By Brad Dison

On Sunday evening, November 5, 1967, 17-year-old Robin and his 19-year-old girlfriend, Molly, boarded a crowded 12-coach express train at Hastings, England, about 2 hours southeast of London on the English coast.  Robin and Molly were returning to London from a weekend at her home in the country.  The train cars were packed to capacity and many passengers had to stand for the duration of the trip.

Some of the passengers remarked that the train was travelling faster than they had expected.  Just four months earlier, the speed limit on the route connecting London to Hastings was raised to 90 miles per hour.  They had only about 30 minutes left in their journey and were nearing Hither Green when the train started to jolt.  Molly reassured Robin that the train was always rough over that stretch of track and said it would soon smooth out.  She was unconcerned but Robin was uneasy.  The ride only got worse.  Then, Robin heard “what sounded like rocks hitting the train.”  He turned to Molly with a concerned look and said, “this train is going to crash!”  Without warning, the train lurched to one side.  Robin reached up for the train’s emergency chain but missed it and fell.  Robin instinctually grabbed Molly and held her tight.  At that moment, the train rolled over and over. 

Time seemed to pass in slow motion.  Broken glass was flying everywhere and tangled in Robin and Molly’s hair.  As the train cars tumbled, Robin heard the crunch of metal mixed with screams from some of the passengers.  A piece of steel railway line shot through the cab of the train car and missed Robin’s face by only about an inch.  Robin, Molly, and surrounding passengers were covered with oil which had spewed from an unknown source. He held tightly to Molly.  After what seemed like an eternity, the tumbling train finally came to a stop.  Eleven of the twelve train cars were destroyed. 

The sound of crunching metal and breaking glass subsided.  The screams and moans of injured and frightened passengers seemed to come from all directions.  Robin and Molly were in a state of shock but were otherwise unhurt.  Robin and Molly looked out of one of the broken windows and saw the silhouettes of what remained of the other carriages.  Train cars were upside down, sideways, and some were little more than piles of twisted metal. 

Robin stood up and helped Molly to her feet.  They climbed out of a window and hurried away from the twisted wreck.  Then, they heard explosions and saw bright lights in the sky all around them.  The explosions were not a result of the train crash, but were fireworks in celebration of England’s Bonfire Night, sometimes referred to as Guy Fawkes Night.  Bonfire Night in England is a celebration of the failure of the gunpowder plot to blow up King James I and the British Parliament.  What a contrast it must have been to see celebratory fireworks in the sky above such a horrific scene.

Robin made sure Molly was safe and returned to the crumpled train cars to help other people escape.  He helped several people to safety, all the while making sure Molly was okay.  Ambulances and surgeons from the nearby hospital rushed to the scene.  Surgeons performed at least two major operations at the site before their patients were rushed to the hospital.  In total, the crash resulted in 49 fatalities and 78 people were injured. 

Robin later compared the sensation he felt to “falling over Niagara Falls in a barrel, tumbling over and over.”  He said, “I don’t think I’ve ever been so physically scared in all my life.  I mean, once you’ve got in a train you imagine you are perfectly safe.”  It took Robin and Molly several days to remove all of the shards of glass from their hair.  An investigation revealed that the train derailment was caused by a broken rail joint.  Following the Hither Green rail crash, many of the jointed tracks were replaced with continuous welded rails.  Even with the improvements to the line, Robin said, “I doubt if I will ever be able to travel over that stretch of rail again.” 

Following the crash, Robin returned to work with his two brothers.  The musical trio had originally performed in bands called The Rattlesnakes and Wee Johnny Hayes and the Blue Cats with little success.  1967, the same year as the train crash, was a life-changing year for Robin and his brothers.  In that year alone, they released five songs which became worldwide hits.  Their success continued as they recorded more top ten hits in each of the following four decades.  Robin, Maurice and Barry Gibb were… the Bee Gees. 

