Matt Vines

LAKE PROVIDENCE – Delta Academy has been a historic thorn in the side of Riverdale Academy’s girls basketball program, but the Lady Rebels had no trouble Wednesday night in the first round of the Class 2A Tournament.

Riverdale (31-5) breezed past Delta’s press defense and pummeled the No. 4 seed in a 64-25 victory.

“It was a complete team effort,” said Riverdale coach Trey Pittman. “We handled their press well, for sure. Mary Claire Jones scored 23 points, and we got 18 from Makayla Pickett. Jadyn King was dominant on the defensive end.”

Riverdale ends Delta Academy’s season one year after Delta eliminated a sickness-riddled Lady Rebels squad in the semifinal round.

The No. 1 seed Lady Rebels move on to the semifinals, where No. 2 seed Marvell Academy awaits in a 2:15 p.m. game Friday at tournament host Briarfield Academy.

Marvell also beat Riverdale in the Class 2A Tournament this past season, that loss coming in the third-place game.

A win against Marvell assures Riverdale a spot in the Class 2A title game and the MAIS overall state tournament, which includes the top two teams of each class.

It would be the first overall state appearance for Riverdale since 2020.

Marvell point guard Harper James uses her quickness to beat defenders and draw fouls, but Riverdale is one of the best defensive teams in the state, led by its own point guard, Mary Claire Jones.

“We’ve got to keep (James) off the free-throw line and keep that team off the offensive boards,” Pittman said. “Marvell scores a lot of points, so defending and staying out of foul trouble will be key to victory.”

Riverdale likes to turn its defense into offense, with rebounding and forcing turnovers central to that philosophy.

On the other side of the Class 2A bracket are No. 1 seed Columbus Christian and No. 3 seed Calhoun Academy.

Calhoun Academy knocked off host Briarfield in the first round (52-42), while Columbus handled No. 4 Tensas Academy (61-21).

Riverdale does have a six-point win against Calhoun Academy this season if those teams match up for the Class 2A title, which will be played Saturday at 2:15 p.m.

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Challenge Camp is a camp designed for 7th and 8th grade students with the intent of teaching decision making, goal setting and teamwork.

11 Red River 4-H members and two teen volunteers attended the Northwest Regional Challenge Camp at Clara Springs Camp in Pelican.

Interactive educational sessions were conducted by 4-H agents focusing on building self-esteem, teambuilding, decision making, problem solving, conflict resolution and leadership.

77 youth, 18 teen counselors and 18 adults participated in the experience.

The theme was 4-H: Where Legends are Made.

Students participated in activities such as outdoor cooking, rock climbing, drones, completing a service project, learning their colors, etiquette at the table, and many other activities.

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In the winter of 1907-1908, Prefect of Police Louis Lépine employed dog auxiliaries to patrol the lonely beats in and around Paris, France. Having the dogs patrol the lonely beats would free up human police officers to concentrate their efforts in areas with higher crime rates.

On one lonely beat along the Seine River just outside Paris, a young boy fell into the river. Unable to swim, the boy flailed in the water in panic. He was barely able to let out a yelp. Suddenly, one of the police dogs who lived nearby, a large Newfoundland dog, leaped over the hedge, plunged into the Seine, and pulled the struggling boy to safety. Everyone, especially the young boy’s father, was jubilant that the dog had saved the young boy from drowning. The crowd gathered to take turns caressing the Newfoundland hero. The boy’s father rewarded the dog with a large, juicy beefsteak. Two days later, another young boy fell into the Seine a short distance away and struggled to tread water. Again, the Newfoundland hero jumped the hedge, plunged into the Seine, and pulled the child to safety. The people rewarded the dog as they had earlier, with caresses and another large, juicy beefsteak.

The following day, another child fell into the water and the Newfoundland came to the rescue again. After this third time, police began to look more closely at the incidents. They questioned the three children separately. The first child to be rescued said he slipped and fell into the river, but the second and third child said they were pushed into the Seine. Police worried that a disturbed criminal was stalking the neighborhood and pushing children into the river so that they would drown. This same scenario happened several more times. Hardly a day went by that a child was not pushed into the river. Luckily, all were within earshot of the Newfoundland hero.

Catching this individual proved to be a difficult task. None of the children had seen who had pushed them into the river. It was normal for people to casually walked along the banks of the Seine. A uniformed policeman began patrolling the area in an attempt to catch the serial “pusher” in the act. It was obvious that the serial “pusher” was aware of the police presence because no children were pushed when he was around. Children were still being pushed in the river and rescued by the dog, but it always happened when the policeman was not looking. There were no witnesses either. The policeman dressed in plain clothes, but children were still being pushed into the river and rescued by the Newfoundland hero, who by this time had become somewhat of a local celebrity. Still, the policeman was unable to witness the crime. The policeman began watching from a concealed location. He watched as children played by the river’s edge but the serial “pusher” only pushed children who were alone presumably so there would be no witnesses. Then, the hidden policeman noticed a child alone by the edge of the river. Moments later, he saw the serial “pusher” calmly walk up and push a child into the river. His mouth dropped as he saw the Newfoundland hero spring into action and pull the child to safety. The policeman knew the serial “pusher” well. He had seen him nearly every day since his investigation began, but he never suspected that the serial “pusher” was… the Newfoundland hero whose only motivation was the reward of caresses and beefsteak.

