Notice of Death – October 22, 2024

Ozie Coleman

Feb. 23, 1943 – Oct. 15, 2024

Homer, La. 

Visitation: 12 – 3:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, Memorial Funeral Home, Homer, La.

Wake: 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church, Minden, La. 

Funeral service: 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, Mt. Pigah C.M.E. Church, Homer, La. 

Phillip Taylor McKenzie

April 21, 1948 – October 16, 2024

Homer, La. 

Graveside service: 2 – 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, Arlington Cemetery, Homer, La. 

Ramona Palmer

Jan. 07, 1977 – Oct. 16, 2024

Arcadia, La. 

Visitation: 1 – 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, Memorial Funeral Home, Arcadia, La. 

Funeral service: 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, Memorial Funeral Home, Arcadia, La. 

Vivian Lopo Jones

June 04, 1933 – Oct. 09, 2024

Homer, La. 

Visitation: 12 – 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 01, 2024, Memorial Funeral Home, Homer, La. 

Funeral service: 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 02, 2024, Springlake Church of God in Christ, Homer, La. 

Interment to follow at St. John Cemetery, Homer, La. 

Claiborne  Parish Journal publishes paid complete obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or cpjnewsla@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication. (Above death notices are no charge.)

The Mount Olive Christian School Lady Eagles volleyball team achieved a major milestone on Thursday, securing the first varsity playoff win in school history. The Lady Eagles triumphed in the quarterfinals with a commanding 3-0 victory over AHSA, posting scores of 25- 10, 25-11, and 25-19.

With this historic win, the Lady Eagles advanced to the state semifinals, set to take place on Friday, October 18th at Psalms Christian Academy in Natchitoches.

Coach Collin Bell expressed his pride in the team’s achievement, stating, “I couldn’t be prouder of our young ladies. The pressure was on us playing at home as the higher seed, and none of our girls had won a playoff game before, but we didn’t let the inexperience affect us. We were well prepared for AHSA, and we knew what they were going to come at us with. We accepted the challenge and were fairly dominant in all three sets.”

Looking ahead to the semifinal matchup against Psalms Academy, Coach Bell is confident in his team’s abilities: “Psalms is a very talented team, but so are we. In our first matchup, we took them to five sets and came up just short, but we know we can compete with them. We are looking forward to an opportunity to continue making school history on Friday night.”

Mount Olive Christian School will face Psalms Academy in the state semifinals this Friday, October 18th, at 7:00 pm with hopes of advancing to the championship game and further cementing their place in the school’s history books.

The history making Lady Eagles are represented by a strong lineup of players:
● #2 Pippa Monk
● #3 Abby Rodgers
● #4 Riley Morrow
● #7 Dixie Langley
● #10 Claire Miles
● #12 Cydnee Barnette
● #17 Kyra Wheeler
● #23 Destiny Williams
● #32 Breanna Miles
● #35 Maeva Sitagata
● Team Manager: Cannan Youngblood

For more information, visit the Mount Olive Christian Athletics Facebook page or call Mount Olive Christian School at (318) 258-5661.

By Matt Vines

Homer surges in fourth quarter to get by Green Oaks

Nursing a one-point lead heading into the final period, Homer wasn’t about to let precious victories slip away after enduring a difficult schedule this season.

The Pelicans won the fourth quarter by 14 points to pull away to a 41-26 win against Green Oaks.
Greg Williams rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns as he continues to collect huge games this season.

Homer (2-5, 1-2 District 1-2A) recorded its first district win after navigating Union Parish and Calvary to start its district slate.

That’s after opening the season with the likes of Haughton, Minden, and Haynesville.

Now the Pelicans will attempt to pad their win column in the next two weeks against an undermanned Magnolia School of Excellence squad (0-6) and a feisty North Caddo bunch (2-5, 1-2) that had to forfeit a season-opening win against Bossier.

Homer is sitting at No. 27 in the Division IV Non-Select power ratings will opportunities to solidify its spot and climb into the lower 20s or possibly teens by season’s end.

Haynesville rolls over Cedar Creek to remain unbeaten

The Haynesville train didn’t come close to derailing Friday as the Golden Tornado rolled through Cedar Creek in a 52-8 win.

The Tors (7-0, 4-0 District 1-1A) scored two touchdowns in the first eight plays to establish their early advantage.

Donnie Critton scored the first touchdown after his long kickoff return, and Haynesville added a second touchdown when they recovered a high Cedar Creek punt snap in the end zone.

Isaiah Washington had a hand in the next three scores, tossing a touchdown to Jayden Ahmad Green, returning a punt for a score before finding Kaylen Payton on another passing touchdown for the 35-0 lead.

