**********MEDIA ADVISORY**********

State Superintendent will hold virtual media availability November 13 at 10 a.m. to officially release letter grades for 2022-23 school year

The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) will release 2023 performance scores for the state’s public schools and systems on November 13. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley will release the scores during a virtual media briefing that morning at 10 a.m. The briefing will include a presentation on statewide, school system, and school results, as well as a question and answer session for working media members. 

WHAT: LDOE releases 2023 performance scores

WHO: State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley

WHEN: Monday, November 13 at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Zoom link | 312-626-6799 | ID: 984 1395 1302 | Passcode: 466315 

CONTACT: Ted Beasley | 225-427-2983 | ted.beasley@la.gov

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: The LDOE issues school performance scores for public schools, which are based on student achievement data. To clearly communicate the quality of school performance to families and the public, Louisiana adopted letter grades (A-F). All schools with sufficient data receive school performance scores. The LDOE will also release 2023 Early Childhood Performance Profiles. Each publicly-funded child care center, Head Start, and school serving children birth to five in Louisiana receives a performance profile that includes a rating based on rigorous classroom observations. Each network of providers within a community also receives a performance profile.

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Over my many years of tournament bass fishing, there have been some really great events. Some of the best tournaments today are benefit events where the proceeds go to a particular person or group with special needs. These types of tournaments are usually team events with entry fees ranging from $200 to $400. A lot of the time anglers who win will donate their winnings back to the event depending on the cause.

But once upon a time, there was a bass tournament like no other. It was a tournament that was held with high regard in North Louisiana, one where anglers would literally sleep on the sidewalk outside Reeves Marine in Shreveport the night before registration just to make sure they got in since there was a limit of 100 boats. It was the Reeves Marine All-City Championship!

What an event it was, as anglers were treated like royalty. It truly became a prestigious event and was such an honor to win. It was the best of the best in the Shreveport/Bossier area including top anglers who could compete with just about anyone across the country. One thing I figured out in the early to mid 1990’s was that the Shreveport/ Northwest Louisiana area produced some great anglers who not only had success locally, but on a regional stage as well.

The Reeves Marine All-City Championship was a team event and started out on the shores of Cross Lake. Over time it moved to the Red River for a brief period before it finally came to an end in the early 2000’s. Why was this tournament so special? Well for starters, there was a team/rules meeting the night before the event where anglers were fed a great catfish dinner with all the fixings. There were some really good door prizes given away like rods, reels, tackle boxes, and some of the latest and hottest baits on the market. Skeeter Boats was a major sponsor of this event as well and gave away a lot of products from rain gear to lifejackets.

But this tournament was very different in the fact that it was a two-day back-to-back weekend event. All 100 teams fished the first day with only the top 20 returning the next weekend to decide the winner. Just to make the Top 20 was quite an accomplishment! These teams received some nice embroidered All-City Championship jackets and tote bags. Everyone who made the final-day Championship got a check.

Winning this event put you and your partner in select company and more importantly, you had bragging rights for a whole year. There was a huge four-to-five-foot trophy that stayed on display at Reeves Marine where the individual names of the winning team were engraved and placed on the trophy forever. There were TV and newspaper interviews and a wealth of exposure. There really has been no other tournament since then that has had the prestige of the Reeves Marine All-City Championship.

Today, many anglers would love to see this event return to its former glory days, but alas, it’s now a different time and a different era. Back during the 1990’s and early 2000’s there were only a handful of tournaments all year long, so it made the All-City Championship a little extra special. Today, you can fish a tournament every single weekend from January through September. Therefore, it probably would not have the luster it had in the beginning where guys slept on the steps of Reeves Marine just to secure a spot in the event.

Maybe one day, someone will be able to bring an event of this caliber back to Northwest Louisiana and give recognition to some of the best bass fishermen in the country. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen as Melanoma does not discriminate.

Steve Graf

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Northwestern State University hosted Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter Reed for a campus visit Nov. 7.  Reed’s visit coincided with NSU’s First Gen Week, a celebration of students who are the first in their family to attend college, and NSU’s Wellness Week and Wellness Fest.

Reed began the day at a workshop for Student Affairs professionals, “First-Generation Faculty and Staff as Influencers,” led by NSU alumna Dr. Mary Blanchard Wallace, assistant vice president of Student Experience at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Reed later toured NSU’s Health and Human Performance Building and met with student media in the NSU-TV studio where she answered questions about her background and how her role as commissioner affects policies that support first-generation students.

The focal point of Reed’s visit was a luncheon and panel discussion that highlighted points of view from current students, alumni and NSU staff who are/were the first in their families to attend college. Reed moderated the panel that included students Peyton Fuller of Buckeye, a sophomore majoring in biology with a concentration in veterinary technology, and Coree Nash of Jena, a junior social work major.  Alumni panelists were Wallace, Misty Dalme of Natchitoches, a family nurse practitioner in the Emergency Department at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center and director of Emergency Services, and LeAndre Benton, assistant principal at J. J. Pearce High School in Richardson (Texas) ISD.  Veronica Biscoe, NSU’s executive director of Institutional Effectiveness and Human Resources, was a staff representative. 

