March 2 will be an exciting day for Coushatta. The Town will once again have a Mardi Gras Parade.
Beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday, floats, trucks, side-by-sides, car clubs and horses will roll from the Coushatta Ballpark to Front Street.
Parade committee members are working closely with Mayor Cole to bring this fun, family-friendly event to life.
In addition to the parade, Front Street will be filled with vendors and music from 2 to 8 p.m.
Line-up for the parade starts at 2:00 pm.
The Fishing Tournament and Family Fun Day is THIS Saturday (March 1st) from 10 to 4 at the pavilion at Grand Bayou Resort in Coushatta. They will have mini goats for petting, bounce houses, a DJ, corn hole, a balloon arch photo op, and a community art project for FREE! The day’s fun will include Carnival games, a cake walk, goat feeding, temporary tattoos, and a silent auction for an electric and backpack cooler—PLUS food trucks!
The Coushatta-Red River Chamber of Commerce is supporting the Sanfilippo Foundation, a great cause. These efforts are for Lydia, a sweet girl who has been diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes brain damage and affects growth, mental development, and behavior.
Matt Vines
COUSHATTA – The hunter has become the hunted.
The Red River boys basketball team has experienced that pretty much all season with the vast majority of a state runner-up team returning.
The Bulldogs (24-5) have been near the top of the Division III Non-Select power rankings all season and earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.
For a team that last year had to win two true road games and one neutral site game to reach the state championship as a No. 13 seed, having home court advantage until the Top 28 feels pretty good.
“Our primary goal at the beginning of the season was to secure home playoff games,” said Red River coach Dadrian Harris. “Playing in your own gym offers an unparalleled sense of comfort and familiarity.
“Additionally, eliminating the travel-related fatigue associated with the playoffs is a significant advantage. But ultimately, we’re focused on the game itself rather than the location.”
Red River earned a first-round bye and awaits tonight’s winner of No. 15 Rayville and No. 18 Pine in the second round, but the Bulldogs are familiar with what it takes to knock off a high seed on the road.
As a No. 13 seed this past year, Red River eliminated No. 4 Vinton and No. 5 Madison in true road games while handling No. 8 Donaldsonville in the semifinals in Lake Charles’ Burton Coliseum.
The Bulldogs led No. 6 seed Marksville with five minutes remaining in the championship game, nearly becoming just the second double-digit seed in state history to win a basketball championship.
“We embrace the role of ‘the hunted’ because we empathize with the experience of the hunter,” Harris said. “We prepare in the same manner as always, but our mental preparation is significantly more intense.
“Our focus remains on Red River, as our destination is entirely within our control.”
One thing hasn’t changed no matter the seeding beside Red River’s name or where they were located in the power rankings – the desire to outwork opponents.
“We’ve overcome adversity both this year and last year, gaining the knowledge and determination to persevere,” Harris said. “Now our primary focus is on outworking our opponents every game.
“The mental challenge we face is confronting the memory of last year’s championship loss. We’re determined not to make excuses – we keep our heads down and work tirelessly.”
Red River has won all 11 home games this season, including wins against No. 9 Winnfield, Division IV Non-Select No. 3 Lakeview and Class 5A member Captain Shreve.
Only two home games (three-point win vs. Shreve and seven-point win vs. Winnfield) were by single digits.
Grab your binoculars, just after sunset tonight all seven planets — Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn — will be visible. To catch Neptune and Uranus, you’ll need the help of a telescope.
Planetary parades aren’t necessarily rare on their own, but the addition of Mercury and Venus makes the lineups more exciting, as they orbit closer to the Sun than Earth and can be hard to see, NASA said.
Look to the southwest to see this celestial event.
Choose a location with minimal light pollution for the best chance to see them all.
During World War II, Leslie Townes was a civilian working with the United States military. Leslie was so skilled at his job that he led a group of sometimes as many as 30 other male and female civilians who also worked with the military. Leslie and his team went wherever they were needed, usually on short notice, and performed their jobs to perfection.
