Funeral services celebrating the life of Audrey Carlin, 70, of Coushatta, Louisiana will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at The Pentecostals of Martin, Coushatta, Louisiana. Bro. Larry Sales and Rev. Olan McLaren will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until the time of service at the church.

Audrey was born July 4, 1952, to Johnnie and Bobbie Faye Williamson and entered into rest on June 28, 2023. She was a loving daughter, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Billy R. Carlin; sister, Melba J. Williamson; brothers, Jackie Williamson and Johnnie Williamson; and grandson, Aden Rollings.

Left to cherish her memory are her mother, Bobbie Faye Williamson of Martin, Louisiana; daughters, Ella Faye Carlin of Stonewall, Louisiana and Rosea Lee Carlin of Brazoria, Texas; sisters, Ramona Williamson Kellogg and husband, Wayne of Martin, Louisiana; brothers, Jimmie Lane Williamson and wife, Connie of Martin, Louisiana and Jerry Lamar Williamson and wife, Heather of Martin, Louisiana; five grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.

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Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for June 23-29,  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.

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School Superintendent Alison Strong met with parents of JROTC cadets and other members of the public Wednesday at the school board office.  Strong said the meeting was to listen to the public concerning the cancellation of the JROTC program at Red River High School, and to explain that she is working on a better program to offer students.

Several parents expressed their frustration, disappointment and vexation at news out Tuesday that the program was being cancelled and the two retired Air Force instructors were not being retained.  Strong said, “I am hearing passion about wanting to keep the program.  What’s gonna happen next?  I don’t take away from kids and don’t replace it.”

Before revealing the plans for a new program, Strong explained the reasons for ending JROTC.  They included economics and a low number of students participating.

Finance Director David Jones told the gathering the school system spent $167,000 of their money and $54,000 from the Air Force on JROTC.  Due to low enrollment Jones said, “We have a much larger expense per student in JROTC than any other course offering.”

Strong cited other reasons for dropping JROTC including low instructor workload, small class sizes, and inflexibility in the AF contract that did not allow the instructors to do any of the other tasks that all other teachers are required to do.

The final straw, said Strong, would be that the Air Force would shut down the program anyway in October due to consistently not meeting goals to enroll at least 10% of the high school population in the program.

Strong said, “What if I told you guys we found a way to do everything for your kids that would not cost the district the amount we are now spending.  There are other programs that do not cost as much as JROTC.  We have staff that are retired military, and they can take it and run it and not cost as much as JROTC.”

For the future, Strong said, “The plan at this moment is to start a Young Marines program.  We have two retired Marines in good standing that we already employ.”  As for the students, Strong said, “They will still get rank and awards, still do community service, and there is a drug education program that is not included in JROTC.”

Cadet Zachary Thomson, the commander of the Color Guard, asked, “What happens to current kids?”  Strong admitted, “We don’t know at this point.  We will give kids every opportunity.  We don’t have to meet a viability standard like JROTC.  I expect us to have 100 kids easily.”

Strong said that they were planning to announce the new Young Marines program would replace JROTC in a couple of weeks.  However, she expressed disappointment that the word got out and spread in social media before she had a chance to unveil the new program.  She summarized the meeting with, “I ask that all try to be a part of the solution and not part of the problem.  We will be as transparent as possible as we move forward.  Students, we care about you, and we love you.  Change is not always a bad thing.  It just could turnout for the better.”

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The extreme heat wave that has gripped our area for some time is predicted to continue into the weekend.  Some relief in the form of a slight chance for rain is predicted on Monday and the high is expected to drop below 100 Sunday and Monday.

Here is the Red River Parish Forecast:

Friday-Sunny and hot, with a high near 102. Heat index values as high as 114. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Friday Night-Partly cloudy, with a low around 78. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday-Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night-Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77.

Sunday-Partly sunny and hot, with a high near 99.

Sunday Night-Mostly cloudy, with a low around 77.

Monday-A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

Monday Night-A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76.

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Locally many businesses and government agencies are observing special hours early next week in observance of America’s Independence Day.  Banks have posted special business hours although their ATMs will be in operation 24/7.

The Red River Parish Library will be closed Monday and Tuesday.  There will be no children’s program on Monday, but there will be a Thursday July 6^th session at 2:00 pm for the kids to do games or crafts.

