The Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band will host the 35th annual Classic on the Cane Marching Contest on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Turpin Stadium. The competition begins at 10 a.m. The Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band will perform at 4:30 p.m.

The Awards Ceremony is at 4:45 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for senior citizens, military and children 8 and under.

NSU Director of Bands Anthony Pursell said 20 high school bands from Louisiana and Texas will take part in one of the region’s top showcases for high school marching bands.

Participating bands include Jena, Many, Byrd, Tioga, Delcambre, Neville, North DeSoto, Pine Prairie, Natchitoches Central, Abbeville, South Hills (Texas) and Central. Also participating are E.D. White, Acadiana, Airline, Haughton, Benton, Southside, Parkway and West Monroe.

Awards will be presented to the top five overall bands, the top three bands in each classification and the best in class for percussion and auxiliary. There will also be awards for the most entertaining show and most spirited supporters. A most outstanding soloist will also be honored.

By Matt Vines, Journal Sports

Many found itself in a unusual position at the end of the first quarter against Red River — with the lead.

Kellen Cox and Ky’xaiver Warren connected on a 4-yard touchdown pass with Warren adding a 2-point conversion for the 8-6 advantage.

The Many (0-8, 0-3 District 3-2A) defense held Red River (4-4, 3-0) in the red zone as the Tigers appeared to have some momentum.

But a disastrous punt led to a 20-yard Jacob Kellogg touchdown return for the Bulldogs, who poured on the next 42 points in a 48-8 win.

Many was still in the game trailing 20-8 at the half, but Red River forced a failed fourth down and a fumble to score two third-quarter touchdowns to salt away the victory.

The Tigers lost to Red River for the first time since 2007.

Those types of streaks have ended against familiar district opponents like Winnfield and Mansfield, but now Many will try hang on in the win column outside of district play.

The Tigers will head to North Webster (2-6), another program that’s been somewhat of a force in the past decade but fallen on hard times this season.

While the Knights haven’t hung any banners like Many, the Class 3A squad has had its share of deep playoff runs under then-head coach John Ware, who moved to Lakeside this season.

Enter Christopher Wilson in his first season as he tries to rebuild North Webster in his image.

The Knights picked up their second win of the season in a 16-8 victory against Richwood.

Both Many and North Webster have had offensive struggles this season.

Outside of a combined 75 points scored in losses to Leesville and St. Mary’s, the Tigers have managed just 28 points in their other six losses.

North Webster has scored more than 20 points just once this season, but the Knights’ defense has been a little more reliable.

The Knights have held three of its opponents to single digits with just two teams scoring more than 35 points.

Seven of Many’s eight opponents have scored more than 35.

If Many can’t find a way against North Webster, the Tigers will aim for their first victory against Mansfield in the season finale.

Calvary Baptist was honored with an award for 15 years of partnership with Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child as a Drop Off Location in Sabine Parish.

Let’s celebrate by packing one MORE shoebox filled with gifts and packed with love. They are delivered with the message of the gospel and given a booklet of the gospel in their own-language.

Upon completion of 12 lessons, there is a graduation ceremony in which each child receives a Bible in their own language.

National Collection Week is November 18-25.

Converse- Mitchell Baptist Church, located at 15551 LA Highway 174 in Converse

Mon, Nov. 18: 4-6 PM

Tue, Nov. 19: 3-5 PM

Wed, Nov. 20: 2-4 PM

Thu, Nov. 21: 3-5 PM

Fri, Nov. 22: 8-11 AM

Sat, Nov. 23: 10 AM – 12 PM

Sun, Nov. 24: 2-4 PM

Mon, Nov. 25: 8-10 AM

Many- Calvary Baptist Church, located at 105 Peterson Street in Many

Mon, Nov. 18: 11 AM – 2 PM

Tue, Nov. 19: 4-6 PM

Wed, Nov. 20: 11 AM – 2 PM

Thu, Nov. 21: 4-6 PM

Fri, Nov. 22: 11 AM – 2 PM

Sat, Nov. 23: 10 AM – 12 PM

Sun, Nov. 24: 2-4 PM

Mon, Nov. 25: 8-10 AM

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced 13 projects around the state received bids in September. Ten contractors presented apparent low bids totaling $35.7 million.

“We’re pleased to announce a new round of bids for construction this month, including many more pavement rehabilitation projects,” said DOTD Secretary Joe Donahue. “Our citizens and visitors deserve the best infrastructure we can provide them, and we will continue to improve our state’s transportation system with the funds we have available.”

