Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) are alerting residents about another text message scam that has the potential to steal personal information and charge unnecessary fees. In the latest iteration of the scam, many Louisiana residents have received text messages claiming the recipient has an “outstanding traffic ticket” and must pay a fee or face repercussions. The OMV recommends that customers ignore and delete such messages.

The Louisiana OMV offers the following tips to help residents avoid scams:
· DO NOT click on links in an unsolicited message from an unverified source

· DO NOT respond or send your personal information via text

· Delete all suspicious texts and emails and report them to reportfraud.ftc.gov

· Exercise caution with all communications you receive from anonymous sources

· Confirm the message was generated from a legitimate source

· Keep an eye out for signs of scams (rewards, vague URLs, incorrect grammar)

The Louisiana OMV does not send text messages or emails threatening prosecution for traffic or fee violations. To process legitimate online services safely and securely, Louisiana residents can visit the official OMV website at http://www.expresslane.org.

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Brad Dison, a lifelong resident of Bienville Parish and writer whose history column “Remember This?” runs weekly in the Journal, has released a new book about Sheriff Henderson Jordan’s pursuit and capture of notorious gangsters Bonnie and Clyde.

“The Trap: The Untold Story of Sheriff Henderson Jordan and the Final Pursuit of Bonnie and Clyde” is now available for purchase at www.HendersonJordan.com.

“There has been more fiction than fact written about their crime spree,” Dison said. “For 91 years, people have assumed that former Texas Ranger Frank Hamer used his superior tracking skills to locate Bonnie and Clyde. This is another bit of fiction. It was Bienville Parish Sheriff Henderson Jordan who located two of their hideouts in Bienville Parish. It was he who set three traps to capture the gang. It was he who used an ‘undercover man’ and a ‘man on the inside’ to determine where they would be on that fateful morning of May 23, 1934. It was he who led the ambush posse and ended their violent crime spree.”

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The Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University will present the program “Fiddlin’ with the Finest! A Celebration of Louisiana Folk Fiddling” Saturday June 14 at 11 a.m. at the Many Depot Museum at 750 Highway 171 Bypass in Many. The event is free and open to the public.

Three past Louisiana State Fiddle Champions, Clancey Stewart, Joe Suchanek, and Ron Yule, will discuss the importance of the folk fiddling tradition with Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the Louisiana Folklife Center and professor of English at NSU. Live music performed throughout the program will include various regional fiddle styles accompanied by demonstrations of fiddle stick playing and twin fiddling. A Q&A session on participating in fiddle competitions will follow. Fiddlers of all skill levels are invited to bring their instruments for a jam session with the invited musicians.

This year’s Louisiana State Fiddle Championship will take place as part of the 45th annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival, to be held on Saturday July 19 at 1 p.m. in the Magale Recital Hall on the NSU campus. Fiddlers may compete in the championship or non-championship division as well as in the twin fiddle category. Registration is at noon in the first-floor foyer outside the Magale Recital Hall. The Fiddle Championship winner will perform on the Festival main stage in Prather Coliseum at 5 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center. Support for the Festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the City of Natchitoches, Cleco, the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and the State of Louisiana.

The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information, call the Louisiana Folklife Center at (318) 357-4332, email folklife@nsula.edu, or go to nsula.edu/folklife.

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You still have time to win a buckle!

Red River Cowboy Church wants to help families live life with Jesus this summer! M3 Kids is based on 3 principles…My God, My Family & Me! We host several Mane Events each year to bring families together to play and learn how much God loves them. June 22 is the next Horseless rodeo! It’s a free family event for toddlers through 4th graders. Bring your child to church and register them for the Horseless Rodeo to begin immediately after the service. A free lunch will be provided by the Chuck Wagon. You and your child will choose your event. There will be events like sheep riding, cow branding with paint, sorting, dummy roping, and goat ribbon pulling. Do them all or just a few. This series will be held every 4th Sunday of May through August. Participate in 3 of the 4 Mane Events and your child will win a buckle. It’s that easy…and so much fun! Watch the Red River Cowboy Church Facebook page for more details. Every kid loves a cowboy buckle and this is an opportunity for you and your child to have a fun time the cowboy way!

Red River Cowboy Church
South Red River Parish
LA-174, Coushatta, LA 71019
Phone: (318) 201-2626

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I had it but it is gone now.