On April 30, 1945, when Soviet soldiers surrounded Hitler’s command bunker in Berlin and Hitler realized that Germany would lose the Battle of Berlin, he and several others in his bunker committed suicide. On May 2, the Berlin garrison surrendered to the Soviet army and the war in Europe was over. Leslie and his team had been working in Germany at the time the Soviets overran Berlin. Because of Leslie’s work, the Russians provided him with a pass and transportation to get into Berlin to see Hitler’s bunker. Remember, Russia was our ally during World War II. Leslie could not pass up the opportunity. Several Air Force men who had just returned from flying President Harry Truman to the Potsdam Conference accompanied Leslie to the bunker. Leslie said, “They drove me in a big car past all the rubble that used to be Berlin… There were all these Russian sentries guarding a big concrete dome sticking up out of the ground, covered by grass and mud, surrounded by huge bomb craters.” Leslie was shocked by what he saw inside. He said, “The place was a shambles, furniture scattered all around,” then added, “as if the last tenant had just gotten a divorce and his ex-wife had tried to take the rugs with her.”
Leslie and his Air Force escorts began collecting some of the smaller items from the bunker. The Russian guards made no attempt to stop them. The Russians had already rummaged through and collected what they considered valuable. Some of the items Leslie collected from Hitler’s bunker included stationary with Adolph Hitler’s initials and the handle from Hitler’s toilet. While the Air Force men collected other items, one of them noticed Leslie staring at a large swastika flag which covered one whole wall. As Leslie contemplated what that flag represented as he stood just feet from where the dictator met his demise by his own hand, one of the airmen said, “would you like to have that?” Leslie was a little doubtful. He did not want to leave the swastika flag flying as Hitler had left it, but he was unsure how they would get it out of the bunker. Finally, the airmen rolled it up from the floor to the ceiling and removed it from its fasteners. They folded it as well as they could. The guard, who had paid little attention to them until now, was watching their every move. The airmen gave the guard a couple packs of American cigarettes. In return, the guard gave them an iron cross that he had found in the bunker. Leslie referred to this as the first post-war Russian-American trade pact. As the guard lit a cigarette, Leslie and the airmen left Hitler’s bunker with Leslie’s large swastika flag. Leslie’s plan was to display the items in a museum.
Following the war, Leslie’s work with the U.S. military continued until his retirement in 1991. He had worked with the military for 50 years. In 1997, Congress passed a bill that made him an honorary veteran of the Armed Forces. Leslie was the first American to be so honored by Congress. During the presentation at the Capitol Rotunda, Senator Strom Thurmond presented a resolution which referred to Leslie as, “a great man, a great American, a great entertainer.” The man who took Hitler’s flag from his bunker, who led his troupe of performers around the world entertaining the soldiers for 50 years, was Leslie Townes “Bob” Hope.
Sources:
1. Bob Hope with Melville Shavelson, Don’t Shoot, It’s Only Me (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1990), 48.
2. The Times and Democrat (Orangeburg, South Carolina), October 30, 1997, p.3.
High school students with an interest in state government and working to influence laws affecting young people have a March 28 deadline to apply to serve on the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council.
LYAC members are the voices of young people around the state. The Council facilitates communication between students and the Legislature, and gives members an opportunity to be involved in the workings of state government.
In meetings, LYAC members study and address a variety of issues, such as education, mental health, civic engagement, the environment, school safety, and other issues they find important to students.
Members of the Commission on Civic Education select the Council from a pool of applicants showing a strong interest in civic involvement. The 31-member LYAC includes three students representing each of the six congressional districts and 13 who serve at large.
Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 19 and enrolled in a public or private high school, charter school, home school, or GED skills program during the 2025-2026 school year.
The new Council will start the yearlong session in July with a two-day seminar at the State Capitol and then meet every other month in person on a Saturday in Baton Rouge starting in September. The Council meets on Zoom in the months in between.
Students apply at civiced.louisiana.gov and then click on LYAC at the top of the page. All applicants must submit by March 28 two letters of recommendation, in addition to the six short-answer questions on the application form.