State and local government offices will be closed early in the week.  If you have business there, check their hours before you go.

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Members of 4-H and FFA in the Northwest Livestock District, including Red River Parish, have the opportunity to participate in a commercial heifer pen sale and show next January.  Contact your local LLSU Ag Center agent for entry information.

Entries consist of a pen of three commercial heifers.  The heifers will be judged buy a panel and will be sold.  The judging and sale will take place at Red River Livestock Auction in Armistead, LA on Wednesday January 24^th.

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By Brad Dison

John and his wife, Mary, were expecting a child.  Like his father, also named John, John was a clergyman in the 13 colonies.  He was the pastor of the United First Parish Church in Quincy, Massachusetts.  Finally, on January 23, 1737, the child was born.  As you might expect, John and Mary named the boy John.  This made him John III.

When John III was just seven years old, his father died and Mary sent John III to live with his aunt Lydia and uncle Thomas, who had no children of their own.  Thomas owned a successful shipping company that imported manufactured goods from England and exported goods such as rum and whale oil.  After graduating from Boston Latin School, John III enrolled in Harvard College, his father’s alma mater. In 1754, John III earned a bachelor’s degree and began working for his uncle Thomas.

In the same year John III graduated from Harvard, the North American colonies, then part of the British Empire entered into a conflict against the French in what is known as the French and Indian War.  Thomas’s business thrived during the war as he was able to secure numerous government contracts for shipping supplies to support the war effort.  All the while, Thomas was training John III to become a partner in the business, but in 1762, Thomas’s health began to fail.  In the following year, John III became a full partner in the shipping company.  In August 1764, Thomas died.  John III inherited his uncle’s business and became one of the wealthiest men in the colonies.

The British Empire won the French and Indian War, but the victory put the country deep in debt.  The British Empire enacted several acts or taxes, such as the Sugar Act of 1764 and the Stamp of 1765, to raise much-needed revenue.  John III ignored the Stamp Act.  In May 1766, John III’s ship Boston Packet “was the first ship that cleared out at this port [Boston], without stamped papers… and we hear was entered at the custom house in London without any the least difficulty.”  Once officials in London began giving John III’s ships difficulty, he boycotted their goods altogether.  Word spread quickly of John III’s snubbing the mother country and he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

In the following year, Parliament passed the Townshend Acts which was another tax on various imported goods and John III became a target for customs officials.  In 1768, customs officials boarded a ship owned by John III without a search warrant.  John III refused to allow the customs officials below decks to search the ship.  Customs officials wanted to file charges against John III for smuggling, but the case was dropped for lack of evidence.  John III’s supporters contended that John III’s refusal was the first act of resistance against Parliament and was the act which initiated the American Revolution.   

In May 1775, John III was unanimously elected President of the Continental Congress.  He was presiding when a fellow Massachusetts delegate nominated George Washington as commander-in-chief of the continental army.  In the following year, the colonies declared independence and John III was one of the main financiers of the American Revolution.  If the series of events had not taken place which enabled John III to inherit his uncle’s fortune and shipping company, the American Revolution might never have taken place and we might have remained British subjects.

John III also snubbed the mother country when he signed the Declaration of Independence.  By signing this document, all 56 signers knew that they would certainly be executed if America lost the war.  Of all the 56 signatures, John III’s is the largest, the most flamboyant, and the most prominent on the page.  John III’s signature became a part of popular culture.  Even today, nearly two and a half centuries later, when someone asks for a signature, they sometimes ask for John III’s signature.  They ask you for your John Hancock.    

Sources:

1. The Pennsylvania Gazette, May 8, 1766, p.2.
2. The Pennsylvania Gazette, May 29, 1766, p.2.
3. Maryland Gazette, June 12, 1766, p.1.
4. Thomas Jefferson, et al, July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence.

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“Join us for festivities and fellowship!” is the invitation issued by the new Family Harvest Church.  They are staging a big celebration of US Independence beginning at 3:00 pm on Tuesday July 4, 2023.

The day’s activities include a waterslide for the kids, so bring your swimsuit and towel.  Everyone is invited to a huge BBQ dinner.

The celebration will be held at 513 Catfish Bend Road south of Coushatta.  The church meets Sunday and Wednesdays at Magnolia Bend Academy.