You read these articles days after I send them. My habit is to write and send them on Monday morning before noon. So, I start thinking about them on Sunday afternoon. I had the greatest idea in the history of these articles for an article. The idea was brilliant. It was illuminating. It was humorous. It was less than six hundred words. I remember exactly where I had the idea. I was sitting in traffic at Walgreens. I was on my way to Tractor Supply to look at things I will never use in my life. I call this “expanding my horizons.” I smiled to myself and asked myself if I should write the idea down. Somewhere in my brain the voice told me that this idea was so brilliant, illuminating, and humorous there would be no way I could ever forget the idea.

Never ever trust that voice in your head. The voice lies. I have no idea what I was going to write. I do not have a clue. I do not know if it was animal, mineral, or vegetable. I lost it. The idea is gone or has landed in someone’s Instagram feed, and they are claiming it as their very own idea. Today, if you read something brilliant, illuminating, and humorous, it was probably my idea!

The idea for the article had something to do with a Yiddish proverb. The Yiddish proverb teaches, “If one man calls you an ass pay him no mind. If two men call you an ass—go and buy a saddle.” I thought it was brilliant, illuminating, and humorous. I forgot what else went with it.

Do you forget?

As I grow more mature and notice all the physical stuff that does not work anymore, I have noticed that my mind is not as quick as it once was. I forget things. I just remembered that I forgot to read an Internet article on remembering not to forget.

Here is the truth in all this. God remembers you! He loves you, knows you, and remembers you as if you were His only child!

When you confess your sins to Him, He forgets them. Since God has forgotten your sins, why do you keep carrying them around?

I am glad God remembers and forgets!

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The biggest, most star-studded and fun-filled party of every summer for miles around is coming your way at the end of the month.

Three days of festivities are approaching beginning Thursday June 26 through Saturday June 28 for the 2025 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration in Natchitoches.

The LSHOF’s Class of 2025 will be enshrined Saturday night June 28 at the Natchitoches Events Center to culminate the 66th Induction Celebration. The final event is already full with a waiting list and standing room only tickets available.

The Induction Celebration will kick off Thursday, June 26, with the Welcome Reception from 5-7 p.m., free to the public at the Hall of Fame museum at 800 Front Street.

The Friday, June 27 schedule begins with the Celebrity Bowling Bash presented by BOM at Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria. The 2025 Rockin’ River Fest, a free concert on the downtown riverbank stage, begins at 6 p.m. and runs until 10:30. In conjunction with the Rockin’ River Fest is the VIP Taste of Tailgating party, a ticketed indoor-outdoor event that is approaching capacity.


The slate on Saturday, June 28 kicks off with the free LSHOF Junior Training Camp led by community relations personnel from the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, along with Northwestern State coaches and this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, on the NSU campus at the Webb Wellness and Recreation Center and Turpin Stadium. This event is presented by Natchitoches Regional Medical Center and is nearing capacity. Free registration for kids ages 7-16 is required and can be easily accomplished at LaSportsHall.com.

At noon Saturday, the Round Table Luncheon presented by the Tiger Athletic Foundation is set for Riverside Reserve on Mill Street. Fox Sports broadcaster Tim Brando emcees an entertaining program.

Festivities culminate Saturday evening with the Induction Reception at the LSHOF museum beginning at 5, followed at 7 by the Induction Ceremony at the Natchitoches Events Center. Northwestern State University and State Farm Agents of Louisiana are presenting sponsors Saturday evening.

The VIP Taste of Tailgating, the Bowling Bash, the Round Table Luncheon and the Induction Reception and Ceremony are ticketed events requiring purchase in advance through LaSportsHall.com or by calling 318-238-4255.

The Thursday reception, the Friday evening River Fest and the Junior Training Camp are free.

The Class of 2025 is headlined by two men pivotal in LSU’s 2003 football national championship – coach Nick Saban and Andrew Whitworth, a champion at West Monroe High School, LSU and in the NFL during a 16-year pro career. More sparkle is provided by pro basketball All-Stars Danny Granger and Vickie Johnson, the state’s winningest all-time college baseball coach Joe Scheuermann and Danny Broussard, one of the nation’s most successful high school basketball coaches, in this year’s induction class.

It also includes LSU gymnastics great and NCAA individual champion April Burkholder, transformational Catholic-Baton Rouge high school football coach Dale Weiner and George “Bobby” Soileau, a four-time high school and 1956 NCAA boxing champion at LSU who also won a state crown as a football coach at his alma mater, Sacred Heart High School in Ville Platte.

LSU graduate Herb Vincent, now a longstanding associate commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, is receiving the Hall’s Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award with his enshrinement.

