BOM’s Tiffany Miller enjoyed her time at the Many High School 1st Annual Social Studies Fair! She is pictured with Kelcie Sepulvado, William Mains and Kaghan Miller. Events like social studies fairs play an important role in helping students connect classroom learning to the real world—building critical thinking skills, civic awareness, and a deeper understanding of our communities. We’re proud to support local schools and celebrate the students and educators shaping the next generation.
Lowell K. “Sandy” Robinson was a deputy for the Tulare County California Sheriff’s Department until he was elected Sheriff in 1951. From that election until the election in 1966, Sandy had easily defeated all others who vied for the office. The November 8, 1966, election day was a disaster for Sandy because he received only about half as many votes as his contender received. On January 1, 1967, he turned his office and the title of sheriff over to the incoming sheriff.
One of Sandy’s daily tasks was to retrieve his mail from post office box number 510 at the Visalia Post Office. It was a task that had become so routine that he performed it without much thought. It was just one of the routine details of his daily life such as putting on his shoes and grabbing his car keys. Soon after the election, Sandy decided to leave Visalia, California and move to Baxter Springs, Kansas to be near his parents and siblings. In the chaos of moving, Sandy forgot to return his post office box key. It remained on his keyring. Sandy was still getting things settled in Baxter Springs when a local hotel manager resigned and moved to another town. The hotel owner offered Sandy the hotel manager position and he quickly accepted. Sandy had not set up his new address in Baxter Springs when he was hired for his new job. When he visited the post office, he requested the same post office box which had been used by the previous manager just in case any mail intended for the hotel was delivered to that box. After completing the necessary paperwork, the postal clerk gave Sandy the box key. Stamped on one side of the key was the post office box number. Sandy was surprised when he looked at the key and saw it stamped with the number 510. Sandy had the same post office box number in Baxter Springs that he had in Visalia some 1650 miles to the west.
Sandy shrugged off the coincidence. He made sure the new key worked, retrieved a few pieces of mail from the box, then put the key on his key ring with little thought. Nearly two years went by, and checking his mailbox at the Baxter Springs Post Office became just another item on his daily routine. Then in August 1969, Sandy pulled out his keyring and opened box number 510. He retrieved the mail and was in the process of locking his post office box when he noticed that another key on his key ring was stamped “510.” That is when he finally realized that he had forgotten to return his key to the Visalia Post Office. Then, he wondered which of the two keys he had been using for nearly two years to get his mail. Other than normal wear, the keys were practically identical. Sandy tried both keys in each of the mailboxes in the Baxter Springs Post Office. Although they would not open any other box at that post office, both keys opened post office box number 510.
Sources:
1. The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas), August 25, 1969, p.5.
2. The Daily Item (Port Chester, New York), October 1, 1969, p.8.
3. “Lowell Sandy Robinson,” FindAGrave.com, accessed March 1, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28198671/lowell-sandy-robinson.
On March 11, 1970, the beginning of the end for one of the most influential bands in music history quietly unfolded. On that day, a press release tied to the upcoming solo album of Paul McCartney included a self-interview in which he confirmed he was no longer working with The Beatles.
Though tensions had been building within the band for months, McCartney’s public comments made what many feared official: The Beatles were effectively finished.
Formed in Liverpool in 1960, The Beatles — comprised of McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — had transformed popular music in less than a decade. From early hits like “She Loves You” to groundbreaking albums such as “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” the group reshaped recording techniques, songwriting standards and global celebrity culture.
By 1969, however, creative differences and business disputes had strained relationships within the band. Recording sessions for what would become “Let It Be” were famously tense, later chronicled in documentaries and studio footage that revealed the fractures behind the harmonies.
McCartney’s March 11 announcement did not immediately result in legal dissolution, but it signaled to fans around the world that the Beatles’ collaborative era had ended. The official breakup would follow in 1970 after legal actions were filed.
The news stunned fans and dominated international headlines. For many, the breakup symbolized the close of the 1960s themselves — a cultural shift away from the optimism and experimentation that defined the decade.
In the years that followed, each member embarked on successful solo careers, producing enduring hits and continuing to shape music independently. Yet the impact of The Beatles as a collective remains unmatched.
