LCCM Policy Solutions is a non-profit established to advocate and educate legislators and the public on public policy based on conservative principles.

By utilizing a myriad of scholars, policy wonks, pollsters, and activists, we help craft and promote top conservative policy priorities for Louisiana.

From fiscal issues to social issues and everything in between, LCCM Policy Solutions is a beacon for those interested in advancing Louisiana to a more conservative run government.

Paid Content by LCCM Policy Solutions

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A graveside service to celebrate the life of LaVerne De Loach, 92, was held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 26, 2023, at Social Springs Cemetery, Ringgold, Louisiana.

LaVerne was born June 6, 1931, in Coushatta, Louisiana, to Arthur L. Lowrey and Eunice Madden Lowrey. She went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, in Longview, Texas.

LaVerne was a homemaker and while at home she enjoyed making ceramics and truly was an artist. She was a gardener and loved her flowers and plants. LaVerne married the love of her life Truman C. De Loach on April 6, 1963. She had great faith as a Baptist and showed that in her daily life. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be greatly missed.

LaVerne is preceded in death by her parents; son, William Lee De Loach; sister, Dianne Prudhomme; and brother, Herman Lowrey. She is survived by her husband, Truman De Loach; sons, David De Loach and wife, Patti, and Stephen De Loach and wife, Jennifer; grandson, Brandon De Loach; granddaughter, Erika Hamilton; great-grandsons, Jay De Loach, and Gabriel De Loach; and nieces and nephews.

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LaVerne DeLoach

June 6, 1931 — June 21, 2023

A graveside service was held at 10:00 am Monday, June 26, 2023, at Social Springs Cemetery.

Nolan Carter Mabile

January 24, 2004 – June 22, 2023

Funeral service was held at 4:00 pm, Sunday, June 25, 2023.

Johnnie Faye Rawls

March 23, 1939 – June 23, 2023

Funeral services was held at 2:00 pm Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel.

Margaret Kathleen Adams Cason

August 20, 1931 – June 22, 2023

Funeral services was held at 10:00 am Monday, June 26, 2023 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel.

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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Red River public schools remind everyone that the summer feeding program is underway.  Every Monday through Thursday until July 27^th there will be meals available from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm at the Red River High Cafeteria.  It is first come, first served while supplies last.

The Fourth Friday Fish Fry at Clara Springs Camp was last Friday afternoon.  Afterwards, the camp posted, “Thank you Grand Cane Baptist Church for helping us serve 321 people amazing fish at our June Fourth Friday Fish Fry.”  The next fish fry at the camp is scheduled for July 28^th.

CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic will host a grand opening to celebrate the expansion of its family medicine facility in Shreveport, located at 9220 Ellerbe Road on Wednesday, June 28.  The expanded clinic will help serve a growing need for care and services in the Shreveport-Bossier region. The facility offers a larger waiting room, more exam rooms, an on-site lab, radiology and x-ray services, pediatric and primary care, virtual appointments and more. It will be staffed with five highly skilled CHRISTUS Health clinicians.

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A graveside service to celebrate the life of LaVerne De Loach, 92, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 26, 2023, at Social Springs Cemetery, Ringgold, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Pastor Michael Sanders.

LaVerne was born June 6, 1931, in Coushatta, Louisiana, to Arthur L. Lowrey and Eunice Madden Lowrey. She went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, in Longview, Texas.

LaVerne was a homemaker and while at home she enjoyed making ceramics and truly was an artist. She was a gardener and loved her flowers and plants. LaVerne married the love of her life Truman C. De Loach on April 6, 1963. She had great faith as a Baptist and showed that in her daily life. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be greatly missed.

LaVerne is preceded in death by her parents; son, William Lee De Loach; sister, Dianne Prudhomme; and brother, Herman Lowrey. She is survived by her husband, Truman De Loach; sons, David De Loach and wife, Patti, and Stephen De Loach and wife, Jennifer; grandson, Brandon De Loach; granddaughter, Erika Hamilton; great-grandsons, Jay De Loach, and Gabriel De Loach; and nieces and nephews.

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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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Nolan Carter Mabile

January 24, 2004 – June 22, 2023

Visitation will be held at Fairview Baptist Church from 2:00 pm until funeral services begin at 4:00 pm, Sunday, June 25, 2023.

Johnnie Faye Rawls

March 23, 1939 – June 23, 2023

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel.

Margaret Kathleen Adams Cason

August 20, 1931 – June 22, 2023

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Monday, June 26, 2023 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel.

Pugh Theis Huckabay, Jr.