Source: New York Times, February 2, 1908, p.14.

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Valentine’s Day began as St. Valentine’s Day, a celebration of one or more early Christian saints named Valentinus. February 14 first became associated with romantic love during the High Middle Ages as the tradition of courtly love was then flourishing. During 18th century England, this day evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending Valentine cards.

The earliest description of February 14 as an annual celebration of love appears in the Charter of the Court of Love. The charter, allegedly issued by Charles VI of France at Mantes-la-Jolie in 1400, describes lavish festivities to be attended by several members of the royal court, including a feast, amorous song and poetry competitions, jousting and dancing. Amid these festivities, the attending ladies would hear and rule on disputes from lovers. No other record of the court exists, and none of those named in the charter were present at Mantes except Charles’s queen, Isabeau of Bavaria, who may well have imagined it all while waiting out a plague.

Since the Renaissance, we’ve been exchanging Valentine’s cards. These handmade missives of romance grew into a more commercial venture by the Victorian era. Today, school children exchange Valentine’s greetings, too. They prepare for the day by making unique boxes to receive their many hearts, cupids, and pun-filled rhymes.

Chocolates and candy have also become a part of the celebration. While couples tend to be the focus of the day, singles celebrate being single, too. Friends take each other out or reject the overall notion of Valentine’s Day. Dinner and a movie, candlelight, and flowers also fit the bill for couples. It’s one of the busiest days of the year for florists.

About 190 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, not including the millions of cards school children exchange. Valentine’s Day is a major source of economic activity, with total expenditures topping $18.2 billion.

Love and romance. Candy and flowers. Cards and gifts. Dinner and dancing. A day filled with love, romance and sweet gestures — the perfect opportunity to show affection towards those special people in your life.

Source: nationaldaycalendar.com 

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By Randall Mallette, LSU AgCenter County Agent

In my previous article on this topic, we discussed the topic of hormones in chicken production. To recap, the use of growth stimulants or hormones has been illegal since the 1950’s in poultry, however those products often boast “No Added Hormones” or similar claims to increase their product’s appeal.  Similarly, some products are labeled as “antibiotic free”, but it should be noted that meat products are tested for antibiotic residues and are discarded if residue is present. All meat is “antibiotic free,” whether it is a product that was raised with or without antibiotics.

 The beef industry does allow hormone use, and this article will dive into that topic. Once again, this article is strictly informational and is not meant to condemn or condone any management practices used in the raising of livestock or poultry. All information used here is research-based. 

Hormones are chemical messengers found naturally in the body that are released from one organ or tissue to illicit a change in another tissue. All animals rely on hormones for day-to-day bodily functions including metabolism, growth, reproduction, sleep cycles, and many others. These hormones can be found naturally in all tissues of the body, including the muscle tissue that we purchase for food. The same is true of plant products, as plants also produce hormones and rely on them for day-to-day processes. Plant products that we use for food will also contain measurable hormone levels, often at much higher concentrations than beef that received hormones for growth. Because of this, labels cannot claim to be “Hormone Free” since hormones are always present at some level.

Using hormones in beef production has repeatedly been shown to increase the growth rate of the animal without risk to the animal or the end product. Since it increases feed efficiency of the animal (more product produced with less feed), this practice can also decrease the farmer’s cost of producing beef. These hormones are administered in the form of a small pellet inserted underneath the skin on the back of the animal’s ear resulting in a slow release of low concentrations of the hormone. These implants have very little impact on the hormone levels found in the meat, especially when compared to the naturally occurring levels found in humans and in plant products.

There is a lot of misinformation regarding the effects of consuming beef from implanted animals. One of the claims is that these beef products lead to early puberty in girls, however the tables below illustrate just how insignificant the estrogen levels in implanted beef are when compared to non-implanted beef products and plant products. All measurements in Table 1 are in nanograms (ng) found in 500 grams (approximately 1 pound) of each food product. It takes 1 billion nanograms to equal 1 gram. 

The estrogen level in implanted beef is insignificant when compared to many plant products. Other plant products not listed in Table 1 include potatoes (225 ng/3 oz serving), peas (340 ng/3 oz serving), cabbage (2,000 ng/3 oz serving), and soy milk (11,250 ng/3 oz serving). (Publication 2767 by Dr. Tom Tabler, Jessica Wells, and Dr. Wei Zhai at Mississippi State University, Poultry Science.)