More than five decades later, March 11 stands as a pivotal date in music history — the day the world learned that the band that defined a generation was no more.
Diana Serrett Davis
January 3, 1958 — March 7, 2026
Services: Thursday, March 12 at 2:00 p.m. at Siloam Baptist Church
Marlene Jackson “Mimi” Pitt
November 23, 1939 — March 8, 2026
Visitation: rom 12:00 p.m. until time of service
Services: Friday, March 13 at 2:00 p.m. at Little Flock Baptist Church
Sabine Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or npjnatla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Deaths shown above are FREE of charge.)
You may email them to SPJContent@sabineparishjournal.com
Sheriff Aaron Mitchell has released details of felony narcotics and firearm-related arrests made by the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office during February 2026, highlighting ongoing enforcement efforts targeting illegal drug activity throughout the parish.
Officials noted that some individuals were released on own recognizance (OR), meaning defendants were not required to post bail but signed a written promise to appear in court as required. All other conditions of bail remain in effect.
February Arrests
Deanna O. Poplin, 59, of Anacoco was arrested and charged with:
Possession of Schedule II narcotics (methamphetamine)
Possession of drug paraphernalia
No brake lights
Her bond was set at $5,000, and she was later released on her own recognizance.
Kevin Dewayne Conley, 49, of Many was arrested on a warrant for:
Possession with intent to distribute Schedule II narcotics (methamphetamine)
Second or subsequent offenses
Obstruction of justice
Failure to signal
Bond was set at $100,000. Conley remains in the Sabine Parish Jail.
Charles Ray Moore, 58, of Cleburne, Texas, was charged with:
Possession of Schedule II narcotics (methamphetamine)
Obstruction of public passage.His bond was set at $10,000, which was posted.
Makia Nicole Cade, 46, of Many was arrested and charged with:
Distribution of Schedule I narcotics (marijuana)
Possession of Schedule I narcotics (marijuana)
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Her bond was set at $10,000, and she was released on her own recognizance.
Jesse Allen Waddle, 32, of Pleasant Hill was charged with:
Possession of Schedule II narcotics (methamphetamine)
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Driving on a roadway laned for traffic
Operating a vehicle in unsafe condition (cracked windshield)
Expired driver’s license
Bond was set at $1,000, which was posted.
Marcello Bantriel Hicks, 44, of Many, was arrested following a federal indictment for distribution of Schedule II narcotics (methamphetamine). He has been transferred to federal custody.
Natalie Nicole Williams, 36, of Many, was also arrested on a federal indictment for distribution of Schedule II narcotics (methamphetamine) and transferred to federal custody.
Joshua Waylon Rivers, 33, of Noble was charged with:
Possession of Schedule I narcotics (marijuana)
Possession of Schedule II narcotics (methamphetamine)
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Second or subsequent offenses
Operating a vehicle while license suspended
Bond was set at $70,000. He remains in jail.
Roger Dale Rivers, 64, of Converse was arrested on a warrant for one count of distribution of Schedule II narcotics (methamphetamine). Bond was set at $20,000, and he remains in jail.
Ongoing Enforcement Efforts
Sheriff Mitchell stated the arrests reflect continued efforts by deputies and investigators to combat illegal narcotics distribution and related criminal activity across Sabine Parish. Authorities say investigations remain ongoing and additional arrests are possible.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Town of Many has announced an upcoming routine chlorine cleanse of the municipal water system, set to begin March 11 and continue through May 22 according to town officials.
Officials said the temporary treatment adjustment is part of standard system maintenance designed to help maintain water quality throughout the distribution system.
Residents do not need to boil water or take any additional precautions, as the process is not considered an emergency. During the cleanse period, customers may notice a stronger chlorine taste or odor in their drinking water.
Town officials emphasized that chlorine levels will remain within Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety standards and pose no health risk to the public.
The Town of Many encourages residents with questions or concerns to contact town offices for additional information while the routine maintenance is underway.
Residents across Sabine Parish can expect warm temperatures and increasing chances of rain and thunderstorms as the week progresses, according to the National Weather Service forecast.
