Claiborne Parish is celebrating an extraordinary academic achievement by one of its own. JerLaysja Cooper, a senior at Homer High School has been named a semifinalist in the highly competitive 2025–2026 Coca-Cola Scholars Program, an honor reserved for the nation’s top student leaders.

JerLaysja was selected from a pool of more than 107,000 applicants nationwide and is one of only 1,237 semifinalists — and notably, one of just six students chosen from the entire state of Louisiana.
This prestigious scholarship recognizes high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding academic excellence, leadership, and a strong commitment to service. As a semifinalist, JerLaysja will advance to the interview stage in January for the opportunity to be named a finalist, receive a $20,000 scholarship, and earn a trip to Atlanta, Georgia, for the Coca-Cola Scholars celebration.

JerLaysja’s recognition places her among the top student leaders in the nation and highlights the exceptional caliber of students representing Claiborne Parish.

“Congratulations to JerLaysja Cooper on this outstanding accomplishment! Her hard work, determination, and dedication to her school and community are an inspiration to us all.”

The community extends its full support and best wishes to JerLaysja as she moves forward in the final selection process.

---

The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office has issued a reminder to property owners that 2025 property taxes are due on or before December 31, 2025. Tax notices have been mailed, and residents are encouraged tomake payments promptly to avoid penalties.

Property taxes may be paid in several ways:
Online: Visit http://www.claibornesheriff.org and select the “Pay Property Taxes” option.
By Mail: Send payments to the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office.
In Person: Stop by the office located at 300 Hwy 146, Homer, Louisiana.

Taxes not paid by December 31 will begin to accrue interest at a rate of 1% per month, or any portion of a month, until payment is made in full. Continued delinquency will result in additional fees.
If taxes, interest, and associated costs remain unpaid, the property tax lien may be included in a tax lien auction scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

Need Assistance?

Residents with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (318) 927-4807.
The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office urges all taxpayers to act now to avoid penalties and ensure their property remains in good standing.

---

By John Monzingo
Assistant County Agent

The Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners are proud to announce the newest graduates of the
Master Gardener program. These dedicated individuals completed a comprehensive twelve-week
course covering a wide range of horticultural topics, including organic gardening, botany, plant
propagation, entomology, weed and turf management, soil science, and more. The program is
designed to enhance participants gardening knowledge and prepare them to serve their
communities through volunteerism and education.

Graduates (Front Row, Left to Right):
John Beck, Linda Spruell, Iyonna Laster, Alica Adams, Emily Blount, Ivan Sweet, Angela
Preuett

Back Row (Left to Right):Doug Sanders, Angie Chapman, Xavier Bonyfield, Sasha Sweet, Alison Storms, Effren Galindo

Not Pictured: James Preuett

---

Residents interested in preparing their gardens for the upcoming cool season will have an opportunity to learn from a local expert at a free educational event hosted by the LSU AgCenter.

Mr. John Monzingo of the LSU AgCenter will lead a presentation on Cool Season Gardening on Monday, November 17, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Claiborne Parish Library, located at 909 Edgewood Drive in Homer.

This event is open to the public and no pre-registration is required. Participants will receive practical guidance on selecting the right crops, preparing soil, and managing a productive garden during the cooler months. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just getting started, this informative session is designed to help you succeed this season.

Residents with disabilities requiring special assistance to participate are encouraged to contact John Monzingo or the Claiborne Parish Extension Service at 318-927-3110 at least three days prior to the meeting.

This program is provided through the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, which operates under a policy of nondiscrimination based on race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability.

For more information, contact the Claiborne Parish Extension Office.

---

I-20 construction has become an exercise in enduring a spiritual test. Those of headed west from Ruston or east to Ruston must face the challenge of merging into one lane around the construction. It is maddening. It is also instructive.

Let us begin with a confession: merging onto the interstate in Louisiana is not for the faint of heart. It is a spiritual exercise in chaos theory, a test of faith, and occasionally, a near-death experience. One might say it resembles the early church—passionate, unpredictable, and occasionally in need of divine intervention.

Contrast this with the Northwest, where merging is a liturgy. Drivers there glide like synchronized swimmers in a baptismal pool of asphalt. They signal. They yield. They make space. It’s as if they’ve read Romans 12:10—“Outdo one another in showing honor”—and applied it to traffic patterns.

But what if merging isn’t just about traffic? What if it’s a metaphor for fellowship?

In the church, we speak often of “fellowship,” that sacred mingling of souls in potluck lines and small group gatherings. But true fellowship—like merging—isn’t just proximity. It’s intentional movement toward one another. It’s the art of adjusting speed, checking blind spots, and sometimes braking for someone who’s still figuring out their spiritual GPS.

Consider the Apostle Paul. He was a master merger. One moment he’s persecuting Christians, the next he’s writing half the New Testament and hosting small groups in Philippi. He didn’t just join the faith; he merged into it—yielding to grace, accelerating toward purpose, and signaling his transformation with every epistle.

