Red River Parish Schools are holding Intersession October 7-10 and begin Fall Break October 11. Classes resume Monday, October 21.

Join Union Hall Baptist Church for Fall Bible School, “The Great Jungle Journey,” October 14-16. A meal will be provided at 5:30pm for the children. Activities begin at 6pm.  

Red River Parish 4-H will host Outdoor Skills Daycamp Tuesday, October 15 from 9am-2pm at Grand Bayou Resort. The camp is open to students in grades 1-7. Students must register by Oct 11. It is free for paid members. Call the office to sign up (932.4342). 

First Methodist Church Coushatta will host a Fall Festival with Trunk or Treat, crafts, games and food on Sunday, October 20 at 5pm. Kids make sure to wear your costumes!

Magnolia Bend Academy Beta Club is holding a gift card fundraiser. Tickets  are $1 each and will be available for purchase in the office as well Beta Club members. The winner will also take home the beautiful fall wreath the gift cards are attached to. The drawing will be held on November 19, need not be present to win. Gift cards include Bass Pro Shops, Bath & Body Works, Mastercard, DQ, Nichols, Marshall’s, Starbucks, Visa, Home Sense, Texas Roadhouse, McDonald’s, Amazon, Hobby Lobby, Golden Corral, IHOP, Ulta, Fandango, Tractor Supply, Buffalo Wild Wings, Subway, Longhorn Steakhouse, Panda Express, Southern Classic, and Barnes & Noble. All proceeds will help Beta members attend convention and help with Beta Pro. 

NONE

To enter this week’s contest, CLICK HERE!  https://tinyurl.com/RRPJPickem
(Games played on October 4, 2024)

Are you ready for some football?!?

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.

Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – In recent seasons, Red River had tested itself against larger schools from the area in preparation for a tough District 3-2A slate.

The Bulldogs scheduled differently this season, opting to play schools of similar size but often with longer road trips involved to better prepare for the playoffs.

But this week, Red River reverts back to its old scheduling methods as the Bulldogs (1-3) head to Class 5A Pineville in its last game before district play begins.

While Red River may have scheduled schools of the same size, that certainly hasn’t meant the quality of opponent has dipped.

Red River’s losses include Catholic-Pointe Coupee (26-6), Oak Grove (55-8) and most recently White Castle (48-30).

Even Red River’s win against St. Mary’s (26-13 decision) looks even better this week after the Tigers drummed usual District 3-2A power Many in a 64-40 contest.

Red River established itself on both lines of scrimmage in that win against St. Mary’s, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

The Bulldogs hope its defense can return closer to that form after allowing a combined 104 points the past two weeks, but Pineville won’t be an easy task. Red River’s defense did improve in the second half against White Castle, allowing just 10 points after White Castle compiled 38 first-half points.

The Rebels have scored at least 25 points in its first three games, which include wins against Avoyelles (35-20) and Tioga (39-36).

Pineville is coming off a 41-13 loss to a surging Leesville bunch this past week.

Part of Red River’s defensive success has been the ability to force turnovers. The Bulldogs forced at least two turnovers in each of its first three games, but it was Red River’s own turnovers that loomed large in the loss to White Castle.

Red River lost two fumbles and didn’t force any turnovers as White Castle built an 18-0 lead and fended off the Bulldogs’ comeback attempts.

Red River did score a season-high 30 points at White Castle led by Warren Bowman’s three touchdowns. Bowman has produced in the running and passing games, where he teams up with Montreveun Smith in the backfield and then Jomello McDonald in passing routes.

While every team aims to win every game, Pineville could have an increase of urgency with a daunting upcoming schedule – Neville, Alexandria Senior High, West Monroe and Ruston.

After Many (0-4) has dominated District 3-2A for nearly a decade, the apparent fall of the Sabine Parish Tigers means the door is wide open for the entire district field with Red River angling to insert itself at the top.

A win at Pineville (or even a competitive loss) could send a signal to the rest of the district that the Bulldogs should be considered serious contenders.

Riverdale Academy will host the 2024 Homecoming game on Friday, October 11.

