Boil Advisory
Coushatta Water System
02/7/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Town of Coushatta Water system has experienced problems with our water supply system due to low pressure below 20 PSI.
Because of these problems, the water produced by our water supply system is of questionable microbiological quality.
Matt Vines
EAST POINT – Both the Riverdale Academy girls and boys basketball teams pushed through the Class A South Regional Tournament this past week and advanced to the Class A State Tournament this coming week.
The Lady Rebels (26-5) lifted the regional title by storming through their bracket, blasting Claiborne Academy 77-36 in the title game Saturday at Riverdale Academy.
Riverdale eased through the quarterfinals 69-17 against Humphreys Academy and 65-44 over Briarfield Academy in the semifinals.
“We shot the ball well all week,” said coach Trey Pittman. “We had extremely balanced scoring with different players stepping up every game.”
The boys won their quarterfinals contest 73-45 against Mt. Salus Christian, securing their spot in the upcoming state tournament with a guaranteed top-four finish in the regionals.
The Rebels (4-13) lost in the semifinals and in the third-place game, placing fourth in the tournament.
Four girls – Mary Claire Jones, Makayla Pickett, Julia Grace Riggs and Hanna Huddleston – were voted to the all-tournament team.
Tanner Carlisle represented the boys on the all-tournament team.
The girls are a No. 1 seed in the upcoming eight-team Class A state tournament at Columbus Christian.
They face No. 4 seed Columbus Christian on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
The boys play directly after as the No. 4 seed Rebels take on No. 1 seed Columbus Christian.
Matt Vines
SUPERINTENDENT’S LIST
NERIAH JANETTE BEAVERS
CHRISTOPHER DAY JR
KALEIGH AMBRIELLE DEMERY
LEVI GLEN EDWARDS
EMMA FREDERICK
MICHAELA NICOLE HENDERSON
MAKENZIE MONEE HOUSLEY
BARRETT RAY WILLIAM MANGHAM
IVORY-AUNA ELAINE PUEBLO
LILLIAN MAY THOMAS
M`KAYVA MADASON WARD
KENTRELL DASHAWN WILLIAMS
PRINCIPAL’S HONOR ROLL
MACI BELLARD
BRIAN DURAND BOLYER JR
KENNIDIE MINEOLA BRADLEY BONNER
MADISON ELIZABETH BREEDLOVE
ELIZABETH JOY DEMARY
ALANAH CIMONE DEMERY
JOHNARI ELISE DUPLANTIS
RI`YANNA D`YANIRA FRAZIER
RYANN ELICEIA HELAIRE
JA`NIYAH JONAE HORTON
ALONDRA JACK
JOSEPH TEREL JENKINS JR
SAMUEL ZAYNE KEITH
ABAGAIL KNOTTS
GABRIELLE ALESE LEEPER
IZABELLE CLAIRE LEEPER
LOGAN ALAN LINDSEY
KINGSTON BLAKE MARTIN
ADIEN JOSIAH MAXIE
LINDSEY BRYNN MCCRORY
KAMYDEN KEYONNTE SHAMAR
ANDREW LEE PETERSEN
RICHARD ANTHONY PAUL PHILLIPS
ABIGAIL DARLENE PRICE
EYAN SMELLEY
TORAH LAKAI SMITH
ZECHARIAH MARTEZ SMITH
PHILLIP TERRELL SWEENEY JR
VERNON LEE TERRELL I
MY KAYLAH ZY` ELL THOMAS
BAYLEE GRACE WEAVER
ARYS JAMES WILLIAMSON
ELIJAH LANE WILLIAMSON
MASON MARQUIS WILLIS
EMMA LYNN WOODARD
HONOR ROLL
JAXON LAYNE BLOUNT
GARY JOHN BRADEN III
SCOTTY BRISKER JR
MCKENZIE NAKEL CALDWELL
PEYTON RYDER CALDWELL
BRAXTON O`BRYAN CALHOUN
DOMINIQUE JERMAINE CASSON JR
TRINITY ALIGHIA DOWLEN
KAIDEN TREMEL HUMPHERY
CYPRESS ALAIYAH JACKSON
KYRSTIN RE`NAE JONE
ALLIE GRACE KELLOGG
CHRISTIAN MIMS
TEDIE DESHUN NELSON JR
GWYNETH GAYLE PALMER
BAILEE ARRYN RANEY
SIRE DEANTE` REEVES
RE`BEKAH RE`NEE SCOTT
REMINGTON CARTER SHAVER
A`DYN JAE SOLTON
TE AUNNA AMBRIYEL TAYLOR
SHA` RIYAH DEONA WILLIAMS
Matt Vines
COUSHATTA – Coming off another playoff appearance, the Red River baseball team opens the 2026 regular season Monday at Zwolle at 6 p.m.
