This summer, Madelyn Chamberlin, a member of Red River Parish 4-H and a junior at Riverdale Academy, proudly represented Red River Parish, Louisiana agriculture, and the Brahman breed at several livestock exhibitions across the South.
Throughout the summer show season, Madelyn competed at the EBBA Extravaganza in Perry, Georgia, the Bluebonnet Kickoff Show and All-American Junior Brahman Show in Bryan, Texas, and the Louisiana Junior Brahman Show in West Monroe, Louisiana. These events brought together some of the nation's top junior Brahman exhibitors and provided opportunities for youth to showcase their livestock projects while developing valuable life and leadership skills. Her hard work and dedication were evident in the show ring, where she earned several impressive honors, including Reserve Champion, 1st Place Showmanship awards, and multiple 1st Place Class awards throughout the summer show season.
In addition to her success as an exhibitor, Madelyn was chosen to serve as the Northwest District Representative for the Louisiana Junior Brahman Association. In this leadership role, she represents junior Brahman exhibitors from northwest Louisiana, promotes youth involvement in the breed, and encourages participation in educational, leadership, and industry events throughout the year.
Through her achievements this summer, Madelyn has represented her family, school, Red River Parish 4-H, and the Louisiana Junior Brahman Association with pride while establishing herself as one of the state's outstanding young Brahman exhibitors.
EAST POINT – Riverdale Academy aims to return to its rich football tradition by tapping a person that helped create that tradition as a player and a coach.
Denver Williams assumed the head coach position this offseason and will lead the Rebels into the 2026 season, which kicks off Friday at Wilkinson County Christian.
Williams is a 2022 graduate and was a player on two district championship teams (2020 and 2021) that won a combined 19 games and three playoff games.
That run culminated in a 2020 MAIS state title game appearance.
Williams joined the coaching staff in 2023 under head coach Nathan Edie, and the pair guided Riverdale one district title, two second-round playoff appearances and 14 wins in the past three seasons.
He’s been a part of three of four straight seasons of at least nine wins from 2020-23.
“When I was approached in 2023 about becoming a coach, I knew it was the opportunity of a lifetime to return to the field,” Williams said. “I still remember the last time I walked off the field after a home game during my senior year, and I knew I would miss being part of the team and the atmosphere surrounding it.
“I’m proud to be part of a school where everyone is incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to lead the Rebels under the Friday night lights.”
Roster size and key injuries plagued Riverdale in each of the last two seasons, resulting in a 5-6 record in 2024 and a winless 0-9 campaign this past season.
The 2026 Rebels have their work cut out for them after losing seven seniors from the 2025 squad, including quarterback/linebacker Ashton Almond, versatile weapons in Tanner Carlisle and Zane Givens and linemen Ben Moseley and Remington Dabbs.
But most importantly, players will still be able to strap on the pads this season.
Twelve players practiced with the team this summer with the hope of adding a few more boys now that school has started.
“Player numbers have been a challenge the past few years, and we knew that losing seven seniors would leave us in a difficult position,” Williams said. “For a while, things didn’t look promising (to field a team), but we managed to build a roster of 12 players with several others considering joining the team.
“Keeping everyone healthy is our main goal.”
The cupboard is far from bare, especially in the younger ranks.
Freshmen Morgan Moseley and Trevor Bell have high school experience as middle schoolers, and they’ll look to anchor the line for years to come.
Sophomore receiver/defensive back Ryder Shaver has taken a leadership role on the edge.
Tight end/defensive end Jackson Hillman has quickly emerged on the edge.
Riverdale’s lone senior is utility player Cannon Breedlove, who rejoins the team after multiple years away from the sport but has found his role again.
Newcomer Jayden Jones will be under center as a central piece aiming to connect the new pieces.
The Week 1 task will be a tall one at WCCA as the Rams went undefeated in the regular season before falling in the second round of the playoffs.
That included a 44-20 win at Riverdale, one of the Rebels’ better offensive outputs of the season.
Red River Parish youth have the opportunity to be part of another exciting year of learning, leadership, service, and fun as Red River Parish 4-H enrollment is now open for the 2026-2027 school year.
Red River Parish 4-H is open to students in grades 1-12 who either live in Red River Parish or attend school in Red River Parish and offers much more than monthly school club meetings. Through hands-on activities, contests, camps, leadership opportunities, project clubs, community service, and competitive events, 4-H helps young people develop skills that prepare them for success in school, careers, and life.
