Two school board tax renewals were approved by an overwhelming 70% of the vote on Saturday. The taxes are a continuation of current property taxes for the school system.
Voter turnout was about 18% of the registered voters in Red River Parish. This was a parish-wide vote.
Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for April 21-27, 2023.
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.
The Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office has added some information to the “shots fired” investigation on Monday morning and subsequent lockdowns in Coushatta.
The Sheriff’s Office said, “Earlier this morning (Monday) Coushatta Police Officers and RRPSO deputies responded to a call of “shots fired” on Calvin St. A black male subject was reported to have fired shots at a parked vehicle. The incident was not random and stemmed from an ongoing domestic dispute.
The subject fled the scene on foot reportedly in the direction of a wooded area behind the hospital. As RRPSO deputies and detectives assisted the Coushatta PD in searching for the subject, as a precaution, the hospital was temporarily placed on lockdown.” It has been reported to the Journal that Red River High was also placed on lockdown Monday morning.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, “At this time, the subject has not been located and the search continues.”
By Molly Seales
On Thursday, the Riverdale Academy varsity track team traveled to Madison High School in Tallulah for the District 2A track meet. Many of the JV team members also compete on varsity, and the team came home as district runner up. Several of the athletes qualified for the South AA meet in Clinton, LA, on April 26 and April 29.
In field events, Julia Grace Riggs placed 2nd in shot put, and Kacie Harper placed 4th in shot put. Makayla Pickett placed 2nd in discus throw. All three of these field athletes advanced to the South AA meet. Alaina Boyd placed 7th in the long jump.
In track events, 8th grader Allie Murphy took 1st place in the 100-meter hurdles, and Alaina Boyd took 2nd place in the 300-meter hurdles. Both Allie and Alaina qualified for South AA. Gracie Stephens placed 6th in the 100-meter dash, Alaina Boyd placed 6th in the 200-meter dash, Abbie Jowers placed 3rd in the 400-meter dash, and Cardin Young placed 5th in the 400-meter dash. Young also placed 4th in the 800-meter run, which qualified her for South AA in the event. Jowers placed 5th in the mile run.
All 3 of the relay teams placed 2nd and qualified for South AA. The team for the 4×100 relay consisted of Young, Murphy, Boyd, and Stephens. The 4×200 team was Murphy, Stephens, Jowers, and Boyd, while the 4×400 team was Murphy, Jowers, Stephens, and Boyd.
Congratulations to these ladies on a job well done! Good luck at South AA.
Photo credit Maressa Halbmeier
Red River High’s Softball team placed three players on the All-District teams for District 3-2A. The players are:
Bryn Danzy, selected to the first team.
Shelby Picket, named to the second team.
And Sarah Cormier, selected honorable mention.
By Brad Dison
Robert LeRoy Parker was a “medium short, stocky build, with blue eyes and an infectious smile. His sense of humor was highly developed; he made friends easily, was highly dependable when he chose, and was loyal to his friends.” He could “outrope, outride, and outshoot any man on the range. He drank sparingly and never allowed women to interfere with his business.” His business, at this time, was working cattle.
Sometime in the 1870s, the exact date has been lost to history, Robert stole a saddle and several horses near Circleville, Utah. Two deputies tracked Robert for miles through the desert and got a lucky break. They found Robert asleep at camp. Before he was fully awake and aware, the deputies handcuffed Robert. Anyone else in that situation would have admitted defeat, but not Robert. One newspaper reported that Robert’s “mind worked like chain lightning.” As the deputies were transporting Robert from his camp in the desert to the nearest jail, they stopped near a spring to prepare lunch. The deputies built a fire and got enough water from the spring to boil a pot of coffee. One of the deputies went back to the spring to fetch more water while the other deputy stayed to guard their prisoner. Robert sat near the fire directly across from the guarding deputy. The deputy squatted by the fire to check on the coffee. At that instant, Robert kicked the boiling coffee in the face of the deputy. The deputy grabbed his face and screamed. Robert snatched the deputy’s pistol from its holster and trained the pistol on the second deputy. He disarmed the second deputy, retrieved the handcuff keys, and removed the restraints. In less than a minute, Robert jumped into his stolen saddle and rode away with the stolen horses and the deputies’ two horses.
