Louisiana voters are being reminded that all races and propositions scheduled for the May 16 election will continue as planned, with the exception of the U.S. House of Representatives races, which have been cancelled and moved to the state’s fall election cycle.

Matt Vines

PINEVILLE – The Red River spring football calendar has officially been completed after the Bulldogs competed in a four-way spring game Wednesday at Louisiana Christian.

Head coach Travis Gary said he was pleased with his team’s efforts, which wrapped up his second spring at the helm.

“We had a solid showing,” Gary said. “It took our guys a little time to settle down, but once we settled in, we competed well.”

Each team participated in a set number of plays against each opponent, providing different looks against different schemes and styles.

Coaches and fans got their first look at new quarterback Landon Wilson, who shined as a receiver this past season.

Wilson takes over under center after Malique Smith starred in the position for the past three seasons, which included multiple all-district performer who won the district’s Offensive Player of the Year honor in 2024.

“Landon shows great signs of being just as good,” Gary said about the senior. “The more experience he gets, the better he will be. He’s an exceptional athlete.”

Even with Wilson’s departure from the receiving corps along with the graduation of Warren Bowman and Carl Lewis, Red River still brings back Lathyn Lewis along with a crop of younger players.

Red River must also replace starting running back Cedric Moody, but the offensive line should be productive under all-district performers Ty Cole and Cole Pierce.

“We will always have good athletes in skill positions,” Gary said.

The defense continues to mature as that unit returns key players.

Linebacker Nathaniel Burton and defensive lineman Jarvis Whitaker are anchors up front, and defensive backs Ethan Lopez and Noah Adams will patrol the backfield.

“Our defense will be more experienced, and they showed how good they can be with some gritty goal line stands and forced turnovers,” Gary said.”

Perhaps the biggest spring football takeaway is the continuing adjustment to the culture Gary, a former Red River quarterback and college football player, wants to instill in his second season.

“We are headed in the right direction as a program, and you can see the shift in mindset and work ethic,” said Gary, whose Bulldogs went 6-5 with a first-round playoff loss at Many, a team that beat in the regular season. “We’ll have a better understanding of the game of football and will be a lot faster in real game time because of understanding the small details.”

Northwestern State University awarded 890 degrees to 860 graduates during Spring 2026 Commencement ceremonies May 13-14. 

Spring graduates from Red River Parish are:

Coushatta – Brett Danzy, Bachelor of Arts; Latoya Gray, Bachelor of General Studies; William Almond, Bachelor of Science

Hall Summit – Seth Wimberly, Master of Science

Louisiana is the only state to surpass pre-pandemic levels in both reading and math, according to a new report from Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth

BATON ROUGE, La. —Louisiana continues to lead the nation in academic improvement, according to the latest Education Scorecard released today by researchers from Harvard University, Stanford University, and Dartmouth College. The 2026 report shows Louisiana ranks first among states in reading growth and second among states in math. Louisiana is the only state where average student performance has surpassed 2019 levels in both reading and math.

“I’m proud of Louisiana students and grateful for the teachers who are driving these results,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “These rankings are a point of pride for our state, but we are far from satisfied and will keep pushing for greater academic outcomes.”

“Today’s education scorecard results did not happen by accident. They happened because we changed the script in Louisiana. We returned our classrooms back to the basics, empowered teachers and families, and removed woke, DEI material from our curriculum,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “Louisiana is leading again, and this is only the beginning!”

Louisiana Leads the Nation, Again

Louisiana ranked first among states in reading growth and second in math in the 2025 Education Scorecard, which measured recovery from 2019 to 2024. The latest scorecard shows Louisiana is still leading the nation, this time for growth from 2022 to 2025.

Louisiana’s scorecard results include:

• Louisiana ranks first among states in reading growth and second among states in math growth.
• Louisiana is the only state to surpass 2019 levels in both reading and math.
• Louisiana is the only state to surpass 2019 levels in reading and one of two states in math.
• Statewide, chronic absenteeism, which is defined as students missing more than 10 percent of a school year, continues to be an issue, rising from 18.8 percent in 2022 to 22 percent in 2025.

