Funeral services for Richard “Ricky” Larris Cason, 63, will be at 2 P.M. Sunday, May 23, 2021, at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Olan McLaren officiating. Interment will follow in Zion Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11:30 A.M. until service time on Sunday at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home.
Ricky was born August 10, 1957, in Natchitoches, LA and passed away May 19, 2021.
Publication of the complete obituary with photo is available by contacting The Journal at 318-564-3609.
By Molly Seales
Thursday, May 13, was a big day for the 14 seniors of Riverdale Academy. They began their day with a breakfast prepared by some of the senior moms and ended it as they officially moved their tassels and became the 51st graduating class of the school. The gym was beautifully decorated for the evening, and it was a night the graduates will remember forever.
The master of ceremonies for the evening was senior class president, Matthew Seales. Dr. Richard Kaufman, pastor of Martin Baptist Church, gave a devotional based on Exodus 4:1-5. After the devotional, the two salutatorians, Parker Almond and Brennan Edie, delivered their speeches. They were followed by valedictorian Matthew Seales.
College scholarships were announced by Dr. Hunter Brown, followed by numerous awards and other scholarships. This year the Adam Lee Perkins Memorial Scholarship was presented to Paul Messenger. American Legion Awards were presented to Parker Almond and Abby Jones. Parker Almond was the alternate for the Louisiana Sheriff’s Scholarship. It was a big night for Brennan Edie, who received the American Legion Scholarship, the Larry Wayne Cole Sportsman Scholarship, and the Louisiana Sheriff’s Scholarship. Three graduates-Ronda Black, Pacey Lindsey, and Matthew Seales-were recognized by Lifeshare Blood Center representative Phillip Maxfield. These 3 students donated the ultimate “gift of life” during their high school years at Riverdale. Pacey Lindsey received the Lifeshare Blood Scholarship.
A slideshow with baby pictures, senior pictures, and each senior’s favorite quote was then shown. Afterward principal, Mr. Danny Rester, presented the graduates their diplomas.
The symbolic passing of the torch from the senior class to the junior class was carried out by seniors Pacey Lindsey and Jake Wilhite. Juniors who received the torch were Tyler Hodgin and class president Renee Prosperie. The seniors then had their recessional and threw their hats into the air as they celebrated the end of high school.
Members of the Class of 2021 are Tylee Adams, Pacey Lindsey, Paul Messenger, Garrett Wilhite, and Jake Wilhite. The following class members were honor graduates and had a cumulative high school grade point average of at least 3.5: Parker Almond, Witt Almond, Ronda Black, Brennan Edie, Austin Giddens, Abby Jones, Tinley Ogden, Matthew Seales, and Noah Wren.
The seniors would like to thank all of their teachers who have helped them out along the way. A special thanks goes to Dr. Hunter Brown, their class sponsor, who made sure that everything was perfect for their graduation ceremony. The graduates ended the night carrying out a couple of fun but tactful pranks, and they are now enjoying a week at the beach in Pensacola, Florida.
Gov. John Bel Edwards encourages Louisianans whose homes sustained damages due to the extreme flooding or other severe weather this week to report their damage. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has an online damage assessment at: damage.la.gov.
The Governor’s office said nearly 900 residents have already reported damage since the severe weather began Monday.
The self-reporting survey, which can be found at: damage.la.gov, will help local and state emergency managers collect data to move forward with the recovery process.
The high school has a request of Parents and Family of Red River High School students. Please take a moment to fill out the Louisiana Department of Education Parent and Family Engagement Survey.
We always strive to improve the quality of communication and parental involvement at the school as much as we can within Covid-19 guidelines. This survey provides educators the opportunity to recognize strengths in their practices and create strategies for improvement.
If you have more than 1 student within the district, you only need to fill out the survey 1 time. However, if you have students attending multiple schools, but opinions vary per school, then parents should select the “inconsistent between schools” option.
There are 34 questions, but they are short. We hope you will take a few minutes to help us evaluate communication, student learning, environment, and advocacy for our students.
Link to the survey: RRHS Parent & Family Engagement Survey
Louisiana 4-H Service Superstars! We would like to recognize the Red River 4-H Junior Leaders for their “Planting Seeds with Special Needs” service project coordinated in support of Global Youth Service Day.