Also being honored: Ed Daniels, a generational television sports broadcaster in New Orleans, and Glenn Guilbeau, one of the nation’s more decorated sportswriters in a career that has seen him cover LSU, state college, high school and pro sports along with stories across the South and around the SEC. They are being inducted as recipients of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism.

The 2025 Induction Celebration will be hosted by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, the support organization for the Hall of Fame. The LSHOF Foundation was established as a 501 c 3 non-profit entity in 1975 and is governed by a statewide board of directors. 

For information on sponsorship opportunities and other participation, contact Foundation President/CEO Ronnie Rantz at 225-802-6040 or RonnieRantz@LaSportsHall.com, or Greg Burke, Director of Business Development and Public Relations, at 318-663-5459 or GregBurke@LaSportsHall.com via email.  

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They say age is just a number and that’s probably true. When we were young in our 20s and 30s, we grew up thinking that people in their 50s, 60s and 70s were old. Then the closer I got to each of these demographic age groups, they didn’t seem so old anymore. But when anglers you’re competing against start addressing you with the word “sir” included, that’s when it’s time to recognize the date of birth on your driver’s license. 

In the tournament bass fishing world, anyone over 50 is considered old. For years I never even thought about my age, but for some unforeseen reason turning 64 this year has hit me a little harder than other birthdays. This year for the first time, I’ve noticed I need stronger reading glasses, my balance is a little off and it requires a lot more effort to get up from my boat seat.

Younger anglers are now asking me if I need help launching my boat. When this first started taking place towards the end of last season, I was caught off guard and kind of offended. I mean, does it look like I need help? I thought maybe I need someone to video me launching my boat so I can see firsthand if I look old and unsure of myself. 

I have noticed this year that it does take more effort for me to climb onto the back of my truck, step down onto my boat trailer, unhook the boat strap, climb over into the boat and back the boat off the trailer. I used to hop around with ease like a jungle monkey going from tree to tree. But not anymore, as the muscles in my body don’t respond with the strength and quickness I once possessed. 

Even getting around in the boat is more of a challenge! I used to jump from the front deck to the back deck in single bond like Superman leaping over tall buildings. Today, it’s basically a Texas two-step with one more step added to get from the front deck to the back deck, with a high possibility that we might hang a toe and fall flat on our face. 

Another area that’s becoming a difficult challenge is running the trolling motor especially in rough water. At one time in my younger days, I had the balance of a cat walking on the top bar of a chain-link fence. But today, I need the pedestal butt seat in position up front so I can have something to lean on in order to stabilize myself. 

Currently, I feel like I’m only a couple of years away from needing a walker to navigate around my boat! While I haven’t fallen into the lake in years, I know that day is coming again really soon, and it will all be due to my inability to control the trolling motor, especially when it’s on high. This is why I always keep a complete change of clothes in the boat, just in case I decide to take an unexpected swim. 

Just like any other sport, there comes a time when you start to wonder if your time as a tournament angler is up. Is it time to load the boat for the last time and drive away? Tournament bass fishing has and will always be a young man’s sport. The energy, time and commitment required to compete at a high level is designed for younger anglers. 

But I still have that burning desire to compete! While I don’t practice 8 to 10 hours a day for an event like I used to, technology like forward-facing sonar has allowed me to be more efficient when scouting, saving a lot of wasted time searching for bass. 

While I know my days of possibly winning an event are slim, now I’m trying to be reasonable with my expectations and hoping for top 10 finishes. This younger generation anglers coming up are really good, especially when it comes to using their electronics. 

I guess that now I’m the old guy on the tournament trail, maybe I’ve earned the right to allow these younger anglers to help an old man in need! I might accept a little assistance when I’m trying to load or unload my boat. But I hope they don’t take my need for help as a weakness as a competitor … because I’ll still kick their butts every chance I get! 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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On the afternoon of June 4, 1987, 22-year-old Marquisa Kellogg was working at the Grand Slam Restaurant, a once-popular eatery in the Madisonville neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. She had served cheese coneys to two men in their early 20s whom she considered friends. She said she knew them “from the neighborhood.” Marquisa and the two customers exchanged pleasantries. There was no reason for Marquisa to suspect that this day would be any different than any other workday at the restaurant, but according to newspaper accounts from 1987, it all went wrong when the two men walked up to the cash register. The men had a brazen plan to rob Marquisa’s cash register. When they approached Marquisa, one of the men pulled a weapon. Marquisa took one look at the robber’s weapon and fled from her post at the open cash register. When she regained her composure and returned to the cash register, she found that it was short by $25 and called the police.

