Red River Junior High School cheerleaders will host the “Little Bulldogs” cheer camp on Saturday, October 12, 2024for ages 4- 13. The camp will be held at Red River Jr High School gym from 9:30am-12:30pm. The cost for each participant is $50. Price includes a Little Bulldog t-shirt and pizza.  Please make your check or money order out to Red River Junior High School with Little Bulldogs written in the memo line.  Check-in will begin at 9am. An adult must check-in each child. The deadline for fees to guarantee a t-shirt is Friday, September 13, 2024.

The camp participants will perform the cheer and dance routine on  Tuesday, October  15 at 5:30pm at the RRJH basketball game. They will also cheer on the sideline with the RRJH cheerleaders for the first half of the game. 

For more information please contact Erikka Caldwell cheer sponsor at Red River Junior High 318-932-5265.

CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System recently shared that CHRISTUS Coushatta Health Care Center won the 2024 Get With The Guidelines BRONZE PLUS achievement from the American Heart Association. This award recognizes their continued success in the Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Referring Center category and their dedication to improving patient care.

According to the American Heart Association website, Get With The Guidelines is a proven in-hospital approach to improving patient outcomes across cardiovascular and stroke focus areas. Each Get With The Guidelines program promotes consistent adherence to the latest research-driven guidelines and measurement, while providing data and information to professionals for continual improvement in patient care. 

Congratulations CHRISTUS Coushatta!

Matt Vines

After two long road trips to Northeast Louisiana, Riverdale Academy returns home with the goal of evening its record Friday against Porter’s Chapel Academy on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Rebels (1-2) mounted an explosive rushing attack to record its first win of the season in a 54-20 decision at Union Christian Academy this past week.

Kaidyn Williams and Tanner Carlisle led the way on the ground as Riverdale racked up 404 of its 423 offensive yards via the run.

Carlisle, who missed this past week, made a key play in the game when he took an option pitch 38 yards in the second quarter to build on Riverdale’s 16-14 lead.

Starting with Carlisle’s touchdown, Riverdale outscored UCA 38-6 over the final two-and-a-half quarters.
The Rebels defense found its groove after trading scores with UCA (1-1) early, holding the home team to 225 total yards. Williams (15 tackles, 1 interception) and Carlisle (9.5 tackles) also spearheaded the defensive charge.

Riverdale will face a Porter’s Chapel (1-2) squad that also had a major shift in its defensive performance from previous weeks.

PCA, which had surrendered 74 and 58 points in its first two losses, clamped down in a 22-8 win against Prentiss Christian.

Riverdale is still seeking the return of starting quarterback and linebacker Ashton Almond, who has missed the past two weeks.

Mixing in Almond (if he comes back) with the emergence of Williams and Carlisle could be the boost Riverdale needs to overcome a Porter’s Chapel bunch that escaped with a 26-18 double-overtime win this past season.

Bass fishing can be frustrating and winning tournaments is even more frustrating. But when it comes to anglers helping one another, that’s a whole different story. Today, I’ll give you an angler’s perspective on why tournament bass fishermen don’t like to give away or share information on how they are catching bass.

The main reason for angler secrecy is because in today’s bass tournament world that is so competitive, it’s hard to make a top 10 and tougher to get a win. There are times when an angler might be catching fish and doing good enough to get a check but not good enough to win. The difference between getting a check or winning can be something as subtle as what size line you might be using.

Example, if you’re doing good and catching fish in 10 to 12 feet of water on a crankbait and using 17-pound test line, but you find out after the tournament that the guy who won the event, also caught his fish on the same crankbait using 12-pound test line. Why did line size make a difference? It’s because 12-pound test allowed his bait to dive down deeper into the 15-foot range where the bigger bass were set up. But I was catching smaller bass higher in the water column at 12 feet The bigger fish were deeper in 15 feet of water.

