It’s almost showtime for the 2023 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in Natchitoches (except for Friday’s BOM Celebrity Bowling Bash in Alexandria), so it’s time to plan to take in as much fun as you can.

The most-asked question — can I still get tickets for the Saturday evening Induction Reception (from 5-6:30 at the Hall of Fame museum) and Ceremony (at 7 in the Natchitoches Events Center)?

YES. While the usual big turnout is coming, there is still time to go online at LaSportsHall.com to purchase admission to the signature event. But don’t delay – it could sell out.

The reception provides an array of food stations with fare from not only local restaurants, but some from around the state, along with refreshments and music. It’s a chance to see new exhibits (the Kim Mulkey showcase, for example), new display items to celebrate the museum’s 10th anniversary, the just-installed Class of 2023 display cases, and to meet all of the new inductees and perhaps snap a selfie.

The Induction Ceremony at the neighboring Events Center kicks off promptly at 7 with the National Anthem, followed by the stirring Walk of Legends showcasing past Hall of Fame members returning, then introducing the Class of ’23, set to music from The Natural. The 12 inductions begin immediately after, featuring compelling video introductions followed by on-stage conversations with inductees – producing lots of laughter and some misty-eyed moments certain to create lasting memories.

Saturday evening is the only “dress up” event of the Induction Celebration. Blazers for the men and cocktail dress-style attire for the women are requested.

Otherwise, it’s casual for the rest of the festivities, starting with the free, open to everyone Thursday evening Welcome Reception from 5-7 at the museum. La Capitol Federal Credit Union will mark its 20th year presenting that signature event – again with food, refreshments and music, and the new inductees and their families having traveled in some cases almost 2,000 miles to celebrate the occasion.

There’s still room for bowlers to join in Friday’s BOM Celebrity Bowling Bash at Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria. The doors open at 11:30 with lunch provided by Walk On’s, plenty of warm up bowling and music, and more mingling with inductees, their families, and other sports celebrities before they’re introduced and “competition” begins at 1. Again – sign up at LaSportsHall.com.

The biggest free event is Friday evening on the downtown Natchitoches riverbank stage – the Rockin’ River Fest Concert, from 6-10:30.

It’s family friendly. A free interactive kids zone presented by Louisiana Propane Dealers will include basketball, football, golf and science games for all ages to enjoy.

Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters are back as the headline act. Dopsie has played the White House to the Jazz Fest, boogied with James Brown and John Fogerty, and wowed crowds all over, described as “Mick Jagger of the marsh” as “a party seems to break out whenever and wherever Dopsie and his band show up.”

The opening act is Jason Ashley & The Hot Sauce Band, featuring the Alexandria native and regional country music star playing hits from yesterday and today, an act popular around the Gulf Coast and all the way to Nashville.

If you want to beat the summer heat and enjoy a tasty collection of Louisiana foods and specialty refreshments, you can visit LaSportsHall.com to snap up some of the few remaining $100 tickets to the VIP Taste of Tailgating presented by Hancock Whitney.

That party runs from 7-10 p.m. in the air-conditioned comfort of Mama’s Oyster House and Blues Room that will provide exclusive access to the 12-member 2023 Induction Class. They will also be introduced on stage at 9:15, just before a 10-minute fireworks show set to sports-themed music.

Saturday morning’s Junior Training Camp hosted by the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans at NSU’s Webb Wellness and Recreation Center has only a handful of free spots left for kids 7-17. Advance registration is required at LaSportsHall.com.

There’s no more room for Saturday’s Round Table Lunch downtown at The Venue. It’s sold out.

But there are plenty of other chances to see the Class of 2023:  Eli Manning, Alana Beard, Paul Mainieri, Matt Forte, Wendell Davis, Paul Byrd, Walter Davis, Ron Washington, Walter Imahara, M.L. Woodruff, and sports journalists Bruce Brown and Lori Lyons.

You’re invited to join the fun, starting Thursday evening in Natchitoches.

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By Royal Alexander

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

It’s not often we witness a jarring cultural phenomenon in our country.  The new documentary thriller, Sound of Freedom, is just that.

Actor Jim Caviezel—who first pricked our conscience with his graphic and riveting portrayal of Christ’s suffering in The Passion of the Christ—plays the lead role and was part of the team that pushed through many obstacles to produce the film five years ago, and ultimately to distribute it to theatres.   