Additionally, the estrogen levels in implanted and non-implanted beef products are insignificant when compared to the normal levels produced in humans. 

The bottom line with any of these meat concerns is that it comes down to the consumer’s preference. Some consumers may prefer grass-fed to grain-fed. Some prefer a natural approach to raising beef, so they want no added hormones or no antibiotic use. There is not necessarily a right or wrong answer to this topic, however consumers should be aware of what they are purchasing, what the label means, and what research has shown time and time again. Consumers should also be aware that management decisions (no added hormones, no antibiotics, and others) can affect the price of the product.

For more information contact Randall Mallette, County Agent, at the Natchitoches LSU AgCenter Extension Office 318-357-2224, or in Coushatta at 318-932-4342. You can also visit us on the web at www.lsuagcenter.com, in Natchitoches at 624 Second St, or in Coushatta at 1919 Alonzo St.  

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I’ve been tournament fishing since 1990 and the changes I have seen in equipment are staggering. From electronics, rods and reels, bass boats to bait and tackle, it’s amazing how far the sport of bass fishing has progressed. Let’s look at a few of the changes that have made the sport so much better.

First, who would have thought the electronics used today would be comparable to something you would see on a NASA spaceship. The biggest difference between depth finders today versus the 1990s would be the visual details. Today you can literally see every individual fish and how they’re positioned on a rock or a brush top.

You can watch fish attack your bait in real time! You can see and learn so much about the mood of the fish and how they are reacting to whatever bait you’re throwing.

Next, when it comes to rods and reels, top-name companies like Daiwa are constantly looking at ways to make everything better with both innovation and technology. Whether it’s the materials or components used, they are always trying to make a better rod that’s lighter and stronger for greater hook sets and reels that will cast smoother and farther while giving anglers so many options for different retrieve speeds.

Now let’s look at the most expensive item an angler can invest in — the bass boat. Next to the trucks anglers buy to pull these luxury boats, bass boats have become ridiculously overpriced and overdesigned.

Back in 1998, a top-of-the-line Ranger bass boat listed for about $30,000. Ranger, which has been a leader with innovation in the bass boating world, continues to add and perfect the modern-day bass boat year after year with innovations like hull design, digital switches and gauges, cushioned casting decks, and adjustable/softer seats with tilt steering wheels. They were the first to add live wells to a bass boat which were all made and built by hand. Who would have thought that today there would be a keyless ignition system and heated seats with leather wrapped steering wheels.

Today, with all the new innovations and perks all bass boat companies are creating, who would have thought the average price would jump from $30,000 in 1998 to $140,000 in 2025! A tournament angler today will more than likely have a minimum of $175,000 tied up in just the truck and boat alone.

So, as you can see, bass fishing has come a long way in terms of technology and innovation, as well as cost. This does not include the 30 to 50 rods and reels tournament anglers bring to each event, along with all the tackle like crankbaits, spinnerbaits, soft plastic worms and fishing line.

Has bass fishing become a rich man’s sport? Well, that depends on how serious the angler wants to be. Does he want to be a weekend warrior and fish for fun, or does he want to compete in tournaments at a high level? To fish competitively today, the electronics on the boat may be the most important feature. If you’re not good with reading and using the depth finders on your boat, you’re probably just donating your entry fee.

Who would have thought that to be a professional bass fisherman on a major tournament trail in 2025, you would have to pony up over $50,000 up front for entry fees before you ever even wet a hook.

Who would have thought that some anglers would take out a second mortgage on their house just to fish professionally. The sad part is, only a handful will make it. By the end of year three, a lot of anglers are bankrupt, in financial ruins and maybe divorced.

While a lot of what I’ve just covered is depressing, I have never seen bass fishing as popular as it is today. The sport is attracting a huge number of young anglers fishing on high school and college teams. There are still many anglers age 40 and above, but the younger generation is quickly taking over the sport due to their ability to maximize the use of electronics, especially when it comes to forward-facing sonar.

Today, who would have thought that bass fishing would be as popular as it is in 2025! We should thank people like Ray Scott (founder of B.A.S.S.) for creating a professional tournament trail and the Super Bowl of bass fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

We should thank the legendary anglers of the sport like Rick Clunn, Gary Kline, Roland Martin, Bill Dance, Hank Parker and Forest Wood (founder of Ranger Boats) for taking the sport to a level anglers could only dream of.

‘Til next time, I want to say thank you for taking the time to read my article each week. It truly means a lot to me, and I really appreciate your feedback, both good and bad.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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Louisiana students show gains at a time when many states continue to fall behind

Less than two weeks after Louisiana students achieved their highest rankings on The Nation’s Report Card, a prominent national study from Harvard and Stanford shows Louisiana is leading the nation for academic recovery. The Education Recovery Scorecard ranks Louisiana first in the nation for reading and second for math. Louisiana is the only state where the average student has completed their recovery.