March 02, 1942 – June 20, 2023

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, June 24, 2023 at First Methodist Church of Coushatta.

Charles Smith

7/10/1950 – 6/12/2023

Service was Saturday, June 17, 2023 @ 1:00 P. M. Springville Missionary Baptist Church 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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It’s not too late.  Springhill Baptist Church still has a few spots available for Summer Camp Kidz.  The dates are July 13 through 16.

Contact Ms. Rhonda for questions or Ms. Carolyn @ 318-780-8413 to reserve your spot.

Stay Cool! See you at Summer Camp Kidz.

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Join us Saturday, July 1st, at Anderson’s Produce for food, snow cones, and live music featuring Victoria Wells.  There will be a variety of produce ready, and food and snow cones for you to enjoy while you shop.

If you haven’t been to see us yet, this is the perfect opportunity to see what the farm has to offer. Just 45 minutes from Shreveport and 20 minutes from Natchitoches.  Bring your family and spend the day with us, you won’t want to miss it.

Anderson’s Produce and Plant Farm, 110 Anderson Ln, Coushatta, LA.  Call for details (318) 932-1432.

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By Brad Dison

It was the 1969 Toronto Pop Festival and Malcolm “Mac” John Rebennack Jr.’s band was scheduled to perform.  Mac looked like something from a strange other world.  He had strands of beads and other trinkets interwoven into his hair and “powders coming out of his ears.” Strips of colorful rags hung from his clothing.  He used a walking stick which looked like its intended use was for casting spells rather than walking.  The 18-year-old musician was in perfect health and did not require any type of apparatus for walking.  The stick was just part of who Mac was.  When Mac walked in a room, everyone instinctually turned their gaze his way.

The concert was held at an outdoor venue, and it had been raining periodically throughout the day.  Mac and his band were onstage playing their unique mixture of jazz, blues, rock and roll, and funk which the media nicknamed “voodoo rock,” when the rain began to pour.  As if it were a part of the show, Mac raised the unique walking stick toward the sky and held it there for a few moments.  His eyes focused on the dark clouds.  Some say he mumbled a few words.  Suddenly, as if under Mac’s spell, the rain stopped completely.

Mac was born and raised in New Orleans’s middle class Third Ward.  His father owned and operated an appliance store.  In addition to household appliances such as washers, dryers, and refrigerators, Mac’s father sold sound systems and records in a variety of genres Mac later described as “gospel, bebop, real filthy party records, and hillbilly stuff like Hank Williams.”  Mac’s father also repaired appliances and sound systems.  Mac was first subjected to the gypsy world of musicians as a child when he accompanied his father on sound system repair jobs at local clubs.  Mac was more than a decade away from the required age to enter the clubs, but he was allowed since he was helping with the repairs.  Mac was entranced.  He recognized at this early age that he wanted to be a performer just like them.  Within a short time, Mac learned to play multiple instruments with almost no instruction.

By the time he was a teenager, he was writing songs for other artists and playing guitar for recording sessions.  Mac said, “New Orleans produced a lot of good piano players and some good drummers, but for some reason there weren’t a lot of guitar players around, so I kind of filled the need.”  Mac was always modest.  Aaron Neville recalled that “the ratty dude,” which is how he referred to Mac, “was a bad dude on guitar.”  But that changed when Mac was 20 years old.

In 1961, Mac was on tour with his friend, fellow New Orleans native Ronnie Barron.  When Mac and Ronnie were not performing, they spent most of their time at a local motel.  During their stay, Ronnie and the motel manager’s wife became friends, maybe more than friends.  The motel manager confronted Ronnie about the possible infidelity and an argument ensued.  In a fit of rage, the motel manager pulled a pistol from his pocket.  Mac grabbed the pistol with his left hand just as the motel manager pulled the trigger.  POW!!!   Because of Mac’s quick action, the bullet missed its intended target.  For Ronnie, Mac was in the right place at the right time.  For Mac’s left ring finger, Mac was in the right place at the wrong time.  The bullet passed through his finger and left it “hanging by a thread.”  Surgeons repaired his mangled finger to the best of their abilities, but Mac’s career as a guitar player had ended with that pistol shot.  Mac transitioned from guitar to bass and then to piano, his first instrument.

