DeSoto Parish Schools recently announced the appointment of Stephen Burch as the new Administrative Assistant at Mansfield High School. He brings nearly two decades of experience and a deep-rooted connection to DeSoto Parish to his new role.

Burch began his teaching career at Mansfield Elementary in 2006. He then taught at North DeSoto from 2007 to 2012, followed by Ebarb High School from 2012 to 2014 and 2015 to 2020 at Pleasant Hill High School. He coached basketball in DeSoto and Sabine Parish during the span of his career and helped lead Pleasant Hill to a state championship in 2020, marking a significant achievement in his coaching career. Since 2020, Burch has served at both Logansport and Mansfield High School, teaching Social Studies, Financial Literacy, and Fine Arts.

Throughout his career, he has been a strong advocate for student success in the classroom and on the basketball court. His commitment to education is complemented by his leadership and mentorship of students in extracurricular activities.

He is a proud product of DeSoto Parish Schools, having graduated from Stanley High School in 2001 and earned his degree from Northwestern State University in 2006. DeSoto Parish has always been home for Burch, who comes from a family with a rich legacy of educators who have worked and retired from DeSoto Parish Schools. His strong family ties and deep commitment to the community further exemplify his dedication to the students and families of DeSoto Parish.

Burch has been married to Dawn Burch for 10 years. They have four children: Jayda Morgan, 23; Luke Morgan, 26; Genesis Burch, 18; and Isaac Burch, 14.

Burch expressed his commitment to embracing his new leadership role with a focus on the core values of mentorship and student support, stating, “I think it is important to step into this role and use our core values to mentor and positively impact our students, but most importantly be there for our students because that is what we do as educators. I want to thank Principal Anesha Ross for allowing me this opportunity to join the leadership team so we can continue this vital work as a team.”

Source: desotopsb.com

The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspect pictured. 

He is believed to be involved in a theft in the Gloster area.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for any information that leads to the identification and/or arrest of the suspect. Tips can remain anonymous, your name is not needed, just your information.

You can also contact our sheriff’s office at 318-872-3956 and ask to speak with an investigator regarding this post, or visit http://www.P3Tips.com to submit a tip online. You could also provide information using the DeSoto Sheriff App, under Forms & Tips!

Louisianians can get help to pay summer cooling bills now through September 30, or until funds are depleted on a first-come, first-served basis through the Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Eligibility for the program is being based on income. The program provides up to $800 for both the summer and winter. It also provides up to $1,000 for emergencies year-round.

Regina Lawrence, LIHEAP coordinator with Caddo Community Action, explained the benefits of LIHEAP and how Louisiana residents can apply for assistance.

“Right now, you can call one of our offices for an appointment,” she said. “If you have a disconnect notice, then they can walk into the office to do an application.”

Nationally, seven out of ten households helped by LIHEAP are home to a child under the age of six, an elderly resident, a veteran, or someone with a disability.

“LIHEAP is a great help to our customers,” said Brett Mattison, SWEPCO president. “We encourage those who might be eligible to learn more about this and our other programs to help manage seasonal bill spikes.”

SWEPCO recently introduced an easy-to-use tool to identify bill help based on your needs. Just answer a few questions at swepco.com/billhelp and every customer will be provided with options.

“Whether it’s a payment plan, a payment extension or average monthly payments, we’re here to help local families beat the heat and combat the high bills,” said Mattison.

On Friday, August 16, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Biden-Harris administration’s attempt to vacate Louisiana’s injunction against their unlawful Title IX rule.

Justice Sotomayor emphasized in her dissent that “every Member of the Court agrees” that Louisiana is entitled to an injunction against the rule’s redefinition of sex discrimination to include gender identity.

This means that Louisiana schools will not have to comply with the Biden-Harris administration’s demand that they let boys in girls’ bathrooms as our children return to school.

“I’m grateful that the Supreme Court agreed not to block our injunction against this radical rewrite of Title IX. Other than the 19th Amendment guaranteeing our right to vote, Title IX has been the most successful law in history at ensuring equal opportunity for women in education at all levels and in collegiate athletics. This fight isn’t over, but I’ll keep fighting to block this radical agenda that eviscerates Title IX,” said Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill.

Read the ruling here

Source: Office of the Louisiana Attorney General Facebook page

I suppose we have all hoped to find a real message in a bottle, a note from some far away land just waiting to be discovered.  

