Celebrate the Louisiana Peach Festival’s 76th year with free admission, a wide range of entertainment and activities, and plenty of peachy events to enjoy leading up to the festival. Browse our guide below and start planning your trip to Downtown Ruston for the weekend of Saturday, June 6.

EAT:
From June 1-6, enjoy Peach Culinary Crawl, a weeklong tasting tour featuring over 20 local restaurants. Each participating location will offer special peach-inspired items. From peach BBQ and burgers to peach cocktails and desserts, there’s something to satisfy every craving. The full Culinary Crawl menu is available on the Peach Fest website.

SEE:
Get a preview of all the arts of the festival with the 39th Annual NCLAC Peach Art Exhibit. Check out the display of local artist of all ages in the Lincoln Parish Library Events Center happening all through July.

– Peach fest hack: After visiting the exhibit, take the quick drive to explore downtown Ruston, scope out the festival grounds, and snap a picture at one of the colorful murals!

EXPERIENCE: There’s plenty to enjoy Friday before the festival:

• Take a stroll through Downtown Ruston and browse the Peach Sidewalk Sale. Participating downtown shops will be offering peachy deals and special promotions from June 3-6.
  – Peach Fest Hack: Find your perfect festival outfit during the sidewalk sale!
• The Peach Parade is a long loved and cherished tradition by festival attendees. The parade will roll down W. Alabama Ave. and N. Monroe St. on Friday, June 5 at 6:00 PM.
• After the parade, you can head over to the North Louisiana Expo Center for the 37th Annual Peach Festival Rodeo for family fun entertainment, trick riders, and more.

Saturday June 6: Festival Day!

Festival activities start at 9:00 AM and there’s plenty to eat, see, and experience—all located on the festival grounds.

EAT:

Festival Eats

• This year, enjoy bites from 15 food vendors, offering everything from burgers, sandwiches, and pizza, to classic festival treats, refreshing drinks, and tasty snacks.
• You’ll also want to pay a visit to the Historic Fire Station for a scoop of frosty peach ice cream from the ladies of Beta Sigma Phi
  – Peach Fest Hack: Ask vendors what their special peach item is! All food vendors create and offer a peachy item just for the Peach Festival

Local Eats
Feeling like a sit-down meal? Check out these local restaurants that are walkable from the festival:

• The Local: morning pick-me-up coffee, pastries, and breakfast bites.
• Uptown Downtown or Heard Freighthouse Food Park: perfect for lunch and plenty of options! For sandwiches, wraps, and a sweet treat, go to Uptown Downtown. For BBQ, Burgers, Chinese, or Mexican cuisine, head over to the Food Park.
• Sundown Tavern or Ponchatoulas: both are beloved Ruston staples with that classic dive bar charm. Be sure to try the fried green beans at Sundown or the stuffed catfish at Ponchatoulas.
• Roma or Utility Brewing: For classic Italian-style pizza, pasta, and fresh salads, take a stroll to Roma’s Italian Bistro. Want to try something different? Utility Brewing serves up creative wood fire-baked pizzas paired with craft beer in a cozy setting.

SEE:

• Festival Art Displays: Discover Plein Air artists painting the scenes and capturing the action of the festival in real time. At Kids Alley, there will be interactive displays and activities for the kiddos to participate in the arts themselves!
• Ruston Antique Classic Car Show: Head over to Cadence Bank from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM for the Car Show. Whether you’re a car enthusiast or just love vintage charm, this show is sure to impress with its lineup of beautifully restored classic vehicles.
• Fireworks Show: Stick around till the headliner performance for the Peach Festival’s Firework show at 8:45 PM! This dazzling sky display will take place before the headlining act to kick off the grand finale to the festival.
• Go to www.lapeachfest.com/schedule to see all festival events!

EXPERIENCE:

• Live Music: Enjoy more than 12 consecutive hours of live performances at the Railroad Park stage. With an exciting lineup of artists, the festival’s musical energy will keep you dancing all day long. Don’t miss the headliner, The Chee-Weez, taking the stage at 9:00 PM.
  – Peach Fest Hack: Bring a lawn chair or blanket in case seating runs out!
• Kids Alley: Make fun memories in this family-friendly zone packed with interactive activities and entertainment to keep the little ones smiling.
• Curated Market: Browse the booths of more than 90 vendors, all selling their handmade arts, jewelry, clothing, mugs, decorations, candles, and lots more. Additionally, you can stop by the Peach Fest Sticker Wall in the market—perfect for a fun and unique photo op.
  – Peach Fest Hack: arrive early to the Curated Market before your favorite vendor sells out. Visit www.lapeachfest.com/vendors to get a sneak peek at what vendors are offering.

