Academic excellence was on full display in Sabine Parish as students from across the parish competed in this year’s Senior Quiz Bowl Tournament, showcasing knowledge, teamwork, and quick thinking.

At the end of the competition, Many High School secured a first-place finish, followed by Negreet High School in second place and Converse High School in third.

The tournament highlighted the depth of academic talent across Sabine Parish, with students competing across a wide range of subjects and demonstrating strong collaboration skills under pressure.

Top individual performers were also recognized with All-Tournament honors, including:

Noah M. – Negreet High School

Kaghan M. – Many High School

Jackson H. – Many High School

Jenson E. – Zwolle High School

Grace A. – Converse High School

Organizers noted that students not only excelled academically but also demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship throughout the event.

The Sabine Parish School Board extended appreciation to the many volunteers, school leaders, families, and community members who helped make the event possible.

A special thank you was also given to The Life Church for hosting the tournament.

Events like the Senior Quiz Bowl continue to highlight the importance of academic competition and student engagement across Sabine Parish, reinforcing a strong culture of learning that reaches far beyond the classroom.

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While I was growing up, my parents fully supported my athletic career. But they also believed in hard work and understood that free time for a teenage boy was not a good thing. To say my teenage years were structured would be an understatement.

While they never kept me from playing whatever sport I wanted to play, they had a rule that if I was not playing a sport, I had to get a job after school and on Saturdays. Note — our family was in no way desperate for money as my dad was superintendent for an oil drilling company.

They wanted me to understand the benefits of a good work ethic. At the age of 10 my first job outside the family ranch was picking up trash on the mornings following all the baseball games the night before.

They believed that many of life’s lessons were learned through working. Personally, I understood early in my childhood what a good work ethic was while growing up on a cattle ranch where there’s never a shortage of things to do.

Jobs included, but were not limited to, building barns, vaccinating cattle, building fences and hauling hay. Owning a cattle ranch is a seven day a week job that requires a lot of commitment and dedication. It’s like raising kids; every day someone must do a head count while making sure they are fed.

My last three years of high school, I had a job that I really enjoyed, working at Foxworth-Galbreath Lumber Yard. While I played three sports — football, baseball and track — it was during basketball season that I worked at the lumber yard after school.

I learned a lot from that experience, like how important it is to be on time. It was good that I answered to someone who held me accountable. I learned about the different grades of lumber and plywood as well as inventory control and how a lumber yard is managed.

This also gave me a sense of independence as the job provided money for dating and gas. It taught me how to be responsible and how important people skills are in order to work with others. It also motivated me to continue my education and get a degree.

These are lessons that many of today’s younger generation have not mastered. Many of today’s youth have no idea what it’s like to work for what they have. To answer to someone else who doesn’t accept excuses for being late or not doing the job right.

Every job I ever had, and I’ve had my share, taught me something. In high school and college, I not only worked at a lumber yard, but I also worked construction with Brown & Root, unloaded box trucks for a shipping company at 4 a.m. each day, lined fields and kept the books for Dixie Youth games every night and was an engineer’s assistant for the Texas Highway Department.

Each one of these job opportunities taught me a lot. But the most important lesson I learned was accountability, which is an important ingredient for being successful in life. So, if you’re looking for a purpose in life, maybe you need to get a job!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com.

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Pulling up to the gas pump has started to feel less like a routine stop and more like a scene straight out of a horror movie. You swipe your card, start fueling up, and suddenly—there it is—the total climbing faster than you can look away. At $100 and still rising, it’s the kind of moment that makes you question every decision that led you to that pump. The real twist? No jump scare soundtrack needed—just the quiet panic of watching the numbers roll. And honestly, the caption says it best: “Based on a true story.”

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Language is an art—and marriage is the gallery where half the paintings are hung upside down. Words have two lives: denotation (the dictionary version) and connotation (the emotional baggage they bring to the party). The trouble starts when two people bring different baggage handlers.

