Lady Techsters Coach Brooke Stoehr was named Conference USA Coach of the Year. The team finished the regular season with a 24-5 record and head into the conference tournament as the #1 seed.

Gov. Landry calls for Louisiana to get rid of inspection stickers on opening day of the 2026 regular legislative session saying it should be replaced with a QR code.

NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr has announced he will race at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in April in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour.

A phlebotomy technician training class will be offered by Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education in Natchitoches starting March 17. The class will be on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the classroom on the second floor of South Hall. The fee for the class is $995 plus a material fee and the National Board Certification Exam Fee paid directly to the instructor on the first night of class. The National Board Certification Exam fee is due before April 17. A minimum payment of $497.50 must be included at the time of registration and does not include the material fee or board fee. The remaining balance must be paid through checkout.nsula.edu before Friday, April 17.

Dr. Mark Johnson will be inaugurated as the 10 th president of Louisiana Christian University
on March 26 at 6 p.m. in Guinn Auditorium. The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. James Dew, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Flavor of Louisiana, Northwestern State University’s spring fund raiser, will return Friday, March 20 with an impressive line-up of popular restaurants offering samplings of Louisiana seafood delicacies and tasty non-seafood options. Doors open at 6 p.m. in Prather Coliseum. Among the vendors are Ernest’s Orleans Restaurant, Legacy Cafe, Mayeaux’s Steak & Seafood Restaurant, La Casa Del Taco, Savoie’s, Lasyone’s, Mama’s Oyster House, Sweet D’s Kitchen, Russell’s Meat Pies, Sizzle and Drizzle, Peggy’s Pizza and others from around the region. Coffee, desserts, craft beers and specialty cocktails will also be available. Wrinkle Free Entertainment will provide music for mingling and dancing. Tickets are $95 per person and $145 per couple and can be purchased online or at the door. All proceeds go to support academic programming, faculty development and scholarships for students. To purchase tickets online visit https://northwesternstatealumni.com/flavor-of-louisiana/.

Zacorion Deshawn Miller
August 7, 2006 – March 1, 2026
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 1pm at Deliverance Temple Church in Coushatta.

Carrie Orr McDonald
December 18, 1967 – January 23, 2026
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 11am at Abundant Life Worship Center in Coushatta.

Terri Trichell Adams
November 26, 1956 – February 13, 2026
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 11am at Open Door Fellowship in Coushatta.

Pictured are five proud fishermen who each caught a largemouth bass over 10 pounds from Grand
Bayou Reservoir in Coushatta in February.

They are (from left to right):
Justin Cooper, Zwolle, LA, 11.4 lbs bass caught Feb 4, 2026
Tyler Morris, Bossier City, LA, a member of the LSUS fishing team, 10.2 lbs bass caught Feb 13, 2026
Bryce Distefang, Bossier City, LA, also a member of the LSUS fishing team, 10.4 lbs bass caught Feb 13,
2026
Karen Gerwin, Flint, TX, 11.2 lbs bass caught Feb 15, 2026.
Archie Dor’e II, Natchitoches, LA, 10.8 lbs caught on Feb 21, 2026

The resort and Grand Bayou Reservoir District will pay for replicas of any bass caught at the lake that is
over 10 pounds. If the fisherman wants a replica, the fish must first be officially weighed by resort
personnel, then returned to the lake alive and in good condition. All five of these fishermen have chosen
to have a replica made of their bass under the resort’s lunker program.

Story shared by Faerie Sledge.
Photo credits Grand Bayou Resort staff.

Monday:

Cloudy skies early with a stray shower or thunderstorm possible. High 78F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. 

Tuesday:

Cloudy skies early with a stray shower or thunderstorm possible. High 81F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. 

Increasing clouds with showers arriving sometime after midnight. Low 68F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Change of rain 40%. 

National education policy playbook highlights Louisiana as a state exemplar for its “simple, transparent, and rigorous” formula that prepares students for career, college, or military service

BATON ROUGE, La. —Louisiana has been named a national standard for how schools and school systems are graded. ExcelinEd recognized Louisiana as the state exemplar for school and system accountability in its 2026 Education Policy Playbook. The playbook praises Louisiana for its transparent and rigorous approach that drives student outcomes and helps schools continuously improve.