In its third year of reporting on the pace of academic recovery measures in districts nationwide, the Education Recovery Scorecard is an annual report on school system-level student growth in reading and math. The Education Recovery Scorecard’s full release is available online. Below are some items of note for Louisiana.

• Louisiana ranked first among the states in terms of recovery in reading and 2nd in math between 2019 and 2024.
• Between 2019 and 2024, students in Louisiana earned gains in reading and math at a time when many states continued to fall further behind.
• Louisiana is the only state where the average student has completed their recovery. 
• An analysis suggests Louisiana’s investment of pandemic funding did contribute to the academic recovery, especially when targeted at academic efforts such as summer learning and tutoring.
• Growth in chronic absenteeism (students missing more than 10 percent of a school year) is slowing the recovery in many school systems in Louisiana. 

“Louisiana’s academic progress reflects a focus on fundamental skills and strong educator support,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “There is a lot to be proud of in this latest report, and our work continues. There are still too many Louisiana students who can’t read on grade level, can’t do basic math, and who don’t attend school on a regular basis.”

The Education Recovery Scorecard is a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University and the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University. The latest report provides the first high resolution picture of where Louisiana students’ academic recovery stood in spring 2024. While The Nation’s Report Card described changes in average achievement by state, the Education Recovery Scorecard combines those scores with school system scores on state assessments to describe the change in local communities throughout Louisiana.

Louisiana also earned positive marks on the 2023 Education Recovery Scorecard. That report found that Louisiana was one of three states where average reading achievement in 2023 was above 2019 levels. Louisiana students recovered nearly half of their original loss in math, which was referred to in the study as “a remarkable achievement” given that students nationally had only made up one third of the original loss.

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Want to give a sweet treat to someone on Valentine’s Day? Take a Valentine’s balloon to the residents at Green Meadow Haven!

Sibley Lake is now closed until further notice. The boat ramps on Sibley Lake are closed due to high water levels. A notification will be posted when the ramps reopen.

Northwestern State University will host the 10th Living Library program, “Divine Nine through Time,” with panelists who are past and present members of NSU’s Divine Nine. The program will take place at 10am Wednesday, Feb 19 in the Ora G. Williams Digital Media Center/NSU TV Studio, Room 142 Kyser Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Louisiana Christian University will hold its annual spring revival series Feb 18-20 at 11am in Guinn Auditorium. The speaker for the revival will be Dr. Greg Wilton, assistant professor of mission and
evangelism and dean of Leavell College at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Wilton has served the Lord in many ways, from the French Quarter to Southeast Asia, from a small church pastor in Louisiana to a large church missions pastor in Tennessee. The revival services are free and open to the public.

The Gail Metoyer Jones Center for Inclusion and Diversity at Northwestern State University will host the Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 in the Student Union Ballroom. The Sankofa African American Museum on Wheels is a renowned collection of African American history, spanning 1860 to the present. This unique museum experience takes audiences on a journey through significant periods in African American history, including slavery, the era of King Cotton and the days of Emancipation. The museum also highlights the stories of influential figures such as Ida B. Wells, The Tuskegee Airmen, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the 44th President of the United States. For more information about the event, contact Dr. Jasmine Wise, coordinator for the Gail Metoyer Jones Center for Inclusion and Diversity, at wisej@nsula.edu.

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Gidget Denise Anderson
December 25, 1974 – February 3, 2025
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 11am at St. Savior Baptist Church in Coushatta.

Kenny Wayne Smith
August 24, 1969 – February 4, 2025
Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 11am at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Coushatta.

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International Paper announced on Feb. 13 the permanent closure of the company’s Red River containerboard mill in Campti, recycling plant in Phoenix, Az., box plant in Hazleton, Pa., and sheet feeder facility in St. Louis, Mo. All facilities will cease operations by the end of April 2025. The Red River containerboard mill closure is expected to reduce the company’s containerboard capacity by approximately 800,000 tons on an annualized basis.

In total, 495 hourly employees and 179 salaried employees will be affected. The company will work to minimize the impact on employees by using attrition, retirements and current vacancies at other International Paper locations. Team members at these locations will receive outplacement assistance, access to mental health support resources and where possible, severance benefits.

“The decision to close any facility is difficult because of the impact on our team members, their families and the surrounding communities,” said Tom Hamic, executive vice president and president, North American Packaging Solutions, International Paper. “We greatly appreciate the contributions from our departing team members and will do all we can to support them.”

International Paper is undergoing a transformational journey to become a stronger sustainable packaging solutions company. A critical step in this journey is to streamline IP’s footprint to focus investments on facilities that will best serve customers and accelerate strategic initiatives to improve quality, reliability and service delivery.