Police arrived at the restaurant, spoke with Marquisa, and began interviewing other customers. Police struggled to find witnesses to the crime. Upon hearing Marquisa scream, customers turned toward the cash register and saw her run away, but no one actually saw either of the men take money from the cash register. Was this part of the plan? Did the robbers intentionally steer the other customers’ attention onto the fleeing cashier and away from the cash register to enable them to quickly snatch some money? Was this their grand slam?

Marquisa later said the police failed to take the robbery seriously. You see, rather than using a weapon that most people would normally expect a robber to use, such as a gun or knife, this robber used a much smaller weapon which was only about an inch-and-a-half long. The weapon that the robber used to frighten Marquisa away from her cash register long enough to take money from it was a harmless six-legged winged insect called a Cicada.

In an interview in 2021, Marquisa said the robbery at the Grand Slam Restaurant which received national news coverage had been blown out of proportion. She said it had all been a prank gone wrong, but her register was still short $25. Police made no arrests in this case.

Sources:

1. Wilmington News-Journal, June 5, 1987, p.1.

2. News Journal, June 6, 1987, p.12.

3. The Cincinnati Enquirer, June 19, 2021, p.A5.

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On Tuesday, June 11, Louisiana residents embrace the spirit of summer by celebrating National Corn on the Cob Day, honoring one of the season’s most beloved staples. On this day, communities across the state gather to enjoy the sweet simplicity of corn on the cob while highlighting its cultural and agricultural significance.

Though often overshadowed by larger crops like sugarcane and cotton, sweet corn has long been a part of Louisiana’s summer harvest. This year, local farmers reported an especially strong crop.

Families across the state embrace the holiday at home, preparing corn on the cob in a variety of delicious ways. Some boil it the classic way and topped it with butter and salt, while others opt for grilling to add a smoky flavor and charred texture. For those looking to change things up, here are several popular ways Louisianans can cook corn on the cob for dinner:

Boiled: Simmered in salted water and served with butter, a timeless method.

Grilled: Charred on the grill for a smoky flavor, often brushed with garlic butter or Cajun seasoning.

Oven-Roasted: Wrapped in foil or baked open-faced with herbs, garlic, and olive oil.

Steamed: A gentle cooking method that keeps corn juicy and flavorful.

Air Fried: Quickly crisped in the air fryer with a light oil coating and spices.

Microwaved: A fast and convenient option—simply wrap ears in a damp paper towel and cook for a few minutes.

Elote-Style: Inspired by Mexican street corn—grilled and topped with mayo, cheese, chili powder, and lime.

Boiled in Milk and Butter: A rich Southern-style twist that adds creaminess and sweetness.

Beyond its flavor, corn offered health benefits, too. High in fiber and rich in antioxidants, it makes for a nutritious addition to dinner tables when prepared without excessive toppings. Nutritionists remind home cooks that keeping preparation simple—boiled, grilled, or roasted with minimal seasoning—could maintain both taste and wellness.

While June 11 also marks other observances like National German Chocolate Cake Day and International Yarn Bombing Day, National Corn on the Cob Day steals the show in Louisiana. Its ties to local farming, summer cooking traditions, and nostalgic family meals makes it a natural fit for celebration.

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NONE

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

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BOM was a sponsor of the Converse 6U Wildcats. Pictured left to right: Beaux Bossier, Gus Richardson, Drake Parrie and Jed Ryder.

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Funeral services for John Verena Lovelady, 87, will be Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 9891 Texas Hwy., Many, Louisiana. A visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A burial will follow the service at Beulah Baptist Cemetery, 31725 Hwy 191, Many, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Brother Kenneth Leach.

John was born on July 17, 1937 to John Henry Lovelady and Minnie Bass Lovelady in Sabine Parish, Louisiana and passed away on Monday, June 2, 2025 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

John was preceded in death by his wife, Linda Lovelady; parents, John and Minnie Lovelady; sisters, Bernice Rogers (Bob), Bertha Oliver (Franklin), Estelle Brown (Bill), Eliza Melancon-Rogers (Lynn and Jr.), Virgie Evans ( George), Hazel Crouch (J.D.), Inez Knopp (Arthur), Rosemary King (Tommy), and Roma Jean Crouch (Ivan); and brother-in-law, J.C. Hippler. He is survived by his daughter, Donna Lovelady of Austin, Texas; son, Stoney Lovelady of Austin, Texas; stepsons, Ricky Lehr of Oklahoma and Chris Lehr of Zwolle, Louisiana; sister, Jewel Hippler of Longview, Texas; 1 granddaughter; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins; and special caregiver, Libby McGaha.