Parents may enroll their child online by visiting https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in and clicking sign in. The fee to enroll is $20, which covers the t-shirt and all of the project clubs. Enrollment forms will also be sent home through local schools. Families wishing to request an enrollment form may contact the Red River Parish 4-H Office at (318) 932-4342 or email jfontenot@agcenter.lsu.edu.
Membership in Red River Parish 4-H includes participation in school club meetings and access to a variety of parish project clubs at no additional cost. These clubs allow members to explore specific interests, develop new skills, and build friendships with youth from across the parish.
Project Club Opportunities
Students in grades 2-12 can learn about animal science, livestock management, animal health, showmanship, and agricultural careers in the Livestock Club. No livestock ownership is required to participate.
Open to students in grades 2-6, this year’s Explorers Club theme is FIRST LEGO League Robotics. Youth will engage in STEM challenges, teamwork activities, and problem-solving exercises while learning basic engineering and coding concepts.
Students in grades 7-12 can become involved in leadership development, community service projects, life skill activities, and special events while serving as ambassadors for Red River Parish 4-H in the Junior Leader Club.
Youth in grades 4-12 can explore technology, robotics, esports (video games), coding, teamwork, and competitive challenges in a growing area of STEM education by joining the STEM club.
Students in grades 3-12 can develop cooking, nutrition, food safety, and meal preparation skills through fun, hands-on culinary experiences by joining 4-H Chefs Club.
Red River Parish 4-H also offers a comprehensive Shooting Sports Program for youth in grades 4-12. Disciplines include BB gun, archery, .22 rifle, .22 pistol, shotgun, and hunting skills. The program emphasizes safety, responsibility, discipline, sportsmanship, and skill development. The information meeting for Shooting Sports will be held at the 4-H office August 31st at 6:00 PM.
In addition to project clubs, 4-H members may participate in achievement days, educational contests, leadership conferences, camps, workshops, public speaking events, service-learning projects, and regional and state competitions. These experiences help youth gain confidence, learn responsibility, develop communication skills, and make lifelong friendships.
“4-H provides opportunities for every child, regardless of their interests,” said Jacque Fontenot, Associate Extension Agent with the LSU AgCenter. “Whether a young person enjoys agriculture, science, technology, cooking, leadership, or service, there is a place for them in 4-H.”
Enrollment is open now, and club meetings will begin in September. If you are interested in sponsoring a child’s enrollment or if you’d like to volunteer, please contact the 4-H office! As BB coach Ron Jones says, “Becoming a 4-H shooting sports coach is a great opportunity to teach our children lifelong skills and respect for wildlife and outdoor recreation. It doesn’t take much of your time to make such a great difference to our Red River students. Being a coach makes a lifetime impact on future outdoorsmen and women. You have an excellent opportunity to shape the future of our kids. We welcome volunteer coaches to join our team!”
Join Red River Parish 4-H and help us build leaders, one clover at a time!
The Red River Parish Library will host two free Computer and Internet Security workshops on Tuesday, Aug. 25, led by Tobin DeVille, who has presented several technology workshops locally in recent months.
The first session will begin at 10 a.m. at the Red River Parish Library and focus on computer security. DeVille will discuss ways to protect computers and personal information from hackers, including tips for creating stronger passwords and taking steps to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
A second session will begin at 2 p.m. and focus on internet security. Participants will learn how to recognize whether a website is legitimate, identify potential online threats and know what to do if they accidentally visit a suspicious website or encounter malware that could damage a computer or compromise personal information.
The workshops are free and open to the community, and participants may attend one or both sessions. There is no need to bring a computer to participate.
Organizers hope the workshops will help more residents feel confident protecting themselves and their information online. Suggestions for future workshop topics are also welcome.
For additional information, call the Red River Parish Library at 318-932-5614.
A home game with national power LSU is the highlight of a difficult non-conference schedule for Northwestern State, one that sees it face three SEC opponents and a Big 12 foe, new Lady Demon basketball head coach Alan Frey announced Tuesday.
NSU welcomes LSU to Prather Coliseum on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 6. Coach Kim Mulkey has guided the Tigers to the NCAA Sweet 16 in each of the last four years, which includes a national championship in 2023.
It is the first time the Lady Demons have hosted LSU since 1983-84. The Tigers will be the first power conference opponent to come to Natchitoches since Alabama in the 1997-98 season.
