Keep Louisiana Beautiful invites schools to participate in the second annual Love the Boot Week, the state’s largest litter cleanup and beautification event held April 20-28 during Earth Week. Let’s empower our young leaders to be environmental stewards and changemakers! Register your event today at lovetheboot.org.

Why Participate?

• Hands-On Learning: Participating in Love the Boot Week is a hands-on educational experience for students that teaches the importance of protecting our communities from litter. In the spring of 2016, Louisiana Act 72 was signed into law, requiring that students in grades K-5 receive education about litter and its vast implications on our environment. Find KLB’s resources for educators here.
• Earth Day Programming: Love the Boot Week happens during Earth Week! If your school is looking to host an Earth Day program, a litter cleanup or beautification event would be a great fit! You can pick up litter and/or plant trees on campus or in the surrounding neighborhood. If you already have a cleanup or beautification event planned, sign your effort up for Love the Boot Week at lovetheboot.org.
• Engagement Opportunity: Engage your faculty, staff, students, and families! Get your school community engaged in this important initiative to clean up Louisiana! Large or small, every effort makes a difference.

For grades K-5, KLB has lessons and activities that align with student standards. These lessons focus on litter, recycling, and environmental stewardship. Download them for free here or order free copies. KLB also offers 12-page activity books featuring Rocksey the Raccoon and friends.

Love the Boot Week is made possible with support from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Sponsors include Coca-Cola, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, Cox Communications, Energy Transfer, Republic Services, Unum Group, Lamar Advertising, The Advocate | Times-Picayune | Nola.com, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, The Crawfish App, Waste Management, ExxonMobil Baton Rouge, Visit Webster Parish, Cajun Coast Visitors Bureau, and Tangipahoa Parish Tourism.

Forward-facing sonar is how 95 percent of today’s tournaments are won. The young Japanese anglers, as  well as the younger American anglers, have already taken this new technology to a level never seen before.

Recent professional Elite Series tournaments on Toledo Bend and Lake Fork saw the top 10 anglers advancing to the final round by using forward-facing sonar. In a matter of minutes, anglers were able to locate bass and catch them with precision casting in real time. Today we’re going to ask a few questions about where this new way of fishing is headed and what it means for the professional angler.

I’ve always heard that tournament bass fishing is a young man’s sport, but now that I’ve reached that older angler status, I’m wanting to prove that quote is simply a myth. If you’re wondering if the game has changed, let me go ahead and confirm one thing — it has!

The legends of the sport, guys that have set the bar for what we know as the Bassmaster’s, are struggling to make not just top 10’s but top 20 finishes as well. No longer are anglers required to have years of experience to compete against the best anglers in the world. All they need is forward-facing sonar and the patience to chase bass in open water.

What does this mean for the older generation of anglers who have spent years and decades developing their bass fishing skills? Why is their style of fishing no longer good enough to win or, in some cases, even get a check? From this angler’s perspective, it’s a case of young anglers understanding how to use the new technology better than the older generation of touring pros. They have adapted and mastered forward-facing sonar at lightning speed while the older anglers have been a lot slower about jumping on board this new way of fishing. It’s kind of like trying to teach an old dog a new trick; there’s always going to be a little bit of resistance.

Will this force many of the older anglers to consider retiring way before they originally planned? Or will this new way of catching bass be like so many other new techniques that over time tends to fade away? One thing about today’s bass fisheries, they are getting a lot more pressure than they did 20 years ago. Bass are becoming educated more quickly due to this fishing pressure. Therefore, new techniques in the last five years don’t seem to last as long as they used to.

After two Elite Serie events, I looked at the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings and was totally surprised. What got my attention and was shocking for me to see was that legendary anglers who have had major success were sitting in the bottom 50 of the AOY. There were anglers such as Michael Iaconelli, Scott Martin, Greg Hackney, Rick Clunn, and Gerald Swindle to name a few. This is new uncomfortable territory for this caliber of professional anglers. These are guys who have won Bassmaster Classics, Angler of the Year titles and numerous Elite Series championship events.

As this controversy continues over forward-facing sonar, older anglers will be forced to either get better with it or decide if they no longer want to fish for a living. Or maybe they just ride out this new wave of bass fishing and try to hang on until the next technological advancement comes along. But 2024 has been a very frustrating year so far for so many of the older anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series as the young guns have made their mark.