SUNDAY:

After a busy Saturday, sleep in, take Sunday slow and enjoy Ruston’s cozy charm:

EAT:

• Trios: Enjoy their signature brunch menu in a trendy atmosphere.
• The Local: Order specialty brunch cocktails and bites in the heart of Downtown.
• Beau Vines Steakhouse: Not a brunch fan? Dive into a hearty lunch and bottomless mimosas.

SEE:
While you’re at the festival Saturday, you will likely spot a few of Ruston’s unique bulldog statues scattered throughout downtown. In total, there are 22 bulldogs placed around the city—each with its own charm. Stretch your visit a little longer and turn your Sunday into a scavenger hunt to track down the ones you missed.

EXPERIENCE:
Wind down with a peaceful visit to Lincoln Parish Park. This park offers mountain biking and walking trails, kayaking, fishing, and a playground for the kids. It’s the perfect way to soak in the natural beauty of Ruston and cap off your Peach Festival weekend.

From peachy treats and live music to charming shops and peaceful parks, the 76th Annual Louisiana Peach Festival is the perfect way to kick off your summer. Soak up the fun, explore Ruston, and celebrate 76 years of sweet traditions and unforgettable memories!

To learn the insider tips and tricks all seasoned festival goers know, read up on our How to Peach Fest blog.

I’ve been pondering one of life’s great mysteries: what happened to hats? Real hats. The kind men used to wear when they went to work, went to town, or went anywhere except the shower. Once upon a time, a man wouldn’t leave the house without a fedora, a trilby, or something with a brim wide enough to shade half the county. Now the only folks still wearing real hats are cowboys—and even they take them off indoors, which is more than I can say for the baseball‑cap crowd at Walmart.

I watch Perry Mason before bed most nights. Not for the suspense—there isn’t any. We all know Perry’s client didn’t do it. I watch to see how much the world has changed. In the 1957 episodes, everybody wears a hat. Even Perry. The only hatless soul is Paul Drake, the detective, who apparently needed full cranial ventilation to solve crimes. And have you noticed? Nobody has a television in their living room. They’re sitting around talking to each other like it’s normal. Wild times.

Do y’all know what happened to hats? Should we start a new fad here in Ruston? On second thought, no. I’d rather someone start a movement to make neckties disappear. That’s the one part of my calling I’ve never understood. Why wrap a decorative noose around my neck and cut off blood flow to my already overworked brain? I’m trying to preach the gospel, not pass out in the pulpit. Someone please start a necktie revolt. I’ll sign the petition.

And while we’re talking about things that vanished—what happened to CB radios? That was the first social media. You could make friends for a solid five miles. Longer if you were driving 55 on the interstate, which we all were back then, unless we weren’t, which is why we needed the CB in the first place. “Breaker one‑nine, where’s Smokey hiding?” Then radar detectors came along and CBs went the way of the eight‑track.

Some things I’m glad disappeared. Felt boards in church. I never trusted those things. One wrong move and Moses would fall off Mount Sinai. Typewriters? Good riddance. I used more liquid paper than ribbon. I’m surprised they didn’t sell it by the gallon.

But here’s something I hope doesn’t vanish: you.

So go to church on Sunday—before someone starts wondering what happened to you.

MANSFIELD, La. — Sharpco Hotels Group has officially broken ground on a new 67‑room Comfort Inn & Suites in Mansfield, marking the company’s return to a community where its roots run deep.

The hotel will be built at the Interstate 49 and Highway 175 interchange, next to the LOVES Travel Center. When completed, it will become the first hotel at the exit, bringing new lodging options to travelers and supporting continued growth in DeSoto Parish.

The project will feature the Comfort brand’s Rise & Shine prototype, which includes a modern lobby, flexible seating areas, refreshed guestroom layouts, and amenities designed for both business and leisure guests. Plans call for complimentary hot breakfast, high‑speed Wi‑Fi, a fitness center, and meeting space.

For Sharpco Hotels Group, the project represents both progress and a homecoming.

“We are thrilled to return to the Mansfield market. I spent several summers living and working in our former Best Western here during my college years, so this community holds a special place in my story. Opening the first hotel at the Interstate 49 exit, right beside the LOVES Travel Center, is an exciting milestone for Sharpco Hotels Group,” said Jay Sharplin, President of Sharpco Hotels Group.

