As we close 2025 and welcome 2026, all of us at the Red River Parish Journal would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our readers. Your continued support, engagement, and trust mean more to us than we can put into words. Every story read, shared, and discussed helps keep local news alive and connected.

The new year brings a fresh start — a chance to reflect on where we’ve been and look ahead to what’s possible. Whether 2026 holds new goals, new challenges, or simply more moments spent with the people who matter most, we hope it’s a year filled with health, happiness, and opportunity for you and your family.

We look forward to continuing to share the stories that matter most to our community in the year ahead — the milestones, the memories, and the everyday moments.

To allow our staff time to enjoy the holiday with family and friends, RRPJ will take Friday, January 2 off.
You can find the next publication Monday morning at 6:55am in your email, online at redriverparishournal.com or on our Facebook page with all your local coverage of news you can’t get anywhere else.

From all of us at RRPJ, Happy New Year! Here’s to a bright and promising 2026!

 Riverdale Academy is celebrating a remarkable achievement in its basketball program as senior standout Mary Claire Jones recently surpassed 2,000 career points, marking her as one of the school’s most accomplished athletes.

The daughter of Tyler Jones and Julie Colley Jones, Jones has been a driving force on the court since her freshman year. Early in the 2025/2026 season, she reached the impressive milestone of 2,001 points, a testament to her dedication and skill.

Her impact extends beyond athletics. Teacher Bethany Seals praised Mary Claire for her work ethic and humility, describing her as “a great student and role model for younger students and athletes.” Seals added, “The work she has put in over the years has paid off for sure! She is so humble and just a great young lady all the way around!”

After the game, Jones expressed gratitude to those who supported her journey. “Thank you everyone for making this possible for me. Thank you to my coaches who believe in me. A huge thank you to my dad for keeping up with points each game and being my biggest fan. Lastly, thank you to my momma who is my loudest cheerleader, “she said.

With her achievements and character, Mary Claire Jones continues to inspire both her teammates and the entire Riverdale Academy Community.

From the desk of Stuart Shaw, Clerk of Court

The Board of Election Supervisors will meet on Friday, January 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Registrar’s Office and draw the names of persons to serve as commissioners in charge of the year 2025.

As the new year approaches, many of us will be compiling our New Year’s resolutions, a tradition that dates back to 2000 B.C. in ancient Babylon.  The Babylonians held their New Year’s celebrations during a 12-day festival called Akitu which began with the first new moon after the vernal equinox, usually in what is now March.  Their New Year began with the beginning of their farming season.  One common resolution from their agricultural-based society was the return of borrowed farm equipment.  The ancient Romans adopted this Babylonian celebration along with the tradition of New Year’s resolutions.  In 46 B.C., the Romans reformed the calendar year and created the Julian calendar which was named after Roman dictator Julius Caesar.  The Julian calendar officially set January 1^st as the New Year’s Day.               

In more recent history, people have shifted their resolutions away from returning borrowed farm equipment to what has become the most popular New Year’s resolution of all, improved fitness.  When 29-year-old Jeane Mortenson sat down in the winter of 1955 and scribbled her extensive list of resolutions for the upcoming year on the first page of her Gucci address book, she focused mainly on her career.  Jeane was in the midst of a very successful career, but she was unhappy.  In the margin, probably as an afterthought, Jeane scribbled, “Try to enjoy myself when I can – I’ll be miserable enough as it is.” 

While most people list a maximum of three resolutions, Jeane detailed 11 resolutions.  Her first four resolutions dealt with going to classes in her career field.  Her first resolution was, “go to class – my own always – without fail.”  Another resolution showed her determination toward her craft.  She wrote, “go as often as possible to observe…other private classes.”  She continued, “keep looking around me – only much more so – observing – but not only myself but others and everything – take things (it) for what they (it’s) are worth.”  In her list, she made notes on correcting certain aspects of her life.  She wrote, “must make strong effort to work on current problems and phobias that out of my past has arisen – making much much much more more more more more effort in my analisis [sic]. And be there always on time – no excuses for being ever late.”  Jeane resolved to take at least one class in literature and to take dancing lessons.  While most of our lists of New Year’s resolutions would begin with improving physical health, that was last on Jeane’s list.  She scribbled, “take care of my instrument – personally & bodily (exercise).”   