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to check out Tackle
Talk Live podcast, as well as the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show on You Tube.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com 

Lily
Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Last Seen: Wednesday, March 23, 2024 Collins Road Natchitoches, LA
Color: Red Merle and White
Eyes: Different Color Eyes

And Has a Tail

PLEASE CALL WITH ANY INFORMATION

(318) 357-0377

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 27, 2024

SHREVEPORT – LSUS earned the designation as a Military Friendly and a Military Spouse Friendly university, the military organization Viqtory announced Wednesday.

The designation signifies that LSUS creates sustainable and meaningful pathways for the military community. The organization awarded LSUS gold status.

LSUS works with members of the active duty military, veterans, and their qualifying family members to access educational benefits available to them from their military branches, state and federal governments, and other entities.

The University has staff in the on-campus Veterans Resource Center and in other departments like Admissions that are specifically trained to assist current and former military members.

LSUS helps enroll members of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy and Space Force by assisting service members in navigating the Military Tuition Assistance landscape.

“LSUS is proud to be recognized once again as a Military Friendly and Military Spouse Friendly school,” said Evan Harris, director of the Veterans Resource Center. “We’ve got an amazing crew here made up of military veterans, spouses, and dependents who want nothing more than to see our students succeed.

“Whether it’s helping apply for the GI Bill or connecting someone to local and federal resources, we’re happy to help everyone from the military community.”

The ratings are determined through the evaluation of public data and proprietary data gathered through the annual Military Friendly survey process.

Military members, veterans and their qualifying family members have opportunities to pursue bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees as well as a host of professional credentials and other continuing education programs.

With the vast majority of LSUS graduate programs and a growing number of undergraduate degrees offering 100 percent online options, that flexibility allows military members and their spouses to start and continue their education no matter where they are stationed.

Most professional credentials are conducted online as well.

Through programs like Air Force Credentialing Opportunities Online (AFCOOL), Army Credentialing Assistance (ArmyCA), and the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship Program (MyCAA), LSUS Continuing Education helps service members and their spouses cover certification and credential costs in professions like information technology, healthcare, and professional development.

To explore a four-year degree, visit our military and veteran frequently-asked questions page.

To learn about programs that cover professional credentials and other continuing education, visit our continuing education page.

For more information on degree programs, contact the Veterans Resource Center (vrc@lsus.edu or 318-797-4178).

For more information on continuing education programs, contact Tulin Melancon in the Continuing Education Department (tulin.melancon@lsus.edu or 318-797-5254).

Red River Cowboy Church, 7644 Hwy 1, will host “The Easter Story” tonight beginning at 7:30pm. Experience the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus through a drive-through cowboy Easter drama. 

First Methodist Church Coushatta will hold their annual egg hunt today at 10:30am. There will be the Easter story, an egg hunt for toddlers through 5^th grade, and a hot dog lunch.  All children in the community are welcome. The Easter Bunny will make an appearance!!

First Baptist Church of Coushatta will host a community wide Easter Egg Hunt today from 4-6pm. All activities will be located in the Children’s playground area. This FREE event will include: inflatables, face painting, Hotdogs, popcorn, Hot air balloon (weather permitting), and an Easter Egg hunt with prizes! This event is only for kids ages 0-6th grade. Bring your Easter baskets and be ready for fun!

Fairview Baptist Church will host a Good Friday Community Egg Hunt and Fish Fry this evening. Egg hunt at 5pm and Dinner at 5:45pm. This is a FREE event for all families and individuals. There will be inflatables for the children and games for everyone to play!

Dark Woods Adventure Park in Natchitoches will host Happy Easter Hop Along event this weekend. Today from 2-5pm, Saturday, March 30 from 11am-5pm and Sunday, March 31 from 2-5pm. Also on Saturday from 11am-1pm you can bring your furry friends along to get a pic with the Easter Bunny. 

Open Door Fellowship invites everyone to join their Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30 from 1-3pm on the soccer fields. There will be food, games, candy pics with the Easter Bunny and many, many eggs to hunt. Don’t forget to bring your Easter basket.

On March 30, Coushatta Recreation Park we will be having the 2nd Annual Community Funday Egg Hunt from 3-6pm. There will be kickball, basketball, a bounce house for smaller kids and more. Everyone is invite and welcome. Come prepared for a good time because we are planning to have a good time. Dat Bigg Belly Dude and J Boy’s Cooking is sponsoring the event.

Easter Sunrise Service will be held at Abbie Lane Retreat, 7581 Hwy71, Sunday morning at 7am. Everyone is welcome. 

Bethel Baptist Church in Womack invites everyone to attend their Easter Sunday activities. Communion service will begin at 7:15am in the Prayer Garden followed by breakfast at 7:45am in the fellowship hall. Easter service begins at 9am in the church auditorium. 