When it comes to sharing, tournament anglers are worse than a kid sharing his new toy on Christmas morning. They laugh at the idea of sharing their new toy! It’s like asking Vice President Kamala Harris a difficult political question. All you’re going to get is a kackling laugh. Anglers are no different; they are the worst at giving out any type of information that they feel might give their opponent an advantage or a leg up on their competition. When I say it’s every man for himself in tournament bass fishing, that’s exactly what I mean!

Now there are few exceptions on information sharing and this is where the buddy system kicks in. I’ve got a small clique of three or four anglers that I trust when it comes to information. These are usually guys that I room with on the road or have been friends with for a long time.

These are guys that I eat dinner with and if I have a mechanical break down on the lake, I can make one phone call to any one of these guys and they will come to my rescue. But these are guys that I trust and would like to think won’t lie to me. Now they might leave out a couple of key details on what they are doing, but that’s just the way ALL anglers are when it comes to information. They’ll share, but only in small amounts.

I have other friends who I fish against, and most are great guys. While they won’t necessarily lie to you, they will send you down a rabbit hole with bad information. Oh, they’ll give you information, it just won’t be anything that will really help. We as anglers call this information “dock talk.” This is what tournament anglers want to stay away from because the information they are giving out is designed to throw you off.

I’ve also learned over my 34 years of tournament fishing, that the only person you can really trust is yourself. Don’t rely on other anglers to feed you information that might or might not help you land more fish. Do your homework (scouting) and trust yourself to go out and find your own fish. Because at the end of the day, once all the fish are weighed in and you’re in line to get a check, the only name on the check…. is yours!

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and take advantage of some great fall fishing while all the deer hunters are in the woods and not on the lake.

Steve Graf

Louisiana Tech University’s College of Business has launched two new certificates designed to equip students with the knowledge needed to help organizations make data-driven decisions to propel success. Starting this Fall, Tech will offer a graduate certificate in business data analytics and an undergraduate certificate in business analytics.

“We strive to tailor our curriculum to the needs of industry partners and an ever-evolving workforce, and these new certificate programs help meet the growing demand in the field of data analytics,” said Dr. Chris Martin, dean of the College of Business. “Levering technology in business to the fullest is a cornerstone of our College, and the addition of the certificates is another way to bolster that area.”

The 12-hour graduate certificate in business data analytics can be taken fully online or in a hybrid format, offering a standalone credential to build and expand skills in the areas of analytical decision making, big data, and AI. The certificate can also serve as an embedded credential for students completing Tech’s MBA with a concentration in business data analytics.

The undergraduate certificate in business analytics is an 18-hour program that teaches students to apply analytics to business problems with a focus on descriptive analytics, predictive analytics, and visualization. The certificate can be taken in conjunction with an undergraduate degree or as a standalone program.

Both certificates offer analytics-focused courses across the business disciplines, including computer information systems, accounting, finance, marketing, management, and economics.

For more information, visit business.latech.edu/certificate-programs/ or apply online at latech.edu/apply.

NATCHITOCHES – Louisiana Poet Laureate Alison Pelegrin will present a selection of her poetry at a reading on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Varnado Hall Ballroom at 541 University Parkway. There is no admission charge, and the public is invited to attend. Those who would like to watch the reading online can go to http://www.nsula.edu/LFCEvent.

Pelegrin will be introduced by Dr. Rebecca Macijeski, coordinator of the NSU Creative Writing Program, who will also act as the moderator for the Q&A following the reading.

Pelegrin will also join with students from the Department of English, Languages, and Cultural Studies in creative writing classes with poetry instructors Shea Montgomery and Macijeski.

“This will be a great opportunity for our students and larger community to hear Pelegrin’s poems,” said Macijeski. “In addition to her impressive publication record and national acclaim, she has deep ties to Louisiana. Her poems are present in this world we know here, and remind us to pay attention to what speaks around us.”

Former Gov. John Bel Edwards named Pelegrin Poet Laureate of Louisiana in 2023.

“The Poet Laureate acts as Louisiana’s literary ambassador, and Alison’s long record of teaching, sharing, and producing poetry that engages readers makes her a perfect fit as the preeminent poet of our state,” said Edwards when Pelegrin was named. “Her work is both beautifully crafted and appeals to a broad range of readers, and it will undoubtedly help elevate poetry in the public consciousness.”