On January 21, 2018, Tonya and Kym Illman, were walking along the beach’s sand dunes at Wedge Island on the west coast of Australia about 100 miles north of Perth.  Their original plan had been to drive along the beach and take in the sites, but they drove a little too close to the water and the car bogged down in the sand.  While waiting for help to arrive, Tonya and Kym walked along the beach.  As they walked, Tonya saw something glimmer in the sand.  She walked to the source of the glimmer and found a gin bottle which was three inches wide and almost nine inches tall with Daniel Visser and Zonen Schiedam stamped on it.  Tonya saw that something was inside the bottle and removed the stopper.  The paper inside contained a printed message which appeared to be a form letter in German with spaces that had been filled in.  Neither Tonya nor Kym could read German, so they took the bottle to the Western Australia Museum to see if it was historically significant or a hoax.

Experts at the museum deciphered the German message and learned that the message had been set adrift at the orders of the captain of a German ship called “Paula.”  The message in a bottle was a part of an experiment on ocean drift patterns implemented by German scientist George von Neumayer.  In the experiment, ship captains filled in the details on one side of the pre-printed slips before setting the bottle adrift, and the person who found the bottle was asked to fill out the back portion and return it to the German Naval Observatory in Hamburg or the nearest German Consulate.  Thousands of bottles containing pre-printed message slips had been set adrift in the experiment which lasted nearly seven decades, but only 661 had ever been returned.  Tonya’s find brought the number up to 662.

According to the coordinates printed on the message (32.49 South, 105.25 East), Tonya and Kym found the bottle less than 600 miles from where the bottle was set adrift in the Indian Ocean.  The distance in miles that the message traveled is not particularly impressive.  Messages in bottles have traveled much further before being found.  What is impressive is the distance in time that the bottle traveled.  In the year that the bottle was set adrift, Robert Louis Stevenson published his novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Karl Benz patented the first successful gasoline-driven automobile, Dr. John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola, President Grover Cleveland married Frances Folsom in the White House, (he is the only president to marry in the executive mansion), President Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, and German inventor Friedrich Soennecken invented the office tool we know as the hole puncher.  The date on the message in the bottle was June 12, 1886, which meant the bottle was found after 131 years and 223 days.  According to the Guinness World Records, it is the oldest message in a bottle ever found.  

Sources:

1. Chicago Tribune, March 11, 2018, p.29.
2. “Oldest Message in a Bottle,” Guinness World Records, March 8, 2018, https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/oldest-message-in-a-bottle.

Louisiana is implementing wide-ranging solutions proposed by State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley to help eliminate classroom distractions for teachers. The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) approved new policies today based on recommendations from Dr. Brumley’s Let Teachers Teach workgroup. Set to take effect before the end of the school year, the policies will significantly reduce the number of trainings teachers are required to repeat every year, tighten student discipline, and give effective educators more freedom over lesson planning.

“Louisiana is making a stand to take the teaching profession back for educators, students, and parents,” said Dr. Brumley. “I applaud BESE for helping us remove disruptions so teachers can actually teach and students can actually learn.”

Let Teachers Teach is a workgroup of over two dozen teachers from across the state. They developed a set of 18 recommendations centered on reducing excessive training and paperwork, restoring the art of teaching, and removing classroom disruptions. Highlights of the policies approved by BESE during their August meeting include:

• Decoupling student behavior and the school accountability system. Student suspension rates will no longer be used to identify schools needing intervention.
• Ensuring teachers have the right to have a student removed from the classroom immediately when their behavior prevents the orderly instruction of other students or poses a threat. A new discipline policy impacts the Teacher Bill of Rights and changes how school leaders must respond to persistent disruptions during class.
• Streamlining and reducing dozens of non-academic trainings and lessons teachers had been required by the state to repeat annually. Most will shift to a “one-and-done” approach where teachers complete the training one time, while others will be folded into other resources or support opportunities.
• Increasing professional autonomy for effective educators. Teachers who consistently demonstrate success will be provided more freedom with teaching practices and lesson planning.

“Our unanimous decision today reflects an intentional approach to improve student outcomes,” said BESE President Ronnie Morris. “By eliminating redundant training and improving educator support, we are optimizing the environment for both teaching and learning, which are essential to academic success.”

The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) collaborated with multiple stakeholders in the development of the policies. The LDOE and BESE have outlined actions around all 18 recommendations. These range from new state laws, policy changes, and guidance for local school systems.

