Matt Vines

LAKE CHARLES – When Christopher Gay connected on a long jumper to give Red River a three-point lead with five minutes remaining in the Division III Non-Select championship game Saturday, it appeared the Bulldogs were headed for their first trophy under the school’s new name.

But the offense went through an unexplainable cold snap, and No. 6 seed Marksville ended the game on a 14-4 run to claim their first-ever state title with the 67-59 win.

“We had a couple of turnovers that led to transition points for them,” said Red River coach Dadrian Harris, who led the Bulldogs to the state title game in just his third season as head coach. “(Warren Bowman) was in foul trouble, so he couldn’t be aggressive.

“And then (Jomello McDonald) got called for hooking on a made basket that would have stopped their run. But we didn’t make the shots we normally would make, and the momentum swung while we went into a shooting slump.”

Red River’s (23-15) lone bucket in the last five minutes came on a three-point play from McDonald, which tied the game at 59-59 with 3:14 remaining.

McDonald’s three-point play answered Marksville’s three-point play from Most Outstanding Player Zach Schuler, who finished with 19 points. Devin Lavalais scored a team-high 20 points for Marksville.

The Bulldogs, who controlled most of the game with their transition offense and solid rebounding, became the victims of Marksville (22-16) sprint outs in the final minutes as the Tigers scored the game’s final eight points.

Red River also made just 3-of-10 from the free-throw line after making clutch free throws to seal the win against Donaldsonville in the semifinals.

“I feel that we were in control for the majority of the game even though it was close,” Harris said. “We controlled the tempo and the boards.

“But basketball is a game of runs, and we just didn’t counter their run with our own late in the game.”

Red River, the No. 13 seed, was trying to become just the second double-digit seed to ever win a state title (Landry-Walker in 2017).

Marksville went on an 8-2 run late in the first quarter to lead 17-11, but the Bulldogs erased that quickly with 3-pointers from Collin Stafford and Gay to spark a 12-3 run.

Gay scored 20 points off the bench with McDonald contributing 19 points.

McDonald handed Red River a 31-26 halftime lead after scoring the last two buckets and blocking a shot that led to the second basket.

The Bulldogs suffocated Marksville’s offense in the second quarter as the Tigers scored just eight points.

But the Tigers had an answer in the third quarter in this back-and-forth heavyweight bout.

After Gay scored two straight buckets to put Red River up 35-28, Marksville responded with an 18-5 run to snatch a 46-40 lead. Dayne Small scored his first five points of the game to end the run.

“Marksville is a very scrappy team,” Harris said. “They had a few second-chance opportunities, which is normally how we have dominated teams in the playoff run.

“The way they spread their offense out took Jomello and Chris away from the rim, and that worked in their favor late in the game.”

Red River battled back with two Bowman baskets and one from Jaylen Wells before a McDonald bucket handed the Bulldogs a 50-48 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Much like the Bulldogs used the 2023 second-round loss to Ville Platte to fuel this season, Harris said getting so close to a state title will motivate his players through the offseason and through next season.

And nearly all of those players will be back in a Red River uniform. Josiah Jones and Wilmer Blount are the only seniors.

During the March meeting of the Red River Parish School Board the public-school students of the month were recognized. Superintendent Alison Strong called each student to the podium and read their nomination statements. Each was presented a certificate and gift card.

Red River Elementary School’s Student of the Month is Jessie Solton. He was nominated buy his first-grade teachers. They said, “Jessie has been chosen for student of the month because of the wonderful qualities he shows in class. He is a self-motivated learner and wants to do his best in every subject. Before turning in any assignment, Jessie makes sure to examine every part of his work for accuracy. He actively participates in every class and volunteers to answer questions regularly. His laugh and smile are contagious in the classroom and we all enjoy his positive attitude.”

The Red River Academic Academy Student of the Month is Elizabeth Stevens. In nominating Stevens, her teacher Sherry Pickett said, “Elizabeth is a delightful student. A lot of times Beth is overlooked because she is such a quiet student but she is determined to take care of her business no matter what is going on around her. She works hard on everything she does in class and doesn’t let the hard work get her frustrated. She is patient and kind towards all of her teachers and peers. When she smiles or laughs it is contagious and everyone has to join in. Beth is a great student and I am honored to have her in my class.”

Red River Junior High School Coach Travis Gary nominated Trindan Williams as their Student of the Month. Coach Gary said, “Trindan not only excels and does his best in the classroom, he is also a great young gentleman. He is always positive and polite with a hardworking attitude. Trinidan has a smile that lights up the room. He wants to please his teachers by doing well on assignments. He is respectful when communicating with adults and peers. He is an awesome student with a big heart! I look forward to seeing him in class daily.”