“Sound of Freedom” is based on the true story of Tim Ballard and his mission to save children from the underground sex slave trade.   After working as a special agent for years at the Department of Homeland Security, Ballard quit his job and embarked on a mission to save child-trafficking victims.  Today, he runs the organization Operation Underground Railroad working with law enforcement to rescue children from some of the darkest recesses of our world.

The story involves the account of two young children—a brother and a sister—whose trusting father allows them to participate in a supposed “modeling” and “acting” opportunity during which the children are kidnapped and sold into child sex slavery.

The production marks the first dramatic crime story for Angel Studios which up till now has generally sponsored only Bible-based stories.  

Sadly, Ballard has stated that the United States has the number-one demand for child exploitation material and is the number one consumer of child sex in the world.   As such, “we’re thrilled that we have an opportunity to shine a light on what is the fastest-growing criminal enterprise in the world,” he said.  $150 billion is made every year off the backs of slaves, including millions of children who are enslaved.  We’ve ranked in the top three for destination countries,” he added. “It’s the economy of pedophilia.”  (Fox News, Katie Pavlich on Jesse Watters Primetime, July 9, 2023).

It must sting for the major studios to realize that—none of them would agree to produce it—the film posted an impressive $40 million after six days of release and has now soared to over $100 million. 

But it wasn’t just rejected by Hollywood and the Left, it’s been smeared by it as a “dangerous conspiracy theory.”   In response to this, Ballard states, “pedophiles are salivating’ at media outlets ripping ‘Sound of Freedom’.”

The fact that Disney will release a movie about a girl getting pregnant by the devil in a one-night stand but Disney, Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime all have refused to stream Sound of Freedom, should tell us everything we need to know.

Actor Dean Cain has asked “why is the movie being suppressed.”   He reasoned that the movie is receiving pushback from the mainstream press because “it’s ugly. People don’t want to talk about something that’s really ugly.  The idea that there are children who are sex slaves is crazy — and that are trafficked, that’s insane.  The idea that you know people just want to bury that, ‘I don’t want to see that, it doesn’t exist.’ Well, it’s here. It’s all over the United States. It’s all over worldwide.  It’s a multi-billion-dollar business.” (Newsmax, July 19, 2023).

Referencing America’s porous southern border as a major part of the problem, Caviezel stated that “when you don’t have a south border you don’t have a county; … a sovereign country has to have borders.”   Even the New York Times has reported that 85,000 unaccompanied minors have crossed our wide-open southern border and are now lost and unaccounted for somewhere in America.

How is this trafficking done?

Social media is the wide-open frontier for pedophiles. 

For example, Instagram, a hugely popular platform, uses algorithms that connect and promote the pedophile network.  How so? Because “the platform and its system of fostering communities with sets of narrow interests has helped guide users to illegal child sex content.”  (Wall Street Journal, 6/8/2023).

This is not a Republican or Democrat issue; it’s not a liberal or conservative position and it’s much more than simply a matter of perversion and immorality.  This is a matter of good and evil.

I encourage you to see the movie which concludes with the powerful admonition that “God’s children are not for sale.”

We all have an obligation to stand up and speak out about this heinous reality of American culture.

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The title of this year’s Vacation Bible School at Coushatta First Baptist is Keepers of the Kingdom.  VBS Is July 24^ththrough 28^th at 5:30 pm each evening.

Nightly themes are Medieval Monday, Time Traveler Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday, Twinning Thursday and FBCC Friday.

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POSITION: Patient Services Director

DESCRIPTION: A management-level position that supervises the front desk staff in 4 clinic locations to ensure proper and professional business services are rendered to existing and new patients. OMC seeks a business-minded, ethical, experienced, highly responsible, and accountable healthcare business supervisor to join our multidisciplinary management team.

CONTACT: Apply online at http://www.outpatientmedical.org or email your resume to HR@outpatientmedical.org.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Until filled.

Outpatient Medical Center, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for July 14-20,  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.

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Linda “Jo” Bell Allen

February 07, 1949 – July 24, 2023

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel .

The Red River Parish Journal publishes “Remembrances” – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. The obituary will be included in the emails sent to subscribers.  Contact your funeral provider or RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication.

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Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for July 14-20,  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.

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From Rytrice Martin, coach of the Blue Diamonds:  “I’m beyond proud of these young ladies. They stepped out their comfort zone this year and took on harder dance classes and did phenomenal. Kinya Gray also received 2 pin it forward pins. One from an NDA staffer and another one from Gariona ( Welsh- Roanoke) dance team.