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By Bailee King

Cow Camp 2023 was one for the books! I am so thankful God put me and Tucker on this path of being their pre-teen leader. These kids may not be our biological kids, but they are our kids.

I have seen God move and do really great things through these kids these past four days. Just to hear what they got from their clinics each night, watching them praise God in worship, pray aloud in big groups in front of others, was truly amazing. I am just so proud of them and can’t wait to see what God will continue to do through them.

Parents you have raised amazing kids, we got so many compliments on how well behaved and kind they are. Thank you for trusting me and Tucker to take your babies.

We are tired, sore, and ready for our own bed and showers, but I would go back tomorrow if they wanted to. Thank you to everyone who prayed for us.

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By Steve Graf

As a kid growing up in East Texas, my idea of sleeping in was getting up at 7 a.m.

At my house, there was no lying in bed till noon like some of my friends were able to do.

There was a yard to be mowed, a garden to rake, trash to take out and other chores that were required to live under the roof my mom and dad provided. Many a morning my bedroom light came on at 5 a.m., especially when there was work to be done on our ranch. One thing about growing up on a ranch — there’s always something to be done.

Whether we were fixing fences, building a barn, bailing hay or doctoring cattle, there was never a shortage of work. But most of the time, before my work began, my dad would let me take advantage of the early morning bite as I fished one of our many stocked ponds loaded with bass.

There’s nothing quite like getting up before daylight and getting on a body of water and throwing a topwater bait, anticipating that explosive bite. But no one wakes up like Mother Nature does, as the birds start to chirp, the deer ease out of the woods for an early-morning feed and the squirrels scurry through the trees looking for acorns. 

As anglers, there are a lot of special moments that make you realize just how blessed we are. One of those is the daily sunrise which is a huge blessing for those of us who get to see and experience God’s awesome work first-hand. Making it even more special is hearing the national anthem before take-off on all our ABA Tournaments. It’s hard to describe the beauty and splendor of a rising sun as you head out onto a body of water anticipating a good early morning bite. 

Even after all my many years of tournament take-offs, I still get chills as I sit in my boat and wonder, “How lucky am I?” It is truly a privilege that we, as anglers, get to do what we do. God has blessed me in so many ways with my health, my family and giving me the ability to enjoy His great outdoors.

If you want to experience what I get to enjoy so often, you must get up and get out of the bed. Whether you sit on your porch, in a bass boat or on a deer stand, watching a sunrise will have you feeling a calm like you’ve never felt before.

It’s that quiet time that we all crave from time to time. It’s that period of time where we plan our day and set our priorities. Some people like to read scripture, while others enjoy a good cup of coffee and a newspaper. But one thing is for certain, it just might be the most peaceful and gratifying time of the day.

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and take the time to enjoy a sunrise.  

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From Red River 4-H, “Even though it’s burning up outside, our livestock folks are in the process of getting commercial/market animals for the state fair livestock show.  If you have any questions or need help, please let our office know.”

4-H said that DNA kits can be ordered from the state Fair Livestock website. There will be a livestock club meeting the first part of August to get the year going.

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Larry Young

3/3/1947 – 6/17/2023

Service: Saturday, July 1, 2023 @ 1:00 P. M. New Mary Magdalene B. C. Coushatta, LA.

The Red River Parish Journal publishes “Remembrances” – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. The obituary will be included in the emails sent to subscribers.  Contact your funeral provider or RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication.

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From David Adkins: David and Mary Adkins attended the graduation of their granddaughter, Emma Claire Bivins in Lebanon, Tn. On May 6th. She graduated from Volunteer College with an Associate Degree as a Veterinarian Tech. and already has a job with a veterinarian in Gallatin, Tn.  Sorry, there is no picture but David and I tried but his camera would not send them.

Abundant Life Worship Center will welcome Evangelist James S. Meeks and family to morning worship Sunday July 2^nd.  Service begins at 10:30 am.

LifeShare has announced a blood drive will be held at Martin Baptist Church on Sunday July 16 from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm.

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On Tuesday, School Superintendent Alison Strong notified JROTC Colonel Mark Duffield that the school system was shutting down the JROTC Program. Duffield told the Journal it had to do with money.  He said Strong told him it was a matter of cost vs the number of students impacted.