In merging, as in fellowship, timing is everything. Too fast, and you risk colliding. Too slow, and you cause confusion. The church, too, must learn this rhythm. We must make space for the hesitant, the wounded, the ones still figuring out which lane they belong in. We must resist the urge to honk our theological horns or tailgate someone into conformity.

And let us not forget the sacred blinker. In traffic, it’s a sign of intention. In fellowship, it’s vulnerability. It says, “I’m trying to join you. I’m not perfect, but I’m coming alongside.” The church thrives when we honor the blinker—when we respond not with suspicion, but with grace.

Of course, there are spiritual roadblocks. Pride. Judgment. The occasional congregant who drives a theological monster truck and refuses to yield. But even these can be navigated with patience and prayer. After all, Jesus merged with humanity itself—God taking on flesh, signaling love, and entering our lane with humility.

So next time you’re on the interstate, and a fellow Louisianan or visiting Texan barrels down the ramp like they’re auditioning for a Fast & Furious sequel, take a breath. Remember that merging is messy. Fellowship is, too. But both are holy.

Because in the end, the church is not a convoy of perfect drivers. It’s a caravan of grace—bumper to bumper, blinker to blinker, learning to merge our lives into one body, one Spirit, one glorious journey toward the Kingdom.

And if all else fails, just wave. It’s the universal sign of fellowship. Even in traffic.

---

Residents of Claiborne Parish can expect a cool and breezy week ahead, with temperatures gradually warming as the weekend approaches. Below is the latest weather outlook:

Wednesday
Partly sunny skies with a high near 59 degrees. Expect a brisk west wind at 15 to 20 mph, with gusts reaching up to 30 mph, making it feel cooler throughout the day.

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy with temperatures dropping to around 44 degrees. Winds will shift to the northwest at 5 to 10 mph, with occasional gusts up to 20 mph.

Thursday
Sunny conditions return with a high near 63 degrees. Light northwest winds around 5 mph will contribute to a calm and pleasant afternoon.

Thursday Night
Clear skies expected with a chilly low near 38 degrees.

Friday
Sunny and seasonal with a high near 68 degrees—a perfect fall day for outdoor activities.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy skies with nighttime temperatures dipping to around 42 degrees.

Saturday
Mostly sunny with a high near 69 degrees, continuing the trend of mild fall weather.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy overnight with a low around 43 degrees.

Sunday
Sunny skies and comfortable temperatures with a high near 69 degrees.

Sunday Night
Clear conditions continue, with lows around 46 degrees.

Monday
A warming trend begins with sunshine and temperatures rising to near 76 degrees.

Residents are encouraged to stay updated on weather conditions and take precautions during windy periods, especially on Wednesday. Cool mornings and sunny afternoons make this a classic Louisiana fall forecast.

---

By John Monzingo
Assistant County Agent

Livestock exhibitors start purchasing and training their new livestock projects in the spring of each year
in hopes that their hard work will pay off and they will win champion livestock or champion showman.

The Claiborne Parish Livestock Show completed a week of showing October 13 th – 17 th . Results from
each division are listed below:

Champion Rabbit: Jaylyana Buggs

Reserve Champion Rabbit: Cayden Franklin

Champion Rabbit Showman: Y’Miracle Underwood

Reserve Champion Rabbit Showman: Cayden Franklin

Champion Poultry: Christian Hicks

Reserve Champion Poultry: Chrisitan Hicks

Champion Poultry Showman: Christian Hicks

Reserve Champion Poultry Showman: Y’Miracle Underwood

Champion Lamb Showman: Luke Padgett

Reserve Lamb Showman: Brynleigh Self

Champion Market Lamb: Brynleigh Self

Reserve Champion Market Lamb: Luke Padgett

Champion Commercial Ewe: Luke Padgett

Champion Goat Showman: Luke Padgett

Reserve Champion Goat Showman: Sawyer Wilson

Champion Market Goat: Luke Padgett

Reserve Champion Market Goat: Sawyer Wilson

Grand Champion Commercial Doe: Luke Padgett

Reserve Champion Commercial Doe: Vivianna Dison

Champion Full Blood Doe: Sawyer Urrey

Champion Percentage Doe: Luke Padgett

Overall Supreme and Reserve Doe: Luke Padgett

Champion Dairy Goat: Annagail Dison

Reserve Champion Dairy Goat: Laila Dison

Champion Swine Showman: Chrissie Smith

Reserve Champion Swine Showman: Alyana Tabor

Champion Market Swine: Heath Smith

Reserve Champion Market Swine: Chrissie Smith

Champion Beef Showman: Aubry Shively

Champion and Reserve Champion Heifer: Aubrey Shively

Congratulations to our other winners:

TJ Tabor

Cindy Cripe

Savanna Crew

Aubri Green

Congratulations to all who participated in the Claiborne Parish Livestock Show. If you are interested in
participating in the Claiborne Parish Livestock Show, please contact John Monzingo at 318-927-3110.