In most other cases, that would have been the end of the story. By most accounts, Robert was a likable, caring guy. After riding a couple of miles from where he made his escape, he realized that the deputies’ water canteens were still tied to the saddle of their horses. He knew the area well enough to know that the next nearest spring to the deputies was about 30 miles away. He knew the deputies would try to walk to some sort of civilization but without their water canteens they would certainly perish. Robert rode back to the stranded deputies and, to their surprise, returned their water canteens and gave them directions to the next nearest watering hole. The shocked deputies thanked Robert as he rode away again.
Robert’s criminal career continued for more than a decade, and he joined forces with other like-minded criminals. The pressure of continually being pursued by law enforcement officers convinced Robert to leave the country for South America. He and his most infamous partner purportedly died in a shootout on November 7, 1908. Robert used many aliases during his criminal career including Santiago Maxwell, Jim Lowe, George Cassidy, and Mike Cassidy. You and I know Robert LeRoy Parker as Butch Cassidy. His partner’s alias was the Sundance Kid.
Source: The Salt Lake Tribune, March 19, 1950, p.63.
Red River Parish Public Schools has published the school calendar for 2023-24.
The first day of school for students will be August 2nd. And the last day will be June 16, 2024.
The calendar is below in PDF form is you wish to save it.
Natchitoches Jazz/R&B Festival Super VIP giveaway!
Purchase at least two $100.00 VIP tickets, and you’ll be entered into our SUPER VIP DRAWING, with a chance to win TWO SUPER VIP PASSESS!
Drawing will be held Friday, April 28, 2023 @ 4pm
There are a limited number of VIP tickets available. Get yours today!
HEADLINERS:
Mark Chestnutt, Tracy Byrd and Cupid
See the full line-up here
https://www.natchjazzfest.com/lineup-2023
Purchase tickets here
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/26th-annual-natchitoches-jazzrb-festival-tickets-520954377567
By Steve Graf
Since bass tournaments began, there have always been anglers looking to bend the rules and push the envelope. Some get caught while there are others who have succeeded in cheating. But when it comes to getting caught, it’s only a matter of time because when they get away with it once, they think they can do it again and again. But one day their luck runs out and someone catches them. A cheater has to be someone without a conscience because a normal person would feel guilt and shame. But cheaters fall into the same category as a criminal, they have no conscience.
This leads me back to a cheating scandal in October of 2018 when two anglers fishing in a derby on Lake Powell in Utah thought they had mastered the art of cheating. Little did they know that forensic science would play a huge role in their conviction.
These two anglers thought they had the perfect plan by going to another body of water the day before their tournament on Lake Powell. The evening before their event, they went into a shallow area of Quail Creek Reservoir and were observed doing “something suspicious” just before dark. But like any cheating scandal or criminal activity, there’s always a trail. The trail started at Quail Creek Reservoir where you must sign in and out for this water body. Of course, these guys didn’t think to use fictitious names, they gave their real names! Duh!
Quail Creek is 140 miles from Lake Powell, so these fish had to be kept alive in a live well for at least 20 hours. While today’s live wells are high tech and do a great job of keeping fish alive, it puts a lot of stress on the bass trying to stay alive for that length of time. As these fish were being weighed in, the tournament director noticed some things that didn’t seem right. First, all the fish had red tails and fins (the first indication that the fish have been stressed.) Second, he noticed that these fish looked nothing like all the other fish being weighed in. These fish had little heads and fatter bodies indicating a different diet than the fish from Lake Powell.
Here’s where things get really scientific. Turns out these suspicious indicators prompted investigators to work with the University of Utah and do what’s called a Stable Isotope Analysis. To simplify, it’s basically a calcium test that can determine what body of water a fish has come from based on the food eaten by the fish. Every body of water has what is called its own stable isotope ratio. When they compared to fish from Lake Powell to the fish from Quail Creek, they knew immediately that the fish weighed in by the anglers were not from Lake Powell but came from Quail Creek Reservoir.
And there you have it…Forensic Science catches the cheaters just like an episode of CSI Vegas! This story amazed me with the length the investigators went to try and convict these two Bozo’s. How their persistence and hard work paid off in making sure these two anglers didn’t get away with fraud!
