“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 Conversation has been replaced by competition and ideas are rapidly giving way to idiocy.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.

You can contact Doug at dougsponderings@gmail.com

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 106^th 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.

For those applicants not meeting LSP minimum qualifications at this time, immediate positions are available within the Louisiana Department of Public Safety Police through the Louisiana State Civil Service System. Visit https://www.lsp.org/about/leadershipsections/support/dps-police/ and http://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov for more information.

Contact Information:

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.

Royal Alexander

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. 

See the full brief here

Louisiana Tech plays NC State Saturday at noon Eastern at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, not a marquee game — unless you’re a Bulldog or a Wolfpacker, and then it feels a bit pivotal.

Even though it’s barely mid-September.

If a preview of this game carried a song title, maybe it would be Brooks & Dunn’s “Workin’ On My Next Broken Heart.”

Wait: why Brooks & Dunn? It’s a stretch, but  … hang with us a second.

Tech alum Kix Brooks, half of the most-record-selling/most awarded country music duo act of all time, was in Aillet Stadium for his team’s 25-17 season-opening win over Nicholls State, a game in which the Bulldogs sloshed to a win despite five turnovers and back-to-back fumbles during a second-quarter rainstorm that left the turf slicker than Kenny Chesney’s head.

“It that was a country song,” Brooks, a visitor to the radio broadcast booth said at the time, “it’d be too sad to write.”

(An aside: we call Brooks & Dunn “Kix & Brooks” in this bureau. If Ronnie Dunn doesn’t have a team — and Kix says he doesn’t — he’s welcome in the Tech Camp, as the Bulldogs could use the company and the help. Also, as part of their “Reboot” Tour, Kix & Brooks will play the PNC Arena in Raleigh and the Spectrum Center in Charlotte in March. Never too early to plan, unless you just want to stay over after the game for seven months …)

Back to ball: despite the turnovers and backed by country-flavored rooting from Kix, the ’Dogs pulled through, thanks to a stifling defense against the defending Southland Conference champs. Since, the team has enjoyed a rare second-week-of-the-season open date to figure things out and heal a hurt quarterback, Jack Turner, who semi-limped off the field in the first quarter and didn’t return. (Brings to mind another Kix & Brooks tune: “How Long Gone Are You Gonna Be?”)

But back to that “broken heart” deal: for different reasons, times have been tough lately in Ruston and Raleigh.

The Bulldogs are coming off three straight 3-9 seasons — “too sad to write” — victims of a perfect storm generated through the new NIL and transfer rules and the law of averages following seven straight bowl seasons.

So there’s that.

Now in its 12^th season under coach Dave Doren, NC State, 1-1, has been to nine bowl games but are 2-15 against Top 10 teams in that span, including a lopsided 51-10 dismantling at the greedy hands of Tennessee in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte in primetime Saturday evening.

Bad look for the Wolfpack and the 20-plus players from Charlotte on its roster.

The Wolfpack is a 21.5-point favorite over the Bulldogs. Local journalists (we’re keeping up with the Carolina scribes) foretell of an “easy” week for the Wolfpack. We’ll see: State was a 33.5-point favorite in its opener against Western Carolina and won by only 17, then a 9.5-underdog against Tennessee and lost by 41.

In that game, thanks to an 85-yard Pick 6, Tennessee scored more points off NC State’s red zone possessions than the Wolfpack did.

Intriguing to look in the rearview and the most recent time these two played. October 2, 2021. Down 14 midway through the fourth quarter to a team that had beaten Top 10-ranked Clemson the week before and had one of the best defenses statistically in the country, Tech was intercepted in the end zone from 22 yards out on the game’s final play and lost, 34-27, at Carter-Finley.

Tech left the stadium that day 2-3. Besides that heartbreaker in Raleigh, the Bulldogs had last a 20-point fourth-quarter lead in Starkville in a 35-34 season-opening loss to Mississippi State and had lost at home to SMU, 39-37, on a final-play Hail Mary two weeks before going to NC State.

The loss to the Wolfpack started a five-game slide that hasn’t ended. Saturday, a different team returns to the same scene of the crime.

Saturday, it’s a chance for the ’Dogs, like Kix & Brooks, to reboot.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

The Student Ministry at First Baptist in Coushatta has several events planned for the fall. Weekly activities include Wednesday night Bible Study with supper beginning at 5:30pm and Sunday evening Bible Study with games. They also have bowling slated for Saturday, Sept. 28 from 4-9pm; Movie and snack Saturday, October 26 from 5-8pm and YEC in Alexandria November 24-25. 