About the Let Teachers Teach workgroup

Dr. Brumley launched the workgroup in February to develop common sense solutions to unnecessary bureaucracies and classroom disruptions that keep teachers from doing what they do best — teaching students. Governor Landry joined Dr. Brumley and teachers from across the state to unveil the recommendations in May. The workgroup is the product of feedback the LDOE has received through formal channels such as the Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council as well as informal channels such as classroom visits and faculty meetings hosted by Dr. Brumley.

For decades there has basically been one professional bass fishing organization, B.A.S.S. (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society) founded by Ray Scott. Then during the 1990s another organization appeared under the name of FLW, named after the late Forest L. Wood, the founder of Ranger Boats. But in 2011 MLF (Major League Fishing) bought out FLW and created major dissention as a huge portion of anglers left B.A.S.S for what they thought would be bluer water.

Both organizations have set a high bar for professional bass fishing over the years and allowed more anglers to pursue their dream of fishing for a living. But now there’s a new kid on the block making a lot of noise. 

Introducing the NPFL (National Professional Fishing League), an organization offering anglers another avenue to possibly fish for a living by offering top-level money of $100,000 for first place. Anglers are scrambling and sending in resumes applying for a spot in this new circuit. As of this article, there are at least 18 B.A.S.S professional anglers doubling their tournament commitments by fishing the NPFL.   

What does this mean for anglers looking to fish at the highest level? Is this another avenue for young anglers on the rise to have the opportunity to make a living fishing professionally? Is NPFL in it for the long term and are they ready to challenge B.A.S.S. and MLF? 

While only time will answer some of these questions, the one complaint professional bass fishermen had several years ago was the number one reason for 80 anglers jumping over to the MLF from B.A.S.S. The grip was anglers had no say on specific issues like where and when B.A.S.S. held a tournament. Anglers wanted their voices to be heard and as of today, it appears B.A.S.S. is still not listening. 

One thing different about the NPFL is the process anglers by which get accepted into their league. You must have established yourself as a credible angler with good sponsorship support and you must have had success on a high level. Just because you have the money to enter an event ($5,000), does not guarantee you a spot in the NPFL. 

So, what we are seeing now is that 18 pros have decided to double up on their schedule by fishing the new NPFL. One thing I’m seeing now is that more and more anglers are trying to stay independent, not wanting to commit to just one tournament organization. That’s a very smart move from an angler’s standpoint, an approach which offers them a better opportunity to provide for their families. 

Is the NPFL going to be just another failed attempt like so many organizations that have come before? Is there room for another professional bass fishing circuit? I say yes, but at some point, it could get similar to Louisiana’s high school football playoffs where just about everybody gets in. It’s just too watered down and not good for the sport. 

‘Til next time, good luck and good fishing. I want to say thank you for all of those who have reached out with comments about the articles I’ve written. Your feedback and input is greatly appreciated!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

The Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) Historic Convoy Across the Jefferson Highway – from Pine to Palm has announced its next transcontinental convoy will take place October 1-31, 2024. The convoy stop overnight in Mansfield on Oct. 23. 

The convoy retraces the historic 1918 Jefferson Highway route from the Minnesota border to New Orleans, Louisiana, in 30 days, driving over 2,500 miles.

This is the eighth MVPA-HA Convoy promoted by the MVPA-HA, and the first to travel on a north-south axis through the center of the country. The convoy will celebrate the 15th year of the program created at the Little Rock MVPA Convention in 2006.

The Jefferson Highway 2024 convoy has been designed to encompass American history along the route with multiple stops at historic sites such as: the headwaters of the Mississippi River, parts of the Red River Trail (voyageurs’ oxcart trail) from Winnipeg to St. Paul, the Pony Express Museum, Old Fort Leavenworth, National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, the old Army Road along the frontier to Fort Scott and southward to the old Spanish Road, the Louisiana “Patton” maneuvers area, Fort Polk, and ending with the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. Less well-known but interesting stops will include original Jefferson Highway historical locations, the Border War between Kansas and Missouri, the John Brown Museum and cabin, and sites of Civil War battles and skirmishes.

DPJ will share more information closer to the arrival of the convoy. 

The first ever Grand Cane Fall-O-Ween Fest in the Grand Cane Park is set for Saturday, October 26 from 5-8pm. It is free to the public. There will be food trucks, games, photo opportunities & more. 