The Bulldogs couldn’t replicate its historic 2024 season in which the program advanced to its quarterfinals, but Red River did make it back to the playoffs as a No. 23 seed and lost in the first round to Doyle.
Now championship caliber head coach Todd Moore will see what’s in store in his third season at the helm.
That 2024 team featured an experienced roster that sent four players to the collegiate level.
There are still remnants of that roster in 2026 with players like Kade Martinez, Elijah Murphy, Cameron Jones, Porter Williamson and Nolan Moore.
But Red River will need to develop pitching after losing Aston Hester and John Dickey IV on the mound.
Murphy did start the second game of the first-round playoff series, and he’ll surely be an arm on which Red River will rely this season.
After the opener against Zwolle, Red River turns around and hosts Florien on Tuesday in the home opener.
The schedule sprinkles in district games throughout as everybody is chasing reigning champion Lakeside. In 2025, Red River swept Mansfield in a two-game set but managed just one combined win against Winnfield, Many and Lakeside.
Red River finished the season 9-13.
Other notable non-district matchups include Minden (Feb. 23), Choudrant (March 2), Parkway (March 3), and North DeSoto (March 20).
Pictured is Cade Kelly of Quitman with the 10.0 lb largemouth bass he caught on Grand Bayou Reservoir
in Coushatta on January 16, 2026. Kelly plans to have a replica of the fish made under Grand Bayou
Resort’s Lunker program.
The resort and Grand Bayou Reservoir District will pay for replicas of any bass caught at the lake that is
over 10 pounds. If the fisherman wants a replica, the fish must first be officially weighed by resort
personnel, then returned to the lake alive and in good condition. Now, get out there and fish!
Photo credit Grand Bayou Resort staff.
On January 31, 2026, the Krewe of Dionysos hosted their Grand Bal XXVIII in the Natchitoches Events
Center under the thrilling theme Krewe of Dionysos Around the World." Brett Garfinkel served as the Grand event’s emcee, and Louisiana Red was the band for the evening.
The Krewe took guests on a trip of a lifetime, with four different destinations, which required a passport
provided to each ‘traveler’, complete with country stamps. The Krewe’s first stop was in Egypt, where
Captain Dionysos Brandi McManus made her debut with her page, Eleanor Grace Picou. After a brief in-flight entertainment, the Junior Court was presented.
Lainey Bennett – Daughter of Krewe Members Jeremy Bennett and Hillary Bennett.
Ava Broadway – Daughter of Lindsey Broadway; Granddaughter of Krewe Member Shelby Borders.
Landon Carney – Son of Lonny Carney, Jr and Katie Dunn Carney; Grandson of Krewe Member Cindy
Dunn.
Andrew Cockrell – Son of Brian Cockrell and Dr. Jennifer Poynter Cockrell; Grandson of Charter Member
Brenda Poynter Reinhart and Krewe Member Paul Reinhart and the late Charter Member Mike Poynter.
Chalin Gandy – Son of Krewe Member Charlie Gandy and Matt Gandy.
Matthew Mayeux – Son of Krewe Member Dr. Michelle Ingram Mayeux and Chris Mayeux; Grandson of
Charter Krewe Members Lucille Ingram and the late Ralph Ingram.
Kinsley McManus – Daughter of Melissa Brumley; the late David McManus and Captain Brandi
McManus.
Ava Grace Mitchell – Daughter of Krewe Members Rick and Crystal Mitchell.
Addison Price – Daughter of Krewe Members Brad and Daviona Price.
Izabella “Izzy” Smith – Daughter of Keith and Jessica Brown; Granddaughter of Krewe Members Jerry
and Darlene McElwee.
Queen Dionysos Jodi Shirley made her debut with her pages James David Shirley and Georgiana Lee
Shirley; followed by King Dionysos Dr. Ted Jordan.