“Five minutes.”

In the male dictionary, that phrase is a stopwatch: exactly 300 seconds. In the female dictionary, it’s a flexible time zone that expands to accommodate eyeliner, the perfect earrings, and a last-minute dishwasher triage. So when the husband asks, “When will you be ready?” and the wife says, “Five minutes,” the husband hears a sprint; the wife hears a scenic detour. Either way, the car ride will include an argument about whether “on time” is a suggestion or a felony.

“Nothing.”

When a man says he’s thinking “nothing,” he’s not being evasive—he’s blissfully blank. His mental whiteboard is clean; life is a hammock and the brain is on vacation. When a woman says “nothing,” it’s a covert operations briefing: plans, feelings, timelines, and a five-year contingency plan all wrapped in two syllables. If your wife says “nothing,” consider it a red flag, a smoke signal, and a call to the nearest counselor—preferably one who accepts emergency margaritas.

The sigh.

A man’s sigh is a victory horn: lawn mowed, fish filleted, deer rack admired—mission accomplished. A woman’s sigh is a forensic report: it catalogs your idiocy, timestamps it, and files it under “Do Not Repeat.” Keep making her sigh and you’ll graduate from “nothing” to “we need to talk” faster than you can say “remote control.”

“Go ahead.”

For men, “go ahead” is a green light, a verbal thumbs-up. For women, it’s a dare wrapped in sarcasm: “Go ahead—explain why buying that thing is a brilliant idea.” If she says “go ahead” about the expensive purchase, treat it like a landmine: do not, under any circumstances, step on it.

Words trip us up because we’re using the same language with different subtitles. That’s why marriage counselors get paid—either that or they’re masochists who enjoy listening to couples argue about the semantics of socks.

And then there’s the one place where subtitles aren’t needed: the message of love and forgiveness. The Bible puts it simply: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Even in the messiest gallery of human communication, that message hangs in plain view—no translation required.

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BOM Bank is proud to support the Toledo Bend Bass Club with a recent donation! Fishing clubs do more than bring people together for a day on the water — they build friendships, teach sportsmanship, encourage youth involvement, and strengthen community ties through a shared love of the outdoors.

We’re honored to support organizations that make a positive impact both on and off the lake. 

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“How do I set boundaries with my in-laws without becoming the family villain”

 See what Ida says 

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Each year on April 1, pranksters around the world embrace a day dedicated to practical jokes, hoaxes and harmless mischief. While the exact origins of April Fools’ Day remain debated, historians trace its roots back several centuries.

One popular theory links the tradition to 16th-century France. When the country shifted from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in 1582 under Pope Gregory XIII, New Year’s Day moved from late March to January 1. Those who continued celebrating the old New Year in early spring were reportedly mocked as “April fools.”

Over time, the tradition of playful deception spread across Europe and eventually to North America. Newspapers, radio stations and television networks have long joined the fun, publishing elaborate hoaxes on April 1.

In 1957, the BBC famously aired a segment about Swiss farmers harvesting spaghetti from trees — a prank that reportedly fooled thousands of viewers. Tech companies have also embraced the tradition, occasionally announcing outlandish fake products to entertain audiences.

While April Fools’ Day is generally lighthearted, experts advise keeping pranks safe and harmless. The best April 1 jokes are those that leave everyone laughing — not confused or hurt.

Today, social media amplifies the reach of April Fools’ jokes, allowing pranks to travel worldwide in seconds. From fake celebrity announcements to imaginary product launches, April 1 continues to blur the line between fact and fiction.

So as the calendar turns, readers may want to double-check headlines, confirm surprising announcements and approach the day with a healthy dose of skepticism.

After all, on April 1, not everything is quite what it seems.

 

People have dreamed about coasting back to Earth from great heights from at least the 1470s when Italian Francesco di Giorgio Martini designed a cone-shaped canopy parachute. It is the oldest known design for a parachute. In 1485, Leonardo da Vinci designed a pyramid-shaped parachute. For the following 300 years, several inventors, including Frenchman Louis-Sebastien Lenormand in 1783, jumped from trees to test their own parachutes, but none of their designs really worked as expected.

