By Chloe Spradley

In a remarkable display of team effort and skill, the Riverdale Rebels triumphed over Trinity Christian last Friday night during the highly-anticipated homecoming game. Their relentless offense and impenetrable defense crushed any hopes their opponents held, leading to a final score of 38-6 in favor of the home team.

Star quarterback Ryder Huddleston was 4 for 5 with a total of 52 passing yards, two of those connecting with wide receiver, Ashton Almond, for 41 receiving yards resulting in one touchdown pass. Landen Barrett and Kaidyn Williams also had receiving yards for the Rebels. In rushing yards, however, Kyle Guillory holds the record for the night carrying the ball for a 43-yard touchdown. Landen Barrett also had 4 carries for a total of 15 yards resulting in a touchdown. Almond, Williams, Zane Givens, Caleb Dabbs, Jax Hearold, and Kane Dortlon also had carries. Receiving offensive MVP for the night was quarterback Ryder Huddleston.

Riverdale’s defense proved nothing short of impressive. Williams with 5 solo tackles and 4 assists; Tanner Carlisle with 5 solo tackles and 2 assists (1 TFL); and Almond with 4 solo tackles, 1 assist, and 1 sack (4 TFL) made it nearly impossible for their opponents to break through. Also playing a remarkable defensive game was 8th grader Jax Hearold, with 1 solo tackle, 3 assists, and 1 sack (1 TFL). John Windham with 1 solo tackle and 2 assists ( 1 TFL) and Hayden Hillman with 1 solo tackle (1 TFL) along with Dortlon and Dabbs also had defensive stops. The Rebels played a strong defensive game as they shut down play after play. Williams received defensive MVP for his outstanding efforts throughout the night.

On defense, Guillory had an interception which he ran back for a 37-yard touchdown; and on special teams, he had 4 punt returns, 178 yards, and 1 touchdown, establishing him as a force to be reckoned with and resulted in him receiving the game ball for the night.

Undoubtedly, the Rebels’ success would not have been possible without coaches Denver Williams, Nathan Edie, and Brennan Edie as well as the unwavering support of their dedicated fans. As they continue their relentless pursuit of that state title, their homecoming game will be remembered as a defining moment in their extraordinary journey. This week they will take on Tensas Academy in what is hopefully another resounding victory and one step closer to their goal.

Fairview Baptist Church invites everyone to their Trunk or Treat on Saturday, October 28 from 2-4pm. Decorated cars will hand out candy. There will also be some carnival games, popcorn and of course, a ton of fun.

Martin Baptist Church will host their Fall Festival on Saturday, October 28 from 5-7pm. There will be games, crafts, Hot dogs/Chili dogs, cake walk, bounce house and Trunk or Treating. 

First Baptist Church Coushatta will hold their Fall Festival on Tuesday, October 31 from 6-8pm. Doors open at 5pm. Free entry. Enjoy games, food and fellowship.

78th Birthday Honorarium/52nd Ministry Banquet honoring Pastor Jimmie T. Mitchell will be held Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 6pm at the Coushatta Event Center, 5093 Cut-Off Road. To purchase tickets contact Pastor Joey Miller 318.609.3932, Alicia Smith 318.470.3964 or Alice Everett 318.754.5634. Attire is semi-formal and colors are royal blue, silver and black.

Robert Earl Ward
November 12, 1939 — October 16, 2023
Service: Friday, October 20 at 11am at Rose Neath Funeral Homes – Mansfield

Cedric T Miller
May 31, 1973 — October 9, 2023
Service:: Saturday, October 21 at 11:00 at Deliverance Temple, Coushatta

Deborah Kay Rains
October 28, 1956 – October 4, 2023
Service: Monday, October 23 at 6pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel, Coushatta

Red River Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. Contact your funeral provider or RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com)

Proceeds will purchase the center’s first mobile services vehicle, expanding rural healthcare access in Louisiana

BOSSIER CITY, LA – October 13, 2023 – Southwestern Energy’s (NYSE: SWN) inaugural Haynesville Golf Classic raised over $100,000, with a portion of the funds supporting Christus Coushatta Healthcare Center’s first mobile van alongside the Children’s Miracle Network to increase patient transportation access and enhance community wellness.

A designated Critical Access Hospital, Christus Coushatta Healthcare Center (CHS) services approximately 35,000 patients in the Northwest Louisiana area, a majority of which live up to 50+ miles to the closest medical facility. The purchase of this non-emergency vehicle, complete with wheelchair accessibility, will support families in need of transportation to attend clinic appointments and help decrease hospitalizations.

“Christus Coushatta is excited and grateful to partner with SWN on this essential service need for our community. We often hear from our patients that miss appointments that they didn’t have a ride or any way to get to the hospital. With no public transportation in our parish, this creates a barrier to adequate healthcare in our rural community for our most vulnerable population,” said Brandon Hillman, Hospital Administrator, Christus Coushatta Healthcare.

CHS is a multi-specialty care facility that offers a wide range of healthcare services such as primary care, behavioral health, hematology & oncology, dental care, general surgery, emergency medicine, as well as OB/GYN, ENT and podiatry.

“Rural patients disproportionately miss important medical appointments due to limited or no means of public transportation. We felt this was an impactful way to increase healthcare access in these communities,” said Sean Burke, Southwestern Energy’s Haynesville Area Manager. “We’re one team with one focus at SWN, and that’s to create true economic and community value in the areas where we work in live. This is just one way of making good on that promise.”