A Covington resident, Pelegrin is writer-in-residence at Southeastern Louisiana University, where she has taught for 20 years. She is the author of “Our Lady of Bewilderment” (LSU Press, 2022), “Waterlines” (LSU Press, 2016), “Hurricane Party” (University of Akron Press, 2011) and “Big Muddy River of Stars” (University of Akron Press, 2007), which was the winner of the 2006 Akron Poetry Prize. Her chapbook “Our Lady of the Flood” won the Diode 2018 chapbook prize and an Eric Hoffer Award.

Pelegrin received a literature fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and an ATLAS Grant from the Louisiana Board of Regents. Her work has appeared in Bennington Review, The Southern Review, Ninth Letter and as printable broadsides at Broadsided.

She received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English from Southeastern Louisiana University and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of Arkansas.

The event is sponsored by NSU’s Department of English, Languages, and Cultural Studies, the Louisiana Folklife Center, and the Center for Inclusion and Diversity. For more information, contact Dr. Shane Rasmussen at rasmussens@nsula.edu or (318) 357-4332.

This program is funded under a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Louisiana Board of Regents designated LSUS as a 2024-2025 Governor’s Military and Veteran Friendly Campus.

LSUS implements a number of programs that create sustainable and meaningful pathways to degrees and other credentials for the military community.

The University works with members of the active-duty military, veterans, and their qualifying family members to access educational benefits available to them from their military branches, state and federal governments, and other entities.

Staff in LSUS’s Veterans Resource Center and Admissions are specifically trained to assist current and former military members.

LSUS helps enroll members of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy and Space Force by assisting service members in navigating the Military Tuition Assistance landscape.

“LSUS is proud to be recognized once again as a Governor’s Military and Veteran Friendly Campus,” said Evan Harris, director of the Veterans Resource Center. “We’ve got an amazing crew here made up of military veterans, military spouses, and military dependents who want nothing more than to see our students succeed.

“Whether it’s helping apply for the GI Bill or connecting someone to local and federal resources, we’re happy to serve everyone from the military community.”

Military members, veterans and their qualifying family members have opportunities to pursue bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees as well as a host of professional credentials and other continuing education programs using an array of benefits.

With the vast majority of LSUS graduate programs and a growing number of undergraduate degrees offering 100 percent online options, that flexibility allows military members and their spouses to start and continue their education no matter where they are stationed.

Most professional credentials are conducted online as well.

Through programs like Air Force Credentialing Opportunities Online (AFCOOL), Army Credentialing Assistance (ArmyCA), and the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship Program (MyCAA), LSUS Continuing Education helps service members and their spouses cover certification and credential costs in professions like information technology, healthcare, and professional development.

Graphic supplied by the Louisiana Board of Regents

Martha Jane Canary was among the most famous women of the nineteenth century.  Tales of her exploits were printed in newspapers across the country, but most of us have never heard her name. 

Martha was born in Princeton, Missouri, in 1851.  In 1864, she traveled with her family to the gold fields of Montana to claim their fortune.  By all accounts, the silver mine camps of Montana were a rough place to raise a family.  In 1866, Martha’s mother died.  In the following year, her father also died.  Fifteen-year-old Martha was solely responsible for the care of her much younger siblings, seven-year-old Lena and five-year-old Elijah.  Shortly after her parents’ deaths, Martha abandoned her younger siblings and moved around from town to town.  Most people that knew her described her as absolutely ordinary in every way with the exception of her extraordinary love for whiskey. 

Martha could tell a good story and the central character in her tales was always herself.  In the nineteenth century, before technology allowed people to verify or discredit tales such as Martha’s within seconds, it was difficult to determine if her stories were true or false.  Mark Twain once said, “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”  Being a contemporary of hers, Mark Twain could have easily aimed this quote at Martha.    