Louisiana Homesteader Conference is Oct. 11-12 from 12 pm to 5 pm at the LSU Research Station

Antique Adoption Fall Trade Days will be on October 11 – 12 from 9-5 in Keatchie, LA. 

 The City of Mansfield will host a Veteran’s Day Celebration Parade and Banquet Monday, November 11.

Alberta Woods
02/19/1951 – 08/15/2024
Service: Saturday, August 24, 2024 at 2pm at Shady Grove UMC in Mansfield

Jimmy Dewitt Sr.
05/12/1948 – 08/17/2024
Service: Saturday, August 24, 2024 at 11am at Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel in Mansfield

A Jambalaya Fundraiser will be held on Friday, August 23 at 11am at the old Market Basket parking lot for Caroline Ann Miller. Caroline is the daughter of Detective Daniel Miller and wife Kacie, and has been in the NICU for several months. She was born on May 2 weighing in at a mere 1.1 pounds.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will assist the Miller family with medical expenses.

Plates will be $15 each and you can preorder by calling the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-872-3956. Ask for Holly, Sonya, or Karen.

Delivery is available if you contact DPSO ahead of time. Walk-Ups are also welcome on the day of the event.

DeSoto Parish Schools recently announced the appointment of Courtney Averett as the new Special Services IEP Compliance Coordinator. Averett, a product of DeSoto Parish, was born, raised, and educated in the community she now serves. After graduating from Stanley High School, she pursued her Bachelor of Science degree at Stephen F. Austin State University, majoring in Animal Science with a minor in Business.

Averett began her career in education as a Reading First Paraprofessional at Logansport High School, choosing to return to her roots despite opportunities out of state. With the encouragement of her former principal, Mrs. Terri Foley, she furthered her education, earning a Master’s Degree in Special Education and becoming a teacher in August 2008.

During her 20 years at Logansport High School, Averett served as the Quality Assurance Teacher and a member of the Instructional Leadership Team. She also mentored numerous educators and collaborated with master teachers, staff, and administrators to advance student learning and ensure the inclusion of exceptional learners.

When asked about this opportunity to serve in a new capacity, Averett responded, “Although I will miss my students and colleagues at Logansport High School, I am excited to embark on this new chapter and mission to serve DeSoto families” . As the Special Services IEP Compliance Coordinator, Averett will have the opportunity to expand her support for teachers in developing high-quality individualized education plans (IEPs) that are both effective and compliant, ensuring they meet the unique needs of the students served.

Source: desotopsb.com

Glenn Wheeler is a longtime friend of mine. As a fellow outdoor journalist, our friendship developed over the years through our association with outdoor writer conferences. In addition to being a journalist, Wheeler is also Sheriff of Newton County Arkansas and from time to time, his duties involve trying to locate a missing person. This is where Mellie Martin enters the picture.

Martin, who along with husband Jay, own and operate Dubach Heat and Air but her sideline involves raising and training hounds, not just any hounds. Her focus is on bloodhounds. A few weeks ago, Martin learned of a missing person in Newton County Arkansas and offered to bring her hounds there to assist. Here’s where I entered the picture. Martin conveyed a message from my friend Sheriff Wheeler that piqued my interest enough to try and learn about raising and training bloodhounds.

“As a member of the Delta Elite K9 Search and Rescue team, I have been involved in raising and training bloodhounds for the past eight years,” Martin said. “My interest in bloodhounds was the result of an incident where a special needs child left home and met with a tragic accident. I thought that if the child could have been found and rescued before the accident happened, the result would not have ended in tragedy.”

The more she learned about bloodhounds and what they can do, the more intrigued she became so she began raising and training bloodhounds some eight years ago. What she has learned about these remarkable dogs is fascinating.

“Bloodhounds have about 270 million scent receptors in their noses compared to about 5 million we humans have. These dogs can be trained to find a specific person even after they have been gone two or three days,” she said.

“Each person’s scent is individualized in the same way that no two people have the same fingerprint. Before a search begins, an article, such as a cap or pillow case that no one else has used is presented to the dog and it is homed in only on that one person.”

Martin says she is called on average about two times a month to bring her dogs to where a missing person has been reported. Not only do they search for run-aways but also criminals who may be on the run.

“We don’t compete with law enforcement agencies that utilize dogs; we work with them. Our area of responsibility involves serving all of Louisiana north of Alexandria over to East Texas and just south of Little Rock, AR as well as portions of Mississippi. We wait for law enforcement agencies to contact us before offering the services of our dogs,” Martin said.