“We are thankful for SWN’s presence in our community and their eagerness to give back. Christus Coushatta and the patients we serve will greatly benefit from the generosity of everyone who has given and SWN’s efforts to help better our community with the non-emergency van. We look forward to working together with SWN to help each other better serve our rural communities,” CHS’s Hillman continued.

34 teams, consisting of sponsors, community members and SWN vendor partners, participated in the Classic. Southwestern Energy would like to thank all Charity Classic sponsors, vendors and attendees for their support:

MEDIA CONTACTS

Brandon Hillman, (318) 461-0901

Christus Coushatta Healthcare Center

Tommy Clark, (346) 379-5599

Southwestern Energy

About Southwestern Energy

Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE: SWN) is a leading U.S. producer of natural gas and natural gas liquids focused on responsibly developing large-scale energy assets in the nation’s most prolific shale gas basins. SWN’s returns-driven strategy strives to create sustainable value for its stakeholders by leveraging its scale, financial strength and operational execution. For additional information, please visit www.swncrreport.com.

About Christus Coushatta Healthcare

CHRISTUS Health, past and present, has always been a leader, a partner and an advocate in the creation of innovative health and wellness solutions that improve the lives of individuals and communities. We are still fighting to rid the world of poverty and income inequality, caring for illness and chronic disease, and a myriad of challenges that threaten the welfare of women, children, the elderly and the underserved. There is so much work to be done which is why the history of our organization and the efforts of our sponsoring congregations is as relevant and important today as it ever was. Learn more at www.christushealth.org.

Mrs. Bumgardner’s 4th graders have been hard at work learning about plants. This month they were focused on seeds.

Students learned about the different types of seeds, where seeds come from, and even got to taste a few different types of roasted seeds. Then they went outside and got to work preparing their garden beds.

They cleaned out the beds, put fresh soil in, and planted their seeds in their fall garden! They are enjoying caring for their gardens and are anxiously awaiting the germination of their seeds!

Thank You 4-H Agent Jacque Fontenot and our own Ms. Alice Everett for guidance.

The Journal congratulates Michael Birdsong of Coushatta, winner of $100 in the American Bank High School Football Pickers Contest. A check is on the way to Michael. He got an A+ or 10 out of 10 correct.

Can you do the best job this week of predicting the outcomes of ten area high school football games played next weekend? The Journal is offering another $100 this week. The entry blank is online and many of your neighbors in Red River Parish have already entered. All you have to do is CLICK HERE to enter and win.

A new venue has arrived in Grand Cane. The Village Theater hails as “Grand Cane’s one stop shop for live and film events! Classic movies, live music, live theater!”

The theater is nestled inside the Central Christian Academy (1035 2nd Street) in the beautiful, historic auditorium. With over 350 seats, the theater is the perfect location to bring the community together in celebration of the arts. The Village Theater has partnered with Central Christian Academy to once again bring quality plays and musical performances to the area.

Grand Cane High School, incorporated in 1883, was the first accredited high school in the State of Louisiana. The school has had four different buildings, with the last one constructed in 1925. A significant feature of this historic building is a stage and large auditorium seating 300 and a balcony seating 60. The community and school enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship, with Grand Cane residents turning out for all school events. The stage entertained its audience with a long tradition of plays, recitations and musical performances. “The Windmills of Holland”, an operetta in two acts performed in 1914, is typical of what the school shared with the community.

An article in The Shreveport Times, dated May 28, 1967, stated, “After 82 years, the flags at Grand Cane School were hauled down for the last time and the oldest school in the state closed its doors forever. Children closed their books and the rooms stand silent.” This announcement of the school’s demise was premature.

In the summer of 1967, community residents organized the Central School Corporation as a private school, and in August 1967, the school opened with 26 students. The Corporation leased Grand Cane High School. Recently, the school changed its name to Central Christian Academy. Today students sit in the classrooms of the building constructed in 1925. The auditorium remains in mint condition, with wooden seats, hardwood flooring and vintage ceiling and lighting.

At the Village Theater, you’re invited to lose yourself in the mystery and magic of live theater. Throughout the year, there will be live-action plays that showcase drama, comedy, and tragedy. Live theater provides the perfect setting to see and experience stories from diverse and exciting perspectives. It can also help you transport yourself to a different world, connect with others in a shared experience, make unforgettable memories with friends and make you think or feel something new and exciting.

Move to the beat of the music. Attend a lively concert at the Village Theater. Spend a relaxing evening enjoying the sounds and feeling of live music at the Village Theater. You do not need an excuse to see excellent live music. But if you need a reason, the Village Theater recommends seeing live music to boost your mood and have fun, support local musicians in the area, bond with your partner or friends, and/or discover your new favorite genre.

Unleash your inner film buff. Join the Village Theater for a classic movie night. The best way to watch the classics is on the big screen. So gather your friends and family and head over to watch your favorite movie. It provides the perfect setting for you to laugh and cry alongside classic films like Casablanca and West Side Story.

Ownership is not only committed to honoring the arts, they are also dedicated to giving back to the students. All proceeds from concession sales go directly to Central Christian Academy.

You can check out the upcoming performances and purchase tickets at http://www.thevillagetheater.com. For more information, you can call 903.343.9917 or send a message on the website. Make sure you sign up for their newsletter for a shot at Free Tickets Friday.