Martin Baptist Church invites everyone to Easter Service at 10am Sunday, March 31 with an Easter egg hunt immediately following.

This is a special time of year, for many reasons. For the outdoorsman and woman, fishing is on the verge of getting white-hot and it’s about time to start chasing gobblers.

There is one thing that more and more outdoor enthusiasts have taken an interest in over the past few years. Seed and feed stores will bear this out. Bird watching has grown into a sport that is attracting not only the Jane Hathaway types but good ole boys and girls as well. Birdseed, feeders and bird books are hot items today.

This is the time of year when a plethora of species make the unbelievable trek from South and Central America to move into our woods, some to nest and some to make brief stops on their way north. The best way to know just which wild bird species are paying you a visit is to get yourself prepared to view them. Here are a few essentials to make this sport more enjoyable.

BIRD FEEDERS – These come in a variety of shapes and styles. You can buy them, or you can make them yourself. My personal favorite is one I once constructed that was squirrel-proof. I nailed a 3-foot square of plywood on top of a length of old power pole that extends some five feet above the ground. Before securing the plywood, I slipped a length of sheet metal pipe, something like a stovepipe, over the pole, making it difficult for squirrels and raccoons to climb.

BIRDSEED – I use two types; a black oil sunflower and wild bird mix. Others use thistle for finches or suet for woodpeckers and nuthatches.  Be sure you replenish the supply regularly, especially after a rain since birdseed will spoil if left wet and unattended too long.

WATER – Birds, like humans, need water. A birdbath located somewhere in the yard will attract birds that come to water and bathe. A pump in the bath that circulates water will often attract warblers and other species that are not seed-eaters.

BINOCULARS – Leave a good pair of binoculars near your easy chair or wherever you can sit and watch what goes on around your feeder. Good viewing glasses makes bird identification so much simpler.

BIRD BOOKS – I have several and these are invaluable in helping me determine which species I’m viewing. I also keep a log of new sightings to help me build a list of birds I’ve identified.

Another type of bird will be here any day now, but you won’t find it feeding on sunflower seeds. It’s hummingbird time and they’re easy to attract. All you need to do is hang a couple of hummingbird feeders outside your window for a colorful aerial display.

Here are some facts about these tiny creatures you might find interesting.

• Hummingbirds wings beat about 55 times per second in normal flight, and up to 200 beats per second during courtship and territorial displays.
• Top speed for the hummingbird is about 60 miles per hour.
• During migration, hummingbirds may travel 500 miles non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico.
• Their nests are no bigger than a half dollar and their eggs the size of an English pea.

FEEDER TIPS

• Make your own hummingbird food by mixing one part granulated white sugar to four parts water; never substitute honey for sugar..
• Hang feeders in the open but shaded areas, especially under eaves next to hanging flower baskets.
• Clean your feeders every two to three days so the liquid does not ferment. Feeders should be cleaned with vinegar or bleach (not soap) and then rinsed with scalding water.
• Don’t worry about when to take your feeders down. Hummingbirds know when to leave. Late season feeding of northern migrants often occurs after your resident birds have already gone. They won’t stay behind and freeze.

While hummingbirds need nectar for energy, they also rely on insect protein for body and feather growth. When insect levels fall, the birds begin to leave.                   

Bird watching…it’s inexpensive, it’s rewarding and it’s fun. And I’m glad that even good ole boys can enjoy it.

C&K BBQ is celebrating their 10th anniversary by giving a 10% discount on all meat plates today. Run by for a great meal and tell them congratulations!!

Open Door Fellowship Church is currently seeking to fill the positions of Housekeeper (custodial services) and Nursery worker (Sunday mornings). Applications are available through the Church Office. Contact the church at (318) 932-6267 or odfnews@icloud.com.

If you were a Verizon wireless customer between 2016 and 2023, the company could owe you some money. But time is running out to apply. In order to get any money, which could be up to $100 each, you have to file a claim. The deadline to submit a claim or mail it is Monday, April 15, 2024. Those who are eligible, according to Verizon’s records, should receive a notice of the settlement by mail or e-mail.

The 44th Annual Battle of Pleasant Hill Re-enactment and Festival will take place April 12-14. The re-enactments and activities in the re-enactors camp will take place 3 miles north of Pleasant Hill at 23271 Hwy. 175. April 9 marks the 160th anniversary of the battle. Visit battleofpleasanthill.com for event schedule and more information.