Despite Jeane’s seemingly constant feeling of miserableness, her list of New Year’s resolutions allows us to see how determined she was to make the most of the opportunities she had earned or had been given.  By the time she scribbled these New Year’s resolutions in December of 1955, Jeane had appeared in 26 films, she had become a star, and there were several more films to come.  On February 23, 1956, just two months after she scribbled her New Year’s resolutions, Jeane legally changed her name to the one she used in her professional career.  Jeane ultimately became more than a star; she became a pop culture icon.  Everyone knows Norma Jeane Mortenson as Marilyn Monroe. 

Sources:

1.     Catherine Boeckmann, “The Interesting History Behind New Year’s Resolutions,” The Old Farmer’s Almanac, Almanac.com, December 17, 2025, accessed December 21, 2025, https://www.almanac.com/history-of-new-years-resolutions.

2.     “Marilyn Monroe’s Go-Getter List of New Year’s Resolutions (1955),” Open Culture, January 1, 2015, accessed December 21, 2025, https://www.openculture.com/2015/01/marilyn-monroes-go-getter-list-of-new-years-resolutions-1955.html.

3.     “Marilyn Monroe,” ImDB.com, accessed December 21, 2025, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000054/?ref_=fn_t_1.

Red River Parish will see a mix of mild temperatures and changing skies to ring in 2026.

Wednesday will be sunny with mild temperatures in the mid-60s, offering a comfortable midweek day. 

Thursday continues a similar pattern with mostly sunny skies and highs near 70°F. 

Friday really warms up with partly cloudy skies and high near 80. 

Saturday should stay mild with partly cloudy conditions and highs in the mid-60s — another enjoyable day for outdoor activities or weekend plans.

Sunday features a mix of sunshine and clouds. Highs will be around 65.

Funeral services for Paul Donald “Donnie” Council, Jr., 64, of Martin, LA will be held at 1 P.M. Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Richard Kaufman officiating. Interment will follow in Clear Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 P.M. until 8 P.M. Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at the funeral home.

Mr. Council was born May 16, 1961, in Shreveport, LA and passed away December 28, 2025. Donnie was a man full of life. He was a true jokester who experienced much pleasure from his pranks. He was also an avid Houston Texans and Houston Astros fan. He loved his family dearly and loved bragging about his grandchildren who were the light of his life.

He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Donald Council, Sr.; maternal grandparents, Rhoda and Harben Sallee; and paternal grandparents, Paul and Ethel Council.

Mr. Council is survived by one son, Paul Donald Council, III and wife, Melissa of Houston, TX; two daughters, Angela Rodriguez and husband, Jesse of Dallas, TX and Crystal King of Dallas, TX; mother, Paulett Council of Martin, LA; two brothers, Terry Council of Martin, LA and Gary Council and wife, Kathy of Martin, LA; two sisters, Brenda Echols and husband, Jeff of Martin, LA and Diane Petersen and husband, Lee of Martin, LA; five granddaughters; three grandsons; numerous nieces and nephews; and his special buddy, Oreo.

Pallbearers will be Terry Council, D.J. Council, Jacob Council, Lee Wayne Petersen, Jr., Glenn Weldon, and Brooklyn Delmonico. Honorary pallbearer will be Chris Weldon.

As things wind down in 2025, I continue to question where we are headed with college athletics. Let me preface this article by saying that, yes, I’m old school when it comes to college athletes being paid. It’s just not right in my opinion, though I do believe in “reasonable” compensation.

Why is it no longer good enough to get a full scholarship and leave college with a degree that sets up a student-athlete for the rest of their life? Why does that no longer have value?

I’m all for subsidizing these athletes so they can go out and enjoy a pizza or go to a movie with a date, but we have now surpassed the idea of a little “spending money” to have a good time and enjoy college life.

As a former college athlete, I get that in the past certain athletes have been taken advantage of. I also get the positive financial impact some athletes can have on a university. But what we are doing with regard to paying college athletes is out of control!

Let’s not deceive ourselves into thinking this is something new. Ever since the beginning of college athletics, certain athletes with gifted abilities have always been catered to in some form. From the early days, the prized recruits might get a meal paid for or maybe a cow and some land given to their family—all due to an athlete’s ability to play at a high level.

