By: Glynn Harris

Plenty of people enjoy the outdoors. They hunt, fish, and hike, but their nine-to-five jobs occupy the majority of their time.

For a handful of others, the outdoors is their life; they’re consumed with the woods and waters. That’s why this select group can’t wait to wake up every morning and go to their job in some form to make a living in the outdoor industry. John Brown is just such a fellow.

For the 57-year-old Brown, it started some 30-odd years ago when he teamed up with fellow Ruston High School graduate Rex Moncrief to plan, film, produce, and star in an outdoor television show, “The Outdoor News,” which ran for a few years on area TV stations.

Wanting more exposure to the outdoors, Brown had become adept at handling video equipment, and he began doing free-lance video work for such outdoors-related companies as Knight and Hale, Primos, and Mossy Oak. His work caught the attention of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), and for nearly 30 years, Brown worked with that organization, eventually becoming executive producer of their television and video work.

Aside from his involvement with the outdoors, Brown developed an interest in coaching youth baseball. While living in Edgefield, SC, headquarters of the NWTF, he coached youngsters, and in 2019, his team of 12-year-olds won the national championship. Interestingly, the tourney was held in Ruston.

“I came to Ruston for the tournament, and it was like a homecoming. I wanted to plant myself here in north Louisiana, where I was raised. I told my boss at the NWTF I wanted to retire early so I could move back home,” said Brown.

After retiring, Brown and his wife, a retired school teacher, live in the country outside W. Monroe. Has he retired from his outdoor ventures? That’s not in Brown’s DNA. He writes features for LA Sportsman magazine and has taken a consuming interest in 51 acres of land in Caldwell Parish that his dad had purchased before he passed away last year. Brown is converting the property his dad left him into a mecca for wildlife.

“When I first walked over the property, it was so thick and overgrown you could hardly pick your way through it. There was no way you could think about finding a turkey track. I have worked on the land, clearing brush and establishing food plots for the past year and a half. Last week,” said Brown, “I called up two longbeard gobblers, a hen, and six jakes at one time.

“I have rededicated myself to telling the conservation story that no matter if a piece of property is large or small if you work on the habitat, wildlife will react and find it.”

Brown’s next project, which will be released on April 30, is his book Gathering Light.

“Before he passed away, my dad had encouraged me to write down what I had done in stories I could pass down as a legacy to my kids and grandchildren. I finally did it. The book tells about my growing up in Franklin Parish on the Tensas River and my outdoors-related work down through the years,” he said.
 
The hard-cover book and its E-book version will be available starting April 30. Search for it on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

This book will appeal to not only outdoorsmen and women, but with John Brown’s God-given ability to tell a story, it’s a book anyone will enjoy reading.

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In observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day, there will be two major events in Shreveport: 

• the Louisiana film premiere of Four Winters about Jewish Partisans who fought back against the Nazis during WWII, with Director Julia Mintz in attendance, at the Robinson Film Center on  Sunday, April 28 at 2:30 p.m., and 

• the 41st annual Northwest Louisiana Holocaust Remembrance Service on Sunday, May 5 at 3:00 p.m. at LSUS with award-winning author and Holocaust survivor Sonia Levitin as the featured speaker.

The Louisiana premiere of the documentary Four Winters will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28 at the Robinson Film Center. Director and Producer Julia Mintz will be in attendance to introduce the film, and for a Question and Answer session afterward. The film focuses on Jewish individuals who fought back against the Nazis during World War II.

“All I owned was my camera, a leopard coat, and a grenade in case of capture…the pillow was the rifle, the walls were the trees and the sky was the roof,” says partisan Faye Schulman. Over 25,000 Jewish partisans fought back against the Nazis and their collaborators from deep within the forests of WWII’s Eastern Europe, Ukraine and Belarus. Against extraordinary odds, they escaped Nazi slaughter, transforming from young innocents to courageous resistance fighters. Shattering the myth of Jewish passivity, these last surviving partisans tell their stories of resistance in Four Winters, revealing a stunning narrative of heroism and resilience.

Robinson Film Director Wendell Riley states “As with most reflections of historical events, we often latch on to established narratives, but in doing so we run the risk of missing valuable stories that haven’t been given voice yet. We are honored to be partnering with the North Louisiana Jewish Federation to share this story with our community, and in doing so hopefully create a more complete account of those involved in World War II.”

Tickets may be purchased through the Robinson Film Center (https://robinsonfilmcenter.org/comingsoon#/four-winters-cs/). The ticket price includes the film, Q and A, and a reception afterward.

Thanks to the generosity of several sponsors, some Northwest Louisiana teachers can attend for free. Middle and High School teachers of English, Social Studies, Arts and other Humanities can use this link to register (https://jewishnla.regfox.com/four-winters-for-teachers).

The 41^st Annual Northwest Louisiana Holocaust Remembrance Service will be 3:00 p.m. Sunday, May 5 in Louisiana State University Shreveport’s University Center. To honor the victims of one of humanity’s worst moments, our community remembers the Holocaust with an annual ecumenical service and program. The Chair of the event is Dr. Kenna Franklin, Assistant Provost of Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement and Associate Professor of Professional Practice. “LSUS welcomes any opportunity to equip our students, our campus, and our community with an engaged awareness of intellectual history that can broaden the study of culture and highlight the struggle of the world’s sense of humanity,” notes Dr. Franklin.

The guest speaker will be Sonia Levitin, Holocaust survivor and award winning author. Sonia Levitin is also an artist, playwright, and social activist, often using the novel as a form of intercultural understanding. As a Holocaust survivor, Sonia wants to be a bridge between peoples. Her books include mysteries, historical novels and current affairs. She has been honored with the Pen Award, National Jewish Book Award, Sydney Taylor Award, and the German Catholic Bishops Award. There will be signed copies of her young adult novel Journey to America available at the reception following the service.

Since 1984, a coalition of community partners in Northwest Louisiana have held an annual remembrance service for victims of the Holocaust. Through our remembering and active cooperation, we strive to obliterate injustice. Eleven candles will be lit in memory of the eleven million lives lost during the Holocaust. We will share prayers together in memory and solidarity. This is intended as a non-denominational opportunity for the community to come together to remember and find strength to prevent injustice in the world. Please join us, whatever your faith background.