Martin’s work with her dogs is on a strictly volunteer basis where no fee is charged. I am reminded of the similarity of what she does with her dogs and the organization deer hunters utilize to find wounded deer.
“My most rewarding event took place in south Arkansas when an elderly and sickly gentleman had been missing for 36 hours and family assumed he had probably passed away somewhere. My dogs were able to locate him, alive but dehydrated, and when we came back with him riding with us on a side-by-side, I joined with the family shedding happy tears. Just seeing that dog I have trained find someone in such a situation is so rewarding,” she said.

To learn more about what has been done and can be done with bloodhounds, go on-line to Delta Elite K9 Search and Rescue Team.

FISHING REPORT

BLACK BAYOU – Fishing is slow. A few crappie have been caught around the trees. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.

BUSSEY BRAKE – Hot weather has slowed things a bit. Bass best early mornings on topwaters and big plastic worms later in the day. Crappie fishing has been fair fishing around deep brush. Bream fishing has slowed. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.

OUACHITA RIVER – Crappie fishing has improved around deep brush in the river. Bass fishing has improved fishing shad imitation lures in the cuts. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE D’ARBONNE –. Bass have been best early morning on topwaters. swim baits and square billed crank baits fished around the edge of the grass. Soft plastics and crank baits working best later. When lake begins drawdown, moving water should turn them on. Crappie are good on the flats in 12-14 foot water and along the edges of the channels and hitting shiners and jigs. Bream are off the beds and scattered. Catfishing is good fishing cold worms off the banks. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE CLAIBORNE –Bass fishing is best at night fishing soft plastics and dark spinners and crank baits around lighted piers. Some have been caught early mornings on topwater lures fished along the edges of grass. Crappie are in deep water and are best around submerged brush on shiners and jigs. Bream are slow. No report on Stripers. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.

CANEY LAKE – Bass fishing has been fair early mornings fishing topwater lures around the grass. Some are also being caught at night on plastic worms and deep diving crank baits. During the day, deep diving crank baits and soft plastics fished on underwater humps is best. Bream fishing has slowed as the fish are scattered. Crappie are fair fishing jigs or shiners around submerged tops. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.

LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfishing has been good while others are slow. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.

LAKE YUCATAN – The water is at a standstill with slow fall expected. Fishing overall is quite slow. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.

LAKE HARTWELL, S.C. — Coming off the program’s best season ever with a sixth-place finish nationally, the LSUS Fishing Team is aiming to reap those rewards this weekend at the Bassmaster College Series 2024 National Championship on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina.

An LSUS program record five boats qualified for the championship event, which required one finish in the top 10 percent of a sanctioned tournament during the regular season.

LSUS anglers manning boats in this championship include Brayden Nichols and William Tew, Brother Martin and Luke Batts, Tripp Bowman and Matthew Nesbit, Levi Thibodaux and Miles Smith, and Hunter Hamilton and Tyler Morris.

The event begins Thursday with two days of fishing as anglers push for a top-12 finish to qualify for the final day of competition.

The first four pairs qualified during the typical regular season, while freshmen Hamilton and Morris hitting the Louisiana summer trail and picked up a championship invitation.

“Iron sharpens iron, and having our guys fish against each other in practice helps prepare us for competition,” said LSUS Fishing coach Charles Thompson. “If you’re good on our team, that typically means you’ll fare well against the competition.

“It’s not an easy feat to qualify for these championships, and we’re excited that we’re taking five boats with us.”

The Pilots were last on the water as a team when they placed third at the Association of Collegiate Anglers Championships in late May.

Nichols and Tew led the way with a fifth-place showing overall. Batts/Martin (29th), Thibodaux/Smith (32nd), Hamilton/Morris (55th) and Nesbit/Bowman (69th) all finished in the top half.

Though the upcoming championship reflects the past year’s performance, the points earned at this event will go toward next year’s standings.

The opportunity to launch into the new season certainly isn’t lost on Thompson.

“This will be the first tournament of the new season for most programs, but what’s cool about this championship is that programs like ours are rewarded for qualifying more boats than most,” Thompson said. “Some schools may only have one boat make it to this event, so we have more chances to put boats near the top of the standings because of what our guys accomplished in the regular season.”

There are no divisions in college fishing, so LSUS is trading blows with household names like No. 5 Auburn and No. 12 Tennessee along with schools located in the fishing heartland (Kentucky-Tennessee-Alabama) that host the majority of the college fishing tournaments.