“This non-conference schedule is an absolute celebration of Natchitoches and north Louisiana basketball, and it will challenge our team from day one,” Frey said. “Bringing a powerhouse like LSU right here to our community is a historic milestone, and we want to truly thank Kim Mulkey for her commitment to keeping elite matchups inside our state borders and bringing her team to Prather Coliseum.”
LSU senior star Mikaylah Williams, a three-year All-SEC guard, is the daughter of former Northwestern player LaTonya Perry, and is a Bossier City-Parkway product.
Mulkey endorsed Frey, a longtime Tulane assistant who also had deep ties into south Louisiana AAU basketball network, for the Northwestern job after Anna Nimz departed NSU for North Alabama in March.
The LSU contest is the last of three games against SEC foes. Northwestern goes to Arkansas on Nov. 6 and visits Oklahoma on Nov. 19.
The Demons open up the 2026-27 season in front of the home fans against Ecclesia on Nov. 2 before road trips to Arkansas, Oklahoma State (Nov. 9) and Louisiana Tech (Nov. 12).
NSU welcomes LSU-Shreveport to Natchitoches on Nov. 16 for its second home contest before traveling to Oklahoma.
During Thanksgiving week, the Demons host a pair of games against Alabama State on Nov. 24 and UL Lafayette on Nov. 27.
The LSU contest wraps up the 100th Christmas Festival weekend in Natchitoches
“Having UL Lafayette visit gives our local fans another high-stakes Louisiana battle right on our home floor,” Frey said. “When you combine that premier home slate with a grueling, historic North Louisiana rivalry game over at Louisiana Tech, followed by relentless road environments at Arkansas, Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma, we have built a true gauntlet.
“This schedule is intentionally designed to ignite the passion of basketball fans across our region and perfectly prepare our squad to compete for a Southland Conference championship.”
Ticket plans will be announced later, officials said.
When more than 300,000 young people gathered on a dairy farm in upstate New York in August 1969, no one could have imagined the event would become one of the most iconic music festivals in history. The Woodstock Music & Art Fair, held Aug. 15-18 on Max Yasgur’s farm near Bethel, New York, featured 32 musical acts and came to define a generation.
Originally expected to attract about 50,000 people, the festival drew hundreds of thousands, overwhelming organizers and turning the event into a free concert after fences and ticket booths became impossible to maintain. Despite heavy rain, muddy conditions, food shortages and traffic jams stretching for miles, the festival remained remarkably peaceful.
Woodstock featured legendary performances by artists including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Hendrix’s electrifying rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” became one of the defining musical moments of the era.
More than just a concert, Woodstock became a symbol of the 1960s counterculture movement, representing peace, love, music and opposition to the Vietnam War. Although only three people died during the festival and hundreds required medical attention, the event was widely remembered for the spirit of cooperation among the massive crowd.
More than 55 years later, Woodstock remains one of the most influential music festivals ever held, inspiring countless outdoor concerts and continuing to symbolize a unique moment in American culture when music brought together hundreds of thousands of people in the name of peace and unity.
Kerrie grew up as an only child on a farm in Benoni near Johannesburg, South Africa. She said that “violence and turmoil was…everyday life” in Johannesburg. There were riots in the streets because of apartheid. Her home life was often filled with violence and turmoil as well. Kerrie’s father, Charles, was an alcoholic to the degree that he built his own elaborate bar in the family home. It was there that he spent most of his time. When his drinking got the better of him, Charles would go missing for days and sometimes weeks at a time. When he eventually returned, he and Kerrie’s mother, Gerda, engaged in what Kerrie called “verbal abuse” against each other. Charles would throw lamps, furniture, and whatever else was close at hand, but never physically abused Kerrie or her mother. After the fights, Charles and Gerda would not speak to each other for weeks. The silence tortured Kerrie. She was even too afraid to say good morning to her parents. Kerrie thought Charles being verbally abusive toward her and her mother was normal. Gerda had installed lockable steel doors in each room of the house except for Kerrie’s just so they could escape if necessary. At the time in South Africa, divorce was not culturally accepted.