Next stop for the guests was Italy with the Duke and Duchess of Dance, Billy Meziere and Stacie
Lonadier, where gladiators joined the two for their parade around the room.
The Duke and Duchess of Destiny, Shelby Borders and Elizabeth Greely, landed the flight in Brazil.
Brazilian Dancers entertained the audience with an amazing dance and colorful costumes, while the
Duke & Duchess paraded around the room.
The flight landed in China next, with tumblers and a Chinese dragon greeting the Duke and Duchess of
Decadence, John Greely and Kristina Meziere
The fourth and final stop was New York City, with the Duke and Duchess of Desire, Chris Garcia and Cathy McCauslin. As the royalty paraded one last time, the Times Square Ball dropped to begin the Mardi Gras Party. The King toasted the travelers and kicked off the start of the Grand Bal.
The next stop on the itinerary for the Krewe will be Natchitoches, LA, for the Mardi Gras Parade on
February 14, 2026!
If your group would like to participate in our February 14, 2026 parade, participation forms can be
submitted online through our website, https://kreweofdionysos.com/parade/, and completing the PARADE PARTICIPATION FORM. Questions or correspondence can be sent to KreweOfDionysos@gmail.com or SarpyL71@gmail.com.
Monday:
Areas of patchy fog early then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 78F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10mph.
Partly cloudy overnight. Low 58F. Winds light and variable.
Tuesday:
Cloudy. High 77F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15mph.
Overcast overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Susan Cartwright, State Representative for Celebrate Recovery (CR) Will be at Amazing Grace Baptist Church, 7387 U.S. Highway 371, Coushatta, Sunday February 15, 2026 at 11:00 am. She will present a program, “7 Reasons Why I Believe in CR” and answer questions following. CR is a Christ centered recovery and support program for all hurts, hangup, and habits – including chemical addictions and life issues. For additional information contact Frank Rose at 318-218-5853, Virgie Rose at 318-218-5853 or Pastor R. Joseph Carey at 318-521-5665. Everyone is welcome!
Red River High School will hold its Black History Program Feb 26 at 9am. The public is invited to attend.
An Artificial Intelligence Workshop will be held at the Red River Parish Library on Tuesday, March 3. There will be a morning session 10:00-12:00, and an afternoon session 2:00-4:00. The sessions will be the same (Part 1). Part 2 Sessions will be scheduled for April 28th. The instructor will be Toby DeVille. For more information and to register, call 318-932-5614.
Historic LSUS baseball winning streak ends at 65.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit 50,000 for the first time on Friday.
American skier Lindsey Vonn crashed seconds into her downhill Olympic race Sunday after choosing to compete after tearing her left ACL in a World Cup event a week earlier. She was airlifted and underwent surgery for a fractured leg.
The Dallas Cowboys are expected to place their franchise tag on Pro Bowl wide receiver George Pickens.
NONE
After several delays due to the winter storm, Riverdale’s much anticipated reading fair was held on February 3. With every student in the school participating this year’s event was all anyone could talk about.
Bethany Seales, coordinator of the event, stated that this was the best and biggest reading fair the school has ever had. “The judges were impressed by many of the projects and the level of competition. Choosing first and second place was tough in the lower grades especially.”
Seales went on to say that none of this could be possible without the wonderful staff and fabulous volunteer judges.
Winners of the fair will be moving on to the district level. “Good Luck to Everyone!”
