Early cancer detection saves lives, and prevention starts with action. This April, CHRISTUS Health is calling on communities to prioritize routine cancer screenings and healthy lifestyle choices in recognition of National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month.

As part of ongoing cancer prevention efforts, CHRISTUS Health will host a skin cancer screening event in partnership with Dermatology and Skin Surgery on May 12 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the CHRISTUS Cancer Center in Shreveport. Community members are encouraged to register now to have concerning spots evaluated and learn more about skin cancer risk and early warning signs. To schedule your free screening, call 318-681-6231.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1.8 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2022, and more than 613,000 Americans died from cancer in 2023, emphasizing the need for preventative measures and early detection.

For Jennifer Varnadore, a CHRISTUS Associate who participated in a CHRISTUS skin cancer screening, early detection proved critical.

“I asked for a consult after a provider noticed an unusual mole on my back,” she said. “Because it was caught early, the biopsy and follow-up excision were successful, and the margins came back clear. I’m incredibly thankful for CHRISTUS and for having access to preventive screenings that truly made a difference.”

Varnadore said her experience reinforced the importance of paying attention to changes in the skin and taking advantage of screening opportunities when they are available.

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 44% of cancer deaths in the United States could be prevented. Many of these deaths are linked to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol consumption and too much sun exposure.

“Finding cancer early can make a significant difference in how it is treated and how patients do long term,” said Dr. Neelima Chintapalli, hematology and oncology specialist with CHRISTUS Cancer Center in Shreveport. “Routine screenings help identify cancer before symptoms appear, often allowing for more treatment options and better outcomes.”

Chintapalli encourages individuals to take proactive steps to reduce their risk of cancer by staying current with preventative screenings such as mammograms, colonoscopies and low-dose CT scans.  She also emphasizes the importance of implementing healthy lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and adopting a nutritious diet.

To learn more about cancer prevention, screenings and care options, visit our website.

Red River’s Malique Smith has committed to play basketball at Centenary College.

Red River Woman Church will be held May 12 at 6pm at The Shop in Martin. Guest speakers will be Ashley Hamby Mulkey and Ashley Webb Sibley. Worship will be led by Becky Birdwell Kniffin. A meal will be provided.

A Food Safety Certification Class will be offered May 22 at the Northeastern Branch of the Natchitoches Parish Library in Campti, providing an opportunity for food service workers, business owners, and others to earn or renew certification. The class will be held from 10am to 6pm and the $185 fee includes the textbook, exam, and 8-hour training session. Red River High educator Wanda Lemoine will serve as instructor. Organizers say whether you’re just getting started or need to renew certification, the class is designed to be hands-on, informative, and geared to set participants up for success. Seating is limited and early registration is encouraged (pelicanpointtraining.com).

The LSU Tigers had 7 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

President Donald Trump was quickly escorted from the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Saturday night after gunfire erupted near the event. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana was also among officials evacuated as security responded. The White House said Trump was unharmed and the suspected gunman was taken into custody, though few additional details were immediately released.

Jordyn Tyson became the first wide receiver selected by the New Orleans Saints in the Top 10 of the NFL Draft since 1978. The Saints selected him with their 8th pick.

The Los Angeles Unified School District’s board voted to restrict students’ use of laptops and tablets in class while encouraging going back to pencil and paper type assignments instead.

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Cade Hanna is being recognized not just for his courage in the face of a life-threatening illness, but for the powerful example he and his family continue to set for others across the region.

Earlier this year, CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System named Cade Hanna as its 2026 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion. The son of Will and Cassie Anderson Hanna, Cade now serves as a spokesperson for pediatric patients throughout north Louisiana, proudly representing families facing similar battles.

Cade’s journey began just before his third birthday, when he was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor known as pilocytic astrocytoma. What followed was an intense and emotional fight: 42 days in the hospital, multiple surgeries, chemotherapy treatments, and the beginning of physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

Throughout the ordeal, Cade’s parents remained a constant source of strength. They navigated difficult decisions, advocating for their son’s care and holding onto hope during uncertain moments. Their resilience became a cornerstone of Cade’s recovery.

After returning home, Cade continued his progress through outpatient therapy at the CHRISTUS Kids Clinic in Shreveport. Week by week, he worked to rebuild his strength, coordination, and confidence. His determination has already led to a major milestone — graduating from speech therapy — while he continues with physical and occupational therapy.

Now, Cade returns for routine checkups every three months, but his days are filled with the activities he loves. Whether he’s playing baseball, golfing, or sitting behind a drum set, he’s embracing life with energy and enthusiasm.

As a Children’s Miracle Network Champion, Cade will spend the coming year sharing his story to raise awareness of the importance of pediatric healthcare and its impact on families during their most challenging times.

Cade is the grandson of Andy and Pat Anderson and Stephen and Anna Hanna from Coushatta

Notice:
Red River Parish Assessor Dovie Beard advises that due to software problems, some errors may have been made in the distribution of tax notices for 2025. With deadlines approaching, Beard is advising that any taxpayer who usually receives a tax notice but has not yet received one, or any person who received an unexpected tax notice, should immediately contact the Assessor’s Office at 318-932-4922.

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Red River 4-H Cloverbuds participated in the FIRST Lego League Explore program Thursday, April 9th at the LSU AgCenter Red River Parish office.

These students participated in building, and learning code to program the robotic models, all while learning core values!

Thank you to BPX Energy for sponsoring this wonderful program!

Shared by Red River Parish 4-H

Elizabeth Ann Jowers Sledge (she always preferred to be called “Betty”) began her life in Shreveport, Louisiana on August 21, 1946. It ended when she was ushered into the presence of her Lord and Savior at age 79 on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026. Betty was raised in Hanna, Louisiana, the only child of A.R. and Lillian Jowers, and loved to spend time with her father fishing and playing sports, and eating good Southern cooking. She graduated in 1964 from Coushatta High where she was an outstanding basketball player. In 1968 she graduated from Northwestern State College and married Loyd Sledge the following year. In 1973, the Navy sent them, along with their children Chris and Jennifer to Oak Harbor, Washington. Except for a two-year stint in Newport, Rhode Island, she would remain in Oak Harbor until Alzheimer’s and declining physical health necessitated her move to a care home in Lynnwood, Washington, in 2024 to be close to her children. She was married to Loyd until 1987, when he was suddenly and tragically lost in an aircraft mishap.

Betty loved the Lord, and was a member of both Oak Harbor Southern Baptist Church and First Reformed Church of Oak Harbor for many years, teaching Sunday School and playing the piano and organ. While her kids were growing up, she could normally be found outdoors working in the yard, shooting baskets, or throwing a football or frisbee – her yard was always the center of neighborhood activity. She loved reading lots and lots of books, listening to opera and following her favorite opera singers, playing with her cats, and travelling the state and talking with her best friend and housemate Joan. She never gave up her love for hamburgers, ketchup, Coca Cola, and dipped cones.

Betty is survived by her son Chris, daughter-in-law Monica (thanks, mom for picking out such an amazing wife for me), and grandkids Kyle and Elyssa, of Mill Creek, Washington; and her daughter Jennifer Rivera, son-in-law Orlando, and grandsons Wyatt and Owen, of Everett, Washington. She is also survived by a half-sister Robbie Jowers Gardner of Coushatta, Louisiana. Betty loved her kids and grandkids (who always called her “Nanny”) immensely and, even as her dementia progressed, never forgot their names. Betty was enormously loved by her family and will be sorely missed and fondly remembered.

The family is so thankful for Anny and the wonderful caregivers at Madison Adult Family Home in Lynnwood for the amazing love and care they showed Betty in the last years of her life.

It was Betty’s wishes to be cremated. No services are planned.

Troyal wanted to be a professional athlete. “The only thing that stopped me,” Troyal said, “was my professional athletic ability.” At Yukon High School, Troyal played football, baseball, and ran track and field. He was especially talented at the javelin throw. When he graduated in 1980, he attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater on a track and field scholarship. Troyal knew he wanted to play sports in college, but he was unsure what to study. Troyal finally decided to study advertising. As a child, his parents and siblings held casual weekly talent nights. Everyone had to participate. Because of this, Troyal learned to play banjo and guitar. Troyal used his talent to write jingles and commercials for his advertising classes.

In 1984, Troyal walked across the stage at Oklahoma State University and received his diploma. Shortly after he graduated with his degree in advertising, he learned that he had not completed the requirements for his degree. He was one college hour short. The clerical error was discovered after he walked. Troyal had no choice but to take another class, but his student loan and scholarship money ended the moment he walked across that stage. Troyal was from a large family who could not afford to pay his tuition for the single class, so he had to work to pay for the class.

All through college, Troyal worked odd jobs including roofing houses and working as a bouncer at a nightclub. One night while working to pay for the remaining class, Troyal asked Dolly, an employee at Willie’s Saloon in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to allow him to play his guitar and sing for the audience. Dolly agreed. The first night went so well that she asked him to play the following night. The crowds grew and drink sales increased, so Dolly kept Troyal on stage. What could have been just a one-off thing turned into a five-night a week job. One day, Troyal said to himself, “Hey, maybe this is what you’re supposed to be doing.”

Troyal had hoped to become a professional athlete, but he sang instead. One of the songs he sang had the line “Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers.” If his prayers to become an athlete had been answered, you might know Troyal in a whole different way. You know Troyal. His full name is Troyal Garth Brooks.

Source:

1. “Garth Brooks appears on ‘Late Show’ with Stephen Colbert, discusses time at OSU,” 2 News Oklahoma, November 30, 2018, accessed April 12, 2026, https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/garth-brooks-appears-on-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-discusses-time-at-osu.

I don’t care what sport you play, there comes a day when the Gods of that sport will humble you. So many times, as an athlete, we think we have everything figured out. We think we know more than anyone else and that we are invincible. We have the attitude “you can’t beat me!”

That’s when we get a little too comfortable in our own skin and things start to unravel and go south. For bass tournament anglers, you never know when that day will be coming. But rest assured, it will happen!

My humbling moments have occurred more than once in my 30-year fishing career but there is one that stands out more than any other. It took place about five years ago on Lake Texoma on the Oklahoma/Texas border during one of those late February events with temperatures in the upper 20s and lower 30s.

Over the years, I’ve had several tournaments on Lake Texoma and have done well there in the past. It’s a lake that I feel very comfortable with. I have a lot of confidence each time I drop my boat in the water at this famed Oklahoma/ Texas fishery.

If you’re angler who likes to power fish with buzz baits, crankbaits and spinnerbaits, Texoma is the place for you. But there are times when you will question if there’s any bass in this lake as the fishing can get really tough.

On one of my recent trips to this impoundment, I found out firsthand just how tough Texoma can be. I was preparing for a three-day event while pre-fishing in some very frigid temperatures. To say that the bite was tough would be a huge understatement.

As Day 1 of practice began, I knew that the only way I was going to get a bite was by slowing down my presentation. Bass in cold water conditions are very lethargic and slow to react to a bait.

Well at the end of practice on Day 1, I had absolutely nothing figured out as I put my boat back on the trailer after a long 9-hour day with zero bites. That’s right, I had zero bites the entire day!

Day 2 brought the same cold temperatures but sunny skies as daytime temperatures rose into the upper 40s. I thought with temperatures warming as the day went on, that maybe there would be a good afternoon bite. My thinking was wrong as I once again as I loaded my boat after Day 2 of practice with zero bites.

That’s right, I had fished for a total of 18 hours and had yet to set the hook on a single fish! So, as I laid in bed that night, I thought that maybe I need to speed up my presentation and throw some type of reaction bait like a rattle-trap, which is very popular during cold weather tournaments.

As the final day of practice rolled around, I was actually a little excited and was looking forward to trying something different. So I tied on a ¼ oz SPRO Aruku Shad in the popular chrome with a blue back. When I say I threw the paint off that bait, I mean I stayed committed to my plan and never put it down pretty much all day long.

But as only the bass fishing Gods can explain, I once again came off the lake nine hours later with zero bites! At this point, now I’m as frustrated as I’ve ever been going into Day 1 of a tournament.

To cut this article short, I’ll just go ahead and tell you that over the next two days of tournament competition, I had one bite and never caught a single fish I could weigh-in.

For the first time in my tournament career, I fished on a body of water I’m very familiar with and caught only one bass over five consecutive days!

So, for all those up-and-coming anglers, listen up — if you fish tournaments, there will come a day when you question if you really know anything about how to catch a bass.

With this frustration, you might even want to sell everything you own that’s related to bass fishing! But hang in there — sooner or later, grey skies will fade, and sunshine will return as you catch bass like never before.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com.

Investment gives educators practical tools, expert guidance, and classroom resources

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is investing more than $5.1 million in federal funding to strengthen instruction for students with disabilities. Approved by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), the resources will help educators target student needs through specialized training, classroom implementation support, and evidence-based instructional practices.

“Outside of the parent, nothing has a greater impact on student outcomes than the classroom teacher,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “This investment helps ensure more educators have the tools and training to meet the needs of every learner.”

The funding is designed to help teachers put high-quality instruction into practice for students who need additional support. To receive the funds, school systems must use high-quality instructional materials and evidence-based instructional practices.

The investment will provide educators with training on specialized supports for students with disabilities, including assistive technology, executive functioning, and communication supports. It also will fund stipends, substitutes, and professional learning partners to help schools put that work into practice.

Louisiana’s School Improvement Strategy

As part of Louisiana’s implementation of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the state’s ongoing school improvement work, the LDOE identifies struggling schools, approves and funds improvement plans, and supports implementation. Through the LDOE’s comprehensive application, known as Super App, school systems assess needs, access formula funds, and apply for competitive funding through one process. These funds help school systems meet federal ESSA planning requirements while advancing improvement efforts in schools that need the most support.

Clara Springs Fourth Friday Fish Fry will be held Fri, Apr 25 from 5-7pm. Cost is $15 ($10 for kids 10-17). Dinner includes All you can eat fried fish, coleslaw, french fries, hushpuppies, pinto beans, lemon bread pudding, homemade ice cream and drink. Grand Cane Baptist will host.

Hickory Grove Baptist Church has postponed their youth garage sale that was scheduled for this Sat. A new date will be announced soon.

The Louisiana Dept of Wildlife & Fisheries will host its annual Father/Child Fun Camp May 1-2 at the Woodworth Education Center. This camp is open to fathers with children 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝟵–𝟭𝟯 and offers a weekend outdoors to reconnect, build memories, and sharpen outdoor skills. Meals, lodging & supplies (tents provided; bring your own sleeping bag/linens). Registration: $50/family, $25 for each additional child (max 2 kids per adult). Pre-Registration is required and space is limited. Register online: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/fun-camp

The 35th Annual Free Skin Cancer Screening will take place Tue May 12 from 5:30-7:30pm at the CHRISTUS Cancer Center, 1453 E. Bert Kouns Ind. Loop in Shreveport. Parking available at Entrance C in front of the CHRISTUS Cancer Center. Results are immediately available thanks to our partnership with the
physicians at Dermatology and Skin Surgery. Call 318.681.6231 to schedule your screening.

The 16th Annual Peach Festival will be held June 6 in Ruston. Music, art, kids activities and plenty of peaches! Free admission.

LSUS’s enrollment of 10,959 is a spring semester record, topping the Spring 2025 record of 10,925.
Undergraduates experienced a nearly nine percent increase from Spring 2025, expanding to 2,892 students.

Danny Brotherton
November 9, 1962 – April 20, 2026
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 12pm at New Life Church of Red River in Hall Summit.

Lue Demery
August 31, 1942 – April 12, 2026 
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 11am at Deliverance Temple Church in Coushatta.

Edna Frances Worley
April 10, 1941 — April 16, 2026
Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 4 to 6pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel in Coushatta.

The Blue Essence Dance Team and Red River High School Cheer announced the 2026-2027 teams.

Red River 4-H, with the help of NCH Agent Elizabeth Martin, held an Italian Cooking Camp at the LSU AgCenter Red River Parish office during Spring break.

Students practiced food prep skills while making Italian cheesecake, caprese on a stick, homemade pasta, marinara sauce, and fettuccine Alfredo.

Shared by Red River 4-H

By Darren Svan | April 20, 2026

(The Center Square) – Caddo Parish Judge Ramon Lafitte ruled in favor of a special use permit for Amazon’s multi-billion dollar data center in west Shreveport.

The massive industrial and economic development project was in limbo for 90 days. At stake for Shreveport was the promise of sales tax revenue, more jobs and substantial investment dollars.

Late Monday, Lafitte dismissed litigation brought by three plaintiffs asking for a judicial review of the City Council’s decision to approve the development after the city’s Planning Commission initially blocked it.

The permit is needed for a data center to operate at Resilient Technology Park.

The ruling gives Amazon the green light to move forward with its third massive data center campus in north Louisiana. Development is already underway in north Bossier and rural Caddo Parish, west of Blanchard.

“I do not think that the council, or the legislation that they approved, was arbitrarily or capriciously done,” Lafitte said. “You keep indicating … that the plaintiffs need to see an actual document and title ‘operating plan.’ I am not aware of anything in jurisprudence that indicates that you have to have a specific document entitled ‘operating plan.’”

The plaintiffs are considering an appeal, the Sierra Club told The Center Square after the ruling. The New Orleans-based Sierra Club Delta Chapter helped fund the litigation.

“The lack of information is the point,” said Clay Garside, attorney for the plaintiffs. “A promise is not a document.”

Resilient Technology Park is the location that originally attracted Amazon to the region, leading to its initial $12 billion commitment. It’s unclear how much the company plans to invest at Resilient Park but it’s expected to approach the cost of their other local projects, each estimated at $6 billion.

Amazon Web Services is considered one of the largest hyperscalers. A hyperscaler is a company that provides cloud computing services at an extremely large scale, according to company documents.