A 56-yard Zykerius Fielding touchdown run put Haynesville up 44-0 at the half.

The Tors have ripped through their four district opponents by a combined 192-14, and Arcadia (3-4, 2-2) doesn’t equipped to change that narrative much this week when they host Haynesville.

Because of a weak strength of schedule largely caused by district opponents, Haynesville is No. 9 in the Division IV Non-Select power ratings (geauxpreps.com).

Claiborne Academy fighting for third place in district

The fight for third place in District 2-1A is on as Claiborne Academy hosts Tallulah Academy in the regular-season finale.

In a season in which the Rebels (5-3, 1-2) haven’t had any close games, Tallulah should provide perhaps the best barometer for which Claiborne Academy to measure themselves heading into the MidSouth Association of Independent Schools playoffs.

Both squads have struggled of late – Claiborne entered its bye week as losers of their last two contests while Tallulah has lost three of its last four games.

Neither program could hang with the elite squads as Tallulah dropped a 50-0 decision to River Oaks (Claiborne fell 50-8 earlier in the season). Both teams lost by similar margins to Briarfield Academy and Prairie View Academy as well.

Claiborne Academy’s closest victory was 34 points over Riverdale Academy, while its closest defeat was a 21-point loss to Prairie View two weeks ago.

Tallulah has had one game inside 20 points (32-24 win against Prentiss Christian).

On Monday at approximately 1:15 p.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to a single-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 519 near Louisiana Highway 533. The crash claimed the life of 47-year-old Bryan Bissell of Arcadia.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2007 Ford pickup, driven by Bissell, was traveling north on Louisiana Highway 519. For reasons still under investigation, Bissell’s vehicle left the roadway and collided with a tree.

Bissell, who was properly restrained, was pronounced deceased at the scene. One adult passenger, who was properly restrained in the front passenger seat, sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Three juvenile passengers, who were all properly restrained in the rear seat of the Ford, sustained moderate injuries and were also transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

While the cause of this crash remains under investigation, Louisiana State Police urges all drivers to obey traffic laws and remain alert while driving. While not all crashes are survivable, taking simple precautions such as these can often mean the difference between life and death.

Contact Information:

Trooper Eddie Thomas           

Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section-Troop G

Office: (318) 741-7411                      
eddie.thomas2@la.gov

The Claiborne Parish Library will be hosting a free computer literacy programs for the public at the main library in Homer in November.

Having trouble demystifying your smart phone, tablet, or laptop? Want to get the most out of the internet? Friday, November 8 is just for you. The Library will host training on exploring the use of the internet with a review of search engines, common websites like WebMD and Google

Maps and the use of artificial intelligence to create original content, followed by a workshop to answer questions and fix common problems with your devices.

“Exploring Useful Websites” will be held from 10 a.m.-noon followed by “Computer Tutor” from 1:15-3:15 p.m. Instructor Tobin DeVille is an experienced Microsoft-certified instructor. You must pre-register by October 31.

For the “Computer Tutor” workshop, attendees should bring their laptop, tablet, and/or smartphone.

There is no fee for the classes due to the generosity of the Friends of the Library organization. For $10, the Library will provide a lunch of sausage dogs, chips, and dessert for those who would like to eat at the library.
  
To reserve your seat, please call the library at 318-927-3845. More information may be found on the library’s Facebook page. Each program is free and open to the public. The library is located at 909 Edgewood Drive in Homer.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is reminding Wildlife Management Area (WMA) hunters and outdoorsmen of a burn ban in many parishes due to extremely dry conditions.

The bans include the burning of trash and vegetation, as well as any other open burning. For this reason, LDWF is restricting open fires, including campfires, on WMAs in these parishes until conditions improve and the burn bans are lifted. 

The burn ban map can be found at https://louisiana.maps.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?layers=363fa05d91ee4d7d903c7167447785a2. 

While campfires are often part of hunting traditions in Louisiana, LDWF is asking hunters and campers to cooperate with the burn bans to ensure the safety of others and to protect forest and wildlife resources.

Violation of the burn ban order could result in criminal and/or civil penalties.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is tasked with responding to wildfires. In the event of an emergency, call 911 or the LDAF 24-Hour Emergency Hotline at 1-855-452-5323.