“The pandemic was the mudslide that followed seven years of erosion in student achievement, and very few places have managed to dig out. Louisiana is the only state in the country that has climbed back above its 2019 levels in both math and reading,” said Tom Kane, Faculty Director of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University. “To be the only state above its pre-pandemic levels in both math and reading shows what’s possible when state leaders stick with evidence-based interventions and give districts the support they need to follow through. Now the goal should be to ensure that the students in districts which are still behind 2019 levels finish their recovery.”

Ahead of National Trends
The national findings highlight why Louisiana’s results stand out. While the report says reading recovery is only beginning to turn around across the country, Louisiana students have already surpassed pre-pandemic reading levels. The report also points to evidence-based reforms, targeted academic support, and sharing successful local practices as priorities for education leaders. Louisiana has invested in many of these areas through literacy and math reforms, high-quality instructional materials, tutoring, school improvement supports, and the 2025 launch of statewide student attendance strategies.

Districts on the Rise
The report also recognized several Louisiana school systems as “Districts on the Rise,” a designation for school systems showing unusual progress compared with similar peers in their state. Natchitoches Parish was recognized for growth in both reading and math; West Baton Rouge, St. Martin, and Concordia were recognized for reading; and Lafourche, St. John the Baptist, and Webster were recognized for math.

About the Education Scorecard
The Education Scorecard is a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University, and faculty at Dartmouth College. It provides high-resolution, district-level data on academic recovery across the United States, combining state test results for roughly 35 million students in grades 3 through 8 with national assessment data.

Data note: The Education Scorecard’s national release lists Louisiana second in reading and third in math because the report also includes Washington, D.C. Among states, Louisiana is first and second, respectively.

Shared by the Louisiana Department of Education

Burger joints are as much a part of our American culture as the fish and chip shops are in England.  On April 25, 1960, Michael James “Jim” Delligatti opened a drive-in restaurant franchise in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.  Jim’s drive-in operated on a streamlined technique in which they could deliver a hamburger, French fires, and a milkshake in 50 seconds or less.  The menu consisted of just ten items: hamburgers, cheeseburgers, French fries, triple thick milkshakes, Coca Cola, root beer, Orangeade, milk, coffee, and hot chocolate.  By using their assembly line process, they could prepare 36 hamburgers in just 110 seconds.  Jim’s drive-in had the space to prepare 6,000 hamburgers a day.  At $.15 each, the profit margin per hamburger was small, but they made up for it in volume.  Customers flocked to Jim’s drive-in.  The food was inexpensive, quick, and tasted good.  A bright neon sign identified the drive-in.  The brightly lit food preparation area was enclosed by 900 square feet of quarter-inch plate glass so customers could see that their food was served quickly in spotless surroundings.  Business was so good that by 1971, Jim owned a dozen drive-in restaurant franchises in western Pennsylvania.  Jim eventually owned 48 restaurants in the drive-in restaurant chain.      

Jim always paid attention to what his customers wanted.  After hearing that they desired a bigger sandwich, Jim went to work.  After a short time—speed was of the utmost importance—Jim created a bigger sandwich by using items already on his menu and adding a unique sauce made from salted egg yolks, mustard, onion, garlic, and relish.  In March of 1967, Jim used his Uniontown drive-in to test out his new sandwich.  Demand exploded and Jim added his new creation to the menus of his other drive-ins.  The results were the same.  Jim’s larger sandwich was a hit, but the parent company did not want to alter their original menu.  Jim explained, “they figured, why go to something else if (the original menu) was working so well?”  Eventually, Jim’s creation was added to the national chain’s menus with resounding success.  Since 1968, the chain has sold billions of Jim’s larger sandwiches.  In 2006, the parent company estimated that they were selling 550 million of them each year at a rate of 17 each second.            

Jim did not become wealthy off of his creation that is now sold in over 100 countries.  Jim received no payment and no royalties for the creation, but that was okay with Jim.  After more than six and a half decades, Jim’s Drive-In is still open.  From the menu at the drive-in restaurant at 575 Morgantown Street in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, you can still order the sandwich Jim created there by combining two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions, on a sesame seed bun.  It is said to be the most popular sandwich on the planet.  Jim, the owner of a McDonald’s franchise, was the creator of the Big Mac.  …and it’s time for lunch.