If you’re wondering how they were sentenced: they were fined $2500 each in restitution to “Help Stop Poaching.” They paid $500 in a plea fee, 48 hours of community service, 2 years of no hunting and the Division of Wildlife Resources sought they get 5 years of no fishing.
So, I guess in this case, cheaters never win! From this angler’s perspective, there will always be anglers who think they can get away with cheating and will go to extreme lengths to do so. I am hopeful in the future that judges come down harder on these people who choose to go this route and attempt to commit fraud on unsuspecting anglers. Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and don’t forget to wear your sunscreen.
By Molly Seales
On Tuesday, April 25, the Riverdale Academy golf team traveled to Brandon, MS, to defend their Class AA state title. The Rebels also won the championship in 2021 and were looking to make it a 3-peat. Under the direction of first year coach Taylor Yount, the Rebels did just that, edging out Prentiss Christian Academy by 2 strokes. Coach Taylor is very proud of this team and said, “The miles logged, the courses played, and the bonds forged will last beyond this golf season. Good job my guys! Way to chip and putt.”
Senior Mason Murray captured his 4th state title with the win. His first came when he was a 7th grader, and his other three were his sophomore, junior, and senior years. Mason said, “Most people don’t get to experience one state championship in their lifetime, but for me to have won four is crazy. I’m blessed to have support around me to allow me to be the very best golfer I can be. You can do anything you want with determination and perseverance.” This year Mason had the 2nd best individual score in Class AA.
This was the first taste of a state championship for Coach Taylor and senior Jace Wilhite, and it was a great feeling for them. The other 3 golf team members have tasted that victory before, and the feeling was just as sweet. Senior Thad Bates won his 2nd state championship in a row, and junior Ryder Huddleston won his 3rd championship in a row. 7th grader Jackson Hillman added another championship to go with the one he won last year as a 6th grader. All of these golfers are very dedicated and put in lots of practice year-round at the Coushatta Country Club.
We will miss Mason, Thad, and Jace as they graduate and move on to the next chapter in their lives. We wish Ryder and Jackson the best of luck as they go for four in a row next year. Congratulations guys and Coach Taylor!
From Red River 4-H, “Congratulations to Ben Moseley and Addison abounds for qualifying and competing in Senior Division Silhouettes at State competition.
“Congratulations to Brent Danzy for placing, qualifying, competing, and placing 1st in skeet, 4th in trap, and 7th overall at State Junior Advanced Shotgun. Very proud of these accomplishments.”
Latest Day 2 severe weather outlook from the Storm Prediction Center has now expanded the Slight and Marginal risks eastward. Large hail, and damaging winds will be the main concern while the threat of an isolated tornado or two should not be ruled out.
By Teddy Allen
We called it the “lie-ba-rare-ry” or “lie-berry” but of course it’s properly The Library, and on this National Library Week we honor the place where each of us, in our hometowns and school houses, spent a large part of our formative years in this glorious building that held more fact and fiction than you could digest in a dozen lifetimes.
The Writer’s Almanac reminds me that the Library of Congress, or “Gramps” as all the other libraries call it, was founded this week in 1800. Had 964 books and nine maps.
Today, it’s a bit of a different ballgame, and if you work there, you best buckle your chinstrap. The Library of Congress has more than 17 million books now, plus recordings and art and lots of maps (like, way more than the original nine) and gets 15,000 new items each workday. They’ve got books like Hamlet had the crazies.
Speaking of, maybe the Library of Congress’s birth is why we celebrate this final week of April as National Library Week, but maybe it’s because the Bard of Avon and pretty good hand, William Shakespeare, is thought to have been born April 23, 1564, and for certain died on the same date, 52 years later, I forswear. He’s considered our greatest English dramatist and was also clever in the sonnet game:
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remember’d such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
Except for that one time you were mean to me
And I thought, “What the heck; I’ll go ahead and scorn.”
He was a handful, ol’ William was.
So when you go by your local library branch this week, maybe tip your cap to this magical place, a joint that has plenty for kids of all ages, a place that connects the community and shares internet for job seekers and self-educators, a rest stop for movie night and craft night and poetry readings, if such is your thing.
