First Methodist Church’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt Friday April 18 at 10:30am. Ages toddler through 5th grade are invited to participate. Activities include the egg hunt, hot dog lunch and pictures with the Easter Bunny.

The 4th Annual Hall Summit Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, April 19 from 10am until 12pm at the Hall Summit Community Center and Park.

Are you a mom. grandmom, sister or caregiver to a child with special needs? If you answered yes, then you should join Might Moms for a Fiesta & Paint Party April 25 at 6pm at Westside Baptist Church FLC Building in Natchitoches.

The Riverdale Sophomore class will be waiting tables for tips May 1 from 5-8pm. These tips will go towards their class fundraising account. You do not have to dine in to leave a tip you can also tip at the pick up window. Cash tips are preferred.

Northwestern State University’s Department of Engineering Technology will host two STEM educational camps this summer for middle and high school students. Robotics and Engineering Camp – Junior will be May 27-29. This camp is designed for students ages 9-12 and will accommodate up to 40 participants.
Robotics and Engineering Camp – Advanced will be June 3-5. This camp is geared toward students ages 13-17 and will host up to 20 participants. Sessions will be from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in Williamson Hall. Registration is free and will be open from noon Monday, April 28 through noon Friday, May 2. Details about the camps and registration forms are available on http://www.nsu.la/ETcamps

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Mary Beth Guin
June 23, 1943 – April 14, 2025
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 12pm at United Baptist Church in Campti.

Morris Williams
May 3, 1944 – April 9, 2025
Funeral services will be held Saturday April 20, 2025 at 11am at St. Paul B.C. in Coushatta.

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Mayor Cole shared on social media the boil advisory for the Coushatta Water System has been lifted.

The samples were cleared by the Louisiana Department of Health/Office of Public Health on April 15, 2025.

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On Saturday, Red River’s Smile Squad hosted an Easter Egg hunt at the city park. Children of all ages enjoyed activities, egg hunting, snacks, and games. The Easter Bunny also appeared.

The Smile Squad is a new organization in our area. Its mission is to coordinate fun and safe activities and events in our town, fostering unity and togetherness. “We want to bring people together, promoting a sense of love not only for our great community but also for each other.”

A “Shout Out” list for sponsors and donators of the egg hunt included The Town of Coushatta, Mayor Cole, Katt’s Creations, American Bank, Cowtown Nutrition, M&D Sweet Treats, Shunguanette Banks Complete Tax Service llc, Skylar’s Sweet Sips Lemonade, K’s Tax service, A&JM Catering, Thomas’s Tax Service, Bethard & Bethard Law Offices, Fausto’s Restaurant, Dairy Queen, Pey Pey’s Ice Cream Treats, Krewe De Khulu, Pink Diamond Diva’s, Karen Squires, Donnisha Coutee Mims, Nicholas and Cristina Grigg, The Umbrella Foundation, Gloria Brisker, Brya Rhodemen, and Ahmad

 

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Excitement continues to build for the Red River Spring Fair. The fair runs Wednesday, April 23 through Saturday, April 26.

The Midway opens at 6pm Wednesday – Friday and 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

Admission for adults is $3 and children (12 and under) $2. There will be no out passes. 

Public parking for the Red River Parish Spring Fair will be at Red River Elementary School, 1001 Ashland Road. See photo of public parking map below.

The Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Coushatta Police Department will park cars and provide security.

Fair goers will use a road from RRES to the back of the Fairgrounds. There will be light plants along the way.

Only Walk-in, Handicap, and Authorized vehicles will use the entrance by Dairy Queen.

Make sure to support Red River Parish 4-H. The group will have several events including Kiss a Pig, Chicken Drop Bingo at the Fair, Agri-Fair Extravaganza and  4-H Pet Show.

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Matt Vines

EAST POINT – Two Riverdale Academy junior varsity track athletes won district titles to highlight a host of other top performances at this week’s district meet.

Kaleigh Pickett claimed the discus title while Dally Bell took the 800 meter crown.

Bell captured bronze in the 100 meters and the long jump as the team’s top scorer.

Other medal efforts include Trevor Bell (second in the shot put) and Hope Williamson (second in the discus).