Sources:

1.     The Evening Standard (Uniontown, Pennsylvania), April 12, 1960, p.7.

2.     The Evening Standard, March 2, 1971, p.69.

3.     Valley News (West Lebanon, New Hampshire), December 4, 2016, p.12.

4.     “Michael James Delligatti,” Devlin Funeral Home, accessed May 3, 2026, https://www.devlinfuneralhome.com/obituaries/michael-james-delligatti/.

5.     “Inventor of the Big Mac dies, aged 98,” BBC News, November 30, 2016, accessed May 3, 2026, https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-38162497.

I’ve always heard the saying that “some things never change,” but that would not be the case for bass tournaments. When you look back at tournament participation over the last 10 years, one thing is very apparent; anglers have walked away from bass tournaments. 

Let’s look at some of the reasons that might explain why participation is down. But understand this, you can’t point your finger at just one reason. First and foremost, we are living in a different time as compared to the hay day of tournament bass fishing that was the 1990s and early 2000s.

After the conclusion of the COVID outbreak in 2021, for some reason tournament participation has gone south. Tournaments were at full strength during COVID as anglers were looking for an escape from isolation. Bass boat sales were out the roof nationwide with people retreating to the outdoors. 

All the major tournament trails were filling up with a maximum number of entries anywhere from 200 to 300 boats or more. But a couple of years after COVID, for whatever reason, anglers quit showing up. 

That was about the time forward-facing sonar became an issue. Nothing in the last 40 years has had as much controversial impact than forward-facing sonar. 

Now I’m not pointing the finger at this alone because it may be just a coincidence that anglers were dropping out of tournaments. But for the last five years, anglers have come up with other reasons for not fishing competitively. 

Some say it’s the economy, but I’m not totally buying into this idea. One thing about bass tournament anglers, they will do whatever it takes to make sure they can still compete even if it means selling their youngest child or their wife getting a second job in order to save enough money for them to fish the next tournament. 

While I’m joking about them selling their youngest child, there is one thing that seems to be a common variable to anglers not showing up: gas prices! Back in 2014 when a tank of gas cost you an arm and a leg ($4 a gallon), anglers decided to park their high-dollar bass boats.

While gas prices can have an influence on whether anglers fish or not, presently we are once again on the verge of anglers parking their boats as gas prices continue to rise due to the war with Iran. 

Here’s a major concern of mine that I think is having a negative effect on tournaments … cheaters! Over the last two years, there have been more anglers disqualified for rules violations and more people who have been caught cheating. 

This has given the sport a black eye and is just another reason anglers are thinking twice before entering a tournament. They just don’t trust that someone is not cheating! Even on local weeknight shootouts, there have been anglers caught cheating just to win a couple hundred dollars. 

So, even with all the reasons we’ve mentioned, one angler recently summed it up as to why tournament participation is down nationwide: “It’s just not fun any more!”

Very few of us fish for a living. We love tournaments because we enjoy the comradery and the competition. Most guys are perfectly happy if they just get a check to help cover their gas, hotel and food. 

But it’s sad that we live in a world today where there will always be a couple of bad apples that can ruin it for everybody. I just hope that one day anglers can look forward to fishing a tournament and not have to worry if someone is cheating. 

Hopefully the heyday of tournament bass fishing is not over. But it’s going to take time for some anglers to return to the sport they love. Tournament organizations are in a pickle today trying to figure out the formula that will encourage tournament anglers to return.

Every tournament trail is always attempting to get more anglers to enter their events. Their dilemma is trying to figure out who should be their target demographic group. Should they cater to the younger generation (18 to 34) or try to get the 35 and older anglers back? 

There’s one key component they’ll need to factor in when getting more anglers to return; they must gain their trust again.   

Dear Fellow Citizens, 

I’m John Fleming, your State Treasurer and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate.

This Saturday’s election is extremely important. DC lobbyists and Baton Rouge elites have poured millions into supporting their preferred candidate — NOT ME. 

At stake is the carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) industry’s push to use YOUR tax dollars to seize YOUR private land through eminent domain.  Estimates suggest that up to 75% of the nation’s CO2 emissions could be pumped beneath our lands, lakes, and rivers – ‘captured’ for eternity. The whole thing is a “Green New Deal” scam, which will make the elites wealthier at the expense of the rest of us.  I am the only candidate who is 100% opposed to this fraud and abuse.  

