode (BBC, November 20, 2020).

---

By Molly Seales

On Thursday, September 29, Riverdale Academy held its first ever Beta Club induction ceremony. Beta Club is a nationally recognized organization that promotes the ideas of academic achievement, character, service, and leadership among secondary and elementary students. To be invited into Senior Beta Club at Riverdale, students must have at least a 3.5 GPA, and to be invited into Junior Beta Club students must have a 3.5 GPA, teacher recommendation, and no behavior referrals. Once inducted, members must complete a minimum of ten community service hours per year.

The senior Beta Club induction was led by President Luke Greer and other senior members Emma Clemons, Molly Seales, Mason Murray, and Emily Kirkland. They lit candles and read the background of each of the pillars of Beta. Sponsor Amanda Cason and Emily Kirkland presented the new members with their certificates and Beta pins.

This year is the first year for Riverdale to have a Junior Beta Club, and it is under the direction of Mrs. Brittney Mancil. They elected officers before the ceremony, and their officers this year are President Cannon Breedlove; Vice-President Ally Kate Hillman; Secretary Krista Mancil; Treasurer Destiney Bohannon; 7^th Grade Representative Jackson Hillman, and 6^th Grade Representative Isabella Stephens. They followed the same procedure as senior Beta, but when they received their pins, a parent, grandparent, or family friend pinned them.

Beta Club members at Riverdale are very active in the community, doing things such as hosting birthday parties at Green Meadow Haven, serving at Providence House, and collecting shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. These are in addition to the service hours they put in as individuals. In February, the Junior Club will attend the state convention in Lafayette, and the Senior Club will attend the state convention in Baton Rouge.

We would like to give a special thank you to Mrs. Amanda, Mrs. Brittney, and all of the others who made this day possible. It was, as always, a great day to be a Rebel!

Photo Credit: Senior Beta by Bethany Seales and Junior by Lauren Hillman

---

If you are interested in participating in the ministry of Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child go to the York Chop in Coushatta.  Claire York, Angela Calhoun, and Schelby Narvaez will be happy to give you a shoebox to pack with toiletries, school supplies, toys and stuffed animals, clothes and or shoes.

The boxes are sent to over 160 third world countries to children who have never received a gift. Each child hears the gospel, receives a booklet with the gospel in their own language and gets invited to participate in The Greatest Journey.

When you have packed your shoebox you may take it to your local church, Fairview Alpha Baptist, Martin Baptist or First Baptist Church or bring to the York Chop and they will take to a local church. National Collection Week is November 14-21.  For more information contact Susan Longino at 663-4769.

---

Red River High School is hosting a STEAM Camp on Saturday.  The initials stand for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.

The camp will be held in the High School Vocational Center from 9:00 am until 2:30 pm on Saturday, October 8, 2022.  Lunch will be served.

Get the children to attend and learn about robotics and art.  It will be a fun and yet challenging time for young minds.

---

By Steve Graf

Over the years as a tournament angler, I’ve noticed some guys never get the credit they deserve. No one ever tells them “Thank you” for what they do or how they do it. Housekeepers, healthcare workers, lunchroom ladies, childcare workers, or even caregivers all seem to be invisible, mainly because we don’t see them or recognize the job they do. Yes, in most cases they are getting paid, but sometimes the pay doesn’t make up for the job itself and what is required.

Well, that would also be the life of a bass tournament director. Each and every tournament trail in the country has one person who has to deal with anglers who think they know the best way to run a tournament trail. Yes, I’ll say it…bass fishermen have huge egos! Shocker! One thing anglers are guilty of is making suggestions that usually only benefit the angler who made the suggestion. They all think they know a better way to skin a cat or run a bass tournament.

Tournament director, Chris Wayand runs all the ABA (American Bass Anglers) tournament trails like the Open Series and the Solo 150 Tour. Mike Echols has run two of the best team trails in the Ark-La-Tex region like the H&W Team Trail and the Thursday night Cash Splash. Both of these guys do a great job of setting the standard for what all tournament directors should strive for. They are tough and will make sure the rules for each tour are followed. There’s no grey area with either of them. Whatever the rule states are exactly how it will be implemented. Anglers may not always like a certain ruling, but they will respect it. This is what makes a great tournament trail…consistency!