Northwest Louisiana middle and high school students are given the opportunity to participate in the Holocaust Remembrance Literary and Arts Competition. Students learn about the Holocaust, and produce poems, stories, essays, visual art, or musical compositions. This year there were 135 student submissions. Winners of each category will be announced at the service.

More information about the Service and the Literary and Arts Competition can be found at holocaustremembranceservice.org

There is no charge to attend. Registration is appreciated at (https://jewishnla.regfox.com/hrs).

Information about Yom HaShoah:

The internationally recognized date for Holocaust Remembrance Day corresponds to the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar. It marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. In Hebrew, Holocaust Remembrance Day is called Yom HaShoah. This year, Yom HaShoah falls on Monday, May 6.

Shoah, which means “catastrophe” or “utter destruction” in Hebrew, refers to the atrocities that were committed against the Jewish people during World War II. This is a memorial day for those who died in the Shoah. The Shoah is also known as “the Holocaust,” from a Greek word meaning “sacrifice by fire.”

The Holocaust was the largest manifestation of antisemitism in recent history. Yom HaShoah reminds us of the horrors that Jews and other persecuted groups faced: forced labor, starvation, humiliation, and torture, which often resulted in death. It was a systematic effort to wipe out an entire population from the face of the earth.

For more information, contact:

Barbara Joseph
Executive Director
318-868-1200
barbara@jewishnla.org

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NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s School of Education hosted an apple pinning ceremony for future educators who are now teacher candidates. Students eligible for the pinning are education majors who have completed 30 hours of coursework while maintaining a grade point average of 2.5 or better.

Dr. Katrina Jordan, director of the School, said the pinning is “a milestone on the journey to becoming an educator and work over the next two years builds up to residency” for the teacher candidates.

Teacher candidates are listed by hometowns.

Alexandria — Dalayia Davion, Thomas Johnson, Alissa Roberts

Anacoco — Karlea Welch

Athens, Texas — Jessica Dubose

Atlanta, Texas — Austin Head

Ball — JulieAnn Prince

Bogota, Texas — Harmony Marsh

Bossier City — Julianne Dachel, Haley Henderson

Bridgewater, Massachusetts — Conner Mackie

Brownsville, Texas — Dominick Saldivar

Creole — Amberlee Saltzman

Dubberly — Jayde Burks

Fort Worth, Texas — Kohner Smith

Harlingen, Texas – Cadence Carpio

Houma — Ramiyah Rounds

Jonesboro — Georgia Robinson

Kilgore, Texas — Madeline Horton, Kirk Ybanez

Leesville — Natalie Norris

Madisonville — Barrett Hodgson

Maurice — Eileen Ashley

Mansfield — Kamariya Thomas

Many — Kristen Hammontree, Emma Wilson

Monroe — Madison Bruce

Natchez – Cassidy Gandy

Natchitoches — Abigail Bevill, Armonie Haywood, Emma Miller, Kennedi Revels, Manuel Riego Fernandez, Maria Simien, Ysenia Zapata

Pineville — Jack Blair

Princeton — Natalie Olvera

Quitman — Kaitlyn Williams

St. Petersburg, Florida — Gabriela Marshall

Simsboro — Garrett Moss

Sulphur — Julian Peshoff

Winnfield — Mattie Beaubouef

Zwolle — Madilyn Laroux, Kamaryn Rivers, Victoria Sepulvado

Information on Northwestern State’s School of Education is available at https://www.nsula.edu/education/.

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Logansport Schools, North DeSoto Schools and Stanley High School will hold a Virtual Instructional Day Friday, April 26 to allow students and staff to support their softball teams at the state tournament in Sulphur. 

Clara Springs Camp will host Fourth Friday Fish Fry April 26 from 5-7pm. Hosted by Grand Cane Baptist. It is Foster Ministry Awareness Month. Everyone is asked to bring socks/underware donations for boys and girls sizes 2T-14 to give to Foster Care Closets. Foster families will eat FREE. Dinner is $15 and includes all you can eat fried fish, coleslaw, french fries, hushpuppies, pinto beans, lemon bread pudding, homemade ice cream and drinks. Kids 9 and under eat FREE. Only $10 for kids ages 10-17.

Grand Cane Spring Market will be held on May 4 from 9am-2pm.

The Stonewall Library is hosting Gardening Classes on the following Tuesdays at 10am. April 30–Worm Composting. May 7–Harvesting Worms. Contact the library for more info 318.925.9797.

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Lathan Early
September 8, 1946 — April 21, 2024
Service: Wednesday, April 24 at 2pm at Southside Baptist Church – Mansfield

Connie Gannon
March 2, 1957 — April 22, 2024
Service: Thursday, April 25 at 11am at Rose Neath Funeral Homes – Mansfield

Darron Terrell Robinson
November 17, 1966 — April 17, 2024
Graveside service: Saturday, April 27 at 11am at  Mary Evergreen Baptist Church Cemetery – Grand Cane

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 At 12:40 P.M. today, the Desoto Parish Sheriff’s Office announced that both lanes of Interstate 49 are closed at the Frierson exit. A large truck has lost its load. The load is not considered hazardous, though cleanup will take some time. All travelers are encouraged to avoid the area and seek a detour.

 

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Matt Vines

STANLEY – Stanley softball pushed across eight runs in the first three innings as the Lady Panthers swamped Holden, 10-3, on Wednesday in the second round of the Division V Non-Select playoffs.

Stanley, the No. 6 seed, will tee off against No. 3 Choudrant today at 5:30 p.m. on the road.

It’s the fifth straight quarterfinals appearance for the Lady Panthers, who have lost in this round each of the previous four seasons.

Stanley is aching to make its first state tournament appearance since 2017 when the Lady Panthers fell to Holden in the championship game.

That same Holden program wasn’t a problem Wednesday as Stanley built its large lead.

Two-run home runs from Riley Palmer and Paige Campbell were the catalysts behind a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Karsyn Weeks added an RBI single for the fifth run of the inning.

Two other players also supplied two RBIs in the win, including Weeks (2-for-4) and K Moton (2-for-4).