Billy Sam Austin
July 15, 1938 – March 20, 2024
Service: Saturday, April 6 at 11am at Old Armistead Chapel

Red River High School baseball honored six seniors in a game against Jonesboro-Hodge Tuesday night. Bryce Hunt, Ethan Williamson, Chris Carper, Kenneth Lazarus, Jaxun Moore, and Tyler Hughes were recognized for their accomplishments.

The Bulldogs finished off the night with a decisive win over Joneboro-Hodge Tigers 11-0. Tyler Hughes pushed the Bulldogs out into the lead early in the first with a triple that scored two runs. Ethan Williamson hit an inside-the-park home run in the second, along with scoring runs from Hughes and Hunter Tingle. Five runs in the fourth sealed the win on this senior night.

From the mound, the Bulldogs were impeccable. Hughes began the night with zero hits and zero runs in the first inning. He struck out three and walked none. Jaxun Moore, Kenneth Lazarus, and Ethan Williamson continued the shutout innings.

The Bulldogs travel to Natchitoches Central on Wednesday to take on the #1 ranked Chiefs. JV starts at 4 p.m., and Varsity begins at 6 p.m.

Red River Cowboy Church, 7644 Hwy 1, will host “The Easter Story” on Thursday, March 28 and Friday, March 29 beginning at 7:30pm. Experience the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus through a drive-through Easter drama. 

First Methodist Church Coushatta will hold their annual egg hunt on Good Friday, March 29 beginning at 10:30am.  There will be the Easter story, an egg hunt for toddlers through 5^th grade, and a hot dog lunch.  All children in the community are welcome. The Easter Bunny will make an appearance!!

First Baptist Church of Coushatta will host a community wide Easter Egg Hunt on Friday, March 29 from 4-6pm. All activities will be located in the Children’s playground area. This FREE event will include: inflatables, face painting, Hotdogs, popcorn, Hot air balloon (weather permitting), and an Easter Egg hunt with prizes! This event is only for kids ages 0-6th grade. Bring your Easter baskets and be ready for fun!

Fairview Baptist Church will host a Good Friday Community Egg Hunt and Fish Fry on March 29. Egg hunt at 5pm and Dinner at 5:45pm. This is a FREE event for all families and individuals. There will be inflatables for the children and games for everyone to play!

Dark Woods Adventure Park in Natchitoches will host Happy Easter Hop Along event this weekend. Friday, March 29 from 2-5pm, Saturday, March 30 from 11am-5pm and Sunday, March 31 from 2-5pm. Also on Saturday from 11am-1pm you can bring your furry friends along to get a pic with the Easter Bunny. 

Open Door Fellowship invites everyone to join their Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30 from 1-3pm on the soccer fields. There will be food, games, candy pics with the Easter Bunny and many, many eggs to hunt. Don’t forget to bring your Easter basket.

On March 30, Coushatta Recreation Park we will be having the 2nd Annual Community Funday Egg Hunt from 3-6pm. There will be kickball, basketball, a bounce house for smaller kids and more. Everyone is invite and welcome. Come prepared for a good time because we are planning to have a good time. Dat Bigg Belly Dude and J Boy’s Cooking is sponsoring the event.

Easter Sunrise Service will be held at Abbie Lane Retreat, 7581 Hwy71, Sunday morning at 7am. Everyone is welcome. 

Bethel Baptist Church in Womack invites everyone to attend their Easter Sunday activities. Communion service will begin at 7:15am in the Prayer Garden followed by breakfast at 7:45am in the fellowship hall. Easter service begins at 9am in the church auditorium. 

Martin Baptist Church invites everyone to Easter Service at 10am Sunday, March 31 with an Easter egg hunt immediately following.

LDWF Agent Zachary Funderburk passed away from an off duty accident last week. He was born and raised in Bossier Parish. He served in the Region 1 Enforcement office and patrolled Red River Parish.

The Louisiana Wildlife Agents Association shared that he was an exemplary public servant and looked out for the citizens of Louisiana. He made a significant impact in his community. Our condolences go out to his family, friends, and coworkers. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

LDWF Secretary Madison Sheahan added “Myself and the entire staff at Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries are deeply saddened to hear about the tragic loss of LDWF Agent Zachary Funderburk. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and all who held him dear during this difficult time.”

Services will be held on Thursday, March 28 with a visitation beginning at 9am at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, followed by a memorial service at 11am.

By Doug De Graffenried

My first car was a 1971 Volkswagen Beetle.

