This being my sixth straight year qualifying for the Ray Scott National Championship, I’m always amazed at just how good some anglers are. This year was no exception, as the tournament was on a body of water that very few of its participants have fished — Lake Seminole in Georgia.

Turns out for me that it set up very similar to the backwaters of the Red River. It was defined by a river system (the Flint, Chattahoochee, and Spring creeks) that feeds this body of water. It had massive stump-filled flats with a great mix of vegetation. But this tournament also brought to light just how invasive some anglers can be today.

Before I get on my soap box, let me first congratulate two of my roommates for this event. Fellow north Louisiana anglers Brennan Flick (West Monroe) and Walt Stevens (Bernice) both had top 10 finishes, Brennan sixth with a great Day 2 comeback of 18.99 for a two-day weight total of 32.20. Walt also had a great event and was leading after Day 1 with 23.24 but had some bad breaks on Day 2 to finish eighth.

Both guys did a great job of fishing this event and making daily adjustments that allowed them to finish in the money. But they also had some issues with opposing anglers coming in on their territory.

Tournament fishing is getting to be a test of an angler’s patience, as some anglers think it’s OK to bump another angler’s boat. That’s right, bump another angler’s boat! How in the heck does this happen on a body of water with over 37,000 surface acres?

While fishing on Day 1, one angler had a competitor with an Auburn University boat wrap actually bump his boat during competition! At first, he was in shock that an angler would even make this mistake due to the fact there is a rule that states no fishing within 50 yards of another competitor anchored or not. But it’s just another example of how anglers are conducting themselves on the water today. It’s about winning at all costs no matter who or how anyone gets in their way.

Walt Stevens also had an issue on Day 2 with anglers coming in on his territory and not respecting the fact that he was in first place going into the final day. Young anglers today no longer show respect for any angler who has a chance to win a multi-day event. This probably cost him the Ray Scott Championship due to the fact that other anglers saw him catch his fish on Day 1 and decided to invade his territory. Three spots that he had all to himself on Day 1 were inundated with anglers who knew where he was fishing.

This kind of conduct used to never happen, but with so many young anglers on the water today, most have never been taught the unspoken rules of fishing etiquette. Today, it’s not unusual for anglers to have unkind words for each other when one angler decides not to respect another angler’s area. This is why it is so hard to win a bass tournament today. So many young anglers have no respect for anyone and just don’t care.

For me, this event started out with high expectations with a very good three-day practice. I felt really good going into Day 1 with three areas holding quality fish. But the loss of two fish over 5 pounds on Day 1 really put a damper on what I felt was a promising event. The key to high finishes is not losing fish. There’s no making up for losing a 5-pounder or in my case, two.

But I was proud of myself for a good Day 2 comeback with over 14 pounds, which allowed me to finish in 27^th out of 104 competitors, missing the check cutoff at 25^th place. Just to show you how important it is to not lose fish, the weights were so tight that the two fish I lost on Day 1 would have placed me in the top 12.

My final thoughts on this event: ABA (American Bass Anglers) does a great job of putting on this event every year. Tournament director Chris Wayand of Shreveport, does an outstanding job of running this event. A special thank you goes out to ABA and their entire staff for their commitment to making this tournament special. Looking forward to hopefully making my seventh straight Ray Scott in 2025 as it will be held on Lake Eufaula in Alabama for a third time.

‘Til next week, good luck, good fishing and when in doubt, set the hook!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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NATCHITOCHES – Due to weather conditions in the area over the past day, Northwestern State’s regular season finale home series has been altered.

The originally scheduled doubleheader for Friday has been pushed back to Saturday with a start time still to be determined. Field conditions or any other rain throughout Friday could affect the potential start times.

Game two of the series will be play 30 minutes following the conclusion of game one. The series finale will be played on Sunday, weather permitting.

All games on the weekend will air on ESPN+.

NSU will honors its 11 senior players after the conclusion of play on Saturday.

Follow @NSUDemonsSB on Twitter/X for the latest news and updates on NSU softball throughout the weekend.

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Still Waters Cowboy Church will host Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, May 4 at 9am. Enjoy Faith, food and fellowship. Devotional will be shared by Joey Register. 

First Monday of the Month Bible Study will be held at RB4 Event Center Monday, May 6. Dinner served at 5:45pm. Service begins at 6pm. Ray Perryman will share the message.

The Tin Roof BBQ Food Truck will hold a ribbon cutting at the DeSoto Parish Chamber of Commerce Office, 115 N Washington Ave, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 10:30am. 

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Andi Lynn Foshee
January 26, 1992 — April 29, 2024
Service: Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 3pm at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church – Logansport

Troymel Hall
May 16, 1976 — April 26, 2024
Graveside Service: Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 11am at Union Cemetery – Mansfield

Addie Carroll
January 10, 1944  — April 26, 2024
Service: Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 11am at Zion Hill No.2 Baptist Church – Mansfield

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On April 27, voters in North DeSoto did not approve a $85.2 million building bond proposal focused on addressing rapid growth in the area with the construction of a new high school and upgrades to the lower elementary.

