The success of Northwestern State University is vital to Northwest Louisiana.

My wife, Mrs. Laura, is a 1991 Graduate of NSU and nearly 50 of our close family members are graduates of NSU including three of our four parents. Our great grandparents, grandparents, parents, numerous aunts, uncles cousins and siblings were students, athletes, professors, cheerleaders and graduates of NSU.

The beautiful N that lights the night on top of Turpin Stadium was placed in honor of Mrs. Laura’s grandfather E.H. Gilson. He was the Quarterback for the 1939 undefeated Football Team, her Uncle played in the 1960s and her brother played in the 2000s. Her grandmother was the first band majorette for NSU.

Laura worked for several years in the Admissions office, both as a student and in her first post graduate job. She traveled the state recruiting students to attend NSU. She was also on the original founding team of “Freshman Connectors” for incoming NSU students and helped develop the program.

Our families are from Natchitoches for several generations back. I proposed to Mrs. Laura on Front Street.

Our family has bled purple since it was the Normal School, and before the color orange was added.

In this campaign, our opponent’s supporters are spreading ugly rumors that we are somehow anti-NSU. Nothing could be further from the truth!

We are not naive or blind to the current situation at NSU. Changes must be made if we are going to return NSU to the status it deserves as a top regional university. We are committed to making those changes. Most importantly, we have the experience, insight and team ready to make it happen!

It is time for change. I am asking for your vote on Saturday!

WE ARE NORTHWESTERN! 🤘🏻💜🧡

Alan Seabaugh

Red River Elementary is proud to recognize the following students for their hard work this past grading
period:

1st GRADE
SUPERINTENDENT’S LIST
Tremaine Levi
Jaceion Smith
Jessie Solton

PRINCIPAL’S HONOR ROLL
Carter Allen
Karmyn Allen
Ivory Brown
Javen Demery
Jeremiah Dial
Luke Guffey
Makenna Hays
Carlie Hilton
Ava-Marie Jones
Conner Lewis
Jaida Newton
Kortnee Smith
Dreden Speed
Ella Faith Tong
Jaycelynn Welborn
Braxton Wiggins

HONOR ROLL
Manar Al-Edresi
Major Calhoun
Khiy’ren Carter
De’aria Craig
Sage Demery
Lelan Drakes
Jase Grigg
Journee Johnson
Mia Jones
Kole Layfield
Reagan Lester
Jose Lopez
Antoney Nelson
Freya Price
Larrien Pye
Melanie Reliford
Reginald Whitaker
Nakendria Williams
William Wood
Marc Woods

2nd GRADE
SUPERINTENDENT’S LIST
Aaron Hester

PRINCIPAL’S HONOR ROLL
Kayden Bamburg
Emmett Berly
Ebony Brown
Shacori Calhoun
Kyliee Cato
Natalie Cole
Judy Dial
Everett Lovell
Milley McCrory
A’brielle Sarpy
Samiya Scott
Nahla Wiggins

HONOR ROLL
Rhyland Arnett
Carter Johnson
Jade Johnson
Kyndal Manghan
Marcus Miller
Trentin Miller
Lamario Mobley
Princeton Nash
Sarah Petersen
Ariah Price
Ryleigh Sanders
Drake Stevenson

3rd GRADE
SUPERINTENDENT’S LIST
Jamason Morse

PRINCIPAL’S HONOR ROLL
Landon Cox
Andrew Hinson
Ava Jones
Change Latson
McKinley Owens

HONOR ROLL
Kenleigh Booker
Aubrie Levi

4th GRADE
SUPERINTENDENT’S LIST
Morrigan Price

PRINCIPAL’S HONOR ROLL
Harley Bamburg
Raelynn Bice
London Calhoune
Johnathan Clark
Novarae Dawson
Noah Guffey
Anyiah Harris
Jessi Jennings
Allie Kellogg
Remington Kellogg
Julie Luna
Lindsey McCrory
Gwyneth Palmer
Abigail Price
Lillian Thomas

HONOR ROLL
McKenzie Caldwell
Taylan Carter
Ky’leigh Frazier
Michael Lindsey
Alex Palmer
Brantley Woodard

5th GRADE
PRINCIPAL’S HONOR ROLL
Eden Chatman
Mary-Faith Hinson
A’Dyn Solton
M’Kanyva Ward

HONOR ROLL
Neriah Beavers
Brian Bolyer
Kiylan Bonner
Madison Breedlove
Byrson Brewer
Braxton Calhoun
Cameron Cofield
Johathan Curry
Christopher Day
Alanah Demery
Brantlee Desaider
Easton Freeman
Makenzie Housley
Cypress Jackson
Samuel Keith
Abagail Knotts
Nathan Mays
Richard Phillips
Zechariah Smith
Phillip Sweeney
Shartech Venious
Kentrell Williams
Arys Williamson
Asher Woodson

According to NASA’s webpage, on Saturday, October 14, an annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central and South America. It will begin in Oregon and end in Texas. There will be between a 70-80% coverage area in Northwest Louisiana. The eclipse will begin locally around 10:28am with maximum coverage at approximately 11:59am. The event should end about 1:38pm.