In 1797, André-Jacques Garnerin attached a parachute he designed to a hydrogen balloon in a test in Paris, France. When the balloon reached an altitude of about 3,200 feet, Garnerin parachuted safely back to the ground and became the first person to design and test a parachute capable of slowing a person’s fall from a high altitude. Two years later, his wife became the first female parachutist. In 1802, Garnerin made a safe parachute jump in a demonstration in England from an altitude of 8,000 feet. 101 years later, in December 1903, the Wright Brothers made history with the first powered, controlled, and sustained flight in a heavier-than-air machine at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. In the following years, human flight became popular. Pilots were seen as heroes and daredevils. Pilots understood that if their airplanes failed during flight, the chances of survival were slim. They recognized the need for a way to escape from a doomed aircraft and saw the life-saving potential of parachutes. On March 1, 1912, during an exhibition in St. Louis, Missouri, parachutist Albert Berry jumped from an airplane flown by another pilot at an altitude of 1,500 feet. He made a safe landing and became the first person to successfully parachute from a moving airplane.

Parachutes eventually became standard equipment for airplane pilots after World War I. They worked well for pilots of propeller driven aircraft and jet aircraft up to a point. On October 14, 1947, Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager flew an experimental Bell X-1 jet around 785 miles per hour and became the first human to break the sound barrier. Eight years later, in February 1955, test pilot George Smith was flying an experimental jet over the Pacific Ocean when the jet malfunctioned. Unable to regain control, George had to bail out. The only problem was that he was flying faster than the speed of sound and no one had ever ejected from an aircraft traveling at that speed. George knew that staying in the jet meant certain death, so he made the split-second decision and ejected. The force of the wind hitting him knocked him unconscious, but his parachute automatically opened. He landed in the water near a fishing boat crewed by a former U.S. Navy rescue expert. George remained unconscious for five days. When he awoke, he was blind in both eyes. George’s recovery required numerous surgeries and a seven-month hospital stay.

The U.S. Air Force immediately began working to solve the problem of parachuting from a supersonic jet. After seven years of testing, Air Force scientists created an escape capsule for a supersonic jet. On March 21, 1962, a flyer with the call sign “Yogi” ejected from a jet flying at about 870 miles per hour, 1.3 times the speed of sound. The parachute on the capsule opened as expected. Yogi landed successfully and became the first flyer to safely parachute from a jet traveling at supersonic speed. But Yogi was no ordinary human. He was not human. The flyer with the call sign “Yogi” was a two-year-old black bear.

 

Sources:

1. “First parachute jump is made over Paris,” March 4, 2010, History.com, accessed March 22, 2026, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/october-22/the-first-parachutist.

2. “March 1, 1912, This Day in Aviation, accessed March 22, 2026, https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/albert-berry/.

3. “February 26, 1955,” This Day in Aviation, accessed March 22, 2026, https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/george-franklin-smith/.

4. “March 21, 1962,” This Day in Aviation, accessed March 22, 2026, https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/21-march-1962/.

5. David Cenciotti, “A bear named ‘Yogi’ was ejected from a USAF B-58 to test the Hustler’s escape capsule on this day in 1962,” March 21, 2016, The Aviationist, accessed March 22, 2026, https://theaviationist.com/2016/03/21/b-58-ejects-yogi-bear/.

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Rue Lewing
June 1, 1937 – March 30, 2026
Services: Wednesday, April 1 at 2:00 PM at Warren Meadows Funeral Home

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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Three deputies with the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office have successfully completed academy training and earned their P.O.S.T. certifications, marking a significant milestone in their law enforcement careers.

