Preventable tragedies claimed the lives of four area residents over the weekend.

Saturday, January 27, at approximately 5 p.m., the Savage Forks Fire Department responded to a mobile home fire in the 200 block of Kyle Lane.  Firefighters found the body of an elderly male resident in the bedroom.  No name will be released until the investigators complete their determination.  They believe the fire began in the living room area of the mobile home and then spread.  They have not ruled out unsafe heating practices as a contributing factor to the fire.

The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office responded Sunday, January 28, to an early morning phone call to the Vernon Parish E911 Center of a possible missing boater on Vernon Lake.  Area first responders, agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Vernon deputies began their search upon arriving.  A body was recovered from the lake shortly after 4 p.m. and identified as 42-year-old Derek Green of Pineville, Louisiana.  LDWF investigators determined that Green had two juveniles in the boat and was running the trolling motor when a wave caused Green to fall from the vessel. He surfaced a few times before going under, according to his passengers.  According to authorities, Green was unable to swim and was not wearing a life jacket.  The body was turned over to the Vernon Parish Coroner’s Office to determine the cause of death.

Thursday, January 25, shortly after noon, the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office received a report of a house fire on Savage Forks Road. Fire crews from Savage Forks, New Llano, Leesville, Rosepine, Sundown and Sandy Hill responded to extinguish the blaze. The fire crews discovered human remains inside the building.

The State Fire Marshall’s Office investigated the fire and determined it had been set intentionally.

The Vernon Parish Coroner’s Office examined the bodies and made tentative identification.

Detectives with the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office believe this was a fatal domestic violence incident. The names of the victims are being withheld at the family’s request.

February 20, 1963 — January 3, 2024 

Cheryl Elise (Maxey) Barker, 60 of Zwolle, Louisiana, entered into eternal rest on January 3, 2024, at Willis-Knighton North in Shreveport, Louisiana. She was born on February 20, 1963, in Shreveport, Louisiana to R.L. Maxey and Peggy (Thompson) Maxey.

Inurnment was held at 2:00 p.m. on January 28, 2024, at the Aimwell Baptist Church Cemetery, 1892 Highway 1215, Zwolle, Louisiana, 

Preceding her in death are her parents, R.L. and Peggy Maxey; and her infant brother, Tony Lynn Maxey. Left behind to cherish her memory are her children, Daniel Henderson of Many, LA, Jeffery Barker and wife, Lacy of Many, LA, and Kevin Barker and fiancé, Allison DiBartolo of Zwolle, LA; her brother, Robert Maxey and wife, Carolyn of Many, LA; her 11 grandchildren, Noah Long, Nathan Henderson, Austin Henderson, Zach Henderson, Hunter Barker, Cadence Jackson, Colten Barker, Farah Barker, Cheyleigh Jackson, Macy Barker, and Arianna Burr; and her two nieces, Paula Leone and Colleen Maxey. In addition, she also leaves behind a host of great nieces, great nephews, friends, and other relatives.

By Courtney Freeman

The monthly Village of Robeline meeting was held on Jan. 18. The audit report for the fiscal year was presented with no significant findings. The council voted to approve and install speed bumps on Cotton Gin Street due to excessive speeding. They should be installed in the next week or so. The council was also informed that the lights for the park were paid for and SWEPCO was contacted to find out when they would be installed. After which the Village will be reimbursed the cost by the office of Louisiana Public Service Commission.

Also at the meeting were administrators for the Sabine Medical Center. They came to give an update on the timeline for the new clinic. The old gas tanks have been removed and soil samples have been taken and they are awaiting the results. After the results are in, construction will move forward and the clinic should be operational by July if everything goes as planned.

They provided a rough draft of the proposed clinic to the meeting attendees. The pharmacy would open about 6 months after the clinic due to state requirements.

The Robeline Little League is holding a sign up session on Saturday, Feb. 3 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Robeline Ball Field. The fee will be $50 and you must bring your child’s birth certificate. The Marthaville Little League is also taking entries. Forms can be picked up and dropped off at the Marthaville General Store. The fee is also $50.

The Robeline Heritage Society will have a meeting in its new building on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come and be involved, we would love to add new members also. We will be finalizing and discussing the events, entertainment, and fundraisers for the year. Apostolic Truth Tabernacle will hold a gumbo lunch fundraiser on Thursday, Feb. 1. Lunches will be $10 and can be delivered. They include a 24 oz bowl of gumbo and rice, crackers and a slice of cake. For more information contact 318-354-7019.

Alexandria native Scott Stoker has moved back close to home, recently joining the football coaching staff at UL-Lafayette.

Stoker brings nearly 30 years of coaching experience to the Ragin’ Cajuns. He was named earlier this month as the program’s inside linebackers coach by head coach Michael Desormeaux.

Stoker has been an assistant coach elsewhere in Louisiana at McNeese, ULM, Tulane and his alma mater Northwestern State, where he ranks among the Demons’ greatest players and their last successful head coach, going 43-38 from 2002-08 with two FCS playoff appearances and a 2004 Southland Conference championship. The Demons have not won the conference or reached postseason since.

Stoker joins the Ragin’ Cajuns after a two-year stint at Tarleton State where he coached the outside linebackers in 2022 and safeties in 2023.

Prior to his time at Tarleton State, he was an offensive/defensive analyst at Tulane following a five-year run (2016-20) at ULM, serving as defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and interim head coach.

Stoker was the defensive coordinator for three years at UTEP (2013-15) and four years at Sam Houston (2009-12), helping the Bearkats to back-to-back FCS national championship game appearances in his final two seasons. Before joining Sam Houston, Stoker was the head coach at his alma mater, Northwestern State, for seven years.

“We are excited to add Scott Stoker as our linebackers coach,” Desormeaux said. “He is a veteran coach with deep Louisiana ties, and decades of experience on both sides of the ball. Coach Stoker is an absolute professional and someone whose work I have admired for a long time. He is a relentless recruiter, top-notch developer, and great man who will bring lots of value to our staff.”