Don’t be fooled! The establishment and powers that be are trying to buy our Louisiana Senate seat. I can’t be bought, bribed, or bullied! 

Our future, and the future of our children and grandchildren, hangs in the balance. Please don’t sit this one out — vote this Saturday, May 16th.   Polls open at 7:00 a.m. 

Thank you,

John Fleming
Louisiana State Treasurer
Republican Candidate for the US Senate 

Paid Content

Residents will have an opportunity to check in on their health during a Community Health Fair planned for Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Red River Council on Aging, 1824 Front Street in Coushatta. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The fair will offer several basic health screenings, including blood pressure checks, weight and height measurements, and blood sugar checks. Organizers are also planning door prizes for those who attend.

A number of vendors are expected to take part, including representatives from home health, the resource center, CHRISTUS Coushatta, medical technology, rehab centers, hospice, LaCHIP, Acadian On Call, and blood sugar check services.

Blood work will also be available through CHRISTUS Coushatta Healthcare. The flyer lists a lipid profile for $10, a comprehensive profile (CMP) for $10, and tests including HGB A1C, TSH, and CBC for $5 each. The flyer also notes that some services are being provided at no charge through the MLK Health Center & Pharmacy / BHF Heart Program.

The health fair is designed to give local residents a simple way to access screenings, lab work, and information from health-related organizations all in one place.

Anderson’s Produce and Plant Farm, 110 Anderson Lane, announced opening day is Sat May 23.

A one night revival is scheduled for May 23 at 4pm at the Hall Summit Community Center & Park. Worship will be led by New Light Church & New Light Baptist Church. Speaker is Marvin Leleux. Bring your chairs.

LSU Shreveport will set a new graduation record when 1,845 degrees are conferred today at the university’s spring commencement ceremonies.

USDA officially restores whole and 2% milk option in school and child nutrition programs.

Join the Shreveport-Bossier Astronomical Society, Inc. with an evening observation session at the Shreveport Observatory on Saturday, May 23, 2026. The evening observation session at Shreveport Observatory will be held from 8:00pm. to 10:00 p.m. The Shreveport Observatory is located eight miles south of the LSU-Shreveport campus. Go south on Hwy. LA. 1 and right on Hwy. 175 for about 1.7 miles and left on Astronomical Way. If the sky is clouded out or raining, the observing session will be canceled. For additional information go to ShreveportAstronomy.com or contact Dr. Cran Lucas at (318) 573-6929 or Email cranlucas@gmail.com.

Parkway Cinema in Natchitoches announced its FREE Summer Movie schedule begins June 2 and last six weeks. Doors open at 9:15 on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. Seats are limited.

Northwestern State University’s Wellness, Recreation and Activities Center will host three sessions of Fun & Fitness Camp for kids age 5-12.  Camps will be from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday July 20-24, July 27-31 and Aug. 3-7. Registration forms are available by contacting Jason Stelly at (318) 357-5341 or stellyj@nsula.edu.  

Donald Ray Harris
December 21, 1961 – May 6, 2026
Funeral services will be held Saturday May 16, 2026 at 12pm at Old Mary Magdalene Church in Harmon.

Billie Faye Demease
June 7, 1955 – May 3, 2026
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 11am at New Mt. Olive B.C. in Coushatta.

Riverdale Academy will celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2026 on Thursday, May 14 at 6 p.m. in the school gymnasium. Family, friends and the community are invited to attend as seniors mark this important milestone.

Leading the class this year are Valedictorian Makayla Pickett and Salutatorian Charity Williamson, who have both earned top academic honors through their hard work and dedication. Their achievements reflect the commitment and effort shown by the entire graduating class.

The ceremony will recognize the accomplishments of all graduates as they prepare to take the next step, whether that be college, career or other opportunities. It will be a night to celebrate not only academic success, but also the memories and experiences shared during their time at Riverdale Academy.

The Class of 2026 now looks ahead to the future, carrying with them the lessons and friendships built along the way.

Students in the Red River High School Firefighter I Program recently took part in an intensive day of hands-on firefighter training that focused on real-world emergency response skills and teamwork. The training provided students with the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in realistic emergency scenarios designed to prepare them for careers in the fire service.