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The Red River Bulldogs will take on the Lakeview Gators in the Dawg Pound Saturday, February 22 at 2pm.

Doors will open at 1:30pm.

There will be no tickets sold at the door. All tickets are presale ONLY. Buy them from the Red River High School Front Office until gym capacity is reached.

Cost of tickets: Students $5  Adults  $10. Cash only.

Please review the Athletic Venue Policy and Bag Policy shown below before attending the game.

As part of a MLK Day of Service event, Red River Parish 4-H completed a cancer awareness project.

Members were invited to sign up to honor someone they knew who was currently battling or had battled cancer.

Students came to the 4-H office and put the blankets together.

On February 4th, a “Threads of Kindness” ceremony was held at the 4-H office, where individual students, siblings, or classes/teams, were able to give the blankets to coaches, teachers, 4-H leaders, and family members. They also gave to family members of those who had lost their battle with cancer. 4-H members were then able to honor their recipient with a blanket, certificate, and HOPE pin.

50 people attended this ceremony where teens spoke about World Cancer Day, as well as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ideas about helping others. They also spoke about the need for early screenings and tests.

After the ceremony, attendees were invited to stay for refreshments and to take pictures in front of the photo backdrop.

Through this project, 280 club members were reminded about how cancer touches so many lives. These students became more aware of the effects of cancer on our parish families, as well as the different types of cancer that are diagnosed daily.

By completing blankets, 30 members got to see first-hand the effects of honoring someone who has been through such a journey.

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Matt Vines

LAKE PROVIDENCE – The Riverdale girls basketball team has been ranked No. 1 by the coaches of Class 2A in the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools, and now it’s time for the Lady Rebels to put that ranking to the test.

Riverdale will begin the Class 2A state tournament Wednesday as the No. 1 seed Lady Rebels (30-5) face No. 4 Delta Academy at tournament host Briarfield Academy. Riverdale drew the late game at 7:45 p.m.
These Lady Rebels know Delta Academy well as Riverdale effectively had their season ended this past year by Delta, a 46-31 loss in the state tournament semifinals.

While Delta Academy isn’t the team they were in 2024 and Riverdale is arguably better after having lost just one player from a 24-5 team a season ago, coach Trey Pittman knows all too well what Delta Academy is capable of.

“Delta has ended my championship hopes more than once,” Pittman said. “The year we went 42-1 in 2003, they put that ‘one’ there.

“They are extremely well coached, and our girls are certainly locked in.”

Riverdale has met Delta Academy once already this season, a 66-34 victory that started the Lady Rebels current 23-game winning streak.

“The key will be to limit turnovers against their press,” said Pittman, who leans on veteran point guard Mary Claire Jones and a guard-oriented bunch. “In our earlier meeting, they didn’t have an answer for Makayla Pickett or Hanna Huddleston down low.”

During Riverdale’s run to the Class 2A South title this past week, Pickett flashed her explosiveness with 29 first-half points in a blowout against Tensas Academy.

Younger sister Kaleigh Pickett opens the floor with her long-range shooting ability, which creates space for players like Jones and senior guard Jadyn King.

Riverdale ran roughshod over the regional bracket with three wins by an average of 38 points, including a 60-42 win against Briarfield in the title game. Jones scored a team-high 17 points with Kaleigh Pickett adding 12 and Julia Grace Riggs 11.

In the Class 2A state tournament, participants who reach the finals will advance to the overall state tournament, meaning Riverdale needs two wins to advance to the title game.

A win would have Riverdale meeting the winner of No. 2 seed Marvell Academy and No. 3 Mt. Salus.
On the other side of the bracket, No. 1 Columbus Christian and No. 2 Briarfield are the likeliest of opponents to reach the finals.

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East Point Mount Zion Baptist Church recently honored their “Living Legends.”.

The women honored not only take joy in spreading the gospel but they also taught our future leaders.

Honored were:

Dora Bradley – an educator for over 25 years, served as youth director and serving as Deaconess

Oletha Sibley – began her education career in 1969, Teacher of the Year recipient 12 times

Alvester Barfield – an educator for over 40 years, won Teacher of the Year twice, actively serving as Sunday School Teacher

Cassandra Turner – Red River Parish educator for over 30 years, serves as finance secretary, serving as Deaconess

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President Trump has stated numerous times that “I am going to return your country to you … I’m going to give you back your country!” What he has done to achieve that goal in a mere 17 days is astounding.

Let me recap his dizzying pace: 

He demanded Mexico stop illegal immigration into the U.S and block the river of fentanyl.  Mexico initially appeared to resist then quickly folded.  Canada, with its flaccid, idiotic prime minister also initially resisted Trump demands, then quickly folded.  Panama immediately agreed to reduce the Chinese influence in the Panama Canal.  Venezuela and Colombia tried to appear defiant but soon submitted. Venezuela has even returned 6 American hostages.