For additional information, contact Megan Bella at bellam@legis.la.gov or 225-342-2361.
Louisiana State Parks recently shared on its Facebook page that select parks offer all-terrain track wheelchairs, free of charge, to enhance accessibility for visitors with limited mobility. These electric-powered chairs are designed to navigate trails and areas not suitable for conventional wheelchairs, ensuring everyone can experience the beauty of the outdoors.
Participating parks include Bogue Chitto State Park, Louisiana State Arboretum at Chicot State Park, Fontainebleau State Park, Jimmie Davis State Park, Lake D’Arbonne State Park, North Toledo Bend State Park, Port Hudson State Historic Site, and Sam Houston Jones State Park.
For more information and to make a reservation, visit http://www.lastateparks.com/all-terrain-chair
Times sure have changed here on Walton’s Mountain as bass tournaments have become a magnet for anglers looking to cash a check and make some money — illegally. In a few cases, it’s just about fulfilling their ego by being the so-called “best” angler on their designated lake. These are anglers who want you to think that they are the best fisherman on the planet! Let’s look at why cheating has become the preferred technique when it comes to tournament bass fishing.
If I had to speculate on why this has become a problem nationwide, I would first look at the money involved. Bass tournaments today are offering some big money and prize packages. For example, the Bob Sealy Big Bass Splash Series offers a prize package valued at over $100,000 for the biggest bass caught in their event. THAT’S $100,000 FOR JUST ONE FISH!
Numerous trails with both team and individual formats are offering anywhere from $10,000 up to $75,000 for first place. But the cheaters aren’t just showing up at these major tournaments, they’re also backing their boats in the water at your local Thursday night three-hour shootouts, which is really sad!
If it’s not for money, then what other reason would someone have to cheat? For guys that like to race, it’s the need for speed that’s the addiction, but for bass anglers fishing for a couple of hundred dollars on a three-hour event in the middle of the week, I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the reason for cheating.
Once you’ve been labeled a cheater in the bass tournament world, your reputation is gone, and everyone knows the kind of person you really are. It’s just not worth losing your pride and dignity.
Are the anglers who cheat just a sign of the times and the world we are living in? A lot of people today are looking for a shortcut and don’t want to earn their keep. Not many people want to work for what they have! They either want it given to them or they will cheat to get what they think they deserve.
I’ve even witnessed, first-hand, guys who thought it was OK to cheat in a golf tournament by turning in a score that wasn’t a true reflection of their actual score. This was all for a $200 gift card to the local pro shop! This seems to be especially prevalent with the younger generation, which is very disturbing to me.
Where have we gone wrong with raising kids that think it’s OK to cheat or stretch the truth, or is it a “social media” thing? Now we just might be onto something here, as both young and old people love to post their accomplishments on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. I guess they think it gives them instant fame and credibility on their ability to achieve success.
All I know is this — IT HAS TO STOP! People who fall into the “cheaters” category need to be taken out behind the woodshed and taught a lesson. I’m wondering when the day will come where tournament anglers take a page from the NASCAR guys and hold kangaroo courts in the parking lot.
The next thing that must happen is when these guys get caught cheating and committing fraud: judges need to come down harder on them with automatic jail time and a lifetime ban from fishing tournaments. All fishing tackle including rods and reels, their bass boat and any other equipment needs to be forfeited.
I’m personally tired of going to tournaments and asking the question, “did they cheat or was their catch legitimate?” The problem is that no event is immune from someone cheating. Even the Fishers of Men Tournament Trail, a Christian anglers tournament trail, has delt with this issue lately. How sad is it that someone thinks it’s OK to cheat in a Fishers of Men event!
Besides the issues with forward facing sonar, cheating is just another reason honest anglers are walking away from bass tournaments and refusing to pony up entry fees. They’re tired of worrying about that two percent of anglers out there that don’t want to play by the rules. Both issues are having a negative effect on tournament organizations trying to provide a reputable bass fishing trail.