Martha was illiterate.  She left no letters or journals behind for historians to mine.  Although historians have searched through countless records over the past century, not even a single signature of Martha’s has been found.  Had she been able to write, it is possible that she could have become a well-respected author such as Mark Twain.  Because she was illiterate, her stories were published by numerous authors who were eager to cash in on her tales.  Martha was a master at creating her own identity, and the public was enthralled by tales of her exploits.  As was customary at this time of high illiteracy, people gathered in small groups, paid a small fee of a penny or two each, to have someone read her stories to them.  There were tales of bandits, battles with Indians, and at least one stagecoach robbery.  In all of the tales, Martha was the heroine.  Rumors spread that Martha was with General George Armstrong Custer at his last stand.  Martha told a newspaper reporter in Billings, Montana, “That is wrong.  I was with Custer for several months and in different engagements, but if I had been with him in his last battle, I would probably be with him now.  On the other hand, had Custer paid attention to warnings and a message I sent him, he and his brave band might be now in the land that I am in.”  Again, Martha masterfully connected herself to a significant historical event.

Many of Martha’s stories were little more than fantasy.  People that knew her, described her as being generous and courteous when not intoxicated.  When on a drinking binge, they condemned her wild behavior.  She refused to conform to what were the generally accepted customs of society.  In a time when a woman could have been arrested for dressing in men’s clothing, she wore the buckskin suit of a scout.  She was arrested on numerous occasions in numerous towns for “drinking and carousing on the public streets.”  She openly smoked cigarettes and cigars, which was taboo for women at the time.  Whenever Martha arrived in a town, newspaper reporters printed notes of welcome, but by the time she left town they had soured to her presence due to her hard drinking, carousing, and self-destructive ways.   

Martha had no trouble finding work but had trouble keeping it due to her drinking.  She once worked as a cook in a brothel run by Dora DuFran.  Dora recalled that Martha had been sober for a full six weeks.  On the day after one payday, Martha bought some new calico aprons, underwear, and other clothing accessories, but Martha failed to arrive at work the following morning.  Dora remembered that “from the distance came wild howls.”  Dora said “the old urge overcame [Martha’s] good resolution.”  They found her on a whiskey binge wearing, not her new clothing, but her buckskin suit.  

In 1876, she purportedly ended up in a wagon train with another famous figure, James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok.  Martha and Wild Bill certainly knew of each other but how well is up for debate.  Both of their reputations preceded them, although both reputations were exaggerated.  Many people claimed they were nothing more than two people who happened to end up in the same town, while others argued that they had a relationship somewhere on the spectrum between a one-night stand to marriage.  Wild Bill was murdered while playing poker in 1876.  Martha kept silent on the subject of their relationship but used the rumors to bolster her own image as she had several photographs of herself standing in front of his grave.  Although there was no documentation that they were officially married, when she died in 1903, she was buried next to Wild Bill per her request. 

In one tale which supposedly happened in 1872, Martha was a scout for Captain James Egan in a campaign against the Nez Perces Indians.  During one battle of the campaign, Captain Egan was shot by one of the Indians.  Martha killed the Indian, put Captain Egan across the saddle of her horse, and rode at full speed to safety as Indians fired upon them.  According to her own account, it was because of this moment that Captain Egan called Martha “the Heroine of the Plains” and gave her a nickname which stuck.  Martha Jane’s contemporaries argued that this event never happened.  Rather than the fascinating tale that Martha Jane told, she probably earned the nickname because of her self-destructive habits.  Few people remember the name Martha Jane Canary, but she was a walking calamity.  You know her as Calamity Jane.          

 Sources:

1.     The Billings News, July 13, 1901, p.1.

2.     The Livingston Enterprise, July 13, 1901, p.1.

3.     The Herald-Advance, August 7, 1903, p.1.

4.     The Madison Daily Leader, August 19, 1903, p.4.

5.     McLaird, James D., “Calamity Jane: The Life and the Legend.” South Dakota Historical Society Press, July 31, 2023, https://www.sdpb.org/rural-life-and-history/2023-07-31/calamity-jane-the-life-and-the-legend.