Palmer led the way with a 4-for-5 effort while A Gooden added three hits. Stanley amassed a whopping 18 hits in the final home game of the season.

Every Lady Panther to make a plate appearance reached base with all but one recording a hit.

Neither one of Jace Jones’ two hits was a home run Wednesday, but her 19 home runs this season ranks No. 3 in the nation for teams that report stats to maxpreps.com.

It was more than enough firepower for Campbell in the circle as she scattered three runs and seven hits with just one walk.

Holden scratched out two runs in the fourth inning on a L. Landrum home run, but Holden would come no closer than 8-3 in the fifth inning.

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Matt Vines

STONEWALL – The North DeSoto softball team has made its offensive living off the home run, and the long ball paid off Thursday in an 11-1 win against Iota in the Division II Non-Select quarterfinals.

Raegan Henderson smashed three home runs and accounted for six RBIs to lead a No. 1 seed Lady Griffin lineup that belted seven home runs in its 10 hits.

The first five North DeSoto (29-4) hits were home runs, and six of North DeSoto’s first eight hits went over the fence.

North DeSoto’s bats set the tone early with three home runs in its first three at-bats, solo shots from Mia Norwood (3-for-4), Henderson (3-for-3) and Payton Miller for a 3-0 lead.

Henderson supplied all three second-inning runs with a home run after a Regan Davlin hit-by-pitch and a Sasha Falls walk.

North DeSoto never looked back after the 6-0 lead.

Iota managed its only run in the third inning by stealing home, but North DeSoto pitcher Laney Johnson quickly stifled momentum with an inning-ending ground out to hold a 6-1 lead.

Johnson scattered five hits and three walks while striking out six in six innings.

North DeSoto’s Ciara Orgeron continued the slug fest with a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning, the fifth home run on the fifth hit of the night.

Henderson hit her third bomb of the game with a two-run homer for a 9-1 lead.

Maddie Stringer ended the game in the sixth inning with a two-run shot for the 11-1 win.

The Lady Griffins are one step closer to winning their fourth straight state championship and await the winner of No. 5 Iowa and No. 4 North Vermilion, who play tonight.

The action in Sulphur starts next Friday, April 26.

It’s the sixth straight trip to Sulphur for the program.

The two quarterfinals games on the other side of the bracket will be played Saturday between No. 14 Albany and No. 6 Grant and No. 2 Lutcher and No. 7 Beau Chene.

No. 3 Brusly, whom North DeSoto beat in the semifinals this past season and by one run this regular season, fell in the second round to Albany, whom North DeSoto beat in the championship game last year.

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Matt Vines

LOGANSPORT – Upset-minded Lake Arthur made some first-inning noise by putting runners on second and third base Wednesday.

Logansport pitcher Avery Creech shut down that threat with one of her nine strikeouts, and Lake Arthur didn’t put another runner on base in a 15-0 Lady Tigers win in four innings.

No. 1 seed Logansport (23-7) will host No. 9 Vinton (15-13) today at 7 p.m. in the Division IV Non-Select quarterfinals with the winner advancing to the state tournament in Sulphur.

It’s a destination Logansport appeared to be heading this past season when they took a lead into the seventh-inning of a quarterfinals game against Oak Grove before giving up 14 runs in the final frame.

Now Logansport will try to return to the state semifinals for the first time since 2019.

On Wednesday against Lake Arthur, Creech surrendered just the one hit and one walk in four innings.

The Logansport offense set off fireworks with four first-inning runs and a nine-run fourth inning to enforce the run rule.

The Lady Tigers scored before Lake Arthur could record an out as Ainsley Morvan hammered a three-run home run,

Morvan’s second home run of the game came in the second inning, a two-run shot to hand Logansport a 6-0 lead. Morvan has 18 home runs this season, which ranks seventh in the nation among teams who report their stats to maxpreps.com.

Morvan (2-for-4) walked twice and scored four runs in the rout.

Three other Lady Tigers posted multiple RBIs as Colby Rolfe (2-for-3), Jordan Porterfield (1-for-3) and Madison Magee (1-for-3) all had two RBIs.

Porterfield made her return after a broken hand sidelined her for more than a month.

Logansport’s nine-run inning was keyed by two bases-loaded walks, a Rolfe RBI single, a Kennedi Smith RBI single and a Magee bunt single that scored two runs. An error and passed ball accounted for the other two runs.

Three Lady Tigers recorded multiple hits as Logansport accounted for 10 hits and seven walks. Morvan (2-for-4), Smith (2-for2) and Rolfe (2-for-3) each had two hits.

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For every athlete the day comes when you’re no longer able to compete either due to age or a career-ending injury. Well, for today’s senior bass pros, or what most call the legends of the sport, that day might be approaching a lot sooner than many of them had planned. Today, let’s look at why so many of these elderly pros are looking to load their boats and go home — for good.

Just like any other sport, athletes come to a point in their careers in which they start to contemplate retirement. There comes a day for all athletes where you just can’t compete anymore. So many of today’s bass fishing pros are at that point, mainly due to a technological advancement called forward-facing sonar (FFS). Nothing has impacted the bass fishing world like this latest form of technology.

So, why is this technology having such an impact on the older anglers? Well, I guess it’s the fact that FFS has played right into the hands of the younger generation of anglers moving up into professional bass fishing. They have embraced this technology and taken it to another level which has cut their learning curve and their ability to find fish by 75 percent. Today’s young anglers all grew up playing video games and FFS for these young anglers is nothing more than just that: a video game.

The old school anglers have not embraced this technology nearly as well as the younger guys and it shows in the tournament results. For  proof, look at the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings and you’ll see names like Matt Herren, Lee Livesay, John Cox, Greg Hackney, Jason Christie, Michael Iaconelli, and the 4-time World champion, Rick Clunn. As of this writing, all are in the bottom 50 of the AOY standings.

So why are the older anglers not accepting FFS? Some feel that FFS is not good for the sport in the long run and would like to see some restrictions or rule changes made to help level the playing field and protect the fisheries. But most will tell you that this technology is here to stay as some of the older anglers are now starting to question if they are going to try and get better with FFS or just get out of the sport all together. Most of these anglers will wait and see if B.A.S.S. or MLF make any major rule adjustments to their circuits regarding FFS before they decide to leave the sport they love so much.

