Joseph Warren Hays was presented his juris doctorate degree from Loyola Law School on May 12, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a Riverdale Academy 2016 graduate and a 2020 Northwestern State University graduate.
Joseph is from Ringgold, LA. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Bernard and Mr. and Mrs. John Hays.
Joseph plans to practice law in Coushatta, Louisiana. He plans to join Bethard and Bethard following taking the BAR exam.
By Molly Seales
Technically, they are still considered to be on the JV Track team, but for freshmen Makayla Pickett and Julia Grace Riggs, age doesn’t matter. Both young ladies had already traveled to Madison High School on April 17 for the JV district track meet where Riggs took 1st place in the shot put, and Pickett took 1st place in the discus throw. Their season didn’t end there.
Even as 9th graders, both girls qualified to compete in the state 2A meet at Jackson Academy on May 5. They are both very competitive, so they didn’t go just for fun-they went to show that they are both strong future contenders to be state champions. In the 2A meet, Riggs placed 3rd in the shot put, and Pickett placed 3rd in the discus throw. This in an amazing accomplishment for two freshmen. Look for Julia Grace and Makayla to pave the way to the top by their senior year in high school.
Track coach Joni Riggs said, “I’m very proud of Makayla and Julia Grace. They put in the work and had a very impressive showing this year at state. Julia Grace threw her personal best of the season, and Makayla threw her career personal best. I’m excited to watch them grow as athletes over the next three years.”
TONIGHT kicks off the 26th annual Natchitoches Jazz/R&B Festival on the Cane River Waterway Commission main stage at 7:00pm with Elton Live! (The Elton John Experience) Followed by The Purple Madness (A Tribute to Prince) at 9:00pm.
Saturday is packed full of fun with 3 stages offering a wide variety of bands of different genres, including; Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs, Deep Water Rehab, Klockwork Band, Jenny & Kelli plus many more.
Last but certainly not least, you’ll enjoy a “Double Shot of Country” with headliners; Mark Chestnutt and Tracy Byrd, along with Louisiana native CUPID.
Check out the times and stage location of your favorite bands here.
See full line up
https://www.natchjazzfest.com/lineup-2023
Purchase tickets here
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/26th-annual-natchitoches-jazzrb-festival-tickets-520954377567
It is graduation season. This issue the Journal featured several recent graduates. And we would like to feature your graduate also.
Here are the requirements:
Text must be in a Word document.
Photos need to be jpeg and formatted Landscape (turn the phone sideways), otherwise the Journal will crop or matt the photo.
Deadline is Tuesday or Thursday noon for publication the next day.
Please do not use Google Drive for your submissions.
Send everything to RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com
So let’s hear about your graduates.
Ivy Jean Wiggins Wood
June 07, 1931 – May 07, 2023
Service is scheduled for 11:00 am Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Hall Summit Baptist Church.
Janice Fay Morse
September 03, 1963 – May 08, 2023
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Monday, May 15, 2023 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel.
The Red River Parish Journal publishes “Remembrances” with unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. The obituary will be included in the emails sent to subscribers and to social media. Contact your funeral provider or RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication.
On Tuesday, May 2nd, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) met at the Northwest Veterans Home in Bossier City to dedicate 3 benches that had been made of plastic caps and lids saved by communities all around the state. The plan was to provide 5 benches, but that soon grew to 17 benches. Over several months 3,410 pounds of caps and lids were saved, cleaned, and taken to a facility in Illinois to be made into park benches. For the dedication service Coushatta Chute Chapter along with St. Denis, Sabine, Cane River, and Bon Chasse chapters prepared 119 gift bags of toiletries to be distributed to the veterans along with Bibles in big print that were donated by the Louisiana Society DAR.
Coushatta Chute Chapter is the newest DAR chapter in Louisiana. It is named for the waterway that used to flow from Red River at about the location of where the town of Coushatta is located. In fact, it was the first name of Coushatta. The Indians and early settlers used it to get around part of the Great Raft that blocked the river. It became a steamboat stop on the river between Natchitoches and Shreveport.
