Thanksgiving has always been more than a holiday. It is a pause button placed firmly near the end of the year—a reminder that despite the speed, noise, and pressure of modern life, there are some things too important to neglect. Chief among them is family.
In a world that constantly pushes us toward the next deadline, the next notification, the next obligation, Thanksgiving invites us to slow down long enough to truly see the people in front of us. It reminds us that our connections with one another are not distractions from life—they are life. The table we gather around, the conversations we share, and the traditions we pass from one generation to the next form the foundation of who we are and who we hope to be.
For many families, this year has not been easy. Economic uncertainty, rising costs, health challenges, and the lingering strain of national division have all taken their toll. Yet Thanksgiving teaches us that even in difficult seasons, gratitude can anchor us. It helps us focus not on what is missing, but on what remains: love, loyalty, shared memories, and the people who continue to stand by us even when the world feels unsteady.
Putting family first does not require grand gestures. It can be as simple as setting our phones aside for a few hours, listening without distraction, or offering a sincere thank-you to someone who quietly keeps everything running. It means showing up—with patience, with kindness, and with a willingness to forgive the small imperfections that every family carries. It means recognizing that time is precious, that moments are fleeting, and that the relationships around us deserve our best attention, not just our leftover energy.
This Thanksgiving, let us choose to be fully present. Let us remember that family is not defined solely by blood, but by commitment, compassion, and the people who walk beside us through every season. Let us honor the elders who shaped us, encourage the children who are watching us, and embrace those who may be feeling the weight of the holidays more than they want to admit.
Above all, let us make the conscious choice to put family first—not just on Thanksgiving Day, but throughout the year ahead. Because long after the dishes are washed and the leftovers are gone, it is our bonds with one another that will sustain us, steady us, and shape the stories we pass down.
May this Thanksgiving bring warmth to your home, peace to your heart, and a renewed appreciation for the people who make your life meaningful.
The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents that 2025 property taxes are due on or before Dec. 31 and tax notices have already been mailed to parish property owners.
Payments may be made conveniently in several ways:
Online at the Sheriff’s Office website by selecting Pay Property Taxes
By mail sent to the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office
In person at 300 Hwy 146 in Homer
Officials urge property owners to pay by the deadline to avoid penalties. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, unpaid taxes will accrue 1% interest per month, or any portion of a month, until the balance is paid in full.
Additional costs may be added if taxes remain delinquent.
Failure to pay all required taxes, interest, and associated costs could result in the tax lien being offered for sale at the parish’s Tax Lien Auction scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
Residents with questions may contact the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office at (318) 927-4807 for assistance.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a stretch of cool, calm weather heading into Thanksgiving, with increasing rain and thunderstorm chances expected over the weekend and into early next week.
Wednesday:
Skies will be sunny with a high near 58°F. A light north wind around 5 mph will keep conditions cool and comfortable.
Wednesday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to around 34°F and calm winds.
Thanksgiving Day (Thursday):
Families can expect a pleasant holiday with sunny skies and a high near 57°F.
Thursday night will remain mostly clear, with lows near 33°F.
Friday:
Clouds begin to increase with partly sunny conditions and a high near 57°F.
By Friday night, a slight chance (20%) of showers develops after midnight, with mostly cloudy skies and a low around 42°F.
Saturday:
Rain chances rise significantly, with showers likely by midday and the possibility of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Expect cloudy skies and a high near 59°F. Rain chances sit at 60%.
Saturday night continues with likely showers and thunderstorms, mostly cloudy conditions, and a low near 46°F.
Sunday:
A 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms continues, with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 61°F.
Sunday night brings continued rain chances at 50% and lows around 46°F.
Monday:
The new week begins with another round of likely showers and thunderstorms. The high will be near 58°F, with a 60% chance of precipitation.
Residents are encouraged to monitor updates as the weekend storm system approaches.
My friend bought her daughter a car. Not a fancy one—no heated seats, no moonroof, no button that launches it into orbit. Just a good ol’ reliable vehicle to get her from dorm room to dining room and back again for those sacred college holidays like Thanksgiving, when students return home to eat, sleep, and pretend they still remember how to do laundry.
One day, the daughter had a flat tire. No big deal—she had AAA on speed dial, right next to “Mom” and “Pizza.” She called the flat tire hotline and waited for the cavalry. The AAA guy showed up, popped the trunk, checked under the mat, looked in the glove box, maybe even peeked under the seats. No spare tire. No jack. No tools. Just a lot of empty space and one very confused roadside technician.