Sharpco previously owned and operated the Best Western in Mansfield throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, and the company says the new Comfort Inn & Suites will build on that legacy by bringing investment, jobs, and modern accommodations to the area.

Construction is now underway, with the hotel expected to open once development is completed.

According to a report from WalletHub and based on new data set to be released Friday by the Federal Reserve, credit card debt will decrease by $61 billion.

Lucille Anderson Thomas Henry
December 24, 1926 — May 25, 2026
Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 7, 2026 at 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home in Shreveport. Interment will follow at Saint Paul Baptist Church Cemetery, 6373 Hwy 783, in Coushatta.

Recent earthquake activity in and around Red River Parish was part of a state oversight hearing held May 26 by the Louisiana House Select Committee on Homeland Security.

The hearing included discussion of the Northwest Louisiana earthquake cluster, with Red River Parish being one of the main areas of concern. Scientists, academic experts, and state officials shared early information about the recent seismic activity and discussed what may be needed to better understand and monitor future events.

State Representative Charles “Chuck” Owen, who represents Louisiana House District 30, said the hearing showed that Louisiana needs to continue paying close attention to the issue. Owen noted that while earthquakes do happen in Louisiana from time to time, the recent activity in Northwest Louisiana has been more significant than usual.

Red River Parish became a focus earlier this year after a magnitude 4.9 earthquake was recorded in March. The quake was felt by many residents and brought attention to the need for more information about what caused the activity and whether additional monitoring may be needed.

The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy has also been involved in reviewing the tremors, along with the Red River Office of Emergency Preparedness and the U.S. Geological Survey. State officials have reported multiple earthquakes in the area since late 2025, including several tremors recorded over a short period of time.

The recent activity has led to discussion of creating an Earthquake Task Force to study seismic activity in Red River and nearby parishes. The proposed task force would look at monitoring needs, possible causes, and ways Louisiana can be better prepared for future events.

For Red River Parish residents, the hearing shows that the recent earthquakes are being taken seriously at the state level. While many questions remain, lawmakers and experts are continuing to look for answers and ways to strengthen Louisiana’s response to unusual seismic activity.

By Alan Wooten | May 28, 2026

(The Center Square) – Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988, Kentucky since 1992, Louisiana and North Carolina since 2008.

Respectively, outgoing Republican Sens. John Cornyn, Mitch McConnell, Dr. Bill Cassidy and Thom Tillis are accused of being of the party in name only, and a fair number from their party are glad to see them go. In three of the four races in November, their departure won’t matter too much for their party because the state leans Republican.

But for purplish North Carolina, the Grand Old Party has an imposing rally to complete to keep the streak. Republican Michael Whatley, notable as the leader of the Republican National Convention handpicked to get Donald Trump back in the White House, trails Democrat Roy Cooper in fundraising, polls and increasingly important as the clock ticks, name recognition.

“A failed governor, Roy Cooper spent eight years releasing violent criminals into North Carolina’s communities, drove up costs for working families, and deserted thousands of victims devastated by Hurricane Helene,” said Executive Director Alex Latcham of the Senate Leadership Fund after $71 million from $342 million went to the North Carolina race. “By contrast, Michael Whatley is a successful entrepreneur and strong ally of President Trump who always puts North Carolina’s families first.”

The dollars of the pivotal super political action committee are expected to eventually be spent in Texas; Cornyn lost his primary to state Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday. McConnell’s Kentucky and Cassidy’s Louisiana are strong Republican grounds, with May 19 primary winner Andy Barr and June 27 runoff survivor Julia Letlow or John Fleming, respectively, expected to win in November.

The four departing Republicans voted plenty with the party. Ultimately, they were unwanted by second-term Republican President Donald Trump.

Tillis drew the mercurial leader’s ire as one of two holdouts on a reconciliation bill last June. He’s also been a thorn in confirmation committee work, and even back to the first term. Still, he carried a 9-0 record in 23 years of political elections, notably flipping his seat in 2014 from the late Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan.

“It’s not a hard choice,” he said of being done with partisan gridlock of Washington and saying he would not seek reelection.

Party battle wounds are many.

Cornyn’s “Trump’s time has passed him by” line three years ago was never forgotten. Even still, Paxton didn’t get the presidential endorsement against him until May 19 – a week ahead of the runoff with early voting already ongoing. Cornyn also supports the filibuster rule, criticized the 2017 firing of FBI Director James Comey and defended Special Counsel Robert Mueller regarding a Russian investigation.

