Red River Fire Protection District announced that Station 6 and Station 7 have each received a replacement fire engine to continue serving the public effectively and safely.
While these engines are not brand new, they are reliable and well-maintained units that ensure our crews have dependable equipment to respond to emergencies.
Station 6 is located on Jordan Ferry Road near Catfish Bend. Station 7 is our farthest North station, located on Highway 1.
These replacements were necessary due to the age and condition of the previous apparatus, and they will help maintain the level of service our residents expect and deserve.
RRFPD also stated that they appreciate the ongoing support of our community as we work to keep our fleet operational and our firefighters ready to respond at a moment’s notice.
SporTran announced the appointment of Trevor Hunt as the new IT Manager.
Hunt, who previously held a similar position at American Airlines and Bank of America, will oversee the strategic direction and vision for SporTran’s IT infrastructure.
With experience in technology and engineering, Hunt’s role will be critical in adapting to the dynamic transit environment and leveraging technology to address emerging opportunities.
Dinero’ Washington, SporTran CEO, said Hunt’s appointment, emphasizing the importance of technology in SporTran’s growth and transformation strategy.
Hunt’s leadership is expected to enhance SporTran’s ability to innovate and provide value to customers and employees.
He graduated from University of Isabel with an MBA in Data Analytics.
Harris named new Red River High athletics director Red River boys basketball coach Dadrian Harris has been named the school’s new athletics director, the parish’s school system announced this week.
Harris will retain his head basketball coaching duties, of which he’s performed for the past five seasons.
Red River has advanced to the Top 28 in Class 2A each of the past two seasons, including a 2024 state title game appearance.
Harris takes over for Byron Keller, the athletics director and football coach who departed for district rival Winnfield this past December.
Red River sprinter signs with Centenary Red River sprinter Cameron Hobley will continue his track and field career at Centenary College.
Hobley held a signing ceremony earlier this week in which he revealed he’ll compete at the NCAA Division III member in Shreveport.
Hobley’s senior season bests include an 11.52 in the 100 meters and a 23.05 in the 200 meters.
He was also a cornerback on a football team that won the district title for the first time since 2005.
Red River’s Murphy named to all-region team Red River baseball player Elijah Murphy was selected as a utility player to the 2025 Louisiana Baseball
Coaches Association’s All-Region Team for Region 2.
Murphy was one of eight utility players picked to the 28-man team that stretches from Natchitoches
Parish throughout the north central portion of the state.
Join FBC Coushatta at VBS, June 2 – 6, and learn about “Discovering the bigness of God in the smallest of things!” Children ages Pre-K4 through 6th grade are welcome. Supper will be served every night at 5pm with VBS will be from 5:30-8pm. Online registration can be found at https://forms.gle/rhx5JdtAaTv7V8u27. Those who register before Friday, May 30 will be put into a drawing to win a backpack full of summer fun.
Hickory Grove Baptist Church will host VBS “Camp Firelight” June 9 – 13 from 5:30-8pm for grades PK3-12. Gather ’round the campfire for a week full of adventure, friendship, and discovery. At Camp Firelight, kids will learn how God’s light guides us through every challenge and adventure. Through inspiring Bible stories, fun games, crafts, and music, kids will grow in faith and courage–all while making memories that will shine for years to come. The fire is burning bright, and they’re saving a spot just for your kiddos! Contact Melissa Allen, VBS Director, for more information (318.205.8362).
First Methodist Church Coushatta will take kids on a “True North” adventure from June 23-26, from 5:30-8:00 p.m., for ages 4 years through 5th grade. Join FMC on the ultimate Alaskan adventure where northern lights glow over majestic mountains, racing rivers, and glistening glaciers. True North VBS shows kids that Jesus is a faithful friend we can always trust. He’s our True North! Dinner is provided each night. Register online or in person.
All area churches may share their VBS dates/info with RRPJ at the following email redriverparishjournal@gmail.com
Louise Ciccone was born in 1958 in Bay City, Michigan to Tony and Louise Ciccone. Because she shared the same name as her mother, her five siblings called her Little Nonnie. Little Nonnie was five years old when her mother died from breast cancer. Her father was a hard worker but struggled to provide for his large family. When one of the kids wanted something, Tony replied, “Get a job. I’m not paying for it.” Tony could barely afford the necessities.