Cue the anguished phone call to Mom: “Mom! There’s no spare tire! I’m stranded! The car is broken! The dealership sold us a lemon! I’m going to die here next to the Chick-fil-A!”
Now, I know this mom. She’s articulate. She’s passionate. She’s fluent in “colorful metaphors.” I’ve heard her use her big girl words before, and let’s just say she doesn’t need a thesaurus when she’s fired up.
She called the dealership and unleashed a verbal tsunami. Somewhere in the background, I imagine the receptionist ducking under the desk and whispering, “It’s her. The metaphor lady.”
Just as Mom was winding up for Round Two, the dealership guy calmly asked, “Ma’am, is your daughter’s car a 2023 model?”
“Yes,” she snapped.
“Well,” he said, “that car comes with run-flat tires. You can drive up to 50 miles on a flat. There’s no spare because you don’t need one.”
Silence.
Then a dial tone.
I don’t think Mom apologized. I think she just hung up and prayed the Holy Spirit would interpret her sighs.
Now, I’m grateful this wasn’t my story. But let’s be honest—I drive cars with spare tires. I think. I mean, I assume they’re in there somewhere. Probably under the mysterious carpet flap in the trunk next to the ancient granola bar and the rogue umbrella. Maybe I should check.
But this story made me laugh. It reminded me that sometimes we panic before we understand. We yell before we read the manual. We assume the worst before we remember that God might’ve already built in a solution.
And that brings me to Thanksgiving. It’s almost here. Can you believe how fast this year flew by? I blinked and it was Advent again. I’m thankful for so much—especially for you, dear reader. You’ve prayed for us, encouraged us, and shared stories that have become sermons, devotionals, and the occasional punchline.
I’m thankful for my church family, my neighbors, and the beautiful traffic chaos of life in Ruston, Louisiana. I’m thankful for the characters in my life—especially the ones who call me with flat tire emergencies and teach me new vocabulary.
So, this Thanksgiving, take a moment. Look at life through grateful eyes. Even the flat tires. Even the missing spares. Even the run-flat moments when you realize God’s grace lets you keep going, even when you feel deflated.
Thank you for being part of the ride. And if you’re wondering whether your car has a spare… maybe check before you call Mom.
The Joint Transportation, Highways, & Public Works Committee will conduct a legislative public hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 8:30 a.m. The purpose of the hearing – commonly referred to as the annual DOTD Road Show – is to review the highway construction priorities for the fiscal year 2026-2027.
Location:
Government Plaza Shreveport City Council Chambers 505 Travis Street Shreveport, LA 71101
District 04 (Bossier, Bienville, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Red River, & Webster Parishes)
Each DOTD District will be hosting its own Road Show to allow legislators, other elected officials, DOTD representatives and the general public to discuss and obtain information about construction projects in the preliminary FY 2026-2027 Highway Priority Program and how those projects will affect each area of the state.
All those interested are invited to attend the Road Show and will be afforded an opportunity to express their views.
Oral testimony may be supplemented by presenting important facts and documentation in writing. Written statements and comments should be handed to the committee conducting the hearing, or mailed to the following address, postmarked within 45 calendar days following the hearing:
Joint Transportation, Highways, & Public Works Committee C/O LA DOTD (Section 45) P.O. Box 94245 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245
To read more information about planned construction projects for District 04 in the preliminary FY 26-27 Highway Priority Program, go online to bit.ly/4riSbGw.
Homer High School is celebrating an impressive debut by its public speaking team, as students earned top placements in multiple categories during their first time competing.
Showing exceptional preparation and poise, Cayden Franklin captured 1st place in Employment Skills, while Kyndal Adams secured 1st place in Creed. Azaiyah Franklin also brought home a 1st place win in Geaux Teach, and Cindy Cripe earned 3rd place in the same category.
All four students have qualified to advance to the next level of competition.
School officials praised the team’s hard work and dedication, noting that their achievements are especially impressive for first-time competitors. Homer High applauded the students for representing the school with excellence and for setting a strong foundation for future public speaking successes.
The Homer High community congratulates these outstanding students and wishes them continued success as they move forward in competition.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries arrested a subject for alleged illegal firearm possession and hunting violations in Claiborne Parish on Nov. 19.
