WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced the annual inflation adjustments for tax year 2025.

Revenue Procedure 2024-40 PDF provides detailed information on adjustments and changes to more than 60 tax provisions that will impact taxpayers when they file their returns in 2026.

Notable changes for tax year 2025

The tax year 2025 adjustments described below generally apply to income tax returns to be filed starting tax season 2026. The tax items for tax year 2025 of greatest interest to many taxpayers include the following dollar amounts:

• Standard deductions. For single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately for tax year 2025, the standard deduction rises to $15,000 for 2025, an increase of $400 from 2024. For married couples filing jointly, the standard deduction rises to $30,000, an increase of $800 from tax year 2024. For heads of households, the standard deduction will be $22,500 for tax year 2025, an increase of $600 from the amount for tax year 2024.
   
• Marginal rates. For tax year 2025, the top tax rate remains 37% for individual single taxpayers with incomes greater than $626,350 ($751,600 for married couples filing jointly). The other rates are:
  • 35% for incomes over $250,525 ($501,050 for married couples filing jointly).
  • 32% for incomes over $197,300 ($394,600 for married couples filing jointly).
  • 24% for incomes over $103,350 ($206,700 for married couples filing jointly).
  • 22% for incomes over $48,475 ($96,950 for married couples filing jointly).
  • 12% for incomes over $11,925 ($23,850 for married couples filing jointly).
  • 10% for incomes $11,925 or less ($23,850 or less for married couples filing jointly).
     
• Alternative minimum tax exemption amounts. For tax year 2025, the exemption amount for unmarried individuals increases to $88,100 ($68,650 for married individuals filing separately) and begins to phase out at $626,350. For married couples filing jointly, the exemption amount increases to $137,000 and begins to phase out at $1,252,700.
   
• Earned income tax credits. For qualifying taxpayers who have three or more qualifying children, the tax year 2025 maximum Earned Income Tax Credit amount is $8,046, an increase from $7,830 for tax year 2024. The revenue procedure contains a table providing maximum EITC amount for other categories, income thresholds and phase-outs.
   
• Qualified transportation fringe benefit. For tax year 2025, the monthly limitation for the qualified transportation fringe benefit and the monthly limitation for qualified parking rises to $325, increasing from $315 in tax year 2024.
   
• Health flexible spending cafeteria plans. For the taxable years beginning in 2025, the dollar limitation for employee salary reductions for contributions to health flexible spending arrangements rises to $3,300, increasing from $3,200 in tax year 2024. For cafeteria plans that permit the carryover of unused amounts, the maximum carryover amount rises to $660, increasing from $640 in tax year 2024.
   

• Medical savings accounts. For tax year 2025, participants who have self-only coverage the plan must have an annual deductible that is not less than $2,850 (a $50 increase from the previous tax year), but not more than $4,300 (an increase of $150 from the previous tax year). 

  The maximum out-of-pocket expense amount rises to $5,700, increasing from $5,550 in tax year 2024.

  For family coverage in tax year 2025, the annual deductible is not less than $5,700, increasing from $5,550 in tax year 2024; however, the deductible cannot be more than $8,550, an increase of $200 versus the limit for tax year 2024. For family coverage, the out-of-pocket expense limit is $10,500 for tax year 2025, rising from $10,200 in tax year 2024.
   

• Foreign earned income exclusion. For tax year 2025, the foreign earned income exclusion increases to $130,000, from $126,500 in tax year 2024.
   

• Estate tax credits. Estates of decedents who die during 2025 have a basic exclusion amount of $13,990,000, increased from $13,610,000 for estates of decedents who died in 2024.
   

• Annual exclusion for gifts increases to $19,000 for calendar year 2025, rising from $18,000 for calendar year 2024.
   

• Adoption credits. For tax year 2025, the maximum credit allowed for an adoption of a child with special needs is the amount of qualified adoption expenses up to $17,280, increased from $16,810 for tax year 2024.

Unchanged for tax year 2025

By statute, certain items that were indexed for inflation in the past are currently not adjusted.