Vote totals were:
Yes – 642
No – 1,161

The revised plan was developed with input of more than 600 community members who shared their thoughts on why the 2023 bond plan was rejected. During the survey 78% of respondents said that the DeSoto Parish School Board needed to do something about the growth in District 2 and that they wanted to see a solution that was less than $100 million and focused on academic spaces. The revised proposal addressed this issue coming in well under that figure. 

DeSoto Parish School Board shared on their website that while other schools in the area have seen a push for lower class sizes at the elementary level, North DeSoto Lower and Upper Elementary Schools cannot have comparable class size decreases because of space constraints and the PreK programs would have to continue to turn students away. A three-year-old option was available during the 2023-24 school year, but because of increased demand for four-year-old PreK and Kindergarten classrooms, the program has been eliminated for the 2024-25 school year with a waiting list in place for the four-year old program.

DPSB assured the public they are united in the belief that it is our responsibility to set a positive example for the young people of our community and that we all want what is best for them. They will continue to communicate and collaborate through the next steps in the process.

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Matt Vines

Get the buses ready to go to Baton Rouge as North DeSoto, Mansfield and Logansport high schools qualified student-athletes in a total of 34 track and field events for their respective state championships.

Mansfield punched tickets in 15 different events (Class 2A), North DeSoto will compete in 13 different events (Class 4A), and Logansport (Class 1A) will be represented in six different events in their respective classes.

Logansport will compete Thursday, Mansfield on Friday and North DeSoto on Saturday at LSU’s Bernie Moore Track Stadium.

Track and field athletes qualified in their respective events by finishing in the top three in their region meets.

 

MANSFIELD

A pair of boys hurdlers set the tone for Mansfield as Jaden Youngblood and Ian White took the top two spots in the 110 and 300 meter hurdles at the Region 1-2A meet, which Mansfield hosted.

Youngblood clocked a 14.52 and 38.77 to take both region titles with White running a 14.91 and 38.99 to finish second.

Youngblood took bronze in the 110 and 300 in the state championships this past season.

Zakhia Austin will represent the Lady Wolverines in two individual events as she placed third in the 100 (12.49) and third in the long jump (16-9.50).

Austin will have sprint company with LaJordan Boykins (third in the 200, 25.64) and LaBrasia Ross (second in the 400, 1:01.97).

The ladies pushed through three relays as the 4×100 (49.57) and the 4×200 (1:45.75) took region titles and the 4×400 squad placed second (4:16.72).

The boys qualified two relays as its 4×100 (43.05) captured a region crown with its 4×400 (3:29.08) taking second.

Mansfield will be represented in the throws by Ja’Lyrica Richardson (94.7.25) in the discus and Chloe Youngblood (31-2.5) in the shot put.

The boys and girls teams each finished third at the region meet.

Mansfield brings some state championship experience with the girls 4×100 (silver) and 4×200 relays (bronze) and the boys 4×200 (silver), 4×100 (bronze), and 4×400 (bronze).

The boys overall are the reigning Class 2A champions.

 

NORTH DESOTO

North DeSoto’s Javonte Taylor will aim for another state title as he’ll attempt to repeat as Class 4A high jump champion.

Taylor advanced in high jump (second at regionals, 6-4) and triple jump (first, 45-3.25).

He will be joined by a wealth of teammates on the state stage as North DeSoto qualified athletes in 13 total events.

A handful of those events broke school records at the regional meet this past week.

Dylan Compton was a part of three school records, snapping the 800 mark (1:58.35, second at regionals) and ran a leg on the 4×400 (3:24.50, second) and 4×800 (8:20.52, third)

Joining Compton on the 4×400 was Chaz Martinez, Lake Bates and Dale Howard. Running the 4×800 was Bates, Martinez, and George Shirley.

The girls 4×100 relay also set a new program record as the quartet of Taylor Clark, Roderia Whitaker, Aja Douglas and Nailah Delton ran a 49.09 to finish third at regionals.

Clark earned her way individually in the 100 (12.76, second).

Yazmin Furgerson also rewrote the school record book in the discus with a 120-10 to win at regionals.

Boys sprinter Kenny Thomas slid into state with a third-place finish in the 100 (11.37) to round out the boys state competitors,

On the girls side, Macaylah Tingle advanced with a second-place finish in the 800 (2:32.20) while running a leg of the 4×800 (second, 11:04.16).

Mikayla Mondello claimed a region title in the javelin (116-11.50).

Molly Wiley makes a repeat appearance at state with an 8-6 in the pole vault (second).

Both the boys and girls teams finished third overall at the region meet.

 

LOGANSPORT

Logansport will send student-athletes in six different boys track and field events to the state championships.