Below is the full list of awards earned:

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By Chloe Spradley

With football season coming up very soon, I’d like to introduce Riverdale Academy’s new head football coaches, Denver Williams and Nathan Edie.  Williams is a 2022 graduate of Riverdale, and he was also a part of the baseball, basketball, and football teams. His junior year, the Rebels were state runner-up, and his senior year, he was named to the MSAIS All-Star team. 

Edie has been assistant football coach for many years, said, “I think the season will be unpredictable, as they always are. I know what I believe our boys are capable of, and I think they believe it also. Practice has been pretty focused so far, but we will really see where we stand next week when the pads come on, I am excited.”  They will also have multiple helpers: James Wagoner, Jace Wilhite, and Brennan Edie. All three are Riverdale alumni and former Riverdale football players.

The football team has been working super hard all summer practicing and working out for the upcoming season. Coach Williams quotes, “I think this will be the year!” The team participated in a 6 on 6 passing tournament at Union Christian Academy last Saturday and did a fabulous job. We are all excited to see how this season turns out.

The Rebels’ home opener will be on Friday, August 18^th. Come and support these boys as they begin their quest for the championship. We hope to see you all there!

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The Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a blood drive on July 26th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. It is open to the public and everyone who is able is encouraged to sign up at the link listed below!

forms.gle/METnYP5BGy2u7qeF8

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By Brad Dison

At 8:30 p.m. on November 24, 1992, a Gulfstream II jet piloted by John Joseph and co-piloted by John Messina, took off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida en route to Rockland, Maine.  If everything went as expected, the flight would take two-and-a-half hours.  They planned to land in Maine at 11:00 p.m.  This $5 million twin-engine business jet was rated to carry a maximum of 19 passengers in addition to the pilot and co-pilot.  On this flight, only about a half dozen passengers were onboard, including Joseph’s wife of just 14 months and their seven-month-old son.  The pilot and co-pilot had thousands of flight hours between them.  Joseph had been flying since 1978 and held several different jet and non-jet pilot’s licenses.

As you probably guessed, everything did not go as expected.  At about 10:15 p.m., with only 45 minutes left to in the trip, a bearing in the jet’s left electrical generator failed.  In case of a generator failure, the jet’s electrical system would automatically draw power from the other engine’s electrical generator.  When this jet’s computer system switched to the right generator, a power surge in the electrical system tripped a circuit breaker.  The second generator shut down.  Without power from the generators, the jet relied on two small nickel cadmium batteries to power the jet’s radios, navigational gear, and other operational systems.  When fully charged, these two batteries could only power the jet for about five minutes.

No alarms sounded when the two generators failed.  Joseph and Messina only recognized that both generators had failed when the instrument panels began to dim.  It had been about five minutes since the generators failed.  Time was running out.  As soon as Joseph was aware that there was a problem, he contacted the Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center, declared an emergency, and asked for a heading to Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.  Before he could get a response from air traffic control, the two nickel cadmium batteries had exhausted their power supply and the jet’s entire electrical system failed.  Like most jets, the Gulfstream II had a backup for the backup for the backup in case of electrical failure.  Joseph tried to activate an instrument called a transformer rectifier to generate power but it, too, malfunctioned.  Joesph and Messina immediately realized the severe trouble the crippled jet was in.  All of the electrical navigational equipment had shut down, as had many of the jet’s crucial systems, such as electrically assisted flaps and brakes.    

The jet was nearly eight miles high, traveling at about 400 miles per hour, and was approaching one of nation’s busiest airspaces with no radio communications, no navigational equipment, and no interior or exterior lights.  The jet’s transponder, which transmits information such as the jet’s identification number, heading, speed, and altitude to air traffic controllers, also ceased to operate.  Air traffic controllers could only see an unidentified blip on their radar screens.  When Air traffic controllers realized Joseph’s jet’s electrical system had malfunctioned, they tried to contact Joseph by way of an emergency hand-held transceiver, another piece of emergency equipment, but the jet did not have one of the emergency transceivers.  

In an act of desperation, an air traffic controller directed the pilot of a commercial jet to help locate Joseph’s jet.  USAir Flight 1729 was traveling at the same speed as Joseph’s jet at an altitude of 20,000 feet.  They were unsure of Joseph’s jet’s altitude.  The air traffic controller told USAir pilot of Joseph’s jet’s electrical malfunction and said he would not be lit up.  The USAir jet pilot saw Joseph’s jet directly in front of him about two miles away.  They were heading directly toward each other.  The air traffic controller held his breath as the symbol for the USAir jet and the blip converged.  He breathed a sigh of relief when the symbols for the jets had passed each other and continued in opposite directions.

