The Red River Parish School Board has a new member following Saturday’s election results. Reginald Prealow secured the seat with 65% of the vote. Saturday’s turnout for the district 6 vote was 47% overall. 

In his victory speech, which was posted live on social media, Prealow said he wanted to “make sure that the people of District 6 had a voice.” He also said he wanted monthly meetings with his constituents so he could address their concerns.   

In parishwide results, both propositions put before voters were struck down.  The first proposition was a 10-year renewal for the Council on Aging.  With only 22.8% voting, the measure was defeated by 136 votes.  This renewal aimed to maintain services for the elderly provided by the Council on Aging.  

The second proposition nixed by voters was the renewal for the Fire Protection District. Fifty-six percent of the 1,270 voters said no, representing only 23% of the registered voters of Red River Parish. This proposition was to secure funding to maintain staffing, fire hydrants, and the costs associated with having a full-time fire department.  

The unofficial results are available on the sos.la.gov website.

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Spring is in the air which makes it the perfect time to enjoy a Spring Fair.

The Red River Spring Fair is set for April 23-26. 

The Carnival opens at 6pm Wednesday – Friday and at 3pm on Saturday.

On Wednesday, BOGO armbands $30.

Thursday, armbands are $25 with 5 free food & game credits with purchase.

Friday & Saturday armbands are $30

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The Natchitoches Alumnae Chapter and the Iota Mu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is proud to present the 33rd Annual Beautillion Gala at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 in the NSU Student Union Ballroom at Northwestern State University. With this year’s theme, “A Journey of Black Excellence Through the Decades,” the 2025 Beautillion is more than just a formal celebration—it is a journey of empowerment.

Beautillion provides young men with a platform to develop leadership skills, foster personal growth, and contribute to the betterment of the community. Over the course of the program, participants engage in activities designed to promote academic success, mentorship, civic engagement, and personal development. The culmination of their hard work and dedication will be celebrated during the Beautillion, where each Beau will be formally introduced to the community.

We proudly present eight outstanding young men selected to participate in the Beautillion Gala, where they will be formally recognized for their achievements. The presentation will include a performance of the beaux and their female escorts, a mother and son presentation, and a tribute to the beaux recognizing their outstanding achievements.

We are honored to introduce the Beaux of the 2025 Beautillion:

Xavier Ford – Future Sports Anchor 
Cameron Hobley – Future Kinesiologist
Cameron Jones – Future Electrical Engineer
Jomello McDonald – Future Nurse
Kyron Payne – Future Businessman
Jayden Phanor – Future Petroleum Engineer
Jayden Wells – Future Physical Therapist 
Titus Williams – Future Civil Engineer

“We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of our Beaux and to highlight the incredible work they have done throughout the program,” said Ke’Nesha Coats, Chapter President. “This event is a testament to their dedication, hard work, and commitment to making a positive impact in the community. We look forward to an inspiring evening that honors their accomplishments and sets the stage for their future success.”

The proceeds from the Beautillion will allow Natchitoches Alumnae to continue to serve the community by providing scholarships and financial awards to deserving high school seniors and fund other programming, including the Annual Prayer Breakfast, College Tours, Financial Literacy, American Heart Association, Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy & GEMS (Growing & Empowering Myself Successfully) Program, Delta’s Book project, Breast Cancer Awareness, Sickle Cell Awareness, March of Dimes, HIV/AIDS Awareness and a range of other worthwhile local, national and international awareness projects.

Tickets for the event are available to the public, and we encourage everyone to come out and support these outstanding young men. This year’s guest speaker is Antavious Roberson, Principal at Natchitoches Magnet, and pre-sale tickets are available for $10. Refreshments will also be provided. For more information about the Beautillion, including ticket sales and Beau profiles, please visit our Instagram and Facebook pages or contact any member of the Natchitoches Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

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Jennifer C Moseley, Administrator Coordinator 3
LSU AgCenter, Red River Parish

February 22-23, 2025 Stetson Diviney, Jojo Shaver, and Morgan Moseley worked hard two days at the State Hunting Skills competition at Camp Grant Walker. They competed in archery, shotgun, rifle, orienteering, wildlife ID/management, and hunter ethics.

Morgan Mosely placed 4th in the Junior division for State. This competition is a State only event with Seniors advancing to the National event.

Red River Parish 4-H Shooting Sports teams competed February 28- March 9 in the Northern Regional Shooting Sports competition.