Here’s my concern. One day something bad is going to happen to one of these low-life cheaters when they show up at an event and anglers decide to take matters into their own hands. I just hope they have good medical insurance!
‘Til next time, keep your boots dry and your hooks wet. And remember, if you must cheat to win, you’re really a loser!
Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com
The Town of Coushatta’s Mardi Gras parade rolls Sunday, March 2. Activities begin at 2pm on Front Street. The parade rolls at 3pm. There will be live music, family fun and vendors. The excitement ends at 8pm.
Woman of Courage Red River will host Woman Church March 11 at 6pm at The Shop, 1942 Hwy 507. For women of ALL ages. Guest speaker is Barbra Guillary, from Kairos Prison Ministry. Worship will be led by The Union Hall Worship Team. Dinner will be provided.
A collaborative research project between Dear School of Creative and Performing Art faculty Instructor of Music David Steele and Adjunct Professor of Fine Art Josie Rodriguez will be on display in Gallery 2 of the Orville Hanchey Art Gallery at Northwestern State University March 10-14. A closing reception will be held March 14 from 6-7:30pm. The public is invited to attend.
A program honoring composer Elliott Carter will be held at Northwestern State University on Tuesday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. A live stream of the concert will be available at nsula.edu/capa/capalivestream. The program nicknamed “Carterfest” will feature a pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. by NSU Associate Professor of Fine Arts Dr. John Dunn. The performers will be current and retired faculty, as well as current and former students from NSU, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe and Centenary College.
Nichols is having a huge clothing sale at ALL locations on March 13-15.
Interested in growing citrus? Take the free virtual Home Citrus Course developed by the Greater New Orleans LSU AgCenter horticulture agents. The course is free, ongoing and self-paced. Access the course here: https://tinyurl.com/HomeCitrusCourse
SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 23 -26 for the Red River Parish Spring Fair! Rides will open at 6pm, Wed-Fri and Sat at 3pm.
Ella Winn
November 30, 1954 – February 22, 2025
Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 1pm at the House of Refuge Ministries
in Coushatta.
Gov. Jeff Landry visited Northwestern State University on Feb. 25 to meet with community officials, legislators and leaders in business, industry, education and economic development to address the pending closure of the International Paper mill in Campti and its projected negative impact for Natchitoches Parish.
“There is no one who understands the economic impact of the loss of these jobs more than me,” Landry said, referencing the closure of multiple Fruit of the Loom facilities in south Louisiana in the 1990s and early 2000s. “It’s not only the jobs that are leaving the Campti facility, but the downstream effect of what it does to the small businesses that are attached. While I don’t have all the answers today, I can tell you that we will continue to work towards building economic opportunities throughout central and north Louisiana.”
“I think that the greatest opportunity that we have for economic development is actually central and northern Louisiana,” he said, referencing the selection of Richland Parish as the site of Meta’s $10 billion artificial intelligence data center.
The governor said a proposed constitutional amendment on the March 29 ballot to reform the state’s tax code could open new opportunities to bring jobs to north and central Louisiana. He has also tasked higher education administrators with shaping Louisiana’s universities and community college systems to support jobs and industry.
“I think it’s evident from the governor’s remarks that his intention is clearly to bring the full force of the government to do whatever we can do to mitigate the reality of this decision by IP,” said Susan Bourgeois, secretary of the Department of Louisiana Economic Development. “One of the things I started out talking about in my role was that we really had to take the whole of government approach to economic development. It’s not just a government solution to the challenges or the opportunities that we face. It really does have to be the private sector, the education sector, the public sector, all of us pulling on the same rope.”
Bourgeois said her office is currently working with five active wood-related projects in north Louisiana.
“We’ve announced 21 wood-related projects in the last seven years that our team is now going to focus on seeing about placement of employees, placement of product and how we can redeploy some of the Louisiana resources that were used at the Campti facility in those projects,” Bourgeois said.
Susie Schowen, secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, said she has engaged a rapid response team, the team that responds to layoffs, who can offer services specifically for IP workers.
