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!

The DeSoto Parish Police Jury will hold their monthly meetings Monday, August 19 beginning at 5pm. The meetings, including the E-911 Board and the regular monthly meeting, will be held in the Police Jury Meeting room.

A special meeting will begin at 6:30pm in order for the police jury to go into executive session to discuss the lawsuit filed by David B. Means, et al against the DeSoto Parish Police Jury in the United States District Court Western District of Louisiana.

By: Evelyn Pinkston

In a unique program called “Stories from the Front,” local teens at the Mansfield Library had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of the Civil War through an eight-week reading of “Red Badge of Courage.” Mr. Nick Pickett, an Interpretive Ranger from the Mansfield Battle Park & Museum, presented the program.

Mr. Pickett’s interactive approach ensured that the teens felt included and engaged throughout the program. He arranged for the teens to take turns reading aloud in each class, collaboratively bringing the story to life. In addition to the reading sessions, Mr. Pickett showcased Civil War artifacts, shared excerpts
from soldiers’ letters, and even taught the teens drills used during the Civil War era.

The impact of Mr. Pickett’s volunteer work was evident as the teens expressed gratitude for his time and dedication. Their journey with “Red Badge of Courage” culminated in a special screening of the 1951 black and white movie adaptation featuring Audie Murphy, which brought the book to life on the big screen.

The teens were thrilled, and their appreciation for the experience was clear. The “Stories from the
Front” program provided a unique learning opportunity for the teens and fostered a deeper understanding and appreciation for history. The DeSoto Parish Library appreciates Mr.
Pickett’s dedication and the enriching experience he provided for the local teen group

Source: DeSoto Parish Library Newsletter

After adjourning a meeting of the Joint Budget Committee, Senate President Cameron Henry and Speaker of the House Phillip DeVillier say they’ll be working together in the interim to address the initial budget forecast.

The legislature’s leadership emphasized that today’s presentation is an initial estimate and a represents a projected continuation budget for FY 25-26. The $340 million gap shared with the committee is significantly less than earlier this year and could continue to shrink.

“The House and Senate will be working collaboratively and looking at all the factors that impact the state’s budget,” said Speaker DeVillier. “We’ve been anticipating the gap from the sunset of the .45% temporary sales tax as well as the movement of the vehicle sales tax dollars into a savings account for transportation and a 2% tax exemption on business utilities. But we have options that can be considered that will balance the budget including finding efficiencies in government and creating a more predictable tax structure for the state.”

“It’s important to know the cause and effect of our budget decisions,” said President Henry. “The budget is looking better and we have time for both chambers to look for solutions to close any gap for next year,” said President Henry. “We’ll obviously focus on our priorities as we craft the budget and continue to watch the forecast models to inform that work. This is just the beginning.”

The Division of Administration testified that the $340 million shortfall does not include $248 million in additional dollars for educational initiatives provided last year including teacher and support personnel pay stipends, differentiated compensation, tutoring services, apprenticeships and internships. Legislators say those items will factor into budget discussions moving forward.

Many college students remember the first time they stepped on campus and the first college class they attended.

LSUS wants to transform those first moments into lasting memories through its Week of Welcome, a full week of engaging activities designed to foster student relationships during the first week of face-to-face classes this fall.

Highlighted by Wednesday’s Week of Welcome Fair and Friday’s First-Year Convocation, the slate of events this coming week aims to connect new and returning students to each other and to different campus departments.

“There’s always talk about Student Life just being about student activities, but this is also a chance to help students find their niche by getting them connected to other departments and offices on campus,” said Emmanuel Sims, who assumed the Director of Student Life position at LSUS in July. “This is the time for students to really find where they belong.

“With the theme ‘Welcome Home,’ we want our students to feel like they are at home here at LSUS. When you make them feel at home, there is more pride and more desire to be engaged. We want Week of Welcome to serve as a launching pad for their entire college career.”

The schedule kicks off Monday with a Happy to be Home event featuring Happy Belly’s Italian Ice and back-to-school supply packs. Students can voice their opinions to Sims, a Shreveport native who has served in related roles at Langston University (Okla.), Jarvis Christian College, Tyler Junior College and Centenary College.

The 11 a.m. event in the University Center pairs with the traditional painting of the UC windows.
More art is on the docket Tuesday as students can participate in a giant paint by number canvas (12:30-2:30 in the UC) and receive their free Week of Welcome T-Shirt (faculty and staff can acquire a shirt for $10).

For the Week of Welcome Fair, student organizations and academic departments will line the UC Mall while students bounce between booths featuring a variety of games and inflatables. The first 200 students can help themselves to a loaded French fry bar (courtesy of The Port) or at The Hot Dawg Hut for free.
Put on your running shoes for the Color Run & Glow Party on Thursday evening at 7 p.m.