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell announced that Deputies Dorothy Thompson, Courtney Brandon, and William Besinger graduated from the 60th Session of the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Corrections Academy in Alexandria last week. Each deputy received their P.O.S.T. Level II Certification upon completion of the program.

Over the course of the 11-week academy, cadets representing multiple agencies—including Allen, Beauregard, Caldwell, Grant, Sabine, Vernon, Winn, and Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Offices—completed more than 330 hours of intensive training. Instruction covered a wide range of critical topics, including criminal law, first aid and CPR, bloodborne pathogens, de-escalation techniques, use of electronic control devices (Taser), high-risk prisoner transport, firearms, and defensive tactics.

Following graduation, Deputies Thompson and Brandon have been assigned to the Sabine Parish Women’s Jail under Assistant Warden Teresa Bonner. Deputy Besinger will serve at the Sabine Parish Detention Center under Assistant Warden Kaylynn Remedies.

Sheriff Mitchell praised the deputies for their hard work and dedication, commending their commitment to both the Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Sabine Parish.

“These deputies have demonstrated a strong commitment to public service and professional excellence,” Mitchell said. “We are proud of their accomplishments and confident they will serve our community with integrity.”

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A Sabine Parish native has returned to the region to provide specialized women’s healthcare services, as Dr. Heather Jarrell Havener joins Natchitoches Regional Medical Center and its OB/GYN Associates practice.

Dr. Havener, a graduate of Negreet High School, is bringing her expertise back to the area after more than 12 years of practice in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and service in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps.

She specializes in a wide range of women’s health services, including prenatal care, high-risk pregnancies, menopausal management, and minimally invasive procedures. Dr. Havener is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and is also a certified menopause practitioner.

“I have always had an interest in women’s health and chose obstetrics and gynecology for its unique blend of medicine and surgery,” Dr. Havener said. “It allows me to build lasting relationships with patients while also providing hands-on, procedural care when it is needed most. From guiding patients through routine care to stepping in during critical moments, I am able to combine thoughtful clinical decision-making with surgical skill to support women’s health at every stage of life. Returning to the Sabine area to provide this specialized care for the communities that helped shape me is truly meaningful, and I am honored to be a part of a trusted healthcare team dedicated to improving lives.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Havener to our medical staff and back to the area where she grew up,” said Kirk Soileau, chief executive officer of Natchitoches Regional Medical Center. “Not only does she bring exceptional clinical expertise, but also a deep connection to Natchitoches and the surrounding communities we serve. Having her team up with Dr. Aviles, Dr. Mason and Dr. Olatinwo at NRMC OB/GYN Associates ensures that women and families have access to essential, high-quality care close to home. This strengthens the overall health of our community and helps ensure the next generation has a healthy start in life. We are excited to have Dr. Havener join us and are confident in the compassionate, high-quality care she will provide.”

Dr. Havener is now seeing patients at NRMC OB/GYN Associates in Natchitoches. Those interested in scheduling an appointment can call 318-214-5773 or visit the hospital’s website for more information.

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Residents in Sabine Parish can expect a calm and mostly sunny stretch of weather through the week, with mild temperatures and a brief cool-down heading into the weekend.

Wednesday will start with areas of fog between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., which could reduce visibility for morning commuters. Afterward, skies turn mostly sunny with a high near 84 degrees. Winds will remain light, becoming southerly around 5 mph. Wednesday night will be mostly clear and calm, with a low around 58.

The pleasant weather continues into Thursday, featuring mostly sunny skies and a high near 85.

Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low around 59.

Friday brings more sunshine and a high near 85. Cooler air begins to filter in Friday night, with mostly clear skies and a low dipping to around 51.

A noticeable shift arrives for the weekend. Saturday will be mostly sunny but cooler, with a high near 71.

Overnight lows will fall to around 47 under clear skies.

Temperatures rebound slightly on Sunday, with sunny conditions and a high near 80. Sunday night will turn partly cloudy, with a low around 56.

Looking ahead to Monday, skies will be partly sunny with a high near 81, continuing the trend of comfortable early spring weather.