Panelists discussed common struggles they faced as first-generation students, the importance of mentoring and building a community of support, the desire to start their own family legacies in education and the importance of paying it forward.

Wallace was also keynote speaker discussing “A Story for Every Student,” including her personal journey as a first-generation student from Brusly to her current role as an assistant vice president at UAB where she is an advocate for first-generation students. 

NSU President Dr. Marcus Jones said about 34 percent of NSU’s student population are first-generation students and those students are blazing a trail and forging connections that will benefit succeeding generations.

To conclude the visit, Reed visited NSU’s annual Health Fest at the Wellness, Recreation and Activities Center, toured the NSU Food Pantry and visited with officers in the Student Government Association.

Working with the Louisiana Board of Regents, Reed leads the state’s talent developing efforts, focused on increasing educational attainment, erasing equity gaps and increasing prosperity.  Last year, she led efforts to secure additional state funding of more than $150 million, the most significant strategic investment in Louisiana higher education to date.

Earlier this year, Reed was named to the 10 Top 10 higher educational leaders by Forbes Magazine and was also named co-chair of the Higher Ed Climate Action Task Force, a part of the Aspen Institute’s This is Planet Ed initiative.

NSU’s First-Generation Week is a multi-day celebration presented by TRIO Student Support Services in cooperation with the Office of the President, First Year Experience, Office of Accessibility and Disability Support, Alpha Lambda Delta, Recruiting, Enrollment Management, NSU Residential Life, the Alumni Association, University Programming Council, NSU Publications and the Office of Marketing and Branding. The week-long celebration commemorates the signing of the Higher Education Act on Nov. 8, 1965.

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SHREVEPORT – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced the major rehabilitation project for a section of I-20 in Bossier City is progressing well, and will be transitioning into phase 2 over the next few weeks.

As part of phase 1, the contractor is nearing completion of the outside diversion pavement that will serve to handle vehicle traffic when the full reconstruction work begins. Traffic has been flowing in the inside (left lane) during this portion of work.

As the transition to phase 2 begins, motorists should be aware that the contractor will be replacing the orange cones and barrels with concrete barricades. This is a safety mechanism to prevent vehicles from leaving the travel lane and entering the reconstruction area.

Once phase 2 fully begins, the current traffic configuration will swap, and vehicles will be shifted to the outside (right) lanes to allow work to begin on the removal of the existing inside lanes.

DOTD anticipates being fully transitioned into phase 2 later this month (Nov.), which coincides with the original project schedule.

Drivers are reminded that the intermittent on- and off-ramp closures will continue during this transition period to allow for the placement and adjustment of the concrete barricades.

It’s imperative that drivers remove all distractions while behind the wheel, drive cautiously through the construction zone, and be aware of crews and equipment on site. I-220 remains the primary detour for avoiding congestion related to the construction project.

Additional information:

Call 511, visit http://www.511la.org, or download the Louisiana 511 mobile app for additional information. Out-of-state travelers may call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Motorists may also monitor the LA DOTD website at http://www.dotd.la.gov, by selecting MyDOTD, or by visiting the DOTD Facebook and Twitter pages.

Contact Information:

Erin Buchanan
Public Information Officer
Shreveport-Bossier District
(318) 549-8402
erin.buchanan@la.gov

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The Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights, in collaboration with the City of Natchitoches, is excited to announce that applications are now open for the annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival Parade. This beloved community event, known for its enchanting atmosphere and festive spirit, will take place on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 1 p.m. in the heart of historic downtown Natchitoches.

Every year, the Natchitoches Christmas Parade brings families, friends, and neighbors together to celebrate the magic of the holiday season. This year, we invite businesses, community groups, schools, and individuals to join us in making the parade a memorable experience for all attendees.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, December 2, 2023

Time: 1 PM

Location: Historic Downtown Natchitoches – The parade begins on Tarlton Drive on the NSU Campus

Theme: “A Celebration of Holiday Magic”

This year’s parade theme, “A Celebration of Holiday Magic,” encourages participants to showcase the enchantment and wonder of the holiday season through their creative floats, costumes, and performances. We invite participants to let their imaginations run wild and bring the magic of the holidays to life for parade spectators.

How to Participate:

Individuals, organizations, and businesses interested in participating in the Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights Parade can submit their applications online at https://www.natchitocheschristmas.com/parade-entry-form. The application deadline is Friday, November 10, 2023. Participants are encouraged to adhere to the theme and incorporate festive decorations into their entries. All participants must acknowledge and adhere to the parade standards of excellence.

