Jolly Old St. Nicholas will be in Coushatta this afternoon to meet with all the good little girls and boys.  Quality Ford is hosting Santa and you and your children are invited.

Bring the kids to tell Santa their Christmas wish list.  Have their picture made with Santa.  Quality Ford will have a professional photographer there to make the photos.  And you child will leave with their picture.  It is all free for you.

Trini Triggs, host of 94.9 The River’s morning show will be broadcasting live.  And the Red River Parish Journal will have Facebook Live broadcasts of Santa’s visit.

Santa will be at Quality Ford on the Cutoff from 3:00 to 5:00 pm today.  Bring the whole family and join the fun.

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By Molly Seales

The annual Riverdale Academy Meet the Rebels was held on Thursday, December 1 at the Riverdale gymnasium. This was a chance for family and fans to come out and see the Rebels play. The red team takes on the white team, with a running score from the first game to last. According to tradition, the winning team gets a feast, and the losing team gets Beanie Weenies. This year the score was back and forth, but in the end, the white team won by a narrow margin.

Not only does the event give the ball players a chance to showcase their talent, but it is also a major fundraiser for the Riverdale Rebel Club. Each class at Riverdale puts together a basket to raffle off at Meet the Rebels. Raffle tickets are sold, and you can put the tickets in the bag for the basket you want to try to win. Also, the advertising space in front of the score table is auctioned off. This year the space was purchased by Christus Coushatta, which is always a big supporter of Riverdale. It was an exciting time when we drew for the baskets between the varsity girls and boys’ games.

This year the lucky winners of the baskets were as follows:

Pre-K3 Louisiana Cajun Basket – Drew and Stephanie Lefler

Pre-K4 Kendra Scott Basket – Brooklyn Giddings

Kindergarten Black and Red Gift Card Wreath – Debbie Caskey

1^st Grade Buff City Spa Basket – Sky McMullan

2^nd Grade Farmhouse Kitchen Basket – Amanda Cason

3^rd Grade Game Night Basket – Susie Swayze

4^th Grade Hunting Basket – Ryder Shaver

5^th Grade Self-Care Basket – Hanna Huddleston

6^th Grade Fish Tank – Josh and Heather Nettles

7^th Grade Me-Time Basket – Julie Jones

8^th Grade Cajun Christmas Basket – Kim McCoy

9^th Grade Rebel Fan Gear Bag – Elizabeth Carlisle

10^th Grade 2Johns/Date Night Basket – Georgia Carlisle

11^th Grade Relax and Unwind Basket – Hannah Vargas

12^th Grade New Years’ Eve Basket – Keith Bates

Thank you to all who came out to Meet the Rebels and supported the Rebel Club as it works to provide our athletes with the things they need for their sports. Basketball season is off to a great start for the Lady Rebels and Rebels, as both teams are starting out the season 3-0. It’s going to be a fun year!

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By Brad Dison

In 922, Duke Borivoy, leader of Bohemia, died in battle.  Duke Borivoy had twin sons, the eldest of which inherited his title of duke.  The young duke was just 15 years old.  He and his younger twin brother had largely been raised by their grandmother, Ludmilla, a devoted Christian who taught them the meaning of hope, faith, and charity.  The duke took Ludmilla’s teachings to heart.

Shortly after becoming duke, his younger brother, Boleslaus, who had been born only a few minutes after the duke, along with their mother, Drahomira, staged a Pagan revolt against the Christian duke.  They and their followers assassinated the duke’s beloved grandmother, Ludmilla, as she prayed.  Remember that Ludmilla was Boleslaus’s grandmother as well and was Drahomira’s mother-in-law.  Boleslaus earned the nickname Boleslaus the Cruel.  After killing Ludmilla, they planned to overthrow the duke.  The revolt had hardly begun when the young duke took charge and put down the rebellion.  His countrymen assumed that the leaders of the revolt, Boleslaus, and Drahomira, would be executed.  To everyone’s surprise, the duke treated them with mercy and kindness, and rather than executing them, the duke expelled his mother and brother from Bohemia. 