Athletes that scored points in their various events include Lane Mancil (fourth in the long jump, sixth in the 100 meters and seventh in the 200), Grayci Bamberg (fourth in the 400 meters and fifth in the 200 meters) and Trevor Bell (fifth in the 800).

Red River softball outslugs competition to win last six games of regular season
Perhaps the improvement Red River softball has made this season can be seen in its first and one of its last games of the regular season.

The Lady Bulldogs (20-7) capped its regular season Thursday by pounding Bossier High 18-1 and 17-1.

Red River has won the last six games of the regular season including outslugging Northwood-Lena in a 14-13 shootout.

It’s the same Northwood-Lena bunch that disposed of Red River, 16-5, to start the season.

Red River moved up to No. 13 in the Division III Non-Select power rankings with the top 16 teams getting a first-round home game.

Other wins in this streak include a 12-9 victory over Ringgold and doubleheader sweep of Lakeview (20-2 and 17-2).

The Lady Bulldogs will wait for other teams to finish before playoff pairings are announced Wednesday.

Red River baseball snaps losing skid with Choudrant win
Red River baseball picked up desperately needed wins Tuesday and Thursday to stop an eight-game losing streak.

The Bulldogs (14-15) started with an 8-3 win against Choudrant before an 11-3 rout of Ebarb.

The Bulldogs are clutching to a playoff spot at No. 22 with 24 teams gaining admission.

Red River had dropped eight straight district games before Tuesday’s victory, but four of those decisions were by two runs or less.

In that stretch, the Bulldogs have lost every kind of game, including high scoring affairs (19-17 Many and 10-9 Lakeside) to low-scoring contests (3-2 Many).

The Bulldogs have one regular-season game left hosting Ebarb tonight.

Baseball playoff pairings are announced Tuesday.

Red River’s McDonald makes The Times’ All-Area Team
Red River basketball senior Jomello McDonald was selected to the Shreveport Times All-Area Second Team earlier this month.

McDonald averaged 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals per game for a Bulldogs’ squad that earned a No. 2 seed and advanced to their second straight Top 28.

Riverdale baseball sweeps season series against Union Christian
The Riverdale baseball team swept the season series against Union Christian on Friday with a 15-11 win.

The Rebels (3-11) added that to an earlier 6-5 win against UCA.

Riverdale has two more regular-season games remaining with visits from Franklin Academy on Monday and West Side Christian on Thursday.

Riverdale’s other win this season came against West Side.

Rebel baseball hosting alumni game
Do you still have athletic juice left? Riverdale Academy is inviting alumni to participate in its Alumni Game on June 7.

The entry fee is $30, with a separate $10 fee to participate in the home run derby.

For more information, visit the Riverdale Academy Rebel Club Facebook page.

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Northwestern State University’s chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta First-Year Honor Society inducted 155 new members into the organization April 6 as part of Honors Week at the university. Inductees represented all of NSU’s campuses in Alexandria, Leesville, the main campus in Natchitoches, Shreveport and on-line students.

The purpose of Alpha Lambda Delta is to encourage superior academic attainment among students in their first year in institutions of higher education, to promote intelligent living and a continued high standard of learning and to assist students in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their roles in society, according to chapter advisor Reatha Cox, NSU’s vice president for the Student Experience and Dean of Students.

Northwestern State’s Alpha Lambda Delta chapter is actively engaged in the community and nationally recognized for excellence. Last fall, the NSU chapter was awarded the national “Maintaining the Flame” award, one of two annual awards presented to the most outstanding chapters of Alpha Lambda Delta. Since 2018, the NSU chapter has been recognized six times as a recipient of the Order of the Torch or Maintaining the Flame.

In addition to student inductees, the chapter inducted Stephanie Dyjack, director of Housing and Residential Life, who was guest speaker, as a new member, and presented two first generation scholarships to Kayla Snider, an online student of Tomah, Wisconsin, and Suzel Polo of Slidell.

New officers installed for the 2025-26 year are President Madelynn Misuraca of Natchitoches, Vice President Addison Smith of Shreveport, Secretary Rilee Hebert of Pineville, Treasurer Adrian Davis of Coushatta, Service and Philanthropy Chair AG McCullough of Gulfport, Mississippi; Faculty/Staff Liaison Denae Davis of Covington, Scholarship Chair Morgan Traylor of Bossier City, Historian Heidi Gauthier of Moreauville and Junior Advisor Christopher Richard of Abbeville.