Honoring John as pallbearers will be Dennis Franz, Jamie Baker, Tim King, Zee Sepulvado, Joey Brown, and Richard Lee.

Services and care were provided to the family by Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Many, Louisiana.

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Funeral services for Joan Ebarb Sneed, 86, were held on May 29, 2025 A burial followed the service at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Officiating the service was Father Timothy Hurd.

Joan was born on September 30, 1938 to Albert Ebarb and Frances Knight Ebarb in Zwolle, Louisiana and passed away on Saturday, May 24, 2025 in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Frances and Albert Ebarb; sisters, Iva Lee Meshell, Dorothy Ezernack, and Ethel Paddie; and brothers, Clifton Ebarb, Billy Rae Ebarb, Alfred Ebarb, Raymond J. Ebarb, and Steve Ebarb. She is survived by her husband, Billy Sneed; sons, Lamar Ebarb and wife, Wendy, of Zwolle, Louisiana, Steve Ebarb of Shreveport, Louisiana, and Alfred Anderson and wife, Darlene, of Zwolle, Louisiana; daughters, Paula Anderson of Ebarb, Louisiana, Sharon Leone and husband, Robert, of Zwolle, Louisiana, Phyllis Anderson of Zwolle, Louisiana, and Terri Remedies of Many, Louisiana; brother, Roy Ebarb of Farmerville, Louisiana; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren and a host of great-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Honoring Joan as pallbearers were Justin Anderson, Brent Ebarb, Zack Remedies, Jeremy Leone, Robert Leone, and Eric France.

Services and care were provided to the family by Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home.

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Herman Hoyt Neel, 98, was born on May 21, 1926 to Hoyt Neel and Vera Calloway Neel in Negreet, Louisiana and passed away on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Many, Louisiana. A memorial will be held at a later date.

Herman is preceded in death by his parents, Vera and Hoyt Neel; sisters, Claudine Cryer and Juanita Jackson; and brother, S.T. Neel. He is survived by his sons, Dudley Neel of Groves, Texas, Lenord Neel and wife, Wanda, of Crestview, Florida, Norman Neel and wife, Ruby, of Fort Jesup, Louisiana, and Robert Neel and wife, Gail, of Orangefield, Texas; daughters, Brenda Ortego of Many, Louisiana and Cheryl Crochet and husband, Johnny, of Groves, Texas; 15 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren and great-great-children.

Services and care provided to the family by Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home.

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Funeral services for Khallie Christine Youngblood, 6, were held on May 24. A burial followed at Aimwell Cemetery. Officiating the service was Sister Vernice Green.

Khallie was born on December 24, 2018 to Bethany Stocking and Kevin Youngblood in Natchitoches, Louisiana and passed away on Monday, May 19, 2025 in Many, Louisiana.

Khallie was loved beyond measure. She was a shining light in a dark world. She was the princess of the family and was by far the favorite of everyone. She loved to look at her reflection in her big mirror and could be seen admiring her beauty on a daily basis. Her days were spent watching her favorite princess, Elsa. She loved school and the time she got to spend there with her teachers, therapists, and friends. While Khallie will be missed dearly on earth, we know that she is in heaven with God’s other angels.

Khallie is preceded in death by her great-grandparents, Walter and Margaret Sepulvado. She is survived by her parents, Bethany Stocking and fiancé, Dylan Britner of Many, Louisiana and Kevin Youngblood of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana; great-great-grandmother, Doris Downs of Marthaville, Louisiana; great-grandparents, Paul and Doreen Carlisle of Zwolle, Louisiana, Terry Pantalion of Many, Louisiana, and Dano Lee of Zwolle, Louisiana; grandparents, Amanda Remedies and fiancé, Michael Downs of Marthaville, Louisiana and Jason Stocking and wife, Starla, of Hemphill, Texas; uncle, William Guage Stocking of Marthaville, Louisiana; aunts, Cherity Lowery and husband, Nathan, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Violet Paige Stocking of Hemphill, Texas, and Alyssa Stocking of Hemphill, Texas; and cousins, Colson Lowery of Jacksonville, North Carolina and Gabriella Stocking of Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Honoring Khallie as pallbearers were Michael Downs, Zach Grantham, Violet Stocking, and William Stocking. Jason Stocking was an honorary pallbearer.