In high school, Little Nonnie was intelligent, got straight A’s in school, but struggled to fit in. Little Nonnie felt like a country bumpkin around her rich classmates. They wore the finest and most fashionable clothing while she often wore the same inexpensive clothing for several days in a row. Little Nonnie’s home life was difficult. As the eldest daughter in a family without a mother, she was responsible for doing the laundry, cleaning the house, fixing meals, taking care of her younger siblings, and a myriad of other tasks required to keep a household running while her father was working. For these reasons, Little Nonnie did not associate with her classmates.
Little Nonnie graduated from high school early and attended the University of Michigan for a year as a dance major. She planned to become a professional dancer to escape from Michigan, and she was a natural. With the encouragement of one of her teachers, Little Nonnie decided to move to New York to fulfill her dream despite her father’s objections. Her first time in an airplane was her flight from Michigan to New York. From the airport, she took her first taxi ride. With no idea where to go, Little Nonnie told the taxi driver to take her to the center of the city. He dropped her off in Times Square. Little Nonnie immediately experienced the culture shock of coming from the suburbs of the Midwest into the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. She knew no one, had no place to stay, had about $35 in cash, and wore all of the clothing she brought with her. She quickly made friends with someone who asked why she was wearing a winter jacket in the middle of summer. He allowed her to sleep on his couch until she found a place to stay.
Little Nonnie began going to auditions. She knew her dancing career waited just around the corner, but getting around that corner proved harder than she had expected. In the meantime, Little Nonnie worked at whatever job she could find including a short stint as a hat check girl at the Russian Tea Room, a job she was fired from for wearing fishnet stockings although she was only visible from the waist up, and an even shorter stint at Dunkin’ Donuts, a job she was fired from for playfully squirting jelly on customers. While waiting for her big break, Little Nonnie’s apartment was burglarized repeatedly. She was mugged. She was raped.
Despite all the obstacles, Little Nonnie never gave up. She eventually became a dancer, but her talents led her to a blend of world renown and controversy. The highest selling musical artists of all time in order are Elvis, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, and then Little Nonnie. Although some members of her family still refer to her as Little Nonnie, the rest of the world knows Louise Ciccone by her first name, Madonna.
May is National Fitness and Sports Month and CHRISTUS Health is raising awareness about the importance of physical activity and sports participation for people of all ages and abilities.
Physical fitness not only involves physical health, but also mental well-being and an enhanced quality of life.
“Engaging in regular physical activity helps prevent chronic diseases, enhances mental health and promotes overall well-being,” said Alan Edwards, supervisor of athletic training at CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System. “It’s not just about appearance, it’s about feeling good and leading a healthier, happier life.”
Physical fitness and sports activities have key benefits beyond improved physical health and enhanced mental well-being. There are also social benefits and a sports medicine connection.
“Sports participation builds teamwork, leadership and social bonds – all of which are vital for mental and emotional well-being,” said Edwards.
Sports medicine plays a crucial role in helping individuals recover from injuries, enhance performance and prevent future injuries. “Our goal is to help athletes perform at their peak while reducing the risk of injury,” Edwards said.
Physical fitness and sports are more than just a goal—they’re a lifestyle. Whether it’s lacing up for a morning jog, joining a local sports team or simply moving more each day, the goal should be to push boundaries and build healthier communities.
Mark your calendars because Monday, June 2 is National Leave Work Early Day. This quirky National Day is intended to be an incentive to those who often work more than 40 hours each week. It’s a reminder for those of you who find yourself living to work instead of working to live.
About a third of Americans work more than 40 hours per week. Some work even more than that. Those who are self-employed or who work two jobs, likely work 60-80 hours per week. Those types of hours don’t leave much time for family, self-care, or home maintenance. Stress piles up and so do the phone calls from mom, the grandkids, and maybe the gym wondering where you’ve been. It’s time to get yourself away from your desk and make the most of your time.
The annual holiday was founded by employee productivity expert Laura Stack in 2004 to raise awareness of the benefits of increased workplace productivity. Making small adjustments in the way we approach work can greatly improve the results of our work, allowing us to become more productive in the office while spending fewer hours there.
So punch out a bit early Monday and enjoy the extra time doing what you love to do, spending time with family or friends, take that afternoon nap you’ve been needing, start that new novel that’s been on your bedside table for months, do a little yard work or wash the car.
In today’s tournament bass fishing world, if you listen closely, you’ll hear the music to the popular soap opera TV series “The Young and the Restless” or maybe “The Bold and the Beautiful.” Today we’ll take a look at all the drama tournament bass fishing is going through that would make any soaps fan jealous.