Source: thevillagetheater.com

For you [Israel] are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” (Deuteronomy 7:6).

I have been quite taken aback by what I have seen this week. I think many of us have had difficulty processing it.

The massacre at the music festival alone is sufficiently chilling and gut-wrenching. It is estimated that a few thousand young people were observing the end of the Jewish holiday season at the Tribe of Nova music festival, which quickly became the location of the worst mass slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.

Some have reported seeing parachutes dropping from the sky while the parachutists were apparently filming the festival attendees on their phones. Truckloads of armed men soon arrived, and the killing began as the panicked crowd attempted to escape. “Those who tried to reach their cars to escape were slaughtered as the Hamas killers waited at the exits. In one festival tent, bodies of the murdered lay piled together where they’d been shot en masse, like the scenes of Jews shot and dumped into ditches in World War II.” (Wall Street Journal, Oct 10, 2023).

260 bodies have been found so far. This is to say nothing of the raping and killing that has occurred elsewhere.

This hatred for the Jews is eternal. Many of Israel’s Arab neighbors call for, in their nations’ founding charters, the literal annihilation of Israel. I’m not suggesting the Palestinian issue is not complicated, it is. I’m saying Israel is regularly attacked and when it responds—with Palestinian women and children intentionally and strategically placed to be killed during the response—Israel is accused of being a butcher.

While this murderous brutality is evil it has a clear strategic purpose. As the Wall Street Journal has stated:

“As this war escalates, it is important to understand that the savagery is essential to Hamas’s goals. Their wanton bloodlust is designed to work twice over. They murder, rape and mutilate Israelis, knowing that in its response Israel will wreak havoc on Palestinians. Israel, unlike its enemies, will do what it can to avoid punishing the innocent. But innocents will suffer, because Hamas has positioned them precisely for this purpose. The terrorists’ objective is truly indiscriminate destruction. For them a dead Jew is a bonus, but a dead Palestinian is a trophy they can parade before credulous Western media to convey some supposed moral equivalence between their depravity and the actions of a beleaguered nation seeking to preserve its very existence.” (G. Baker, WSJ, 10/o9/23).

Israel is a very small country (9.3 million) and is not going to be able to any longer risk danger from Hamas or other terror groups with Gaza and Palestine so close to it. Over the decades, the Palestinians have had many opportunities to make peace, through Yassar Arafat and others, but don’t really seek it. However, as Golda Meir has observed, “you cannot negotiate with someone who has come to kill you.”

I have heard calls for “peace in the Middle East” but what would that look like when your enemy despises—and wishes to end— your very existence. As Benjamin Netanyahu has said “if Israel’s enemies laid down their weapons, there would be no more war. If Israel laid down its weapons, there would be no more Israel. “

Why is this occurring now?

It’s really a mystery why Hamas would do what it did last Saturday. It must have known that sending terrorists to kill civilians would provoke complete and total destruction of the Gaza strip by Israel. Perhaps Iran—upon whose funding Hamas relies—promised Hamas it would hit Jerusalem with a nuke. Maybe Hamas thinks it can hide behind hostages or that forcing Israel into a 2 or 3 front war provides the best chance to destroy it. Whatever the case, I think it miscalculated because even the doddering, feckless Biden would likely be willing to blast Gaza with the U.S Navy, to say nothing of the American war supplies we are already providing to Israel.

I see no outcome in which Israel is annihilated or Gaza comes out as anything but a pile of rubble—a parking lot. Israel can simply no longer risk not having total control of this physical buffer zone area around its nation. In the meantime, it needs our prayers.

Royal Alexander

Who is up for a great meal? Do you have recipes that need to be shared? The Journal is considering offering space for recipes. What do you think about a weekly exchange of some mouthwatering confections or entrees? Original recipes along with pictures of the finished dish can be sent to redriverparishjournal@gmail.com

By Doug De Graffenried

For a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon my fate hung in the balance.

Rolo and Chester are the canine occupants of the house. I rescued Chester at the Gibsland exit, moments after he’d been dumped at the exit. He was still cowering beside the road. He has been with us since January. He is just now becoming comfortable with his surroundings. He’s 80% Pit Bull and 20% Boxer. Yes, he’s had the DNA test done. He has this funny boxer mouth that looks like he’s judging you all the time. He’s learned that he’s safe in our home.

Rolo is the offspring of a Pit Bull that I rescued after she was dumped at the same exit. It took me nearly a month to catch the dog we named Maggie. I worked so hard to catch her because I knew she was pregnant. She had nine puppies. Rolo was one of those nine puppies. He had a tough start. Maggie stepped on his head on his first day. We fed him with an eyedropper for the first couple of weeks of his life. He was the runt of the litter. The runt now weighs 80 pounds! Rolo’s DNA indicates he is ½ Beagle and ½ Pit Bull. The two dogs are inseparable.

Now back to my fate hanging in the balance.

I went out on Saturday to move a sprinkler. Since God will not water my yard, I am taking care of it. We have an old house, so I have old fashioned screen doors. I enjoy opening the doors and letting the breeze blow through the screen doors. Sunday, I was allowing the breeze to blow through the screen doors. On Saturday, I had not latched the front screen door.