John B. “Jack” Kelly was a sports fanatic.  During World War I, Jack served in the army and became a champion boxer.  Following the war, Jack rejoined his father’s highly successful bricklaying firm called “Kelly for Brickwork.”  The postwar boom quickly made Jack a millionaire.  Jack’s wealth freed him up to spend long hours perfecting his skill at sculling, rowing a long, thin needle-shaped boat with two oars.  Jack’s dedication paid off.  In a short time, he won six national championships and was the single scull champion of the United States.  Jack’s talents were such that he competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics at Antwerp, Belgium.  On that warm August day, Jack’s first event was the single scull, one person per boat.  Jack’s competitor, J. Beresford, jumped ahead at the start of the race and held the lead for the first 750 meters.  Newspapers said that Jack got a “last spurt” of energy and closed the gap when they were just 150 meters from the finish line.  Jack took the lead and crossed the finish line a full boat length before Beresford.  Jack won the gold medal in the single scull.  Back on dry land, Jack and Beresford were too tired to even shake hands.  Jack had little time to celebrate.  30 minutes later, he competed in the double scull with his cousin as his teammate and they won gold.  Four years later, Jack and his cousin competed in the double scull in the 1924 Paris Olympics and won gold again.  Jack was the first rower in history to win three gold medals.

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

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

Patricia was absolutely uninterested in competitive sports.  She enjoyed swimming but not competition swimming.  She liked to swim just for fun, which Patricia’s parents were unable to comprehend.  Patricia was only somewhat interested in academia.  Her math grades were so low that she was rejected from her first choice of colleges.  She eventually enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.  Soon after graduation, she began working as an actress, an occupation her father thought was “a slim cut above streetwalker.”  She appeared in thirty films including “Dial M for Murder,” “Rear Window,” and “High Society,” before she decided to retire at the height of her career.  Patricia, the outcast of the family, the girl who was not expected to amount to anything, became the most famous member of the family.  Patricia was the middle name of movie star and Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly.

Sources:

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

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

While it’s the thought that counts, maybe it’s not the best idea to buy your preacher a case of beer to show your thanks during Pastor Appreciation Month. 

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But … there’s a time and place for everything under the sun and, well, maybe just a gift certificate for supper or groceries would be more appropriate. 

Or a loaf of home-baked bread, leavened or unleavened.

Truth be told, we should have written this three weeks ago or at least two Sundays ago, but as things turn out, it’s perfect that it’s now.

It’s “perfect” in that October is Pastor Appreciation Month and the second Sunday of the month is (the official) Pastor Appreciation Sunday and now it’s late October and some of us (me?) are three weeks and a Sunday or two behind in getting around to thanking the preacher. 

Oops. “Though our sins were many …”

Not many of us really believe this, but pastors are people too. You know … more or less.

I grew up with one. Right there in my house. 

There is no angel that shows up once a month and changes the batteries in the preacher or priest or rabbi who shepherds your congregation. At least not in the Southern Baptist preacher I grew up with. 

Once my dad got his times mixed up and fell asleep in the easy chair when he was supposed to be officiating a wedding. Had his gall bladder out. Got a few speeding tickets. Got a few more. Said a dirty word, unrehearsed, when he walked up on a snake while looking over a tiny lot of land that was being cleared; the beautiful thing about that experience was he was with the deacons — the church was constructing a little building out back — and it was right before Wednesday night prayer meeting.

Good times.

Daddy shared with the Wednesday night flock what had just happened. He did not, thank God, share word-for-word.

The point is, they are human and have feelings and are never off the clock and can never turn the clock back, even if they walk up on a snake and wish they could. 

Bringing sheaves in can be a tough job for laymen and pastors alike, but the difference is that, if you see either at the hardware store, you’re more likely to ask one to help you find the caulk (15 seconds) and the other to help you with your crazy nephew or divorce proceedings, (which could take a hardware store eternity, and to make matters worse, the preacher is likely there on his ‘day off’).

We can start small and believe that little things really do mean a lot. My gift to the preacher this month is just to try not to get on his nerves. Each of us is gifted, remember, in some way. Still a week to go to see if I can pull that off.

You can honor your pastor too. Don’t put anything mean in the suggestion box. Stay in the sanctuary until the hymn of invitation is over. Maybe smile? 

It’s the little things. 

Pastors also accept gift certificates and, if memory serves, meat they can put in the deep freeze. 

We read stories of pastors who have stumbled or ones who are asking their congregations for another jet plane, or both. It’s a hard and often strange life for us all.

But in my experience, most pastors are like most people in that they’d do just about anything for you. Like we are, they are set upon by the same lightning bolts, big and small, the rest of us are trying to dodge, they are serving in just about the hardest job to do well that there is, and they are trying to love the flock as best as they possibly can.

They’re probably doing it much better than we could.