Any woman is eligible for membership in the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution who is eighteen years of age or older and who is lineally descended from a man or woman who served as a patriot or rendered material aid to the cause of American Independence. For information contact Norma Lester, nslester@cp-tel.net
Story and photo by Faerie Sledge
The 1968 graduating class of Coushatta High School celebrated its class reunion at Merci Beaucoup Restaurant in Natchitoches on Saturday, May 6, 2023. Sixty-eight Choctaw class members graduated that year and 19 were present at the reunion, along with a number of family members and friends. Coushatta residents attending were Harold Barlow, Sheryl Brown Robinson, Will Browne, David Hanna, Sammy Sledge, Judy Webb Huckabay, and Lucy Webb Sepulvado. Shreveport residents enjoying the occasion were Sandy Aton Webb, Suzanne Bethard Hearne, Linda Dupree Dowling, and Randy Jones.
Other classmates attending were Johnny Bailey from Campti, Bobby Brian from St. Francisville; Larry Bundrick from Brownsboro, AL; Donnie Ingram, Desoto, TX; Clara Orr Peterson, Keller, TX; Danny Smith, Hot Springs Village, AR; Judy Smith Axelrod, Streetman, TX; and Georgia Ann Wren Simmons, Flower Mound, TX.
The class also honored their 22 classmates who are deceased. They are Tremmell Almond, Curtis Bamburg, Larry Brown, Sandra Mangham Brown, Dorothy Cole, Suzannah Nelson Davis, Don Dodson, Robert Feazel, Murleen Wren Friday, Kaye Florane, Bob Gaddis, Cleve “Sonny” Heyl, Carlton James, Gail Johnson, Durwin Long, Wayne McCoy, Jerry McGehee, James Onishea, John A. “Pat” Patrick, J.J. “Hartwell” Rambin, Simmons Thomas, and Harry Thomley.
The class appreciates the efforts of Georgia Ann and Sheryl and others in planning the event.
Photo IDs:
Back row: Randy Jones, Bobby Brian, Danny Smith, David Hanna, Will Browne, Johnny Bailey, and Donnie Ingram
Middle row: Sammy Sledge, Harold Barlow, Larry Bundrick, Sheryl Brown Robinson, Lucy Webb Sepulvado, Clara Orr Peterson, and Sandy Aton Webb
Front row: Judy Smith Axelrod, Linda Dupree Dowling, Suzanne Bethard Hearne, Judy Webb Huckabay, and Georgia Ann Wren Simmons
By Teddy Allen
I am a Cereal Harlot.
Do not judge me: something tells me you are too.
I covet a good bowl of cereal. Have never tried to hide it.
My spousal unit knows it. My friends know it. The American People know it.
Folks like us, we’ve forgotten more about cereal than most people will ever know.
Kind of proud of it.
What about you? Don’t you love cereal with cold, cold milk? Isn’t cereal the food version of the marvelous dog? Always there when you need it, always forgiving and welcoming, refreshing, low maintenance, a friend at all times?
Tougher question: If you can eat only one cereal the rest of your days, what is it?
If you answered Frosted Flakes, you are correct. But, different strokes for different folks. Next week we will examine the Top 10 Cereals of All-Time, According to Me. What does your Top 10 look like?
In the meantime, let’s more fully explore this simple yet complex culinary treat that should be a Food Group all its own.
Consider the fascination and charm of its history, from a guy “inventing” granola more than 100 years ago to Cap’n Crunch, which is a cottage industry unto itself.
I touched Cap’n Crunch once with a 10-foot pole and promised never to again. But against a cereal that is so self-important it doesn’t even spell out Captain, I am in the minority. There is Cap’n Crunch Berries, Cap’n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch, Cap’n Crunch Caramel Crunch, Cap’n Crunch All Berries … dude should have made General by now.
But my spousal unit as a youth enjoyed Cap’n Crunch. I was shocked at this revelation. Investigated further and discovered I am matrimonied to a person whose favorite cereals growing up were Golden Grahams and something I’ve never even seen in real life, and that is King Vitaman, spelled ‘man’ instead of ‘min,’ which in itself is messed up. Why would a little girl eat that? You think you know a person …King Vitaman breathed its last in 2019 so how good could it have been and how good could it have been for you?