---

(Part II)

Today we’ll continue our thoughts on the state of professional bass fishing and where it’s headed. Like the old saying goes, “Nothing lasts forever,” and I worry that the sponsorship or business side of fishing is getting tougher and more complicated as companies are now looking hard at how they spend their advertising dollars.

Today’s anglers are fighting among themselves for a much smaller piece of the pie while the amount of sponsorship dollars has dwindled. It’s becoming more difficult for anglers to land sponsors who have now decided to tighten their belts with regards to advertisement.

It’s Business 101, all about ROI (return on investment) as sponsors are no longer passing out money like candy. Companies have gotten more conservative on how much money they are willing to pay an angler to represent them. They’re also no longer hiring as many anglers to be a part of their marketing teams as they have in the past.

Company marketing plans have changed and this all started when the old FLW Tour went under in 2019, followed in 2021 when FLW was absorbed by MLF (Major League Fishing). This has changed the landscape of professional bass fishing as anglers try to make a living.

Recently with a smaller market of sponsors for anglers to choose from, along with a tight economy, professional anglers are having to look at other ways to raise money in order to support their families, pay for entry fees and travel expenses. It has slowly become the land of the haves and the have nots.

By that I mean, if you have money or come from money, you stand a better chance of making it as a professional angler than someone who is strapped for dollars, sleeping in their truck, and fishing for pay checks.

The older generation of anglers who have helped make the sport what it is today are now being phased out by a younger generation that requires less money to sponsor.

Let me explain. For years companies would hire professional anglers to do commercials and promote different products they offer. But as social media began to take hold, companies started turning to the younger generation due to their social media skills and their ability to navigate the web.

The difference between the older generation of anglers and the younger ones is that companies were having to pay a substantial amount of money to the older guys. The younger anglers, who are very social media savvy, are less demanding and will do promotions for pennies on the dollar or maybe a product exchange.

This has changed the landscape for how professional anglers can make a living. Companies today want anglers who understand the dynamics of social media, can sell a product, and have good communication skills. Just winning tournaments is not enough any longer.

So where is all of this headed? Is the future dream of being a professional bass fisherman still a reality? Major League Fishing has recently cut the number of anglers in its circuit down from 65 to 51, eliminating 15 anglers!

This of course helps with distribution of the so-called pie as there are now less anglers trying to lock down sponsors. I personally believe that anglers are going to have to reach out to sponsors that are not related to the fishing world like the FLW Tour did back in the early 2000s.

FLW did an excellent job of bringing in companies like Tide, Snickers, Land of Lakes, Castrol Oil, Kellogg’s and Walmart. They basically followed the same marketing plan as NASCAR by reaching out to non-endemic sponsors.

Being a professional bass angler is a great way to make a living and a dream for so many! Currently, there are a lot of questions as to what direction professional bass fishing is headed.

But there’s one thing that has remained constant in this profession. Young anglers today face the same challenges that the older generation faced — how to make money and provide for their families!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

---

Walk through any hospital in Louisiana and there’s a good chance you’ll meet a nurse, technologist, or healthcare leader who began their journey at Northwestern State University. From Natchitoches to Shreveport, Alexandria, and Leesville, NSU has become one of the state’s most respected names in healthcare education.

Healthcare is changing quickly, and so are the demands on those who deliver it. Hospitals need more trained professionals. Patients need more access to care. Families need people who can lead with skill and compassion. For many in Louisiana, that career path begins at NSU’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health.

“Our students come from every corner of Louisiana and every stage of life,” said Dr. Aimee Badeaux, Dean of the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health. “Some are high school graduates looking for their first step. Others are licensed professionals seeking to grow in their careers. What unites them is a commitment to helping others, and that’s something we know how to develop.”

NSU offers one of the most comprehensive selections of healthcare programs in the region. Students can choose from associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across nursing, radiologic sciences, and allied health.

Among the most popular options:

• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) and LPN to ASN
• Military Medic/Paramedic to ASN — the only program of its kind in Louisiana, offered in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Alexandria, and Leesville
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), RN to BSN, LPN to BSN, and Accelerated BSN (BS to BSN)
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with concentrations in Administration, Education, and multiple Nurse Practitioner tracks
• Doctoral-level Nurse Anesthesia, Executive Leadership, and Educational Leadership programs
• Bachelor and Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences — including the first Sonography program in North Louisiana
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Allied Health, with concentrations in Health Science & Technology and Health Sciences Leadership & Management

For working registered nurses, the RN to BSN program remains a top choice. The online format offers flexibility and affordability while maintaining a strong academic foundation.

“Many of our RN-BSN students are balancing full-time jobs and family commitments,” explained Dr. Greg Handel, Executive Vice President and Provost. “We built the program to meet them where they are. It’s affordable, accredited, and recognized nationally for quality.”