After learning about and gaining skills in working with children with special needs, the junior leaders spent a day socializing and potting petunias with three special needs classes at Red River Elementary School. Additionally, the group collected and created goodie bags for 250 school children from Pre-K through 1st grade, creating a second project called “4-H is an Eggcellent Adventure.” The project enabled the children to enjoy an Easter egg hunt after significant flooding had caused the school to cancel their original plans and helped grow awareness for the 4-H program.
Through these two projects, the junior leader club was able to, directly and indirectly, assist approximately 900 individuals in their local community.
Participants in Man Church last Thursday night received five Keys to Living. The flyers promised a Manly Meal, Manly Music and a Manly Message. They were not disappointed.
The message was presented by Billy Weatherall, founder of Christ Fit Gym in Bossier City. Weatherall told of his life experiences, his military service, and the difficulties he faced. He said, “When I got out I got involved in anything and everything. I got a camo covered Bible at a revival but used it as a coaster for my beer.”
His life picture was pretty bleak. Weatherall said he thought about ending it all and he cried out, “God, if you’re real, save me.” He said He did!
“Changing my lifestyle was the hardest thing I’d ever done,” said Weatherall, “But my journey has lead me to realize there are five keys to living. They are:
Read the Bible daily,
Tithe your money,
Decide who is your god,
Your life is a testimony, and
Fellowship or who you spend time with.
Weatherall summed it up, “We get to serve God. We don’t have to but spend time with God. And be consistent in your walk,”
Christ Fit Gym is a free workout facility at 1040 Chinaberry Drive in north Bossier City just off Benton Road.
Man Church meets at The Shop on La 507 the second Tuesday of each month. Men gather about 6:00 pm for a meal. That is followed by singing and a message. The next Man Church will be on June 10th.
By Steve Graf
It’s a sad time of year for most bass anglers as the spawn is over and the fish are in transition back to their summer haunts. It’s the time of year anglers call “post spawn.” The fishing can be pretty tough but there’s also a feeding period at this time for bass as they fatten up from the weight they lost during the spawn. The spawn takes a lot out of bass physically and they need time to recover. This is also the time of the year when the shad spawn kicks in. Funny how Mother Nature knows exactly how and when to make things happen. Her timing is impeccable and with the shad in their spawning stage now, this allows the bass to feed up and recover quicker.
So where can you find the bass after the spawn? Well, you might want to start looking at the same place you looked when they were in the pre-spawn stage which is mainly the first drop off headed back out to deeper water. Understand that the first drop might be as small as a one-foot break line, or it could be the first 5-to-10-foot drop. Deep water drop off is relative to what lake you’re fishing. For example, the Red River the first drop might only be the first two-foot break line off the bank. But on Toledo Bend or Sam Rayburn, it could be the first 10 to 15 foot drop off the bank. Every lake is different but any slight change in depth is all it takes to hold fish, but this gives you a starting point to look.
Another place to look, the boat docks; especially docks close to deeper water. Bass like to get next to something vertical for some reason and I don’t know why. Boat docks that are on main lake points are great places to look for bass after the spawn. Another feature to look for is brush tops around the boat docks. These make great places to fish because brush tops usually hold bait fish for the bass to feed on whether it’s shad or bream. Bass really go after the bream this time of year as the bream pull into the shallows and spawn after the bass are done. This is a great time to throw bream-colored baits like green pumpkin, watermelon/red and just about anything with green flakes will work like the color called Junebug.
I cannot state enough how tough the bass fishing can be this time of year. But once the bass recover and get into their summer patterns, bass fishing will improve. Now is also the time when the big 10- and 12-inch worms (like the V&M Wild Thang) become a big player in catching bass. Deep diving crank baits are also a great choice as some bass will pull out and suspend over deeper water. Chartreuse and blue or shad colored crank baits are a good choice depending on watercolor. Small ¼ oz. spinnerbaits thrown in shallow water will also catch bass as the small blades tend to match the hatch of the shad spawn.
I hope this helps you understand the dynamics of what anglers call the “post spawn” and where you can expect the bass to be. Just like any other time of year, you just have to go into search mode and figure it out. But hopefully I’ve given you an idea of where to start your search for the largemouth bass. Till next time, don’t forget to set the hook!
By Molly Seales
On Friday, May 14, Riverdale Academy’s Pre-K class graduated. The graduation started with the graduates walking in, and then there was a welcome and invocation by principal, Mr. Danny Rester. All of the attendees and graduates then stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Pre-K teacher Mrs. Jennifer Pickett had many fun things planned for the graduation ceremony. First the class sang their favorite song, “Going on a Bear Hunt”. Then the students went to the microphone and told the audience what they learned this year. The class then said the ABC’s (preschool style). Mrs. Pickett then read the class’s favorite book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, while the students each had a part of the book to hold up. At the end of the book, they all stood up, reached under their chairs, and got a butterfly they had transformed into “beautiful butterflies.”