Five years have passed since Cassidy voted to convict Trump in the impeachment trial after the events of Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol.

“Bill’s loss was predictable, and Bill knew it,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., in published reports, adding he respected him for running anyway.

Cassidy even labored diligently to navigate the waters. For example, as a physician he questioned Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s stance on vaccines yet still delivered a confirmation vote. Cassidy has chaired the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, adding even more impact to his vote.

For Tillis, he and Trump had different views on Medicaid and tax policy. His blocks or holding out until late on nominees, such as federal prosecutor Ed Martin or War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth, were another division, as was speculation on controlling Greenland. Tillis also didn’t like the rhetoric on what did or did not happen Jan. 6, 2021.

Collectively, the four were generally reliable votes as Republicans and in many occasion gave support to the president. Just not always.

And in 14 weeks, absentee ballots go into the mail in North Carolina ahead of Nov. 3 Election Day. Without a doubt, a Cooper win would definitely mark another “nay” vote to the Trump agenda.

The Senate today is 53 Republicans, 47 Democrats and two independents caucusing with the minority party. Thirty-five Senate seats will be decided – two of which are special elections.

Forecasts have it close – prediction markets favoring 50 Democrats, 49 Republicans and one too close to call; the renowned website 270towin says consensus is four too close to call, 50 Republicans and 46 Democrats.

Tough as any metric for Whatley, aside from what money pours in for each campaign, is polls asking about favorability or recognition. In the Carolina Journal poll this month, 52.7% either have no opinion (19.3%) or say they have not heard (33.4%) of Whatley. That’s great disparity from Cooper’s 11.7% combined for no opinion (8%) or never heard of him (3.7%).

“Roy Cooper’s double-digit lead over Michael Whatley is real – but it’s not just a generic midterm backlash,” said Donald Bryson, CEO of the John Locke Foundation and publisher of Carolina Journal. “Cooper’s 24 years of statewide name recognition is a massive advantage that no challenger can easily overcome. At the same time, Republicans are fighting headwinds: President Trump’s approval is underwater, while a majority of North Carolinians say the country is on the wrong track. That combination makes this Senate race even more difficult for the party in the White House.”

Whatley is arriving at his first public office election. His work has been hailed at the national level. On the ground, his campaign is nearing a sweep of stumping in all 100 counties. Wednesday, he was in the coastal Pender County community of Hampstead celebrating “250 years of American exceptionalism and strength.”

Cooper, a career politician, has six statewide victories (two for governor, four for attorney general) in his 13-0 ledger inclusive of state Senate and House of Representatives races he began five decades ago in the 1980s.

According to Federal Elections Commission information, Cooper’s cash on hand at the end of the first quarter March 31 was $18.4 million. Whatley was at $2.5 million.

Earlier this month, twice in five days Cooper’s poll lead on Whatley increased. Carolina Forward had it 49%-42% with margin of error +/- 3.3%; Carolina Journal had it 49.8%-38.7% with margin of error +/- 4%. Sampling for each was within the first 11 days of the month.

“If you’re a Republican candidate running in a competitive race in North Carolina this year, these are tough results,” said Rebekah Whilden, executive director of Carolina Forward. “The evidence is piling up, between polling results like these as well as in special elections around the country, that the voters do not like what they’re seeing and demanding a course correction.”

The president was fine with losing Cornyn, McConnell, Cassidy and Tillis. He firmly believed Whatley can win the state where he’s triumphed three times.

Election Day is five months from Tuesday. North Carolina voters get ballots in 14 weeks.

So, while it’s not the left field sun at Yankee Stadium, Yogi Berra’s famous line applies: “It gets late early out there.”

• VIP Suite – $650 (includes $500 donation to the Demons Unlimited Foundation)
  Includes access to fully catered suites at Turpin Stadium along with upgraded parking based on donor level.
• Chairbacks – $125
• Military/Senior Citizen – $115
• Faculty/Staff – $85 (Sections D, E, H and I)
• Young Alumni – $85 (ages 30 and under)
• General Admission – $70
  General admission tickets provide access to any bleacher seat in Turpin Stadium on either sideline or the upper deck.

Red River Boys Basketball is hosting a summer team camp Mon June 1. Games tip off at 3:40pm. Participating team include Alexandria, Green Oaks, Lakeview, CE Byrd and Red River.

Mermaids are visiting the Shreveport Aquarium until June 7. You can catch them swimming with the sharks and tropical fish.

The newest movie in the Star Wars franchise “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” was partially filmed on Caddo Lake.