An annular eclipse occurs when the moon doesn’t completely cover the Sun, leaving a “ring of fire” around the moon. During an annular eclipse, the Sun, moon, and Earth are perfectly aligned, but the moon is at its farthest point away from Earth. This larger distance prevents the moon from entirely blocking out our view of the Sun. Instead, we still see a ring of light around the edge of the moon. 

CAUTION: It is never safe to look directly at the Sun during an annular eclipse without specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing. The sun is never completely blocked by the moon during this type of eclipse therefore it is not safe to look directly at it. Regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing it either.

The American Astronomical Society suggests a few households items you can use that will allow you to view the eclipse. With the Sun behind you, pass sunlight through a small opening–a hole punched in an index card and project the solar image onto a nearby surface like a wall or the ground. A pasta colander also can be used, even a straw hat or anything else with a bunch of small holes in it. During the partial phases of a solar eclipse, these images will reveal the Sun’s crescent shape.

The Riverdale Academy Rebels and Lady Rebels Basketball Teams are holding a teacake fundraiser. They are only taking pre-orders. $15 for a dozen teacakes. Orders are limited. Teacakes will be ready for pickup on Tuesday, October 17.

To order or for more information call Katie Williamson 318-471-9950

All proceeds will help cover the cost of player rooms for the upcoming tournament at Delta. 

 By: Glynn Harris

Look in the tackle boxes of any 10 bass fishermen you know, not only here in Louisiana but around the country as well and chances are excellent you’ll find a Rat-L-Trap or two in half of them. With millions sold for years, this outstanding bass lure had its beginning and in fact, still calls Alexandria its home.

Some time ago, I had the privilege of joining a group of writers on a tour of north Louisiana lakes and outdoor-related industries to showcase just what our part of the world has to offer the fisherman. Hosted by the Explore Louisiana North group, one of our stops was at the Bill Lewis Lure Company in Alexandria. Quite frankly, I was a bit shocked at what I saw.

For a company that has enjoyed this sort of success for decades, you’d think that there’d be a handful of workers simply pushing buttons to turn chunks of plastic into Rat-L-Traps that would be machine-painted and outfitted. This was not the case as I watched folks sitting at tables within the building hand painting lures, affixing eyes and attaching hooks to produce the finished product. Apparently the company treats its employees quite well as the average worker on the assembly line at Bill Lewis Lures has been there for at least a dozen years, according to a company spokesman.

As fascinating as it was to watch the assembly of these fantastic fish catchers, the origin of the Rat-L-Trap is just as intriguing. Searching the internet, I found the following account on the company’s web site of how Bill Lewis came up with this lure and how it got its name.

“In the early years,” according to the company history section, “Bill Lewis, who passed away in 2005, sold various lures from the back of his old ‘rattletrap’ Ford station wagon. This routine gave no indication of the success the business would later enjoy. On more than one sales trip, Bill had no choice but to sell his products below cost just to earn enough gas money to get back home. But, Bill’s perseverance kept the business alive until one day in the late 60’s a friend with an assortment of Bill’s new prototypes revealed the powerful potential of Bill’s creation.

“Bill and his partner were heading for the boat launch after a ‘tough bite’ sent them packing. They were cruising along a main channel of Toledo Bend when they noticed a large group of boats gathered at the channel’s edge. As they got closer they could see that none of the fishermen in the group of boats were fishing, but rather were watching another boat nearby where two fishermen were casting feverishly into the standing wooded area just off the main channel, catching 6, 7 and 8 pound bass.

“As Bill moved in for a closer look, he recognized the two successful anglers, one being his fishing buddy that had picked up some of his new lures the day before. Bill called out to his friend asking the logical question, ‘what bait are you using’? ‘That silly lookin’, rattling bait’, his friend announced.

“Those that witnessed the debut of the future all time bestseller had no doubt that this bait was something very special. During his drive home that day, one other thing happened which remains one of Bill’s most creative moments. As he was manually operating the broken down windshield wiper of his old car, with one hand on the wheel and one out the window, he thought to himself, “Rattletrap – that’s what I’ll call it.”