Mac fell into a deep depression and tried to dull it with drugs.  He was arrested for possession of narcotics and spent time in a federal prison.  Upon his release in 1965, Mac moved to Los Angeles, California where he became a session piano player for artists such as Buffalo Springfield and Sonny and Cher.  In 1967, Mac recorded his first album, Gris-Gris, with other transplanted New Orleans musicians.  While working on the album, Mac began working on a way to incorporate the Mardi Gras tradition that he was so fond of into his live shows.  He created a character for his live shows that he named after a 19th-centuryth century Louisiana voodoo priest.  In creating this character, Mac said he was “just tryin’ to hustle album deals, just tryin’ to hustle money.”  Rather than being a one-off character as Mac had planned, he became known as the character.  Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. may have been known as Mac to his close friends, but the world knows Mac as Dr. John.  He is most associated with his biggest hit single released in 1973 called “Right Place, Wrong Time.”

 Sources:

1. Browne, David. “Dr. John: The Joy and Mystery of a New Orleans Saint.” Rolling Stone, 24 July 2019, rollingstone.com/music/music-features/dr-john-joy-mystery-new-orleans-saint-861931/amp/. Accessed 18 June 2023.
2. “Dr. John – Right Place Wrong Time (Official Audio).” youtube.com, youtube.com/watch?v=W4PjWgiH-LQ. Accessed 7 Feb. 2023.

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Red River Academic Academy posted, “We ended our year celebrating our students.”

“Students received awards in ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, P. E., Most Improved, Perfect Attendance, Honor Roll, Principal’s Honor Roll, and character awards.  Special recognition was given to the students who attended the Academy as fourth, fifth, and sixth graders.”

Many parents attended the festivities.

Mentors Celebration

The Girl’s Mentors (Dr. Diane Newton, Deborah Babers, Jacqueline Rock, Joyce Halbmaier, and Katherine Smith) played traditional games (UNO, Left Center/Right, Q-Bitz, Dominoes and Checkers) with the girls.

The boys who signed up for mentoring were taught those traditional games by SRO Irvin Raphiel, Head Maintenance Ossie Lewis, and P. E. teacher John Bachman. Students, mentors, and male volunteer staff were treated to an ice cream sundae bar as our end of the year celebration.

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The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that on Thursday, June 29, 2023, the US 84 bridge over Bayou Pierre in Coushatta, Red River Parish will be reduced to one lane for routine bridge inspection.

This lane closure is scheduled to take place from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This bridge is located approximately 3.6 miles east of I-49.

Flagging operations will be in place to allow traffic to pass through the bridge inspection zone.

Restrictions/Permits: Vehicles 12 feet wide or smaller will be allowed to pass through the bridge inspection zone. Larger vehicles will need to detour.

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By Steve Graf

Over my years of traveling all over the South from one tournament to another, I’ve had a few funny and sometimes difficult encounters. Most of the time it’s something mechanical like a flat tire, a wheel bearing going out on my boat trailer, or motor trouble with my outboard engine like a lower unit going out. But sometimes Mother Nature decides to invade my territory with a snake trying to get into my boat or an occasional alligator who likes to make his presence known. But one recent event at Toledo Bend was a different kind of incident.

As anglers, we spend all day searching for fish we hope will put us in the winner’s circle or at least get a check. Practicing for an event can be physically exhausting and mentally draining. So, a good night’s sleep is very important for an angler to be able to function at a high level. The last thing we want is for our sleep to be disrupted in the middle of the night.

Well on the night of May 25th at Toledo Bend, I was in my deep sleep phase when I heard something outside my bedroom window. As anglers, we are all paranoid about someone stealing things out of our boat and are on constant alert. On this particular night, I awoke to a loud noise like someone was outside. There were three of us staying together at this VRBO house and we each had our own boat. The area we were staying in seemed to be a very quiet neighborhood, so to think that someone was outside going through our boats got my full attention. 

Just like the Night Before Christmas, “When out on the driveway there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. Away to the back door I flew like a flash, threw open the door to see all the trash.” Well, there he was, standing in the trash and enjoying some leftover wings from the previous guest. It turns out that the bandit was a massive raccoon who decided to order the trash can wings. Now as I opened the door, you would think this raccoon would scurry away. But not this guy; he was not intimidated by me at all. He actually had a look on his face like, “What do you want? Can’t you see I’m eating?”

Not looking to abandon the buffet of chicken wings he had found, he let me know really quickly, as he stood up on his hind legs, that I had better back off if I knew what was good for me. Now I’ve come across a few raccoons during my 62 years on this earth, but none as bold or as bad as this one. He was not going away easily, and it would take my best bluff to send him down the road to another feast.

It was at this point that I reached down and grabbed the lid of the trash can he had destroyed, and I started banging it and ran toward him. At first, he didn’t seem to even give me a second thought as he continued to devour his order of wings. Then I decided to get on his level as I bent over, with my lid for protection and gave him a hardcore stare which turned out to be a game changer for some reason. I had gained the advantage over this wing-eating bandit as he scurried off and headed back to the woods. 