Wednesday will bring partly sunny skies with a slight 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms developing after noon. High temperatures are expected to reach near 84 degrees, with calm winds becoming southerly around 5 mph. Skies will turn mostly cloudy Wednesday night with lows near 64 degrees.
Conditions remain warm and mostly dry on Thursday, with mostly sunny skies and a high again near 84 degrees. Thursday night will be mostly cloudy with overnight lows around 64 degrees.
Rain chances begin to increase on Friday, with a 40 percent chance of showers developing after noon under partly sunny skies. Highs will climb to around 85 degrees. A slight 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms continues into Friday night, with lows near 66 degrees.
The most active weather of the forecast arrives over the weekend. Saturday is expected to bring widespread showers and thunderstorms, with an 80 percent chance of precipitation and a high near 83 degrees. Storm chances will remain into Saturday night with a 50 percent chance of rain and lows around 64 degrees.
Unsettled weather is expected to continue into Sunday, with showers and thunderstorms likely and mostly cloudy skies. High temperatures will be slightly cooler, reaching near 76 degrees, with rain chances around 70 percent.
Residents are encouraged to monitor updated forecasts throughout the week, especially with increased storm activity expected heading into the weekend.
MANY – The playoffs.
If the Many boys basketball team had one goal circled for the 2025-26 season, it was to see their name in the Division III Non-Select playoff bracket when pairings were announced.
The Tigers did just that, and almost a lot more.
The No. 22 seed nearly pulled off the road upset at No. 11 Green Oaks, who won in overtime 58-53 this past Friday.
“We felt like we could compete with teams in this division, and we felt good about our game plan,” said head coach Taylor Lee. “Going up there is a tough, hostile environment, and we got down 14-3 early.
“But these kids fought back, chipped away at the lead to trail by six at halftime, and then forced overtime. Overtime didn’t go our way, but we were in the fight. The feel of that atmosphere and an overtime playoff game should be a springboard for us next year.”
But before thinking about where Many is going, one has to understand where they’ve been.
The year before Lee arrived, the 2022-23 team won just two games – the first and last games of the season that bookended a 17-game losing streak.
Lee doubled that win total in 2023-24 and bumped it to 11 wins this past season.
“I knew it was a tough job when I took it,” Lee said. “The year before me they struggled, but having (turned programs around) before, I had confidence we could do it again.
“We’ve been in the process of becoming competitive again, and these guys have put in time and hard work. We had a lot of key guys coming back this year, and we knew we needed to take steps forward and prove ourselves. That meant competing in district play.”
That set the stage for this season, which still included a young corps of guys led by junior point guard Kellen Cox.
Many went from being largely uncompetitive in District 3-2A to winning two district games in 2024-25 (sweep of Lakeside) to finishing in a tie for second place this season.
The Tigers, who accumulated a 17-11 record this season, split season series with Mansfield and Winnfield and played district champion Red River close in one of two meetings – a nine-point loss.
Cox led the district in scoring for the second straight season, and he returns with almost everyone from
this season, including key contributors like Cruz Manasco, Trevor Rials and Tyrion Hall.
The turnaround may be complete, but Many wants to push its ceiling past just a playoff entry.
“We want to really compete for a district title, and we know this district is tough, but we feel we have a real shot at that,” Lee said. “We want to host a first-round playoff game and win a few playoff games as we continue to move this program forward.”
It’s not like the blueprint hasn’t been there at all – both at Many and at Lee’s previous stops.
Many did advance to the quarterfinals in 2022 and claimed a No. 3 seed in 2021 (second round) in the consolidated Class 2A setup.
Lee brought a quiet confidence to Many having taken his last two programs to the Top 28 – the Dodson girls and the Ebarb boys. He took Ebarb to the state title game and collected the Class C Coach of the Year in 2021.
The program he took over at Dodson – two wins the season before he arrived.
The Many program needed to be rebuilt upon Lee’s arrival in the 2023-24 season, tapping into the historic Many and Sabine Parish basketball roots at a school where football has been king for the past two decades.
“There was a time before (the football success) where Many was considered a basketball school, and those roots are still here,” Lee said. “Sabine loves its basketball, and Many is no different.
