Matt Vines

VINTON – Red River coach Dadrian Harris wouldn’t call Tuesday’s performance their absolute best of the season, but the No. 13 Bulldogs kept No. 4 Vinton off-balanced in a 67-49 thrashing on the road in the second round.

The win sends Red River to the quarterfinals for the time in Harris’ tenure as head coach and the first time since 2020.

Red River (21-14) faces the winner of No. 5 Madison and No. 21 Port Allen, which hadn’t reported a score by deadline.

On Tuesday, the Bulldogs shook off a slow start to build a 27-20 halftime lead.

Much like the first-round win against fellow District 5-2A member DeQuincy, Red River hit the gas in the third quarter and built an insurmountable advantage.

“We got a few crucial stops and transition points along with a monster dunk by Chris Gay,” Harris said. “I think that took their fight away as we led by 15 points and then pushed to 25 points early in the fourth quarter.”

Red River wanted to keep the ball out of the hands of Vinton guard Keithan Rigmaiden, and the Bulldogs did limit the Vinton scorer.

“We did an excellent job of that,” Harris said. “We also wanted to force them to shoot the ball from the outside because they shoot a low percentage from behind the arc.”

Red River slowed Vinton’s ability to penetrate to the rim, and the Bulldogs were able to cash in enough turnovers for easy points to build their lead.

“I don’t think it was the best performance of the year, but we executed the game plan very well,” Harris said. “We stayed the course and never got out of what we’ve worked on for the past few practices.”

The Bulldogs also seemingly benefitted from playing a diverse schedule which included nine games against teams from larger classifications as well as some of the top Class 2A teams like Lakeview and Winnfield.

Vinton didn’t play anybody larger than Class 2A this season.

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 Matt Vines

EAST POINT – Riverdale Academy post Madison Chamberlain will take part in the MidSouth Association of Independent Schools’ All-Star game on Friday at Jackson Prep.

The game, which tips at 1 p.m., and will be live-streamed on the MAIS Championship Network via YouTube.

Chamberlain will compete for the Blue Team in the Class AA-AAA All-Star Game.

Twenty-four seniors will suit up in the game, and Chamberlain is one of just six players representing a Louisiana school.

“Madison is the ultimate team player,” said Riverdale coach Trey Pittman. “The only stats she is ever interested in are defensive stats and rebounds.

“She never has a bad day, and she will be missed next year.”

All-Star Games are reserved only for seniors, while underclassmen are selected to play in the Futures Game. Riverdale teammate Mary Claire Jones will take part in that game Thursday.

The pair led Riverdale to a 24-5 record and a Class 2A South Region title.

The Lady Rebels just missed advancing to the overall state tournament with a loss in the Class 2A third-place game.

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Northwestern State University hosted over 2,600 high school students, faculty sponsors, and families from 38 schools throughout the region for the Northwest Louisiana Literary Rally, Saturday, February 24. The Louisiana High School Rally, an academic competition held throughout the state since 1909, with the regional competition being held at NSU since the 1960’s, is an academic competition in which high school students compete by taking exams in a variety of subjects taught in high school. The Northwest Louisiana Rally held at NSU featured 51 different tests ranging from Agriscience to Calculus. Red River Parish was ably represented by teams from Red River High School and Riverdale. Students who earn qualifying scores on their test or performance will advance to compete at the state literary rally at LSU in Baton Rouge in March. NSU’s Art and Science departments also held demonstrations and a drone flying contest.

Hard-working teachers raising our young people’s sights and encouraging academic excellence are part and parcel of our school’s mission. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for the hours of hard work, dedication, and belief in your students’ abilities. Lastly, the Red River Parish Journal wishes all the best to the students who will go on to represent our parish at the state rally in Baton Rouge.  Well done!

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Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – New Red River baseball coach Todd Moore knows what it takes to succeed at the high school level, and the Bulldogs have done just that in the first week of the season.

 

The Bulldogs (5-0) are undefeated after a busy first week, which included one-run wins against Choudrant and Doyline and a two-run victory against Converse.

 

Add wins against Zwolle and St. Mary’s to bookend the first week, and the Bulldogs have already successfully tested themselves against good competition.

 

“We’ve played some programs with rich baseball tradition and have had several extra-inning and one-run games,” Moore said. “We do have six seniors this year, and I would have to contribute most of our success to senior leadership.