“Louisiana is a national leader in education reform and those efforts are reflected in our academic progress,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “These shifts will push Louisiana students to greater heights, while the public receives a transparent look at school quality.”

Setting a National Standard

Created by the national education nonprofit ExcelinEd, the 2026 Education Policy Playbook is an annual report designed to help state leaders implement policies that improve student achievement. The guide names Louisiana as the model for school accountability, which is how states measure and share school performance.

“Louisiana has set a national standard with its Grow. Achieve. Thrive. accountability framework,” the playbook states. “The state now uses a simple, transparent and rigorous formula that holds schools accountable for three clear goals: helping all students reach grade-level proficiency or higher, ensuring individual growth for every student toward proficient or advanced achievement and prioritizing growth for the most struggling learners.”

Grow.Achieve.Thrive.

Grow. Achieve. Thrive. is Louisiana’s newly revised accountability system. It raises expectations for student performance, emphasizes transparency, and places greater focus on whether students are graduating ready for career, college, or military service.

Schools and systems will be measured using a clear, balanced scorecard built around three core expectations for every student:

• Grow: Students should make meaningful academic progress every year.
• Achieve: Students should reach proficiency in key subjects.
• Thrive: Students should graduate on time and be prepared for college, career, or service.

The first official performance scores using Grow. Achieve. Thrive. will be released in late 2026, reflecting results from the 2025–2026 school year.

About ExcelinEd
ExcelinEd is a nonprofit organization that supports state leaders in transforming education to unlock opportunity and lifelong success for every child. The organization provides policy expertise, implementation support, and research to help states increase learning, eliminate inequities, and ensure graduates are prepared for college and career.

By Nolan Mckendry | Mar 5, 2026

(The Center Square) – Louisiana education officials are weighing how — and how much – the state should police artificial intelligence in classrooms, as a Board of Elementary and Secondary Education panel laid out competing governance models that largely preserve local control while trying to standardize basic safety and quality checks.

At a recent BESE meeting, the AI Work Group presented a slate of “deliverables” aimed at “establishing criteria for a state-approved clearinghouse of vetted AI tools to ensure safe and effective classroom use.”

The group outlined three paths: building a state-run, two-tier clearinghouse of vetted tools; creating a statewide vetting framework districts would apply locally without a state-approved vendor list; or adopting a hybrid approach that requires local vetting while adding targeted state reporting for “high-impact” AI implementations.

The Louisiana Department of Education did not endorse a specific option, but officials emphasized they are prioritizing district decision-making over statewide mandates.

“We think that districts are generally good at working together and communicating,” Ashley Townsend, the department’s assistant superintendent of policy and governmental affairs, told The Center Square. “We want districts to be smart and we’re here to understand how we can support districts.”

Townsend added the department does not want to “mandate things,” and that school systems are generally responsible for how they procure AI tools and whcih platforms they use.

The discussion comes as Louisiana cautiously expands its use of AI in schools. The state recently authorized roughly $1 million in federal funds for student accounts tied to three AI platforms: Amira, Khanmigo and Writable. The platforms are being used as education supplements, while officials warn that AI adoption should not undermine the state’s recent gains in literacy and math.

Alongside governance questions, the education department is scaling up teacher training and guidance. The state’s Teacher Leader Summit is expected to draw about 7,000 educators with more than a dozen sessions focused on helping teachers teach AI. The work group also advised developing teacher competencies that include “target skills” to apply across content areas such as English.

Some advocates urged the state school board and educators to reframe how they talk about AI use in schools.

“We have to stop pretending like it is wrong for people to use AI to do their jobs,” said Anthony Owen, a work group member and Code.org’s head of policy and president of the Code.org Advocacy Coalition.

Owen said the conversation should move beyond whether students are using AI to cheat and instead focus on broader, more practical questions while guarding against risks such as “cognitive offloading” and other “meta cognitive issues.”

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University has been awarded $1.8 million in federal funding through the Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) process to support the development of Innovation Park, a transformative STEM initiative designed to expand research, strengthen workforce development and drive technological innovation across Louisiana.

University leaders expressed deep appreciation to U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy and U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, and their dedicated staff for championing the project through the federal appropriations process. Their leadership secured funding to purchase advanced equipment for Innovation Park, which will serve as an epicenter for STEM education in northwest Louisiana through a collaborative partnership between NSU and the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts (LSMSA).