Join the Celebration:

The Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights Parade is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to connect with the community and spread holiday cheer. Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses interested in supporting this cherished event. For more information on sponsorship packages, please contact Jill Leo at (318) 357-3822 or nhdbadirector@gmail.com.

About the Natchitoches Christmas Parade:

The Natchitoches Christmas Parade has been a holiday tradition in our community for over 80 years. Each year, thousands of spectators gather to enjoy the dazzling lights, cheerful music, and festive atmosphere that fill the streets of historic downtown Natchitoches. The parade features beautifully decorated floats, marching bands, dance groups, and community organizations, creating a magical experience for attendees of all ages.

About Natchitoches Christmas Festival:

Natchitoches Christmas Festival is organized by the Natchitoches Historic District Business Association, a not-for-profit organization comprised of business owners and the like who strive to promote Natchitoches, encourage visitation, and provide support for events and festivals.

For more information about the Natchitoches Christmas Festival or to submit a parade entry application, please visit NatchitochesChristmas.com.

Join us in celebrating the magic of the holiday season at the Natchitoches Christmas Parade!

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On April 12, 1861, fighting began in the Civil War when Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. In September of that year, 16-year-old Thomas Ward enlisted in the Union Army and became a private in the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Thomas, who was underage by almost two years, lied about his age to enlist. Thomas took part in several battles in Georgia and Tennessee before he was sent to perform escort duties for generals including General Ulysses S. Grant.

In October 1864, Thomas reenlisted and was promoted to second lieutenant with the 6th Michigan cavalry where he served as aide-de-camp to the cavalry’s general. Between June 1864 and April 1865, Union and Confederate soldiers struggled for control of Petersburg, Virginia. Petersburg was strategically important because several rail lines connected at the city, and because numerous wagon roads which were used as supply lines met at a junction known as Five Forks. The final conflict in the fight for Petersburg was at Five Forks.

On April 3, 1865, Thomas took part in the Battle of Namozine Church. During the fight, Union soldiers charged Confederate barricades. While being fired upon by the Confederate soldiers, Thomas and his horse jumped one of the barricades. An enemy bullet struck his horse, but Thomas was unharmed. The Confederates were surprised by his bold action and fell back in confusion. A short distance away, Thomas saw the confused flag bearer. He spurred his horse and headed straight for the frightened flag bearer. Rather than attacking the flag bearer, he grabbed the flag of the Second North Carolina cavalry. Capturing the battle flag was demoralizing to the already confused soldiers. In addition to capturing the battle flag, Thomas took three officers and eleven enlisted men as prisoners.

Three days later, Thomas fought in the Battle of Sailor’s Creek. Similar to his actions in the Battle of Namozine Church, Thomas had his horse jump the enemy barricade while being fired upon. This time, however, Confederate soldiers surrounded Thomas and his horse. Without a moment’s hesitation, Thomas began firing his pistol on both sides of his horse. The Confederate soldiers scattered. In the confusion, Thomas saw the flag bearer and charged toward him. As he approached the flag bearer, a shot struck Thomas in his jaw under his right ear. The force of the shot knocked him back in his saddle. Thomas righted himself, grabbed the flag from the flag bearer with one hand, and fired a pistol shot into the chest of the flag bearer with the other. Thomas returned to the Union line waving the captured battle flag. He handed the flag to an aide and turned his horse to return to the battle. His commanding general saw Thomas’s bleeding wound and ordered him to report to the surgeon. When Thomas ignored the order, the general had Thomas arrested and sent to the rear of the line for medical attention. Luckily, Thomas’s injury was not serious.

In April 1865, Union soldiers presented 85 captured Confederate battle flags to the War Department. Of the 85 flags presented, Thomas presented the two flags that he had personally captured. For his bold actions in these two battles, Thomas became the first solider in American history and the only Federal soldier in the Civil War to be awarded two Medals of Honor.

Following the Civil War, Thomas continued to serve in the Union Army as aide-de-camp to the same superior officer he had served under during the Civil War. For the next 11 years, Thomas fought in the conflict known as the Indian Wars. On June 25, 1876, Thomas was among the soldiers who fought against various tribes of Plains Indians in the Battle of the Greasy Grass. During the battle, the Plains Indians completely destroyed the five companies of American soldiers. Thomas’s body was so badly mutilated that he could only be identified by a tattoo on his arm. Also killed in the battle were two of Thomas’s brothers and his nephew.

Few people remember Thomas because he was overshadowed, even in death, by his older brother. Thomas Ward, the first man in American history to be awarded two Medals of Honor, who died in the same battle as his famous brother, had a famous last name… Custer. Thomas Ward Custer, the younger brother of George Armstrong Custer, died in what the Indians call the Battle of the Greasy Grass. History books refer to it as the Battle of Little Big Horn or Custer’s Last Stand.