Jamarcus Jones is a state title contender in the 100 (10.71) and 200 (21.71) after claiming region titles.

D’Avery Robinson could be on the podium beside him with third-place finishes in the 100 (10.85) and the 200 (22.65).

Logansport will ship off two relays, the 4×200 (1:30.50) and the 4×400 (3:30.63) after winning region titles in Monroe.

The Tigers placed fourth as a team at regionals.

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 All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty

Smith, Larry
W M 60
Fugitive warrant/arrest
Kilgore, Tx

Pea, Ivy D
B M 66
Operating vehicle while intoxicated; first offense: penalties
Vehicle requires headlamp
Driving roadway traffic lane
Mansfield

Jackson, Demon-Darey Jereze
B M 25
Warrant DeSoto Parish
Mansfield

Litton, Deandre Martel
B M 26
Fugitive Warrant/ Arrest
Mansfield

Jackson, Jerimicah Omarion
B M 21
Possession of Schedule 1 w/intent to distribute
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Mansfield

Carey, Johnny Dee
W M 59
Operating vehicle while intoxicated; first offense
Tail lamps out
Logansport

Turner, Demarion Marshun
B M 24
Fugitive Warrant/Arrest
Mansfield

Hemingway, Langston Gage
W M 25
Domestic Abuse battery
Gloster

Jackson, Larisa A
W F 56
Possession of CDS IV
Speeding
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Lake Charles

Fogg, Randall Lester
W M 51
False swearing with the intent to cause an emergency response
Stonewall

Boykins, Ricardo Ladale
B M 30
Driving under suspension
Driving Roadway Lane Traffic
Shreveport

Jordan, Gary Darryl
W M 63
Violation of protective order
Stalking
Warrant DeSoto Parish
Bethany

Presley, Paul
W M 35
Warrant Desoto Parish
Stonewall

Carmadelle, Shantel Yvonne
M F 39
Fugitive Warrant/Arrest
Many

Hall, Jasmine
B F 29
Warrant DeSoto Parish
Fugitive Warrant/Arrest
Switched license plate
Keatchie

Slaughter, Damien
B M 20
Warrant DeSoto Parish
Zwolle

Robertson, Walter Tremell
B M 46
Threatening a public official
Mansfield

Singleton, Michael A
Speeding
Possession of CDS II
Converse

Davis, Pierre Euchere
B M 29
Fugitive Warrant/Arrest
New Orleans

Falcon, Bryan
W M 45
Domestic Abuse Battery with Serious Bodily Injury
Shreveport

Moss, Kayla
W F 28
Fugitive Warrant/Arrest
Princeton

Abdeljabar, Shanna Maria
W F 23
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of CDS IV
Obstruction of Justice
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Bossier

Williams, Fredrick
B M 26
Possession of Schedule 1 w/Intent to Distribute
Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon
Warrant DeSoto Parish
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms
Logansport

Lee, Kaleb Alexander
W M 28
Fugitive Warrant/arrest
Keithville

Pilling, Nicky Earl
W M 64
Domestic Abuse Battery
Violation of Protective Order
Stonewall

James, Tocquankerrious Meaquane
B F 20
Warrant DeSoto Parish
Hit and Run Driving
Domestic Abuse Aggravated Assault
Aggravated Criminal damage to Property
Shreveport

Sharp, Randolph
B M 59
Fugitive Warrant/Arrest
Fort Worth, TX

Owens, Brandie
W F 39
Distribution or Possession w/Intent to Distribute CDS II
Logansport

Gillis, Deaquanesia Toja
B F 34
Fugitive Warrant/Arrest
Lancaster, TX

West, Gary Wayne
B M 59
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Mansfield

Sanders, Yolanda
B F 52
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Mansfield

Brown, Michael A
B M 65
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Lake Charles

Wilkerson, Kathleen Renee
L F 30
Modify Exhaust System
Driving Under suspension
Mansfield

Woody, Jasmine M
B F 33
Simple Criminal Damage to Property
Natchitoches

Atkins, Allen Jr.
W M 59
Warrant DeSoto Parish
Shreveport

Flores, Joshua
W M 38
Identity Theft
Shreveport

Turner, Dontavius Latran
B M 26
Fugitive Warrant/Arrest
Mansfield

Freeman, Stanley Gerod
B M 43
Simple Robbery
Armed Robbery
Simple Battery
Frierson

Price, Devonte D
B M 24
Disturbing the Peace
Mansfield

Longoria, Kevin B
W M 30
Possession of CDS II
Possession of CDS I
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Obscuring of Windshield or Windshield View Prohibited
Driver Not Licensed
Zwolle

Henderson, Shaneeti Wynette
B F 40
Warrant DeSoto Parish
Mansfield

Johnson, Arvis Durand
B M 54
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Manufacture/Distribution of CDS II
Mansfield

Clark, Kenneth Earl
B M 61
Warrant DeSoto Parish
Open Alcohol Container in Vehicle
Shreveport

Hoeg, Rikendle
B M 19
Fugitive Warrant/Arrest
Bossier City

Perry, Labrandon
B M 38
Disturbing the Peace
Mansfield

 

 

 

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Matt Vines

STANLEY – The Stanley baseball team is searching for its first-ever trip to Sulphur’s McMurry Park when the No. 4 seed Panthers host No. 5 Quitman on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Stanley is appearing in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2015 and hasn’t been to the semifinals since three straight trips in 2002-2004.