Students in NSU’s healthcare programs train in high-fidelity simulation laboratories that recreate real-world clinical settings. From emergency response to pediatric care, these labs allow students to practice critical skills in a safe environment before moving into hospitals and clinics.

Those partnerships with regional healthcare providers are another reason NSU graduates are in such high demand. Students complete clinical rotations with major hospitals, community clinics, and long-term care facilities throughout Louisiana, gaining the experience and confidence that employers look for.

“The hands-on training our students receive makes a real difference,” said Dr. Badeaux. “They graduate with practical skills and a sense of responsibility to their patients and communities.”

That preparation shows in the outcomes. NSU boasts NCLEX pass rates of 98% for ASN graduates and 96% for BSN graduates, consistently exceeding state and national averages.

The university has also earned top national recognition, including:

• #1 in Louisiana among Top Public Schools – U.S. News & World Report, 2026
• #1 Best Online Nursing Program – The Princeton Review, 2024
• #1 Best Nurse Practitioner and MSN Programs – NursePractitionerOnline.com and RegisteredNursing.org, 2025

In the past five years alone, Northwestern State has produced more registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and radiologic technologists than any other institution in the state.

Behind every successful graduate is a team of faculty who are both experienced clinicians and committed educators. With an average class size of 17, students receive the kind of personal attention that larger universities often can’t provide.

“Students succeed here because they’re known here,” said James T. Genovese, President of Northwestern State University. “We take pride in offering an environment where each student’s goals are understood, supported, and celebrated.”

As Louisiana’s population grows and healthcare needs become more complex, NSU continues to adapt. The university is expanding key programs to new sites, building stronger partnerships with hospitals, and investing in technology that enhances training and patient simulation.

Dr. Badeaux summarized it simply: “Every day, we’re educating the professionals who will care for our families tomorrow. That’s work we take seriously.”

For students and families exploring healthcare careers, Northwestern State University offers a trusted path — from the first day of class to the first day on the job. To learn more or connect with an advisor, visit www.nsula.edu/nursing.

Paid Content

---

When Melvin James Kiminsky was entering his senior year in high school in 1944, he took the Army Specialized Training Reserve Program test, an assessment to determine intelligence and comprehension. Melvin did so well on the aptitude test that Army recruiters sent him to Virginia Military Institute to study electrical engineering. Melvin, who had spent his whole life in New York City, was surrounded by “mountain ranges, red clay, a lot of horses, and statues of Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee.” At VMI, he was taught to ride a horse, wield a saber, do close-order drill, and electrical engineering. Then, he was transferred to Fort Sill, Oklahoma to work on a field artillery team whose main weapon was a 105mm cannon. The Army failed to provide hearing protection, so Melvin began tearing the filters off of Camel cigarettes and sticking those in his ears. He quipped, “my ears are still yellow to this day.”

In January 1945, Melvin was among hundreds of soldiers who were sent to Europe. He ended up on the front line between Sarreguemines, France, and Saarbrucken, Germany. Because he was classified as an engineer—his superiors overlooked the fact that he was an electrical engineer and not a combat engineer—they gave him a bayonet and told him to probe for mines. Melvin thought the order was absurd, but he was instructed to insert his bayonet into the ground at a shallow angle to avoid pressing the detonator which was normally triggered by pressure from directly above. After a while, Melvin joined a team with the 1104thcombat engineers who had to erect a Bailey bridge, a portable truss bridge, over a river which led into enemy territory defended by Nazis. The Bailey bridge was so light that they could swing it out over the river, but strong enough to support the weight of a crossing tank. Melvin was one of the first men who had to cross the bridge because he had to secure it to the other side. The ever-watchful Germans, angry that an American soldier would soon be coming onto their side of the river, shouted warnings in German over a loudspeaker. Melvin grabbed a bullhorn and responded to the German soldiers but not by yelling threats. He sang a full rendition of the popular upbeat Broadway showtune “Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Goo’ Bye!)”

When he finished singing, he lowered the bullhorn. The men in his company stared at him in complete and confused silence. For a few moments, the German soldiers were also silent. Then, a few of the enemy soldiers began clapping and cheering. Neither the American soldiers nor the German soldiers understood the absurdity that had just occurred. Melvin understood the absurdity of the war and satirized it directly to soldiers on both sides of the conflict. For the past 80 years, Melvin Kiminsky has been entertaining the world in much the same way, with his own brand of absurd comedy. He is one of only 27 entertainers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony award for his work on films such as “The Producers,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Spaceballs,” and “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.” At 99 years old, he is currently producing and acting in “Spaceballs 2.” Kaminsky may not be a name you recognize. You see, early in his career, to eliminate his being confused with noted trumpet player Max Kaminsky, Melvin James Kaminsky began performing under the stage name Mel Brooks.