Sources:

1. Evening Standard (London, Greater London, England), November 15, 1967, p.17.
2. Aitken, Charles. “’I Nearly Died,’ Says Robin Gibb.” BeeGees-World.com. Accessed November 3, 2021. beegees-world.com/archives61.html.
3. Gavaghan, Julian. “Bee Gee Robin Gibb Survives Train Crash Which Killed 49.” Yahoo News. November 4, 2013. uk.news.yahoo.com/on-this-day–bee-gee-robin-gibb-among-survivors-of-train-crash-which-killed-49-175359880.html.

By Molly Seales

November 5 was a cold Friday night in East Point, but the loyal Riverdale Rebel fans gathered their coats, gloves, blankets, and portable heaters to come out and support the Rebel football team. The Rebels gave them a good show, taking down the Tensas Chiefs 58-24 and moving on to the semifinal game Friday, November 12, against the Briarfield Rebels. Riverdale defeated Briarfield 12-6 earlier this season at the homecoming game. This game is sure to be a battle to the end.

Senior Ty “Bones” Jones who has been a huge defensive factor all year broke loose on offense in what was quite possibly the best football game of his career. Jones led the Rebel offense with 12 carries for 216 yards and 5 touchdowns. Sophomore Kyle Guillory also proved to be an offensive force with 5 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown. Junior Ben Almond had 1 carry for a 34-yard touchdown, while sophomore quarterback Ryder Huddleston had 8 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown. Huddleston was 4 for 6 in passing for 53 yards, 1 touchdown, and no interceptions. Jones had 2 receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown, while Almond had 2 receptions for 4 yards. Senior offensive lineman Kaden Cason and center Chandler Nettles, who have been vital to the Rebels all year, did an outstanding job in this playoff game.

Jones didn’t just put on an offensive show-he was in beast mode on the defensive side as well. He had 8 solo tackles, 10 assists (including 6 TFL,) and 1 PBU. Fellow senior lineman Denver Williams also stood tall in his leadership role with 5 solo tackles, 3 assists (6 TFL,) and 4 sacks for a Tensas loss of 20 yards. Senior Reagan Huddleston had 1 solo tackle and 1 assist, while his little brother Ryder had 1 solo tackle, 7 assists (4 TFL,) and 1 PBU. Almond had 4 solo tackles, 1 assist, and 1 interception for 24 yards. Guillory had 2 solo tackles (1 TFL,) and freshman Kaidyn Williams had 1 assist. Junior James Wagoner had 2 solo tackles and also recovered a Tensas fumble on the first kickoff of the game, while junior Tyler Parker was huge on defense with 1 solo tackle, 7 assists (4 TFL,) and one sack for a Tensas loss of 5 yards. Sophomore lineman Hayden Hillman rounded out the defensive effort with 2 solo tackles and 2 assists (1 TFL.)

The Rebels are hitting the practice field hard this week as they prepare for Briarfield to come to East Point this Friday night, November 12, to play the semifinal game. In the middle of the work, though, they found time for some fun. Coach Jensen told the boys that if they made it to the semifinal game, that they could shave his head. After practice Monday, Coach Jensen followed through on his promise as the boys took turns with the clippers and scissors. Coach Jared put on the finishing touches. Kickoff will be at 7:00 p.m. and the winner will advance to the state championship game in Jackson, MS, on Thursday, November 18^th. Please make plans to come out and cheer the Rebels on to victory!

The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System voted unanimously to name Marcus Jones the 20th president of Northwestern State University Monday. Jones has served the institution in many ways throughout his 23-year career including roles such as professor of business law and international business, vice president for university affairs, and executive vice president for university and business affairs. He has most recently served as interim president since July of 2021.

“Northwestern is home to me. I know Northwestern and Northwestern knows me,” Jones said. “This is about fit and timing for Northwestern, and I will hit the ground running.”

The Northwestern State Presidential Search Committee narrowed the field to two finalists, Jones and Kim LeDuff, after interviewing six semifinalists on Northwestern’s campus last week.

It would appear that repairs to East Carroll Street are making good progress.  A reader sent in the photo above and said it appears that it may be close to time to resurface the area.

Several months ago a major sewer leak under the street caused the road to be closed.  Recently the town got a grant to make repairs to the sewer line.  At the time work began, Mayor Johnny Cox said it could up to 60 days to complete the work.