While at ULM, Stoker’s linebackers played a big part in the 2018 defense that ranked fourth in total defense in conference games in the Sun Belt. Stoker coached David Griffith to become the Warhawks’ all-time tackles for loss leader with 42.5. Griffith also earned All-Sun Belt second team honors and had a career-high 92 tackles under Stoker’s tutelage in 2018. In 2019, Stoker coached Cortez Sisco Jr. to a career-best 114 tackles. He became the first Warhawk to top 100 tackles in a season since 2015.

Stoker also spent three seasons at UTEP as defensive coordinator from 2013-15. His first year on the job was a tremendous success as the Miners cut their points per game allowed from 39.3 the previous season to 28.1 in Stoker’s first. The Miners also improved in many other defensive categories. Total defense allowed dropped by more than 100 yards per game from the previous season.

Prior to UTEP, Stoker spent four years at Sam Houston as defensive coordinator. His defenses at the FCS level were fearsome. The Bearkats experienced immense success, making back-to-back FCS Division I Championship game appearances and winning back-to-back Southland Conference championships in 2011 and 2012. 

Following the 2011 year, which saw the Bearkats finish 14-1, Stoker was named the NCAA FCS “Defensive Coordinator of the Year” by FootballScoop.com. The 2011 defense finished the season ranked top-five in the FCS in rushing defense (No. 1), scoring defense and turnover margin (No. 2), total defense (No.3) and pass efficiency defense (No. 4).

In Stoker’s time as the head coach at Northwestern State, he compiled a 43-38 record and led the Demons to a 2004 Southland Conference co-championship and two NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances (2002 and 2004). Three of his Demon teams ranked in the top-15 in total defense and rushing defense. They finished second in both categories in 2004. Stoker was named as one of the country’s Top-10 recruiters by American Football Coaches Monthly.

Stoker spent eight seasons on the McNeese staff (1994-01). The Cowboys made six appearances to the NCAA I-AA playoffs. In 1995, they played in the national semifinals and the 1997 team played in the national championship. Stoker was the offensive coordinator in 1999 before transitioning to defensive coordinator in 2000.

Stoker’s playing career included an all-state recognition at quarterback for Alexandria Senior High School, where his late father Butch was head coach, before heading to Northwestern State, where he led the Demons to the 1988 Southland Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA I-AA playoffs.

Stoker closed out his collegiate career in 1989 as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards (4,801) and total offense (5,059 yards). He is a member of the N-Club Hall of Fame, enshrined in 2008.

Stoker and his wife, Kim, have three adult daughters: Jennifer, Carlie and Zoe. Zoe is on the operations staff for the University of Texas Longhorns football program.

(Editor’s note: One of prop bets for Super Bowl LVIII [or 58 if you’re tired of Roman numerals, which we don’t use except at Super Bowl time because we are not Roman, DUUH! ] is whether Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce will propose to superpower Taylor Swift, who has recently been classified as her own planet, displacing Pluto, on the field. As of Tuesday, odds were long on Super Love Sunday: to wager on “no proposal,” you’d have to bet $2,200 and, if there were no proposal, you’d win $100 and get your $2,200 back. Betting-wise, not a great proposal.)

Sunday’s two NFL conference championships games were examples of why it would be fun for coaches to interview journalists now and then, instead of always the other way around. 

Because first, the games were shining examples of why sports are the only true reality television.

Baltimore had the best running game in the NFL in the regular season, rushed for 229 yards in a 34-10 route of Houston Jan. 20 in the AFC Divisional round — and ran the ball only 16 times in a 17-10 loss to Kansas City in the AFC title game. The Ravens running backs rushed just six times. The Ravens defense held Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes scoreless in the third quarter, gave up just 17 points, but did not even really try to run, just expected quarterback Lamar Jackson to be Superman and/or silver-armed Tom Brady, so did NOT do “what brung ’em,” and lost. 

Detroit pretty much DID do what brung ’em, but they lost too, 34-31 in San Francisco. Dan Campbell, a big man who in three years as head coach has turned Detroit’s franchise around and made them winners for the first time since Moses was cleaning Red Sea slime off his sandals, has gambled since he took over the team, running and gunning on fourth down, rolling the dice, all that sort of thing. Playing with a reckless, carefree confidence. Those results paid off — until they didn’t Sunday, when ill-timed fourth-down decisions in a game with No Tomorrow didn’t go as Campbell and Detroit and their long-suffering fans had hoped. 

“Part of the gig,” Campbell said afterward, having been around long enough to know you win some, you lose some, you get praised for some, you get criticized for some, but you dress out for all of them. He didn’t read the room right Sunday, but you’ve got to love the guy.

This is what might have happened had Campbell gone to the press box 45 minutes after the game and had a press conference with the writers, tables turned, concerning several stories and TV reports that all those critical failures to convert fourth downs contributed to Detroit’s loss, which they did. Same as they’d have contributed to a win had they succeeded.

Coach: “So here’s the lede you wrote: ‘Four chances. Four chances on fourth down for Detroit to show the football world what it’s made of. The Lions blew them all.’ You start a sentence with a NUMERAL and end a sentence with a PREPOSITION?! Where did you learn grammar, K-Mart?”

Writer: “I got your ‘starting a sentence with a number’ right here. How about ‘Four score and seven years ago.’ Sound familiar? How about this?: ‘Sugar and spice and everything nice. That’s what little girls are made OF.’ It’s only one of the most famous nursery rhymes ever and has been around 10 times longer than since Detroit last won a playoff game.”

Coach, to another writer: “You start a story with ‘It,’ the ultimate in lazy. You wrote, ‘It will go down as one of the great blunders in NFL Championship history.’ As in, ‘I can’t think of how to describe ‘it’ right off the bat so I’ll just say ‘it’ and explain later. Hopefully.’ Pitiful.”

Writer: “Really? REALLY? ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.’ If it’s good enough for Chuck Dickens, it’s good enough for me. I almost went with ‘Call me Ishmael,’ ‘Ishmael’ being Arabic for ‘Guy Who Should Have Taken The Field Goal.’”

