All Red River Parish Schools were on “Lock Down” for Thursday, September 12. The extraordinary security measures resulted from a threat that was discovered on SnapChat.
During the School Board meeting at 9:00am Thursday, Superintendent Strong addressed the board with an explanation of what happened to cause the enhanced security. Strong said the initial post was reported to law enforcement about 1:30am Thursday morning. Notification to school officials did not come until almost 7:00am. A notification was then sent to parents to alert them of the possibility of a threat.
“We are taking the threat seriously and want to ensure the safety of all children and adults on our campuses.”
Parents who chose to pick up their children were allowed to do so, and parents who decided to have students remain at school were assured of increased safety measures for everyone.
The Superintendent then turned the explanation over to Suzanne Gallier, Security Coordinator. Gallier discussed how limited movement within and on school grounds was implemented immediately. She described how teachers and staff have been trained to work within the lockdown procedures.
Captain Hensley with the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division also addressed the board. Hensley said that the sheriff’s office was made aware of the SnapChat post shortly after midnight. He let the board know that there had been a communication breakdown in reporting the possibility of a threat to school authorities in a timely manner. This breakdown left the school board little option in canceling school for the day.
Superintendent Strong was appreciative of the help from Sheriff Edward’s office during the day. “We had deputies and detectives at all schools all day and they were prepared to spend all day Friday with the faculty and staff, but we have decided to have a virtual work day for everyone.”
Sources have told RRPJ that a person of interest in the threat is under investigation, and evidence is being gathered for a possible arrest.
For a Red River bunch that hits the road in five of its first six games, the chance to play at home this week is one in which the Bulldogs aim to take advantage.
Red River (0-1) welcomes Class 1A St. Mary’s (0-1) on Friday at 7 p.m.
“Our goal is to win the game every week, but yes, it’s very important to win get the win this week,” said Red River coach Byron Keller, acknowledging the opportunity Friday given the Bulldogs’ road-heavy schedule. “We’ll have the crowd excitement in our home opener, and it’s important to play well in front of the home crowd so we can keep that excitement for the rest of the season, especially for events like Homecoming and Senior Night.”
Both teams are coming off difficult road losses in which the offenses struggled to find the end zone. Red River fell at Catholic-Pointe Coupee, 26-6, while St. Mary’s was defeated, 39-6, at Bunkie. Red River’s one touchdown, a 32-yard fade route from quarterback Malique Smith to receiver Jomello McDonald, could provide a key to this week’s game.
St. Mary’s allowed five Bunkie touchdowns from at least 25 yards, which included passes of 38, 57, and 99 yards.
McDonald, a stud basketball player who led the Bulldogs to the state championship game this past season, could find an advantage against smaller defensive backs.
But Red River had plenty of things to clean up from its Week 1 checklist.
The Bulldogs offensive and defensive lines struggled to match a physical Catholic bunch, which allowed the Hornets to establish a steady running game while the Bulldogs had to mostly rely on big passing plays for its offense.
When running back Warren Bowman did touch the ball, he averaged more than six yards per carry on his five touches (43 yards).
McDonald totaled 43 receiving yards as Red River mustered 145 total offensive yards.
“We focused on improving ourselves this week, and after studying the film, we identified mistakes that we have to fix going into the St. Mary’s game,” Keller said.
Turnovers kept the score close throughout the first half and early part of the second half. The Bulldogs recovered three fumbles in soggy conditions, two of which came in the red zone.
While the rain from Hurricane Francine will likely be dried up come kickoff Friday night, the Bulldogs believe they can force turnovers no matter the conditions.
“We now know that we can really do it (force turnovers) in game situations, so we want to continue to play fast and physical and force even more turnovers,” Keller said. “Now we just have to capitalize on those turnovers on offense.”
Despite St. Mary’s Week 1 struggles against a solid Class 3A program in Bunkie, Keller knows the recent success the Tigers have had.
Keller, who coached in Natchitoches Parish at Lakeview, is aware of a St. Mary’s program that reached the quarterfinals each of the past two seasons.
“They’ve felt success, and they know how to win tight games,” Keller said of a St. Mary’s program that’s in a coaching transition from Aaron York to Kedrin Seastrunk this year. “We have to go out and set the tone early so they don’t have a chance to get their momentum going.
“They are still talented and have playmakers on the field. We’ll have to be very disciplined in our attacks to keep the playmakers at bay.”
The Red River Parish Journal and American Bank are proud to bring you the 2024 High School Football Pick’em Contest presented by American Bank.
Anyone is eligible to participate for FREE and each week’s winner will go home with a $100.00 cash prize. Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 10 selected high school football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).
The American Bank & Tyler Insurance Agency High School Football Pick’em Contest will be conducted over the 10 regular season weeks of the High School season starting with Week 1 games (Sept. 6) and running through the end of November.
