This year I had the opportunity to attend the 94th annual FFA convention that was held in Indianapolis, Indiana on October 27-30.
What is the FFA national convention? National convention is where FFA members from all over the country come to compete at national level competitions, receive rewards, or attend sessions and workshops to learn skills to bring back home to their schools. No matter the reason you come to convention there’s always plenty to do. During the week of convention, there are general sessions where we get to listen to national officers give their retiring address, people getting awards for not only Career Development Events, but also Leadership Development Events and Supervised Agricultural Events.
We also were able to see FFA members receive their American Degree which is really special for a FFA member because there is a less than 1 percent chance of gaining the degree. This year we watched Gracie Niette, a former lakeview student go onto the national stage and accept her American degree. At the convention, there was also a college/career expo where many different colleges offered information about their universities and different agriculture related careers. They also had a FFA mega mall, live concerts, and a rodeo. They held workshops where we learned leadership skills and ways we can better our chapter back home.
I would like to add a thank you for everyone who donated and helped make it possible for me to attend the national convention.
Thanks to a power play by people in Lake Charles, there’s been a big drop in blood pressure for plenty of folks in Natchitoches, Hammond, Thibodaux and a few on the Lakeshore in New Orleans.
A Tuesday afternoon announcement confirmed a swift turnaround toward the status quo. McNeese revealed it was staying put in the Southland Conference, renewing long standing cordial relations with Northwestern, Southeastern, Nicholls and UNO, much to the dismay of former friends in Texas.
It resuscitated the Southland from extinction, while creating at least a big wobble for the Western Athletic Conference, where former Southland members Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State, Lamar and Abilene Christian bolted earlier this year.
They tried to entice McNeese to join them. The Cowboys were receptive over the last several months, with McLeaders traveling to Denver a few weeks ago to make a membership presentation to current WAC gurus. The footsies and flirting seemed heading toward a likely engagement.
The Texas Traitors and the Cowboys have the same ultimate destination in mind: moving up from the Southland and Football Championship Subdivision membership (on-field playoffs for the top 24 teams nationally) to the Football Bowl Subdivision (and a chance to play in a low-level bowl game). The incentive$ were the lure of bowl revenue (not a lot for the bottom tier in the FBS), the chance to add another digit to low to mid-six figure paychecks from the biggest schools for football guarantee games (a trip to LSU or Texas might net an extra half-million), and the belief that playing more overly ambitious opponents at home might hike ticket revenues.
Let’s not get logic involved here and overcome ego. Anyone who has tracked attendance figures around the state has to admit the real path to hike home game ticket revenues would be to hire Marty McFly as commissioner, get Doc Brown’s flux capacitor going, and Go Back to The Gulf States Conference. Not exactly the future, but rebuilding a league with in-state schools would boost crowds in all sports, not just football, while cutting travel costs.
That’s not happening. Never mind the millions that would be produced in gate revenue and the millions in state money that would be reduced for travel. Ambition overrules everything.
Well, actually, in big league college sports, TV money does. It’s the lack of a local TV market of any consequence that left Louisiana Tech behind recently when much of Conference USA bolted for better deals and new territory. CUSA quickly went contraflow and a few days ago invited desolate-in-the-desert New Mexico State (stealing the Aggies from the WAC), deep pocketed and lonely Liberty, and two FCS stalwarts, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston (twice divorced, split from the Southland last year and now, the WAC; although there’s some chatter that the $2 million CUSA entry fee might sour Sam’s shift).
Where there are entry fees, there logically are exit fees. When the Texas schools bolted the Southland this spring, they each paid a relatively paltry $300,000 – as much as Sam Houston pays its baseball coach. Not exactly a tall hurdle to clear, so the remaining Southland membership agreed to hike their exit penalty rate.
Except in case McNeese makes a future move to FBS. The pile of concessions granted by the Southland Conference (with approval of its university presidents) was recited in a joint announcement Tuesday by the league and McNeese, with one exception. They didn’t mention McNeese staying is an engagement, not a remarriage. The door is left wide open for the Cowboys to climb up, at no cost. Nada. No toll booth to pass.
That’s a victory in Cowboy country, but a hollow plank elsewhere. McNeese going FBS is unlikely to occur any time soon. The only nearby FBS conferences, the Sun Belt and CUSA, aren’t interested or it would have already happened. For better (Sun Belt) and worse (CUSA), their membership shuffling is over for at least the next little bit, until the next seismic activity rolls downhill from the Power 5 leagues. When that happens, and it’s coming, it may very well knock the NCAA into oblivion.
In real time, McNeese recognized that losing New Mexico State and Sam Houston not only dashed the WACky dreams of upsizing to FBS status, but also suddenly greatly expanded an already frightful travel budget. The idea of a southern division was shot for a conference that stretches out to LA, up to Seattle, and into Arizona and Utah.
But keeping that option on the table presented a do-or-die decision to the Southland. Losing McNeese would have collapsed the league because it would have fallen below minimum membership requirements to maintain automatic NCAA postseason qualification for its championship teams in all sports, not just football. NSU, Nicholls, SLU and UNO were already hurriedly considering unappealing fallback affiliations with the Ohio Valley Conference or the Atlantic Sun, both requiring leapfrogging states to get to conference contests.
So the Cowboys got everything they asked for to stay put. From 2023-26, McNeese will host the conference basketball, baseball and softball tournaments, a decision that raised the ire of many coaches and fans around the Southland. The annual conference preseason football media event will be in Lake Charles. Don’t rule out the conference opening a satellite office there, hinting at moving its headquarters to SWLA.
My lunch lunch pals are wondering if we have to go to Lake City for all future eatin’ meetin’s, or at least for four years.
Will the Southland sponsor a championship in duck calling and stage it in Cameron Parish?
Hmmmm, could be. The marsh people, who up until a couple of weeks felt like McLeast, too long taken for granted in the Texas-heavy Southland pecking order, are suddenly McAlmighty.
“A school that was desperate to get out of the league now becomes its biggest player,” wrote Lake Charles American Press columnist Jim Gazzolo.
The Southland sunshine dimmed a bit Friday when it lost the Alamo City’s Incarnate Word in a move that illustrates the desperation of the WAC. Stephen F. Austin 1) reluctantly accepted UIW into the Southland several years ago; 2) left the Southland citing substandard facilities and a lack of commitment to athletics by some league members, a clear diss aimed at UIW and Houston Baptist; and 3) now has kissed the pig and rolled out the WACky welcome mat.
But while amusing from that angle, UIW’s move does heighten the Southland’s urgency to recruit a couple more Division II football-playing members. Schools like Arkansas Tech, West Texas A&M, Central Oklahoma, even Delta State and West Florida could be receptive to an upgrade.
Some better be. You have to wonder, will Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (a non-football Southland member) look at a suddenly Louisiana-heavy league, and have a WAC-waiver? Will UL System czar Jim Henderson do what he didn’t earlier this fall regarding the McMove Mistake, and ensure that the inquiries by SLU and Nicholls toward possible ASUN affiliation are 86’d?
Time to update that #SouthlandStrong hashtag. It hasn’t fit all year. Truly, it was #SouthlandShaky, and for the time being, it’s #SouthlandSaved. For now.
This week in 1969, the children’s television program Sesame Street first aired on PBS.
What started with Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch launched an assortment of misfit, humorous, glorious creatures known as Muppets, and the world has never looked at a frog or at a pig the same way since.
Take your tacky comedians and your crude comics and give me Muppets any day.
Sesame Street was the idea of public television documentary producer Joan Ganz Cooney, who wanted to create an educational series for pre-kindergarten children, something that would help teach them their ABCs and how to count. It was set in a fictional New York City neighborhood with nice adults and the creations of puppeteer Jim Henson.
Immediate smash hit. Big Bird dominated the 1970s every bit as much as bellbottoms, tie-dye, and the Cincinnati Reds.
I was never a big Sesame Street guy. I was older by then and my pre-Sesame Street allegiance was to Captain Kangaroo (more on that another time). But Henson kept creating more and more characters, and each was bound for stardom and the silver screen — funny and clever and sometimes smart and sometimes silly — so by the 1980s, I was all about any Muppet movie that showed up.
The best in one small-brained man’s opinion is “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” released a mind-boggling 29 years ago in 1992. (I’d have guessed 10 years, tops.) During this holiday season — and Thanksgiving Eve is a week from tomorrow, Nov. 24 — you might want to give it a look-see. The songs aren’t great, but I think it’s overall genius, like most everything else this bunch creates and performs.
This adaptation of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella “A Christmas Carol” stars Michael Caine as the miserly, Christmas-hating Ebenezer Scrooge, and he plays it straight as if he’s working with “the Royal Shakespeare Company,” he said. True to his word, he does nothing “Muppety.”
But the Muppets do.
The narrators are Gonzo the Great and, to add humor and wisecracks, the brilliant Rizzo the Rat. Love, love, love the Rizzo.
Kermit the Frog, the greatest Muppet of them all, maybe the Robert De Nero of Muppetdom, is, of course, Bob Cratchit. Miss Piggy is Mrs. Cratchit, and a tiny Kermit is Tiny Tim.
There is an understated scene early in which Bean Bunny shows up at Scrooge’s place of business on Christmas Eve, singing carols in the snow, and Scrooge sneers down and throws a wreath at him. It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a rewind part for me, one of many tiny touches that make this must-see Muppets.
Remember Statler and Waldorf, the two cranky hecklers in the balcony in Muppet skits? They are the brothers Marley who come back to warn Scrooge and tell him he’ll be visited by three spirits. The loveable Fozzie Bear plays Scrooge’s old employer — Mr. Fezziwig in the original but Fozziwig here — who runs a rubber chicken factory.
And of course, a lot of rats like Rizzo are Cratchit’s co-workers, huddled about trying to keep warm underneath their shawls and stovepipe hats. A rat in a stovepipe hat? Now that’s comedy. (It’s the little things.)
Don’t get caught up in the gimmicks and forget the acting though. You’d think that after 50 years, Kermit the Frog would be typecast. Not hardly. Guy’s such a quality actor that I don’t see a frog when I see Kermit as Cratchit; I see Cratchit as Dickens might have imagined him — had Dickens imagined him as a frog.
Take 85 minutes, gather the loved ones, and enjoy yourself some “Muppet Christmas Carol” in the next few weeks. You’ll probably send me chocolates if you do.
The path to good health includes staying up-to-date on health screenings and diagnostic exams. Timely care and early detection can prevent serious illnesses and improve outcomes. The following are commonly recommended general health screenings for both men and women. You may also want to talk with your primary care physician about other possible screenings based on your personal or family medical history.
· Age 18 – Routine wellness exam and labs are recommended for both men and women beginning at age 18 and then performed on an annual basis. Blood sugar levels should also be screened to determine risk for pre-diabetes or diabetes.
· Age 20 – Cholesterol screenings are recommended for men and women every five years to assess the risk for cardiovascular disease. In families with a high incidence of cardiovascular disease, screenings may be recommended for children and adolescents as well.
· Age 21 – A Pap smear is recommended for women once every 3 years to test for the presence of precancerous or cancerous cells on the cervix, the opening to the uterus. No physician referral is needed, and OB/GYN physicians provide these screenings.
· Age 40 – A mammogram, to screen for breast abnormalities including cancer, is recommended for women at age 40 and then each year or two years thereafter depending on family history. No referral or doctor’s order is needed for an annual screening mammogram.
· Age 45 – The American Diabetes Association recommends both males and females be screened for diabetes.
· Age 45 – A colonoscopy is recommended for men and women to detect any abnormalities in the large intestine and rectum, as well as for colon cancer. Physicians base their recommendations for follow-up screenings on the findings of the initial colonoscopy and family history.
· Age 50 – A prostate screening is recommended for men on an annual basis to help detect prostate cancer. This screening is performed by a urologist and includes a physical exam as well as blood work to measure prostate-specific antigen (PSA) present in the blood.
· Age 60 – A DEXA scan for both men and women to measure bone density is recommended. This scan can help determine if you are at risk for osteoporosis. Physicians will then recommend appropriate follow-up screenings in subsequent years.
So, take control of your health by getting age-related screenings. It is important for you to speak with your primary care physician to schedule these screenings and ensure you stay on the path to good health!
Lloyd Jeffries of Memphis, Tennessee, suffered from Cerebral Palsy (CP), a group of disorders which affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. CP is the most common motor disability in childhood. In severe cases, a sufferer of CP might require specialized lifelong care. Lloyd’s case was severe. In 1968, when Lloyd was just sixteen years old, he suddenly lost the ability to speak. He could only produce a sort of crowing sound. Doctors gave Lloyd’s mother the grim prognosis that Lloyd had a paralyzed larynx and would never speak again. Lloyd eventually lost his ability to stand on his own and required a wheelchair to get around. When it became too difficult for his family to properly care for him, Lloyd became a resident of the Shelby County Home for Incurables.
One morning in 1980, Betty Dozier, Lloyd’s nurse, came into his room and greeted him with a “good morning” as she did every morning. She waited patiently to hear his normal crowing sound. Lloyd started to crow, but then something unexpected happened. His crowing sound merged into an intelligible reply. Lloyd said “good morning.” Lloyd had been unable to speak for 18 years.
At first, the nurse thought Lloyd was using some sort of electronic device to speak, but that wasn’t the case. Lloyd and his nurse both looked at each other in stunned silence. Lloyd tried another word, and then another. After a short conversation, Lloyd said he wanted to call his mother.
Lloyd’s mother was at home making a glass of tea when her telephone rang. She answered it and heard Lloyd greet her with just three words. At first, Mrs. Jeffries thought someone was playing a cruel joke. “It’s me,” Lloyd said. “I can talk again.” Mrs. Jeffries was in shock. Tears welled up in her eyes as that three-word greeting replayed over and over in her mind. Tears turned into laughter as their conversation continued.
Lloyd was thrilled. After his lengthy conversation with his mother, Lloyd wheeled himself around the nursing home and conversed with the other residents. Everyone wanted to hear him speak and they certainly got their chance.
Several doctors examined Lloyd but were never able to explain how he regained his ability to speak. To Lloyd and his mother, it was nothing short of a miracle. Mrs. Jeffries said, “I was always a believer in God – but now I’m really a true believer.” What were those three words, the first three words Mrs. Jeffries heard Lloyd speak in nearly two decades? Mrs. Jeffries answered the phone and heard Lloyd say, “Happy Thanksgiving, Mother.”
Fall softball games allow Northwestern State coach Donald Pickett to get a sense of his own team, but it also allows junior college players to get exposure to Division I coaching staffs.
NSU signed Tyler Junior College pitcher Ryleigh Denton partly based on her performance against the Lady Demons as Pickett increased his signing class to two Friday.
As a freshman, Denton was the Apaches’ primary arm, putting together a 15-7 record in 24 appearances with a 2.84 ERA.
The right-hander struck out 76 and walked 37 in 111 innings.
“Ryleigh is a different style pitcher than what we have because she pitches down,” Pickett said. “She pitched against us in the fall and did a good job, and we think she’ll be able to step right in and contribute immediately.
“She adds depth to the staff, and we’re excited to sign her.”
The Apaches posted a 33-21 record this past season and advanced to the Region XIV Tournament.
The Rotan, Texas, native excelled in five sports in high school, garnering two district MVP softball awards.
But Denton was an all-district performer in volleyball, basketball and tennis while advancing to the regional track and field meet as a jumper.
Denton joins outfielder Camryn Ford of Many in the signing class.
NATCHITOCHES — Greg Burke announced Monday he will step aside after 25 years as Northwestern State’s athletic director to accept another position at the university.
Burke requested to be reassigned to a role in fund raising for the NSU Foundation. He began his NSU career generating revenues as director of the NSU Athletic Association and served for five years as director of athletic development at the University of Akron.
The longest-serving athletic director in Louisiana and the Southland Conference, Burke has guided the NSU athletic department since 1996. Discussions with university officials about his future role at NSU have been ongoing for several months.
Northwestern President Dr. Marcus Jones said, “Greg has been highly respected by colleagues in college athletics in Louisiana, the Southland Conference, and the nation throughout his long tenure at NSU. His fervent commitment to enhancing and expanding the overall experiences of our student-athletes has never wavered.”
Jones said the university will engage a sports consulting search firm to assist in the search for a new athletic director and that an advisory committee of university stakeholders will also be appointed to provide input in the process. He said a new AD should be selected within six to eight weeks.
Vice President of External Affairs Jerry Pierce said, “Northwestern is indebted to Greg for his years of dedicated service and extensive contributions to the university. He has made a positive impact on intercollegiate sports in the state and nationally. I am confident that he will continue to serve the university passionately and effectively in his new role at the school.”
Appointed as Northwestern’s 20th president earlier this month after serving as interim president since July, Jones plans to initiate a major development campaign at the university in 2022. He said Burke’s “experience and expertise in fund-raising will be valuable as we embark on that important campaign.”
Burke’s shift away from athletics comes during one of the most turbulent times nationwide in intercollegiate sports because of such issues as conference realignments; name, image, and likeness rules; transfer portal implications, and COVID-related disruptions.
Pierce said, “With the turmoil surrounding college athletics nationally and the importance of continuity and stability in our intercollegiate sports programs and experiences for student-athletes, we are fortunate that Greg will continue to serve as AD during the national search for his successor.”
Burke, who announced his decision to the Athletic Department staff Monday morning, said, “The timing is right for me to make this transition to the NSU Foundation. Doing so will enable me to focus solely on raising funds for a university which means the world to my family and me. I have always had a great working relationship with (NSU Foundation Executive Director) Drake Owens and look forward to working with him and his staff.”
A native of Alliance, Ohio, Burke is a graduate of the University of Mount Union in Ohio and received his master’s degree from Kent State University.
He was a sportswriter for the Alliance Review newspaper in Ohio and director of news and sports information at Hiram College in Ohio before joining the NSU Athletic Department as an intern in 1985.
Burke held athletic fund-raising positions at Northwestern and the University of Akron before becoming athletic director at NSU in 1996.
Under Burke’s leadership, the NSU Athletic Department produced the lone Southland Conference Triple Crown championship, winning the league’s football, men’s basketball and baseball regular-season titles in the 2004-05 academic year. That trio of championships highlighted a run that included 25 NCAA postseason appearances, 24 Southland Conference regular-season championships, 19 SLC Tournament titles, three Olympians and two individual national champions during Burke’s tenure.
The Northwestern State men’s basketball team produced two NCAA Tournament victories during Burke’s time at the helm of NSU athletics, including one of the most memorable upsets in tournament history – the Demons’ 64-63 upset of third-seeded Iowa on March 17, 2006.
NSU student-athletes flourished away from the competitive surface during Burke’s career, collecting 11 Academic All-American honors, numerous Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year acclaim and Southland Conference Steve McCarty Citizenship Award winners. In the most recent NCAA Graduation Success Rate data, NSU student-athletes posted a program-record 87 percent graduation rate.
Burke recently began his second of a five-year term on the NCAA Women’s Basketball Committee after previously serving on the NCAA Committee on Academics and Championships/Sports Management Cabinet, the NCAA Division I Football Issues Committee and the NCAA FCS Committee.
Said Burke: “There will no doubt be a void, having worked in college athletics for the past 43 years, but Susu and I will continue to be financially and personally supportive of NSU’s teams and coaches as a fan and advocate. I am forever grateful to Dr. Randy Webb, Jerry Pierce and the Athletic Council led by Dr. Vicki Parrish for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to lead the NSU athletic program. Over the past 25 years, it has been a blessing to have developed relationships with so many student-athletes, parents, faculty, alumni and NCAA staff members, as well as with coaches and administrators at NSU and nationwide. Much has been accomplished over the course of time but there is always more that can be done to position NSU Athletics for success on all levels. With that in mind, I encourage those who love NSU Athletics to either keep supporting or to begin supporting our student-athletes and coaches because every single gift makes a difference.”
The #1 ranked Many Tigers roared past the Independence Tigers 49-0 in a first round playoff game Friday night at John W. Curtis stadium. It was never a question of who would but the question would be by how much.
After Independence went 3 and out o, a routine that wound up taking place the entire first half, Many marched 63 yards in 3 plays. Jeremiah James scored the first touchdown from 28 yards out and Deacon Lafollette added the kick, his first of 7.
On the Tigers second possession, after Independence went 3 and out again, the Tigers once again took 3 plays to score, this time the drive took 53 yards. London Williams accounted for the last 28 and with Lafollette good again, the Tigers led 14-0.
On the 3rd play of Independence’s next possession, Jamarlyn Garner recovered a fumble and Many set up shop their own 24. This time James fumbled and gave the ball to Independence at the 17 yard line.
On the 2nd play of the possession, Independence fumbled and Swayze Carheel scooped it up and returned it a yard for the third Tiger touchdown. Lafollette once again added the kick to make the score 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Another 3 and out (theme of the 1st half) for Independence and the Tigers embarked on a 66 yard, 7 play drive that ended with a James 26 yard touchdown run. Lafollette made it 28-0 with the kick.
Jamarlyn Garner scooped up his 2nd fumble recovery of the night on Independence’s first play from scrimmage on their next possession. The Tigers were stopped on downs this time giving the ball back to Independence.
Another Independence 3 and out, gave Many the ball on their own 26 yard line. The Tigers covered 74 yards on 7 plays, the last play being a 15 yard James run, his 3rd touchdown of the first half. Lafollette added the kick, making the score 35-0 at the half.
Independence gained 1 yard in the first half and had 0 first downs. The Tiger defense brought back memories of the 1985 Bears.
With the outcome decided, the Tigers started the second half with their own 3 and out. On Independence’s first possession of the second half there was a rare sighting, a first down, albeit by penalty. Independence fumbled on the next play and Garet Culverson recovered for the Tigers.
Jack Deville replaced a resting (ankle) Tackett Curtis at quarter for the Tigers and quickly completed a pass to James for 21 yards but James again put the ball on the ground for another fumble. Independence took over and got their 2nd first down of the night at the 7:00 minute mark of the third quarter. The Tigers forced a punt that they would block and now had the ball on the 18 yard line. London Williams gained 13 yard on the first play to only fumble the ball into the end zone for a touchback.
Independence went 3 and out on the next possession and after a punt, Williams took a handoff on the first play and scored from 64 yards out. Lafollette brought the score to 42-0.
Independence got their 3rd first down on their next possession on their first down play but went 3 and out on the 3 plays to follow.
The Tigers started the 4th quarter on the 42 yard line, took 5 plays to score with Williams covering the last yard for his 3rd touchdown of the night. Lafollette’s kick brought the score to 49-0 with 10:02 left in the game.
Independence had two more possessions of 3 and out to end the game. The Tiger defense probably had their best game of the season and look to keep it up headed into the second round. Many totaled 468 yards (422 via the run) on the night while Independence was held to negative 10. Independence passed for 50 yards and had negative 60 yards rushing. Marquise Maxie had a huge night on the defense as he was in on 8 tackles, 3 behind the line of scrimmage. Demario Glover was in on 6 tackles with 3 behind the line of scrimmage. The defense caused and recovered 4 fumbles on the night.
The Tigers will travel in the 2nd round to #17 seed East Feliciana, an upset winner on the road over #16 seed Pine. East Felicia is in the Baton Rouge area and will surely be invaded by numerous Tiger fans next Friday.
Scoring Summary:
1st Quarter
9:20 Jeremiah James 28 yard run, Deacon Lafollette kick 7-0
7:36 London Williams 21 yard run, Lafollette kick 14-0
MANSFIELD, La – This morning, just before 7:00 a.m., Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop G began investigating a one-vehicle fatality crash on LA Hwy 522 at True Vine Road. This crash claimed the life of 29-year-old Rakeem Brazile.
The initial investigation revealed Brazile was driving a 2019 Volvo tractor-trailer, eastbound on LA Hwy 522. For reasons still under investigation, he ran off the road and crashed into an embankment. Brazile, who was restrained, suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced dead on the scene.
Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in this crash; however, routine toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.
In 2021, Troop G has investigated 32 fatal crashes, resulting in 34 deaths.
IMPORTANT: If you were subpoenaed for jury duty in Sabine Parish for the week of November 15th, you must report to the Sabine Parish Courtroom **at the time printed on your subpoena.***
You must enter through the front doors of the courthouse. No one will be admitted through the back doors, they will be locked. Please do not be late. You may wish to bring a sweater or light jacket with you.
No electronic devices are allowed – (cell phones, smart watches, iPads, tablets, iPods, laptops, recording devices – all are prohibited). Please leave those devices at your home or in your vehicle. There is no place to store your valuables in the courthouse.
Please dress appropriately. Food/drinks are prohibited. No gum chewing is allowed. Please feel free to share. Thank you.
Check out whats going on around Sabine Parish and on The Bend!
Tuesday, November16
Crafting Bayou at Bayou Crawfish on Tuesday, November 16th at 6:00 pm! Art supplies will be provided, along with 2 cocktails each (non-alcoholic beverages are available), and a light supper, for $40 each. Call Bayou Crawfish at 318-431- 1503 to reserve your spot!
Phone number:
(318) 431-1503
Event Location:
Bayou Crawfish
650 San Antonio Avenue
Many, LA71449
Wednesday, November 17th
Young at Art Painting Class with Shanna Dees Gaspard at Sabine Council on Aging will be held Wednesday, November 17th at 1:00 pm. Don’t forget to bring your own canvas!
Painting classes are held at the Many location on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
Phone number:
318-256-4140
Event Location:
Sabine Council on Aging
200 Legacy Drive
Many, LA71449
Friday, November 18th
On the weekend before Thanksgiving, when autumn is being felt in the South, it is time for Milam Settlers Days. This festival has many interesting foods available as well as a selection of crafts at this festival in historic Milam, Texas. 2021 Milam Settlers Days Celebration will be held November 19-20.
The Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights will be held from November 20, 2021 – January 6, 2022 on Front Street in Natchitoches.
The 95th Annual Christmas Festival & Parade will be held Saturday, December 4th. Enjoy the day long festival filled with music, entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors, and our famous firework show choreographed to holiday music over Cane River Lake.
Food vendors are available in the Riverbank area 7 days per week during the festival. Admission to the Riverbank area is free Sunday – Friday. Tickets/Armbands are required on Saturday to enter the Riverbank area. The Riverbank area will include food vendors, live music and kids fest area. Tickets are $10. Children 6 and under are free and do not require an armband to enter the Riverbank area. Front Street area is free & open to the public.
Visit www.natchitocheschristmas.com for a complete schedule of events.
Phone number:
(318)-357-3822
Event Location:
781 Front Street
Natchitoches, LA
Logansport Cajun Christmas Fest is November 20th – January 2 at the Logansport Riverfront
NOVEMBER 20 – PREMIERE EVENT
9:00 am – Cajun Christmas Run
10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Classic Car & Truck Show
6:00 pm – Cajun Christmas Parade
Treasure Hunt/Bounce House/Dozens of Vendors/Music by Don Hayes/Miss Noel & Fireworks
December 4
Movie Night, Concessions, Barrel Train Rides ($) and more.
December 11
Live Nativity, Barrel Train Rides ($) Concessions,
December 18 – TRADE DAY
Exotic Critter Excursions/Concessions, Mini Photo Shoot, Cookies & Photo with SantaContact – Email: Logansportchristmasfestival@gmail.com – Committee: Cynthia Hendrickson, Tracy & Mark Armstrong.
Phone number:
318-872-1177
Event Location:
Logansport Riverfront
Veterans Blvd
Logansport, LA71049
Movies in Many “An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving” presents at the Many Community Center Saturday, November 20th!
Admission is free!
Drinks & Popcorn – $1.00
Doors open at 6:00 pm
Showtime: 7:00 pm
Please wear mask & practice social distancing until further notice.
On Monday, Nov. 15 Church St. Bridge will be closed from 6-10 pm. The Electric department will be installing Christmas lights on top of the bridge in preparation for the holiday season.
The Cane River Singers, Lyrica, and NSU Men’s Chorus will present a concert at Northwestern State University on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Those attending are asked to follow university regulations and to wear a mask at all times in the building.
Three NSU undergraduates, Jose Del Rio of Luling, Jayvian Bush of Lafayette, and Emily Saldivar of Brownsville, Texas, will serve as conductor. Ella Aubrey Victoria Castro, a first year graduate student in the Master of Music in Music Education program, will be conducting the Men’s Chorus.
Director of Choral Activities Dr. Nicholaus B. Cummins said each choir has been working since August to prepare for this first live fall concert since November 2019.
This weekend Miss Merry Christmas and the Christmas Belles joined Carmella McCart in helping clean and decorate the Santa Claus House for the new Christmas season. Also helping in the event were friends Rachel Lyddy with iOrganize, and Nicole Nassif. Pictured from left to right are Rachel Lyddy, Natalie Spillman, Miss Merry Christmas Julia Ferrell, Nicole Nassif, Anna Catherine Coleman, Madison Raymond and CarmellaMcCart. Not pictured are: Amelia Broadway, Tinley Durr and Liliana Geier.
Come see Miss Merry Christmas and all her Belles on the riverbank this Saturday for the official “Turn on the Holidays!” You will also be able to see the Belles and Miss Merry Christmas assisting Santa Claus each night at the Santa Claus House. The Santa House will be open Dec. 5 – 23. Hours are 6:00-8:30 Sunday-Friday and 5:00-8:30 on Saturdays.
The No. 1-ranked, defending Class 2A state champion Many Tigers kick off the 2021 LHSAA football playoffs tonight when they host the 32nd-seeded Independence Tigers at John W. Curtis Stadium.
Kickoff is 7 p.m., with the game broadcast on 99.9 KTEZ FM with Randy Bostian and Brad Ford. Their pregame coverage starts at 6:25.
Many (9-1) hasn’t lost since the season opener, a down-to-the-wire 42-32 defeat to Union Parish. Last Friday the Tigers dominated Lakeview 50-0 on the road in a game that used a running clock after Many raced to a 29-0 lead eight minutes into play. London Williams scored four touchdowns in the first half for MHS.
The Foy Motors’ Player of The Game was Trevor McLendon. The Sledgehammer Award went to Malik Garner, and the Hard Hat Award winner was Jack Deville.
Independence comes into the playoffs with a 3-5 record having recorded wins over Central Private, Northlake Christian, and Varnado. Their losses were to STA, Kentwood, Pine, Amite, and St. Helena. The visitors run a double wing offense and throw the ball out of the shotgun when in passing situations. They have some good athletes but none the caliber of former star LaBrandon Toefield who had a stellar career at LSU.
Many has rested some players the past few weeks and appears to be healthy and ready to roll headed into the playoffs. The offense is averaging right at 50 points a game and features a dominant line producing holes for a bevy of outstanding backs.
The line features Joe Cryer, James Hickman, Cole Pickett, Jakorey Jones, and Garrett Foster. Jakolby Jones has filled in admirably up front. Piling up the stats behind the massive line will be a starting backfield of Tackett Curtis, London Williams, and Jeremiah James. Jack Deville and Blake Matkin also start on the offensive side.
The defense of the Many Tigers will be led by middle linebacker Keaton Montgomery, safety Tackett Curtis, and end Swayze Carheel. Other defensive linemen are Nick Tatum, Demario Glover, and Jakoryean Smart. Garet Culverson and Marquise Maxie round out the linebacking group of the Tigers. Other players that will rotate in the secondary will be Tylen Singleton, Trent Williams, Jayvion Smart, Malik Garner, and Kedric Gosey.
With a victory the Tigers will play the winner of Pine and East Feliciana. If No. 16 Pine prevails at home tonight, it will set up a second-round game at Many while a victory by No. 17 East Feliciana would put the Tigers on the road down south.
The Drive for 5 and Many Made phrases go hand in hand with the playoffs. Come out and support the M and cheer the Tigers on to victory tonight.
An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving is a family feel-good movie that will get everyone in the holiday spirit when it plays at the Many Community Center on Saturday, Nov. 20. At 7p.m.
The movie is free, a Thanksgiving gift from Mayor Robert Hable, the City Council, and the Cultural District Advisory Committee.
Set in the 1880s right after the Civil War where the father was killed, a recently widowed woman struggles to feed her three children and keep the family farm. . The eldest daughter, an aspiring writer, contacts her wealthy and estranged grandmother in a bid to reunite the family. However, conflict ensues when the stern grandmother arrives to meet them for the first time.
Based on a short story by Louisa May Alcott, it is a movie about family love and forgiveness. It is about a family “poor in money, but rich in love”.
When the good-natured Barrett family are beginning to make preparations for their Thanksgiving celebration, Mrs. Barrett is called away suddenly to attend to her ailing mother. She puts her eldest daughter Tilly in charge of cooking the feast in her absence. Tilly undertakes this colossal challenge with confidence and the help of her siblings, but fails to pay attention when stuffing the turkey with catnip and neglects to add sugar and salt to the plum pudding. As her little sister Prue is prettily setting the table, her brothers discover a bear coming toward the house. Wielding axes and rifles out the door, the boys are shocked to find Tilly’s sweetheart in disguise. Disaster averted, Mrs. Barrett returns with cousins and aunts and uncles in tow and the happy news that their Grandma is well. The entire family savors the delicious dinner, despite its few shortcomings, and praise Tilly and her siblings for pulling off a Thanksgiving they will always remember. The Barrett family has much to be thankful for- their family and friends, good health, and love and laughter.
Mayor Hable encourages all families to see this movie. “It’s perfect to get everyone to understand the true reason for Thanksgiving,” he commented. “Thanksgiving is about being grateful and giving Thanks. This movie will remind us all of that.”
The theatre doors will open at 6:15 p.m. Popcorn and soft drinks are only $1.00 each. The movie begins at7 p.m.
The Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb held its annual fall powwow last week at their tribal grounds on a cloudy, cold morning and a sunny, warm afternoon.
Tribal members in their regalia and guests chanted, danced, shopped and ate throughout the day.
As tribal members beat the drum to the ancient beat, gourd dancers entered the tribal circle and started the day- long events.
Choctaw-Apache Tribe Chief Thomas Rivers, carrying the Spirit Stick composed of Eagle feathers, led he Grand Entry parade. He was followed by other tribal members carrying the U.S.Flag, the tribal flag, and the Louisiana flag. All tribal members followed as they all made their way around the tribal circle.
Father Keith Gargin, the priest at St.Anne’sCatholic Church in Ebarb, was inducted into the Choctaw-Apache Tribe an honorary member and was given the name “Spirit Warrior”. Gargin is active in the Choctaw-Apache tribe and participated throughout the day. He celebrated a Native American Indian mass at St. Anne’s later that afternoon.
The recognition of all veterans was yet another highlight of the powwow. Veterans were asked enter the circle, and everyone was asked to pass by the veterans and thank them for their service to the country.
A much-admired four-legged guest received lots of attention as he strolled the tribal grounds. He was a Native American Indian dog, recognized by the American Kennel Club as a rare breed of dog that dates back almost 10,000 years. Despite his appearance, no wolf genes are in his DNA.
Many of the events focused on teaching the tribe’s children about the tribe’s customs and history. As one tribal leader said, “We must teach our ways to our children, or our history, customs and culture will be lost forever.”
Choctaw-Apache powwows are held twice annually – in the spring and again in the fall – at the tribal grounds near Ebarb.
Mary Key Brocato of Many has been elected to serve on the board of directors for Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
She will serve a three-year term with the option to renew for another three years.
President of the Board, Kathy Seymour, nominated Brocato. After all nominations were in, the board voted and she was elected.
The Mission of Louisiana Public Broadcasting is to provide programming that is intelligent, informative, educational and entertaining. LPB strives to connect the citizens of Louisiana by creating content that showcases Louisiana’s unique history, people, places and events.
Louisiana Public Broadcasting is a state network of six non-commercial television stations licensed to the Louisiana Educational Television Authority (LETA), established in 1971 by the Louisiana Legislature.
LPB is more than what can be seen on television. In addition to the programs that LPB produces, such as a weekly newsmagazine Louisiana: The State We’re In, and a monthly roundtable Louisiana Public Square and a catalog of documentaries about the people, places and issues of importance in our state, LPB airs quality national programming. LPB airs national news programs such as PBS NewsHour, mainstay children’s shows such as Sesame Street, home improvement programs such as The This Old House Hour, British comedies such as Keeping Up Appearances, and much, much more.
Brocato brings many years of broadcast and journalism experience to the LPB Board of Directors. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism and mass communications, with minors in speech and English, from the prestigious Louisiana State University Charles Manship School of Journalism considered to be one of the top journalism programs in the country.
After receiving her degrees, Brocato worked as a reporter/news producer in the news department of KALB Television in Alexandria. She was the first female news reporter the station had and launched the early morning program Jambalaya which still airs on KALB today. She also anchored “Alexandria-Pineville Today” on the Six P.M. daily news.
After being interviewed by Brocato, Louisiana’s Governor John McKeithen offered her a position as the first female press secretary to a Louisiana governor. She wrote the governor’s speeches, press releases and handled all press relations and press conference. .
When McKeithen’s second term ended, Brocato moved to New Orleans when she accepted a position with the World Health Organization to produce documentary films about population control in developing nations. She spent much of her time filming in Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico before returning to Chicago to edit. The documentary “Then Hunt with a Cat” won many prestigious awards including the Edward R. Murrow Award.