Services and care provided to the family by Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home.

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The annual public ad valorem tax sale will be held Wednesday, June 4 at 10 AM in the Sabine Parish Police Jury Conference Room #101, located in the Sabine Parish Courthouse, 400 S. Capitol St, Many.

To participate in the sale, you must register the morning of the sale in Room #105 of the Courthouse.

The final listing of taxes to be sold will be produced at the time of the sale. Delinquent taxes, interest and costs can be paid and properties removed from the sale up until 10 AM on June 4.

Amounts due may be paid in person at Room #105 of the Sabine Parish Courthouse, by phone at 318-256-9241 option #1, or online at sabinesheriff.org or on the SPSO App. No personal checks are accepted after April 1.

Aaron Mitchell
Sheriff & Ex-Officio
Tax Collector
Sabine Parish, LA

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Calling all future Tigers! The Mighty Tigers of Many High School are excited to welcome young athletes to the 2025 MHS Summer Football Camp, scheduled for June 24–26 at the Many High School Football Stadium.

This annual camp is open to all incoming 1st through 8th graders and will run daily from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Campers will be guided through drills and training sessions by the MHS coaching staff, learning fundamentals and building skills in a fun and energetic environment.

Cost is $75 per camper, with a $10 discount for each additional sibling. Every camper will receive a free MHS Football Camp T-shirt, but to guarantee a shirt, participants must pre-register by June 13.

To help families sign up, registration will be available at the MHS Football Field on the following dates:

Tuesday, June 3rd at 5:00 PM
Tuesday, June 10th at 5:00 PM

Campers are asked to bring the following gear: shorts, t-shirt, tennis shoes, and a water jug. All participants will be supervised throughout camp operations, and every precaution will be taken to ensure their safety.

For more information or questions, contact Catherine Hendrickson at 318-332-2322.

Don’t miss this opportunity for your child to train with the Tigers and build a solid foundation for future football success!

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Sheriff Aaron Mitchell and Chief Deputy Brad Walker announce a new boat was purchased for the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office.

A custom 24’ Patrol Boat with a 96” beam width and 300 Mercury engine was designed and built by Gator Trax Boats: Louisiana Custom Aluminum Boats in south Louisiana.

The boat features a thick .190 ga aluminum hull (most retail fishing boats are made of .100 ga aluminum). This design was essential for the unpredictable and stumpy conditions of Toledo Bend Lake. Other features include electronic technology for recovery operations, FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) to detect heat, 36v trolling motor, hard-covered top, dual anchoring power poles, emergency lights and radio communications, and other necessary equipment.

This boat was purchased with state funds secured by Senator Alan Seabaugh.

Senator Seabaugh said: “I am proud to have secured critical funding for projects across Senate District 31, including appropriations for a new search, rescue, and emergency operations boat for the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office. With about 1,200 miles of shoreline along Toledo Bend Lake, it is essential first responders have the tools they need to protect both our citizens and the many visitors who enjoy this beautiful region.”

Sheriff Mitchell and Chief Deputy Walker would like to thank Senator Seabaugh for his unwavering support for law enforcement in Sabine Parish and across the district.

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The community of Many is gearing up to honor Juneteenth with a vibrant and energetic parade set for Saturday, June 21, along San Antonio Avenue. The celebration will highlight freedom, culture, and unity—inviting families, friends, businesses, and organizations to come together for an evening of joy and reflection.

The parade begins at 5 p.m., with lineup starting at 4 p.m., and all are encouraged to bring their flags, energy, and enthusiasm to mark the historic occasion.

Organizers are calling on the public to participate—whether by marching, dancing, or cheering from the sidelines. The event aims to bring the Sabine Parish community together in a festive and meaningful way to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States.

Parade entry forms are now available at Many City Hall or can be filled out online for convenience at the following link: bit.ly/43XlNzw

Don’t miss the chance to be a part of what promises to be one of the most spirited celebrations of the year. Spread the word, tag your crew, and help make this the biggest Juneteenth Parade Many has ever seen!

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As an athlete growing up, I always heard that practice makes perfect. Now we all know that statement might not always hold true. I’ve had a lot of practice over the years at such things as golf and bass fishing, but I’m still searching to get better at both. Today, we’ll look how practicing for a bass tournament has changed in the last five years. 

As former NBA great Alan Iverson stated one time in a press conference when asked about his practice habits or lack thereof, “Are we talking about practice? I mean we’re talking about practice! We’re talking about practice, man!” 

