The streets of Coushatta were filled with spectators last Thursday afternoon for the annual Coushatta Christmas Parade. They were not disappointed.
The Journal spoke with many people in the crowd, including some of the parade organizers. They are in agreement that this year’s parade was an outstanding gathering of business, education, clubs and other groups all having a great time.
Below is a very large album of the best of floats and marching groups.
Following the annual Christmas Parade, the town enjoyed a pyrotechnic extravaganza. The fireworks began about 6:00 pm and the explosions and whistles could be heard all over town.
This year’s fireworks show brought ahhhs and ooohs from the crowd that had packed Front Street as the parade ended. The looks on the faces of the many infants told the whole story. They were spellbound.
Below is the best pictures the Journal took of this year’s fireworks spectacular.
An extremely light voter turnout Saturday in Red River Parish saw voters approve three amendments to the state Constitution. Only 10.9% of eligible voters took part in the election.
Amendment #1 got the most favorable votes. That amendment would require US citizenship in order to register and vote in Louisiana. The amendment polled 490 votes for 78% approval.
Amendment #2 would require the state Senate to confirm members of the Civil Service Commission that are appointed by the Governor. Vote on that was 452 in favor for 73% approval and 171 against or 27%.
And Amendment #3 would require state Senate to confirm members of the State Police Commission. The vote on this amendment was 452 to 171 in favor or a 73% approval.
On Friday, December 9, 2022, just before 6:00 a.m., Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop G began investigating a one-vehicle fatality crash on US Hwy 371, just north of LA Hwy 531. This crash claimed the life of 57-year-old Paul Born, who was not wearing a seat belt.
The initial investigation revealed a 2023 Chevrolet Camaro, driven by Born, was traveling north on US Hwy 371 at a high rate of speed. For reasons still under investigation, Born exited the roadway and struck an embankment. This impact caused the Chevrolet to travel through a creek and then strike a tree.
Born, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported to Minden Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased.
Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in this crash; however, routine toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana State Troopers wish to remind motorists to obey all speed limit signs and avoid all distractions. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a situation. Speeding and other aggressive driving behaviors are among the leading causes of highway crashes and fatalities. In addition, while not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that properly wearing your seat belt will dramatically reduce your chance of being injured or killed in a crash. Louisiana law requires that every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain buckled up. Properly wearing your seat belt is one of the most effective ways to save your life and reduce injuries in crashes.
In 2022, Troop G has investigated 34 fatal crashes, resulting in 37 deaths.
By Teddy Allen
Today is the unofficial First Day of Christmas since it’s 12 days until The Big Day, which means it’s fixing to be Christmas.
That we say “fixing to” instead of “about to” is one of the joys of being a Southerner. Who said it first, I don’t know, but bless his heart, and merry First Day of Christmas to you.
Some traditions hold that the First Day of Christmas is December 25, and the 12 days run into the New Year. Who wants to wait that long? Not me. We’re fixing to start celebrating now.
Speaking of things southern, we’ve been working on some carols, Southern-themed:
“I’m dreaming of a white cornbread,
In every skillet that’s in sight.
May the sides be crispy, to bite,
And may all your cornbreads be just right.”
Or, how about . . .
“Pork skins roasting on an open fire.
Chittlins’ nipping at your nose.
Waylon and Willy being sung by the fire,
While dad spends Christmas Eve at Lowe’s.”
Give me some time to work on it …
Thankfully, the most important songs were written at the dawn of time and wait as gifts for us to receive and to sing with sincerity, even as the angels sang, that long-ago Judean night, as Luke recorded:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
goodwill toward men.”
Peace and goodwill came to earth, to men, in the flesh and as a baby. Only God could have thought of something like that.
William Billings, regarded as America’s first choral composer, captured — at least as well as a human mind can — the mystery of the incarnation in his Shepherd’s Carol, composed in New England in the mid-1700s.
“Seek not in courts or palaces,
nor royal curtains draw.
But search the stable, see your God
extended on the straw.”
God, extended on the straw.
Extended, as a baby, a stretching newborn. Extended, from a heavenly throne to an earthly manger. Extended, to mankind and to man, to each of us, individually.
God extends his hand. Even to me. Even to you.
Christmas is always the opportunity to receive the best gift of all, a new birth in our old selves. And a new song the Psalmist told us about.
“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God . . ..”