Agents arrested Travis Smith, 37, of Homer, for illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, taking over the daily limit of deer, hunting deer using illegal methods, hunting deer without possessing basic hunting and deer hunting licenses, and hunting deer without deer tags. Agents booked Smith into the Claiborne Parish Jail.
Agents received information about Smith harvesting a deer illegally and illegally possessing a firearm by a convicted felon on Nov. 14. Agents arrived at Smith’s residence and learned that he took a .22 rimfire rifle into the woods on foot.
Agents then made contact with Smith to arrange a time to turn himself in for arrest. Smith turned himself in on Nov. 19. On this day, Smith also showed agents where he hid the .22 rifle in the woods.
During questioning, Smith admitted to harvesting a doe on the morning of Nov. 14 with the .22 rimfire rifle. He also admitted to harvesting a six point deer and a spike deer on the same day and a seven point deer all earlier in the year with the same rifle.
Smith also did not possess any hunting licenses or deer tags.
Illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a $1,000 to $5,000 fine and 10 to 20 years of jail. Taking over the daily limit of deer and hunting deer using illegal methods brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 120 days in jail for each offense. Hunting deer without a basic hunting license, a deer-hunting license and deer tags carries up to a $350 fine for each offense.
Smith will also be assessed civil restitution totaling $3,600 for the replacement value of the illegally taken deer.
Agents participating in this case are Lt. Ryan Brasher, Sgt. Emily Sexton, Sgt. Chuck Dison and Corporal John Blalock.
Sports has been a huge part of my life, especially when it comes to baseball and football. I’ve always taken pride in the fact that I never used any form of performance-enhancing drugs to play at a high level. In my mind, this would be a form of cheating, and I made a conscious choice to never be a part of that culture of athletes.
I saw first-hand how some athletes abused and became victims of decisions and choices they made. It was a huge eye-opening experience my first spring training with the Montreal Expos organization as I saw how many players were using enhancers to perform at a high level.
I saw the organization basically turn a blind eye to what players were doing to become better. Oh, it was no secret, and most players did not try and hide what they were using as it was on full display in their lockers. It was just another form of cheating!
Cheating has now become rampant in the tournament bass fishing world. It seems that in every tournament, someone breaks a rule, fails a polygraph test and gets disqualified.
In the past three years, it has gotten worse — from professional anglers getting caught to amateur anglers trying to win specialty events like big bass tournaments. What happened to the days of anglers going out and fishing with honesty and following the rules?
Why has there been such a surge in anglers’ cheating? The first answer is probably the amount of money tournaments are putting up. Even the lower levels of MLF (Major League Fishing) and the B.A.S.S. organizations have anglers fishing for hundreds of thousands of dollars and opportunities to advance up the ladder of professional bass fishing.
Even big bass events have anglers fishing for over $100,000 for catching one fish! Like anything else, when there’s a lot of money on the line, it seems to bring out the worst in people. Just like in any form of criminal activity, just follow the money.
Some anglers will say that there are just too many rules. We all know that the more rules you have in any sport, the more that must be enforced. This makes a bass tournament director’s job even more difficult.
So how do we hit the reset button and get anglers to find their moral compass and follow the rules? I’m not sure we can put the genie back into the bottle, as our society in general has so many people with no morals who will do whatever they can in order to win or get ahead in life.
I think the first course of action must be making the punishment fit the crime. Organizations must come down harder on these individuals who think it’s OK to cheat! Guidelines need to be established for the severity of the rule or rules that have been violated.
We aren’t looking for anyone to go before the firing squad, but suspending anglers for the entire season would be a great start. The harder you come down on these anglers, the more they will think twice about cheating.
Maybe we need to go the legal route, as cheating in a bass tournament is considered fraud. By making a few examples with prosecution, it will probably make others think twice about bending the rules.
These are sad times we live in and it’s a shame we have so many anglers that think it’s OK to cheat. This is one of many reasons why tournament participation is down nationwide. But with more severe punishment, maybe we can reset the course of tournament bass fishing.
The Town of Homer is inviting residents and visitors to gather in Downtown Homer for one of Claiborne Parish’s beloved holiday traditions—the Homer Christmas Festival and Parade, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m.