And books. If you haven’t read or listened to one lately, here are a few I’ve finished so far this year, and brief reviews, just to rattle your cage and get you to thinking.
Amor Towles was an investments pro in Manhattan for 20 years, writing on the side, and is now a fulltime novelist and thank goodness. He is a wizard of time and place, a handy vocabulary but not high-falutin’, and tremendous with characters. My favorite of his three books is A Gentleman in Moscow, about an aristocrat sentenced to life in a luxury hotel across from the Kremlin in 1920, soon to be a Showtime/Paramount series starring Ewan McGregor as Count Alexander Rostov, now one of my favorite fictional people.
The Lincoln Highway is about four boys in 1954 who mean to go to San Francisco and end up in New York, and Rules of Civility stars a wonderful female character, Katey Kontent, a normal girl thrown into high society in post-depression New York City. Doesn’t sound like much, but I wish I could read each of them again for the first time.
Did not enjoy Ghost Storyby Peter Straub, although it was a hit when released in 1979 and the movie (Fred Astaire and some other biggies were in it) was good, which is why I wanted to read it. Mistake.
Did not like The Haunting of Hill House, 1959, from Shirley Jackson (she wrote the short story The Lotterythat we all read in high school). I wish Hill House had been only a short story.
And didn’t enjoy Fahrenheit 451, the 1953 classic by Ray Bradbury. It’s about banning books and so in the current climate, I thought I’d catch up. Instead, I wish I’d have banned myself from reading it. No doubt it was timely, though, 70 years ago.
More fiction I did like was Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, speaking of catching up, as this is the Stephen King short story, more of a novella, that the movie is based on. The movie is better but the story, of justice and hope and friendship and humanity, is just so good.
Stoner by John Williams didn’t get a lot of raves in 1965 when released but it is beautifully written “academic” or “campus” novel about a farm boy who becomes an English professor and comes to terms with a life that didn’t go as he’d planned. And why I’ve felt recently like reading novels 60 years old is a mystery even to my own personal self.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (2022) starring a talking octopus named Marcellus (or at least he shares his thoughts) is about how we are better together, whether we have two arms or whether we have eight.
Out of room, so, suggested non-fiction I’ve read this year, and would recommend each, depending on your interests.
The Storyteller’s Nashville by Tom T. Hall, if you like Tom T. Hall.
Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story, by Rick Bragg, if you like Jerry Lee Lewis or are just interested in a fellow Louisianan.
Killer Triggers and I Will Find You, by Joe Kenda, the Colorado detective who became famous through TV’s Homicide Hunters. If you’re a fan, you might prefer the audio versions; he narrates them.
Something Wonderful: Rogers and Hammerstein by Todd Purdum; this bureau has a fascination with musical theatre.
On Writing by Stephen King. His wife pulled the draft of Carrie out of the trash and suggested he keep trying so …
And finally, enjoyed To Wake the Giant, Pearl Harbor historical fiction by Jeff Shaara, a longtime pro in the war arena, and Unsinkable, which is not fiction but is the real thing about five men aboard the World War II destroyer USS Plunkett, and especially their “problem” that day at Anzio. Studs.
Happy reading or listening, and happy National Library Week. Got anything to share?
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu or Twitter@MamaLuvsManning
Spencer Williams
11/7/1974 – 4/20/2023
Celebration of Life : Saturday, April 29, 2023 @ 11:00 A.M. Springville B.C. Coushatta.
Larry Bennett Litton, Sr.
May 03, 1955 – April 24, 2023
Funeral services f will be held at 1:00 pm. Friday, April 28, 2023 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel.
The Red River Parish Journal publishes “Remembrances” with 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.
The week-long early voting period closed last Saturday. Election Day is Saturday April 29th. A total of 439 votes were cast during the early voting period.
The demographic breakdown:
Male 134 and female 305
White 213, Black 222, and other 2
Democrat 249, Republican 150, and other 44
A total of 343 people voted in person last week. Another 96 voted absentee.
There are two school tax renewals on the ballot Parishwide this Saturday.
By Molly Seales
On Thursday, April 20th, the Riverdale Academy JV and Varsity baseball teams traveled to UCA in Farmerville for the final district game of the season. The Rebels came away with an 8-4 win. Aston Hester went all 7 innings on the mound for the Rebels, allowing 3 earned runs on 4 hits, while striking out 9 batters.