“The crowd support this year was the best in years, and part of that is putting a good product out there but it’s also about kids who buy in and want to work.”
The basketball wins have returned to Many, and Lee wants to bring playoff basketball, district titles, and hopefully state titles back before he’s through.
“Someone might look at us in warmups and think we don’t look all that good, but these kids play so hard and compete,” Lee said. “To have some continuity with the same coach, same corps group of players, a group that’s willing to work and be coachable – it makes a difference.
“We’re going to continue to put that work in day in and day out.”
Matt Vines
Communications Specialist, LSUS Public Relations
Louisiana State University Shreveport
BATON ROUGE — State Senate President Cameron Henry and House Speaker Phillip DeVillier have both expressed concern about a spate of bills that might give communities veto power over carbon capture projects in their areas.
The push for a local option follows growing concerns of residents, landowners and environmentalists in Louisiana about the possible health implications of having the carbon capture and storage projects nearby.
Carbon capture is the process of capturing carbon dioxide at emission sources, transporting it and then storing or burying it in a deep, underground location.
DeVillier, R-Eunice, said more than 20 bills have been filed in the House that he would consider “anti-carbon capture.” DeVillier said he wants to ensure that the new technology is handled safely but also in accordance with guidance from the Supreme Court, “that says states nor local governments should interfere with interstate commerce. I mean, that is exactly what local option is,” he said.
Henry, R-Metairie, said that “when you’re talking about an industry that’s going to come in and change not only a parish but could possibly change the face of Louisiana, I think having a group of five people go in and say, ‘Under no circumstances will I ever allow this here,’ that’s not practical,” Henry said.
The lawmakers made those comments at a lunch at the Baton Rouge Press Club on Monday.
By Nutrition Agent, Erin Stockton
Recipe of the Month: Hearty Taco Bean Soup
Serves: 8 | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes (or 4 hours slow cooker)
This Hearty Taco Bean Soup is an easy one-dish meal that’s loaded with protein, fiber, and colorful veggies. It’s so quick and easy that you’ll even have time for a brisk evening walk after dinner. Pair with whole wheat tortilla chips, reduced fat shredded cheese, and a dollop of low-fat sour cream for a balanced, satisfying meal.
Ingredients:
– Vegetable oil cooking spray
– 1 medium onion, chopped
– 1 lb lean ground beef, turkey, or chicken
– 1 (28 oz) can no salt added crushed tomatoes
– 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
– 1 (16 oz) can reduced-sodium chili beans
– 1 (15 oz) can no salt added black beans
– 1 (15 oz) can no salt added pinto beans
– 1 (14 oz) can no salt added whole kernel corn, drained
– 1 (1.2 oz) package reduced-sodium taco seasoning mix
– 3 ½ cups water
Stovetop Instructions:
1. Spray a large pot with vegetable oil cooking spray. Sauté onions until soft.
2. Add ground meat and brown well.
3. Add all remaining ingredients and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10–15 minutes.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
1. Sauté onions and brown meat in a skillet.
2. Transfer to slow cooker.
3. Add all remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
Erin Stockton is a Nutrition Agent with the LSU AgCenter in DeSoto, Sabine, and Natchitoches Parishes. A certified educator for over 20 years, she provides research-based programs to help families make healthy food choices and stay active. For program requests or questions, contact her at 318-872-0533, estockton@agcenter.lsu.edu, or on Facebook at LSU AgCenter DeSoto & Natchitoches Nutrition & Community Health.
Residents of Sabine Parish are invited to attend a special community concert celebrating America’s 250th birthday while supporting local student musicians, according to an announcement from Many Mayor Robert Hable.
The America 250 Community Concert will take place Tuesday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sabine Theater in Many. The event will highlight the nation’s history through music while raising support for the Many High School Band.
Mayor Hable said the America 250–themed performance will feature selections inspired by the American Revolution, well-known patriotic favorites, and newly composed works honoring the heritage and history of the United States.
The evening will also include a special preview performance showcasing music the Many High Band will present in Williamsburg, Virginia, this April as part of the national America 250 celebrations. The trip provides students with an opportunity to represent their community on a historic national stage.