The anti-American U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is on its way out.  It’s wasteful and shameful spending is too lengthy to document.  Here are only a few examples of the waste and abuse:

$1.5 million to “advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities,”$70,000 for production of a “DEI musical” in Ireland, $2.5 million for electric vehicles for Vietnam, $47,000 for a “transgender opera” in Colombia,$32,000 for a “transgender comic book” in Peru, $2 million for sex changes and “LGBT activism” in Guatemala,$6 million to fund tourism in Egypt, hundreds of thousands of dollars for a non-profit linked to designated terrorist organizations, millions to Eco Health Alliance—which was involved in research at the Wuhan lab, hundreds of thousands of meals that went to Al Qaeda-affiliated fighters in Syria, funding to print “personalized” contraceptive birth control devices in developing countries, hundreds of millions of dollars to fund “irrigation canals, farming equipment, and even fertilizer used to support the unprecedented poppy cultivation and heroin production in Afghanistan,” benefiting the Taliban.

The list goes on and on—and has all been happening for decades!

The fifty-one former intelligence officials who lied about the Hunter Biden laptop prior to the 2020 presidential election have all had their security clearances revoked.  Trump this week also banned men from competing in women’s sports.

Being scrutinized are many of the FBI agents who participated in the weaponization against Trump, the J6ers, pro-lifers, Catholic churches, and parents—who were deemed “domestic terrorists”—of public-school students who challenged the forced masking and vaccinations of their children during Covid and the existence of Woke, pornographic and transgender literature in public school libraries.  

The Department of Education (DOE) is on the chopping block.  The DOE has not been primarily focused on educating students in decades but, instead, upon indoctrinating students with Critical Race Theory madness.

Further, thousands of federal employees have been offered a buyout package but they are leaving one way or the other. 

Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader was with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and, with his typical bluntness, Trump made clear that Israel will be protected, and that the Gaza Strip will become something entirely different but never again the killing fields it has been for decades.  

Trump has also reimposed harsh sanctions against Iran such that it will no longer be funding terrorist proxy groups but also said he would like to come to some sort of an agreement with Iran.  However, under no circumstances will Iran possess a nuclear weapon.  He further exemplified what courage and leadership look like when someone asked Trump about the continuing efforts of Iran to have him assassinated.  His response was epic. He stated he had already given instructions and that if Iran assassinated him “that country will be obliterated. There won’t be anything left.”

We’ve never had an American president who successfully shrunk the size of the federal government or significantly diminished its oppressiveness in our lives. I doubt the lawsuits being filed in opposition to these executive actions will get very far because the changes Trump is making fall within his core constitutional powers as the head of the Executive Branch and Commander in Chief.

This is an historic time for us to witness and be alive.  There is no doubt that the relentless prayers of millions of us have put our nation in this very hopeful position.  May God continue to guide, bless, and protect this nation He ordained and may the world be blessed and uplifted by the strong presence of America to which President Trump literally gives his life to ensure President Lincoln’s dream: That our,

“Government of the People, by the People, for the People, shall not perish from the Earth.” 

Royal Alexander

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GreenThumb Tips & Tricks recently shared on social media crape myrtles thrive with proper pruning during their dormant season in February.

Avoid “crape murder” by removing suckers, damaged branches, and crossing limbs for healthy growth. Thin out twiggy growth to improve air circulation and cut the tips of branches to encourage more blooms. If your tree has been topped, nurture the strongest sprouts or cut it back to 1-2 inches to restore its health. 

Check out this article by Green Garden for more information about correctly pruning your crape myrtles.

Follow these tips for a beautiful and vibrant crape myrtle in your garden.

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A major transformation is underway at Northwestern State University, with new academic and athletic facilities set to enhance student learning and campus life. Construction on Alost Hall, a $45 million academic hub, remains on track for a Fall 2025 opening.

Looming over Sam Sibley Drive, the 73,200 square foot structure will feature multipurpose classrooms, a large multi-functional area, simulation labs, training areas, a café, an administrative office suite and space for 60 faculty offices. Alost Hall was funded through state capital outlay, which is dedicated for state infrastructure projects, and will replace Kyser Hall as the university’s main academic building.

Across campus, progress on the David and Sherry Morgan Health Performance Center is also underway. Annexed to the Donald G. Kelly Athletic Complex, the facility will include a 11,600 square foot weight room with space for more than 100 student-athletes, a 25-foot artificial turf pad, a nutrition center, a student-athlete lounge and offices for the strength and conditioning staff. That project is funded by private donations.

NSU President James Genovese said the new facilities will have a direct and immediate positive impact on students.

“State-of-the-art classrooms, space for meetings and lectures right in the heart of campus…Alost Hall is a win-win for students and faculty,” Genovese said. “It’s already a point of pride when we bring prospective students and their parents to campus and the expansion of Athletic facilities is an important selling point for future student-athletes.”