• Personal exemptions for tax year 2025 remain at 0, as in tax year 2024. The elimination of the personal exemption was a provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
   
• Itemized deductions. There is no limitation on itemized deductions for tax year 2025, as in tax year 2024 and preceding, to tax year 2018. The limitation on itemized deductions was eliminated by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
   
• Lifetime learning credits. The modified adjusted gross income amount used by taxpayers to determine the reduction in the Lifetime Learning Credit provided in Sec. 25A(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code is not adjusted for inflation for taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2020. The Lifetime Learning Credit is phased out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income in excess of $80,000 ($160,000 for joint returns).

Source: irs.gov

World Kindness Day is celebrated around the world today, November 13.

World Kindness Day was introduced by the World Kindness Movement, a global coalition of kindness organizations, in 1998. It was established to encourage individuals and communities to prioritize kindness and goodwill as fundamental values.

Since then, World Kindness Day has gained recognition and participation from people around the world, making it a day to celebrate and promote positive human interactions.

Participating in World Kindness Day is a simple yet impactful way to make a positive difference in the world. Here are ways to get involved:

• Perform Acts of Kindness: Throughout the day, consciously perform acts of kindness, such as helping a neighbor, complimenting a colleague, or donating to a charity.
• Spread Positivity: Share uplifting and positive messages on social media to inspire others to be kind and compassionate.
• Volunteer: Offer your time to volunteer for a local charity or nonprofit organization that aligns with your values.
• Donate: Make a donation to a charitable cause that you believe in, whether it’s for humanitarian aid, education, or healthcare.
• Teach Kindness: Educate children and young people about the importance of kindness and empathy through storytelling or classroom activities.
• Random Acts of Kindness: Surprise someone with a random act of kindness, such as buying a stranger’s coffee or leaving an encouraging note for a friend.

I have a file of pending articles. I keep the file for the weeks when the well is running dry or nothing notable happened. The thing about this file is that these are small reminders of ideas for articles. They are never fully formed articles. If I have not used the article ideas, I tend to forget the deep insight I was having. I simply have a Post-it-note with a few words on it. More than once, I have looked at the words on the Post-it note and wondered, “What was I thinking?” The note then goes in file thirteen.

I thought that sharing the Post-it note-file in brief fashion might be fun. I want to share these before I forget what they mean.

Here we go.

Recently, I heard a couple of members of Trinity talking in the hallway. One said to the other, “I went for a walk the other day and when I got back home, I saw that the leaves were stuck to the bottom of my shoe.”

I had to stop and ponder why that was such a bad thing. Then I had a moment of revelation. The only way that leaves would stick to the bottom of your shoe is if your shoe had passed through a substance that caused the bottom of the shoe to become sticky. The two prime offenders would be gum and another substance which falls from the back end of four-legged animals. It was this second substance that caused the leaves to stick to the bottom of the shoe. The New Testament word for this substance is skubala. The word is used once in the writings of Paul, and it means the stuff that sticks to the bottom of your shoe.

Spiritual insight number one, sometimes we step in stuff. There is no reason to be surprised by stuff, just make sure you don’t track it into your emotional house.

The other day I was out visiting. I asked the fellow, “Are you staying out of trouble?” It is my question. It is just a glib question. I am not asking in judgment, nor do I seek confession as a result of the innocent inquiry. His response was grand. He said, “Mother nature and Father Time are keeping me out of trouble.”

I instantly related to his deep insight.

Spiritual insight two, live fully in the time you are in. If you are young and Mother Nature and Father Time have not taken their toll, then be careful, but enjoy. If you are a victim of Father Time and Mother Nature, then enjoy and relish this time in your life too.

Today is great, because it is a gift from God.

I was reading this week, and the author of the article made an interesting statement. His line was this; “an eye for an eye” leaves everyone blind. He was writing about Lex Talionis. The law of retaliation was laid out in the Old Testament. The idea in the Old Testament is that retaliation and revenge have limits. Jesus told His disciples; don’t you dare get started in that direction.

Spiritual insight three; an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth aren’t satisfying ways of dealing with conflict. We will be left blind and hungry.

I think I will stop there. Because insight four was about hugging your tombstone. I will save tombstone hugging for another day. The quick lesson there is live each day fully because you ain’t going to live forever.