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Moms of Children with Special Needs will meet tonight (Nov 10) at 6pm at Martin Baptist Church, 3191, Hwy 507. Guest Speaker will be Sarah Johnson with Mended Mental Health. Dinner will be provided.
RSVP: https://forms.gle/d6JHHqioDZc2G6jY9

The York Chop is hiring. Applications are being accepted for the following:
Cook: full and part time for lunch and supper shifts
Server: full and part time for lunch shift
Cashier: full and part time for lunch and supper shifts
BBQ meat cutter: full and part time for lunch shift
Applications are available at The York Chop, 1818 Ringgold Ave, Coushatta.

Victorious Life Ministries Women of Victory presents their 7th Annual Fall Into Jesus Women’s Conference on November 17-19, 2023. 

Open Door Fellowship Student Ministry will hold a bake sale and pulled pork sandwich fundraiser at Rivertown Market on Saturday, November 18 to help offset costs of attending the Youth Evangelism Conference. 

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Ruth Williams
November 24, 1943 – November 6, 2023
Service: Saturday, November 11 at 11am at Deliverance Temple COGIC, Coushatta

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The Veterans Tree is on display at the Red River Library. Residents are encouraged to stop by the library in Coushatta and add a star to the tree. Each star should have the name of a Veteran, the branch of service, and if applicable the war/conflict they served in. This tree is for all Veterans and anyone in the community is welcome to add a star. The Coushatta Chute Chapter DAR has partnered with the library to present the tree through the month of November.

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Nancy Jones, widow of the late Country music icon George Jones will be in Many on Saturday, Nov. 11, for an autograph party to celebrate her new book, “Playin’ Possum, My Memories of George Jones.” The event will be at Many City Hall, 965 San Antonio Ave., from 10 a.m. until noon. There is no admission charge, and everyone is invited to attend.

The book will be on sale at the event, and Ms. Jones will autograph, pose for pictures and visit with attendees.

A native of Mansfield, she lived in northwest Louisiana a long time, marrying and having two daughters before moving to Shreveport, where she worked on the assembly line at Western Electric.

In November 1981, Nancy was invited by friend Linda Morris to go to Rochester, NY for a George Jones concert. Linda was dating a member of Jones’ road crew. Nancy did not know who George Jones was but was talked into going. She was introduced to the singer, and they immediately connected. They were married on March 4, 1983.

The new book reveals little known poignant as well as humorous stories about the Country music legend, sharing honestly his battles against the demons that sought to control and destroy him. Millions of people knew and loved the singer, but few people know that behind the man and his golden voice was a strong, feisty woman who not only saved his life from cocaine addiction, alcoholism and other abusive and self-destructive behaviors, but was also instrumental in helping him find a new lifepath of faith.
Married for more than 30 years, Nancy knew George better than anyone else on earth – the good George and the bad George – the horrendous and the hilarious. Nancy was a tenacious fighter, and most people who knew George credit Nancy with saving his life and rebuilding his career. Together, they brought joy and light to millions of people. He died April 26, 2013, at the age of 81.

Nancy hopes many of her friends from Natchitoches and Sabine Parishes will attend the autograph party in Many. Refreshments will be served, and everyone is invited to attend. Those who wish to do so are also invited to bring a veteran photo to display on the special Veterans Day Table of Honor during the event, which falls on the holiday. Book sales will be cash or card.

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Doug de Graffenried

When you sit in the pulpit and watch the congregation, there are some interesting sights to behold.
I have seen many bowed heads. The heads are bowed not at the time of prayer, rather they are bowed about twelve minutes into the sermon. They are either praying for the preacher or they are in deep-Sunday-afternoon-holding-the-remote-NFL-nap mode. I say that because I notice men sleeping, not the women! What’s up with that? I choose to believe the men are praying for the preacher, or for the sermon to end.

The other stuff you see are parents struggling with children. I have never been bothered by loud, active, or fussy children. The church is so blessed to have children present; we should enjoy them in whatever mode they are in during a worship service. The next time you hear a fussy or loud child in church, thank God they are present!

A couple of Sunday’s ago I looked up into the balcony at the end of the service. In the balcony was family with their daughter. The girl, by my preacher estimation, was at the stage where walking was a new thing.
She was in the middle aisle of the balcony, just under the Rose Window that Trinity moved from a previous location. It is a large, beautiful Rose window. So above her head is this huge reminder of the dignified history of Trinity Methodist Church.

During the last hymn, the young girl was dancing in the aisle. She was dancing with complete innocent abandonment. She was dancing with joy, and her joy touched my heart. To say it like the cool people, “she was busting a move.” We were singing one of those joyful hymns of the church. The girl had caught the spirit. She was not holding anything back.

Her joy was not going to be quashed by dignity.

Dignity. I don’t know where it came from, but it seems that worship has been taken over by dignity. Many congregations fear undignified behavior in church. It is no wonder, we are aptly criticized as being the “frozen chosen.” What would happen, if in your place of worship, you traded dignity for joy?