Donations will be accepted during the event to help offset travel expenses for the band as they prepare for the once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Community members interested in additional information may contact Scott DeBose at 318-461-5376 or by email at deboses@spsb.com.
Local officials encourage residents to attend and show their support for the students and the celebration of America’s milestone anniversary.
Masen Starks of Many represented Sabine Parish as he competed with fellow Northwestern State University students at the Louisiana/Mississippi Mathematical Association of America competition in Lafayette on Feb. 28.
Starks joined Shannon Boone of Deville and Natalie Sutton of Bossier City in competing in both the Integration Bee and the Team Competition.
Starks tied for fourth place out of approximately 60 students in the Integration Bee, narrowly missing a second-place finish.
The Team Competition featured 20 problems covering multiple areas of mathematics. More than 20 teams from 11 schools across Louisiana and Mississippi participated.
“Our team has been consistently improving their position over the last couple years,” said Nicholas Richardson, assistant professor of mathematics and team sponsor at Northwestern State University.
Information on mathematics programs at NSU is available at nsula.edu/program/bachelor-of-science-in-mathematics.
You ever notice how life has a way of barging in like a neighbor who doesn’t bother knocking? One minute you’re minding your own business, sipping coffee, feeling almost in control of your day—and the next, life taps you on the shoulder and says, “Scoot over, I’m sitting here now.” Around here, we treat interruptions the way we treat seagulls at the beach: we try to enjoy the view, but we keep one eye on the sky because we know something unpleasant might fall at any moment.
But what if we’ve been misreading the interruptions? What if the things we label as nuisances, delays, and potholes are actually holy things—God’s way of nudging us, slowing us, or getting our attention before we wander too far down the road of selfimportance and illusion of control?
We usually treat interruptions as spiritual speed bumps—annoying, jarring, and always arriving at the worst possible moment. But have you considered that the interruptions in your life might be holy things?
They might be God’s gracious way of getting your attention, redirecting your steps, or opening a door you didn’t even know was there.
Lent is a season of selfimposed interruption, if you observe it. It disrupts our usual habits and routines. Asking someone what they gave up for Lent is a bit like asking about New Year’s resolutions—we don’t always want to admit how fragile our commitments are. We resist resolutions and Lenten disciplines because they interrupt the normal choices we make. They threaten the illusion that we are in control.
But Lent brings us the gift of holy interruption. By intentionally letting go of our triedandtrue rhythms, we make room for new life to spring forth in the garden of the Resurrection. Lent is a minorkey season that unsettles the usual. It prepares us for the massive interruption of human history called the Resurrection.
Everything about Jesus was an interruption. His life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and reign as Lord and Savior interrupt human selfishness and sinfulness. Following Him certainly changes the course of your wellplanned life. He steps into our stories not to tidy them up but to transform them.
So, the next time you are interrupted, be encouraged. God may be allowing you to put aside your need to control and opening up an opportunity to experience His love and grace. God often shows up when we are not looking for Him. His love and grace can be found in holy interruptions.
“Why do couples fight about the same things over and over?”
See what Ida says about breaking the cycle.
The community will come together later this month to honor the life and legacy of a beloved local law enforcement officer during the 3rd Annual Adam Nelson Memorial Bass Pond Fishing Tournament, scheduled for Saturday, March 21.
The event will recognize the memory of Deputy Adam Nelson of the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, who died unexpectedly from a medical condition while on vacation in December 2022. Friends, family, and fellow deputies remember Nelson as a dedicated officer who inspired those around him and consistently gave “110 percent” both on and off duty.
According to organizers, the tournament will begin at 6:30 a.m., with anglers fishing ponds throughout the area before returning for the official weigh-in at 3 p.m. at Richard Wyatt’s residence, located at 331 Wyatt Road.
Participants will compete under a five-fish stringer format, including a big bass entry. The tournament fee is $50, with an optional $10 Big Bass entry. Organizers noted the payout will follow a 60/40 pot split, awarding one place per five entries.
Additional prizes will include:
A 15-and-under youth division prize
A $100 smallest bass prize
Organizers encourage anglers of all skill levels to participate in the event, which serves both as a community gathering and a tribute to Deputy Nelson’s lasting impact on Sabine Parish.