Innovation Park will serve as a collaborative hub connecting NSU students with gifted high school students from LSMSA. In addition, the facility will function as a community and industry engagement center, creating opportunities for regional business leaders, entrepreneurs and industry partners to collaborate directly with students and faculty. This crossover between business development and advanced learning will foster innovation, support product development, strengthen public-private partnerships and stimulate economic growth throughout northwest Louisiana.

Fields emphasized Northwestern State’s role in driving regional growth and opportunity, noting that the recent investment represents more than just funding; it reflects a strong commitment to the university’s continued excellence and long-term impact. Highlighting the significance of the award, he stated, “Northwestern State University is a cornerstone of our region, and this $1.8 million investment reflects my commitment to ensuring our institutions have the resources they need to thrive. I am proud to have helped champion this funding and I know this award will have a positive impact on students, faculty, and the broader community for years to come.”

Kennedy underscored the long-term importance of investing in education and workforce readiness.

“The key to Louisiana’s future isn’t the price of oil, or who’s holding political office, or what our unemployment rate is. It’s education. I’m proud to have helped secure this funding to prepare students at Northwestern State University for careers in growing industries and keep talent in Louisiana,” said Kennedy.

Echoing the importance of forward-looking investments in higher education and technology, Cassidy highlighted how Innovation Park will strengthen both regional opportunity and national competitiveness.

“Investment in students is investment in our future,” said Cassidy. “New tech equipment for Innovation Park will better prepare students at Northwestern to contribute to not only Natchitoches, but our entire country.”

NSU President Jimmy Genovese said the federal investment reflects strong confidence in the university’s role as a regional driver of innovation.

“This funding demonstrates what is possible when our federal delegation works in partnership with our university and community,” said Genovese. “Innovation Park will provide our students with hands-on access to advanced technology, ensuring they are prepared to lead in high-demand, high-impact industries. This investment will transform the educational experience for our students while strengthening our state’s workforce and economy for generations to come.”

Red River Junior High is inviting local youth to get active this spring with the Believe • Achieve • Succeed League Youth Athletics program, offering opportunities for boys and girls to participate in basketball, dance, and cheer. The school will hold a drive through registration Mon Mar 9 and Tue Mar 10 from 3:30-5:15pm. Just drive up and fill out the forms. The program is open to children ages 5–13 and will run every Saturday from May 16 through June 13. The cost to participate is $40.

Join your friends for Luck o’ the Irish Bingo at the Red River Parish Library on Wed Mar 11 at 1pm. Lots of prizes, refreshments, and fun!

LSU Ag Center will hold their next Homesteader Series: Basics of Backyard Poultry Processing workshop Sat Mar 21 at 9am at the NW Region Red River Research Station in Bossier City.

Singer Bruce Hornsby drops new singles feature the LSU women’s basketball team in the video.

Oil prices have jumped past $100 a barrel as the Iran war disrupts oil production and shipping in the Middle East.

The US Postal Service Postmaster announced last week it expects to run out of money in a year without help from Congress.

Sarah J Maas, the author of the “A Court of Thorns and Roses” book series revealed that the story will continue with books six and seven. Book six will arrive Oct 27, and book seven Jan 12, 2027.

New United Airlines policy allows the airline to ban passengers who don’t use their headphones.

The United States Coast Guard is purchasing the 192-acre Birmingham-Southern College campus to be the home for a new training center.

Carrie Orr McDonald
December 18, 1967 – January 23, 2026
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 11am at Abundant Life Worship Center in Coushatta.

Terri Trichell Adams
November 26, 1956 – February 13, 2026
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 11am at Open Door Fellowship in Coushatta.

Residents of Red River Parish and surrounding areas received an unexpected wake-up call early Thursday morning when an earthquake struck near Coushatta, Louisiana.

The tremor occurred around 5:30 a.m. and was later measured as a 4.9-magnitude earthquake by the United States Geological Survey. The quake originated at a depth of approximately 3.1 miles below the surface and was widely felt across north Louisiana and beyond. Residents from Alexandria, Louisiana to parts of southern Arkansas and East Texas reported feeling the shaking.