The dogs escaped out of the front door. They did it twice in a row. The first time they came immediately to the backyard gate and barked for me to let them in. I gladly let them in. I proceeded to inspect the fence. I suspected those two dug under the fence some place. The inspection yielded no results. Then I remembered the trip outside on Saturday to water the front yard. Yes, I had not latched the screen door. Yes, the dogs were gone again.

I knew that if anything happened to Rolo, I was dead man walking. I would not recover from the guilt of allowing the favored dog to escape. Everything I had ever done wrong, paled in comparison to this dog getting out and not coming back. We got in two cars and began searching the metroplex of Gibsland. We drove all over town and nothing. I saw places in Gibsland that I didn’t know existed. I found an apartment complex and a cool shed that had been remodeled into a home.

No dogs!

My guilt and dread were increasing.

The good news is that we found them very close to home. They were together and exhausted. We got them home, fed them, and they slept soundly until Monday morning.

The dogs didn’t know they should not run off. The dogs didn’t know they were in danger. The dogs didn’t know that we were driving all around town looking for them. The dogs didn’t know that prayers were going heavenward on their behalf. The dogs didn’t know we dropped everything to find them. They didn’t know!

Isaiah reminds us, “All we like sheep have gone astray.” We are like sheep. We didn’t know we were lost until we were found.

Sunday reminded me that the Good Shepherd looked for me, until He found me. I thank God that His love was seeking me when I didn’t know!

You know?

Northwestern State’s football game against Southeastern has been moved to Thursday night at Turpin Stadium.

The decision to move the game came after Northwestern State learned the wake and funeral services for Ronnie Caldwell will be held Friday and Saturday in Austin, Texas. By moving the game, NSU players and staff will be able to attend the services.

Caldwell, a junior safety, died following an incident at an off-campus apartment complex early Thursday morning.

The Demons and Lions will kick off at 7 p.m., and the game still will air on ESPN+. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. instead of the typical two hours ahead of kickoff.

For ticket information or questions, contact the Northwestern State Athletics Ticket Office at 318-357-4268.

The decision to move the football game to Thursday also altered Northwestern State’s volleyball schedule.

Northwestern State will host New Orleans on Thursday with that match being moved to a 2 p.m. first serve inside Prather Coliseum.

As Louisiana celebrates Creole Heritage Month throughout October, a Northwestern State University alumna is using her love of food, cooking, education and genealogy to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds.

Chef Sheri L. Raleigh is a chef, instructor, cookbook author and owner of Cast Iron Skillet Culinaire in Waco, Texas, a culinary edutainment service that provides leisure cooking classes and team building activities for small groups and businesses.  While specializing in Creole cuisine, she has cross-cultural experience teaching community cooking classes for educational, healthcare and hospitality organizations.

“I believe that food tells beautiful, soulful stories,” Raleigh said. “When my students are in the kitchen together, the cultural biases fall away, and they don’t worry about socio-economic status. They embrace one another around a shared table.”

Raleigh is a 1982 graduate of NSU where she earned a degree in home economics/dietetics and institutional management.  She earned a master’s degree in human relations and business from Amberton University in Garland, Texas.  She began her career in healthcare, then moved into public education, working in school nutrition for 18 years, before pivoting to teach culinary arts in 2004. She also had a part-time job with H-E-B Grocery, Cooking Connections, and began collaborating with another H-E-B chef in hosting private chef events, which led her to establish Cast Iron Skillet Culinaire in 2012.

“This has been an exciting addition to my culinary journey. Two years ago, Waco Family Medicine approached me about establishing a culinary road show to assist with bringing employees together as a way to create a safe environment as they implemented major changes in the organization. In the beginning, it was met with skepticism, but as I gained their trust, they found out they really enjoyed the classes and wanted to know more about eating healthy. WFM has mobile kitchen that is taken to various sites. Cooking together removes barriers and opens up new lines of communication between the staff and clinicians.”

Raleigh’s interest in genealogy, a continuation of research begun by her cousin, piqued her interest in how food is an important element of family and regional history.  

“The most important things to me are my faith, family, friends and food, of course! As I began to continue the family genealogy started by my cousin Theresa Amentor Rector, we began talking about food our aunts used to cook in Lake Charles. She suggested that I integrate the recipes into the genealogy.”

Raleigh grew up in Lake Charles, with parents from Loreauville and St. Martinville.  Her research in culinary arts began with the history of Acadiana, going back to American Indians, the arrival of the Acadians, the Spanish and the Africans. Creole cooking has deep roots in West African cooking brought to the Caribbean and the Americas with the African diaspora. Similarities not only persist in the food, but often in language and other traditions. Creole heritage is international, she said, and Creole cuisine, like African cuisine, is about building and layering flavors.  

In 2021, Raleigh developed “Gifts from the Ancestors,” an African foodways project that explores how West African foodways influenced Creole cuisine and along the way inspired two cookbooks.  

“In February 2021, I was a part of the Southern Foodways Alliance Writers Cohort. After reviewing my cookbook proposal, one of the editors said he liked my stories, but felt my approach was too historical. He suggested that I explore two approaches to improving my proposal. One was to look at it geographically, by parishes. The second was to look at the ingredients and how they impacted the Southwest Louisiana foodways.  I really loved the second one, so I revised the outline to reflect the ingredients that were in my stories.”