Thank you for allowing me to clean out the Post-it note file!

Parents are always trying to find ways to entertain their children. Thanks to Dr. Jill Rush-Kolodzey, Hannah Rush, and William Rush, the reality of a safe and engaging play environment now exists in Shreveport for ALL children.

We Rock the Spectrum is an indoor play gym with unique sensory and therapy equipment to help children on the Autism spectrum (and all children) with neurological growth and development. The gym includes suspended swings, crash mats and pillows, zip lines, trampolines, and play structures. They also have sensory-based and fine motor toys available, as well as an arts and crafts area.

In an interview with Rush-Kolodzey and H. Rush, RRPJ learned that several months ago, Rush was looking for a place to take her son for an afternoon of play in Dallas. Her search took her to WRTS. She found out that her son (not on the spectrum) was welcome to spend an afternoon playing in the sensory-rich environment. This fun afternoon became a venture none could have imagined a year ago.

Rush-Kolodzey envisions a place for kids six months to preteen to play, but it is also a place where older teens on the spectrum can enjoy the quiet room and the swings. “We will offer day passes, birthday party packages, therapy consultation rooms, and arts and crafts. The possibilities can be endless, and we want to explore as many as possible.”

We Rock the Spectrum will debut at La Boutiques de Noel, where it will display the items available for sale in the Rock Shop: all types of Melissa and Doug toys, fidgets, and other sensory items.

“We are getting the word out through Facebook and other social media. We have handed out pamphlets and are working on other advertising options, ” says Rush-Kolodzey. “We plan to ease into this by opening in December if all goes well. We will have open play hourly and daily rates and memberships. As God guides us, we will grow. We have the ability to make a difference for children, and we feel led to do just that.”

Click here for the brochure with all the information needed for a day at WE ROCK THE SPECTRUM Shreveport. 

As reported by the Sabine Parish Journal

Many head football coach Dillon Barrett resigned over the weekend following the Tigers winless season.

Barrett led Many for two seasons with a combined 9-13 record.

Barrett and his staff had to replace 26 seniors from a 10-3 squad that included program cornerstones like running back Jeremiah James, cornerback Tylen Singleton, and defensive end Swazy Carheel.

But the Tigers simply weren’t competitive in 2024, losing seven of their 10 games this season by at least 30 points with their closest result a 28-6 loss to Lakeside.

The season ended Friday with a 39-6 loss to Mansfield as Many lost all four of its District 3-2A games.
Barrett was part of Many’s streak of 10 straight district titles and a 39-game district winning streak that ended with the Lakeside loss.

The first nine district titles of that streak belongs to Jess Curtis, who guided Many to three state championships and three more championship appearances during his tenure.

The 2024 schedule was a difficult one, featuring non-district foes like Alexandria Senior High, Logansport, and Leesville.

District 3-2A is improved, but the Tigers scored just 22 points total in those four district games while allowing an average of more than 40 points.

While there is currently no place for families to stay for free when their child is hospitalized in Shreveport, construction has begun on the Ronald McDonald House Shreveport-Bossier. Funds are still being raised to support this program, and with the community’s help it will begin serving families in August 2025.

This House will serve tens of thousands of families of critically ill children receiving life-saving care at any Shreveport hospital. Families will be referred by hospital social workers and all services will be provided free, removing immense financial burdens during an already stressful time. By keeping families together and close to their hospitalized child, they can focus on their child’s care without worrying where they will sleep or what they will eat.

In addition to 20 private rooms where families will stay overnight, the Ronald McDonald House will be available for day use. They will be able to retreat from the stress of the hospital, have meals, snacks, activities, play spaces, and other comforts of home. Most importantly, families will connect, creating a community of support that uniquely understands the impact of a child’s critical diagnosis.

“We are so close to reaching the goal to build the House – $8 million has already been donated by the community, and we need gifts of all sizes to reach the $10 million goal. Every gift will help provide valuable resources to families,” said Janell Mason, CEO.

To get involved, donate, or learn more about the House, CLICK HERE.