Projects awarded and their apparent low bids are as follows:

Pavement/Overlay:
Milling, pathing, and overlay on U.S. 165 southbound between Rilla and Pearl St. in Ouachita Parish: $5,412,673.77

Milling, patching, paving, and reinforcing on Bonnabel Blvd. between Metairie Rd. and I-10 in Jefferson Parish: $3,081,793.29

Pavement rehabilitation on Terry Parkway between LA 23 and U.S. 90B in Jefferson Parish: $811,909.50

Milling, patching, overlay, and drainage on LA 10 between Little Wauksha Bridge and U.S. 71 in St. Landry Parish: $5,034,157.64

Grading, milling, patching, overlay, and drainage on LA 17 between Franklin Parish line and Rundell Loop in Richland Parish: $2,749,608.10

Grading, milling, patching, overlay, and drainage on LA 565 between LA 129 and LA 15 in Concordia Parish: $8,589,008.25

Milling, patching, overlay, and drainage on LA 397 between Gayle Rd. and LA 27 in Calcasieu Parish: $3,262,706.33

Milling and patching on LA 191 between LA 476 and LA 6 in Sabine Parish: $1,589,547.12

Milling, patching, overlay, and drainage on LA 1029 between U.S. 190 and LA 447 in Livingston Parish: $916,368.75

Milling and overlay on LA 1055 between LA 38 and Silver Creek in Washington Parish: $1,334,695.01

Grading, milling, patching, and overlay on LA 662 between LA 182 and Terrebonne Parish line in Terrebonne Parish: $525,377.76

Congestion Mitigation and Safety:
Lighting replacement at I-49 and LA 31 in St. Landry Parish: $1,396,101.55

Other:
Boom or Bust scenic viewing area in Caddo Parish: $999,049.00

By Steve Graf

One of the best things about traveling and fishing across the south is that you neverknow what or who you might encounter. Sometimes you come across some nice folks who like to strike up conversation with you at the gas pump. Then there are times when you just want to get back to the truck and get the heck out of there! But either way, it’s all a part of the so called “road time” that all anglers must endure.

While most of my experiences have been positive, there’ve been a few that I would rather forget. The worst trip I ever had to make was an 18-hour drive (one way) to Lake Okeechobee in south Florida. The drive alone was brutal, and this is where I developed a major respect for the guys that fish for a living.

While traveling, I’m not one to stop and spend the night at a hotel especially pulling a bass boat, as you can quickly become a target for theft. So far, I’ve been very fortunate to have never been taken advantage of.  But I feel safer pulling into a rest stop occasionally for a quick power nap.

Traveling all hours of the night, I seem to do well driving after dark. All I need are sunflower seeds and a large, sweet tea and I’m good to go! But there was one occasion where I guess you could say I hit a bump in the road.

While traveling back from Lake Chickamauga in Tennessee, I had a blow out on my boat trailer. This has happened to me several times, so often that I could probably try out as a tire changer on a NASCAR pit crew.

But on this particular night, my pit crew would have fired me! Let me set the stage for my debacle. It was in the wee hours of the morning, around 1:00 AM, as I was coming through Birmingham, Alabama, when I felt a major vibration in the steering wheel. This usually means one thing…a blown tire on my boat trailer. So, I pulled over in an area where there was some major highway construction taking place. Keep in mind that it is very dark and the only light I had was a weak cell phone and the headlights of passing cars.

After emptying the entire back end of my truck so I could get to the floor jack and my pneumatic wrench, I slowly started the process of changing the flat tire. Now understand, there’s a right and a wrong way to put lug nuts on a wheel. Each lug nut has a beveled edge that is supposed to go on the wheel one way.

Turns out, this is very important but when you’re changing a tire in the dark, some things you just don’t pay attention to. I was just wanting to get this tire changed and back on the road as quickly as possible.

Getting the job done in record time that any man would be proud of, I was back on the road and headed for Louisiana. One hour later I needed gas, so I pulled into a Love’s Truck Stop (which are great) and hopped out of my truck and began to fill the tank. As the gas was flowing, I decided to do make sure the tarp on my boat was secure. 

Well, was I in for a shocking surprise! As I got to the trailer tire that I had changed out, I was amazed to see that the entire wheel was completely gone! WTH…where is the tire I replaced about an hour ago? It was obviously somewhere on the side of the road just west of Birmingham, Alabama!

Still in shock, I pulled into the garage area of the Love’s Truck Stop and asked the mechanic if he had a trailer tire that would fit my boat trailer. Of course, he did not, but did know a local tire dealer who would. So, he made the call and the tire dealer sent me his store address that was luckily only ten minutes away, and told me to meet him there.

Being 2:00 in the morning, I really hated to wake someone to get me a tire so I would not have to limp all the way back to Louisiana on just three tires. But this guy was not just a tire dealer, but the member of a local band that had just got in from a gig.

He was so gracious and told me that one of two things probably happened for me to lose the wheel off my boat trailer. I either put the lug nuts on backwards, or I didn’t tighten them up tight enough. Of course, I blamed it on the dark and the fact that I couldn’t see what I was doing. 