That street closure has caused the annual Christmas Parade to be re-routed.  The usual parade route required Ringgold Avenue to be closed for several blocks.  But now Ringgold Avenue is the way through town for traffic now that East Carroll Street is closed for the repair work.

BODY:

Outpatient Medical Center is seeking Qualified Health Professionals for the following positions in Natchitoches or Leesville

• Nurse Practitioners
• Primary Care Physicians
• Dentists

Join our team of Helping Hands for the underserved and everyone with great working hours, holidays off and competitive benefits. If interested call 318-357-2071 or send resume to info@outpatientmedical.org

Remember this afternoon the Red River Health Unit is having a Flu Vaccination Event.  Hours are noon until 6:00 pm.  It is open to the public and no appointments are needed to get your flu shot.

New Life Student Night is this Sunday Night at New Life Church in Hall Summit.  Students in  grades 7 through 12 are welcome.  It is Sunday, November 14^th at 4:00 pm.  The church is located at 1093 First St. in Hall Summit.

Bethany Cemetery is having a fundraiser.  Anyone that would like to donate to the cemetery fund can send donation to Lynette Giddings at 227 Red Giddings Rd. Coushatta, La. 71019.

Upcoming events at Magnolia Baptist Church

November 14 Shoebox dedication

November 22-26 Christmas decoration

December 4 adult Christmas party

December 5 hanging of green

December 12 children’s program with fellowship to follow. 6 pm

December 19 candlelight service

Riverdale will host a second playoff game next Friday.  Briarfield Academy comes to East Point in defense of its two year run as state champion.  Riverdale claimed the victory 12 to 6 when Briarfield visited during the regular season.

Friday night Riverdale defeated Tensas Academy 54 to 28 to advance to the semi-finals.  See the playoff brackets below.

Update:

Red River High is moving ahead this weekend planning for a home playoff game Friday night versus Rayville.  Principal JC Dickey told the Journal, “The dispute is in 3A and may have a small effect on us but we are making plans using the final power rankings that were sent out.”  

Red River is ranked #9 and Rayville #24 (see below).  That would set up the two teams playing in Strother Stadium on Friday.  The school posted that tickets will be $10.

Here is the story published earlier in the day:

On Sunday the Louisiana High School Athletic Association notified the media that the release of football playoff brackets for all classes will be delayed.  LHSAA said they will be available on Monday.

The LLHSAA said, “Due to an emergency appeal in the 3A Bracket, which affects all brackets, the final brackets will be released after the appeal is finalized on Monday, November 8th at 11:00am on the LHSAA Live App and at 12:00pm on the LHSAA Website.

Meanwhile the Power Rankings have been finalized and those have been released.  The top 10 in 2-A is below.

Red River finished the season ranked #9.  Bulldog arch enemy Many Tigers finished ranked #1 again this year.  Many is the defending state champs.  Red River’s other strong opponent, Avoyelles dropped in the final power rankings from #3 to #4.  That was due to a 50 to 32 strong Red River victor Friday night.

Red River is anticipating a home game for the first round of the playoffs.  Their opponent will be announced on Monday.

Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for the week ending November 7, 2021.

The Coushatta Chamber has announced plans for the 2021 Christmas Parade.  The route has been adjusted this year due to the construction on East Carroll Street.  But the parade will pass down Front Street in front of the Reviewing Stand and Santa Clause House.

Chamber President Karen Squires said, “Don’t miss the fun!”  Vendors and floats are now being sought for the parade.  See the  entry form below or go to the chamber’s social media pages.

The Christmas Parade is ready to roll on December 9, 2021.  The New Parade route for this year will take the parade from Red River High School to Front Street (see map).

Squires said, “Everyone needs a float or sign up to be a Vendor!”

The Journal looked into our archives for some of the most memorable floats from years past.  See below. One most people will remember is the musical school bus.  Another oldie but goodie is the spoof on Vacation by the middle school. Then there was “I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” among others.  Let’s see if the 2021 parade can top that!