According to a May 26 notice by the FDA, two brands of superfood supplements sold online across the US through Amazon, Walmart, TikTok Shop and Target are being recalled due to a possible salmonella contamination. The affected products include Total Nutrition Inc’s moringa-filled supplements, TNVitamins Ultra Potent Complete Green Superfood, and Doctor’s Pride Complete Green Superfood Ultra Potent Moringa Capsules.

ULM announced that the Marjorie S. Price Doctor of Physical Therapy Program has been granted full accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Billionaire Tilman Fertitta is acquiring Caesars Entertainment, including Horseshoe Casino in a $17.6 billion buyout.

Starting Aug 1, outdoor balloon releases will be illegal in Louisiana after the passage of HB 851, which prohibits the intentional outdoor release of Mylar and latex helium balloons. 

NONE

SHREVEPORT – If one had asked Colton Caskey at the beginning of his first collegiate fishing season at LSU Shreveport if he expected to be in the hunt for an individual national championship, he’d of course say “no.”

But that’s exactly where the Riverdale Academy alumnus found himself this past weekend.

Teamed up with junior Mason McCormick, the freshman and his teammate landed a whopping 24.24 pounds of bass on the first day of the Association of Collegiate Anglers national championship to sit in fourth place.

Weights plummeted across the board on Day 2 as the rain rolled in and Pickwick Lake’s current (courtesy of the Tennessee River) shifted, but Caskey/McCormick finished 13th in a 197-boat field.

“We started hot the first day,” Caskey said. “We fished just four spots all day long, and the first two spots, we pulled in 23 pounds.

“On the fourth spot, we casted twice and replaced a four-pounder with a 4.5 pounder.”

That large bag was netted by just 10 a.m. on the first day, and Caskey and his partner decided to practice the rest of the day knowing that rain and current shifts were on their way.

“We were expecting (fish) to start pulling current, so we decided to look for schools (of fish) and other stuff in preparation for Day 2. We thought we’d catch 18-20 pounds based on our practice rounds, but our Day 1 total shocked us.

“On Day 2, the fish just weren’t there or we couldn’t make them bite. They’d get really close to the bait, and they’d kind of hit but wouldn’t eat it. They wouldn’t connect all the way.”

The Day 2 total of 15.90 pounds is still a respectable weight, especially on a tough day of fishing.

The pair ended with 40.14 pounds in the two-day event, not quite enough to push out Auburn University’s national championship boat (45-5).

Caskey’s tournament put an exclamation point on a relatively successful first season that did have its ups-and-downs.

A season that started with a bang (11th on Lake Dardanelle in October) had plenty of obstacles as the pair fished consistently but weren’t often near the top of results lists.

“Mason and I had fun together through our ups and downs,” Caskey said. “We were pretty consistent, we just weren’t where we wanted to be for most of the year. We didn’t bomb any tournaments but also weren’t burning it down at many this year.”

The pair learned each other’s strengths and communication styles throughout the season, which allowed the productive conversation on Pickwick Lake to stop actively fishing on Day 1 and prepare for different conditions on Day 2.

“This was a big adjustment from high school because I was in a position to usually make the decisions, but in college with a partner who was in his third season, I kind of thought I should sit back and learn.

“But to compete in college, both anglers make decisions and bounce ideas off each other. We struggled with that early, but we learned each other’s personalities. We did a great job of fishing free and bounced ideas off each other, which led to the good finish.”

Caskey added that LSUS’s strong performance to end its season – all six boats finished in the top half of the championship field – will solidify the team’s position in the top 10 nationally.

“You really have two things on your mind – finish high in the School of the Year standings and fish well at the championships,” Caskey said. “What we did shows us that we can compete against the best, and some of these guys who are winning professional tournaments.

“It shows us we’re meant to be there.”

Not all of Caskey’s learning came on the water.

He finished the academic year on the Dean’s List and learned plenty about the business of fishing as diesel prices unexpectedly spiked in the last two months of the season.

“I’m pursuing a double major in business marketing and entrepreneurship – and really all fishing is selling yourself as a business,” Caskey said. “We couldn’t do this without our sponsors and our families.
“With how expensive everything is nowadays, you do have to watch what you are doing. We limited ourselves to $50 on boat gas per day, and we conserved and rationed our gas. We’d do things like pull our boat with the truck to the ramp closest to where we knew we’d fish instead of put in at the closest ramp and run the boat across the lake to our spot.”

The pairing of Caskey and McCormick panned out this season, and the strong finish should launch the boat as possibly LSUS’s best heading into 2026-27.