Appropriations Chair Jack McFarland spoke pointedly about the state of the budget during an interim meeting of his committee at the state Capitol last Friday. Indicating there is significant work to be done to address potential budget shortfalls, he stressed that the dollar figures being discussed will likely change in the months ahead.

“To put it in simple terms, the hay is not in the barn,” said Chair McFarland. Regardless of what the final figures turn out to be, it is clear we need to look for efficiencies in government and every agency I’ve spoken to has ideas for how to get that done. The responsible thing for the legislature to do is to finally address tax policy failures that are antiquated. The timing is perfect because we have an imminent problem on hand. Leadership is committed to taking a holistic approach to these budget issues that includes examining the dedication of revenues, state tax structure, and operational efficiencies and we are ready to engage in a collaborative process to find solutions to these issues working with both our colleagues in the Senate and the Executive branch.”

Currently, Louisiana is facing a projected revenue shortfall of $340 M in fiscal year (FY) 26. This figure does not include items such as $248 M for education initiatives like teacher and support personnel stipends, differential pay and student tutoring approved by the legislature in the spring. McFarland cautioned members saying any addition to the operating budget to include these items or other services will increase any shortfall.

Challenges facing the budget committee include the expiration of the state’s 0.45% sales tax, as well as a 2% tax on business utilities and the movement of vehicle sales taxes into the Transportation Trust Fund for road and infrastructure improvements statewide. The Appropriations Committee plans to hold a series of hearings during the interim to publicly discuss the budget process and potential solutions to be introduced during the fiscal session next year.

Join the fall fun at the Red River Parish Library for September Bingo on Wednesday, September 11 from
1-2pm. Enjoy fun, refreshments, and prizes!

The Red River Parish Rodeo will take place September 20 and 21 at 7pm. There will be mutton bustin and a calf scramble for the kids. Open Barrels for ages 15 and under. PeeWee for 8 and under. It is a LRCA/UPRA/ARA sanctioned rodeo by SYJ Rodeo Productions. 

Four fun 4-H events at the Red River Parish Fairgrounds. Play Street will be held Sept 21 at 6pm during the rodeo. September 28 will include the pet show at 2pm after the livestock show and dip off at 11am. Then on Oct 4 at 9am grades 3-8 will participated in the BB/Archery contest. Contact the office for more information.

Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport will host its fourth annual Run 4 Everyone 5K and half-mile fun run on Saturday, Sept. 21. The event will take place at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – St. Mary Medical Center at 911 Margaret Place. The fun run will begin at 8 a.m. with the 5K starting immediately after. Virtual 5K and sleep-in supporter options are available for those unable to attend in person. As a special perk for parents, children ages 5 and above can be left with a Run Buddy during the 5K. Snacks and activities will be available at the end of the race. Register at runsignup.com. Medals for child participants will be given and $100 will be awarded to the overall male and female winners. The first 50 people to register will receive a free pair of GOODR sunglasses and the deadline for a guaranteed t-shirt is Sept. 4. Register at runsignup.com. 

Mitchell Lynn Durbin
January 3, 1979 — September 2, 2024
Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 6, 2024 at 2pm at Freedom Life Church in Natchitoches. Burial will follow in Mill Creek cemetery in Saline.

Bayou Pierre water system is currently under a boil advisory. The advisory affects the area from Yearwood Road from Red River Parish to Caddo Parish, and Hwy 1 from Westdale to Harts Island Road.

Boil your water for 1 minute before cooking , drinking or brushing your teeth.

For any questions call 318-663-1294.

Information supplied by Alisa Carpenter

(Campti)-A traffic stop has resulted in the arrest of a Red River Parish woman on felony drug charges and seizure of methamphetamine according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

On Sunday morning, September 1, 2024, at approximately 3:10am, Deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau were patrolling in Campti when they stopped a Dodge Ram pickup near the intersections of US-71 and Kemp Street for a traffic violation.

Deputies identified a 50-year-old Natchitoches man as the operator of the vehicle.

While speaking to him, deputies learned that he did not have a valid driver’s license.

A LSP NLETS computer check revealed the drivers license was suspended.