I felt a deep sense of relief and gratitude on Wednesday that the election was over; and equally relieved that President Trump’s victory was decisive enough that the country won’t be put through endless election challenges and legal disputes. My great gratitude is due to the fact that I believe our country will be placed on a much sturdier, safer, and prosperous path going forward.

While many prominent pollsters were wrong about which candidate would win the election many polls prior to the election were accurate regarding the issues Americans were most concerned about: the invasion of illegals on our southern border as well as the economic/inflationary suffering created by a decline in real wages coupled with the high cost of daily goods like eggs, bacon, milk, gas and the impossibility of purchasing a home due to high interest rates.

This is why “saving Democracy” failed because most Americans saw only a few actual lawbreakers on Jan 6 who have been stoutly punished for their actions, following a riot that lasted less than a day, followed by the peaceful transfer of power. Many Americans may still wonder why the Summer of Love 2020 “peaceful” rioters and looters who burned cities and attacked citizens, or Hillary Clinton or James Comey or Andrew McCabe or Peter Strzok responsible for years of Deep State spying and the Russia Hoax and suppression of the Hunter Biden Laptop, were never arrested or prosecuted. The other million plus people in D.C. on Jan 6—including some of my own family members and close friends—are our neighbors who were that single day guilty of nothing more than singing, praying, and cheering for President Trump. Certainly not the Armageddon portrayed by our so-called media.

I think the abortion issue failed because female voters most concerned about access to abortion live in Blue states and already have and never lost access to it. I think the Transgender confusion issue also damaged Democrat election prospects because most parents don’t like the fact that their son could wake up one day, think he is a girl and then without the parents’ knowledge have puberty blockers and or surgical mutilation performed on his sex organs. Trump will also end men in women’s sports and boys in girls’ bathrooms or locker rooms.

I also think parents haven’t forgotten being demonized at school board meetings as “domestic terrorists” by the Biden Administration when they objected to the dishonest Covid masking and forced vaccinations of their children; to say nothing of the pornographic reading material their second grader could be exposed to in the public-school library.

The Woke agenda has also been rejected. We are a predominantly center-right country and while we may strongly disagree with each other at times about an issue, at our core most of us believe that the best way to resolve our differences is to “argue it out.” Very few of us believe that the answer to our disagreements is for social media giants like Facebook and Google to cancel, censor and silence our fellow Americans.

I also believe the unfair and punitive manner in which President Trump was targeted—including the raid of his home in Mar-A-Lago over some documents he alone could declassify—by numerous states with flimsy legal charges, the large majority of which have now been dismissed or disproven, backfired. Many rightly viewed this lawfare was occurring against Trump simply because he was the leading candidate to defeat the incumbent president. Some may also have understandably felt that if the federal government can so aggressively target and attempt to destroy someone as prominent and wealthy as President Trump, it can go after them.

I am also convinced that the courage President Trump displayed after the first assassination attempt when he exhorted the nation to “fight, fight, fight,” inspired millions.

President Trump’s second term holds great promise.

He will immediately close our southern border, including finding and deporting all criminal illegals. He will unshackle the American oil and gas industry from the Climate Change insanity, thereby tapping into our enormous domestic oil and gas reserves, creating significant growth. He will make permanent his 2017 Tax Cuts which will explode the economy, lower inflation, and ultimately raise incomes. Finally, even those who don’t support Trump realize that his presence as Commander and Chief will calm the world.

As always, we should pray unceasingly for our nation because we, and it, remain the “last best hope of man on earth.”

Royal Alexander

The 3rd commemorative Battle of Arcadia Crossroads will be at the Bonnie & Clyde Trade Days in Arcadia Nov 15-17. There will be two battles, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. There will also be morning skirmishes as the Louisiana Bushwhackers take on Yankee Guerillas and Red Legs. 

The Red River Parish Library will host the monthly Ancestor Hunters Genealogy meeting Wednesday, Nov, 20 from 10am-12pm. Classes are FREE. Bring your own laptop or you can use one at the library. The workshop will focus on using Ancestry.com which is available through the library’s website. The meeting will be led by Red River Parish native, Dr. Virginia Webb.

Open Door Fellowship Youth are teaming up with The York Chop to raise funds for YEC. The students will work tables for tips on Wednesday, November 20 from 5-8pm. ALL tips will go towards ODF students to help them with expenses for YEC. 