Tension within the family continued to grow. When Kerrie was around 13 years old, her mother sent her to a boarding school to get her out of the house. When school was not in session, Kerrie’s mother took her to the movies to get her away from home. On June 21, 1991, when Kerrie was 15 years old, she and her mother went to a movie to escape. They returned to find that Charles had left and had locked the outer steel door on their house. Without her door key, Gerda and Kerrie located Charles at his brother’s house. Charles and his brother were both intoxicated. Kerrie was in dire need of a bathroom and ran through her uncle’s house without speaking. To Charles, Kerrie had disrespected her elders. Kerrie said that “this was the straw that broke the camel’s back.” After a heated argument, Gerda and Kerrie returned home. Within minutes Charles and his brother arrived at the home. Kerrie ran to her room and turned off the light in hopes that her father would think she was asleep. Kerrie’s mother quickly locked all the steel doors in the house to keep Charles away from them. One by one, Charles fired a pistol through the steel doors and made his way to Gerda and Kerrie. Charles was going to kill them both. Gerda retrieved a pistol from their gun safe and ran into Kerrie’s bedroom. They used their bodies to push against the steel door. When Charles was unable to force the door open, he began firing his pistol at the door. Charles’s drunken brother encouraged him to continue. Somehow all the bullets missed Kerrie and her mother. When Charles ran out of bullets, he yelled that he was going to get his shotgun from the safe and walked away from the door. Kerrie’s mother opened the door and fired a single shot down their hallway. The bullet ricocheted and struck Charles’s brother in the hand. Gerda ran toward the room where the gun safe was kept and Kerrie followed. As Charles was opening the gun safe, Gerda fired her pistol. That fatal shot forever ended the family turmoil and saved hers and Kerrie’s lives. Investigators concluded that Gerda had acted in self-defense.
Kerrie left South Africa in search of a better life and she found it. She became one of the world’s highest-paid actresses. In 2004, Kerrie became the first South African to win an Oscar for Best Actress. She won the Academy Award for her portrayal of a serial killer in the film Monster. Kerrie was the childhood nickname of actress Charlize Theron.
Rodeo fans can mark their calendars as the Riley Jinks Memorial Rodeo Week returns to Ringgold this September with a week of activities leading up to the annual LRCA Rodeo.
The week begins Sunday, Sept. 6, with a Sorting event at 7 p.m. Activities continue on Monday, Sept. 7, with Goat Tying at 6 p.m., followed by a Triathlon and Dummy Roping competition.
On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the community is invited to Church at the Arena at 6 p.m. Admission is free. Paul Daily with Wild Horse Ministries will break a young colt to be ridden during the event.
The rodeo action kicks into high gear on Thursday, Sept. 10, with Bulls & Barrels beginning at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10, or attendees can purchase a $20 armband for access to the weekend rodeo events.
The LRCA Rodeo will take place Friday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 p.m., with $10 admission. Rodeo Week concludes Saturday, Sept. 12, beginning with Breakaway Roping at 9 a.m., followed by the final night of the LRCA Rodeo at 7:30 p.m.
Admission is free for the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday events, giving families several opportunities to enjoy the festivities before the weekend rodeo begins.
Organizers encourage the public to follow the Riley Jinks Memorial Rodeo Facebook page for additional event details and updates as Rodeo Week approaches.
The Red River Parish Library will be open tomorrow (Aug 15) from 9am until 1pm.
Grambling State University’s World Famed Tiger Marching Band is featured in Urban Outfitters’ back-to-campus commerical.
First Baptist Church Coushatta will host a community meal Wed Aug 26 from 5-7pm in the FLC (gym). Anyone in the community is welcome to enjoy the free meal, devotional and fellowship.
A brutal stretch of heat is here for the next week. Temps will soar into the 100s with heat index values likely to exceed 110 degrees. Predictions suggest that the end of August may be the hottest temps of the summer this year.
The New Orleans Saints announced this week that Drew Brees will be inducted into the Saints Ring of Honor at the Oct 11 home game.
The Zwolle Tamale Fiesta is scheduled for Oct 8-10.
Former LSU QB Jayden Daniels has sent a cease-and-desist order to LSU stemming from LSU allowing cornerback DJ Pickett to wear the No 5 jersey. He has also asked for the Heisman Trophy to be returned.
Michele Tafoya, former NFL sideline reporter, has won the Republican primary in Minnesota for US Senate. She now faces Minnesota Lt Gov Peggy Flanagan in the Nov general election.
The White House confirmed press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave position.
Russell Westbrook is retiring from the NBA after 18 seasons.
It is with great pleasure that I announce my candidacy for Red River Parish School Board Member, District 4.
As a lifelong resident of this great parish, with more than 40 years of experience in education, teaching, and leadership, I am prepared to serve with integrity, dedication, and the best interests of our children and community at heart.
Education is the foundation of a strong parish. With your support, we will continue strengthening our schools, enhancing learning opportunities, and working toward greater achievement for every student.
I humbly ask for your prayers, support, and vote.
Time Tested. Heart Invested.