There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to subscribe to the Red River Parish Journal.
All contest decisions by Red River Parish Journal (RRPJ) management are final. Weekly winners will be notified on Monday and will be requested to take a photo that will run that week in the RRPJ.
Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the RRPJ, if you’re not already signed up for the easily-navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. Monday-Wednesday-Friday e-mail. Enjoy it all, for FREE, and enter each week’s contest. You could collect $100.00 each week!
________________________
The Red River Parish Journal wants to thank American Bank & Tyler Insurance Agency for their title and presenting sponsorships of this year’s High School pick’em contest.
We also want to thank Better Finance and C&K BBQ for their Pick’em Partnerships within the contest.
Ellen Naomi Cohen was born in 1941. Ellen lived with her parents—her father was an entrepreneur, and her mother was a nurse—in Virginia and later Baltimore, Maryland. Her grandparents were European Jewish immigrants who came to America in search of a better life. When she was seven years old, Ellen’s parents sent her to live with her grandparents while Ellen’s mother gave birth to Ellen’s little sister. Ellen said later that this “aroused some insecurities in me.” Ellen felt as if her parents had abandoned her in favor of the new baby. Ellen calmed herself by overeating. Ellen moved back in with her parents soon after the baby was born, but the insecurities remained. By the time she became a teenager, she weighed approximately 180 pounds, almost double the weight of the other kids in her class. Her weight became the subject of many cruel jokes by her classmates, which fueled her insecurities. She ate to calm her anxieties about her weight. Ellen was trapped in a vicious cycle. Ellen’s parents recognized the problem and took her to a doctor. The doctor put her on diet pills which were amphetamines. At the time, amphetamine pills were prescribed to combat “mental and emotional distress” and as a “weight-loss remedy striking at the emotional causes of overeating.” The amphetamine pills contained a potent stimulant and were highly addictive. Upon taking one of the pills the user felt a sudden “flash” of joy abusers nicknamed a “rush.” Inhibitions were lowered. The user felt more self-confident, had more energy, was more social, and felt that they were thinking more clearly. Ellen was a part of America’s first amphetamine epidemic.
In the 1950s and 1960s, doctors prescribed amphetamine pills without restraint. Pharmaceutical companies gave kickbacks to doctors who prescribed their amphetamine pills. Doctors had not yet learned the side effects of amphetamines such as high body temperature, memory loss, stroke, heart problems, and possible damage to young, developing brains. Amphetamines quickly became a recreational drug.
Despite the amphetamine pills, Ellen continued to be a big girl. Rather than becoming angry when classmates made jokes about her weight, she eased the burden by making the jokes herself which were more clever than what her classmates could come up with. That way, they were laughing with her and not at her. Later in her teenage years, Ellen shocked her parents when she explained that she wanted to be a Broadway singer. Ellen joked that she would be “the most famous fat girl that ever lived.” Her horrified parents failed to see the humor in her claim. Finally, they made an agreement that if Ellen failed to make it as a singer with five years she would go to college. Ellen moved to New York to begin her Broadway career.
Ellen’s auditions were promising. In 1962, she was almost cast as Miss Marmelstein in the Broadway musical “I Can Get It for You Wholesale,” but she ultimately lost the part to Barbra Streisand. It was Barbra Streisand’s big break. While waiting for her big break, Ellen rehearsed constantly. She knew that she had to perfect her sense of pitch. Ellen joined a trio called the Mugwumps, but the trio was short-lived. Ellen wanted to join a trio called the New Journeymen while she awaited her big break, but the trio’s leader refused because “she was too fat.” Undeterred, Ellen used many ploys to persuade the trio into becoming a quartet including introducing them to LSD. Finally, Ellen was allowed to join.
In September 1965, the quartet released their first album. By December of the same year, they were stars. Four albums and four years later, the quartet disbanded. Ellen had a successful solo career and became a successful TV personality. Despite all of her accomplishments, the fat jokes continued. In 1973, Ellen was a guest on The Dean Martin Show and during her introduction Dean Martin said, “I wouldn’t say she’s fat, but from the front she looks like Carroll O’Connor from the back.” The fat jokes were hurtful to Ellen, but she usually smiled and played along. She still struggled with the vicious cycle of eating to help with her insecurities and taking medicines to help her lose weight.
Ellen’s health was declining. In a period of seven months in 1974, Ellen was hospitalized five times for shortness of breath and loss of consciousness. Despite her worsening health, she began a world tour. On the evening of July 28, 1974, after an all-night birthday party for Mick Jagger in London which lasted late into the following day, Ellen finally returned to her rented apartment and went to bed. In the early hours of the following morning, July 29, 1974, Ellen had a fatal heart attack in her sleep. An autopsy revealed that she had no drugs in her system when she died.