Mr. Rester then presented the students with their diplomas. A slideshow presentation was given, and then the graduates exited off stage. Pre-K graduates are Peyton Bierden, Hudson Bufkin, Araya Dortlon, Caysen Gates, Kyndall Giddings, Milley McCrory, Jillian Shaver, Lane Sullivan, and Alexis Yount.
On Tuesday, May 18, kindergarten graduation was held. It started by the graduates entering the auditorium and giving their mother flowers. Then the Lord’s Prayer was led by Mr. Rester, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by the students. The kindergarten class then sang “Ready for 1st Grade” and recited a poem entitled “What I Want to Be.” After the poem, each student returned to the microphone to tell what he or she wanted to be when they grow up.
The class then said their months of the year and gave some memories of what happened in those months. They then recited a poem, “Reflections.” Students in the class said their favorite memories, most of which were making new friends. Then there was a slide show presentation featuring memories from the year.
Principal Mr. Danny Rester presented the class members with their diplomas. The graduates then did a closing song, “Thank You.” On behalf of the kindergarten class, Mrs. Amanda Cason presented their teacher, Ms. Debbie Johnson, with an appreciation gift. Finally, the graduates, the RA Class of 2033, exited the auditorium to go and wait for their parents.
Kindergarten graduates are Remington Rose Bamberg, Annelise Cason, Palmer Eaves, P.J. Guidry, Grant Halbmaier, Ella-Kate Ray, Sophie Stewart, Teagan Vargas, and Lauren Woodard. The Riverdale family extends their congratulations to each member of the preschool and kindergarten classes.
Ten students enrolled in Louisiana Tech University’s Computer Science and Cyber Engineering programs have pledged to devote at least two years of their careers to helping the United States government combat cyber terrorism and improve cyber defense mechanisms.
Jonah Fitzgerald, Solomon Loche, Nikolas Morgan, Mary Nations, Timothy Oliver, Alexander Petty, Carter Ray, Brianna Stewart, Seth Warren, and Alana Williams received CyberCorps®: Scholarship for Service awards, which include tuition, cost-of-living stipends, health insurance, professional development reimbursements, and book allowances, as well as the opportunity to participate in cybersecurity-related internships.
The CyberCorps® SFS is a unique program designed to recruit and train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. This program provides scholarships for up to three years of support for outstanding students who make a commitment to a career in cybersecurity. In exchange, recipients agree to work in a cybersecurity-related field for the U.S. government for a period equal to the length of the scholarship.
The River Parish School Board is accepting applications for the following position:
Red River Elementary Head Start Teacher.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education or advanced degree in early childhood from an accredited university.
Deadline to submit applications is June 1, 2021, at 12:00 pm. All interested applicants should apply online at rrbulldogs.com.
For more information, you may contact Nicole Eason at 318-271-2150.
Nicole M. Eason
Red River Parish School Board
Human Resources Department
Starting Monday, May 24th, a portion of Bistineau Lake Road will be closed for approximately two days. If weather permits a culvert will be replaced.
The location of the culvert to be replaced is about 1.5 miles north of Hwy 154.
Thanks to the Bienville Parish Journal for sharing this information.
Leading pediatricians from across the state and Louisiana Department of Health State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter have released a public letter urging parents and caregivers to protect their eligible children against COVID-19 with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. In the letter, pediatricians caring for children throughout Louisiana make the case that the vaccines are the best way for this age group to safely return to school and to summer activities like camp, and vital for the protection of families.
The letter includes signatories representing the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine; Tulane University School of Medicine; Ochsner Health; Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health and LSU Health Shreveport.
The FDA authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine for this age group last week, and the CDC recommended the use of the vaccine for this age group on May 12.
In recognizing the incredible work of our hospital and Associates over the last year on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, CHRISTUS Coushatta Health Care Center is celebrating its amazing team with Hospital Week festivities.