BB competitor was Kennedy Bonner.

FITA archery competitors were Brett Francis, Bailey Francis, Morgan Moseley, Colt Dulaney and JoJo Shaver. Qualifying for state Morgan Moseley won 1st place in Intermediate, Colt Dulaney won 1st place in Junior, and Jojo Shaver placed 4th in Senior and Bailey Francis advances.

3D archery competitors where Colt Delaney, Morgan Moseley and JoJo Shaver and Bailey Francis. Qualifying for State were Morgan Moseley receiving 1st in his division and Colt Dulaney received 5th in division.

Competing in Archery Senior Nationals were Brent and Brody Francis who both advanced to State.

CMP Rifle shooters Ben Moseley placed 5th in seniors and Morgan Moseley and Addison Bounds qualified for state.

CMP Seniors: Gabi Bounds, Peyton Diviney, Tye Weems, Ben Moseley, and Addison Bounds.

CMP Juniors: Morgan Moseley and Kaydin Johnson.

Modified Shotgun shooters place 5th as a team.

Mason Wilhite, Tyler Wilhite, Remington Dabbs, Gavin Franks, Hunter Guice, Jordan Friday, Nick Lirette 48/50 (10th) and Brent Francis.

Advancing to state will be Nick Lirette, Jordan Friday, Hunter Guice and Gavin Franks.

Red River Advance Shotgun shooter was Trey Simmons.

These Red River Parish 4-H shooters have all put in many hours of practice for the Regional competition and are now preparing for State which is April 4-13th.

We would like to thank our 4-H Agent Jacque Fontenot, our Shooting Sports coaches Jason Moseley, Brian Shaver, Ashley Friday, Will Friday, Wendi Simmons, Ron Jones, and Josh Franks. Also, parents and volunteers that have helped these shooters achieve their goals and love of the sport.

Each year we have great support from our community and would like to thank all who have supported the Red River Parish 4-H Shooting Sports Club.

Thank you to: National Rifle Association, Red River Parish Sherriff Department and Red River Parish Sherriff Glen Edwards, York Chop, Mabile’s, Cason Plantation, Rivertown Market, Shavers Adventures, Four B Garage, 318 Land Service, Big Jigs, Mechanical Concepts, B.O. Jones Tree Services, Ed Lester Farms, Bank of Coushatta, Parts Plus of Coushatta, Wilhite Farms, 3WFeed, Weems Farm, Breaden Constructions, Farm Pro, American Bank, AA Donuts, Testament, Moseley Leatherworks, Guice Family, Natchitoches Regional Hospital, A Touch of Home, United Land & Homes, Christus Coushatta, Big Piney Leather Works, Youngblood Outdoors, LeGrande Services, and Tray Murray State Farm Insurance.

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The singing governor and the song that lifted him to music and political stardom.

Two-time Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis rode the wave of “You Are My Sunshine” to music and then political notoriety.

Louisiana middle schoolers learn in their Louisiana History class that Davis composed the iconic song, but the origins of the song are actually not crystal clear.

Renowned Louisiana political historian Robert Mann tackles the complicated legacy of Davis and of the song in a new biography “You Are My Sunshine: Jimmie Davis and the Biography of a Song.”

Mann will be on LSUS’s campus April 2 to discuss the book and to sign copies. The 11 a.m. event will be hosted on the third floor of the Noel Memorial Library.

Hard cover books can be purchased for $29.95 with e-books available on the Leaf e-reader app for $19.95. The book was published by LSU Press.

Part of Mann’s research is based on materials from the Northwest Louisiana Archives, which has detailed records and recordings of Davis’ personal life in Shreveport and his music career starting with KWKH’s Saturday Night Roundup in the 1930s.

“Davis sang on the Saturday Night Roundup, which was hosted in the Municipal Auditorium and broadcast on the radio long before the Louisiana Hayride came into existence,” said Laura McLemore, head archivist of the Northwest Louisiana Archives. “Robert Mann primarily used the Robert and Laurie Gentry Collection, a very large collection on the music of this region, especially the Louisiana Hayride.

“He also used parts of our Bob Hill collection and interviews from our oral history collection, which covers a wide range of subjects and topics.”

Davis lived most of his adult life in Shreveport when he wasn’t serving as Louisiana’s governor (1944-48 and 1960-64).