Either way, this gentleman saved the day, and I pulled into my driveway 8 hours later. Again, this is all a part of the adventure of traveling and fishing some of the best lakes in the country. While things can get interesting quickly, you just have to stay positive and enjoy the drive…….most of the time!

By Doug De Graffenried

I went to a workshop recently. I filled out a survey at the end of the workshop to give feedback. The survey asked about my level of satisfaction with the workshop. Can one say they were really satisfied with a workshop that was six of the most boring hours I have ever spent in my life? How would one express satisfaction with a required workshop? What was my level of satisfaction? The material was helpful the presentation was painful. What was my level of satisfaction?

It dawned on me that perhaps my friend David was insightful. He wrote:

“We all tend to share in a big, bad personal problem. It’s one that doesn’t get much press or pulpit time. Yet this problem is a huge interrupter of our personal spiritual journey. If you have this problem, you won’t be concerned that you have this problem precisely because you have the problem. The problem is personal spiritual self-satisfaction.

We’re all too satisfied with who we are, where we are, and what we’re doing. We’re satisfied with a little bit of biblical literacy. We’re satisfied with occasional moments of ministry. We’re satisfied with manageable debt that allows us to put a few coins in the plate. We’re satisfied with a bit of a grasp on the theology of Scripture.

We’re satisfied with faithful attendance at the weekend services of our churches. We’re satisfied with quick morning devotions. We’re satisfied with a little ministry experience. We’re satisfied that we don’t act out most of our lust and we don’t communicate most of our envy. We’re satisfied that in our disappointment with God, we don’t walk away.

We’re satisfied that we can harness a good bit of our fear of man. We’re satisfied to use most of our material resources to make and keep ourselves comfortable. We’re satisfied to be mere consumers of the work of the church ran than committed participants in it. We’re satisfied with hearts that occasionally wander and with thoughts that contradict what the Bible says is good and true. We’re satisfied with the amount of conflict we have in our lives.

We’re satisfied.

None of us is yet a grace graduate, but we are satisfied. We give evidence that we still need to grow but we’re satisfied. And because we are satisfied, we are resistant to the grace that is our only hope.

Here is what you and I need to remember: we serve a dissatisfied Redeemer. He knows we still need the transforming work of His powerful grace.”

What is YOUR level of satisfaction?

BOM was a proud sponsor of the 48th Annual Zwolle Tamale Fiesta. Pictured left to right: Becky Loupe and BOM’s Tiffany Miller.

By Brad Dison

Abraham Jr. was a theater critic for the Dublin Evening Mail in Dublin, Ireland during the 1870s. At the time, theater critics were held in low esteem. Stars of the stage avoided reading reviews by other critics, but there was something different about Abraham’s reviews. Even when being critical of a performance, Abraham wrote in such a way that made the performers feel at ease. Abraham’s writing quickly gained him recognition, and he befriended several leading stage performers, one of which was Henry Irving.

Henry Irving was an English classical actor and manager. Unlike most actors of the Victorian era who only acted in performances, Henry took full responsibility for all aspects of the stages on which he performed including the supervision of sets, props, lighting, directing, and casting. Theater managers continued to control the business side of the theaters. In 1874, Henry starred in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” at the Lyceum Theatre in London’s famed West End. The play ran for an unheard of 200 performances and was Henry’s greatest triumph. In 1878, a row between Henry and the manager of the Lyceum grew so heated that the manager quit and began managing another theater. The strain of managing the stage as well as the business affairs of the Lyceum quickly grew to be more than Henry could handle. He needed help.

Abraham had just married a celebrated beauty named Florence Balcombe when he got a job offer from Henry. Henry wanted Abraham to move to London to be the business manager of the Lyceum and, to ease his burden even more, to be Henry’s personal assistant. It was an offer Abraham could not refuse. Abraham and his new bride quickly moved to London where he worked in this capacity until Henry Irving died in 1905. During those 27 years, Abraham traveled the world as Henry’s assistant. In 1894, Abraham, Florence, and their son Irving Noel, named in honor of Henry Irving, took a much-needed break at the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel on the northeastern coast of Scotland. Abraham and his family took the half mile walk to the cliffs overlooking the North Sea to see the remains of Slains Castle. While walking through the ruins of the castle’s many rooms including the octagonal hall, Abraham got the idea for a new play which would naturally feature Henry as the lead character. Back at the hotel, Abraham jotted down some of his ideas before he returned to London. He continued to work on the play during his limited free time.

Two years later, Abraham and Florence took another break and stayed in a guesthouse overlooking the North Sea in Whitby, England. He walked to the shoreline and back up the 199 steps to the graveyard of St. Mary’s Church and visited the ruins of Whitby Abbey. This visit stirred Abraham’s imagination, and he rushed back to the guesthouse and began writing. Before leaving Whitby, Abraham visited the public library and accidentally came across a word in a book which he misinterpreted. It was the perfect name for the lead character in his play, but by this time Abraham had decided to publish it as a play and a novel. Unfortunately, for reasons that remain unclear, Henry never played the lead character that Abraham had created for him. Abraham’s book is still popular today, but no one knows the author as Abraham. Abraham Jr. went by another name to differentiate him from his father. Family, friends, and eventually the whole world knew Abraham Jr. as Bram Stoker. The word he misinterpreted as meaning “Devil” was Dracula.