Overall, Sabine Parish can expect dry conditions, plenty of sunshine, and a refreshing cool-down over the weekend before warmer temperatures return early next week.

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Northwestern State University has launched a competitive mock trial team, the “Demons of Due Process,” marking its entry into national collegiate competition through the American Mock Trial Association.

The team recently made its debut to strong support from the local legal community, including the court where its coaches actively practice.

Leading the program are K. Jacob Ruppert, a 20-year veteran of the state judiciary who currently serves as Court Counsel and District Hearing Officer for the local state court, and Dr. Rebecca Riall, NSU’s Pre-Law and Paralegal Studies Coordinator. Riall also maintains an active litigation practice and serves as District Hearing Officer for the 11th Judicial District Court in Sabine Parish.

The team currently consists of eight students and is led by Hannah Gore and Hailey Wolff.

The program is designed to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and real-world legal practice. Students build cases using authentic evidence and applicable law, then present arguments before judges and juries in simulated courtroom settings. Ruppert will also lead the team’s academic component through a three-credit, senior-level mock trial course.

“Our PLPS classes mirror exactly what students experience in law school—and this mock trial course takes it a step further, giving them a raw unfiltered look at what litigation is really like,” Ruppert said.

The mock trial team represents a continued expansion of NSU’s Pre-Law and Paralegal Studies program, which has grown steadily and aims to prepare students for immediate success in law school or professional legal careers.

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When I was a little boy, keys were my thing. Not toys. Not marbles. Not baseball cards. Keys. Real, metal, grownup keys—the kind that clinked in your pocket and made you feel like you had access to the universe.

And I had a source.

My grandfather—Pop—was a policeman. And apparently in the 1960s, Americans were losing keys at a rate that can only be described as “biblical.” Pop would bring me bags of keys. Now, I’m sure it was only three or four at a time, but to my young eyes it looked like Fort Knox had sprung a leak.

I had a ritual. A system. A liturgy of keys.

House keys over here

Car keys over there

Mystery keys (the ones that looked like they opened secret government bunkers) in a special pile

Back then, every car company had its own key design. Ford keys looked like Ford keys. GM keys looked like GM keys. Chrysler keys looked like they were designed on a Friday afternoon. And because Ford also made Mercury, their keys were cousins—interchangeable in shape, though not in function. You could slip a Mercury key into a Ford ignition, but it wasn’t supposed to turn.

Supposed to.

One Friday night, Pop dropped off a fresh batch of keys. I sorted them with the precision of a jeweler. Then I grabbed a couple of Mercury keys and headed outside for what I can only describe as unauthorized field research.

I climbed into our 1961 Ford Galaxie—bench seat, steering wheel the size of a hula hoop, and an ignition switch that sat right on the dashboard like it was daring you to try something foolish.

I inserted a Mercury key.

It fit.

But it didn’t turn.

I inserted another Mercury key.

It fit.

It didn’t turn.

Then came key number three.

I slid it in, gave it a twist, and—VROOOOM—the Ford Galaxie roared to life like it had been waiting all day for a small child to hotwire it.Naturally, I followed the adult pattern I had observed:

I pulled the column shifter down into “D.”

“D” meant go.

And go it did.

The car lurched forward and traveled a majestic, triumphant five feet straight into the side of the house.

The dent remained for forty years, a permanent historical marker commemorating the beginning of my illustrious driving career.

The adults poured out of the house like a fire drill—Mom, Dad, and Pop the policeman.

“How did you start the car?” they asked.

I explained my keybased methodology. Pop immediately cut off my Ford key supply.

I still had a large collection of GM keys, though, and Pop owned a Chevrolet. I had a whole testing plan ready for that vehicle. Sadly, my research program was shut down before Phase Two.

Jesus has given us the keys to the Kingdom—and unlike my MercuryFord experiment, these keys actually belong to us, they always fit, and they never cause property damage.