Let’s take a roll call and see what memories these bring back:
What is so special about Special K?;
Post Alpha-Bits. Discontinued in 2021. And yes, I took a physical knee in honor of the cereal, and vowed to never eat a Post cereal again — until that night when I ate a bowl of Cheerios, one of history’s greatest cereals;
Sugar Smacks, Trix (are for kids), Grape Nuts and Post Toasties;
(Cukoo for) Cocoa Puffs, Cocoa Crispies, and Count Chocula, which is the cereal company’s way of saying, “We want your child to weigh 260 by fifth grade”;
Total (which is total baloney if you’re a kid), Life, Quisp, Apple Jacks, Lucky Charms, Crispy Critters, Fruity Pebbles (the Flintstones franchise, which is totally bogus since everyone knows there was no cereal in the Stone Age, DUH!), Franken Berry, Sugar Bombs, Shredded Wheat, and on and on we could go.
Your Top 10. Be thinking … (Malt-O-Meal or Cream of Wheat equals an automatic disqualification.)
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu
By Molly Seales
Coming off of a runner-up finish last year, Riverdale’s boys’ doubles tennis team of senior Luke Greer and junior Will Jones went to Mississippi with a goal in mind-to bring home the first ever tennis state championship to East Point, and through much hard work and dedication, they did just that!
On April 25, they traveled to the South AA championship at Lake Providence Country Club where they first defeated the Sharkey team of Allen/Jacks by a score of 6-1 and 6-0. Later in the day, they beat the Briarfield team of Martin/Holt 6-2 and 6-0 to advance to the Class AA state championship tournament.
On Wednesday, May 3, they traveled to the Vicksburg Tennis Center to compete for the Class AA title. In the semifinals, they defeated the West Memphis team of Gehman/Hodges 6-1 and 6-0, which set them up for a rematch with Briarfield for the state title. In the championship match, Luke and Will once again defeated the tough team of Martin/Holt 7-5 and 6-1 to secure Riverdale’s first MSAIS state tennis title.
Luke and Will have both taken private tennis lessons and have worked hard for several years chasing this title. They are proof that hard work and dedication pays off. Congratulations to them for starting what will hopefully be a tennis legacy at Riverdale Academy. We are proud of both of you!
By Royal Alexander
I was taken aback this week to learn that President Biden has decided to send 1,500 active-duty troops to the national security and humanitarian disaster that is the U.S. southern border. This is obviously connected to the ending next week of border restrictions contained in the Title 42 public health law.
Various news agencies have reported that perhaps as many as 35,000 illegals are staged on the Mexico side of the border in Ciudad Juarez alone—waiting to continue this two-year invasion of America encouraged by the Biden administration—and will soon cross over our border with Mexico and into the U.S. at El Paso. This desperate reality has cities across the U.S. declaring states of emergency and requesting federal funding as they prepare for an avalanche of illegals.
To put this news in context, let’s recall how things were a mere 2.5 years ago.
Recall the unrelenting efforts of the Trump Administration to suppress and turn back the tide of illegals of every kind. Please know that we are long past talking about Hispanics who are coming to America to work, seeking a better life. We are now having transported into our country illegally massive quantities of drugs (including fentanyl which is killing Americans everyday), human and child trafficking, violent criminals, terrorists, and everything in between.
However, the entirety of the Biden Administration has been about undoing all of the Trump Administration efforts.
So, why now?
My best guess is that this disaster on the Southern border is finally doing real harm to the President’s reelection prospects—the blue states and sanctuary cities are finally feeling the crushing economic burden imposed by illegals that states like Texas and Florida have borne for years.
To this end, I read an article in the Wall Street Journal this week entitled “Chicago’s Sanctuary City Awakening.” It makes the point that because of the impact of both Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Florida Governor Ron Desantis busing illegals from their states to sanctuary cities like Chicago, Chicago is now crying for help as it shoulders the burden of thousands of men, women, and children with no resources of their own.
However, as WSJ notes, “that’s nothing next to El Paso which this week declared a state of emergency, as it braces for the end of Title 42 pandemic expulsions.” A state of emergency. Numerous American cities are now literally begging for help to stop the illegal invasion that is overwhelming them.