A tip of the hat to the late Bill Lewis who started it all right here in the heart of Louisiana, the Sportsman’s Paradise.

FISHING REPORT
BLACK BAYOU – No report. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.
BUSSEY BRAKE –Some are still catching nice bass around the brush on spinners and flipping jigs. The crappie are scattered around the brush. Bream have slowed. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water level is quite low. Crappie fishing has improved in 10-12 foot water on shiners or jigs. Bass are fair in the cuts on shad imitations. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE –Some bass are still being caught early mornings on topwater lures around the grass with soft plastics and swim baits working best later. Crappie are best fishing the flats in 8-14 foot water and along the channel drops on shiners and jigs. Bream are slow but catfish continue to be caught fishing cold worms and night crawlers off the banks. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – The lake is down some 7 feet. Boats can still be launched at Kel’s Cove. Bass fishing has been best fishing super Flukes and swim baits. undergoing a drawdown. With the water level down look for bass to be on the secondary points with crank baits and soft plastics working best. Night fishing around the lights is still producing some action. Some reports of some real nice crappie being caught in 12 foot water on shiners and jigs. No report on stripers or catfish this week. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
CANEY LAKE – Bass have been best fishing at night on dark spinners and soft plastics. They are fair to good early mornings on topwater lures with square bill crank baits, spinners and soft plastics working best later. Some bass are schooling and hitting shad imitations. Crappie have been best around the deeper tops on shiners or jigs with the Ebenezer area best fishing 10 feet deep on shiners or jigs. Bream are slow. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Fishing for catfish has improved. Crappie fishing has slightly improved with best catches made on the south end. No report on bass. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water level is falling and quite low. Catfishing is good; others are slow. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2023

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library of Louisiana is excited to announce the return of the Louisiana Book Festival on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.

The 19th annual Louisiana Book Festival will be held 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. in downtown Baton Rouge at the
Louisiana State Capitol, the State Library of Louisiana, Capitol Park Museum, and the surrounding Capitol Park area. The Friday before the festival, Oct. 27, will also see the return of WordShops, writing workshops  with major authors as instructors. Details about the workshops will be released soon.

“We have one of the best book festivals in the country in our own backyard. The 2023 lineup is full of award-winning authors from near and far and features books highlighting all corners of this great state. We’ll also welcome some authors with their debut works,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “As always, there will be various programs for readers of different age groups. There is something for everyone.”

The 24th Louisiana Writer Award ceremony will kick-off the festival with the presentation of the award to Maurice Carlos Ruffin. The festival’s One Book One Festival celebrates the 75th anniversary of Louisiana-born Truman Capote’s first published novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms, with the ever-popular Dr. Gary Richards returning to Louisiana to lead the reader discussion.

“Over 200 authors and presenters are taking part in this year’s festival. Some are homegrown, and others have name recognition on a national level. Their works are just as varied,” said Interim State Librarian Meg Placke. “What they all have in common are amazing stories to share. We can’t wait to welcome everyone.”

This year’s books highlight multiple topics, including the real-life story of a young Baton Rouge woman who battled cancer and became the youngest American to orbit Earth, the hidden history of Louisiana’s jazz age, the little-known origins of Delta Airline’s North Louisiana origins, and the civil rights protest that saved the New Orleans Saints.

A photography book from The Historic New Orleans Collection will make its debut and one of the first books from a new Library of Congress series will be featured during the Louisiana Book Festival.

“It’s always great for us to be able to debut a book, and it’s a pleasure to introduce the public to an excellent new series. We’re thrilled to feature these titles from these two esteemed institutions,” said Jim Davis, Executive Director of the Louisiana Book Festival.

The day will also include a focus on fiction, with a panel on “grit lit,” a genre of Southern literature that focuses on the unvarnished, rougher edges of life. The panel will feature some authors making their Louisiana debut. There will also be two panels of Louisiana poets hosted by the state poet laureate and programs for children and teens.

Cooking demonstrations return, as do more than 100 exhibitor booths and tables and sponsor tents. Featured books will be available for purchase and signing, made possible by Cavalier House Books of Denham Springs. The event is free to the public.

Each year the Louisiana Book Festival selects a Louisiana artist to provide the artwork for the festival. This year, Emily Roemer, a Shreveport native and LSU graduate, created the artwork.

Roemer, who most recently worked at The New Yorker as a senior designer, said the assignment to design the artwork for the Louisiana Book Festival was a natural fit. “I’m obsessed with typography and that’s where the idea for the poster originated. I love books. I collect vintage books because of the typography they used.”