My conversations with several professional anglers have revealed there is some resentment to these new young anglers taking over the sport. The legends of the sport don’t like the fact that these young up-and-coming anglers haven’t paid their dues and are not just winning but dominating events immediately. The techniques that used to work for the older guys and how they have fished their whole career no longer allows them to be as competitive as they once were. This has been a shock and blow to their egos.

For the older anglers, it took years of time on the water to obtain the knowledge they possess while these young guns are doing a better job of adapting to the new technology that’s available. No longer do young anglers have to go through the painful task of fishing daylight ‘til dark in order to compete with the legendary pros.

For the young anglers on the rise, the game has changed as the word “scouting” today means something totally different than it did 10 years ago. The anglers who are proficient with FFS will spend their day idling, scanning, and marking schools of bass that they can come back to on tournament day. Some are not even having to wet a hook in practice in order to save their fish for the tournament. A recent example is 33-year-old pro angler, Jason Hamner, who spent 14 days on Grand Lake prior to the Bassmaster Classic doing nothing but idling and marking brush tops without ever wetting a hook.

With all this being said, will this force many of the older anglers to retire and idle off into the sunset? Several have told me that it’s something they are considering as they are frustrated with both B.A.S.S. and MLF officials for not doing more to address the (FFS) technology issue. They feel that this new technology will ruin the sport over the next five years, as due to FFS, fish no longer have a safe haven.

Fact is, all of our lakes are under assault as more anglers across the country are purchasing these high dollar forward-facing sonar units. It’s not just bass that are being affected, it’s crappie as well. So many crappie guides have told me they are concerned as well, since these FFS units are targeting the bigger breeding population.

To put a bow on this topic and from my perspective, it appears that the senior anglers of both B.A.S.S. and MLF have a choice to make. Either get on board with FFS and get better with it or take their tackle boxes and go home because I don’t see anything changing with regards to this new technology. I truly believe it’s here to stay.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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The State Fair of Louisiana is thrilled to announce our partnership with Talley Amusements to create an extraordinary carnival experience for our attendees. Known for their exceptional work at fairs across the nation, including the Ohio State Fair, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, and the State Fair of Texas. Talley Amusements will bring their expertise to elevate our fair to new heights. Talley Amusements vision creates a permanent park atmosphere that’s dedicated to creating fun and unforgettable experiences for our guests.

“We’re honored to be selected as the next carnival provider for the State Fair of Louisiana. Our team is committed to delivering the cleanest, safest carnival midway experience, ensuring that our guests can enjoy themselves with their families and create cherished memories that last a lifetime,” said Mary Talley, Vice President of Talley Amusements, Inc.

“We are very proud to partner with Talley Amusements as our carnival provider. Their attention to detail, extensive selection of rides, and “wow” factor will be a must-experience for fairgoers,” said Robb Brazzel, President & General Manager.

The 2024 State Fair of Louisiana is scheduled to run from October 30th to November 17th (Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays, with the primary goal of creating a safe and friendly atmosphere for families to come out, have a great time and make memories.

Operating hours will be from 11am to 10pm on weekdays and from 10am to 10pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

For more information on the State Fair of Louisiana, you can visit our website at http://www.statefairoflouisiana.com.

Media contact: Russell Adams: russell@statefairoflouisiana.com / 318.635.1361
Released by: Robb Brazzel, President & GM / State Fair of Louisiana / 318.635.1361

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WASHINGTON — Speaker Mike Johnson hosted a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony honoring Rosie the Riveter, the women who worked or volunteered in support of the war efforts during World War II, in recognition of their contributions to the United States and the inspiration they have provided to ensuing generations. These women left their homes to work or volunteer full-time in factories, farms, shipyards, airplane factories, banks, and other institutions in support of the military overseas.

The ceremony, held in Emancipation Hall in the U.S. Capitol and widely attended by Members of Congress, featured remarks from Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, Senators Bob Casey and Susan Collins, and former Representative Jackie Speier. Mae Krier, an original Rosie the Riveter who helped produce aircrafts in Seattle from 1943-1945, accepted the medal on behalf of the 6 million women who entered the workforce and provided the equipment, weaponry and ammunition to achieve final victory and end the war.

Read Speaker Johnson’s remarks below:

My colleagues in Congress, friends, family, and of course, our Rosies. It’s my honor to welcome you here to the Capitol for today’s historic occasion.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest award this body can award to any group or individual.

Fewer than 200 Gold Medals have been issued in our country’s nearly 250-year history, but today, pursuant to H.R.1773, I have the distinct honor of presenting this medal to Rosie the Riveter – the women who worked or volunteered in support of the war efforts during World War II.

During the first year of the war, President Roosevelt went on a tour visiting factories and plants where ships, tanks, and planes were being built. And during one of those visits, the President observed that as he would walk down the middle aisle of the factory, it would be chiefly the men who would look up and leave their workstations. The men would stand up and debate whether or not the man in the straw hat walking around was really the President. But the women in the factories, they kept their heads down and continued to work. They never let anything interrupt their duties. It didn’t matter that the President was there – these women were not going to waste one minute – they were busy riveting, inspecting, and assembling and doing what their duty called for.

When you talk to the children of these Rosies, you’ll hear them use words like “true grit,” “patriotism,” and “love for family,” to describe their mothers.

The Rosies exemplified what the image of the Proverbs 31 woman is, it says in part in scripture, “She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.^”

They worked 12 and 14-hour days, six days a week, and knew what it was like to be so tired they couldn’t even eat.

I have the diary of one such Rosie, Augusta Clawson in my hand. She was a welder, and on one rare occasion, in May 1943, she got a whole weekend off work. She wrote, “Two days off in succession. I feel like a retired banker.”

Before us today we are so honored to have more than two dozen real-life Rosies. Two dozen ladies of the war. I don’t really believe that though because they all look so young. The women who built our ships and our bombs. The invisible warriors of the home front. Some took multiple buses to get to the plant. Many picked up and moved across the country.