Coushatta inductees are Madison Chamberlin, Adrian Davis, and Trinity Hayes.

The Northwestern State University chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta was established in 1965. Chapter activities include fall Demon Days Welcome events, the Sophomore Breakfast Club, Be a Tourist in Your College Town, numerous campus-wide collaborative programs and a wide range of service initiatives including the NSU Food Pantry, Special Olympics, and many other opportunities that promote learning and engagement.

Initials of Alpha Lambda Delta stand for the Greek words Allelois Lampadia Diadusousin, translated “we shall pass our torches on, one to another,” the organization’s motto.

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Since 2023, the Favorite Chef competition has been igniting the culinary world, uniting top chefs, passionate home cooks, and creative food artists in an epic showdown of skill and flavor.

Competitors are divided into groups and advance through public voting rounds. Each round progressively reduces the number of competitors. 

One culinary creator will take home $25,000, appear in Taste of Home magazine, and cook with celebrity chef Carla Hall. 

Coushatta’s Ashaunta Bradley has reached the round of Top 20 and is currently vying for the Top 15. 

Bradley shared, “I bring creativity, passion, & dedication to every dish, combining flavors & techniques that excite the senses and elevate every bite.”

Top 15 voting ends April 17. Cast your vote to help him reach the Top 15 here.

If he wins the competition, he plans to “invest in my small business, a heartfelt endeavor that celebrates my family’s legacy and heritage. By sharing this personal project, I aim to inspire others through recipes that not only showcase my soul food passion but also foster connection and community.”

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By Rebecca Riall, Associate Professor, Pre-Law and Paralegal Studies Coordinator, American Indian & Indigenous Studies Coordinator

About 50 miles from Natchitoches is the center of the Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb, an Indigenous community which, over the centuries, created a unique culture as Native people gathered at the Spanish mission at Los Adaes and later welcomed Indigenous refugees from several tribes, incorporating ancestral cultures and Spanish influences into a distinct tribal community centered in what is now Sabine Parish since the 1700s. The community took care of its members and lived off the land. The strength of the community kept it together even when a large part of its homeland was flooded in the 1960s to create the Toledo Bend Reservoir, abruptly changing the community’s relationship to the land and sending members into the surrounding towns.

Often, its story has been told by outsiders, however well-meaning. In contrast, the Choctaw-Apache Voices book series edited by two tribal members, Dr. Robert B. Caldwell Jr. and Thomas Parrie, prioritizes community voices.

“The purpose of the edited volume is to connect tribal members living in diaspora with perspectives of elders and community leaders in Northwest Louisiana,” explains Caldwell.

Parrie and Caldwell, both Northwestern State University of Louisiana graduates, will speak at NSULA on April 23 at 5:00 p.m. in the Student Union Cane River Room about their work. The talk is free and open to the public and will be shared remotely, with a reception to follow. The event is sponsored by American Indian and Indigenous Studies Minor (part of the School of Social Sciences and Applied Programs), the Gail Metoyer Jones Center, the Native American Student Association and the Department of English, Languages and Culture Studies.

“We are especially grateful that as alumni, Dr. Caldwell and Mr. Parrie are dedicated to engaging with current NSU students about the importance of producing and documenting community knowledge,” said Dr. Allison Rittmayer, coordinator of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of English, Languages and Culture Studies.

Caldwell and Parrie will discuss and read from the first volume in the series, which includes essays, transcribed narratives, and artwork covering topics from tribal history, culture, folklore, experiences, and more. The first volume was released in November 2023, and a second volume is in the editing stage, expected to be released later this year. “Just as the hundreds of tribes in the United States have their own cultures, there is amazing diversity within each tribe. Choctaw-Apache Voices aims to share that diversity,” says Caldwell.