“The IP workers are getting services in career counseling, envisioning where their career could go and how to connect with training. We can help offset the cost of that training with the focus of getting people jobs right here in this area.”
“We want to do as much as we can to backfill, to give back, what the closure is going to cause,” Landry said. “We will work as hard as we can and the good news is you’ve got other areas of the state that are performing, and a high tide has a tendency to lift all boats. We are focused on this area, not only Natchitoches but the central and north Louisiana area. We are hyper focused on opportunity because I think that there are opportunities out there.”
Landry said there are companies around the country and around the world are looking for investments in the U.S., which aligns with President Donald Trump’s agenda to boost American manufacturing.
“Right now, that is being driven primarily by the president’s agenda and we want to be able to capture as much of that as we can. You see this great team and we have worked hard and I don’t know anyone who isn’t trying to soften the impact,” he said.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission has resources available at https://www.laworks.net/.
Information on the Louisiana office of Economic Development is available at
https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/.
The Fastbreak ENT All Star Classic is an opportunity to watch some of the top seniors in the state play under one roof.
Red River’s Jomello McDonald and Jayden Wells have be selected to participate.
The game is set for April 5 at Pineville High School.
RRPJ will share more information when it is released by Fastbreak ENT.
Red River Parish School Board Members completed and exceeded the six hours of training for 2024.
ACT 705 of the 2011 Louisiana Legislature requires these hours. During a board member’s tenure, at least one hour of ethics training is required per year.
Red River boys earn No. 2 seed, first-round bye
COUSHATTA – Marsh Madness has certainly been on the minds of Red River boys basketball players and coaches since the Bulldogs made a harrowing run to the state title game this past season.
The Bulldogs now know their path for a return trip to The Top 28 and what they ultimately hope is another championship game appearance.
Red River earned a No. 2 seed in the Division III Non-Select playoffs and the first-round bye that came with it.
The Bulldogs (24-5) await the winner of No. 15 Rayville and No. 18 Pine, which play on Friday at Rayville.
The deadline for second-round playoff games is Tuesday, which more than likely means a Tuesday date for Red River’s second-round clash.
Other top seeds on Red River’s side of the bracket include No. 3 Marksville (reigning state champions who edged the Bulldogs in the 2024 state title game), No. 6 French Settlement and No. 7 Loreauville.
No. 9 Winnfield, a district foe who split with Red River, is on the other side of the bracket and wouldn’t face the Bulldogs before the championship game if both teams advance that far.
No. 28 Mansfield is the third team from District 3-2A in the Division III field.
Red River baseball rebounds
After a 1-2 start against Class B competition, Red River baseball has rebounded to win the last three games.
The Bulldogs (3-2) had convincing wins against Converse (4-1 score), North Webster (11-0) and Booker T. Washington (20-0), the latter two in a Logansport tournament.
Red River played Captain Shreve on Tuesday evening in a one-game week with North Webster coming up again on March 4.
Riverdale baseball
Riverdale baseball (0-5) did get on the scoreboard in the fifth game of the season in a 17-4 loss to River Oaks. The Rebels had been held scoreless in their first four contests.
Red River Softball
Red River softball has started the season 2-1, including a pair of big wins against Bossier High (21-5 and 21-0). The Lady Bulldogs opened the season with a 16-5 loss to Northwood-Lena. The ladies played at Saline on Tuesday evening.
Members of the Red River 4-H Shooting Sports project club competed in the Caddo Classic 2025.
In Archery, Joseph Shaver (Senior Division) placed 4th (123) in 3D and 1st (256) in FITA. Morgan Moseley (Junior Division) placed 1st in 3D (183) and 1st in FITA (301). Colt Dulaney (Junior Division) placed in 3rd in 3D (159) and 2nd in FITA (287).
In Rifle CMP Senior Division, Ben Moseley placed 5th (574), Addison Bounds placed 11th (561), Gabi Bounds had a score of 524 and Peyton Diviney had a score of 457.
In the Junior Division, Kayden Johnson scored 150.