Back in Joseph’s jet, Messina shone a small flashlight in the cockpit for them to see by.  Joseph had only a tiny magnetic compass and a small emergency attitude indicator which showed the relationship of the airplane’s wings in relation to the horizon for navigating the jet.  There was no moon in the night sky on this night and all Joseph and Messina could see below them were dense clouds.  In the distance, Joseph noticed a glow in the dense cloud cover. This, he surmised, had to be Washington, D.C.  He aimed the jet towards the glow.  At about 12,000, Joseph’s jet was engulfed by thick clouds.  He continued his descent towards the glow.  The jet continued its slow descent, but the clouds did not thin.  Finally, at about 1,000 feet, Joseph’s jet broke out of the clouds.  The first thing Joseph saw was a brightly lit obelisk in the night sky.  It was the Washington Monument.  Both pilot and co-pilot were relieved at the welcome sight.  Joseph aimed the jet toward the Washington National Airport.  Air Traffic controllers had rerouted the other jets from the area in anticipation of an emergency landing.

Joseph’s jet was not safe yet.  They held their breath as they tried to lower the landing gear by using the emergency extension system.  Another sigh of relief.  This emergency system worked.  They were unable to lower the jet’s flaps, which would normally slow a jet on approach.  They touched town on the runway at the dangerous speed of about 170 miles per hour.  The only brake they had was the emergency brake, which failed to respond until fully engaged.  The locked tires only lasted a second or two before all four of them blew out.  Somehow, the jet did not flip as it skidded to a stop.  Finally, the harrowing ordeal was over.

Although terrifying, Joseph still flies his jets.  He owns several.  Throughout the emergency, air traffic controllers failed to realize that Joseph, the pilot of the Gulfstream II jet, would have been instantly recognizable had they seen his face.  You and I have watched him in “Welcome Back, Kotter,” “Grease,” and “Saturday Night Fever.”  The pilot who miraculously guided the jet to safety, despite horrifying odds, whose middle name is Joseph, was John Travolta.

Source:  James, Mike. 1995. “STAYIN’ ALIVE.” Washington Post, March 26, 1995. washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/03/26/stayin-alive/1b623dd6-7fb0-4f96-8573-b268d8fff3c2/.

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Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies and the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office are investigating an early morning single-vehicle crash that claimed the life of an Ashland man according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

July 19, 2023, at approximately 4:57am, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS, NPSO Rescue, and Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection Districts #8 and #9 responded to NATCOM 911 Center reports of a single-vehicle crash on La. Hwy 153 near Chester Warren Road within the City Limits of Ashland, La.

Deputies arrived on scene finding the sole-occupant of the vehicle deceased.

The Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office responded to the scene.

Deputies say 39-year-old Justin R. Lee of Ashland was operating a 1994 GMC pickup truck traveling northbound on La. Hwy 153 near the Chester Warren Road when for reasons under investigation apparently exited the road on the left side.  The vehicle then continued to travel off of the road approximately 200 feet into a tree line striking several trees coming to a rest.

This resulted in Lee sustaining fatal injuries.

Natchitoches Parish Coroner Steven Clanton pronounced Lee dead at the scene.

Toxicology samples were obtained and will be submitted for analysis.

Deputies say while not all crashes may be survivable, wearing your seat belt greatly reduces the chances of significant injury or death in traffic crashes.

The investigation is ongoing.

Cpl. Cody Olliff is investigating the crash with assistance from the Coroner’s Office.

Lee was reportedly an active member of Natchitoches Parish Protection District #8 in north Natchitoches Parish.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office extends our sympathy to the Lee family and friends.

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The Cowboy Church Arena will be the scene of 5D Jackpot Barrel Racing on August 3^rd.  There are categories for all cowboys and cowgirls.

Entry fees are $10 for Pee Wees, $25 for youth under 18, and $35 for the open category.  There will also be exhibitions are the fee is $5 or 3 for $12.

For more information, Call Tiffany at 318-471-0545.

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Coushatta’s York Chop is again among the list of the top BBQ Joints in the state of Louisiana.  A new list of favorites is out from “It’s a Southern Thing.”