“Gifts from the Ancestors, Vol. One, Okra and Tomatoes,” is followed by “Gifts from the Ancestors, Vol. Two, Creole Celebrations.” Both are available in digital format at http://www.giftsfromtheancestors.com.  She plans to have 500 printed copies of each by the end of January 2024. The cookbooks can also be accessed at http://www.giftsfromtheancestors.com.

Raleigh’s cooking blog can be accessed at https://www.castironskilletculinaire.com/

NortheastTel, a leader in rural broadband in Northeast Louisiana, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire CP-TEL Holdings, Inc. of Natchitoches, a leading broadband provider in Northwest Louisiana.  

Mike George, President and CEO of NortheastTel said, “The acquisition of CP-TEL is a significant event for NortheastTel.  CP-TEL’s leadership has built a strong company, focusing on enhancing broadband and other advanced telecommunications services throughout Northwestern Louisiana. Together with our management team, we are confident that we can continue to further these objectives.”

Becky Scott, President of Epic Touch Co.(parent company of CP-TEL), stated, “We are excited that CP-TEL is being acquired by another rural telecommunications company with a long history of doing business in Louisiana.  Like Epic Touch, NortheastTel is a family-owned company that embodies the same commitment to taking care of its employees, customers, and the communities where we live and work.”

Under the agreement, NortheastTel will retain existing CP-TEL management, including Tom Edens, General Manager.  Northeast is committed to continuing to grow CP-TEL and does not foresee  changes in employee count following the acquisition.  

The acquisition will be a stock transaction in which NortheastTel will acquire 100% of CP-TEL’s shares.  The parties expect the transaction to be completed during 1Q 2024 subject to regulatory approval and other conditions set forth in the definitive agreement.

About NortheastTel

NortheastTel, headquartered in Collinston, LA is a full-service telephone and broadband services provider in rural northeastern Louisiana. The history of the current ownership of the company began in 1946 with the purchase of the Collinston Telephone Company. In 1953 the company was reorganized as Northeast Louisiana Telephone Company and has evolved over the years to where it is today.  NortheastTel is a locally owned company offering customers world-class advanced telecommunications services utilizing a state-of-the-art fiber optic network and electronics.

About CP-TEL

Founded in 1933, CP-TEL has grown from a small independent telephone company providing service to the communities of Pleasant Hill, Campti, Pelican and Creston to a progressive telecommunications company delivering broadband and other communications services over state-of-the-art facilities.  

CP-TEL has continued to grow their business by investing in Natchitoches, Sabine, DeSoto and Red River Parishes by expanding and upgrading their fiber-optic network and associated electronics throughout these areas. These investments have enabled CP-TEL to be able to offer customers fiber-optic connectivity with internet speeds up to 1G with no data sharing or throttling.

For Immediate Release
October 11, 2022

BREW: SHREVEPORT’S ORIGINAL BEER FESTIVAL RETURNS OCTOBER 28, 2023

Shreveport, LA – The Red River Revel and Mudbug Madness invite you to “Revel in the Madness” (Ostendo Sum in Insania) at BREW: Shreveport’s Original Beer Festival on Saturday, October 28, 2023 from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm at the lower pavilion of Festival Plaza in downtown Shreveport, Louisiana! Experience an afternoon sampling internationally acclaimed and domestically brewed ales, pilsners, stouts, and everything in between at the 14th annual event. In addition to more than 100 beers to sample, BREW patrons will experience live music by the Josh Love Band, college football games on big-screen TVs, a chance to win raffle items, and samples of signature dishes from some of Shreveport’s most popular restaurants and eateries.

The annual event attracts over 800 beer enthusiasts and socialites to Festival Plaza for an afternoon of beer, food, music, and fun. The 2023 event will feature International, domestic, craft, and home brewed beers. Guests will vote on their favorite home brewed beers and the winner will be crowned the “Best of BREW 2023”.

Local restaurants and eateries will have sample bites of signature dishes for guests to enjoy. This year’s culinary participants include Dripp Donuts, Dripp Hot Chicken, Big Nate’s BBQ, Newk’s Eatery, We Olive and Wine Bar, Kajun Korner, Texas Roadhouse, Hooter’s, Hippies and Cowboys, and Mi Meza Latin Cuisine.
“BREW is co-produced by Mudbug Madness and Red River Revel, the two premier festivals in North Louisiana. By supporting BREW, you are supporting the mission of these two great festivals in our community,” said Terri Matthews, Executive Director of Downtown Shreveport Unlimited. “You can’t go wrong with over 100 craft and homebrewed beers to taste, foo from local restaurants, music and college football on big screen TVs.”

“BREW is a staple event in our community and is organized by two major festivals held in downtown Shreveport. We are anticipating an excellent social event filled with unique and staple beer, a great live band, wonderful food samples, and a variety of college football games on TV. It’s not hard to have a great deal of anticipation for a fall beer festival” said Logan Lewis, Executive Director of the Red River Revel.
Individual BREW tickets are $65.00 and a table of 10 (which includes early admission) is $850.00. Tickets can be purchased at https://shreveportbrew.com.

Proceeds from BREW support the Red River Revel and Mudbug Madness.