The festive parade will roll through downtown, kicking off a full day of holiday cheer. Immediately following the parade, families can enjoy a variety of Christmas activities, including games, live music, food trucks, local vendors, and more.
Organizers describe the event as a “holly jolly celebration” designed to bring the community together and spread Christmas spirit throughout the parish.
Vendors and food trucks are welcome to participate in the festival. Registration fees are as follows: Early Registration: $30 After November 15: $50 Day Of: $100
All participants are asked to donate a toy for the town’s Toy Drive.
Those wishing to participate in the parade or set up as vendors can find full details on the event flyer or contact the Town of Homer at 318-927-3555.
With festive lights, holiday music, and activities for all ages, the 2025 Homer Christmas Festival promises a joyful day of community celebration in the heart of Claiborne Parish.
n the summer of 2021, a new neighbor moved into what had been a peaceful mobile home park in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, a suburb just north of Minneapolis. Until then, the residents of the mobile home park held regular barbecues and other outdoor gatherings when the cold Minnesota weather allowed. Their kids played outside and walked to and from the bus stop without the slightest hint of hesitation. The trailer park residents got along well with each other. That all changed when the new neighbor moved in.
The new neighbor was a bully who victimized the residents of the mobile home park. The bully chased them, taunted them, and sometimes attacked them. The residents were unable to relax even when they were inside their own homes because the bully peaked through their windows and made sounds that they said became terrifying to them. One day, 41-year-old Rachael Gross was carrying her groceries from her car to her home when the bully dropped down from her roof and knocked her to the ground. During the struggle that followed, the bully ripped her jacket before Rachael was able to escape into her house. Her groceries lay scattered on her front lawn. The bully even followed Rachael to the nearby nursing home where she worked and to her favorite local restaurant. Each time, Rachael rushed inside to safety. The bully always stopped just shy of following her in. During another attack, Rachael slung water from her water bottle onto the bully. The shock from the water gave her just enough time to get inside before the bully ran back toward her. After numerous attacks, Rachael and her neighbors began to carry sticks, brooms, golf clubs, and baseball bats anytime they went outside. Rachael and her neighbors called the authorities on several occasions, but the bully continued to terrorize the neighborhood. Because Rachael was most often the target of the bully, her neighbors began to suspect that she was somehow helping him despite her emphatic denials.
Rachael felt trapped. She said, “I’m pretty stressed out and pretty anxious all the time. I can’t even have peace. I’m so exhausted. I hope this gets a solution and somebody comes to help so I don’t have to deal with this anymore, and so that we can all have a peaceful summer with our kids and our grandkids and actually have a barbecue and just relax.” Summer turned into fall and there was no relief from the bully. Parents had to walk their kids to and from the bust stop armed with a variety of weapons. The kids used their backpacks as shields. The neighborhood cancelled all of their usual outside activities including trick-or-treating at Halloween. For two years, the residents of the trailer park lived in fear of the bully. In the fall of 2023, reports of the bullying ended. Rumors persist that someone in the mobile home park murdered the bully. Perhaps they were all involved in the murder conspiracy. Some of the rumors go as far as to say that there is no evidence to be found because the residents ate the bully during a Thanksgiving celebration. The new neighbor which plagued that mobile home park was a wild turkey. Happy Thanksgiving!
British archaeologist Howard Carter knelt before a newly uncovered doorway deep in the Valley of the Kings on November 26, 1922. With trembling hands, he peered through a small hole, held up a candle, and saw what he would later describe as “wonderful things.”
Moments earlier, Carter and his team had broken the seal to the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun — a 3,000-year-old resting place untouched by grave robbers. Inside were chariots, gilded shrines, jewelry, and the solid gold coffin of the boy king.
Carter’s discovery, funded by British nobleman Lord Carnarvon, became an international sensation. Newspapers worldwide splashed photographs of glittering treasures and mysterious hieroglyphs, sparking “Egyptomania” across the West.
Beyond the headlines, the find transformed archaeology. Tutankhamun’s tomb offered an unprecedented glimpse into Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, revealing burial rituals, art, and craftsmanship of extraordinary sophistication.
The work of cataloging and preserving the artifacts took a decade. Even today, much of Carter’s meticulous documentation guides modern Egyptologists.
November 26, 1922, remains a defining date in archaeological history — the day the modern world reconnected with one of antiquity’s most famous rulers, and when “wonderful things” reignited humanity’s fascination with ancient Egypt.