Those concrete signs of growth align with increased student retention and the university’s ongoing initiatives to foster economic development throughout the university’s 10-parish service area.

NSU’s Office of Economic Development and University Advancement is developing innovative ways to strengthen public/private partnerships, bridging the gap between academia and industry through workforce development and job placement.

For example, NSU offers a two-year associate degree in Engineering Technology with a concentration in advanced manufacturing that integrates classroom learning with experience in an industrial facility. Students work part-time and receive a competitive wage from an industry partner while taking classes two days a week. That program is important for students who aspire to earn a degree, but still need to work.

NSU is also partnering with the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts and the City of Natchitoches to develop an Innovation Park that will include a business development center, conference area and makers’ space. The complex will connect to the NSU and LSMSA campuses on University Parkway and will incorporate office space for both institutions and green spaces for the community.

“Collaborations not only help companies grow but help connect students and faculty with industry professionals,” said Laurie Morrow, executive director of Economic Development and University Advancement. Partnerships open opportunities for research collaboration and problem-solving and first-hand access to talent, she said.

Academic advising also plays a role in student retention. Earlier this year, faculty participated in advising training presented by NSU’s Elevate U staff that outlined strategies to help students discover their strengths and weaknesses, develop plans to achieve academic goals and optimize their NSU experience. Elevate U is a grant-funded program that provides extra layers of support for low-income and first-generation students. Students also benefit from supplemental instruction through NSU’s innovative FLAME (Faculty Led Assistance in My Education) program, tutoring and one-on-one check-in meetings.

Spring 2025 enrollment stands at 7,761, with an increase in first-time freshmen and transfer students. Housing applications for Fall 2025 are also rising, reflecting growing interest in NSU.

“The caliber of the student that is reaching out to us right now and that we are meeting at recruiting events is very impressive,” said Van Erikson, director of Enrollment Management. “These are high achieving honor students with high GPAs and high ACT scores. They are interested in NSU’s small class sizes, opportunities to get involved with campus organizations and the affordability of attending Northwestern.”

More than 500 prospective students are registered to attend N-Side View, the university’s spring preview day, on Saturday, Feb. 15 where students and families, can take campus tours, talk with faculty and current students and get information on degree programs, housing, financial aid and scholarships.

“As Northwestern expands with new state-of-the-art facilities and welcomes more freshmen, transfers and returning students, the university is shaping the future of education and workforce development,” Genovese said. “This is more than just an exciting time to be part of the Northwestern family — it’s a defining moment. We’re building a future where innovation, opportunity and student success come together to shape the next generation of leaders.”

[Watch Now] State of the University | Spring 2025 – President James T. Genovese Shares What’s Next for Northwestern: https://vimeo.com/1055384847

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By Randall Mallette, LSU AgCenter County Agent

In recent years, there has been a sharp rise in the number of products on store shelves that boast “organic”, “all-natural”, or “non-GMO” on their labels. The food we eat, especially the animal products, are constantly being scrutinized for their content, and often, good animal products get pushed aside for products whose labeling includes a key word or words such as “all-natural”. One great example of this would be the use of hormones or growth promotants in chicken production. Before continuing, I want to clarify that this article is strictly informational and is not meant to condemn or condone any management practices used in the raising of livestock or poultry. All information used here is research-based.

You can go to the meats section in any grocery store and find a package of chicken that says, “No Added Hormones.”  If you really read the label on that package though, you will find a sentence in much less obvious lettering explaining that the use of hormones in poultry production is prohibited in the United States. This has been the case since the 1950’s, yet the frivolous and misleading statement of “No Hormones Added” on the package still sells chicken. This common misconception stems from the fact that chickens have increased in size drastically over the past few decades. Consumers mistakenly believe this is only possible through injection of growth promoting hormones. However, selective breeding is largely responsible for the increased growth rates and resulting size of our poultry. Hormone use in poultry production is also not economical or practical, due to the number of injections per bird per day that would be required. Additionally, administering hormones to chickens could potentially cause leg problems, resulting in losses to the producer. You may be thinking, “So if hormones aren’t injected, they could still be added to the feed.” That is not the case though. Hormones have two chemical forms: the protein form and the steroid form. Growth hormones fall under the protein category. Protein hormones are broken down during digestion and therefore do not act on the body. Since growth hormones are protein hormones, they cannot be feed additives. Steroid hormones can be taken orally because they are not broken down during digestion (Publication 2767, Mississippi State University).

Now, despite the fact that hormones are not used in chicken production, there may still be measurable levels of hormones in the meat we eat. Hormones are produced naturally in the chicken’s body, just like in ours. Naturally occurring hormones in chickens still find their way into the fat and meat of the end product. In the table below you can see the comparative amounts of estrogen in chicken and other food products, compared to the natural amounts produced normally per day in humans.