Some residents reported feeling a smaller tremor about 10 minutes before the stronger quake, which many described as enough to rattle homes and wake people from sleep.

Historical data indicate the quake ranks as the second-largest earthquake ever recorded in Louisiana. The largest on record occurred offshore in the Gulf of Mexico on February 9, 2006, when a 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck roughly 100 miles south of Grand Isle, Louisiana.

Social media lit up shortly after the quake as residents of Coushatta and neighboring communities began asking if others had felt the shaking. Several reported items falling from shelves and walls during the brief but noticeable tremor.

The Red River Parish Library reported minor stress cracks appearing in sheetrock.

Officials say there have been no reports of injuries at this time, and the Red River Sheriff’s Department released a video to reassure people that all authorities are monitoring the situation.  

While earthquakes are relatively rare in Louisiana, experts say tremors of this size can still be felt across a wide region, particularly when they occur at shallow depths. At least 10 earthquakes have been recorded in the Haynesville-Bossier Shale area since December.  

On Sunday, March 8, clocks across most of the United States will “spring forward” one hour as Daylight Saving Time begins for 2026. At 2:00 a.m. local time, the time will jump ahead to 3:00 a.m., shifting an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.

What is “springing forward”?

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of moving clocks forward in the spring and back in the fall to make better use of daylight during the longer days of the warmer months. When we “spring forward” in March, sunrise and sunset both appear an hour later on the clock, giving people more usable daylight in the evening for work, activities, and family time.

In the U.S., the current schedule for DST was set by the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005. Since 2007, Daylight Saving Time has started on the second Sunday in March and ended on the first Sunday in November, a change that lengthened the DST period by about four weeks compared to earlier decades.

A brief history

The idea of shifting time to match daylight has been around for more than a century. Versions of seasonal clock changes were first put into law during World War I as a way to conserve fuel and take advantage of evening daylight. The U.S. first adopted DST in 1918, dropped it after the war, then brought it back in different forms over the years.

For a long time, states and even individual cities followed their own rules, which led to a confusing patchwork of start and end dates. In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which standardized how and when states that choose to observe DST would change their clocks. Today, almost all U.S. states follow Daylight Saving Time, with notable exceptions such as Hawaii and most of Arizona, which remain on standard time year-round.

Looking ahead to March 8

When residents set their clocks ahead one hour in the early hours of Sunday, March 8, they will technically lose an hour of sleep—but gain brighter evenings for the months ahead. Many experts recommend adjusting bedtime slightly in the days leading up to the change, setting alarms carefully, and double-checking clocks that don’t update automatically.

Whether people love it or dread it, “springing forward” has become a familiar milestone each year—one that signals the slow shift from winter’s early sunsets to the longer, lighter evenings of spring.

The Red River Parish Police Jury met for its committee and regular meetings on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, with all jurors present.

During the committee meeting, longtime parish employee Harold Woodard addressed the jury for the final time in his role as the parish’s Commercial Vehicle Permit Officer. Woodard announced he will retire from the position on March 18 after serving in the role since 2020.

Woodard thanked the jury members and the parish for their support during his tenure, calling the parish government “the smoothest, most well-run operation” he has worked with. He also commended the jury for their ability to work together for the good of the parish.

Police Jury President Tray Murray expressed appreciation for Woodard’s service, noting that Woodard had been instrumental in establishing the commercial vehicle permit division.

“You have been an asset since the day we started this division and the only one we thought of when we decided to create this position,” Murray said. “Thank you for everything you have done for this parish.”

In his monthly report, Woodard said commercial vehicle permits generated $38,367.50, while fines totaled $6,952.50.

During new business, Murray asked parish administrator Jessie Davis to remind all entities operating with a flow-through budget—including the parish library, ambulance service, and fire department—that a representative from each organization is required to attend every regular meeting of the Police Jury.

Jurors also approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office. Davis said the next step will be to finalize bank accounts and set up check deposits related to the agreement.

Preparations for the new parish administration building also moved forward. Davis said the process of staking out the building site is scheduled to begin Friday morning, weather permitting.

During the regular meeting, jurors voted to keep the current officers in place and discussed the possibility of holding a groundbreaking ceremony for the new building later this month.

The jury also confirmed that Thrash Construction of Shreveport, Louisiana, submitted the lowest bid and was awarded the contract to construct the new parish administration building.