He came to the area as a history teacher at Dodd College for Girls and stayed for the musical scene and industry connections, which included the Louisiana Hayride.

Davis served as Shreveport’s public safety commissioner from 1938 and then as Louisiana’s public service commissioner in 1942 before winning the governor’s seat for the first time in 1944.

Davis (1939) was the third to publicly record “You Are My Sunshine,” and his version helped shoot the song into national popularity in which artists like Bing Crosby recorded their own versions in the next few years.

The song appeared in Gene Autry’s 1941 movie “Back in the Saddle.”

The tune had been recorded by 350 artists in 30 different languages by the year 2000, earning the song a Grammy Hall of Fame award and the No. 73 country song of all-time in CMT’s 100 Greatest Songs of Country Music.

The Northwest Louisiana Archives has a Jimmie Davis exhibit that includes Davis’ version of the song as well as earlier recording by The Pine Ridge Boys and The Rice Brothers earlier in 1939.

The exhibit also features press clippings and other Jimmie Davis items.

Davis won his second term as Louisiana governor in 1960 by pledging to fight desegregation, and the exhibit also includes press clippings from The Shreveport Sun, the city’s black-owned newspaper which includes local and national stories from the 1950s and 1960s.

The biography is Mann’s 10th book on Louisiana and political history as he’s arguably the most revered source in that field.

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The Women in the Woods program, developed by Louisiana Tech University professors Dr. Heidi Adams and Dr. Nan Nan, is designed to encourage young women to explore careers in forestry through mentorship, community outreach, and hands-on learning. The initiative, supported by the USDA NIFA Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Program, has recently received a $200,000 grant.

“Our goal is to create an inclusive, supportive environment for young women interested in forestry,” said Adams. “This program offers real-world insights into the profession and inspires young women to consider forestry as a viable career path.”

A recent survey of female college students with forestry-related leadership experience found that many women do not view forestry as a potential career because they rarely see women represented in the field. Some noted that young women often perceive foresters as chainsaw-wielding individuals who “chop down trees” or “fight forest fires.” By providing experiential learning opportunities with female foresters and fostering professional relationships, the program aims to combat this stereotype and encourage more women to enter the field.

“Having strong, competent female role models is key to showing that it’s okay to be a woman in science,” said Adams.

While the Women in the Woods program is aimed at Louisiana high school girls, the School of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry at Tech has a program called WOLFS — Women of Louisiana Forestry and Supporters — a student organization that fosters professional and social connections among those pursuing careers in forestry.

The Women in the Woods program focuses on three key areas:

1. Developing Forestry Education Resources – Creating K-12 teaching materials for Louisiana educators, including activities, worksheets, and forestry experiments.

2. Engaging with Female Youth – Providing outreach to spark interest in outdoor careers.

3. Hosting Annual Workshops – Organizing a free, three-day, two-night workshop for high school students to learn about forestry from professional female foresters.

“We aim to inspire the next generation of women in forestry by offering them mentorship and firsthand experience,” said Nan.

The next Women in the Woods workshop will take place May 2-4, 2025. The event is open to 40 high schoolers (grades 10-12) from Louisiana. Participants will gain hands-on experience, interact with female foresters, and learn more about the forestry profession.

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Applications for the graduate program in social work at Northwestern State University are now open for the Fall 2025 semester for part-time students. The university received approval last year to offer the program, an on-line degree with affordable tuition, flexible learning options and a focus on advanced generalist practice.

“The mission of the MSW is to develop clinically trained social work professionals to meet the growing need for practitioners in our regional and national work force, with particular emphasis on providing trauma-informed services in rural central and western Louisiana,” said program coordinator Dr. MaryAnne Candley, MSW, a Licensed Master Social Worker.

Employment data and job prediction statistics identify an increase in the need for social workers, Candley said. There are only three accredited MSW programs in public institutions in Louisiana.

Social work is a profession that helps people improve their lives by helping them deal with social environments, relationships, personal and emotional problems, disabilities and resources for life, such as shelter, food and employment.

“Social workers are employed in the areas of children and family services, schools, health care, mental health, substance abuse and prevention, employee assistance programs, as well as in federal, state or local policymaking along with other sectors,” said Dr. Susan Campbell, chair of NSU’s Department of Social Work. “While the bachelor’s degree in social work is the minimum requirement for entry into the social work profession and qualifies one for a number of entry-level jobs, the master’s degree (MSW) is necessary for many positions, including most in health care, K-12 schools, mental health and in supervisory and administrative positions.”