Friday’s activities simmer down with First-Year Convocation (11 a.m.) as students reflect on the first week of classes and prepare themselves for the academic journey ahead with insight from faculty members. Stick around to be part of the photo for the Class of 2028 banner.

For students living at Pilots Pointe Apartments, the festivities continue with a pool party (2-6 p.m.) where residents can meet the Student Life Team and hang out with members of Greek organizations.

“One of our goals is to make students at Pilots Pointe feel like they are a bigger part of this campus, and we want to do intentional program over there so they aren’t always having to come to us to be involved,” Sims said. “We also want to put more of an emphasis on afternoon and evening programming.”

Virtual students can also get involved through apps like LSUS’s Anchored In and Goosechase. Students can find a virtual scavenger hunt on Goosechase during Week of Welcome and be eligible for LSUS swag.
“There are specific promo items for students who aren’t able to be here in person,” Sims said. “We want all of our students to be involved, even if they aren’t physically on this campus.”

Matt Vines

When numbers are being discussed in the football preseason, it’s usually by coaches who are talking about their roster sizes and the depth they expect to have at different positions.

But a different number is taking center stage as Louisiana football kicks off starting this Friday for Midsouth Association of Independent Schools.

The number – or lack thereof – of referees and officials.

The Louisiana High School Officials Association says there’s a shortage of qualified officials, meaning that more football games may have to be moved to Thursdays and Saturdays, or in the worst-case scenario, cancelled altogether.

Greg Petrus, the LHSOA Regional Coordinator in the Alexandria area said that of the approximately 1,100 officials that don the stripes statewide, just seven percent are 30 years old or younger.

In contrast, nearly 70 percent of Louisiana officials are 50 years old or older.

Petrus spoke to TV station KALB about the statewide shortage. Coverage has surfaced in the Lafayette area as well, but all associations are experiencing shortages.

Attrition through retirement and retention issues due to fan/coach abuse and work-life unbalance are prime reasons for the shortage.

Officials give up prime nights during the week and on the weekend to work a variety of sports, not just football.

When a shortage for a particular weekend or event occurs, schools begin to look beyond their area for officials. That drives up the cost for pay officials as schools pay extra for longer travel, which could put schools with smaller athletic budgets at higher risk for cancelling games altogether.

The LHSOA is increasing its efforts to recruit new officials and retain them from year-to-year, but they need your help.

To learn about becoming an official, visit lhsoa.com or https://www.lhsaa.org/lhsoa.

Fortunately for us humanoids, we come equipped with a variety of things that help us navigate the world, especially when you like to hunt and fish. It’s our senses; those inborn things that give us the ability to see, to hear, to feel.

Take squirrel hunting for example. You’re sitting in the woods on a cool fall morning and you hear a variety of sounds, like birds singing, leaves falling, the rustle of trees when there is a breeze. Then you detect something different. You hear the sound of tiny claws on bark or the soft “whack….whack” of something eating a hickory nut. You don’t need to see it; you already know it’s a squirrel.

Fishing for an unseen quarry lurking beneath the surface calls into play most of our senses. We hear surface feeding fish, we see our line twitch when a fish takes the lure.

It’s the sense of touch, the ability to feel what’s going on down there out of sight that may be of utmost importance. Fishing rods made of graphite and boron used by most anglers today are super-sensitive scientific marvels allowing the angler to feel the gentle pick-up when a bass inhales a plastic worm. Even with these sensitive fibers working on the side of the angler, though, sensitivity to touch is of utmost importance.

Some fishermen have a sense of touch that is more acute than other anglers. Mike Lowrance, a Murfreesboro, TN angler, is one of those. He has become a nationally-known specialist at catching fish by “feel”. He competes in national tournaments matching his skills, cast-for-cast, with the best in the business and he is able to hold his own with any of them.

Lowrance’s secret is that he has perfected the fine art of super-sensitivity more so than most anglers.

“I am of the opinion,” says Lowrance, “that my senses are no better than anybody else’s. The big difference is that when I’m fishing, I don’t let anything distract me. My attention is on what I’m doing while others may be distracted by something else. They only feel about 40 percent of what they should because they’re not paying attention.

“I cannot use a closed face reel….it has no feel. I prefer a revolving spool reel and I’ve learned you have to keep your finger in contact with the line at all times.

“When you use your line as the sensitivity device, you’re feeling it all, right down to the vibration of the lure. You know what your lure is doing. You can feel if you’re running it properly. I feel I have a quicker response with the line than the rod. As a matter of fact,” he added, “I know I do.”

One of Lowrance’s secrets is that he uses a line that has a smooth finish and that lays down smooth and flat on the spool. While he uses graphite rods because of their quickness and fast response, the line is of more importance to Lowrance.