 

“Our pitching staff has definitely kept us in ball games. They done an excellent job in keeping opposing teams’ hitters in check and giving us an opportunity to win games. I’ve been very pleased with the energy our guys have, especially their resiliency in extra-inning games.”

 

Red River has limited four of its five opponents to two runs or less thanks to a pitching staff led by Tyler Hughes (Centenary commit), Jaxun Moore (Champion Christian commit) and a junior right-hander Aston Hester.

 

Before spending time in baseball academies, Moore was a highly successful high school coach in the Monroe area.

 

He led St. Frederick High (2003) and Sterlington High (2005) to state championship games and took seven of his nine teams to at least the quarterfinals in their respective classes.

 

Red River has made the playoffs the past three years with one playoff win as a program that’s beginning to challenge in District 3-2A, but the Bulldogs’ start may signal a shift toward a season with increased postseason success.

 

The Bulldogs will discover a lot in the next two weeks as dates against teams like Logansport, Haughton, Minden and Lafayette Christian will further flesh out how Red River stacks up.

 

“We will be tested for sure,” said Moore, a two-time Class 2A Coach of the Year.

 

In addition to having the experience of six seniors, a stronger offseason commitment has helped bring about the early-season success.

 

“One thing we knew we had to do back in August is really hit the weight room hard, and these guys really committed themselves to getting stronger in the fall,” Moore said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the commitment these guys have made to becoming better baseball players, and I attribute that to our seniors.”

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UPDATE – DOTD announces project to improve a section of LA 509 in Red River Parish

UPDATE: DOTD advises motorists that the start date for this project has been moved to Monday, March 4, 2024.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announces a project to repair and improve a two mile section of LA 509 in Red River Parish.

The $1.9 million project stretches from the DeSoto Parish line to LA 1, just north of the Village of Grand Bayou, and includes asphalt patching repairs and a mill and overlay to provide a new driving surface.

As part of this project, LA 509 at this location will need to be closed to through traffic beginning on Friday, March 1, 2024 to allow for the replacement of a cross drain pipe that runs under the roadway. Detour signage will be in place.

This road closure is anticipated to last approximately 30 days, weather permitting. Once that pipe replacement is complete, the contractor will begin working on the mill and overlay portion of the project.

The entire project is expected to wrap up in early Fall 2024, with progress dependent on weather conditions and other factors that can impact construction timelines.

Safety reminder:

DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

Area residents should exercise caution when driving, walking, or biking near an active construction zone.

Additional information:

Call 511, visit 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 www.dotd.la.gov, by selecting MyDOTD, or by visiting the DOTD Facebook and Twitter pages.

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As an outdoor writer/broadcaster, there are several things on my work schedule. For instance, every week I write an outdoor column appearing in seven newspapers around north Louisiana. In addition, I produce and record four weekly radio programs. When opportunities are presented, I write an occasional article for magazines.

One thing that as been a regular assignment for the past 10 years or so is to contact, interview and write articles for Louisiana Sportsman magazine and web site about trophy bucks taken in Louisiana. I enjoy everything I do for outdoors media but especially rewarding is getting to do articles on these big bucks that come to my attention either by my being contacted by successful hunters or by browsing social media to find photos hunters post when they are successful in downing a trophy.

Granted, I don’t get them all as some hunters prefer to keep their success under wraps as they have no interest in sharing details preferring to keep details and locations secret. I totally accept that. If I had a secret honey hole where I find my trophies, I might be reluctant to share too many details. Even so, I average getting to write articles on at least twenty-five big bucks each season. The ones I do write about give me an idea of what type of bucks on average are taken each season.

From my contacts for the season just ended, my conclusion is that the number and quality of bucks this year was average or maybe slightly below average. Drought conditions this past summer affecting browse plants no doubt contributed to this season’s somewhat lower results.

In past years, my articles have covered an occasional buck weighing in excess of 300 pounds and a few have resulted in impressive scores of 270 inches or better. I did articles on 30 trophy bucks this past season with buck with the heaviest body weighing just over 230 pounds. The highest scoring buck I located measured 190 inches of antler mass.

Looking over the statistics of bucks taken last season covered in articles I wrote were impressive, but not quite as eye-catching as some in seasons past.

The highest number of bucks I found were taken in Union Parish with five while Beauregard Parish produced four, indicating that you are likely to find a trophy really from one end of the state to the other. Bucks were taken in twenty-two parishes from north to central to the delta region to southwest Louisiana.
How about antler measurements? The thirty bucks in my articles averaged just over 156 inches of mass while the average number of antler points were 10.26. How about body weights? This came out to 192.6 pounds per buck.