A passenger who advised deputies that she had a valid driver’s license was identified through a Louisiana Temporary ID, as 24-year-old Dominique Nichole Castello of Coushatta, La.

A local warrants check revealed that Castello was wanted by the 10th Judicial District Court in Natchitoches for Failure to Appear in Court on July 22, 2024 on the charges of Possession of CDS II Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Castello was also wanted by the Natchitoches City Marshal’s Office for Theft.

She was placed under arrest without incident.

Deputies say while speaking with Castello, they asked if she had any illegal items or weapons on her person for officer safety before transporting her to the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center.

She initially responded “no” but then reached into her shorts removing a cellophane bag containing approximately 3.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine and a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine placing the items on the patrol unit seat.

Castello, was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Possession of CDS Schedule II Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Failure to Appear in the 10th Judicial District Court and Natchitoches City Marshal’s Office for Possession of CDS II Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Theft.

Castello remains in the Natchitoches Detention Center awaiting bond.

The seized evidence will be submitted to the crime lab for narcotics analysis.

The male was issued citations for Equipment Violations and Driving under Suspension.

The vehicle was released to a licensed driver summoned to the scene to take possession of the vehicle.
Deputy B. Keyser made the arrest assisted by Cpl. C.Olliff.

Source: Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office Facebook page

Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – Red River football coach Byron Keller wanted to season his players on how to take successful road trips after the Bulldogs lost a halftime lead in the first-round playoff upset bid this past season.

The Bulldogs have one successful road trip under their belt this season as Red River took down Jonesboro-Hodge, 20-12, at ULM’s Bayou Jamb this past week.

Red River will pack its bags again to start the regular season as they head down to Catholic-Pointe Coupee on Friday.

“Our schedule this season will account for numerous road trips and traveling to different parts of the state,” Keller said. “That gives our players an opportunity to see the different communities around the state and to get exposure and start to get recognized as an up and coming program in the state.

“The players will now have more experience traveling, and it won’t be a new experience. I want them to understand that we have done it already.”

Red River plays five of its first six games on the road to start the season, aiming to improve on its 0-5 start from this past season.

The Bulldogs have to replace 14 seniors from a three-win team this past season, but Keller said his younger players have stepped up to the plate.

“We played physical football (in the jamboree), and that’s what we’re going to hang our hat on weekly,” Keller said. “We have to clean up our mistakes in the second half, but we feel really good about our team.
“Our philosophy is to keep everything simple and allow our players to make plays. We’ve had a successful offseason and a great fall camp, and our players understand our plan of attack and how we will counter our opponents’ attack.”

Red River has a stable of running backs supported by second-year starting quarterback Maliq Smith. Smith, along with defensive backs Jomello McDonald and Warren Bowman, were part of Red River’s basketball team that reached the state championship game.

They’ll match up with a Catholic-Pointe Coupee squad that won eight games and a playoff game one year ago.

A win in Week One will set up Red River for its only home game in the first half of the season against St. Mary’s.

To enter this week’s contest, CLICK HERE!  https://tinyurl.com/RRPJPickem
(Games played on September 6, 2024)

Are you ready for some football?!?

Bigger question. Are you ready to win $100.00 in cash and prizes each week?

The Red River Parish Journal and American Bank is proud to bring you the 2024 High School Football Pick’em Contest presented by American Bank.

Anyone is eligible to participate for FREE and each week’s winner will go home with a $100.00 cash prize.  Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 10 selected high school football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).

The American Bank & Tyler Insurance Agency High School Football Pick’em Contest will be conducted over the 10 regular season weeks of the High School season starting with Week 1 games (Sept. 6) and running through the end of November.

There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to subscribe to the Red River Parish Journal.

All contest decisions by Red River Parish Journal (RRPJ) management are final. Weekly winners will be notified on Monday and will be requested to take a photo that will run that week in the RRPJ.

Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the RRPJ, if you’re not already signed up for the easily-navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. Monday-Wednesday-Friday e-mail. Enjoy it all, for FREE, and enter each week’s contest. You could collect $100.00 each week!