If you noticed, I was not specific to professional bass fishing. That’s because there’s drama on all levels of tournament bass fishing. Whether it’s a local bass club event, BFL’s, ABA’s, Toyota Series or a benefit tournament, no event is immune to drama.
People have often asked why all the drama today? Well, I personally think a lot of this started when the Bassmaster Elite Series decided to split with over 80 anglers jumping over to the newly formed MLF, known as Major League Fishing.
Tensions were high during this split in 2018 as anglers made career decisions on whether to stay with B.A.S.S. or go to MLF. Friendships were lost and enemies created over these decisions.
This split was similar to what happened with professional golf as the PGA Tour and the LIV Tour created a lot of drama as golfers made decisions based on the opportunity to earn more guaranteed money.
Social media has thrived with controversy swirling around tournament anglers. Disqualifications for rules violations by highly-regarded anglers has had both of the professional organizations dealing with constant negativity.
The “no information” rule has also been a problem as anglers have been failing polygraph exams. There’s also been controversy with anglers cheating when catching bass outside the mouth when site fishing, which is a rules violation.
But in today’s world, bad behavior is rewarded with social media clicks. Anglers know that it’s all about how many “views” or “likes” they can gather on social media which draws more attention to them and their sponsors.
It goes back to the adage, “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.” Sponsors of both B.A.S.S. and MLF have learned to turn their heads when it comes to bad behavior with anglers not following the rules.
So, back to our original question — is social media good or bad for competitive bass fishing? It all depends on who you ask. As far as the sport of bass fishing goes, I think it has been both good and bad. The good part has been the amount of information anglers can get about a particular body of water. It can also be a great place to share fishing information and celebrate a recent victory or a high finish.
The bad side of social media is when people spread gossip; most of which is not true. They use it for what I call “feeding the beast.” It has also been known as a place where people vent their frustrations and express their feelings waiting on anyone to respond so they can engage in hate.
Like so many other things in today’s world, social media divides us and has become a landing spot for negativity. It’s up to us as individuals if we want to participate in the hostility or just keep on scrolling.
‘Til next time, good luck with your fishing and stay safe.
The Red River Parish School Board is accepting applications for a highly motivated and experienced Assistant Principal of Instruction. This position plays a crucial role in creating an environment where teachers can design and implement effective courses of study, enabling students to learn and develop optimally. This position may be assigned to any of the following school sites: Red River Elementary, Red River Junior High, or Red River High School.
General Responsibilities:
Serve as a strong and flexible instructional leader for faculty and staff.
Collaborate with those providing direct student instruction and ancillary services.
Review, draft, study, recommend, and implement policies, curricula, and plans to improve the quality of instruction.
Conduct school/class walk-throughs.
Prepare and/or oversee preparation of class scheduling.
Supervise teachers and all others reporting to the principal.
Complete and/or assist in the preparation/implementation of employee observations, evaluations, IAPs, and other associated tasks and monitoring.
Implement the PLC/ILT process both as a participant and leader.
Maintain positive parent and community contact and problem-solving.
Represent the school at all required functions and/or meetings.
Qualifications:
Louisiana certification requirements for Principal.
Understanding of multiple curricula.
Certified in the Louisiana Evaluation Rubric (LER) process.
Ability to interpret accountability data and present necessary information to stakeholders.
Adaptable to change.
Ability to have critical conversations with all stakeholders, including staff, students, and parents.
Salary: Salary is adjusted based on experience. Details of salary range will be disclosed upon request.
Terms: 12 months
Please submit applications on our website www.rrbulldogs.comunder “Employment”.
Deadline for application submission is June 6, 2025, 12pm.
For more information, you may contact Nicole Eason by email neason@rrbulldogs.com or 318-271-3150.
Fairview Baptist Church is hosting a ‘Beach Bash’ Friday, May 30 from 5:30-8pm. The family fun night will include Kiddie Pool Kickball, and many other beach games. Supper will be provided.
The Great Louisiana Fair at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City runs May 30 – June 15, 2025. It features a full size midway filled with amusement rides for all ages. The fair features family fun entertainment, all FREE with admission including a circus under the big top, petting zoo, and a number of shows. Hours are: Mondays – Fridays: 5pm – 11pm, Saturdays: 1pm – 11pm and Sundays: 1pm – 11pm.
Open Door Fellowship Youth Ministry will hold a Pulled Pork Plate & Bake Sale Saturday, May 31 from 9am until 2pm at Rivertown Market. Plates are $10 and will include sandwich, coleslaw, chips, dessert and water.