“It’s specifically a testament to Mason because he’s had a different partner all three years,” said LSUS coach Charles Thompson. “This pairing has worked out really well, and it sets up great for next year.

“With our past success, we’re getting some of those elite guys in, and we knew who Colton was before he got here. It’s one thing to bring in a guy who has high upside and will mature in the sport – Colton came in mature and is becoming an elite angler.”

By Nolan Mckendry | May 26, 2026

(The Center Square) — Gov. Jeff Landry and legislative leaders announced plans to create a task force to review Louisiana’s public school funding formula, saying the state must find a permanent way to fund teacher and support staff pay raises without raising taxes.

It remains uncertain whether teachers will receive the $2,000 stipend they have received in recent years.

The Minimum Foundation Program currently allocates about $6.2 billion for schools, including roughly $4 billion in state money and $2 billion in local funding. Total public education funding in Louisiana reaches about $13 billion when federal funds and additional local resources are included.

Landry and Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, questioned how the state could spend that much on public education while still struggling to fund the stipends, which have cost roughly $200 million.

“Of all the sources of funding that go to public education, the total dollar amount is $13 billion,” Henry said. “There is no way we can’t find a permanent pay raise in those dollars.”

It is not clear which specific areas of school spending the task force will target. Landry said the review is meant to determine where education dollars are going and whether the current formula reflects the state’s needs.

Last week, lawmakers rejected the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s proposed formula adjustment, which would have added $30 million for operational costs tied to inflation-related expenses. The proposal came as public school enrollment is projected to decline by about 12,000 students.

During Tuesday’s press conference, Landry pointed to a longer enrollment decline, saying public school enrollment has fallen by more than 100,000 students since 1988 while “the amount that we’re spending per student has doubled.”

The task force’s recommendations would ultimately have to go through the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, which proposes the program before lawmakers approve or reject it. The board will have a seat on the panel, which could keep its proposed operational-cost increase part of the discussion.

“For too many years, Louisiana’s teachers and support workers have been told, ‘Next year,’” Landry said. “Next year we’ll find the money. Next year, in my opinion, is no longer acceptable.”

Landry also addressed recent media reports about budget amendments authorizing the use of $800 million from a state savings account, none of which was directed toward teacher stipends.

Landry said the money could not be used for the stipends. Still, critics argue that currently funded projects could be removed to free up money for recurring needs.

The constitution allows lawmakers to draw from the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund when its balance at the start of the fiscal year exceeds $5 billion, but only for two purposes: capital outlay projects in the state capital budget or transportation infrastructure. The latest budget includes projects tied to universities, playgrounds, parks, aerospace programs and high school athletic venues.

The task force will include appointees from legislative leaders, the chairs of the House and Senate finance and education committees or their designees, the state superintendent of education or a designee, the board, and representatives from school board and superintendent associations. Henry said Republican and Democratic legislative leaders will also be included.

“We applaud Governor Jeff Landry and legislative leaders for bringing stakeholders together through this task force to focus on long-term solutions for teacher compensation,” BESE said in a statement. “It is important that we work collaboratively to provide competitive pay that helps recruit and retain high-quality educators across our state.”

The governor said the goal is to make the upcoming school year the last one in which teachers have to wait to see whether lawmakers approve a stipend.

Henry also said lawmakers will create a separate task force to review the state’s higher education funding formula. That panel will be led by Sen. Jeremy Stine Reese, who has been named president of McNeese State University, and will examine whether higher education dollars are being distributed appropriately.

Landry said both reviews are intended to modernize state funding formulas.

“The era of patchwork stipends and year-to-year uncertainty is over,” Landry said. “Teachers deserve certainty. They deserve stability. They deserve respect in the form of a permanent pay raise.”

Here we are at the end of May and there are some new things happening at the library.

On Friday, May 29, Storytime will begin at 10:00 am for children and their families. Ms. Sims always has some good books to read and some fun activities for all ages. We invite everyone to com to see what she has planned for this Friday.

Our big news for June is that, beginning on Saturday, June 6, our library will begin opening on Saturdays, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. We hope that this will help some of our patrons who have difficulty getting to the library during the week. Librarians will be available to help patrons with checking items in and out, making copies, using genealogical materials, and other things. We encourage all who need extra time in the library to come in on Saturdays.

 We have many things happening in June. To find out what is going on, you can go to the library website at redriverparishlibrary.org. When you get to the website, click on the word Calendar. When the calendar appears, click on the date in which you are interested. If there is an event on that date, the information will show up to the left of the calendar. If you have trouble using the calendar, just call the library at (318) 932- 5614.