CHRISTUS Coushatta Health Care Center has achieved many successes over the last year in fulfilling our commitment to the community to provide access to advanced care for everyone here in the Coushatta community. Most notably, the CHRISTUS Coushatta family continues to grow with recent additions to OB/GYN and Behavioral Health services provided by new nurse practitioners. Patients now have the most advanced mammogram available-Digital 3D Mammography is available at the clinic. Improvements continue throughout the center, including the newly renovated Outpatient Clinic Waiting Area. The CHRISTUS Coushatta team also administered the COVID-19 vaccine to more than 3,200 individuals in the region helping deliver a dose of hope one shot at a time.
The last year was a very challenging time for health systems across the nation; reflecting on the journey, it is evident the CHRISTUS Coushatta team remained focused on fulfilling the CHRISTUS mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ in Coushatta and Red River Parish. Patient care by the numbers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 9, 2020-February 26, 2021) is proof our Associates worked tirelessly on every front, answering the call to provide compassionate care:
Nearly 5,000 visits to the CHRISTUS Coushatta Emergency Room
Over 750 Mammograms performed
Nearly 13,000 visits to the CHRISTUS Coushatta Clinic
Over 2,000 visits to the CHRISTUS Coushatta Dental Clinic
More than 3,400 patient hospital days
“On behalf of our leadership team, I would like to express our gratitude to each of our outstanding Associates for all they do every day for our ministry and the patients we are privileged to serve. We have made it through some unprecedented times; it’s our turn as leaders to serve this team as a token of our appreciation, said Brandon Hillman, Administrator, CHRISTUS Coushatta Health Care Center.
Hospital Week is celebrated daily with themes and special treats including donuts, Sugar Walk Popcorn, Streetcar Sno Balls, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Associate BINGO games for great prizes daily. Friday festivities culminate with a Crawfish Boil.
“This is our chance to celebrate the work that we get to do for this community and the people that serve this community and this facility so well,” said Kay Sour, Administrative Director of Nursing, CHRISTUS Coushatta Health Care Center.
The Principal at Red River High, JC Dickey is in the running for Louisiana Principal of the year. The competition is sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Education.
Dickey was announced as one of the Dream Teachers semi-finalist. The group is promoting “Great Principals Make a Difference.”
Several months ago Dickey was named Red River Schools Principal of the Year.
DESCRIPTION: Southern Fluid Solutions LLC is a locally owned and operated company with positions open for Vac/End Dump Operators. Responsibilities include operating a tanker or end dump truck to haul off oil field waste.
REQUIREMEMNTS:
Benefits available after 90 days
CONTACT: For more information call 936-598-2500 or visit southernfluidtx.com
Southern Fluid Solutions, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Billy Roy Wren
May 2, 1954 to May 18, 2021
https://redriverparishjournal.com/2021/05/20/billy-ray-wren/
Publication of the complete obituary with photo is available by contacting The Journal at 318-564-3609.
Funeral services for Billy R. Wren, 67, of Ashland, LA will be at 11 A.M. Saturday, May 22, 2021, at Creston Baptist Church with Bro. Truman Leach officiating. Interment will follow in Old Saline Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 P.M. until 9 P.M. Friday, May 21, 2021, at Creston Baptist Church.
Mr. Wren was born May 2, 1954, in Natchitoches, LA and passed away May 18, 2021.
“I am honored to announce that I will be the next Head Coach for the Red River Lady Bulldogs,” said Kim Burton on Tuesday. She took to social media to announce that she would be the new coach, and Burton thanked the school for giving her the opportunity. It will be her first coaching job.
Red River High said, “Just off graduation Saturday from ULL with a Master’s Degree and a Sun Belt Conference Championship, Coach Burton is now an English 2 teacher and the new Head Girls Basketball Coach. Welcome home Coach.”
Burton played her high school ball at Red River before going to the University of Louisiana Lafayette. She has big shoes to fill after Missy Antilley retired after coaching the Lady Bulldogs for 20+ years. Antilley took the girls into the playoffs several times and made it to the state 2-A finals two years ago.
There is good news from Red River’s Baseball Program. Coach Chris Reed said several players were selected to the 2-A All District Teams.
Players selected to the 1st Team All District are:
Pierce Kellogg – Pitcher
Jaylon Grigg – Outfield
Tyler Hughes – Utility
Johnnie Maxie – Utility
And the Bulldogs getting a spot on the 2nd Team All District are:
Ryder Hogan – Infield
Landen Barrett – Infield
Keegan King – Pitcher
Trenton Grigg – Utility
Tyler Wood – Utility
Kenneth Lazarus – Outfield
Red River finished the season at 21 and 12, including hosting the first home playoff game in school history.