While LSUS anglers are well traveled and have fished a variety of lakes, having intimate knowledge of specific bodies of water is an advantage for schools closer to this fishing corridor.

Thompson said LSUS anglers do their homework on specific lake conditions and fishing patterns, but it’s important not to finalize any strategies until you get in the boat.

One important facet is knowing which bait fish inhabit the lakes and how they typically behave.

“The forage is important because a lot of our lakes here are shad lakes, whereas Lake Hartwell is a herring lake,” Thompson said. “The fish act completely different.

“The bass tend to follow the bait fish, and both groups tend to school up in the deep parts of the lake in the summer. But maybe they’ve moved to the creeks and go shallower as well. You’ve got to do your homework, but don’t make a final strategy until you get on the lake.”

LSUS has recorded an overall program-best finish in each of the past three seasons (sixth in 2024, 15th in 2023, and 20th in 2022).

The Pilots will take aim at a top-five season finish as LSUS continues to cement itself as one of the nation’s best.

Sports Shock of the Day No. 1: Notre Dame has suspended its men’s swimming program for at least one academic year because investigations “both internal and external” (which we think are the only kinds of investigations?) have revealed a widespread gambling issue that violated NCAA rules.

Sports Shock of the Day No. 2: Notre Dame has a men’s swimming program?

Before any fans of Irish Swimming panic, know that the Notre Dame women’s team and both diving teams are not affected by the disciplinary action. 

Sports Shock of the Day No. 3. Notre Dave has a women’s swim team and TWO diving teams?!

What is NOT shocking is that the NCAA has picked on a swimming team. And in a big way.

The NCAA didn’t tell the student-athletes to just quit running on the concrete, as our moms did back in the day at the community cement pond.

The NCAA didn’t tell the student-athletes just to rest for 30 minutes after eating that Rice Krispie Treat to safeguard against cramps. 

The NCAA didn’t tell the student-athletes to powder dry after showers to hold down the possibility of a nasty itch problem in a delicate area.

Neg. Instead, the NCAA drained the program’s pool for a whole year.

A couple of things here: 

Competitive swimming is not football or baseball or hoops in terms of fanatical popularity. BUT … it’s as hard as any other sport and much harder than some, and fans who love it REALLY love it. (Remember how, just a couple weeks ago, we couldn’t wait to see what Katie Ledecky would do next? Anyone remember Michael Phelps? Mark Spitz? Uhh … YES.)

And that’s just the swimming. We haven’t even talked yet about diving, in which the student-athlete is required to do tricks in the air BEFORE hitting the water and swimming.

When you’re talking competitive swimming and diving, you’re not talking about dogpaddling in the kiddie pool.

But what swimming IS is an easy target for the NCAA if the organization — and we use that term loosely — wants to pretend it has more than only a couple of disciplinary teeth. 

In 2021, the transfer regulations were changed to allow students in some Division I sports to transfer schools without having to sit out a year. Those rules have been altered since, most significantly this past spring when it was ruled that athletes could transfer as many times as they wished, without penalty.

In other words, the NCAA didn’t think things through thoroughly, or at all, in 2021.

Same with NIL. No guardrails. Pitch ’til you win. “Yeah, we guess that’s OK, sure…”

So college sports have totally gotten out of the NCAA’s greedy little hands. Except … 

… except when it comes to Notre Dame’s men’s swimming program, which, after a long dry spell, surfaced with its first Top-10 finish at the NCAA championships in March, a first in program history.

And here is why the NCAA stepped in: the men’s team bet on each other’s swimming performances. Over/under lines and all that. 

ND swimmer No. 1 before practice: “I bet Ricky swims the 1000m freestyle in less than 49 seconds today. Five bucks.”

Other ND swimmer, (heretofore to be called ‘ND swimmer No. 2’: “No way!”

ND swimmer No 1: “Way.”

ND swimmer No. 2: “I’ll take it!”

ND swimmer named Ricky: “That’s a lot of pressure but … here goes!”

ND swimmer No. 1: “Anybody else want some of this?…”

So stupid.

I have never been around a swim team, but I have been around golf teams and, while the great unwashed might be blissfully unaware of this, I have never seen a college golf team that didn’t “bet” before practice. Usually on the first tee. Always very casually. Like as casually as breathing. Often with carryovers from the day before and the day before that. 