Shared by Red River Parish Library

Vacation Bible School season is here, and churches across our community are preparing to welcome children for a week of faith, fun, and fellowship. Kids will enjoy a variety of activities throughout the week, including interactive Bible lessons, music, games, and hands-on crafts in a fun and welcoming environment. Families are encouraged to take part as local churches open their doors for VBS programs across the area.

Ashland Baptist Church will hold a one-day VBS, Illumination Station, on May 30 from 8am until 12pm.

First Baptist Church Coushatta is getting ready for an exciting week of Vacation Bible School with this year’s theme, “Illumination Station,” set for June 1-5 from 5:30-8pm each night. Children completing Pre-K through sixth grade are invited to enjoy Bible adventures, music, games, crafts, fellowship and nightly meals while learning more about Jesus in a fun and energetic environment. The week will also feature special dress-up days, themed activities and kid-friendly meals throughout the week.

Social Springs Baptist Church is taking this year’s event to the beautiful lush meadows of the countryside and the cobblestone streets of the cities of Ireland. Come journey to the Emerald Crossing: An Irish Adventure Through Psalm 23. June 7 – June 12, 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Registration will be Sunday, June 7 at 5:30pm. Family Night will be Friday, June 12, 6pm. So pull on your work boots, grab your walking staff, and get ready for a grand ol’ time at Emerald Crossing! Classes for all ages.

Martin Baptist Church will host VBS, Illumination Station, June 8-12 from 5:30-8:20pm for COMPLETED PK-4 -6th grade (NO 3 yr olds). Register at https://forms.gle/vWCbZurjEqeraV3s5. Contact Brandi Jones or the church for any questions.

Red River Cowboy Church M3 Kids Summer Buckle Series offers a unique twist on Vacation Bible School. Described as “not your ordinary VBS,” the program takes place in the arena and combines fun, western-style activities with lessons about Jesus. Kids who attend three of the four events will earn a buckle. Dates are June 14, July 5, & August 2.

New Ebenezer Baptist Church, in Castor, will host Vacation Bible School, Illumination Station, June 22–26 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. each evening. Children in Pre-K through 6th grade are welcome to attend and enjoy a week of VBS fun.

All area churches may share their VBS dates/info with RRPJ at the following email redriverparishjournal@gmail.com

Nothing is harder to swallow than when a younger athlete comes along and replaces the older, more experienced player. Egos are shattered and feelings are sometimes hurt. No athlete likes to be put out to pasture. But in today’s bass fishing universe, that’s exactly what’s happening.

To say the young guns of bass fishing have arrived would be an understatement! No matter what sport you play, there comes a day when someone wants to take your spot. They respect you because of your experience and time you’ve given to the game, but they are the ones pushing you out of the sport you love. 

Today, a younger generation is making its mark on the sport of tournament bass fishing by utterly dominating tournaments with catches that no one has ever seen before. This past month a young buck, Andrew Rickman, 24 years old from Canton, Texas, made his presence felt by catching a record setting B.A.S.S. Nation record of 95 pounds,15 ounces over a three-day period.

Now to some this may not resonate, especially if you’re not familiar with tournament bass fishing. But what this young man did is nothing short of incredible! Maybe this will help you understand; he caught 15 bass over the three days and averaged over 6 pounds per fish — something that has never been done before in tournament competition. 

What makes this more amazing is the fact that he had never seen, let alone fished Toledo Bend in his entire life! Most anglers could add up three years of tournament catches and not even come close to 95 pounds of bass. This kid did it in three days with zero experience on the lake!

It’s just another testament to how good so many of these young anglers are. They are doing things and catching fish in ways the older generation of anglers have never dreamed about. 

One thing that is very noticeable about the young anglers of today; they spend a tremendous amount of time on the water learning new techniques and studying their electronic units like Forward-Facing Sonar so they can get better.

So many of these young anglers (due to forward-facing sonar) have been unfairly labeled as “scopers only.” But it’s a little unfair to put a blanket label over all of them because so many have been raised with old-school techniques and can catch bass with or without Forward Facing Sonar.  

To put a bow on this topic, if changes or FFS restrictions are not made with regards to bass tournaments, I highly suggest that the older anglers spend more time on the water learning how to use FFS during the off season and spend less time in the deer stand if they want to be competitive with the young guns that are on the rise in the bass tournament world. 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has been hard at work stocking Florida largemouth bass fingerlings into public waters across the state as part of an ongoing effort to improve fishing opportunities and grow larger trophy bass populations in Louisiana.