Campbell said the Social Work Department is working with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Board of Accreditation for the MSW program to become nationally accredited. The likely approval date is February 2028.

The CSWE accreditation process will allow the Master of Social Work program to back-date accreditation to its initial start date of August 2025. Students who graduate from the MSW program before 2028 will have to wait until February 2028 for the accreditation to be granted and backdated. Therefore, graduating MSWs prior to May 2028 would not be able to pursue licensure until official accreditation approval is given.

“To maintain the integrity of the MSW program and support the professional development of our students, the Department of Social Work will welcome its inaugural MSW class in stages,” Campbell said. “Stage one will be a part time, traditional MSW program, with students beginning their coursework in August 2025 with an anticipated graduation date of May 2028. Stage two will be a two-year, full time MSW program in which students begin their coursework in August of 2026 and graduate in May of 2028. The final stage will be the one-year Advanced Standing program with students beginning in August of 2027 and graduating in May of 2028.”

“NSU is uniquely situated, as the central and southwestern portions of the state do not currently offer any MSW programs,” she added. “While this program will be offered completely online, our geographic location and focus on trauma will help prepare students to work in these underserved areas as well as nationally.”

Information on the Master of Social Work program is available at https://www.nsula.edu/socialwork/msw/. Information on NSU’s Department of Social Work is available at https://www.nsula.edu/socialwork/.

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ALWC Rummage sale, hosted by the Ladies Ministry, will be held Friday, April 4 (8am-3pm) and Saturday, April 5 (8am-12pm) in the church gym, 1813 Ashland Rd. A portion of the proceeds will go to ALWC Youth Ministry. 

Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic Learning and Global Education will offer a driver education course April 14-17 from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. This course will consist of 30 hours of classroom instruction and a minimum of eight hours of practice driving (behind-the-wheel instruction). Participants will receive a certificate verifying successful completion of the course. Students must be 15 years old
on or before July 14 to take the course. The registration deadline is Friday, April 4. A mandatory parent meeting will be held on Monday, April 7 at 6 p.m. Two summer driver education courses will be taught on June 9-12 and July 14-17. Visit checkout.nsula.edu for more information and to register.

Riverdale Academy Class of 2025 is hosting a fishing tournament at Grand Bayou Resort Saturday, April 19. Take off at 6:30am with weigh in at 3pm. Contact Colton Caskey at 318.663.6289 or Jadyn King at 318.205.3692 for more information or to become a sponsor.

Red River 4-H will sponsor the 4-H Pet Show at the Fair on Thursday, April 24 at the Fairgrounds at 6pm. Categories include: smallest, largest, best trick, prettiest eyes, best dressed, most unique, and several more. Animals must be brought on a leash or in a carrier. No aggressive animals please. All exhibitors are responsible for their own pets. Must pre-register by Wednesday, April 22. Call 932-4342 to enter.

Agri-Fair Extravaganza is set for Saturday, April 26 at the Red River Parish Livestock Barn at 3pm. There will be free games, agriculture related educational activities, pictures with animals and much more!

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Peggy Ann Nealy
July 23, 1955 — March 26, 2025
A memorial service will be held at a later date.

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Matt Vines

Red River softball wraps up district play
After closing District 3-2A play with a home loss to Many, Red River rebounded with a Wednesday win against Providence Classical Academy.

The 15-6 victory pushed the Lady Bulldogs’ record to 12-5, matching its 2023 win total after far surpassing its 2024 victory count.

Red River is still holding strong for a first-round home playoff game at No. 12 (top 16 host).

The Bulldogs have a robust non-district schedule left with 10 games remaining, including last night’s game against Montgomery.

Senior Night is Monday with a doubleheader against Pleasant Hill starting at 4:30 p.m.

While Red River has excelled in most of its contest, the Lady Bulldogs have struggled to compete against elite competition, mostly within its district.

Many’s 22-2 win on Tuesday pairs with losses to Winnfield (18-3 score) and Lakeside (15-0 score).

Many and Winnfield are in the top 11 of Division III Non-Select with Lakeside coming in at No. 2 in Division IV Non-Select.

Red River baseball slides out of home playoff picture

If the baseball playoffs were to begin today, Red River would be packing its bags for a road trip.

