Red River Parish School Board is accepting applications for all positions PreK- 12th grade in all areas. Submit applications at http://www.rrbulldogs.com under “Employment”.
For more information, contact Nicole Eason by email neason@rrbulldogs.com or 318-271-3150.
By Nolan McKendry Apr 29, 2025
(The Center Square) — Louisiana legislators are reintroducing key parts of the recently rejected Amendment 2, this time in a much more streamlined fashion.
Amendment 2, rejected by voters in March, had attempted a sweeping rewrite of Article 7 of the state constitution but was widely criticized for its complexity and length. Lawmakers are now trying a simpler approach with a pair of constitutional amendments focused on specific issues.
One amendment will combine two major funds and redirect the money to pay down debt owed to the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana. This plan would ultimately provide $2,000 stipends to teachers.
However, because the original amendment failed, the stipends remain unfunded. Even if the new proposals pass, teachers will not receive payments until November 2026.
Instead of combining several issues into one proposal, lawmakers have split them. House Bill 472 focuses on budget and revenue stabilization changes, while HB473 would reappropriate those savings to cover the teacher stipends. Both amendments passed committee favorably.
Originally 130 pages long, HB472 has now been condensed to just six pages, now only functioning to combine the Revenue Stabilization Fund and the Budget Stabilization Fund.
During a recent hearing, Emerson, who is carrying the bill, explained why legislators shifted strategies.
“After the failure of Amendment 2 on March 29, we wanted to revisit some of the topics,” Emerson said. “I got a lot of feedback — many people told me they liked the concepts but said it was too much at once and became confusing.”
He said the original version had to reprint the entire Article 7 because it touched on multiple subjects, creating a bill that ran over 115 pages.
“Our desire was not to make it that long,” Emerson said. “The public and members of the Legislature overwhelmingly asked us to focus on a single issue.”
“As the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund phases out, mineral revenues will instead flow directly into the general fund, increasing recurring revenues,” Emerson said. “We’re removing the $600 million corporate collection cap that limited what could be deposited into the general fund.”
Other legislation introduced functions to phase out the state’s inventory tax, another piece of the March amendment that failed.
Tuesday afternoon, Speaker Johnson hosted a bipartisan Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony to honor the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, commonly known as the Six Triple Eight. The battalion was the first and only all-Black, all-female unit to serve overseas in Europe during World War II. The Six Triple Eight, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley, was instrumental in clearing the U.S. Army’s backlog of over 17 million pieces of mail in only three months, twice as fast as projected.
The ceremony was held in Emancipation Hall in the U.S. Capitol and featured remarks from Speaker Johnson, Leader Thune, Leader Schumer, Leader Jeffries, Senator Moran, Senator Rosen, Representative Moore, former Representative LaTurner, and Colonel Edna Cummings. Stanley Earley III and Judith Earley, children of Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley, accepted the medal on behalf of the 855 women who served in the Six Triple Eight.
Read Speaker Johnson’s remarks below:
It’s a beautiful spring afternoon. We’re so happy to have you all, and I want to welcome my colleagues in Congress, of course, officials of the United States Army, distinguished guests. We’re so happy to have you at the United States Capitol today. We are honored to be joined by over 300 descendants and family members of the six triple eight.
What a testament this is to the enduring impact of these remarkable women that we honor today. This ceremony reflects one of the highest and most cherished traditions of our republic, one that’s roots stretch back all the way to General George Washington, Ulysses S Grant and the Wright brothers.
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor this body can bestow. It’s reserved for those whose courage and service shaped our country and our nation’s story. It’s in this spirit that we gather to award this medal to the 6888, the Central Postal Directory. It’s 6888, but we call it the six triple eight.
This battalion was the first and the only unit of African American women to serve overseas during World War II. As tens of thousands of Allied forces made their final push across Europe, the mail system was stretched thin from scarce resources. It was crippling under the weight of wartime logistics.
Then, just as today, letters of home were very, very important. They were lifelines that grounded the soldiers. They reminded our brave heroes of all they were fighting for, it was actually waiting back at home. Morale reports during the war underscore just how important mail was to the soldiers’ spirit, so much so that the phrase no mail, low morale became widespread. It was later adopted by the army as the official motto of the six triple eight yet for all the importance of mail, millions of undelivered letters piled up in dark warehouses across Europe, and those letters might well have stayed there, were it not for the work of the women that we celebrate today?
Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley, the battalion – Parenthetically, I just want to note she sounds like a Marvel, hero, that name is so awesome. Charity Adams Earley. The battalion deployed to England and got to work on the on the backlog. They worked in three ships, around the clock, day in and day out, to sort through the literal mountains of mail that had accumulated, all while navigating troop movements that turned on a dime, incomplete addresses, illegible writing, and thousands of soldiers who shared the same names.
Listen to this. This is just one example. Okay, my name is Mike Johnson. Right, at this time, I know it’s sad. At this time, Michael was the ninth most popular name, and Johnson was one of the top five surnames. So, my staff did the math. They said, Sir, it’s pretty safe to assume that roughly 30,000 Mike Johnson’s served in World War II, and that’s enough to fill Fenway Park.
Now just imagine the challenge that these ladies have. They were trying to get the right letter to the right soldier, and that’s the kind of that’s the kind of challenge that they faced. With great ingenuity, they maintained a tracking system of 7 million ID cards to solve the issue of soldiers curing names. They didn’t have all the high-tech gadgets that we have today. They had to do it manually.
Processing roughly 65,000 pieces of mail per shift, they cleared the entire backlog in no less than three months.
Listen to this. By the war’s end, the Six Triple Eight had sorted over 17 million pieces of mail. They got the job done, even in the face of inadequate supplies and even in the face of discrimination, both for women within the Army and back home. These women were valiant members of our Greatest Generation, artists, academics, athletes, women who wanted went on to pursue higher education, to build families, to buy homes, and shape the very foundation of the American middle class.
We remember women like Margaret Sales, who enlisted on her 20th birthday. She enlisted on her 20th birthday, and she had dreams of pursuing music and teaching. We remember women like Romay Davis. She used the GI Bill to attend fashion school, and decades later, earned her black belt in her 70s. Tough ladies.
We also, of course, remember the incomparable Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley who guided her unit. She faced all those challenges and she guided her unit with unshakable grace and resolve. And even after earning her degree in mathematics, Latin and physics, she returned to her studies after the war, and she said this famously, “After handling 855 women, any course in college would be a cinch.”
We’re blessed that two members of the Six Triple Eight are still with us today, watching from home. They are, and we want to salute them from here in the chamber. Fannie McClendon, who hails from my home state of Louisiana, all right. She went on to serve her country as a Major in the Air Force. We also have Anna Mae Robertson watching at home. Just last month, she celebrated her 101st birthday. Ms. Anna Mae, you got a big group here.
Okay, these women and the entire Six Triple Eight, are great American patriots, loyal to a nation that, for far too long, failed to return that favor. And I’m glad to say that that’s changing, and we’re doing that here today.
This remarkable story has rightly captured imaginations, it has now inspired books and movies, stirred the conscience of millions of Americans who are just now hearing and sharing this incredible story. Today here in the people’s house, we add to that story. So, thank you all for being here. We are honored to host you and to celebrate these exceptional women. God bless you.
Courtesy of Speaker Mike Johnson
Every parish in Louisiana benefits from TRSL pensions
The latest economic impact report from the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) shows that retirement dollars are fueling regional economies across Louisiana.
In Fiscal Year 2024, TRSL provided $445 million in retirement income to North Louisiana retirees and beneficiaries (see chart below for a breakdown by parish). Statewide, TRSL retirees received more than $2.1 billion in retirement income from the system.
Other highlights from the report:
Cinco De Mayo is celebrated every year on May 5 to commemorate the victory of the Mexicans over the French in the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War in 1862.
The term ‘Cinco De Mayo’ is a Spanish phrase that translates to “the fifth of May”.
The day has become more popular in the United States than in Mexico, and it serves as a commemoration of Mexican culture in America.
Cinco De Mayo History: The Battle of Puebla
After the Mexican-American War and the Reform War, Mexico found itself near bankruptcy and unable to pay its debt to some European governments including Spain, England and France.
President Benito Juárez declared that the debt payment be put on hold for two years in 1861. This angered Spain, Britain, and France who sent convoys to Veracruz demanding to be paid back.
Juárez managed to negotiate with Britain and Spain but Napolean saw this as an opportunity to establish a French empire in Mexico. He wanted to gain influence in American territories.
So, in late 1861, French troops attacked Veracruz leading President Juárez and his government to retreat. However, the 8000 soldiers encountered strong resistance in Puebla, while making their way to Mexico City.