She said there are countless typefaces that were done by hand that have never been digitized. Roemer said she scoured old magazines and books and scanned in unique fonts “that don’t exist in the modern-day computer world,” putting them into the artwork for the book festival.

As for the pops of color, Roemer said that’s her personality. “I feel like I was born with an eye for color. It’s a challenge if someone wants a black-and-white logo,” she said, adding that she was excited to be asked to work on a project for her home state’s premiere book festival. “I was so excited. It’s always nice to be do something for home. I’m really excited to see the poster come out into the world.”

For more information about the 2023 Louisiana Book Festival, visit www.LouisianaBookFestival.org.

The Louisiana Center for the Book was established in the State Library of Louisiana in 1994. Its mission is to stimulate public interest in reading, books, literacy, and libraries and to celebrate Louisiana’s rich literary heritage. It is the official state affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book.

Day or night, Louisiana State Troopers are out patrolling in an effort to keep Louisiana’s road safe. Do you have what it takes to be a part of the Louisiana State Police?

LSP is now taking applications for Cadet Class 104. With an anticipated start date in April 2024, Cadet Class 104 will be a traditional full-length training academy for ALL qualified applicants. The deadline to apply is January 10, 2024.

Visit https://www.lsp.org/recruitment/ for more information on the hiring process, qualifications, physical fitness standards, and frequently asked questions.

LSP has also partnered with InterviewNow to provide a more modernized process to communicate with a recruiter. Simply text “JoinLSP” to 225-777-8162 to answer a few questions and get started. 
 
For additional questions and information, please contact LSP Recruiters at LSPRecruiting@LA.gov

On Tuesday, October 2, Red River Elementary school hosted Family Literacy Night. Families were invited to play games and win prizes that were all centered around literacy and reading. Each grade level, Head Start to Fifth grade, set up booths that were each themed around a beloved children’s story. Some stories showcased were “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff and “A Day the Crayons Quit” by Drew Daywalt. As families entered, students received a bag to hold their goodies from the night and a punch card to earn stickers from each booth. When the card was complete, they turned them into a raffle drawing for books and Kindle Fires. Parents were given a raffle ticket too! Mrs. Lane, the school librarian, set up a table filled with books for all grades and reading levels that each student could pick from. Special guest, Shawn Brown, gave an entertaining performance to all of the families dressed in orange coveralls and a jester hat.

“We wanted to get our families excited about reading. This night exceeded our expectations”, says Principal Mike Beck, “when the school and our families work together, the children will always succeed.” The school is already looking towards the next Family Literacy Night with plans to make this an annual event.

A funeral service celebrating the life of Chester Fredricks, 90, will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Coushatta, LA, with Bro. Eric McBride officiating. Interment will follow in Magnolia Cemetery in Saline, LA. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm until 8:00 PM, Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at the funeral home.

Mr. Fredricks was born on June 13, 1933, in Winn Parish, LA to Henry and Myrtle Fredricks and passed away October 8, 2023, at home in Saline, LA. Chester was a Legend when it came to fishing. He spent 78 years of his life as a fishing guide on Black Lake. At the age of 12, he guided for 50 cents a day. He walked a large part of Black Lake before there was even water. To all that knew Chester, loved him. He was a jokester. He never met a stranger. Most of all he loved his family. Chester and Judy just celebrated their 49th Wedding Anniversary. He loved his “Lady Bug”, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Mr. Fredricks was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Audrey Jordan and Glenda Jordan. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 49 years, Judy “Lady Bug” Fredricks; children, Cherry Fredricks Perkins and husband, Ken, Connie Shoemaker and husband, Charlie, Charles Joiner and wife, Penny, Clint Joiner and wife, Pam, and Charlotte Irvin and husband, Kenny; 16 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and one brother, Herchel Fredricks.

Honoring Mr. Fredricks as pallbearers will be Charles Joiner, Kenny Irvin, Joseph Irvin, Clint Joiner, Chris Joiner and Colorado Green. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Johnny Muckleroy, Durwood Wilson, Charlie Shoemaker, Josh Strother, Peyton Joiner, Steven Smith, Michael Coffey and Michael Shamburger.

The family would like to give special thanks to Haley at Natchitoches Hospice and Victoria with Home Health.

By Doug De Graffenried

My mother was correct!