Parrie earned an M.A. in English in 2010 at NSULA and an MFA in Poetry at McNeese State University in 2015. His previous published works include Toledo Rez & Other Myths, a poetry volume. He has been an Indigenous Writer in Residence at the School for Advanced Research in New Mexico. Currently, he writes and teaches in the English and World Languages Department at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Caldwell earned an M.A. from NSULA in Heritage Resource Management and a Ph.D. in History from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2018. His published works include Choctaw-Apache Foodways, for which he was recognized by the Louisiana Folklife Commission as a Culture Bearer. He is a founder and active member of Ho Minti Society, a nonprofit dedicated to the vitality of Choctaw-Apache culture, and has led the Choctaw-Apache Youth Culture Camp for the past two years. He teaches at the University of Buffalo in the Indigenous Studies Department and will be teaching a class on American Indian History at NSULA this semester.

“This talk will interest writers, tribal members, students, and those who want to know more about communities around NSU. We hope that people will join us there or online,” said Dr. Rebecca Riall (Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama), coordinator of Indigenous Studies. She noted that NSULA has long partnered with American Indian nations in Louisiana, from providing research support, to serving students. Today, it offers a tuition waiver to American Indian students who are members of federally recognized Native nations.

Enthusiasm for the event is strong on campus. “I cannot wait to hear from the authors and engage in meaningful conversations about their work, perspectives, and contributions to ethnic studies. I enjoy learning about culture and know that this experience will broaden the knowledge of all those who attend,” said Dr. Jasmine Wise, coordinator of Gail Metoyer Jones Center, coordinator of Black Studies and one of the event organizers.

The event is part of National Day of Racial Healing on campus. Brittany Broussard, NSU director of Culture and Climate, notes, “We had planned to hold this event on the National Day of Racial Healing as befitting to celebrate the rich histories, traditions and experiences of the Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb on this day. Even though we rescheduled due to weather, the event reflects the day’s goal and our mission to foster spaces of understanding, respect, and inclusion where different voices are elevated and shared.”

Contact Dr. Rebecca Riall, riallr@nsula.edu, with any questions. The remote link for the talk is https://tinyurl.com/choctaw-apache-voices and can be accessed with Teams.

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National Donate Life Month (NDLM) is observed each April and focuses national attention on the need for and importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation.  

More than 100,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving transplant. During National Donate Life Month and throughout the year, people can register to help save and heal lives.   

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4-H camps are quickly filling up including Camp Grant Walker. Deposit due deadline is May 1. Camps are: 4-6 grade July 21-24 and 7-8 grade July 31-August 3. Call the office 932-4342 or email jfontenot@agcenter.lsu.edu to find out all of the payment options.

The April Genealogy Meeting will be held at the library Wednesday, April 16 from 10am -12pm. Dr. Virginia Webb and the library staff will be available to help you research your family tree using library resources, including Ancestry.com. You may use your own laptop, a library laptop, or no laptop. For more information, call 318-541-6761.

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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Remember that the parish-wide clean-up day is slated for Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Roll up your sleeves and join in to clean up our parish–pick up litter, clear debris, and make our area shine!

Meeting places/times for parish clean-up are as follows (Saturday, April 12th):

Martin Group: meet at Martin Village Hall at 7:30 a.m.

Fairview Group: meet at Fairview Baptist Church at 8:30 a.m.

All other people: meet at Fairgrounds at 8:30 a.m.

All participants meet back at the fairgrounds at noon for lunch.

Click here for more information from Captain Moseley about the clean-up effort

 

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Louisiana Christian University held its 64th Annual Honors Convocation Tuesday, recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of students in academics and athletics.

“The students honored today are high achievers with very bright futures,” said Vice President for
Academic Affairs Dr. Henry O. Robertson. “Our faculty have worked with them to bring out their
many God-given talents.  I am pleased we could come together at Honors Convocation and celebrate
their achievements.”

Layton Kerby, of Coushatta, was awarded the Education Achievement Award.                                           

“Today the value of a Christian higher education was on display with students present who
exceeded expectations and reached higher than they may have even thought possible,” Robertson
said. “Our faculty facilitated and God ordained that these talented men and women will be among
the next leaders of this state and nation.”

Kerby shared, “I am so thankful for my God, family, friends, and my amazing boyfriend who always supports me and loves me! One more semester till graduation and I can’t wait!”

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Are you over 50? Would you like to make some new friends? Bored with the same old routine?

If you answered yes to any of those questions then you are a prime candidate for the soon-to-be Coushatta Coffee Club. 