Elizabeth C. Hunter
June 27, 1936 – November 9, 2024
Graveside services will be held Thursday November 14, 2024 at 2pm at Martin Cemetery

Kelly Wayne Hickman Sr.
December 11, 1963 – November 6, 2024
A memorial service will be held Saturday November 16, 2024 at 10am at Ashland Baptist Church

In honor of Veterans’ Day, volunteers from the VFW, Young Marines, Coushatta Chute DAR, and friends of Springville Cemetery placed 260 American Flags at the graves of all service men and women.

Coushatta Chute Regent Norma Lester told the volunteers that these honored people protected our freedom in peacekeeping and war. “We must never forget them.”

Lester quoted George Washington, “These flags stand for dignity, honor, and protection of all who love liberty and equality and who claim the sheltering protection it has always given.”

By Matt Vines, Journal Sports

 Entering Week 10, Red River knew it had a playoff spot, and almost assuredly a first-round home playoff game, locked up.

The celebration for the team’s first district title since 2005 was over.

The “attaboys” from fellow students and community members had to feel pretty good.

Some teams might not have prepared quite as hard for a non-district road trip to a three-win Oakdale squad.

But Red River (6-4) is out to prove that they aren’t most teams.

After Red River and Oakdale circled each other for much of the first half, the Bulldogs separated themselves in a 36-8 win.

“There were still a number of factors to play for – pride, a winning record, playoff implications,” Red River coach Byron Keller said. “We play the game to win the game.

“Our kids are hungry and want to prove that Red River football is here and ready.”

Red River’s five touchdowns came from four different Bulldogs – Montreveun Smith (two), Cedric Moody, Jomello McDonald and Warren Bowman.

Keller said halftime adjustments were key to the improved second half.

“It was a heavyweight boxing match in the first half,” Keller said of two teams that prefer to control the clock and play great defense. “Each team traded punches early and felt each other out.

“Once we were able to identify how they were attacking us and their adjustments, we were able to score and stifle their offensive scheme.”

Red River put together a winning season by taking its last five games after a 1-4 start.

The Bulldogs last had a winning season in 2021 (7-3) and have since put together a pair of three-win campaigns.

But Red River lost 14 seniors from that 2023 team that built a huge halftime lead in a playoff game at No. 7 Pine, only to lose that advantage in the second half as a heavy underdog.

This year’s Bulldog squad placed extra emphasis on road trips, including road games at places on the other end of the state like Catholic-Pointe Coupee, Oak Grove and White Castle.

Red River has certainly learned the art of the road trip, evidenced by its Week 10 performance, which was its third straight win on the road.

“We’re focused, we understand out routines and procedures,” Keller said. “Our players understand how to handle a bus ride, the visitor locker room procedures, and how to adapt to changes outside of our control.

“This allows for fewer distractions.”

Even with the win, Red River held firm at No. 12 in the Division III Non-Select power ratings.

The Bulldogs were 0.1 power points away from jumping up another two spots.

But No. 12 Red River will host No. 21 Winnfield in the first round.

The Bulldogs beat Winnfield, 50-6, in Week 9 to secure an outright district title.

The winner will move on to face the victor of No. 5 Union Parish and No. 28 Oakdale, the same Oakdale that Red River beat Friday.

The burn ban that was put into place on October 21 has now been lifted as of Saturday, November 9. 

The burn ban was put into place because of the severe drought conditions in the parish.

Matt Vines

EAST POINT – Continuous improvement.

It’s a philosophy that a lot of sports teams follow as they aim to get better as a season goes along, especially basketball teams with its core group of players playing football.

But the Riverdale Academy boys basketball team employed that philosophy to the max this past season and will seek to do so again.

The Rebels struggled at times during a 10-14 campaign, but by the end, Riverdale was at its best.
They were a Lee Academy buzzer beater away from upsetting the No. 1 seed in the Class 2A MAIS Tournament.

The Rebels will miss four seniors from that team in Hayden Hillman, Will Jones, Kyle Guillory and Ryder Huddleston.