The Bulldogs (12-9, 3-2) slid to No. 20 in the Division III Non-Select power ratings released Thursday and would travel for a first-round game.

Red River (20.90) is more than a point out of the top 16 for a first-round home playoff game following its series loss to Winnfield.

Winnfield (10-10, 6-2) took the final two games, 9-0 and 9-8, after Red River captured the opening game, 6-1.
The Bulldogs have two more district series left with roughly three weeks remaining in the regular season.
Red River opened its series against Many (11-13, 3-2) on Thursday night and will host those Tigers twice today starting at 4 p.m.

The Bulldogs close out district play next week against Lakeside (11-13, 3-3) on the road this coming Thursday with a Friday home doubleheader.

Aside from district games, Red River still has a chance to rack up a few wins and power points with four non-district contests left. Cedar Creek, Choudrant and Ebarb (twice) are the opponents, sprinkled throughout the final three weeks.

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Red River High School added high school fishing back to their list of clubs during the school year 2023-2024.

RRHS previously had a club around 6 years ago, but was shut down due to the expenses of the sport and loss of sponsor Roger Longino.

However, last school year the club was reactivated and thanks to community support and donations the students are able to compete on a very competitive level with schools in Louisiana and some from Texas.

Making history at Red River, Kolten Antilley is putting in the time and work to make RRHS fishing known in northern Louisiana.

The last two years Kolten has qualified for state in High School Bass Fishing in two different leagues.

Freshman – Louisiana Youth Bass Nation State Qualifier (missed nations by half a pound)

Sophomore – Louisiana Youth Bass Nation State Qualifier

                      Louisiana High School Bass Trail State Qualifier

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Baton Rouge sculptor, Becky Parsons Gottsegen, was extremely moved by the life-changing work of Innocence Project New Orleans (IPNO), an organization that has helped free 46 innocent men, who collectively served over 1,132 years behind bars for crimes they did not commit. Since then, she has dedicated her artistic talent to honoring these men, raising awareness, and supporting the fight for justice for those who have. been wrongfully convicted.

Her latest exhibit, “Exonerated: Portraits of the Wrongfully Convicted” featuring busts of 23 exonerated men, opened Sunday at the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. More than a dozen of the men honored in the exhibit attended the event.

The exhibit will be on display from March 24 – May 14, 2025 at the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, 233 St. Ferdinand St in Baton Rouge. 

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Ready to make a difference? Join in for Love the Boot Week, Louisiana’s largest litter removal and beautification effort, happening April 5-13, 2025. Help clean up our beautiful state and show love for the environment.

Do you want to plan an event?

• It’s not too late! Register your Love the Boot Week litter cleanup or beautification event at www.lovetheboot.org.
• Please remember to communicate with your volunteers. When you register, you will list a way for them to sign up — either your email, phone number, or a link to an external event platform such as Facebook Events or Eventbrite. Please keep a list of any volunteers who contact you, and be sure to send them the details they need for your event.
• Please also remember to collect data at your event(s) using this worksheet. After your event(s), compile your data and submit this online report by April 21.

Do you want to volunteer?

• Find a local event to volunteer with at www.lovetheboot.org. Browse events in your area using the Volunteer page, and click the Volunteer button to learn how to sign up.
• Event organizers either provided an email, phone number, or website link for you to sign up. If you haven’t heard back, try reaching out to them again. It’s the event organizer’s responsibility to send volunteers event details.

Did you already register an event?

• Thank you for supporting Love the Boot Week! Please remember to communicate with your volunteers. When you registered, you were asked to provide a way for them to sign up. Unlike in past years, volunteers will not sign up using a form on the Love the Boot website but instead will be directed to get in touch with you via the information you provided when you registered. Please keep an eye out for emails or calls from those wanting to volunteer, and send them the info they need.
• Please also remember to collect data at your event(s) using this worksheet. After your event(s), compile your data and submit this online report by April 21.

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Ritchie was a sickly child. When he was six years old, he developed appendicitis. Following surgery, he contracted peritonitis, an inflammation of the lining of the abdomen. His recovery lasted a full year. In 1953, when he was 13, he caught a cold which progressed into pleurisy. After a brief stay at Myrtle Street Children’s Hospital, Ritchie returned home. A short time later, the 13-year-old contracted a disease which changed the course of his life. At first, Ritchie ran a low fever, became fatigued, and developed a minor cough. Ritchie’s condition gradually worsened over the course of a few weeks. His fever rose, coughing intensified, and taking a deep breath became painful. When Ritchie began experiencing chest pains, his mother took him to Myrtle Street Children’s Hospital once again. His diagnosis was tuberculosis, a bacterial disease that affects the lungs.