October 31, 1928 – October 28, 2024

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ~ Mae West

Mary “Sue” Parker Walker Anderson was born in Vivian, LA on October 31, 1928, and died in Natchitoches, LA on October 28, 2024. She was preceded in death by her husband and the father of her children, Tony Walker; her second husband, Andy Anderson; her parents Dessie and Jack Parker Sr.; her sisters Jimmie Doerge, Shirley Young, and Billie Hindsman; her brothers Jack Parker, Jr. and Pat Parker; and her niece Lori Brown.

She is survived by her son David Walker and his wife Pearl; daughter Vickey Talton and her husband Reggie; sisters-in-law Lynette Parker and Vera Parker; brother-in-law Bill Young; nieces, Debra Stockstill, Susan Woollen, Becky Lacour, and Sherri Walters; nephew, Jack Parker III; nephew-in-law, Alan Brown; a host of grand and great nieces and nephews; and dear friend Clara Henderson.

Sue was born on her family farm on Halloween night, and she gave a subtle nod to her unique birthday by working a bit of mystery into her persona, which made her a ton of fun. She was brave, bold, witty, smart, sassy, adventurous, and tenacious. She knew things. She wasn’t nosy, but she was keenly observant, and she listened intently when people spoke. She was acutely aware of her surroundings, and she always knew the details of what was going on in the lives of her large and loving extended family because they shared with her their innermost secrets, confident that she would never betray their trust.

She knew from a young age that she had a knack for doing hair, and she loved helping women become the best version of themselves. She went to beauty school upon graduating from high school and owned several beauty salons in different cities throughout her career, the most notable being Sue’s Beauty Shop that she operated in Many, LA for 50 years.

When she was not working, she filled her days with her family, friends, and favorite hobbies, including salmon fishing in Alaska, golfing in Hot Springs Village, boating and floating on Toledo Bend and Cane River, cruising Lake Ouachita on a houseboat, playing the slots and catching the shows in Las Vegas, taking in the sights and soaking up the culture in Germany and France, visiting friends in Sweden, mud dogging on her farm in Vivian, cheering on NSU, LSU, the New Orleans Saints, and the Dallas Cowboys, devouring newspapers from front to back, settling in with a good novel, gardening, and cooking, which always involved preparing her legendary pork roast for any family gathering. Thanksgiving turkey always ran a distant second when Sue’s Pork Roast was on the menu. She filled her 96 years on Earth building meaningful relationships and reaching for the brass ring with every new idea, adventure, and experience. Her life made a difference in the lives of all who knew and loved her.

Arrangements are under the direction of Gorsulowsky Funeral Home in Vivian. Graveside services will be conducted at Vivian Cemetery by Reverend Richard Beeman on Friday, November 1, at 11 am. Honorary pallbearers are Jack Parker, III, Dean Stockstill, Mark Woollen, Tommy Lacour, Alan Brown, Parker Lacour, Daniel Walters, Kane Walters, Joe Landrum, and Ed Smith.

Sue loved animals and had many pets through the years, but she always had an especially soft place in her heart for her beloved dog, Lollie. When Lollie died, she buried her at the family farm in Vivian, a favorite spot for both of them. After she moved to Natchitoches, she supported and stayed abreast of FAUNA (Friends All United for Natchitoches Animals), the local animal rescue group, and she was excited about the prospect of a new animal shelter for the community. Those who wish to honor her memory may do so by donating to the FAUNA Shelter Fund, P.O. Box 2552, Natchitoches, LA 71457 (https://www.npfauna.org/donate/), or to a cause of their choice.

By Jeanni Ritchie

Mine Rescue Day celebrates those members of the community who stay ready for an emergency through participation in training that keeps them in top shape for making sure everyone is located, rescued and recovered safely.

It is not something you hear about in Louisiana often.

I’d heard of mine disasters, including the 69-day rescue of 33 workers in a copper mine in Chile in 2010, but didn’t understand the full impact until the first season of Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart in 2014. It became more than just a fictionalized series. For the first time, I realized the lives of miners and their families.

History of Mine Rescue Day

In 2013, Mine Rescue Day was established by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The purpose of the day is to recognize and show appreciation for the sacrifice and dedication that is regularly made by the volunteers who put their own lives at risk in order to save the lives of others who work in the mines.

The date of October 30 was chosen in honor of the first mine rescue demonstration that took place in 1911 in Pittsburgh under the direction of the first director of the US Bureau of Mines.