The Panthers (21-6) are seeking revenge on two fronts – for a 5-4 loss to Quitman on March 30 in the Choudrant Tournament and for Stanley’s softball loss to Quitman in the Division V Non-Select championship game Saturday.

Stanley breezed through second-round opponent Bell City, 12-3, thanks to big offensive days from Loftin, Smith and Moton.

Quitman (16-10) slogged through Doyline in a 4-3 win in the second round. It was the third time Quitman beat Doyline this month as the Wolverines finished second behind Weston in District 1-B.

Quitman dug out of a two-run hole and walked Doyline off in the seventh inning with a Kace West sacrifice fly.

The Panthers are celebrating their best season since the early 2000s, which included a District 3-B title.

Back on March 30, Quitman jumped out to a 4-0 lead, which Stanley answered to tie the game in third inning.

The winning run was scored in the eighth inning on a Duck sacrifice fly. Duck pitched 5 1/3 scoreless relief innings in the win.

Stanley’s Maroney settled in after the four-run second inning to and threw five straight scoreless innings before giving way to Gooden in the eighth inning.

Waldron and Loftin each drove in a pair of runs in the earlier meeting with Quitman.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2024
Contact: Kevin Calbert | kevin.calbert@la.gov

On April 29, 2024, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana and Idaho filed a joint lawsuit against the federal government in response to the Biden administration’s recently released changes to Title IX, which redefine the interpretation of sex-based discrimination to include gender identity and other categories.

Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) President Ronnie Morris, Vice President Lance Harris, and Secretary-Treasurer Stacey Melerine issued the following statement regarding the new Title IX changes and the filing of the lawsuit:

“The officers of BESE fully support the state’s decision to sue the Biden administration in response to its radical changes to Title IX. Since its inception, Title IX has ensured protections for generations of girls and women in educational environments, resulting in greater equity and opportunity regardless of biological sex. Stretching the interpretation of gender discrimination beyond that which is grounded in clear biological fact undermines the original intent of Title IX, is inconsistent with its historical application, and endangers equal opportunity for females. The leadership of BESE stands with the Governor, Attorney General, and State Superintendent in this action.”

The mission of BESE is to provide leadership and create policies for education that expand opportunities for children, empower families and communities, and advance Louisiana in an increasingly competitive global market.

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Matt Vines

SULPHUR – While the Quitman softball team may have been looking for their first-ever softball championship, appearing in last year’s state title game had to be an advantage.

Quitman scored five runs in the first two innings Saturday and topped Stanley, 8-1, in the Division V Non-Select championship bout.

Stanley pitcher Paige Campbell had been on fire through the playoffs, not allowing more than three runs to any of the Lady Panthers’ three previous playoff opponents.

But Quitman struck for three first-inning runs as Stanley got in a hole in which they couldn’t dig out.

Those three runs came before Stanley recorded an out as an error, a single, and an intentional walk led to a Hallie Kate Pullig three-run double.

Two Lady Panthers got aboard in the first inning via a walk and hit-by-pitch, but Stanley couldn’t bring either home.

Quitman widened its lead to 5-0 in the second inning with its second consecutive double as Maggie Guyotte drove in a pair.

Stanley also put a pair of runners on in the third inning, but the Lady Panthers ultimately couldn’t ding Quitman pitcher Cali Deal until the fifth inning when Riley Palmer doubled in Madeline Castillo.

That sliced Quitman’s lead to 7-1, and the Lady Wolverines answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth for the 8-1 score.

Palmer recorded two of Stanley’s three hits with Castillo notching the other.

Deal issued four walks, including two to Jaci Springer, but she struck out 11 batters.

Campbell allowed six runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings.

Palmer pitched 2 1/3 relief innings with two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks.

Stanley was making its third-ever appearance in the state championship game, winning a title in 1994 and appearing in the title game in 2017.

The Lady Panthers should be a contender for years to come with just two seniors on the 2024 squad – Christian Barton and Aubrey Hubier.

Stanley’s rallying cry of #AllForAubs after Hubier died in an UTV accident this past September could certainly be heard again in Sulphur next season with the large number of returning Lady Panthers.

Stanley, 8, Anacoco 3

Stanley used a similar fast start to overwhelm Anacoco in the semifinals Friday.

The Lady Panthers pushed across four runs in the second inning and never appeared to be in serious jeopardy.