The Coushatta-Red River Chamber of Commerce will host a Farmers Market Makers Fair Saturday, June 7 from 7am – 2pm on Front Street in Coushatta. All types of vendors are welcome. There is no vendor fee but each vendor must register to participate. Contact Brandon Baxley for more information or questions at 318 332-4159.
The 75th Annual Louisiana Peach Festival will be held Saturday, June 7 in Downtown Ruston. Discover the homegrown flavors, art, music, and culture of Ruston. This free fest will feature over 12 hours of live music, a juried arts market, food vendors, kids’ activities, and more peachy fun.
Get ready for the first ever Rumble on the Bayou Saturday, June 14 at Grand Bayou Resort. All cars, trucks, motorcycles and Rat Rods are welcome. Registration starts at 10am with awards at 2:30pm. There is a $25 registration fee. Free admission for spectators. Vendors are needed. If you are interested contact Jacqueline Martin 318.471.8370 or Patrice Harper 318.471.4714.
Tuesday, DeSoto Parish Schools announced the appointment of Coach Patrick Lindsey as the new Assistant Principal of Logansport High School.
Most recently, Coach Lindsey served as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director of Red River High School, where his visionary leadership earned him the honor of being named the 2025 Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s District V Athletic Director of the Year.
As the announcement from DeSoto hit social media, a separate announcement from Red River Parish Schools welcomed the promotion of Dadrian Harris as the new Athletic Director for Red River High. Harris, the men’s basketball coach, led the Bulldogs to an appearance in last season’s final four. He has been coaching for 11 years and has served as the Head Boys Basketball coach at RRHS for the last 5 years. Harris also takes his position in the community to heart, mentoring youth through various programs outside of school. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position.
Congratulations to Red River High senior Jemarcus Latson. He has been selected to join the Grambling State University “World-Famed” Tiger Marching Band.
Latson will play the French horn. However, the French horn is often called a mellophone in a marching band. It’s a marching-style adaptation of the French horn, and many marching bands use it as the equivalent of a French horn in their ensemble. The mellophone is usually referred to as “the horn”.
He plans to study music education at GSU.
While at Red River High School, Latson was a member of the Marching Band for six years and the Captain for the last three years. He is also in the Ed Rising teacher preparation program, a teacher assistant, Vice President of the Student Council, 4-H Junior Counselor, and a member of the Cross Country track team.
Latson is the son of Jasmin Latson and the grandson of Marie Carroll. His Godparents are Pastor Jimmie and First Lady Thelma Mitchell of Deliverance Temple.
He will sign a letter of intent on Monday, June 9. The public is invited to attend.
Coushatta Chute Chapter DAR delivered baskets to the Veterans Home of Shreveport on May 28, 2025. The crocheted baskets were filled with toiletries for both men and women. The chapter spent part of the programming during the March meeting filling the baskets with items donated by members.
Giving back to and honoring veterans is one of the cornerstone initiatives for each DAR chapter.
President Trump’s comeback was much more than a rejection of Washington’s failed leadership. It was a mandate to take our country in a new direction — a call to write the next chapter of American history by and for the people.
House Republicans are cementing President Trump’s bold vision with One Big Beautiful Bill. This legislation makes the largest investment in border security in a generation, provides historic tax relief for American workers, will rein in Washington’s waste, unleashes energy dominance, strengthens our military, and puts America back on a path to peace, strength, and prosperity.
House Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill on Thursday morning. Click here for a full list of this bill’s key wins. Click the image below to watch Speaker Johnson’s speech on the House floor.
Keeps the border secure
The Biden Administration deliberately opened the border, and the results were catastrophic. The One Big Beautiful Bill is the largest border security investment in history to permanently secure our borders:
$46.5 billion to complete the border barrier system
$8 billion to hire 10,000 new ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers, 1,000 new Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) criminal investigators, and 750 support staff
$1.25 billion to hire 200 immigration judges and to expand immigration courtroom space
Grows our economy & cuts taxes
Washington Democrats created the worst inflation in forty years, thanks to trillions in reckless spending that crushed family budgets and sent everyday costs through the roof. Through One Big Beautiful Bill, House Republicans are backing President Trump’s economic revival:
Trump’s 2017 tax cuts will be made permanent
NO taxes on tips and overtime
Provides tax relief for seniors
Slashes regulations that are holding back our economy
This legislation is our best chance to deliver historic relief to American families, resulting in take home pay for American families to increase up to $13,300 a year.