I also note that the Biden White House has carefully tried to avoid the elephant in the room this week—that the man, Francisco Oropesa, accused of murdering five people, including an eight-year-old child, in Cleveland, Texas, is an illegal alien who was previously deported five times.
Recall, this is the same Biden Administration that has told us repeatedly that the “border is secure.”
Governor Abbott tweeted this week that “Biden says he will deploy 1,500 troops to the border — primarily to do paperwork. And only for 90 days. This does nothing to stop illegal immigration.” He added, “I deployed up to 10,000 Texas National Guard to the border to fill the gaps created by Biden’s reckless open border policies.”
U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler commented on what could have been done prior to needing troops: “Biden could have finished the wall. He could have enforced our nation’s laws. He could have protected our national security,” he tweeted. “But he chose to do nothing. Now, active-duty troops head to the border to clean up his mess.”
U.S. Senator Tom Cotton suggested the Biden troop initiative is a mere “publicity stunt” designed to confuse Americans who may believe the Biden Administration is finally taking seriously the pending waves of illegal immigration. (Breitbart)
If the whole situation were not such a dangerous and tragic one, it would be hard not to say “I told you so” to these American sanctuary cities who have ignored federal immigration law for years and done everything possible to impede law enforcement from apprehending and deporting illegals.
This is the point: one of the constitutional powers that actually is directly granted to the federal government is the solemn obligation to secure our borders and defend them against invasion. The Biden Administration is, by design, abjectly failing at this responsibility.
As President Trump has said, “If you don’t have borders then you don’t have a country.”
The NRA Foundation has awarded the Red River Parish 4-H Foundation-4-H Shooting Sports Club a grant of $968.00 for funding supplies for Red River Parish 4-H Shooting Sports Club. “We are very excited about this grant for Red River 4-H Shooting Sports, “said Jennifer Moseley 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator, “and pleased that the NRA is making an investment in our community.” “The NRA Foundation has awarded this grant for many years to many Clubs in Louisiana, and we are very appreciative to have received this grant this year and many years in the past also” said Jacque Fontenot LSU AgCenter 4-H Agent Red River Parish.
The Louisiana 4-H Shooting Sports program encompasses the initiative goals of volunteer leadership, capacity building for youth and families, and the environmental stewardship with commitments from the Louisiana State University AgCenter. The 4-H Shooting Sports Program is an active program that is attractive to both youth and adults. The program uses positive learning and interaction with youth and adult role models. The disciplines are modeled after the National 4-H Shooting Sports Program and are administered by nationally certified-state leaders consisting of extension personnel and volunteers.
The mission of the Louisiana 4-H Shooting Sports Program is to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills, and forming attitudes so that they may become self-directing, productive, and contributing members of society.
The program is designed to: Assist youth to learn safe and responsible use of shooting equipment. Promote the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship and ethical behavior. Enhance self-confidence, self-concept, decision making, character, personal development, responsibility, and sportsmanship. Develop leadership and citizenship within 4-H parameters for youth and adults. Expand 4-H membership and involve more volunteer adult leaders. To strengthen families through participation in life-long recreational activities. Create an appreciation and understanding of natural resources. To encourage participation in natural resources and related natural science programs by exposing participants to the content through hunting/fishing and related activities. To develop an understanding of the principles of wildlife management. To complement and enhance the impact of existing safety, shooting and hunter educational programs.
By Jason B riggs, Alderman, Village of Hall Summit
We came up with the idea of the BBQ cook-off to draw attention to our little village again.
After the Hall Summit school closed things just started going downhill for the Village. The last business in town closed a few years back, and the previous administration was okay with everything closing. Well, I was elected in January and this newly elected team is looking to change things. We are hosting different events to draw attention to our great little village.
We had our 2nd annual Easter egg hunt the weekend before Easter and had over 500 people come out to support Hall Summit. People miss the good old days, and we plan on bringing that feeling back, to bring the community back together.
The village of Hall Summit used to have The Good Ole Days festival and we are trying to bring that festival back too.
The problem is we have no business in town, so that’s means no funding for all the events. We need everyone’s support, donations, and help. Help bring the Village of Hall Summit back to life.