Those seeking additional information or registration details may contact Bradley Ford at 318-471-8585 or Richard Wyatt at 318-471-5557.
Event organizers say the tournament continues to reflect Nelson’s spirit and the message often associated with him: “Let it motivate you, Bro.”
Members of the Sabine Parish 4-H are celebrating an outstanding showing after local students brought home top team and individual honors at the recent Louisiana State Hunting Skills Competition.
Nine Sabine Parish 4-H members competed in the statewide event last weekend under the leadership of coach Chris Pearce, earning impressive results in both the junior and senior divisions.
The Junior Hunting Skills Team captured 1st place overall, while the Senior Team secured a strong 2nd place finish, highlighting the parish’s continued success in outdoor education and competitive shooting sports programs.
Junior Division Team Members
Junior team participants included:
Camden Dillard — Many Junior High School
Chloe Mains — Many Junior High School
Walker McCullough — BUCA
Eli Savell — MBA
Senior Division Team Members
Senior competitors included:
Karsyn Brandon — MBA
Mya Ferguson — MBA
William Mains — MHS
Raegan Matkin — FHS
Allen Walker — Converse High School
Top Individual Overall Honors
Sabine Parish students also earned several top individual placements:
2nd Place Senior Division Overall: Allen Walker, Converse High School
3rd Place Junior Division Overall: Chloe Mains, Many Junior High School
4th Place Junior Division Overall: Camden Dillard, Many Junior High School
Additional Individual Achievements
Junior Division Highlights
1st Place Wildlife Management — Camden Dillard
3rd Place Wildlife Management — Chloe Mains
5th Place Wildlife Management — Walker McCullough
2nd Place Decision Making — Chloe Mains
4th Place Decision Making — Camden Dillard
5th Place Hunting Skills — Chloe Mains
6th Place Hunting Skills — Eli Savell
Senior Division Highlights
1st Place Decision Making — Allen Walker
4th Place Decision Making — Raegan Matkin
5th Place Decision Making — William Mains
6th Place Decision Making — Karsyn Brandon
2nd Place Wildlife Management — Allen Walker
3rd Place Hunting Skills — Allen Walker
Local 4-H leaders praised the students for their dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the competition, noting that the program continues to provide valuable opportunities for youth to develop leadership, conservation awareness, and outdoor skills.
Officials extended congratulations to all participants and coaches for representing Sabine Parish with excellence at the state level.
Each and every day we wake up and make a decision in the first five minutes to either be happy, angry or sad. It’s a choice! Now, there are exceptions for those who have a mental illness or might be going through some tough times, but in general, everyone else makes a choice.
As anglers, we also have choices to make when we’re on the water whether it’s in a tournament or just out fun fishing. So much of the time, the choices we make say a lot about who we are as a person.
Today, having so many boats on the water means there are a lot of eyes out there — people who are watching every move you make as an angler.
That’s why it’s important to set a good example and use discretion when fishing around other anglers. Over the last few years, I’ve had a few encounters that had me shaking my head in disbelief. Anglers do dumb things that make everyone scratch their heads and ask, “What are you doing?”
To quote the famous line from the 1994 Tom Hanks movie Forrest Gump as he was told by his momma, “Stupid is as stupid does.” This quote pretty much sums up how too many boaters and anglers alike handle themselves on the water today.
Here are a couple of examples: Last year while on Toledo Bend, I had two incidents on the same day! While fishing a point in the back of a cove, I was casting my Carolina rig directly up on the point in five feet of water. On this day I was scouting for an event I had coming up in three days.
As I’m fishing this point, another boat with two anglers (who looked like tournament anglers) came around the backside of the point (opposite from me) and gradually started to turn and fish their way in my direction about 100 yards away. Now at this stage, I’m really OK and feel like there’s not really a problem since I’m thinking this boat will go behind me.
Then he did the unthinkable as he turned his boat 90 degrees and ran right over the spot I was fishing! He literally trolled right over my line between me and the point! Outranged at his stupidity, I threw my hands in the air and asked him, “What are you doing? How dumb are you?”