Late word Tuesday evening from parent Sandy Thompson that there will be a meeting at the School Board office at 9:00 am Wednesday morning.  Thompson said she expected the Superintendent to be there and she expected there would be an explanation of why the JROTC program was being terminated.

The decision came as a shock to cadets and their parents.  Two of them, Sandy Thompson and Tamisin Lewis are working to rally support in the community to save the JROTC program.  Thompson’s son and Lewis’ daughters are pictured in their BDU uniforms.

Duffield and Senior Master Sergeant Lawrence Bunton’s contracts run through the end of June.  Those contracts with the school system are not being renewed, even though the Air Force pays half of their salary. 

Col. Duffield told the Journal it means there will be no JROTC at Red River High next year, or anytime in the future.  Duffield said they were not “on the chopping block” from the Air Force.  The unit had passed a recent Air Force inspection and several cadets had just completed the summer Cadet Leadership Course.  In addition, incoming freshmen were being signed up for the program next year.

Lewis has two daughters and Thompson has a son in JROTC. 

Thompson’s son, Zachary is Cadet Commander of the Color Guard.  Lewis said, “We’re just asking for a chance.  Our kids want a chance to prove they can do this.  It can mean life changing things.”  Thompson noted, “There was a big change in my kid as he gained confidence and drastically matured.  He set out his career path based upon JROTC and a military career.”  And she asked, “Isn’t this what school is supposed to do?  Prepare kids for their future?”

Both parents expressed extreme disappointment that the school system would take this action.  They said they were not contacted in advance, and none of the other parents or cadets were either as far as they’ve heard.

 

Thompson said,  “JROTC is no different than sports players and athletic scholarships.  It gives them options.  It helps them find a place to belong.”

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The Annual Membership Drive open enrollment for the Red River Council on Aging will be on-going until it closes at the end of business Monday, July 17, 2023.  Persons who are 18 years of age and are residents of Red River Parish can enroll. 

The Annual Membership meeting for the Red River Council on Aging will be Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 1:00 pm. It will be held at 1824 Front Street, Coushatta, LA.  All members are welcome and the public is invited.

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The Shreveport office of the National Weather service said, “Oppressive heat is here to stay. A Heat Advisory is now in effect through Wednesday.  Widespread afternoon heat indices will range from 105-110 degrees.  Isolated areas could see values in excess of 110 degrees.  Take necessary precautions.

The heat is predicted to continue through Monday.  Here is the local forecast for Red River Parish:

Wednesday-Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Heat index values as high as 108. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night-Mostly clear, with a low around 78. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday-Sunny and hot, with a high near 102. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night-Mostly clear, with a low around 79.

Friday-Sunny and hot, with a high near 102.

Friday Night-Partly cloudy, with a low around 79.

Saturday-Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 102.

Saturday Night-Mostly cloudy, with a low around 79.

Sunday-Partly sunny and hot, with a high near 99.

Sunday Night-Mostly cloudy, with a low around 78.

Monday-A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny and hot, with a high near 98.

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By Teddy Allen

No one in real life ever wears what models in big city fashion shows wear.

You’ve seen clips of these things on television or, in a weak moment, clicked to see the newest styles, all the rave, “the newest line” by (Made Up Designer Names Alert!) Melik Boovoir or Salome deNeuve or Pepe Duboir.

The model looks like he or she is wearing either a pastel Hefty bag — how to you take a bathroom break with this thing on? — or something they stole off a scarecrow. Everything is really tight or really slouchy. Sometimes they have hats on their heads that look like things we used to make in Vacation Bible School.

Who wears this stuff?

Even at awards shows, most of the Who Looked Best On The Red Carpet gang appear to have lost a bet. Tip of the cap for the man or woman who bought something off the rack pulled the standard tux out of the back of the closet, shined their shoes, and showed up looking like a person you wouldn’t be scared to share either a cab ride or a hymn book with.

For the past 10 days or so, between thunderstorms and power outages and picking up limbs, most of us north Louisiana common folk were too busy looking for air conditioning and cable to watch LSU scrap its way to a seventh College World Series championship to notice that the Berlin Fashion Show was underway in Germany which, conveniently, is where Berlin still is.