And from Red River High School the Student of the Month is Tylan Beavers. In her nomination statement, his teacher Caren Bennett said, “Tylan is an outgoing young man who manages to make terrific grades and lead others by example. He is funny, friendly and well-liked by teachers and peers. Tylan has high expectations for himself, and has set personal goals, that means he maintains a strong work ethic regardless of the course. Like any good Bulldog, once he sets his mind on something, he doesn’t give up until the task is accomplished.”

The Student of the Month program is a community service of Coushatta’s VFW Post and Auxiliary 7287 in cooperation with Lott Oil/Chevron. Each student is awarded a certificate and gift card to Lott Oil/Chevron.

LAKE CHARLES – There will be a fair amount of déjà vu for Northwestern State when it takes the court to open the women’s bracket of the Southland Conference Tournament on Monday morning.

Not only will the Demons (11-18, 7-11) be facing the same Texas A&M-Commerce (13-15, 8-10) it saw just five days prior, it is the same Lion team they saw in this matchup and time a year ago in the 2023 edition of the SLC tournament.

The Demons lost both of those games to Commerce and look to rectify both losses on Monday to pick up head coach Anna Nimz’s first win in the postseason.

“To me it’s you show up to the tournament ready to go no matter who you’re playing,” she said. “That should be motivation enough. It’s a new season. It’s a new start and we’ve got a lot of things that we’re ready to capitalize on.”

With such a recent meeting between the two teams entering the tournament, the few days between games have allowed both the Demons and the Lions to fine tune their offensive and defensive game plans.

The Lions got an unexpected shooting performance from Jada Hood, who scored more points (22) on 6-of-9 from beyond the arc than she had minutes played (16) on the season prior to Wednesday’s game. While Commerce is among the top 3-point shooting teams in the conference, as are the Demons, the plan to limit the open looks that Hood or any of the Lions’ deep threats remains the same.

“Obviously it’s a quick scout and not a lot has changed on it,” Nimz said. “We just have to focus in more on it and lock into a few things, come out and be the better team. That’s really what it comes down to.”

The Demons held the league’s top scorer, Mia Deck, to just nine points in the game, won the rebounding battle and had and exceeded their goal in the turnover department. During two different stretches of the game, at the end of both halves, the Demons held Commerce to just one total made field goal.

Sharna Ayres led the scoring effort with 16 points with Jenny Ntambwe using her athleticism to score 10 around the basket. Both players also grabbed seven rebounds in the game.

“I thought Sharna played well and Jenny was able to capitalize on some things insides,” Nimz said. “And we did a lot of good things in that game but it’s about putting a full 40 minutes together, 38 minutes isn’t going to cut and for sure 30 won’t cut it. It’s March and we have to step up.”

Ayres is one of a handful of players that will play their third games in the conference tournament, along with Jiselle Woodson, Jordan Todd and Jasmin Dixon. It will be Karmelah Dean’s second game in the tournament setting after missing the meeting with New Orleans her first year at NSU.

The third time will hopefully be the charm for Nimz and the Demons as they look to rely on that experience on the big stage to help NSU get its first tournament win since the 2015 championship game when it beat then HBU 58-50 to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

“You’ve proven you deserve to be in the tournament and now it’s time to walk in with some confidence and understanding of how it all works,” Nimz said. “Have a business trip mentality. Be in the moment and not think past that first game. Don’t think about the what ifs or it could be your last or the next or any of that. Stay present in the moment and focus on what we need to do to win.”

Northwestern State University invites the public to attend a ribbon-cutting for the new digital billboard that was constructed at the corner of University Parkway and the Hwy. 1 Bypass.  The ribbon-cutting will be at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14 at the site.   

The NSU-Lamar Advertising digital structure is a long-term public/private partnership, in which 100 percent of the construction cost was funded by Lamar in exchange for partial advertising rights. The sign was constructed last year to replace a traditional wooden billboard that stood at the site for decades. The new sign features 10 rotating slides, five of which are NSU-focused, and was designed to mimic the architecture of the campus.  

Parking will be available behind the Teacher Education Center on Tarleton Drive and golf carts will be available to shuttle guests to and from the ribbon-cutting ceremony.  RSVP to Haley Graves at gravesh@nsula.edu or (318) 357-4487.   

 In case of rain, the ribbon-cutting will be postponed.   

Northwestern State University’s Watson Library will host the spring edition of “Watson’s Living Library: Everyone Has a Story” from 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, March 14 in the Ora G. Williams Digital Media Center -NSU TV Studio, Kyser Hall Room 142.  

This semester’s edition will recognize outstanding NSU employees who work hard behind the scenes as NSU’s “Unsung Heroes.”  

“The 8^th Living Library would like to shine a light on their commitment, integrity and selfless service to NSU’s mission and values,” according to program coordinator Deborah Huntington, head of Collection Development and Cataloging and associate professor.  