Maybe you would feel better, before, after, and during a worship service if you caught the infectious joy that comes with following Jesus.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2023

Expansion has been a common theme this year for Louisiana Tech University.

That theme continued on a sunny afternoon Tuesday when the University officially announced the launch of Tech Online, a new initiative that serves and benefits distance learners and graduate professionals.

The Tech Online initiative is administered by the Academic Success Center (ASC) on the campus of the National Cyber Research Park in Bossier where dignitaries, educators and the public gathered for a brief announcement ceremony and ribbon-cutting.

Current program offerings include Health Informatics and Information Management and Interdisciplinary Studies at the undergraduate level and many graduate degree programs such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Engineering and Technology Management, and the Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Tech Online includes graduate certificates such as Data Science and Technical Writing and Communication, each a stand-alone program or stackable with the graduate degree programs.

“Tech Online presents an exciting opportunity to educate a unique population of students by engaging them in a way that is relatively new for Louisiana Tech University,” Dr. Donna Thomas, Tech’s Interim Provost, said. “We will offer many of the same high-quality, accredited programs that we offer on campus, and we look forward to adding new programs, particularly at the undergraduate level, in strategic and deliberate ways.

“Tech Online will make a Louisiana Tech education available to place-bound students and those who can’t access traditional educational settings because they are busy with their careers and families,” Thomas said.

Tech Online offers those who didn’t have the traditional opportunity to go to college a way to gain a higher education in a unique way and be helped by Tech to have the same academic experience as its on-campus students.

Just last week, Tech was a part of the ribbon-cutting for the Louisiana Tech Research Institute, just 200 yards from the ASC in Research Park, something that was only in the planning stages 15 years ago but is now a vibrant part of the community, state and nation, Tech President Dr. Les Guice said.

“I’ve got chill bumps, seeing parking lots with lots of cars in them here,” he said. “I remember sitting here all those years ago with members of the community, trying to figure out how we could partner with Bossier Parish Community College and Bossier to leverage for the community and region what was coming to Barksdale Air Force Base. With the right facilities, people and programs in place, we knew the cyber community could make a difference across the nation.

“With the introduction of Tech Online, this is another special day,” he said. “We’ve been teaching online, but now we have our headquarters here and more programs available. We’re also providing student success coaches to help you line up your plan and be successful as you go through.”

Jerona Washington, Director of Online Learning Initiatives and the Academic Success Center, said that early in her career, she found her niche “working with adult learners. During countless student interactions, I gathered feedback on how to improve online instructional learning and student support services. Tech Online assembled an outstanding team dedicated to online enrollment, on-boarding, advising and coaching approaches focused on student success, and providing students access to exclusive virtual workshops.”

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to collaborate with both academics and student affairs to create what will be a historical marker for this institution,” Washington said.

A Bossier City native, Washington has over a decade of experience in post-secondary education. She is a graduate of Northwestern State University with an MA in Student Affairs in Higher Education. No stranger to distance learning as a student, Washington is currently working on her Doctorate in Educational Leadership (EdD), one of Tech’s many online graduate programs.

To learn more about the programs and opportunities available through Tech Online, please visit https://online.latech.edu/.

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By: Glynn Harris

On Thanksgiving Day years ago, I was driving my truck home through Bienville Parish after a holiday visit with my folks when a big buck appeared out of nowhere and I hit it. I drove home with one headlight and a smashed grill.

Fast forward a dozen or so years. I had my second encounter with a deer when a spike dashed into the path of my car in Natchitoches Parish. That’s two collisions with a deer so far during my lifetime. If I was driving in W. Virginia, the leading state for deer/vehicle collisions over the next 12 months, my chances of hitting a deer would be one in 38.

I suppose I’ve been fortunate to have only collided with two deer but others have not been so fortunate.

Why are such encounters becoming an increasing problem? For one, there are more drivers on the road. For another, the deer population is growing all across the country and when you see deer habitat giving way to urban sprawl, it’s inevitable that such encounters will increase. Need proof? All you have to do is drive a few miles along the interstate or on roads leading into town and count the deer carcasses you see.

The majority of deer/vehicle collisions occur in states to the north, many of which have restrictive hunting regulations and short deer seasons. The top ten states where most collisions occur in order of frequency are: W. Virginia, Montana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Mississippi, South Dakota, Virginia and Missouri.

Authorities estimate that over the past two years, 1.8 million deer/vehicle collisions have occurred across the country.

State Farm Insurance Company has provided some tips and words of caution to help prevent deer/vehicle collisions.