–Alvester Williams Barfield Candidate for Red River Parish School Board –District 4
The Red River High School Class of 2016 is inviting alumni, students and the entire community to come together for a special Homecoming Parade and Tailgate celebrating the shared history of Coushatta High School and Red River High School.
Scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25, the event carries the theme “Two Schools. Two Names. One Legacy.” Organizers hope to bring generations of graduates together to reconnect, show their school spirit and celebrate the traditions that continue to unite the community.
The day will begin with parade lineup at noon at the ballpark, with the parade stepping off at 1 p.m. The route will conclude back at the ballpark, giving participants and spectators an opportunity to gather before the evening festivities.
Tailgate activities will get underway at 10 a.m. at the Old Sunbeam location. Alumni from every graduating class are encouraged to decorate tents, wear their class colors and reconnect with classmates throughout the day.
The celebration will continue with the Red River High School Homecoming football game at 7 p.m., followed by tailgating until 10 p.m.
The event honors the rich traditions of both Coushatta High School Choctaws and the Red River High School Bulldogs, recognizing that while the schools may have different names throughout history, they share one community and one proud legacy.
Organizers are encouraging graduates from every class to attend, represent their alma mater and help make this year’s Homecoming one of the largest alumni gatherings in recent memory.
As the promotional theme reminds everyone: “Past. Present. Forever Family.” Whether you’re a longtime Coushatta High alumnus, a Red River graduate or a current Bulldog supporter, everyone is invited to come celebrate Red River Parish’s enduring school pride.
Wednesday, August 12, is Bingo Day at the Red River Parish Library. Louisiana August is our theme, and our prizes are all related to our great state of Louisiana. Games begin at 1:00, so come and join the fun.
Fridays, August 14, August 21, and August 28, are Storytime Days, beginning at 10:00. Ms. Kala always has stories and activities ready for children and parents and grandparents, and there is always fun to be had for all.
Tuesday, August 18, Ms. Remedies will be here for Workforce Connect, beginning at 10:00 until 2:00. Young people from 18 to 24 can receive help getting ready for a career. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act offers services designed to improve job and career options of the youth:
$75/week—Class attendance incentive
$75—Testing basic skills proficient
$250—Obtain his or her HiSET
$250—Obtain an occupational skills credential
AND MORE!
Dr. Virginia Webb will lead the Genealogy meeting on Wednesday, August 19. This month’s topic is learning to read old documents. Researchers who are looking for records to help trace their family history may run into roadblocks when they cannot read vintage documents. Suggestions of how letters (the alphabet) were written in years past will be reviewed at this month’s genealogy meeting. Sample records will be exhibited in their original form and after transcription. Wording used in legal papers (before typewriters and computers) will be included in samples displayed. If you can attend the meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday August 19, 2026, bring any documents that you have trouble reading old handwritten records to get assistance.
On Tuesday, August 25, Mr. Tobin Deville will be here to present two workshops on Computer and Cyber Security. Session 1 will begin at 10:00 and will be about Computer Security, including creating strong passwords and using protective programs such as McAfee and others. Session 2 will begin at 2:00 and will be about Internet Security. If you have any questions about these two workshops, you can call the library at 318-932-5614.
Remember, all of these activities are free, and everyone is welcome!
A man walks beside a rusty tractor parked along the edge of a tilled field, with snow-capped mountains in the background. Photo: GurlAl SINGH Toor / Unsplash
By Thérèse Boudreaux | Aug 9, 2026
(The Center Square) – American farmers, ranchers, and the agricultural industry will have to wait until at least September for the U.S. Senate to take up the long-delayed farm bill.
“We’re going to come back in that first week and have another vote on the same bill again,” Senate Agriculture committee Chair John Boozman, R-Ark., said after the bill failed to advance out of committee. He added that it will be “a miracle” if the bill becomes law before the midterm elections.
Congress is woefully behind on passing a farm bill, which it is supposed to do every five years but has not since 2018.
While the U.S. House passed its version of the legislation months ago, the Senate has lagged behind on its own edition, releasing the bill text just this past week. The chambers must ultimately reconcile the differences to produce a single compromise bill.
Like the House’s version, the Senate’s 983-page Agricultural Act of 2026 renews and enhances crop insurance and price support, disaster assistance, risk management programs, operation and marketing loans, and federal agricultural research.
It also outlines investments in rural broadband connectivity, forest management, water infrastructure, and hospital assistance, as well as the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
Unlike the House edition, the Senate’s bill authorizes year-round sales of E15 gasoline nationwide and excludes the House’s provision that would shield pesticide manufacturers from state-level “failure-to-warn” lawsuits.