Red River Parish 4-H will hold their monthly Livestock Club meeting this afternoon (Sept.11) from 3:30-4:30pm at the 4-H Office for members in grades K-12. The Loftin family will share their rabbit project.

It’s time to plant your fall vegetable garden. LSU AgCenter shared on social media The Louisiana Vegetable Planting Guide. It has planting dates for both north and south Louisiana. View the guide: https://tinyurl.com/VegetablePlantingGuide

The river run starts at noon on Saturday, September 14th 

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.

Tropical Storm Francine continues to organize and gain strength. Francine will likely become a hurricane today, with significant strengthening expected before it reaches the Louisiana coast. She is forecasted to make landfall Wednesday evening as possibly a Cat 2.

At this time, threats to Red River Parish appear to be minimal with gusty winds and possible bouts of heavy rain Wednesday into Thursday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles from the center of the storm. The threat of isolated tornados depends on the tract of the storm after it moves inland.

Francine will gain speed Wednesday and be out of Louisiana by Thursday. A rapid weakening is expected after she moves inland.

Information shared at the 7am advisory by National Hurricane Center

The National Hurricane Center’s latest forecast, for what will become Francine, includes the Ark-La-Tex in its probable path. 

There is a tropical storm watch now in effect for the Gulf Mexican coast. The system is expected to become a tropical storm on Monday with more significant intensification expected on Tuesday as a result of very warm Gulf waters. The system is moving toward the northwest near 5 mph (7 km/h). A slow northwestward to northward motion is expected over the next day or so, followed by a faster motion to the northeast beginning late Tuesday. The storm system is forecasted to become a hurricane before it reaches the Texas/Louisiana coastline on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center predictions. Formation chance is at 90%. 

Please pay close attention to the forecast in the coming days and make sure to check back with RRPJ for the latest potential impact to our area.

Matt Vines

Red River hung around for a half Friday at Catholic-Pointe Coupee, but the Hornets pulled away in the latter stages of a 26-6 Bulldogs defeat.

Catholic scored the first two touchdowns of the game, missing on two-point conversions to snatch a 12-0 lead.

Red River quarterback Malique Smith connected with receiver Jomello McDonald on a beautiful 32-yard touchdown in which Smith fit the pass over a defender to a twisting McDonald in the front corner of the end zone.

The score cut Catholic’s lead in half, 12-6, late in the second quarter.

But the Hornets, a Class 1A program that won eight games and a first-round playoff a game one year ago, were too much up front for Red River. Catholic added a pair of touchdowns in the second half.
Red River head coach Byron Keller discussed how his young linemen were making progress in the offseason, but the Hornets were able to gain control in the trenches in the season opener.

“Catholic was able to control the line of scrimmage, and their linemen were physical and very impressive,” Keller said. “The ultimate goal is to win the game, and we fell short of that goal.

“We will regroup and focus on improving all three phases of the game in preparing for St. Mary’s.”
The Bulldogs defense did force three Catholic fumbles – each of which halted lengthy Catholic drives – to give Red River chances.

Smith threw for 71 yards and a score while McDonald chipped in 43 yards on three catches and Warren Bowman ran for 32 yards on five touches.

It was tough sledding for the Bulldogs, who gained 145 yards on the night compared to 288 for Catholic (282 on the ground).

Red River’s schedule is littered with road tests, but this week’s home game against St. Mary’s is the only one until Week 7 of the season.

The Tigers also had a rough go of it against a strong Class 3A program in Bunkie, falling 39-6 in the head coaching debut of Kedrin Seastrunk.

Matt Vines

EAST POINT – One challenge for Riverdale early this season is taking a thin roster and hang with opponents for four quarters.

The Rebels (1-3) battled early against Porter’s Chapel Academy on Friday, but the Eagles established themselves up front in a 42-6 Riverdale loss.

Porter’s Chapel running back Jase Jung gained 305 yards and four touchdowns while also throwing a 60-yard touchdown.

“We were competing in the first half, but in the second half, they definitely got more push,” said Riverdale coach Nathan Edie. “It all starts with the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and we’ve got to be better there.”

The sledding was tough for Riverdale’s offense as an aggressive Eagles’ defense keyed in quarterback runs – no matter the offensive formation.