Coach: “You said our second-half defense was a ‘colander.’ Did you mean ‘sieve’? The phrase is ‘a sieve-like defense,’ not a ‘colander’ defense.”

Writer: “Sieve. Colander. Sling blade. Kaiser blade. Potato. PoTAHto. You’re nit-pickin’ now! Tell me, when’s the last time you wrote on deadline? The next time will be the first time, that’s when. You make a B+ on a freshman theme or win an award from the Optimist Club for an essay and think you’re Grantland Rice. I’m done here: I still have to write a column and a sidebar…”

Coach: “Well why not try for something lighter, something more optimistic, something like, ‘It was the best of times, it was the could-have-been-a-little-better of times…’”

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

By Doug De Graffenried

Several years ago, I did a funeral at First United Methodist Church in Houston. It was a Saturday funeral, which meant a drive through East Texas to be back in my church on Sunday. The amusing part of the story is that I had already buried this man once in Bienville Parish. His daughter wanted him to be relocated. So, I drove to Houston with the dearly departed in the backseat of my car. For those of you wondering, he was cremated! I’m wondering about those of you who were wondering.

On the way back home, through the woods of east Texas, I found out how strange life is.

There were three businesses that caught my attention. The first was a psychic who was giving readings in a pop-up camper. I know that because the sign was attached to the pop-up camper. I guess the psychic knew when the law was showing up and would take down the camper and move out of town. I don’t believe in psychics at all, but this was funny. A psychic on wheels makes sense. If they are really psychics, they should know who needs psychic readings and could go to them. The psychic could have a slogan, “have visions will travel.”

The second business was an “RV supply center and Notary.” From the looks of the shack, business was not very good. There were a couple of broken-down RVs in front of the shack and the sign was hand printed and tied to the tree in front of the shack. I hope the person had better notary skills than RV knowledge.

The third business was my favorite of the three East Texas candidates for Chamber of Commerce business of the year. The third business was “East Texas PC Service Candle and Gift Shop.” Talk about not having a business plan! Or maybe they wanted to touch all the bases. I’ll bet they stocked their gift shop with candles bought on the Internet using a refurbished computer. They should have bought some commas for their sign. I did try to imagine what a PC Service Candle would look like. It could have been a Politically Correct Service Candle and Gift Shop. Trying to imagine a “service candle” gave me a brain hiccup. I took the sign at face value, appreciated the need for commas, and vowed to quit overthinking things!

Do you have the feeling that these businesses might give their customers “the business?” They looked like they didn’t have a commitment to their business. They looked random and like a BBB complaint waiting to happen.

Have you ever felt life was giving you “the business?” I have too.

My advice, which is free, is to find a church! We will never give you “the business.”

Decisions, decisions, decisions … something both coaches and tournament
anglers have in common. A baseball coach must decide when to make a pitching
change. If he waits too long, the opponent will take advantage and push runs
across the plate. For a football coach, calling the right play at the right
time can be the difference between winning or losing.

Tournament bass anglers must make the right decision all the time or
they’ll get to watch someone else walk across the stage collecting the check
that was could’ve been theirs. For anglers, it’s about being in the right
place at the right time. Timing in bass fishing is everything and it’s
important that the angler plan out his day and try to be in the right
location approximately at the same time he might have caught them the day
before, give or take an hour.

Some anglers keep a log of every practice day and make notes on when,
where, and how they caught fish. Some anglers use what is called an iSolunar
Chart which is a predictor of daily wild game activity. This chart is based
off the position of the moon and its location in the sky. For example, when
the moon is underfoot or overhead, game activity is supposed to be at its
peak. I’m a firm believer in this chart and it has proven itself to be
fairly accurate over my many years of fishing and hunting.

Now don’t misunderstand, it’s not an exact science — but it is based off
science. The way I attempt to use this chart is to make sure I’m in one of
the better areas I found in practice during the predicted peak time the
chart says. The problem with using this type of logic, or science, is that
if you don’t catch them during this so-called peak period predicted, it can
cause you to spin out or lose confidence, which is something all anglers try
to avoid.

For tournament bass fishermen, confidence is very important. You must
believe in and try to execute whatever game plan you’ve put together.
Whether he or she believes in moon charts or horoscopes, an angler’s mental
state of mind is crucial for success. But the one constant that great
anglers tend to have is the ability to adjust their game plan depending on
changing conditions that Mother Nature presents.

In bass fishing, every day is a new day and how you caught them in practice
may not be how you catch them on tournament day. Bass fishing is a
constantly evolving game depending on the conditions. No two days are hardly
ever the same, except during the summer months when the weather tends to be
stable with less fronts coming through.

Once again, tournament fishing is all about making the right decision at
the right time. Like a poker game, you must know when to hold them or when
to fold them.

‘Til next time good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to apply your
sunscreen. Melanoma is the number one killer of all types of cancers. Don’t
take any chances, wear good UV protective clothing, and use sunscreen.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

By Brad Dison

Jules Gilcrease
February 22, 1953 — January 20, 2024
Service: Saturday, February 3 at 2 pm at the Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home, located at 848 Keyser Ave in Natchitoches

Bobby R. Marsh
March 16, 1956 – January 24, 2024
Arrangements TBA

Lucille Beaudion
January 25, 2024
Arrangements TBA

Funeral Services celebrating the life of Dolfes “Sonny” Clayton (D.C.) Self were held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel, 9891 Texas Highway, Many, Louisiana with Bro. Johnny Phillips officiating and Bro. Dennis Baker assisting. Interment followed in Zwolle City Cemetery, 1553 Obrie Street, Zwolle, Louisiana. 

He was born April 10, 1933, in Zwolle, Louisiana to Joseph Jesse Self and Jewel Agnes (Bridges) Self and entered into rest in Pollock, Louisiana on Friday, January 5, 2024.