After learning of the attack at Puebla, President Juárez ordered 4000 men to fortify the town and forts of Loreto and Guadalupe.
Even though Mexicans were under-prepared and the French were heavily armed, the French were forced to retreat by early evening with a loss of approximately 500 soldiers. This victory gave the Mexicans a great morale boost and strengthened their resistance, as well as their sense of community and patriotism.
The Beginning of Cinco de Mayo Celebration in the US
Cinco de mayo celebrations began in California in 1863 at the hands of Mexican miners who were residing here and wanted to celebrate the victory. Cinco de Mayo became known all over the country in the 1940s during the Chicano movement. However, it became even more popular in the 1980s.
Today, celebrations take place all over the US with bigger events in large cities such as Los Angeles, Houston, San Francisco and Chicago. The celebration emphasize Mexican culture, food, and music.
Source: calendar.com
The Women of Courage Woman Church will be held on May 6 at 6pm at The Shop, 1942 Hwy 507, Coushatta. Worship will be led by Tracy Miller. The speaker is Mandi Mills. Dinner will be provided.
4-Hers in grades 1-8 celebrate summer at Grand Bayou Wetlands Camp Friday, June 6 from 9am until 2pm. There will be activities with LDWF and fishing time at the pier. Sign up by Monday, June 2.
Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic Learning and Global Education will offer three sessions of a 38-hour driver education course June 9-12, July 14-17 and Oct. 6-9. Students must be 14 years and nine months old to take the class and must be 15 years old to take the driving portion of the class. The deadline to register for the June 9 session is Friday, May 30. A mandatory parent meeting will be held on Monday, June 2 at 6 p.m. in South Hall. For more information, go to checkout.nsula.edu or call (800) 376-2422 or (318) 357-6355.
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.
Inspection stickers will remain in Louisiana after the House Transportation Committee narrowly rejected Bill 322, which aimed to eliminate them, in a 6-5 vote.
Carmel Hall Goodrow
May 25, 1930 – May 2, 2025
Funeral services will be held Monday, May 5, 2025 at 11am at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel in Coushatta.
Lawanda Turner Fryar
June 23, 1944 – May 1, 2025
Graveside service will be held Monday, May 5, 2025 at 1pm at Ebenezer Cemetery in Castor.
The Martin Water System has a leak on Hwy 786 near Sledge Road.
Customers on Sledge Road and west of Sledge Road will be without water for a few hours tomorrow (5/5/2025).
The Red River Parish School Board has named Christal Carper the new Red River High School principal. Carper started her career with Bossier Parish Schools and joined Red River High in 2017. Her passion for science and curriculum instantly connected her with students. She became Assistant Principal in 2019.
Carper has been working on her Doctorate in Curriculum and is eager to bring her expertise to all students as she leads them into the 2025-2026 school year.
Carper posted on social media, “Thank you for this amazing opportunity to support Red River High School in our continued growth and success!”
Matt Vines
Red River track and field sending two competitors to state
The Red River track and field team placed two competitors in next week’s Class 2A state meet.
Logan Mims and Khylee Winn each placed third in their respective events at the Region 1-2A meet at Mansfield High this week.
Mims clocked a personal record 4:59.97 in the 1600 meters.
Winn cleared 4-8 in the high jump.
Individuals and relays had to finish in the top three to advance.
Red River had a couple of other near-misses at the region meet.
Adrina Jackson finished fourth in the 100 meters (12.72) and ran a leg on the 4×200 (1:49.29) that also placed fourth.
Mims placed fifth in the 800 meters (2:15.86).
Riverdale angler Colton Caskey signs with LSUS
Riverdale angler Colton Caskey made it official Tuesday by signing with the LSU Shreveport Fishing team.
The Pilots are currently ranked No. 5 in the nation in a sport where all teams, no matter the size of the school, compete in the same division.
LSUS routinely beats household names like Southeastern Conference members Tennessee, Auburn, and LSU to name a few.
Riverdale Tennis competes in Class 2A tournament
Boys and girls from the Riverdale tennis team competed in the Class 2A state tournament in Vicksburg, Miss., earlier this week.
Individual results or brackets weren’t available on the MAIS website, but the Rebels did take part in singles and doubles action.
Benedict Day School won the 2A girls title while Briarfield Academy captured the boys crown.