Riverdale has missed quarterback/tight end/linebacker Ashton Almond, which has typically meant quarterback Kaidyn Williams running of a Wildcat-type formation has accounted for a significant portion of production.

“They were blitzing on nearly every play, and even when we spread the field, they stayed in a run defense,” Edie said. “We just weren’t getting a hat on a hat.

“We were good in the first half, but in the second half, the blocks just weren’t there.”

A bye week comes at a good time for Riverdale, who needs to heal.

But Edie said Almond is out “for the foreseeable future,” which would signal the earliest possible return in the second half of the season.

Riverdale has five regular-season contests after the bye week, starting with hosting Claiborne Academy (2-1) on Sept. 20.

It’s the fourth home game in the Rebels first five contests this season as Riverdale will attempt to log its first home win this season.

Faculty from Northwestern State University’s Department of Mathematics will take part in Math 4 Fun, a program set to take place at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum on Saturday. Sept. 21. Math teachers from elementary through college levels are invited to join fellow teachers for fun math problems and games. The event is free and open to the public, but participants should RSPV so that adequate food and materials can be made available.

The event will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the museum and will include a meal catered by Lasyone’s Meat Pie Kitchen and plenty of door prizes. NSU Math Professor Dr. Judith Covington said event is intended to create a space where math teachers can enjoy working on fun math problems with other teachers.

“K-12 teachers today have so many requirements placed on them in the classroom,” Covington said. “We will make sure that all problems are accessible by teachers from all levels of education. We want Math 4 Fun to be a place where teachers can spend time with other teachers in a positive supporting environment. Hopefully these events will be a place where teachers feel supported and heard and ultimately have a bit of fun.”

This is the first of a planned series of Math 4 Fun events. The next meeting will be Saturday, Nov. 9. The event is sponsored by the American Institute of Mathematics (AIM) and NSU’s Stan Chadick Mathematics Enhancement Fund.

For more information, to RSVP or to be added to the Math4Fun email list, email Covington at covingtonj@nsula.edu.

Three committees of the Louisiana Legislature convened Friday to continue their discussions during the interim on the topic of insurance. The House Committees on Insurance as well as Civil Law and Procedure and the Senate Judiciary A Committee each tackled specific topics to gather information that could be used to address the state’s insurance crisis in the future.

In the House Insurance Committee, members heard about factors impacting the underlying cost of automobile insurance for drivers, including plaintiff attorney advertising, insurer advertising, and ratemaking factors.

“I have been very encouraged by the resolve of the Legislature to listen to our constituents and take bold action to address the insurance crisis plaguing our state,” said Insurance Chair Gabe Firment. “I am optimistic that the series of monthly meetings being held by separate legislative committees that deal with insurance will result in a comprehensive package of bills that can bring stability and competitiveness to the automobile insurance market in our state. By utilizing an analytical, data-driven approach to address this crisis, we can remove politics form the equation and develop evidence based solutions that will bring stability to the market and relief to hard-working Louisiana families and businesses.”

During the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee attendees received information about insurance advertising as well issues including loser pay, comparative fault/contributory negligence and the cost of ambulances.

“As a legislature we have been focused on doing everything that we can to make sure the citizens of Louisiana have competitive insurance rates,” said Civil Law Chair Nicky Muscarello. “The steps we have taken are unprecedented and we have taken a deep dive into the disparities of our insurance rates compared to our neighboring states. At the end of this process I feel confident we will expose the root of the problem and take measures to repair the insurance crisis, but make no mistake, it will take everybody getting uncomfortable and every business and entity who profits from the insurance industry to be open and honest with our citizens.”

Consumer advocates shared testimony with the Senate Judiciary A Committee suggesting possible solutions for constituents paying high rates. Senators also heard from the Louisiana Association for Justice on insurance affordability.

“We listened to many points of view from consumer advocates today and we thank them for their willingness to share their ideas for lowering costs,” said Judiciary A Chair Greg Miller. “The committee also clearly asked Commissioner of Insurance Tim Temple to collect and share his thoughts for addressing the premiums constituents are forced to pay.”

Interim committee meetings on insurance are planned to continue in the months ahead leading up to the 2025 Legislative Fiscal Session.

September is National Preparedness month. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) shared on social media there are updated features on the Get A Game Plan App. These features offer Louisiana residents a new resource for developing and finalizing emergency plans. The Get A Game Plan mobile app is designed to help Louisianians prepare for emergency events with tools, guides and push notifications.