Students and staff will get the celebration started with spirit dress-up days October 7-11.
Monday–Sleeping Beauty (PJ Day)
Tuesday–Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum (Twin Day)
Wednesday–A Tale as Old as Time (Senior Citizen Day)
Thursday–Monsters Inc (College Day)
Friday–Mickey & Minnie (School Spirit Day)

Friday, October 11 has an array of activities. The night begins with an Alumni reception, with light refreshments, at 5:30pm. Classes honored include 1974, 1984, 1994, 2004, and 2014. The school will be open for tours also. 

The reception is followed by the 2024 Homecoming Court presentation beginning at 6pm.

Court royalty includes:
Queen: Jadyn King
Crown Bearer: Kyndall Giddings
Ring Bearer: Drake Harper”
Senior Maid: Shirley Boyd
Junior Maid: Alaina Boyd
Sophomore Maid: Krista Mancil
Freshman Maid: Adyson Barrett
Football Sweetheart: Chloe Jordan

The homecoming game against Wilkinson County Christian Academy kicks off at 7pm. The honored Alumni classes will be recognized before kickoff.

Matt Vines

EAST POINT – Riverdale fans will be encouraged by two things they see when the Rebels get back on the football field Friday.

The first is a relatively healthy team with the return of Ashton Almond, who played for the first time this past week in limited capacity in a loss to River Oaks.

The second is Friday’s opponent – Franklin Academy – which is still scrapping for its first win of the season.

Riverdale travels to Franklin (0-6) for a 7 p.m. kickoff as both teams start district play and attempt to end losing streaks.

While Franklin Academy certainly remains dangerous, it’s not the same as the most recent run of Riverdale (1-5) opponents, which included Porter’s Chapel (4-2), Claiborne Academy (5-1), and River Oaks (6-0).

And Riverdale aims to return to what this team was intended to look like with Almond, who was the leading rusher, passer and tackler in the Rebels season-opener.

Kaidyn Williams, who split time with Almond at quarterback and who missed the River Oaks game entirely, is expected to play Friday – giving the Rebels their two most dangerous offensive weapons on the field at the same time.

“I was overly pleased with Ashton’s effort this past week,” said Riverdale coach Nathan Edie. “It’ll be great to have both of these players back for district play.

“We should have our entire team active this week, so I am excited to see what we look like.”

A long Almond run set up a short Kaidyn Williams touchdown plunge to score on the first drive of the season against Prairie View. And while the Spartans did take command of the game in the subsequent quarters, the execution of that drive before the August heat (and the Spartans) took their toll could be what Riverdale aspires to look like for longer stretches now that temperatures have dipped.

Riverdale knew they’d have to learn on the fly after replacing eight seniors from a nine-win team this past season.

But now the Rebels have a chance to piece it together in the remaining three games of the regular season and a shot at a district title.

That stretch starts Friday at Franklin Academy.

“While Franklin Academy has struggled this year, they have some athletes, and I know they will play hard,” Edie said. “Our focus this week will be on tackling in space and being more aggressive up front.

“With our size on the line, we need to be able to move people out of the way.”

Outside of Franklin Academy scoring 28 points against a good Tallulah Academy bunch, Franklin has managed just 18 points in its five other games, which includes two shutouts (Briarfield and River Oaks).
They’ll face a Riverdale defense that’s allowed at least 42 points in four of its six games, although a healthy Almond and Williams should bolster that side of the ball as well.

MAIS District 3-1A is a four-team league (Riverdale, Franklin, Wilkinson Country Christian, and Tensas Academy).

Riverdale’s final three regular-season games will be against these foes.

Franklin (0-6) and Tensas (0-7) are still looking for its first wins while Wilkinson County (5-1) has had the most successful regular season so far, including a 48-6 win against Franklin this past week.

Northwestern State University’s School of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) hosted more than 450 high school students from around the state for Fall STEM Day Friday, Sept. 27. Students toured labs, participated in hands-on games and experiments and spoke with NSU students and faculty about degree programs, career paths, scholarships and college life.

Information on NSU’s School of STEM is available at https://www.nsula.edu/stem/.