According to LDWF Inland Fisheries, biologists have already stocked approximately 3 million Florida bass fingerlings in more than 50 public waterbodies this spring, with additional stockings planned through mid-June. Officials say the stockings are designed to improve bass genetics and increase anglers’ chances of catching larger fish in the future.

The stocking season officially kicked off April 16 when biologists released 58,760 fingerlings into several Louisiana waters, including Spring Bayou, Chatham Lake, Mill Creek Lake, False River and Little Alabama Bayou.

Since then, hundreds of thousands more bass have been released into lakes and reservoirs around the state, including several North Louisiana favorites. Some of the larger stockings include:

Grand Bayou Reservoir – 30,000
Toledo Bend – 550,420 total stocked during multiple releases
Caddo Lake & James Bayou – 151,000
Lake Bistineau – 140,600
Black Lake & Clear Lake – 115,400
Cross Lake – 100,100
Cocodrie Lake – 100,000
Bayou D’Arbonne – more than 350,000 combined stockings
Vernon Lake – more than 173,000 combined stockings
Caney Creek Reservoir – more than 103,000 combined stockings
Lake Claiborne – 80,700
Iatt Lake – 71,180
Cheniere Brake Lake – 60,500
Kepler Creek Lake – 27,900

Additional stockings also took place in smaller lakes, park ponds and community fishing areas throughout Louisiana.

Most of the fish are raised at the Booker-Fowler Fish Hatchery near Woodworth, where LDWF biologists work each year to produce millions of Florida bass fingerlings for stocking programs statewide.

LDWF says the work continues long after the fish are released. Fisheries biologists monitor bass populations, genetics and overall fish health in managed waters across the state to help guide future management plans and stockings.

Officials also reminded the public that it is illegal for private individuals or groups to release fish into Louisiana public waters without a permit from LDWF.

Photo Source: LDWF Facebook post

The Indianapolis 500, commonly called Indy 500, is a 500-mile automobile race which has become the largest single-day spectator sporting event in the world. Since its meager beginnings in 1909, people have flocked to the track in record numbers to watch the high-speed thrills. On May 30, 1941, George “Joie” Chitwood readied his cigar-shaped racecar, the Blue Crown Spark Plug Special, for the Indianapolis 500. During qualifying, Joie bounced around the track in his racecar and had a hard time keeping his foot on the accelerator. Out of necessity, Joie used a simple strap to fix the problem. The other drivers objected to the strap because they thought it was dangerous. The heads of the AAA Drivers Association agreed and refused to allow Joie to use the strap. They only relented when Joie promised to release the strap if he thought he was going to crash. Keep in mind that the cars traveled more than 100 miles per hour. Joie did not crash that day. He came in 14th place and won $620. (The first-place winner, Floyd Davis, received $29,200.) Joie believed that using the strap helped his performance in the 1941 Indy 500, but the other drivers remained skeptical.

For decades, the general public remained skeptical as well. Carmakers often adopt equipment designed for racing cars on their vehicles. In 1949, now defunct carmaker Nash Motors offered this strap on about 40,000 of their Airflyte and Ambassador models, but over 39,000 of them were removed by dealerships at the request of the owners. In 1955, Ford offered it as an option on their vehicles, but less than 2% of buyers chose the strap. In 1958, Saab became the first carmaker to include the strap as part of their standard equipment.

Although he had nothing to do with its invention, Joie Chitwood made history that day in May 1941 because he was the first driver to wear the strap in the Indy 500. Today, all race car drivers are required to wear one. It has also become a requirement in all automobiles. At that time, the common misperception was that people were safer in a car accident if they were thrown from the wreck rather than behind held inside the vehicle. They called the strap safety belts, but we know this strap as the seat belt.

Sources:

1. Robert Tate, “The 1949 Nash was an Entirely New Postwar Design,” MotorCities National Heritage Area, October 1, 2025, accessed May 17, 2026, https://www.motorcities.org/story-of-the-week/2025/the-1949-nash-was-an-entirely-new-postwar-design.

2. “1941 Indianapolis 500 Race Results,” Indianapolis 500 Race Day Stats, accessed May 17, 2026, https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/race-stats/race-results/1941.

3. “Joie Chitwood (SR.),” National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum, accessed May 17, 2026, https://web.archive.org/web/20190619150409/https://www.sprintcarhof.com/helper_pages/FileGet.aspx?id=186.