Being diagnosed with tuberculosis was a shock to Ritchie and his mother. In the year Ritchie contracted the disease, there were over 84,000 cases of tuberculosis in the United States. Nearly 20,000 of those cases, about 23%, were fatal. The percentage of fatal cases in Europe were similar.

“In those days,” Ritchie said, “they just kept you in bed for months. I was in bed for like ten months.” Ritchie said that while being treated, teachers would come in to teach and to keep the sick children entertained. Ritchie joked that while in the hospital, he learned to knit. “One woman came in, not so often, but she came in,” he said, “and she had percussive instruments [such as] maracas, tambourines, and a little drum.” By pointing at red or yellow dots, the woman taught the kids when to strike or shake their instruments. Ritchie said the woman handed the instruments out at random. “I’m in bed … she gives me this little drum and it was like a craziness.” Ritchie said, “I only would play the drum in this mad band that she’d bring in.”

Despite his suffering from tuberculosis, Ritchie was obsessed. He said, “I hit the drum, and I only wanted, from that moment, to be a drummer. And that was what my aim was.” He said it “became the only thing I ever wanted to do.” Ritchie slowly regained his strength and his health. His obsession with that little drum never waned. When he was 18 years old, Ritchie joined a band. For more than 60 years, Ritchie has been a fixture in the entertainment industry. On January 10 of this year, Ritchie released a country album entitled “Look Up” on which he sings, whistles, and, of course, plays drums.

Had Ritchie not contracted tuberculosis at 13, a disease which could have taken his life, and had the woman with the “mad band” handed him anything other than a drum, our musical landscape may have evolved differently. You see, Ritchie, the sickly child, was born Richard Starkey, but the world knows him better as Ringo Starr, the drummer for the Beatles.

Sources:

1. “Tuberculosis Symptoms and Causes,” Mayo Clinic, Accessed March 23, 2025, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351250.

2. “TB Incidence and Mortality: 1953–2023,” CDC, October 31, 2024, accessed March 23, 2025, https://www.cdc.gov/tb-surveillance-report-2023/tables/table-1.html.

3. Joe Taysom, “How a life-threatening illness made Ringo Starr learn drums,” Far Out, August 2, 2022, accessed March 23, 2025, https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/life-threatening-illness-ringo-starr-drums/.

4. Chris Barilla, “Ringo Starr’s Childhood Tuberculosis Hospitalization Kept Him in ‘Bed for Months’ but Ultimately Changed His Life,” People, February 20, 2025, accessed March 23, 2025, https://people.com/ringo-starr-says-tuberculosis-hospitalization-kept-him-in-bed-for-months-exclusive-11683518.

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The 17th annual Northwestern State University Louisiana High School Essay Contest is now open for submissions until June 1. The essay contest is open to all Louisiana students in grades 9-12 regardless of type of school institution, including students in all types of private educational environments, as well as home schooled students.

The 2025 contest theme, “Louisiana Dramas,” is an opportunity for Louisiana students to display their talents at interpreting, performing, and writing dramatic works. Entrants are invited to address one of the following prompts:

Write a literary analysis addressing the play or dramatic musical of their choice. Plays and musicals need not be set in Louisiana nor be authored by Louisiana authors. Entries should be approximately 1,000-2,500+ words, should have titles and should be typed (double spaced, 12-point font, standard margins).

Record either a performance of a song from a dramatic musical or a monologue from a play (memorized performances and dramatic readings are both eligible). Musicals and plays need not be set in Louisiana nor be authored by Louisiana authors. Entries should be between one to five minutes in length, and the title and author of the original text should be given. Recordings need not be made on professional equipment. For example, phone recordings are acceptable.

Write a short one act play set in Louisiana. Plays should be approximately 1,000-2,500+ words, should have titles and should be typed (double spaced, 12-point font, standard margins).

All entries should include a cover sheet with the student’s name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address, school affiliation and the title of their entry. Entries may be mailed to the Louisiana Folklife Center, NSU Box 5688, Natchitoches, LA 71497or sent via e-mail to Dr. Shane Rasmussen, rasmussens@nsula.edu with the subject line “2025 NSU Louisiana High School Essay Contest.”