________________________

The Red River Parish Journal wants to thank American Bank & Tyler Insurance Agency for their title and presenting sponsorships of this year’s High School pick’em contest.

We also want to thank Better Finance & C&K Bar-B-Q for their Pick’em Partnerships within the contest.

The 2024 banquet is scheduled for September 19 at the Coushatta Country Club beginning at 5:00 p.m.

For ticket reservations, call Tray Murray or email him at tray.murray.pocn@statefarm.com. All-inclusive admission is $50. For Green Wings (under 16), admission is $25. The price of admission also includes your one-year membership and the DU magazine.

There will be raffles, games, guns, and fun for everyone. Organizer Tray Murray encourages everyone to make their reservations for tables now. “Space is limited; get tickets now and avoid the rush.”

Matt Vines

FARMERVILLE – Facing a possible 0-3 start without arguably their best player in quarterback/linebacker Ashton Almond, Riverdale Academy needed to dig deep on Friday on the road at Union Christian Academy.

The Rebels did just that as an explosive offense set the tone, and the defense settled in as Riverdale ran away from UCA in a 54-20 win.

“It always feels good to get a win and see the plays coming together,” said Riverdale coach Nathan Edie. “We had a bit of slow start defensively, but we tightened up as the game went on.

“We traded touchdowns early, but we pulled away later. All around, it was a good game for us, and we learned a lot. We’re looking forward to watching the continuing growth.”

A Riverdale team (1-2) who has a small roster size even when fully healthy, the Rebels had the stamina to separate from Union Christian (1-1) with the help of cooler temperatures.

A front moved in midweek to push temperatures out of 90s and into the low 80s in the second half, which helped Riverdale stay fresher for longer.

“The cooler weather was a factor, but the biggest factor is getting more and more live reps against other teams,” Edie said. “Offensively, you can see the confidence building, and defensively, we are understanding our assignments better.”

Riverdale did return one player in receiver Tanner Carlisle who missed the Week 2 loss.

Carlisle took a few snaps under center, but Kaidyn Williams led the charge for the second week in a row.
Williams was the main driver of Riverdale’s season-high 54 points.

After two road trips to Northeast Louisiana, the Rebels return home to host Porter’s Chapel Academy on Friday in a 7:30 p.m. start.

Martinez Land Offering

Offers Due by:  Friday, September 13, 2024 at 3:00 pm Central Time

Closing Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 3:00 pm Central (or sooner)

Land Offered: Approximately 2,837.896+/- acres. (comprised of several tracts)

Contact: henry@echotitlecompany.com

Phone: 318-236-6000

VIEW & DOWNLOAD BID PACKAGE

VIEW & DOWNLOAD THE TRACTS

Dr. Wyche T. Coleman, III, has been appointed to the newly created position of Deputy Surgeon General for the Louisiana Department of Health by Governor Jeff Landry.

Dr. Coleman brings a deep understanding of the state’s unique healthcare challenges to his role. He is committed to enhancing public trust by ensuring that all health guidance provided is grounded in rigorous scientific research and delivered with clarity and reliability.

Dr. Coleman, a product of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, completed his medical education and Ophthalmology residency there. His clinical expertise, which includes advanced cataract surgery, LASIK, PRK, and the management of chronic eye conditions, is a testament to his skills. Dr. Coleman’s pioneering spirit is evident in his certification as one of the first surgeons in Louisiana to use the LenSx laser system for cataract surgery, a state-of-the-art, blade-free technology.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Coleman is dedicated to serving rural communities and providing essential eye care services in Louisiana. His commitment to innovation in healthcare is demonstrated by his co-development of an FDA-approved mobile eye imaging device that enhances the ability of healthcare professionals to capture and share retinal images.

Dr. Coleman is married and has two children. He is the son of family physician Dr. Wyche Coleman, Jr. Growing up the son of a rural family practitioner, Dr. Coleman has stayed true to his roots by spending a portion of his week seeing patients in surrounding communities including his hometown of Coushatta.