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ABOUT THE RED RIVER REVEL
Red River Revel is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the region around Shreveport, Louisiana with cultural programming in the areas of “Art, Music, Food.” Program events include Shreveport Farmers’ Market, CORK: A Red River Revel Wine Event, Shreveport BREW, and the Red River Revel Arts Festival. Created in 1976, the Red River Revel is a 9-day annual arts festival bringing together visual, musical, and performing artists, along with the regional community for a celebration of the arts. The Red River Revel is a community partner with local nonprofits, over 20 of which serve food and raise funds using the unique blend of culturally inspired flavors of the area and beyond. Each year during the festival, thousands of area 4th grade students spend the school day at the Red River Revel learning about and participating in arts education programs. Local, regional, and national musical acts perform on two stages in Shreveport’s Festival Plaza during the event. Approximately 100,000 visitors from all over the country visit the Red River Revel Arts Festival each year. This “Celebration of the Arts” encompasses quality in visual and performing arts, seminars, workshops, children’s arts education, and a variety of creative experiences. In addition to the festival, the organization manages the 13-week Shreveport Farmers’ Market, held weekly on Saturdays during the Summer. The Red River Revel also produces CORK: A Red River Revel Wine Event, an annual celebration of wine and food, which serves as a fundraising event held at Festival Plaza each Spring. Finally, the Red River Revel partners with Downtown Shreveport Unlimited (organizer of Mudbug Madness) to host Shreveport BREW, a beer and food celebration and fundraising event held at Festival Plaza each Fall. For more information, visit https://redriverrevel.com or follow the Revel on Facebook and Instagram at @RedRiverRevel.

ABOUT MUDBUG MADNESS
Organized in 1959, it has a broad-based 15-member board and has one full-time staff member: Executive Director, Terri Matthews. Mudbug Madness Festival’s primary function is to improve the quality of life in the Central Business District by producing and promoting downtown festivals, projects and events. Current funding for Mudbug Madness initiatives is derived from the Mudbug Madness Festival, BREW and a yearly Christmas ornament sale.

The second happiest moment for me as a hunter occurred when I went to the photo shop and picked up pictures of my buck of a lifetime. My happiest moment, obviously, was when I walked up and found that huge 8 point lying at my feet; the photos were just icing on the cake.

During the years since that fortunate occurrence, memories of the actual event have become faded and frayed. The photos, though, are still there, sharp as ever. My grandkids are somewhat interested when I tell about that buck. Their eyes light up, though, when I whip out the photos. This is why it is ever so important that good quality photographs are taken so such memories can be preserved right there in living color.

I have the good fortune of getting to write stories of big bucks taken in Louisiana each season for Louisiana Sportsman magazine and web site. I frequently receive photos of someone’s trophy, hunters who are obviously proud of their accomplishment but sadly, they didn’t take enough time to shoot quality photos. I’m unable to use some of the most poorly composed shots because they’re….well….just plain awful. The rack and body of the deer may be impressive but other elements of the photo don’t measure up.

With this in mind, I contacted friend and expert wildlife photographer from Tuskegee, AL, Tes Randle Jolly whose photos frequently find their way to magazine covers and full page spreads in some of the country’s most popular outdoor magazines. I asked Jolly for some tips to help the average hunter get the most memorable photos of their trophy.

“First, try and take a photo as soon as possible after harvest so you can capture the hunter’s excitement. You may have to move the deer to a more favorable spot to get the best possible photograph,” Jolly said.

“If there is a little rise in the land, put the deer and hunter on the rise so the photographer can be a little lower. This way you may be able to capture some blue sky behind them.

“Before doing that,” she added, “be respectful of the animal and clean it up. I keep paper towels in my pack to wipe the deer’s face, removing blood and debris. If blood has dried, I carry a spray bottle of window cleaner to soften dried blood and making it easier to wipe away.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to stop blood from oozing from the nostrils so I tear off a piece of paper towel to plug each nostril. Tuck the tongue back into the mouth.

“If the deer’s side is bloody, I also clean it, sometimes in a pinch using dried leaves. The main thing,” she added, “is to show respect for the animal you have just taken.”

I’ve seen photos of big trophy bucks hanging from the meat pole and sometimes over a gut bucket. I’ve seen photos of bucks in the back of a pick-up with beverage cans, sacks of corn or other assorted stuff cluttering the photo. Jolly says it is important to set up the photo for the most pleasing presentation.

“Prop the deer up on its chest and tuck the front legs under at the elbows. Have the hunter kneel or sit behind the animal holding the antlers but be sure you check the background before composing the shot, complying with your state’s hunter orange regulations with the hunter wearing his vest,” Jolly added.

While Jolly goes afield with thousands of dollars worth of photo equipment, she says that there are many point and shoot cameras available costing under $200 and good quality cell phones that work quite well.

Follow these recommendations from a professional nature/wildlife photographer to enable your photos to not only pop but those that lend dignity to the animal you photograph.

Northwestern State University recently installed a marker for Isabella, the university’s resident ghost. The marker is located on Normal Hill, the oldest part of the campus, near the three columns that were once part of the Bullard mansion.  

The marker was paid for by a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, which awards grants for Legends and Lore roadside markers.  

Isabella is a beloved fixture at Northwestern and bridges the early history of the campus, when it was the site of the Academy of the Sacred Heart, to the modern day.  Origin stories vary, but legend has it that Isabella has inhabited the campus since the Civil War era.  