LSU Shreveport and Centenary entered into an agreement which will allow Centenary undergraduate students to enroll early into LSUS’s Master of Liberal Arts program.
The collaboration will create more definitive pathways for Centenary students to continue their education in Shreveport while LSUS can attract more students into its MLA program.
Centenary president Dr. Christopher Holoman and LSUS chancellor Dr. Robert Smith signed the agreement at Centenary’s Hamilton Hall on Wednesday.
“Research has shown that being able to lay out a path for students from the very beginning leads to more success as undergraduates,” Holoman said. “Students can build on their great liberal arts skills here into a graduate degree from LSUS and further employment. It’s a win-win all around.”
Eligible Centenary seniors can get a head start on their master’s degree at LSUS while completing their final year of Centenary classes.
A 3.5 GPA is required to begin taking master’s level classes as a senior.
“When we get Centenary students to transition to the LSUS master’s program, we’re keeping students here in Shreveport and northwest Louisiana,” Smith said. “It’s important to this region and to the educational status of the area and its workforce.
“When students complete an undergraduate and a graduate degree in the city of Shreveport, they are going to be that much more likely to stay here, work here and build lives here.”
Centenary students who meet program entry requirements (3.0 GPA in the last two years of undergraduate study) can be accepted early into the MLA program, solidifying the next step of their educational and professional journey.
Centenary undergraduates will be eligible for graduate assistantship appointments, which provide a tuition waiver and compensation for hours worked.
The agreement extends to Centenary faculty, who may apply for graduate-faculty status at LSUS, allowing them to teach graduate courses in the LSUS MLA program.
Collaborative research ventures leading to conferences and workshops will be explored.
The memorandum of understanding is the second such agreement signed by Shreveport’s two four-year universities.
Centenary and LSUS signed a similar agreement this past June for Centenary undergraduates to enroll in LSUS’s Master of Public Health program.
Both Holoman and Smith emphasized that Centenary and LSUS aren’t competitors but collaborators who can mutually benefit from each other’s strengths.
PHOTO: Centenary president Dr. Christopher Holoman and LSUS chancellor Dr. Robert Smith sign an agreement that will allow eligible Centenary undergraduates to enroll early into LSUS’s Master of Liberal Arts program. CREDIT: Sherry Heflin/Centenary College Marketing and Communications
Courtesy of LSUS Public Relations Department
The DeSoto Parish 4-H Shooting Sports program has achieved unprecedented success, with the BB Team qualifying for the Daisy National Competition in Rogers, Arkansas. Members Kason Dickson, Kallyn Holtzclaw, Gracie Smith, Trace Cox, Bryce McCollough, Brayden Humphries, and Carson Richardson will compete from June 29 to July 3rd. Their goal is to secure a championship for DeSoto Parish. Coach Dylan Dickson and his wife Amber set this goal in August 2024. The team needs sponsors to cover costs and requests “Barter Bar” giveaways from local businesses. To donate, contact Amber Dickson at 318-453-9532.
DeSoto Parish Sr. Shooting Sports members will advance to Nationals in Grand Isle, Nebraska, on June 22nd-28th. Skylar Phillips, Louisiana State Champion in .22 rifle, qualified in air rifle but joined the state smallbore rifle team with teammate Emma Houston, making her second trip to Nationals. Dusty Dumas will captain the smallbore rifle team as the Louisiana state coach. Eli Smith returns as a Muzzloader qualifier, joined by Keith Ward. Beaux Holtzclaw will advance as an Air Pistol team member. Weston Walsh has won consecutive Regional and State Archery Championships, showcasing his dedication. This is the largest number of qualifiers for DeSoto Parish 4-H. To sponsor these participants, call Dusty Dumas at 832-610-5652. For more information or to join DeSoto Parish 4-H next year, contact 318-872-0533. Geaux Team Louisiana!
Robert Norman was born in Daytona, Florida, in October 1942. He grew up loving animals and nature. As a child, he raised a baby alligator in the family bathtub. For unknown reasons, he quit school and went to work with his father, Jack, as a carpenter. After an accident with a saw in which he cut off the tip of his left index finger, Robert lost what little desire he had for woodwork.