Throughout the day, students rotated through several practical skill stations including live burn operations, search and rescue techniques, roof ventilation, and pump operations. These evolutions allowed students to experience the physical and mental demands firefighters face while operating in emergency situations.

One of the highlights of the training was the live burn exercise, where students practiced fire attack procedures, communication, accountability, and scene safety in a controlled environment under instructor supervision. During the search and rescue portion, students worked through simulated low-visibility conditions to locate and remove victims while emphasizing teamwork and situational awareness.

Students also demonstrated roof ventilation techniques, learning the importance of coordinated ventilation in fire suppression operations, while the pump operations station focused on water supply management, hose pressures, and engine operations.

The RRHS Firefighter I Program continues to provide students with valuable opportunities to develop leadership, discipline, confidence, and technical firefighting skills through realistic training experiences.

A special thank you goes to Bienville Parish Fire District 6 for allowing RRHS Firefighter I students to utilize their training facility to facilitate these mock situational skills. Their continued support and partnership play a vital role in helping prepare the next generation of firefighters and emergency responders.

Shared by Red River High School

Matt Vines

The Red River football team will conclude spring practice with a spring game Wednesday against three other schools at Louisiana Christian University in Pineville.

The Bulldogs will participate in a four-team spring setup with a set amount of plays against Class 3A Marksville and Class 5A members Pineville and New Iberia.

The Bulldogs are familiar with a Pineville football program that they pushed to the limit in the last two seasons, including a 41-40 loss in Week 5 of this past season.

NEW FOOTBALL SCHEDULE RELEASED
Second-year head coach Travis Gary got to craft his first football schedule as a head coach with the two-year scheduling cycle resetting for the 2026 season.

While the past two seasons included teams from the far corners of the state like Class 2A Oak Grove and Class 1A members Catholic Pointe Coupee and White Castle, this season’s schedule stays closer to home.

But that doesn’t mean the slate gets any easier.

Red River kicks off the season by welcoming a surging Class 4A program in Tioga.

The Bulldogs jamboreed against Tioga this past season before the Indians won nine games and earned the No. 6 seed in the Division I Select playoffs.

Week 2 features a familiar matchup against St. Mary’s in Coushatta, a local squad that rightfully remains on the schedule. The Tigers pulled off a first-round playoff upset but are looking for a new head coach.
Red River steps on the road for the first time in Week 3 against Class 5A Parkway, a nod back to a time when the Bulldogs played much bigger schools out of the Shreveport-Bossier area.

The Bulldogs return home in Week 4 to catch Class 2A Green Oaks, a program that consistently punches above its weight and resources. Homefield advantage will help, but as difficult as this schedule is, it’s a crucial game that has playoff implications.

Week 5’s visit to Class 1A Logansport could carry the same weight and is a great primer for a road playoff environment against a Tigers squad that is accustomed to deep playoff runs.
Red River begins an unbalanced district schedule with the first two games at home and the final two on the road.

The Bulldogs welcome Winnfield and Many in Weeks 6 and 7 followed by trips to Mansfield and Lakeside.
Winnfield features former Red River coach Byron Keller, who made the playoffs in his first season.

Many coach Tyler Hassell orchestrated a big turnaround in his first season as the Tigers knocked off Red River in the first round of the playoffs after the Bulldogs took the regular season meeting 34-6.

Mansfield is the reigning district champions fresh off a quarterfinals appearance who continue to add pelts to the wall under Darrell Barbay.

Red River keeps its Week 10 game in the non-district slot, and they’ll head up to Loyola in another great test in a playoff type atmosphere.

Loyola put together one of its best seasons in decades as the Flyers battled through a deep District 1-4A with the only regular-season loss coming to Division II Non-Select runner-up North DeSoto.

The Flyers earned the No. 2 seed in the Division II Select bracket and advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to eventual runner-up Archbishop Shaw.

Red River Parish School District Board Meeting
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 @ 3:30 PM

Posted: Monday, May 11, 2026 (Noon)

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

AGENDA
The next meeting of the Red River Parish School Board will be Wednesday, May 13, 2026 @ 3:30 PM in the Red River Parish School Board Administration Building, 100 Bulldog Drive, Coushatta, LA

MEETINGS WILL RUN CONSECUTIVELY

1. Open – Melinda Hardy, Board President

Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance & Mission Statement led by: Mr. David Jones, Business Manager                 

“Red River Parish Schools Provide Excellent Education: Every Child, Every Day, Whatever It Takes!