Some of the students were competing for the first time.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission recently released a reminder about 10-digit dialing coming to the 318 area code overlay.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved the addition of the new 457 area code to the existing 318 area code region which covers northern Louisiana, serving communities such as Alexandria, Bossier City, Monroe, Ruston and Shreveport, as well as many other smaller communities including Coshatta.
The overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code but will require dialing the area code and the 7-digit telephone number to complete local calls. All customers with the 318 area code should prepare for 10-digit dialing and the introduction of the new 457 area code.
A six-month permissive dialing period began on Monday, February 24 to give customers adequate time to adjust to including the area code when making local calls. During this time, local calls can be made with either 7 or 10 digits.
Starting August 25 all local calls made within the 318 area code must be dialed using 10 digits (area code + the 7-digit telephone number). On and after this date, calls using just 7 digits will not be completed, and will be routed to an announcement.
Starting September 25, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers from the new 457 area code. The new 457 area code will co-exist everywhere in this region with the 318 area code. Anyone receiving a 457 number will also be required to dial 10 digits.
Key Facts:
To prepare for the new dialing procedure you should include the area code when giving your number to friends, family, business associates and customers. You should also ensure all services, automatic dialing equipment, or other types of equipment that are programmed to dial a 7-digit number are reprogrammed to include the area code and to recognize the new 457 area code as a valid area code including life-safety systems, medical monitoring devices, fire or burglar alarms, security systems, mobile phone contact lists, voicemail services, etc.
Contact your medical alert or security provider if you are not sure whether your equipment needs to be reprogrammed to accommodate the upcoming change to 10-digit local dialing. Any needed
reprogramming of such alarm and home security equipment must be done between February 24,
2025, and August 25, 2025.
Individuals and businesses should also update their websites, personal and business stationery, checks, advertising materials, and other such items to ensure the area code is included.
Dr. Mark Johnson has been elected president of Louisiana Christian University.
The Louisiana Christian University Board of Trustees has approved Johnson, the current director of the Doctor of Ministry program at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, its 10th president, upon recommendation of the presidential search committee.
“There have been countless hours of prayer, listening, seeking, reading resumes and other application materials, while asking God to guide this process and have His way,” said Tommy Kiker, chair of the search committee. “With this vote today, approving Dr. Mark Johnson as the 10th President in the history of Louisiana Christian University, we believe God has graciously and wonderfully answered those prayers and blessed this labor.”
Dr. Johnson said he sees this role as a divine calling. He is moved by the opportunity to serve the Lord and is committed to upholding the university’s Christian values and inspiring students and staff to grow in their faith and academic pursuits. He emphasized his commitment to a transparent leadership style and expressed his eagerness to build meaningful relationships through open communication and mutual respect.
Johnson and his wife, Heather Williams Johnson, a former LCU Board of Trustees member, have
been married for 29 years. They have four children.
Dr. David Jeffreys, LCU executive vice president, has served as interim president since the retirement of Dr. Rick Brewer in the spring of 2024. He will take on a leadership role at the university alongside the new president, ensuring a seamless transition.
Through the vision and leadership of President James Genovese, Northwestern State University is attracting industry experts to further its position as a leader in artificial intelligence and innovation and has slated a groundbreaking public forum next month.
NSU will host Leadership in the Age of AI, featuring world-renowned experts Dr. Julian Bailes, Dr. Neilank Jha and Monty Chicola. The event will take place on Wednesday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall on campus and is open to the public.
This distinguished panel will explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, leadership and technological advancements, drawing from their vast experiences in medicine, economics and computing. Their involvement underscores NSU’s growing reputation as a regional leader in innovation and interdisciplinary studies, and its emergence on the forefront of AI instruction.
“The participation of these accomplished leaders brings Northwestern closer to its goal of being the premier regional institution not just in Louisiana but in the South,” said President Genovese. “Their expertise and engagement with our students and faculty are invaluable as we continue to build a future-focused academic environment.”