In the 1970s, some elite athletes received cars as a gift or incentive to sign with a particular university. In certain instances, it took a briefcase full of money or a well-paying job for mom or dad to get a kid to sign. Some athletes were given high-paying summer jobs that exceeded the normal minimum-wage jobs other students got.

So, great athletes have been catered to for decades! But in 2025, this has gone above and beyond a car or a good-paying summer job. Today, kids are getting millions of dollars up front just to sign with a university—players who have yet to play a down or a minute in college.

What message are we sending to today’s young athletes with all this money being given up front?

They’re being paid whether they start or sit on the bench. What has happened to the idea of proving yourself and earning what you’re worth? Where’s the incentive for today’s athletes? Aren’t we setting them up for failure down the road?

We have placed kids on a pedestal and lifted their egos to levels never seen before! The word “entitlement” comes to mind as the number-one issue among all college coaches. Kids today don’t want to compete for a position—they want it given or promised to them. Oh, and coach, make sure they get some cash.

Just because they were an All-State player in high school, they think they should be starting as a true freshman and handed a starting position in college. Forget the idea of competing for a job and earning it—they expect it to be given to them! After all, they were All-District in high school.

Here’s another issue for today’s athlete. While travel ball in any sport has historically been a good thing, it has also been one of the worst things that has ever happened to so many of today’s athletes. The mindset and lessons learned through travel ball make some kids very hard to coach.

We have now raised a generation of athletes who are truly soft and uncoachable. Kids today cannot handle hard coaching and think a coach yelling at them means he or she doesn’t like them.

Over their entire careers, travel ball kids have been told how good they are and catered to. The recruitment of players, even at this level, is not beyond a few dollars being exchanged by a parent to get their kids on the right travel team.

A lot (not all) of these highly paid travel ball coaches, no matter what sport, are not in it to help develop players and make them better. Some (not all) are strictly in it to win. Winning is their primary focus, not making the kid better. But as all travel coaches know, the best way to attract the best players is to win!

Here’s the kicker with a lot of college athletes today: if they’re not happy, they’ll just transfer to another school. This is also starting to trickle down even to the high school level. If you’re not happy, transfer!

Forget competing and trying to get better—just go where they will pay you more money and promise you a starting position.

A college coach recently told me the first thing that goes through many players’ heads today after the season is over is not “How can I get better?” but “Where can I go and make more money?” Commitment and loyalty to the team have gone out the window with the bathwater, as so many athletes today are out for themselves.

Oh, I’m sure I’ll have many who will disagree with my assessment, especially those who have kids playing today. But just like a referee, I call it like I see it! This comes from someone who has coached and played at the Division I level in two sports.

I also know this: as a booster, it’s getting awfully hard to write those checks to a program where athletes only want one thing—more money. I want my money to be spent on things that will make the program better, not pay an athlete!

I can’t stand the idea that the check I’m writing is going to pay a kid to stay and play for a university that, in some cases, was the only scholarship offer they had. How about staying and playing for the college or university that made a commitment to you? How about playing for your teammates—now there’s a new concept!

If the powers that be (NCAA) don’t make some major changes to the structure and the money that college athletes can make, there’s no end to what lengths colleges will go to get the best players. As they say, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” Yay, go team!

OPINION: New Year’s Resolutions and Other Myths We Tell Ourselves
By That One Pastor Who Still Believes in Miracles, Even After Trying to Assemble IKEA Furniture

As the calendar flips to January—because apparently time insists on moving forward whether we’re ready or not—Americans everywhere are once again drafting their annual list of New Year’s resolutions. These are the same resolutions we made last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, like a Hallmark movie plot that keeps getting recycled with slightly different actors.

We all know the classics:

• “I’m going to eat healthier.”
  (Translation: I will buy kale, let it wilt in the fridge, and then throw it away with a sense of moral superiority.)
• “I’m going to exercise more.”
  (Translation: I will wear athleisure clothing while sitting on the couch.)
• “I’m going to get organized.”
  (Translation: I will buy a planner so beautiful it intimidates me, then never write in it.)

But here’s the thing: resolutions are basically promises we make to ourselves while hopped up on leftover Christmas sugar and the delusion that a new calendar equals a new personality.