Makes government more efficient
The federal government has become too large, does too much, and very little of what it does, it does well. Republicans in Congress are moving in lockstep with this administration to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government, and to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. The One Big Beautiful Bill includes:
$715 billion in savings by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse within Medicaid to strengthen the program for those who need and deserve it
Over $290 billion in savings by eliminating, waste, fraud, and abuse within the SNAP program
$500 billion in savings by repealing and phasing out provisions of Democrats’ so-called Inflation Reduction Act
Restores America’s energy dominance
President Biden and Democrats in Washington waged war against American energy for four years straight. President Trump and Republicans in Congress are paving the way for a return to American energy dominance. Our legislation builds on the President’s bold steps to tear down the regulatory barriers that have held back American energy producers, and it gives American producers and job creators the confidence to build, grow, and innovate.
Mandates onshore and offshore oil and gas leases
Resumes leasing for energy production
Supports domestic critical mineral mining development
Returns to peace through strength
President Biden left America weaker, our adversaries emboldened, and the world more unstable than at any time in decades. Our One Big Beautiful Bill will deliver on President Trump’s promise to modernize our military, revitalize our defense industrial base, support our servicemembers, and construct the ‘Golden Dome’ to defend every American from a dangerous world:
$9 billion to improve servicemember quality of life
I didn’t intend to address this topic until “reporter” Jake Tapper came out with the promotion of his new book. Not only is what he says transparently hypocritical but the truth he previously attempted to obscure sets a dangerous precedent for America.
Let me recap: any one of us who observed President Biden for much of the last 4 years could recognize he was suffering from some form of mental and physical deficit. We saw him falling up the stairs, walking off from other world leaders in a group photo—requiring one of those leaders to gently grab him by the arm and lead him back to the group, struggling to merely exit a stage from which he had just spoken although there were frequently 3 or 4 well marked exits from which to do so, and regularly and awkwardly losing his train of thought—slurring and stammering in such a way he was simply not able to be understood. We saw it clearly but were attacked and then subjected to world class gaslighting by Biden supporters and the Leftist national “media” when we pointed it out.
Then came the June 2024 debate between President Trump and President Biden and the wheels came off; the lies were completely unmasked when Biden was unable to stand at his podium and speak coherently. However, what is astounding is how the Left is incapable of seeing itself in its true light. How it is so often wrapped up in its own fabrication and virtue-signaling that it simply cannot comprehend what average Americans see clearly—that the emperor has no clothes.
The Wall Street Journal makes this point well: “The Biden senility coverup is also a media reckoning. Whenever someone dared to point out that Mr. Biden wasn’t up to the job, a praetorian media guard assembled to deny it. We could quote chapter and verse from many media sources, but one example worth citing is none other than Mr. Tapper” with “the CNN host casting doubt on those who cast doubt on Mr. Biden’s mental fitness.” (WSJ, May 18, 2025).
WSJ concluded its blistering critique of Tapper and major media by stating, “the coverup of Mr. Biden’s mental decline will go down as one of the great scandals of modern politics. By refusing to admit what voters could so clearly see, Democrats denied their party an open primary. Democrats and the press are now appalled by Mr. Trump’s second term. They would do better to think upon, and seek contrition for, their own role in making it possible.” Ouch.
Tapper has responded as anyone would whose tail feathers were being burned, stating he had found “tremendous humility about my coverage.” I laughed out loud. If he had any humility he would never have been so smug and dishonest in the first place.
Broadly though, it makes you wonder who was making presidential decisions.
The presidential autopen scandal is being looked into now. I also recount a story Speaker Mike Johnson has related publicly, and with me privately. It involves a conservation he had with President Biden when Speaker Johnson was at the White House on a different matter. Speaker Johnson pulled President Biden aside and stated something to the effect “Mr. President, may I ask why you imposed the ban on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) exports … it’s really hurting my state of Louisiana.” To which Biden replied, “I didn’t do that.” Speaker Johnson respectfully but firmly pushed back, “Sir, it’s happening in my own state. I assure you that you did impose the ban.” To which Biden again stated, “I didn’t do that.” Speaker Johnson was truly taken aback. How could Biden not know he had imposed the ban and how many other things did Biden supposedly do that he had no idea he had done, or did not do himself at all?
This is all disturbing but what is truly worrisome is that an incapacitated Biden could have been called upon to make life and death decisions, perhaps in a crisis involving an Iranian nuclear strike on Israel, for example, or the need to send American troops to war. There are countless grave and dangerous situations with which a president must contend. To think Biden would have been faced with one or more of them in his fragile mental and physical health is alarming.