After completing her contract with WHO, she did a stint at WDSU as reporter/producer in their news department.
Upon her father’s death, Brocato and her husband, Dr. Bobby Brocato, moved to North Louisiana and her hometown of Many. She taught English and Speech for several years at Many High School.
In 1999, she was offered the position of director of the broadcast journalism concentration at Northwestern State University’s Department of Journalism. Brocato said she found that teaching upcoming young journalists was her passion. and she has kept in touch and mentored many of her former students since her retirement.
Brocato is serving her second term as alderwoman at large for the Town of Many and chairman of the Cultural District Advisory Committee. She headed up the renovations of the old Sabine Theater which now serves as a Community Events Center with frequent free movies and music shows. She also directed the renovation of the hundred-year-old Many Depot and is working hard for its conversion to the ‘No Man’s Land Museum’ scheduled to open in 2022.
She stated she is very happy for the opportunity to serve on the LPB Board of Directors. “Louisiana Public Broadcasting is a statewide resource – on the air, on the web, in the classroom, and in the home,” she stated, “I am so happy to become part of this organization and for the opportunity to have input with them in so many areas.”
While my family is known to be open and honest about every minor detail there were still some things we never discussed while we were coming up. Some things were just never questioned. We knew our family history. But, reflecting back I cannot distinguish if we were too busy being children and cramming as much fun and foolishness as we could into our daily routine or did we have a gut feeling that told us not to go there. Whatever the case we never ever asked my father about his experience while he served during the Vietnam War.
While my father was a proud member of the United States Navy and a Veteran of the Vietnam War he absolutely never spoke of it.
He was a very quiet Veteran. He had all of the memorabilia. He had the military id card, He had the yearbook with all of his peer’s photos. He had the basic stories of where he was stationed and how long he stayed on the ship. He could go through the yearbook and pick out his closest friends. My dad even had jokes about his military stay. When he was in a bad mood or feeling impatient he would say, “my agent orange is acting up today.” We always laughed. He talked about how pretty San Diego was while he was stationed there and traveling to Hawaii.
We were in the comfort zone just knowing what we knew and didn’t bother to delve deeper into his military actions until my oldest daughter decided she needed more details and my lack of knowledge of the subject matter was completely unacceptable.
One weekend we decided to meet for lunch and this particular family lunch originated like many others. A few text messages were exchanged with family to see if anyone had lunch plans. A few more text messages debating the cuisine and location of our lunch. Once this was settled our clan descended upon a local restaurant in Natchitoches.
Once we were settled in we ordered drinks and appetizers. Shortly after we exchanged a few pleasantries my daughter dropped a Texas size bomb and brought the whole table (and half the restaurant) to a screeching halt. She said, “So Pappaw, how many people did you have to kill while you were in Vietnam?”
The silence was deafening. You could have heard a pin drop. It seemed as though the tables around us paused and the waitresses stopped to see what happened. Our whole table, including my new stepmom, stopped visiting and looked at me. Being the child’s parent I was about to plunge into rescue and education mode. I planned on apologizing for her outburst and discussing the proper etiquette of addressing a Veteran and their memoirs.
Before I could properly educate Meredith, my father replied, “It was so many I couldn’t keep up with it.”
Obviously he was being humorous but after he broke the ice and the restaurant resumed their “pre-bomb” activities he was like a fountain overflowing. He began by telling us about the recruiting process and how he was not sure they would accept him because of him losing most of the sight in his right eye due to an infection as a child. When he initially enlisted he thought he would be home every other weekend like many of the men in his town. He was totally unaware that these men just worked at Fort Polk and had uniforms. Growing up he also had many role models who joined the military. Every single one of his brothers served in a branch. He went into great detail about the communication ship he was assigned to and how he had to sleep with his leg wrapped around the chains that anchored the beds to the wall because when they hit large waves they would fall out of the bed onto the steel floor. He also told us when he arrived in Vietnam they were nearing a shore where a battle was taking place and he could feel the gunshot vibrations on the ship and a jet flew over them that had been struck and he still remembers what the heat felt like from that moment.
He shared that his deployment was for Westpac and Vietnam.
While we hung on every word that was finally coming forth from the silent man we lived with, our hearts were broken for him when he explained that when he and the others returned home there was no hero’s welcome. They were treated so poorly when they returned and were mostly met with protesters and very few family members. He did go on to share that it touches his soul to see our Troops being so loved and welcomed when they come home. He can rarely watch it on TV without shedding a tear.
With the help of Meredith who broke the ice with her seemingly inappropriate question it has opened the door for many conversations with my father that included the name of the two ships he traveled on and many other details that make up the beauty and history of his time serving in the United States Navy. Recently I was able to locate the information on the two ships and share that with him. It brought back a multitude of memories and I think just enough time has passed where he can truly reflect on his experience and appreciate that God spared his life during that time and enabled him to come back home to continue the journey that created a whole family.
My father’s birthday is May 30th and it always falls around Memorial Day. Every birthday that rolls around for him is a complete blessing and a reminder of the military men and women who so willingly gave their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have.
“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; My Lovingkindness and my fortress, My stronghold and my deliverer, My shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me”
National Collection Week for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child will be November 15-22. The two drop off centers for Sabine Parish will be located at Calvary Baptist Church in Many and Mitchell Baptist Mitchell. Please deliver your Gospel Opportunity Shoeboxes during these times to receive assistance.