By Bonnie Culverhouse

Everyone (except Arizona and Hawai’i residents) will enjoy an extra hour of sleep this weekend as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end.

Whether you call it Daylight Saving or Savings Time or even Daylight Time, don’t forget to set back your clock 1 hour Saturday night at bedtime or, as the government says, rise at 2:00 a.m. Sunday and do it.

In the United States, daylight saving time was first used in 1918 when a bill introduced the idea of a seasonal time shift. It lasted seven months before the bill was repealed. During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt re-established the idea of daylight saving time. It was called “War Time.”

It is still used as a way to save energy.

By Molly Seales

After two weeks off, one for a forfeit from Rebul and one for a bye for the first round of the playoffs, the Riverdale Rebels are ready to hit the field Friday night to take care of unfinished business as the Tensas Chiefs come to East Point.

Last year, the Rebels came up short to powerhouse Manchester Academy to be Class AA state runner-up. But they are not satisfied with 2^nd place. This year they have put in the work. They have made plays when they needed to. They have persevered. Most of all, they are hungry for the taste of victory in the form of a state championship ring.

I caught up with some of our senior boys to get their thoughts on the upcoming playoff game Friday. Reagan Huddleston, who joined the team later in the season said, “I’m really pumped to play Friday night in our first playoff game. I hope everyone who can will come and support and watch the show we will put on.” Expect big things from Huddleston. He led the team in solo tackles with 7 against WCCA.

Ty “Bones” Jones is also very positive. He said, “I feel good going into our first playoff game of the year. We’ve had a couple of weeks off to get fresh and healthy. We’ve had a good week of practice, and we are just all ready to play.” Expect Jones, who has been a defensive beast all season to be ready to do whatever he needs to do to win.

Kaden Cason has big goals. He said, “It’s an excited but nervous feeling. It’s my last year to have a chance to win it all, and I know my boys will have my back until we are holding that blue trophy together.” Look for Cason to be blocking on the o-line as he has done all year.

The final senior I talked to, Chandler Nettles, was a man of few words. He simply said, “Let’s run it up.” Look for Nettles to leave it all on the line Friday night. Senior Denver Williams, who has been a team leader since his freshman year told me, “I believe we are not short of being ready for this game. I hope everyone can come out and show their support for us. I still plan on seeing everyone under the Friday night lights next week.”

The players aren’t the only ones pumped up. Head coach Jared Smelser said, “Playoff time is about perfecting the skills, playing sound ball, and limiting mistakes. It has to be about passion, heart, and refusing to lose. This team finds ways to win. Tensas will be a better team than the first time we played them this year, and the players know it. Tensas coach Jason Williams is a good coach and will have the Chiefs ready. Friday will be the first time we have played a game in three weeks, so we have to be mentally prepared. The past few years this has become a grudge match, so throw out the scores from previous games. They have athletes that can hurt us or any team. Our defense takes pride on being physical and wants to impact the game. Offensively we will give different looks. Sophomore Kyle Guillory is a key piece of the offense, and he wants to prove it. Coach Jensen, Coach Nathan, Coach Cody, and Coach Winn have done an amazing job preparing the guys for Friday. I think our guys still feel disrespected and that they have something to prove.” Assistant Coach Jensen Spillum agreed. Coach Jensen said, “Our guys are hungry and ready to make a run. We have talented and hardworking players who have plenty of fight. Go Rebels!”

A black out pep rally will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday. Our senior football players and cheerleaders will be honored at this pep rally. All are welcome to attend-please wear as much black clothing as you can! Later that night, the #2 seeded Rebels will take on the Tensas Chiefs, who has the #7 seed in the playoffs. Kickoff will be at 7:00 p.m. Friday night in East Point.

Admission for the playoff game will be $8.00 for adults and students from 1^st grade and up. As per MAIS rules, the only passes that will be honored are WHITE LIFETIME PASSES and RED MAIS PASSES. Rebel Club and gray MAIS passes cannot be used at playoff games. Please come out and support your Rebels as they seek to take their first step toward a shot at the championship!  Let’s do this, guys!