We recognize these Rosies, and millions more, because they all sacrificed time away from home and used their God-given gifts and talents for the good of our nation and for military victory against the Axis powers.

But even as we sought victory, these women fought for double victory. Victory from tyranny and victory from prejudice. Although they were now welcome at our voting booths, they were not yet welcome on the usual assembly lines. That all changed because of these Rosies, who quietly fought to be treated as individuals made in God’s image, endowed with inestimable dignity, regardless of their gender or the color of their skin.

It’s my privilege to welcome you all here, to meet you, and extend our gratitude for all that you did for our country, and what you’ve done for generations of women since.

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As a child, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, called Charlie by everyone who knew him, was a shy boy.  He was often ridiculed in school and was usually the last student chosen to play team sports during recess.  A large part of his shyness came from a speech impediment which he shared to some extent with at least six members of his large family.  Conversation was hard for little Charlie.  His speech was filled with awkward hesitation.  He could form his thoughts perfectly, but he struggled to project his words orally.  Little Charlie loved to read because the words flowed so easily.  When asked to read aloud, the hesitation often returned.  His speech impediment was unpredictable.  Little Charlie never knew which words or phrases would cause him trouble.  A word that he had spoken thousands of times without incident could suddenly become a problem.  Every spoken word was a potential pitfall.  The other students teased and mocked little Charlie until his speech impediment manifested into an occasional blockage.  Their taunts were often answered non-verbally by little Charlie’s fists.  When little Charlie was faced with a blockage, which was normally mid-sentence, he had no choice but to abruptly end the conversation without explanation. 

During the Victorian era, many middle-class children created their own homemade magazines as a form of entertainment.  These magazines usually contained local gossip, hand-drawn pictures, stories, and riddles thrown together seemingly at random.  Through this medium, little Charlie learned that he could communicate more effectively through writing than he could verbally.  Biographer Robert Douglas-Fairhurst said that for little Charlie, “The blank page released his tongue.”  Whereas most of the Victorian children’s homemade magazines had no rhyme or reason, little Charlie’s magazines were thematic and normally contained a table of contents and a detailed index.  For example, one of his homemade magazines pertained to things that began with the letter “M.”  His magazines were usually bound with string between a cover made from a recycled school notebook. 

Little Charlie never wanted to grow up.  He became somewhat obsessed with all things little.  For him, it appeared that once a person accepted that they had reached adulthood, the paradise of childhood was lost forever.  In his own mind, little Charlie envisioned the bullies of his childhood as little people.  He envisioned elephants the size of mice.  He often wrote letters to friends in words that were so small that reading them required a magnifying glass.  

Little Charlie’s magazines became popular with his family and friends.  In them, little Charlie created whimsical worlds as well as nonsensical words.  He escaped from the real world into his own creations.  As a teenager, little Charlie became a published author of poems and articles.  By the age of 24, everything Charlie had published had been anonymous or under assumed initials.  Several of his early stories and poems were published under the initials B.B. which had a meaning that Charlie never revealed.  In 1856, when Charlie submitted a story for the Comic Times, editor Edmund Yates refused to publish it under his pseudonym B.B. and insisted on an alternative.  Charlie submitted a list of potential pen names which were elaborate variations on his real name such as Edgar Cuthwellis and Edgar U.C. Westhall.  All but one on the list was rejected by the editor.  On March 1, 1856, Charlie wrote in his diary that he and the editor had chosen a name, one which was a derivative of his first and middle names in reverse order in schoolboy Latin.  He converted Ludwidge to Ludovicus then to Lewis, and Charles to Carolus then to Carroll.  Nine years after adopting his pen name, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson published his most notable story “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” under the pen name Lewis Carroll.

Source: Robert Douglas-Fairhurst, The Story of Alice: Lewis Carroll and the Secret History of Wonderland(Cambridge, Massachusetts, The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2015).

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BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) is calling upon residents and businesses throughout the state to join others in turning off bright or excess lighting from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. each day between April 15 and May 31 to help protect the billions of migratory birds that fly through Louisiana at night during this period.

Louisiana sits within the Mississippi Flyway migratory path, with the state’s vast wetlands, forests, and coastline serving as critical stops along the birds’ migration routes. Twice a year, 325 bird species travel the Mississippi Flyway, including 40% of shorebirds.  During the 2023 spring migration, an estimated 450 million birds migrated through the state of Louisiana. The majority of those birds migrate at night and typically start their nightly migration about 30 to 45 minutes post-sunset, with peak flights between 10 and 11 p.m.

While the dark skies allow the migratory birds to avoid predators, take advantage of calmer air and utilize the moon and stars for navigation, it also brings with it other dangers such as bright artificial lights and the skyglow from larger cities that can confuse the birds, often causing them to fatally collide into buildings or windows.

“Our city lights can misguide birds, diverting them off course with often dire consequences. This initiative is an easy yet impactful step in helping these birds continue their incredible journey,” said Rebecca Triche, executive director of LWF. “Louisiana is well-known for the populations of migratory birds we see here at different times of the year and people care about keeping wildlife sustainable. By supporting the Lights Out initiative, businesses and individuals can take a practical step to protect the birds that briefly call Louisiana home.”

According to the National Audubon Society, which started the first Lights Out program in Chicago in 1999, just one building in a community with bright lights can cause major problems, citing a week in 2017 when nearly 400 birds were killed when they flew into windows of a 32-story Texas skyscraper because of its floodlights.

Dr. Dan Scheiman, Plants for Birds Program Manager for Audubon Delta, said, “Following that incident, the skyscraper in question joined many other buildings in Houston Audubon’s Lights Out for Birds Program, saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of birds. Each year in the United States an estimated 1 billion birds die by colliding with windows. This number is not sustainable. Every building, every Lights Out program helps reduce this threat to ensure the long-term health of our bird populations.”

Dr. Phil Stouffer, the Lee F. Mason Professor at the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources, has been studying the problem on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge and leads the LSU Bird Window Collision Monitoring Project, which has been in place for five years. The group has recorded 569 dead birds of 75 species on the LSU campus.

“This is a problem that can be overcome,” Stouffer said. “Reducing illumination is one of the easiest approaches that we can all take. Dark skies also benefit other wildlife, and we humans might see a few more stars.”