About that beer. Daddy told the guy, “Well, I appreciate it. Very much. But it’s not something I can use. If you know of anybody…”

And the church member said, “Well, I mean, if you’re not gonna drink it, I guess, well…”

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

I don’t know how the election will turn out Nov 5th, but many reliable metrics indicate that Pres. Trump is surging.  As are millions of Americans, I am prayerfully hopeful that the election will be conducted honestly and that he and his policies prevail.

Whatever the outcome, I think there are certain events and watershed moments that will, in the fullness of time, prove to have directly impacted the race. 

The first of these was the June presidential debate in which millions of Americans witnessed for the first time—due to the willful deceit of those around Pres. Biden—how mentally and physically deteriorated Biden had become.

The 2nd event was the forcing of Biden out of the race to be replaced by VP Kamala Harris who, while perhaps best positioned to step in as the Democrat nominee, was likely not the best suited to do so.  Nor, honestly, does she have the moral credibility to lead given her central role in the three-year cover-up of Biden’s declining faculties.  There are other national Democrats who would have been stronger candidates.  

VP Harris has demonstrated no willingness or ability to defend the policies of the Administration of which she has been a part for over 3.5 years—many of which are broadly unpopular.  On one hand, she can claim that she supports Pres. Biden’s policies and as a result must live with the negative view of millions of Americans about those policies.  On the other hand, if she tries to break cleanly with Pres. Biden, she offends her far Left base, upon which her only hope in this election rests.

In her first major, individual decision she chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, passing over the popular Gov. Josh Shapiro of the critically important swing state of PA.  There may be several reasons for this decision but one of them may have been VP Harris’s desire to avoid inflaming the Israel-Palestinian conflict by choosing a Jewish running mate.  In hindsight, Shapiro would have been a far preferable choice to the quirky and cartoonish Walz.  And Shapiro isn’t known for putting tampons in high school boys’ locker rooms or for claiming to have fought in combat when he was never anywhere near the battle.   

Of course, this is to say nothing of the Vance-Walz debate between the two VP candidates.  Walz was outmaneuvered and overmatched by Vance which helped form the nation’s impression of Walz.

The assassination attempt of Pres Trump in Butler, PA is another moment of great symbolic importance.  In an already iconic photo, Trump, bleeding from the ear—blood covering half his face—rose and exhorted the crowd to “fight, fight, fight!”  If it was possible to top that event, Trump’s dramatic return to Butler, a mere 30 days before the election, electrified the crowd, if not much of the nation. 

VP Harris’ appearance on The View was a colossal error.  This is particularly so given her response to the question of how she distinguishes herself from Pres. Biden’s policies and decisions.  She couldn’t think of anything she would do differently. “There Is Not A Thing That Comes To Mind,” said Kamala. This was stunning. Her response removed any doubt regarding whether she would continue the Biden policies that have the country in the shape it is in.  She will.

As Bret Baier asked her on the FOX interview, “You say you want to ‘turn the page.’ But turn the page from what? You’ve been in office for the last 4 years.’”

Perhaps the most disqualifying trait of VP Harris is her relentless effort to deflect when any substantive questions are posed to her.  Her unwillingness to address in detail what her plans are for the country beyond the generic and unavailing bromides she regularly offers, leaves voters with very little information about her based upon which to make a voting decision.

When you contrast this deflection and evasiveness with the countless unscripted interviews in which Pres. Trump and Sen. Vance have vigorously participated—and the simple, concrete, and repetitive articulation of plans and policies by those men—the candidacy and stature of VP Harris are diminished.

I think all of these factors will weigh on voters’ minds as they head to vote on or before Nov. 5th.  All we can do in the meantime is to continue to pray for our nation.

(Shreveport attorney, Royal Alexander, worked in D.C. in the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly 8 years for two different Members of Congress from Louisiana.  He has witnessed up close several Speaker races.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

Please send all non-profit calendar events to cpjnewsla@gmail.com

October 23 (2 – 4 p.m.)

Reception to celebrate breast cancer survivors and honor those lives lost

Guest Speaker: Kathy Babers with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s office

Claiborne Parish Library

October 26 (6 – 7 p.m.)

Haynesville Quarterback Club – Fish Plates $10/each

November 8

Computer Workshops hosted by the Claiborne Parish Library

November 23 (10 – 4 p.m.)