The Rebels jumped out to an early 3-0 first inning lead and scored another run in the top of the 3rd, 2 runs in the top of the 4th, and one in the top of the 5th. UCA threatened with a run in the bottom of the 4th and 3 runs in the bottom of the 5th, but the Rebels hung on to claim the district victory. Sophomore Colton Caskey was on fire at the plate, going 4 for 5 with an RBI, 2 stolen bases, and 2 runs scored. Landen Barrett tripled and singled, had 2 RBIs and scored 2 runs. Hester was 2 for 4 with a stolen base and 2 runs scored. Kaidyn Williams went 1 for 2 with an RBI and a stolen base. Zane Givens went 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs, and Ryder Huddleston went 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Mason Murray had a stolen base and scored a run, while Matthew Smith scored a run for the Rebels. Colton Massey added a stolen base.
With the win, the Rebels guaranteed themselves a spot in postseason play. They will begin a best of 3 series with Humphreys Academy out of Belzoni, MS, at Riverdale on Monday at 3:00 p.m. They will then travel to Belzoni on Thursday for the last 2 games (3rd if needed) to try to advance to the next round.
Photo credit Christina Barrett
Residents of the Village of Martin participated in Love the Boot Week by cleaning trash from the roadsides. They picked up trash on hwy 155, hwy 507, hwy 786 and Clear Springs Church rd.
Mayor Mary Ann Longino received a package of t-shirts, gloves and trash bags after being one of the first 250 groups to sign up for the statewide initiative.
Residents that worked were Tommy and Ellen Madden, Mike and Carol Tingle, Macie, Riley and Kamden Wood, Danny Snead, Kevin Robinette , Mark and Mary Ann Longino.
This is the 3rd cleanup day that the Village residents have participated in.
On Monday morning both Christus Coushatta Health Care and Red River High School were locked down for a time. That came during a city police investigation into reports of shots fired.
The lockdowns occurred about 10:30. They lasted up to an hour. Both lockdowns were ordered as a precautionary measure.
Coushatta Police Chief Kevin Stafford said the incident is believed to have grown out of a domestic matter. He said his department was looking to interview a male and perhaps a female in the matter. As of Tuesday morning neither of these had been interviewed by city police.
By Christy Suggs
Red River Took on Pine High School in the first-round playoff best-of-three series, Friday, April 21. Despite seeing its five-run lead whittled down by the end, Red River Bulldogs Varsity still held off Pine for a 4-3 victory in game 1. Pine scored three runs in the failed comeback on a singleton in the seventh inning. The Bulldogs got on the board in the first inning when Chris Carper doubled on a 2-2 count, scoring one run. The next round of scoring came when the Bulldogs put up four runs in the third inning. The offensive firepower was led by Carper, Logan Smith, Kenneth Lazarus, and Eli Bamburg, all knocking in runs in the inning. Tyler Hughes was the winning pitcher. The right-hander allowed two hits and three runs over seven innings, striking out six and walking one.
Game 2 started after an hour’s break for both teams. The Bulldogs took the field as the ‘visiting team” and that’s what they looked like. It was a whole different team and not in a good way. John Dickey took the mound and struggled surrendering 6 runs on three hits over one inning, walking zero. Kenneth Lazarus took the mound and went four and third innings allowing five runs on three hits and striking out only one. Kade Martinez finished out as the last pitcher. The Bulldogs scattered eight hits in the game but left many on base. Logan Smith and Lazarus each collected multiple hits and led with 2 hits each. The Final was Pine 11 RR 2. This caused Game 3 to be played Saturday morning.