According to the CDC and other official .gov websites, there were 12,714 active mines in the country in 2020. The three states with the highest mining production and value are Nevada, Alaska, and Colorado.

While technological advances, safety regulations, and health research has made mining safer than it used to be, it is still a hazardous industry.

Various types of dangerous situations can occur when people are working in the mines, whether coal, metal, or nonmetal mines. Mine workers can be trapped inside the mines in a number of ways, including fire, harmful gasses, flooding, roof falling, and explosions.

When such disasters happen, trained local community members are called upon to perform rescue services. Today, over 250 mine rescue teams in the US are equipped and certified to perform mine rescues. And Mine Rescue Day is a great time to celebrate them!

Jon Truman Simpson
February 8, 1961 – October 25, 2024
Service: Saturday, November 2, 2024 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Many, LA

Local high school football scores:

Red River 48, Many 8

Watch this space on Saturday mornings for the scores to this weeks game.

Check Wednesday’s Sabine Parish Journal for a recap and a look at next Friday’s Tiger football game.

October 18, 2024 @ 10:30AM –

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell announces three Sabine Parish Sheriff Deputies graduated from the 57th Session of the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Correctional Academy in Alexandria on Tuesday afternoon, October 15, 2024.

Deputies Eric Laroux, Terry Pleasant, and Teresa Bonner received their P.O.S.T. Level II Basic Correctional Peace Officer certifications by completing 11 weeks of instruction in the care, custody and control of persons who are incarcerated. Courses of instruction included criminal law, CPR/first aid, bloodborne pathogens, narcotics, mental health concerns of inmates, firearms, defensive tactics, de-escalation techniques, and high-risk prisoner tactics and transport.

Deputy Pleasant received the “Top Gun” Award for having the highest firearm qualification score in the class.

Deputy Laroux is assigned to the Civil Process Division under Captain Keith Gentry. Deputy Pleasant is assigned to the Corrections Division as a Transport Deputy under Captain Berlion Sweet. Deputy Bonner is assigned to the Women’s Jail under Assistant Warden Heather Garcie.

Sheriff Mitchell was at graduation to congratulate these three deputies and thanked them for their commitment and dedication to the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Many embarked on several promising drives early against Winnfield, but the inability to complete those drives and untimely turnovers were the Tigers’ downfall in a 48-0 loss on the road Friday.

The loss drops Many to 0-7 on the season and 0-2 in District 3-2A play as hopes for its 11th straight district title are all but faded.

But that’s probably not a thought for a Tigers team that’s just simply looking for a win.

With three regular-season games remaining, Many isn’t totally out of the playoff picture.

The Tigers are sitting at No. 36 in the Division III Non-Select power rankings but are just a little more than a point away from being in the playoff field of 28. Three winless teams (Patterson, Bogalusa, Caldwell Parish) are currently in the field because of their strength of schedule.

Three wins would almost certainly put Many in the playoff field, and that starts Friday with a hot Red River (3-4, 2-0) team coming to town.

The Bulldogs are the district favorites after wins at Mansfield (20-12) and against a previously unbeaten Lakeside squad (30-6).

Many’s closest loss was Lakeside (28-6) in a week where the Tigers felt like they were trending in the right direction, but a 48-point loss to Winnfield (4-3, 1-0) might erase any positive vibes that were happening.

Against Winnfield, Many started the game on a clock-crunching drive that ended in a turnover on downs at the Winnfield 10-yard line.

It took Winnfield just three minutes to march down the field and take a 7-0 lead on a Jeremy Mamon 28-yard touchdown run.

Many fumbled on its 15-yard line on the ensuing possession, which resulted in a Damascus Lewis 5-yard touchdown run and a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter.

That sparked a 28-point Winnfield second quarter as the homestanding Tigers scored three more times before halftime.

Two of those scores came after Many drives deep into Winnfield territory, ending in a fumble and a turnover on downs.

Many will need to clean those turnovers up against a Red River defense that forces a lot of turnovers.

The Sabine Parish Police Jury along with the Sabine Parish Homeland Security Office of Emergency Preparedness (SPHSOEP) has declared a State of Emergency by issuing a burn ban, effective Oct. 22, in Sabine Parish.

The severe drought conditions by lack of rain recently has caused a severe fire danger in our area.

No outdoor burning of any kind is allowed. A permit to burn may be issued in extenuating circumstances by one of the three Sabine Parish Fire Districts.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your local police jury member or district fire chief.

Thursday, October 31st 3-5pm

By Steve Graf

When it comes to bass fishing, there are a lot of great lakes in our region of the country that are loaded with trophy size largemouth bass. Several lakes come to mind; Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, Caddo and Lake Fork to name a few. Louisiana has another lake that would fall into this same category….Caney Lake!

Located in the heart of Northeast Louisiana just north of Winnfield and south of Monroe off Hwy. 34, Caney Lake pretty much dominates the landscape and holds many of the top ten record bass ever caught in Louisiana waters.