The York Chop shares the spotlight with such outstanding BBQ joints as Big Mike’s in Houma, Cou-Yons in Port Allen, the Joint in New Orleans, and Grayson’s in Clarence.  Other contenders include Salty Joe’s in Hammond and Blue Oak BBQ in New Orleans.

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A Benefit fundraiser has been scheduled for Johnnie Jaggers on August 19^th.  Proceeds will be used to offset upcoming medical treatments.  Johnny is only seven years old.

The event flyer quotes Johnny, “I am seven years old.  I was born with Williams syndrome, Scoliosis and Kyphosis.  I am going to have to spend 6-8 weeks in New Orleans Children’s Hospital in halo traction to help prepare for the spinal fusion.  Please help me so I can have a more normal life.”

Events planned include fish plates, music, a bounce house, bake sale, silent auction, music and contests.  The hours are 11:00 am until on August 19, 2023.

The fundraiser is sponsored by the Troubled Souls R.C. and will be held at their clubhouse at 4248 Hwy 155.  This is the Spaulding’s old store on the Ashland Rd.

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There are football legends, a women’s basketball great, four baseball icons, a two-time USA Olympian, a world-renowned (now elderly) weightlifting champion with an inspiring and patriotic life story, and five LSU Tigers.

They – and a fun-filled slate of events — are among the reasons to be in Natchitoches next Thursday, July 27 through Saturday, July 29, to enjoy the 2023 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration.

There are three free events, and four others which require admission charges. Only the grand finale, the Saturday evening, June 29 Induction Reception and Ceremony presented by State Farm Agents of Louisiana, is a dress up affair.

Two – the Friday Bowling Bash presented by BOM, in Alexandria at Four Seasons Bowling Center, and the Saturday morning New Orleans Saints and Pelicans Junior Training Camp on the Northwestern State campus – are activity filled.

Another – the Friday night Rockin’ River Fest Concert featuring Rockin’ Dopsie and The Zydeco Twisters, and rising country artist Jason Ashley, along with a 10-minute fireworks show over Cane River – is activity optional, dancing encouraged.

Tickets for the Bowling Bash, the Friday night VIP Taste of Tailgating party, the Saturday noon Round Table Luncheon, and the big finale, the Induction Reception and Ceremony, are available at LaSportsHall.com or by calling 318-238-4255.

Advance registration at LaSportsHall.com for kids 7-17 is required for the free Junior Training Camp, which will feature many of the 2023 inductees participating as coaches in football and basketball.

Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning (from New Orleans) joins four-time WNBA All-Star Alana Beard (a Shreveport native) and College World Series champion LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri in a star-studded 12-member induction class.

The LSHOF Class of 2023 also includes New Orleans native Ron Washington, who managed the Texas Rangers to a pair of World Series appearances and in 2021 helped the Atlanta Braves win the world’s championship; two-time LSU track and field USA Olympian and world champion Walter Davis; and Slidell native, Tulane great and Chicago Bears two-time Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte.

Also elected for induction are All-American LSU pitcher Paul Byrd, a 14-year Major League Baseball veteran who made the 1999 All-Star Game; Shreveport native Wendell Davis, who shattered LSU football receiving records before heading to the NFL; multiple national champion and world class weightlifter Walter Imahara, a UL-Lafayette legend; and retired Baton Rouge-Parkview Baptist baseball coach M.L. Woodruff, whose teams claimed 11 state championships.

Two south Louisiana sports journalists, Bruce Brown of Lafayette and longtime New Orleans Times-Picayune high school reporter Lori Lyons will also be honored.

The LSHOF’s Class of 2023 will be enshrined Saturday, July 29, at the Hall of Fame’s home in Natchitoches to culminate the 64th Induction Celebration.

The Thursday reception, the Friday evening River Fest and the Junior Training Camp are free. As noted above, camp participants must register online in advance.

The 2023 Induction Celebration will be hosted by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, the support organization for the Hall of Fame. The LSHOF Foundation was established as a 501 c 3 non-profit entity in 1975 and is governed by a statewide board of directors.

For information on sponsorship opportunities and other participation, contact Foundation President/CEO Ronnie Rantz at 225-802-6040 or RonnieRantz@LaSportsHall.com, or Greg Burke, Director of Business Development and Public Relations, at 318-663-5459 or GregBurke@LaSportsHall.com.