BODY:

Outpatient Medical Center is seeking Qualified Health Professionals for the following positions in Natchitoches or Leesville

• Nurse Practitioners
• Primary Care Physicians
• Dentists

Join our team of Helping Hands for the underserved and everyone with great working hours, holidays off and competitive benefits. If interested call 318-357-2071 or send resume to info@outpatientmedical.org

EOE

Red River Parish Sheriff Glen Edwards is pleased to announce the addition of two deputies to his patrol staff.

On October 27, 2021 Keith McMellon and Dillon Foshee successfully completed the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office Regional Training Academy, each earning Level 1 Certification for Basic Law Enforcement Peace Officers as outlined by the Louisiana Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council. Deputy McMellon previously served as a jailer for one year with our agency.

The November 2, 2021 graduating class was comprised of twenty-one cadets representing nine area agencies. Throughout the training, both of our deputies represented our agency and community with determination, pride, and professionalism.

Under the direction of Captain Steven Joe, the academy consisted of fifteen weeks and five hundred hours of intense training. Topics covered included Criminal and Civil Law, Search and Seizure, Criminal Investigations, Firearms Proficiency, High-Intensity Weapons Training, First Aid and CPR, Domestic Violence, Report Writing, Terrorism, Officer Survival, DWI Enforcement, Active Shooter Response, Drug Interdiction Strategies, Physical Fitness, and more.

In today’s world, training is of the utmost importance for law enforcement officers. Our goal is to continually build upon the foundation that our deputies receive in the training academy to ensure that we do our jobs professionally and safely while striving to serve our community.

Congratulations Deputy McMellon and Deputy Foshee! Job well done!

From the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office

On the same day that a Republican was elected governor of Virginia because parents rejected the hateful Marxist teachings of Critical Race Theory, the Northwestern Presidential Search Committee voted to name a radical CRT proponent as a finalist.

Kim M. LeDuff is currently Vice President, Division of Academic Engagement and Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer,

University of West Florida, Pensacola.

Here is a sample of her publications:

LeDuff, Kim. “Critical Race Theory: Everything Old Is New Again.”

Campbell, C.; LeDuff, K.; Brown, R.; and Jenkins, C. Race and News: Critical Perspectives.

LeDuff, Kim. A Gumbo of Opinions: Just Add a Hurricane, Racism, a Rise in Violent Crime, Political Corruption

Our higher education systems must stop embracing Socialism and stop teaching our kids to view the world through a lens of oppression and racism. We must reject the hateful tenets of CRT just like the citizens of Virginia did yesterday.

Gabe Firment

Outdoorsmen both hunters and anglers, are always looking for a way to put the odds in their favor for either taking game or catching fish. But despite what some people think (who are not outdoorsmen) hunting and fishing is scientific. You don’t just get lucky when you take that buck or catch that bass of a lifetime. If you really look into it deeper, you’ll see that there is something in control that’s millions of miles away from planet earth.  The moon! My wife’s grandfather loved horse races and had a method of selecting his horses for each race that involved everything from the horoscope to card reading to moon phases.  Well, believe me when I say I thought he was off his rocker, but he did quite well at the track with his crazy method. People don’t realize the impact our moon has on wildlife and game activity. So, let’s look at the facts and how you can use the lunar charts to help you as a hunter or a fisherman.

As a tournament angler, I’m always trying to put the odds in my favor as much as possible. The one thing you can pretty much count on as an angler, is that there will almost always be an early morning bite and a late evening bite.  Anything else is just a guessing game…or is it? One day on a guided fishing trip with my good friend and Lake Fork fishing guide Johnny Guice, we were on the lake and had caught a few fish at daylight, but then the bite slowed down dramatically.

We were casting over and over with no results when his alarm went off on his phone at 10:15 AM.  Johnny looks at me and says, ”Ok, get ready!” and I said “Ready for what?” He started telling me how he uses the Isolunar Chart to help him catch fish. He said it has amazed him at the accuracy of this chart. But what amazed me was that five minutes after his alarm went off, we started catching bass. As amazing as this was for me, I was still a skeptic and would need more proof that this really worked. The next day, his alarm went off again at 11:10 AM and just like clockwork, the bass started feeding again. Now I’m starting to think that maybe there is something to this.