A. Finance Committee – Cleve Miller, Chairperson
1. To approve payment of bills
2. To approve 2024-25 Audit Report from Carr, Riggs & Ingram
3. To receive Monthly Report for all Major Funds from Mr. David Jones, Business Manager

BOARD MEETING

2. To approve Agenda for Wednesday, May 13, 2026
3. To approve Minutes of Wednesday, April 15, 2026
4. Superintendent’s Highlights
5. To approve the following Policy Update
                           GBRK Annual Leave
                           JCDB Student Dress Code
5. To approve Consent Agenda
A. Finance Committee – Cleve Miller, Chairperson
1. To approve payment of bills
2. To approve 2024-25 Audit Report from Carr, Riggs & Ingram
3. To receive Monthly Report for all Major Funds from Mr. David Jones, Business Manager
6. Superintendent’s Report
      Monthly Report for Red River Head Start Program
      Personnel Report – Resignations, Retirements, and New Hires
7. Announcements Next Board Meeting Wednesday, June 10, 2026 @ 3:30 PM
8. Adjournment

Public comment is asked for on each agenda item. If you wish to address the Board, please fill out a speaker’s form prior to the meeting indicating the agenda item to be addressed and give form to Board President

We are moving into the busiest time of year at the library. Below are the activities taking place in our library for these last few weeks of May. We invite all our patrons, young and old and small and large, to participate in our programs. We would love to see you here!

On May 13 (that is this Wednesday), we have our monthly Bingo program beginning at 1:00. Invite your friends and come enjoy some fellowship and some fun! We have light refreshments and some great prizes, so come out and enjoy the fun.

On May 15, Storytime will begin at 10:00 am. What does Ms. Kala have in store for the young ones this week? Who knows? It is always a surprise! What books will she read? What activities does she have planned? I am not telling anyone, so come out to the library and find out what is going on.

On Tuesday, May 19, the LWDA will be here to help anyone who needs assistance with finding a job. They will help with resumes and applications and will answer any questions you may have about finding a job. The purpose of this program is to help people become job-ready.

On Wednesday, May 20, the genealogy program is up and running. Participants can bring their own laptops and have access to genealogy programs on our library website. Mrs. Linda Young and Dr. Virginia Webb are always ready to assist others to find information about their ancestors. The action starts at 10 am and goes until 12. Mrs. Young is also available at other times during the week to assist anyone who needs help finding information.

On Friday, May 22, Storytime gets started at 10:am. Parents and grandparents are invited to join Ms. Kala and the children for all the fun.

Also on Friday, May 22, Mr. Tobin Deville will be here to provide instruction in the area of Computer Security? Are you worried about someone hacking into your computer and stealing your information? There are a lot of concerns in our society today about keeping our data safe. Mr. Deville will conduct two sessions, the first in the morning beginning at 10:00 and the second beginning at 2:00 in the afternoon. Be sure to call the library at 932-5614 to get your name on the list for the session you wish to attend.

On Monday, May 25, the library will be closed in honor of Memorial Day.

On Friday, May 29, Storytime will begin at 10:00 am. Ms. Kala will be waiting for you children to meet with her for some reading fun. There are always some new characters to meet as well as some old ones that we have loved for a long time. Come join the fun!

We only have a few weeks before our Summer Reading Program kicks off with a bang! The first activity takes place at the end of June (more information to come soon). The theme is “Plant a Seed, Read!”

Has anyone tried our new Check-out Louisiana State Parks program? Remember that a family can check out a backpack and get a free pass that allows free entrance to a state park or an historic site. The pass permits one vehicle and its passengers to enter a park for the day. Contact the library at 932-5614.

Please check the calendar on the library website for information on all of the activities. The library website can be found at redriverparishlibrary.org.

Shared by the Red River Parish Library

Residents will have an opportunity to check in on their health during a Community Health Fair planned for Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Red River Council on Aging, 1824 Front Street in Coushatta. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The fair will offer several basic health screenings, including blood pressure checks, weight and height measurements, and blood sugar checks. Organizers are also planning door prizes for those who attend.