Harvest Time Homer – Craft Festival at A Gracious Plenty

Phillip Taylor McKenzie was born in Minden, Louisiana to Newell Ellis “Red” McKenzie and Wilma Taylor McKenzie White. He grew up in Homer, Louisiana. Phillip graduated from Homer High School, in 1966. During high school he was a proud member of the Homer Pelican football team. Many adventures with friends, who remained lifelong, contributed to a happy childhood. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Following his graduation from Tech, Phillip moved to Dallas, Texas where he was employed by Lone Star Gas Company. Over time, he advanced to the position of Rate Manager at Lone Star. After many years of service at Lone Star, Phillip retired and, in his retirement, he enjoyed coffees and lunch with friends and former coworkers, estates sales and visiting family. He loved animals, especially dogs, and using his skills as an amateur carpenter. 

In 2020, Phillip moved from Dallas to Bend, Oregon to be near his sister and her family. While living in Oregon, he took up gardening and made friends wherever he went. Phillip passed away at age 76 on October 16th in Bend, Oregon as a result of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Phillip is predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his sister, Ellis Ann McKenzie Lay, Redmond, Oregon. He was beloved “Unkie” to nephews Phillip Pace of Austin, Texas, Scott Pace and Alison Lay Cranston both of Redmond, Oregon, Great nephew, Zachary Pace and great great nephew River Pace of San Marcos, Texas. He is also survived by many much-loved cousins. 

Graveside services will be held at Arlington Cemetery in Homer, Louisiana on November 2nd, at 2:00 PM. Phillip will be buried in the McKenzie plot alongside his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Pallbearers will be Phillip Pace, Scott Pace, Zachary Pace, Charlie McKenzie, Jimmy McKenzie, Warren Little, Tom Little, and Giles Cranston. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation in lieu of flowers.

Notice of Death – October 22, 2024

Ozie Coleman

Feb. 23, 1943 – Oct. 15, 2024

Homer, La. 

Visitation: 12 – 3:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, Memorial Funeral Home, Homer, La.

Wake: 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church, Minden, La. 

Funeral service: 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, Mt. Pigah C.M.E. Church, Homer, La. 

Phillip Taylor McKenzie

April 21, 1948 – October 16, 2024

Homer, La. 

Graveside service: 2 – 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, Arlington Cemetery, Homer, La. 

Vivian Lopo Jones

June 04, 1933 – Oct. 09, 2024

Homer, La. 

Visitation: 12 – 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 01, 2024, Memorial Funeral Home, Homer, La. 

Funeral service: 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 02, 2024, Springlake Church of God in Christ, Homer, La. 

Interment to follow at St. John Cemetery, Homer, La. 

Claiborne Parish Journal publishes paid complete obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or cpjnewsla@gmail.com. Must be paid in advance of publication. (Above death notices are no charge.)

Sheriff Sam Dowies is making good on his promise to encourage young people to enjoy our partmof Sportsman’s Paradise here in Claiborne Parish. Last Saturday, October 12, the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office hosted its fifth annual Youth Hunt Contest.

There was no competition in the big hog contest this year. Chance Goodwin brought in the winner. Nobody else even came close.

Briggs Killgore was the big buck contest winner. Briggs brought in the first buck of the day. It was a bruiser seven point. He weighed 170 pounds. His horns were 15 ½ inches wide and 12 ½ inches tall. Joey Kuba also brought in a nice buck that was a 160-pound eight point. His horns were 14 ¾ inches wide and 10 ½ inches tall. Gunner Guillory brought in a nice seven point. He weighed 160 pounds with 12 inch wide and 11-inch-tall horns. Gunner Dickson and Ryder Beach both brought in spikes that weighed 90 pounds each. Five-year-old Riley “Rooster” Salmon brought in his first deer. It was a 105-pound spike.

The youth hunters really showed out this year in the bid doe contest. 23 does were entered for a new record. Bryce Merritt brought in the first contender in the big doe contest at 128 pounds. Ryder Buckner topped that when he brought in his 130-pound doe. It looked like the Buckner Boys were going to dominate the big doe competition yet again. Knox Goodwin had something to say about that with a late entry coming in at a whopping 143 pounds. Knox blew away the competition with a comfortable 13-pound victory. Knox released a statement to the media through his agent. “I knew nobody could beat me as soon as she stepped out.”

Other entries in the big doe contest were Ryan Sibley 117, Kase Holloway 111, Matthew Lawley 95, Harley Goodwin 105, Gunner Griffith 108, Gunner Guillory 106, Jewelyn Hays 116, Madison Salmon 117, Cason Gorman 100, Gunner Dickson 95, Brant Kyle 111, Jaxson Vansickle 108, Hays Glasscock 106, Jason Gerald 103, Beaux Blanchard 110, Brooks Lewis 91, Pete Hudson 100, Haven Lester 112, Michael Yarrington 108, and Drake Brown 110.