It’s a 5000-acre lake created by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries in 1986 as a part of its “Trophy Lake” program; and boy it has not disappointed. Caney has seen a lot of changes over the years especially when it comes to grass (Hydrilla). It also has a great supply of coon-tail moss, dollar pads and milfoil, creating plenty of quality cover for bass to hide.

From the beginning, as part of the Louisiana Trophy Lake program, a slot limit was introduced from 15 to 19 inches. This slot allowed for good quality fish to spawn and reproduce. This means that any fish caught inside the slot must be released immediately.

But it was only a few years ago that Caney was anything but a trophy lake as grass carp were introduced and almost destroyed this great fishery. Today, it has rebounded and is loaded with solid areas of grass (Hydrilla) with good structure as well.

The bass have responded with record fish being brought to the scales. In order to win a tournament on this lake, you’ll need anywhere from 22 to 28 pounds with your best five fish. On December 28, 2023, a new state record for the largest 5 fish stringer came in on Caney as Colby Dark and Gage Struben of La. Tech Bass Fishing Team weighed-in an incredible 48.6 pound stringer!

But this lake is much more than a bass fishery, as the crappie and bream population is extremely strong. The problem is with great fishing comes a lot of traffic, as anglers from all over the region compete for the better places on the lake. There’s also a good selection of boat docks to fish if that’s your preferred choice of cover.

The lake is such a beautiful place to go fishing but understand that you may have to sit in line to launch your boat. This is especially true during the peak fishing season of early spring, but there are plenty of ramps to choose from around the lake.

It’s also a great family lake with plenty of room to ski, tube or just go swimming. Jimmy Davis State Park is an excellent place to set up camp for a long weekend and enjoy a great playground and a really nice beach area. The State Park also offers campsites and cabins along with two large family lodges.

All of this is a testament to how good Caney Lake is today, and it doesn’t appear it will be slowing down anytime soon. But if it’s the big bass you’re after, the best time to catch one of these Caney lunkers would be from December through April.

To wrap this up, if you’re looking for a great place to enjoy the great outdoors and maybe catch the biggest bass of your life, take the time to explore Caney Lake. It truly is a hidden gem in Northeast Louisiana and due to the recent national TV exposure and publicity from Major League Fishing (MLF), it’s no longer a secret! To learn more about this awesome fishery, go to caneylakelife.com

By Doug De Graffenried

Please pick the beep you like best.

Beep is defined as “a short, relatively high-pitched tone produced by a horn, electronic device, or the like as a signal, summons, or warning.” It is also a way of describing how some forms of media edit out unseemly words. If I were doing this on the radio you might hear, “Oh BEEP, I dropped the hot casserole dish on the floor after I removed it from the microwave upon hearing the aforementioned microwave emit a beep.” Beep is example of onomatopoeia.

I’m wondering if you have discovered that beeps have become BEEP annoying.

The microwave cooks food quickly and it beeps. Mine will emit a beep until you open the door or select the stop button. I guess the microwave doesn’t want you to forget the sumptuous TV dinner you have just warmed up for your evening repast.

The oven beeps. It beeps when it is heated to the selected temperature. It beeps when there is one minute remaining for the cooking time. It beeps until you hit the shut up button and turn the timer off. The oven will beep at you all night until you do something.

The house alarm system beeps. It beeps when you turn it on or off, when the power is interrupted for more than three minutes or so. I guess if the house is burning down or being burglarized the thing will beep. If the power goes off and you don’t reset the alarm, it beeps until you reset it acknowledging the “power went off recently and stayed off a while” beep. Each button you press on the control panel beeps when you press it. That is four beeps to set the alarm which then does this chirping beep thing to let you know it is set. It then beeps to let you know you have a certain number of seconds to get out of the BEEPING house before alarm goes off.

To avoid the beeping madness, I escaped to the BEEPING car. The car has a mystery beep that I have yet to interpret. I have one of those pushbutton cars. Sometimes when I shut it off and open the door, it beeps at me. I have yet to figure out what I have done wrong or what I have left on for the car to protest my exit. Maybe the car is saying, “Bye.”

The car beeps at me when I’m too close to another car, the wall at the bank drive thru, when someone is crossing behind me in the parking lot, when I change lanes without signaling, when I change radio stations, and when I select the apps button to turn on the map functions.

This morning, I pulled into the office parking space. The car beeped at me. I sat down at my desk and my computer was doing some kind of beeping about something Bill Gates and Microsoft didn’t like. Oh BEEP!!!

Because things beep at us, we develop a BEEPING immunity. I was only paying attention because I was researching the beeps around me.

We condition ourselves to filter out the annoyances of life, such as the things that beep.

Please Lord do not allow us to filter out people, they are not annoyances but people you love for whom you died. I need to go now and spend time confessing my sins in this area, what about you?