Red River High School students who attended: 
Zykeria Babers
Tayla Weathers
Weston Davis
Jazmin Thomas
Mackenzie Lewis
Mykhail Cox
Cayden Johnson
Fadasia Demery
Jadarylria Smith
Adrianna Bradford
Emily Morgan
Journey Lin
Markendria Winn
Jayda Woods
Samuel Brunson
Porter Williamson
Emmanuel Scott
Sarah Cornier
Gracie Stephens
Darcey Bohannon
Destiney Bohannon

There is absolutely no better feeling for an angler than when he puts a plan together and it becomes reality. Tournament bass fishermen spend countless hours fishing and scouting in order to try and formulate a game plan that he hopes comes to fruition. Hopefully this plan will either put him in the winner’s circle or in position to cash a check. Today we’ll wrap up and put a bow on the 2024 Texas ABA Pro League Series.

This time of year (September & October) is when so many bass tournament organizations schedule their championships. ABA (American Bass Anglers) held their two-day championship on Lake Sam Rayburn on September 14th & 15th. This is a tournament where only anglers that qualified could fish this event.

Let’s first start with how practice went and took place on Thursday and Friday before the tournament began on Saturday. Thursday and Friday’s practice was not too bad but was pretty much hit and miss as it was difficult to put any kind of pattern together. But one thing I felt I could count on was where I was catching most of my fish, which was on main lake points.

The lake level was pretty much pool level or about 3 inches low while the bass were very shallow and could be caught with a couple of techniques….flipping a soft plastic trickworm or casting a spinnerbait. Turns out, every fish I weighed for both days actually came on one particular spinnerbait. Now this played right into my hands as I would consider myself a shallow water angler.

I was able to catch a lot of bass on the trickworm, but catching quality was an issue. I just wasn’t able to get a big bite when flipping cypress trees or anything else. They were good solid keeper fish (2 pounders), but not fish that would get me a check. Then on day 2 of practice I spent most of the day with one specific spinnerbait in my hand.

My blade of choice (as some anglers call a spinnerbait) was one that I have had great success with especially on the Red River and Sam Rayburn. This is a quarter ounce white Hummdinger with a small gold willow leaf blade and a small silver Colorado blade. But I think the real magnet for this spinnerbait was the 3-inch paddle tail trailer I used in a ghost shad color. Turns out, it matched the baitfish the bass were feeding on perfectly.

Not only did it catch fish, but every bass I brought to the scales both days came on this one spinnerbait. So many fish were caught on it, that I had to put on a new one for day 2. Twice I had to replace the back blade on this spinnerbait because they were breaking off as the wire just got so weak from all the fish I caught on it.

I finished 7th overall with over 28 pounds of bass during the two-day event, with 16 lbs. on day one and 13 lbs. on day two. Of course, there’s always the one that got away as I broke off a bass over 5 pounds on day one on of all things, a topwater bait called a Zara Spook.

Turns out, it was my own fault as the line on this reel was over a year old. This is why fresh line is so important on tournament day! This one mistake cost me leading the tournament on day one and left me with a day two deficit of just over 2 pounds.

But in the end, it was all good as I wrapped up the 2024 ABA Pro League as runner-up for Angler of the Year. Just the fact that at the age of 63, I proved that even without being a forward-facing sonar expert, you can still compete with those that are. Chalk one up for the older guys!

Till next time, good luck, good fishing, and take the time to enjoy some of the best fishing of the year as bass start their fall migration feeding period.

Steve Graf

(SHREVEPORT, Louisiana) – October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and CHRISTUS Health is emphasizing the importance of mammograms, which can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer, allowing for earlier treatments and increasing chances of survival.

Dr. Deepika Ralla, medical oncologist with the CHRISTUS Cancer Center in Shreveport and Bossier City, said advancements in mammography now allow for detection of cancerous lumps before they are big enough to feel or cause any symptoms.

“The most important factor in outcome is how early we can identify an area of concern and get a diagnosis,” Ralla said. “Advancements in mammogram technology have allowed us to find cancers in very early stages, giving us a head start on the path to a positive outcome.”

Current recommendations are that women begin receiving annual mammograms at age 40, with women with higher risk factors being encouraged to start screenings earlier.