Now and then a bit of money might change hands, and sometimes a payoff might be in burger or Icee form, but “bets” are all part of the game in these semi-individual contests.

There is no official sports book for swimming. Or for golf practice. Same goes, as far as I know, for college bowling or archery. And there is no danger, as far as I can see, in wagering a buck to see how fast Ricky might swim on any ordinary Tuesday or whether or not I can get it closest to the pin on a par 3 to, you know, perk up a boring day.

That’s called fun. Makes perfect sense.

But when it comes to rhyme or reason concerning the NCAA, all bets are off.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

Governor Jeff Landry has moved at a dizzying legislative pace since being elected governor and one very significant change made to Louisiana law is what is referred to as “Truth in Sentencing.”

What is Truth in Sentencing?

The long and short of it is that for years Judges, District Attorneys and Defense Attorneys have essentially had to estimate the actual amount of time a convicted individual would be incarcerated. Louisiana was said to have a “high rate of indeterminacy” in sentencing and the stated purpose of the new law is to simplify time computation by the Louisiana Department of Corrections.

Currently, the rule of thumb was that a conviction or plea that did not involve a Crime of Violence under Louisiana law would have an inmate serve approximately 1/3rd of their given sentence. So, for example, with a nonviolent crime like Simple Burglary, the accused could either plead to or be convicted of and sentenced to, hypothetically, 6 years in prison. The individual would serve approximately 1/3rd of the 6 years, or two years. On the other hand, if an individual pled to or was convicted of a crime of violence, they would serve approximately 2/3rds of the 6 year sentence, or 4 years.

That has now all changed.

In the 2024 Special Session of the Louisiana Legislature, the relevant statute, LA. R.S. 15:571.3, was amended and re-enacted. The relevant part of the statute is referred to as Diminution of Sentence for good time served. The new law changed the amount of good time credit (i.e. reduction) that can be earned to a maximum of 15% for all offenses except when the individual is what is known as an Habitual Offender or the crime involves a sex offense. (which are not allowed to earn any good time). Unlike before, the new law does not differentiate between violent and nonviolent offenses. Again, the declared purpose of this change is to provide truth, or greater accuracy, in sentencing.

So, what is the crux of the new law?

Well, these changes only apply to offenses that were committed on or after August 1, 2024, and the Good Time Rates after that date will be 85% for all offenses except, again, sex offenses and habitual offenders who will not be eligible for any good time served. Sex and habitual offenders will earn credit for any time served prior to their conviction but will not earn any additional good time credit. One caveat is that offenders may earn up to 12 months of additional credit for the completion of treatment and rehabilitation programming as provided for in LA. R.S. 15:828. Finally, the new law clarifies that when an offender has served 85% of their sentence they will be released on Unsupervised Parole for the remainder of their sentence.

Let me also share two other categories of offense that have been amended. The first is Drug Court Screening and Eligibility, with Act 572 providing that a defendant who meets the eligibility and suitability criteria can be offered by the court an opportunity to participate in the program and undergo treatment. Second, Act 648 provides that in a felony case, the court shall not/may not terminate probation early, or as “unsatisfactory,” and release the defendant if the conviction was for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, vehicular homicide, or First Degree vehicular negligent injuring.

One other issue I am asked about frequently. Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The new law mandates that a consecutive (it’s usually concurrent) sentence be imposed if a person convicted was on probation or parole at the time of the new offense.

That’s quite a change!

I believe the goal of ensuring truth in sentencing is good public policy. I think a defendant, as a matter of due process of law, must be informed of what time they will actually serve for their offense. I also feel it is important, as a matter of both the legal process and judicial efficiency, that judges, DAs, and criminal defense attorneys know exactly what a sentence entails in order to know how to proceed in a case whether it be a plea or a trial.

I will be curious to see how these changes impact crime and incarceration in Louisiana. Whether additional statutory tweaks will be needed remains to be seen but the effort to increase both the constitutionally required ‘fair warning’ and notice of what is prohibited under law, resulting in what penalty, is laudable.

Royal Alexander

Phase 2 will be rolled out in waves based on eligibility groups over the next several weeks, impacting around 320,000 Louisiana school-aged children. Eligible students include those who received Medicaid, Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP), or Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) benefits during the 2023-2024 school year, as well as children who qualified for free or reduced-price school meals. Each child will receive a one-time payment of $120 loaded onto a newly issued EBT card, arriving by mail.