Dapper dressers were all up in the Neue Natoinalgalerie to become one with the highlight of the week, the Saint Laurent show, quite a spectacle with fans taking phone videos of, as GQ reported, “the latest evolution of Anthony Vaccarello’s seductive menswear collection.”

The fashion writer continued, something along the lines of how “all eyes” would be on “nonstop action on and off runways elsewhere, too.” Yes: after the “hyper-exclusive” affair in Berlin, we are off to places like Florence and Milan, which precedes a “whirlwind blitz through a jam-packed Paris Fashion Week.”

Again, the only real people you ever see in these runway clothes are the people on the runways. And as soon as they’re off the runways, they put on jeans and T-shirts and look much, much sharper than they did wearing clothes that look like balloons.

Granted, when I was growing up my dad told me my idea of being “dressed up” was having my shoes tied. And God love him, he was right. I can tie a tie now and keep my oxfords shined, but the only sense I have of fashion I have is, “Does this look normal? Would this embarrass my grandmother?” It’s about one step ahead of Granimals.

My personal mechanic, old-school country music supplier, and fashion assistant is Shine Broussard, who is from Morgan City. (He goes by “Francois” during Fashion Season; his signature color is brown.) He has assured me that although he can’t “travel abroad” to the Big Shows this summer and fall, he is making the local circuit, which includes stops in Dubach (August 7-11, Denim Week), Greater Sibley (September 18-22, Burlap), Gibsland (October 2-6, Gingham), and Lower Summerfield (November 27-December 1, Dealer’s Choice).

“My main fashion advice,” said Shine, “is to remember that no one pays nearly as much attention to you as you think they do. Save your money and be comfortable and presentable and non-offensive. Good taste never goes out of style.”

Shine, who is a fashionista only during the fall shows, told me this on a break from changing out the transmission on a GTO his uncle willed him. This is a man you can trust.

So …

If you’re like Shine and grease is a common opponent, consider a Dickies jumpsuit. Otherwise, an iron, a white button down, shined shoes, an A-line, a Godet or flare dress, a business suit, jeans that fit, and a clean T-shirt, those are always in style. It doesn’t have to match: it just has to “go.”

Good fashion sense is good common sense.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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Destination Science Campers Brennan Dromm, Mason Jones and Aaron Blanchard donned white coats and did cheek swabs in a biology lab Monday as Northwestern State University’s School of STEM kicked off the week-long science camp Monday.  Mason Jones is the grandson of Tom and Debbie Jones and the great-grandson of Lem and Margaret Jones of Coushatta.  He spends his summers with his grandparents in Coushatta.

Campers learned to look for bacteria under a microscope, plate the bacteria and study epidemiology.  Later in the week they were scheduled to learn about parasites and pathogens.

Throughout this week, students ages 10-14 will explore chemistry, zoology, engineering technology, physics, anatomy, physiology, veterinary science, ecology and natural science both in labs and outdoors. 

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No one was disappointed.  Everyone applauded and sang along with the antics of Harvey Rabbit and Friends as they kicked off the Red River Parish Library’s summer program series for children.  This summer the theme is All Together Now.

The Library posted, “Tim and Laura never fail to deliver a great show. Had a super turnout considering the heat.  The library is always a cool place to be.”

There was a great crowd at the Library on Monday for the show.  Kala Sims, the Children’s Librarian, always puts together a great line-up of interesting, entertaining and educational programs.  It is part of the library’s Summer Reading Program, which is now underway.  The summer reading challenge for kids from two years old through seventeen runs through July 24^th.

Librarian Trey Lewis posted a reminder:  Remember due to the July 4th holiday and library closure we won’t have a program on July 3rd. We will have game day on the 6^th.

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By Royal Alexander

What a sweetheart deal.  Two misdemeanors and pretrial diversion for countless crimes established by the Laptop from Hell.

It’s really no surprise to learn that Pres. Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, has received highly preferential treatment regarding the numerous criminal allegations against him, charges that would send most Americans and any Republican to federal prison for years.

It’s still important, though, to know with clarity how Joe Biden has corrupted the DOJ and the FBI to protect Hunter and himself.

What am I referring to?

This past week news broke that the Biden Department of Justice hindered, in numerous ways, the investigation of Hunter Biden.