He turned and looked at me like I had three heads and seemed bewildered at my question. So, I repeated my question where the entire north end of Toledo Bend could hear me.
As I lectured him on right and wrong and the dumb decision he just made, he turned his trolling motor on high and got away from me as quick as he could without even a response to my lecture. It was as if he never saw or heard me! I mean I was the ONLY BOAT fishing this point after all; how could he not hear me?
Later that same day, I had another incident with an angler who was fishing with his grandfather and his son. Basically, the same situation; I’m fishing a spot just off a bluff close to the boat road when this boat came running down the boat road and shut down behind me about 30 yards away.
As I’m fishing this spot just off the bluff, this boat starts to idle behind me and is going away from me. So, at this point I’m thinking he’s doing the right thing and fishing away from me … or so I thought!
But no, that’s not what he did! He actually turned his boat 180 degrees and cut between me and the spot I was fishing about 20 yards in front of me, right where I was throwing my lure!
Once again, I’m dumbfounded and about to lose my mind by his action. I told him it was a good thing he had his young son in the boat because otherwise he too would have gotten a verbal tongue lashing like the other angler I chatted with earlier that day! Again, I asked him the same question, “How dumb are you?”
But during these times we live in, it’s just another day on the water and incidents like these are now commonplace. Anglers and pleasure boaters continue to do the dumbest things I’ve ever seen.
At the end of the day, I’m exhausted pretty much every time I go on the lake as I’m always on high alert for anglers cutting me off or someone doing something else dumb.
The problem isn’t just on the lake, it’s also at the boat ramp, as people have totally forgotten what the word courtesy even means. So many boat owners have no understanding of boat ramp etiquette and the process of launching a boat! IT’S NOT HARD, PEOPLE!
If you want to be entertained one day, take the time to go to a boat ramp and watch the comedy show of people who can’t back a boat down a boat ramp or load a boat on to a trailer. It’s hilarious and makes for great entertainment!
So, my advice today to all boaters/anglers who understand how to act on any body of water is to have patience and be prepared to help people launch their boat while teaching them how to do this the right way.
On the fishing side of things, you’ll also need patience as other anglers continue to cut you off as you’re going down a stretch of boat docks or a tree line.
So many boat owners and anglers have no idea about the unwritten rules of the water, or as I call it, common sense! I guess it’s up to us old anglers to teach and share our knowledge because they aren’t going to learn it from anyone else. Good luck, good fishing and stay safe!
Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com.
Artificial intelligence is everywhere right now — writing emails, generating art, passing professional exams, and promising to “revolutionize” just about every industry. Depending on who you ask, it’s either the greatest productivity tool ever created or the beginning of the robot takeover. But for all the headlines about automation replacing human jobs, there’s a quieter truth we don’t talk about enough: some skills just can’t be downloaded. This week’s cartoon plays with the gap between tech-world hype and real-world reality, reminding us that while algorithms may be impressive, there’s still plenty of value in good old-fashioned hands-on know-how.
March 4 holds a unique place in pop culture as National Grammar Day, a lighthearted observance that has grown in popularity thanks to social media, memes, and the internet’s enduring fascination with language.
The date itself is a playful nod to grammar rules, sounding like the command “March forth.” Over the years, it has become a day when grammar enthusiasts, writers, educators, and casual word lovers alike celebrate the quirks of language.
Online, March 4 often brings viral debates over Oxford commas, homophones, and common grammatical pet peeves. Brands, news outlets, and public figures frequently join in, posting tongue-in-cheek corrections and wordplay that engage audiences in a way few other observances do.
National Grammar Day also highlights how language shapes pop culture. Catchphrases, slang, and internet shorthand evolve rapidly, reflecting how communication adapts to technology and social trends. What was once considered “incorrect” grammar often becomes widely accepted usage, blurring the line between rules and cultural norms.
In an era dominated by text messages, emojis, and memes, March 4 serves as both a celebration and a reminder: language is alive, constantly changing, and deeply connected to how people express identity and humor.
From classrooms to comment sections, National Grammar Day proves that even the smallest details of language can spark big conversations — and plenty of laughs.