Youth hunters were able to enter drawings for door prizes that were donated by sponsors this year. Bella Salmon won a 20-gauge shotgun that was donated by Phillip Verdin with TB&L Lawn Care. Phillip also cooked a delicious jambalaya. Ashton McDade won a Ruger 10-22 donated by Zack Buckner with Peterson Construction. Bryce Merritt won a game camera and a box of 22 bullets donated by Jim Colvin and Daniel Bays with the Colvin and Bays Law Firm. Colvin and Bays also donated another game camera and a Caldwell Tack Driver shooting rest that was won by Jaxson Vansickle. Collier Voorhees won two sets of binoculars donated by Keith Lee with Barnette and Benefield Construction. Ryder Beach won a rice bran trough that was built by and donated by Claiborne Parish Detention Center Trustees. Evan Harmon won a ton of corn donated by Dubach Deer Factory. Honey’s on the square donated six gift certificates to be awarded to the first and second place finishers in each category. Gibsland Bank & Trust (GBT) brought their cook trailer and prepared some delicious food. GBT also helped the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office by teaming up and providing orange caps and vests.

By Paige Gurgainers

The last two acts of Arty Dodger’s vaudeville-type floor show had the audience at the annual “Fifteen Under 40” awards banquet holding their collective breaths. Picture a man balanced on the tops of three wine bottles successfully juggling three long metal knives. Dodger, of nearby Athens, LA, has spent 30 years developing his show, which features his wife as his trusted assistant. He calls himself the “Southern Gentleman Juggler” in a show that features comedy (did he drop that on purpose?), juggling, and balance tricks. (Photo by Marilyn Miller)

With Halloween just around the corner, it’s a great time to think about how to manage the amount of added sugars in your kids’ diets. Limiting sugary foods and beverages can make a big difference in their overall health and well-being. If you don’t stock up on these items at home, your kids won’t have access to them as often. It’s important to remember that sweet treats and sugary drinks typically contain a lot of
empty calories and very few essential nutrients. Common sources of added sugars include sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, juice drinks, cakes, cookies, ice cream, candy, and other desserts.

To help you navigate this festive season, here are nine tips to cut back on your kids’ sweet treats:

1. Pay Attention to Portion Sizes: Candy comes in various sizes and forms. If you decide to let your kids indulge, steer clear of full-size candy bars, as they can lead to overeating—one full-size candy bar can be equivalent to three to four servings! Instead, choose mini or snack-sized options. Remember, controlling portion sizes is crucial when it comes to high-calorie desserts.

2. Use a Candy-Free Check-Out Lane: Most grocery stores offer check-out lanes that don’t display candy. Choosing these lanes can help minimize temptation for your children, who may otherwise be inclined to ask for treats while waiting in line.

3. Avoid Using Sweets as Rewards: When you use food as a reward for good behavior, children can start to associate certain foods with feelings of success or comfort. Instead, celebrate their achievements with kind words, hugs, or non- food rewards like stickers or small toys.

4. Make Treats Special Occasions: Treats can certainly be enjoyable but try to limit them to special occasions. This way, your kids won’t expect sweets every day and will learn to appreciate them when they do have them.

5. Opt for Fruit as the Everyday Dessert: Instead of high-calorie desserts, consider serving fruits like baked apples or pears, or a refreshing fruit salad. You might also try delicious frozen juice bars made from 100% juice as a healthier alternative.

6. Encourage Kids to Create New Snacks: Get your kids involved in snack-making by allowing them to invent their own mixes using dry whole-grain cereal, dried fruit, and unsalted nuts or seeds. Providing a variety of healthy ingredients can spark their creativity and make snacking fun.

7. Plan Ahead: Stock your kitchen with healthy snack options like cut-up vegetables with hummus, cottage cheese paired with fruit, protein shakes, or slices of cheese with grapes. Having these nutritious options readily available can help your kids resist the temptation to reach for candy.

8. Be a Last-Minute Buyer: Try to avoid buying candy or sweets in the weeks leading up to Halloween. The longer they’re in your home, the more likely you are to indulge. Instead, purchase candy closer to October 31st and only buy what you think you will truly need. This strategy can help reduce the number of sweet temptations around the house during the lead-up to holidays and celebrations.

9. Sort Out the Kids’ Favorites: After trick-or-treating, help your child sort through their candy haul. Encourage them to pick their favorite treats to keep and consider discarding or donating the rest. Remember, if it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind, which can help reduce the urge to snack on those sweets.

By following these tips, you can help your kids enjoy Halloween while also making healthier choices. Balancing treats with nutritious foods sets a positive example and fosters better habits in the long run!