Admission is free and open to the public.  For information, contact Huntington @huntingtond@nsula.edu.   

Interested Students Encouraged To Apply Before March 15 Deadline

BATON ROUGE, La. – The deadline for applications for membership on the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) is fast approaching. Students from high schools across the state are encouraged to participate.

LYAC is an annually appointed body composed entirely of students that tackle issues affecting the youth of Louisiana. The purpose of LYAC is to facilitate communication between youth and the legislature, and to give students a unique opportunity to be involved in the workings of state government. The Council studies and addresses a variety of issues of importance to young people such as education, mental health, civic engagement, the environment, and school safety.

Members of the Council are selected from a large pool of applicants who display a strong interest in civic involvement. The thirty-one members include three students representing each of the six congressional districts and the remaining serve at large.

Applicants must be between the ages of fourteen and nineteen and enrolled in a public or private high school, charter school, home school, or GED skills program during the 2024-2025 school year.

The deadline to apply is March 15, 2024. The application may be accessed at civiced.louisiana.gov and then by clicking on LYAC at the top of the page. All applicants are required to submit two recommendation letters in addition to the eight short essay questions on the application form.

For additional information, please contact Megan Bella at bellam@legis.la.gov or 225-342-2361.

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) today unanimously approved the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) formula for the 2024-25 school year. The new formula aligns with the recommendations of the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), adding approximately $71.3 million to the MFP to address the key areas of employee pay, workforce development, tutoring, and operational costs. BESE also unanimously adopted a separate resolution urging lawmakers to appropriate funds for educator and support staff pay stipends in the 2024-25 state budget.

“The MFP formula adopted by BESE today provides a solid and responsible starting point for funding K-12 public education in Louisiana in the coming year,” said BESE President Ronnie Morris. “In developing the new MFP our Board considered all factors, taking into account state revenue projections, rising costs, and the real-world needs of students, educators and school systems. As we move through the MFP and budget processes, BESE remains committed to working with our partners in the Legislature to ensure that the financial needs of Louisiana public schools are met.”

Key components of the MFP formula approved today:

• $4,015 maintained as the base per pupil amount provided to school systems;
• $25 million allocated to continue the differentiated compensation provision for teacher pay;
• $2 million to provide school systems with support for apprenticeships and internships;
• $30 million allocated to support literacy and math tutoring; and
• $14.3 million added to help school systems meet rising operational expenses.

The MFP formula defines the cost of a minimum program of education for all public elementary and secondary schools in Louisiana. School districts, charter schools, lab schools and state schools utilize MFP dollars to fund expenses including employee salaries and benefits. Complete details on the 2024-2025 MFP formula adopted by BESE are available here.

The state’s constitution delegates authority to BESE to develop the MFP formula and submit it to the Louisiana Legislature each year. Per state law, the Legislature may approve or reject the formula but cannot make amendments to it. The final resolution outlining the formula approved by BESE today will be submitted to the Legislature for consideration by March 15.

Also being submitted to the Legislature is a unanimous resolution from the Board urging and requesting lawmakers to include in the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget provisions for funding a stipend of $2,000 for certificated K-12 school personnel and $1,000 for support personnel. The resolution reflects a similar resolution adopted by BESE’s MFP Task Force and aligns with the $198 million teacher stipend provision in Governor Jeff Landry’s proposed executive budget. The full BESE resolution may be viewed here.

“While we understand the budget realities that lawmakers are grappling with, it is important that our state prioritize the needs of K-12 education and recognize the incredible efforts of its teachers and support staff by providing them with a meaningful monetary stipend,” said Morris.

Understanding the need for teacher placement in critical shortage areas and in high need schools, the Board allocated $25 million in the MFP formula for continued funding of a block grant program to provide a differentiated compensation provision for teacher salaries. The provision allows school systems to apply for grant dollars to fund stipends for teachers working in critical shortage areas as defined by BESE, highly-effective teachers as defined in state law and BESE policy, teachers working in schools with an economically disadvantaged student population rate of 85% or higher, and teacher leaders and mentors. In 2023-24, the Legislature appropriated $25 million as a budget line item to fund a differentiated compensation provision with similar methodology.

Also included in the new formula is an allocation of $2 million to support workforce development through apprenticeships and internships in school systems. For apprenticeships, a total of $1 million is proposed – federally classified rural school systems would receive $3,500 per enrolled student and non-rural systems would receive $2,500 per enrolled student. For internships, a total of $1 million is proposed – school systems would receive $1,000 per enrolled student. In 2023-24, the Legislature allocated $1.5 million for apprenticeships and internships as a budget line item.