By Brad Dison

John B. “Jack” Kelly was a sports fanatic. During World War I, Jack served in the army and became a champion boxer. Following the war, Jack rejoined his father’s highly successful bricklaying firm called “Kelly for Brickwork.” The postwar boom quickly made Jack a millionaire. Jack’s wealth freed him up to spend long hours perfecting his skill at sculling, rowing a long, thin needle-shaped boat with two oars.

Jack’s dedication paid off. In a short time, he won six national championships and was the single scull champion of the United States. Jack’s talents were such that he competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics at Antwerp, Belgium. On that warm August day, Jack’s first event was the single scull, one person per boat. Jack’s competitor, J. Beresford, jumped ahead at the start of the race and held the lead for the first 750 meters.

Newspapers said that Jack got a “last spurt” of energy and closed the gap when they were just 150 meters from the finish line. Jack took the lead and crossed the finish line a full boat length before Beresford. Jack won the gold medal in the single scull. Back on dry land, Jack and Beresford were too tired to even shake hands. Jack had little time to celebrate.

30 minutes later, he competed in the double scull with his cousin as his teammate and they won gold. Four years later, Jack and his cousin competed in the double scull in the 1924 Paris Olympics and won gold again. Jack was the first rower in history to win three gold medals.

In 1923, Jack met a girl named Margaret Majer at a swimming competition. Margaret drew Jack’s attention for multiple reasons. Margaret, also a fierce competitor, won first place in the women’s competition. Margaret was also a cover-girl model with a degree in physical education. She later became the first woman to teach physical education at the University of Pennsylvania and at Women’s Medical College. In January 1924, six months before the Paris Olympics, Jack and Margaret married.

Together, Jack and Margaret had four children; Margaret, whom they called Peggy, John Kelly Jr., whom they called Kell, Patricia, and Elizabeth Anne, whom they called Lizanne. Jack and Margaret expected all of their children to be as competitive in sports as they were. Peggy, Kell, and Lizanne lived up to their expectations. Kell competed in the 1948, 1952, 1956, and 1960 Olympics. He won gold medals at the 1955 and 1959 Pan American Games and the 1949 European Championships. Peggy and Lizanne competed as well at the college level. Then, there was Patricia.

Patricia was absolutely uninterested in competitive sports. She enjoyed swimming but not competition swimming. She liked to swim just for fun, which Patricia’s parents were unable to comprehend. Patricia was only somewhat interested in academia. Her math grades were so low that she was rejected from her first choice of colleges. She eventually enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Soon after graduation, she began working as an actress, an occupation her father thought was “a slim cut above streetwalker.” She appeared in thirty films including “Dial M for Murder,” “Rear Window,” and “High Society,” before she decided to retire at the height of her career. Patricia, the outcast of the family, the girl who was not expected to amount to anything, became the most famous member of the family. Patricia was the middle name of movie star and Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly.

Sources:

1. Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), August 30, 1920, p.17.

2. Donald Spoto, High Society: the Life of Grace Kelly (New York: Crown Publishers, 2009) 34.

By Jeanni Ritchie

Here’s Johnny!

National TV Talk Show Host Day was chosen to be celebrated on October 23, The King of Late Night Television’s birthday. John William “Johnny” Carson was born on October 23, 1925 and served as the host of The Tonight Show for thirty years (1962 – 1992).

I remember watching episodes of The Tonight Show (called Johnny Carson by most) when I’d stay with my Aunt Connie and Uncle Ron in Kansas for summer vacations. Unlike my parents, they were night owls and I never had a bedtime when I visited. Of course, I was asleep within minutes but I always felt so grown up watching that monologue.

I didn’t make it through a whole episode until my firstborn was born in 1990 with her days and nights mixed up. We didn’t have cable so my evenings revolved around Johnny Carson and David Letterman before the national anthem signaled the upcoming snow on the tv as I desperately begged my daughter to sleep.

Four more kids followed in the next four years and television talk shows aired in between episodes of Sesame Street and Barney. I needed to hear dialogue that wasn’t brought to you by the letter “C” and the number “4.”

I discovered a few other talk show hosts over the years that enlightened, informed, and entertained as much as Carson and Letterman.

In honor of Dave’s infamous Top 10 countdown, I give you my own list.

10. Craig Ferguson, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005-2014) Ferguson is brilliant, with a charming Scottish accent. Immediately after his talk show ended, he hosted three seasons of Celebrity Name Game.

9. Montel Williams, The Montel Williams Show (1991-2008) Montel exuded warmth and class, a true gentleman on the talk show circuit.

8. Andy Cohen, Watch What Happens Live (2009-current) I loved Cohen when he started out, an enthusiastic fan as well as host. There was something magical about seeing him light up with excitement when he managed to nab a guest he adored, like watching an elementary school boy meet his hero.