You’re not locked out.

You’re not stuck in “Park.”

You don’t have to hotwire your way into grace.

The astonishing truth is this:

In Christ, you already hold the keys.

Keys to freedom.

Keys to forgiveness.

Keys to hope.

Keys to a life that actually goes somewhere.

And unlike that 1961 Ford Galaxie, you won’t crash into the side of the house when you use them.

Jesus hands you the keys and says, “Go ahead. Turn the ignition. Live. Move. Be free.”

That’s a Kingdom worth driving toward.

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Funeral services for Barry Wayne Bennett, 57, were held on Monday, March 23, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 9891 Texas Hwy, Many, Louisiana a burial followed at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, 307 Hammond St, Zwolle, Louisiana. A visitation was held on Sunday, March 22, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Officiated by Brother Logan Langton.

Barry was born on June 18, 1968 to Robert James Bennett and Elizabeth Ann Bennett in Zwolle, Louisiana. He passed away on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Florien, Louisiana.

Barry was preceded in death by his father, Robert Bennett; brother, Gordy Bennett; and brother-in-law, Lee Phillips. He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Bennett of Shreveport, Louisiana; daughter, Ashlee Houston and husband, Brandon, of Springdale, Arkansas; sisters, Lisa Bennett and husband, Anthony Cain of Alexandria, Louisiana, Mona Westbrook and husband, Bubba, of Florien, Louisiana, Carla Parker and husband, Tony, of Florien, Louisiana, Collette Phillips of Zwolle, Louisiana, and Sue McCollough and husband, Keven, of Buna, Texas; brothers, Robert Bennett, Jr. and wife, Diana, of Many, Louisiana and Dan Bennett of Florien, Louisiana; 2 grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Honoring Barry as pallbearers were Colby Johnson, Dustin Johnson, Katie Brown, Coleman Brown, Garrett Phillips, and Joshua Bennett. Serving as honorary pallbearers were Timber Johnson and Corbin Johnson.

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

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NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s ARGO (Advanced Remote and Geospatial Operations) Lab will offer two-day Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification Prep courses for non-hobby drone users interested in taking the FAA Remote Pilot Certification Exam.

“The ARGO Lab at Northwestern State University is leading the way in hands-on drone education, providing a dynamic environment where participants gain real-world experience in this rapidly growing field,” said Danielle Cobb, associate director of Corporate & Community Engagement in NSU’s Office of Economic Development and Advancement. “We’re excited to expand this opportunity by bringing this comprehensive two-day, in-person training to our Alexandria and Leesville campuses, making it even more accessible across our region.”

Designed to prepare participants for the FAA Remote Pilot Certification Exam, the course covers essential topics including legal and ethical responsibilities, operational safety and risk management, airspace classifications and restrictions, aviation weather, Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM), sectional chart interpretation, ground crew roles and the fundamentals of the National Airspace System (NAS).

The course will take place March 28-29 in Alexandria. NSU instructors JD Cox, Adelaine Soileau and Travis Mitchell will lead the course that will be from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at NSU’s Alexandria campus, 1410 Neel Kearby Blvd. The course will be repeated April 25-26 at NSU’s Leesville/Fort Polk Campus, 3329 University Parkway, Leesville.

The cost is $250 per session. The FAA Remote Pilot Certification Exam is administered at an approved testing center and is not included in the course fee.

To register, visit https://commerce.cashnet.com/ARGO

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A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement leader serving multiple parishes across Central Louisiana has completed advanced training through the FBI National Academy.

Capt. John Volentine graduated from the 297th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, on March 18. He was among 253 law enforcement officers selected from across the United States and internationally to participate in the program.

Volentine serves as captain over enforcement operations across a large region that includes Sabine, Vernon, Natchitoches, Grant, Winn, LaSalle, Avoyelles, Rapides, Catahoula, and Concordia parishes. He has been with the LDWF Enforcement Division since 2005.