• Be alert to deer crossing signs; they’re there for a purpose.
• Don’t swerve. If a car crash is inevitable, maintain control of your vehicle and don’t veer off the road.
• Brake as necessary. If you can avoid hitting the animal, reduce your speed, honk your horn and tap your brakes to warn other drivers. If there are no other drivers behind you, brake hard.
• Remember peak season. Animal collisions happen most during October through December, which is hunting and mating season.
• Remember meal time. Watch for animals in the road between dusk and dawn..
• Watch for herds. If you see one deer, there are probably more nearby.
• Don’t use a whistle. No scientific evidence supports that car-mounted deer whistles work.

One of those deer/vehicle collisions a few years ago affected me in a very personal way. I had cataract surgery that summer on both my eyes resulting in clear vision like I had not had since I was a teenager. I was elated with the results and I owe the removal of my clouded lens and replacement with new clear ones to an individual I came to practically hold in reverence, Dr. William Steen, founder of the Steen-Hall Eye Institute in Shreveport who performed my surgery.

A few weeks after my last surgery, Dr. Steen was riding to work on a beautiful fall day on his motorcycle just outside the Shreveport city limits when a buck dashed into the cycle, throwing Dr. Steen to the pavement, resulting in injuries that took his life. I am devastated by the loss of such a gifted surgeon and urge caution when you get behind the wheel or crawl on your bike.

A deer is a beautiful graceful animal when seen from your deer stand but not when one is making a bee-line for your vehicle.

 

 

 

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Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting is a recent documentary that examines the movement to end the use of Native American names, logos, and mascots in the world of sports and beyond. The film follows the current uprising against the misappropriation of Native cultures in a national reckoning about racial injustice. It examines the origin and proliferation of the words, images, and gestures that many Native people and their allies find harmful, as well as  the impact that stereotyping and marginalization of Native history have had on Native people. It chronicles the long social movement to eliminate mascoting. 

“A lot of people think some Native Americans are just offended by Native mascot images or are thin-skinned,” Dr. Rebecca Riall, NSU’s American Indian and Indigenous Studies minor coordinator says. “That is not the issue. Research consistently shows that these images harm Native students, and the stereotypes that mascots embody are, for too many non-Native Americans, all that they know about Indigenous people. These images have taken the place of accurate information.”   

“Documentaries open hearts and minds to new ideas, taking us to places we don’t normally get to go,” explains Dr. Melody Gilbert, organizer of the Documentary Screening Series at NSU and professor of New Media, Journalism and Communication Arts. “This film will do that, and I’m looking forward to the discussions that will happen after the screening.” 

The screening and panel discussion will take place November 13, 2023, at 5:30 PM, at the Varnado Hall Ballroom. They are free, and the public is welcome.  The panel will include the film’s director, Aviva Kempner, and local community members and academics.

Dr. Jasmine Wise, coordinator of NSU’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion and assistant professor in the School of Social Sciences and Applied Programs, notes that stereotypes dehumanize people. “Over time American culture has become desensitized to the use of real people, communities, and culture as mascots. This event will raise awareness and bring the significance of the topic to the forefront.” 

These problems are not unique to Indigenous people, although the prevalence of use as mascots may be. “Native cultures, like many others that came into contact with Europeans, were often misunderstood, suppressed, and then reduced to caricatures of their former selves,” adds Anna T. MacDonald, assistant professor and Head of Information Literacy, Library Instruction, and Reference at NSU Libraries. 

The screening and panel are presented by the Documentary Screening Series (Department of New Media, Journalism, and Communications Arts) and the American Indian and Indigenous Studies minor (School of Social Sciences and Applied Programs). They are cosponsored by the Native American Student Association; Center for Inclusion & Diversity; Department of English, Foreign Languages, & Culture Studies; and NSU University Libraries. 

The screening is also part of NSU Native American Heritage Month Activities. “Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the contributions of Indigenous People to the country as we know it. We must be informed so we move forward with purpose,” says Brittany Broussard, Director of Culture and Climate at NSU and instructor of Psychology. 

The event organizers hope to start a respectful discussion within local communities about how mascots affect Native youth in particular. “Imagining the Indian gives us the chance to talk seriously about how stereotyped representation affects our students and community members,” says Dr. Allison Rittmayer, associate professor, Department of English, Languages, and Cultural Studies.

“Federally acknowledged tribal governments are major economic drivers in Louisiana,” Riall adds. “Stereotypes and misinformation don’t just hurt Native people. They hurt people who could benefit from tribal partnerships and employment, or who just want to be informed citizens. It is time to see accurate regional American Indian histories, not caricatures and made-up folk tales, take their rightful place in education, from K-12 to college.” 

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A funeral service celebrating the life of John Wayne Onishea, 68, will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Coushatta with Bro. James Nailes officiating. Interment will follow in St. Ann’s Cemetery in the Spanish Lake community. The family will receive friends from 12:00 PM until service time.