GOHSEP Director Jacques Thibodeaux said, “Personal preparedness plans are always one of the key components of emergency management. Families often stay safer and suffer less loss when prepared for an unexpected emergency. This new version of the App helps with the overall preparedness process. We encourage everyone to download the App, provide the information and use the results from the formula to help with planning.”

The Get A Game Plan App features include:

• Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide
• Ability to customize a supply list to suit your family size
• Guide for making an emergency plan – business, cybersecurity, family, financial preparedness, disability, kids, mitigation, pets and animals.
• Up-to-date content managed by GOHSEP
• Links to resources, social media and videos
• Link to the Get a Game Plan Podcast
• Push notifications for emergency events and updates

Office of Technology Services Senior Developer Cedeste Lewis said, “The App was designed to be user-friendly. It’s built using the latest technology, allowing seamless updates and ensuring we can quickly provide users with the latest information. Users can input data for their specific household and create a customized supply list to meet their family needs. We’ve also included links to GOHSEP’s social media accounts and the Get A Game Plan podcast to encourage everyone to stay informed.”

The app allows Louisiana residents to access emergency information on the go and get prepared prior to an emergency happening. Users can prepare customized emergency plans, review the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide, and get up-to-date information about evacuations. Real-time notifications are sent directly to the device from GOHSEP to provide the most up-to-the-minute information for residents.

The Get A Game Plan app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Source: http://www.getagameplan.org/

The 2024 banquet is scheduled for September 19 at the Coushatta Country Club beginning at 5:00 p.m.

For ticket reservations, call Tray Murray or email him at tray.murray.pocn@statefarm.com. All-inclusive admission is $50. For Green Wings (under 16), admission is $25. The price of admission also includes your one-year membership and the DU magazine.

There will be raffles, games, guns, and fun for everyone. Organizer Tray Murray encourages everyone to make their reservations for tables now. “Space is limited; get tickets now and avoid the rush.”

The Sabine Parish Tourist Commission is hosting a meet and greet with Tammy Sharp, author of A Fortunate Murder, on Tuesday, September 24 at 6pm at the Sabine Parish Library . It is Sharp’s debut novel and it is set in the fictional town of Bethel, Louisiana. She is a native of Vernon Parish, but now owns and operates Hobo Holler Farm in Sabine Parish with her husband Kenny and their two sons.

Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education will offer three sessions of a 38-hour driver education course during the 2024-2025 school year. The classes will be on Oct. 7-10, Feb. 17-20, and April 14-17. Students must be 14 years and 9 months years of age (must be 15 years old to take the driving portion of the class.) The deadline to register for the Oct. 7 session is Monday, Sept. 30. A mandatory parent meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. For more information or to register for NSU non-credit programs, visit checkout.nsula.edu or call (800) 376-2422 or (318) 357-6355.

The Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo in Monroe is currently under construction on six brand-new exhibits. They will include alligator snapping turtles, albino alligators, otters, and beavers. One will also house 20 alligators, with a dock for guests to feed them. Completion date is mid-October, just in time for  ‘Boo at the Zoo’.

NONE

The Red River Parish Police Jury’s regular meeting was held on September 3, 2024. All members were present.

During the Committee meeting, Debra Jones, Registrar of Voters, thanked members for the new Registrar of Voters office on Front Street. Jones invited everyone to a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 19 at 11:30.

During the Commercial Vehicle Units report, a calculation was presented that $16,000 in permits were registered in August.

During New Business, the President, Tray Murray, announced that the Board of Review had been set for October 2, 2024. He also introduced Mr. Tripp Dungan from CLECO, who addressed members with a 25-year exclusive franchise agreement proposal. Voting on the agreement is expected at the next meeting.

New Board members for the Red River Tourism Commission were approved. Chandra Wilson, Coronda Banks Jones, Charlotte Taylor, Janelle Givens, Scotty Martin, and Joshua Terry will join Ward York and Tangela Smith.

During the Budget Review item of Finance, Mr. Davis reminded members that the budget may need to be adjusted due to the changes in Sales Tax and ad valorem revenues. The reduction in income is an ongoing discussion for most Parish entities.

Members also voted to approve the First Responder property tax exemption. This exemption is a $25,000 tax break in addition to the $75,000 awarded for homestead exemption. First responders who qualify include sheriffs, police officers, firefighters, emergency medical service workers, dispatchers, and operators.