Knowing this, shop smart. When you shop, don’t set aside a poultry product because it doesn’t say “No Hormones Added”. Remember that all poultry raised or sold in the U.S. has no added hormones, whether the label claims it or not, and has been for decades. For more information on this topic, I encourage you to read a publication by the Mississippi State Extension Service entitled “Chickens Do Not Receive Growth Hormones: So Why All the Confusion?” It can be found at https://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/publications/p2767.pdf.

For more information contact Randall Mallette, County Agent, at the Natchitoches LSU AgCenter Extension Office 318-357-2224, or in Coushatta at 318-932-4342. You can also visit us on the web at www.lsuagcenter.com, in Natchitoches at 624 Second St, or in Coushatta at 1919 Alonzo St. 

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What path are you on?

I’ll get to the path in a minute. First a confession, my backyard is ridiculous!

Over the course of years, I have become a clandestine showroom for Tuff-Sheds. I have three of them in the backyard. That is in addition to the original shed built by the Baptist deacons! The sheds are connected with a boardwalk, so I need not walk in the yard. The most infamous of my sheds is the dog shed, which I call the doghouse. It is the smallest. I insulated it and finished the interior. It holds one doggy crate, a wing back chair, a 42-inch TV, an air conditioning unit, and has a doggy door to the outside. There are times I am in the doghouse. People have seen my doghouse and asked if they could “be in the doghouse.”

This winter the dogs have created a path through the center of the yard. It is their short cut to the greenhouse. Yes, I have one of those too! They refused to walk on the boardwalk, choosing instead their own path.

Their path is the most efficient way to travel to the greenhouse from the backdoor.

The dogs are most often on the path. They have some kind of canine love for the contents of the greenhouse. They travel the path! Since it is properly tamped down, I now travel the path as well. The path became such because that was the way we traveled across the backyard. Do you have an animal path through your yard?

The Greek word for path is hodon.

In the story of blind Bartimaeus in Mark, we read that blind Bart was sitting at the roadside (hodon). After he receives his sight, he follows Jesus along the way (hodon). I remind you that Jesus said, “I am the way (hodon), the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)

There are other familiar places where this word appears. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus preach about the narrow path (hodon) that leads to life and the wide path (hodon) that leads to destruction. (We call that the path of least resistance.) In Matthew 13, Jesus talked about the seeds and the soils. The first batch of seeds fell on the path (hodon) and the birds came and ate the seeds.

Can I change the translation in John 14? Can you read this verse as Jesus saying, “I am the path … no one comes to the Father but by me.”

Are you like blind Bartimaeus and sitting by the path, are you traveling the path of least resistance, or are you on the Jesus path following Him?

In a world that offers so many paths that lead to nothing, I’m opting for the Jesus path. How about you?

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According to social media, Hall Summit’s Dollar General is closed for remodeling and will reopen tomorrow, Thursday, Feb 13.

Red River 4-H is holding their annual fern sale. Call the office to order-932-4342. You can choose from Boston, Asparagus or Macho. They are $20 each. 

The next Women of Courage Louisiana Woman Church will be held at Shane’s in Bossier on Mar 6 at 6pm. Mariah Howell, Freedom in Christ, will be the speaker. Dinner will be provided. 

Creston Baptist Church is hosting a Ladies’ Night Out Mar 8 at 6pm. Experience a special evening of fellowship and inspiration with Tammy Whitehurst. The topic will be God’s Perfect Timing. Tickets are $25 per person and includes a tshirt and a meal. You may pay by Venmo (@jlfarm), PayPal (jimlorettawilliams12@gmail.com), cash or check. Mail checks or pay cash at 3231 Hwy 156, Saline, LA 71070. Make sure you include your shirt size. Registration closes February 19. 

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Mary Linnie Bounds
July 10, 1945 – February 8, 2025
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 11am at Family Worship Center in Campti.

Larry Elliott
September 22, 1937 – February 7, 2025
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 14, 2025 at 2pm at Rocket Funeral Home Chapel in Ringgold.

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In an article published in the Shreveport Times, reporter Jimmy Watson interviews the Basketball referee from Thursday’s game at Red River High.

Hunter Horton, a Shreveport Association Referee, was the target of a female spectator, as seen in a video of the incident circulating on social media after Horton called a flagrant foul and ejected a player from the game. The spectator is seen crossing the court, grabbing the ball from a referee, and getting in Horton’s face. She was removed from the court by law enforcement and school officials.

According to the interview, Horton met with Red River Sheriff’s Office deputies on Friday morning and discussed pursuing charges under the Louisiana statute that includes verbal and nonverbal behavior by an offender that would cause “a reasonable person to be placed in fear of receiving bodily harm.” If convicted, the offender faces a fine of up to $500, 90 days in prison, 40 hours of community service, and/or court-approved counseling.

The spectator may be charged as early as today.  

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