However, the legislative measure is now unnecessary with the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruling that such personal injury lawsuits against a manufacturer that follows federal labeling requirements are unconstitutional.
Notably, it delays the “One Big Beautiful Bill’s” state cost-sharing requirements for SNAP by one year, an olive branch to Democrats.
Senate Agriculture Committee Democrats viewed that as insufficient, however, and blocked the bill from advancing to the chamber floor. Currently, they are withholding support unless Republicans push back SNAP cost-sharing requirements by at least two years.
Hundreds of advocacy groups in the U.S. agricultural industry, eager for a funding update, have publicly backed both the House and Senate versions of the bill.
Many, however, expressed their disappointment with the Senate after the critical legislation stalled. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall called the gridlock “puzzling” and urged senators to “return to the table.”
“At a time when farmers, ranchers and rural communities across the country are facing multiyear losses, the need for a strong, bipartisan farm bill, one that included the long-awaited year-round E15, has never been greater,” Duvall said. “The reality is that this might be our last chance this year to get it done. The stakes are too high to allow the opportunity to slip away.”
Due to the U.S.-Iran conflict and the Trump administration’s tariffs, American farmers are getting slapped with higher operational costs, which not only raise the cost of consumer goods but also threaten small farmers’ already fragile financial solvency.
The U.S. lost more than 156,000 farms between 2017 and 2025, according to 2026 U.S. Census data. From 2024 to 2025 alone, farm bankruptcy filings jumped by 46%, AFBF reported.
This article is well used and true. I hope I express gratitude to those who teach, especially children like I was.
I was an underachieving little hellion.
In the Baptist church, they practically drew lots to see who’d be stuck with me in Sunday school. I was the kid teachers prayed would be absent — and when I was present, they prayed harder. A lesson on the Hebrews wandering in the wilderness could, under my creative influence, end with a John Wayne shootout at high noon with the Philistines. More than one Baptist teacher quit and joined the Methodists for the sake of their sanity.
Elementary school wasn’t much different. Recess was the only part that made sense: there was a ball, you kicked the ball, and then you ran. That was education at its finest. The only reason to go back inside was Cindy Stinson sitting on the second row. All the boys loved Cindy. On Valentine’s Day she received real cards and real candy — the kind that didn’t come from the drugstore clearance bin. Naturally, we all tried to impress her. Some boys used charm. I used classroom destruction. Standing in the corner meant standing closer to Cindy, and I became an expert at slapping chalkboard erasers together like a man auditioning for janitorial percussion.
My report cards were a cry for help. My teachers were frustrated. My mother was frustrated. The school janitor was probably frustrated. I was not inspired by the academic process — unless the academic process involved recess or Cindy Stinson.
Then came fourth grade.
My teacher was Mrs. Sarah Napps, a legend whose career stretched back to the 1930s. She had taught my uncle, my mother, and half the county. She was also my mother’s piano teacher, which meant she had already survived one generation of my family. For reasons I still can’t fully explain, I took a shine to her. Maybe it was her grandmotherly demeanor. Maybe it was the mythical tales of her teaching prowess. Maybe she simply had the courage of a woman who had seen everything and feared nothing.
One afternoon, during a parent‑teacher conference, she invited me into the room. She looked at me — not through me, not past me — and said, “You are a smart young man. I think you can do much better in school. I expect you to do much better. You’ve made progress, and I’m proud of you. But I want you to work harder, and I know your grades will improve.”
I don’t remember anything else from that meeting. All I heard was: She believes in me.
And that changed everything. Not overnight — I didn’t suddenly become a scholarly saint — but the ship began to turn. The boy who weaponized chalkboard erasers discovered the rudiments of self‑control. The child who terrorized Sunday school found a teacher who saw potential instead of problems.
School has begun again for many students. I’m praying for our teachers — especially the ones who must deal with “that child.” I pray they have patience, wisdom, and the courage to place high expectations on their students. Children rise to — or sink to — the expectations set by the significant people in their lives.
My life was changed by a teacher.
And maybe that’s why the stories I love best about Jesus begin with one simple word:
First Methodist Church Coushatta is inviting everyone (all ages are welcome) to join Wednesday Night Fellowship beginning tonight, Aug 12. There will be food, friends, and plenty of Jesus every Wednesday at 5pm. Kingdom Kids program will offer space for young children to learn about Jesus together, and the small group centers on intentional, biblically-grounded conversations about life as followers of Jesus. A meal will be served at 5pm. This week’s menu is pork loin with plenty of sides (and banana pudding for dessert) Come at 5:00 or whenever you can get there!