If you’re over 50 and have too much time on your hands or just want a reason to get out of the house, want to meet some new people and make a few new friends then join in for coffee once a week. All it will cost you is the price of a cup of coffee.

To begin the group will meet once a week to start at a different local business that serves coffee. You don’t have to be over 50 but this group is geared more towards that age group.

Fill out a short form to participate.  

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The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) has developed the Freedom Framework Diploma Endorsement, a new recognition for high school students who demonstrate excellence in civics education.

Approved Wednesday by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), the endorsement will be awarded to students who score Mastery or above on the LEAP 2025 civics assessment. Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, eligible students will receive a special diploma seal and a red, white, and blue honor cord to wear during graduation.

“Graduating with a strong understanding of government and our nation’s history sets students up for academic success and informed civic engagement,” said Dr. Cade Brumley, Louisiana State Superintendent of Education. “This new diploma endorsement highlights Louisiana’s commitment to strengthening civics education.”

Louisiana Diploma Endorsements
A diploma endorsement is a special recognition students can earn that highlights achievement in a particular area. These endorsements give students the opportunity to showcase their hard work, interests, and future readiness on their high school diploma.

Freedom Framework
The new civics endorsement aligns with Louisiana’s Freedom Framework, the state’s K-12 student standards for social studies. Spearheaded by State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley and adopted in 2022, the standards tell the story of American exceptionalism as well as the nation’s continuous journey towards becoming a more perfect union.

Adopted in 2022, the 2023-2024 school year marked the first year of implementation in Louisiana classrooms. The new standards are more rigorous and also introduce historical content in a more precise, coherent, and chronological manner while ensuring students develop essential skills.

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Each year since 1950, people have gathered at Scotland’s Edinburgh Castle Esplanade in August for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Not to be confused with soldiers having ink inserted into the dermis layer of skin, a military tattoo is a festival consisting of music, dancing, and general merrymaking focused on Scottish heritage and international culture. The most anticipated portion of the festival consists of numerous precision military displays.

Since 1961, His Majesty The King’s Guard of Norway, an elite unit tasked with protecting the Norwegian royal family, has participated in the military displays. In August 1972, while in Scotland for the Tattoo, the Royal Norwegian King’s Guard added another soldier to its regimental ranks. On that day, Nils Olav became a lance corporal, a rank which usually requires long or outstanding service to attain. It was Nils’s first day. His first duty as a soldier was to inspect his troops, a duty he performed with the confidence and skill of someone with much more experience. Nils proudly wore a pennant of the prestigious King’s Guard around his right arm. Most soldiers would have resented a newcomer reaching such a rank without earning it, but no one resented Nils. You see, Nils Olav’s family had deep Scandinavian roots, and he was, himself, a king.

Nils may have been given the rank of lance corporal on his first day, but promotions came slowly at first. In 1982, after 10 years as a lance corporal, Nils received his first promotion when he was made a full corporal. Five years later, he became a sergeant. In 1993, during that year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Nils was promoted to regimental sergeant major. Nils’s promotion and his inspection of his troops was televised in Norway and throughout much of Europe. Nils became somewhat of a celebrity Europe, though most people in America were unaware of his rising fame. In 2001, during a ceremony at the Tattoo in which Nils was awarded the Norwegian Army’s Long Service and Good Conduct medal, the Royal Norwegian Guard promoted him to colonel-in-chief. On the morning of August 15, 2008, Nils’s fellow soldiers gathered for Nils’s knighting ceremony. He has been known as Sir Nils Olav ever since. He eventually rose to the rank of brigadier.

If you are able to watch the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo this Fall, you will probably see Sir Nils Olav’s inspection of the troops. He has done it each year since 1972. But if you were to look closely at photos of Sir Nils through the years, you might notice minute differences in his appearance. You must have a keen eye to notice. In 1987, Nils Olav died and was replaced by a lookalike. He looked so much like Nils Olav that no one noticed. When the lookalike died some years later, he was replaced by yet another lookalike who continued his work in the military as if nothing had happened. Why did news outlets around the world not pounce on the story which should have captured our attention? You see, Sir Nils Olav is a king…a three foot tall king penguin. He lives at the Edinburgh Zoo and is the mascot for the Royal Norwegian King’s Guard.