Wayne was born on November 13, 1954, in Shreveport, LA to Jessie and Louise Irvin Onishea and passed away November 4, 2023, in Coushatta, LA.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jessie James Onishea. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Pam Onishea; daughters, Monica Onishea and wife, Terri, Mindy Daniels and husband, Bob, Madeline Onishea, Jillian Onishea and bonus children, Casey Stroud, Kelsey Ballard and James Stroud; sisters, Shirley Young, Kathy Thomasee and husband, Wayne, and Mary French and husband, Ronnie; brothers, Norman Onishea and wife, Jean and Herbert Onishea; grandchildren, Hannah Hullender, Patrick Stanberry, Chase Stanberry, Dylan Daniels, Dalton Daniels, Slayden Horn, London Horn, Nahla Wiggins, Sutton Rogers and Axel Rogers and other relatives and friends.

Honoring Wayne as pallbearers will be Bob Daniels, Dylan Daniels, Dalton Daniels, Rodney French, James Thomasee and Ryan French.

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The annual 4-H Nights with the Pelicans will take place on Friday, January 19, 2024. This is an opportunity for 4-H’ers, their families, and friends to cheer on the New Orleans Pelicans and get special access to many perks. With a purchase of a ticket, 4-H’ers and families will be given pre-game access, a plush Pelican hat, and a Pelican’s hoodie. 4-H members also can put their name in a drawing to participate in Fan Experiences.

Game/Ticket Information

• Opponent: Phoenix Suns
• Tipoff: 7:00 p.m.
• Ticket Prices: $30 (balcony end), $35 (balcony sideline), or $130 (lower end)
• Parking: $20

Fan Experiences

• Pregame Tailgate Party – Arrive at the Smoothie King at 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. to participate in the pregame tailgate party located on the Smoothie King Center Concourse. The entrance is North 100, located on the concourse that connects the Ceasar’s Superdome and the Smoothie King Center. MUST HAVE A VALID TICKET PURCHASED THROUGH 4-H TO PARTICIPATE.
• Baseline Pelicans – Select members of 4-H will get an exclusive on-floor view of the Pelicans’ pregame shoot-around. (20 person max) Complete the Fan Experience sign-up form by December 22, 2023 to be entered into the drawing
• Pregame Fan Tunnel – Select members of 4-H will form a tunnel as the Pelicans team enters the court. You can high five the pros! (30 person max) Complete the Fan Experience sign up by December 22, 2023 to be entered into the drawing
• Anthem Buddies – Twelve kids from 4-H will stand tall in front of the Pelicans basketball team during the National Anthem Performance. Must be 12 years or younger. (12 person max) Complete the Fan Experience sign-up form by December 22, 2023 to be entered into the drawing.

The deadline to order your discounted tickets is FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

Click HERE for tickets

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Though always in the middle of nearly constant chaos for 40 years, she maintained such an efficient and graceful purpose that you wondered if Flo was a real person or something you plugged in at dawn and turned off at midnight.

Born June 1, 1936, in Ruston to Evelyn Mabel and Lonnie Lee, Ms. Florine Davis “Flo” Miskelley passed away Friday in Ruston due to complications from a stroke.

She was 87.

But in Flo Years, who knows how old she was? In the four decades she worked for (ran?) Louisiana Tech’s athletic department until her retirement in 2005, the University got at least 120 working years from her.
A graduate of both Ruston High (1953) and Tech (1955), she worked eight years in Mississippi before she was hired by Tech football coach and athletic director Joe Aillet in August of 1965 as the ticket manager and the only secretary in the entire athletic department.

She had asked to work anywhere on campus but in athletics. And then she told Aillet she didn’t know anything about football.
“That’s OK,” he told her. “You won’t be playing.”
And she didn’t. But she did most everything else.
She was the last of the old-school athletic business managers and ticket chiefs, doing it all with no technology outside of her brain and ingenuity. Pencil. Pad. Memory. Smiles.

No one knows how she did it. I was 18 and she was 42 and in her prime when I met her in 1978; saw her at the field house most every day for the next six years and heard each of these phrases daily, hundreds of times through the years:
“Ask Flo.”
“Where’s Flo?”
“You’d better talk to Flo.”
“Flo will know.”
Every day of the world.

She was either structured and systematic or the luckiest person ever because whatever needed doing got done, and with a refined and stylish air only she seemed to manage.

She defines Unsung Hero, and there’s one in every athletic department. (We are thinking Roxanne Freeman before her retirement from Northwestern State, as a for instance.) They exude a goodness you can feel on top of a productivity you can see and a competence you can bank on.
Triple threats.

That was Flo. A motion perpetual but unhurried, a spirit undefeated.
Flo made her customers feel special; athletic message boards from other schools mentioned how nice “the ticket lady at Tech” was. She made us boys feel cared for, made us feel we mattered.
And she loved her dogs. You could do a lot worse if you were a stray in Lincoln Parish than to wander up to Flo’s house.