Bailes, a Natchitoches native, and Chicola are members of the university’s Long Purple Line, its alumni hall of distinction. The honor, the highest Northwestern bestows, has been issued to only 158 accomplished graduates over the last four decades.
Genovese announced that Dr. Jha, M.D., FRCS(C), MSc, MBA, has been named Distinguished Professor in Leadership and Neuroeconomics on the university faculty. Dr. Jha, an accomplished neurosurgeon and behavioral economist, will be teaching a special topics course at NSU this fall, bringing his unique multidisciplinary approach to leadership education.
“This appointment would not be possible without my mentor, Dr. Julian Bailes, who has been an integral part of my journey over the past 15 years. Together, we have tackled challenges in traumatic brain injury, sports-related health, and now, the fight against brain cancer. I am honored to carry forward his legacy at NSU,” said Dr. Jha.
Dr. Jha’s career has been marked by a dedication to both Eastern and Western philosophies, blending them to develop leadership principles based on unity, service and resilience. His background includes an undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto, a medical degree and neurosurgery residency at McMaster University, a fellowship in complex spinal surgery at the University of Toronto and an MBA from the Ivey School of Business. He also holds a master’s degree in Behavioral Economics and Cognitive Psychology from the London School of Economics.
Dr. Bailes has been named one of Chicago Magazine’s “Top Brain Surgeons in Chicago” for 10 consecutive years. As a global leader in understanding the impact of brain injuries, particularly in sports-related trauma, Dr. Bailes has worked closely with professional sports leagues, the NCAA, Pop Warner youth football and other entities to advance the study of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
“It is with great pride that I welcome Dr. Jha to serve at NSU, where his expertise will have a profound impact on the students,” said Dr. Bailes.
A pioneer in his field, Dr. Bailes’ research has helped shape policies and medical protocols for athletes at all levels. His mentorship of Dr. Jha is a testament to his commitment to advancing the field of neuroscience and leadership.
Chicola, from Alexandria, is a trailblazer in the tech industry and the founder of Real Vision Software, an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) and IBM Business Partner specializing in AI-powered IBM i solutions. Chicola has been instrumental in establishing a partnership with NSU to develop a curriculum that prepares students for high-demand careers in technology.
Chicola, who serves on the IBM ISV board and the NSU Alumni board, has worked with IBM to create a Partnership for IBM AI Education at Northwestern. This curriculum is not only for NSU students but is reaching students all over the world, some as far as South Africa.
Students can achieve a badge from IBM proving the achievement from the education provided through NSU. The inaugural class will prepare participants to handle the current value of AI and the future enhancements to come in a business environment. The class began this spring. Chicola is teaching an IBM i programming course, focusing on modern enterprise computing and AI integration. His work exemplifies the university’s commitment to equipping students with cutting-edge skills in a rapidly evolving industry.
The announcement of this forum comes at a pivotal moment as NSU unveils the establishment of the Lola Walker Dunahoe Endowed Chair. This endowed chair will attract top talent in interdisciplinary studies, reinforcing NSU’s dedication to academic excellence and leadership in AI, neuroscience and technology.
Dr. Greg Handel, NSU’s executive vice president and provost, said the gift from the Dunahoe family will be valuable in bringing experts from diverging specialties to discuss current issues and trends that could have profound implications for society.
“Drs. Bailes, Jha and Professor Chicola will discuss the impacts of artificial intelligence on our daily lives, give varying perspectives about the practical applications of AI in our daily activities and discuss common trends that will guide us as we navigate the new pathways brought together by AI,” Handel said.
“This forum continues and supports Northwestern as we navigate new ways to deliver instruction, to find the ethical paths in the use of AI in our classrooms and to assist faculty, staff and students as we continue to integrate AI into many of the things we do. As a responsive institution, Northwestern is thrilled to have these distinguished guests together on stage, and we are grateful to the Dunahoe family for supporting this forum which encourages curiosity—a trait that was central to Lola Dunahoe’s life and leadership.”