In late 1960 or early 1961, 18-year-old Robert joined the Air Force. He was initially stationed at a base in Florida, but, at six-foot-two, with flat feet, and an uncompleted high school education, Robert was not eligible to become a pilot. Instead, his superiors assigned him to a desk job as a medical records technician. In 1963, Robert was transferred to Eielson Air Force Base, about 25 miles from Fairbanks, Alaska. Robert had spent all of his life in warm and cozy Florida. The frigid environment in Alaska was in complete contrast to what he had known in Florida. Robert said he was 21 years old when he saw snow for the first time. He said later that Alaska, “has some of the most beautiful mountain scenery that I’d ever seen.”
Through the years, Robert earned numerous promotions. He eventually became a military training instructor, what most of us refer to as a drill instructor. To supplement his Air Force income and as a means to escape, he took a second job as a bartender and spent hours staring at the snow-covered mountains. “I was the guy who makes you scrub the latrine, the guy who makes you make your bed, the guy who screams at you for being late to work,” Robert explained. “The job requires you to be a mean, tough person, and I was fed up with it.” Robert was good at his job and earned the nickname “Bust ‘em up Bobby.” He said later, “I promised myself that if I ever got away from it, I wasn’t going to be that way anymore.” He hated the person he had to be at work, a “mean, tough person.” In 1981, after 20 years of service, Robert, then a master sergeant, decided he had had enough. He retired and was determined to never raise his voice again. He also abandoned the clean-cut hairstyle required by the military.
Based on classes he took while in the Air Force, Robert found a new vocation. He began teaching in 30-minute episodes which were broadcast on public television (PBS). He unexpectedly became a cultural phenomenon. Unlike his years screaming at fresh recruits during boot camp, Robert became known for his voice which was “so soothing that its effect was once compared to Demerol.” Robert taught the world to paint “pretty little mountains,” “happy little clouds,” and “happy little trees.” Thankfully, few people remember “Bust ‘em up Bobby,” but the world remembers Robert Norman “Bob” Ross and his television series entitled “the Joy of Painting.”
Sources:
1. The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts), July 15, 1995, p.49.
2. Blake Stilwell, “Famous Veteran: Bob Ross,” Military.com, May 31, 2013, accessed April 27, 2025, https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/military-transition/famous-veteran-bob-ross.html.
3. Sara Kettler, “How Bob Ross’s Time in the Air Force Inspired His Paintings,” Biography.com, June 4, 2020, accessed April 27, 2025, https://www.biography.com/artists/bob-ross-air-force.
4. “The Bob Ross Story,” Bob Ross, accessed April 27, 2025, https://experience.bobross.com/the-bob-ross-experience/.
This is a chapter from the writings of Berry Wardlaw (Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame) on the people who influenced his life and career.
The year was 1968, and on a hot, humid August day, my family relocated from the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant, a guarded, locked-in community of 26 families, mostly military (we weren’t), to a Mayberry-esque town some fifty miles south.
I can’t recall if I had ever heard of Coushatta, Louisiana but it was to become the only place I ever lived where I felt a sense of acceptance, of home. No place before or since ever touched me the way my coming-of-age home did. We would live here but a scant four years, leaving behind my beloved tiny town on the river, left but too fond, distant memories.
Coushatta is the seat of Red River Parrish and in 1968 boasted a population of 2,100 souls. The tag line of the local paper, The Coushatta Citizen, was “Heaven is above us but here we have Red River Parrish”. I ultimately believed that to be true. At least it was while I lived there.
The Red River borders the west side of town with Ringgold Road, East Carroll Street, and the Cut-Off Road forming a triangle around the central part of the town. This was our main cruising course with turnarounds and meeting places like Don’s, Bam’s Grocery, Fiddler Green and the venerable Kreme Kup, home to curly fries and location of an occasional drag race, a first taste of an adult beverage, and best of all that first kiss. This road to teenage Mecca was locally referred to as “Making the Loop”.
I just loved downtown Coushatta. It had everything a kid could possibly want. Baldwins Record store for the hit songs of the time, Fowlers and McGee’s drug stores both with soda fountains, L.P. Stephens department store, Townsend’s grocery, Smith and Driggers barber shops, the rec hall, Coushatta bank and a few other notable businesses. This one block long collection of “downtown” buildings were connected brick structures with different facades, varying in heights and widths, each decorated with advertising of the period.
Across Front Street were the railroad tracks, train depot, and loading dock. The tracks consisted of the main line and two more sidetracks. This was where I smashed my first penny, jumped my first train, and saw my first hobo. Glorius times for an adolescent boy, I tell you. Glorius times indeed.