As the sun shone brightly Saturday after drizzly Friday night games, the Bulldogs face the Raiders for the last of the 3 game series. Red River Bulldogs Varsity stayed in it until the end, but Pine pulled away late in a 6-3 victory on Saturday. The game was tied at three with Pine batting in the top of the sixth when a Pine player singled on a 1-2 count, scoring one run. Dawgs got things started in the second inning when Eli Murphy singled on a 2-2 count, scoring two runs. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bulldogs tied things up at three. An error scored one run for the Dawgs. Pine scored three runs in the fourth inning. Pine’s big inning was driven by a single by Brody T and a fielder’s choice by Brady P. Ethan Williamson took the loss for the RR. The righty lasted six and a third innings, allowing six hits and six runs while striking out two and walking one. John Dickey, Tyler Hughes, Murphy, and Logan Smith each collected one hit to lead Red River Bulldogs Varsity. The series ended with Pine 2 games and Red River 1. Pine moved on to play Sterlington in Round 2 at Sterlington. Bulldogs finish the season with a record of 18-14
As the season draws to a close, the Bulldogs would like to thank all the sponsors, fans, and families that supported them all season. After a brief break, the Bulldogs will begin Summer league play and start working out the problems for season 2023-24.
By Molly Seales
On Monday, April 17, the Riverdale JV track team, which is coached by Joni Riggs and Maressa Halbmaier, traveled to Madison High School in Tallulah for the district track meet. They did a fabulous job, and they brought home the 2nd place trophy. In the boy’s division, Zane Givens placed 1st in the 200-meter run, 3rd in the 100-meter run, and 3rd in the 400-meter run. Tyler Wilhite placed 2nd in the 300-meter hurdles, 3rd in the 800-meter run, and 5th in the 200-meter run. Givens and Wilhite, who are both freshmen, are the only two young men on the boys’ team, and they did a fabulous job!
In the girl’s division, Riverdale showed that they may be few in number, but they are outstanding in their events. In field events, freshmen Makayla Pickett and Julia Grace Riggs both repeated as JV district champions-Pickett in discus and Riggs in shot put. In her first JV district meet, 7th grader Emma Youngblood placed 4th in shot put. Freshman Alaina Boyd placed 4th in the long jump.
In running events, the ladies stepped up and made Riverdale proud. Freshman Gracie Stephens placed 3rd in the 100- meter run, and 7th grader Lexi Pearah placed 7th. 8th grader Allie Murphy placed 2nd in the 100 -meter hurdles. Boyd placed 2nd in the 300-meter hurdles, and 7th grader Hannah Murray placed 3nd in 300- meter hurdles. Murphy placed 4thand Boyd placed 6th in the 200-meter run. 8th grader Abbie Jowers placed 2nd in the 400-meter run, and 7th grader Lily McCoy placed 3rd in the 400-meter. 7th grader Adyson Barrett placed 2nd in the 800-meter run, while Jowers placed 3rd in the mile run, and freshman Cardin Young placed 5th. In the 4 x 100-meter relay, the team of Boyd, McCoy, Pearah, and Stephens placed 1st, and in the 4 x 200-meter relay the team of McCoy, Murray, Murphy, and Stephens placed 1st. In the 4 x 400-meter relay, Barrett, McCoy, Pearah, and Stephens placed 2nd.
These students had a great day and did an excellent job representing Riverdale.
Photo credit Makayla Pickett
Student-athletes from 13 area schools and groups competed in Louisiana Special Olympics and Arts Festival April 18. Games took place at Northwestern State University’s Walter P. Ledet Track and Field Complex for a morning of competition and celebration.
Students from L.P. Vaughn, Fairview-Alpha, Goldonna, Lakeview, Natchitoches Central, Provencal, Natchitoches Jr. High, Marthaville, Weaver, NSU Elementary Lab, NSU Middle Lab and Red River and the Natchitoches ARC participated.
The games were spearheaded by NSU’s Presidential Leadership Program as a community impact project to engage students with special needs along with their teachers and families. Primarily a track and field event, organizers also included arts and crafts for students not involved in the athletic competitions.
More than 300 volunteers from NSU and the community helped make the event possible by organizing and publicizing the event, managing logistics, leading craft projects and encouraging competitors as huggers and cheerleaders.
By Royal Alexander
It turns out that the 51 former U.S. intelligence experts who signed the letter that President Biden used in the debate with President Trump to allege that the explosive and damaging information contained in Hunter Biden’s laptop was a Russian fake—were, in fact, pushing the actual “Russian disinformation” campaign!