“The rod is the casting equipment. I feel the fish with the line,” he said.

Hearing about Mike Lowrance and his ability to fish by feel, I couldn’t help but speculate that most anglers would do a better job at what they do if they forced themselves to concentrate more on feel.
Try to imagine how it would be to spend a day anchored at a favorite worm hole wearing a blindfold.

After a period of adjustment where you cast out into blackness and felt the lure settle to the bottom, it is logical to imagine that your sensitivity would begin to improve as you are forced to rely strictly on the message the line is conveying to you as you slowly work the plastic worm over structure.

Mike Lowrance developed his sensitivity in this manner, after a fashion. He did it, however, out of necessity rather than choice.

Mike Lowrance is totally blind.

CHRISTUS Kids Clinic has undergone a recent renovation and expansion that allows more children to be treated at its Shreveport facility with more resources.

CHRISTUS Kids Clinic offers pediatric physical, occupational and speech-language therapy to help children from birth to 21 years old meet developmental milestones and gain life skills through developing movement, communication, feeding and play.

The expansion of the 8,700 square-foot facility includes an additional 1,500 to 2,000 square feet, said Lisa Hooper, outpatient clinical supervisor of physical medicine and rehabilitation with CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System.

“We’ve currently outgrown our space, and this gives us more area to be able to provide more care for our kids who are having to wait to get in,” she said. “We currently have over 35 patients per discipline who we need to get in for therapy. So, there’s a big need in the Shreveport-Bossier area to service these children.”

The clinic sees about 300 patients a week and has on staff six speech therapists, six physical therapists and seven occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants.

The project is funded through CHRISTUS Foundation Shreveport-Bossier, with donations made through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

“We take in donations and then match them to the projects that impact patients and families,” said Amy Heron, executive director of philanthropy with CHRISTUS Foundation Shreveport-Bossier.

Additional therapists will be hired to accommodate the expansion, said Andrew D’Avy, director of rehabilitation services with CHRISTUS Health Shreveport-Bossier.

“This clinic offers the most advanced service and equipment locally, even regionally,” he said. “In our partnership with Children’s Miracle Network, we get funding and grant monies for services, education and equipment.”

Hooper said the expansion is an important move for local and surrounding communities.

“We have children who come from two hours away to get their care,” she said.

To learn more about CHRISTUS Kids Clinic, visit our website at CHRISTUSHealth.org.

(BATON ROUGE, LA) – Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley is proposing a set of policy recommendations inspired from his Let Teachers Teach workgroup. These policies would 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.

The Let Teachers Teach policy package will be considered by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) during their meetings August 20-21. If approved, they would impact every public school in the state.

“Being an effective teacher is hard work and we seek to make the job more manageable and fulfilling,” said Dr. Brumley. “These policies will show support for hard-working teachers across Louisiana as they return to the classroom this year.”

The main areas of this Let Teachers Teach policy package are reducing state-mandated teacher trainings, creating expectations for student discipline, and providing teachers more autonomy over teaching practices and lesson planning when they consistently demonstrate success.

The teacher training policies would streamline dozens of non-academic trainings and lessons teachers must repeat each year.

“We’re moving to a ‘one-and-done’ model for many of the previously-required annual teacher trainings,” said Dr. Brumley. “Both policy-leaders and practitioners agree that required teacher trainings have become excessive.”

A new discipline policy would impact the Teacher Bill of Rights and change how school leaders must respond to persistent disruptions during class. Teachers would 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.

“No student has the right to habitually disrupt the learning environment for their classmates or their teacher,” said Dr. Brumley, who just last week urged system leaders to recommit to assertive discipline action. “Students and teachers deserve peaceful schools.”

The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) collaborated with multiple stakeholders in the development of the policies.

“I’m thankful to work alongside Governor Landry, champions in the legislature, and a committed state board of education to solve complex challenges in the educational space while keeping student outcomes at the forefront of every decision,” said Dr. Brumley.

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. The workgroup is composed of over two dozen teachers from across Louisiana.

The workgroup helped develop a set of recommendations PDF that can be addressed at the state, system, and school levels. Governor Landry joined Dr. Brumley and teachers from across the state to unveil the recommendations in May. The LDOE and BESE are outlining actions around all 18 recommendations. These range from new state laws, policy changes, and guidance for local school systems.

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.

New Louisiana Absentee Voting laws went into effect August 1. They are a part of the state’s election integrity legislative package.

Act 380 stops anyone other than an immediate family member from sending more than one marked ballot per election through the mail. This keeps an individual from possbily filling out multiple ballots and dropping them off at the post office or bringing them in person to the registrar’s office. 