Most of the world never heard of the death of 32-year-old Ellen Naomi Cohen. That name was meaningless to everyone but Ellen’s family and childhood friends. Ellen developed her own stage name. She based her first name on the nickname her father had given her, Cassandra, and the last name in honor of a friend who had died. While few know the name Ellen Naomi Cohen, people around the world know Cass Elliot or Mama Cass, member of the New Journeymen quartet who changed their name to The Mamas and the Papas.
For half a century, people have repeated the false story that Ellen died from choking on a ham sandwich. According to Ellen’s daughter, a friend of Ellen’s who was staying with Ellen at the rented apartment had made her a sandwich and left it next to her bed. Ellen’s manager, Allan Carr, created the choking story because he knew people would assume that she had died from a drug overdose just as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin had done. Ellen’s manager never expected his false story to turn into a macabre joke. He was trying to protect her.
Sources:
1. Hadley Freeman, “The secret life of Mama Cass – by the daughter she left behind,” The Sunday Times, May 5, 2024, accessed September 8, 2024. thetimes.com/article/1125cc4e-9371-4ed0-83df-7b2223316b9c?shareToken=957e326b9e883745acf14a6fbb663504.
2. Erin Blakemore, “A Speedy History of America’s Addiction to Amphetamine,” Smithsonian Magazine, October 27, 2017, accessed September 8, 2024. smithsonianmag.com/history/speedy-history-americas-addiction-amphetamine-180966989/.
Five-year grant expands focus of state’s comprehensive literacy plan and provides targeted support to struggling students, schools, and systems
(BATON ROUGE, LA) – The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) has been awarded $70 million to help more Louisiana students become strong readers. The Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) program awarded Louisiana more than any of the 23 states to win these competitive grants. The LDOE will target the funds to support literacy efforts for students, teachers, and schools most in need.
“This considerable investment reflects the success of our current literacy efforts and the strong academic return on investment we’ve achieved with previous funds,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “These funds will help teachers and leaders improve in their profession, so they can have the greatest impact on students.”
The LDOE will target the five-year grant towards four main focus areas:
Building teacher and leader capacity around evidence-based practices in the most struggling schools and systems
Providing targeted capacity and resources for schools serving high rates of the highest-need students
Ensuring every child has access to a highly-effective teacher by providing literacy mentors to new teachers within three years of service in schools with high teacher turnover and/or high numbers of new teachers.
Implementing high-quality, evidence-based practices, interventions, and opportunities to support children and families.
“Over the past four years, Louisiana educators have made a significant shift in the way we teach students to read, and we are seeing steady increases in our literacy rates,” said Executive Director of Literacy Shanna Beber. “This grant will allow us to continue the momentum as we push for all Louisiana children to have improved literacy outcomes.”
The funding will be used to serve schools that meet at least one of the following criteria:
Chronically failing
High teacher turnover
High percentage of new teachers
Growing number of English Learners
High schools with low graduation rates
High number of third graders at risk of retention
The LDOE will award funding to schools and systems through a competitive grant process that will begin this school year. The first round of funding will be for the 2025-2026 school year. School and system leaders can stay up-to-date on opportunities to apply for competitive funding through the LDOE Weekly Newsletter.
SHREVEPORT – The Constitution of the United States is arguably the most important document in American history, and it’ll take center stage in a slate of events Sept. 17 in honor of Constitution Day. The all-day event at LSUS with a nightcap at The Robinson Film Center will feature various educational and engaging activities designed to enhance the community’s understanding of the U.S. Constitution and its relevance today.
Attendees can visit U.S. Constitution exhibits on the first and third floors of the Noel Memorial Library on the LSUS campus.
American Democracy works best when the voices of the people are accounted for, and citizens can register to vote during the registration drive from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the University Center Lobby next to The Port Grille.
Want to show off your voice in a different way? Participate in a Hamilton Karaoke session themed after the hit musical based on a Founding Father and first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. That event takes place at 11 a.m. in The Port Grille.
Stay at The Port Grille to quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger at the Founders Day Feast ($9.95 per person). Stop by STACKS in Noel Memorial Library for free drinks and pretzel rods.
LSUS students can further participate in campus government by attending a student town hall titled Know Your Student Government Rights at 2 p.m. in the Student Organization Lounge on the second floor of the University Center.
The day-long celebration culminates in a free screening of Citizen Kane at The Robinson Film Center at 6 p.m. The screening includes a panel of experts that will lead a discussion centered on freedom of the press. The discussion will explore the film’s historical context and its implications for contemporary media. Registration is required for a seat in the 45-person theater.
Attendees who participate in three Constitution Day events and fill out their bingo cards (available in the University Center lobby) are eligible for prizes.
LSUS’s online students and community members at-large can participate in interactive online trivia if event attendance isn’t possible.