2026 Riverdale Academy Reading Fair Winners
1st Grade
Nonfiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Freya Bamburg
Fiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Ava Kate Woodard
2nd Place Project and Character Portrayal – Ella Rae Pickett
2nd Grade
Fiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Mallory Paul
2nd Place Project and Character Portrayal – Tilden Townsend
3rd Grade
Nonfiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Hudson Bufkin
Fiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Jase Woodard
2nd Place Project and Character Portrayal – Deacon Gates
4th Grade
Fiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Lydia Paul
2nd Place Project and Character Portrayal – Teagan Vargan
Group Fiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Peyton Bierden and Jillie Shaver
2nd Place Project and Character Portrayal – Caysen Gates and Alexis Yount
5th Grade
Fiction
1st Place Project – Hadley Brice
2nd Place Project – John Murphy
Group Fiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Remi Bamberg and Ella Kate Pickett
2nd Place Project and Character Portrayal – Annelise Cason and Lauren Woodard
6th Grade
Nonfiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Adalyn Halbmaier
2nd Place Project and Character Portrayal – Jesse Jowers
Fiction
1st Place Project – Noah Guillory
2nd Place Project and 1st Place Character Portrayal – Ava Grace Waters
7th – 9th Grades
Group Nonfiction
1st Place Project – Dally Bell and Trevor Bell
Individual Fiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – William McCoy
2nd Place Project – Caden Spradley
Group Fiction
1st Place Project – Layla Pearah and Kylie Phillips
2nd Place Project – Jentry Bounds and Hope Williamson
1st Place Character Portrayal – Grayci Bamberg and Avery Longino
2nd Place Character Portrayal – Landen Bierden and Benton Yount
10th – 12th Grades
Nonfiction
1st Place Project and Character Portrayal – Layken Gates
Fiction
1st Place – Krista Mancil
2nd Place – Emma Giddings
Group Nonfiction
1st Place Project – Ben Moseley, Mason Wilhite, and Tyler Wilhite
2nd Place Project and 1st Place Character Portrayal- Easton Cason, Sam Murray, and Edward York
Group Fiction
1st Place Project and 1st Place Character Portrayal – Makayla Pickett, Julia Grace Riggs, and Charity Williamson
2nd Place Project – Bailey Borders and Maddi Nettles
2nd Place Character Portrayal
Tie – Ayla Knotts and Lexi Mancil; Cannon Breedlove, Hayden Cason, and Jackson Hillman
Red River Elementary Head Start presented “Let the Good Times Roll” parade for students and the community on February 5.
The students learned about the traditions of Louisiana Mardi Gras and were greeted by the Krewe of Dionysos, who helped lead the parade.
Matt Vines
The postseason officially kicked off Thursday night for the Riverdale Academy girls basketball team as the No. 1 seed Lady Rebels dusted No. 3 seed Humphreys Academy by a score of 69-17.
The Lady Rebels (24-5) punched their ticket to the Class 1A state tournament by advancing to the South Regional semifinals, where they will face Briarfield Academy on Friday at 4 p.m.
Briarfield easily handled No. 3 seed Franklin Academy by a score of 64-28 in the second round Wednesday.
Riverdale beat Briarfield three times this past season, twice in district play and once in the postseason. But the teams are in different districts this season and have not played.
To reach the second round, Riverdale earned a first-round bye while Humphreys skated past No. 2 Wilkinson County Christian by a score of 53-14.
RIVERDALE BOYS
For a young Riverdale team that’s been growing into its own this season, the Rebels will have the opportunity to grow some more.
No. 2 seed Riverdale knocked off No. 3 seed Mt. Salus Christian by a score of 73-45 in the second round of the Class 1A South Regional tournament.
The Rebels (4-11) will play Friday at 7:45 p.m. in the semifinals against the winner of No. 1 seed Woodlawn Prep and No. 2 seed Humphreys Academy (played late Thursday night).
Riverdale finds itself back in the state tournament after missing that round this past season.
Matt Vines
Red River boys can secure district championship with win
The Red River boys opened the second half of District 3-2A in a big way by hammering Many 95-49 at home Tuesday.
The Bulldogs (15-8, 5-0) can clinch the district championship with a win at Mansfield tonight, which tips at 7:30 p.m.
Mansfield is in second place with a 3-2 mark, and a Red River win would give the Wolverines three district losses with two game remaining.
Red River won the first meeting in a 74-38 blowout.
While the Bulldogs have played other teams close (77-68 win at Many and a 69-58 win at Winnfield), recent games have not been competitive.
Red River exploded in wins of 71-18 over one-win Lakeside and the 46-point win against Many.
The Bulldogs are currently the No. 5 seed in Division III Non-Select.
Red River girls can take district lead tonight
The Red River girls basketball team will pack its bags for Mansfield on Friday with a chance to grab District 3-2A by the horns.
Both the Lady Bulldogs (16-12, 4-1) and Lady Wolverines (14-10, 4-1) have just one district loss each, and a Red River win means the Lady Bulldogs sweep the season series against Mansfield.
Red River’s lone district loss came to Many, but the Bulldogs avenged that loss in a big way Tuesday with a 58-43 win.
The Lady Bulldogs did have a let down against Class 5A Captain Shreve in a 64-28 loss, but the program has won seven of its past nine contests.
Red River sits squarely in the first-round home playoff realm at No. 11 Division III Non-Select.