The Board added $30 million to the MFP as a block grant for Accelerate tutoring for literacy and math, focusing on students most in need of improved academic outcomes. The Accelerate tutoring model provides students with extra time for connecting unfinished learning in the context of new learning, integrating new information and the necessary prior knowledge. The funding may be used to provide services for any student requiring tutoring, including expenses for extra staffing, contracted services, or online programming as determined at the local level with guidance from the LDOE.

BESE’s funding proposal also increases support for mandated operational costs incurred by schools. The Board added approximately $14.3 million to the formula to boost school systems’ operational expense allocation from $100 to $122 per student. Since the 2008-09 school year, the Consumer Price Index has increased by 44 percent, and the new formula’s operational expense provision recognizes half of that inflationary increase.

Red River Parish 4-H will hold their Parish Pet Show on Saturday, March 16 at 2pm at the Red River Parish Fairgrounds.

4-H members aged 5-16 may participate. Admission fee is to bring an item for a pet shelter (dog food, disinfectant, cleaner/wipes, paper towels, old towels for bathing, dog collars, leashes, Adams flea spray, milk bones).

Categories will include smallest, largest, best trick, prettiest eyes, best dressed, most unique and a few more. Animals must be on a leash or in a carrier. No aggressive animals may be entered into show.
All exhibitors are responsible for their own pets.

Call the 4-H office for more information at 932.4342.

All are presumed innocent until proven guilty

SHAVER, JOSHUA
41 W M 3/5/2024 3/5/2024
FAILURE TO APPEAR – FINES & COSTS $673.00 OR 30 DAYS IN JAIL
ARRESTING AGENCY: RED RIVER PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE

TURNER, DAMON
40 B M 3/6/2024 INCARCERATED
VIOLATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDERS PENDING
TELEPHONE HARASSMENT PENDING
ARRESTING AGENCY:COUSHATTA POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Women of Courage Woman Church will be held on March 12  from 6-8pm at The Shop, 1942 Hwy 507, Coushatta. Worship Leader will be Jennifer Breedlove. The speaker is Allyson Roberts. Dinner will be provided. Bring your bible and bring a friend. 

FREE cone day at DQ! Celebrating the first day of Spring, Dairy Queen will offer a FREE small cone at participating locations on March 19. 

Ringgold Farmers Market is accepting vendors. No booth fees required by spaces are limited. Market will be weekly on Saturday mornings beginning at the end of April. Goods must be produced or handmade only.  

Tina Renee Compton
October 2, 1968 – February 26, 2024
Service: Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 1pm at United Baptist Church – Campti

Diane Vercher Thomas
May 8, 1957 – March 6, 2024
Arrangements TBA

LAKE CHARLES – From Day 1 of the Dadrian Harris era at Red River High, Jomello McDonald said one message has been constant.

“Defense wins championships,” McDonald said after Red River eliminated No. 8 Donaldsonville in the Division III Non-Select boys basketball playoffs.

Turning defense to offense is why the No. 13 seed Bulldogs (23-14) are playing for a state championship.

Red River will attempt to add its first championship banner under its new name Saturday when the Bulldogs butt heads with No. 6 seed Marksville (21-16) at noon in McNeese State’s Burton Coliseum.

Fans who can’t make it in person can watch the action on the free LHSAA Network television app.

Despite Red River being a household name in the Top 28 with nine trips since 1999, no current Bulldog was on the last Red River team to make it this far in 2020.

Harris was an assistant on Keith Johnson’s staff that pushed to the Top 28 in 2018 and 2020, and now Harris has this program back in just his second season as head coach. He has made a total of four trips as an assistant and once as a player at Castor High.

“There has been a lot of work behind the scenes that has gotten us where we are now,” Harris said. “The players and coaches work extremely hard every day to be better in every aspect of the game we love so much.

“So yes, to build this program back up has been a journey that I would not have wanted to travel with any other group of young men. I don’t think many realize how hard it is to get (to the Top 28), and it’s an amazing feeling. But the job isn’t finished. We’re not satisfied with just going. I want to put my team in the best position to win the championship.”

Marksville has never won a state title, making its lone appearance in a 2005 blowout loss to Richwood.

The story was different in this semifinals as Marksville upended Richwood, 60-52, to reach the championship stage. Marksville also knocked off No. 3 Winnfield in the quarters, a team that beat Red River twice this season.

Defense is the most important factor as to why Red River is playing for a title, which would be the program’s fourth overall (three under Coushatta High in 11 championship appearances, the last in 1999). Red River made the title game in 2003 and 2006, both losses.

Red River trailed Donaldsonville with 3:30 remaining but used its defense and transition offense to end the game on a 14-4 run to skate to a 54-45 win.

The Bulldogs excel at making opponents execute in the halfcourt, either forcing turnovers or bad shots that lead to long rebounds and runout opportunities.