“Sonny” as he was well known as was a tugboat captain for 60+ years. He retired from this profession several times; he would retire but was called back each time until the Coast Guard would not allow him to return to work because of his age. He loved this job and often said he never worked a day in his life because of the happiness he felt when he was with his crew performing the duties of his profession. In addition, he took great pride being a Mason for over half a century where he was a lifetime member because of the number of years he served in this fraternal organization.  

Preceding him in death are his parents, Joseph and Jewel (Bridges) Self; his first wife, Betty (Moore) Self; his sons, Glenn Menefee and Greg Menefee; his daughter, Sharon Majors; his sisters, Charlene Ammons, Francis Lastinger, and Evelyn Welch; and his brothers, J. C. Self, James Self, Cleveland Self, and Bobby Self.

He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Pearl Self of Olla, LA; his stepson, Dennis Menefee & wife, Meredith of Orlando, FL; his daughter, Katherine Self of Bossier City, LA; his stepdaughters, Betty Weenig & husband, Robert of Leander, TX, Phillis Ivy, and husband, Gary of Conroe, TX, Judy Corley of Urania, LA, and Pam Tannehill & husband, Steve of Olla, LA; his sister, Rebecca Paddie of Stonewall, LA; his brother, Harold Self and wife, Wilma of Jasper, TX; his 10 grandchildren, including, Raine Carter and husband, Trey of Bossier City, LA; his 22 great grandchildren; along with a host of beloved nieces, nephews, friends, and other relatives.

Honoring him as pallbearers will be Trent Procell, Trey Procell, Steve Tannehill, Trey Carter, Anthony Bell, and Prentice Tannehill.

By Doug De Graffenried

Once I was preaching and a wasp landed on my shoulder. I didn’t see the wasp, nor hear it. After it landed, it proceeded to walk between my shoulders using the stole I was wearing that Sunday. The choir saw the wasp land. The choir watched the wasp walking on my stole. The choir met, established a quorum, had a discussion, and took a vote. The vote of the choir was to sit there and watch the wasp to see what would happen.

During the discussion it was determined that swatting the wasp off my shoulder would disturb the rhythm of the sermon. It might frighten the preacher. It was further determined that any attempt to remove the wasp might cause the wasp to sting the preacher. I appreciate the compassion of the choir. They sat and watched the wasp the entire sermon. I’m sure there were follow up conversations about the dangers the wasp posed to the preacher. However, the choir stood firm with their vision statement, “let’s watch and see what happens.”

At the end of the sermon, I asked the congregation to bow in prayer. I bowed my head and heard the wasp fly off. The wasp didn’t want to hang around for the invitation hymn and ten verses of “Just As I Am.”

I know that story because I survived that story. After the service the choir gathered and told me about their deliberations. I told them about hearing the wasp fly off as I bowed my head to pray. We all laughed, and I suppose the wasp lived happily ever after.

A member of that choir has joined the Trinity choir. He called me Sunday afternoon and told me another story.

Seems that Sunday the choir noticed a spider descending from the ceiling of Trinity. If you have been in our sanctuary, you know that was some descent. The spider was to the left of the preacher and was headed toward the pulpit. Again, the choir assembled, a deliberation took place, and it was decided to “watch and see what happens.” I’m sure the television audience thought that the choir was intensely listening to the sermon. Nope, they were watching the itsy-bitsy-spider and wondering if it would tangle with the preacher in mid sermon.

I suppose the spider continued the descent to the floor and I hope the spider is happily exploring other realms of the Trinity sanctuary. The spider may be in the choir loft or perhaps by now the spider is out in the seating area of the sanctuary. I have learned from two choirs that maybe I should leave the spider alone and “watch and see what happens.” I’ll bet people at Trinity will pay extra attention to their environment on Sunday.

We default to jumping into the middle of something, solving every problem, and meeting every challenge that comes our way. Perhaps a better strategy is to take our hands off a situation, sit back, and “watch and see what the Lord will do.”

That is called faith.

Over the many decades of professional bass fishing, electronics have made more advances in a shorter time than any other item on a bass boat. These are even more advanced than the high-tech engines that push a bass boat today in speeds exceeding 80 MPH and are more fuel efficient and quieter than ever before.

But nothing has created more controversy than the latest advancement in electronics. Forward-facing sonar is the newest and most controversial technology to come along maybe ever. Today I’ll give you my perspective as a guy who both uses and competes against guys that have one of these $5,000 units on their boat. 

Let’s start with the fact that I am not against any form of advancement that makes fishing better. Baseball has made changes to the ball itself in order to get more distance off the bat. Golf has made the same type of strides with their new and innovative advancements in both golf balls and the clubs, so much that golf has decided to pull the reins back and make golf balls that don’t fly as far because they are making certain golf courses obsolete.

Forward-facing sonar has created the same controversy with a unit that literally shows you fish swimming up to 100 feet away. You can see them in real time on a screen as big as the one in your living room.

So why the controversy?  Well, the fishing purists, or old timers as we call them, hate this new piece of equipment because they feel like some anglers (especially the younger anglers) have a distinct advantage. It’s made instant champions out of anglers who have just gone through puberty; young boys who have just put away their GI Joe collection.

No longer are fishing instincts or years of experience important like they were 10 years ago. Young anglers today are making a quicker rise to the professional ranks without having “paid their dues” like so many of the legends we know today. Tournament bass fishing is a whole new ballgame all due to forward-facing sonar. This technology has made finding fish too easy and allows anglers to target the bigger fish in the school and pick them off one big fish at a time. 

That’s right, I said BIG fish. Here’s part of the controversy in that forward-facing sonar allows an angler to zero in on the bigger fish in a school, brush top or isolated stump, picking them off like black berry’s on the vine. This new technology is also a direct threat to the breeding population of bass and other species like crappie.

Gone are the days of an angler wasting time pulling into a pocket and fan casting for fish until he caught one. Now anglers pull into a cove, put the trolling motor down with a transducer for FF sonar and start to scan the area in a matter of seconds like some form of radar. They locate the fish and then attempt to catch those fish with whatever techniques work best.