I can remember riding my JC Penny Swinger, a copper-colored Hi-rise bicycle, to the train depot to pick up my Havahart live animal trap I ordered from Kirk Anderson’s Boy’s Life magazine. I have always liked to catch animals live to study and play with. I have been bitten by just about every critter you can think of. I can’t believe I have never been envenomated, picked up a disease, or worse.
Luck counts, God is good. I could go on and on about my small downtown but that is not why I’m here. Not this time, anyway.
Of the two drug stores on Front Street, McGee’s was my go-to. McGee’s had the iconic Rexall sign out front, a Watling mirror fronted scale awaited just outside of the front door. It was on this maroon and cream painted, deco-styled machine that you could check your weight, admire your appearance in the fingerprint covered mirror all the while, and miraculously so, have your dreams and great fortunes told to you. All of this for only a penny.
You gotta be kiddin’ me!!
Walking through the front door you were greeted by shelves of greeting cards, bric-a-brac, over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, and the standard health aids as seen in most drug stores of the time. Ah, but in the back left corner was the four stool soda fountain, always attended by Larry Parker. A lift top slider-style drink chest was just to the right of the counter.
Next to the well-used drink machine stood a shelving rack that held the treasures purchased with my hard-earned yard mowing money. Models. Lots of models and other than west side Bam’s market and Bate’s, the only source of models in town. These were mostly car models but every so often there would be a motorcycle model. I would ask for it to be put back for me until I could mow another yard.
Allowances were not given in my family. You worked and I did so gladly. Seemed normal to me.
Along the back wall was a slightly lofted area with a counter and this was where Mr. McGee stood, plying his trade as local pharmacist and owner of McGee’s Drug. To the right end of the pharmacist counter was a small walkway leading to a back door and out to a dirt road that was used by all the stores on Front Street for deliveries and such. Right next to this small walkway, located along the north wall was my source of all things of true interest. This was my mechanical version of the Dead Sea scrolls, McGee’s Drugstore magazine rack.
These magazines were to be my source of education, my connection to the outside world that fed my obsession for cars, motorcycles, customizing, and racing. These magazines connected me with the people I felt akin to. People I could relate to and learn from. My mentors from afar, as I always say.
It took two or three models in which to complete one project. I would need tires from this one, an engine from that one, and maybe accessories from another. With kits from MPC, Revell, AMT, and Monogram and the use of my mom’s Sears electric manicurist kit, the possibilities were seemingly endless. I was now able to configure models that would emulate the custom-built cars and bikes from the magazines I read at McGee’s drug store.
The models would range in price from $2.50 up to $3.50. Making $2.50 average per mowed yard (I was not paid for mowing the family yard), $2.00 for cleaning the L’Herisson pool (twice a month, summertime), and $4.00 for cleaning the L’Herisson barn, twice a summer. From the income obtained in comparison to my obsessive modeling expenditures one can clearly see that the grass didn’t grow fast enough.
And then there is the additional overhead of .22 long rifle bullets and 5mm pellets. Well, there just wasn’t much left over. Fortunately, I wasn’t a big Coke and candy kid, not when it came to cars, motorcycles and guns. It’s funny that fifty-five years later that still holds true.
This is where Mr. McGee really affected my life and became another mentor from afar. I am eternally grateful for his kindness and his consideration as he had no idea just how he helped to shape the mind, interest, and creative drive of all thing’s motorsports for the little boy he hardly knew.
Once a month McGee’s magazine rack was replenished with new publications displaying my cherished connection to the outside world of motorsports. Names like Hot Rod, Road and Track, Cars, Dirt Bike, Cycle World, and even Car Model adorned the shelves.
In 1970, I entered and won a photo contest in Car Model magazine with a Harley-Davidson Knucklehead chopper model I had built and then photographed with the camera from my Secret Sam Attaché Case. I still have that picture and the model. I had little money left over from my purchased modeling priorities for my penchant for any of this fine literature.
Leaning my handlebars of my imaginary chopper against the brick wall I would walk through the back door entering the short hallway which ran alongside the now exposed pharmacy area. Mr. McGee would be there filling prescriptions and speaking with his customers.