The deadline for contest submissions is June 1. Prize-winning students will be notified by July 15.

The prizes for the contest winners are 1st place – $150; 2nd place – $100; and 3rd place – $50. In addition, essay contest winners will receive a $200/per semester NSU scholarship with a value up to $1,600 if they attend NSU for four years. This award is in addition to other scholarship awards that the student may receive from Northwestern. Winners must have at least a 20 ACT composite or 950 on the SAT and at least a 2.0 grade point average to be eligible. Essay winners need to submit proof of the award. Winning
essayists will be invited to present their entry at the 17th Annual Louisiana Studies Conference to be held on the NSU campus on Saturday Sept. 13.

The winning print entries will also be published in the Louisiana Folklife Journal. Submission of an entry to the contest entails granting permission to publish the entry in the Louisiana Folklife Journal. Entries may be subject to minor revision prior to publication.

Additional information is available on the website for the Louisiana Folklife Center at NSU:
https://www.nsula.edu/folklife/highschoolessay/.

The contest is sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center, the Department of English, Languages, and Cultural Studies, the Office of Financial Aid and the Office of Recruiting at Northwestern.

Essay contest co-chairs are Jason Church, chief, technical services, National Center for Preservation Technology and Training and NSU faculty Dr. Daniel Gordy, assistant professor of criminal justice and English, Dr. Rebecca Macijeski, creative writing program coordinator and associate professor of English, Shea Montgomery, instructor of English and Rasmussen, director of the Louisiana Folklife Center and professor of English.

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A Clarence native is offering a $1000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the recent shooting at the Clarence Trail Ride/Field Party according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation remains active and ongoing by the NPSO Criminal Investigations Bureau and Louisiana State Police Criminal Investigations.

In collaboration with local law enforcement, Crime Stoppers of Natchitoches is also offering a reward for information that could assist in solving the case. Both the Clarence native and Crime Stoppers encourage anyone with knowledge of the events leading up to or following the shooting to come forward.

“The safety and well-being of our community is our priority, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that justice is served,” said Sheriff Stuart Wright. “Any piece of information, no matter how small, could be crucial in solving this case.”

If you have any information related to the shooting, you are urged to contact the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office at 352-6432 or Crime Stoppers of Natchitoches at 238-2388. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for the reward.

*The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office has verified this information with Mr. Chalk, a former NPSO Reserve Deputy, as credible.*

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I’ve always enjoyed remembering how things used to be, and I look forward for what the future holds with regards to tournament bass fishing. Today we’ll step back in time and look at how tournament fishing was in the early days. 
 
As I’ve noted in past writings, my tournament days go back to the early 1990ns. To say that times have changed is truly an understatement. Things are different today in several ways and the first thing that comes to mind, is how anglers had respect for each other on the water. Anglers were always conscious of not fishing too close to another angler and never wanted to invade another their territory, especially if he was leading the tournament. THAT’S NOT THE CASE TODAY! 
 
To use an old phrase, “back in the day,” anglers showed respect for each other by not fishing areas on the lake that someone found first. Unfortunately, anglers today tend to hold no regard or respect for another angler’s area. 
 
Many of our younger anglers think that all water is open for anyone to fish any time during the tournament.  But I’m not going to throw shade just on our youth for all the issues taking place in tournaments. It’s not really their fault, as 95 percent of both high school and college anglers have never been exposed to the unwritten rules of tournament bass fishing. Etiquette has been forgotten and is not being taught.
 
Another issue today that anglers have is the disregard for the “no information” rule. At no time has this rule had more attention than it has this season. Several touring pros have been disqualified for violating this rule in 2025. Most tournament trails have a written rule that does not allow anglers to receive information about a particular body of water within a specific time frame. Without a doubt, this is the most abused rule on every level! 
 
Back in the day, anglers were held to a higher standard than they are today. Some tournament organizations are turning a blind eye to some of the infractions and are not holding anglers accountable. This is why anglers continue to bend the rules and is one reason tournament entries are down nationwide.
 
Until organizations decide to preserve the integrity of the sport, and drop the hammer on these rule breakers, nothing will change. Some anglers will stop at nothing to gather information like waypoints, best areas to fish, and what baits to throw from guides and other resources. 
 