It’s still not clear where this new technology is headed with regards to tournaments. But it’s about 50/50 on opinions for or against it. The B.A.S.S. organization is going to interview anglers after each of their Elite Series events in 2024 in order to come to a conclusion, which may possibly result in rule changes for 2025. So, stay tuned … more to come on this as we go further into the B.A.S.S. and Major League (MLF) tournament schedules.

Based on my personal experience and talking to people involved, I can see it both ways, either being banned or allowed. One benefit tournament, like the DeSpino Tire Children’s Miracle Network event on Toledo Bend, has decided to ban this technology in order to level the playing field. As far as I can report, this is the first tournament to make such a decision. It will be interesting to see if it affects the number of entries.

But as far as professional anglers are concerned on the topic, it all depends on which angler you ask. Here’s the bigger question; are we developing top level anglers today with this new technology or are we creating robotic angling nerds who don’t have the skills that professional anglers should possess?

These skills would include reading the water and understanding bass behavior and how they react under different conditions. Most young up-and-coming anglers today do not have this type of knowledge or the instincts to compete at the highest level WITHOUT this new forward-facing sonar. 

Here’s a great example. A friend of mine fished the co-angler (amateur) side of a recent tournament at Sam Rayburn and drew an 18-year-old as his pro for the day. Around mid-morning all the electronics went blank on his boat, sending the young angler into panic mode. He had no idea how to fish without his forward-facing sonar or how he would navigate the rest of the day. It was as if his XBOX video game went out and he could no longer play!

This is just one example of how unprepared some of today’s young anglers are. Most do not possess the skills necessary to compete with anglers much older who have years of experience to fall back on if they lose their electronics.   

In some ways, we are not doing a good job of developing the next generation of anglers. We are really setting them up for failure, especially if major organizations like the B.A.S.S. Elite Series and MLF (Major League Fishing) decide to ban this new technology.

All this being said, these electronic companies who created this monster have too much money invested to just stop making them. Tournament anglers make up a small portion of the overall bass fishing population. Even if some tournament organizations decide to ban this technology, the average weekend warrior (non-tournament angler) will continue to use it.

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to apply your sunscreen even during the cold weather months. 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

By Brad Dison

Bertha Jackson
March 7, 1960 – January 17, 2024
Service: Saturday January 27 at 11 am in the chapel of Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home

Varwood Varnado Arie
February 12, 1928 — January 21, 2024
The family will receive friends on Friday, January 26 from 12:30-2:30 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home followed by interment at Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches

Robert Wesley Thomas
October 6, 1947 — January 19, 2024
Arrangements TBA

Jimmy Roy McDaniel
March 26, 1966 — January 19, 2024
Service: Saturday January 27 at 2 pm at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home

Allen Carter
September 14, 1953 — January 19, 2024
Service: Saturday, January 27 at 10 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Elvira Williams
January 12, 2024
Arrangements TBA

Reaghan Thompson already has an impressive list of firsts for Northwestern State volleyball in her two years as a Demon. She added another accomplishment to the list on Tuesday. 

After a record-setting season on the court and another equally as strong year in the classroom, Thompson was named the Southland Conference Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Year. She is the first NSU volleyball player to receive the honor and the sixth student-athlete from NSU to receive the award in their sport since 2016-17. 

Her individual honor also brings with it a First-Team Academic All-Conference nod, the first first-team selection for the Demons since Hanna Brister in 2019. 

During the 2023 season Thompson broke the NSU single-season block record with 164 total and a 1.52 per set average, earning her a top 10 finish nationally in both categories, while maintaining her 3.93 GPA in NSU’s first-rate nursing program. 

“Reaghan is a great example of a consummate student-athlete,” head coach Sean Kiracofe said. “Being a collegiate athlete is difficult. Anyone in a demanding major, in Reaghan’s case nursing, knows how difficult and time intensive that is. To combine both, and to also excel at both, is a credit to her work ethic. There were many times this year she was doing homework or writing papers right up to the moment we went out to the court for a match, and then picked up right where she left off when the match was over.  

“Even with those academic demands, Reaghan is mentally present in practice, watching film, the weight room or anything else that can make her a better player. She has been a tremendous part of our program and University for the past two years.  I can’t wait to see what else she will accomplish on the court and after she graduates.”  

Not only did her blocking totals break NSU marks her 1.52 per set average broke the conference’s rally scoring era record for blocks per set. She fell just six shy of breaking the total blocks record. She led the conference in both blocks and blocks per set for the second straight season cementing herself as the best defensive middle in the league. 

She had 16 matches this season with five or more blocks, tied the single match record with 13 rejections against Texas A&M-Commerce on Sept. 26 and added two more kill-block double-doubles, giving her four total in two years, three more than any other player in program history. 

She became the fastest player in program history to surpass both the 200 and 300 block milestones, reaching the latter in just 61 total matches, needing just 19 matches to go from 200 to 300. Thompson currently ranks fourth all-time in total blocks in NSU history. 

She also finished third on the team with 191 kills and led it for the second straight season in hitting percentage at .293. She is one of two players with two seasons ranked in the top 10 in hitting percentage at NSU, alongside Glynna Johnson NSU’s career blocks leader. 

It was one of those NFL playoff weekends that suggested someone put another log on the sideline bonfire.

The National Frozen League.

Consider the piercing minus-4 degrees in Kansas City Saturday afternoon when the Chiefs beat Miami, 27-7, easily a record for the coldest game at Arrowhead Stadium. That hard part was the 25 miles-per-hour wind gusts that equated to a tear-inducing minus-27.

A day at the beach compared to Sunday afternoon in Buffalo, where the Wild Card Round matchup between the Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers was delayed until Monday because of high winds and blinding snow. 

“When I heard they were delaying it I told somebody that sets a bad precedent,” said Bo Harris, who starred at Captain Shreve and LSU before playing eight years for Cincinnati, including a start in Super Bowl XVI in 1982, a 26-21 loss to San Francisco inside the Pontiac Silverdome (while outside, a blizzard semi-paralyzed Detroit). 