Risk factors include a family history of breast cancer, specifically with two or more first or second-degree family members diagnosed with breast cancer, certain genetic syndromes that are predisposed to several cancers and increased breast density.

The Food and Drug Administration recently updated its regulations to require mammography facilities to notify patients about the density of their breasts.

“The denser your breast is, the more difficult it can be to detect cancer,” Ralla said. “By informing patients of breast density, we can recommend some alternative screenings and tests to makes sure we have all the information we need.”

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 300,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in 2024.

“Mammograms are the staple in breast cancer detection and therefore vital to the long-term prognosis,” Ralla said. “If you have not gotten a mammogram, we encourage you to do it. Anytime is better than nothing.”

CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System offers mammograms during regular appointment hours and on Oct. 3, 17, and 22, will offer mammograms after hours, from 5–7 p.m. at the CHRISTUS Breast Center in Shreveport, and weekend mammograms on Oct. 5, 19, and 26 from 8 a.m.- noon at the CHRISTUS Bossier Emergency Hospital.

To schedule a mammogram, patients can call (318) 681-4100.

On Saturday, September 28, 2024, during National Hunting and Fishing Day, Red River Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies , Natchitoches Police Department and civilian volunteers began the first of three phases of Hunter Education Courses for area youth at the Natchitoches Shooting Range in Natchitoches according to Sheriff Stuart Wright.

The goal of Louisiana’s Hunter Education Course is to prevent hunting incidents and ensure the future of hunting by teaching hunters about their responsibilities and roles in conservation. The course covers firearm and hunting safety, wildlife management principles, ethics, game identification, and outdoor survival.

Sheriff Wright said as we all know, Louisiana is called the “Sportsman’s Paradise”. Our children enjoy the outdoors and hunting with family and friends. This course is important in teaching our youth the fundamentals about the outdoors, responsibility and hunter safety.”

Instructors were: Deputy Marshall Guin, Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Lt. Matthew Robertson, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, Wildlife Agent Sgt. Joey Melton, La. Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Enforcement Division, Wildlife Agent Ken Cheramie, La. Department of Wildlife & Fisheries Enforcement Division, Officer Clayton Lewis, Natchitoches Police Department and Civilian Volunteer Lee Guin.

Sheriff Glen Edwards and the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office will host an additional education course for local hunters. More information will be shared later this month. 

Blood donors are game changers and LifeShare Blood Center is highlighting these valuable MVPs with a chance to win tickets to see the Tigers take on the Commodores in Baton Rouge! Anyone who gives blood or platelets at any LifeShare donor center or mobile drive from October 7th through 19th will be entered for a chance to score a pair of tickets to the big game on November 23rd.

Just like a football team, every player matters–and every donor makes a difference. Someone requires blood every two seconds in the U.S. and one blood donation can impact up to three lives! Unlike most other life-saving medical treatments, blood cannot be manufactured or stockpiled. Red blood cells expire after only 42 days and platelets after only 7 days. “Blood donors have a unique opportunity to be true champions. We rely on each donation, each day, to meet the ongoing needs of our local patients and hospitals,” says Mandi Johnson, Director of Community Engagement.

Five winners will each win a pair of tickets at the Skyline Club Level, which includes an excellent view of the game, food, and non-alcoholic beverages. Transportation, parking, and lodging are not included. Full promotion details can be found at http://www.lifeshare.org/promos.

Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. Schedule your blood donation at http://www.lifeshare.org/give or call 800.256.5433.

The Adai Caddo Indian Nation will host their 26th Annual Powwow on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at
4460 Hwy 485 in Robeline. The event is open to the public and admission to the powwow is
free. Hours are from 10:00 AM through 4:00 PM. The event will host vendors, raffles, dancers, and more.

Tribal leader, Chief John Mark Davis, shared his thoughts about the event, “We look forward to seeing you all at our 26th Annual Adai Caddo Indian Nation Powwow! Come out and celebrate our tradition and heritage with us! [There will be] excellent traditional food, crafts, and native ceremonial powwow dance and demonstrations.”