“All four of those graduating seniors were key contributors, however they also came into the season unexperienced as a group,” said Riverdale coach Ty Jones. “I hope we can do what they did last year and continuously improve throughout the season.

“One saying an old coach told me that I like to use is, ‘At Riverdale, we don’t rebuild, we reload.”

Of course the cupboard isn’t bare from last year’s team. Key football players will switch over to the hard court once the season is finished on the gridiron – including Ashton Almond, Kaidyn Williams, Logan Gryder and Tanner Carlisle.

“I’ll be relying on those older juniors and seniors for their off-court leadership and on-court play,” Jones said. “I believe this team’s strengths will lie on the defensive end of the court, and I think we have the potential to really guard teams and get after them.

“We hope to improve in all aspects of our game throughout the year, as cliché as that might sound.”
Jones will experience his first season as a head varsity coach after serving as Trey Pittman’s assistant and the head junior varsity coach this past season.

Pittman coached both the girls and the boys in his return to Riverdale this past season, but back surgery made leading both teams difficult.

Pittman is coaching just the girls this season, although he’ll remain a valuable resource and sounding board for Jones.

The Riverdale boys will start the season Monday at Mt. Olive Christian on Monday before returning home to face Columbia Christian on Tuesday and Word of God Academy on Thursday.

By Matt Vines, Journal Sports

In a classic matchup of speed vs. size, Lee Academy’s interior size won the day Friday as they knocked Riverdale from the Class 1A MAIS playoffs.

The No. 2 seed Cougars controlled the lines of scrimmage as they raced to a 64-22 win against the No. 7 Rebels (5-6) in a second-round playoff matchup in Marianna, Ark.

“Usually when a team runs a double tight formation, it’s because they have some big boys in there, and Lee was no different,” said Riverdale coach Nathan Edie. “Their interior lineman controlled the line of scrimmage most of the night.

“We just didn’t match their physicality.”

Lee Academy (6-4) built a large lead early and answered any and all Riverdale touchdowns and attempts to swing the momentum.

Similar to Riverdale Academy playing without key players for stretches of the season, Lee Academy returned one of their top guys in lineman/tight end Sam Gerrard on Friday.

“He hadn’t played most of the season, and we weren’t prepared for his return,” Edie said. “He was definitely a game changer.”

Riverdale senior running back Kaidyn Williams had all three of the Rebels touchdowns, two via the ground and one through the air.

“Our successful drives happened when we were able to get past their big front line, which was also aggressive,” Edie said. “We just couldn’t build enough momentum to catch up.”

While Riverdale has just four seniors on what was a young and inexperienced team, Williams and linemen Logan Gryder will certainly be missed as the Rebels try and rebuild for next season.

“We do have a great core group coming back, but replacing players like Kaidyn Williams and Logan Gryder will be a tall order,” Edie said. “The offseason will be a huge factor for the success of next season.

“We have to replace one of the best running backs in the league, and a lineman who was a two-way starter for two years. I challenged the returning boys to push themselves during the offseason, get in the weight room, and get stronger. We will be back, and we will compete again.

The Rebels appeared to be peaking with three wins in their last four games, which included a first-round playoff rout of Union Christian (44-0).

Riverdale started 1-5 due in part to injuries to players like quarterback/linebacker Ashton Almond and at one point Williams himself, who had shifted under center to take direct snaps in Almond’s absence.

But when healthy, the Rebels began to put the pieces together as they won those three games by a combined 128-42.

That competition didn’t approach the level of a Lee Academy, who posted a 2022 comeback playoff win against Riverdale in the semifinals on their way to a Class 1A championship.

Almond will return to lead the offense and defense with key pieces like Tanner Carlisle, Tyler Wilhite and Ben Moseley back. The Rebels will need to develop game-ready players from a host of their younger guys (seventh grade-sophomores), who made up the majority of the roster.

So Riverdale will take the lessons learned from adversity this season and work on forging a group that can better stand with the league’s best.

“We didn’t know what kind of team we would be when the season started,” Edie said. “When Ashton went down, it really limited our ability to be more versatile.

“I feel like the boys grew a lot during the season but it didn’t necessarily build their confidence because it didn’t always show up on the scoreboard. When Ashton came back, I think it boosted our confidence and allowed us to be more aggressive.