Be sure to look up in the sky tonight as Perseid meteor shower peaks with up to 100 meteors per hour.
Man Church at The Shop is this Thur Aug 13 at 6pm. Austin Eakin is the guest speaker. A meal will be provided.
The 3rd Annual Bigfoot Festival returns Sept 4–5 at the Natchitoches Events Center, bringing a weekend full of mystery, fun, and family-friendly entertainment. From unique vendors and guest speakers to themed activities and plenty of Bigfoot sightings, this one-of-a-kind event is perfect for all ages.
The Coushatta-Red River Chamber of Commerce will host the 3rd annual Red River Bass Battle Sat Sept 26 at Red Oak Boat launch.
The Natchitoches Chick-fil-A announced the new playground is open!
Ruston Mayor Ronny Walkernwill serve as keynote speaker for Louisiana Tech University’s Summer Commencement ceremonies Saturday, August 15, at 10 a.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center on the Ruston campus.
Move In Days on NSU will be Friday, Aug. 14 and Saturday, Aug. 15. Fall classes begin Monday, Aug. 17.
Cowboy’s Quinnen Williams gets blockbuster $101 million guaranteed extension.
The Louisiana Art & Science Museum will present Reflections: The Art of George Rodrigue, a landmark exhibition celebrating the life, artistry, and enduring legacy of one of Louisiana’s most influential artists. The exhibition opens on Saturday, August 15 and explores the remarkable evolution of George Rodrigue’s career, from his early Cajun-inspired paintings to the internationally acclaimed Blue Dog series that captivated audiences around the world.
Kellogg’s announced removing artificial colors from Froot Loops and Apple Jacks a year ahead of schedule. The company will use fruit and vegetable juice to maintain the rainbow look.
Qualifying for Red River Parish elections ended Friday, with 12 of the 18 local races going uncontested
Luke Mitchell will continue as District Judge for the 39th Judicial District Court, and Julie Jones will continue as District Attorney.
School Board candidates qualifying without opposition are Melinda Hardy, District 1; Renee Hester, District 2; Reginald Prealow, District 6; and Joey Miller, District 7. Hardy and Prealow will serve second terms.
Justice of the Peace candidates qualifying without opposition are Jerry Clark, District A; Randy Thomas Jr., District B; and Michael Perkins, District C. Matthew Thomas qualified for Constable Justice of the Peace, District B.
Jason Briggs qualified for another term as mayor of Hall Summit. Kawndria Demery qualified as an alderman for the Village of Edgefield. Amelia Dyer, Willie Jiles Jr. and Barbara Moore Perrin qualified as aldermen for Hall Summit.
Contested School Board races are District 3, where Jacob Caldwell, Stephen Giddens and Rachal Henry qualified; District 4, where Alvester Barfield, Sharon Jenkins and Alan Miller qualified; and District 5, where Kenneth Bradley and Monique McDuffy-Jones qualified.
Tangela Maxwell and Cherlonda Raymond qualified for Constable Justice of the Peace, District A. No candidate qualified for Constable Justice of the Peace, District C.
The election will be held Nov. 3, 2026.
In federal races, Jamie Davis and Julia Letlow qualified for U.S. Senate. Candidates qualifying for the 4th Congressional District are Conrad Cable, Matt Gromlich, Gordon Heslop, Mike Johnson and Mike Nichols. John Atkins and James Edward Green also qualified for Public Service Commissioner.
L to R: Morgan Moseley, Ben Moseley, Donald Drake Alaina Boyd, coach Randall Mallette, chaperones Maressa Halbmaier and Jacque Fontenot
Louisiana was among 15 states that competed in the 45 th National 4-H Forestry Invitational from Sunday July 20 throu Wednesday July 23. Teams from Tennessee, Georgia and Florida placed first, second, and third respectively. Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia also competed in this year’s Invitational.
The invitational was held at West Virginia University Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Camp and Conference Center near Weston, West Virginia. The event is sponsored by Farm Credit, Green Diamond Resource Company, Virginia Cooperative Extension, West Virginia University Extension, and the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals.
While at the Invitational 4-H members competed for overall team and individual awards in several categories. Events included tree identification, tree measurement, compass and pacing, insect and disease identification, topographic map use, forest evaluation, the forestry bowl and a written forestry exam.