The celebration is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Endowment of the Humanities.
The grant covers costs like venue rental, speaker honoraria, technical support and program-specific publicity, which will allow LSUS to deliver a quality program that reaches students, faculty, staff, alumni and the broader community.
“We are deeply grateful to the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities for their generous support,” said Ashley Dean, assistant director of the strategy alternatives consortium at LSUS. “The funding will allow us to create a dynamic and thought-provoking Constitution Day celebration that highlights the critical role of the press in our democracy.”
Thanks to the largest one-time gift in Northwestern State athletics’ history, sizeable improvements are coming to NSU’s baseball and softball facilities.
A $1.9 million donation from the Thornton family announced Tuesday will provide new artificial turf at both Brown-Stroud Field and the Lady Demon Diamond, giving the university the first two no-fill turf fields in the United States. Both Dr. Jennifer and David Thornton are Northwestern State alumni, giving added significance to the gift.
In addition to turfing the fields, the donation will pad baseball’s outfield wall and overhaul the current lighting system at the softball complex.
“As a department, we are overwhelmingly grateful for the support of the Thornton family,” NSU Director of Athletics Kevin Bostian said. “The Thorntons have been tremendous stewards for Northwestern State, and this is another example of their generosity. This gift is a game changer for two of our programs, each of whom will have one of the best facilities in the Southland Conference in their respective sports with these additions.”
The Thorntons long have been passionate supporters of Northwestern, creating scholarships to support students in computer information systems, nursing, business, fine arts, accounting and criminal justice in the past decade.
Both Jennifer and David Thornton are NSU graduates with David earning a degree in computer information systems in 2007 while Jennifer has an associate’s degree in nursing (2010), a bachelor’s degree in nursing (2013) and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (2022). They are the parents of Tenley (14), Taylen (12) and Cooper (3).
The partnership with GeoSurfaces will bring the Baton Rouge-based company’s PIVOT no infill turf to a U.S. sports facility for the first time.
“We want to express our sincerest thanks and appreciation to the Thornton family for this incredible display of generosity,” NSU head baseball coach Chris Bertrand said. “The impact that this project will have on Demon Baseball is immeasurable. Demons of the present and future will have a first-class facility and experience like no other. As we continue to build Demon baseball in the new landscape of college baseball, our facility becoming what it is will be a focal point in bringing student-athletes to our university. We have the Thorntons to thank for this incredible addition to us attracting people to Demonland. Our staff, our players, and our fans are chomping at the bit to see the new B-Stro.”
Both Bertrand and first-year softball head coach Jenny Fuller will serve as spokespeople for the GeoSurfaces brand.
Fuller will begin her first year as Northwestern State’s coach with a new-look facility.
“There’s a new look coming to the NSU softball stadium, and we couldn’t be more excited,” she said. “Going to a full turf field in our facility is a game changer in so many ways. We’re adding to the experience of what a Demon softball game looks and feels like for our fans and players. And it goes without saying that this is going to give us a significant boost in recruiting and bringing high-caliber athletes to the program. We are so thankful to GeoSurfaces for helping make this happen and could not have asked for a better way to start this journey at NSU.”
The projects are set to start later this month and both facilities will be ready for the 2025 seasons, which begin in February.
Every year there are certain seasons that people look forward to: Week 1 of the NFL, opening day of baseball season and for me it’s the arrival of both the spring and fall seasons.
For most outdoorsmen, it’s hunting season! This is like Christmas morning for anyone who enjoys chasing a squirrel, dropping ducks from the sky or finally shooting that trophy buck of a lifetime.
Let’s look at what hunting season means to so many outdoorsmen. Let’s start with dove season which is basically a tailgate party with guys carrying shotguns. Dove season, like football season, kicks off the new year for all hunters. They gather in small groups and enjoy some time in the field hopefully where there are plenty of birds passing through. Dove hunts are simply a social hunt and a great way to introduce kids to hunting.
Next comes teal season (mid-September) which brings out a totally different kind of hunter. These guys are serious about shooting what just might be the hardest duck to hit on the fly. Teal are the F-16’s of the duck hunting world and can do a fly-by quicker than some hunters can get a gun up. Teal are also a great tasting bird and make great table fare.
The first of October is the official start of deer season as bow hunters take to the woods in search of some good venison backstrap. Bow hunters are very committed and put in a lot of time practicing in their back yards or on a bow range. Deer hunting in general, is probably more popular than any other wild game that’s pursued.
Bow hunting requires a lot of skill in order to be effective and take a deer with good arrow placement. The popularity of bow hunting is due to the fact it’s a throwback to how our ancestors used to hunt. Bow hunters might be the most dedicated group of hunters there are due to the amount of effort and skill required.