7. Regis and Kelly, Live with Regis and Kelly (2001-2011) Of all the combinations of this show (Regis and Kathie Lee, Kelly and Michael, Kelly and Ryan, Kelly and Mark) this was my favorite combo. At least in the early years when they played off each other, the stalwart and the hipster, each exaggerating their roles and genuinely enjoying each other’s company. It hasn’t been the same since.

6. Maury Povich, Maury (1991-2022) I debated adding this out of sheer shame but the truth is, in the mid-90’s when I was covered in spit up with piles of never ending laundry, it was quite the guilty pleasure to watch men squirm as they were deemed to be the father and insistent women who knew the paternity of their children beyond a shadow of doubt quickly come up with bachelor #2 when Maury uttered “You are NOT the father” to the men they’d been screeching at for half an hour.

5. Steve Harvey, Steve Harvey (2012-2017) This generation’s funny man du jour, Harvey exploded on the scene with stand up, radio shows, talk shows, game shows, reality shows, and a pageant competition where he infamously announced the wrong winner. In his trademark self-deprecation, he poked fun at the gaffe for months afterward. It’s precisely this humanization that makes him so popular.

4. Drew Barrymore, The Drew Barrymore Show (2020-current) Barrymore was America’s favorite child in the 80’s, a young star left largely to raise herself. Now in her domesticated era, the mom of two is both fangirl and popular kid as she interviews celebrities and everyday people on her eponymous show.

3. Wendy Williams, The Wendy Williams Show (2008-2022) Williams was every woman and produced a show that America’s women could relate to. Plagued by health issues, relationship drama, and courtroom battles, her current status remains a mystery.

2. Danielle Fishel, The Dish (2008-2011) Wholesome Topanga no more, The Dish provided Fishel with an opportunity to showcase her acerbic wit while making fun of reality tv that took itself a little too seriously in the late 2000’s.

1. Joel McHale, The Soup (2004-2015) Like The Dish, The Soup was snarky and satirical and poked fun at the week’s pop culture moments. McHale’s deadpan delivery was the perfect blend of wit and sarcasm. I discovered it during my first year as an empty nester and welcomed the distraction.

Oris Dell Remedies
May 24, 1929 — October 18, 2024
Service: Were held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024; 10am at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Louise Callenius Williams
January 4, 1926 — October 14, 2024
Service: Saturday, November 2, 2024; 10:30am at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell and School Superintendent Shane Wright announced that the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Sabine Parish School Board, will conduct a school active shooter drill at Pleasant Hill School on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 9 AM.

The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, Pleasant Hill Police Dept, local emergency services, and other resources will be involved and responding to the school campus.

Sabine Parish Schools are not in session this week as they are all out for Fall Break.

We ask the public not to be alarmed but to be aware that local law enforcement and emergency services will be responding to Pleasant Hill School and training as if it were a real-life situation.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Chief Deputy B. Walker or Captain J. Branam.

**THIS IS ONLY A DRILL**

SIBLEY – With its 39-game district winning streak on the line, Many battled and pushed Lakeside deep into the second half.

But the Warriors scored the final three touchdowns in the second half to pull away to a 28-6 win.

Lakeside’s 6-0 start is the best in school history, while Many’s 0-6 beginning equals the number of regular season losses Many has experienced in the last five years combined.

Many opened the game by taking a Lakeside fumble and driving down to the 2-yard line.

But the Warriors stuffed Many on four straight plays to deny the Tigers the end zone early.

The defensive battled ensued throughout the first half before Lakeside’s Taron Riley took a Brock Case screen pass 15 yards for a touchdown to go up 7-0 late in the second quarter.

Many didn’t waste a Lakeside fumble in the third quarter as they sliced Lakeside’s lead to 7-6 midway through the third quarter.

But the Warriors defense took over from there, halting any chance of Many taking a lead while tacking on three touchdowns themselves.

Riley went on a 60-yard jaunt to push Lakeside’s lead to 14-6 before Kentravion Miller added two rushing touchdowns to seal the game.

The 28 points allowed is by far the fewest from Many this season after surrendering 60 or more points in the past three weeks, including to a fairly anemic St. Mary’s offense.

But Many’s offensive output is the fourth time in six games the Tigers have been held to less than 10 points.

Many will close out a three-game road trip when they head to Winnfield (3-3).

Those Tigers haven’t played a district game yet and snapped a three-game losing streak in a 33-6 beating of winless Rosepine.

Winnfield’s three wins (Jonesboro-Hodge, Caldwell Parish, Rosepine) have a combined one win.

Winnfield’s three losses (West Ouachita, Jena, Bunkie) have been to superior teams in which they’ve been outscored 116-14.

Many could look to Winnfield and see a future they’d rather not experience.

Although Winnfield’s success on the state championship platform (one title in 1982) pales in comparison to Many’s three, these Tigers were a factor in the title race throughout the 1970s and 1980s again in the early 2010s before falling back on hard times since then.