A tournament director’s job is to make sure that all anglers in an event are treated fairly and that all rules are followed with no exceptions. He must plan and schedule where the tour will be going the next season a year in advance. He has to secure boat ramps and make sure that there’s plenty of parking.  Securing a boat ramp is not something to just skip over. This has become a major issue for all tournament directors, especially in the state of Texas. Every fall, the new schedules are released by all tournament trails. Every director must work around each other in order to make it happen. There are basically only four weekends in a month and at least eight active major trails, but for the sake of time and ink, I won’t list them.

Now imagine you’re a tournament director and trying to schedule around all these different circuits, truly a nightmare! But still, there’s always an angler that thinks they know a better way and wants to question why the director scheduled an event on a specific weekend. Didn’t he realize it’s the opening weekend of college football? Didn’t he know that there was a high school tournament that same weekend? Didn’t he know it was the President’s Birthday? You get the point! This is what a director has to hear over and over again… people questioning why he put a particular tournament on a specific Saturday!

Today, we’ll give praise to all tournament directors who do a “thankless job” and attempt to make every angler a happy camper. These guys give up their weekends so all of us future Kevin Van Dams can get on a given body of water and compete. Yes, it’s true they do get paid, but there’s no making up for the time they sacrifice away from family and friends in order to run the best tournament trail possible. Today we salute and say, “Thank you,” to all bass tournament directors for a job well done! Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and don’t forget your sunscreen.

---

Bethany Seales reported from Riverdale Academy that this week they had their best twin day ever. She said, “They had some great ideas, and most of the high school students came to ‘Riverjail’ dressed as inmates. Thank goodness we had SRO Chris Jordan and prison guards Amanda Shaver Cason and Kristi Coleman Spradley to keep them in check.”

Twin day was part of Riverdale Homecoming week leading up to presentation of the Homecoming Court and the Homecoming game with Parkers Chapel Friday night.

---

Red River 4-H said a state program working with Legos is the program they are doing this year in the Explorers project club meetings for Grades 1-5.   They will meet the second Monday of each month at the 4-H office at 5:30.  If you have any LEGOs that you’d like to donate to Red River Parish 4-H, we’d love to have them!

The Louisiana 4-H office said, “Shoutout to the Cloverbud LEGO Engineering Lesson Study.  The youth are using the engineering design process by building with LEGO blocks, while building communication and teamwork skills.”

Through six lessons youth are learning about:

-Building Shelters-The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale

-Simple Machines-Keep it simple Rapunzel! The Fairytale Physics of Simple Machines

-Measuring-Jim and the Beanstalk

-Zipline Challenge-After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again

-Force and Motion-Cinder-Elly

-Engineering Bridges-The Three Billy Goats Fluff.

---

Win $100.  You could be the winner, but you have to hurry.  This is week six of the Journal’s High School Football Pickers Contest.

Whether or not you follow local sports, you can win.  In fact, everyone in Red River Parish is eligible to win the $100 prize.  All you have to do is predict the winner of the local area games.  It is that easy.  You might guess enough to get the prize.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Good luck.  Someone will win the $100 prize and it could be you!

---

An opportunity to increase their scores on upcoming ACT tests is offered next week at Red River High.  An ACT Boot Camp will be offered during Intersession week at the school.

Intense ACT Test Prep will be offered focused on skills and strategies to improve scores in science, reading, math, English and writing.  Boot Camp will be available starting October 10^th and there are only 20 spots available for participants.

---

---

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

---

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

---

Fredrick T. Taylor

July 20, 1981 to October 2, 2022

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

 

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.)

---

Custodian Appreciation Day was celebrated this week at Red River Academic Academy.  Mrs. Jacqueline Richmond works hard every day to keep RRAA looking and smelling nice. We thank her for her service.

Today is parent teacher conference day at Red River High.  Parents can meet with school officials to discuss the progress their children are making.  And they can offer suggestions for improving academic performance when needed.  Similar conferences are also being held at Red River Junior High and Red River Elementary.

School kids have Intersession Week next week.  Then the following week they will have a vacation week.  Classes resume in two weeks.

---