During the month of October, nine bucks were reported, November had the highest number with 15 while December produces six.

Four bucks were taken by traditional archery equipment, two with crossbows and the majority, 24, fell to high powered rifles.

A number of trophies were taken by happenstance. They just showed up. Many of the more successful hunters, however, work all year to prepare food plots, keep minerals available, especially during spring and summer when new antlers and muscle mass are growing.

I’m already looking forward to deer season 2024-25 when we get to do it all over again. Maybe this will be the season with weather conditions improved and I’ll get a call from you or find your photo of your buck on social media. Be assured, if this happens, I’ll be in touch.

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By Doug De Graffenried

Truth has always been true, right?

Let us ponder colors for infants. A truth regarding infants is that pink is the color for girls and blue is the color for boys. That has been true since WWII.

In the 19^th century, boys and girls were primarily clothed in white dresses. The color designation for children began appearing in the later part of 19^th century. The colors were opposite of what they are today.

In the early part of the 20^th century boys wore pink and girls wore blue. Baby books, new baby announcements and cards, gift lists, and newspaper articles from the early 1900s indicate that pink was just as likely to be associated with boy babies as with girl babies. For example, the June 1918 issue of the Infant’s Department, a trade magazine for baby clothes manufacturers, said: “There has been a great diversity of opinion on this subject, but the generally accepted rule is pink for the boy and blue for the girl. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy; while blue, which is more delicate and daintier is prettier for the girl.” Blue is also the color most associated with the Virgin Mary, which helped cement the idea of blue for girls.

The reversal of this trend occurred in the late 1940’s. The catalyst for this reversal was drab army green which was a primary color of uniforms for the military. During WWII, women entered the work force in societal shifting numbers. During WWII, the ladies had a limited color pallet for their clothing options. It seemed to the baby clothing gurus that pink would be much more appropriate for girls now. Pink was viewed as a softer color and thus more appropriate for females. It would help soften the army’s green world created by the war effort. One must ask what happened to cause the color shift. In the early part of the century blue was dainty and pretty and by the mid-century pink became dainty and pretty.

Can truth be a moving target? What is true today might not be true tomorrow? Is truth changed by a study or by our assent to the results of the study? Take wine for instance. Is wine good for you or bad for you? It depends on which study you are reading. Each new study contradicts the previous study.

Here is a novel idea, why not trust your common sense? Humans thrived for thousands of years before the advent of “a scientific study.” Living joyously and freely is about using good common sense.

Living in a world in which the truth is stranger than it used to be is not easy, but there is hope. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.” The truth He described was not about a construct, but about a person. Do you follow the One who spoke and lived truth? His truth is the only source of freedom.

It is true!

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Today during its regular board meeting, the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System approved two important leadership positions for Louisiana Tech University. Cami Geisman will serve as executive vice president for external affairs and Dr. Donna Thomas as the University’s provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Selected following a national search, Thomas began her career at Louisiana Tech in 2005 as an assistant professor of psychology. She served as department chair for psychology and behavioral sciences for more than nine years before becoming associate vice president for academic affairs in January 2022. She has served as interim provost since August 2023.

“Donna brings a mixture of proven academic leadership, innate authenticity, and deep affinity for Louisiana Tech to this vitally important position,” President Jim Henderson said. “Having observed her in various roles and after working directly with her at Louisiana Tech, I have the utmost confidence in her ability to work with our faculty and academic leaders to advance our institution beyond its already considerable prominence among the nation’s universities.”

Thomas is a two-time graduate of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where she earned a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in experimental psychology. She earned her PhD in counseling psychology from Louisiana Tech.

“I am humbled and deeply honored to serve Louisiana Tech as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs,” Thomas said. “I look forward to collaborating with faculty, staff, and students to advance our shared commitment to academic excellence.”

Geisman joined Tech in January. She spent the previous eight years at the University of Louisiana System, most recently as vice president for external affairs and chief of staff. As Tech’s executive vice president for external affairs, she will oversee the University’s marketing and communications efforts, enhance brand recognition and execution, and strengthen relationships with governmental, legislative, and community partners. 

“Having worked with Cami the past seven years at the UL System, I know well the immense value she brings to our leadership team at Louisiana Tech and to the City of Ruston,” Henderson said. “Her demonstrated expertise in messaging will enable us to elevate the Tech brand through the stories of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Her credibility throughout the state and in our nation’s capital will allow for a more comprehensive and substantive approach to advocacy as she works with the Louisiana legislature and our congressional delegation to advance the institution.”