Sources:

1. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, accessed April 5, 2025, https://www.edintattoo.co.uk/

2. The Guardian (London, England), August 17, 1972, p.6.

3. The Daily Telegraph (London, England), August 18, 1993, p.4.

4. Irish Independent, August 18, 2005, p.T4.

5. East Oregonian, August 15, 2008, p.8.

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It’s an excellent opportunity to review and upgrade your financial smarts.

Whether you’re just starting or have been earning your way for quite some time, it’s never too late to learn about saving and improving your financial outlook. Developing a budget and building financial knowledge is the foundation for a brighter future.

What is Financial Literacy? Financial literacy describes the skills, knowledge, and tools that equip people to make individual financial decisions and actions to attain their goals.

Studies show that financial literacy is directly linked to higher savings rates, lower levels of high-interest debt, and better financial decision-making. Yet, despite its importance, financial education remains inconsistent across the country.

Personal finance is a leading cause of stress in relationships, and many young adults graduate without the financial skills needed to manage credit, debt, and savings. Improving financial literacy can lead to greater financial stability and long-term success.

Financial Literacy Month began in 2000 as Youth Financial Literacy Day, an initiative led by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE). The Jump$tart Coalition later expanded it into a full month-long initiative, and in 2003, U.S. lawmakers officially recognized April as National Financial Literacy Month.

HOW TO OBSERVE #FinancialLiteracyMonth

·    Take time to teach your children more about fiscal responsibility.

·     Seek tools and resources to help you guide them through the pitfalls.

·     Visit www.jumpstart.org for more information and use #FinancialLiteracyMonth to share on social media.

Source: nationalcalendar.com

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State Representative Larry Bagley announced his candidacy for the Louisiana Public Service Commission, District 5, in the Republican primary election scheduled for April 18, 2026. Public Service Commission District 5 encompasses 24 North Louisiana parishes, stretching from the northwest corner of the state to the northeast.

Bagley has served as state representative for House District 7 for nearly a decade, covering DeSoto, Sabine, and Caddo parishes. Throughout his tenure, Bagley has become known for his ability to deliver results, cut through bureaucratic red tape, provide a welcoming and constituent-focused legislative district office, and bring a valuable return of tax dollars back to North Louisiana communities.

His record in the legislature includes significant achievements such as securing funding for major infrastructure improvements, increased support for rural hospitals, securing essential funds for local municipalities, and advocating for teachers through multiple pay raises during his tenure.

One of Rep. Bagley’s premier accomplishments for the citizens of Northwest Louisiana was securing $100 million in funding to advance the I-49 Inner-City Connector project in Shreveport. In 2019, Bagley led the charge in persuading the Legislature to allocate a portion of Louisiana’s settlement from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico (now Gulf of America) oil spill to support the infrastructure initiative. The funding will help move forward the $600 million project to complete a 3.6-mile stretch of I-49 in Shreveport, connecting I-49 at I-20 with the I-49/I-220 interchange.

Bagley’s leadership has also proved critical during times of crisis, having effectively coordinated responses through five hurricanes and three major winter storm events that left residents without electricity for multiple days. He worked closely with utility and telecommunications companies to expedite the restoration of services. Bagley was also personally involved with his constituents, helping them regain essential services during these emergencies—including securing emergency backup power for nursing homes throughout District 7 for vulnerable adults reliant on oxygen tanks to survive.

“When disasters strike, our people come together to help each other in their most urgent time of need,” said Bagley. “In those moments, folks need someone they can count on—someone who shows up, who takes action, and who knows how to get through to the right government agency to deliver results when it matters most.”

Representative Bagley stated that he will not actively campaign for the Public Service Commission until the conclusion of the current legislative session on June 12, 2025.

“Right now, my absolute priority is to continue serving the citizens of District 7 during the 2025 Legislative Session,” Bagley said. “I am committed to providing strong representation to ensure our region receives the attention and resources we deserve and to deliver the level of results that my constituents have come to expect from me for the last ten years.”

In the House of Representatives, Bagley serves on the Appropriations, Insurance, and Agriculture Committees, as well as the powerful Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. He previously chaired the House Health and Welfare Committee during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, where he took a bold stand against the overreach of the previous administration. “They tried to tell us how to live—shut down our churches, close our businesses, and force medical decisions on our people,” said Bagley. “But I didn’t back down. I stood my ground for the people of Louisiana, because I believe in freedom, faith, and the right to make our own choices.”

