The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has updated the licensing system to allow individuals to renew their licenses before expiration. Previously, license holders had to wait until their license expired before repurchasing it.

Once you renew your license, the expiration resets to 365 days after your renewal.

Auto-Renew

License holders may also sign up for license auto-renew through our licensing website. This feature will automatically renew your license the moment it expires without any additional action on your part.

Auto-renew is available for most hunting and fishing licenses. This feature allows you to store payment information in the system and elect to have your license(s) renewed automatically every year. LDWF reminds users of a $3.50 convenience fee with any online transaction, including auto-renew.

In your LouisianaOutdoors.com account, you can select which annual licenses you’d like to auto-renew. LDWF will automatically renew your licenses at the purchase price plus the convenience fee using your stored credit card information. You will receive a reminder email 30 days and 7 days before the renewal date.

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By Doug De Graffenried

I have a friend who does not make resolutions at the beginning of the year. Their stated position is very correct. “Why pile up a bunch of promises at the beginning of the year? Why not make resolutions every morning for that day. See if you can keep a resolution for one day.” I have often suspected that New Year’s resolutions are a way of gaining control over tomorrow. We are, in essence, saying to God this is MY plan for the year. What if we resolved to live each day, abiding in Christ? My friend’s philosophy seems very Jesus like. Jesus told us to pray for our daily bread and reminded us that there is little sense in worrying about tomorrow. Wake up every morning and follow Jesus for that day. See how you do!

The problem with resolutions and all those resolutions we re-resolve in Lent is that we know we won’t keep them. We make them and play such games with our own resolve. What does that say about us?

When I did make resolutions, they began on January 2^nd. That way I can have as much fun as I wish to have on New Year’s Day then on January 2^nd the change begins. I resolved one year that I would quit making resolutions because by March I seemed to have forgotten what I had so boldly resolved in January. My friend is correct in resolving every day to live for Christ. I want you to note that as a culture the notion of resolve is fading. The hard truth is there is no change in our lives until there is resolve in our lives.

This year my beginning of the year pondering revolves around the concept of ETM. King Solomon said, “Where there are no oxen, the stable is clean, but a good harvest requires the strength of the ox.” (Proverbs 14: 4)

I think Solomon was saying, if you want good things to happen in life, you must “endure the manure.” You can only have a clean stable by getting rid of the oxen. If you remove the oxen, then you remove the ability to obtain a bountiful harvest. The very “tool” that helps bring you success also makes a very big mess. That is the essence of ETM (endure the manure).

ETM means that the good things in life don’t come easily. You must work for them. Do you want a better career? In most cases, forty hours will not bring you financial riches or success. Do you want a great marriage? Well, that means using muscles other than the ones that hold on to the remote control. It means paying as much attention to our spouse as you do to your social media presence. Do you want to be a great parent? Great parents are involved in every aspect of their child’s life. They also reclaim the parental word, “No.” Now we have created competing loyalties between career, marriage, and family. ETM means you struggle to be faithful in the middle of that conflict.

Do you want your spiritual life to grow? You must ETM. That means when you pray, listen to God for 30 minutes rather than begging him for something for three minutes. It means loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. It means loving your neighbor as yourself. Loving those neighbors can be the hard part of our Christian walk. Loving your neighbor can be messy!

ETM is my aiming point for 2024. To be a better person and to have a bountiful harvest you and I need to “endure the manure.”

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Unless someone slammed a shopping cart into your shin or cut you off in traffic or sat you by a drunk uncle at Present Opening Time, you might have counted your blessings in the past few days.

The spirit surrounding Christmastime and the New Year usually lends itself to such positive behavior.

Smelling coffee brewing and watching our 17-month-old granddaughter eat an apple and tell the puppy to ‘Get down!’ (a new phrase learned on Christmas Day) and considering that I can sense these things, even at the advanced stage of my development, reminds me that I might be the luckiest piece of protoplasm you could ever meet.

If not the luckiest, then at least in the Top 10 or so. There is really no other excuse for me even being here except by some mistake of nature. 

First came winning the Uterine Lottery thanks to my personal mother, and then being born in America and not on some hill in some country whose name I can’t pronounce or even locate without Google and a map.

So started a chain of events of God putting people along my wayward path to teach and encourage and inspire. One of those has a birthday December 28, and since I’ve missed writing to tell him “Happy Birthday” for 80 consecutive years, I won’t make that mistake again this time.

He’s had other jobs before and after, but Keith Prince was the sports information director at Louisiana Tech for 25 years, beginning in 1969 through the time I was there as a student in the early 1980s. It was outside what is now Scotty Robertson Memorial Gym that he asked me if I wanted to go to graduate school and be his graduate assistant.

Once I finished laughing, I thanked him and reminded him it had already taken me six years to earn a four-year degree. But … besides being organized and efficient and a wonderful writer and athlete, he is a kind and persistent man, sneaky convincing, a teacher by example, and I signed on with him for what ended up being one of the great adventures of my life. Even graduated in the legit two years, like a person with any sense is supposed to do.

Sports information directors are today called Associate Athletic Directors for Strategic Communications, or something like that. The job is the same as always though: promote your student-athletes, cover the games, never get ahead, and have four days off a year.

It’s a job that requires stamina, talent, grace, and the ability to deal with egos that often accompany your more dynamic competitors. 

To make us better, Mr. Prince introduced us, maybe even shared us, to others who did his job at their schools, to Bob Anderson at what was then Northeast, to Collie Nicholson at Grambling, Jerry Pierce at Northwestern State, Larry Hymel at Southeastern, the incomparable Louis Bonnette at McNeese State, and a bunch of others. They became our teachers but also our friends. Tremendous break. 

Mr. Prince had all the tools, but his best attribute was grace under pressure. That, and the ability to convince you that you could earn a place. He gave me and so many others a chance. And he showed us the way. Still does.

For those reasons and many more, I hope this is his best birthday yet.  

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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Ever since the split between the two top professional bass fishing organizations, B.A.S.S. and Major League Fishing (MLF), there’s been some tension between anglers and both organizations. The reason for the split was due to the anglers themselves being unhappy with how little input they were having with B.A.S.S. They wanted more say-so in the scheduling and other areas, but B.A.S.S. was not willing to listen.

Anglers wanted adjustments made to tournament payouts and to be heard on other requests. They wanted more input on when and where tournaments would be held. They wanted B.A.S.S. to avoid scheduling events on holidays so they could be home with their families. Anglers were not a happy bunch as most of their requests fell on deaf ears.

In 2011, with B.A.S.S. not willing to conform to their requests, the disgruntled anglers decided to jump ship and start their own professional bass fishing organization called Major League Fishing or in short, MLF.  At first it appeared this mass exit by some of the top 80 anglers on the B.A.S.S. pro tour would be devastating and possibly cripple B.A.S.S.

Turns out, that was not the case, as B.A.S.S. just reloaded and filled the vacated slots with anglers who were on the rise who had been fishing the Open Series. It opened the door for so many up-and-coming anglers looking for a break and the opportunity to fish at the highest level with the best professional bass fishing organization in the world.

It was very similar to Major League Baseball’s strike years ago. The players thought they had the upper hand but found out rather quickly that there were Triple-A players who were just as good, and ready and willing to cross the picket line for the opportunity to play in the big leagues. The strike was short-lived as MLB players realized they were replaceable.

Trust me when I say there was no shortage of anglers looking for an opportunity to fish at the highest level, even if it meant they would have to take out a second mortgage on their house. It goes back to that old saying, “Everybody is replaceable.”  

Turns out, MLF anglers may have made a huge mistake walking away from B.A.S.S. as MLF went through some tough times, not only losing anglers but sponsors as well. At the end of the day, it’s all about the sponsors and the money they bring to the table. Without sponsors, no organization can survive, and it appears MLF is dying a slow death. They are constantly revamping and applying band aids to their format. They are making desperate moves from a company standpoint that raises red flags and eyebrows on whether MLF is in trouble.

Some anglers have already jumped back on board the B.A.S.S. stability train due to the issues at MLF. There are some MLF anglers that will stay until the ship has sunk, then they’ll decide what route they want to take to get back to B.A.S.S. Some might be able to get back to B.A.S.S. through certain exemptions while others will have to requalify through the new nine-tournament Open Series format.

As you can see, it’s going to be a wild ride in 2024 with so much uncertainty in professional bass fishing. But I think it’s safe to say that B.A.S.S. is on firm and stable ground. They are the standard and continue to set the bar for all professional bass fishing organizations. The Bassmaster Classic is STILL the top bass fishing tournament in the world that every bass fisherman dreams of fishing from the day they ever pick up a rod and reel. It is truly the Super Bowl of bass fishing!

Only time will tell if Major League Fishing will survive. From this angler’s perspective, I hope they do as bass fishing NEEDS two professional organizations. There’s plenty of room and plenty of anglers for both organizations to co-exist. The question is, are there enough sponsors for both of them to survive?

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing, and stay tuned as the 2024 professional bass fishing season will be very interesting. 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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By Brad Dison

When Grover Cleveland entered the White House as the 22^nd President of the United States on March 4, 1885, he did so as a bachelor.  Shortly thereafter, Frances Folsom visited the president in our nation’s capital.  Frances’ father, Oscar, had been good friends with Grover until his death in 1875.  It was Oscar who had helped Grover, then 33 years old, win the election for Sheriff of Erie County, New York.  When Oscar died, Grover became the executor of Oscar’s estate.  Despite Oscar’s large amount of debt at the time of his death, Grover made sure Oscar’s widow, Emma, and daughter, Frances, were well taken care of. 

After Frances’ visit to Washington, in an act which is considered old fashioned these days, Grover asked and received Emma’s permission to write to Frances.  They soon fell in love and became engaged.  On June 2, 1886, the 49-year-old president married 21-year-old Frances Folsom in the Blue Room of the White House.  Grover Cleveland remains the only president to marry in the White House, and Frances Folsom remains the youngest first lady in history.  In the presidential election of 1888, Grover Cleveland won the popular majority vote but received fewer electoral votes than his opponent, Benjamin Harrison.  When Grover and Frances left the White House, Frances purportedly told a staff member, “I want you to take good care of all the furniture and ornaments in the house.  I want to find everything just as it is now when we come back again.” 

With more free time on his hands, Grover Cleveland began concentrating on building his family.  On October 3, 1891, Grover and Frances welcomed their first child, Ruth.  At the 1892 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Grover was nominated as the Democratic candidate on the first ballot.  On election day, Grover had a wide majority in the popular and electoral votes.  Grover Cleveland remains the only president in history to serve non-consecutive terms.  During their second term, Grover and Frances welcome two more children, Esther and Marion.   When Grover’s second term ended in 1897, Frances was eight months pregnant with their son, Richard.  Another son, Francis, was born in 1903.  The Clevelands looked forward to living happily ever after. 

In January 1904, Grover and Frances’ oldest child, Ruth, developed tonsilitis.  On January 6, doctors diagnosed Ruth with diphtheria.  Ruth struggled to breathe.  Her heart beat irregularly.  On the following day, January 6, 1904, 12-year-old Ruth Cleveland died from a heart attack.  The nation mourned along with the Clevelands.  Within a short time, companies began selling products named in memory of Grover and Frances’ late daughter.  There were dolls, kites, shoes, socks, and a whole clothing line.  In 1920, the Curtiss Candy Company renamed their Kandy Kake in memory of the president’s late daughter.  Under its new name, the former Kandy Kake became the best-selling five-cent confection by the late 1920s.  The toys, clothes, and confections were sold under the nickname that Grover and Frances called their daughter.  Through the years, the toys and clothes dropped Ruth’s name from their products.  Over 100 years later, only the confection retains the Cleveland’s daughter’s name.  You know the Kandy Kake as Baby Ruth. 

But wait a minute.  There is more to this story.  In 1920, George Herman “Babe” Ruth was in the midst of one of the most famous baseball careers in the history of the sport.  In 1930, ten years after the Baby Ruth candy bar went on sale, Babe Ruth saw the prosperity of the Baby Ruth candy bar—sales reached a height of $1 million per month—and created a company called “Babe Ruth’s Own Candy.”  Unfortunately, Babe Ruth was unable to patent the name because it was “confusingly similar to ‘Baby Ruth,’ a trademark on candy already registered.”  For nearly 100 years, many people have argued that the Baby Ruth candy bar was named after the the famous baseball player, but the Curtiss Candy Company has stood by their claim.  So, the next time you take a bite out of a Baby Ruth candy bar, take a moment to think about Grover Cleveland’s young daughter, Ruth Cleveland, and also think of one of the most famous baseball players of all time, Babe Ruth.

  Sources:

1.      The Champaign Daily Gazette, January 7, 1904, p.1.
2.     Jersey Observer and Jersey Journal, December 1, 1911, p.16.
3.     Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, Kentucky), April 20, 1928, p.1.
4.     Reading Times, February 11, 1930, p.3.
5.     The Manhattan Mercury, June 6, 2006, p.11.

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Mary Jane Coutee
October 5, 1954 — December 22, 2023
Service: Saturday, December 30 at 11 am at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Isle Brevelle

Joseph Benson Harrell Jr.
December 26, 1958 — December 21, 2023
Per Joe’s wishes, there will be no services planned but the family would like to sincerely express their gratitude to everyone for the abundance of calls, messages, and prayers.

Beatrice Walker Curtis
December 12, 1931 — December 23, 2023
Service: Friday, December 29 at 11 am at the Blanchard – St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches

George Henry Donaho
October 5, 1957 — December 19, 2023
Service: Wednesday December 27 at 12:30 pm at Provencal Cemetery in Provencal

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Less than three minutes into Tuesday’s game against Southern-New Orleans, Cliff Davis knew he was in for one of those nights.

Davis, Northwestern State’s sharpshooting junior guard, had no idea just how special his night was about to become.

Launched by a red-hot first half, Davis set a school single-game record for 3-pointers in a game, connecting on 10 long-range buckets, to lead the Demons to a 99-75 win against visiting Southern-New Orleans inside Prather Coliseum.

“I really thought it was going to be a regular night where I hit five or six,” said Davis, who scored all 30 of his points from beyond the arc. “I didn’t think it would be like how it ended.

Davis’ record night helped the Demons (2-10) snap a 10-game losing streak and center themselves before a 10-day break between games. It helped that plenty of his teammates enjoyed some semblance of a special night as well.

Junior point guard Braelon Bush was perfect from the field, hitting all six of his shots, and finished with a 12-point, 10-assist double-double – his first double-double at the Division I level since Dec. 2, 2020, when he totaled 13 points and 10 assists against Dallas Christian while at McNeese.

The Bush-Davis combo played a pivotal role in each player’s standout statistical night as Bush was credited with the assist on six of Davis’ 10 3-pointers.

“With Cliff breaking the record and me getting a 10-assist game, it meant everything,” Bush said. “We’ve taken a lot of punches. It feels great to be back in the dub column. We’ve got a win again, let’s keep it going.”

Davis’ big game flipped his month-long narrative on its head. In the Demons’ previous seven games, Davis had hit 20 of his 28 3-pointers in the second half of games.

His barrage of seven first-half 3s on 10 tries equaled his previous career high for 3s in a game, which came in back-to-back games at Southern Miss and at Boise State on Dec. 9 and 12, respectively.

“The farther away from the basket you are, the harder it is to get the ball in the basket,” first-year head coach Rick Cabrera said. “He has a gift of making 3s and shooting them at a high clip. He’s done it in Division I games. I’m not totally surprised he did it today. He was open a lot, but that’s what great shooters do – make open 3s. He did that.”

After his scintillating first half, Davis did not hit a second-half 3 until the 9:14 mark when Bush found him for a bucket that pushed the Demon lead to 83-52. Davis did not force a run at the record, waiting until 4:12 was left on the clock to hit the tying shot.

One possession and 48 seconds later, the record was his as Bush found him on a curl at the top of the key to again build a 30-point lead for the Demons.

While Davis ignited a fluid first half that saw the Demon shoot 56 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range, it was junior Duane Posey who helped steady the Demons during an uneven second half in which the NSU lead never dipped below 23 points and stayed at 25 or more for much of the final 20 minutes.

Posey, a 6-foot-7 Alabama State transfer, collected his first double-double in a Demon uniform by setting career highs in points (13) and rebounds (15). Posey’s big game helped offset a sublime performance from SUNO’s 26-year-old freshman Jamal Gibson, who matched Davis for game-high honors with 30 points and tied Posey with a game-high-tying 15 rebounds.

Posey’s 15 rebounds were an individual season high for Northwestern State and the most for a Demon since Jalen Hampton grabbed 15 at Central Arkansas on Nov. 16, 2022.

“We work so hard,” Posey said. “My teammates get in the gym days and nights besides practice. It’s a good feeling all around. Rebounding is something my coaches challenge me to do every game. Go out, be physical and just be the toughest on the court.”

In addition to Davis, Bush and Posey, Anthony Thomas (12) and Justin Wilson (12) each cracked double figures for the Demons, who put five players in double figures for the first time this season and the first time since a Feb. 2, 2023, win at HCU. 

The Demons will take a 10-day break before returning to action against LSU on Dec. 29. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

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While Thanksgiving is a great holiday, Christmas is without a doubt my favorite. There are so many things that make it special, but it’s the memories of Christmas past that make it No. 1 for me.

We’ve all had a specific Christmas that carries special memories. It’s not always about the gifts you got or didn’t get, but it’s about sharing time with family and friends. Yes, the gifts were great, but in our younger, innocent years, that’s not what made Christmas special.

Every year you got a lot of new stuff, but first you had to make room for the new stuff by getting rid of the things you got the year before. It was a continuous cycle and ritual that you had to go through every Christmas. I remember calling my best friend on Christmas morning and telling him everything I got. But the funny thing about that conversation was the fact that I usually had a hard time remembering what I did get.

As I got older, it made me realize that it wasn’t the gifts that made Christmas special. It was more about all the moments shared with family and friends at parties or driving around town and looking at Christmas lights. It was the food, like my mom’s pecan pie and homemade fruit salad. It was going downtown to see the annual Christmas parade the day after Thanksgiving, which was a great way to kick off the Christmas season.

It was picking out a real tree until our family decided to go the artificial route. I even remember my grandparents having this weird white Christmas tree with a rainbow-colored lamp that rotated different colors onto the tree. I thought it was the worst Christmas tree of all time and whoever came up with this idea should have been taken out behind the woodshed and severely beaten.

But for me, it was more about the anticipation of Christmas Eve and believing that jolly Ol’ Saint Nick was headed my way. It was tuning into the 10 o’clock news that night and watching the Santa tracker as I laid two feet on the floor in front of the TV. Where is he right now and how soon will he be coming to my house?

As a youngster, I was a true believer, but could not wrap my head around how he would get into my house since we did not have a chimney. How was this man, bigger than life, going to enter my house and leave the gifts I so desired and had earned? It’s amazing the imagination you had as a kid and the thought process that went with it.

Finally, the big day arrived after a long and sleepless night trying to hear Santa’s arrival. I remember waking up at 5 a.m. on Christmas morning and having to lie in bed until everyone was up, wondering did the big man leave me the Hot Wheels Track or the Daisy BB gun I requested, or would it be underwear and clothes that I did not request? Did he remember the new bike I desired with the sissy bar and chopper handlebars?

I gave him plenty of options so surely, he left at least one of those! After the gifts were opened and I was dressed for the day, I remember going outside and looking for sleigh marks or deer tracks as proof that he actually came by.

Then the day comes when someone delivers the shocking news that Santa isn’t real! It puts that little bit of doubt in your mind and makes you question Santa’s true existence. They would destroy your beliefs with common sense facts and tell you that the big fat man in the red suit does not exist! They would try to reason with you how impossible it would be for a full-size man who eats nothing but cookies and drinks lots of milk would ever fit down a chimney! It was hard to argue with that.

But, in the back of your mind, you’re thinking the “know it all” kid just might be mistake … or is he? He puts just enough doubt in your mind that you feel that the only way to find out for sure is by asking your mom. Moms never lie and she would never tell you something that’s not true!

Then your mom says to you that it doesn’t matter what anyone says, and tells you to ask yourself, “Do YOU believe?” She never actually answers your question, and she leaves you continuing to think that maybe he is real. This is what keeps the magic of Christmas alive. The one thing I always told my kids as each of them at some point asked the age-old question, “Does Santa really exist?” was, “If you stop believing, he will stop leaving.”

Now the day finally comes when you know the answer, but it sure was a lot more fun when you thought differently and just weren’t quite sure. Your imagination as a child is what made Christmas so special. That’s still the case today, as there’s nothing more fun and exciting than to see that twinkle in kids’ eyes as they see jolly Ol’ Saint Nick.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this look back in time when all of us had that special believing look in our eye. It’s always fun going back in time and remembering the things that made each Christmas so special. As we get older, we realize that it’s more about the times we share with family and friends that makes Christmas so special.

To each of you, Merry Christmas, and may all your dreams and wishes come true. Remember, believing is not always about seeing.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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Makynli Delcambre of New Iberia is junior and a double major at Northwestern State University with plans to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance in May 2025 and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in December 2025.

Makynli, who has been dancing since age 5 and teaching dance since eighth grade, is current captain of Purple Pizzazz Pom Line, which is preparing for UDA (Universal Dance Association) national dance team competition, one of the biggest competitions in the world, in Orlando, Florida, in January. In addition to serving as a two-time Freshman Connector and involvement with the President’s Leadership Program, she is a member of Purple Jackets, Dance Organization of Students and Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority.

Having wrapped up the marathon that is the NSU Christmas Gala – nine shows over three days – before jumping into finals week, Makynli sat down with NSU to talk about dance, personal and professional growth and plans for the future.  The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

NSU:  Tell us about Gala prep. 

Makynli:  Gala prep starts in October.  We have auditions the second or third week of fall semester.  We go through all that rehearsal time.  We have tech week where we do two runs almost every night. We check lighting, backdrops, make sure the show runs smoothly. We come up on the stage and do spacing.  We have dress rehearsal.  I was in Rockettes and toy soldiers, so it was lots of kicks.  This year the soldiers did tap, so I did lots of tapping.  It was a super fun time, but it really is a marathon and it’s a fun experience. 

NSU: Who were your first dance students?

Makynli:  I taught the babies, the three- and four years-olds. I taught all the way through high school, our select dancers, which is our competition team.  I also taught tumbling at 16 and I was a cheerleader and a dancer my whole life, so I taught all through high school at my studio [Paige’s Dance and Cheer Studio] and then came to college.  I currently teach at Elite Cheer-Nastics.  I teach dance and tumbling. As the captain of pom line, I do a lot of teaching there.  I run practices. I teach skills.  I teach classes.

NSU:  What are some leadership experiences you’ve had as an officer and now captain of the pom line?

Makynli:  I do a lot of jobs, everything from paperwork to running practice to choreography sometimes.  I do a plethora of things and some of the most fun opportunities have been leading the team at UDA camp in the summer.  Camps are always so fun, we get so close.  We spend so much time together. And through football season and basketball season, calling cheers and chants and being on the sidelines with everybody is a really great time.

NSU:  What attracted you to Northwestern?

Makynli: I went to a college fair and the recruiter was on pom line at some point and she was telling me about how it’s a cheer team and a dance team, we do both, and that piqued my interest.  From there I took a tour.  I loved it.  It’s a great environment and felt very friendly, like a family.

NSU: What are some memorable experiences you’ve had with pom and the dance program?

Makynli:  There have been so many. I’ve gotten to travel a lot through pom line and the dance department.  Last year, the dance department went to American College Dance Association at Sam Houston State University.  It was one of the most fun dance conferences I’ve ever been to.  I experienced so many new styles.  I got to take a Latin dance class, partnering stuff.  For pom line, I got to go to UDA Nationals, and perform on stage at Disneyworld at the ESPN Sports Center my freshman year.  That was the first year pom line had ever gone to UDA anything, camp or nationals.  I was one of seven that went.

NSU: How do your experiences impact your own teaching and mentoring?

Makynli: I have taught for a long time, but my time at NSU has taught me how to be a better mentor, a better leader and a better teacher.  I’ve learned skills that I never would have gotten anywhere else. If you knew me as a freshman, I was a completely different person. I was shy, didn’t talk to too many people.  Now you can’t get me to shut up.

NSU:  It sounds like you have good time management skills, too.

Maklynli: That’s the key to life.

NSU: How is the team getting ready for UDA Nationals?

Maklynli:  We have a ton of practices.  We are going to be here for a lot of our Christmas break, practicing, preparing, getting ready, learning our choreography.  We had a choreographer come in and teach it to us.  We’re really excited.  We have practices twice a day most days, in the mornings and the afternoons.  We’re working on skills. We are fund raising and that’s a big part. We’re also trying to get everything together so we have a good trip. 

NSU: What are some ways people can support the pom line?

Makynli:  Some of the best ways are coming out to our events. We’ll have a showcase at a basketball game in January.  Come to games and cheer us on.  We have a ton of fund raisers going on. Look out for the Pom Line Instagram (nsulapomline), our teammates’ Instagram.  We are trying to raise money.

NSU: What do you plan to do after graduation?

Makynli: I really want to do the Disney College Program.  I decided to wait till after graduation because I love it here and I don’t want to leave early and have to come back or put a pause on college.  I also eventually want to open a studio.  I don’t know if it will be directly out of college, but eventually that’s my goal.

NSU:  How would you encourage other dancers to attend Northwestern?

Makynli:  Our Creative and Performing Arts program has given me so many opportunities. ADCA, which was one of the best trips of my life.  I made so many connections. NSU is the only school in the state that offers a BFA in dance, so that drew me here.  The faculty, staff, professors and coaches are amazing.  They really take care of their students and the coaches of the performances group are big on giving the dancers opportunities and making sure their dancers are having a great experience.

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My friends call it BowlFest, this most wonderful time of the college football year when you can’t swing a cornerback without hitting a Diesel Driving Academy Arkansas Bowl or a Sparkling Caffeine Ice Classic.

It’s a beautiful thing. 

It’s easy to get caught up in the momentum of bowl games and holidays and start betting actual real money on the games. Santa doesn’t want you overdoing it. And he’s watching you … 

The day I quit betting on ballgames was the day I thought I was about to lose $100 plus juice and nearly started crying like a small wet child.

March Madness. 1993ish? Back when having 100 bucks meant something. I’d bet Xavier to cover against Indiana or the other way around. In the past I’d bet $5 here and there, maybe 10. We figured we were betting $5 to have $5 worth of fun, because nothing makes you interested in a game the way “having action” on it does. Suddenly you’re interested in an Oregon State vs. Louisville score, fanatically so.

But now I was stepping out and betting a Buck, like a big boy, like I had $100 to lose.

It went down to the wire. Was listening on a transistor radio. Sitting in a cheap table chair on Archer Avenue in Shreveport. Living and dying. “If I can get out of this, I’ll never bet again.”

My guys covered. I’d won 100 large. And retired. Wasn’t worth it. I had to work too hard for that little piece of money.

Since then, the stakes have gotten back to normal. I’m in a group that “bets” all the bowl games with the overall winner getting the pot. The capital outlay is about 18 cents a game.

The feeling is the same. Pride. Bragging rights. The joy of thinking of where you’ll spend the $5 each of the guys will have to cough up. Even though both the risk and reward are so tiny, you’ll still pay more attention to the SMU vs. Boston College Fenway Bowl than any sane man should.

Before legal betting in our neck of the woods, you had to “know a guy.” Benny the Bookie or Sam the Human Point Spread. Now you just need your smartphone and a credit card. 

Draft Kings. FanDuel. Promo codes. “Free money” to get you going.

Sounds like fun. And with a limit, I bet it is. I just got to thinking that I might as well flip a coin because … 

How do I know whether or not the starting center just got a “Dear John” letter from his girlfriend;

Or if the quarterback just failed a big math test;

Or if the professional strong safety might have taken something recreationally before the game, the one I just bet a Honey Bun on.

“Too rich for my blood!” I hear a yokel saying …

You can bet spreads, over/unders, moneylines, parlays, teasers. Prop bets. Futures, in which case you’re betting on something that hasn’t happened yet as always, except this won’t happen for a long, long time. (The Orioles are +1,500 to win the 2024 World Series.)

If all these easy ways of betting — even on stuff mid-game, like coin flips or total interceptions — were available by phone 40 years ago, I might still be glued to that chair on Archer, sure I would get rich by the time they were cutting down nets at the Final Four. 

But I backed down. I bet that I really didn’t know what I was doing. And that there would be days when the guys I’d bet on wouldn’t know what they were doing either. 

Probably a good bet.

(But … who you got in the Boca Raton Bowl? Asking for a friend …) 

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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By Doug De Graffenried

It feels like Hallmark channel syrupy sentimentality has washed over into sound biblical exegesis. Maybe I should blame it on all the “truth” floating around on Facebook. After all Facebook and Instagram are bastions of Biblical knowledge and wisdom. I have experienced an outbreak of Levitical shepherds and sheep. I have even heard of these Levitical shepherds swaddling sheep so they would remain pure and without blemish until the time of sacrifice. I know I’m an old dude, but I never heard of anything like this until three years ago. I heard it from a preacher who was speaking at a non-church event. He waxed poetic about the swaddling of a baby and how the shepherds would understand that. As I recall, he went on and on about shepherds swaddling Levitical sheep. I was too tired to go home and look it all up. 

Then it grew into Levitical shepherds, who took care of the Levitical sheep meant for temple sacrifice. The Mishnah allows that animals destined for temple sacrifice would be raised around Bethlehem. These shepherds are in the region, so certainly these were Levitical shepherds raising Levitical sheep. Except, there are two Bethlehem’s in Palestine in the first century. Which Bethlehem are we talking about? It will make a difference in your sheep story.

The other problem with Levitical shepherd is the notion of a shepherd in first century Palestine. Shepherds were thieves and robbers. Their station in life was so low that they were not competent to be witnesses in judicial matters. When Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” He is introducing a radical new concept to his audience. Shepherds can be good. They can care for the sheep. They can be trusted. One author long ago said, Jesus as the good shepherd is an oxymoron. The shepherds, hearing the angel’s announcement were not good guys. They were felonious fellows watching the sheep at night.

Nope, I don’t believe Facebook and Hallmark have this exegesis right. The shepherds were night shift shepherds. They were the dregs of the dregs. It is to these outcasts the birth is announced. The first people coming to Jesus were not the religion professionals like preachers and priests. The first people to visit Jesus, didn’t really fit into the religious narrative or lifestyle. That is the point.

Christmas is about the unexpected love and grace of God. It flows freely, even to night shift shepherds. It flows all the way to you and me.

Oh, one more thing about Jesus in swaddling clothes. That didn’t remind the shepherds about some mythical sacrificial lamb swaddled to protect it. No, the scoundrel shepherds would have figured out that the good news came in the form of a newborn.

The story is powerful, just the way it is. You don’t need to read anything else into the love of God born in Jesus. In the end, all you and I need to know is Jesus.

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By Brad Dison

For much of the English-speaking world, the tradition of decorating a Christmas tree inside the home became popular in the Victorian era. For hundreds of years, people had decorated Christmas trees, but they were kept outside. Prior to 1840, when Queen Victoria married her German-born cousin Prince Albert, indoor Christmas trees were normally a tradition only held by the royal family. A few upper-class families adopted the tradition, but the popularity of indoor decorated Christmas trees quickly spread when commoners saw an etching of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and their children celebrating around a festively decorated tree. Other countries, including the United States, quickly adopted the tradition. Everyone, it seemed, wanted to celebrate in the same fashion as the royal family. Well, almost everyone.

In September of 1901, Junior, his second wife Edith, and four of their children, Kermit, Ethel, Archibald, and Quentin, moved into a new-to-them house. The house was over a hundred years old when they moved in. Junior and his family loved to celebrate Christmas, but they had never adopted the tradition of having a decorated Christmas tree in the home. Although his children would certainly have enjoyed a festively decorated Christmas tree with all the trimmings, Junior ultimately decided not to get a tree. Junior had nothing against Christmas trees in particular, there was just not enough room in the home for a tree. Can you imagine not having a Christmas tree as part of your holiday decor?

Late in the afternoon on Christmas day, Junior and his family gathered around the table for Christmas dinner. As Edith and the children looked on with watering mouths, Junior carved the 32-pound turkey. After they ate their fill of turkey and all the trimmings, they turned their attention to the mince and pumpkin pies. What a feast it was.

Not wanting his children to miss out on the Christmas tree tradition altogether, Junior found a solution. Following Christmas dinner, Junior made some excuse and conveniently disappeared. Edith and the children took a carriage to the nearby home of Junior’s sister and brother-in-law, Anna—they called her Bamie—and William Cowles. The two families, minus Junior, were enjoying a festive celebration around the cedar Christmas tree complete with red, white, and blue electric lights when they had a visit from Santa Claus. He had white hair, white beard, and belted out the unmistakable “Ho! Ho! Ho!” However, this Santa had no red suit and hat lined with white fur as we would expect. He wore the khaki uniform of a soldier and a sombrero pulled down low over his eyes. Santa passed out a large number of presents to the children, then they all joined in games and the telling of ghost stories over snacks. As the celebration was winding down, the unusually dressed Santa Claus said a final “Ho! Ho! Ho!” and made a hasty exit. Edith and the children said their goodbyes, wished each other “Merry Christmas,” and returned to their house. With a twinkle in his eye, Junior met them at the door and asked for details of their celebration at the Cowles’ home, which they were only too eager to share. Even without a Christmas tree in their new-to-them house, Junior, Edith, and the children had a most memorable Christmas together.

The home that Junior and his family moved into, which Junior deemed not large for a Christmas tree, now includes just under 100 Christmas trees as part of its annual holiday décor. The house had plenty of rooms to be sure, but Junior was so popular and received so many visitors on a daily basis that all the rooms were required for guests. The house is still popular with guests. Visitors wanting to get a glimpse inside the house must apply months in advance for the chance to take a tour. The Santa Claus that joined the celebration at the Cowles residence was wearing, not a traditional Santa suit, but the uniform of a Rough Rider. Junior, the 26th president of the United States, was Theodore Roosevelt. The house without room for a Christmas tree was the White House.

Sources:

1. The Baltimore Sun, December 22, 1901, p.2.

2. Morning Register (Eugene, Oregon), December 25, 1901, p.3.

3. St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 25, 1901, p.2.

4. The Washington Times, December 25, 1901, p.5.

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November 11, 1946 — December 17, 2023

Judge (Ret.) Richard Harmon Drew, Jr., 77, of Minden, Louisiana, passed away on December 17, 2023 after a long illness.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Talley Drew, his children Richard Harmon Drew III and Georgia Drew Boswell (Devron D. Boswell), his grandchildren Emmaline Boswell and Joseph Boswell, and his sister Caldwell Drew Colvin.

He was predeceased by his parents Richard Harmon Drew Sr. and Margaret Elam Drew, his sister Elizabeth Drew Weaver and his grandson Drew Joseph Boswell.

Harmon was born on November 11, 1946 in Minden, Louisiana. He attended Louisiana State University for both his undergraduate and legal education. During a long career in the law, he served as an Assistant District Attorney and then for over thirty years as a judge elected in succession to the Minden City Court, the Louisiana 26th Judicial District Court and the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

For many years, Harmon was honored to teach criminal law and procedure to law enforcement personnel, including the Louisiana State Police and numerous other agencies across the state. As part of that teaching, he created, with his wife Jean, The True Blue Drew Law Book, which was updated each year with new developments. He also created and helped conduct for over thirty years the Nuts & Bolts Fun Judicial Seminar, which provided training for local court personnel at an annual conference.

Harmon was a working musician for most of his life, starting in high school. With Harmon on piano, the Harmon Drew Group played jobs across the region for over forty years. He specialized in 1960s R&B, the music that never grows old.

The funeral service will be held at 1 pm on Thursday December 21st at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1107 Broadway St., Minden, Louisiana. A reception will follow at the St. John’s parish hall from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. John’s Episcopal Church or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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Roberta Nowlin
January 23, 1958 — December 15, 2023

Gregory Alvin Lloid
January 10, 1958 — December 15, 2023
Service: Friday, December 22 at 10 AM with internment with military honors to follow at Coldwater Baptist Church Cemetery

John Joseph “Joe” Breedlove
August 25, 1957 — December 6, 2023
Service: Friday, December 22 at 2 pm at Oak Grove Cemetery in Natchitoches

Judge (Ret) Richard Harmon Drew, Jr.
November 11, 1946 — December 17, 2023
Service: Thursday, December 21, 2023, 1:30pm at St. John’s Episcopal, Minden.

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March 26, 1976 — December 6, 2023

Nathan Bret Sandel was born on March 26, 1976, in Natchitoches, Louisiana. He passed away on December 6, 2023, in Florien, Louisiana. A visitation will be held for him on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 1225 Ebenezer Road, Florien, LA 71429 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. His visitation will continue on Monday, December 11, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. until time of his funeral service at 11:00 a.m. with Bro. Wayne Chance and Bro. Jimmy Speight officiating. Interment will be held immediately after at Prospect Cemetery, 1401 Prospect Road, Florien, LA 71429. 

At a young age, Bret was known as the class clown. With the help of Bo Stewart, Bret wreaked havoc (in the funniest of ways) on Florien High School. Soon after graduation, Bret started work in the oilfield. It wasn’t long until he was injured trying to save other crewmen’s lives, which resulted in back surgery in his early 30’s.

For 20+ years, Bret’s talent of running various heavy equipment was his means of livelihood. He worked beside his dad, Randy, to build manufactured home pads, runners, driveways, etc. Bret was an avid hunter and was taught by the best, his Uncle Will. He was most known for being a horseman. For 20+ years, he participated in the Chuck Wagon Races, where he was never beaten as an outrider on a team.

He had twin daughters who he raised like boys. He taught them how to saddle, ride a horse, and stick in the seat like glue. Always get back on if you get bucked off because they’ll sense the fear in you. That wasn’t quite enough, he made sure they turned out tough. His son came a little down the road. He also showed him the ropes, the kind that wrapped around a bull and held onto with a glove.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Johnson and Elsa Raye Sandel, Willie Gene and Anna Prewitt, and Raymond Potter; his aunt, Pam Carver, his Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Tommy Sandel, and his nephew, Jayce Alan. Left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Alex Sandel and Kade of Florien, LA, Bret Sandel Ryder and husband, Cole of Florien, LA; his son, Garrett Sandel of Calhoun, LA; his grandsons, Emmett Murray and Royce Ryder; two more grandchildren on the way; his parents, Randy and Mona Sandel of Florien, LA; his grandmother, Granny B of Florien, LA; his sister, Kristy Knippers and husband, Monty of Florien, LA; and his brother, Patrick Sandel and wife, Christy of Many, LA; along with a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and other relatives.

Honoring him as pallbearers will be Garrett Sandel, Patrick Sandel, Darryl Brandon, Jacee Murray, Bo Stewart, Mike Kelly, Josh Sandel, and Buddy Smith. His honorary pallbearers will be Chad Strother, Steve Lee, and Emmett Murray. 

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Mr. Rubin Alexander Glass, 77 of Florien, Louisiana gained his Heavenly Wings on Friday, December 8, 2023, in Alexandria, Louisiana. A visitation will be held for him on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Beulah Methodist Church, 2279 Highway 487, Marthaville, LA 71450. His funeral will begin at 2:00 p.m. and will be officiated by Rev. Michael Marbut; with interment to follow in the church cemetery. He was born into this world on November 24, 1946, in Racine, Wisconsin to Rubin Glass and Sarah (Nielsen) Glass.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Rubin and Sarah Glass; and his son, Eric K. Glass. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Barbara (Weeks) Glass of Florien, LA; his sisters, Pat Madison and husband, Bob of Show Low, AZ, Carol Shulak and husband, Richard of Mesa, AZ, Linda Stearns (Secanky) and husband Tom of Mountain, WI, Susan Glass of Show Low, AZ, and Leeann Yamakawa of Jackson, MI; along with a host of nieces, nephews, friends and other family members.

Honoring him as pallbearers will be Billy Weeks, Bart Ingram, Matthew Pagel, Jacob Marbut, Ronald Barnett, and T. W. Lindsey.

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Have you ever wondered why some people are so successful no matter what they do? With some people it seems that everything they touch turns to gold. We all know folks who fall into this category and who seem to have something special that you just can’t put your finger on. You can’t measure it, but it’s something average people just don’t have. We call it the “it” factor.

Of course, there are some physical skills you can develop in a person that will help them to achieve great things. With help from the right mentor or coach, you can develop certain skills that may put you on the path to success by making you faster or stronger. But the “it” factor is something you’re born with. Let’s acknowledge, the good Lord blesses certain people with abilities and skills others will never have.

Now, it’s doesn’t mean you can’t be successful, but those born with “it” just take success to another level. The “it” is the gift that allows people to do things you can’t explain. They do things instinctively while the rest of us wonder why and how they did it. We question what makes them so good? Let’s look at an angler who falls into the “it” category.

 In the bass fishing world, it’s the man from Kalamazoo, Michigan — Kevin Van Dam (KVD), the man who many call the greatest bass angler to ever wet a hook. One day while having a conversation with Kevin’s brother, Randy, we talked about Kevin’s instincts and what makes him so good.  Randy told me that even as a young kid, Kevin did things that defied explanation.

Kevin, Randy, and their dad fished often when the bites were few and far between. For reasons unknown, Kevin would switch to another bait and start catching fish immediately. This was something, according to Randy, Kevin did frequently. For no apparent reason he would pick up a different rod and just start whacking them while Randy and his dad just stood there in amazement shaking their heads and wondering why. Over his entire career, Kevin would zig when others would zag. These are instincts not all anglers have and this is what separates the great anglers from the average ones.

In the bass tournament world, there are certain anglers who seem to always make the right decisions at the right time. It’s because, like Kevin Van Dam, they have the “it” factor on their side. In tournament fishing, this is the difference between those that win tournaments and those that don’t. If you’ll notice and look at tournament standings over the years, there are certain guys who seem to always be at the top.

Obviously they are good anglers, but they also have something special that allows them to win more often than others… they have ”it!” You can’t teach it or learn it, you must be blessed with it. I’m not sure why God only hands “it” out to a select few. If you’re one of those who has this gift, be thankful. Because if you use it correctly, it will serve you well.

There’s a radio show that’s been on air for over 16 years. The Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show that also has the “it” factor covering all things related to the great outdoors. Rated as the No. 1 outdoor radio show in the Ark-La-Tex, this program airs every Wednesday from 11:00 till 1:00 CST on AM 1130 The Tiger or FM 103.3. You can also catch me and my co-hosts on Facebook Live or our web site at www.hutdshow.com.  

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and remember, even though it’s cooler now, you still need to wear your sunscreen. Melanoma does not discriminate!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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By Doug De Graffenried

Since I have lived in the Gibsland metroplex, I have rescued or rehomed fifteen dogs. I know that dog number sixteen is out there. I’m always looking!

We kept two dogs; I think it is called a foster-failure. They are classic mutts. I rescued Rolo’s mom knowing that she would have puppies. She had nine! Rolo, the runt of the litter, is part Beagle and part Pit bull. Chester was found abandoned in January of this year. He is a funny blend of Pit bull and boxer. The dogs and I have a symbiotic relationship. I plant things in the yard. The dogs dig them up. I put sod down. The dogs dig it up. I purchase toys for the dogs, they unstuff the toys. There are mornings when the floor of the house looks like a snowstorm happened. Recently, they have taken the indestructible stuffed doggy toys to the backyard to unstuff them. Imagine the fun I’m having picking up the stuffing along with leaves, pecans, and the remains of the plants that have been excavated. 

I built nice picket fences around the flower beds to keep the two diggers out. That plan failed. It failed so miserably that Rolo got trapped behind one of the fences. He entered the flowerbed to dig, and then couldn’t figure out how to get out. He whined until someone came out to free him.

Rolo has also developed a fascination for the Christmas tree. He has a preference for the glass ornaments that are hanging on the bottom third of the tree. Since he is part Beagle, he is a long dog and has a great reach. So along with the stuffed animal stuffing in the backyard, I am now cleaning up the remnants of Christmas tree ornaments. So far, he has not chewed a sentimental ornament, just old glass ornaments. Ugh!

My two dogs can make a prodigious mess. If only I could thank them for making the mess!

I have seen some homes that are perfectly decorated for Christmas. We could debate long and hard; colors, textures, styles, and whether you believe that a C-9 incandescent Christmas light is the most pleasing seasonal illumination. I have seen some homes decorated for Christmas that were probably the inspiration for magazine covers. They are amazing and beautiful. Hours of work to accomplish the perfect Christmas atmosphere. The decorations inspire and create seasonable warmth. There is much to commend about Christmas decorations and the hard work that goes into getting it “just right.”

The first Christmas was not “just right” nor was it orderly or neat.

My dogs have a great gift of bringing chaos to my orderly planting and tree decoration. They remind me that Jesus came into the middle of our mess. He came not to condemn or judge us but rather to lift us out of the mess and bring some order to our self-inflected chaos. I’m going to remember that when I go home this afternoon to clean up what the dogs have left for me this Monday.

The message of Christmas is that Jesus has entered your mess!

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By Brad Dison

Each year on Christmas Eve, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Cologne, Germany hosted a Living Crèche, what you and I know as a nativity scene or manger scene.  Church members dressed as shepherds, angels, wise men, Mary, and Joseph, stood as motionless as possible to show their reverence for such an important and sacred event.  If one was available, a newborn child played the part of baby Jesus.  The recreated nativity scene often included various animals.  In some years, a parishioner read the story of the birth of Christ to be sure that everyone, regardless of age, understood the occasion.  A well-rehearsed choir of children broke the silence by singing a religious hymn, followed by a period of silence, then another hymn. 

In the years leading up to the Living Crèche of 1670, the children in the choir became bored between songs.  The choirmaster instructed them not to move from their assigned spots and not to talk.  The period between songs was reserved for absolute silence.  The children followed the first instruction and remained in their spots, but as they became bored, their natural inclinations slowly took over.  One would give another a look.  Another would whisper.  The progression continued as long as they went unnoticed by the choirmaster.  Before long, the children were talking.  A stern look from the choirmaster quelled their conversations, but only for a few moments and the progression began again. 

The choirmaster was determined that the Living Crèche of 1670 would be different.  In previous years, the choirmaster had threatened and meted out different types of punishments, but they had little effect.  Nothing seemed to keep the children quiet.  He planned to find another way to keep the children quiet.  After much consideration of various ideas, all of which he quickly discounted for one reason or another, he decided that the only way to keep the children quiet was to put something into their mouths, but what?  Handkerchiefs?  Pieces of wood?  Surgeons used items such as these for their patients to bite down on during operations, but the parishioners would never have allowed that to happen.  Finally, the choirmaster settled on something more positive, food.  If he gave the children something good to eat, something all the children liked, they would not be able to talk.  The choirmaster knew the parishioners would not allow children to eat during such a solemn occasion.  He searched for a loophole and, after a visit to the local confectioner, the choirmaster came up with a solution.  He ordered enough white “sugar sticks” specially designed to resemble a holy symbol related to the story of the birth of the savior. 

The archbishop raised an eyebrow in disapproval when the choirmaster explained that he would give the choir children sugar sticks during the Living Crèche.  When the choirmaster explained how the sugar sticks tied into the nativity scene, the archbishop relented.  On Christmas Eve of 1670, the choirmaster passed out his specially designed sugar sticks to the children.  During the service, the children were silent between songs as they enjoyed their sugar sticks.  His plan had worked.  In the following years, in addition to the children in the choir, the congregation enjoyed the sugar sticks as well.  The ritual eventually spread around the Christian world and became a part of our Christmas tradition which continues to this day.

We buy more of these sugar sticks during the Christmas season than any other time of year.  In addition to their great taste, we often decorate with them.  They still have the same shape as designed by the Cologne choirmaster, but they now come in a variety of flavors and colors.  The most popular, by far, is the peppermint flavored red and white sugar stick.  Back in 1670, the choirmaster had the confectioner bend the sugar sticks in the shape of a shepherd’s crook or hook.  We know these sugar sticks as candy canes.

Sources:

1.      “Candy Cane History & Legends, Spangler Candy.” Www.spanglercandy.com, www.spanglercandy.com/our-brands/candy-canes/legends.

2.     Kennedy, Lesley. “The Twisted History of Candy Canes.” History, 7 Dec. 2018, www.history.com/news/candy-canes-invented-germany.

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The more things change, the more they remain the same. 

Cries and moans about perceived poor officiating in the NFL this season seem to be louder and more often than usual. Maybe it’s because the season is a game longer now, or maybe it’s because more fans have more TV access to more games than ever before, or maybe it’s because there are more commentators on more platforms than ever and because fans have more ways than ever to express their views.

And who knows? — maybe the officiating isn’t as good this season as it’s been in the past. Only the chief of NFL officials would know that. And he’s not saying.

But a lot of us are. You can slam officials on everything from Facebook to “Insta” to TikTok — if you know how to work all those things. (Some of us don’t.)

Unlike fans, the players and coaches are wise to temper their comments about officiating or face getting fined. That threat didn’t stop Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett Sunday for calling the officiating in Sunday’s game against Jacksonville a “travesty” and “honestly awful.”

And his team WON.

Much more publicized and dramatic was what happened in Kansas City, where the homestanding Chiefs had a touchdown (that included a lateral pass) called back because a KC receiver had lined up offsides. The score and extra point would have given Kansas City a four-point lead with a minute to play; instead, three Patrick Mahomes incompletions later, the Chiefs were 20-17 losers to Buffalo.

After that game, Kansas City players and even some broadcasters complained that such a “little” penalty shouldn’t decide the game. The quarterback blamed it on the ref. The coach said “it’s a bit embarrassing for the National Football League” for a dramatic play and score so late in the game to be wiped out by an offsides penalty.

Which is all fine except the professional wide receiver lined up offsides. He has been playing since he was 6 and has been practicing for this season since July. It was the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ 13^th game of the year. 

And it’s the first rule in most sports: you have to be on one side of a line or another at some point. Think of all the lines drawn on fields and courts and tracks. You can’t have a sport without a line like you can’t have a trial with a manila folder.

Yet it’s the fault of the official. It’s not dropped passes or turnovers or blown assignments that have the defending Super Bowl champs at 8-5. Neg. It’s somebody else’s fault. Like the official’s. For calling the receiver offsides. For being offsides. For dropping the flag as soon as the ball was snapped.

What a joke. The officials were right and some people are still mad. 

It’s just a game and not life or death and the world will continue to spin. Still it’s funny when even professionals, obviously in error, blame someone or something else when things are going badly.

Like playing any sport at a high level, officiating is demanding and an inexact science. It’s my pleasure to know officials at every level of sports, and the ones I know love it and train for it and take it seriously, just as the players do. The imperfections of players and officials and even the journalists who cover them will never go away.

None of this is new, even though there have been several stories this fall questioning officiating. I’ve kept a few dozen Sports Illustrated covers through the years. The one I’m looking at today pictures Terry Bradshaw — then Pittsburgh’s quarterback and probably why I kept the cover — pleading with an official. This is the headline:

“The Refs: Uproar in the NFL”

The date is October 9 of 1978.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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Join us in spreading joy this holiday season!
Our #VaughnValue family is thrilled to announce our first annual Christmas Toy Drive!

This festive season, let’s come together and make a difference in the lives of children in our community. From November 28th to December 22nd , we’ll be collecting new, unwrapped toys, or gently used toys to brighten up the holidays for those in need.

How can you help? It’s easy:

Stop by our dealership during business hours and drop off your donation in our designated collection area.

Spread the word! Share post and encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to join in this heartwarming cause.

Let’s make this holiday season extra special for every child! Your generosity will bring smiles and warmth to so many young hearts.

Thank you for being part of this incredible initiative! Together, we can make a difference. And we will be donating to multiple local organizations.

#ToyDrive #SpreadJoy #CommunityLove #HolidaySpirit

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Rickey Robinson
January 29, 1951 — December 9, 2023
Service: Saturday, December 16 at 11 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Sherrie K. Donoway Hamilton
December 3, 2023
Service: Saturday, December 16 at 11 am at the First United Methodist Church, 411 Second St. in Natchitoches

Annie St. John
December 2, 2023
Arrangements TBA

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Coach McCorkle talks about his family and educational/coaching experience how he intends to move forward from the recent turmoil within the Demon Football Program

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