That component has been a key to Red River upsetting No. 4 Vinton, No. 5 Madison and No. 8 Donaldsonville, all away from home in the playoffs.

Defense travels.

“Coach tells us to work hard every day in the gym,” said McDonald, who scored 11 points in the semifinals while Warren Bowman scored a team-high 14 points. “We’re going to bust our tail and do the dirty work, and we did that.”

Much like Tuesday’s semifinal game, Red River had a slow start to its season.

But the Bulldogs were more than battle-tested, trading blows with teams like Class 5A Captain Shreve, Class 5A Airline, Class 4A Bossier, Class 2A Calvary Baptist, No. 3 Winnfield and District 3-2A champion Lakeview, who is playing for the Division IV Non-Select title today.

Red River split a season series with Richwood and lost a close matchup with No. 1 seed French Settlement, whom Donaldsonville took care of in the quarters.

While many may see the No. 13 seed and be surprised that Red River is still standing, the Bulldogs aren’t.

“We’ve stuck together, and we worked hard every day,” Harris said. “We lost a heart breaker to Ville Platte last year in the second round.

“Ever since that loss, we took that and ran with it. I’m so proud of these guys.”

A team that started the season 7-7 but has won nine of its last 10 games needs just one more win to hang its first championship banner as Red River High.

“It was hard, we started off really slow,” said Jayden Wells, who scored nine points. “We didn’t know what to do with everything.

“We hit a groove in late December, and we got here.”

Early voting for the March 23rd Presidential Preference Primary begins Saturday.

The Presidential Preference Primary is a closed party primary, which means only registered Democrats and
Republicans will be allowed to vote in their party’s respective primary. Voters are encouraged to check their voter registration—including party affiliation—before the registration deadlines.

Voters should download the GeauxVote Mobile smartphone app. The app provides registration information as well as voting districts, sample ballots, polling place information and election results.

Early voting for the March 23 election will take place Saturday, March 9 through Saturday, March 16
(excluding Sunday, March 10) from 8:30am to 6pm at the Registrar of Voter’s Office in room 104 of the Courthouse. 

TROOP E NEWS RELEASE

Natchitoches Parish – On March 6, 2024, at approximately 1:00 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a two-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 486 north of Louisiana Highway 6. The crash claimed the life of 66-year-old Diane Thomas of Coushatta.

The initial investigation revealed that a 2005 Honda CRV, driven by Thomas, was eastbound on Louisiana Highway 486. For reasons still under investigation, the Honda CRV crossed the centerlines into the westbound travel lane and collided head-on with a 2021 Honda Civic.

Thomas, who was restrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased. The driver of the Honda Civic, who also was restrained, sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Routine toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis.

While the cause of this crash remains under investigation, distracted and inattentive driving continues to be a leading cause of crashes in our state. Louisiana State Police urges all motorists to stay alert while driving. A lapse in one’s awareness can have deadly consequences.

In 2024, Troop E Troopers have investigated 11 fatal crashes, resulting in 13 fatalities.

Several local fishing teams competed in the Louisiana Youth Bass Nation (LYBN) Two-Person Team Tournament this past weekend on Toledo Bend. They joined other students from all over the state of Louisiana.

Darrell Fields and Chaston Waters from Red River Junior High, Kolten Antilley, Brent Danzy, Gunner Tong, and Brodie Tong from Red River High School, and Colton Caskey, Brayden Pearah, Jase Johnson, and Riley Keith from Riverdale Academy competed.

Teams Antilley/Danzy, Caskey/Pearah, and Fields/Waters qualified for the state championship tourney to be held on the Calcasieu River in Moss Bluff in early May.

Qualifying Results:
2nd Place in Juniors Division Darrell Fields & Chasten Waters 9.75
5th Place in West Division Kolten Antilley & Brent Danzy 15.06
13th Place in North Division Colton Caskey & Brayden Pearah 11.61

David Thomas was a man of small stature.  When he reached adulthood, he stood just 5’3” tall.  When he was 14 years old and several inches shorter, David began training to become a racehorse jockey under the tutelage of Basil Foster in Middleham, Yorkshire, England.  Basil started David out riding hack ponies, which had good dispositions and were calm.  They were perfectly suitable for inexperienced riders.  David quickly got the hang of riding hacks.  When not riding, David groomed the horses, one of which was a horse named Stonecrackers.  Of all the racehorses in Basil’s stable, Stonecrackers was one of the slowest.  Finally, Basil decided it was time for David to graduate from hacks to racehorses, and he selected Stonecrackers to break him in.  David was thrilled.