Fast forward to mid-October. The opening day of rifle season triggers a landslide of deer hunters taking to the great outdoors in search of that monster buck they’ve been watching on their trail cameras for the past two months. No other wild game opening day is more popular than the opening day of gun season as deer camps are overflowing with both excitement and the anticipation. It’s like a child waiting on Christmas morning; they literally cannot sleep!
There are so many traditions that revolve around different types of hunting seasons. Deer camps have been a part of family traditions for decades and most would give up their home before giving up their deer camp.
Many outdoorsmen plan their entire year around their favorite hunting season. It determines when they will take their vacation or request extra time off from their daily jobs. They are literally consumed with everything that revolves around hunting.
They plan Thanksgiving and other holidays around hunting season. It’s like people planning their lives around their favorite football team; nothing else is more important! If you’re one of the fortunate that have a great hunting camp; count your blessings and never let it go. Because once it’s gone, you will have a hard time replacing it.
‘Til next time, good luck, good hunting and to all outdoorsmen, have a great hunting season!
Red River Parish Library will host Children’s Story Time every Friday from 10-11am.
Mighty Moms, Moms of Mighty Special Kids, will hold their September meeting tonight (Sept 13) at 6pm at First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches. Guest speaker is Paula Callender. RSVP to Raylie Hardy at 318.471.8554.
Red River Parish Registrar of Voter’s Office will hold a relocation Grand Opening September 19. The ribbon cutting will take place at 11:30am followed by open house from 12-5pm. The new office is located at 1906 Front Street. Everyone is invited to help celebrate the new location and take care of any voter registration needs.
The Red River PK-4 program at Red River Elementary still has spots available. Children must be 4 years old by September 30th, 2024. For more info contact Head Start Project Manager Lessonna Clark at 318-271-3198.
Bird migration season has begun, help them out by turning of your outdoor light at night. Peak migration is from September 6 through October 6. Research shows that two thirds of all songbirds migrate at nigh and light pollution can confuse them. If turning off lights is not possible then it’s best to use warm white or yellow colored light bulbs.
The Northwestern State University Jazz Orchestra will present a concert on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. A live stream of the concert will be available at nsula.edu/capa/capalivestream. Associate Professor of Music Galindo Rodriguez will conduct the orchestra.
Red River Cowboy Church announced the 15th Annual Joe Boy Day is September 21, 2024.
Woman Church will be held October 3 at 6pm at The Stable, 2195 Swan Lake Road, Bossier. Dovie Beard will be the guest speaker. Dinner will be provided.
Hendrix “Buddy” Marion Fowler, Jr. December 6, 1943 – September 7, 2024 Funeral services will be held at Friday, September 13, 2024 at 2pm at First Methodist Church in Coushatta.
A Parent Square text alert was sent earlier this morning informing parents and guardians of enrolled students at Red River Parish Schools of a SnapChat post that reportedly made a threat against Red River Schools.
According to the text alert, at this time all Red River Parish School facilities are following standard protocols for this situation. Additional officers from the RRPSO are on every campus to provide extra security.
It has been reported that the same type of social media posts are circulating in the state and surrounding areas, including DeSoto.
The RRPSB text alert also assures parents/guardians that student safety is of paramount importance.
Multiple sources tell RRPJ that even though this might be a hoax, every precaution is in place to ensure all students and staff are safe at RRPSB schools and that the threat is being investigated to the fullest.
Bigger question. Are you ready to win $100.00 in cash and prizes each week?
The Red River Parish Journal and American Bank are proud to bring you the 2024 High School Football Pick’em Contest presented by American Bank.
Anyone is eligible to participate for FREE and each week’s winner will go home with a $100.00 cash prize. Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 10 selected high school football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).
The American Bank & Tyler Insurance Agency High School Football Pick’em Contest will be conducted over the 10 regular season weeks of the High School season starting with Week 1 games (Sept. 6) and running through the end of November.
There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to subscribe to the Red River Parish Journal.
All contest decisions by Red River Parish Journal (RRPJ) management are final. Weekly winners will be notified on Monday and will be requested to take a photo that will run that week in the RRPJ.
Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the RRPJ, if you’re not already signed up for the easily-navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. Monday-Wednesday-Friday e-mail. Enjoy it all, for FREE, and enter each week’s contest. You could collect $100.00 each week!
________________________
The Red River Parish Journal wants to thank American Bank & Tyler Insurance Agency for their title and presenting sponsorships of this year’s High School pick’em contest.
We also want to thank Better Finance and C&K BBQ for their Pick’em Partnerships within the contest.
There will be a Breast Cancer Awareness Community Health and Resource Fair on October 5 from 10am until 2pm at the Red River Community Center.
Many resources will be available including help with health screenings, medicaid, employment, education, and more.
The event will honor the breast cancer survivors in Red River Parish.