Four Red River boys selected to play in All-Star game
Four Red River basketball players were picked to play in 2026 Beat of the Week Basketball All-Star Game on April 26 at Wossman High in Monroe.
Seniors Malique Smith, Demarche Newton, Collin Stafford and Warren Bowman will be part of 50 basketball seniors from across the ArkLaMiss and Texas selected to participate.
The 50 players will be split into multiple teams in a series of games in front of college scouts.
Superintendent’s List
Zikeriyia Babers
Tylan Beavers
Destiney Bohannon
Ja’Nyla Caldwell
Sha’Nyla Caldwell
Tanner Cason
Payton Christen
Ty Cole
Delton Cornnor
Fa’Dasia Demery
Ava Dickey
Wylan French
Kinya Gray
Calib Grigg
Tyra Jones
Lathyn Lewis
Erah Lillo
Johnny Meshell
Emily Morgan
Mary Morse
Brooke Newton
Jailee Palmer
Ashlee Procell
Joshua Thomas
Zachary Thompson
Madilynn Vangundy
Alyssa Young
Principal’s Honor Roll
Manal Al-Edresi
Kolten Antilley
Javia Ashton
Jeremiah Avellaneda
Christopher Blanchard
Darcey Bohannon
Warren Bowman III
Angel Bradley
Lauryn Bradley
Kristionna Calhoune
Stethan Chatman
Ah’Miya Clark
Ke’Asha Clark
Leanne Czupich
Brent Danzy
Arian Demery
Raymond Eichorn
Gavin Franks
Kayla Fredieu
Iva Hanson
Trinitie Heyl
Taleha Hill
Morgan Housley
Adrina Jackson
Zaria Jackson
Arie’l Jefferson
Cayden Johnson
Nevaeh Johnson
Macie Keith
Mazya Maxie
Christian Miles
NJerika Miller
Logan Mims
Denelle Mitchell
Royunna Moore
Elijah Murphy
Randell Nash
Viktor Novosad
Brandon Palmer
Julianna Price
Cody Procell
Skylar Robinson
Emmanuel Scott
Antasia Smith
Maximus Street
Micheal Sullivan
Bri’aunna Taylor
Samanatha Taylor
Brody Tong
Ga’leah Williams
Jaskyla Williams
Porter Williamson
Rihanna Wilson
Brenton Winn
Markendria Winn
Honor Roll
Ziya Allen
Josiah Calhoun
Carson Ezernack
Connor Franks
Knute Lund
J.D. was born in 1924 near Annona, Texas. He was the eldest of seven children. His father, Edgar, named him J.D. after the character in a book. The initials stood for nothing. According to his family, J.D. was “a prankster, and a cutup, and a ham. He always loved being with folks who he could cutup with; people who understood his humor, and all his inside jokes.” When he was about 15 years old, J.D. quit school to help his father run the family farm. When the United States entered World War II, J.D. wanted to do his part, but he felt his duty was to help his father provide for the family. From 1941 until July 1944, J.D.’s family could tell that his decision was bothering him. J.D.’s sister Joyce remembered that J.D. had “been acting like he had something on his mind and he was real edgy, which wasn’t like him because he was a pretty carefree, happy-go-lucky kind of guy.” Later that day, July 21, 1944, J.D. enlisted in the Army where he became a paratrooper. J.D. spent months in heavy combat. In January 1945, he was injured while fighting in the Rhine Valley, the final major barrier between the Allies and Germany. When he learned he was to be awarded the Purple Heart, he refused it. The Army ultimately awarded him the Bronze Star for his combat duty.
Following the war, J.D. returned to farming alongside his father. In December 1946, J.D. married his high school sweetheart and moved to Dallas for better employment opportunities, along with other creature comforts such as electricity and indoor plumbing. J.D. worked at the Dearborn Stove Company followed by Sears, Roebuck & Company. After getting laid off from Sears and a failed stint at farming, J.D. decided to become a police officer. In June 1952, he joined the Dallas Police Department where he was assigned to the Oak Cliff area of Dallas.