Springer bunted in the first run with Palmer driving in two more runs with a double for a 3-0 lead. An Alyssa Gooden RBI single closed out the scoring in the inning.

Campbell effectively navigated the Anacoco lineup with just one run allowed in the first five innings before Anacoco sliced Stanley’s lead to 5-3 in the sixth inning.

But Stanley rebuilt that edge in the bottom of the frame with a Gooden RBI single and a Karlee Jo Moton two-RBI single.

Gooden (2-for-3, 2 RBIs) and Moton (2-for-3, two RBIs, two runs scored) led the way while Palmer added two RBIs.

Campbell finished with three runs allowed (one earned) on three hits and five walks with nine strikeouts.

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By LAMAR GAFFORD, Journal Sports

SULPHUR – There was no “four-peat” for North DeSoto.

Seeking to become one of 10 Louisiana softball programs to win four championships in a row, the Lady Griffins fell to Lutcher, 9-4, in the Division II non-select championship game Saturday.

“We just didn’t play well and (Lutcher) played really well,” North DeSoto coach Tim Whitman said. “Hats off to them, their pitcher threw it well. We didn’t make adjustments until later on in the game, but it is what it is. I’m not disappointed in their effort.”

Lady Griffin pitcher Laney Johnson and Lutcher’s Blair Clement dueled for the first three innings, but Clement broke the game open with a grand slam in the top of the fourth to break the scoreless tie.

Payton Miller put North DeSoto (30-5) on the board in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run and then a pair of Lutcher errors in the fourth and fifth innings pulled it to 5-3, but that would be the closest North DeSoto would get.

Clement smacked a solo home run in the sixth inning and Alexis Lyons added a two-run double in the seventh inning to keep it comfortably ahead.

Lutcher (24-7) won its first title since 2009.

As the No. 1 seed, North DeSoto had been on a dominant tear to get to the title game – outscoring its opponents 31-2 in the first three rounds.

The Lady Griffins made light work of North Vermillion (24-7) in the semifinals with an 11-1 win as Johnson hit a solo home run and tossed a one-hitter.

North DeSoto had six batters with extra base hits, as Johnson retired 14 of her last 15 batters she faced.

Despite closing their careers with a runner-up finish, the Lady Griffin senior class has accomplished a lot with three straight titles from 2021-2023 and 131 victories to their names.

On top of that, they have players that will play collegiate softball. Johnson signed with Louisiana Tech, while third baseman Mia Norwood is heading to UL Lafayette and second baseman Ciara Orgeron will go to LSU Eunice.

“This is a special group,” Whitman said. “The pressure that this group has been under – they’ve had a lot of it. Everybody thinks it’s easy and it’s expected. But this is a great senior class. We can’t take away what they’ve done. Their four-year careers amass anyone in any class or school.”

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Matt Vines

SHREVEPORT – Rayne High needed a near-perfect game and an outstanding outing from starting pitching Peyton Daigle to win the first game of a best-of-three series Thursday.

On Friday, Rayne wasn’t anywhere near perfection as the North DeSoto bats came to life to win the doubleheader and the second-round series.

The No. 9 seed Griffins took advantage of No. 8 seed Rayne mistakes in a 7-2 win in the opening game Friday and knocked the ball around in a 12-0, five-inning win in the finale.

North DeSoto (24-8) will face No. 1 seed Lutcher in the quarterfinals of the Division II Non-Select playoffs. Lutcher disposed of No. 17 Jennings in 4-0 and 14-2 wins.

North DeSoto 7, Rayne 2

With their playoff lives on the line and needing two wins, North DeSoto set the tone early with three runs in the first inning on just two hits.

A Trysten Hopper single and two errors resulted in the first run as Blake McFerren scored on the second error.

Reni Mason sacrifice flied in the second run and a Braden Jones single drove home the third run.

Rayne committed six errors overall on the night.

The Griffins stretched the lead to 4-0 in the second inning on a Hopper ground out after McFerren was hit by a pitch and moved on a sacrifice bunt.

After Rayne managed to manufacture runs Thursday, it was North DeSoto moving runners in a manner of ways Friday.

Hopper dealt on the mound by going the distance with just two unearned runs allowed on five hits with five strikeouts. The senior retired nine batters he faced before an error to start the fourth inning that led to a Grant Simon RBI single to cut the Griffins’ edge to 4-1.

North DeSoto got that run back when Kaleb Carter led off with a double and eventually scored on an error, pushing the lead to 5-1 in the fourth inning.

The Griffins added a pair of tuns in the sixth inning on passed balls.

North DeSoto scored its seven runs on just four hits and four walks.

North DeSoto 12, Rayne 0 (5)

The North DeSoto bats feasted on four different Rayne pitchers as the Griffins scored 12 runs 15 hits.

Bryant LaCour started the scoring with an RBI double with Reni Mason (RBI single) and a Brayden Toothman sacrifice fly putting North DeSoto up 3-0 in the first inning.