This coverup needs to be fully exposed and memorialized in hopes this kind of treachery never occurs again.
Geek’d Con, North Louisiana’s premier comic and pop culture convention, is 90 days from launching its 10th-anniversary event. Scheduled for August 22–24, 2025, at the Shreveport Convention Center, “Geek’d Con X” promises a star-studded weekend marking a decade of fandom and economic impact.
The annual event consistently draws over 10,000 attendees, injecting millions into the Shreveport-Bossier economy. Its regional and national draw is evident, with consistent ticket sales to fans in states as far as Washington, Michigan, and New York. Additionally, vendors annually travel to Shreveport from California, Iowa, and Florida.
Key Attractions Confirmed:
The extensive guest list for Geek’d Con X features notable personalities, and cast reunions, including:
Shell-a-Bration: Commemorating the 35th anniversary of the original 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film. Four of the movie’s original actors—Brian Tochi, Robbie Rist, Kenn Scott, and Ernie Reyes, Jr.—will be in attendance
Mallrats Cast: The film Mallrats was released 30 years ago in 1995, Geek’d Con will host stars Jason Lee, Jeremy London, and Ethan Suplee
Charmed Cast: Four of the main cast stars from the TV series Charmed will be in attendance, including Rose McGowan, Holly Marie Combs, Brian Kruse, and Dorian Gregory
The Voice of Mickey Mouse: Bret Iwan has been Disney’s official voice of Mickey Mouse since 2009. Portraying the icon in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Have a Laugh!, Mickey Mouse Funhouse, and across the Disney parks. Anything Mickey is Bret.
Terrifier Duo: Actor David Howard Thornton (Art The Clown) and actress Samantha Scaffidi (Victoria Heyes) from the Terrifier film franchise are scheduled to appear. David is planning to appear for photos in his Art The Clown makeup
My Name is Earl Stars: Actors Jason Lee and Ethan Suplee portrayed Earl and Randy Hickey in the popular TV series My Name is Earl
Barry Bostwick: From The Rocky Horror Picture Show, celebrating its 50th anniversary
Scott Steiner: WWE Hall of Fame member
Alan Ruck: Legendary actor known for his role as Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Connor Roy in the award winning series Succession
For a complete list of confirmed guests and photo-op opportunities, visit the official Geek’d Con Lineup page.
The convention will also host comic book creators from iconic titles like The Avengers, Spider-Man,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons, Batman, and Tremors.
As well as voice actors from English dubs of anime shows like Dragon Ball, My Hero Academia, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Yu Yu Hakusho.
Traditional voice actors will also be appearing, like Kat Cressida. Kat is the voice of Constance Hatchaway, The Bride, from Disney’s Haunted Mansion. She’s also voiced characters for franchises like Toy Story, Star Wars, and Marvel.
Event Details:
Dates: August 22–24, 2025
Location: Shreveport Convention Center, Downtown Shreveport, LA
Features: Over 200 vendor booths, cosplay contests, celebrity panels, and autograph sessions.
Tickets and Vendor Registration:
Tickets for Geek’d Con X are available now. Purchase yours directly via TicketSpice.
Vendor registration remains open for businesses and artists looking to connect with thousands of attendees. Interested parties can find detailed information and application forms on the Geek’d Con Vendor Information page.
About Geek’d Con:
Established in 2015, Geek’d Con has solidified its position as the largest pop culture event in the Ark-La-Tex region. The convention serves as a vital community event, celebrating all facets of geek culture, from comics and movies to gaming and cosplay, and drawing a diverse audience from across the nation.
Three-time U.S. Olympian weightlifter Kendrick Farris stands with LSUS weightlifting coach Dr. Kyle Pierce as Farris celebrates his graduation on May 16. Farris returned to LSUS in 2023 to finish his general studies degree with a concentration in applied and social sciences. CREDIT: Abigail Johnson/LSUS Media Relations
U.S. weightlifting record holder, Olympian, husband, father, “citizen of the world.”
Kendrick Farris has earned a lot of titles in a career that’s spanned more than two decades.
But the Shreveport native picked up one more – college graduate.
Farris walked across the Brookshire Grocery Arena stage on May 16 with an LSUS general studies degree with a concentration in applied and social sciences.
“This is the first graduation I’ve taken part in since middle school,” Farris said. “It felt really good.
“My row was called, and I was still sitting there watching others. It was one or two rows later when I realized I needed to go up there.”