So, from that day on, I’ve been using the Isolunar Chart and have seen firsthand its accuracy the more I’ve used it. This chart is based on moon phases and where it is in the sky and is a great predictor of game activity. The chart will list for each day the best times “Peak “ and “Minor” feeding periods when fish or wild game will be active. But here’s the deal, now you have to understand the moon and how it affects fish and wildlife. When the moon is overhead or under foot, is the “peak” and “minor” feeding periods or game activity. Now how do you use this information to help you? For me, I try and make sure that through my scouting of different places on the lake, I will find areas that tend to hold better quality bass. So, if I have five areas holding fish, I try and make sure I’m in the better area of the five during the peak feeding period; an area that I feel gives me the best opportunity to catch not just fish, but good quality fish. If you’re a deer or squirrel hunter, it will tell you when the best time might be for you to be on your stand or in the woods.

While there are no guarantees in bass fishing or hunting, this Isolunar Chart is pretty darn close and will help you understand when fish and wildlife might be more active. I hope I’ve helped you understand that fishing and hunting are not all about getting lucky. That there really is a scientific approach that can be exploited if you understand how to use it to your advantage. So, the truth is, the moon can be your friend if you understand it. Good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook.  Tune into the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show on AM 1130 The Tiger KWKH, every Wednesday at 11:00 and Saturday mornings at 6:00 for the latest outdoor news and we’ll give the “Best Times To Hunt or Fish” based off the Isolunar Chart.

Story and picture by Julie Page

Thank you church family! What a great night we had at our fall festival! We saw many many families come through tonight. Hundreds of people were able to hear the gospel shared. We were a light in our community!

I am so grateful for all of the youth and adults who took time to serve God and his church tonight. You were not only a blessing to me but to all who you came in contact with!

Together we made a difference!

Parents & Guardians:  We ask that you complete an anonymous survey on our RRES school culture.  These questions ask you about the academic environment at your child’s school. Please select a response that reflects the teaching and learning culture during the current school year and situation, even if this is different from how the school normally operates.

Thank you for participating and helping us grow!

jhuedu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3JyoGCByZ3pvmKy?Source=RedRiverElementarySchoolParents

Posted by Brenda Rushing

My 5th and 6th graders at Riverdale Academy made haunted house projects for science this week.  They went above and beyond the criteria of having at least one special effect with a haunted house.

Rushing said, “I know you can’t get the full effect of the things they did by the pictures , but as you can see, they were amazing.  We had smoke bombs, dry ice and fog liquid to make fog, holograms for ghouls and ghost, moving parts inside the houses for things like: coffins, elevators, open windows, ghost and skeletons, glow sticks, and all kinds of lights.”

Looking back on the project, Rushing said, “I am so proud of the hard work these students put into making these projects amazingly special.”

Francis Johnson

January 29, 1930 to October 31, 2021 (age 91)

Service will be 11 a.m., Saturday, November 6, 2021 at St. Savior B.C., Coushatta, La.

The Bulldogs are on the road tonight.  They travel to Moreauville for a match with Avoyelles High.  The Dawgs have their work cut out for themselves.  They are going against the number two team in their district.

Early voting for the November 13 election ends Saturday.  There are four constitutional amendments on the ballot in the parish.  Vote at the Registrar of Voters office in the Courthouse.

The Children’s Ministry of Red River Cowboy Church is now in rehearsal for their annual Christmas Program.  If your child plans to participate in this year’s Christmas program on December 12, we will be having practice every Wednesday from 5:30–6:00 before supper and Bible Study.

Davis Springs Southern Methodist Church is holding a Blood Drive in the Activity Building. We all know that blood is needed for our community. LifeShare Blood Center is critically low of all blood types and they’re looking at us to help. It’s just going to get worse going into the holidays.

Cooler weather is here.  Red River schools are offering warm clothing for students to wear to class.  Check the school’s social media pages for details and ordering information.

Report from the Red River Sheriff’s Office for the week ending October 31, 2021.