The event is free and participants will enjoy food and free services such as hair braiding, haircuts, re-twists and door prizes.
For more information contact Michelle Hart 318-799-2053 or michelle.hart@la.gov, RaShad Bristo 318-464-4784 or rashad.bristo@healthybluela.com, or Jessie Davis 318-932-9570 or jdavis@rrppj.com.
As predicted, Francine strengthened into a Cat 1 hurricane last night and continues an eastward slide into the Louisiana Coast.
Francine is anticipated to make landfall Wednesday evening near Morgan City. After landfall, the center is expected to move northward into Mississippi Wednesday night and Thursday. She is expected to weaken quickly after moving inland.
Threats to Red River Parish appear to be minimal with breezy conditions and possible bouts of heavy rain Wednesday into Thursday.
Forecast for Wednesday: Showers and thunderstorms are possible during the day. High near 78. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of rain is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Overnight, showers likely with possibly a few thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. 70% chance of rain.
Forecast for Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Late afternoon/evening bring clearing skies with a low around 64. North wind around 5 mph.
“We don’t understand it, but your muffler is disintegrating from the inside.”
For once the description of the sound the truck was making was congruent with the sound the truck made. Many times, you try to describe a noise to the service technician and the vehicle won’t cooperate, but Saturday it did.
“Eventually your muffler will disintegrate, and your truck will become very loud.”
There are two ways you know you are old. The first way is when you don’t like the idea of your truck being loud. When you are old, you want the muffler to silence the sound. Loud and old don’t mix, whether in music or in clothing selection. The other way one notes their arrival at old age happens in elevators. If you hear Muzak playing in the elevator, and it is the same music of your adolescence, you are old. If your parents said, “Turn that garbage down!” And you hear that music playing at the doctor’s office, you are old.
Saturday, Muzak was playing at the car dealership as the service man described the disintegrating muffler. I am old. I was wondering if a loud truck would be accepted in a funeral procession. Would the truck be heard pulling into the parking lot on Sunday morning? What would the Baptists think? What would the Catholics say?
How much to fix a disintegrating muffler? It was going to be expensive because rotting from the inside was not covered under any warranty.
How is your muffler?
The diagnosis of a muffler disintegrating from the inside was spiritually enlightening.
Do you know what it feels like to rot from the inside? Discouragement is interior rot. You start out with faith, hope, and love and if you don’t constantly stay centered in Christ, the world can whittle away at all three. You start disintegrating spiritually. Discouragement most often happens when you get something fixed into your head and heart rather than seeking out what God would have you do. Most often you are discouraged when God is not doing things your way.
The other thing you might discover is that when your muffler disintegrates you become loud. That seems to be the gist of public discourse today, just getting louder than the other side. Conversation has been replaced by competition and ideas are rapidly giving way to idiocy.
There is a verse of scripture that comforts and confronts at the same time. The same eight words can bug the fool out people with disintegrating mufflers and offer hope to those who want their muffler restored. If you need faith, hope, and love restored, hear the word of the Psalmist:
“Be still and know that I am God.”
I get it, Lord.
Will you help me repair my muffler?
Doug de Graffenried is Pastor of Trinity Methodist Church in Ruston.
The Louisiana High School Basketball Coaches Association recently announced on social media the creation of a mentoring program for coaches.
According to the post, the goal of the mentoring program is to help guide young coaches who are in their first head coaching assignment. The LHSBCA hopes the program will help any coach, experienced or inexperienced in a new head coaching position to be prepared to take on the new challenge.
The program is open to head basketball coaches with 1-3 years of head coaching experience. It is also open to emerging coaches, coaches who are a Junior High, 9th grade, 10th grade, JV, or Varsity assistant coach.
Mentor coaches, must have four plus years of experience as a head varsity coach, are needed to make the program viable.
To participate in the program, coaches must actively participate in all mentoring calls and activities, make a one-year commitment and be an LHSBCA member.
Louisiana State Police is preparing to hold the department’s 106th Cadet Class. Keeping in the rich tradition and intensity synonymous with LSP training, Cadet Class 106 will be a traditional 24-week academy. The academy will equip Cadets with the necessary skills and knowledge to become Louisiana State Troopers. Accepted Cadets will receive advanced State Police training that goes beyond POST requirements in firearms proficiency, tactical driving, defensive tactics, de-escalation techniques, advanced crash investigation, lawful use of force, implicit bias recognition, and LSP Core Values.