 

Source: “Mel Brooks on Fighting the Germans in World War II—Rare Interview!” TheTVTimeMachine, YouTube, March 3, 2024, https://youtu.be/xmJq2vvuPL4?si=e0Q3g1Zj8dwtBzyw.

---

October 29, 1929—Black Tuesday—marked the collapse of the U.S. stock market and the beginning of the Great Depression. In a single day, billions of dollars evaporated, and a wave of panic swept the nation. But beyond the financial fallout, the event carried an eerie weight, as if Wall Street itself had been cursed.

In the days leading up to the crash, brokers and bankers worked in a frenzy, trying to keep the market afloat. When prices finally plummeted, chaos erupted. Eyewitnesses described men fainting, tearing up ledgers, and screaming in despair. Some investors, ruined in minutes, walked out of buildings and never returned home.

Newspapers at the time fueled the legend of desperate brokers leaping from skyscraper windows. While the number of suicides that day was exaggerated, there were enough tragedies in the weeks that followed to cement the image of Wall Street as a haunted district.

The “ghosts of Black Tuesday” lingered long after the crash. Families who lost everything often told stories of hearing phantom voices in their former offices or seeing apparitions of men in suits wandering near the Stock Exchange. Whether real hauntings or the product of grief, these tales captured the sense of loss that haunted a generation.

The Great Depression reshaped America. Breadlines, dust storms, and shuttered banks became the grim reality of the 1930s. Even today, economists and historians study October 29 as a turning point when prosperity gave way to hardship.

In New York, legends persist that certain offices on Wall Street are cursed. Night guards whisper of cold drafts, shadowy figures, and footsteps echoing through empty hallways long after business hours. For some, Black Tuesday isn’t just history—it’s a haunting.

Nearly a century later, October 29 remains a reminder of how quickly fortune can vanish, leaving behind only ghosts of ambition and despair.

---

Feonia “Betty” Wafer
March 11, 1937 – October 25, 2025
Visitation: Friday, October 31 from 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home Service: Saturday, November 1 at 11:00 AM at Salem CME Chu

Claiborne Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or billvance.erg@gmail.com. (Notice of Deaths shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to billvance.erg@gmail.com

---

Baton Rouge – Governor Jeff Landry is warning all SNAP welfare cardholders that they will receive no new benefits on their cards starting Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown in Washington, DC. Any remaining benefits from previous months can still be used. Updated information will be available to all Louisiana residents through a new site https://dcshutdown.la.gov.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Louisiana receive SNAP welfare benefits. An update from the USDA this summer stated more than 16% of the population in Louisiana receives SNAP benefits.

“The U.S. Senate is failing to open the federal government in Washington, DC. SNAP benefits are paid for by the federal government in Washington, and we simply administer the program here in Louisiana. Without the funds we cannot provide the benefits. The U.S. House under Speaker Mike Johnson has already acted to re-open the government. Our U.S. Senators representing Louisiana have voted over and over again to re-open the government. They are doing their part. Now it is time for those U.S. Senators, under Democrat Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, to vote yes and re-open the federal government. Louisianans concerned about the lack of funds for this program, or any impacted federal service, should call on Chuck Schumer to re-open the federal government now,” said Governor Jeff Landry.

The Louisiana Department of Health which oversees the SNAP program in Louisiana will begin notifying recipients this week, based on available information, that November benefits will not be added to their cards until the federal government reopens. In addition, LDH is providing notices (Notice 1, Notice 2) which retailers can post on doorways and in their stores notifying recipients new funds will be unavailable.

“All Louisiana SNAP recipients should be aware that there will be no new benefits added to their cards starting November 1st unless the federal government in Washington, DC reopens,” said Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health Bruce D. Greenstein. “We will do all we can to ensure SNAP recipients are aware of this and that retailers are prepared as well. Updated information will be provided on the state’s new dcshutdown.la.gov website as soon as it is available.”

---

A crash of a small plane that went down in northern Jackson Parish, roughly about five miles from the Ruston Regional Airport on Tuesday, October 21st, has claimed the life of a man who was en route to Ruston, LA from Huntsville, TX. 

The name of the pilot who was flying solo has not been released at present, but according to reports, the Cirrus SR22 airplane is registered to LaSalle Management Company in Ruston. The private company operates Correctional Centers and other prisons in the region.

Flightradar24 shows the plane’s path from Huntsville, Texas, to near the Ruston airport. It made a couple of loops before the path stopped. The Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office was notified about the potential of a crash around 10:30 a.m., with air traffic control in Ruston reporting a plane going off the radar.

According to a statement made by Jackson Parish Sheriff Andy Brown, the crash site was in a heavily wooded area around State Highway 146 and Old Snipe Road southeast of the Ruston airport, with no homes or other structures nearby.

Federal authorities will head up the investigation into the crash.