Farris is used to having all eyes on him as a three-time U.S. Olympian who is the only American male to break two U.S. records in two different weight classes.
His weightlifting journey started as a youth in the LSUS Weightlifting Center as part of Dr. Kyle Pierce’s community program and has taken him around the world as a competitor and ambassador.
Pierce, who admitted he didn’t attend any of his own graduations, stood next to Farris with a big smile.
“(Pierce) always encouraged me to finish my education, said I needed to finish,” Farris said. “We’ve had all these conservations, and it was great to share that moment with him.”
Farris is in his first year as a juvenile detention officer in Caddo Parish, having mentored youth there before becoming a full-time employee.
“It’s a place where I’ve done some counseling and recreation with kids, and this is a great opportunity to work with these youth in a different way,” Farris said this past summer. “Correction is love, and if it’s not rooted in love, then it’s not correction.
“You can share with them what they need to know, and at the same time be a person that they hopefully can confide in. Sometimes people go through things, and they feel like nobody else is going through that. But this is an opportunity to present something different to them, to be an example that maybe they haven’t been exposed to.”
He sees his long-term future in corporate wellness, combining weightlifting as a therapy along with nutrition and other wellness avenues.
Farris’ reputation in the weightlifting world opens many doors, but he said a college degree would allow him to work with more varied partners.
“Finishing my degree solidified everything,” Farris said. “The organizations I work with, the community things I do here in Louisiana and Texas and also in Colorado (home of the U.S. Olympic training center) – it’s going to allow me to do more.
“(The degree) opens doors to partner with different organizations. My persona does a lot, but for people who don’t know me, now the resume is more complete, and there won’t be that hesitation that’s sometimes been there.”
Not only has Farris experienced weightlifting therapeutic’s release in his own life, but he’s seen it in action many times in his volunteer work.
One notable example came in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina when New Orleanians staying in Shreveport lifted weights at LSUS as a way to blow off steam.
“It was a chance for them to come into the gym and forget about their circumstances for a little bit, and it was a really cool experience to have fun with them,” Farris said about his first real introduction into coaching. “I would always help my peers when we were lifting as a group, but the experience after Hurricane Katrina and then my first Olympics in Beijing really opened my eyes to the possibilities involved with coaching.”
Farris will return to that LSUS gym to host a youth weightlifting program through Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation.
The summer training opportunity is for youths 10-18.
The 12-week program begins June 3 (until Aug. 22) and will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-noon.
Registration for one of the 15 slots can be made at caddoparks.org.
Farris acquired various sponsorships for the camp, including from Derrick Parker’s Heartwork Institute. Parker is an LSUS basketball Hall of Famer.
Grill up a hamburger for yourself, or visit any number of sandwich shops and restaurants to enjoy one of mankind’s greatest, greasiest culinary inventions today to celebrate National Hamburger Day.
National Hamburger Day has been celebrated since at least 2010, but the history of the burger goes back much further than that! The invention of the hamburger has been claimed by so many that there’s only one real origin: Hamburg, Germany.
No matter who says they invented the hamburger, no one can deny that it was the second-largest city in Germany that was its namesake. While not all types of ‘burgers’ resemble the meat that came out of Hamburg, they all have the roots of their preparation in this noble city.
One of the most interesting things about hamburgers isn’t actually about the burger itself, believe it or not, there are actually people out there dedicated to finding out the truth about who really invented the hamburger.
If we track back to the beginning and look at the namesake Hamburg, where the burger undoubtedly gained its name, there are many people who think the burger was created in 1881 by a gentleman named Otto Kuase or Otto Krause.
On the other hand, the Library of Congress would have you believe something else. It seems the US audience seemed to favor the story of Louis Lassen in 1900. The popular story goes that a businessman was in a rush and wanted some food in a hurry. Louis is said to have placed a piece of grilled meat in between two pieces of toast and thus invented the burger.
Where this story gets interesting is here, the US disregards Otto Krause simply because his name has three different spellings, which is common with German names. As for the Lassen story, well, when it comes to putting grilled meat in between two pieces of toast, he was pretty late to the party, it seems the Chinese had been doing that since 1045.
So whether you believe it’s Otto, Lassen, or the people of the Zhou dynasty, there is no question hamburgers are one of the greatest creations in history, and National Hamburger Day is something that will go on for centuries to come.
Celebrating National Hamburger Day is easy peasy. You can grab one from local favorites Bailey’s, Fausto’s, The York Chop or chains Dairy Queen or Burger King.