The Adai Caddo Indian Nation is a Louisiana state-recognized tribe and has its roots deep in the history of Northwestern Louisiana, as the Adai people have a long-documented history in the region.

The first Friday of October every year is celebrated around the globe as World Smile Day. The unofficial holiday encourages people to do acts of kindness to spread good will and cheer.

First started in 1999 by the creator of the smiley face, Harvey Ball, the holiday celebrates the intent behind the now universally recognized icon – to bring a smile of the faces of people around the world. The purpose of the holiday was to move away from the commercialization of the smiley face and to use it as a symbol of kindness and affection.

The smiley face made its debut in 1963 as a way to increase the morale of the employees of a life insurance company. Today, it is one of the most popular nonverbal ways to convey joy, happiness and cheer. The smiley face began as a bright yellow circle with two dots to represent eyes and a black line that represents a smiling mouth.

Today, there are many different versions of the smiley face, representing many other human emotions such a sadness, surprise, worry and laughter. In modern texting smileys are used to express emotions in online conversations on a smartphone or on a computer. The practice has its origin in Japan, and the smileys and other icons are known as emoji.

How to Celebrate–
  Make people around you smile.
  Do a random act of kindness. Buy a stranger a coffee. Compliment someone. 
  Surprise someone in your family with a visit, cook a meal for them, or do something special for them.

Fun Fact: babies are born with the ability to smile. 

Source: timeanddate.com

The king was dead. The date was February 6, 1952.  People all across Great Britain and around the world were shocked and saddened by the news. King George VI, better known as Bertie to those close to him, had been king of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms since 1936.  The king’s oldest daughter, Elizabeth, next in line to the throne, was heartbroken. She was in Kenya on a royal tour when she learned of her father’s death. She immediately returned to London.  At the moment of the king’s death, Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II.

When the king died, the government began planning for Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.  Planning and arranging the coronation was a logistical nightmare. Leaders of countries and territories around the world were expected to attend.  One detail was certain from the beginning.  Queen Elizabeth would ride in the horse-drawn coronation coach from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey where every coronation had taken place since 1066, nearly 1,000 years.  Finally, the date of the coronation was set for June 2, 1953. 

As soon as news of the king’s death spread throughout the realm, people began creating all sorts of items to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s upcoming coronation.  There were teacups, coffee cups, plates, figurines, thimbles, spoons, coins, books, and a myriad of other items.  Just northeast of London, Jack Odell and Leslie Smith owned and operated a small shop called Lesney Products & Company Limited where they sold handmade metal miniature road-building equipment.  Although their business was struggling to survive, they began working on a miniature replica of the ornate gilded Gold State Coach which had been used to transport the sovereign to and from every coronation since 1821.  Their finished product had “eight painted metal horses and four riders leading a coach that was either painted or plated in gold or silver.”  The miniature was an instant hit.  Jack and Leslie produced a smaller replica, just a few inches long, and it was a bigger hit than the larger version.  Jack and Leslie sold over a million of the tiny coronation coaches.  Keep in mind that this was decades before the electronic age, where advertisements bombard you each time you look at your phone.  People wishing to purchase one of the tiny coronation coaches had to go looking for them. 

Jack and Leslie realized that they were onto something big, but they were unsure what product to make next.  Compared to the coronation coaches, their miniature road construction equipment was a failure.  After another long day of seemingly endless discussions about what to produce next, Jack and Leslie left their shop and went to their respective homes.  That evening, Jack’s daughter lamented that she wanted a toy that she could take to school but the school had a policy that all toys had to be small enough to fit inside a small container of a precise measurement.  All of their miniatures were too large to fit in the container.  Then, Jack had an epiphany that they create miniatures on the same scale as their wildly successful coronation coach.  The next day, Jack rushed to the shop and shared the idea with Leslie.  They quickly agreed that they had found their next product.  Their new miniatures were a huge hit, and they still continue to sell well. The miniatures that Jack and Leslie began creating, which were based on the scale of the coronation coach, took the name of his daughter’s school’s small container policy.  That is how Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation led to the beginning of Matchbox Cars.