Which brings me to a radical proposal for 2026:
                What if we skipped the resolutions and followed Jesus instead?

Now before you roll your eyes and say, “Pastor, that sounds like the churchy version of ‘live, laugh, love,’” hear me out. Following Jesus is not the safe, predictable, color‑coded‑planner life we imagine. It’s not even the tidy “new year, new me” vibe we try to manufacture every January.

Following Jesus is… well… an adventure.

And not the kind of adventure where you book a cruise and spend seven days eating shrimp cocktail. I mean the kind where you wake up and say, “Lord, I have no idea what You’re doing today, but please don’t let it involve snakes, public speaking, or me having to apologize to someone before coffee.”

Jesus has a way of inviting us into things we never would’ve put on our resolution list:

• “Love your enemies.”
  (Not on anyone’s planner.)
• “Forgive seventy times seven.”
  (Also not on anyone’s planner.)
• “Feed my sheep.”
  (We prefer feeding ourselves.)
• “Take up your cross.”
  (Definitely not on the planner.)

But here’s the twist: while our resolutions tend to fizzle out by mid‑January—right around the time the gym parking lot empties and the kale turns brown—Jesus’ invitations don’t depend on our willpower. They depend on His grace.

And grace, unlike my treadmill, actually works.

Following Jesus won’t give you a slimmer waistline or a color‑coded pantry, but it will give you something far better: purpose, joy, courage, and the kind of hope that doesn’t expire on January 31.

So this year, instead of resolving to become a slightly improved version of yourself, maybe resolve to follow the One who already knows who you’re becoming.

It’s riskier. It’s wilder. It’s holier.
And yes—it’s far more adventurous than kale.

Happy New Year, friends. May your 2026 be full of grace, laughter, and the kind of holy surprises that make you say, “Only Jesus could’ve pulled that off.”

Letter to the Editor

As this letter is published on December 31, many of us are doing what we always do at year’s end—looking back, taking stock, and quietly thinking about what we want to do better in the year ahead.

From a woman’s point of view, one resolution worth making in 2026 is simple: stop mansplaining.

Mansplaining is not a disagreement. It is not a healthy debate. And it is certainly not men expressing opinions. Mansplaining happens when a man explains something to a woman in a patronizing or condescending way, often assuming she lacks knowledge or understanding—sometimes even when she is the most qualified person in the room.

Most women recognize it instantly. It shows up as being talked over, corrected unnecessarily, or lectured on subjects we already understand—our professions, our finances, our health, our lived experiences. It often arrives disguised as helpfulness, wrapped in phrases like, “What you need to understand is…” or “Let me explain this in simple terms.”

Whether intentional or not, the effect is the same. It diminishes women’s voices, discourages participation, and reinforces outdated assumptions about who holds authority. In workplaces, it chips away at credibility. In civic discussions, it narrows perspective. In everyday life, it undermines respect.

Ending mansplaining does not require silence. It requires listening. It requires recognizing that women come to the table with knowledge, experience, and expertise that do not need translation or approval. It means entering conversations as equals, not default instructors.

As we step into a new year, striving for better habits and stronger communities, this is one change that costs nothing—and improves everything. Conversations are richer, decisions are smarter, and communities are stronger when everyone is heard without being talked down to.

If we are serious about doing better in 2026, this is a resolution worth keeping.

Ida B. Torn
A Woman Who Knows What She’s Talking About

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Louisiana Tech completed the 4th quarter comeback to become the 45th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl champions!

Students attending Red River Parish Public Schools will return to class Tuesday, Jan 6.

Red River Woman Church will be held Jan 6 at 6pm. Speaker will be Rhetta Thomas and worship led by Jennifer Breedlove. Dinner will be provided. Join in at The Shop, 1942 Hwy 507.

Louisiana is among three states to have very high flu activity, with more than 3500 cases state wide.

Louisiana State Parks are celebrating the new year with a First Day Hike at state parks or historical sites around the state. First Day Hike participants will enjoy FREE admission. See the complete list of parks/sites at https://www.lastateparks.com/First-Day-Hikes

New Orleans Saints superstar Alvin Kamara has been named by TIME magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Global Sports.