Recipients are advised to look out for plain white envelopes with an Erie, Pennsylvania, return address containing their SUN Bucks card and activation instructions. Envelopes will be addressed to the eligible child. Families with more than one child may receive their children’s cards at different times.

SUN Bucks can be used to purchase SNAP-eligible food items at stores that accept EBT cards. The benefits must be used within 122 days from the date of issuance.

There will also be a Phase 3. The application period for children not automatically certified in Phases 1 and 2 will open in late August. This phase primarily serves students at Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools, where all students received free or reduced-price school meals regardless of household income. CEP school students whose household income would qualify them for the National School Lunch Program (below 185% of federal poverty limit) are eligible to receive SUN Bucks, and if they are not certified during Phases 1 or 2, will need to apply during Phase 3. Detailed information about the application process will be available soon on the SUN Bucks website.

A dedicated SUN Bucks helpline is available at 833-323-7482, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Families with questions or who need to update their mailing addresses can call the helpline for assistance. Questions can also be emailed to SUNBucks@la.gov

An event is unfolding around us. Even readers of this article have a perspective on it.

For Educators this is an annual occurrence. They have prepared for this episode for weeks. They busy themselves with lesson plans, room decorations, seating charts, and wondering which student will thrive and which student will struggle because of this event. They are confident, even in the face of the unknown, of their skills and experience.

For parents the annual event is like a whirlwind. Parents have been praying for this event since the sounding of the last school bell in May. They have met the challenges of the summer taxi service. They have endured parties, sleep overs, and travel ball tournaments. They have refereed spats with siblings, negotiated time share for the video games, and prayed a healthy amount of prayers dealing with the length of the summer. They are actually happy this event is finally here.

I am a casual observer of this occurrence. I know it is happening because the front of Walmart is filled with school supplies. I note for you the school supplies have now been replaced with Halloween candy. I have observed an increase in traffic. I personally must decide which route to take to work. I must negotiate a left turn onto Cooktown Road from the Interstate. My time of arrival at the exit determines my direction of travel. I have enjoyed some philosophical thought and discussion about taking the left-hand turn chance or driving past the exit and backtracking.

The students are the ones most affected by this event. They slept with impunity all summer. They have relaxed and excelled at play and goofing off. They were kids all summer and now that summer is gone. Some will celebrate the start of their senior year. Some experience all the trials and tribulations of being a freshman. Still others are starting school for the first time.

One event, the start of school, and there are many perspectives about the same event depending on your frame of reference. The teachers are ready, the parents delighted, the children face it with mixed emotions. Even us casual observers see the event differently depending on traffic and the time of day.

When you are deep in the middle of an event in your life, remember there are numerous lenses through which you can view the event. Those lenses are called your mindset. The one event was going back to school. I only described four perspectives. Can you imagine how complex perspectives could become? In many cases the educator is both a parent and a student. The student might also be a parent. You see how quickly a simple thing becomes complex.

The next time an event is happening, it might mean taking a deep breath and being in that moment. In a moment of curiosity you might ask, what does Jesus want me to learn now? In His kingdom we are all students.

Doug de Graffenried is Pastor of Trinity Methodist Church in Ruston.

You can contact Doug at dougsponderings@gmail.com

Grief Support Group will meet this Thursday August 22, 2024 at 3pm at the Mansfield Library. The group is open to anyone that is dealing with any type of loss–relationship, illness, child custody, death. There is no charge to attend the group and everyone is welcome. If you have any questions call Janet at 461-0829.

The Red River Research Station in Bossier has several fun events planned:
Sept. 14–Backyard Fruit & Nut production
Oct. 11-12: 2nd Annual Louisiana Homesteader Conference with Corn maze and Hayride
Oct. 26: Harvest Time at the Farm with Corn maze, Hayride/Ag Education & Outdoor movie
Dec. 14: Christmas at the Farm with Family Christmas movie and a Visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus

The 10th Annual 50 Mile Trail of Treasure is set for October 12 from 7am to 3pm. Anyone can participate–school groups, church groups, businesses, garage sales, vendors, etc. Set up, free of charge, anywhere from Stonewall to Joaquin.

NONE

Investigators with the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office are seeking help in identifying the owner or location of the vehicle pictured.

This vehicle is believed to be involved in a burglary that took place in July of 2024.

If you should have information that may lead investigators to locating the vehicle and identifying the thief, Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for your info. You can request to remain anonymous, and still get paid!