Outside his official duties, Dr. Coleman is an avid pilot and enjoys spending time with his family. His ongoing commitment to the people of the Ark-La-Tex region reflects his dedication to improving public health and ensuring access to high-quality care for all Louisianans.

Source: https://ldh.la.gov/page/about-ldh

My grandson said, “This is supposed to be the happiest place on earth.”

He was at Disney World. Last week the family took a trip to Disney World in Orlando. Nana had her two children and her two grandchildren in the Magic Kingdom. The trip was perfected by granddad staying home in north Louisiana. I told the truth, “I don’t do Disney.”

On Thursday night the whole tribe had an unscheduled, unplanned adventure. In the park two unrelated events happened. The first was a fight. The second was a balloon popping. The second event stirred alarms, and the park went into active shooter mode. People went diving into shops. They hid in storage rooms. They ducked under clothes racks. A few people got to experience the secret walkway behind all the shops. My six all managed to dive for safety together. The situation lasted for only twenty minutes or so. I can’t imagine the feelings.

It was at that point that our oldest grandson issued his commentary on the event. The happiest place on earth was on active shooter lockdown. He was stuffed into a closet with a bunch of strangers. I don’t believe the story was picked up outside of the Orlando news media. Everyone was safe.

This falls under the general heading of “stuff happens.”

When it does, what is your plan of action?

It is interesting that the Bible assumes that “stuff happens.” All sorts of stuff happened to the righteous man Job. His friends asked why. The New Testament writers told the early church, don’t be surprised when hard times come. They happen to test and purify our faith.

John’s gospel records Jesus saying, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” In John’s gospel the story of Jesus in the boat with the disciples on the stormy night was told differently. In John’s version of the story, Jesus does not calm the storm. John informs his readers, “The boat landed on the other shore.” It illustrates how Jesus overcomes trouble.

John’s point is perfect when life at the happiest place on earth goes on lockdown. Jesus may not calm all storms, but your faith in Him will get you to your destination.

Doug de Graffenried is Pastor of Trinity Methodist Church in Ruston.

You can contact Doug at dougsponderings@gmail.com

The river run starts at noon on Saturday, September 14th 

The Red River Waterway Commission is excited to announce the beginning of construction for a new access road and boat launch on the John Franks Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located north of Shreveport, LA. The access to the site is located near 6764 U.S. Highway 71.

The Commission has worked closely with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to locate the access road and boat launch such that it provides the best access to Twelve Mile Bayou while opening the WMA for better use. “Twelve Mile Bayou, which is a major tributary of the Red River, and the WMA are great resources located very close to Shreveport that will provide opportunities for hunting, fishing, boating and general outdoor recreation”, said Commissioner representing Caddo Parish Ron Lattier. Previously, this section of the WMA was only accessible by foot. Now, users will have the opportunity to more easily utilize Twelve Mile Bayou and the WMA.

The project consists of a roughly 1.2-mile asphalt access road from U.S. Highway 71 that leads to a 2-lane concrete boat launch with approximately 25 parking spaces designed for vehicles with trailers. “The Commission is always looking for ways to enhance the relationship between the public and the outdoors. The WMA property was acquired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for mitigation purposes.

Because the Commission has a responsibility to operate and maintain mitigation lands, it provided a unique opportunity to continue our mission to promote economic and recreation development within the
Red River Waterway District,” said Commissioner At-Large Versa Clark.

The design consultant on this project is Civil Design Group of Shreveport, LA. The construction contract was awarded to Synergen Construction of Bossier City, LA. The completion of construction is anticipated near the spring of 2025.

For the fourth consecutive year, Louisiana will showcase its vibrant culture in the 2025 Tournament of Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.

Lt Governor Billy Nungesser shared in a Facebook post that this year’s float will feature a Louisiana alligator adorned with beads, a Cajun dance hall, and pots of boiled seafood. The scenes perfectly capture the essence of a “Louisiana Saturday Night.”

The post also shared that mid-parade entertainment will be by rising country star Timothy Wayne. 

Source: Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor of Louisiana Facebook page