---

Baton Rouge — The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is implementing a series of strategic actions to strengthen and stabilize the frontline child welfare workforce. These steps are part of the Department’s broader commitment to improving safety, timeliness, and permanency outcomes for children and families across the state.

Over the past year, DCFS has undertaken a top-to-bottom review of its operations, informed by staff feedback, legislative discussions, and best practices from child welfare organizations. That review made clear that child safety and timely response depend on having sufficient staffing and supervision at the frontlines.

“Louisiana’s children deserve our very best response, every time,” said DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris. “We are making the necessary adjustments to ensure we have skilled, supported staff where children and families need us most — on the frontlines in their communities.”

As part of this effort:

More than 100 child welfare staff are being reassigned to place expertise closer to the children and families while also building a stronger operational backbone to sustain the change. These reassignments ensure that investigations and in-home services are properly staffed and supervised in every community.

Centralized Intake (CI) operations are being restructured to reinforce the strong commitment to child safety, rapid response, and accountability in how reports of abuse and neglect are handled. Beginning in December, CI staff will report to a DCFS office, improving connection to field operations, training, and supervisory support.

The Department is also expanding evening and weekend coverage, including a second shift of 53 newly hired child welfare professionals to address after-hours reports and reduce response delays.

Secretary Harris noted that the move toward in-office and community-based work reflects both national best practice and the evolving expectations for public service delivery.

“Child welfare work is intensely human work,” Harris said. “It requires collaboration, supervision, and real-time decision-making. Being together as teams especially in intake and investigations allows us to provide faster, higher-quality responses that keep children safer.”

DCFS is following all State Civil Service procedures in the implementation of these changes, and every impacted employee has been notified and will be supported through the transition.

The Department’s recent hiring efforts and organizational changes will produce improvements in response time and workload balance.

“These are difficult transitions, but they are absolutely necessary,” Harris said. “Every decision is being made with one goal – to strengthen the system so children are protected, families are supported, and staff are empowered to succeed.”

---

One of the South’s largest agricultural-related museums—right here in Claiborne Parish—is the place to be this Saturday, Oct. 25.

The Tractor Shed, one of the largest antique tractor museums in the South, will host its annual open house, free to the public.

The Tractor Shed north of Arcadia has existed for several years, but only opens occasionally to display over 100 antique tractors, farm trucks, and other agricultural implements.

The museum is housed in a newly expanded 30,000-square feet air-conditioned, perfectly maintained building with additional tractors on display outside.

The Tractor Shed is completely free and is located at 14888 La. Highway 151 about 2.5 miles north of Interstate 20’s exit 69. The Tractor Shed will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The displays allow visitors to get up close with the equipment. Kids love it.

The equipment includes Farmall, Ford, Massey Ferguson, John Deere, and other brands as well as a huge collection of toy tractors.

The facility is owned by Ken Murphy and curated by Stan Beard. More information can
be found on the Facebook page for The Tractor Shed.

---

Residents can expect a stretch of pleasant fall weather through midweek before rain and thunderstorms move into the area this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Wednesday
Sunny skies will dominate with temperatures reaching a high near 78 degrees. Winds will remain calm, providing a comfortable and clear day across the parish.

Wednesday Night
Mostly clear conditions are expected overnight with temperatures dipping to around 48 degrees. Light and calm winds will contribute to a cool fall evening.

Thursday
Mostly sunny weather continues with highs near 80 degrees. Winds will start calm before becoming light from the southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night
Partly cloudy skies are forecast with an overnight low near 56 degrees.

Friday
Partly sunny skies will persist with temperatures climbing to around 80 degrees.

Friday Night
Rain chances begin to increase with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 a.m. The night will be mostly cloudy with lows near 60 degrees.

Saturday
Rain is likely throughout the day with a 70 percent chance of precipitation. Cloudy skies will keep temperatures cooler, with a high near 72 degrees.

Saturday Night
Showers and possible thunderstorms are expected to continue before 1 a.m., followed by a chance of rain into the early morning hours. Lows will be around 58 degrees with a 60 percent chance of precipitation.

Sunday
Rain chances decrease slightly with a 40 percent chance of showers. Skies will be partly sunny with highs near 74 degrees.

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy conditions continue with a low around 56 degrees.

Monday
The new week begins mostly sunny with only a 20 percent chance of showers and a warm high near 79 degrees.

Residents are encouraged to monitor local updates as rain and thunderstorms approach heading into the weekend. Outdoor plans may need adjusting due to increased precipitation chances on Saturday and Saturday night.

---

The Claiborne Lady Rebels wrapped up yet another impressive season, marking the fourth consecutive year they advanced to the final day of the State Tournament. Despite losing three seniors from last year’s squad, several underclassmen stepped up to fill key roles in the lineup.

The team dominated in district play, finishing as undefeated district champions and outscoring their opponents by a staggering 124 to 5. Following their district success, they hosted the South State Tournament at the Ouachita Sportsplex in Monroe, LA. With solid victories over Briarfield
Academy and Humphreys Academy, the Lady Rebels earned their spot at the State Tournament in Magee, MS.