With a strong tail wind, rolling down hill the top speed of the Beetle was about seventy-five. At the speed, the sewing machine doubling as an engine was whining. The other endearing feature of the Beetle was the ten gallons of gasoline in front of me. For those of you who have forgotten, or never knew, the gas tank was in the front, the engine in the rear. I put 175,000 miles on that car. It was such a simple vehicle. I think we would call it utilitarian.

My current vehicle is not so simple. First, my car nags me. Every 5,000 miles, the vehicle demands service. If you delay, the messages about service become more demanding. The car beeps at everything. When I pull into the carport, the car beeps at the poles holding the roof up. The car beeps at the fence that makes a natural barrier to the backyard. In the morning, the car beeps to tell me to check both ways before continuing to back up.

If I leave the settings in place the car beeps at me if I do not signal before changing lanes on the highway. The car has politically correct cruise control, which will slow down based on how close I am to the car in front. Thankfully, I can set it to old fashion “aggressive driver” cruise control.

I have already told you about the navigation system that went around the town square of Benton, Illinois three times at 10:00 p.m. a couple of weeks ago. I still have not figured out what happened there.

My car is a genius. It is a marvel of modern automotive technology.

The other day, I discovered that my genius car got a ticket in Gibsland. I have no idea who was driving the car. I received greetings from the Gibsland metroplex with a picture of the car, speeding away. Actually, I received greetings from the ticket vendor, and I want to know what percentage of the ticket the village actually collects, but I digress. So officially, my car received a ticket. But who was driving the car? We will never know! It was one of those traffic camera tickets. I know that the Gibsland authorities are not interested in vehicle speed or public safety, this is an income stream for the village. In Gibsland, the photo tickets are produced by a human being, who sits within one hundred feet of three different speed limit signs. Decorum keeps me from saying what is really in my heart. I can say it is bovine scatology.

I can’t figure out if I should ground my car or not. Should I take privileges away from my car? What is the punishment for my car? Since the ticket was issued to a vehicle, should the car pay for the ticket? And if the car is slow in paying for the ticket, what punishment comes to the car?

A car is responsible for a speeding violation. You know better, don’t you? It is like blaming your sin on an inanimate object. At our core we know, we are responsible. 

There is a solution to our sin problem. His name is Jesus.

Northwestern State University will host the 42^th annual Chris Roper Memorial Golf Tournament Saturday April 27 at Northwestern Hills with a kick-off party Friday, April 26. Proceeds from the tournament are used to fund two scholarships awarded each year to two deserving students who are enrolled in the Health & Human Performance Department.  

Tee time for the tournament will be at 8:30 a.m. Saturday with check-in beginning at 8 a.m.  The four-man scramble will include prizes for first, second and third place teams, closest to the hole, long drive and door prizes.  The entry fee is $300 per team or $75 per person, which includes cart, green fees, lunch and beverages. Sponsorships are available at the $500, $250 and $50 levels. Those unable to attend may consider a tee sponsorship which is $50. Tee signs are placed on different tee boxes around the course.  Lunch will be served after the awards.   

Friday’s kick-off party will be from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Antoon’s.  

Those who plan to arrive on Friday, April 29 and stay the weekend can make reservations at the Comfort Suites by calling (318) 228-8816. A special rate is available for the Chris Roper Golf Tournament.  Fifteen rooms have been set aside.   

Entry fees should be sent to Jill Bankston or Cristy Bernard, NSU Foundation, Natchitoches, LA 71497.  Checks can be made payable to the NSU Foundation Memo: Chris Roper.  For more information, contact Bernard at bernardc@nsula.edu or call (318) 357-4292.   

The tournament is held annually in memory of Chris Roper, a native of Camden, Arkansas, who was a senior and top golfer on the 1981 Demon Squad.  He was a member of the Trans-American All-Conference team, placing ninth in the league tournament.  He was killed in a traffic accident over Christmas break in 1982.  Over the years, the tournament has generated enough money to support two scholarships that provide $1,500 per semester for recipients.  

This week marks the official start to spring, and as warmer weather begins to settle in, the season brings with it an unwanted guest: allergies.

More than 25% of Americans – approximately 80 million people — suffer from seasonal allergies, which can range from a mild nuisance to a near-debilitating issue, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Jean Ancelet, a family medicine physician with CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic in Shreveport, said spring is when the flora of the world wakes up and starts producing pollen.

“In the U.S., the most common plant allergens are grass, which is everywhere, and ragweed,” Ancelet said. “But also locally, oak pollen, red cedar pollen and pine pollen can cause symptoms in some people.”