Shakera Williams, DrHSc, MPH
Assistant Extension Agent
Nutrition & Community Health
(Flavors of Health, SNAP-Ed, CDC-HOP/Healthy Communities)
Webster and Claiborne Parishes

On November 10, 1951, Hugh Beaver, the managing director of a brewery, was part of an elite shooting party in Wexford County, in southeastern Ireland.  Strict gun laws and expensive licensing in Ireland made owning firearms something of a status symbol.  Hugh’s target on this hunt was the golden plover.  They were not hunting the golden plover for food—it weighs only about seven ounces—they were hunting the birds purely for sport.  The birds were about ten inches tall and flew really quickly which made them a difficult target.

As the shooting party walked slowly through the mud flats of the Slaney River, an area known as the North Slob, Hugh flushed out a golden plover.  The bird shot into the air.  There was no time to take careful aim.  Hugh raised his shotgun to his shoulder and pulled the trigger.  Blam!!! The bird did not fall but continued to appear as little more than a streak in the sky.  Hugh had missed.  The others in the shooting party playfully teased him for missing the shot, but Hugh reasoned that he missed the shot because the golden plover was the fastest game bird in Europe.  Another member of the shooting party disagreed and said the red grouse was the fastest game bird in Europe.  Despite their best arguments, there was no way to settle the good-natured dispute during the hunt.

Later that evening, the shooting party returned to their host’s house in the small town of Castlebridge.  Their discussion over which was the fastest game bird in Europe continued.  Hugh was certain that they would find some sort of reference book to settle the dispute.  He and the other members of the shooting party searched all of the books they could locate but none contained the information they sought.   The debate remained unresolved.

Two years later, Hugh was searching for a new way to promote the brewery that he managed when he remembered the unsolved debate from the shooting party.  He was sure that there were other people who had similar questions which could be answered if only there was an authoritative reference book.  He enlisted the help of twin brothers Norris and Ross McWhirter, who were running a fact-finding agency in London, to compile a reference book to solve such questions.  In August 1954, Hugh distributed 1,000 free copies of the reference book to pubs in England and Ireland.  The reference book was immensely popular.  In 1955, the first commercially available copies of the reference book became available.  By Christmas, the reference book topped the bestseller list in Britain.  In 1956, the reference book became available in America where it sold approximately 70,000 copies.  Since its inception, the reference book has sold more than 150 million copies in 100 countries and in 40 languages.

When Hugh joined that shooting party in the winter of 1951 there was no way he could have known that a good-natured dispute over which was the fastest game bird in Europe would lead to the creation of one of the best-selling books in publishing history.  Since Hugh used the reference book as a promotional item for the brewery he managed, he named it after the brewery.  He called it Guinness Book of World Records.  The question that spawned the reference book, which is the fastest game bird in Europe, has never been included in any edition of the book because it focuses not on regional records, but on world records.              

 Sources:

1.     Dan Lewis, “The Bird That Set the Record Straight,” Now I Know, October 21, 2019, accessed October 13, 2024, https://nowiknow.com/the-bird-that-set-the-record-straight/.

2.     Eleonora Pilastro, “Why was the first Guinness World Records book first published?”, Guinness World Records, accessed October 13, 2024, https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2022/9/why-was-the-guinness-world-records-book-first-published-714607.

3.     “Fastest Game Bird,” Guinness World Records, accessed October 13, 2024, https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/691273-fastest-game-bird.

While we all know that nothing is better for a sport or business than competition, it’s the one thing that makes everyone work harder. Competition creates diversity and allows for people or an organization to get better. If you want to see what diversity looks like, look no further than the options available for bass tournament anglers in the state of Texas. Today we’ll look at the many options anglers have to pick from.

While competition is great, it’s not always what’s best for everyone. Bass anglers in this part of the Ark-La-Tex are spoiled and offered a lot of different options to fish especially when it comes to team tournament trails. 

The question is: “How do anglers decide what they want to fish?” Is it about the cost to enter, the payback or is it more about what lakes the circuit is going to? The answer is…. all the above! Anglers today have a plethora of circuits to fish with the big three being the Texas Team Trail, Bass Champs and the Brandon Belt Team Trail. Also available are the ABA Solo 150’s, along with the ABA Pro League. 

The big three listed above are all team trails while the two ABA circuits are professional style events as anglers fish solo in both. In 2024, ABA eliminated all co-anglers in order to offer anglers an affordable pro-style tournament trail with low entry fees of $325 for the single day Pro League and $625 for the Solo 150’s which are two-day events. 