Act 302 makes it illegal for anyone other than an immediate family member of the voter or an employee of the Registrar of Voters office to assist with the absentee ballot of more than one voter. The law helps in the undue influence of an individual on the voter and restricts a person from assisting multiple individuals. 

 Act 317 states that no person, except for an immediate family member, can distribute an absentee application to any person who has not requested one. It further states that only immediate family members of the voter shall submit more than one completed application. 

The law states that an immediate family member is defined as: “the individual’s children, the spouses of this children, his brothers and their spouses, his sisters and their spouses, his parents, his spouse and the parents of his spouse.”

For more information contact the Red River Parish Registrar of Voters Office at 318.932.5027.

In 2004 I decided to take my fishing to another level by fishing as a co-angler on the defuncted FLW Tour, now called Major League Fishing (MLF). I fished this level for two seasons while expanding my bass fishing knowledge. To fish with the best anglers in the world was quite the privilege and made me realize just how lucky I was to get in the boat with pro anglers like Clark Wendlandt, Dion Hibdon, and Kelly Jordon. But I also got to wet a hook in some of the best bass lakes in America.

One of my first favorites would be Lake Okeechobee in South Florida. This is a place like no other I have fished in my entire career. It is a great fishery, but also intimidating with its massive expanse of wide-open cattails patches and hydrilla grass beds.

To navigate this lake without GPS would be a nightmare and almost impossible to return to an area where you caught fish the day before, as the entire lake looks the same. But when it comes to big bass, this lake is in a class all to itself where massive largemouth bass in the ten-pound range are fairly common. It’s not unusual for a tournament angler to bring in a 30-pound 5 fish limit.

Next, Kentucky Lake! During the early 2000’s this lake was on fire and a magnet for major bass tournaments due to its great fishing. Two things played a key role in what made this lake so good…. current and ledges. Kentucky Lake is known as a great current lake as bass set up on these deep-water ledges waiting to ambush just about any lure an angler might want to throw. It’s also one of many great lakes along the Tennessee River chain. While the lake was on the decline a few years ago, it has now rebounded, and the fishing is once again really good.

Another great lake I fished during my FLW days was Beaver Lake Arkansas. This lake is a structure fisherman’s dream and was where the “shaky head” craze first started. The shaky head is a small ball head jig (usually 1/8 oz. or 3/16 oz.) with a light wire hook.

This technique is usually fished on a spinning rod with light line anywhere from 8 to 10-pound test. Known as a bottom dragging bait, this technique is great for catching finicky bass. Beaver Lake is where this technique started and has become a main stay method for catching bass all across the country.

Closer to home, and a place that just might be the best bass lake in America as named a couple of years by Bassmaster Magazine, is Lake Sam Rayburn! Located just across the Louisiana/Texas state line in East Texas, Sam Rayburn is the crown jewel of the bass fishing world. Anglers commonly weigh-in 30-pound stringers almost year around.

Whether you like to fish deep or shallow, Rayburn offers you the opportunity to fish anyway you desire. It is a great deep structure fishing lake, along with plenty of shallow cover for bass to hide. Probably the number one technique used here is the Carolina rig. This is a drag the bottom technique with a ¾ or 1 ounce tungsten weight with a 3-foot leader using a baby brush hog in watermelon/red.

Rayburn is also the second biggest lake in Texas and gets more tournament fishing pressure than any other body of water. It’s truly amazing how each week this lake gets pounded but continues to put out 20- and 30-pound stringers.

Other great lakes that I’ve had the pleasure to fish include Lake Hartwell and Santee Cooper South Carolina, Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma and South Alabama, Lake Chickamauga and Old Hickory in Tennessee, Toledo Bend, Lake Fork and a lake I grew up on Lake Monticello located just outside of Mt. Pleasant, Texas. But one of my newest favorites is East Texas’ very own Lake of the Pines. This lake has been a sleeping giant but in recent years has really become a very popular bass tournament lake.

While some will disagree, another place that has a special place in my heart is the mighty Red River! This body of water has become one of my personal favorites. I’ve had quite a bit of success on the Red River and it seems to suit my style of fishing.

I guess you could say I have been truly blessed to get the opportunity to fish some of the best fisheries in America. Along the way, I’ve made an endless list of friends of both professional anglers and weekend warriors. It has been through this list of anglers that I have been able to sustain a great outdoors radio/podcast program for 17 years called Hook’N Up & Track’N Down.

But I’ve also had a little help with two great co-hosts, Gary McCoy and Mike Echols. Together we have been able to put together an outdoors program that’s both highly entertaining and educational.

To wrap this up, we are lucky to live in a country with so many great places to wet a hook in the many lakes and rivers loaded with great fish catching opportunities. Not only can anglers bring in great stringers but can make some great memories just as I have done!

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to introduce a kid to the great outdoors.

Steve Graf

Angler’s Perspective