Although cold and allergy symptoms are similar, Ancelet said there are ways to tell the difference.

“The most common allergy symptoms are runny nose (usually clear), stuffy nose, itchy, watery eyes, and a scratchy throat, often with a frequent, throat-clearing cough,” he said. “A cold is a viral infection that usually includes fever and pain, like a sore throat (not just slightly irritated) or body aches. A cold’s cough is also more aggressive and incessant than the simpler throat-clearing cough of seasonal allergies.”

Ancelet said allergy symptoms can last as long as exposure to the allergen is ongoing.

“For example, for an allergy to a pet, such as a cat or a dog, once you are no longer around that animal the symptoms begin to abate,” he said. “For a pollen allergy though, the symptoms will continue throughout that plant’s pollenating season.”

Taking an antihistamine early in allergy season before symptoms start, using an air purifier at home, avoiding outdoor activities in the morning where pollen counts are highest and tracking your local pollen counts are all ways to prepare for the allergy season.

“There are many safe over-the-counter antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays that a person can use to minimize allergy symptoms,” Ancelet said. “If allergies are seasonal (usually pollen-based), taking antihistamines or using steroid nasal sprays daily for the duration of the pollenating season can help to minimize these symptoms. Saline nasal rinse kits can also be very helpful.”

It is very common for a person to develop a sinus infection on top of dealing with allergies and those infections usually require prescription medications.

“If your symptoms cannot be controlled to a tolerable level with over-the-counter medications, you should see your primary care physician for additional care options,” he said. “If your symptoms include fever, aches or cough, you may need to be evaluated for more than just allergies.”

In general, Ancelet said allergies are more uncomfortable than they are damaging.

“But the effects on quality of life, including the disruption of sleep (if you can’t breathe well through your nose) or the missed days of work or school because of generally feeling poorly, are nothing to ignore,” he said. “There are treatments to make it through this season with less of these disruptions.”

Red River 4-H needs help collecting items for their blessing bags. Red River students will assemble the bags during achievement day as part of their state service, homelessness and hunger. Items can be brought to the school club leaders or the 4-H office during the month of April. 

Items needed:
Personal care: wipes, comb/brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, Germ X, Chapstick, deodorant, socks
Protein: meat pouches, canned meat, beef sticks, protein bars
Snacks: granola bars, peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers

For today, a step away from sports and a step into Easter for a look at a trio who witnessed that first Easter weekend …

Simon of Cyrene could not have known when he woke up that first Good Friday that his life would, in mid-morning, change forever. After all, he was just passing through. By divine circumstance, his path crossed the path of the beaten and bleeding Savior.

A scared and timid step forward, a shove, and Simon was in an unwanted spotlight, “compelled” by a soldier’s whip and order into a moment that would capture his life in God’s Word for eternity. 
 
But it would also capture his heart.
 
He was told to help carry the condemned man’s cross.

Few people run toward the cross. Most of us have to be compelled by the soldier of misfortune, suffering, disease, and any of a thousand pains and problems. Even then, we pick it up kicking and screaming.
 
But what if we could be like Simon. Surely . . . after looking into Jesus’ eyes that day, after seeing up close his shredded back, His crown of thorns, surely . . . Simon knew that, in comparison, the yoke was easy. Jesus always does the hard part.
 
How could Simon look at that and not be changed forever?
 
That Friday evening, while Simon and so many others tried to process the events of the day, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in strips of linen “in accordance with Jewish burial customs,” John writes in his gospel record. They did it secretly for fear of the Jewish leaders. But, with Pilate’s permission, they did it.

These two Jews — well, Pilate too — knew there was something about Jesus. Something…

As tombs go, the new one where they placed the body of Jesus after the crucifixion wasn’t used for very long.

On the third day, a day we celebrate as Easter, Jesus rose, by the power of God.

That’s the kind of power that’s available to us. Wonder-working power, is how the old hymn puts it. 

Our actions say so much about the human condition when we consider how we fret over things that God wishes we wouldn’t. We have his power available to us, and we so often ignore it. 

The tomb, the scriptures say, was close to Golgotha, a Latin word meaning “the skull.” But in the shadow of death there on that hill was eternal life. On Easter, God raised his son.

An empty tomb represents what God accomplished in the fullness of time. The empty tomb represents what God offers through his son: grace and life, protection, provision, and peace.

In the emptiness is a fullness only God can offer, grant, and sustain. Forever.