Bagley brings a long history of public service experience to his candidacy. A retired public school teacher, basketball coach, and assistant principal, he also served two terms on the Logansport City Council before being elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 2015.

“My goal has always been straightforward—to serve people, solve problems, and ensure that our area in North Louisiana remains in focus in Baton Rouge,” Bagley said. “I will bring this same practical, results-driven approach to the Public Service Commission.”

A comprehensive press release outlining Bagley’s full legislative record, accomplishments, and policy goals for the Louisiana Public Service Commission will be released at the conclusion of the Legislative Session in June.

Paid Content

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Another semester, another record.

LSU Shreveport broke its enrollment for the third straight semester with 10,926 students with the second spring session in full swing.

The figure is nearly seven percent than Spring 2024 enrollment and up 75 students from Fall 2024’s previous record of 10,851.

“Just last spring, we were celebrating crossing the 10,000 mark for the first time in university history,” said LSUS Chancellor Dr. Robert Smith. “We’ve very nearly hit 11,000 just one year later, and that’s because of the dedication of our faculty and staff.

“LSUS is offering programs that are meeting student interests as well as contemporary workforce needs.”

LSUS enrollment has increased from fall to spring in consecutive years, which is unusual considering nearly all universities have higher fall enrollments with the influx of first-time freshmen.

All enrollment categories experienced growth this spring, which includes more than an eight percent increase in undergraduate students and a 6.5 percent increase in graduate students.

LSUS continues to expand its enrollment despite multiple record-setting graduations, including a Fall 2024 ceremony with 1,500 graduates.

“We’re still growing despite record graduations, and we’re growing in every possible category,” Smith said. “Undergraduate and graduate, online and face-to-face, dual enrollment – we’re up everywhere.

“One of the most exciting figures is that our credit hours are growing at a faster rate than our enrollment, which means we have more students taking more hours on average than in the past.”

Key sources of undergraduate growth this spring include new transfer students (up 37 percent from Spring 2024) and first-time freshmen (up 53 percent).

Student retention is another factor of overall growth as more students are returning for their second year and progressing toward degrees.

That growth doesn’t appear to be stopping any time soon as Smith highlighted that LSUS is “blowing by” its recruiting goals for applications for Fall 2025.

FRESHMAN CONVOCATION: 

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Not really sure where to start with this article. I understand that we live in a world that is constantly moving forward in so many ways, especially when it comes to technology. All sports evolve with time! While some progress is for the good of the sport, it could be argued that some is not. 
 
Golf, for example, has become so advanced due to technological advances with equipment, that some golf courses are becoming obsolete. Whether it’s the clubs or the balls, the advancements are insane and have made some golf course architects lengthen their new designs to accommodate the improvements in golf equipment. 
 
This is true even with bass tournaments. Rods and reels, tackle, bass boats and electronics have all come so far in the last 20 years that the sport is no longer just about who can catch bass, but who has the best equipment. 
 
Technology has leveled the playing field with the controversial forward-facing sonar (FFS). This invention has allowed the younger generation of anglers coming up to compete with the older more experienced anglers. No longer can an angler just go flip bushes and win an event. He or she better be good at using FFS and looking for fish that are roaming in open water, a technique that was unheard of 10 years ago. 
 
Also, 10 years ago, 20 pounds was the target weight if you wanted to have a chance to win. Not today! The new normal at weigh-in time has become 25 pounds or better. Twenty pounds today is average with this new FFS technology. 
 
Another question that’s being asked today: “Why has bass tournament participation gone way down?” By way down, we mean cut in half, as most tournament trail registrations are down 50 percent! Why? There could be several reasons like the economy, the price of bass boats, etc., but most will say forward-facing sonar. 
 
Anglers using FFS are dominating tournaments. While other anglers can’t afford it, some have just rejected or refused to learn to fish this way. They have come to the realization that they just can’t compete with anglers who are using this advanced technology. Therefore, many have decided to withdraw from tournament competition all together.
 
What does this mean for tournament organizations in the long run? Well, if they don’t adapt and change, some will just fade away like the sun going down. But I think there might be a glimmer of hope! 
 