While he was obviously frustrated when the media questioned his practice habits, the point he made was that on the NBA level, it’s not about practice but rather what you bring to the floor on game day. 

Tournament bass fishing is pretty much the same way. You can go out and catch all the fish you want during practice, but the only thing that matters is what you bring to the scales on tournament day. 

Some anglers are great in practice and will tell the world how well they are catching them. But for some reason, when tournament day rolls around, they never seem to have the fish they need to win. 

There’s one thing I learned early in my career from a couple of mentors who took a liking to me and were willing to pass along a little of their knowledge that would help me become a better angler. They both told me that it makes no sense to sore mouth the bass two days before the tournament. 

They taught me how to cover my hooks with clear IV tubing on my spinnerbaits and jigs in order to make sure I didn’t hook fish while practicing. Because once bass are hooked, in some cases, it may take up to five days before they will bite again. 

They educated me about shaking fish off in order to ensure they are not hooked. They taught me how to use a screw lock which allows an angler to fish soft plastic worms without a hook, therefore guaranteeing they would not be hooked before the tournament. 

But fast forward to 2025 and you’ll see young anglers today scouting without a single fishing rod on the deck of their boat. They are totally tuned into and observing the electronics on their boats. 

Today’s younger generation of anglers simply idle around doing what they call “steering wheel time” while sitting behind the console of their boat looking at two or three computer screens scanning and marking schools of bass and baitfish that they will return to on tournament day. 

These anglers are so good with their electronics that they can tell if the fish they are looking at are quality or not. They will never wet a hook or even pull out a rod during practice, which for an old school angler like me, is insane!

But there are still a few old school anglers who will hook and catch every bass that bites during practice. They want to look and see the size of the fish that might be in a certain area they will be fishing on tournament day.

No matter how an angler practices for an event, he or she still must find and figure out how to make those fish bite. But this is what makes practice so important and is how anglers win tournaments. Practice, practice and more practice!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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“Run.”

What does the word mean?

We must consider the connotation and the denotation of the word. When speaking we encode the message, and the hearer decodes the message. The encoding and decoding of the verbal message is run through several filters including gender, culture, educational and regional morphology. Do you want a pop? Or would you rather have a Coke?

When I moved to New Orleans I heard frequently, “I am running to Schwegmann’s to make groceries.”

The opportunities for miscommunication are astronomical.

One Sunday I was waxing eloquently in a sermon and said, “The children of Israel followed Jezebel into idolatry.”

One of my dearest church members told me later that she heard me say, “The children of Israel followed Jezebel into Dollar Tree.” With my southern drawl, I’m sure I made idolatry and dollar tree sound very close. She was wondering for the rest of my sermon, why the children of Israel went to Dollar Tree. Everyone knows they are Jewish and are looking for the best deal on Dial Soap. The remainder of the sermon was lost because of a misheard or poorly pronounced word.

How many marital fights have been caused by a misunderstanding of a word? How many wars, by poor translation of words across languages?

So, I have stalled, do you know the meaning of the word, “run?”

Run is what you did as a child as the teacher opened the door for you to go outside on the playground for recess. I understand recess has been permanently recessed.

A person runs for a political office.

On a muggy summer day, like this one, you want your air conditioning running.

I find myself running to the store for ingredients for a cake.

In preparing for retirement, my financial adviser wanted to run some numbers before our conference.

In High School we were warned about the run on sentence. I am quite sure I have violated that edict several times.

“Honey, there is a run in your stockings.”

The Bible warns us, “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”

One last thought from the book of Proverbs:

“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”

Are we running from the truth?

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On September 12, 2019, Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan’s 18-carat solid gold work of art with an estimated value of up to $6.5 million was put on display at Blenheim Palace, the English country mansion where Winston Churchill was born. Unlike many art pieces which exist only as a work of art to be admired, Maurizio’s creation had a function. It served a purpose while being a work of art. Maurizio’s creation had already impressed audiences at the Guggenheim Museum in New York where a reported 100,000 people had waited to take their turn using Maurizio’s creation. For two days, the artwork had been impressing the visitors to the sprawling mansion in the same manner when something unexpected happened.