Geisman earned her undergraduate degree in journalism from the Louisiana State University Manship School of Mass Communication. She holds a master’s in public administration from ULM.

“Louisiana Tech is a beautiful institution with a rich history and well-established reputation for excellence. This opportunity to ensure an even broader audience understands the great work happening in Ruston is an honor,” Geisman said. “I look forward to continuing to work with policymakers to support our students, faculty and staff.”

In addition to these leadership positions, the University is expected to announce a new athletic director by the end of the month. At that point, the only remaining interim position on the executive team will be vice president of advancement. A national search for that position will begin this spring.

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Whether you are married or single, come together for an enriching experience filled with love, wisdom, and fellowship. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect and grow!

Join in for an unforgettable evening of connection and inspiration at the House of Refuge Ministries Marriage and Singles Gathering on Saturday March 2 at 6:30pm at the House of Refuge Ministries, 2324 Springville Road, Coushatta.

Special guest speaker will be Pastor Hurmon Hamilton from New Beginnings Community Church in Palo Alto, California. Host pastors are Kalvin and Charlene Douglas. 

Save the date and spread the word!

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When the news broke more than a month ago that Sports Illustrated was laying off most of its workforce, that the end of the publication was apparently on hand, I re-lived the moment someone told me in the late 1990s that my childhood favorite Red Skelton had passed away.

Thought he’d died like 20 years before.

In the late-January days after the SI punchout, eulogies followed that were heartfelt and expected. They all brought back memories of getting SI in the mail on Wednesdays or Thursdays, back when I had pimples. 

Joy. Rapture. Day and weekend made. 

But I buried Sports Illustrated 25 years ago. Was grateful for it, mourned it, and let it go. Was semi-surprised to find out last month it was still alive.

It’s like what our SportsTalk friend John James Marshall said about Fair Grounds Field, once the siren song of summertime around here. More than a year ago, after the most recent attempt to clean it up, lots of people started telling it goodbye. JJ, who spent more time at SPAR Stadium and Fair Grounds Field than probably any of us, had made his peace with the death of the place years ago. What you see now from Interstate 20 is just concrete and bat poop and a feral cat palace and a solid illustration of political foot dragging. It ain’t Fair Grounds Field; that was a beautiful place that died a long time.

So was Sports Illustrated.

And it’s nobody’s fault. Not really. It’s one of those time things. 

Once it got its footing after its founding in 1954 until the late 1980s, SI was one of the great financial successes in the world of publishing. Its covers were iconic in the culture. It billed itself as the authority — and it was. Sports Illustrated was the Cleveland Browns of the 1940s, the Yankees of the ’50s and the Celtics of the ’60s.

It happened because the most influential guy in publishing then, Time Inc. founder Henry Luce, believe in it, even though he wasn’t a big sports fan. He hired a European sophisticate named Andre Laguerre to be the managing editor. And besides the best photographers, Laguerre hired the three or four best writers in each sport, gave them an expense account, and told them to let ’er rip, tater chip.

“Oh, I thought he should’ve been president,” Dan Jenkins, the magazine’s most influential writer ever, said of Laguerre. The whole thing was a perfect place-time-people deal as Jenkins and a pile of other semi-irreverent writers pumped in fastball after fastball.

But money changed the dynamic between players-coaches and writers. Suddenly it was more opportune for a millionaire forward from the Bucks to spend time with Willow Bay instead of with a writer.

Cable TV happened. Then the internet.

And long before that, the tone of the magazine began changing. Jenkins moved on to Playboy and Golf Digest because the new editors thought they knew more about college football and professional golf than he did. SI became more political, and while a fan of 15 can argue with his 75-year-old grandfather about whether Carlton or Spahn was the best lefthander, they can’t have a fair fight about all the hot-button issues the magazine began weighing in on.

Too much work and not enough play. Sports and Some Non-Sports Cultural Stuff Illustrated. (Boooooo…)

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Was your household income $75,000 or less in 2023?

Red River Council on Aging has partnered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
to provide FREE, confidential, and secure preparation and e-filing of tax returns
to qualified taxpayers.