According to the US National Weather Service in Shreveport, prolonged periods of heavy rainfall will lead to chances of flash flooding across the ArkLaTex over the weekend. Rainfall accumulations of 1-3 inches are expected with locally higher amounts possible.

Friday:

Cloudy skies early with partial sunshine expected late. Near record high temperatures near 84F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.

Chance of an isolated thunderstorm in the evening, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 69F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Saturday:

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 76F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

Cloudy skies with periods of rain overnight. Low 62F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Change of rain 70%. Rainfall near half and inch.

Sunday:

Thunderstorms in the morning, then variable clouds during the afternoon with still a chance of showers. Potential for heavy rainfall. High near 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 7-%.

Cloudy in the evening with occasional rain showers. Low around 65. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.

Matt Vines

Riverdale basketball racks up district honors
The Riverdale girls and boys basketball teams were well represented on their all-district and Class 1A teams.

Mary Claire Jones earned Class 1A Player of the Year honors and was picked as the District MVP.

Makayla Pickett, an all-state selection, also claimed the district’s Offensive Player of the Year.

The pair were joined by all-district first-team selections Julia Grace Riggs, Kaleigh Pickett and Hanna Huddleston.

The boys were represented by all-state pick Tanner Carlise and all-district picks Cannon Breedlove and Jackson Hillman with Hayden Cason taking honorable mention distinction.

Jones, Huddleston and Pickett played in the girls MAIS All-Star Game with Carlisle participating on the boys side.

Red River softball kicks off district play with loss vs. Lakeside
While district play is a much smaller portion of the softball schedule than any other sport, Red River started District 3-2A play with a 22-1 loss against defending champion Lakeside.

The Lady Warriors have won every district game since joining the league this past year, so the task was certainly a tall one for the Lady Bulldogs (3-4).

Red River did log their third win of the season earlier this week with a 23-16 shootout against Dodson.
In their three wins, Red River has scored at least 17 runs, showing the explosion that exists in the Lady Bulldogs’ bats.

The road doesn’t get much easier with a trip next week to district opponent Winnfield.

District teams play each other only once, meaning Red River has just four district games on its 24-game schedule.

Red River baseball finding its way with district play looming
The Red River baseball team is continuing to find its way as the Bulldogs dropped their last two contests, a 17-2 loss to Glenbrook and a 9-0 defeat to Choudrant.

The Bulldogs (4-6) have dropped four of their last five games with the lone win coming in 7-1 fashion against North Webster.

Red River has one more non-district meeting Monday with Ringgold coming to town before the Bulldogs kick off District 3-2A play against defending champion Lakeside.

The Lakeside series begins Tuesday in Coushatta before ending Thursday in Sibley.

An alert went out at 8:31pm last night that customers on the Martin Water System are under a boil advisory.

‘All customers north of the water plant (Leroy Adcock Road) to Wilson Lane and all roads leading off Hwy 507 in this area are under a boil advisory until further notice.’

An additional alert will be sent to customers as soon as the advisory has been lifted. 

Each and every day we wake up and make a decision in the first five minutes to either be happy, angry or sad. It’s a choice! Now, there are exceptions for those who have a mental illness or might be going through some tough times, but in general, everyone else makes a choice.

As anglers, we also have choices to make when we’re on the water whether it’s in a tournament or just out fun fishing. So much of the time, the choices we make say a lot about who we are as a person.

Today, having so many boats on the water means there are a lot of eyes out there — people who are watching every move you make as an angler.

That’s why it’s important to set a good example and use discretion when fishing around other anglers. Over the last few years, I’ve had a few encounters that had me shaking my head in disbelief. Anglers do dumb things that make everyone scratch their heads and ask, “What are you doing?”

To quote the famous line from the 1994 Tom Hanks movie Forrest Gump as he was told by his momma, “Stupid is as stupid does.” This quote pretty much sums up how too many boaters and anglers alike handle themselves on the water today.

Here are a couple of examples: Last year while on Toledo Bend, I had two incidents on the same day! While fishing a point in the back of a cove, I was casting my Carolina rig directly up on the point in five feet of water. On this day I was scouting for an event I had coming up in three days.