After finishing day one of the state tournament with a 2-1 record, they started the final day strong with a big win over Calhoun Academy. They narrowly missed a spot in the championship series, ultimately finishing in a well-earned third place.

Varsity Team Members: Jaylee Baird, Mattie Nowery, Saydie Sims, McKinley Harris, Emilee Ware, Lillie Smith, MK Hays, Avery Tanner, Adila Sherman, Bralynn Hardin, and Perry Thornton.

Coaches: Adam Robinson, David Ware, Terry Sanders, and April Smith.

Submission by Coach David Ware

---

(First of two parts)

There was a time when being a “professional bass fisherman” was not considered a real job. A time when conservation was an afterthought and the phrase “catch and release” was considered crazy talk. A time when anglers looking to fish for a living did not have to be great communicators or promoters like is required today.

So, let’s look at how the sport has progressed over the last 50 years and a few of the men who made the sport of bass fishing what it is today, men who deserve the credit for what we call professional bass fishing. Then we’ll look at where the sport might be headed.

During the decade of the ‘70s, bass fishing was starting to take hold as a true sport. Ray Scott, founder of the Bass Angler’s Sportsman’s Society, now known as B.A.S.S., took the sport to a level no one other than Ray himself saw coming.

In the 1960s, Scott, working as an insurance salesman, had a vision for what he thought could revolutionize the sport of bass fishing. He wanted anglers to be able to compete and make a living doing it. He wanted it to be a means where anglers could provide for their families while doing what they loved.

Fast forward to the 1980s and ‘90s as Ray’s vision was starting to come together as some of the greatest anglers of all-time began to make a name for themselves — anglers like Bill Dance, Roland Martin, Rick Clunn, Gary Kline and Hank Parker. Guys who laid the groundwork and foundation for anglers to follow.

Almost every one of these top anglers made a name for themselves with their TV shows. But one program called the “Bassmasters” set the tone by covering each and every bass tournament. It allowed for great teaching moments for anglers all across the country to learn how professional anglers were catching fish. The popularity of this program was huge for fishing and attracting potential sponsors.

Other TV programs like “Bill Dance Outdoors,” “Jimmy Houston Outdoors” and “Fishing with Roland Martin” have led the way as the most successful TV bass fishing programs of all-time. Then Hank Parker dipped his toe into the TV world with his own program known as “Hank Parker Outdoors.”

They quickly found out that the way to prosperity was through the TV market where they could reach thousands of viewers on a weekly basis. What’s impressive is the fact that all these TV fishing programs still exist today!

It was these same anglers who started the journey themselves by hitting the road like a traveling circus, fishing lakes and rivers across America while competing and introducing bass fishing to so many.

Credit also goes to some other legendary anglers like Kevin Van Dam, Davy Hite, Mark Davis, Larry Nixon and Skeet Reece, who all have played a role in creating a way for anglers to make a living as professional bass fishermen.

The sport has come a long way from the early 1970s and hopefully it will continue for generations to come. But I’m really starting to wonder, have we already gone through the so-called “heyday” of professional bass fishing?

Next week in Part 2, we’ll take a look at the obstacles anglers are facing today in order to make a living as a professional bass fisherman.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

---

Preachers have all sorts of microphone stories. Microphones left one when one has “turned aside.” Microphones left on in the middle of singing. Thankfully my ushers know how to get my attention on that one. The last two Sunday’s I have lived my Saturday nightmare. That nightmare is we show up to lead worship, and we don’t have the bulletin the congregation does. The other part of that dream, the microphone doesn’t work!

It’s a common clergy nightmare: you’re mid-sermon, the Spirit is moving, the congregation is leaning in… and then poof — the microphone dies. You tap it, blow into it, give the sound booth a look that says, “Help me, Lord,” and suddenly your voice is swallowed by the sanctuary’s silence.

But maybe — just maybe — this isn’t a technical glitch. Maybe it’s a parable.

Because isn’t that how prayer sometimes feels? You’re pouring your heart out to God, asking, pleading, praising… and all you get back is silence. No booming voice from heaven. No divine thumbs-up. Just the spiritual equivalent of a dead mic.

But here’s the twist: when the mic goes out, the preacher doesn’t stop preaching. They raise their voice. They step forward. They trust that the message matters enough to be heard — even if it’s not amplified.

And maybe that’s what faith looks like when God feels silent. You keep praying. You keep showing up. You trust that your voice still reaches heaven, even when it feels like the sound system of the soul has short-circuited.

After all, Scripture is full of mic-drop moments — but also mic-off moments:

Elijah in the cave, waiting for God to speak through fire and wind, only to hear a whisper.

David crying out in the Psalms, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?”