Understand, raccoons are smart and very persistent, and I knew he would probably return to face me again, maybe with backup. I was right! As I got back into bed, the bandit returned and began to attempt to open another trash can by literally running and jumping on it. It was so loud that I could not believe my two fishing buddies weren’t getting up to see what was going on! They slept right through all the commotion and never even rolled over. Once again, I headed to the back door and faced this evil doer for the last time. As I opened the door, I ran directly at the chicken wing bandit and this time he ran off for good as I shouted, “And never come back!”

You never know what will transpire on a fishing trip, but sometimes you must sleep with one eye open just in case a bandit of the night shows up. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen!

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The Red River Parish Library’s summer special events for children begin on Monday afternoon.  Harvey Rabbit and Friends will perform for the kids at 2:00 pm.

Come see what this crazy rabbit is up to!  Harvey Rabbit has entertained Red River youngsters for years.  And each time there is a new and exciting show.

Other Monday features during the summer include Wild World on June 10^th.  Meet some wild animals up close and personally.  On July 17^th the scientists from Sci-Port will be in town.

On Monday July 24^th the Red River Sheriff’s Office and Red River Fire Department will be at the library.  Learn about the tools and equipment they use. And also enjoy 

Snow cones and Sprinklers to keep you cool.

The Library has planned a great entertaining and educational program for children this summer.  And it all begins Monday.

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Pugh Theis Huckabay, Jr.

March 02, 1942 – June 20, 2023

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, June 24, 2023 at First Methodist Church of Coushatta.

Charles Smith

7/10/1950 – 6/12/2023

Service was Saturday, June 17, 2023 @ 1:00 P. M. Springville Missionary Baptist Church 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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Celebrate the Fourth of July at Family Harvest Church.  The church said they will have BBQ, waterslides for the kids, family and fellowship. The event is Tuesday July 4^th at 513 Catfish Bend Road.

More than twenty Northwestern State University Theatre and Dance students have been hired for summer work by professional companies around the United States or have been admitted to nationally recognized graduate programs. Students work as actors, choreographers, hosts or in a variety of roles. Several professional companies come to NSU annually to audition students. NSU students also submit an audition directly to companies. Students have an opportunity to attend the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) that allows them to audition for over 50 companies looking to hire talent for summer or year-round employment. 

If your church or group is planning an event this summer, let everyone know.  Send details and a photo to RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com. 

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Recovery efforts are well underway as parish residents clean up a wide path of debris left by several severe storms that moved through late last week.  Some residents are still without power as power companies work to restore downed transmission lines.

The Red River Fire Department posted this update several days ago:

RRFD, RRSO, DOTD, and RRPJ  have been clearing roadways since the early morning hours. Please drive safe if you’re traveling. Although roadways may be cleared for travel, some debris may still be on the roadway.

Red River Fire District would also like to thank all the members of our great community who stopped this morning to help clear roadways. It is an amazing sight to see our parish entities and members of or community work together. We at Red River Fire District hope everyone has a safe and blessed day.

According to the latest news release from SWEPCO issued Tuesday, all of the households in the Natchitoches District should have their power on by Tuesday night.  Others in the area are not so fortunate, with restoration times ranging out as far as Saturday, June 24^th.

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Late last week Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a State of Emergency Declaration for North and Central Louisiana in response to several waves of severe weather and strong winds that moved across the area in the past week.

Several Louisiana parishes have declared states of emergency, and it is anticipated that other parishes may declare states of emergency and may be in need of assistance to response to this event.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) along with emergency crews have been deployed to the impacted areas and repairs are underway, however, it is anticipated that it may take days or up to one week before the power is fully restored.

“This emergency declaration will give parish officials access to much needed resources to help with the impacts of this severe weather and the significant power outages,” said Gov. Edwards. “I have directed GOHSEP Director Casey Tingle to travel to Shreveport to meet with local officials from the impacted parishes and am receiving constant updates. We are making certain officials receive the assistance they need as quickly as possible. We are urging everyone to pay close attention to the information and warnings from state, local and emergency officials.”

The following parishes are experiencing water outages: Bienville; Bossier; Caddo; Caldwell; DeSoto; and Jackson.  The following parishes have been placed under boil advisories: Bienville; Bossier; Caddo; Catahoula; Grant; Natchitoches; Tensas; and Webster.