This first major act as Duke of Bohemia was an example of how the duke ruled his nation, with true justice, mercy, and kindness.  He often traveled throughout his country to learn what his people needed.  He often shared firewood, food, and other needful things with his subjects.  He took pity on the poor and urged the wealthy to help the less fortunate.  Due to his kindness and charity, many of his Pagan subjects converted to Christianity.

Centuries before people began giving gifts as part of the Christmas celebration, the duke, aided by his pages, gave the poorest of his subjects gifts of firewood, food, and clothing on Christmas Eve.  Much like our modern Santa Claus, nothing, not even the harshest winter weather, kept the duke from visiting his subjects every Christmas Eve.  The duke’s charity gave his subjects even more reason to celebrate Christmas.  The duke had become one of the most revered leaders in history. 

In 929 or 935, the date varies according to sources, the duke greeted his subjects with a warm smile and asked about their health as he walked to church to say his daily prayers.  The duke genuinely cared about the welfare of his people.  As he neared the church, the duke heard a familiar voice, one he thought he would never hear again.  The duke turned and was shocked to see his brother, Boleslaus, the brother whom he had expelled some years earlier.  Acting on this as a signal, Boleslaus’s Pagan followers attacked and stabbed the duke multiple times.  The duke fell on his knees on the church steps.  His last words were said to have been “Brother, may God forgive you.”  With this murder of the revered duke, Boleslaus became the new Duke of Bohemia.

Boleslaus became remorseful of the murderous deeds of which he was responsible.  He turned against his Pagan followers and embraced the teachings that he had learned from his grandmother, Ludmilla, whom he had murdered. Boleslaus is largely responsible for maintaining the legend of the brother he murdered.  The slain duke was considered a martyr and saint immediately following his murder.  Multiple hagiographies, biographies of a saint or an ecclesiastical leader, were written about the slain duke within a few decades of his death.  Although he was only a duke during his lifetime, Holy Roman Emperor Otto I posthumously conferred upon him the regal dignity and title of righteous king due to his faith and charity.

Nearly 1,000 years later, in 1853, English Anglican priest and hymnwriter John Mason Neale published a song based on the hagiographies of the slain duke.  In Neale’s carol, the duke and his page were trekking on foot through deep snow to deliver gifts to the needy when the page decided to give up the struggle against the harsh winter weather.  Neale explained that the duke convinced his page to continue in a stanza which is normally omitted from the carol we hear each year during Christmastime:

In his masters’ steps he trod

Where the snow lay dinted;

Heat was in the very sod

Which the saint had printed.

Therefore, Christian men, be sure,

Wealth or rank possession,

Ye who now will bless the poor,

Shall yourselves find blessing.

The slain Duke of Bohemia, who became a martyr and saint, and who was posthumously given the title of king for his faith and charity was Good King Wenceslas.

Source: Ace Collins, Stories behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001), 64-69.

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By Molly Seales

This year Mrs. Amanda Cason’s business math class once again participated in the SIFMA Foundation Stock Market Game. Louisiana students are able to learn first-hand about the value of long-term investing as well as math, economics, and personal finance knowledge. Teams of students begin with an imaginary investment of $100,000 to trade stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds on the NYSE and NASDAQ.

Melanie Mortimer, President of the SIFMA Foundation, stated, “The Stock Market Game continues to make learning about the capital markets fun and engaging, drawing students in and enabling them to learn about otherwise complex but important economic concepts such as inflation, price indexes, cycles, sustainability, and trends. We are proud and thrilled for all of our student teams who reached the top spots in the Louisiana SMG competition.”

The SIFMA Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of the Fall 2022 Stock Market Game competition in Louisiana. In the high school division, first place went to Riverdale students for the second year in a row. This year juniors Georgia Carlisle and Emily Nettles were the lucky winners. Mrs. Cason said, “I am very proud of Georgia, Emily, and all of my students who participated in this competition. They were all very engaged and learned a lot during the process. It was back and forth and down to the wire, but in the end Georgia and Emily came out on top.”