As I’m fishing this point, another boat with two anglers (who looked like tournament anglers) came around the backside of the point (opposite from me) and gradually started to turn and fish their way in my direction about 100 yards away. Now at this stage, I’m really OK and feel like there’s not really a problem since I’m thinking this boat will go behind me.

Then he did the unthinkable as he turned his boat 90 degrees and ran right over the spot I was fishing! He literally trolled right over my line between me and the point! Outranged at his stupidity, I threw my hands in the air and asked him, “What are you doing? How dumb are you?”

He turned and looked at me like I had three heads and seemed bewildered at my question. So, I repeated my question where the entire north end of Toledo Bend could hear me.

As I lectured him on right and wrong and the dumb decision he just made, he turned his trolling motor on high and got away from me as quick as he could without even a response to my lecture. It was as if he never saw or heard me! I mean I was the ONLY BOAT fishing this point after all; how could he not hear me?

Later that same day, I had another incident with an angler who was fishing with his grandfather and his son. Basically, the same situation; I’m fishing a spot just off a bluff close to the boat road when this boat came running down the boat road and shut down behind me about 30 yards away.

As I’m fishing this spot just off the bluff, this boat starts to idle behind me and is going away from me. So, at this point I’m thinking he’s doing the right thing and fishing away from me … or so I thought!

But no, that’s not what he did! He actually turned his boat 180 degrees and cut between me and the spot I was fishing about 20 yards in front of me, right where I was throwing my lure!

Once again, I’m dumbfounded and about to lose my mind by his action. I told him it was a good thing he had his young son in the boat because otherwise he too would have gotten a verbal tongue lashing like the other angler I chatted with earlier that day! Again, I asked him the same question, “How dumb are you?”

But during these times we live in, it’s just another day on the water and incidents like these are now commonplace. Anglers and pleasure boaters continue to do the dumbest things I’ve ever seen.

At the end of the day, I’m exhausted pretty much every time I go on the lake as I’m always on high alert for anglers cutting me off or someone doing something else dumb.

The problem isn’t just on the lake, it’s also at the boat ramp, as people have totally forgotten what the word courtesy even means. So many boat owners have no understanding of boat ramp etiquette and the process of launching a boat! IT’S NOT HARD, PEOPLE!

If you want to be entertained one day, take the time to go to a boat ramp and watch the comedy show of people who can’t back a boat down a boat ramp or load a boat on to a trailer. It’s hilarious and makes for great entertainment!

So, my advice today to all boaters/anglers who understand how to act on any body of water is to have patience and be prepared to help people launch their boat while teaching them how to do this the right way.

On the fishing side of things, you’ll also need patience as other anglers continue to cut you off as you’re going down a stretch of boat docks or a tree line.

So many boat owners and anglers have no idea about the unwritten rules of the water, or as I call it, common sense! I guess it’s up to us old anglers to teach and share our knowledge because they aren’t going to learn it from anyone else. Good luck, good fishing and stay safe!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com.

The black diamond (sometimes a black triangle or arrow) on a tape measure is a stud layout aid, and it has a very specific meaning.

What it means

The black diamond marks 19.2 inches on center.

Why 19.2 inches matters

• 19.2 inches equals five studs spaced evenly across an 8-foot (96-inch) wall.

• This spacing is sometimes used in construction as an alternative to the standard 16-inch spacing.

• It allows builders to:

  • Use fewer studs

  • Save on lumber and cost

  • Still meet building code requirements in certain designs

When it’s used

• Primarily in advanced framing (also called optimum value engineering)

• Often seen in commercial construction or energy-efficient residential builds

• Less common in typical homes, which usually use 16-inch or 24-inch spacing

In 1965, Washoe was born in West Africa. Ten months later, she and four other youngsters, Dar, Pili, Tatu, and Moja, were brought to the United States to be raised by foster parents Allen and Beatrix Gardner. Allen and Beatrix played with them, talked to them, fed them, chased them, ran from them, gave them a comfortable and intellectually stimulating home, and all the other things most parents do to bond with and raise their children. Washoe and the others acted very much like children of their age with one exception, they could not speak. Fostering Washoe and the others was difficult because they were unable to communicate vocally, but Allen and Beatrix both worked as scientists at the University of Nevado in Reno and understood that getting the desired result usually took a long time to achieve. One of the most important tools in their arsenal as scientists was patience. Most doctors concluded that they would never be able to communicate because they all lacked a specific gene, the FOXP2 gene, which is essential for the normal development of speech. They would never be able to speak. They accepted the prognosis that the youngsters would never be able to communicate verbally, but Allen and Beatrix were determined that they would be able to communicate.

