The Red River Parish Library will host Christmas Bingo Wed Dec 10 at 1pm. Enjoy prizes, refreshments, friends and holiday fun!

Red River Elementary School will host a Blood Drive on Fri Dec 12 from 9am-12pm.

Red River Junior High will hold their Christmas Program Tue Dec 16 at 12pm. The public is invited to attend. Please park in front of the gym.

LSU Football has 15,000 new season ticket requests since Lane Kiffin was named as the new head coach. Corporate sponsorships and donations are also heading in a positive direction.

Sen Bill Cassidy has secured  $4.9 million for Louisiana Firefighters.

 A water leak at the Louvre in Paris has damaged hundreds of books, exposing further issues at the world’s largest museum after heist in October.

Travion Miller
March 6, 1994 – December 8, 2025
Funeral Services will be held Saturday December 13, 2025 at 1pm at Elizabeth Full Gospel Church in Coushatta.

Highlighting the Coushatta Christmas Parade this year was Grand Marshal Katherine Smith.
Smith, a long-time member of the Coushatta-Red River Chamber of Commerce, was honored as the parade leader. She has been an integral part of the annual event for many years.

Smith works for the Red River Parish School Board as the homeless liaison and community outreach coordinator. She has spearheaded fund drives for children and adults in need, coordinated Christmas angels, and purchased countless school supplies for children. Her tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed by this town.

Her latest role in the town is on the Town Council, where she champions the community’s needs.

Surrounded by her family and friends, Smith was all smiles on parade day. This community is blessed to have such a faithful servant.

Parade Winners Included:
Scavenger Hunt: Jana Webb
Overall: American Bank
Floats:
1st: Gregg and Lana Giddings
2nd: Rivertown
3rd: Krewe de Khulu
Teams:
1st: Rangerettes
2nd: Rubies

Governor Jeff Landry has officially proclaimed December as Sanfilippo Awareness Month in Louisiana, bringing statewide attention to a rare genetic disorder that has deeply affected families— including one very close to home.

Sanfilippo Syndrome, sometimes called “childhood Alzheimer’s,” is a rare hereditary disease caused by the body’s inability to break down certain complex sugars. Over time, this leads to severe neurological decline, affecting speech, mobility, behavior, and cognitive ability. Children often develop normally in early childhood before symptoms emerge and progressively worsen. Currently, there is no cure, making awareness and research crucial.

For our area, the proclamation is deeply personal. Lydia Rachal has captured the hearts of communities throughout North Louisiana. Lydia has become “one of ours” — a child our community has embraced, supported, and rallied behind.

From T-shirt fundraisers to bracelet sales, meal events, and generous donations, the outpouring of support has been overwhelming. As of December 1, supporters have raised a total of $5.45 million for Lydia and other Type B children, helping their family access specialized medical care.

Governor Landry’s proclamation elevates the fight that families like Lydia’s face every day. Advocacy groups hope the official recognition will increase understanding of the disorder, boost research visibility, and encourage earlier diagnosis statewide. The awareness month also provides momentum for fundraising efforts that are vital for families seeking access to treatment options.

Local organizers say the proclamation validates the hard work happening across small towns and rural parishes — people cooking, giving, donating, and coming together for a child whose story has inspired thousands.

As December continues, communities across the region will honor Sanfilippo Awareness Month with outreach, education, and ongoing efforts to show love and support for Lydia and all children facing this heartbreaking diagnosis.

Even across parish lines, one thing remains clear: this community stands together.

For now, Red River Parish continues to do what it does best: show up, stand together, and fight for one of its own.

See proclamation below.

Monday will bring a mix of sunshine and clouds as winter settles in, with temperatures reaching a pleasant upper 50s during the day and dipping to the lower 30s overnight. A crisp, cool day — perfect for errands, finishing up yard work, or a brisk outside walk.

Tuesday looks a bit cooler: expect a high in the low-to-mid 50s and overnight lows dipping near the low 40s. Skies may remain mostly clear — great for morning coffee on the porch or wrapping up holiday to-dos while the air stays fresh.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is pointing to record consumer participation during the Thanksgiving shopping period as a sign that confidence in the economy, particularly among small businesses and consumers, continues to strengthen. New data released by the National Retail Federation shows that nearly 203 million shoppers took part in in-store or online purchases from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday — the largest number ever recorded for the holiday retail stretch.

According to the NRF, Small Business Saturday drew almost 63 million in-store shoppers, an increase of roughly 2.6% over last year, reflecting continued enthusiasm for local retail and Main Street entrepreneurs. Over the full five-day period, nearly 130 million people shopped in person, while more than 136 million made online purchases, each category posting growth compared to 2024.

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said the surge in holiday shopping aligns with what many business owners are reporting — stronger demand, improving sentiment, and expectations for further growth going into 2026. She noted that small firms are preparing to expand, hire, and invest heading into the new year.

The NRF also projects that holiday spending nationwide will cross the $1 trillion mark for the first time, with anticipated gains of between 3.7% and 4.2% compared to last year. If the trend continues, 2025 could close out as one of the strongest seasons for small retailers in recent memory.

Recent surveys add to the picture of renewed optimism. SBA figures, along with data from organizations including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business, indicate that many small employers expect higher revenues in the coming year, and that sentiment has risen above long-term averages. A majority of small business owners expect to grow operations, and many report plans to expand staffing or investment.

That outlook is being reflected in capital activity as well. The SBA reports that demand for financing has climbed as more entrepreneurs seek loans to start, strengthen, or scale their businesses. In Fiscal Year 2025, the agency approved $45 billion in lending to roughly 85,000 small firms — its highest volume on record.

With the holiday season underway and early spending numbers breaking past benchmarks, federal officials say the data suggests that both shoppers and small businesses are entering the new year with strong momentum and a more confident economic outlook.

LifeShare Blood Center is calling on community heroes to step forward during one of the most challenging times of the year for the blood supply. From December 15–24, anyone who donates
blood, platelets, or plasma at any LifeShare location or mobile drive will receive a long-sleeve LifeShare
Donor shirt and a limited-edition Winter Warrior coffee mug as part of the annual Winter Warrior
promotional campaign.

Winter is traditionally one of the most difficult seasons for maintaining an adequate blood supply. Holiday travel, school breaks, seasonal illnesses, and busy schedules often cause donor turnout to drop
sharply; yet patient needs remain constant. Hospitals rely on a steady supply of blood components to
care for trauma patients, cancer patients, newborns, and individuals undergoing surgery throughout the
holiday season.

“While many people are preparing for gatherings and celebrations, patients in our community are
depending on us,” said Mandi Johnson, Director of Community Engagement at LifeShare.

“Blood cannot be manufactured, and the only moments that matter for these patients are the ones when someone chooses to give. Becoming a Winter Warrior ensures lifesaving care continues when it’s needed most.”

LifeShare encourages both first-time and returning donors to make an appointment before the holidays
or stop by a convenient mobile drive. Donating typically takes less than an hour and can help save up to
three lives.

From Monday, December 15 through Wednesday, December 24, 2025, everyone who donates blood, platelets, or plasma at LifeShare will receive:

• A free long-sleeve shirt*
• A limited-edition Winter Warrior coffee mug*

*While supplies last.

Full promotion details can be found at http://www.lifeshare.org/promos. Appointments are encouraged, but
walk-ins are welcome. Schedule your blood donation at http://www.lifeshare.org/give or call 800.256.5433.

The first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff is officially set, and the expanded format is already delivering history-making moments — none bigger than Tulane punching its ticket to the national championship race.

Tulane becomes the first Group of Five program to earn a spot in the new playoff structure, sealing its bid as the highest-ranked conference champion outside the power leagues. It marks a landmark moment for the Green Wave program and a major victory for the American Athletic Conference.

On the other end of the spectrum, the SEC will be heavily represented, sending four teams into the 12-team field — underscoring the league’s continued dominance in the college football landscape. The SEC’s representatives include Georgia , Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Alabama.

The expanded bracket features automatic bids for the top six conference champions, plus six at-large selections. The top four conference champions receive first-round byes.

The new format means opening-round games will be played on campus, bringing playoff football to home stadiums for the first time. Higher-seeded teams will host, setting up what should be one of the most electric weekends the sport has ever seen.

For Tulane, the moment is historic — a chance to compete on the sport’s biggest stage after years of steady rise. The No. 11 seed Green Wave will faceoff with No. 6 seed Ole Miss at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 2:30pm in a game that will be shown on TNT, the College Football Playoff Committee announced on Sunday morning. The winner will go on to face No. 3 Georgia (12-1) in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 at 7pm.

CFP Full Schedule:

First round
No. 9 Alabama (10-3) at No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2) – Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)
No 10 Miami (10-2) at No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1) – Dec. 20 at 11 a.m. (ESPN)
No. 11 Tulane (11-2) at No. 6 Ole Miss (11-1) – Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. (TNT)
No. 12 James Madison (12-1) at No. 5 Oregon – Dec. 20 at 6:30 p.m. (TNT)

Quarterfinals
Cotton Bowl – Miami – Texas A&M winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State (12-1) – Dec. 31 at 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Orange Bowl – James Madison – Oregon winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1) – Jan. 1 at 11 a.m. (ESPN)
Rose Bowl – Alabama – Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Indiana (13-0) – Jan. 1 at 3 p.m. (ESPN)
Sugar Bowl – Tulane – Ole Miss winner vs. No. 3 Georgia (12-1) – Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Semifinals
Fiesta Bowl – Semifinals – Jan. 8 (ESPN)
Peach Bowl – Semifinals – Jan. 9 (ESPN)

Championship
College Football National Championship– Jan. 19 (ESPN) – Hard Rock Stadium

Prime Time Family Reading 

938 Lafayette St, 300

New Orleans, LA 70113 

504-620-2625

Accepting Bids for DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River Parishes 

Early Head Start and Head Start Food Service Vendor 

Question Period: Monday, 12/1/25 – Monday, 12/15/25 

Proposal Submission Deadline Date/Time: Tuesday, 12/16/25 @ 4:00 pm 

Proposal Submission Format: Mail ONLY (5 copies) to above address c/o Shantrell Austin

Proposal Opening Date/Time: Wednesday, 12/17/25 @ 1:00 pm   

Proposal Opening Location: Online Convening (review committee only)

Award Decision Communication Date: Monday, 12/29/2025 

Email austin@leh.org for details and with questions 

Bid Invitation Details/RFP at: https://primetimefamily.org/northcenla/  

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. 

The Red River Parish Library will host Christmas Bingo Wed Dec 10 at 1pm. Enjoy prizes, refreshments, friends and holiday fun!

Louisiana Tech will play Coastal Carolina in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Tues Dec 30 at 2pm at Independence Stadium. 

The LSU Board of Supervisors and LSU Athletics have decided that the announced price increase for football season tickets will not take place for next year. LSUs 2026 schedule will be revealed Thur Dec 11 at 7pm on the SEC Network.

Louisiana is getting a Tulsa King spinoff starring Samuel L. Jackson called NOLA King.

Netflix is buying Warner Bros and HBO Max in a $82.7 billion deal. Reports says as of right now nothing will change with your accounts.

The nation’s average price of gasoline has fallen 8.5 cents over the last week and stands at $2.95 per gallon, according to GasBuddy® data compiled from more than 12 million individual price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

NONE

A small earthquake was detected just after 10pm Thursday near Coushatta, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Sensors recorded the tremor approximately 1.2 miles north-northwest of town. The quake registered at a magnitude of 2.7 and was measured at a depth of just over three miles.

Although the event was minor, it adds to a growing list of small seismic disturbances reported in that same section of Red River Parish over the past several years. While earthquakes of this size are generally not strong enough to cause structural damage, they are often noticeable to residents living near the epicenter, especially when the depth is shallow, as with Thursday night’s activity.

Historically, Louisiana sees only occasional low-magnitude earthquakes, most of which go unfelt or are interpreted as brief vibrations or noise. The USGS continues to monitor seismic behavior in the region and track any patterns.

At this time, no damage has been reported, and no additional quakes have been recorded in the immediate area.

The CPKC Holiday Train rolled into Coushatta on December 3 at 8:00 pm.

While the train was different for Coushatta, the lights and entertainment were spectacular. A crowd formed along the Front Street tracks to watch the entertainment.

The major function of the Holiday Train is to raise money, food, and awareness to support food banks across our network. Professional musicians play free concerts from the brightly decorated train’s stage. CPKC donates to the local food bank at each stop and encourages all attendees to make a monetary or heart-healthy food donation.

Since its inaugural journey in 1999, the CPKC Holiday Train has raised more than $26 million. On Wednesday night, a $5,000 check was presented to the North West Food Banks of Louisiana.

Mayor Cole was on hand to welcome the crowd and accept the contributions for the food bank.

Opening the concert was Emily Ann Roberts, and headlining was Dylan Marlowe.

The Red River Parish Police Jury met on December 3, 2025, at 10:00 am for their regular meeting.
During the meeting, Shane Hubbard gave an update on the Emergency Alert System that the parish is implementing. He said that a public release will go out in the next two weeks. The system will allow parish-wide alerts and smaller groupings of alerts.

The CVU department reported collecting $28,659 in permit fees for the month and $515 in fines.

The holiday schedule for parish employees will reflect the State schedule. The day after Christmas has been added as a holiday. Dori Ammons was reappointed at the secondary Assistant Coroner for the parish. Ammons is asked to be available when Coroner Moseley is not available.

The Jury adopted a resolution canvassing the return and declaring the result of the special election held on November 15, 2025. The measure was approved unanimously.

“Otis,” the courthouse elevator, is set to be operational as soon as the phone line and the fire system are inspected.

Dr. Virginia Webb was selected to the Library Board of Control. She will replace Mrs. Laurie Jones.

Beer/Liquor Licenses were approved for 2026:
Country Market and Country Market Deli
Victor’s Kash Korner
Silver Dollar Liquor
Dollar General (Hall Summit)
Down the Bayou
Armadillo Grill
Food Junction LLC
Ben Taylor and Shane Young voted no.

A Budget Hearing for the Police Jury is scheduled for January 7, 2026, at 10 am.

December is officially here, and with it comes a whole lot of cozy events, festive lights, and all the small-town charm that makes our corner of Louisiana shine this time of year. Whether you’re looking for family fun, holiday shopping, hometown traditions, or a reason to get out and enjoy the season, Red River Parish and our neighboring communities have something for everyone. Grab your calendar—and maybe some hot cocoa—because December is packed with can’t-miss happenings!

Events in Red River Parish

Fairview Baptist Church will host a Ladies Christmas Paint Party December 5 from 6-9pm. Registration is required. Deadline to sign up is Nov 30. Cost $25. Bring a favorite finger food to share.

The Coushatta-Red River Chamber of Commerce will host a Christmas Market Saturday, December 13 at the Fairgrounds Livestock Barn.

Events surrounding areas:

Lumiere, an immersive Christmas Experience, is open November 21 – December 31. Open most nights 5-10pm. Check the schedule on their website (christmasatlumiere.com).

The 99th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival is December 6 and will feature Coushatta’s own Vickie Johnson as the Grand Marshall of the Festival of Lights Parade. The parade rolls at 1pm. Other activities include Mistletoe Market, live entertainment, and the iconic fireworks show (6pm) choreographed to holiday music over Cane River Lake.

The Town of Zwolle Christmas Festival is December 5-6. The parade rolls on Sat Dec 6.

The 10th annual Stonewall Christmas Parade is set for Saturday, December 6 at 6pm.

The 25th Annual Benton Christmas on the Square Festival will be held Saturday, December 6 from 10am to 5pm. The Benton Rotary Club Parade rolls at 3pm.

The Home Depot will host a FREE kid’s craft event Saturday, December 6 from 9am until 12pm. Participants will create a holiday cocoa mug. 

The 2nd Annual String Quartet Christmas performed by the Armonia String Quartet is Sunday, December 7 at 3pm at Christ Memorial Episcopal Church in Mansfield. Reception immediately following.

The annual CHS Reindeer Run is Thursday, December 11. 

The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales are returning to Marshall for Wonderland of Lights 2025. These iconic horses will make a full hitch appearance Thursday, December 11 from 6-8pm in front of the Historic 1901 Harrison County Courthouse. Public viewing from Dec 8-12 from 7am until 7pm. 

“A Hometown Christmas” presented by Gibsland Bank & Trust will be celebrated in Minden December 12-14.

The City of Mansfield Christmas Parade is Saturday, December 13 at 2pm.

The NW Region Red River Research Station will host Christmas at the Farm Saturday, December 13 at 5pm. Bring your blankets and chairs to watch an outdoor classic Christmas movie while enjoying popcorn and hot chocolate. Enjoy educational segments presented by our extension agents and let the kids have fun with activities including a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Enjoy a ride on the Red River Express and Sing along with your favorite Christmas songs and carols.

The Many Christmas Parade and Festival is Saturday, December 13.

The Village of Robeline’s 3rd Annual Christmas Parade and Christmas in the Park will be held December 20. The parade rolls at 3pm the immediately following Christmas in the Park will begin. There will be food, music, giveaways, hot chocolate, cookies, games and activities, and pictures with Santa.

Rockets over the Red has been rescheduled to December 20. 

Downtown Minden will host a Community-wide Live Nativity Saturday, December 20 from 6-8pm. Tour Route: Begin at 1111 Broadway St., continue to St. John’s Episcopal Church, journey up Lewisville Rd. past Minden Presbyterian Church, and conclude at First Methodist Minden Church. This is a walking tour that takes approximately 30–45 minutes to complete. Churches along the route will be open for viewing and breaks. Golf carts will be available for guests with mobility challenges or handicaps. This event is free and open to the public. 

Friday: Expect a chilly, overcast day — skies will stay mostly cloudy with a high around 47°F and a low near 39°F. No sun in sight, but it’s a perfect chance for a mellow, cozy start to your weekend indoors: maybe break out a warm drink, get a little cleaning done, or just enjoy a slow morning.

Saturday edges a bit warmer with a high around 57°F and a low near 46°F. It’ll still feel brisk, but more comfortable for getting outside. If you’ve got errands or outdoor plans, Saturday is your best bet — just layer up!

Sunday finishes the weekend with a high near 58°F and a brisk low of 38°F. Expect partial sunshine late in the day as the cloud cover finally breaks. A light breeze between 5–10 mph will keep the air feeling cool, but it’s a great chance to get outdoors and enjoy a little late-weekend brightness.

It may not be t-shirt weather, but this weekend is serving up a cool dose of Louisiana winter — perfect for warm drinks, sweaters, and soaking in some fresh air when the sun peeks through Sunday!

The game of battledore is centuries older than football, baseball, soccer, basketball, golf, and just about every sport we watch or participate in. Over 2,000 years ago, people played battledore in China, Japan, India, Siam, and Greece, but its origin remains a mystery. Although popular for millennia, battledore was not included in the Olympic games until 1992 when it made its debut at the summer games in Barcelona, Spain. Its inclusion in the Olympics went unnoticed by most of the world’s population. Many of those who did notice argued that it should not be considered a sport, especially not an Olympic sport.

The game of battledore went largely unchanged for most of its existence. Beginning in 1857, British soldiers who had been sent to India to put down an Indian rebellion against British rule learned the game of battledore and played it to combat boredom. Players used wooden paddles similar to modern ping pong paddles to hit the projectile as many times as possible without it hitting the ground. The projectile was most likely a rock or nut to begin with, but the speed at which it could travel made it dangerous and its small size made it hard to see. To slow it down, players shaped a piece of cork in an oval similar in size and shape to the half of a walnut shell. To further decrease the projectile’s speed and to make it easier to see, players eventually rimmed the oval with delicate feathers from two to three inches in length. The soldiers enhanced the game of battledore by marking out boundary lines that players had to keep the projectile within because they probably got tired of having to search for projectiles hit by overzealous players. They also added a rope to divide the play area in half and hit the projectile back and forth over the rope. Much like the game of “hot potato,” players wanted to avoid having the projectile on their side of the rope. One newspaper reported that “the pleasure of the game is derived from the puzzling antics of the [projectile], whose flight is as dependable as that of a drunken-darning needle.” “Because of the illusive vagaries in flight,” the article included, “the players display the agility of the grasshopper, hummingbird, and leaping kangaroo.”

When those British soldiers in India returned home, they brought the game battledore with them. Battledore became popular, especially with the upper classes. The most notable change to battledore happened when aristocrats began playing it at the country estate of Henry Somerset, 9th Duke of Beaufort, in Gloucestershire, England. It was there that the game of battledore had its most noticeable change. Most of us have never heard of the game of battledore, but now you will remember that the modern version of the game was named after the Duke of Beaufort’s country house, Badminton House.

Sources:

1. The Daily Reporter (White Plaines, New York), February 9, 1937, p.2.

2. “The Origins of Badminton,” Badminton New Zealand, accessed November 23, 2025, https://badminton.org.nz/courses/national-accredited-line-judge/lessons/badminton-basics/topic/what-is-badminton/.

3. “Badminton – an overview and history of the sport,” BBC.com, accessed November 23, 2025, https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zs89dmn/revision/1.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced that the ongoing $361 million LA 511 (Jimmie Davis Bridge) replacement project over the Red River in Bossier and Caddo Parishes is shifting into Phase 2 of construction.

Beginning on Friday, December 12, 2025, a traffic swap will occur on LA 511 (Jimmie Davis Hwy) on the Bossier City side of the river. Motorists will be transitioned over to the newly constructed lanes of pavement on the north side of the existing roadway.

Drivers will also begin to use the new J-turn that has been constructed near the CVS store. Eastbound motorists on Jimmie Davis Hwy wishing to turn left or turn back westbound will proceed east down to the J-turn opening and wait for a gap to merge back into the roadway.

To watch a helpful video about navigating J-turns, click here.

Additionally on Dec. 12th, the newly built ramp that intersects with the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway will be opened to traffic. This transition will allow bridge construction to continue to progress.

The design-builder is currently working on a number of major construction activities related to the new 4-lane bridge, including drilled shaft installation and forming the bridge bents (structural support for the bridge that assists with load transfer).

The entire project is anticipated to be complete in mid-late 2027, weather and other factors permitting.

PROJECT INFORMATION:

The purpose of this project, which kicked off construction in May 2024, is to construct a new modernized 4-lane bridge structure just north of the existing bridge. This will provide expanded traffic capacity and more efficient traffic flow crossing the Red River, connecting the growing communities of south Bossier City and Shreveport. LA 511 (Jimmie Davis Hwy/70th St.) is also being widening and realigned as it approaches the new bridge on both sides of the river. The current plan for the existing 2-lane bridge is to convert the structure into the state’s first linear park, with connectivity to the walking path networks on either side of the river.

To read much more about the project, as well as access detour maps and construction phasing information, visit the JDB project webpage here.

Shreveport-Bossier is no stranger to hosting high level bass tournaments, most recently last month the Major League Fishing organization (MLF) brought their Summit Cup Team Series to local area lakes.

Over the last 25 years or so, Major League Fishing has brought several BFL’s, the Toyota Series and Team Series to our region. The B.A.S.S. organization has brought the Bassmaster Classic twice to Shreveport-Bossier’s mighty Red River.

There’s also been the highly prestigious MLF All-American tournament that was held on Cross Lake a few years ago as local angler Nick Lebrun took home first place, and kick started his professional career that he’s still enjoying today.

While all these events have had a huge impact on the economy in our area, these team events are only a handful of guys (24 anglers) fishing in a team format with two anglers in the boat.

In these Team Series events, there are 12 two-man teams. MLF has four different Cup events each year called the Challenge, Heritage, Patriot and Summit where these teams fish in an elimination-style format cutting from 12 teams over a six-day period down to four in the championship round.

While most regular professional tours are huge in terms of the number of anglers (usually over 150), and crowds at weigh-ins, the biggest thing for a Team Series event like the Summit Cup is how the economic impact comes later once this made-for-TV tournament airs nationwide next spring.

Here’s how the team series works. First, anglers are paired up through a draft where one captain of each team picks another angler from a pool of MLF anglers. The fishing format of the Team Series is every fish counts as the fish are weighed, recorded and released immediately.

Once the teams have been established, MLF will select a city where the Team Series will converge not knowing what lake they will be fishing until the morning of the event. Each day of the elimination rounds, anglers are loaded into a truck for a ride to whatever lake MLF has selected for competition.

While anglers have no information or practice time in any of these Team Series events, it’s a true test of figuring out how to locate and catch bass on a new body of water. That’s the premise of the MLF Team Series – no practice, no information and no idea where they are fishing until they arrive at the ramp of the waterway they will be fishing that day.

The anglers themselves absolutely love this format as it brings out the best in their ability to figure a new body of water in a short time. It’s a pride thing for all professional anglers who take more pleasure in finding fish than they do catching them.

If you’re not a fan of Major League Fishing, I highly encourage you to go online at majorleaguefishing.com and follow their entire tournament organization and the many circuits they own. They host tournaments from the grass roots level like the BFL’s up to the highest professional level with the Bass Pro Tour.

Also, when you see any of the Shreveport-Bossier city officials, let them know how much you appreciate them bringing in these high-level tournaments and what it means to our economy. The economic impact is huge for the entire region when any of these top-rated bass organizations come to our area.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com.

Prime Time Family Reading 

938 Lafayette St, 300

New Orleans, LA 70113 

504-620-2625

Accepting Bids for DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River Parishes 

Early Head Start and Head Start Food Service Vendor 

Question Period: Monday, 12/1/25 – Monday, 12/15/25 

Proposal Submission Deadline Date/Time: Tuesday, 12/16/25 @ 4:00 pm 

Proposal Submission Format: Mail ONLY (5 copies) to above address c/o Shantrell Austin

Proposal Opening Date/Time: Wednesday, 12/17/25 @ 1:00 pm   

Proposal Opening Location: Online Convening (review committee only)

Award Decision Communication Date: Monday, 12/29/2025 

Email austin@leh.org for details and with questions 

Bid Invitation Details/RFP at: https://primetimefamily.org/northcenla/  

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.