A number of vendors are expected to take part, including representatives from home health, the resource center, CHRISTUS Coushatta, medical technology, rehab centers, hospice, LaCHIP, Acadian On Call, and blood sugar check services.

Blood work will also be available through CHRISTUS Coushatta Healthcare. The flyer lists a lipid profile for $10, a comprehensive profile (CMP) for $10, and tests including HGB A1C, TSH, and CBC for $5 each. The flyer also notes that some services are being provided at no charge through the MLK Health Center & Pharmacy / BHF Heart Program.

The health fair is designed to give local residents a simple way to access screenings, lab work, and information from health-related organizations all in one place.

Sunday morning, May 10, 2026, at First Baptist Church, Coushatta was a busy one. In addition to the church honoring moms with brunch and special Mother’s Day gifts, the church also honored nine graduates during the morning service.

Kindergarten graduates at Red River Elementary are Andrew Frederick and Christian Wise. Slate Woodard is a Riverdale Academy kindergarten graduate.

High school graduates and their schools are: Ashton Almond, Riverdale Academy: Ashton plans to attend electrician school at Northwest Louisiana Technical and Community College in Minden.  Mary Claire Jones, Riverdale Academy: Mary Claire will continue her education at Northwestern State University and study nursing. Jenna Mills, who was homeschooled, received her diploma from Saints Christian Academy.  Jenna plans to attend nail tech school.  Ben Moseley, Riverdale Academy: Ben plans to attend Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College in Minden and obtain an associate degree in instrumentation technology.

College graduates and their colleges are: Parker Almond, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Northwestern State University. Parker will work in the family business, Almond Bros Lumber Co. Timothy Thomas, Bachelor of Science in Business from Northwestern State University. Timothy will teach and coach at Red River High in Coushatta starting this fall.

Bro Cory Tucker, First Baptist Coushatta pastor, introduced the graduates while chairman of the deacons, Randy Thomas, Jr, presented them with special gifts including Bibles.

Several years ago, a radio station in San Francisco conducted a non scientific listener survey. Sixty eight percent of the people surveyed were for it. Twenty percent were against it. The remaining twelve percent had no opinion on the matter. So the radio station concluded from this non scientific survey that the vast majority were in favor of it. The funny part is that the radio station never asked a question. It was an illustration of the bandwagon effect. If you get enough people walking down South Trenton Street in the same direction at nearly the same time, a parade is likely to break out.

I could go on one of my rants about people not thinking critically about political, educational, existential, or spiritual matters — but I won’t. I will say this: you need to read more than just the headlines on the website. You need to read the article. And you need to read more than one verse of the Bible if you want the whole picture. We often form opinions based on emotion rather than actually thinking something through. (I know — shocking.)

I talk about this because when people find out I’m a minister, they usually ask a question that goes something like this: “Do Methodists believe in drinking wine and playing cards at the dance held on Sunday afternoon at the movie theater?” This is not a serious question, but the ones people ask me are just as funny. When someone asks me about a specific “sin,” I usually ask them what they think. You might be surprised to know that people are looking for direction and validation in their lives. I’m amused that they mostly want to know if I’m AGAINST the same things they’re against. Often, in seeking direction and validation for our spiritual position, we join a church where people “think like we do.”

Non church folks define the congregation of Trinity Methodist in two ways: by who attends our church, and by what we are AGAINST. I have a list of jokes to prove my point, but space doesn’t allow me to share them. (You’re welcome.) In church life, the bandwagon is joined as much for what a church is against as for what the church believes. But do you really want anyone defining you by what you’re against?

Now here’s what I want you to hear — and I want you to hear it louder than any bandwagon rolling down the street. I am FOR YOU. I believe God loves you just the way you are — not the “improved,” “cleaned up,” “Sunday best” version of you, but the real you, the one who sometimes burns the biscuits, loses their patience, and wonders if they’re getting any of this right. You don’t have to do one single thing to earn God’s love. Not one. I believe God wants the best for you — and your “best” doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. God loves you so much that He sent Jesus into the world to show us that love with skin on.

And if you’ve never heard anyone say this plainly, let me be the first: you matter, you are loved, and heaven is not rolling its eyes at you. God is not waiting for you to get your act together — God is already cheering for you, believing in you, and walking with you.

What do you believe?