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Justin Russell Lee

December 29, 1983 – July 19, 2023

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, July 22, 2023 in Ashland Baptist Church, Ashland, LA.

Mattie Lavern Mayes

December 9, 1935 — July 19, 2023

A graveside funeral were held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Hall Summit, Louisiana.

The Red River Parish Journal publishes “Remembrances” – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. The obituary will be included in the emails sent to subscribers.  Contact your funeral provider or RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication.

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Back to School time is fast approaching.  The school supply lists from Red River Public Schools and Riverdale Academy have been posted to their various social media sites.

The Red River Industries Bingo fundraiser is tonight from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  It is being held at the old washateria across from Mabile’s Pharmacy on Ringgold Ave.

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“Today was a huge win for the children of Louisiana,” said Gabe Firment, District 22 State Representative. “I’m proud of my colleagues in the state legislature for standing up to protect the children of our great state.”

On Tuesday, both chambers of the Louisiana legislature mustered the 2/3 vote of its membership necessary to override a Governor’s veto clearing the way for the “Stop Harming Our Kids Act” (HB 648) to become law. The bill prohibits healthcare professionals from providing gender affirming care or altering a child’s appearance to validate the minor’s perceptions of his sex. The Legislature adjourned following the vote of the Senate.

The Louisiana Constitution mandates a veto session on the 40th day after adjournment of the Regular Session unless a majority of either the House or Senate votes not to return. This year only 12 members of the Senate and 31 members of the House mailed in ballots stating the veto session was unnecessary.  The 2023 Veto Session, which convened on July 18, is only the third in the state’s history since the 1974 Louisiana Constitution was adopted.

Firment said, “We made it clear today that our children are worth fighting for. This great victory would not have been possible without the prayers and support of parents, grandparents, pastors, and grassroots organizations from around the state who rose up and declared with one voice that ‘No one in Louisiana has the right to harm a child’. God Bless the families of our beautiful state!”

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By Teddy Allen

Good thing I’m elderly because it is evident as of two weekends ago when I went to my first ever T-Ball tournament that I could not afford to have a child today.

Not an athletic one, anyway.

This was the Dixie Baseball Regional Tournament (I think) at Tinsley Park in Bossier. For T-Ball. An All-Star Tournament. We now have all-star tournaments for 6- and 7-year-olds even though the ball is hit off a tee and there are no pitchers. This has been going on a good while; I’d just never seen it.

I knew the doings were big when I parked and could not hear any baseball things. That’s how far away the parks were and everyone had gotten there a lot earlier than I had. I like to walk, so no complaint there; just trying to convey how many people were parked here on this Saturday evening. It was like the cast party for Gone With The Wind.

The first sign of trouble was a nice lady walking toward me. She handed me a wrist band. “Here, I’ll save you 10 bucks,” she said and handed me the band. “I was in there five minutes.”

Mister Teddy did not know it cost money to watch T-Ball.

And now I have an idea how much money it costs to play T-Ball, or at least be the guardian of a person who plays T-Ball.

It’s a lot.

Jerseys. Colors. Full uniforms with “Saline” or “Ruston” or “Bossier” across the front. Dozens of teams. “Olla” and … is there a team from “Greater Olla” here? Seems everyone else in Louisiana is.

The winners are traveling to the Dixie World Series in Center, Texas this weekend, and if you’re going to that, best leave now because traffic will not be a walk in the park. (If you’re interested in sponsoring, Hospitality Tents are only $200 a day and the Team Dinner/Opening Ceremonies are just $1,500. This is a big jump from 30 years ago when T-Ball was a YMCA T-shirt and a cap and your cleanest dirty shorts, and when the “regular season” was over, you met at Johnny’s Pizza.)

It took less than five minutes for me to figure out two things.

One, the gear required. Full uniforms. Battery-operated fans. (Could have used those back in the day.) Bat bags. And a clever invention—a wagon. Most everyone had these fold-up wagons, and in them were chairs for Mee Maw and Pee Paw, coolers, fans, bat bags, and sometimes a baby.

And two, most everyone I saw was sweating, but also smiling. It wasn’t my scene, but then again, none of these people wanted to be on the No. 7 tee box with me. They pay for a wagon, I pay for a pitching wedge. Different strokes … Same feeling of fun.

The little team I went to support came in 14th out of 16 teams, I think, but they all looked happy as little dudes on Christmas morning.