Sources:

1.     Valdes-Dapena, Peter, ” How Queen Elizabeth’s coronation helped start Matchbox cars,” CNN.com, April 25, 2023, accessed September 28, 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/25/business/matchbox-king-charles-coronation-coach/index.html.

2.     The Strong National Museum of Play, “Matchbox Cars,” accessed September 28, 2024, https://www.museumofplay.org/toys/matchbox-cars/.

Stuart Shaw, Clerk of Court, announces the following list of meeting dates and times for the Members of the Board of Elections. These meetings are for the November 5, 2024 election.

Draw Commissioners to work election:
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
10:00 a.m. at Registrar’s Office

Sign Zero Report for ICX Machine:
Thursday, October 17, 2024
9:00 a.m. Registrar’s Office

Sealing of voting Machines:
Thursday, October 31, 2024**
3:00 p.m. Voter Warehouse

Counting of Absentee Ballots
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
5:00 p.m. Registrar’s Office*

Opening of voting machines and counting of Provisional Ballots
Friday, November 8, 2024
9:00 a.m. Voter Warehouse

Compilation of returns
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
9:00 a.m. Registrar’s Office

NOTE: If additional meetings are needed, members will be notified.
*Time is subject to change-Notification will be given if time is earlier.
**Alternate time for sealing machines–November 1, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.

Get ready to have a blast at the upcoming festivals in Louisiana! From toe-tapping music to mouthwatering food, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this weekend. 
Red River Revel – Shreveport
Ark-La-Miss Fair – West Monroe
Lake Charles Film Festival – Lake Charles
Natchitoches Car Show – Natchitoches
West Louisiana Forestry Festival Fairgrounds – Leesville
Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival – Monroe

Mark your calendars, the last Fourth Friday Fish Fry of 2024 at Clara Springs Baptist Camp will be Friday, October 25 at from 5-7pm. Hosted by Salem Baptist Church. It is Pastor Appreciation Day. Pastors and their spouses eat FREE. Dinner is $15 and includes all you can eat fried fish, coleslaw, french fries, hushpuppies, pinto beans, lemon bread pudding, homemade ice cream and drinks. Kids 9 and under eat FREE. Only $10 for kids ages 10-17.

Adeline’s Bed & Breakfast located at 340 Hand Cemetery Road in Coushatta will host Halloween Movie Night Under the Stars October 26. Feature film is Hocus Pocus. Enjoy this Halloween classic with friends and family in a magical outdoor setting.  Food and sweet treats will be available for purchase from Peterson’s Pit Stop. Admission is $5 per person (kids 2 and under get in free). Doors open at 6:30 and the movie begins at 7pm. Take the whole family for a spooky, fun evening under the stars. Don’t forget lawn chairs or blankets to sit on.

The 3rd commemorative Battle of Arcadia Crossroads will be at the Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days in Arcadia Nov 15-17. There will be two battles, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. There will also be morning skirmishes as the Louisiana Bushwhackers take on Yankee Guerillas and Red Legs. 

Daniel Wayne Havard
October 30, 1953 – October 2, 2024
Funeral services will be held Friday, October 4, 2024 at 1pm at Rockett Funeral Home Chapel in Ringgold

Congratulations are in order for Taylor Lee winning Week Four of the Football Pick-Em Contest in the Red River Parish Journal.

To enter this week’s contest, CLICK HERE!  https://tinyurl.com/RRPJPickem
(Games played on October 4, 2024)

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.

Week 1: Pam Williams
Week 2: Debbie Bamburg
Week 3: Ty Birdsong
Week 4: Taylor Lee

What is the bridge’s progress at Carroll Creek Road and Hwy 155? It looks as if all heavy equipment has been removed from the bridge and roadway. Striping equipment and finishers are now involved in the final stage of construction.

Although no official opening date has been released, the people who travel the road daily are eagerly awaiting the removal of the road closed signs.

Construction on the next bridges will begin immediately after this bridge is complete.

Red River High School Bulldogs News You Can Use published a special edition newsletter dedicated to Homecoming. The issue contains information about the Homecoming Court, the dance, alumni activities, and games. Click the link to access the entire newsletter.