ABA also offers the opportunity for anglers to advance to a national championship event called The Ray Scott, named after the man who was a huge supporter of ABA and started professional bass fishing. The Ray Scott National Championship will draw up to 200 boats on average each year and is held on some of the best lakes in the country. 

For 2025, Texas Team Trail has increased its payback with the intent to draw more anglers. Of the big three, Brandon Belt has become the top dog with huge paybacks of $100,000 going to the winners of each event. Bass Champs continues to cater to its angler base with great paybacks as well. 

So, with so many great tournament trails available, anglers are sitting down and looking at what trail best fits their needs. The lakes selected by the circuit are a huge factor because anglers want to fish bodies of water they are familiar with. They want to fish lakes that give them the best chance to not only win but get a check. 

The other problem with too many circuits is the fact that there are basically only 4 weekends in a month and anglers can’t financially afford to fish every weekend. This is why most anglers will only choose to follow two circuits. 

This means some tournament trails will and are experiencing lower participation numbers. The next question is, “ Can they all survive?” So far, the answer has been yes, but as we prepare to elect a new President, there is a lot of uncertainty with regards to the economy and what direction our country is headed. 

From an angler’s perspective, we better hope and pray that the American people are not being fooled by a candidate who is feeding us a “word salad” and trying to sound intelligent while trying to convince the American public they can do the job. Because the choice we make this time will have a lasting affect that could have grave consequences and end our days of enjoying the sport we all love so much.

Till next time, good luck, good fishing and just because the hot summer days are behind us, protecting your skin is still important. Wear your sunscreen and good protective clothing every time you head out to your favorite lake. 

Steve Graf

Angler’s Perspective

Mid-October and things are getting for reals this football season as leaves change and so do teams’ fortunes.

The calendar suggests we are inching up on mid-season — unless you are a Dallas or New Orleans fan; then records and scores suggest the season might just be over.

Oh, the twists and the turns. 

And so it’s been in this most popular and crazy game since the first farmboy came across a pig’s bladder and in a moment of genius said, “Now wait just a dog-gone minute!” stamped “WILSON” on it and invented the football. Thus, the term “pigskin,” which bats leadoff in today’s Art of Sports Talkin’, Football Edition.

Back when March Madness began, we reviewed basketball, also known informally as roundball or b-ball or the rock, as sports has a language all its own, and each individual sport has an even more specialized lingo. A field goal is different in football than in basketball. “Pin” is one thing in bowling and another in wrestling, and foul trouble is when a basketball player or team is in danger of reaching the limit of fouls allowed without disqualification or penalty. Foul trouble is also what you are in when you sit next to a fan who smells like an old sneaker, and fowl trouble is when the concession stand runs out of chicken tenders.

And so it goes.

Now we walk “foobaw,” as an offensive lineman in a bad mood might grunt.

We start with a biggie, born in 1975 in the NFL playoffs in Minnesota when beloved Dallas quarterback Roger Staubach retreated into the pocket in a desperate situation trailing the Vikings late, said afterward he closed his eyes and “said a Hail Mary,” and launched a bomb to future fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer Drew Pearson, who caught the ball in double coverage to score and give the Cowboys the win. And so was born the football Hail Mary, when a quarterback chunks a long desperation pass to a receiver, usually clumped with a lot of other shoulder-padded humanity and usually into the end zone, as Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers did Monday Night in New York in the Jets loss to Buffalo. A pair of sidenotes: a Hail Mary is not always complete — such is life — and a Hail Mary sounds the same but is different in meaning than what you might say when Mary is late or spills hot coffee on your lap.

“Encroachment” is believed to be when a defensive player enters the “neutral zone” before the snap — although in reality, no one truly knows what encroachment is, and if they say they do, even if they are a football official, they are lying.

“Officials” are called referees (or convicts or zebras because of the striped shirts they wear); these are the people who call holding on your team pretty much whenever the mood strikes. Fans with money on the game should be able to call encroachment against the zebras.

“Pooch kick” is what happens when the kicker, during a kickoff, doesn’t kick it very far on purpose; this lessens the odds of the receiving team having a good return. If that same kicker is a dog owner and misses a field goal, it increases the odds that he’ll perform a pooch kick when he gets home, and if that happens, we hope he misses every field goal he tries for the rest of his pitiful football life.

“Hard count” is what the quarterback does when he is calling for the ball to be snapped and changes the rhythm of his call to try and draw the defense offsides. It’s also what happens when a person from South Carolina like me is asked to add.

“Victory formation” is when the offense, with a lead and time expiring, bunches together at the line of scrimmage, as if they are gossiping, so the quarterback can take a knee and run clock and end the game. It is a favorite formation, and we hope your team gets to run it every time you play.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu