In February the fourth-grade students in Red River Parish were back to gardening!

They prepared for spring planting with indoor seed starter kits.

Our new NCH Agent, Mrs. Elizabeth, also brought food samples to review MyPlate.

Thank you so much to our adult and teen volunteers, Virginia Webb, David Giddens, Alvester Barfield, and Viktor Novosad for your wonderful help!

Shared by Red River Parish 4-H

I return to this topic because of the recent U.S. 5th Circuit of Appeal decision in the Louisiana case involving the Ten Commandments. In short, the ruling lifts a lower court injunction and allows Louisiana to mandate that all public schools display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.

Without any specific understanding of what such displays might look like, these appellate judges stated they were not willing to rule based on speculation. “It would oblige us to hypothesize an open-ended range of possible classroom displays (of the Commandments) and then assess each under a context-sensitive standard that depends on facts not yet developed and, indeed, not yet knowable. That exercise exceeds the judicial function. Guessing.”

And, while the ruling stops short of declaring Louisiana’s law constitutional, it is nevertheless encouraging and hopeful. Louisiana Attorney General, Liz Murrill, has stated that “don’t kill or steal shouldn’t be controversial.”

The Ten Commandments provide the general foundation for American civil and criminal law and possess value and merit completely aside from any religious connotation. Our young people are trying to survive the cultural cesspool that modern American society has become and can only benefit from being reminded of America’s history and founding principles of public morality, faith, civic virtue, respect for lawful and moral authority, and the guidance and leadership of parents.

Further, all that our Framers intended by the Establishment Clause was that there be no official federal, national religion of the kind the Pilgrims fled when they settled in America. That is all. The Framers never intended for there to exist this outright hostility to all notions of religion and faith in public life. However, that’s what we have.

Thomas Jefferson absolutely favored free exercise of religion and cited as one of his proudest accomplishments the religious freedom law he wrote for his native state of Virginia. Jefferson opposed a mandated state religion. Beyond that, he supported the broadest definition of religious liberty possible.

In fact, Jefferson’s own belief in the vital principle of religion and morality was much further developed and advocated for by George Washington and John Adams, who were both true believers. Washington stated that: “reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” He believed that religion and morality are “indispensable supports” for political prosperity and the duties of citizens. Adams believed that “our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Back to the Louisiana law.

It should be unnecessary but perhaps the best way to avoid having the law struck down is by including along with the Commandments, other historical displays such as the Declaration of Independence, the Mayflower Compact, and the Northwest Ordinance. By surrounding the Ten Commandments display with other historical displays, it would be imbued with academic, educational, and historical value outside of any religious context.

I note that the current U.S. Supreme Court has been more accommodating of free exercise of religion, including the case of Kennedy v. Bremerton, the “praying football coach” who was fired from his job at a public high school after he briefly knelt after games to offer a prayer of thanks. The Court ruled in his favor, finding that the coach had never attempted to force his players to join him, or based playing time upon player participation in the prayer. Rather, in firing the coach the school district had unconstitutionally punished him “for engaging in a brief, quiet, personal religious observance.”

The Supreme Court has adopted a new legal standard and held that the Establishment Clause “must be interpreted by ‘reference to historical practices and understandings.’ I much prefer the new standard because America has many historical practices involving faith and religion in the public square as well as the understanding that such practices are based not only on faith and religion but on our nation’s culture, history, and tradition.

Even if this Louisiana law is ultimately struck down by the Supreme Court—and I don’t think it will be—it nonetheless has great symbolic value in having existed in the first place. Essentially, the law—however long it may last—sends an unmistakable message about the values of Louisiana and what we think is important to emphasize in public education.

America’s Founders knew that freedom of religion is essential to self-government. This ruling is merely a reflection of that.

Royal Alexander

Wednesday: 

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. High 72F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.

A mostly clear sky overnight. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.

Thursday:

Sunny. Cool. High around 80F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.

Clear overnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable.

SHREVEPORT – Are you a current student or a graduate from a local college who’s looking for a job or a career change?

Make the trek to the Regional Career Fair on Thursday at the Centenary Gold Dome for a chance to meet with nearly 100 employers from across the region.

The event lasts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will have groupings of employers by industry.

Students and alumni from LSUS, Centenary, Southern in Shreveport, Bossier Parish Community College, Northwest Technical Community College and Northwestern State University College of Nursing are invited to wind their way through employer booths on the Gold Dome floor.

Industries most represented include K-12 education, healthcare, defense and law enforcement, financial services, manufacturing, hospitality and casino, government and graduate college programs.

Employers from along the Interstate 20 corridor and East Texas represent the bulk of the employers who will be present, but representatives from different parts of Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi are expected to attend.

“Our advice to students is to have a resume ready to go and to practice your elevator pitch so you can describe yourself to employers,” said Michael Doughty, assistant director of LSUS Career Services.

“Develop a plan about the kinds of industries you’d like to talk to.

“One issue we find is that every year some students dress too casually. Business casual attire is appropriate, but if you’re a graduating senior, a suit or dressier clothes won’t be out of place either.”
LSUS Career Services put together a series of resume workshops and other Career Fair preparation sessions to ensure LSUS students were ready. A Career Fair preparation session will occur today with resume sessions Wednesday and Thursday in the Student Success Center.

The event also benefits younger college students who may not be entering the workforce full-time this spring.

“Attending a career fair helps younger students become more comfortable in a professional setting,” Doughty said. “You’ll be talking to established professionals who are well into their careers, and you can get a feel for what kinds of questions a recruiter may ask and the kinds of questions you’ll want to ask employers.

“The experience will make you more comfortable when it comes time to look for actual roles.”
Career fair attendees may also unearth internships or make connections for future employment opportunities.

In a national job market that’s shed jobs in five of the past 12 months with unemployment climbing to 4.4 percent, which is still below average but higher than recent years, Doughty said students should be looking for any advantage in landing a job.

“We are seeing a retraction in jobs, and it makes an already competitive market even more competitive,” Doughty said. “Especially for students looking to stay local, it’s a great opportunity to see what’s available to them.

“Making those contacts is important because presumably there will be a bigger pool of competitors for any given role.”

LSUS students and alumni needing transportation to the career fair can catch a SporTran bus for free atthe Pioneer Heritage Center.

For questions, visit LSUS Career Services or reach out to Doughty via email at michael.doughty@lsus.edu

Matt Vines
Communications Specialist, LSUS Public Relations
Louisiana State University Shreveport
matt.vines@lsus.edu
http://www.lsus.edu

It really does take less square footage to be a kid now than it did back in the olden days—by which I mean the 60s, 70s, and 80s, when dinosaurs did not roam the earth, but teenagers with giant stereos certainly did.

Back then, if you were a teenager, your bedroom looked like the back room of a Radio Shack. You had a stereo system that took up half the wall. Not a cute little Bluetooth speaker—no, no. This thing had a turntable, an amplifier, and speakers the size of end tables. If you turned the volume up, the windows rattled, the dog hid under the porch, and your mother yelled your full name from three counties away.

And the music collection? Albums were thin, yes, but they were the size of pizza boxes. And every album had a jacket, and the jacket slid into a cover, and some artists released double albums, which meant you needed a forklift to move your collection. Then came eight-tracks (which lasted about as long as a snowball in July), then cassettes, which required their own storage system—usually a shoebox with the lid missing.

If you were lucky, you had a phone in your room. It was attached to the wall by a cord, and the receiver was attached to the base by another cord. If you were really lucky, you had the long cord, the one that let you walk around the room, change albums, and still talk to your best friend about absolutely nothing for two hours.

You also had an alarm clock—or a clock radio—because you needed something to wake you up so you could enjoy that magical sleep between the alarm going off and your parent entering the room to announce, “I said GET UP.” Today we call that the snooze button. Back then we called it “living dangerously.”

Some studious kids had a desk with a typewriter on it. If you had a Pica typewriter, your term papers looked longer, which felt like cheating but wasn’t. And there was almost never a TV in the bedroom. The TV lived in the den, a 25-inch RCA color set that weighed more than a small car. The whole family gathered around it, and since there was no remote, the youngest child served as the official channel changer. It built character.

Fast-forward to 2026. Kids don’t need a whole room anymore. They need a pocket. Their music, alarm, computer, TV, telephone, camera, calculator, flashlight, and speakers are all in one device. Pull out your phone and look at everything it does. It’s a miracle of modern engineering.

There’s a tool that lets us do things we never dreamed possible.

 iPhone.

But here’s the thing: for all the problems life throws at us—grief, illness, broken relationships, guilt, confusion, decisions that keep us up at night—there is no app for that. There’s no setting to toggle, no update to install, no notification that says, “Your peace has arrived.”

               When you don’t know what to do…
               When you’ve lost something or someone…
               When the doctor is puzzled…
               When your child or parent won’t listen…
               When you’ve messed up and don’t know how to make it right…
               When you need direction and can’t find the map…

               There is one place to go.

               Jesus.

               He doesn’t fit in your pocket.
               He doesn’t need charging.
               He doesn’t go out of date when the next model comes out.
               And He’s the only One who can hold everything your phone can’t—your fears, your hopes, your                 grief, your sin, your future.

Kids today may need less space to grow up. But all of us—no matter our age—need the same Savior to grow into the people God calls us to be.

At the March 4, 2026, meeting of the Bossier City Council, the council voted to withhold city funding for the United Way of Northwest Louisiana until the 2024 audit reports were completed.

During the meeting, city officials reported that United Way of Northwest Louisiana was found noncompliant by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor for failing to file 2024 reports.

Previously, the Bossier City Council directed city officials to check the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s compliance before any future funding of non-governmental organizations.
In response to the city’s actions, Shekinah Robberson, Director of Marketing and Events for the United Way of Northwest Louisiana, released a statement.

Our organization takes financial transparency and accountability seriously. We are actively working to complete and submit our required audit to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor and remain committed to full compliance with all reporting requirements. UWNWLA expects to complete and file the required audit no later than June 2026, which is the only issue at hand.

For decades, United Way has partnered with communities across Northwest Louisiana to connect residents with critical services. Support from Bossier City helps sustain 211, a vital resource that connects thousands of residents each year with help for housing, food assistance, healthcare, and other essential needs.

We value our partnership with Bossier City and remain committed to serving residents across the region.

Dr. Sean Troxclair has been named the Deputy Surgeon General of the Louisiana Department of Health. Congrats!

Krewe of Demeter will hold a St. Patrick’s Day parade Mar 21 at 2pm in Grand Cane.

The 2026 Louisiana Nursery Festival in Forest Hill will be held Mar 20-22. The Nursery Festival Parade will roll at 10am on Saturday.

Red River Elementary is hosting a Father & Daughter Glow Dance Fri Mar 27 from 5:30-7pm. Contact the school for more information.

Clara Springs Fourth Friday Fish Fry will be held Friday, Mar 27 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. Robeline First Baptist will host.

LSU baseball once ranked #2 has fallen completely out of the rankings for the first time since 2024.

Southern University nursing school named best in the US for the 2nd consecutive year.

Amazon released the dates of its Big Sporing Sale! It starts Mar 25. Some early deals have already been released.

Colby Hunt
June 30, 1994 – March 13, 2026
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 19, 2026 in at 2pm at Springhill Baptist Church in Ringgold.

Terri Trichell Adams
November 26, 1956 – February 13, 2026
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 11am at Open Door Fellowship in Coushatta.

RED RIVER PARISH OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

 The Red River Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness invites the public to attend an informal Question & Answer meeting regarding the recent earthquakes affecting our area.

This meeting will provide residents with an opportunity to learn more about what is happening and ask questions directly to a leading expert in the field.

Guest Speaker
Dr. Cynthia Ebinger
Professor of Geophysics
Tulane University

Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM

Location:
McLemore Hall
First Methodist Church
2018 Front Street
Coushatta, Louisiana

Community members are encouraged to attend, learn more about the recent seismic activity, and participate in the discussion.

RED RIVER PARISH, La. — Local officials are inviting residents to attend a groundbreaking ceremony on March 20, 2026, at 1:00 pm.    This marks the start of construction on a new courthouse annex that will include a modern 911 dispatch center for the parish.

Hosted by the Red River Parish Police Jury and the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office, the ceremony will be at the construction site directly across from the Red River Parish Courthouse.

The new courthouse annex will be a modern facility totaling more than 19,000 square feet and will house a state-of-the-art 911 Dispatch Center designed to improve emergency communications throughout the parish.

Officials say the project represents a major investment in the future of Red River Parish and will enhance public safety services while providing updated workspace for parish employees.

The new 911 dispatch center will provide dispatchers with the space and technology needed to efficiently handle emergency calls and coordinate responses across the parish.

Currently, the parish’s dispatch center operates in a limited space that was not originally designed for modern emergency communications. The new facility will offer an improved environment specifically designed to support dispatch operations and better serve residents.

In addition to the dispatch center, the courthouse annex will enable the Sheriff’s Office and the Police Jury to operate more efficiently and collaboratively while continuing to meet the community’s needs.

Local officials, community leaders, and members of the public are encouraged to attend the ceremony as the parish celebrates the beginning of a project expected to serve Red River Parish for generations to come.

CenterWell Home Health in Coushatta has been recognized as a 2026 Best Home Health branch by U.S. News & World Report, a distinction that highlights the branch’s commitment to high-quality patient care and clinical excellence.

The recognition reflects the compassionate support, skilled care, and professional expertise the Coushatta team provides to patients and families throughout the community. The award honors home health branches that demonstrate strong performance in helping patients receive quality care in the comfort of their own homes.

Local staff members said the designation is a meaningful reflection of the dedication their team brings to each patient and family they serve.

CenterWell Home Health leaders expressed pride in the Coushatta branch and the positive impact its caregivers continue to make across the area. From skilled nursing services to personalized support for recovery and ongoing care needs, the branch remains focused on improving lives and strengthening the health of the community.

The 2026 recognition from U.S. News & World Report serves as both an honor and a reminder of the important role home health providers play in delivering trusted, compassionate care close to home.

Source: CenterWell Home Health social media

Red River High School’s Firefighter I students recently achieved an important milestone by successfully earning their Hazardous Materials Awareness certification through the Fire & Emergency Training Academy (FETA). Students completed both the written exam and practical skills evaluation, demonstrating their understanding of hazardous materials response and scene safety.

Throughout their training, students learned how to identify hazardous materials, recognize potential dangers, interpret warning systems, and initiate proper response actions to protect themselves, the public, and the environment. These skills are critical for anyone entering the fire service and emergency response fields.

The certification process required students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world scenarios while meeting state and national training standards. Their successful completion of the program highlights the dedication and hard work they have shown throughout their Firefighter I training.

Programs like the one at Red River High School provide students with hands-on career training and industry-recognized certifications before graduation. These opportunities help prepare students for future careers in fire service, EMS, emergency management, and other public safety professions, while also teaching responsibility, teamwork, and leadership.

Red River High School congratulates these students for their accomplishment and looks forward to seeing them continue their training as they move forward in the Firefighter I program.

Shared by Instructor Toni Rodgers

Pictured left to right: Jamon Jackson, Zachary Thompson, Calib Grigg, Nathan Woodard, Kinya Gray, Johnny Meshell, Cedric Moody, and Stethan Chatman.

On March 5, 2026 the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission adopted a notice of intent to modify  to tighten fishing regulations on the Saline-Larto Complex to address declining fish populations.  These rules affect the entire Saline-Larto Complex, including Lake Larto, Saline Lake, and Shad Lake. New limits will go into effect later this summer.

Passage of the NOI will change the daily take of crappie to 25 per person and change the minimum length to 10 inches. Additionally, the NOI proposes changing the daily black bass take to eight per person with a minimum length limit of 14 inches.

Current regulations on the Saline Larto Complex follow statewide limits of 50 crappie per day and 10 largemouth bass per day, with no length restrictions on either species.

Interested persons may submit comments relevant to the proposed rule by May 27, 2026, to Shelby Richard at 1995 Shreveport Hwy. Pineville, LA 71360 or srichard@wlf.la.gov.

See the full NOI here

Monday:

Rain showers last night brought a blast of cold air and wind chills will be in the 20s to start the day. Intervals of clouds and sunshine during the day with temps much cooler. High near 50F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.

Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds overnight. Near record low temps. Low near 28F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday:

Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. Cool. High around 58F. Winds light and variable.

A few clouds from time to time overnight. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable.

New medical research is shedding light on how early use of eyeglasses in children may do more than simply improve day-to-day clarity — it may actually help protect and preserve vision as they grow.

Eye specialists report that when children with nearsightedness or other refractive issues receive corrective lenses early, their eyes are less likely to strain or compensate in harmful ways. Without glasses, young eyes work harder to focus, which can accelerate the development of progressive myopia, where distant objects appear increasingly blurry.

Several pediatric ophthalmologists say that consistent use of properly-prescribed glasses — or approved contact lenses in older children — can slow the worsening of nearsightedness. This not only helps children see better now but may reduce the chances of high myopia later in life, a condition linked to increased risks of retinal tears, detachment, and other serious complications.

Doctors also emphasize how easily vision issues can go unnoticed in childhood. Kids often adapt to blurry vision without realizing it, and early symptoms may show up as headaches, squinting, avoidance of reading, or changes in classroom performance. For that reason, experts recommend regular eye exams, ideally starting before kindergarten and continuing every year.

The growing body of research is prompting more parents to seek early screenings and treatment options. Specialists say catching problems early — and correcting them consistently — can make a significant difference in long-term eye health, helping children maintain clearer vision well into their teens and adulthood.

Red River Parish Office of Homeland Preparedness will host an Earthquake Community Informational Meeting Fri Mar 20 at 5pm at McLemore Hall at First Methodist Church Coushatta. Guest speaker is Dr. Cynthia Ebinger from Tulane University.

Ashland Baptist Church is hosting a Community Revival March 26-28 at the Ashland Pavilion. Thursday & Friday services begin at 6:30pm, Saturday at 5pm. Speakers include Stephen Beard and Brandon Digilormo with music by Johnny Couch and The Bumgardner Family.

Liberty Baptist Church & Davis Springs Southern Methodist Church are hosting a 5th Sunday Singing Mar 29 at 6pm at Liberty Baptist Church. Everyone is invited to join for song, food and fellowship.

The Coushatta-Red River Chamber of Commerce announced the Farmers’ Market and Makers’ Fair is returning! Third Saturdays April through July. Vendor Registration here.

Zwolle Loggers & Forestry Festival will be held Apr 17-18. Live music, food vendors and craft booths.

Red River Junior High is hosting “Carnival of Knowledge Math & Literacy Testing Night” Apr 23 from 4-6pm. LEAP testing information will be shared. Join in for snacks, games and fun!

LSU Womens Basketball will host the first and second round games as the #2 seed. They will host Jacksonville in the first round on Friday. With a win, LSU would face the winner of Texas Tech vs Villanova in the second round.

Gov Landry suggested Louisiana should work toward eliminating the income tax. 

Terri Trichell Adams
November 26, 1956 – February 13, 2026
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 11am at Open Door Fellowship in Coushatta.

Fire Chief Woodfin notified RRPJ this morning that the burn ban for Red River Parish has been lifted at this time.  

My wife (Debbie) and I were excited about visiting Israel. We entered the country on the 23rd of February after 12 days in Egypt and Jordan. We had been planning this trip for years, but the attacks of October 7th, 2023, and subsequent military actions made it too unsafe to travel.

I finally decided that things had settled down enough that it was safe to go…I was wrong! The first 5 days were filled with marvelous experiences: a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, renewing our wedding vows at Cana (where Jesus turned water into wine), seeing the birth sites of Jesus and John the Baptist – just a few of the incredible events that we had waited so long to see.

On Saturday, 28 Feb, everything changed. We were staying in a hotel in Jerusalem and were on a bus to the Mount of Olives when our phones started blaring alarms about incoming rockets from Iran. Air raid sirens sounded and our tour guide was informed that Israel had launched an attack in Iran. He had us return to the hotel to take shelter. Over the course of the day, we ventured out briefly to see some more sites: the path Jesus took to enter Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the garden of Gethsemane, the shrine where Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer, the rock where Jesus prayed on the night he was betrayed and a few more.

The rocket attacks from Iran were frequent, so we took shelter wherever we could until the “all clear” sounded. Though I had experienced events like this in my military career, it was a bit unnerving having my wife in the middle of this war zone. We witnessed two Israeli “Iron Dome” interceptors launch and heard the explosions overhead as they successfully engaged Iranian rockets. Only a few of the explosions were close enough to raise our alarm and we continued to hear them throughout the day and night from our hotel room.

On Sunday, our tour company arranged for us to travel by bus to Amman, Jordan, where we eventually flew back to the US. Jordan was also being attacked by Iran so we continued to hear the air raid sirens from our hotel room.

Our flight on Monday was one of the few that left – Jordanian airspace had been shut down intermittently and almost all flights into and out of the country were cancelled. Thankfully, ours was not! All in all, this was an experience we’ll never forget – the fulfillment of a dream to visit the Holy Land…along with an up close and personal view of the conflict that continues to rage.

Our “once in a lifetime” encounter with rockets is sadly a frequent occurrence for the people who live there. We’re grateful for our safe return and prayerful that peace will eventually be restored in that troubled region.

Tom Jones

Pictured are Tom and Debbie Jones at the Sea of Galilee