David had been looking forward to this moment for some time.  He put his saddle on Stonecrackers and carefully mounted the horse.  Stonecrackers knew she had a green rider on her because she could feel David’s legs trembling ever so slightly.  With a nudge, David and Stonecrackers started off.  Other apprentice jockeys joined David and Stonecrackers and started to gain on them.  As if to dissuade the inexperienced jockey from continuing his training, Stonecrackers ran faster and faster inside their circular pen.  The other apprentice jockeys realized what was happening and stopped to watch.  David had no choice but to hold on.  They tore around the pen as fast as Stonecrackers could go.  David became dizzy.  His head began to spin, but he knew could not let go or he would be injured by the fall.  David’s dizziness turned to weakness.  He was struggling and his grip was loosening.  Finally, Stonecrackers began to weaken as well.  David was relieved when Stonecrackers finally stopped running.  His whole body seemed to be spinning.  The other apprentice jockeys roared with laughter and teased David.  Basil was not amused.  “Don’t let that happen again,” he snarled.  “Keep riding the hack until you learn how to ride a horse better.”              

One day, David’s father sent Basil a letter.  You see, David had acted in some radio plays and stage plays.  A producer was interested in David acting in a radio play, and David’s father wrote to see if Basil would give David some time off to do it.  Basil agreed and called David into his office to give him the good news.  Basil assumed David would be thrilled, but David seemed completely uninterested.  David said later, “I was quite happy at the stables and acting wasn’t as important to me as becoming a jockey.”  Basil suggested that David do the part as the pay David would earn would pay for his jockey uniform.  David agreed, performed in the play, and returned to the stables as quickly as he could. 

A short time later, another letter arrived with an offer for David to play part in an episode of Coronation Street, a British television show which has aired continuously since December 1960.  As before, David seemed uninterested.  This time Basil suggested David accept the part because it would give him time to spend with his family.  At the time, apprentice jockeys only saw their families about once or twice a year.  David took the time off, did his part, and rushed back to the stables.  Basil said later, “When I saw the episode in which [David] appeared, I was really amazed and I thought to myself, this boy has real talent—he wasn’t the same [David] that I knew at all, and I began to think that perhaps he was wasting his time at the stables.”

Shortly thereafter, another letter came inviting David to audition for the part of Peter Pan in a play.  “I didn’t want to leave the stables at all,” David said, “even for a few weeks. Of course, there were times when I got a bit fed-up, but I really liked the [jockey] life and the other lads. Becoming a jockey was my big ambition at that time, not acting. But Basil persuaded me to try it for a time, so I travelled up to London to audition for the part.”

David began to think Basil was trying to get rid of him.  Basil explained that the acting parts were marvelous opportunities that he should not pass up.  Basil reassured David that if acting failed to work out for him, he was always welcome to come back to the stables to continue his training.  At Basil’s insistence, David went to London, said a few lines, did a bit of acting with another person, and sang a song.  Despite his desire to be at the stables training as a jockey, David always did his best.  To his chagrin, he got the part which would require him to discontinue his jockey training temporarily.  While performing in Peter Pan, David was cast as the Artful Dodger in the production of “Oliver,” first in London’s West End and then on Broadway. 

While performing in “Oliver” on Broadway, David was a guest on the February 9, 1964, episode of The Ed Sullivan Show.  This was the same episode in which the Beatles first appeared on American television.  David watched the Beatles perform from the side of the stage and was amazed.  “I saw the girls going crazy, and I said to myself, this is it.   I want a piece of that.”  In the following year, David signed a contract with a record company and released a single which peaked at 93 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Later that same year, David was asked to audition for a new television series about a musical group modeled after the Beatles.  David got the part and was never able to fulfill his dream of becoming a racehorse jockey.  Instead, he became a Monkee.  You know David Thomas as David Thomas “Davy” Jones of The Monkees.     

Sources:

1.      “Davy: The Secrets behind His Jockey Days,” 1968, Monkees.coolcherrycream.com, April 1, 1968. https://monkees.coolcherrycream.com/articles/1968/04/monkees-monthly/davy-the-secrets-behind-his-jockey-days.

On March 5, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal, Chief Bryan J Adams, congratulated Cpl. Jeremy Neal for obtaining additional credentials in his investigative roles with the agency.

Neal, a Coushatta native, is the newest Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) through the International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc. (IAAI)

These accolades are additional credentials for personnel to obtain that establish another level of qualification relative to conducting and testifying about arson investigations.

The International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc. is an association of more than 10,000 fire investigation professionals from across the world, united by a strong commitment to suppress the crime of arson through professional fire investigation.

BATON ROUGE (March 6, 2024)- State Fire Marshal Chief Bryan J. Adams is encouraging Louisianans to check the status of the life-saving devices in their homes, like smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, when changing their clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Saving Time this Sunday, March 10, at 2 a.m.