The FBI National Academy is known for its intensive 10-week training program focused on leadership, communication, and physical fitness. Participants are chosen based on their experience and leadership within their agencies.

During his career, Volentine has played a role in emergency response efforts during multiple major hurricanes, including Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Ike, and Harvey. He has also received recognition for his work in wildlife enforcement, including being named Waterfowl Officer of the Year in 2013 and 2014.

In addition to his enforcement duties, Volentine serves as an adjunct instructor at LSU of Alexandria, where he teaches criminal justice courses.

Officials say his completion of the FBI National Academy highlights continued investment in leadership and public safety across Central Louisiana.

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With over 30 years of bass tournament experience, I know that every bass angler that wets a hook has one goal in mind when they enter a tournament — win! While we all strive to bring winning sacks to the scales, the stars do not always align and allow that to happen.

My background as an athlete has proven to be beneficial when it comes to the mental side of tournament bass fishing. The “never give up” mentality is so important as a tournament angler.

Playing on a Texas state championship high school baseball team was one of my greatest accomplishments as an athlete. Twice during that special run in 1978, our backs were to the wall, but we never gave up and persevered on our way to winning it all.

We never panicked no matter what the situation was. We stayed strong and committed to each other, making sure things went our way. Tournament bass fishing is no different. There will be days when things just don’t go the way you thought they would.

But the guys who have a strong mindset, and the “never give up” attitude, seem to always find a way to put fish in the boat. Even if they don’t catch the winning fish, they still make a good showing.

One of my recent trips to Lake of the Pines brought me so much joy — eventually! It began when the fish I found in practice just did not pan out. Oh, I had lots of excuses as to why they did not bite, but to sum it up, I just did not catch them.

At 10:30 that tournament morning, I did not have a fish in the boat. I had caught a few, but none that would reach the 14-inch minimum. But I did not panic as I felt the fish would bite a little better in the afternoon due to the full moon we were fishing under.

I finally put three fish in the boat between 10:30 and noon and then decided to move out of the area where I had found quality fish during practice. There was so much fishing pressure on the lake, I was sure that a lot of the fish I had found the day before had been caught.

So, I pulled up on a point and made a long cast, and low and behold I caught a solid 3-pounder! I’m thinking, “hmmm, this is a good sign and maybe there’s a good school of bass on this point.” Sure enough, it was loaded with good keeper-size fish including a 5-pounder that threw my bait back to me on one particular cast.

I anchored down on this spot and for three hours I began to catch over 35 bass off this one point. It was a day you don’t have all the time as an angler and even though I did not catch the winning bag, I had an awesome day on the water and enjoyed a trip I will never forget!

I’m wondering if age has anything to do with how I think now as an angler. At 65 years old, winning tournaments is just not as high on my priority list as it used to be. Oh, I’m still competitive and want to beat the pants off all these young bucks, but then there’s reality.

But one thing I can say for myself, no matter how much longer I continue to fish bass tournaments, my desire to compete and win will never wane. I just have to remember; it’s not always about winning.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com.

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“Are you a homeowner who feels stuck because you don’t have enough equity to sell, but still need to bring your monthly housing costs down?”

 See what Ida says 

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It’s barely spring, and it already feels like summer showed up early. Around here, people aren’t just noticing—it’s becoming the main topic of conversation.

Even the jokes are writing themselves. Crawfish might as well be saying they’re “boiling before the pot now.”

All humor aside, the early heat has folks doing double takes at the calendar and wondering what the rest of the season has in store.

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It was the most elaborate presidential inauguration in the history of our country at the time. An estimated one million people witnessed the peaceful transition of power in person. There was a 10-mile, two-and-a-half-hour inaugural parade which escorted incoming president Dwight D. Eisenhower from the Capitol to the White House. The parade was comprised of about 22,000 servicemen and women, 5,000 civilians, 50 state and organizational floats which cost a total of about $100,000, 65 musical units, 350 horses, three elephants, an Alaskan sled dog team, and the first public showing of our military’s most devastating piece of artillery at the time, an 85-ton atomic cannon called “Atomic Annie.” Overhead, a continuous stream of aircraft including 1,100 jet fighters and a fleet of super bombers flew over the parade route. To handle the huge crowds, two formal balls were held simultaneously at opposite sides of the city with President Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower having to be shuttled back and forth between the two for maximum effect. While at previous inaugurations, one or two film stars made appearances, at least 40 stars of film and stage entertained or were guests at the inauguration, more than at any previous inauguration. Newspapers around the world reported that it was the “biggest show ever staged in Washington.”

Hotels charge premium prices, and many desperate people had to pay a “black market bonus” of $100 just to make a hotel reservation. Adjusted for inflation, that would be over $1,200 in today’s money. Some of Washington’s “old families” rented out their luxury homes to millionaires and their friends for up to $3,000 for the week. That would be nearly $37,000 in today’s money. 60 special trains set up “Pullman Cities,” named after the 600 Pullman parlor and sleeper train cars which accommodated about 10,000 visitors. Forty steam locomotives kept constant “full heads of steam” to provide heat and hot water for the Pullman cities. The accommodation committee set up for the purpose of housing the influx of visitors to our nation’s capital referred to it as Operation Headache.

Rather than paying exorbitant fees and fighting the maddening crowds, most people chose to watch the inauguration from the comfort of their own homes. It was broadcast on all three major television networks: ABC, CBS, and NBC. An estimated 29 million people tuned in throughout the day for at least part of the inauguration.

President Eisenhower’s inauguration should have been the highest rated program on television during that era, but it was overshadowed by a regularly scheduled television sitcom shown the night before which depicted something that has happened to every living human being—a child was born. More than 70% of American households, some 44 million people, 15 million more than watched the inauguration, watched the 30-minute sitcom which aired on CBS, a single network. It remains one of the most watched sitcoms in television history. The episode was filmed two months earlier and starred an actress who was really pregnant, a first for television. This comedy showed the fictional chaos that happened leading up to the actress having a baby. The actress in the sitcom went into labor and had a son, named after his father, on the day the episode aired. The episode was titled “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” and starred Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

Sources:

1. The Mail (Adelaide, Australia), January 17, 1953, p.23.

2. Press-Telegram (Long Beach, California), January 20, 1953, p.3.

3. The Roanoke Times, January 21, 1953, p.18.

4. “Inaugurations: 1953 Inauguration,” Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, National Archives, accessed March 15, 2026, https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/eisenhowers-presidential-years/inaugurations.

5. “Lucy Goes to the Hospital,” IMDb.com, accessed March 15, 2026, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0609259/.

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March 25 marks the birthday of music icon Elton John, born in 1947 in Middlesex, England. Over the course of more than five decades, Elton John has become one of the best-selling artists of all time, known for flamboyant stage costumes, unforgettable melodies and deeply personal songwriting.

Bursting onto the international scene in the early 1970s, Elton John teamed with lyricist Bernie Taupin to create a catalog of hits including “Your Song,” “Rocket Man,” “Tiny Dancer,” and “Crocodile Rock.” His blend of pop, rock and theatrical performance redefined what it meant to be a global superstar.

Albums such as “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” cemented his reputation as a musical innovator. Known for his dynamic piano performances and larger-than-life persona, Elton John became synonymous with arena-filling concerts and extravagant tours.

Beyond music, he has been a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and HIV/AIDS awareness through the Elton John AIDS Foundation, using his platform to promote philanthropy and social change.

In 2019, his life and career were dramatized in the biographical film “Rocketman,” introducing his story to a new generation. He also completed a multi-year farewell tour, closing a historic chapter in live performance history.

As fans celebrate his birthday each March 25, Elton John’s influence remains undeniable. From chart-topping hits to cultural impact, his legacy continues to sparkle as brightly as the sequined jackets he made famous.

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