“In addition, the National Weather Center predicts excessive heat in Louisiana and has issued a Heat Advisory & Excessive Heat Warning over the next couple of days. Please take this heat warning seriously. Heat related illness can occur in many different ways, and it is important to stay hydrated and cool to prevent illness but to also recognize the signs and seek help immediately should it be necessary. Also, we know that some people may choose to use a generator. Remember the following for generator safety: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions; do not place the generators inside; place them at least 20 feet away from your home, downwind away from doors, windows and vents. Please check on the elderly, your family, friends and pets and stay safe.”

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The Sheriff’s Office reports one man has been arrested and faces several counts of Terrorizing and Cyberstalking.  He is identified as 36-year old Christopher Ladell King.

King was being held on $150,000 bond.  He was arrested on June 12^th and the latest report from the sheriff’s office is that he is still in custody.

Another entry in the arrest report that stood out was an individual being held on a $200,000 bond. He is Demetrius Deundea Allen, age 28.  His charge is listed as failure to appear.  The original charge is not listed on the report.

Additional information on these two arrests has not been released by the Sheriff’s Office.

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By Teddy Allen

We’ve been taught since we were stuffing our jaws with Fruit Loops that breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day.

That might be true, though some would agree with me that the most important meal of the day is the one you are eating Right Now.

Still, word to the wise, the complimentary breakfast at a hotel is NOT the most important meal of the day. It is just a buffer to get you out of the hotel and on your way to your next meal — and out of the hotel with the feeling that you’ve stolen something free.

Let’s review.

Summertime, the best of all the seasons — including Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons — begins today.

No school. The fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high. Your daddy’s rich and your ma is good-looking.

Summer! Watermelon. Baseball. Sunshine until 9 at night. Fireworks. Fireflies.

It’s a beautiful thing, summer is.

So, what’s not to love? — besides it being 110 degrees and many of us not having power — a common North Louisiana peculiarity.

Nothing, really, except the oasis that is the complimentary hotel breakfast.

Many of you will go on a summer trip soon. Or now. Awesome. Have a ball.

Just don’t have a big expectation over the complementary hotel breakfast.

The trend began a decade or so ago. You pay $130-ish to stay in a hotel. And they say, “Hey, breakfast is on us.”

Which is beautiful. I’ve eaten dozens.

But I know it’s just a powdered egg and maybe a sausage that is intended to get me on my way. Don’t do as I’ve seen hundreds do: they complain that this isn’t hot or the toaster doesn’t work or the bacon is microwaved.

Hey: it’s a bonus. It’s complimentary. It’s “free.” That waffle iron has been used by hundreds of people, not just by your wife or daughter. You eat your hotel waffle made by yourself, you take your chances.

Most of us have stayed in nice hotels once or twice. Omelet stations. Waitresses or waiters. Bacon fried instead of microwaved.

We still have that option. But if you stay at a Complimentary Breakfast place, you know going in that the plates will be Styrofoam. So don’t ask for something for nothing. Grab a bite and move along.

Somewhere, there is a great Complimentary Breakfast Hotel Staff that makes sure all is ship shape. I’ve seen them and adore them. But more times than not, the hotel is just giving you a pat on the back — or on the stomach — and telling you to move along.

I appreciate their trying. We should too. Grab a pre-frozen biscuit and hit the road.

Find a good place for supper. Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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A three-day Vacation Bible School was held for the residents of Green Meadow Haven last week, June 14, 15, and 16.  The residents were served homemade cookies and ice cream as special treats. The ladies of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church, with some help, provided the snacks.  The Bible stories each day were given by Reverend Stuart Sherman, Leigh Adkins, and Reverend Tommy Eason.  The music was led by Kathryn Adkins.  Crafts were provided by the Sewing God’s Love ladies.

Many people working together provided our precious residents with an event that was pure joy. Thanks to the Green Meadow Haven staff, without you we could not have done this. Thanks to the many volunteers who came out and helped us sing and construct the crafts.  There is no limit to what we can do when we work together. Everyone involved was blessed.

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LCCM Policy Solutions is a non-profit established to advocate and educate legislators and the public on public policy based on conservative principles.

By utilizing a myriad of scholars, policy wonks, pollsters, and activists, we help craft and promote top conservative policy priorities for Louisiana.

From fiscal issues to social issues and everything in between, LCCM Policy Solutions is a beacon for those interested in advancing Louisiana to a more conservative run government.

Paid Content by LCCM Policy Solutions

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Before students wrapped up the school year last week, Red River Academic Academy students were privileged to go to Red River Parish Library. Recently the Friends of The Library Group took students on a tour of the library and engaged them in a wonderful art project.

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