Cadet Class 106 is expected to start on December 15, 2024, with an application deadline of September 18, 2024. Applications can be downloaded at http://laspc.dps.louisiana.gov and submitted electronically to the Louisiana State Police Commission. Applicants for Cadet Class 106 must meet one of the following criteria:
Two (2) years of experience as a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified peace officer in a full-time position (must provide certification with application) whose job duties include armed duty with the power of arrest (jailer/correctional officer experience does not qualify); or
A minimum of sixty (60) semester hours from an accredited college or university (must provide transcript or degree); or
Any two (2) year combination of Options 1 and 2 above, whereby thirty (30) semester hours will be equivalent to one (1) year of experience; or
Three (3) years of continuous active military duty in the United States Military (must provide a DD-214 or letter from current commanding officer verifying service), effective October 1, 2001
LSP offers competitive pay and benefits, a take-home state vehicle, opportunities for overtime, and an incredible retirement package. Visit https://www.lsp.org/recruitment for more information on the hiring process, qualifications, physical fitness standards, and frequently asked questions. For additional questions and information, please contact LSP Recruiters at LSPRecruiting@la.gov or Text “JoinLSP” to 225-777-8162. Applicants can also visit facebook.com/LouisianaStatePoliceRecruiting.
Lt. Jared L. Sandifer Louisiana State Police or: Louisiana State Police Public Affairs Section Recruiting Section Office: (225) 925-6202 Office: (225) 925-6202 jared.sandifer@la.gov LSPRecruiting@la.gov
It highlights the need for a strong American President
From the days of my youth, I recall with great fondness the presidency of President Ronald Reagan. Full disclosure—my brother Tom was working on the White House Staff at the time, and I was attending The Heights Preparatory School in Potomac, Maryland. So, on the weekends, I rode the Metro down to D.C. to meet my brother at the White House where we would often remain in his office late on Saturday nights as he wrapped up his work for the week.
I clearly remember Pres. Reagan’s unbounded optimism about America and its place in the world, his strong domestic record including record employment and an economy exploding with growth, his focus on the traditional family unit and the conservative social values that were its foundation, and his view of the need for America to be militarily strong.
It is with that background that I saw the Reagan biographical drama last week starring Dennis Quaid who I felt fairly captured the late president better than I thought he might.
Without giving away too much, let me simply say that the movie reminds us of the historic events that took place during the Reagan presidency, with three caveats: 1). Much of Reagan’s life prior to his presidency, including his youth, is prominently included in the film affording the viewer a much fuller sense of him. 2). Quite interestingly, I thought, the story is told from the standpoint of a KGB agent in the former Soviet Union. 3). President Reagan’s unshakable faith in God not only provided the prism by which and through he viewed the evils of communism, but it anchored his life as a whole and influenced his view of the Soviet Union which he accurately referred to as ‘The Evil Empire.’
President Reagan’s two terms were from 1980-1988 and in those 8 years he confronted many tumultuous occurrences at home and across the world. President Reagan won the presidency in a landslide due to his contagious hopefulness about America’s future that stood in stark contrast to the perception of American weakness on the international stage, malaise, and the economic turmoil we experienced during the administration of President Jimmy Carter.
The turmoil notably included the nuclear ambitions of the former Soviet Union and how Pres. Reagan understood that the way to break and end the Soviet nuclear threat was first to simply outspend that nation in the military and defense race and, secondly, to devise a way to not solely rely on an offensive nuclear response to an attack upon the United States but to also devise a way to block—shoot down—nuclear weapons before they reached our country. President Reagan wisely concluded that in the nuclear age the traditional deterrence strategy of ‘mutual assured destruction’ (MAD) was, in fact, insane and amounted to a global suicide pact between the United States and the Soviet Union.
As a result, President Reagan launched an initiative that became known as the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) and it was based upon his recognition that the most effective strategy against the former Soviet Union’s ever-increasing number and capacity of ballistic missiles was to develop a technology by which such missiles could be shot down from space. While the U.S. has never created a space-based system, the same technology developed because of that initiative has been stunningly successful. (I note again that the individual who saved Israel several months ago from direct attack by Iran was President Reagan based upon this SDI technology).
Perhaps more than anything, the movie reminded me of the critical importance of strong and decisive American leadership.
Recall that Iran released the American hostages as soon as Pres. Reagan took the oath of office. In fact, the plane carrying the 52 American hostages who had been held by the Iran Revolutionary Guard for 444 days cleared out of Iranian airspace only minutes after President Reagan took the Oath of Office and during his Inaugural Speech. The Ayatollah clearly didn’t want to test what a bold and fearless American president would do without the immediate release of those hostages.
That is the example of leadership our country desperately needs—Peace Through Strength. Like millions of Americans, I am grateful for the strength and character of President Reagan and comforted to be reminded of it. Such leadership not only stabilizes the United States, it also returns order to the world.
NATCHITOCHES – With student housing just shy of capacity and the highest on-campus student population in five years, new Northwestern State University President James T. Genovese Tuesday announced Fall 2024 enrollment is 8,523 students.