Before daylight on the morning of September 14, 2019, five masked thieves in two stolen cars drove through a wooden barrier fence and onto Blenheim Palace grounds. They sped up to the palace where three of the thieves exited the cars. The two getaway drivers remained in their stolen cars and kept the engines running. The three thieves quickly broke into the mansion and ran directly to Maurizio’s creation. It took the strength of all three men to rip Maurizio’s 215-pound creation from the wooden floor on which it had been mounted and to carry it to one of the waiting cars. They loaded it into the hatchback of one of the cars and the thieves sped away. Blenheim Palace’s security cameras captured the heist on video and their security system alerted police, but the thieves were gone by the time police arrived. Of all of the art on display in the antique-filled mansion, Maurizio’s creation was the only item stolen.
The thieves had carefully planned the heist. They knew the palace had a good security system, but no other precautions had been put into place to protect the piece. After the artwork was installed in the palace, Edward Spencer-Churchill, chairman of Blenheim Strategic Partners and direct descendent of Winston Churchill, told the York News-Times that the artwork would not be easy to steal since it was physically connected to the palace, and added, “So, no. I don’t plan to be guarding it.”

Another representative of Blenheim Palace tweeted, “We knew there was huge interest in the Maurizio Cattelan contemporary art exhibition, with many set to come and enjoy the installations. It’s therefore a great shame an item so precious has been taken, but we still have so many fascinating treasures in the Palace and the remaining items of the exhibition to share.”

Several men have been convicted in the theft and disposal of Maurizio’s creation, but the artwork has never been recovered. Most recently, on May 19, 2025, a man was convicted for trying to help a burglar sell scrap gold believed to have been from Maurizio’s creation.

Maurizio intended the artwork to be a pointed satire about excessive wealth. Before the artwork was stolen, Maurizio explained, “Whatever you eat, a $200 lunch or a $2 hot dog, the results are the same.” You see, Maurizio Cattelan’s stolen 215-pound artwork made from 18-karat solid gold was a fully functioning, fully plumbed toilet.

Sources:
York News-Times, September 17, 2019, p.A2.
The Guardian, April 3, 2024, p.13.
Brian Melley, “Man who tried to sell $6.4m gold toilet stolen from English country house is spared jail,” AP News, May 19, 2025, accessed May 27, 2025, https://apnews.com/article/britain-gold-toilet-theft-court-trial-sentence-3a3955da078af343596606e07addc305.

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On June 4, 1919, the United States Congress passed the 19th Amendment, a landmark moment in the fight for gender equality in America. Though it would take more than a year to gain the necessary state ratifications, this date marks the official legislative breakthrough that would eventually grant women the right to vote. As we reflect today, we not only honor the courage of those who fought for suffrage but also recognize the work that remains to ensure equal participation in our democracy.

The 19th Amendment contains just 39 words:
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”

Despite its simplicity, this amendment represents decades of struggle, sacrifice, and tireless organizing. It laid the foundation for women’s full participation in American political life.

The fight for women’s suffrage spanned over 70 years. From the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, generations of women fought for a voice in the electoral process. Marching, protesting, lobbying, and often facing arrest or violence, suffragists refused to accept the notion that they were unworthy of full citizenship.

In Louisiana, as in many Southern states, support for the amendment was hard-won. Women worked at the grassroots level to educate, advocate, and pressure lawmakers to recognize their right to vote. Though Louisiana did not ratify the 19th Amendment until 1970—long after it became federal law—women across the state were active contributors to the national movement.

Still, the path to the ballot box was not equal for all women. Even after the amendment passed, many women—especially Black women and women of color—continued to face barriers through poll taxes, literacy tests, intimidation, and discriminatory laws. The 19th Amendment was a critical step forward, but it was not the final step in achieving universal suffrage.

Today, the 19th Amendment serves as a reminder of the power of collective action and the importance of civic engagement. While the fight for voting rights continues in many forms—through advocacy for fair access to polls, the protection of voter rights, and the push for broader civic education—the achievements of the suffrage movement remain a foundational part of American democracy.

Voting is a right that many take for granted, but today offers a moment to pause and remember the price paid to secure it. The 19th Amendment didn’t just give women the vote—it affirmed their equality and their rightful place in shaping the direction of this country.

This anniversary is also an opportunity to recommit to the values of fairness and representation. From local elections to national races, participation matters. Every vote is a voice, and every voice counts.

Though more than a century has passed since Congress approved the 19th Amendment, its legacy remains deeply relevant. It reminds us that progress takes time—and that it requires the courage of ordinary people to speak out, show up, and push forward.

The right to vote is not just a privilege—it’s a responsibility. And it’s one worth fighting for.

For more information on how to register to vote in Louisiana, visit geauxvote.com.

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