Things change. Used to, “travel ball” was one trip each summer out of town for a two-day tournament so my guys could experience a hotel and be together for a weekend. Then it was wiffle ball in the parking lot at night. Low overhead, high return. It was a different time, I guess.

Today, if they were grading, I’d make an F in T-Ball.

Things change, but still … when was the last time you saw boys and girls riding bikes with their baseball gloves hooked to the handlebars, or playing pickup baseball at a park or wiffle in the yard? Something in my old soul always thought that would be timeless. At least it’s still free.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu or Twitter @MamaLuvsManning

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Students may sign up for Pee Wee sports at the Riverdale Ice Cream Social on August 3, 2023.  The social begins at 5:00 pm in the gym.

Pee Wee sports offered at Riverdale include football, boys and girls basketball, cheer, baseball and softball.

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By Royal Alexander

U.S. Supreme Court Reaffirms Freedom of Speech and Conscience

The U.S. Supreme Court has recently ruled that a Colorado web designer may refuse to work on same-sex wedding announcements.  The party in the case is Lorie Smith who runs 303 Creative, a web-design company in Littleton, Colo. 

Miss Smith conscientiously objects to same-sex marriage and believes “the First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause protects her from being compelled to speak what she does not believe.”  It is important to note that while Miss Smith provides her website and graphic services to customers regardless of their race, creed, sex, or sexual orientation she has never created expressions that contradict her own views—whether that means generating works that encourage violence, demean another person, or defy her religious beliefs.

The Constitution, she insists, “protects her right to differ.”  

On the other hand, the state of Colorado asserted that its public accommodation laws (which cover virtually every public business offering a good or service) required her to create websites that celebrate gay weddings if her business was also designing sites to celebrate other weddings. 

So, she filed suit in federal court seeking an order declaring her business exempt from state antidiscrimination laws should any same-sex couple seek her services.

Justice Gorsuch, writing for the majority, concluded that the 1st Amendment entitles Miss Smith to refuse commissions for same sex wedding announcements.   The Court reasoned that Colorado’s so-called anti-discrimination law couldn’t be applied in such a way that it required a business owner to express ideas he or she opposes even if the state considers those views discriminatory.  In other words, the government Thought Police can’t dictate speech, and can’t tell us what to think and believe.

“The opportunity to think for ourselves and to express those thoughts freely is among our most cherished liberties and part of what keeps our Republic strong,” Gorsuch wrote, further stating that while that “means all of us will encounter ideas we consider” wrongheaded or even offensive “the First Amendment envisions the United States as a rich and complex place where all persons are free to think and speak as they wish, not as the government demands.”

This ruling will apply beneficially to Americans across the political and ideological spectrum.  For example, as noted by Senator Ted Cruz:

“The state of Colorado wanted to compel the speech of Christian artists and business owners who declined to use their God-given talents to celebrate views that run contrary to what their faith teaches,” reasoning “… should a Muslim artist be compelled by the government to draw the image of Muhammed? Should Jewish artists be forced to create art that is antisemitic?”

Or, imagine the outrage on the Left if a court or a law mandated that a liberal Democrat web designer produce a website for Trump’s recent birthday that read, “Happy Birthday President Trump—the Greatest President in American History;” Or a website that celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision that read, “Dobbs Prevented the Painful Slaughter of 10,000 Innocent Unborn Human Beings.”

Nevertheless, the fact that the Court’s ruling will benefit every citizen who finds themselves in a similar situation is not enough for the lunatic Left, which has smeared Miss Smith and viciously attacked the Court’s decision.

This case is very important because it underscores the great constitutional principle not only of free speech but of freedom of conscience.

It’s why Thomas Jefferson in 1777 “drafted a bill to establish religious liberty on the basis of the natural, inalienable right to freedom of conscience.” (Nat. Constitution Ctr).

It is, no doubt, why Jefferson expressed his view that “no provision in our constitution ought to be dearer to man, than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority.” (Ltr. to Richard Douglas, 2-4-1809).  It’s also, no doubt, the motivation for Jefferson’s declaration to Benjamin Rush that “I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”

The Supreme Court itself, in an earlier case involving compelled speech—West VA. Board of Educ. v. Barnette—eloquently reaffirmed this principle holding that state authorities had “transcended constitutional limitations on their powers” when their dictates “invaded the sphere of intellect and spirit which is the purpose of the First Amendment … ”

That is what the state law of Colorado was attempting to do here, and its action cannot be reconciled with our Constitution.

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