The village of Hall Summit has set up a PayPal account for donations at @hallsummitevents.
Louisiana schools showed marked improvement on the latest state rankings released by U.S. News & World Report. This widely referenced report captured education as a component of its 2023 Best States rankings, which evaluates all 50 states. Louisiana moved up five places for Pre-K-12 education, improving to 41st in 2023.
Red River Parish schools contributed to the progress with significant improvement over the same time period. The highlights from the school administration include:
Red River High increased the number of students completing Jumpstart, dual enrollment, AP or CLEP from 13% to 29%. The graduation rate improved to from 85% to 97%.
Red River Elementary increased reading scores 10 places from 48th to 38th. There were also gains in Leap scores.
For all schools, the overall School Performance Score returned to the pre-pandemic level. Two schools were awarded the Comeback Campus designation in 2022-23.
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley said, “These positive gains reflect the unwavering commitment educators and policy makers have to improving the quality of education in Louisiana. In a state long challenged with educational outcomes, this movement is welcome news; however, we have a long way to go and must keep pushing forward.”
This improvement is similar to the positive data released earlier this school year on NAEP, also known as “The Nation’s Report Card,” where Louisiana 4th graders ranked #1 in the country in reading growth.
According to U.S. News & World Report, from 2019 to 2023, Louisiana has improved its overall Pre-K-12 ranking five spots, jumping from 46th to 41st. Categorically, Louisiana made the following improvements among the states:
College readiness improved two places from 42nd to 40th
High school graduation improved eight places from 45th to 37th
Math scores improved six places from 50th to 44th
Reading scores improved 10 places from 48th to 38th
Preschool enrollment improved six places from 15th to 9th
The full “Talking Points” on Red River school improvements is below.
Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for April 28 – May 4, 2023.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Thelma Irene “Jackie” Gray
September 30, 1941 — April 28, 2023
A memorial service will be held at a later date at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Coushatta.
Lucille M (Ott) Rivers
March 24, 1948 — April 29, 2023
Memorial services were on Monday, May 8, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Spring Ridge Baptist Church, Pleasant Hill, Louisiana.
The Red River Parish Journal publishes “Remembrances” with unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. The obituary will be included in the emails sent to subscribers and to social media. Contact your funeral provider or RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication.
A reminder that we are detouring around East Carroll St. The Railroad is performing maintenance on the crossing just west of the Courthouse, so all traffic is being sent down Ringgold Avenue.
Hey Ladies. Springhill Baptist Church will have a Special Mother’s Day Fancy Coffee Bar plus donut and muffin bar Sunday morning starting at 9:15. There will also be a photo area set up to take pictures with your children before and after Sunday school. This will remain up after worship service as well.
In case you have not heard, the railroad crossing on East Carroll Street is closed for major repair. The railroad estimated it could take a few days. Traffic is being routed around Ringgold Avenue and Cutoff Road.
Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for April 28 – May 4, 2023.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Where is the best place in the parish to get a cool, refreshing, healthy drink of water? Results of the 2022 study released recently by the Louisiana Department of Health indicates three water systems in Red River Parish scored highest and some are not doing as well.
Systems earning an “A” were the Social Springs Water System North, Hickory Grove Water System, and Social Springs Water System South.
Coushatta city water system got a “C” on a score of 76%. They lost points for customer complaints to the system or the state, state violations, and lack of financial stability.
Other “C” ranking systems in the parish were the East Cross Water System, Edgefield Water System, Martin Water System, and the Bayou Pierre Water System.
Those earning a “B” were the Hall Summit Water System and the Halfway-Carroll Water System.
The only system in the parish to receive a failing grade was Fairview Union Water System. They received a grade of 50% or an “F.”
Here is the link to the report page on the Louisiana Department of Health website. You may read the results for yourself. CLICK HERE
Red River High students are signing up for more than just athletic scholarships. Tuesday was National Educators Rising Signing Day.
There were four seniors sign with different universities into their Educators Rising Program. Red River High said, “We are so very proud of these students and hope to one day welcome them back to Red River Parish Schools, as educators.”