“The practice of changing your smoke and CO alarm batteries when you change your clocks should be second nature to all of us,” said Adams, “These days, as many clocks spring forward automatically, it’s especially important for this reminder to reach every household in Louisiana. Take a moment right now to put ‘change your clocks, change your batteries’ on your to-do list for this weekend.”

When checking the status of these devices to determine whether a new battery is needed, also take note of their age. If you know, or suspect, that your smoke or CO alarms are older than 10 years, we highly recommend upgrading to the 10-year, sealed battery alarms that don’t require any battery replacement through their lifetime. These newer alarms will, however, require something we suggest anyway—pressing the “test” button once a month to ensure the devices are in working order. Your family should practice a home escape plan at the same time which should include knowing two ways out of every room in your home and having an outdoor meeting place.

“We say it all the time, but it is a fact that smoke alarms save lives,” said Adams, “In 2023, 60 Louisianans lost their lives in residential fires. Only two of those cases involved structures with working smoke alarms at the time of the fires. Two other homes had evidence of smoke alarms, but they were not in working condition at the time of the fire. This is why changing your batteries when you change your clocks is so critical.”

If you do not have a smoke alarm, and cannot afford one, our Operation Save-A-Life program can help. The program partners our agency with local fire departments to install smoke alarms for free for families that need them most. To learn more about the program and register for a smoke alarm, visit lasfm.org. You can also contact your local fire department to request a smoke alarm installation.

On Behalf of State Fire Marshal Chief Bryan J Adams
Contact Information- osfm.publicaffairs@la.gov

NATCHITOCHES – The family of a devoted Northwestern State University alumnus established a scholarship in his memory that will benefit a student pursuing a degree in nursing or biological sciences. The Leonard F. Endris Memorial Scholarship was created to honor an individual who served for 28 years on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and was named as Board Member Emeritus in 2019.

According to family, Endris “was a loyal Demon football fan and supported athletics through attendance and donations. Since 1980 he faithfully occupied Section F, Row Q, Seat 17 of Turpin Stadium.” At the time of his death in August 2022, his season tickets were already purchased.

“We are grateful for the impact Dad made at NSU and the opportunity to celebrate his influence through this scholarship,” said Matt Endris, his son. “The purpose of the scholarship is to invest in the educational experience of students in the biological sciences. We want to be a blessing to them since NSU was such a formative part of Dad’s direction in life.”

Leonard Endris enrolled at Northwestern State September 1970 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management in 1973 and a Master of Science in Zoology in 1974. He married his wife Robbie Williamson Endris, a 1972 alumna, on Aug. 11, 1972. Her family has deep roots at NSU.

“My mom’s family has been at NSU since my great-grandmother [Belle Connella Williamson] graduated here in 1901. Her diploma hangs on the wall in my parents’ home.”

Many other members of the family attended NSU over the decades, including Leonard and Robbie’s sons Matt (1997) and Paul (2002) and Paul’s wife Jamie Evans Endris (2001). Matt’s wife, Jana DeBusk Endris, attended summer classes and their daughter, Claire Endris, is a graduating senior who will earn a degree in Health and Exercise Science this May.

“When my parents met at NSU in the early 70s, Daddy made this his school when he and my mom started life here together,” Matt Endris said. “I went to my dad’s master’s degree graduation in a baby carrier. He was so proud when I graduated in 1997 and when my daughter chose NSU after graduating high school. She is a fifth generation Demon.”

Leonard Endris was born in Pana, Illinois, and graduated high school in 1965. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served for four years in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Norway and Thailand. During his deployment in Thailand, he was assigned to the 56th Special Operations Wing. After a year of distinguished service at Nakhon Phanom AFB, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal and was named the First Term Airman of the Year for NKP in the Pacific Air Command. He finished his service at Barksdale AFB in Bossier City as a staff sergeant.

After enrolling at NSU and completing his degrees, he worked for the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and enjoyed a career working with landowners and local governments to preserve natural resources and improve habitat for wildlife.

“In the 1980s, we were living in Shreveport and dad jumped in full throttle to support Demon athletics,” Matt Endris said. “He joined the Shreveport/Bossier chapter of the Alumni Association and started to work on projects to raise support. He had found a new hobby in golf, and it gave him an idea for a golf tournament fundraiser. They called it the Purple and White Open.”

That event was so successful that it evolved into the Joe Delaney Memorial weekend, which drew many of NSU’s NFL players and friends back to Louisiana.

“He highly valued both degrees he received at NSU and faithfully supported the university for many years,” Matt Endris said. “The Alumni Board gave him emeritus status when his terminal illness began to accelerate, and he cried when we gave him the plaque from the Association.”

Those anecdotes epitomize how his father saw NSU and why the family wanted to establish a scholarship in his memory.