“Hours later I saw what was happening in Buffalo and had to call the guy back and say, ‘Check that,’” Harris said with a laugh. “My mind wasn’t understanding what was happening.”

What was happening was you couldn’t see the field. Visibility near zero. The team even hired fans to shovel show for $20 an hour Sunday to help clear the stadium. The online video of Buffalo crazies doing just that is as fun to watch as the game was, won by the Bills, 31-17, in a clear but cold Highmark Stadium.

Kyle Williams watched that game from the comfort of his couch in Lincoln Parish, six seasons removed from a 13-year career playing defensive tackle in Buffalo after four years starting for Ruston High (he was a hard-to-bring-down running back as a freshman!) and after helping the Tigers win a national championship at LSU. Grew up hot, but figured out quickly that life in the National Football League can be a cold business. 

“In Cleveland my rookie year, during warmups it looked like just a normal winter day game,” said Williams, a father of five who helped coach Ruston High to a state football championship this fall in his semi-retirement. “Field was green … perfect. Twenty minutes later we come back and the whole field is snow.”

Then there was December 23, 2007, “the coldest I’ve ever been,” he said. Final regular season game, the Giants needing to win to get into the playoffs, New York at Buffalo, and it’s a first-half downpour, a storm front off Lake Erie. “After halftime, it drops down to 19 degrees and the wind starts blowing. It got colder the more we kept trying to hang on to (Ahmad) Bradshaw (151 yards rushing) and (Brandon) Jacobs (143 yards). We never got going.”

The Giants won, 38-21, and went on to upset New England in the ‘Helmet Catch’ Super Bowl. Good news?: Williams, a Class of 2022 Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer, lived to play another day.

“You can never really prepare, gear-wise, for the cold,” said the sneaky funny Williams, a master of understatement. “You’ve got Spandex pants, a Spandex jersey, cotton socks, and athletic shoes. Your attire’s not covering all your parts that need covering.”

There’s chicken broth on the sidelines, and those welcoming and lush heated benches thank the good Lord, but it’s a “never ending tango,” Williams testifies, of what to keep warm and just how warm to keep it, like managing your helmet’s insides so the plastic pads will stay warm and loose instead of getting too cold so they’re brittle or too hot so holes are burned in them. 

“All kinds of issues,” said Williams, recalling from the warmth of his den a time of ice and mud, a calm man with a security blanket, a man who can now go to bed at halftime if he wants. “Easy for guys in those conditions to make a mistake doing what they’re needing to do to stay warm.”

This weekend when he heard about the delay in Buffalo, he knew how bad it must be. A decade-plus of living there coached him up on how prepared Erie County is for the worst. “The world does not stop,” he said, not for any ol’ storm; businesses and road crews are ready to counteract just about anything. 

“In all my years up there, only one time did the weather affect us where we had to postpone or cancel,” he said, recalling a “wall of snow” halfway up the house he and wife Jill shared with their very young, very cold family. 

Once the county got 80 inches of snow in a 48-hour period. The Bills Emergency Alarm went off — picture the Bat Signal above Gotham — and players were hiking to the interstate to get rides on snowmobiles to the airport so the team could fly to Detroit, practice a couple of days, and play a “home game” against the New York Jets in Ford Field. Weather won, the Bills won, the Jets lost. 

If you’re in the mood to shiver, you can Google “Freezer Bowl” and watch Bo Harris and his Bengals teammates beat San Diego, 27-7, in Riverfront Stadium in January 1982 to win the AFC Championship. The temperature was between minus-8 and plus-5, but it was the wind chill — a mind-numbing minus-57 during gusts — that made it the coldest NFL game ever.

“San Diego came out during warmups with ski masks on under their helmets and defensive backs were backpedaling with their hands in their pants,” Harris said. “I looked at one of my guys and said, ‘Oh yeah. We’re winning today.’” 

Dan Fouts. Gary Johnson. Louie Kelcher. Kellen Winslow. Wes Chandler. Charlie Joiner. Chuck Muncie. San Diego had a very good team. That Sunday in Cincinnati, they had a very cold team. And the Bengals had a secret weapon.

“Vaseline and panty hose saved the day,” said Bo, who coated himself in the stuff to protect his skin, then layered up with the hose. Any port in a storm; dude had one of Cincinnati’s two sacks in the win.

Also now retired in Lincoln Parish, Petey Perot is a Natchitoches Favorite Son and former Northwestern State Demon and Philadelphia Eagle. And like Bo, he played in a chillier-than-chilly Conference Championship game.

“1980 against Dallas in the Vet,” Perot said. “Minus-17. Santa Claus had gotten beat up in the stadium the week before,” (a true story illustrating that it’s cold in Philly in more ways than one; you can look it up).

“I don’t think it ever really bothered me,” said Perot, who was 23 at the time, an age of blissful unawareness. “I didn’t think about how cold it was. I didn’t even know how cold it was when we went out there. We wore fishnet jerseys and a half shirt and didn’t even try to do anything to keep from being cold. Our deal was, we were just focused on trying to get to the Super Bowl: who cares who cold it is?”

And if he had free tickets and great seats to the same kind of game today?

“I wouldn’t go,” he said with zero hesitation, almost offended at the suggestion, a man warm and wise.

At left guard, Petey and the gang sprang Wilbert Montgomery for a 42-yard touchdown run on the Eagles’ second play from scrimmage that icy day as Philadelphia beat the Cowboys, 20-7, and made it to Super Bowl XV. The bad news? They lost to Oakland. The good news? It was in the Superdome and 72 degrees with no wind.

This Sunday at 7:15 p.m., Kansas City will visit Buffalo in one of four Division Round weekend playoff games. The expected forecast is like Houston at Baltimore at 3:30 p.m. Saturday: 16 degrees with a 15 percent chance of snow and light winds.

Like taking a candy football from a warm baby.

Contact a very toasty Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

Buddie Dale Hippler, 71, of Many, Louisiana entered into eternal rest on January 11, 2024, at his residence. He was born on October 28, 1952, in Zwolle, Louisiana to Buddie Henry Hippler and to Lucille (Randolph) Hippler. 