Campus housing is at 99 percent occupancy with over 1,400 students living on campus. On-campus enrollment – students who live on campus and attend classes in Natchitoches – represents 44 percent of the total enrollment, the highest since 2019.
NSU’s freshman class includes over 1,100 students, a group whose average ACT scores are higher than last year’s freshman class. Freshman to sophomore retention is at 70 percent, another increase from last year. Nearly 3,000 students live in Natchitoches or within 20 miles of campus.
Academic programs are provided at the main campus in Natchitoches, as well as instructional sites in Shreveport, Bossier City, Alexandria, Leesville, Marksville and eNSU online.
“There is a renewed sense of energy and purpose on campus,” said Genovese, who arrived in Natchitoches Aug. 5. “The (home football) gameday atmosphere was electric this past weekend. Student life has become more vibrant and the campus looks thriving and healthy.”
Students have enjoyed a series of activities since Fall semester classes began Aug. 19, including First Night Fest, New Student Convocation and President’s Picnic, Color Chaos and 1-of-7 Service Initiative.
Meanwhile, strides continue to bolster the academic experiences for students who are pursing 43 undergraduate and 27 graduate areas of study, in addition to 36 specialized certificate programs. Retention rates have climbed over the last few years through an emphasis on added academic resources, increased financial literacy conversations, and a holistic approach to student needs through student and academic services.
NSU administrators have been proactive in developing tools and a personalized approach to assist students. Last year, the School of STEM launched the FLAME (Faculty Led Assistance in My Education) program, in which faculty dedicate extra time each week for office hours and supplemental instruction. The university is also developing a faculty collaboration incubator called CREATE (Center for Research, Education, and Artistic Teamwork Exploration). This initiative encourages students, faculty, and staff to share ideas and collaborate across a wide range of academic disciplines
Last year, NSU earned a Title III grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support retention and graduation rate initiatives. The grant is enabling NSU to improve academic advising, tutoring, career planning, affordability and other issues that can affect student success.
The university’s partnerships with the business, industry, education and healthcare communities help facilitate the development of relevant degree programs that prepare students for high-demand and emerging jobs.
The College of Nursing and School of Allied Health has shown growth in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program, the first Nurse Anesthesia and first sonography programs in north Louisiana, post baccalaureate certificate programs and alternative pathways into nursing and allied health professions.
The opening of Alost Hall, the university’s new state-of-the-art academic building that is currently under construction, will have significant impact next year. The 73,200-square-foot building will feature large multipurpose classrooms, simulation labors for graduate and undergraduate nursing and anesthesia programs, a social work/psychology clinic and training area, a café, administrative offices, a conference room and reception area.
“Our success is driven by the generosity of our alumni and community support, along with the dedication of our faculty and staff who consistently go above and beyond for academic excellence,” Genovese said.
Nearly 300 high school students are already registered for N-Side View, a college preview day for high schoolers and their parents, coming up on Saturday, Oct. 12. At N-Side View, students and parents can tour campus, meets faculty and staff, explore academic majors, learn about admissions and financial aid and take placement tests. They also get free tickets to the NSU football game. For more information on N Side View visithttps://www.engagensu.com/nsideview/.
Enrollment for B-term classes at NSU is available until Oct. 22. B-term classes begin Monday, Oct. 14. Information on registration is available at https://www.nsula.edu/registrar/.
Administrators say the Fall semester student count indicates that enrollment is stabilizing following a post-COVID decline.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Office filed an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a decision that threatens the energy industry of States.
NEPA, the National Environmental Policy Act, is a law that requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of proposed actions and to allow public input.
At issue is a proposed railroad in Utah that would transport crude oil to the interstate network. The Surface Transportation Board authorized the construction. But the D.C. Circuit vacated the authorization, citing the need to consider potential downstream environmental effects of oil that might be transported on the line across the country, specifically to the Gulf Coast. The court referenced Louisiana, despite Baton Rouge being approximately 1,536 miles away from the new line and the State’s long-standing and highly regulated oil industries.
“This is another example of federal bureaucratic overreach that will harm Louisiana and other States whose economies depend on energy, and all Americans who depend on those products. We’ll continue to defend Louisiana and fight the Biden-Harris administration’s disastrous energy policies every step of the way,” said Attorney General Liz Murrill.
“The case is as much about federalism and State sovereignty as it is about environmental law,” the brief states. The court’s decision undermines the federal and state regulatory schemes that already govern a barrel of Utah oil that may travel to Louisiana. As a result, the decision below threatens the foundation of cooperative federalism on which our environmental law is built. And even more fundamentally, the red tape demanded by the D.C. Circuit will only harm States whose economies depend on the energy industry and every American who depends on the products refined by such States.
Louisiana’s brief serves as a reminder that “States are not children, and the federal government is not our mother.”
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming joined Louisiana’s friend of the court brief.
You must be logged in to post a comment.