Of course, for months, a lazy and compliant national media has spun the narrative that the investigation really wasn’t receiving any special treatment.  We now know that was false.  Two whistleblowers, one named and one anonymous came forward this week and gave sworn testimony.

The named individual, Gary Shapley, a 14-year IRS veteran, and the anonymous individual have told a story of “blocked search warrants, tip-offs to Mr. Biden’s (defense) team, squelched avenues of investigation, downgraded charges, and interference by Joe Biden’s appointees.” (K. Strassel, WSJ, 6-23-23). Shapley testified that the DOJ, its Tax Division and the Delaware U.S. Attorney’s Office provided Hunter Biden with “preferential treatment and unchecked conflicts of interest.” (WSJ, 6-23-23)

Shapley, head of an elite team of tax investigators, testified that his team was almost immediately prohibited from taking normal investigatory actions.

He was thwarted both in doing spontaneous questioning of witnesses and in searching for evidence because somehow the Hunter Biden defense team was tipped off and able to impede it.   Shapley was also not allowed to ask questions about “dad” or “the big guy”.  They were also prohibited from investigating campaign finance violations. 

It goes on and on.

Shapley provided further evidence of influence peddling when he revealed a WhatsApp message in which Hunter Biden tells a Chinese businessman:  “I’m sitting here with my father” and urges the businessman to fulfill the “commitment.”

Hunter Biden then warns the businessman to personally resolve the issue that night or “I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction.” (K. Strassel, WSJ, 6-23-23).

There are also photos of Hunter Biden on his later-abandoned laptop showing him at President Joe Biden’s Wilmington, Delaware home on the day he included his father’s name in the WhatsApp message he sent to threaten his Chinese business associate, Henry Zhao, an official working with Chinese energy conglomerate CEFC Energy. (Newsmax, 6-23-23).

While Shapley did not provide evidence that Joe Biden was actually in close physical proximity to Hunter Biden as he threatened businessman Zhao, “if Joe Biden was sitting next to his son as he sent the message as it suggests, it would be a fatal blow to the president’s repeated claims that he never discussed overseas business deals with his son, and the photographs of Hunter Biden at what appears to be a family gathering at the Delaware home is the strongest indication that he was in close proximity to his father when he threatened the Chinese businessman.” (Free Beacon, 6-22-23).

In another email later that day Hunter Biden also mentioned “me and my family”, confirming an agreement for a $10 million contract for “introductions alone,” with bonuses for any successful deals that come about as a result of the Biden family’s efforts.

Still further, Shapley also points out that Hunter’s one-time business partner, Rob Walker, admitted to investigators that an “orchestrated” appearance of Joe Biden while out of office was made to “bolster” the odds of a “deal work (ing) out. “

For obvious reasons, Shapley recommended more serious felony charges than the minor counts to which Hunter Biden has now pled.

If this is not an example of influence peddling—and blatant corruption of our Constitutional principle of equal justice for all—then I don’t know what is.  If this is not what favorable treatment by prosecutors and glaring political interference which benefits the powerful at the expense of hardworking, law-abiding Americans looks like, I don’t know what it would look like.

This is rank corruption and those guilty of it need to be held accountable.  While that will not likely happen it is, nevertheless, important that the American people continue to be made aware of it.

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Last week was vacation bible school at First Methodist Coushatta.  VBS workers said they saw a record number of children in attendance, especially among the youngest kids.

The first night of Stellar VBS kids learned why stars appear to twinkle, how Jesus is the light of the world, when life feels dark…shine Jesus’ light.  They ate moon pies, and made sun visors.  

Day 2 of Stellar VBS saw more kids come.  They learned about harmony and how to work with others to shine Jesus’ light.  They talked about Zacchaeus and watched planets orbit the sun.

On day 3 the kids ate space ice cream.  Then they talked about the joy of knowing Jesus as our light. And they sang about “This Little Light of “mine.”

And on day 4, the last night of Stellar VBS, the kids watched a rocket launch.  Then they studied about helping others, and learned how to praise our Heavenly Father. 

First Methodist posted, “Thank you to all the volunteers for making this week special for every child.  Thank you parents for lending us your children and trusting us to share the word of Christ with them.”

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Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for June 16-22,  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.

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