Joseph and Nicodemus must have been among the first to have heard the news of the empty tomb. More than curiosity must have pulled them to the place where they’d placed the dead man. But they’d found only linens. No body. “We knew,” they must have thought, “that something was different.” They just didn’t know how different. 

A whole new way of dying. And a whole new way of living. 

 Then in the days and weeks after, as news of the Resurrection spread and reached Simon, I imagine his horror of that day turned into an overwhelming feeling of honor. I imagine him on his knees and, through tears, gazing toward Heaven, arms extended, awed, overcome. I imagine his arms around his sons, his grateful whisper in their ears: “I walked with that Man . . ..”
 
Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

Victorious Life Ministries (Joey Miller Pastor) will have a one night Prayer service tonight (March 27) at 6:30pm at 1635 Ringgold Ave. Special guest will be Restoration Apostolic Ministries of Natchitoches. 

Abundant Life Worship Center invites everyone to come listen their special guest speaker on March 27 at 7pm. The Virtual Minister will deliver a word regarding the upcoming total eclipse taking place on April 8.

Red River Community Outreach will host a Masquerade Ball Night on Saturday, March 30 at the Coushatta Event Center. Doors open at 8pm. For more information and tickets contact Johnny Taylor 318.332.9940 or Lessonna Clark 318.663.1202.

Red River Research Station Spring tomato sales has begun. It will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays from 7:30am until sell out. The sale will take place weekly through Mid-July. 5 pound boat is $12. 

Red River Elementary will host a Mother and Son Masquerade on Friday, April 26. More details coming soon.

Billy Sam Austin
July 15, 1938 – March 20, 2024
Service: Saturday, April 6 at 11am at Old Armistead Chapel

When people think of professional athletes, they usually think of football, basketball, or baseball. However, here in Coushatta, we have a professional athlete who travels the world and performs daring stunts in airplanes.

Kevin Coleman is an extraordinary athlete who defies gravity and other laws of physics on the Red Bull Aerobatic Team. For more than three years, Coleman has been flying for Red Bull. He joined the team in air racing days as the youngest flier. Today, he is an integral member of this elite team.

One look at the webpage for Red Bull reveals the mission of the team. To push the limits of human flight.
Continually rethink what is possible and envision a world where all people live with boldness.
Strive to bring that to reality.

For several days in March, the North American Aviation Aerobatic team practiced at the Red River Parish Airport. The daring athletes’ precision flying and aerobatic skills entertained residents peering up in the skies.

The show over Red River was just a glimpse of what is to come for international air shows where these athletes will perform. Ten airshows are scheduled for this season; surprises await those lucky enough to witness them.

The RRHS girl track team won 3rd place in the Many Raising Canes invitational on Friday. 

Aniyah Jones
3rd place in long jump
1st place in 200m dash
1st place in 4x400m relay
2nd place in 4x200m relay

Ahmauriyeh Demease
3rd in the 100m dash
2nd in 4x200m relay

Isis Anderson
3rd place 400m dash

Kaleah Crawford
1st place in the 400m dash
1st place in the 4x400m relay
2nd place in the 4x200m relay

Morgan Housley
1st place 4x400m relay

Malia Allen
1st place 4x400m relay
2nd place 4x200m relay

RRJH track participated in the Logansport track meet last week. The boys took home 2nd place overall and the girls won 3rd place overall. 

Girls:
Long jump (2nd place) Addilyn Steinart
4×200 (2nd place) Ajournee Nelson, Neveah Johnson, Addilyn Steinert, Jada Gary.
200m (3rd place) Addilyn Steinert
100m (1st place) Neveah Johnson
4×100 (1st place) Addilyn Steinert, Neveah Johnson, Ajournee Nelson, Masiyah Jackson
400m (1st place) Jada Gary
4×400 (1st place) Jada Gary, Ajournee Nelson, Ava Dickey, Makayia Newton

Boys:
Long Jump (2nd place) Joey Miller
4×200 (1st place) Kameron Martin, Lathyn Lewis, Gamichael Black, Ethan Cole
1 mile (2nd place) Landyn Lewis (3rd place) Logan Mims
100m (1st place) Lathyn Lewis
800m (1st place) Landyn Lewis
4×100 (1st place) Didell Robinson, Lathyn Lewis, Gamichael Black, Joey Miller
400m (2nd place) Noah Adams
200m (2nd place) Lathyn Lewis
2400m (2nd place) Landyn Lewis (3rd place) Logan Mims
4×400 (1st place) Ethan Cole, Gamichael Black, Landyn Lewis, Noah Adams

Red River Cowboy Church, 7644 Hwy 1, will host “The Easter Story” on Thursday, March 28 and Friday, March 29 beginning at 7:30pm. Experience the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus through a drive-through Easter drama. 