Call and speak with Mary at 318-932-5721 to schedule an appointment

Please be sure to have the following information with you when you visit one of our VITA sites:

• Photo ID (taxpayer and spouse if married and filing jointly)
• Social Security Cards (you, your spouse, and dependents)
• Birth Dates (you, your spouse, and dependents)
• Wage & Earning Forms (all W-2, W-2G, and 1099-R Forms)
• Interest & Dividend Forms (Forms 1099)
• Total Paid for Child Care (must provide name, address, and tax ID)
• Bank Routing and Account Numbers (for direct deposit of refund; voided check will suffice)
• Spouse (if married and filing a joint tax return, your spouse must be present)
• Form 1095A from the Marketplace
• Identity Protection Theft Pin Number (IP PIN assigned by IRS)
• Unemployment Compensation (1099G)

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The Village of Hall Summit will host their 3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 16 from 10am until 12pm at the Hall Summit Community Center and Walking Track. The egg hunt is for kids 12 and under. Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be provided after the hunt. Photos will be available for $5 each. 

Red River Crappie Club will host their next tournament on the Red River on March 9. Registration and weigh-in will be at the Coushatta launch. Registration is from 5:30-6:15am. Lines in at 6:15am and lines out at 2pm. Weigh-in by 2:30pm. Contact Justin Keith for more information 318.517.2027.

Krewe of Dionysos is having a St. Patrick’s Parade! March 16, 2024 at 6:00 pm. FREE TO ENTER! Entries can be submitted on our website, https://kreweofdionysos.com/join-us/ Please note revised route:
Parade stages at River South Commons parking lot (Bealls & Goodwill location); turns right on South Drive; and left on Keyser Avenue. Right on Williams Avenue and left across the Church Street bridge to 2nd Street. Left on 2nd Street to Touline Street which will officially end the parade.

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Ray Johnson
August 27, 1949 — February 23, 2024
Graveside Service: Wednesday, February 28 at 12:15pm at Bethany Cemetery – Coushatta

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The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announces a project to repair and improve a two mile section of LA 509 in Red River Parish.

The $1.9 million project stretches from the DeSoto Parish line to LA 1, just north of the Village of Grand Bayou, and includes asphalt patching repairs and a mill and overlay to provide a new driving surface.

As part of this project, LA 509 at this location will need to be closed to through traffic beginning on Friday, March 1, 2024 to allow for the replacement of a cross drain pipe that runs under the roadway. Detour signage will be in place.

This road closure is anticipated to last approximately 30 days, weather permitting. Once that pipe replacement is complete, the contractor will begin working on the mill and overlay portion of the project.

The entire project is expected to wrap up in early Fall 2024, with progress dependent on weather conditions and other factors that can impact construction timelines.

Safety reminder:

DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

Area residents should exercise caution when driving, walking, or biking near an active construction zone.

Additional information:

Call 511, visit 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 www.dotd.la.gov, by selecting MyDOTD, or by visiting the DOTD Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – Perhaps the playoff stage affected the No. 13 seed Red River boys basketball team as the Bulldogs were tied with No. 20 DeQuincy at halftime of Friday’s first-round playoff game.

But the young Red River squad quickly found their footing in the second half, opening a 24-point lead in the third quarter en route to a 66-50 win.

Red River’s prize is a second-round trip to No. 4 Vinton on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Coach Dadrian Harris said his team honed in defensively in the second half against DeQuincy.

“Defense was the decisive factor in the game for us,” said Harris, who is in his third season as the Red River head coach. “We were playing with high emotions and adrenaline flow in the first half, but we finally settled down and locked in on the defensive end, which allowed us to get a few steals and easy points in transition.

“Our shots began to fall, and we open up that lead in the first five minutes of the third quarter.”

With Red River having dispatched of a DeQuincy team tied for second place in District 5-2A, now the Bulldogs get a Vinton squad who won that district title.

“Vinton and DeQuincy are similar in style of play, but I think Vinton may have a few more polished players,” Harris said. “I don’t believe they have anything we haven’t seen this season.

“The biggest challenge is the three-hour drive to go play.”

Vinton (18-4) rarely suffered defeat, but the Lions didn’t play an opponent above a 2A classification.

The school east of Lake Charles lost to fellow district member Notre Dame twice along with Class C Singer and an out-of-state opponent.

Red River went 3-6 against teams from larger classifications as well as challenging itself inside of Class 2A, which includes competitive losses to No. 1 French Settlement, No. 3 Winnfield and Division IV No. 1 Lakeview.

Vinton did beat DeQuincy by double digits in two meetings, and Harris said facing a fellow District 5-2A member in Vinton does help in preparation on short notice.