The Harlem Globetrotters: 100 Year Tour will make a stop in Bossier Jan 20 at 7pm. What started with Curly, Meadowlark, Wilt, and Geese continues on today with Hammer, Torch, Bulldog, Cheese, Jet, Wham, Thunder, TNT, just to name a few! Taking inspiration from the fun-loving & awe-inspiring players of the past, today’s Harlem Globetrotters stars are ready to wow you on the court and in the crowd! Be there as the players dazzle, dunk, and hype the stands as they take on the Washington Generals with high-flying, all-out fun from start to finish.

Times Square will feature a patriotic ball drop for New Year’s Eve, kicking off US’s 250th birthday.

The New Orleans Saints went undefeated in December lead by spectacular play by rookie QB Tyler Shough.

Paul “Donnie” Donald Council, Jr.
May 16, 1961 – December 28, 2025
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at 1pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel in Coushatta.

LZ Trichel
September 4 1955 – December 25, 2025
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 2, 2026 at 12 noon at New Life Evangelism Center, 4810 University Pkwy, in Natchitoches.

Calvin Ray Terry
April 4, 1958 – December 26, 2025
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 11am at Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel in Mansfield.

A social media post from a frightened mother has sparked a wave of similar accounts from drivers who say their vehicles were struck by unknown projectiles along a short stretch of Highway 71 South in Fairview.

According to the initial post, at about 8:30 p.m. on December 26, 2025, the passenger window of her daughter’s vehicle suddenly shattered. Photos shared online show a small entry point surrounded by a web of broken glass. A police report has been filed, and an investigation is underway.

The incident occurred on a roughly half‑mile section of Hwy. 71 South between Key’s Grocery and Coulee Loop Road — the exact location where several other drivers say they’ve experienced similar damage in recent months.

One woman responding to the post said her family encountered the same issue two months earlier. “This happened to my mom, who lives across from Key’s. A BB went into her arm,” she wrote.

Another driver described a frightening encounter while returning home from Natchitoches. “It was like someone shot rocks from the left-hand side of the road toward our vehicle, and it hit our windshield and front end really hard,” the commenter said. “I thought it was giant chunks of glass or white rocks, the way they hit and sounded. I saw the pieces fly across right before they hit. It scared the crap out of us.”

A third driver reported that her windshield was struck in the same area around the same time period. “No cars were in sight when I was about to pass Key’s. Something hit my windshield — the sound was awful when it hit. It scared us so badly when it busted,” she wrote.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office has been contacted for information regarding the reports. The Journal will provide updates as more details become available.

Red River native Bennie Logan has been hired as the defensive line coach at Southern University, continuing the rapid build of a high-profile coaching staff under new head coach Marshall Faulk ahead of the 2026 season.

Logan’s football journey began at Red River High School, where he laid the foundation for a standout career. He went on to become a key contributor on the defensive line at LSU from 2009–2012, earning the Tigers’ highly respected No. 18 jersey during his final season—an honor reserved for players who exemplify leadership and excellence on and off the field.

Following college, Logan spent six seasons in the NFL, suiting up for the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tennessee Titans, where he built a reputation as a reliable, physical presence in the trenches.

Most recently, Logan served as the defensive line coach at Catholic High School, helping guide the program to the Division I Select State Championship—a testament to his coaching impact and ability to develop talent.

The hiring was first reported on social media by the Southern University Quarterback Club. With Logan’s deep ties to Louisiana football and championship experience as both a player and coach, his addition further signals Faulk’s intent to assemble a staff with credibility, energy, and a winning pedigree as Southern looks ahead to 2026.

Photo: Southern University Quarterback Club social media post

After days of record-setting warmth, Red River Parish is getting a sharp reminder that winter isn’t finished yet. A strong cooldown moves in to start the week, bringing temperatures back to true winter levels.

Monday will feel dramatically different from last week’s heat, with a daytime high around 50°F and temperatures dropping to a chilly 29°F overnight. The colder air will be noticeable from morning through evening, making coats and layers a must. The day will be quite windy with 10 to 15mph.

Tuesday stays firmly on the cold side, with a high near 48°F and another freezing night expected, as lows dip to around 27°F. While skies should remain relatively calm and sunny, the cold will linger, keeping the winter feel locked in.

The sudden shift serves as a classic Louisiana weather reminder — it doesn’t take long for Red River Parish to go from spring-like warmth straight back into winter. Residents are encouraged to bundle up, protect pets and plants, and stay weather-aware as the cold stretch settles in.