J.D. had several notable incidents while a police officer. On April 28, 1956, J.D. and his partner Daniel Smith responded to a call in which a man was threatening to kill his wife with an ice pick. J.D. and Daniel arrived and confronted the man. While trying to subdue the man, Daniel was stabbed in the shoulder and J.D. in the stomach and right kneecap. Despite their injuries, they arrested the man and received treatment at a nearby hospital. Five months later, on September 2, 1956, J.D. and officer Dale Hankins stopped at a bar called Club 80 for a routine check. While there, J.D. recognized a man from a wanted poster and asked him to step outside. The man stood, pulled a pistol, pointed it at J.D.’s face, and pulled the trigger. Snap! J.D. and Dale pulled their pistols, fired multiple shots, and killed the man. Luckily for J.D., the man had failed to take his pistol off safety. J.D. received the Meritorious Award and a commendation for his “outstanding judgment and quick thinking.”
Seven years later, J.D. was on patrol in the Oak Cliff area when a police dispatcher provided the details of a shooting suspect. At about 1:15 p.m., J.D. saw someone who fit the provided description near East 10th and North Patton streets. Based on eyewitness accounts, J.D. spoke to the suspect through his passenger side window briefly and exited his car. The suspect pulled a pistol, shot J.D. four times, and fled the scene. A passerby used J.D.’s own police radio to call for help, but there was nothing anyone could do. After 11 years as a police officer, J.D. Tippit’s final shift ended at that intersection where a memorial plaque now stands, but it led to the arrest of the man who killed him, the same man who, just 45 minutes earlier, had killed President John F. Kennedy.
Source: “J.D. Tippit, Brother, Husband, Father, Friend,” JDTippit.com, accessed January 18, 2026, https://www.jdtippit.com/happen_nov.htm.
Friday:
Sunny. High 80F. Winds W at 5 to 10mph.
Clear skies overnight. Low 44F. Winds light and variable.
Saturday:
Sunny. High 67F. Winds light and variable.
Partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 41F. Winds light and variable.
Sunday:
Sunshine and clouds mixed with a high around 75F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10mph.
Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming cloudy overnight. Areas of patchy fog, Low around 55F. Winds light and variable.
Mardi Gras season in North Louisiana kicks off soon!
Coushatta:
Coushatta Mardi Gras Parade Sunday, February 15. Rolls at 3pm from Red River Parish Fairgrounds and ending on Front Street. Line up at Red River Parish Fairgrounds at 2pm. Jerry Guye III will serve as Grand Marshall. All vendors will be at the Coushatta Ball Park. A festival celebration will be held post-parade with live DJs, entertainment, and vendor booths.
Surrounding Area:
Krewe of Centaur Parade February 7 at 3:30pm in Shreveport/Shreve City.
Krewe of Barkus & Meoux Pet Parade February 8 at 2pm in Bossier City/Louisiana Downs.
Krewe of Dionysos Parade February 14 at 6pm in Natchitoches.
Krewe of Gemini Parade February 14 at 3:30pm in Downtown Shreveport.
Krewe of Highland Parade February 15 at 2pm in Highland Historic District Shreveport.
The Krewe of the 9 Parade has been postponed until February 21 at 12pm in Natchitoches. Bennie Logan will serve as Grand Marshall.
The Krewe of Aquarius Parade has been postponed until February 21 at 6pm in Logansport.
Over the years of playing both baseball and football, along with fishing tournaments, so many of my life’s lessons have come from playing or participating in sports. Some lessons we learn the hard way and some we learn through experience. Today, we’ll look at a couple of lessons I learned even when things didn’t always go the way I wanted.
This first lesson I learned came very early in my baseball career. In my hometown of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, my baseball playing days started at the age of 7 in what was called Pee Wee League.
Spending my first summer in MP with my aunt and uncle, we lived on the west side of the town.
It was an awesome neighborhood where everyone knew each other. Every day we played baseball on a sandlot or on one of the neighbor’s side yards. Several windows were broken during these summer battles and like most kids our age, trouble wasn’t far behind.
Then the day came for Pee Wee League tryouts. There were six teams in the league with a lot of very good players. This is where a man by the name of Coach James Stansell shaped and instilled confidence in me to be the best baseball player I could be.
The day before tryouts, he asked me to pull back during the evaluation. He wanted me to “look bad” so that other coaches would not draft me onto their team. Being the new kid on the block, he did not want the other coaches knowing the ability I had.
This was hard for me to go out and miss ground balls and look silly on fly balls as if I had never played before. But I played along and pretended I could not even throw a baseball much less catch one.