A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 14, 2024, at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 9891 Texas Highway, Many, Louisiana. His funeral service  will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Bro. Rodney Randolph officiating. Interment will follow in Hippler Cemetery, 9765 Texas Highway, Many, Louisiana.

He worked as a forklift operator in a sawmill. Buddie enjoyed being in his yard working with his flowers and watching birds fly around the area. Taking God’s beautiful natures of the world in made him happy. 

Preceding him in death are his parents, Buddie Henry and Lucille (Randolph) Hippler; his daughter, Krystal Hippler Greer; and his sister, Melinda Callens. 

He is survived by his wife of 52 ½ years, Karen Sue (Cryer)Hippler of Many, LA; his sons, Shannon Dale Hippler & Ronna Wilson of Hemphill, TX, Francis Emil Hippler & wife, Jennifer of Boyd, TX; his daughter, Melissa Hippler Elliott & Joey Ebarb of Noble, LA; his sister, Cindy Hippler Reeves and husband, Dennis of Many, LA; and his brothers, Leslie Dean Hippler & wife, Lois of Elysian Fields, TX, Larry Walker Hippler & wife, Monica of Florien, LA, David Andrew Hippler & wife, Ruthy of Many, LA, Daniel Laree Hippler of Many, LA; Darren Hippler & wife, Dawn of Florien, LA, and Michael Heath Hippler of Kirbyville, TX; his 12 grandchildren, and his 7 great grandchildren; along with a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and other relatives. 

Honoring him as pallbearers will be Larry Hippler, Jason Hippler, Matthew Hippler, Katie Parrie, Daniel Hippler, Jr., and Riley Greer. His honorary pallbearers will be Dean Hippler, David Hippler, Daniel Hippler, Darren Hippler, and Michael Hippler.

Herbert Allen Rowland, known affectionately as Hoover, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2024, at the age of 95 in Many, Louisiana. Born on October 18, 1928, in Hopewell, Virginia, Hoover was a beloved father, stepfather, grandfather, and a cherished member of his community.

Hoover is survived by his two daughters, Joanne Terry and Nanci McManigal of Quitman, TX, as well as his four stepchildren Diana Cartier of Texas, Ladonna Largo of Colorado, Richard Largo and wife Sandy of North Carolina and Ruth Strohfeldt and husband David of Illinois. He will be deeply missed by his grandchildren: Bruce Roberts, Betsy Smith, Joseph McManigal, Bryan Terry, Tamra Lynch, Erin Barnhart and Cody McManigal .  He has a number of great grandchildren who lovingly knew him as Big Paw Paw. Hoover was preceded in death by his first wife, Jeanne Elizabeth Rowland, his second wife, Marie Rowland, his son, Bruce Rowland, his mother, Frances E. Rowland, his father, George F. Rowland, and his brother, Harold Rowland.

After graduating from Hopewell High School, Hoover embarked on a successful career with Allied Chemical, retiring in 1985. He then relocated to Louisiana’s Sportsman’s Paradise of Toledo Bend, where he enjoyed the tranquility and natural beauty of the area during his retirement years.

Hoover found solace and fulfillment in his faith and was a member of Aimwell Baptist Church. He found joy in worship and the sense of community it provided.

In his leisure time, Hoover pursued his passions for hunting and fishing, which brought him great pleasure throughout his life. In his later years, he discovered a new hobby of putting together puzzles, a pastime he enjoyed with puzzles gifted by his family and friends.

The compassionate professionals at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Many, Louisiana, are assisting the family during this difficult time. There will be a visitation Saturday, January 13, 2024, from 12:00-2:00 pm. Funeral service will begin at 2:00 p.m. at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home Chapel, 9891 Texas Highway, Many, LA.

Hoover will be remembered for his kind heart, strong work ethic, and devotion to his loved ones. He leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories.

He will be laid to rest with his beloved Jeanne in Chester, VA.

May Hoover’s soul find eternal rest, and may his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.

Margie Lee (Wood) Labby was born in the railroad town of Coushatta in Red River Parish, Louisiana on August 15, 1928, to Marlow Otto “M.O. – Dip” Wood and Cleaver “Vesta” Coleman. When she was three years old her mother passed away, later M.O. married Alta Sanderson Wood, Alta raised Margie as her own. Margie graduated from Dutchtown High School and then attended business college. 

After she attended business college she worked and lived in various locations in Louisiana and Texas. She met and married John Fretwell, Jr. in Baton Rouge with whom she had three boys, David, Mark, and Frank.

In 1968 she married Eugene William “Gene” Labby and together with the three boys they started their new life in Leesville, LA.  In 1984 they purchased Beauregard-Vernon Funeral Homes in DeRidder and Leesville which became Labby Memorial Funeral Homes after Gene passed in 1999. She continued to work full-time at the funeral homes until the Labby family sold the funeral homes in 2017.

Margie was a very beloved member of the Pilot Club of Leesville for more than thirty years and was a past president. 

With her life of public service through the funeral homes and the Pilot Club she will always be remembered as a quiet lady (Gene was the talker) but had such a servant’s heart and compassionate spirit about her. If she knew that she could help someone she would, and it gave her much joy. Matthew 25:40. She was an organizer and kept the funeral home books meticulously the old school way with pencils and ledgers and her much loved typewriter.

She passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 5:40 PM. Margie lived 95 years, 25 more than God’s promised 3 score and 10. Margie went home with a smile on her face and a glimmer in her eye. We can only imagine what she was seeing. God is so Good!!

Her funeral service will be at 2 pm, Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church in DeRidder, where she has been a member since 1974. Rev Jon Tellifero and Rev. Laraine Waughtal will be officiating. Family and friends may visit the church from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm before her funeral service. She will be buried at the Beauregard Cemetery in DeRidder, Louisiana. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 38 years, Eugene “Gene” Labby; son Mark and daughter-in-law, Carmen Labby; and daughter-in-law Dannah Hayes Labby.