I would always address him if he weren’t too busy and in a somewhat timid way, continue to the “Rack of Knowledge”. I would then choose my favorite of the newest selection and ever so carefully open to an article that would pique my interest. With my number 2 Ticonderoga in hand, I would begin to copy down said article, word for word, into my mostly blank school notebook. I would go article to article, magazine to magazine copying topics of interest trying to limit my time as to not be an annoyance. I can only assume Mr. McGee knew I couldn’t afford to purchase the magazines, and he allowed me to copy the articles.
I have no memory of ever discussing this with him. I would, however, receive an occasional nod of approval upon my departure. Once home, I would read each penciled article over and over, trying to recall the pictures that accompanied the written words. To this very day I can open a magazine from that period and recall exactly what the article was about.
At best I was an average student. By the seventh grade I had already been to four different schools in four different towns with four different sets of friends. I was a daydreamer, a compulsive doodler and probably an alphabet kid (ADD, ADHD, whatever), and that’s just the way it was. My passion for motorsports and motorcycles and Mr. McGee allowing me to copy from the pages of these magazines were directly responsible for critical components of my education that I would use for the rest of my life.
I wholeheartedly believe this. It helped with my spelling, phrasing, punctuation, and definitions of words. I seldom would have encountered these words or topics in school in such a way that I could have related to. My mind just didn’t work like that. While reading my penciled articles I would use my mom’s maroon and blue World Books to unlock the mysteries of aerodynamics, Bernoulli’s law, thermodynamics, vacuum (high and low pressure), and so much more.
Mr. McGee was indeed a mentor from afar, as he had no idea that one day, the little boy at the magazine rack would be inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame. I think of you often Mr. McGee. I thank you and I love you for all you did for me. May Godspeed
Every year, Potterheads around the world unite to celebrate International Harry Potter Day on May 2. This magical occasion honors the legacy of J.K. Rowling’s beloved wizarding world, bringing fans together to relive the adventures of the Boy Who Lived.
From rereading the books and hosting themed parties to debating house rivalries and reenacting favorite spells, it’s a day to let your inner wizard shine and immerse yourself in the enchanting magic all over again.
May 2nd was officially declared International Harry Potter Day by former UK Prime Minister David Cameron as a tribute to the Battle of Hogwarts, which took place on May 2, 1998.
This was the day Harry Potter and his allies defeated Lord Voldemort, bringing an end to the Second Wizarding War. It’s a day of remembrance, celebration, and a whole lot of wizarding fun!
How to Celebrate This Day Like a True Potterhead
Interesting Facts:
Source: calendarr.com
NRMC Earns National Recognition for Patient Safety
For the second consecutive period, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center earned an “A” Hospital Safety
Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety.
Following its Fall 2024 “A” recognition, NRMC has achieved the exemplary status for Spring 2025.
Leapfrog assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based
on over 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries, and infections, the systems hospitals have in place to
prevent them as well as patient satisfaction.
“Inspiring excellence every day is our mission at NRMC, and we are committed to do all that we can to
achieve high-quality outcomes in patient care,” stated Kirk Soileau, NRMC CEO. “Receiving an “A”
safety score from The Leapfrog Group for a second consecutive term is a testament of our commitment tosafety and our journey to zero patient harm. From having the latest technology in place to the innovative services we provide, we are constantly focused on delivering effective and efficient care. I commend our entire team of Associates for achieving excellence in quality patient care and safety.”
“Achieving an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade reflects enormous dedication to patient safety,” said Leah
Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “I extend my congratulations to Natchitoches
Regional Medical Center, its leadership, clinicians, staff and volunteers for creating a culture where
patients come first.”
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade stands as the only hospital ratings program focused solely on
preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day in the United
States. This program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice
annually, in the fall and spring.
“Protecting patients and keeping them safe is our number one priority,” stated Sarah LaCour, NRMC
Chief Nursing Officer. “We set high standards of patient care and are continually monitoring our safety
measure processes and procedures to ensure our patients are safe. Earning this national distinction as an
“A” rated hospital reflects the unwavering dedication, compassion and expertise of our entire team and I
am proud of their continued commitment to providing our patients and our community with exceptional
care.”