At LWF’s February 2023 Board of Directors meeting, the organization passed a resolution requesting that “all public buildings observe ‘lights out’ as official policy of the State of Louisiana, City of Baton Rouge and other governmental entities.” The full resolution can be found at https://lawildlifefed.org/resolution/lights-out-to-save-migrating-birds/

Individuals and organizations wanting to join others in the Lights Out Initiative should follow these guidelines:

• Turn off non-essential lights nightly from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. during the migration period.
• Avoid using landscape lighting on trees or gardens where birds may be resting.
• For essential security and safety lighting, use these dark skies-friendly lighting adjustments:

o   Aim lights downwards.

o   Use light shields to direct light downwards and prevent an upward glare.

o   Use motion detectors and sensors so lights turn on when needed.

o   Close blinds at night to limit the amount of light seen through windows.

• For building owners/managers:

o   Adjust custodial schedules to be completed by 11:00 p.m.

o   Ensure lights are turned off after custodial cleaning.

Additional Guidelines for Buildings Over 3 Stories:

• Dim or turn off:

o   Exterior/decorative lighting.

o   Lobby/atrium lights.

o   Perimeter room lights on all levels.

o   Floodlights.

o   Lighting on interior plants/fountains.

o   Lights on vacant floors.

o   Lights with blue-rich white light emissions (over 3000 K in color temperature.)

• Instead use:

o   Desk lamps or task lights instead of overhead lights.

o   “warm-white” or filtered LEDs outdoors (less than 3000 K in color temperature.)

Migration routes, along with the timing of the flight, can vary from day to day due to a number of factors such as the weather conditions.

Individuals can monitor the bird migration in their area by using BirdCast, a migration dashboard provided by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Dashboards for Louisiana and selected cities are:

Louisiana – https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-LA

Alexandria – https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-LA-079

Baton Rouge – https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-LA-033

Houma – https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-LA-109

Lake Charles – https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-LA-019

Lafayette – https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-LA-055

Monroe – https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-LA-073

New Orleans – https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-LA-071

Shreveport – https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-LA-017

Established in 1940, Louisiana Wildlife Federation is a statewide nonprofit organization that represents 19 affiliate organizations and more than 10,000 members dedicated to the conservation of Louisiana’s wildlife and natural resources. Louisiana Wildlife Federation is an affiliate of National Wildlife Federation and together forms a powerful network for conservation locally and nationally.

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Early Voting closes tomorrow, April 20. Polls will be open from 8:30am-6pm. To see what is on your ballot head to geauxvote.com or check your geauxvote app.

The Pelican Branch Library will host Bingo for tweens and teens Saturday, April 20 from 11am-12:30PM.

Desoto Parish Chamber of Commerce 94th Annual Banquet will be held on April 25, 2024 in the Clista Calhoun Center at 6pm.

The 41st Annual River City Fest will take place May 10-11 on the Sabine River in Logansport. FREE admission. There will be an Inflatable kid zone, Kids Bucking rodeo, mechanical bull, foods, arts & crafts, Car Show, corn hole tournament, “Strongest Arm-Wrestling”, Fireworks, live entertainment starting with “Jacob Wheeler”, “The Adam Leger Band”, and headlining Saturday Night is Nashville Recording Artist “Wyatt Putman”.

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Patsy Roath
September 4, 1942 — April 15, 2024
Service: Saturday, April 20 at 11am at Rose Neath Funeral Homes – Mansfield

James Peyton
February 27, 1938 — April 15, 2024
Service: Saturday, April 20 at 11am at Mary Evergreen Baptist Church – Grand Cane

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Early voting for the April 27 election is underway and will close Saturday, April 20. Voters in North DeSoto are again voting on a revision of the school board bond that was defeated earlier. There is also a parish-wide millage renewal on the ballot. 

Early voting is open daily from 8:30am-6pm at both locations. To see a sample ballot go to geauxvote.com or check you geauxvote app.

By close of business on April 16, roughly 200 citizens have early voted. 

The DeSoto Parish Journal urges every citizen to exercise their right to vote. 

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Matt Vines

LOGANSPORT – Logansport senior Jordan Porterfield is the cheerleader, the bringer of the energy.

When Porterfield broke her hand sliding head first into second base in early March, there was concern that the cheerleader role would be Porterfield’s only role for the rest of the season.

But Porterfield is cleared to play Wednesday as Logansport begins its playoff trek as the No. 1 seed Lady Tigers (22-7) host No. 16 seed Lake Arthur (9-15).

First pitch is 6 p.m.

“Jordan hurt her hand stretching a single into a double,” said Logansport coach Kyle Creech. “You can’t fault her for being aggressive – that’s who she is and how she plays.

“I’m excited for her on a personal level because nobody works harder than she does. Getting her back gives us a shot in the arm defensively.”

The second baseman is a crucial defensive element but also has offensive value.

Porterfield has scored 19 runs and driven in 13 more in just 15 games played before her March 5 injury.

Creech said aside from her on-field production, she is the leader of what he calls the “dugout culture.”

“If anybody could embrace that (cheerleader) role, it’s Jordan, because that’s the role she playing even when she was on the field,” Creech said. “She’s a special person, and she brings the energy we need.

“There were very few times that I saw her down, even though it’s hard to be relegated to that role. But she embraced it, and she didn’t let her teammates get down. To me, the dugout is a highly underrated part of the game, and she really builds that dugout culture whether she’s playing or not.”

But everybody much prefers her to be on the field.

Logansport is going to need all hands on deck for what the Lady Tigers hope is an extended playoff run.

Lake Arthur handled No. 17 South Plaquemines 22-7 in the first round, and Creech said this squad isn’t a typical second-round team that Logansport has played in the past.

“We watched a little bit of the first-round game … and they look the part and play the part,” Creech said. “That’s a well-coached bunch, and we have to play our game and not make it about anybody else.

“It truly is a second season. We may have hit 40 home runs in the regular season and won 22 games, but as soon as the bracket came out, nobody cares what you did in the regular season.”

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Matt Vines

North DeSoto and Logansport now know their first-round opponent while Stanley still has some waiting to do find out its first playoff opponent.