The Griffins never looked back as pitcher Kaleb Carter worked around one hit and five walks to record a five-inning shutout.

Cole Cory led the offensive effort with a 3-for-4 day and three RBIs. He had an RBI double and a pair of RBI singles for the sixth, ninth and 12th runs, respectively.

LaCour and Blake McFerren (2-for-3) each had two RBIs.

Mason, Jones and Hopper each recorded a pair of hits with Jones scoring a team-high three runs.

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In just about every sport, there are participants who set personal goals. For example, a baseball player aspires to hit .400; basketball players hope for a triple-double. For golfers, it’s a hole-in-one.

It is no different in the world of the hunter/angler. Bass fishermen look for a lunker weighing in double-digits while deer hunters long for a buck with a rack impressive enough to “make the book”. For turkey hunters, there’s the Grand Slam.

Although I would love to have a 10 pound bass on my wall and my name in the Boone and Crockett records for trophy bucks, this is not what makes my motor run. What lights my fire is to hear the thunderous gobble of a long-beard wild turkey gobbler on a spring morning.

The thoughts of my completing a Grand Slam in turkey hunting was about as remote as me making a hole-in-one. That was before I had the chance to hunt turkeys in South Dakota.

To pull off a wild turkey Grand Slam, it is necessary to take one of each of the four sub-species of wild turkeys found in the U.S. These include Easterns, which inhabit much of the south, east and northeast; Rio Grande turkeys, residents of arid mesquite and cactus country of the southwest; Osceolas which are residents only of the southern half of Florida, and Merriams of the mountains and plains of the mid-west.
To accomplish such a task, it would be necessary for a lot of things to fall into place, and there would be an abundance of traveling involved. Frankly, I just didn’t see that happening.

One spring afternoon as the sun slipped behind a hill in the Badlands of South Dakota, I completed my Grand Slam. First, a little history of what brought me to this point I never thought I’d reach.

My first turkey hunt was a half-hearted effort when a writer friend invited me to his home state of Alabama to hunt. On April 13, 1992, my guide, Skinny Hallmark, called in a gobbling longbeard off a hillside to my gun and in that moment, something happened that would forever change the way I look at spring mornings. It was love at first GOBBLE…..BOOM, and I’ve chased these wary birds every spring since.
The Alabama gobbler was an Eastern sub-species and I gradually learned what turkey hunting was all about.

In 2000, I jumped at the opportunity to hunt another of the sub-species, the Rio Grande. While hunting with Al Brasuel and sons in south Texas I downed my first Rio Grande. The thought of a Grand Slam only teased the margins of my mind; I saw no way that I’d ever travel to south Florida or to the Great Plains to turkey hunt. That was before Keith Brasuell called me one day inviting me to ride with him to Naples, Florida for an Osceola hunt. Good fortune accompanied me when a mature Osceola gobbler strutted in front of my shotgun.

Like a bolt from the blue, it hit me. All of a sudden, I found myself only one bird away from a coveted Grand Slam. Could I do it? Could I figure out a way to head somewhere up north where Merriams live?
Soon after returning from Florida, I found a press release from the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks making a pitch for their great hunting and fishing opportunities. The release talked about the great trout fishing; super walleye angling; wonderful deer and elk hunting….and here is what caught my eye….an abundance of Merriams gobblers.

On a hunch, I called the South Dakota agency, got the go ahead and flew into Rapid City.

In addition to securing a Black Hills gobbler tag, I was one of the fortunate few who also snagged a Prairie tag. This would double my chances for a Merriams, and if things worked out right, I might even get two gobblers which, incidentally I did.

On the last minute of the last hour of the last day of my Prairie hunt, I bagged a big 21 pound Merriams.
There’s no 10 pound bass hanging on my wall nor is my name in the Boone and Crockett book but, by George, there’s a wild turkey Grand Slam hanging on my wall and I couldn’t be more proud.

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The 2nd annual City of Lights crawfish cookoff hosted by the Natchitoches Parish Fair Board will be held on May 4th at the fairgrounds. Teams will be boiling their best recipes competing for cash prizes and people’s choice.

This event is open to the public, 11 am to 5 pm for only $30 – all-you-can-eat crawfish!!! There will be live entertainment provided by the Comeback Kids & the Born to Boogie band. A Taste of Heaven Food Truck, Cane River Pizza Co., snow cones, Murphy’s Sweets & eats, a bouncy house play area for the kids, and Antoons will be selling beer to that id as 21 and over.

No ice chests or outside food or drinks will be allowed, bags will be checked, and lawn chairs are recommended. Visit our 2nd annual City of Lights crawfish cookoff Facebook page to find sponsorship and /or registration information to enter a team or to purchase pre-sale tickets.

All proceeds from this event will benefit the NRMC Cancer Center. So come to the fairgrounds on May 4th to support this great cause.