Left to cherish and honor Margie’s life are her sons, David Labby of DeRidder and Frank and wife Lisa Labby of Leesville; her siblings, James and wife Dorothy Wood, Brenda Wood and Cleaver Wood all of Princeton, LA; Grandchildren, Bethany Labby Rolater, Jeremy Labby, Lisa Batson Cook, Zachary and wife Sidney Labby, Jesse Camelin, Alida Chamberlin, Analisa Camelin and MaryGrace and husband, Kirk Duhon; great grandchildren, Makyla, Ariana, Kaedon, Leila, Piper and  Mallory Rose; great-great grandchild, Brantley; along with numerous nephews and nieces.

Memorial donations should be made to First Methodist Church of DeRidder.

Have you ever seen the movie Dr. Doolittle starring Eddie Murphy? In this
movie Eddie plays the role of a doctor who discovers he can communicate with
animals.

We’ve all had a conversation with our own pets, but the difference is they
can’t talk back. But deep in our hearts we know, or at least we think, they
truly understand what we’re saying. I’ve often wondered what a bass would
say to an angler if they could talk. As an experienced angler who has
engaged in several conversations with bass, I’ll give you an idea as to what
they really think.

Bass are like people; they all have different personalities. Some are quiet
and shy, some are aggressive, and some like to be a part of a gang or school
(as we call them). The bigger fish called trophies, six pounds or larger,
like to isolate themselves and tend to be loners. That’s why you’ll catch
larger fish out of brush tops or isolated clumps of hydrilla and stumps.

I’ve always heard other anglers say that if you’ll listen, bass will tell
you what they want. What anglers are referring to is how to catch them. The
first fish you catch can be a clue on what, how and where you need to be
fishing that day. For example, if you catch a bass off the very end of a
boat dock in 10 feet of water, near a creek channel, you might want to find
other boat docks with the same characteristics. This is what we would call a
pattern.

So far over my many years of fishing and listening, not a single bass has
verbally conveyed anything to me that would help me solve the fishing puzzle
… or have they? The key is you have to listen and pay attention. Now it
may require some interpretation, but if you’re focused and observant, it
will all come together.

One professional angler who is known for his ability to talk to the fish is
the legendary pro Rick Clunn. Considered by many as the greatest angler of
all time, Rick has won 4 Bassmaster Classics (the Super Bowl of bass
fishing).

Rick is a unique kind of bird as he tends to do things a little different.
He’s a guy who likes to stay away from other anglers at an event by camping
out and getting as close to nature as he can. In his words, he wants to
become one with nature.

Not all anglers take this approach, but it has served Rick Clunn well as he
has amassed over $2.6 million in winnings. That means after 496 tournaments
fished, he has earned over $5,000 per event! Rick has even written articles
about what he calls “zenning” which is a form of meditation and mental state
of mind. It’s his way of getting what athletes call “in the zone.”

Whether you take Rick’s meditation approach or come up with one of your
own, it is important for a tournament angler to be focused. Bass fishing is
as much a mental game as it is physical. A lot of anglers are good at many
different techniques and can catch fish. But the anglers who are strong
mentally are usually the ones who are the most successful.

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and always remember, that if you’re
not sure it’s a bite, set the hook anyway. Because it just might be the fish
of a lifetime!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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Join our team by applying and attending our job fair on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. We look forward to meeting you, and are excited to begin this journey with you!

By Brad Dison

The church near Victor’s home was badly in need of repair, but no one seemed to care.  Generations of worshipers had passed through its doors, but, with each passing year, the building got dirtier, darker, and more damp.  It needed a new roof.  Its rafters needed repairs.  It needed a little of everything, but nothing was offered.  Unless something drastic happened, Victor feared that the old church would be torn down and a more modern building, maybe not even a church, would be put in its place.  Victor was horrified by the thought.  He saw something in the old church building that most others failed to see.  Maybe they had seen it at one time, but most people in town largely ignored the old church.  To Victor, the building was much more than merely walls and a roof.  To him, the church was important. 

What could Victor do?  He was not an architect or carpenter.  He held no political office.  He had no authority to do anything towards preserving the church that he loved so dearly.  Victor was a writer, mostly of poetry.  Oh, dear.  He published a paper entitled War [declared] on the Demolishers in which he argued for the preservation of old buildings such as his beloved church.  Most of the people who read his paper were the ones who wanted to demolish buildings to make room to erect more modern structures.  Victor was distraught.

Victor decided to write a book about the church in his spare time.  For three years, Victor struggled to find the time to work on the book as his other literary projects, ones that earned money, took precedence.  Rather than a clever title which would draw interest to the story, Victor simply used the name of the church as the title of the book.  The church, an inanimate object, became almost a living, breathing character in itself.  Finally, Victor finished the book, sent it to his publisher, and waited.  Would anyone read a book about an almost forgotten church?       

To Victor’s surprise, his book about the church became a hit.  Readers flocked to see the old church which was featured so prominently in the book.  They flocked to the same church they had previously ignored.  The church had not changed, but their perception of it had.  Victor’s book brought new interest in the church.  With each passing year, Victor’s book became more popular.  Thirteen years after Victor published his book, the king of the country ordered the restoration of the church, a project which lasted twenty years.  With the success of Victor’s book, the church became much more than a building of worship.  It became a national icon.

In the years since Victor’s book was first published, millions of visitors, myself included, have flocked to see the church because of the book.  The church is currently undergoing another restoration following a disastrous fire.  You and I know the story and the church well because of the book’s many stage, television, and film adaptations.  Had Victor not written his book, the church which had stood for over 700 years would not have been saved, and you and I would never have heard of the church Notre-Dame de Paris.  The original French title of Victor’s book was Notre-Dame de Paris, but English speaking countries know Victor Hugo’s 1831 book by its adapted title, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.  This is just one example of the positive power of words.

Source: Daniel Christian, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” Notre Dame Cathedral Paris, July 22, 2019, https://notredamecathedralparis.com/the-hunchback-of-notre-dame/.