Leonard and Robbie Williamson Endris celebrated their 50th anniversary just a few days before his passing on Aug. 22, 2022.

“There are so many other stories, examples and memories that dad gave to me and our family. He loved this school and loved serving on the board. Dad’s legacy of faithfulness and love are rooted in his relationship with Christ and displayed in the way he has faithfully supported those people and places he loved.”

Friends can contribute to the Leonard F. Endris Memorial Scholarship by visiting https://northwesternstatealumni.com/endris-scholarship/.

In today’s fast-paced world, people are busier than ever. They are looking for ways to reset and decompress their brains. To maintain our overall health, we need to slow down both our thought and physical exertions. Today, we’ll look at ways so many people are getting the relief they need in order to function at a normal level.

More people today are taking part in counseling sessions to release tension and make sense of everything going on around us. But sadly, for some who are at an extreme high level of tension and depression, drugs are needed.  Nothing is more important than our overall mental health. Whether it’s our jobs or just managing our families, stress creeps into our lives in different ways.

During the Covid 19 pandemic, boat, RV and ATV sales were out the roof nationwide. People turned to the great outdoors to get away from the stress that was associated with this dreaded disease. People were stuck working at home creating too much togetherness. Depression was also an internal fight for so many during this time, as lives and job careers were literally turned upside down.

For myself and so many others, we discovered that in order to maintain our metal health, fishing or any outdoor activity was good medicine. There’s just something about the peace and tranquility of sitting in a boat and wetting a hook. So many times, fishing guides have told me that some of their big city business clients told them that they don’t care if they catch a fish, they just want to get on the water and relax; catching fish is secondary.

There is absolutely nothing better for your soul or will give you a better perspective on life than being on the water watching a beautiful sunrise or sunset. There’s no better feeling than running across the water with the wind blowing through your hair on a cool brisk morning headed for a good fishing hole. It’s a great way to release whatever thoughts and tensions you might have.

The concrete jungle environment that so many people work in pushes stress levels over the top with traffic jams and work-related issues. No wonder the fishing guide business is so lucrative today as people continue to look to the outdoors to regain their sanity.

As people turn to the outdoors, they are realizing what so many of previous generations already knew. The outdoors truly is a sanctuary for both young and old. It’s a place someone can decompress and regain their mental capacity to fight through life’s daily struggles.

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and take the time to get outdoors and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

Coca Cola Products                         2/12.00 12 PK
Sweet Baby Rays                              2/ 3.00 18 oz
Best Choice Baked Beans                 2/ 4.00 28 oz
Niagara Water                                      2.99 24 PK
Frito Lay Variety Chips                          8.99 18 CT
Best Choice Foil                                     1.69 25 Ft
Zatarains Dirty Rice Jambalaya          2/ 4.00 8 oz
Betty Crocker Cake Mix                     2/ 3.00 13.25oz
Betty Crocker Frostings                     2/ 3.00 14-16oz
Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks                2/ 6.00 8-10CT
Digiorno Pizza                                  2/12.00 20-26oz
Blue Bell Ice Cream                          2/12.00 1/2Gal
Russet Potatoes                                        4.99 10LB
Red &Green Grapes                                      2.29 LB
T-Bone Steak                                                 9.99 LB
Boneless Pork Loin                                        2.39 LB
Guidry Fillet                                               27.99 4LB
Zummo Boudin                                          4.79 16oz
El Monterey Burritos                                  4.99 30oz

Thanks for Shopping at Rivertown Market!!!

The NSU Steel PanDEMONium Band will perform on the Natchitoches downtown riverfront stage on Saturday, March 9 at 11am. The concert will coincide with Bloomin’ on the Bricks. The steel band is directed by Dr. Oliver Molina and is comprised of instruments from the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. Molina said the unique timbre and infectious dance beats make it a fun and exciting concert. The program will include some island classics such as “Limbo” and “Jump in the Line” as well as some current hits like “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift. Molina encourages  audience members to stick around after the performance and try out the steel pans.

There will be a Car Seat Fitting event on Saturday, March 23 from 11am to 3pm at Willis-Knighton Bossier Medical Center, 2400 Hospital Drive, Bossier City. This is a great opportunity to check the safety of your children’s car seat or booster seat. No appointment needed. If anyone has any further questions, please contact Kevin Rigsby at Rigsbykrigsby@bpems.org.

King Kat Tournament Trail is making its way to Natchitoches for one of its Signature Series Tournaments April 12-13. Fishermen from across the United States to fish right here on Red River. One of the events they will host while in Natchitoches is the King Kids Youth Event. This is a free event for kids 15 and under and participants are eligible for a scholarship drawing. Please see natchitoches.com/events to learn more about this event.