Jesus himself, on the cross, asking, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

These aren’t failures of faith. They’re echoes of it. They’re reminders that silence isn’t absence. That

God’s hearing isn’t always felt — but it’s always real.

So next time the mic dies, smile. It’s a holy metaphor. And maybe — just maybe — the sermon gets louder when it’s spoken from the heart, not the speakers.

---

The Town of Haynesville is launching a major Strategic Planning initiative to chart a clear path toward community growth, revitalization, and long-term success—and residents are being called upon to play a key role in this process.

This comprehensive plan will focus on critical areas such as infrastructure improvements, housing development, business growth, and workforce expansion. Town leaders emphasize that community participation is essential to ensuring that the plan reflects the needs and aspirations of Haynesville residents.

To gather community input, two kickoff sessions will be held at the Haynesville Community Center (2400 Stadium Drive):

Session 1: Tuesday, October 28 at 6:00 p.m.

Session 2: Wednesday, October 29 at 8:00 a.m.

Residents are encouraged to attend either session to share their ideas and help shape Haynesville’s future direction.

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

Share their vision for Haynesville’s future

Learn more about the Strategic Plan and development process

Meet the project team and planning experts

Engage with town leaders and fellow residents

Enjoy complimentary snacks and beverages

Residents can RSVP and follow updates via the Haynesville Strategic Planning Facebook Page at:
facebook.com/haynesvillestrategicplan/events

A detailed overview of the project is also available online at:
atlascostudios.com/projects/haynesville

Town officials stress that the success of this initiative depends on active public involvement.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for residents to help determine what Haynesville will look like in the future,” town leaders said. “By working together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant, and prosperous community.”

Everyone in Haynesville is encouraged to participate, share their ideas, and invite friends and neighbors to join in the planning process.

---

On a warm October day at an air show in St. Louis, Missouri, pilot Archie Hoxsey learned that the colonel would be among the spectators. Archie asked the colonel if he would like to take a flight. The colonel quickly responded, “No, thank you. There are enough high-fliers up there already.” The colonel was apprehensive because he had never flown in an airplane before, but more importantly, he had heard about Archie’s most recent flight in an airshow in Lincoln, Nebraska. During that flight, one of the wings on Archie’s airplane collapsed. The airplane flipped upside down and Archie fell out of the airplane. Luck was on Archie’s side during this flight. He was flying slowly enough, low enough, and the airplane threw him out just as he was passing over a tall barn. He fell only a few feet and received only minor cuts and bruises as the barn’s roof broke his fall. The airplane was destroyed, but Archie explained that he had just received a brand-new airplane.

At the St. Louis airfield, Archie and the colonel continued their conversation as the colonel carefully examined the airplane. Finally, the colonel accepted Archie invitation. Archie responded, “You don’t need to fear anything, colonel. You’ll come down without a scratch.” The crowd of 10,000 spectators watched as the colonel clambered aboard the small two-seat airplane. Once Archie made sure the colonel was safe and secure in the co-pilot’s seat, he took the seat beside him. It took Archie and the ground crew ten minutes to get both engines running, which only worried the colonel for a moment or two. “Anything wrong?” the colonel asked. “I’ll get ‘em going,” he replied. “Good,” the colonel said without the slightest sign of nervousness. The anxious crowd cheered as the plane finally took off and climbed to a low altitude. The airplane circled the airfield and headed back over the crowd. People began to gasp as the airplane suddenly nose-dived toward the ground. Just above the treetop level, Archie pulled back on the yoke and the airplane darted back to its previous level. Just as the crowd was breathing a collective sigh of relief, the airplane took another nosedive. Archie let the airplane get within a few feet of the tops of trees before bringing it back to altitude, then immediately dipped the plane again. The third time, the airplane got within just a few feet of the ground before Archie pulled up. The relieved crowd roared with excitement. As the airplane flew over the crowd, they could see the colonel’s grand smile which his large mustache failed to conceal. Moments later, Archie and the colonel returned to the ground in a textbook landing. Their flight lasted just three minutes and twenty seconds. The crowd ran to greet Archie and the colonel. His large smile was only interrupted by his attempts to explain his experience to those nearest him. “There was nothing uncomfortable about it,” the colonel explained. “I don’t know when I have ever enjoyed myself so much. I wish I could have stayed up longer.” During that air show on October 11, 1910, Archie was piloting one of the Wright Brothers’ brand new Model B airplanes on the colonel’s first airplane flight. It was the first airplane flight of a President or former President of the United States. The colonel, as he preferred to be called, was former president Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt.

 

Sources:

1. St. Joseph News-Press, September 6, 1910, p.1.

2. The Kansas City Post, October 12, 1910, p.6.

3. “Colonel Roosevelt is invited to fly in Arch Hoxsey’s plane at St. Louis, Mo., 1910,” Library of Congress, January 4, 2010, accessed October 13, 2025, https://youtu.be/yIlpDwMKzJo?si=nhRiZqxyPHqajluI.

---