She told me if I kept listening to that loud music, I would go deaf. It only took another fifty years for my mom’s prediction to come true. Lacking ego about wearing such things and with modern technology, I can hear fine now. Albeit my hearing is digitally aided. I enjoy watching the staff look at me, when I answer a phone call that only I can hear. Or when I’m holding my phone appearing to have a one-sided conversation. The digital technology allows the phone calls to go directly to my hearing aids. I also enjoy all the settings I have. I can turn on white noise in my head. I have settings for restaurants which allows me to hear what is in front of me. I even have a setting called wife. It allows me to hear instructions without asking for a repeat. There for a while I thought I had memory problems, just turns out that I couldn’t hear anything, especially anything said in the female vocal range.

Growing older is not for cowards!

Last week we went out to eat twice. That is a rarity in the life plan. I was looking forward to a quiet meal. In both places, on Thursday and Friday, the restaurant decided to feature live music. My suspicion is they were targeting a younger audience. I will never tell you where I was dining! I will tell you that in both places the musician sucked! I wondered if they paid the house to play there. What were they singing? What was their genre? Was I moved by the music? In both places I was surrounded by large screen televisions showing sports. No other entertainment was necessary. I had table companions for conversation. What the heck restaurant people? Were your receipts up for the evening? If you’re going to do this, listen to the musician before saying, “Yes.”

I’m a grouch and I know it. I will say that in both dining establishments the musician took a long break. It was nice to hear quiet conversations again.

I know the musicians were glad to play in front of an appreciative crowd. I appreciated their break! I know the younger crowd probably loved the music and enjoyed their evening out. I hope it was great for business and I’m sure the owners made a strategic decision to have music in their establishments to enhance the atmosphere. I get it! I still hated it! Moving forward I will return to both places, but this time I’ll ask about the presence of live music and ask to be seated far-far away from the source of the noise, I meant the music.

In the last book of the Bible, the Revelation, we read, “The Lamb opened the seventh seal and there was silence in Heaven for half an hour.” I guess the seraphim went on break. That was a veiled reference to Isaiah 6, in case you are wondering.

How is the noise level in your life? Do you have to keep some form of noise going around you? Have you learned the spiritual discipline of stillness and silence? Does the thought of silence creep you out?

The Psalmist wrote, “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation.”

The Psalmist was also correct!

Early voting has ended for the October 14 primary election. In Red River, only 583 early votes were cast. This election covers Governor, Senator, Sheriff, at least one Police Jury district, Constitutional Amendments, and more. This turnout is nearly half of what other elections of similar offices in the past three elections.
A breakdown of the voting indicates that 440 in-person and 143 absentee ballots were cast so far. Most of the early voting was from District 7, with 143 ballots, and District 1, with 95 ballots. More females have voted than males, and more whites have voted than blacks or others. Republican and democrat votes are almost equal. Mail-in ballots are accepted until election day.  

In contrast, 1071 early ballots were completed four years ago, and 8 years ago, 1528 early ballots were cast. This contrast is a direct result of the quiet election that is happening in Red River this term. Equally puzzling is that early voting in the past has been a typically democratic party favorite in this parish. Unlike this election, more than 2 thirds of early votes have been from Democrats. The trend for females to complete early voting has continued and has increased for the past 16 years.

The election on October 14 will be the deciding factor. Has the shift to voting at the poll become the favored site for Red River? Will this be the return of voting at neighborhood precincts, or will this just be a low turnout for Red River?

As a citizen, the right to vote needs to be exercised in every election. Go to the polls on October 14. Everyone VOTE!

I am no philosopher, scientist, or preacher.

I am, in fact, hardly a man.

But I do eat food, and even I know that if God had depended on the McRib as a starter-kit for the first female, women would have never been created.

Had he winged it and made Eve from a McRib, we’d be staring down the barrel of McWomen, hardly a suitable substitute for God’s greatest creation — dogs being a solid second, bacon cheeseburgers on soft fresh buns a-huggin’ third.

Heaven help.

Instead, God gave us the real thing.

No so on the McDonald’s front. No offense to millions of Americans’ favorite fast food burger joint. But don’t even think about calling something a Rib when it is McNot.

Our dogged reporter and longtime friend Donnie Golfgame has been on this story since 2020 when the McRib, not a menu staple, made a brief holiday-season return to the menu. And here we go again.

Early last week Donnie was reading “America’s newspaper, USAToday,” and ran across this headline:

“McRib is back at McDonald’s this November.”

“I almost spewed yogurt out of my nose,” Donnie told me. “This was published and delivered on doorsteps all over the country as a legitimate news story under a reporter’s byline. I spent 30 years in the newspaper business – all three decades with the parent company of USAToday, Gannett News Corp. I can only imagine the reporter’s reaction when the editor called him or her over and said, ‘I have an important assignment for you.’”