Rather than trying to get Washoe and the others to speak verbally, the Gardners stopped using verbal communication around them altogether. When in their presence, Allen and Beatrix communicated with each other using American Sign Language (ASL). The Gardners feared that trying to communicate with them verbally and with sign language simultaneously would be confusing. The Gardners hoped the youngsters would learn by watching them communicate with each other. Washoe was especially interested. They used the proper sign language to each other when Washoe was eating, bathing, and while she was being dressed. They invented exciting games; introduced new toys, books, and magazines; all of which were designed to stimulate sign language. They made scrapbooks of Washoe’s favorite pictures and used the proper sign language for whatever was shown in the photos. Dinner time began with Allen and Beatrix shaping their dominant hands into a flattened “O” with the fingertips touching the thumb then tapping the fingertips to their lips once or twice. In American Sign Language, this is the sign for “food” or “to eat.” Then one day at dinner time, long after doctors and other experts had given up hope that she would ever be able to communicate, Washoe told Allen and Beatrix that she was hungry by signing the word “food.” The Gardners were overjoyed. Within a short time, Washoe could tell the Gardners that she was thirsty and that she wanted to play with her toys by using sign language. She quickly learned the sign for “more” to let the Gardners know she was still hungry, still thirsty, or that she wanted more toys. Her vocabulary continued to grow. Then she began to learn to answer questions such as “Who is that?” and “What do you want?”

As her vocabulary grew, the Gardners noticed something extraordinary. Washoe began teaching the other youngsters the sign language she knew, and they were signing back correctly. With the help of the Gardners, Washoe and the others learned a sign language vocabulary of hundreds of words and expressions. Washoe became the first of her kind to learn a human language and teach it to another primate. Washoe and the others were all chimpanzees.

Sources:

1. “Friends of Washoe,” accessed February 22, 2026, https://www.friendsofwashoe.org/learn/chci_history/project_washoe_begins.html.

2. “Meet Tatu and Loulis—the last of the ‘talking’ chimpanzees,” National Geographic, accessed February 22, 2026, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/chimpanzee-sign-language-experiments.

3. “FOXP2 gene,” MedlinePlus.com, accessed February 22, 2026, https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/foxp2/.

LSU Women’s Basketball will tip off in the SEC tournament this afternoon at 1:30 in Greenville, South Carolina. LSU is seated #4 and will take on #5 Oklahoma who beat Florida in Thursday action. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Bloomin’ on the Bricks will be held in Downtown Natchitoches Saturday, March 7. Varieties of plants, flowers, shrubs, and garden decor will be available for purchase. Children’s activities are planned. FREE admission.

Grambling State University get federal trademark for iconic logo. The “G” is officially protected.

The Great Easter Market will be held at Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days March 20-22. There will be crafts, antiques, home decor and much more.

New Beginnings Baptist Church in Castor will hold their Revival March 22-25. The services will be held Sunday at 11am and 6pm; Monday-Wednesday at 7pm. The speaker will be Bro. Craig Franklin.

Red River Elementary will host their Father/Daughter “A Night to Glow Together” Dance March 27 from 5:20-7:30pm. Payment deadline is March 20 with cost $25 for the pair. There will be a live DJ, fun and lots of dancing and glowing!

John Fleming is accusing Gov Jeff Landry of interfering with US Senate Race. He is running against incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy and Trump endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow.

Red River Junior High will host a Sparkle Ball~Sneakers and Sequins on April 24 from 6-:30pm. $10 per person.

The Saenger Theatre in New Olreans will show 10 Broadway shows from September through June 2027 including the classis “The Lion King” to newer shows like “The Notebook.”. See the full schedule on their website.

“When Harry Met Sally” cos-stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan will reunite at the Oscars to honor Rob Reiner during the In Memoriam segment. Barbra Streisand is also in talks to perform a tribute to her “The Way We Were” co-star Robert Redford. The Oscars will air Sunday, March 15.