Governor Jeff Landry announced that Louisiana will observe a four-day period of mourning beginning January 1 in honor of the victims of the recent tragedy in the French Quarter.

The governor said the period of mourning is intended to honor the lives lost, support grieving families, and allow the state time to reflect collectively on the impact of the incident. Flags will be flown at half-staff each of the four days. Churches, public buildings and other institutions are asked to ring their bells 14 times on January 4 at 3:15pm in honor of the 14 innocent lives lost.

In a statement, Landry emphasized the importance of standing together as a state during moments of heartbreak, noting that Louisiana’s strength has always been rooted in its sense of community and compassion.

The tragedy shook residents across the state and prompted an outpouring of support for victims and first responders. Officials say the mourning period is meant not only to remember those lost, but also to acknowledge the pain felt throughout Louisiana.

State leaders are encouraging residents to keep the victims and their families in their thoughts as the new year begins under solemn circumstances.

This story first published July 11, 2025. RRPJ is running it again to remind readers fines will begin January 1, 2026 following the grace period for the new hands-free law (HB 519) while driving.

Starting August 1, 2025, Louisiana drivers will be prohibited from using handheld mobile devices while driving—except to make voice calls via hands‑free systems like Bluetooth headsets, smartwatches, or for navigation displays.

The legislation, House Bill 519, was sponsored by Rep. Brian Glorioso (R‑Slidell) and signed by Gov. Jeff Landry, who described it as a key step in reducing distracted driving and curbing high insurance rates in the state. The law extends restrictions that were previously limited to school and construction zones to all public roadways.

What’s Prohibited

• Holding or operating a phone while driving—no calling, texting, browsing, or using social media.

• Allowed only via hands‑free systems for voice calls or navigation.

• Exception: Stationary vehicles and emergency communications—such as reporting crashes—are permitted.

Enforcement & Penalties

• Aug­ust 1 – Jan­uary 1, 2026: Law enforcement will issue warnings only—a grace period for public adjustment.

• Jan­uary 2, 2026 and onward: Fines begin—$100 outside restricted zones; $250 in school or highway construction zones. Violations during a crash may double the penalty.

• Drivers cannot be pulled over solely for handheld phone use outside restricted zones—unless they commit another traffic violation.

Distracted driving remains a leading cause of accidents. Lawmakers cite studies from other states where similar laws resulted in fewer fatalities, serious crashes, and lower insurance rates.

Louisiana Tech will play Coastal Carolina in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Tues Dec 30 at 2pm at Independence Stadium. The events leading up to the game begin today including a Mardi Gras Preview Parade rolling at 6:30pm at the Louisiana Boardwalk followed by Battle of the Bands (7:15pm at East Bank Plaza), fireworks (7:45pm, Hurricane Alley) and Concert with Parish County Line at 8pm. On Tuesday, the day gets started with the Coca-Cola Fan Fest at the State Fair Grounds from 9:30am til 12:30pm.

Louisiana is rolling into the Rose Parade on Jan 1 at 10am with a float that celebrates one of our most iconic dishes, Gumbo. “Gulf to Gumbo” features a shrimp boat, fresh Louisiana seafood and a larger-than-life pelican chef bringing it all together. Providing the mid-parade entertainment will be rising country singer and “American Idol” runner-up John Foster, a Louisiana native.

Bossier Mardi Gras Night Market Sat Jan 31 3-8pm. Parade rolls at 7:30pm. Free admission, Free parking and Free throws! 200+ Vendors & 15+ food trucks.

Study finds link between phone use after age 50 and a lower risk of cognitive decline.

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As Christmas approaches, the Red River Parish Journal would like to extend our warmest wishes to each of our readers. This season reminds us of the joy of community, the comfort of tradition, and the importance of taking time to appreciate the people who make life meaningful. We are truly grateful for your support and for the privilege of sharing Red River Parish’s stories throughout the year.

To allow our staff time to enjoy the holiday with family and friends, RRPJ will take Friday, December 26 off. We’ll return on Monday, refreshed and ready to bring you more of the news and updates that matter to our parish.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas, and may your holiday be filled with peace, warmth, and all the things that make this season bright.