Everybody loved her, is the deal. When she stepped down as Associate Athletic Director, 600 people showed up for her reception and, though she was a bit embarrassed by it all, gave her a standing ovation.

Her obituary was three paragraphs, six sentences, just 129 words. She probably wanted it that way. That’s so Flo.
She was the ticket we were all so lucky to get.

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Red River Cowboy Church Youth invite all students in grades 6-12 to join them for a day full of fun and worship on Saturday, November 11 from 1-9pm. Guest speaker is Tanner Dryden and the band is 4 Days Late. There will be amazing clinics in the arena followed by devotions. Focus will close out with an amazing sermon followed by worship music then the after-party with games galore! Food and drinks will be provided. Cost is $10.

Elizabeth Full Gospel BC presents 32nd Pastoral Anniversary honoring Dr. Richard Logan Sr and First Lady Carma Logan on Sunday, November 26 at 3pm. Guest speaker is Bishop Lynell Smith of New Scott Olly BC, Alexandria , LA.

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Vida Mavis Cason
November 16, 1935 – November 5, 2023
Service: Wednesday, November 8 at 11am at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel – Coushatta

Nita Faye Kelley Wallace
April 7, 1935 – November 5, 2023
Service: Wednesday, November 8 at 1pm at Rockett Funeral Home Chapel – Ringgold

John Wayne Onishea
November 13, 1954 — November 4, 2023
Service: Wednesday, November 8 at 2pm at Rose Neath Funeral Homes – Coushatta

Cassandra Guye-Randolph
Service: Saturday, November 11 at 11am at Springville Baptist Church, Coushatta

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November 9 at 2:00 p.m. Red River High School honors everyone who served this country. Everyone is invited to the high school gym at 915 E. Carroll St. Please let the attendants at the door know if you are a veteran.

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The Journal congratulates Randy Thomas. He is the winner of week #10 American Bank High School Football Pickers Congest. And Randy wins the $100 weekly prize.

Randy correctly predicted the outcomes of 9 out of 10 area high school football games played last Friday. He is the winner of the last pickers contest of the season.

The Journal thanks title sponsor American Bank and these other sponsors for presenting the 2023 High School Football Pickers Contest. They are Pathway Tire, Tyler Insurance Agency, Better Finance, Beard’s Automotive NAPA, Farm Pro Feed and Supplies and the York Chop.

Congratulations to all ten weekly winners from the Red River Parish Journal. And thank you to the hundreds of readers in the parish who played the weekly contests.

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The Coushatta Chute Chapter DAR has partnered with the Red River Parish Library to provide a Tree of Honor for Veterans. Beginning November 7 at noon, the tree will be on display. Stars with the names of veterans can be added to the tree by anyone who wants to honor a veteran. Stars may have the veteran’s name, branch of service, dates of service, or other information of interest. The tree will remain in the library during November. Everyone is encouraged to visit the library and honor their veteran.

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Joe Taylor

Two years ago, Coushatta saw its anniversary come and go without notice. We pause a few minutes here to note its founding in 1871.

In the early 1830s, Captain Henry Shreve began to fulfill a contract to clear the raft from the Red River; shortly afterward, the village of Springville was formed. The logical location of the settlement would have been on the river, the only outlet to the outside world and the only way to receive supplies, but the pervading thought at the time was that “bad vapors” (miasma) were the cause of illness. There was a swamp from the present location of Rivertown Market to the high school, and so the decision was to locate on the first high ground from the river at a place that had numerous freshwater springs (thus the name).

There had been previous attempts to form a new parish due to the difficulty of getting to a parish seat and conducting legal business with the poor roads. Those attempts had failed. Locals reached out to the state senator of Bienville and DeSoto parishes, Marshall Twitchell, a former decorated captain in the Union Army. He was a power player in the Republican Legislature in New Orleans. This time, a resolution to form the new parish of Red River, which took a piece of all the five surrounding parishes to create, was successful in 1871.

The first decision of the new government would be where the parish seat would be. They chose a steamboat stop called Coushatta Chute as that location. There were hundreds of steamboat stops up and down the river, and this one was especially good. Coushatta Bayou, a principal waterway big enough to accommodate travel up it during high water, had flowed into the river here and created a deep and wide site.

At the time of the town of Coushatta’s formation, several businesses located on the river and the stores in the village of Springville moved to the new location.

The town would grow quickly to several hundred people in the next fifty years but encountered several significant fires to its wooden buildings. The worst one occurred in 1918 and virtually burned the entire business section. That calamity and the caving of its sandy riverbanks caused town leaders to abandon the riverfront location and move toward the railroad Mr. Edenborn built in the late 1890s. The railroad had become the new procurement source, putting the steamboats out of business. This time, the business owners would make their businesses out of fire-resistant bricks, and thus, the present line of stores on Hessmer Avenue would emerge.

(Pictured is the beginning of Carroll St in Old Town on the river.)

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