The aroused reporter whips out a notepad, pulls a ballpoint from behind their eager ear, only to hear his editor say, “Just in time for the holiday season, McDonald’s is making a menu change of epic proportions.”

And before the reporter can say, “You mean McDonald’s is going full-fledged Kato?!” the editor says, “The McRib: It’s BACK, babeeeee!”

Sigh … THAT’S the Big Story.

As Donnie is quick to point out, “a McRib is really nothing more than a perpetuated big fat McFib — ground pork shoulder shaped to look like a miniature rack of ribs, which it is not. ‘Meat restructuring’ is how the military classified it when it became an MRE for the U.S. Army,” he said. “It didn’t show up on the menu at McDonald’s until 1981, when I was a sophomore at Louisiana Tech University. It was the same year I ordered my first and only ever McRib.

“The fact I haven’t ordered another McRib since 1981 is all the firsthand food review from me you’d ever want, but I have taken note over the years that the McRib has become like your favorite rock band that goes into retirement only to come back for a ‘Last Hoorah Tour,’ then back again for a ‘Farewell Tour,’ followed by a ‘No, Seriously, We Mean It This Time Tour.’”

Since it’s a fake rib, can we pay for it with fake money? Maybe McMoney?

“I think McDonald’s saw the Rolling Stones released a new album and thought, “Why not?” my guy Donnie suggested. Which sounds entirely plausible.

I have friends who own McDonald’s franchises. Tip of the hat. They get along, let’s just say, really well. And McDonald’s breakfast has always been top shelf. But how they stay in the burger business is a mystery to me.

As is America’s fascination with the McRib, to which this bureau says, “McNeg.”

Contact Teddy atteddy@latech.edu

WEST, CARLOS
41 B M 10/1/2023 INCARCERATED
ARRESTING AGENCY: RED RIVER PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE
FLIGHT FROM AN OFFICER $5,000.00 (CONCURRENT)
BATTERY OF A DATING PARTNER $15,000.00 (CONCURRENT)
UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE $15,000.00 (CONCURRENT)
DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION $1,000.00 (CONCURRENT)

SMITH, ELIJAH
21 B M 10/2/2023 10/4/2023
ARRESTING AGENCY: COUSHATTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
SIMPLE CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY $1,000.00 (CONCURRENT)
BATTERY OF A DATING PARTNER $30,000.00 (CONCURRENT)
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH A FIREARM $30,000.00 (CONCURRENT)

MADDOX, RHONDA
56 W F 10/2/2023 10/5/2023
ARRESTING AGENCY: COUSHATTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
FAILURE TO APPEAR – CRIMINAL TRIALS $4,000.00 (CONSECUTIVE)
FAILURE TO APPEAR – CRIMINAL TRIALS $1,000.00 (CONSECUTIVE)

MARKS, JOHN
52 W M 10/5/2023 INCARCERATED
ARRESTING AGENCY: RED RIVER PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE
FAILURE TO APPEAR – CRIMINAL TRIALS $3,000.00

MAXIE, JOHNNIE
21 B M 10/5/2023 INCARCERATED
ARRESTING AGENCY: RED RIVER PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE
VIOLATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDERS $10,000.00

LEWIS, LAKETRA
31 B F 10/5/2023 10/5/2023
ARRESTING AGENCY: COUSHATTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
VIOLATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDERS O.R. BOND

The Red River Bulldogs will take on Lakeview Friday night for Homecoming. Tailgaters can begin setting up at noon. An alumni reception will be in Red River Junior High gym from 4:00-6:00pm honoring classes ’53, ’63, ’73, ’83, ’93’ ’03, ’13.  The game kicks off at 7pm with court presentation at halftime.  

Red River Elementary School will host a Health Fair for enrolled Head Start, Pre-K and Kindergarten students on November 1 & 2 from 8am-12pm in the school’s gymnasium. Volunteers are needed. If you’d like to volunteer your time and assistance, please call the school 318-932-9290.

Show your school spirit! The Red River Dugout Club is selling yard signs for $15 each. Call or text 318-332-7975 to yours TODAY!

The Red River Parish 4-H Shooting Sports Club needs sponsors for the 2024 season. Sponsorship is $150 and your name/logo will be put on club shirts that are worn at all events. For more information or to sponsor call Wendy Simmons 318-471-3623 or the 4-H office 318-932-4242.

Chester Joseph Fredricks
June 13, 1933 — October 8, 2023
Service: Wednesday, October 11 at 11am at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Coushatta. Interment will follow in Magnolia Cemetery in Saline.