“To say that I’m proud of the growth of this team is an understatement. We went from a team that wasn’t expected to compete, to a team that I felt would battle with anyone.”

In honor of Veterans Day, Red River High School will hold their annual Veterans Program this afternoon at 1:30pm in the RRHS Auditorium. The community is invited to attend.

Students in grades 3-5 are invited to attend STEM Camp Saturday, November 16 from 9am until 12pm at Red River High School Vocational Building. STEM kits will be given to students in attendance. Contact Dr. Diane Newton, Director of Federal Programs, for more information at 318.932.4081.

The Spirit of DeSoto Tree Lighting will take place on Saturday, November 30. The World’s Tallest Christmas Tree Structure will be lit at 6:30PM. This year’s event, from 5-8pm, will include live local worship band performances, light show, food trucks, jump houses, and more. Parking will be at North DeSoto High School, with a FREE shuttle ride to the event. Guest appearance by Santa himself, to be inside the Stonewall Government Plaza. 

Jannie McCoy Lewis
July 7, 1945 – November 6, 2024
Funeral services will be held Monday, November 11, 2024 at 2pm at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Ringgold.

Red River Parish – On November 4, 2024, at approximately 8:45 p.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to a fatal hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian on Meeks Road, near Jenkins Lease Road in Coushatta. The crash claimed the life of 52-year-old Natalya Leggio of Shreveport.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Leggio was seated near the edge of Meeks Road when an unknown vehicle struck her. Leggio sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. The unknown vehicle did not contact law enforcement and fled.

Due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, Troop G Troopers contacted our Bureau of Investigations/Bossier Field Office for assistance with the investigation. As a result, and through information obtained, Investigators identified the vehicle involved in the crash as a 2013 GMC SUV. They determined that 43-year-old William J. Williams of Coushatta was the vehicle’s driver when it struck Leggio. On November 5, 2024, Williams was arrested and booked into the Red River Parish Detention Center on the charge of felony hit-and-run driving.

By Matt Vines, Journal Sports

In a season in which injuries to key Riverdale Academy football players have prevented the Rebels from testing their mettle against an opponent of similar strength, Friday’s second-round playoff game might prove to be just that opportunity.

No. 7 seed Riverdale (5-5) heads to No. 2 seed Lee Academy (4-5) in the second round of the Class 1A MAIS playoffs.

The Rebels have been at full strength in three of the last four games, all of which have been wins when they’ve been healthy.

Riverdale welcomed back the full return of quarterback Ashton Almond for a 34-14 win against Franklin Academy before dominating Tensas Academy (50-0) and Union Christian Academy (44-0) in the last two weeks.

The Rebels dominated the offensive and defensive lines particularly against UCA, which allowed running back Kaidyn Williams to accumulate 233 rushing yards and five touchdowns on just 14 carries. That’s more than 16 yards per touch.

The defensive line pressured UCA all night, forcing two interceptions and derailing any drive that UCA was able to muster.

The win means that this senior class reaches the second round of the playoffs in all four years, logging its first playoff win since 2022 (earned a first-round bye).

But this year is a little different – most of Riverdale’s players are in their first seasons of extensive playing experience after a veteran bunch has excelled in each of the past two campaigns.

“I think in any other year, experience would be a huge factor,” said Riverdale coach Nathan Edie. “This year, we have a lot of new starters who had to gain experience throughout this season.

“I think (fellow coach Denver Williams) and I had to learn what we’re best at and focus on that.”

Riverdale will take a roster in which nearly every current player didn’t play against Lee Academy two years ago when the Rebels lost a fourth-quarter lead and were eliminated (44-24 loss).

That loss came in the 2022 Class 1A semifinals, denying Riverdale a chance at a state championship game appearance and paving the way for Lee to win that state title.

While this season hasn’t gone according to plan, Riverdale is finally healthy enough to put together a version of themselves that they anticipated would be on display all season.

And in a season in which no game (win or loss) has been decided by fewer than 20 points, Riverdale is likely in for a four-quarter game for the right to reach the Class 1A semifinals.