The Louisiana team members were Alaina Boyd, Donald Drake, Ben Moseley, and Morgan Moseley. The team coach was Randall Mallette.
Tennessee’s Aiden McKenzie had the highest overall individual score in the contest. The second-place individual was Lily Stobb from Georgia and the third-place high individual score was Carver Deaton from West Virginia. Louisiana’s Morgan Moseley was the 9 th highest individual scorer and Alaina Boyd had the 10 th highest individual score.
The Joe Yeager “Spirit of the Invitational” award was presented to Forest DeRoy from Florida. This award recognizes an outstanding 4-H contestant at the Invitational. It is presented to the individual who takes initiative, is enthusiastic, and is eager to lead academic and social situations.
The Tommy and Susan Futral Inspiration of the Invitational Award was presented to Deborah Beisel from Pennsylvania. Deborah has been a 4-H volunteer leader and coach for many years. Coaching numerous 4-H forestry teams to the national forestry invitational as a 4-H volunteer.4-H is a youth education program operated by the Cooperative Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the state land grant universities. More than six million youth, 540,000 volunteers, and 3,500 professionals participate in 4-H nationwide, and nearly 100,000 are part of the 4-H Forestry Program.
The event would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors:
Farm Credit supports rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services, today and tomorrow. Farm Credit has been fulfilling its mission of helping these areas grow and thrive for a century by providing farmers with the capital they need to make their businesses successful and by financing vital infrastructure and communication services. Because a steady flow of capital means more jobs and economic growth, Farm Credit is able to invest in the vibrancy of communities throughout rural America. For more information about Farm Credit please visit farmcredit.com.
Green Diamond Resource Company is a privately held forest products company with roots dating back to 1890. Today, the company owns working forest lands in Washington, Oregon, Montana, and California. A subsidiary, Green Diamond
Management Company, provides forest management services in the U.S. South and West. All 2.2 million acres owned and/or managed by Green Diamond are independently audited and certified for sustainable forest management. More information about Green Diamond’s environmental leadership may be found at www.greendiamond.com.
The Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals (ANREP) is a professional society for natural resource Extension professionals. The mission of ANREP is to bring Extension professionals together to discuss mutual natural resource issues, needs, and opportunities and to advance natural resource Extension through continuing education. Virginia Cooperative Extension was established in 1914 and is a partnership between Virginia’s two land grant universities: Virginia Tech and Virginia State University. Today, Extension operates out of 107 offices, 11 Agricultural Research and Extension centers, and six 4-H centers across the commonwealth. Their agents, specialists, and volunteers work to assist farmers, empower youth, guide responsible resource management, and advance the wellbeing of all Virginians. To learn more about Virginia Cooperative Extension visit www.ext.vt.edu.
West Virginia University (WVU) Extension Service educators and volunteers build and sustain partnerships with people and organizations in West Virginia, to improve their lives and communities. WVU’s programs and services strengthen individuals of all ages. We develop and teach best practices for sustainable agriculture, for responsible use of renewable resources, and stewardship of natural resources. We work to improve our state’s communities, workforce, and the economy. To find out more about WVU Extension Service visit www.extension.wvu.edu.
For more information on the National 4-H Forestry Invitational, go to: http://4hforestryinvitational.org/. Contact: William C. Worrell, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Lebanon, VA 24266 (276) 889-8056. bworrell@vt.edu
Apple users can expect a number of new features in the Messages app when the company’s next iPhone software update, iOS 27, launches this fall. The update focuses on making conversations smarter, more reliable and easier to manage, with several improvements powered by Apple Intelligence.
One of the biggest changes is the addition of AI-powered suggestions. The Messages app will be able to recognize when someone asks you to send photos, create a reminder, add an event to your calendar or make a note, then offer one-tap shortcuts to complete those tasks without leaving the conversation.
Apple is also addressing one of the most common texting frustrations. If a message fails to send because of poor cell service, your iPhone will automatically retry sending it once a connection is restored. Large photos and videos also will no longer prevent other messages from going through, allowing texts and attachments to send independently.
Other updates include smarter reply suggestions that better match a user’s writing style, a new tool for creating handwritten messages and drawings, improved search capabilities, faster syncing between Apple devices and grouped notifications when multiple people react to the same message.
The improvements are expected to roll out with iOS 27 later this year and will be available on compatible iPhone models. Apple says the changes are designed to make everyday conversations faster, more intuitive and less interrupted by common messaging issues.
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