Dezmand Bryant finished in the top ten at the NJCAA national Track and Field Championships. He is a former track star for the Red River Bulldogs and represented Bossier Parish Community College well in the nationals.
Bryant finished 6th in the 400 meters at the nationals. He set a school and personal record of 47.52.
Bryant graduated from Red River a couple of years ago. The school issued congratulations, “Red River High would like to say awesome job by former Bulldog Track Athlete, Dezmand Bryant, 6th in the nation. Way to compete and represent Bulldog Nation, keep working.”
The Red River Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of Robert Dale Perry on pornography Charges. He was taken into custody on May 13th at his Howard Street address by Sheriff’s Deputies.
He was charged with 20 counts of Pornography of a juvenile under the age of 13.
Bond for Perry was set at $100,000. Latest information from the Sheriff’s Office is that Perry is still in custody.
By Baptist Message staff
Fifteen members of a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team spent Tuesday, May 11, clearing debris from around homes in Hall Summit that sustained damaged from a storm that came through the area the prior day.
Marvin Leleux, incident commander for the team comprised of members from Natchitoches, Red River and Sabine parishes, and Keith Bryant and Matt Trahan with the Shreveport Volunteer Network, removed trees that fell on or near three homes in the community. Leleux, who is also a pastor of Springhill Baptist Church located in the area, said the team was grateful to be a part of being Christ’s hands and feet to those in need.
“We were thankful in getting those people back on their feet as soon as possible,” Leleux told the Baptist Message. “You can’t pay me enough to do this, but in Jesus’ name I would do this all day long.”
The storm destroyed at least one home, ripped off roofs from other homes, damaged vehicles and downed utility trees and poles throughout Red River Parish. Hail produced from the storm was reported in the Hall Summit area. It also knocked out car windows in Caspiano and vehicles at the Joe D. Waggoner Jr. Lock and Dam No. 5, located on Red River.
See earlier stories in the Journal for additional photos and details.
A Campti man is currently incarcerated in the Red River Parish Jail in connection with a domestic abuse incident in north Natchitoches Parish according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
On Wednesday May 12 at approximately 10:01pm, Deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Division responded to 911 reports of a domestic disturbance involving injuries in the 600 block of Sandy Point Road north of Campti, La.
Deputies say upon their arrival, they discovered the female victim suffering from a lacerations, a periorbital hematoma and bruises.
Deputies learned during the investigation, that the victim’s boyfriend identified as Tommy Lee Mathews of Campti committed a battery on her multiple times and other acts.
The victim’s six-month old infant was present in the residence.
Mathews then fled the area in the victim’s vehicle and took her cell phone before deputies arrived on scene.
Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS responded.
The victim was transported to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.
The child was released to and taken care of by a relative until the victim could return home.
Deputies checked several locations in the Sandy Point, Black Lake, and Campti areas but were unable to locate Mathews.
A local law enforcement BOLO message was issued for Mathews.
Deputies interviewed and photographed the victim’s injuries at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center for an offense report and investigative purposes.
Deputies continued the investigation, obtaining criminal warrants signed by a 10th Judicial District Court Judge for the arrest of Mathews on the charges of Domestic Abuse Battery, Domestic Abuse Child Endangerment Law, Motor Vehicle Theft and Theft of a Cell Phone.
Deputies continued to look for Mathews.
On Sunday afternoon May 16th, Natchitoches and Red River Parish Sheriff’s Deputies located Mathews hiding in the attic of a residence in Red River Parish near the Natchitoches Parish line.
Mathews, 30, of Campti was placed under arrest and booked into the Red River Parish Jail on Natchitoches Parish criminal charges of Domestic Abuse Battery, Domestic Abuse Child Endangerment, Motor Vehicle Theft, Theft of a Cell Phone. Mathews also has outstanding warrants in Red River Parish.
The victim was issued a LAVNS form. The Louisiana Automated Victim Notification System (LAVNS) is a service provided by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement. LAVNS monitors the custody status of adult inmates in all parish jails and state prisons.
The system permits crime victims and their families to obtain information pertaining to the custody status of the offender.
Mathews is expected to be transported to the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center at a later date.
The vehicle has been recovered with some damages.
Involved in the initial investigation and arrest were: Deputies C. Crow, K. Samuel, Detective V. Kay, D. Caballero, and C. Dranguet.
We thank Sheriff Glen Edwards and Red River Parish deputies for their assistance in the apprehension and arrest of Mathews.
Mugshot courtesy of Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office.
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