While there are ways to gather information legally, some anglers ignore the rules and show no regard for doing things the right way. Once again, back in the day if an angler violated a rule, he was pulled aside by other anglers and asked to explain himself. The older generation held each other more accountable. 
 
Oh, how I yearn for the days of old where you did not have to worry about who or how someone was possibly cheating or bending the rules. Your reputation as an angler was more important than winning any single event. You would rather sacrifice a win and still have the respect of your fellow competitors than to cash a check doing something shady.  
 
But the philosophy today is to win at all costs, no matter what the consequences. This is pretty much true in all sports, especially on the high school and collegiate levels. Today it’s all about the money being made and if a kid is not happy where they’re at, they transfer to another school that is willing to pay them even more. They are even paid in advance on potential and not on their body of work! 
 
I’ll wrap up this gripe session with this — if we as anglers don’t start demanding organizations enforce ALL the rules, nothing will ever change. We must demand transparency from all tournament organizations.

‘Til next time, go fishing every chance you get because you never know when it might be your last. 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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The Red River Council on Aging is looking for volunteers to bring your talents, call Bingo, play music, do devotionals, pretty much anything! Call Kristy Jones to get signed up.

Clara Springs Baptist Camp is hiring Summer Staffers. Must be 15 years old prior to June 1. Looking for grounds crew, lifeguards, kitchen  helpers, rec crew, etc. Apply on website: http://clarasprings.com/camp-summer-ministry-team

The York Chop is hiring–cook, expediter, kitchen porter. Part time and full time positions available. Applications available inside at The York Chop, 11-8 Tuesday – Saturday.

Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic Learning and Global Education will offer a Pick Up Your Brush painting class on April 3 and 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the second floor of South Hall. The fee is $45 for each separate session. Participants will learn the art of painting using step-by-step instructions to create a masterpiece. On April 3, students will take home a completed painting at the end of the class titled “Roses in pink leopard vase.” On April 10, they will paint “Whimsical cow.” No special or prior skills are required. Children ages 7 – 12 years old are allowed to enroll, but a parent must accompany the child the entire class. Parents do not have to enroll unless they take part. All supplies are included. For more information or to register for classes, go to checkout.nsula.edu or call (800) 376-2422 or (318) 357-6355. 

Join the Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society, Inc. for an evening observation session at the Shreveport Observatory on Saturday, April 5, 2025. The observing session involves looking through telescopes at numerous astronomical objects. The evening observation session at Shreveport Observatory will be held from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Numerous telescopes will be available to observe the Moon, Jupiter and it’s moons, Mars, as well as numerous galaxies, star clusters, double stars, nebula, and much more. The Shreveport Observatory is located eight miles south of the LSU-Shreveport campus. Go south on Hwy. LA. 1 and right on Hwy. 175 for about 1.7 miles and left on Astronomical Way. If the sky is clouded out or raining, the observing session will be canceled. For additional information go to ShreveportAstronomy.com or contact Dr. Cran Lucas at (318) 573-6929 or Email cranlucas@gmail.com.

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Delores Ann Miller
December 3, 1949-March 19, 2025
Funeral services will be held Saturday March 29, 2025 at 11am at Summer Hill B.C. in Evelyn. 

Charles Ray Miller
January 8, 1960-March 21, 2025
Funeral services will be held Saturday March 29, 2025 at 1pm at St. Savior B.C. in Coushatta.

Fred Clinton McDowell. Jr.
May 29, 1943 – December 9, 2024
Graveside services will be held in Springville Cemetery at 1pm on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

Leroy Henderson
March 12, 1957-March 24, 2025
Funeral services will be held Saturday March 29, 2025 at 2pm at Summer Hill B.C. in Evelyn.

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Bank of Coushatta shared in celebration with Martha Thomas as she retired after 48 years of dedicated service.

Family, friends and coworkers celebrated and shared wonderful memories.

Photos by Darlene Campbell Photography

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Jennifer C Moseley
Administrator Coordinator 3

The Northwest 4-H Ag Ambassadors visited Red River Parish on February 27, 2025, where they took several great tours in our Parish.

The Ambassadors visited Stand Firm Whitetails (Will Almond and Winn Almond) Almond Brothers Timber Mill, Red River Livestock Sale Barn, York Chop, Powell Family Farm, and ended the day with learning how to dress for interviews.

LOTS of learning today! Thank you to all our speakers !!!

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