Prior to NSU’s establishment as the Louisiana State Normal School in 1884, the site of the campus was home to the Bullard family and a mansion the family completed in 1832.  In 1850, the property was acquired by Bishop Auguste Martin who ceded the buildings and acreage to the Academy of the Sacred Heart for an expanded school and convent.  The Academy operated for several years until declining enrollment in post-Civil War years forced its closure in 1875.  

Isabella, according to legend, has occupied the campus’s oldest buildings since the days of the Sacred Heart Academy, moving locations as buildings burned or were torn down.  When Caldwell Hall burned in 1982, more than 750 students gathered on Halloween night and performed a ceremony to aid Isabella in her transition to the Old Women’s Gymnasium, now home to the National Center of Preservation Technology and Training.  But some sightings have been reported around Varnado Hall and the three columns on Normal Hill that are all that remain of the Bullard mansion.  

NSU students will celebrate Halloweek beginning Monday, Oct. 23 with a series of events, including “Chasing Isabella” and the Myths and Legends event beginning at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24 where they can learn more about Isabella and additional NSU lore.   

On Oct. 31, 2019, NSU’s Student Government unveiled a portrait of Isabella painted by Camilo Mantilla, then a graduate student, that hangs in the Sylvan Friedman Student union. She is viewed by the NSU family as a spirit who watches, welcomes and helps preserve Northwestern’s rich history.   

Contact:
Linnea Allen
Office: 318-626-4268
Cell: 318-294-6262
linnea.allen@ochsnerlsuhs.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2023

Ochsner LSU Health hosts free event for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

SHREVEPORT, La. – Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport will host its annual VIPink event on Saturday, October 21. This lunch and learn, which is free and open to the public, aims to educate women on the risks of breast cancer, treatment options and the importance of early screenings and annual mammograms. The event will be held at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – St. Mary Medical Community Center at 911 Margaret Place, Shreveport, LA 71101.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 4,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in Louisiana this year. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, and there is a one in eight chance that a woman will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. The key to accurate diagnosis and effective treatment is regular screenings, including annual mammograms for women over the age of 40.

At VIPink, Dr. Nayanatara Swamy will speak about breast cancer, prevention options and updates on the latest treatments. Dr. Swamy is a radiologist practicing at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – St. Mary Medical Center and specializes in breast imaging. Her medical interests include increasing awareness and improving access to mammography and breast imaging, as well as resident and medical student education. In addition to guest speaker Dr. Swamy, several community organizations will be at the event to offer resources, door prizes and goody bags for guests.

VIPink Lunch & Learn
Saturday, October 21 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport – St. Mary Medical Center Community Center
Women’s and Children’s Entrance, 911 Margaret Place, Shreveport, LA 71101

Registration and lunch served at 11 a.m. Program begins at 11:30 a.m.

To register for VIPink, visit this link or email Bonnie Hughes at bonnie.hughes@ochsnerlsuhs.edu. To schedule a mammogram at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, call 318-626-1540 or visit ochsnerlsuhs.org/mammogram to learn more.

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ABOUT OCHSNER LSU HEALTH

The Ochsner LSU Health System of North Louisiana (Ochsner LSU Health) is a partnership between Ochsner Health, the largest health system in the state of Louisiana, and LSU Health Shreveport, which includes the Schools of Medicine, Allied Health Professions and Graduate Studies and a robust research enterprise. Ochsner LSU Health provides healthcare to more than 140,000 patients across North Louisiana. With more than 20 locations, Ochsner LSU Health includes multiple outpatient facilities, clinics, three acute care hospitals — including North Louisiana’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 2 Pediatric Trauma Center at its acute care hospital and a newly renovated hospital with women’s and children’s services in Shreveport, La. and an acute care hospital in Monroe, La designated as a Level III Trauma Center — as well as Louisiana Behavioral Health, providing inpatient and intensive outpatient mental health services in partnership with Oceans Healthcare. The system has more than 4,200 employees that work alongside the Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Physician Group of 950 physicians and residents in more than 65 specialties and subspecialties.

Emily Oliver
PR and Internal Communications Manager
Ochsner LSU Health and Ochsner Rush Health

It was the heart of baseball’s dog days, mid-August 1995, summertime in the bottom of the seventh, when broadcaster Bob Costas in his eulogy for New York Yankee great Mickey Mantle, gone at only 63, reminded us of something said by baseball’s first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, way, way back in a time very different than today:

“Every boy builds a shrine to some baseball hero, and before that shrine, a candle always burns.”

When you’re a boy and you choose a baseball hero and light a candle, it pays to choose wisely. I did. My guy was Brooks Robinson.

As Mickey Mantle, a hero so grand and flawed he bordered on myth to boys of the 1950s, was leaving the game, Brooks Robinson was just settling in at third base for the Baltimore Orioles and I was settling in to boyhood. Brooks was from Arkansas and my baseball-loving granddaddy was from Louisiana. The Braves had just arrived in Atlanta from Milwaukee, but the Orioles were the closest established big-league team to my Carolina hometown and Brooks had been picking it for the O’s since I was born.

So Brooks Robinson was my guy.

And when he passed away three weeks ago in late September at 86, just days before the Orioles won their 100^th game of the 2023 season, a lot of guys my age took a double knee and more than a moment of silence for the joy he gave us, for the dreams he inspired in us kids wearing Husky jeans and pedaling to the ballparks and the chain-link-fenced outfields of our youth.

Sure, he was good at baseball. Best defensive third baseman ever. The Human Vacuum Cleaner. Hit it to Brooks and you were out.