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Monday, April 22, the DeSoto Parish School System recognized the incredible achievements of 58 DeSoto Parish Schools Elite Scholars. These students have shown exceptional dedication and hard work throughout their high school careers.

For TOPS 4 College Pathway, students achieved advanced scores on national assessments like CLEP, Advanced Placement, or ACT, demonstrating their readiness for higher education. Meanwhile, TOPS 2 Career and Technical Pathway students have not only earned advanced credentials but also excelled in national assessments like ACT or Workeys, paving the way for their future careers.

DPSS thanked the parents and families whose steadfast support, guidance, and encouragement have been instrumental in shaping these young scholars’ success. Their dedication has played a pivotal role in preparing the students for the exciting journey ahead in their education and careers.

Congratulations to the Elite Scholars and their families. Your achievements inspire everyone and showcase the power of determination and hard work. 

Source: DeSoto Parish Schools Facebook page

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By Doug De Graffenried

“Lost as a he-haint in high weeds.”

I have used it before, and it still applies. Some people are that lost. For you folks that don’t speak with an Alabama accent, a “he-haint” is a male ghost. And a male ghost in a corn field, or a field with high weeds, is very lost!

Before GPS, most men would refuse to stop and ask for directions. It is in our genetic coding. Our brides would demand that we stop at the sketchy-looking convenience store and ask for directions. Our universal response was, “Honey, I think I recognize that water tower and I know where I am.” After another hour of being lost, the exasperated wife would demand we stop. She would walk into the same sketchy-looking convenience store and ask for directions. With the advent of GPS technology, men don’t need to ask for directions. Now we are never lost. If there is a problem, we blame it on that nice British woman speaking through our GPS. Google is infallible, right?

I do like to make my GPS lady mad by not following her directions. She will tell me to make a “legal U turn” or she will woefully offer the words, “recalculating.”

The notion of a male being lost for all eternity is both sad and humorous. Maybe that’s what a ghost is, a person who refuses to ask for directions on their journey to the pearly gates. They will eventually catch on to the fact that it is OK to ask for directions and go on to eternal bliss.

If you see someone who is lost, what should you do about point them in the right direction? Do you have an obligation to warn them that they are lost?

With all this technology in automobiles, how can anyone be lost?

The other day I was doing a wedding in Simsboro. It is a nice new wedding venue. I programmed my car to get me there. The car did a great job of making sure I arrived on time. As I left the wedding, I looked at the car map. According to my car, I was driving in the middle of nowhere. I was not on a road, nor was I headed in a direction. I wondered how long it would be before my vehicle would correct the navigation system oversight. It was amusing because the wedding was over. What if the same thing happened as I was headed to the wedding? Heading to the wedding and being lost would have been a most unpleasant experience. Being lost is a matter of destination and the perspective of time. Let me ask you three questions about your life journey.

In life’s journey, where are you? Where are you headed? Do you have a nagging feeling that you might have lost your way? Spiritually, how you do recalculate the journey?

When you are lost, how do you “get found?”

I think the question has a spiritual dimension and an answer involving Jesus.

The truth is He’ll leave the ninety-nine and go looking for the one that is lost.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SHREVEPORT, LA — LifeShare Blood Center is partnering with the Community Foundation of North Louisiana to participate in this year’s annual Give for Good campaign. This event empowers the entire community to get involved in causes they care about while building awareness and support for local nonprofits. While the event takes place on May 7th, advanced giving is now open!

“LifeShare’s mission is to connect donors and the lives they impact,” says Mandi Johnson, Director of Community Engagement. “By participating in this event, our donors have the opportunity to double the impact in their local community.”

LifeShare is honored to partner with the following local businesses who are committed to strengthening the community’s blood supply by their sponsorship of blood drives and financial contributions during this year’s Give for Good: Gallagher, Gibsland Bank & Trust, Kendra Scott, Mercedes Benz of Shreveport, and Roadrunner Car Wash.

To participate in this year’s Give for Good with LifeShare, contribute directly to our fundraising campaign at http://www.giveforgoodnla.org/organization/lifesharebloodcenter, or schedule your life-saving blood donation at http://www.lifeshare.org/give.

Please contact Mandi Johnson or Katherine Stringer-Davis, if you have any questions.

Mandi Johnson, MLIS                                          Katherine Stringer-Davis

Director of Community Engagement                    Director of Philanthropic Engagement

LifeShare Blood Center                                          LifeShare Blood Center

318.671.5850 (O)                                                   318.673.1526 (O)

mandi.johnson@lifeshare.org                               katherine.davis@lifeshare.org

8910 Linwood Ave                                                8910 Linwood Avenue

Shreveport, LA  71106                                          Shreveport, LA  71106

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Go to a baseball park on any day you choose and you’re almost always going to see something you’ve never seen before.