Some tournament organizations have taken the initiative to ban FFS in all their events in order to encourage tournament anglers to come back. Up until now, only a few have taken a hardline stance on this issue. Most benefit tournaments like the Despino Tire Fishin’ for Kids event have banned this technology and have had record numbers of anglers show up to fish their tournament. The Dylan Kyle Poche Tournament for 2026 will also be a no-FFS event. 
 
Other organizations have also taken a stance to ban this technology like the newest professional level circuit, the NPFL (National Professional Fishing League). Top name pros have made decisions to leave major organizations like Major League Fishing (MLF) and the Bassmasters (B.A.S.S.) in order to fish with no FFS. 
 
As some of the older anglers will tell you, the sport of bass fishing should not come down to who has the best electronics, but rather who has the most skill for both finding and catching bass. The new technology has ruined the purity and integrity of the sport of bass fishing. For the first time in my life, FFS may be the most controversial advancement that a lot of anglers feel has not been good for the sport. 
 
So where do we go from here? Will 2026 bring a whole new set of rule changes like banning forward-facing sonar? Will all tournament organizations finally take a stance and do what’s best for the sport or will they be convinced by money from these electronic sponsors to maintain the status quo? 
 
Only time will tell what the future will hold for so many tournament organizations as they attempt to reel in so many anglers that have left the sport for what they feel is an unlevel playing field. 
 
‘Til next time, make sure your hooks are sharp, and your boat is full of gas. Hope to see you on the lake! 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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The Club Sports program at Northwestern State University is continuing to grow with three more sports added and more on the way.

NSU has seven club sports with more than 100 students participating. New teams in volleyball, tennis and chess have recently been formed to join established teams in rowing, bass fishing, archery and Esports. Students are setting up club teams in golf, disc
golf and powerlifting.

According to Northwestern Associate Director of Competitive Sports Dr. Jason Stelly, a club sport is a registered student organization formed by a group of students that share interests in a specific sport or physical activity. He said their purpose “is to
encourage participation and engage its members in competitive, extramural sports.”

These sports can be competitive or recreational. Each club sport is founded, organized, managed and maintained by student leaders.

“Club Sports provides opportunities for students to develop leadership, management and organizational skills, as well as competition, physical activity and social well-being for all participants,” said Stelly. “Joining a club sport gives students a balance
of having collegiate sport experience without the intensity of a varsity athletic team. Club sports are a great opportunity to continue an athletic career or learn new skills while also building new friendships.”

Stelly said these clubs can compete with other clubs and organizations of other colleges and universities. Club sports fundraise to cover almost all their expenses, and teams can request limited funding. There is a small student fee dedicated to club sports.

NSU’s fishing team is nationally ranked, and the rowing team has produced All-Americans which gets positive attention for the university.

The students who set up the newest club sports said they did so because of their love of the sport.

The volleyball team was formed last June and has almost two dozen participants, most of whom are also active in a number of other campus organizations.

“I formed the team because of my love of volleyball,” said Michael Bertrand, a senior accounting major from Lake Charles, who leads the program. “I’ve only been playing for about two and a half years. Like most guys on the team, I didn’t know there was a league
in this region men could compete in.”

Bertrand says NSU has two men’s teams and just one women’s team. NSU mainly competes against other Louisiana colleges and universities. He said the team has been competitive and recently finished third in a tournament at UL-Lafayette.

The chess club has five members and plans to compete against other schools in the future.

“I formed the chess club because of my love for the game,” said Aniyah Smith, a junior nursing major from Shreveport. “I had only been playing for one year prior to forming the club and I thought to myself if I love the game, I’m sure there are others that
do too.”

The club tennis team is a coed organization that allows students from all experience levels to play and learn more about tennis.

“I played tennis throughout all my years in high school so going to club tennis practices allows me to keep that skill alive and is the reason I joined,” said Lia Portillo Cantarero, a senior communication major from Galliano.

The tennis team is not competing against other colleges and universities at this time.

For more information on club sports at NSU, contact Stelly at stellyj@nsula.edu or Club Sports Coordinator Courtney Chancellor at chancellorc@nsula.edu.

Courtesy of NSU University Communications

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