Gregory Floyd Wood
August 14, 1946 – October 8, 2023
Service: Thursday, October 12 at 1pm at Davis Springs Southern Methodist Church, Fairview Alpha

Jodi Danielle Tingle
July 26, 1987 – October 06, 2023
Service held October 9

Red River Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. Contact your funeral provider or RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com)

The seventh edition of the American Bank High School Football Pickers Contest is underway.  The Journal is offering another $100 weekly prize to the person doing the best job of predicting the winner of ten area high school football games.

Here goes!  CLICK HERE to enter.

Time is growing short to enter this week’s American Bank High School Football Pickers Contest.  The deadline is 4:00 pm today.  So, what are you waiting for?

The $100 prize is waiting.  CLICK HERE to enter.  The person doing the best job of predicting the winner of ten area high school football games wins $100.  It is that easy.

The Red River Parish Police Jury met on October 4 for committee and regular meetings. The committee meeting began with two visitors. Kristin Delahoussaye of Capital Area Finance addressed the members concerning an amendment to add updated bond language to the Cooperative Endeavor. This agreement is of no charge and no financial to the parish. It allows CAF to assist qualified 1st time homebuyers in securing a down payment for the home.

The second visitor was Alvester Barfield. Mrs. Barfield represented the Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center. She urged the members to discuss with their constituency the importance of reading and acting upon letters from the Department of Health and Hospitals regarding the need for all Medicaid recipients to recertify. “From 2020 to now, over 2.5 million recipients have not had to recertify due to COVID extensions. All these people must complete the recertification process or risk losing all benefits”. Barfield ended her presentation by passing out cards for members to distribute.

The regular business began with the approval of the minutes for September and the approval to adopt Off System Bridge Replacement Resolution for the period October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023.

Then, a discussion of the repairs for the courthouse began. Mr. Davis said he had gotten bids for the courthouse and buildings acquired from the school board. The former family center building will get a new roof, repair to the handicap ramp and exterior, and removal of overgrown shrubbery ($57,375). The former technology/adult ed building will get a new roof, energy-efficient windows, and interior upgrades ($55,480).
The former school board office needs new windows, a roof, and repairs ($165,000). Mr. Murray inquired about the cost of the courthouse. Mr. Davis said the list of work included new windows and repair, power washing, repair to exterior stucco, and painting. The overall scope of all the work will be $222,831. Murray expressed his concern that the work needed to start immediately. He remarked that in places in the offices downstairs, a person can stick a finger through the wood to the outside. Davis said the work could begin quickly. The members approved the bids for repair work to start.

In other business, jury members voted to approve an application of a GOHSEP grant for generators and safe room construction, approved authorization for Council on Aging resolution, and voted to pay the bills. During a discussion on paying the bills for the ambulance district, Davis and Hillman brought up the recent state inspection. Hillman said all ambulances were inspected, and no deficiencies were found. Davis said there are now 4 ambulances running at specific times due to sports events in the parish. A follow-up question was asked about the delivery of new ambulances. Davis said it could take more than a year to get the ambulance here and in working order.

Road construction and repair were also discussed. Several roads all over the parish are in varied states of repair, currently for $1.5 million. Davis also informed jury members that he is now seeking and receiving payments from oil and gas companies and similar large trucking companies for damages to parish roads. He stated that he had collected over $400,000 from companies and expects to collect more than $750,000 by year’s end.

After approval of the CIP resolution for the airport, the members motioned for adjournment. The next Police Jury Meeting is November 1 at 10:00 a.m.

A-Shift: Friday, September 29, 2023 at 0037 Red River Fire District was dispatched to the report of a structure fire. All occupants were out of the residence. Units arrived on scene to find a working structure fire approximately 50% involved, along with three vehicles on fire. Fire crews preformed a defensive fire attack, transitioning into an interior fire attack. The structure fire was called controlled at 0141. Bienville Fire District 4&5 along with Natchitoches Fire District 9, were requested for water and manpower. All units were clear of this incident at 0516.

Friday, September 29,2023 at 0244 Red River Fire District was dispatched to a fully involved structure fire. Natchitoches Fire District 9, which had just cleared the previous structure fire and was back enroute to their fire district, arrived on scene at 0248. RRFD along with units from Bienville 4&5 responded from the previous Fire arriving on scene to find approximately 80% involved wood frame structure that was unoccupied. A defensive fire attack was performed to control the fire and to protect a nearby structure. All units cleared this scene at 10:00am.

Both fires are currently under investigation by the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s.