Edie said there’s really only lesson to be learned by the current players from that 2022 loss to Lee.

“Never think the game is over,” said Edie, whose Rebels surrendered 28 fourth-quarter points after taking an eight-point lead into the final period. “We have to play a full 40 minutes to move on, regardless of the score.”

In the eight-man football world, teams typically spread out their opponents to create space for their athletes.

Lee Academy lines up with two tight ends and aims to punish its opponents within a smaller window, which can also allow runs to bounce outside into space.

“Lee is a physical team, and it will be on us to match that physicality,” Edie said. “They challenge you with misdirection, and we have to remain disciplined in our assignments, and make tackles.”

Lee has won its last three games with vast offensive improvement after a 1-5 start in which the offense scored 20 or more points just twice.

By Matt Vines, Journal Sports

The Red River football has accomplished about all it could hope for this regular season.

The Bulldogs (5-4) won their first district title since 2005 with four victories in District 3-2A, the last three of which occurred in utterly dominating fashion.

Red River is set to host a first-round home playoff game as the Bulldogs sit at No. 12 in the Division III Non-Select power ratings.

So what’s on the line when Red River visits an Oakdale (3-6) squad in non-district play that’s fighting for their own playoff lives?

It’s basically a dry run for a playoff road game in which Red River will travel southeast of Alexandria.

And considering that longer road trips were a key focus of coach Byron Keller after the Bulldogs coughed up a large halftime lead on the road last year, Friday’s road trip carries plenty of importance.

Red River lost its first four road games of the season at Catholic-Pointe Coupee (26-6), Oak Grove (55-8), White Castle (48-30) and Pineville (32-20).

“God has a plan. Everything played out this season the way it was intended,” Keller said of the early road struggles. “We had to go through the early struggles and learn lessons to improve and get to this point.
“Our kids are confident and ready because we have faced some of the toughest teams in the state.”

A win would guarantee Red River a winning record in the regular season for the first time since 2021.

A victory could also also shoot the Bulldogs up a couple spots in the playoff rankings, possibly avoiding a top-six team (Union Parish is currently No. 6) until the quarterfinals instead of the second round.

But first – Oakdale.

The District 5-2A member has played better of late, logging wins in two of their last four games.

Oakdale topped Holy Savior Menard (13-0) and Port Barre (33-14) in its last two wins with losses to a really good Kinder bunch (41-13) and Avoyelles (32-20).

“Oakdale is another example of a team that plays quality football,” Keller said. “They are a heavy run and ball-control team, so we have another opportunity to play an opponent who will prepare us and test us going into the playoffs.

“I think we have perfected our road trip itinerary this season. A road trip for us right now is no big deal.”

Red River started the season with more of a ball control philosophy, but its recent blossoming on offense means that the Bulldogs have created explosive plays and scored in bunches.

The development of quarterback Malique Smith and the health of receiver Jomello McDonald have paired with a bevy of weapons like Montreveun Smith and Warren Bowman to allow Red River to attack defenses in various ways.

Red River’s offensive explosiveness hasn’t hampered its defense in the least as the Bulldogs have allowed just eight points per game in the last four contests.

The Red River Parish Police Jury met November 6, 2024. In the committee meeting, a representative from Gulf South Towers addressed the jury to propose a cell tower for Verizon or T-Mobile erected on the southeastern corner of the Fairgrounds. The company offered a 50-year agreement for $50,000. President Murray asked for a better offer and member Jessie Davis informed him that they would take it under advisement for the next regular meeting.

The commercial vehicle unit reported that $28,000 in permits were collected in October and $3,300 in fines from trucks. There is no fracking in the parish at this time.

In the regular meeting, the jury voted to adopt a resolution ordering and calling a special election on March 29, 2025. This election will be for the renewal of the Council on Aging special tax. The election will be combined with the election of District 6 School Board Member and the Fire Department renewal tax.

Davis addressed the jury in the finance agenda item for the budget review. Davis indicated that the Sales Tax receipts are down and Ad Valorum is also down. He did say that the possibility of uncapping some of the wells in the parish is on the horizon. The jury also unanimously voted to approve a $2,000 supplement for employees and a 3% COLA for 2025.