Of course, if you’re daring and handy with a grill, we suggest making up your own blend of hamburger spices and having a good old fashioned cookout.
In the 1960’s, who was the worst law enforcement officer depicted by television?
That is an easy one, right? I’m wondering how many of you thought that must be Barney Fife. Barney was the deputy to the wise and calm Andy Taylor, the sheriff of Mayberry. If trouble could happen, it would happen to Barney. Barney was allowed only one bullet for his gun. The bullet was kept in this shirt pocket, not in his service revolver. One of the recurrent gags was Barney accidentally firing his revolver. If an episode had mayhem, somehow Barney was in the middle of the mess. Most of the mess-ups in Mayberry were resolved in the thirty minutes of the sit-com. Barney would learn his lesson and we would tune in next week.
But my candidate for worst law enforcement officer in the television world of the 1960’s was Lt. Tragg, the foil of Perry Mason. Because Perry never lost a case, we knew that the person Lt. Tragg arrested was innocent. This detective of the Los Angeles police department was proven wrong every week. There were times that I felt sympathy for Lt. Tragg. He was depicted as a decent, moral, hard-working detective. His deductions were always spot on. The Perry Mason episodes were produced before the advent of forensic investigations. If there were fingerprints on a weapon, that was the guilty party. Or if the gun was registered to someone, they were certainly a prime suspect. Lt. Tragg never won! He was a loser each week! Although, he always held is on as a witness for the prosecution!
I get that Barney and Lt. Tragg are fictional characters. I understand the formulas that are a part of successful television shows. But sometimes an idea pops out of the strangest place. A clown character (Barney) or a perpetual loser (Lt. Tragg) can become examples of exemplary attributes.
I think both characters illustrate for me the Biblical concept of perseverance. Barney and Lt. Tragg go to work every day. They do their jobs. They show up. (Yes, I know they are fictional characters.)
One of the overlooked dynamics of our faith journey is the idea of perseverance. We are called to stick it out and to stick with it. We are called to follow Jesus with our last step. That is never giving in or never giving out.
Jesus said, “By your perseverance you will gain your souls.” (Luke 21:19) That means keeping on! So, get out there and keep on living for Jesus.
The Red River Republican Parish Executive Committee will meet Thursday, May 29 at 5:30pm at the Red River Parish Library. Dr. Sammy Wyatt, candidate for the US Senate will the guest speaker. The public is welcome to attend.
The Natchitoches Genealogical & Historical Association President Peggy Aycock announced new operating hours effective Tuesday, May 27, 2025 to better meet customer needs. Located at 600 Second Street, it will be open each Tuesday and Wednesday 10:00 – 3:00 pm; Thursday 9:00 – 4:00 pm; open by appointment only Friday – Saturday; closed Sunday and major holidays. Aycock said, “Our library offers an abundance of information to help trace family histories. We have information dating back to the 1700’s, some vital records, surname catalogs, maps and property records, collections of family genealogies, Rev. Donald Hebert Publications, three workstations with subscriptions to Ancestry.com; Fold3; Newspaper.com and much more”.
Anyone flying United Airlines this summer in the US? Starting June 3, the airline will require travelers with and without checked luggage to check in roughly 45 minutes before their flight, instead of the current 30-minute policy. (This updated policy will not affect international travel which is already at least 60 minutes before departure time.)
Castor Methodist Church will host a corn hole tournament Saturday, June 7 from 6-10pm. The event is open to all age groups so bring your friends and family for an evening of fun and friendly competition. Supper will be provided. Contact Brad McCoy at 318.475.9029 or Richard Twyman at 318.564.5160 for more information.
The Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University will present the program “Fiddlin’ with the Finest! A Celebration of Louisiana Folk Fiddling” Saturday June 14 at 11 a.m. at the Many Depot Museum at 750 Highway 171 Bypass in Many. The event is free and open to the public. Three past Louisiana State Fiddle Champions, Clancey Stewart, Joe Suchanek, and Ron Yule, will discuss the importance of the folk fiddling tradition with Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the Louisiana Folklife Center and professor of English at NSU. Live music performed throughout the program will include various regional fiddle styles accompanied by demonstrations of fiddle stick playing and twin fiddling. A Q&A session on participating in fiddle competitions will follow. Fiddlers of all skill levels are invited to bring their instruments for a jam session with the invited musicians. For more information, call the Louisiana Folklife Center at (318) 357-4332, email folklife@nsula.edu, or go to nsula.edu/folklife.
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