Thank you to our neighboring departments for responding mutual aid, along with Red River Sheriff’s Office, Red River EMS, Coushatta Police Department and LSFM for the roles you played in these incidents.
RRFD would also like to thank the firefighters of Red River Parish who protect our community.

Persunda Raymond

Red River Academic Academy hosted its Family Literacy Night on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. Valuable information was shared with parents to help their children at home with reading, vocabulary, and other literacy skills.

RRAA was honored to have as special guests, the Northwestern State University Men’s Basketball Team. The team interacted with students and parents by participating and conducting games and various other activities.

Students took pictures, painted rocks, designed bookmarks, had their faces painted, book walked and played Head’s Up, Boggle and other ELA games. Door prizes were given out!!

Red River Academic Academy would like to thank everyone for their support. Thank you to Red River Parish Director of Federal Programs Dr. Diane Newton, Red River Parish Parent Coordinator Deborah Babers, Red River Homeless Liaison Katherine Smith, Mineola Richmond, Red River employees (Sequita Chatman, Colette Smith, and Shanita Grayson), Red River Parish Library (Kala Sims), NSU student (Destiny Phillips), RRHS student (Tija Augmon), RRAA parents, RRAA students, RRAA School Resource Officer Irvin Raphiel, the community, and last but not least the outstanding, hardworking, dedicated, and so supportive Red River Academic Academy faculty and staff for making the night a great success!!

Pictured: student Emmauel Nelson with the NSU basketball team.

Tournament bass anglers have all kinds of quirks and superstitions that they believe in. But one thing bass fishermen are not….is honest. They would rather lie than tell the truth especially when it comes to how they are catching their fish. Tournament anglers are constantly looking for an advantage over their competition. There are many ways they will try and deceive their fellow competitors. It’s very much like a disease that has no cure! Let me give my perspective on why.

The biggest thing affecting tournament anglers today is called greed. It’s all about the money and the hundreds and thousands of dollars tournament trails are offering. Ever since mankind started using currency, he has looked for ways to get more than the next guy. Over time we have learned, money makes people do strange things and is the root of all evil. Some tournament bass anglers look for ways to put the odds in their favor by deceiving other competitors.

Let’s start with rods and reels. It’s very similar to shoes for women, you need one pair for every outfit and every occasion. But, on most occasions, when an angler has 10 to 12 rods on the deck of his boat, that usually means he is struggling and has no definite game plan yet. The angler you have to be afraid of, is the angler who only has three or four rods out on his deck especially the day before the tournament. This guy has a game plan that he feels very confident about. But if you see an angler with several rods laying on the deck of his boat, don’t be miss led.

To the untrained eye, it’s just a bunch rods with baits tied on. But to a tournament angler, it reveals the many possible techniques that a particular angler is using to catch his fish. One thing anglers are known to do; walk up to a fellow competitors boat and hawk eye the front deck in order to see what that angler might be using to catch their fish. They’re looking for what baits they’re throwing and possibly what colors they are using.

But when you approach another man’s boat, you need to be little warry. In some cases, it’s a smoke screen and an attempt to lead you astray. That’s right, some rod and reels on the front deck are there as decoys to make you think that’s how the angler might be catching his fish. It’s kind of like a magic show, there could be some deception going on. Certain rods stay in the rod locker until time to come in for the weigh-in. These are the decoy rods, and the rods that he is probably using to catch his fish, are put away in the rod locker before heading for the weigh-in. He’ll do whatever is necessary to protect everything he is doing.

But, there is one aspect of secrecy that a tournament angler/pro can’t control …. a loudmouth co-angler who he has fished with all day. I can’t tell you how many times a co-angler has ruined a pros day by revealing to his buddies or other competitors what, how and where that angler was catching his fish. In one recent tournament, I actually had a co-angler storing waypoints on his phone so he could come back and fish my spots later. This is a major tournament violation and states in the rules that a co-angler is not to share any information or locations of the angler he fished with that day. But most just can’t help themselves, they must tell someone or they will explode from a disease called “information concealment.”

On multi-day events, some tournament anglers/pros will go as far to pay off the co-angler they had that day to keep his mouth shut. Some will even offer the co-angler a package of their secret baits just to keep the co-angler quiet. They might even buy them dinner if necessary!

As you can see, tournament anglers are just like a great illusionist, they want you to think and see one thing, but they are really doing something else. So, the next time you hawk eye another competitors boat, be cautious as it goes without saying “Never trust another competitor or tournament angler if you’re looking for information.”

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to set the hook. You never know when you might catch that fish of a lifetime!

Steve Graf