North DeSoto climbed in the past week to No. 9 in the Division II Non-Select power rankings, with Logansport holding steady at No. 12 in Division IV.

Stanley picked up a Division V first-round bye as the No. 4 seed.

North DeSoto (20-7) will face off against No. 24 Kaplan (13-15) in a best-of-three series in the first round that starts Thursday. The Griffins will host the first game at 6 p.m. with Friday’s game at 4 p.m. with an if-necessary contest later that day.

North DeSoto won its final two regular season games against Minden (No. 14 in Division II Non-Select) and against Weston to boost itself into the top 10.

The first three rounds consist of best-of-three series with the semifinals and finals being single-elimination games.

Logansport (12-13) will host district foe No. 21 LaSalle (9-12) on Friday at 5 p.m. in the Division IV Non-Select first round (single-elimination).

The Tigers hammered LaSalle in their head-to-head series with wins of 11-1 and 15-2 in late March.

Logansport will have to shrug off a four-game losing skid to end the season, which included losses to Northwood-Shreveport and Northwood-Lena and a series loss to St. Mary’s. The Tigers allowed at least 10 runs in all four of those losses.

Stanley (20-6) kicks back this week as they await the winner of No. 13 Bell City (10-8) and No. 20 Calvin (9-13) in the Division V Non-Select first round.

The Panthers wrapped up the District 3-B title and ended the regular season with eight wins in their last 10.

All Division IV and Division V rounds are single-elimination.

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Matt Vines

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – North DeSoto sophomore Jacob Kershaw took home a national championship at the Adidas Nationals wrestling meet in Independence, Mo., this past weekend.

Kershaw won the tournament among 132-pound sophomores.

Each classification (freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior) competed against wrestlers in their weight class as athletes from across the nation flocked to Missouri for the event.

Four other North DeSoto high school wrestlers were named All-Americans by finishing in the top eight of their respective classification and weight class.

Kyan Jackson (senior, 218 pounds. fourth), Kade Tinsely (sophomore, 163 pounds, fourth), Jeremiah Yearby (fourth), and Michael Washington (junior, 132 pounds, fifth) earned All-American status.

At the middle school level, Coleman Morgan (second place), Sy Soute (third place) and Eli Brogden (fourth place) earned All-America status in their respective grades and weight classes.

The little ones got in on the action as well with four All-Americans at the elementary level.

Nolan Gray (third place), Brynn Brogden (fourth placer), Bruce Vanderhoeven (fourth place) and Colt Eizel (sixth place) received those honors.

 

Two Griffins compete at NHSCA Nationals

North DeSoto’s Dalton Compton and Chase Smart each competed at the National High School Coaches Association Nationals held in Virginia Beach earlier this month.

Compton wrestled in the sophomore 132-pound class while Smart competed in the junior 138-pound class.

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Dennis “Skinny” Hallmark passed something along to me that was special. So special in fact that what I learned on that visit to Alabama with him in 1992 ignited a passion I had never felt before or since. He guided me on my first turkey hunt and when I drew a bead on a gobbler and he dropped, I was hooked just as solidly as if I had mainlined a narcotic.

For the next 20-something years, hunting wild turkeys in spring was my passion and not only did I finally learn how to do it on my own, I have had special opportunities to pass along my love for the sport to several other rookies like I was that day in Alabama.

Sarah Hebert was the first. On opening day of turkey season for youth several years later, I was asked to do for Sarah what Skinny had done for me. In other words, I was her guide for a hunt on what was then the Jackson-Bienville wildlife management area. I was privileged to call in a gobbler for this young teenager and saw in her eyes the same fire I experienced when my Alabama gobbler bit the dust.

Still later after having several successful turkey seasons under my belt, my Ruston friend, Jody Backus, asked if I would accompany him to his property to see if I could guide him to success with gobblers that inhabited his land. He was successful in downing a big gobbler.

Each episode differs in the way it plays out. When I called the gobbler in for young Sarah Hebert, it same right off the roost to the decoy we had set out. The hunt ended quickly because soon after daylight, she was packing out her first longbeard. In Backus’ case, the weather was chilly and nasty and we were on the verge of giving up when at the last minute, a big longbeard decided to make Jody’s day.

On two other occasions, I shared my know-how with a couple of other hunters who took what they had experienced when I guided them to call in and take gobblers on their own. I wasn’t there when Carla Johnson and Ross Downer got their gobblers but their success was almost as gratifying as if I had been there.

Louisiana’s turkey season opened this past Saturday and I found out about another situation in which one hunter guided another hunter, a novice, to take their first longbeard.

My nephew, Dan Dupree, lives on Clear Lake in Natchitoches Parish with his wife, Debbie and two offspring, daughter Rachel who will graduate from college this summer as a nurse and high school senior, Johnathan, who has been successful in killing a gobbler or two.

“I had located some turkeys on our hunting lease and had gone out and scouted to sort of get them located. When opening day came, I had planned to take my dad and guide him but he wasn’t able to go,” said Johnathan. “Rachel asked me if I would take her so rather than going out to chase gobblers on my own, I agreed.”

Rachel had been successful on her deer stand having taken a nice 9 point buck this past deer season but had never tried turkey hunting. They got to the woods early and as it began to get daylight, the gobblers began waking up and long story short, Johnathon used his turkey calls to entice a big longbeard to Rachel’s gun. She dropped the 21 pound bird with a 10 ½ inch beard at 30 yards with one shot from her 20 gauge Remington.

Her reaction? “I’m hooked; I think Johnathon has created something in me that I’m going to love” she said.

That’s the way it is, one hunter helping another experience the thrill of something that means so much to the guide and ultimately to the novice hunter. In my case, my helping Sarah and Jody and Ross and Carla to getting their first gobblers was right up there in soul satisfaction equal to the day Skinny watched me jump up and down with excitement over my first.

That’s the magic turkey hunting induces.

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Melrose, Louisiana – April 1, 2024 – Get ready to experience the magic of handcrafted wonders at the 50th Annual Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival, taking place on April 20th from 9 am to 5 pm and April 21st from 10 am to 3 pm. The festival will be held at Melrose on the Cane where attendees can immerse themselves in a vibrant showcase of unique treasures crafted by talented artisans.