Lo and behold, Coach Stansell called later that night and told me that I was going to play for him and the Yankees!
The best part of all this was that our entire neighborhood, including my best friend Kevin, was going to be playing for the Yankees. And oh, how good we were! Over the course of two seasons, the Yankees went 24-0 for two straight years and won back-to-back city championships!
Then at the age of 9 it was time to move up to the next level called Minor League. But then there was a draft, and this time there was no fooling the coaches into thinking I could not play.
When it came to the draft, the team that finished last in the league the year before got the first pick of the draft, which meant it would be the Tigers.
Tigers head coach Ted Leach took advantage of this opportunity and picked me first in the draft. This was the last team I wanted to get picked by, because they were horrible and for the previous two years hardly ever won a game.
When Coach Leach came to my house and told me I was his first pick, I wanted to cry but didn’t. They were absolutely the worst team every year! But he assured me that these Tigers were not going to be losers.
Then later that same night, Coach Stansell came by the house and explained how he was not able to draft me. But adding salt to the wound was the fact that Coach Stansell was able to get every Yankee player that went 24-0 over those two years, including my best friend (Kevin), to play for him and the Cardinals.
When he told me this, the tears began to flow, and I thought my world was coming to an end. How in the world was I going play without all my buddies? How was I going to face them daily on the sandlot while being the only one not on the Cardinals?
I was going to play for those losing Tigers while the Cardinals and all my friends would probably dominate the league and win the championship. I was crushed and did not know how to handle this. I was now the neighborhood outsider as a Tiger and not a Cardinal!
But this is where one of life’s lessons began to take shape. After my first practice with the Tigers, I realized that maybe we weren’t going to be that bad. In fact, we might actually be pretty darn good. This is when I took ownership and decided I would do whatever I could to help my team win.
Lo and behold, at the end of the season we played the Cardinals for the City Championship. We had one loss in that season before those games, and even won a game in the best of three championship series as I pitched and beat the Cardinals. But the Cardinals prevailed, and we finished league runner-up both years.
So, what was the lesson I learned? Things are never as bad or as good as you think they are. You must believe in yourself and always think you’re just as good as any player on the field. Believe that “you” can make a difference on whatever team you’re playing on. Go out, compete, and prove to yourself that you are and can be a winner no matter what team you’re on.
Over the years I’ve heard how kids quit playing a particular sport because they did not like the coach. One thing I’ve always told these kids and their parents is, “it doesn’t matter who the coach is because you don’t play for the coach; you play for yourself and your teammates.” Adolf Hitler could have been my coach, and it would not have changed how much I love the game or how hard I played.
The next lesson learned was to be positive and have a good attitude, no matter what. Some things in life you cannot control, but the one thing you have total control over is your attitude.
Playing sports has taught me that life doesn’t always go the way we want, but going through trials and tribulations help shape us into the kind of person we want to be.
Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com.
The Pentecostals of Martin are holding a Valentine’s Day Fundraiser featuring homemade Valentine’s Chex Mix. Each bag is only $5 and makes the perfect gift for classmates, coworkers or even as a little snack. Bags can be picked up at the church on Feb 14 or delivered in Coushatta on Feb 13. All proceeds benefit the youth program.
Drew Brees is a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Penny the Doberman Pinscher won Best in Show at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Northwestern State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present its spring dance concert, “Dancescapes,” Feb. 19-21 in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. Performance time is 7:30 p.m. each evening with a 2 p.m. performance on Feb. 21. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children and senior citizens. Tickets are available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dancescapes-tickets-1980557643226?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
The NFL announced 9 international games will be played during the 2026 season including 3 games in London. The other cities include Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Munich, Rio de Janerio and the New Orleans Saints will play the first ever NFL game in Paris in October.
AJ Haynes, a 2011 graduate of Centenary, won a Grammy over the weekend for “A Tribute to the King of Zydeco” for best regional roots music album.
William “Clifford” Newman
May 26, 1941 ~ January 21, 2026
The celebration of life will be held Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 1pm in the sanctuary of Liberty Hill Baptist Church in Coushatta.
Brenda Blake Choate
April 30, 1956 – January 30, 2026
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 3pm at Rockett Funeral Home Chapel in Ringgold.
Sheila Rowell Owens
October 3, 1959 – February 2, 2026
Funeral services will be held Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 3pm at Jamestown Baptist Church in Jamestown.
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