In 1965, Washoe was born in West Africa. Ten months later, she and four other youngsters, Dar, Pili, Tatu, and Moja, were brought to the United States to be raised by foster parents Allen and Beatrix Gardner. Allen and Beatrix played with them, talked to them, fed them, chased them, ran from them, gave them a comfortable and intellectually stimulating home, and all the other things most parents do to bond with and raise their children. Washoe and the others acted very much like children of their age with one exception, they could not speak. Fostering Washoe and the others was difficult because they were unable to communicate vocally, but Allen and Beatrix both worked as scientists at the University of Nevado in Reno and understood that getting the desired result usually took a long time to achieve. One of the most important tools in their arsenal as scientists was patience. Most doctors concluded that they would never be able to communicate because they all lacked a specific gene, the FOXP2 gene, which is essential for the normal development of speech. They would never be able to speak. They accepted the prognosis that the youngsters would never be able to communicate verbally, but Allen and Beatrix were determined that they would be able to communicate.
Rather than trying to get Washoe and the others to speak verbally, the Gardners stopped using verbal communication around them altogether. When in their presence, Allen and Beatrix communicated with each other using American Sign Language (ASL). The Gardners feared that trying to communicate with them verbally and with sign language simultaneously would be confusing. The Gardners hoped the youngsters would learn by watching them communicate with each other. Washoe was especially interested. They used the proper sign language to each other when Washoe was eating, bathing, and while she was being dressed. They invented exciting games; introduced new toys, books, and magazines; all of which were designed to stimulate sign language. They made scrapbooks of Washoe’s favorite pictures and used the proper sign language for whatever was shown in the photos. Dinner time began with Allen and Beatrix shaping their dominant hands into a flattened “O” with the fingertips touching the thumb then tapping the fingertips to their lips once or twice. In American Sign Language, this is the sign for “food” or “to eat.” Then one day at dinner time, long after doctors and other experts had given up hope that she would ever be able to communicate, Washoe told Allen and Beatrix that she was hungry by signing the word “food.” The Gardners were overjoyed. Within a short time, Washoe could tell the Gardners that she was thirsty and that she wanted to play with her toys by using sign language. She quickly learned the sign for “more” to let the Gardners know she was still hungry, still thirsty, or that she wanted more toys. Her vocabulary continued to grow. Then she began to learn to answer questions such as “Who is that?” and “What do you want?”
As her vocabulary grew, the Gardners noticed something extraordinary. Washoe began teaching the other youngsters the sign language she knew, and they were signing back correctly. With the help of the Gardners, Washoe and the others learned a sign language vocabulary of hundreds of words and expressions. Washoe became the first of her kind to learn a human language and teach it to another primate. Washoe and the others were all chimpanzees.
Sources:
1. “Friends of Washoe,” accessed February 22, 2026, https://www.friendsofwashoe.org/learn/chci_history/project_washoe_begins.html.
2. “Meet Tatu and Loulis—the last of the ‘talking’ chimpanzees,” National Geographic, accessed February 22, 2026, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/chimpanzee-sign-language-experiments.
3. “FOXP2 gene,” MedlinePlus.com, accessed February 22, 2026, https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/foxp2/.
Allen Ray Garcie
March 4, 1968 – February 27, 2026
Services: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church
Riley B. King, Jr.
07/09/1955 – 02/21/2026
Visitation: Friday, March 6 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel
Services: Saturday, March 7 at 12:00 p.m. at Bethel B.C. in Many, La.
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Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a fatal crash on Feb. 28 around 5:27 pm at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 120 and Louisiana Highway 175. This crash claimed the life of Kathy Birdwell, 66 of Natchitoches.
The initial investigation revealed that a 2000 Chevrolet Van was traveling west on Louisiana Highway 120. For reasons still under investigation, the driver failed to stop at the intersection, which caused the vehicle to leave the roadway and impact the ditch embankment.
The driver and two passengers, who were restrained, sustained moderate injuries and were transferred to a local medical facility for treatment. Birdwell, who also was restrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on-scene. Routine toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis.
While the cause of this crash remains under investigation, distracted and inattentive driving continues to be a leading cause of crashes in our state. Louisiana State Police urges all motorists to stay alert while driving. A lapse in one’s awareness can have deadly consequences.