To explore Natchitoches Regional Medical Center’s full grade details and to find valuable tips for staying
safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org. Connect with The Leapfrog Group on Twitter,
Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram and stay informed through The Leapfrog Group newsletter.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit
organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade,
Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety,
helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
ABOUT NATCHITOCHES REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
One of the largest rural health systems in Louisiana, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center provides
access to care for more than 100,000 patients in the 5-parish region. The 216-bed healthcare system has
over 1,000 Associates and more than 100 active and consulting physicians on its medical staff. The
system is comprised of the 96-bed acute care facility and is home to Natchitoches Regional Medical
Center EMS services and training center; NRMC Cancer Center with medical oncology, hematology, and
radiation oncology; a nationally acclaimed award-winning Wound Center; NSU Student Health Services;
Breast Center; Behavioral Health Services in partnership with Compass Health; Ambulatory Treatment
Center; the Courtyard of Natchitoches, a skilled nursing home; Pain Institute; retail pharmacy; Regional
Cardiology Clinic; Sleep Center; Walk-in and Primary Care clinic; Pulmonology Associates clinic;
Urology Associates clinic; Orthopedic Associates clinic; North Natchitoches Medical Clinic; General
Surgery Associates clinic; OB/GYN Associates clinic; and NRMC Imaging Center. The NRMC
Foundation helps support the hospital’s mission through its generous donors and signature events
including the annual gala, golf tournament, TappedTober, and Steel Magnolia Run.
Contact: Tom Matuschka, VP Business Development & Philanthropy
Office: 318.214.4520
Email: tom.matuschka@nrmchospital.org
Join the Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society, Inc. to celebrate National Astronomy Day and the 35th Anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope with an evening observation session at the Shreveport Observatory on Saturday, May 3, 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.
Tournament bass fishing is sometimes about as predictable as the weather. Every single day is different, even when the weather doesn’t want to cooperate. This is why anglers must be flexible and willing to adjust.
The anglers who can pivot at the right time are usually the guys who win. Just because you caught bass one way on Thursday, does not mean you’ll be able to catch them the same way on Friday. So many factors come in to play when it comes to bass biting.
The weather is probably the biggest factor in how bass react daily. Of course, they bite best during low or falling barometric pressure days and if there’s one thing I’ve learned over my many years of tournament fishing, it’s that timing is everything. No matter what body of water it is, bass are biting somewhere! You just have to be in the right place at the right time.
This is where practice pays off, but you as an angler must pay attention. If you caught fish in a certain area on Friday at 10 a.m., there’s a good chance those same fish will bite about an hour later the next day.
But almost every tournament day, anglers must adjust on the fly. Conditions can change hourly, especially during the spring, as cold fronts come through more often than any other time of the year. During the summer months, bass are more predictable as weather patterns tend to be more consistent and stable for days at a time.
There are days, however, when anglers are left scratching their heads and questioning the bait and technique they are using. It’s a running joke with anglers that memos are sent out to all bass on the morning the tournament starts.
It’s like they’ve been notified to be aware that there are bass fishermen on the water today looking to jerk them into a bass boat. Therefore, bass should avoid all artificial lures and be alert for anything that resembles live bait and approach all food sources with caution!
While we all know bass can’t read, there are times when it seems someone has made them aware that anglers are on the water.
Sometimes, I think we as anglers give bass way too much intellectual credit, but with so much fishing pressure on our lakes today, bass are becoming more educated and can be difficult to catch. Day after day, hour after hour, bass are seeing so many lures that they have become warry of anything that doesn’t look like natural forage.
This is the challenge that I absolutely love about bass fishing! How can I put together a recipe to catch these little green creatures we call bass. Because the ultimate goal is to put a heavy five-fish limit in the boat that will allow me to either win or cash a check.
But so many times, the tournament never goes the way you planned. There comes a point during the day that you must rethink your strategy and approach. This is when the word “adjustment” comes into play.
Like so many professional anglers will tell you, bass fishing is all about decision making. Anglers that make the right adjustments at the right time are usually the ones holding up the trophy at the end of the day.
Bass fishing is becoming more and more difficult even with all the great lures and equipment we have as anglers. The days of going out and catching a hundred bass in a day are pretty much gone. Why? I feel it’s all because of one word, “pressure.”
Boat ramps that used to be empty Monday through Thursday, are now full seven days a week. The bass never get a break from the pressure with so many anglers on the water every single day. Also, we now have Livescope, a tool that allows anglers to go after every bass.
Today, there’s no longer a safe haven for bass to retreat to and get a break from all the fishing pressure. Daily, bass are chased and pursued all over the lake with no time to recover.
This is why so many tournaments today are won by anglers who make the right decisions and adjustments in order to put themselves in position for the win or cash a check.
‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to wear your life jacket every time your big engine is running.
Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com
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