Recall, this letter was also the “authority” used by Twitter, Facebook, and many other social media platforms to censor and hide from the American people the New York Post’s article which, in great detail, reported the truth about abundant evidence of widespread global corruption of the Biden Crime Family contained on Hunter’s ‘Laptop from Hell.’
Former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morrell testified this past week that then-Biden campaign senior adviser, now-Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, was the “impetus” of the public statement signed in October 2020 that falsely but persuasively suggested the laptop belonging to Hunter Biden was “Russian disinformation.”
Let me try to summarize this slimy mess.
Our current Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, was the driving force behind the fabrication of a letter signed by 51 former intelligence officials to discredit the Hunter Biden laptop story as Russian disinformation when they knew full well it was not.
And why did Morrell, Blinken and the rest falsely discredit the New York Post story regarding Hunter Biden’s laptop as supposed Russian disinformation?
“One intent was to share our (knowingly false) concern with the American people that the Russians were playing on this issue; and two, it was to help Vice President Biden … to win the election.”
How should we interpret this?
Well, we all enjoy freedom of speech and the right to our own opinions, but it was of great significance and gravity that these prominent, credentialed former intelligence officials lent their names to this knowingly false statement. Millions of Americans assumed the signatories of the letter had access to information that we, as average American citizens, did not have. They were right. These officials did have special knowledge and that’s the reason their signing the letter and attesting to this falsehood is all the more deceitful, manipulative, and damaging.
What was the result?
It provided a lazy, compliant, Biden-supporting national media with the justification it needed to ignore the Hunter Biden laptop story and discredit Hunter’s former business partner, Tony Bobulinski, who went on the record before the election to substantiate much of the information on the laptop through the use of huge numbers of text messages.
Why does this matter so much?
Because the revelation of influence-peddling by Hunter Biden just prior to the election was obviously newsworthy given that former VP Biden had repeatedly said he had “never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings.”
The emails effectively proved that Joe Biden was not only aware of his son’s business dealings but actually participated in meetings in support of this lucrative, international scheme to sell access to the U.S. Government. Thus, Joe Biden demonstrably lied directly to the American people throughout the 2020 campaign and in the Presidential Debates.
So, how should we view this joint effort by the national media and these current and former intelligence officials and other Administration officials who essentially colluded to suppress the Hunter Biden Laptop story?
The Wall Street Journal offers a sobering admonition:
This “partisan foray by current and former U.S. intelligence officials … should be deeply troubling to Americans on the left and right. They have authority by dint of access to information that isn’t confirmable by the press, which takes their spin as gospel. This is a form of political corruption that needs to be exposed … ” (WSJ, 12-5-22)
What effect would this damaging information have had on the 2020 election?
After the election, a full 17% of Biden voters polled stated that they would not have voted for Joe Biden had they known prior to the election of the information contained on the laptop.
Remember, Pres. Trump only lost the Electoral College count by a mere 44,000 votes in three swing states out of approximately 154.6 million votes cast nationwide!
As a result of this malevolent suppression of the truth, the voice of the people was silenced, and the trajectory of American history and world history was forever changed.
This was a dirty, cynical, and corrupt political trick of the first order that we have a moral and civic obligation to unfailingly call out and expose.
Sheriff’s Office Teaches Dangers of Impaired & Distracted Driving
On April 21, 2023 Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office school resource officers Sgt. Michael Longino, Deputy Rodrick Johnson, and Deputy Travious Johnson visited high school students at Riverdale Academy. In advance of Riverdale’s upcoming prom and graduation, the deputies used impairment goggles to help educate the teenagers on the dangers of impaired and distracted driving. Deputies also discussed laws related to operating watercraft or a motor vehicle while impaired.
The teens were asked to complete simple tasks such as walking a straight line, catching a ball then tossing it back to the deputy, and shooting a basketball. The results clearly showed that vision, reaction times, and the ability to successfully complete the tasks were all significantly affected by the drug and alcohol impairment goggles.
When put into the context of driving a vehicle, teens were shown in a fun yet educational way how impaired driving and distractions are potentially dangerous and could lead to a serious accident.
A similar presentation will be made at Red River High School after testing and prior to graduation.
With prom and graduation dates for area schools quickly approaching, Red River Parish Sheriff Glen Edwards would also like to provide a few safety tips to students and parents.
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