Now some 2,000 years after Christ’s birth, the message is the same. A 19th century minister named Phillips Brooks reminds us, each year at this time, that the Good News is everlasting. If we choose to be quiet, we might even hear the song, the new song, born in a manger.
“How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him still,
the dear Christ enters in.”
If no one’s wished you Merry Christmas yet, I’m “fixing to.” Let me be the first. Here’s hoping we can get in tune with the baby and ourselves and each other, and make this our best song yet.
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu
The Red River Bulldog Marching Band will hold a carnival style fun day at the elementary school on December 15th. The event is sponsored by the RRHS Bulldog Band Boosters.
Parents, be sure to send the kids to school with some dollar bills. Armbands for entry, popcorn, and pictures with characters there are all $1 each.
The band will perform Christmas songs. There will be games for the kids and a prize box. Santa is scheduled to make an appearance along with the Grinch, Bulldog and a member of the Paw Patrol. Kids can have their picture taken with their favorite character.
By Royal Alexander
He promised he would. For months before the actual consummation of the sale that gave him ownership, Elon Musk vowed to return free speech to the massive social media platform that is Twitter.
And there have been some discoveries that are as stunning as they are unnerving.
The release by Musk of internal emails highlights Twitter’s 2020 censorship and suppression of the New York Post story a month before the 2020 presidential election. These revelations make undeniable the blatant conflicts of interest, influence peddling and likely crimes of Hunter Biden and the incestuous complicity of his business partner, ‘The Big Guy’—then-presidential candidate Joe Biden.
But Twitter suppressed the New York Post story and shut down several prominent Twitter accounts, including that of the New York Post itself, that would have circulated the story.
What persuaded the Twitter brass of 2020—not to mention the corrupt and highly partisan national media—to suppress the story?
Two former Democratic intelligence officials, James Clapper and John Brennan. How did they manage this? By deceitfully issuing a press release that they believed the laptop may have been hacked and its content was “Russian disinformation.” Later, 51 more former American spies released a letter stating that the presence of the emails at issue “has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.” (Wall Street Journal, 12-5-22.)
All false. All lies.
We later learn that the real “disinformation” was provided by Clapper and Brennan themselves. However, their claims provided a lazy, biased and compliant national media with the justification it needed to ignore the Hunter Biden laptop story and discredit Hunter’s former business partner, Tony Bobulinski, who went on the record before the election to substantiate much of the information on the laptop through the use of huge numbers of text messages.
Why does this matter so much?
Because the revelation of influence-peddling by Hunter Biden just prior to the election was obviously newsworthy given that former VP Biden had repeatedly said he had “never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings.”
The emails effectively proved that Joe Biden was not only aware of his son’s business dealings but actually participated in meetings in support of this lucrative, international scheme to sell access to the U.S. Government. Thus, it is demonstrable that Joe Biden lied directly to the American people throughout the 2020 campaign and in the Presidential Debates.
So, how should we view this joint effort by the national media and these current and former spies and other Administration officials who essentially colluded to suppress the Hunter Biden Laptop story?
The Wall Street Journal offers a sobering admonition. This “partisan foray by current and former U.S. intelligence officials in the last two elections should be deeply troubling to Americans on the left and right. They have authority by dint of access to information that isn’t confirmable by the press, which takes their spin as gospel. This is a form of political corruption that needs to be exposed, and perhaps the Twitter documents will help to unlock the story.” (WSJ, 12-5-22)
What effect would this damaging information have had on the 2020 election?
Following the election, a full 17% of Biden voters polled stated that they would not have voted for Joe Biden had they known prior to the election of the information contained on the laptop.
Remember, Pres. Trump only lost the Electoral College count by a mere 44,000 votes in three swing states out of approximately 154.6 million votes cast nationwide!
As a result of this suppression of the truth, the voice of the people was silenced, and the trajectory of American history and world history was forever changed.
This is not right. This is not what we do. It doesn’t matter how we may feel about Pres. Trump or Pres. Biden or any other person. America does not allow its powerful government agencies to form a Police State, to repeatedly lie with impunity and, thereby, control or influence its elections in this way.
Millions of Americans no longer trust our national “news” and no longer have the same faith in federal government agencies like the FBI and the Department of Justice that for so many decades have been revered and patriotic and effective guardians of the domestic and international security of America. They have earned this distrust. And America is less free and more vulnerable as a direct result.
The organizer of the Red River Junior High Boys Read and Feed said the event was definitely a success. Lille McDonald said, “The level of community support was outstanding.”
On Wednesday morning men from the parish came to the Junior High Gym to enjoy breakfast with the middle school boys. And had the boys read to them. Red River Parish fathers, grandfathers, uncles, Red River Parish Sheriff Department, Coushatta Police Department, Louisiana State Trooper Massey were in attendance. Several local business owners took part including Clutch Nutrition, Quality Ford, C&J Construction, The Red River Parish Journal, Logan Stables, Red River Parish School District Staff and so many more male role models and positive community leaders attended.
The Motivational Speaker for the event was Dr. Richard Logan, Sr. He described himself as a local boy who graduated from Coushatta High, served in the military, and came back to preach in the community.
Logan spoke on greatness. He said, “It is hard to believe but every person here has greatness in them. You are great inside. I was on the small side, but big things come in little packages. Don’t look on the outside.” And Logan added, “Everyone has their own unique skill and each of you have the ability to be great.”
“Be careful who you hang with,” Logan advised the young men. He told them, “Get with people that will push you to succeed. And don’t let nobody tell you that you have toleav3e Red River Parish to accomplish what God means for you to do.”
The Red River Parish Police Jury is developing an online system for big truck operators to purchase their road-use permits. The parish requires that heavy loads, like water trucks and loggers, obtain a permit before using the roads. Those regulations also require the companies to repair damage their trucks cause.
At the December Police Jury Meeting, Enforcement Officer Harold Woodard discussed the system, now under development and testing. Woodard expects the system to be up and running by January. Parish Superintendent Jessie Davis explained that the companies will buy and pay for road use permits online. This will relieve the enforcement officer of some of the burden of contacting the companies in advance. Any who do not purchase permits online will be subject to same enforcement rules on road use now in effect in the parish.
For more than a year the parish has been increasing scrutiny of companies with heavy loads using parish roads. The focus has been mainly on gas exploration and logging although all trucks with oversize and overweight loads are subject to the road use regulations.
The Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana Livestock Brand Commission are asking for the public’s help in finding leads in the Theft of a large tractor from a pasture off Hwy 1 and US84 at Grand Bayou, east of Mansfield, La.
The tractor is a Model 6115 with a frontend loader was taken by 2 unknown suspects using a white ¾ ton older Chevrolet pickup truck and a gooseneck utility trailer. This 115 horsepower large tractor had an enclosed cab and was green and yellow with hay forks. The tractor was taken after dark on Monday, November 28th, 2022.
Law Enforcement is hoping some business or person may find video of the vehicle, suspects, and/or tractor where they could have “passed by” or stopped for fuel.
Anyone having information or questions is asked to contact the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318 932 4221 or the La. Farm Related Crime Stoppers at 800 558 9741 or any local Crime Stoppers Line. There is a $10,000.00 reward offered for information leading to the recovery and arrest of the perpetrators of this offense.
This year the Bethard & Bethard Law Firm is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The law firm was founded by Henry W Bethard, Jr. (pictured above) who graduated from Loyola Law School and upon his graduation, he was the youngest person to ever graduate from Loyola Law School. He went back to his hometown of Harrisonburg in Catahoula Parish where he became the editor of the local newspaper and the mayor of that town. At the time, he was the youngest editor of a newspaper and the youngest mayor in the nation.
He was aware of the oil boom in Red River Parish due to the discovery of the Red River Bull Bayou Oil Field and in 1922, he moved to Coushatta and began practicing law. In 1948 his son Henry W Bethard, III joined the law firm. Today the partners in the law firm are Jim and Robert Bethard, grandsons of the founder, and great grandsons Henry (V) and Ben Bethard. Great granddaughter Kambrie Bethard plans to join the firm upon her graduation from Loyola Law School in 2023. Associates in the firm are Matt Kelley, Jordan Young and Adam Massery.
Bethard & Bethard has locations in Coushatta and Shreveport. The official celebration will be held at Myrtle Hill Plantation in DeSoto Parish on December 16 and will be attended by present and past lawyers and employees associated with the firm.
The children’s choir of First Baptist Church Coushatta presented its annual Christmas musical on Sunday night, December 4, 2021, in the sanctuary. The musical was An Out-of-the-Box Christmas written by Celeste Clydesdale and arranged by David T. Clydesdale.
Children’s choir members are Dally Bell, Trevor Bell, Carter Breedlove, Braxton Calhoun, Majestee Calhoun, Major Calhoun, S.J. Calhoun, Mallie Harris, Audree Layfield, Hope Mills, Jamason Morse, Rexton Morse, Morgan Moseley, Olivia Rice, Pyper Rutan, Jillian Shaver, Ryder Shaver, Hardee Waters, Jett Watters, Landon Webb, and Micah Webb. Making special appearances in adult roles were Lindsay Waters as Mrs. Strickland and Dr. Hunter Brown as Bobby Broadway.
Two sixth grade choir members were performing in their final children’s musical. They were Carter Breedlove and Ryder Shaver.
Julie Page is choir director. She was assisted by Jennifer Moseley, Lindsay Waters, and Nicole Webb. Also helping out behind the scenes were Cannon Breedlove, Ben Moseley, Laynie Morse, and Rafe Suggs.
Dr. Wayne Dubose is interim pastor at First Baptist.
Story & Photo Credit Faerie L. Sledge
Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for December 2-9, 2022.
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.
Larken Doughty
February 9, 1956 to December 9, 2022
View full obituary here:
https://redriverparishjournal.com/2022/12/13/larken-doughty/
Paul Born
December 2, 1956 to December 9, 2022
View full obituary here:
https://redriverparishjournal.com/2022/12/13/paul-christopher-born/
The Red River Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – 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. (Notice of Death shown above with no link to the obituary are FREE of charge.)
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that the bridges on LA 154 near the Lake Bistineau Dam in Bienville Parish that were previously closed, have now been reopened.
Red River Elementary’s Countdown to Christmas rolls on this week. Today is Ugly Christmas Sweater day. And on Thursday the theme is wear a Christmas Hat. The kids are getting into the spirit of the season.
From Boys Basketball Coach Dadrian Harris, Red River vs. Avoyelles games have been postponed to today, Wednesday, December 14th at Avoyelles.
Junior Varsity at 5:00 pm, Girls at 6:00 pm, and Boys at 7:15 pm.
Michael Watters posted a notice that Social Springs and Liberty Baptist Church are having a Christmas Pageant December the 18th starting at 5:00 pm at Social Springs. There will also be two special guests performing. Refreshments afterwards. This is one of the best that I have been Blessed to be a part of in many years. We look forward to seeing you and the family and I can promise that it will be time well spent.
Funeral services for Paul Christopher Born, 57, of Crossroads, LA will be held at 2 P.M. Saturday, December 17, 2022 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Wylann Cloud officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Zion Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1 P.M. until service time on Saturday at the funeral home.
Mr. Born was born December 2, 1965 in Shreveport, LA and passed away December 9, 2022.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sonny and Mary Born; wife, Kimberly Renee Born; infant son, Noah Nicholas Born; brother, Michael Andrew Born; and nephew, Andy Born.
Mr. Born is survived by his son, Christopher Born and his girlfriend Deana Pyle of Crossroads, LA; granddaughter, Aria Marie Renee Born; one sister, Kimberly Pervez of Austin, TX; uncle, Randy Born and wife, Effie of Bossier City, LA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Brandon Canterbury, Charlie Canterbury, Dakota Hooker, Michael Pyle, Charles King, and Keegan King.
Funeral services for Joseph Larken Doughty, 66, of Campti, LA will be held Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 2:00 P.M. in Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel, Coushatta, LA. Officiating will be Bro. James Hester. Burial will follow in Springville Cemetery, Coushatta, LA. Visitation will be at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home from 12:00 – 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.
Larken was born February 9, 1956 in Ft. Knox, KY and passed away suddenly at his home in Campti, LA on December 9, 2022.
He accepted Jesus into his heart and was baptized as a young boy in Tickfaw River in Livingston Parish. Larken graduated from Doyle High School, then Southeastern University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology in 1978. He went on to get his Master’s in Clinical Psychology in 1981 from Northwestern State University.
Larken began his professional career as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Natchitoches and later in Red River Parish. He was the manager and psychological associate of Red River Mental Health for 32 years. It is impossible to name every committee and association to which he was on and belonged to. He worked with Red River Industries for 40 years and served as president of the board.
He was an active member of Riverdale Academy, serving one term as the board president. Being an Eagle Scout himself, he was a scout master with Troop #70 to which Luke was a member. Larken was ordained as a deacon at Campti Baptist Church, serving there and then at Westside Baptist Church.
His passions included fishing, hunting and watching LSU and the Saints. His biggest blessings were Luke and Caroline. Larken was able to share his passions with his children. His love of fishing and outdoors was something he enjoyed with Luke, watching him catch and clean fish. He also saw Caroline shoot her first deer and hog. Larken was so proud of them.
And then came Justin, his precious grandson. Fridays were “Paw Paw and Justin’s Day”! From early morning until evening, they spent the day of Black Lake. They fed the squirrels and raccoons on his deck. They fished and fed catfish off the end of the pier. Then they would eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and watch cartoons until Justin fell asleep in his arms.
Larken helped many people in his professional and personal life. As it is not possible to list them all, we know that he will be missed and remembered by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his father, Carter Lee Doughty. Left to cherish his memory include his son, Luke Doughty of Coushatta, LA; daughter, Caroline Doughty of Coushatta, LA; mother, Norma Jean Doughty of Holden, LA, precious grandson, Justin and a number of other relatives and many friends.
Pallbearers will be Luke Doughty, Jake Halbmaier, Brandon Hester, Zach Hester, Joseph Adcock, Brandon Adcock, Clayton Hester and Ty Hester.
An extremely light voter turnout Saturday in Red River Parish saw voters approve three amendments to the state Constitution. Only 10.9% of eligible voters took part in the election.
Amendment #1 got the most favorable votes. That amendment would require US citizenship in order to register and vote in Louisiana. The amendment polled 490 votes for 78% approval.
Amendment #2 would require the state Senate to confirm members of the Civil Service Commission that are appointed by the Governor. Vote on that was 452 in favor for 73% approval and 171 against or 27%.
And Amendment #3 would require state Senate to confirm members of the State Police Commission. The vote on this amendment was 452 to 171 in favor or a 73% approval.
On Friday, December 9, 2022, just before 6:00 a.m., Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop G began investigating a one-vehicle fatality crash on US Hwy 371, just north of LA Hwy 531. This crash claimed the life of 57-year-old Paul Born, who was not wearing a seat belt.
The initial investigation revealed a 2023 Chevrolet Camaro, driven by Born, was traveling north on US Hwy 371 at a high rate of speed. For reasons still under investigation, Born exited the roadway and struck an embankment. This impact caused the Chevrolet to travel through a creek and then strike a tree.
Born, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported to Minden Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased.
Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in this crash; however, routine toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana State Troopers wish to remind motorists to obey all speed limit signs and avoid all distractions. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a situation. Speeding and other aggressive driving behaviors are among the leading causes of highway crashes and fatalities. In addition, while not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that properly wearing your seat belt will dramatically reduce your chance of being injured or killed in a crash. Louisiana law requires that every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain buckled up. Properly wearing your seat belt is one of the most effective ways to save your life and reduce injuries in crashes.
In 2022, Troop G has investigated 34 fatal crashes, resulting in 37 deaths.
Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for December 2-9, 2022.
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.
The 2022 Christmas Parade rolled last Thursday afternoon to a large crowd. They were treated to a great number of floats, marching bands, dance teams, cheerleaders, civic leaders, and even more.
The Grand Marshall of this year’s parade was Karen Squires. She is the President of the Coushatta Chamber and has headed the parade effort for the past several years. Squires is also about to retire from Red River Schools where she served as Curriculum Director, among other duties.
Also, this year featured more vendors than in the last few years. There were wonderful smells of Cajun favorites, burgers, turkey legs and lots more. Visitors could also avail themselves of gourmet coffees at the new coffee house on Front Street.
The Journal is planning an expanded photo section of parade memories next Wednesday.
The sounds of cannon’s roar, bangs, pops, and whistles were accompaniment to the Coushatta Christmas Fireworks show. The fireworks shot high into the night sky from the area behind the Depot Diner.
Most of the huge crowd that watches the Christmas Parade stayed to view the fireworks. The show seemed to last about half an hour. There were spectacular blasts of fire and color shooting skyward immediately followed by another volley. They continued as the crowd watched in amazement.
The Journal is planning an expanded photo essay of the fireworks show in Wednesday’s edition.
Red River residents have an opportunity to go to the polls on Saturday to vote. There are three proposed amendments to the state Constitution on the ballot. And that is it.
There has been very low interest in this election, although the amendments, if approved, could have lasting consequences for the state.
Polls will be open until 8:00 pm to give everyone an opportunity to vote.
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