MVP in 1964. World Series MVP in 1970. An All-Star 18 times. A Gold Glover for 16 straight seasons. Two times a World Champion. For 23 seasons, a Baltimore Oriole.

Often in my head and for no reason, the tape will play and he’s robbing the Cincinnati Reds of extra bases, time and again, in the 1970 World Series on the black-and-white Sylvania in our little den in South Carolina. How in the world … ?

I’m not sure boys my age wanted to be Brooks Robinson like guys 10 years older than me wanted to be Mickey Mantle. The Mick was movie-star good-looking and played center field and was in New York City and slugged like a house afire. Brooks Robinson wore a goofy batting helmet with a too-short bill and was constantly in the middle of an electrical storm at third base in blue-collar Baltimore and had some great offensive seasons but was, for two decades, steady as the sun rising.

We didn’t really want to be him. But we sure wanted to be like him. He was dependable. Kind. Approachable. And really good at what he did. Unassuming. He was Mr. Oriole.

I have never asked for an autograph from a big-league player. I have autographed baseballs from Little Leaguers and their parents and some friends, and treasure those and the memories behind them. But I do have two Brooks Robinson autographed baseballs, each a gift. They are in the shrine I still have today. There’s my Brooks Robinson poster, a Boys’ Life magazine with him on the cover, a 5×7 framed head shot, a few action figures, a bobblehead Oriole … it just makes me feel good to know it’s there.

I never met him and never tried. Just knowing he was there was enough.

It hurt me that he died, but especially that he died on the eve of the postseason, Baltimore’s first October appearance in a couple of decades. I didn’t understand it. But the Orioles were swept last week, so maybe it’s best that he wasn’t here to see it.

But it sure is comforting to know he was here, and to know what he meant to so many, and to know that he’ll remain a cool and refreshing memory, just like the autumn wind at the end of a long season, when the leaves turn Baltimore Oriole orange and the weathered tan of a baseball glove.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY

Purnell, Jaecinea
19, B, F 10/6/23- incarcerated
Failure to appear-criminal trial $1000
Arresting agency: Red River Sheriff’s Office

Williams, Jessica
36,B, F, 10/9/2023-10/9/23
Arresting Agency-Red River Sheriff’s Office
Failure to appear-Fines and costs $1,232.50 or 120 days in jail

Gartman, Travis
22,W,M 10/11/23, incarcerated
Arresting Agency-Red River Sheriff’s Office
Domestic Abuse Battery $15,000
Domestic Abuse Battery $15,000
Domestic Abuse Battery $1,000
Concurrent

Tingle, Tiffany
42,W,F 10/12/23 incarcerated
Arresting Agency-Red River Sheriff’s Office
Failure to appear-Pretrial $1,000
Failure to appear- pretrial $5,000

Taylor, Rufus
46,B,M 10/12/23 incarcerated
Arresting Agency-Red River Sheriff’s Office
Entry on or remaining on land or in place where forbidden $1,000
Theft of a value less that $1,000. 2,500 concurrent

Red River 4-H is selling sweet potatoes and pecans. Sweet potatoes come in 20 or 40 pounds. Pecan–1lb bags in plain, spicy roasted, roasted, sugared, praline crunch, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate. Also have chocolate almonds. Last day to order is November 6. Orders will be ready November 15. Call the 4-H office (932-4342) to order or see a 4-H member.

Red River Cowboy Church will host their first Show~N~Shine on Sunday, October 22. Cars, truck and motorcycles are welcome. Registration is from 8-10am. Winners will be announced by 2pm. Church begins at 10:30am. Fish plates will available for lunch, cost is $10. For more information contact Lance Moore at 318.652.1967 or Michael Barrett at 318.471.8642. All proceeds go to the RRCC Youth Ministry.

Reba Gail Cole
September 19, 1946 – October 13, 2023
Service: Wednesday, October 18 at 1pm at Zion Cemetery, Fairview Alpha

Red River Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $70. Contact your funeral provider or RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to RedRiverParishJournal@gmail.com)

The local football season is nearing its end.  Riverdale Academy winds up district play at Tensas Academy and Red River is hosting Winnfield.  Who can predict the outcome of ten area high school football games?

The Journal thanks American Bank, Tyler Insurance, Farm Pro Feed and Supplies, Beard’s Automotive NAPA, Pathway Tire, the York Chop and Better Finance for sponsoring the Journal’s High School Football Pickers Contest. 

We award $100 to the best Picker of the week.  It could be you.  CLICK HERE to enter this week’s new contest.

The Journal congratulates Diane Newton, the latest winner in the American Bank High School Football Pickers Contest.  She gets $100 for doing the best job of predicting the outcome of ten area high school football games last weekend.

Our next contest is underway and a bunch of readers have already entered.  CLICK HERE to get your entry blank for this week’s contest.  Newton told us she didn’t expect to be the winner, but she was.  You could be the reader taking home this week’s prize of $100.

The American Bank High School Football Pickers Contest is co-sponsored by Pathway Tire, Tyler Insurance Agency, Beard’s Automotive NAPA, Better Finance, Farm Pro Feed and Supplies, and the York Chop.  Thank these merchants for presenting the pickers contest and the weekly $100 prize to the best Picker.

The deadline for the contest is 4:00 pm today.  So, what are you waiting for?  Enter right now!