“You get to see how DeQuincy and Vinton matched up with each other,” Harris said. “Once my staff and I figure out how Vinton beat DeQuincy and some other teams on the radar, then we can game plan accordingly.”

Red River is no stranger to deep playoff runs with eight Top 28 appearances in the last 25 years, but a win Tuesday would send the Bulldogs to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2020.

Red River’s first-round win is the eighth consecutive season in which the Bulldogs have won at least one playoff game.

“Winning a playoff game itself shows how competitive the program has been over the years,” Harris said. “Consistency is the key to unlocking doors we have yet to enter.

“We have been fortunate enough to be able to handle business in the first round, but the first round doesn’t win a championship, which is the ultimate goal. Hopefully we can build off the first round and be more hungry to win the second round.”

As a No. 24 seed in 2023, Red River upset No. 9 Sterlington and fell by just three points to No. 8 Ville Platte in the second round.

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The Posey family of Natchitoches made a donation to the Northwestern State University Foundation to fully endow a scholarship that honors the late Allen and Mary Lee Posey, a couple who were active in the Natchitoches community and at NSU for more than 50 years. The funds will be matched dollar for dollar through a grant awarded to the Foundation by the Louisiana Board of Regents for institutions to provide scholarships to students pursuing mental, behavioral or allied health studies. The match will bring the scholarship total to $120,000.

The Posey family established the Allen and Mary Lee Posey Scholarship in 2016. Allen Murph Posey Sr. and Mary Lee Sigler Posey were natives of Red River Parish who met at Northwestern State in 1946. Allen had served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and spent 23 months in German POW camps. After the war, he returned home and enrolled at Northwestern majoring in agriculture. Mary Lee was a home economics major. Their first date was made in the library at Northwestern where he asked her to a movie. They were married in January 1948.

Allen and Mary Lee Posey’s association with NSU began before they met. Mary Lee’s parents, Abner Lee and Nyease Dowies Sigler, were graduates of Louisiana State Normal College, as NSU was then known. Allen and Mary Lee were second generation students. Their three children and several grandchildren are NSU alumni.

In 1947, Mary Lee was the first NSU graduate in child development, a new program in the home economics curriculum. At that time, state certifications did not allow child development graduates to teach in public schools, so she continued her studies at night and during summers to earn bachelor’s, master’s and +30 in education. Allen was involved with agriculture, raising cattle as a hobby, and retired from the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles. He also served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Allen Posey passed away in 2003. Mary Lee Posey passed away in 2016.

The match for scholarship is a result of funding targeted towards enhancing mental health services, awareness and outreach eligible for dollar for dollar matches if they meet criteria set forth by the Board of Regents in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health.

For information on supporting scholarships through the NSU Foundation, contact Cristy Bernard, assistant director of Donor Relations, at bernardc@nsula.edu or (318) 357-4292.

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“Let Teachers Teach” Workgroup to identify and develop possible solutions to classroom disruptions such as excessive training and paperwork, scripted lessons, and student discipline

(BATON ROUGE, LA) – The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is launching a new workgroup to learn more about the classroom disruptions keeping teachers from focusing on the most important aspect of their job — teaching students. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley announced the Let Teachers Teach Workgroup. Dr. Brumley created the group after educator engagement revealed a number of challenges taking time away from classroom instruction, including excessive training and paperwork, being required to follow scripted lessons, and student behavior and discipline issues.

“Other than the parent, there is nothing more critical to student success than an effective teacher,” said Dr. Brumley. “One of the best ways we can value teaching professionals is by simply protecting their time to do the important work entrusted to them.”

The workgroup will include PK-12 teachers from across the state. The LDOE is working with its various teacher committees and Louisiana education organizations to identify teachers for the workgroup. Recommendations from organizations should be emailed to ldoecommunications@la.gov. Current Louisiana Teacher of the Year Kylie Altier will chair the workgroup.

“I wholeheartedly believe teaching is the best job in the world because of the children, and I can think of no greater work than ensuring teachers can keep their full focus on students,” said Altier.

The workgroup is the product of feedback the LDOE has received through formal channels such as the Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council as well as informal channels such as classroom visits and faculty meetings hosted by Dr. Brumley. Meetings are expected to begin in the spring.

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Louisiana Tech University has announced the appointment of Dr. Henrietta Williams Pichon as dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences (CEHS). Pichon is a graduate of Louisiana Tech and has over 25 years of experience in higher education.

“It gives me great pleasure to extend a warm ‘welcome back’ to Dr. Pichon,” Dr. Donna Thomas, provost, said. “Her expertise, vision, and collaborative nature make her a valuable addition to our academic leadership team. After an exhaustive search process, I couldn’t be happier that we found an innovative leader who shares our vision for student success and has roots within the college she will serve.”

Pichon earned her bachelor’s degree in English and master’s degree in secondary English education from Louisiana Tech. She earned her doctoral degree from the University of New Orleans (UNO) in education administration with a focus on higher education.

Pichon joins Tech from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS), where she served as dean and professor in the College of Education. Pichon brings the knowledge of administrative experience and collaboration among departments, colleges, and the community. Before serving at UCCS, Pichon also served as interim dean of the College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation (HEST) at New Mexico State University (NMSU).

“I am overjoyed to have the opportunity to return to the College and University that embraced and nurtured me in such a meaningful way, serving as the foundation for my career in higher education,” Pichon said. “It will be great to be a part of a thriving College with diverse academic programs in education and human sciences working collaboratively to transform minds, destinies, and communities.”

Along with varying roles at other notable universities such as the University of New Orleans (UNO), Rowan University (RU), and Northwestern State University (NSU), Pichon’s experience has demonstrated a dedication to enhancing educational programs, promoting research initiatives, and cultivating a supportive learning environment for students, staff, and faculty alike.

Her research and teaching concentrate on access, development, and persistence of underserved populations in higher education. Specifically, Pichon’s work focuses on creating collaborative learning environments that practice cultivating welcoming academic communities. She is an award-winning professor and has taught courses in leadership, college student development, and research.

She has presented at multiple professional association meetings (AABHE, ASHE, AERA, NASPA) and has work published in several peer-reviewed journals (i.e., Journal of Freshmen Year Experience and Students in Transition, Community College Journal of Research and Practice, The Journal of College and Character), books, and compendiums. She has provided service to the profession by serving on professional association committees and boards, serving as co-editor for a journal, as well as serving as a reviewer, chair, and discussant at annual meetings.

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I have been asked that question many times but have never addressed it in an article. The subtext of this question is usually something like this: “How do you represent people you think may actually have committed the crime?”

That’s a great question and the short answer is that I never ask an individual I represent whether they committed a crime and most of them don’t trust their attorney enough to admit it even if they did.

But that is a secondary point. What is important is that the presumption of innocence and other constitutional safeguards for the accused are what distinguishes our country and our Constitution from every other one in world history. It’s really more about the rule of law and requiring the government to prove guilt before the awesome power of the state can be invoked to circumscribe an American citizen’s freedom or even take his life, following due process.

Receiving “due process” of law means we are entitled to a presumption of innocence in every moment prior to a conviction. We have the right against self-incrimination—we don’t have to testify at trial and the fact that we don’t testify cannot be used against us as evidence of guilt. We have the right to an attorney, the right to trial by jury and the right against Double Jeopardy—not being tried twice for the same alleged offense, and the right to confront witnesses against us through cross-examination.

The State also has the entire burden of proof. An accused person doesn’t have to prove anything at trial. The State’s burden of proof is the heavy legal burden of “proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” The State also may not convict someone based upon an illegal search or seizure. Generally, if the police don’t have a warrant signed by a neutral judge—that is based upon probable cause to believe the individual has committed a crime, allowing them to be in a place to discover the alleged criminal activity, that evidence can’t be used in court.

The State also has a continuing legal and ethical obligation to turn over to me all exculpatory evidence (i.e. evidence which proves my client is not guilty) that never goes away.

Why did the Framers of our Constitution feel so strongly that it was necessary to anchor these guarantees in our Constitution? Because they had suffered the very abuses they were now protecting against at the hands of King George and the British government, which eventually led to the Revolutionary War. Thomas Jefferson lists many of these abuses in the Declaration of Independence. So, in setting up our new government the Framers made very certain that such abuses could no longer be perpetrated.

So, when I defend someone, I present the very best legal arguments that may be available to my client. If I’m unsuccessful it means that a thoroughly vetted jury of 12 people have unanimously decided guilt. However, if I persuade even one juror that the State has not carried its burden of proving that my client is guilty, the result is a hung jury, and the state has to start over, and my client remains presumed innocent.

When the trial is finished and a jury returns a unanimous verdict of guilty, I know I have done my job, and the jury did its job. The system worked.