Ruston, LA – The next “Inside the C-Suite” lecture for Louisiana Tech University’s College of Business will feature alumni and siblings Scott Moody, ’92, and James Moody, ’98. The lecture will take place on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 4 p.m. in Davis Auditorium (College of Business 101).

“Scott and James have a wealth of expertise to share,” said Dr. Chris Martin, dean of the College of Business. “Both have diverse professional and entrepreneurial backgrounds that range from starting their own businesses to serving in C-level roles. I can’t wait to have them back on campus to inspire our students.”

Scott is the co-owner and chief marketing and sales officer for PK Grills, an award-winning Arkansas-based manufacturer with a cult following among the competitive barbecue circuit and backyard pitmasters. He is also the co-owner of Fire & Smoke Society, a sauce and spice company with distribution in retailers like Walmart and Kroger.

Based in Little Rock, Scott previously held marketing roles in the retail and wireless industries, with stints at Alltel Wireless and Dillard’s Department Stores. He graduated from Louisiana Tech in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

James is an Austin-based entrepreneur who founded The Mohawk, a live music venue that’s become a cornerstone of the Texas capital’s live music scene. He is also a co-founder of Rambler Sparkling Water, a popular mineral water company; Guerilla Suit, a branding agency; Queue, a mobile ticketing company; Hot Luck, a food and music festival; and Equipment Room, a Japanese-inspired vinyl bar.

James graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Louisiana Tech in 1992.

“Inside the C-Suite” provides a forum for top corporate leaders from some of the nation’s most prominent companies to share their views on topics of societal, academic, and professional importance. The series strives to stimulate insightful conversation on current issues by providing a platform for high-level executives to speak about cutting-edge issues, elaborate on trends, share wisdom, and provide important career inspiration and advice for students. Topics cover a variety of themes in core business subjects such as economic climate, ethics, corporate responsibility, leadership, globalization, strategic planning, entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, and diversity.

For more information on “Inside the C-Suite,” contact Mary Susan Britt, executive director of development for the College of Business, at marysusan@latechalumni.org or 318.257.3741.

Back “in the day” I was a small boy attending Vacation Bible School. I remember one of the thrills was learning how to say the name of the book, “Deuteronomy.” When you can say, “Deuteronomy” you are a big boy! I also remember making crafts for my mother. If you take four small boxes of matches, put them in a square pattern, glue two old fashion school bathroom tiles to them, you have a matchbook holder, and your mom will be pleased. We made that on Monday and then on Tuesday, we actually made “ash trays” for our parents. Remember this was Vacation Bible School, 1960’s style.

Fortunately, we don’t make ashtrays in Vacation Bible School anymore. Come to think of it, we don’t even sell ashtrays in stores anymore. That was one whole “section” of the W.T. Grant stores. Ashtrays and cigarette lighters have vanished from cars too. Things have changed for the better I suppose. I do have memories of filling my dad’s cigarette lighter with fluid and then testing the lighter. Do you know what happens to flannel pajamas soaked in lighter fluid? I do!

I wanted to make the point that it isn’t a long journey from ubiquitous to extinct. (I wrote that sentence just to prove I actually attended graduate school.) Think of all the things we used to have around all the time that are gone. Rotary dial phones, cars without shoulder belts, typewriters, mimeograph machines, chalkboards, hymnals (they are vanishing), pure heroes and heroines, and Sunday mornings with nothing happening but church.

Even the mysterious thing called a relationship has changed as “perfumed loved letters” have given way to “text messaging.” Keeping up in a changing world has become ever more challenging, especially in church life. One of the great mantras of church life is, “we have never done it that way before.” I think we should say over some of the things we do, “we should never do it that way AGAIN.”

So, what do you miss that is gone? Do you really miss outhouses or restaurants where there were smoking and non-smoking sections? Do you really miss a humid non air conditioned living room and sitting by the old Victrola. I didn’t think so.

Change is the only constant in life. You are either changing (metabolism) or you are dead. My hope for you is that you are always changing in God’s direction!

Doug de Graffenried is Pastor of Trinity Methodist Church in Ruston.

You can contact Doug at dougsponderings@gmail.com