The Stock Market Game is one of the many academic opportunities for Riverdale students to engage in. The teachers go above and beyond to try to provide as many things as possible to enhance the education of our students. Way to go Georgia and Emily!

Photo credit: Amanda Cason

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By Molly Seales

On December 1, the Lady Rebels and Rebels had their first home game against LSMSA. The Lady Rebels came away with a big 52-11 win. Mary Claire Jones led the team in scoring with 17 points, in steals with 6, and in deflections with 7. Makayla Pickett was also in double figures with 10 points. Jadyn King had 8 points and led the team in assists with 3. Jessie Kate Cobb added 6 points and led the team in rebounds with 8 boards. Charity Williamson had 5 points, Emily Nettles had 4 points, and Emma Giddings had 2 points. Madison Chamberlin had 6 rebounds, led the team with 3 assists, 4 steals, 4 deflections, and a blocked shot, and Hanna Huddleston pulled down 5 rebounds. The Rebels defeated LSMSA 53-34. Thad Bates had a double-double with 26 points and 13 rebounds. He also had 5 deflections and 3 steals. Kyle Guillory added 10 points and 6 rebounds, while Ryder Huddleston added 6 points, had 11 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 deflections, and a blocked shot. Jace Wilhite had 4 points, led the team in assists with 6, 5 rebounds, 4 deflections, and 3 steals. Ashton Almond added 4 points, and James Wagoner had 3 points.

On December 3, PVA traveled to East Point for a Saturday afternoon and evening contest. The JV boys game came down to the wire, but PVA ended up with a 23-22 win. Tanner Carlisle had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Ashton Almond had 7 points, 5 rebounds, 4 deflections, and 3 steals, and Zane Givens pulled down 7 boards. Hayden Cason chipped in 2 points. The Lady Rebels had an easy time once again, beating PVA 50-21. Jessie Kate Cobb had her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Mary Claire Jones had 18 points and 5 deflections. Makayla Pickett added 12 points and had 6 rebounds, while Jadyn King had 5 points and led the team in assists with 5. Georgia Carlisle and Charity Williamson had 2 points each, and Hanna Huddleston rounded out the scoring with a free throw and 6 rebounds. Madison Chamberlin led the defense in deflections with 8 and also had 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, The Rebels also came away with a big 43-18 win. Thad Bates had another double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, along with 5 steals and 5 deflections. Jace Wilhite had 12 points, 5 steals, and led the team in assists with 4. Ben Almond had 8 points, 5 deflections, and a blocked shot. Ryder Huddleston had 4 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Mason Murray and Kyle Guillory had 2 points each, and Ashton Almond added a free throw.

The JV and Varsity Lady Rebels and Rebels traveled to Tallulah on December 6 and brought home 4 wins. This weekend the varsity teams will play in the PVA double header. Both teams go into the contests 4-0. Good luck Rebels and Lady Rebels!

Photo Credit:  Leslie Johnson

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By Steve Graf

Just like everything else on the market today, from gas to groceries and anything else you can think of, the cost of trying to go bass fishing is getting ridiculous. What happened to the days of $1.50 spinnerbaits, $5.00 crankbaits, and buying soft plastic worms in bulk at 5 cents each? Today’s angler better have deep pockets or a very good job if he wants to be able to go bass fishing and possibly compete in a tournament. Let’s look at what anglers are facing today and how they’re having to manage their checkbooks.

Let’s start with terminal tackles like hooks and worm weights. Only a few years ago, you could buy good quality top-name brands of hooks (pack of 10) for about $2.50. Now an angler will be paying anywhere from $4.99 to $7.20. Of course, this all depends on the brand you purchase. But in tournament fishing, hooks are a very important component to catching bass, and you don’t want to cut corners with this purchase.

Next, worm weights are another component that has really changed in the last 15 years. For years, anglers had no choice other than lead weights because there wasn’t anything else. Then around 1999, the game changed when the late Mark Pack (Lake Fork Guide) decided to try using the hard metal weight (tungsten) for a technique we call drop shooting. This is what ignited the tungsten craze and as they say, the rest is history.

Almost 95% of all anglers today will purchase tungsten weights over the lead. Why? Well, tungsten has proven to be a better choice over lead weights for a couple of reasons, one being the fact that any size tungsten weight will be smaller and more compact in size than the same size weight in a lead version. Another way tungsten weights shine is the fact they are much harder in texture than lead and make a louder clicking sound when they hit a hard surface, which can attract bass to your lure.

But there is a heavy price to pay for these two bonus features. A pack of 4 tungsten weights in 1/8 oz up to 3/8 oz will set you back at least $8.00, while ½ and 1-ounce weights will cost you $9.00 or more just for one weight. This is a hefty price to pay for weight when you can get the same size lead weight in a pack of 10 or more for $3.50.

Now let’s look at the fishing line, as this might be the greatest area of advancement in the last 20 years with the introduction of both braid and fluorocarbon fishing lines. Every company on the market today has introduced its own version of both of these. Each has its own unique benefits and of course, there’s a price to pay for technological advancements.

The fluorocarbon line has some great advantages versus the old standard monofilament line anglers have used since the 1950s. For one, both fluorocarbon and braided lines have less stretch and much greater sensitivity when combined with a really good fishing rod. It can make a big difference in the number of bites you feel that you never felt before, resulting in more fish being caught. Price difference: you pay only $4.99 for a 200-yard spool of monofilament line today versus $26.99 for 200 yards of fluorocarbon. Braid falls into the same high price category, costing anywhere from $24.00 to $34.00 for a 165-yard spool of line.

It’s pretty obvious that the cost of going fishing has skyrocketed compared to what it was only a few years ago. Again, most of the increase is based on the advancements in certain areas of fishing technology. Tournament anglers today are very conscious of every penny they’re spending, especially with the cost of gas, lodging, and food going up nationwide. Next week, we’ll take a look at the insane prices of today’s bass boats. Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and don’t forget your sunscreen.  

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Coushatta’s Ford dealer has brought a bright Christmas to Red River High and the new school Central Office.  They are now decorated with bright holiday lights.

RR Public Schools said, “Thank you to our partner Quality Outdoor for the donation of Christmas lights to RRHS and School Board Office.”

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By: DARE Officer Lt. Troy Murray

On December 7, 2022, after successfully completing the requirements of the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, seventeen fifth grade students from Riverdale Academy received graduation certificates.

After students opened the ceremony with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, those in attendance learned a brief history of the DARE program, heard the reading of the winning DARE report, and watched the students perform five skits. Sheriff Glen Edwards also spoke briefly and reinforced the importance of making good decisions.

Students recognized for exceptional DARE reports were Kylie Phillips (1^st place), Lane Mancil (2^nd place) and Addisyn Giddings (3^rd place). Following the ceremony, a reception was held in the lunchroom for the graduates and their guests.

While there is no way to truly measure the impact of the DARE program, there should be no question that it equips our children with tools that can be helpful throughout their lifetimes. In addition to educating students on the dangers associated with drugs and alcohol, the DARE program covers much more. This includes responsible decision making, resistance strategies, peer pressure, stress, effective communication, bullying, being a good citizen, and establishing a help network.

Sheriff Edwards would like to extend his appreciation to the Riverdale Academy school board and administration for allowing the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office the opportunity to present the program.

Thanks also go to fifth grade teacher Katie Williamson for all of her help, Pam Ebey for the cake, punch and organizing the reception as well as many others who helped make this year special for the students.

Great job Riverdale DARE Class of 2022! Always remember to be SAFE and RESPONSIBLE!

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The Riverdale Academy Booster Club is promoting a fundraiser to benefit a local child.  Here is their post:

On Monday, December 12^th Riverdale will travel to Providence Academy. This night will officially be named, Marc Long Night by our two schools.

Please consider making a donation at the admissions gate to help support this family who is so special to many of us.  Marc is the son of Marcus and Hannah Garrett Long.

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Red River Parish Sheriff’s Deputies and Louisiana Livestock Brand Inspectors are trying to locate the person that drove an older model Chevrolet pickup truck through a farmers fence off Yearwood Road 2/10ths of mile west of Hwy 1 near Westdale in north Red River Parish.  On Friday, November 25th, 2022 the unknown person ran off the road between the hours of 12 noon and 5:00 p m knocking the fence down. The vehicle then left westbound on Yearwood Road.

Evidence found at the scene can connect the vehicle to the offense.  There Should be considerable damage to the left side and underside of the truck.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Red River Parish Sheriff’s office 318-932-4221 or the Louisiana Farm Related Crime Stoppers Line 1-800-5558-9741.  A reward is offered for the apprehension of the offender.

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C.W. Belcher

November 6, 1936 to December 7, 2022

Services Monday, December, 12, 2022 at 2:00 pm at Rockett-Nettles Chapel

Sarah Bess Huckabay

February 2, 1935 to December 4, 2022

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.)

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Monday and Tuesday are Christmas picture days at Red River Elementary.  Grades 1-5 will have pictures made on Monday.  Then Head Start through Kindergarten will have photos on Tuesday.  Cost is $5.

Today is the last day to get your entry sheet completed for the annual Fill Santa’s Sleigh contest.  Visit participating merchants in town to get a sticker and a secret Santa word.  This year earn an extra entry by visiting Red River Industries.

There is a penny war going on the Red River High.  The Student Council is collecting pennies and other coins as a fundraiser.  The class that collects the most money will receive a free Dress Down day.

Red River Junior High will host a Band Concert on Tuesday, December 13th, 2022, at 6:00 pm in the Junior High School gym.

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For the last several years the campuses of Red River public schools have been expanding.  First was the new sports complex constructed around the football field.  Next came several new and expanded academic facilities.  Last to be completed was a new Central Office Building for the school system.

Monday there is an open house, and the public is invited to see all the improvements.  Business stakewholders are invited between 9:30 and 11:30 am.  The general public is invited between 12:30 and 3:00 pm.  All tours of the facilities will begin at the new Central Office Building on Bulldog Drive.

In addition to the new Central Office, there is a vocational center, new wing on the Junior High for sixth graders, a new music building, and many more improvements to the academic complex.

All of these improvements were made possible by the public voting approval of a $29,000,000 bond issue several years ago.  The finished product represents one of the most modern academic and sports complex in the state.

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By Teddy Allen

The moment you meet your first granddaughter, you intuitively know that you have not saved enough money and never could save enough money to buy this child everything you would want to give her, whether she needed it (she won’t) or not.  

Abigail Jane Hilton showed up on a Monday, July 18, in Murray, Ky., where, conveniently, her mother was. I met her mother when she was three years old. I met Abigail Jane Saturday when she was just over four months old. 

I’m getting better at timing.  

She was 21 inches long and weighed 8 pounds and 1 ounce. In other words, perfect size. (I guess. Who knows?) I was proud — overcome with emotion, near tears and trembling — that the world’s best daughter and best son-in-law named the child after me. (Teddy’s just my nickname.) 

The main thing is that she hasn’t been sickly, seems very healthy, has a good disposition, and sports plumbing that is on the money. It all comes back to plumbing. 

Since she lives in Kentucky, mooching off her parents, we are not able to see her daily BUT … her mother is great about sending pictures, and not just the cute ones. We get the ones of her all bundled up and smiling or on the floor with Stanley the dachshund, her big brother, laughing and making baby noises, but we also get photos of her with a triple chin and videos of accidental spit up, which she did on me when I met her Saturday, and it was neat smelling like baby formula the rest of the day. 

I’d missed it.  

Love that kid. 

When she was 10 weeks old, they took her in to get measured again and her mom proudly wrote to tell us that Abigail Jane, or AJ, ranked in the 98th percentile in head size. And after viewing it in person, I can tell you this precious little person has a noggin perfect for selling advertising space. A quality melon. A head the size of your favorite team’s sideline mascot. I’m convinced that if we could light it up, you could see it from outer space.  

We are hopeful she grows into it and that there are lots of smart brains up in there. Regardless, it is my favorite baby dome at present, the perfect topper for what grandmama calls her “snuggle muffin.”  

She was on the floor on her back “watching” a football game in the den when I got to visit with her. Like most babies, she moves her hands and feet as if she’s trying to break out of an invisible bubble. She loves playing with your fingers and holding her feet together up in the air so her legs form an oval. She is quick to smile and even laugh, and she seemed to understand when I explained the rules when TCU and Kansas State went into overtime in the Big 12 Championship, her first overtime ever. She giggled, but the urgency seemed lost on her 

She also seemed confused with TCU choice to run dive plays instead of options with their Heisman-finalist quarterback on third- and fourth-and-goal plays from the 1. 

That’s when granddaddy suggested that sometimes life is like that, that acceptance is necessary and a time-saver, that you salute the past, dust yourself off, drink some more formula, have a good burp, and move on. 

We’ve got a lot to learn from each other.   

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu 

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There are two 4-H’ers representing the parish as Ag Ambassadors.  They are Hannah Worsham and Shirley Boyd. 

They took part in the Northwest Region 4-H Ag Ambassador program last week with a visit to the Red River Research Station. The teens began The day learning about agriculture careers and some of the steps possible to achieve those careers from the LSU College of Agriculture.

The group then  saw some of those careers in action with visits to the tomato greenhouse project,  followed by discussions about precision agriculture and demonstrations of drones and the technology used in today’s tractors.

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Members of the 4-H clubs in the parish have been learning over the past few months that the food they eat does not necessarily come from the grocery store.  They studied, then planted their own food plots.

Red River 4-H Agent Jacque Fontenot said, “At our November “Eating from the Garden” classes, students learned all about how and why our harvested produce should be cleaned properly and how to fight bacteria. They also sampled the Harvest of the Month, the sweet potato.”

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By Royal Alexander

On November 29, 2022, the so-called “Respect for Marriage Act” was approved in the U.S. Senate.   It will now head to the U.S. House for approval and then to President Biden.

The law is unnecessary, redundant, and constitutionally suspect.

One of the central tenets of our constitutional scheme is that, with the exception of the limited, enumerated rights and powers granted by our U.S Constitution to the federal government, all power and policymaking authority is reserved to the states and, therefore, to the people.  This constitutional structure stems from the Framers unquestioned belief that the states and their citizens are far better suited to make life, health, safety, and other social policy decisions—such as the definition of marriage—than is the federal government which is so far removed both geographically and culturally from the American people. 

“Marriage” is not mentioned in the Constitution.  Not a word. So, the states should be free to define the marriage relationship as they see fit.  This means that states like California, Oregon and Massachusetts have already recognized gay marriage while states like Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana do not.  That’s the exact result the Framers of our Constitution intended with our system of co-federalism—our 50 states and the federal government—working in unison but along different tracks of jurisdiction.

However, that’s not what has happened.

In the 2015 Obergefell decision the Supreme Court, yet again, “found” a “fundamental right,” this time to gay marriage.  This is very similar to how the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973, in Roe v. Wade “discovered” another so-called right that is also nowhere mentioned in the Constitution—the “right” to abortion.

It is a dangerous use of judicial power for the Supreme Court to “create” fundamental rights that are found nowhere in the Constitution.  Nevertheless, over the years the U.S. Supreme Court has held both that there is a fundamental right to marry generally and now, in Obergefell, a fundamental right to gay marriage.

Whether or not this is the correct policy choice is not the issue. The issue is that this “right” is not found in the U.S. Constitution.

But once again, as in Roe, by creating a right not found in the Constitution, the Supreme Court has stripped from all 50 states the authority to make the serious policy decision about what constitutes a marriage within a given state.  The result is that, exactly as in Roe, unelected, life-tenured federal judges on the Supreme Court have substituted their social and policy preferences for those of over 330 million Americans.

The second issue is that the new federal law allowing gay marriage is unnecessary because there are no new rights conferred under the new federal law that are not already provided for by the Obergefell decision itself—i.e., married same-sex couples already cannot lose any of their benefits or legal status.

But that’s not really the goal of the Biden Administration.

Their real purpose for this new law is to provide a legal “hammer”—a private right of action—with which groups who support gay marriage may sue organizations and entities that support traditional, biblical marriage.  

Specifically, the lawsuits under this new federal law will be predictably used to target people of faith and to strip them of their IRS tax-exempt status.  The same fate awaits houses of worship and adoption agencies that believe that the most ideal placement for a child is with a married mother and father, as well as for those who contract or receive grants from the government and who want to choose to live according to their beliefs with respect to marriage.

Many of these religious liberty concerns could have been addressed if an amendment, offered by U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), had been adopted.  Senator Lee’s amendment would have prohibited the federal government from punishing individuals, organizations, nonprofits, and other entities based on their sincerely held religious beliefs about marriage by prohibiting the denial or revocation of tax-exempt status, licenses, contracts, benefits, etc.

But that amendment wasn’t adopted.

So, this is where we are:

Groups that adhere to a traditional definition of marriage will, by the lawsuits enabled in this new law, have their ability to participate in the public square undermined because, without their critically needed tax-exempt status, many of these organizations will not survive.

This outcome effectively favors one group at the expense of another and doing so cannot be reconciled within our constitutional scheme.

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The Louisiana Department of Education says over 40 Comeback Campuses performing at higher levels in reading and math than before pandemic.  Red River Elementary School’s progress has put them in that group of excelling schools.

The education department is recognizing the impact educators have made with students despite facing extraordinary obstacles over the past two years. These schools have made significant gains in both math and English language arts since the pandemic and the impact of two historically active hurricane seasons.

“Louisiana’s students are coming back stronger, and this movement is being led by students, families, and educators,” said State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley. “I look forward to visiting these campuses to recognize their progress and learn how we can accelerate further growth for the children of this state.”

Louisiana Comeback Campuses are schools that are performing at higher levels in reading and math than before the pandemic. These schools increased the percentage of students scoring Mastery and above and decreased the percentage of students scoring unsatisfactory in both math and ELA on 2022 statewide assessments when compared to 2019. High school Comeback Campuses also increased their ACT score. Statewide, 41 schools representing 29 school systems earned this prestigious honor.

Dr. Brumley or a member of his leadership team will visit every Comeback Campus over the next few months to personally congratulate educators and students as well as to conduct a learning walk. The learning walk around campus will allow LDOE leaders to see the specific efforts that led to student growth and better understand how they can be used to benefit students across Louisiana.

Comeback Campuses gain a variety of benefits such as recognition on Louisiana School Finder and an official banner presentation.

Louisiana Comeback is a coordinated campaign to recover and accelerate learning lost due to challenges from the pandemic and hurricane-related school disruptions. In 2021, the LDOE asked school systems across the state to join the Louisiana Comeback by committing to invest a portion of their pandemic relief fund into three primary areas: attendance and wellbeing, recovery and acceleration, and professional learning. You can learn more at louisianacomeback.com.

Here is the 2022 Louisiana Comeback Campuses:

Acadia Parish: Church Point Middle School

Advantage Charter Academy: Advantage Charter Academy

Avoyelles Parish: Marksville High School

Bienville Parish: Gibsland-Coleman High School

Bienville Parish: Saline High School

Bossier Parish: Bossier Elementary School

Caddo Parish: Atkins Technology Elementary School

Calcasieu Parish: A. A. Nelson Elementary School

Calcasieu Parish: DeQuincy Elementary School

Calcasieu Parish: Oak Park Elementary School

Cameron Parish: South Cameron High School

Claiborne Parish: Haynesville Jr./Sr. High School

East Baton Rouge Parish: Park Elementary School

Educators for Quality Alternatives: The NET 2 Charter High School

Iberia Parish: North Lewis Elementary School

Jackson Parish: Quitman High School

Jefferson Parish: Woodmere School

Lafayette Parish: Broussard Middle School

Lafayette Parish: Early College Academy

Lafayette Parish: Edward J Sam Accelerated School of Lafayette

Lafayette Parish: Lafayette Middle School

Lafayette Parish: Myrtle Place Elementary School

Lafourche Parish: Galliano Elementary School

Natchitoches Parish: Marthaville Elementary & Junior High School

Orleans Parish: Travis Hill School

Ouachita Parish: Boley Elementary School

Plaquemines Parish: Phoenix High School

Rapides Parish: Martin Park Elementary School

Rapides Parish: Northwood High School

Red River Parish: Red River Elementary School

Southern University Lab School: Southern University Laboratory Virtual School

St. Mary Parish: Patterson Junior High School

St. Tammany Parish: Folsom Junior High School

Tangipahoa Parish: Greenville Park Leadership Academy

Tangipahoa Parish: Jewel M. Sumner Middle School

Tangipahoa Parish: Midway Elementary School

Terrebonne Parish: Village East Elementary School

Vermilion Parish: Rene A. Rost Middle School

Washington Parish: Franklinton Junior High School

Washington Parish: Pine School

Washington Parish: Varnado High School

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By John Brewer

When I was growing up, the old folks used to ask, “Where were you on December seventh?”  Most of them are gone now, seeing that 80+ years have passed.

I don’t remember that day, I wasn’t born yet, however my father did.  He was there when the Empire of Japan pulled off a sneak attack on the US Pacific Fleet base in Hawaii.  About the only thing he told me was, “The planes were so low you could see the pilots had slanted eyes.”  My dad didn’t talk about the war much, but heroes usually don’t.

Red River Parish has lost several well-known citizens from the WWII era recently.  At best there are only a few military vets of the conflict left.  And there has not been much notice in the media leading up to today’s anniversary.

American was not totally united about going to war until the attack on December 7, 1941 occurred.  The America First movement had been holding rallies and famed aviator Charles Lindberg had advocated for America to remain neutral.  But the Japanese attack put an end to Lindberg’s opposition to the war.

A famous saying is that if you don’t learn the lessons of history you will repeat them!

A couple of thoughts from your editor to assure generation after generation of Americans learns about and remembers Franklin D. Roosevelt’s address to congress that began “Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a day that will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

Perhaps the current generation of Americans won’t have to go through another world war.

Photo Credit:  National Archives.  USS Arizona burning during attack on Pearl Harbor.

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Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for November 25 to December 2, 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.

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Mary Evelyn Wood Jowers

December 12, 1928 to December 4, 2022

View full obituary here:

https://redriverparishjournal.com/2022/12/06/mary-evelyn-wood-jowers/

Terry Alan Dirks

April 5, 1959 to December 2, 22022

View full obituary here:

https://redriverparishjournal.com/2022/12/05/terry-alan-dirks/

Sarah Bess Huckabay

February 2, 1935 to December 4, 2022

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.)

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The Coushatta Christmas Parade rolls through the streets of town tomorrow afternoon about 4:30.  There will be floats, marching bands, and lots of throws for everyone.

Pastor Preston Young of First Baptist Castor will be the guest speaker Thursday night at Man Church.  Supper at 6:00 pm and worship follows at The Shop on Hwy 507.

Upcoming events at Red River Elementary School:

— Thursday, Dec. 8 – Half Day for the Coushatta Christmas Parade

— Tuesday, Dec. 13 – Kindergarten Christmas Lunch at 12:00 Noon – please prepay by Thursday, Dec. 8.  No tickets will be sold the day of the lunch.  No refunds will be issued for tickets purchased and not used)

— Wednesday, Dec. 14 – Holiday Program (PK-K @ 9:30 and Grades 1-5 @ 12:30)

Saturday, December 10^th is the next date in the Winter Playday Series at Red River Cowboy Church.  Everything gets underway about 10:00 am.

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