First Methodist Church Coushatta will hold their annual egg hunt on Good Friday, March 29 beginning at 10:30am.  There will be the Easter story, an egg hunt for toddlers through 5^th grade, and a hot dog lunch.  All children in the community are welcome. The Easter Bunny will make an appearance!!

First Baptist Church of Coushatta will host a community wide Easter Egg Hunt on Friday, March 29 from 4-6pm. All activities will be located in the Children’s playground area. This FREE event will include: inflatables, face painting, Hotdogs, popcorn, Hot air balloon (weather permitting), and an Easter Egg hunt with prizes! This event is only for kids ages 0-6th grade. Bring your Easter baskets and be ready for fun!

Fairview Baptist Church will host a Good Friday Community Egg Hunt and Fish Fry on March 29. Egg hunt at 5pm and Dinner at 5:45pm. This is a FREE event for all families and individuals. There will be inflatables for the children and games for everyone to play!

Open Door Fellowship invites everyone to join their Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30 from 1-3pm on the soccer fields. There will be food, games, candy pics with the Easter Bunny and many, many eggs to hunt. Don’t forget to bring your Easter basket.

On March 30, Coushatta Recreation Park we will be having the 2nd Annual Community Funday Egg Hunt from 3-6pm. There will be kickball, basketball, a bounce house for smaller kids and more. Everyone is invite and welcome. Come prepared for a good time because we are planning to have a good time. Dat Bigg Belly Dude and J Boy’s Cooking is sponsoring the event.

Dr. David Jeffreys has been named acting president of Louisiana Christian University by the
Board of Trustees, following the March 8 retirement announcement of Dr. Rick Brewer,
LCU’s ninth president.

“Prior to this assignment, he served in an executive leadership role at the university,
gaining substantial knowledge about its operations and objectives,” said Board of Trustees
Chair Anthony Bunting. “On behalf of the board, we would like to congratulate Dr. Jeffreys
on his appointment and look forward to his leadership in continuing the vision and mission
of the university.” 

Jeffreys has served as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the
university under Brewer since January 2022.

“I know Louisiana Christian University is in faithful and capable hands as David Jeffreys
steps into the role of interim president,” Brewer said. “For the past two years, he has been
an invaluable asset with resource development, facilities management, denominational
relations, strategic planning and special projects.”
 
Brewer also worked with Jeffreys during his six-year tenure on the Board of Trustees
Jeffreys holds a Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts, both in Christian Education, from
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a bachelor’s degree in Business
Administration from Louisiana Christian University.
Prior to LCU, Jeffreys served as associate pastor of Highland Baptist Church and Highland
Baptist Christian School in New Iberia for 20 years.

“I am humbled by the board's appointment to serve in this capacity,” Jeffreys said. “I pray
for God’s leadership during this transition as the board seeks the next president of LCU. 
Our faculty and staff are second to none, and I am honored to serve such a dedicated group
of women and men who are committed to our purpose and mission.  I also want to thank
Dr. Rick Brewer for inviting me to be a part of an institution that I have called home since
my freshman year in 1988.”

He has served the national and state Baptist conventions in a variety of positions, including
membership on the Southern Baptist Convention Committee on Nominations (2010) and
the Louisiana Christian University Board of Trustees (2014- 2020), serving as trustee
chairman in 2020 and the first vice president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention is 2021.
He was the director of the NOBTS Southwest Louisiana Extension Center (2015-2019) and
a NOBTS adjunct faculty member (2002-2019).

Jeffreys has also been active on various committees with the Evangeline Baptist Association
from 2006-2021 and held leadership positions with the Pike County (Mississippi) Baptist
Association from 1995-2002.

Before his call to Highland Baptist Church in 2002, he served as minister of education and
youth at First Baptist Church in Magnolia, Mississippi from 1995-2002; minister of youth at
Old Zion Hill Baptist Church in Albany from 1992-1995; and minister of youth at First
Baptist Church in Pitkin from 1990-1991. He also served as youth activities intern with the
First Baptist Church in Pineville from 1989-1990 and was a staff counselor with the Dry
Creek Baptist Camp in 1989.

He and his wife Stephanie have been married for 31 years.

Brewer is transitioning to a new career as Head of School for Masters Academy Vero Beach,
Florida April 15. He retired from higher education administration after 37 years of service.