Those signing Tuesday and their schools of choice were:
Ikarah Reeves: The University of Louisiana at Monroe
Charity Ashton: Northwestern State University
Trenton Grigg: Northwestern State University
Ja`Mya Mitchell: Louisiana Tech University
Red River Parish Sheriff Glen Edwards is pleased to announce the addition of Brandon Jackson to his patrol staff.
On April 27, 2023 Deputy Jackson successfully completed the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office Regional Training Academy, earning Level 1 Certification for Basic Law Enforcement Peace Officers as outlined by the Louisiana Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council. Deputy Jackson previously held Level 2 Certification and served as a corrections officer for more than two years with our agency.
The May 2, 2023 graduating class was comprised of forty cadets representing thirteen area agencies. Throughout the training, Deputy Jackson represented our agency and community with determination, pride, and professionalism.
Under the direction of Captain Richard Corbett, the academy consisted of fourteen weeks and more than five hundred hours of intense training. Topics covered included officer survival, active shooter response, officer-down scenarios, firearms proficiency, physical fitness, and chemical weapons. The training also included legal aspects, criminal justice, defensive tactics, driving, diversity, professionalism, law, patrol/traffic, report writing, investigations, and first aid/CPR.
In today’s world, training is of the utmost importance for law enforcement officers. Our goal is to continually build upon the foundation that our deputies receive in the training academy to ensure that we perform our jobs professionally and safely while striving to serve our community.
By Brad Dison
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an endurance car race held each June in the town of Le Mans, France. The purpose of the race is for car manufacturers to focus on manufacturing sporty cars which are also reliable. The winner in this race is not the driver who crosses the finish line first, but the driver who covers the most distance in the 24-hour period.
Although 54-year-old Leonard had raced cars since he was a teenager, he was new to professional race car driving. He was considered a rookie. Leonard wanted to prove that he was a serious driver, and Le Mans was the perfect opportunity.
Leonard was roughly 20 years over the average age of the other race car drivers in the 1979 Le Mans. He and teammates Dick Barbour and Rolf Stommelen took turns driving their Porsche 935 turbo. Rain poured on the racetrack for hours, but Leonard and his teammates were gaining ground. With each passing hour, they came closer to victory. Just 2 ½ hours from the end of the race, Leonard and his teammates were in second place. Then, the lead car, driven by brothers Don and Bill Whittington, stalled with a broken injector pump belt. If they were unable to fix the car quickly, Leonard and his teammates would take first place. Don Whittington fashioned a replacement belt and got the car back in the race, but Leonard’s team was catching up. In the last hour of the race, Leonard’s car developed engine trouble which required them to drive slower than the other cars just to finish the race. Some of other cars reached speeds in excess of 220 miles per hour. Finally, the race was over. Of the 55 cars which entered the endurance race, only 22 completed the race.
When the results were in, Leonard’s team had completed 299 laps, but the Whittington brothers were declared the winners with 306 laps completed. The Whittington brothers won by a distance of only 58 miles in the 24-hour race. Don Whittington commented that Leonard’s coming in second place “is sure going to take some of the limelight from us.” Leonard, the rookie race car driver, was better known for movies in which he appeared such as “Cool Hand Luke,” “The Sting,” “The Color of Money,” and “The Hustler.” Leonard, that rookie racecar driver who nearly won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in his first attempt, was the middle name of actor Paul Newman. Not bad for a rookie.
Sources:
Friday morning a choral group from ULM Monroe came to The Red River Council on Aging to entertain the clients in adult daycare. They sang and led a sing along of many standards. Favorites were Blue Moon, Yes, We Have No Bananas, And What The World Needs Now Is Love.
All those attending sang along, performed the motions to songs like I’ve Been Working on the Railroad and Let Me Call you Sweetheart.
Several songs involved stretching and reaching motions for the clients to do some exercising. Involved reaching high and stretching wide.
Mark Clark is a professor at the University of Louisiana Monroe and he is the leader of the musical group. Assisting him was Pianist Richard Seiler and 4 students from the music department.
Clark told the Journal that they have done 18 similar events at Councils of Aging across the state. He said, “We are funded by a grant from the National Endowment For The Arts. I Hope to get another grant to do a similar program series next year.”
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