Like Saturday in a CUSA game in Ruston when the Sam Houston catcher had apparently tied the game at 5-5 after he hit a ball way, way over the fence in left with two out in the eighth inning and then — was credited with only a triple, and was called out, and saw the inning end …

… because he failed to touch home plate. 

A “homer” that would have tied the game ends as a triple with a mythical “ghost runner” forever stranded at third. Louisiana Tech held its 5-4 lead in the ninth to win.

The catcher Is Walker Janek, by all accounts one of the best all-around dudes on the Sam Houston team and one of the best players in the college game. A junior, he’s expected to be one of the first catchers chosen in the big-league draft.

But he missed home, the only base with an extra side, five instead of four. The most critical of all your bases. 

Doesn’t matter that he just barely missed it, stepping over the plate to celebrate with a waiting teammate, missing the plate’s front edge by, as replays showed, the smallest of margins. 

Had he been wearing a size 13 instead of a 12-and-a-half, the game would have been tied.

Happens to the best of us. 

Such a rule almost seems to go against the spirit of things. He did, after all, hit it way, WAY out. BUT …

Rules is rules. Brings to mind a phrase so familiar that it’s part of the American lexicon: “You gotta touch all the bases” or “Touch’em all” or “Let’s touch base on this later.”

If a guy forgets to do one thing, he “forgot to touch all the bases.” 

It’s the little things, especially so it seems in baseball.

If Glinda the Good Witch of the North had been there, and had this been Oz and not Ruston, maybe Janek could have tapped his cleats together three times and been given a do-over.

But such is sports. And life. Break a rule, break a heart.

Garrett Belding knows a thing or two about touching home. He played high school ball around Dallas, was a middle infielder for Eastfield College in Mesquite, then came to Tech to be an equipment manager and is now the program’s Director of Player Development, part of a Bulldog support staff second to none.

Why he came back to Tech? Home. Where his daddy grew up and where his granddaddy, Billy “Doc” Belding, served as Tech’s athletic trainer during football’s national championship days of the early 1970s. Lots of tears shed and smiles of precious memories shared last spring when Doc passed away.

Garrett Belding knows about home. He was a little boy in Ruston. Knew his way around campus and around the old Love Field and Aillet Stadium and the field house. 

For this stage of his career, he’s home where he knew he belonged. 

So it should have come as no surprise that Saturday as Janek rounded third, Belding, leaning on the dugout rail by Tech coach Lane Burroughs, was looking closely when Janek made a little hop over the plate and … 

“In that split second,” Belding said, “I’m thinking, ‘He didn’t touch home. For whatever reason, he didn’t touch it.’ And then I start losing my mind…”

And then Burroughs gets in on it and the players erupt and then the home fans start yelling and standing (as if EVERYONE saw it!, and imagine me typing a laughing face here) and Tech made the proper appeal and the home plate umpire, who pictures reveal was looking right at the plate as Janek crossed, signaled “Out.”

Replays proved him right. 

“I didn’t expect that, but I saw it,” Belding said, “and then it’s disbelief, and then you start to try to re-convince yourself you saw it, and then I decided that this is the hill I’d die on, because I was SURE he didn’t touch it.”

Within the next half minute, the Bulldogs were successfully appealing the play, and the ump’s fist was in the air. Tech still held the lead. They’d end the weekend series in first place in CUSA.

“I wasn’t really looking for it, and I wouldn’t say I was the only one who saw it, but I know this,” said Belding, a future coach as sure as sunrise. “However long I’m in the game, however long I’m a coach, I will never NOT watch a guy run the bases, and I’ll always make sure they step on home plate. Always.”

Tech’s designated hitter and ace reliever Ethan “Toolbox” Bates (he’s got ’em all, every baseball tool you need, plus he can fix your four-wheeler), got the save that afternoon after pitching a scoreless ninth and leads the college game with 14 this season, and he leads all active players in career saves with 24. 

But the unofficial save Saturday, a big one, went to Garrett Belding.

And Sunday afternoon, when Tech leftfielder Adarius Myers hit a three-run walk-off homer for a 12-9 win and the series sweep, you can guess which base his celebrating teammates gave him plenty of room to touch.

 Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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The Tin Roof BBQ Food Truck will hold a ribbon cutting at the DeSoto Parish Chamber of Commerce Office, 115 N Washington Ave, Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 10:30am. 

The DeSoto Parish Tourism Commission will host the River City Fest in Logansport May 10 – 11. The 41st Annual event on the Sabine River is FREE to the public. There will be an inflatable kid zone, Kids Bucking Rodeo, Car Show, corn hole tournament, “Strongest Arm-Wrestling”, fireworks, and live entertainment. 

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Thomas Carter Blalock
August 23, 1959 — April 25, 2024

Troymel Hall
May 16, 1976 — April 26, 2024
Graveside Service: Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 11am at Union Cemetery – Mansfield

Addie Carroll
January 10, 1944  — April 26, 2024
Service: Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 11am at Zion Hill No.2 Baptist Church – Mansfield

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