However, even when I lose, it is still critical that the trial was held and that my client received a zealous defense through my challenging the State’s evidence and cross-examining the State’s witnesses. I have tested the obligation of the police to remain thorough and conscientious as they do their critically important jobs—like correctly providing Miranda warnings and preserving evidence with a verifiable chain of custody; requiring the DNA expert to be certain about their findings and requiring that the doctor who performed the autopsy be absolutely certain about their conclusion regarding the cause of death. I have forced the ballistics expert to be certain that this very bullet matched this very gun and have required that any lay witnesses be very certain about what they are testifying to against my client on the witness stand.

That is why I have a clear conscience and a sense of peace. I’ve done my job and protected all of our constitutional rights and have ensured that our criminal justice and judicial systems have worked as our Founders intended.

Royal Alexander

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TROOP G NEWS RELEASE
February 24, 2024

Ringgold – On Saturday, February 24, 2024, shortly after 11:30 a.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop G began investigating a single-vehicle fatality crash involving a pedestrian in the 1300 block of School Street. This crash claimed the life of 7-year-old Kaiden Coke of Ringgold.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2011 Dodge Ram was backed into a parking space in a private parking lot and occupied by a driver. At the same time, Coke, who was playing with a ball, was inside the same private parking lot. For reasons still under investigation, Coke lost his ball, which rolled under the Ram. As Coke went to retrieve the ball, the driver, who was unaware that Coke had crawled under the Ram, pulled out of the parking space. As a result, Coke was struck by the Ram.

Coke was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Bienville Parish Coroner’s Office. The driver of the Dodge was not injured. Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

As our Troopers work to ensure the safety of our roadways, investigating fatal crashes remains a top priority. Dealing with the aftermath of a fatal crash is always challenging, particularly when children are involved. While each crash is unique, there are essential safety measures that can greatly reduce the risk of tragic crashes as we head into warmer weather.

It is crucial to educate children on the importance of never playing near or around cars and trucks. Always make it a habit to walk around your vehicle and thoroughly check the surrounding area before reversing. Avoid solely relying on detection devices, as they may not always be foolproof. Encourage your children to stand to the side of the driveway or sidewalk so they are clearly visible to you when backing out. Furthermore, when driving through residential areas, it is imperative to be extra cautious and attentive. Keep a watchful eye out for children, reduce your speed, and remain vigilant at all times. By following these safety tips, we can all play a role in preventing tragic crashes and keeping our communities safe.

In 2024, Troop G has investigated four fatal crashes, resulting in five deaths.

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Was your household income $75,000 or less in 2023?

Red River Council on Aging has partnered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
to provide FREE, confidential, and secure preparation and e-filing of tax returns
to qualified taxpayers.

Call and speak with Mary at 318-932-5721 to schedule an appointment

Please be sure to have the following information with you when you visit one of our VITA sites:

• Photo ID (taxpayer and spouse if married and filing jointly)
• Social Security Cards (you, your spouse, and dependents)
• Birth Dates (you, your spouse, and dependents)
• Wage & Earning Forms (all W-2, W-2G, and 1099-R Forms)
• Interest & Dividend Forms (Forms 1099)
• Total Paid for Child Care (must provide name, address, and tax ID)
• Bank Routing and Account Numbers (for direct deposit of refund; voided check will suffice)
• Spouse (if married and filing a joint tax return, your spouse must be present)
• Form 1095A from the Marketplace
• Identity Protection Theft Pin Number (IP PIN assigned by IRS)
• Unemployment Compensation (1099G)

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HOWARD, AMBREA
28 B F 2/16/2024 2/16/2024
FAILURE TO APPEAR – CRIMINAL ARRAIGNMENT O.R. BOND
ARRESTING AGENCY: RED RIVER PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE

WATERS, MICHAEL
43 W M 2/17/2024 2/20/2024
VIOLATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDERS RELIEVED OF BOND OBLIGATION
CRIMINAL TRESPASS RELIEVED OF BOND OBLIGATION
ARRESTING AGENCY: COUSHATTA POLICE DEPARTMENT

MILLER, MARCUS
38 B M 2/19/2024
FAILURE TO APPEAR – CRIMINAL ARRAIGNMENT $2,000.00
ARRESTING AGENCY: RED RIVER PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE

BAMBURG, WESTON
33 W M 2/20/2024 2/20/2024
OUT OF PARISH FUGITIVE WARRANT – BIENVILLE PARISH
ARRESTING AGENCY: RED RIVER PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE

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