The late Lola Walker Dunahoe was a revered Natchitoches resident whose contributions to education statewide and her service to the local community left a lasting impact. This endowment, made possible by her family, will honor her legacy by ensuring that Northwestern continues to draw outstanding scholars and innovators to inspire future generations.
Genovese emphasized the university extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Dunahoe family for the generosity in establishing this endowed chair. The commitment will help shape the university’s future and strengthen its role as a leader in innovation and interdisciplinary education.
For more information on Leadership in the Age of AI, visit www.nsu.la/leadershipAI.
Right now, I have a laptop where it belongs. I am composing this wonderful tome for you sitting in my recliner. To the right of my keyboard is a numeric keypad. I rarely use the calculator function. It seems I only use the numbers for my passwords. Next to my laptop on the arm of the chair is my cell phone. Of course, on the table next to the cell phone is the remote for the TV. I have a laptop, cell phone, and an iPad all within reach. I think for Lent I need to give up being connected or maybe go on a digital diet.
Do you remember when phones were attached to the wall, had chords, and rotary dials? If you had to make the rare long-distance phone call, it took quite a while with that rotary dial phone. Yes, I do remember party lines. A party line was a vast treasure trove of information for the community, not that anyone ever listened to a party line call.
Cell phones are everywhere now. You can’t escape them. It seems they are always going off in church, at weddings, and even at funerals. Yes, we are all secretly laughing at that dumb ring tone you have set as your default for your phone. There are some things that can’t be unheard over the hushed crowd at the funeral.
So, I am looking at the numbers on my phone. One, two and three are across the top line of the phone. On the computer keypads one, two, and three are across the bottom. I have noticed this same phenomenon at ATM’s and gas pump numeric pads. I’m wondering why. Why can’t all the numeric keypads have the same arrangement?
Whoever oversees numbers, could you get together so there will be only one pattern on these number pads? It is very confusing to those of us who use both.
As a minister people often ask me “why?” I will tell you that ministers mostly can’t answer why questions. Those are management questions. We minister types are pretty good at answering “how” questions. So, if you are dealing with some “why” event in your life, I invite you to church we can talk about “how” you can live through your “why.”
February is National Library Lover’s Month. It is dedicated to the people who love whole buildings devoted to reading, housing, organizing, categorizing, finding, studying, and otherwise loving books.
Libraries provide so much more than a place to enjoy great novels or to discover amazing adventures and untold history. They may also:
Ways to celebrate include volunteering your time at the library. If you don’t have a library card, it’s never too late to get one. Or simply, read a book.
Krewe of Dionysos will roll Saturday, March 1 at 6pm in Natchitoches.
Creston Baptist Church is hosting a Ladies’ Night Out Mar 8 at 6pm. Experience a special evening of fellowship and inspiration with Tammy Whitehurst. The topic will be God’s Perfect Timing. Tickets are $25 per person and includes a tshirt and a meal. You may pay by Venmo (@jlfarm), PayPal (jimlorettawilliams12@gmail.com), cash or check. Mail checks or pay cash at 3231 Hwy 156, Saline, LA 71070. Make sure you include your shirt size. Registration closes February 19.
Guests of all ages are invited to Fort Jesup State Historic Site March 15 from 10am until 3pm to observe early life on the Louisiana Frontier. There will be demonstrations by living historians on different topics including black powder rifles, early military history of Louisiana, open hearth cooking, historic tatting and much more.
Barksdale Air Force Base will host Defenders of Liberty Air Show March 29-30. Free admission and parking. Gates open at 9am and close at 4om. Carpooling is HIGHLY encouraged. Avoid the long traffic lines with off-site parking at Bossier Parish Community College with shuttle service to the Air Show entry point. Get all info needed at https://www.defendersoflibertyairshow.com
The Northwest Louisiana Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale will be held April 5 from 8am to 12pm at the Red River Research Station in Bossier City.
Wanda “Susie” Jelks
August 11, 1957 — February 21, 2025
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 12pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., in Shreveport. Burial will follow at Holly Springs Cemetery, Holly Springs Road, in Martin.
You must be logged in to post a comment.