Tickets for this exciting event can be purchased at https://givebutter.com/MelroseArtsAndCrafts. Attendees will be able to shop for: stunning jewelry, exquisite pottery, savory salsa, intricate woodwork, timeless iron creations, delectable desserts, and much more. Whether you’re a seasoned art enthusiast or simply looking for something special, there’s something for everyone to discover and cherish at the Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival.

Visitors can also indulge in delicious treats from food trucks while exploring the myriad of artistic offerings.

“This year marks a significant milestone as we celebrate 50 years of creativity, community, and craftsmanship at the Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival,” said Leah Dunn Witman, Executive Director. “We invite everyone to join us for a weekend filled with artistic inspiration, lively entertainment, and the joy of supporting local artisans.”

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to celebrate five decades of artistic excellence at the 50th Annual Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival. Purchase your tickets today and join us for a weekend of creativity, community, and celebration!

For ticket information and event updates, please visit https://givebutter.com/MelroseArtsAndCrafts
Media Contact: Leah Dunn Witman, Email MelrosePlantation@gmail.com

About the Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival: The Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival is an annual celebration of artistry, creativity, and community spirit. For 50 years, the festival has showcased the talents of local artisans and provided a platform for visitors to discover unique handcrafted treasures. Join us as we celebrate half a century of artistic excellence and continue to inspire creativity for generations to come.

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Matt Vines

STONEWALL – Upset-minded Cecilia put pressure on North DeSoto by loading the bases in the first inning of Monday’s second-round playoff matchup.

After pitcher Laney Johnson got out of that pickle with a ground out, she held No. 16 Cecilia to just one baserunner from there as the No. 1 seed Lady Griffins cruised to a 9-0 win.

Johnson struck out 11 with two hits and two walks in the win, retiring 17 of the last 18 batters she faced.

North DeSoto’s offense solved Cecilia pitcher Kenlee Etienne in the second time through the lineup, scoring nine runs combined in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

The Lady Griffins’ four-run third inning started with two outs, but Raegan Henderson and Payton Miller singles led to a Maddie Stringer three-run home run. Johnson added her bat to the fray by homering after Stringer in back-to-back fashion to snatch a 4-0 lead.

Mia Norwood smashed an RBI double followed by a Miller RBI single in the fourth inning to go up 6-0.

Norwood clubbed a two-run home run to cap the scoring after a Regan Dalvin RBI single in the fifth inning.

Miller went 3-for-4 with Norwood (2-for-4) and Stringer (1-for-2) each contributing three RBIs. Stringer reached base three times with a pair of walks.

North DeSoto (28-4) awaits the winner of No. 8 Jennings and No. 9 Iota, who play Wednesday.

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Matt Vines

STANLEY – “If you ain’t got nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

That’s how Stanley softball player Aubrey Hubier ended a team meeting in September, and it turned out to be Hubier’s last words to her teammates.

Hubier died in a utility terrain vehicle accident Sept. 23, but her presence has remained a critical part of the Lady Panthers.

Stanley (19-13) earned the No. 6 seed in Division V Non-Select and embarks on its playoff journey Wednesday against No. 11 Holden (10-16) at 5:30 p.m.

Coach Josh Foshee said Hubier’s last words have been a motto for the team, although they certainly don’t apply to the carefree senior. The team talks about Aubrey often.

“We’ve kind of lived by those words as a team this season,” said softball coach Josh Foshee. “It’s been tough, but one thing we’ve done – we’ve talked about her, we’ve remembered her.

“We keep her as close as we possibly can, and we honor her every chance we get. It helps ease the pain, but it’s nothing you get used to.”

Wednesday is probably the last time Lady Panthers will play at home this season, the last time the team will run and touch Aubrey’s picture in the No. 1 jersey and pray beside it. Aubrey has angel wings in that senior poster.

Hubier patrolled the outfield with fellow senior Christian Barton, but Barton has been the lone senior voice on the team this season without her “best friend.”

Foshee said Hubier was a “straight shooter.”

“Aubrey told you exactly what she was feeling,” Foshee said. “She was true to herself, and you knew exactly what you were going to get from her.

“She was an all-around good kid, fun to be around. She was a carefree player – the game never bothered her or got to be big for her. She was really coming around as an outfielder, and we were expecting a standout season from her. She had definitely grown as an athlete and a player, and she had raw power.”

Barton’s voice and Hubier’s presence will be guiding forces for a Stanley team that starts two seventh-graders, two eighth-graders and one freshman.

Youth hasn’t kept the Lady Panthers from notching huge wins, although the young team has had to navigate through typical inconsistencies.

Stanley appeared to be on its way to an outright District 3-B title, but a loss to Converse meant the Lady Panthers had to share that title.

But the Lady Panthers knocked off Benton and Natchitoches Central in its next two games, only to fall to St. Fredrick and Simsboro in its final two regular season contests.

Foshee said he and his staff preaches to play the game the same way regardless of the opponent, and Stanley’s youth might be a bonus when Holden visits for the second-round playoff game.

A young Stanley team won’t know that Holden has won three state titles since 2017, which included knocking off Stanley in that 2017 championship game.

Stanley did beat Holden earlier this season, 8-7, in an early March game in the Quitman tournament.

On Wednesday, the Lady Panthers will have the roar of the home crowd behind them, and likely one last chance to pray in front of Aubrey’s senior poster.

“The support of your town, you can’t describe it in words when you see the whole field surrounded by people watching,” Foshee said about the Stanley faithful, especially during the 2017 run to the state championship game. “When you start with as many young kids as we have, you kind of think about building for the future.

“But these kids have embraced and accepted the challenge, and they’ve played well this season. You just focus on the small things you have to do, control the ball, and focus on yourselves. For the most part, I don’t think they’ll look over and pay attention to the ‘Holden’ on the front of the jersey.”

Aubrey was part of Stanley teams that reached the quarterfinals in each of the past three seasons, and this young squad will aim to make a fourth straight trip (fifth straight overall dating back to 2019).

No matter where Stanley may play next, Aubrey’s name, and her presence, will be there.

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