Renee Lynn Breman Tingue November 8, 1959 — November 22, 2025 A Celebration of Life will be held next year.
Melba French February 20, 1941 – November 23, 2025 Visitation: Friday, December 5 from 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home Services: Saturday, December 6 at 2:30 PM at Shiloh Baptist Church
La’Kayvion Lavelle Gipson June 10, 2025 – November 23, 2025 Visitation: Saturday, November 29 from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home Services: Monday, December 1 at 2:00 PM at Garden of Memory
Leon Willis Wafer June 23, 1938 – November 22, 2025 Visitation: Friday, November 28 from 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home Services: Saturday, November 29 at 11:00 AM at the funeral home
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
The Claiborne Parish School Board has announced its 2025 District Students of the Year, recognizing three outstanding students for their academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to their schools and communities.
This year’s honorees represent the elementary, middle, and high school levels across the parish:
Emery Edwards, 5th Grade — Haynesville Elementary School
Sonnie Vinson, 8th Grade — Summerfield High School
Leyla Slaughter, 12th Grade — Homer High School
The students were selected after excelling in the district’s rigorous Student of the Year process, which evaluates academic achievement, citizenship, leadership, and involvement in extracurricular and community activities.
School officials praised the recipients for their hard work and dedication, noting that each student reflects the strong academic standards and values of Claiborne Parish Schools.
“These students truly exemplify what it means to be leaders both in and out of the classroom,” the district said in a statement. “We congratulate them on this well-deserved honor and look forward to seeing the great things they will accomplish.”
The three winners will go on to compete at the regional level as part of Louisiana’s statewide Student of the Year program.
Claiborne Parish residents can expect a mix of warm temperatures and increasing rain chances through the end of the week, followed by a cooler, mostly sunny weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Wednesday will bring partly sunny skies with a high near 82 degrees. Winds will remain light, becoming southwest around 5 mph by afternoon. A 20 percent chance of showers moves in Wednesday night under mostly cloudy skies, with temperatures dropping to around 63 degrees.
Rain chances increase Thursday, with a 30 percent chance of showers developing after noon and a high near 79. By Thursday night, showers are likely, and thunderstorms are possible after midnight. The chance of precipitation climbs to 70 percent, with lows around 61.
More scattered rain is expected Friday, with a 50 percent chance of showers and possible thunderstorms during the day. Skies will be partly sunny with a high near 76. A slight 20 percent chance of showers lingers before midnight Friday night, with cooler air settling in and lows near 51.
The weekend looks drier and cooler. Saturday will be mostly sunny with a high near 68, though a 20 percent chance of showers returns Saturday night as temperatures fall to the upper 40s.
Sunday will bring mostly sunny skies and a high near 68, along with a 20 percent chance of showers.
Rain chances tick up to 30 percent Sunday night, with lows near 46.
By Monday, the parish can expect another 30 percent chance of showers paired with mostly sunny conditions and a high near 68.
Overall, Claiborne Parish will see unsettled weather through Friday before clearer, cooler days arrive for the weekend.
There’s no place quite like Ruston, LA for the holidays. With beautifully decorated downtown shops, streets lined with twinkling lights, and holiday cheer in the air, Ruston produces all those cozy feelings of being home for the holidays.
Ruston and Lincoln Parish offer a holiday season full of festive fun, making it the perfect time to make the drive and celebrate the holidays with your friends and family. From parades and performances to light displays and shopping events, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season.
Thursday, November 20, kick start the holiday season in the heart of Ruston. Holiday Open House & Kickoff to Christmas invites you to shop and stroll downtown’s special promotions, get your pictures with Santa, and see the downtown tree lighting. While you’re around for Kickoff to Christmas, stroll Ruston’s quarterly Art Ramble happening 5:30pm-8:30pm. Local artists will be displaying and selling artwork and curated creations, perfect for finding your loved ones that one-of-a kind gift.
Thursday, December 4, Ruston’s Annual Christmas Parade will hit the streets. This parade fills Ruston with festive floats and plenty of Christmas cheer. Bring your blanket, grab a warm drink from a local coffee shop, and enjoy one of the merriest events of the season.
December 4-7, experience the timeless story of A Christmas Carol brought to life at the Dixie Center for the Arts. Ruston Community Theatre brings you Ebnezer Scrooge, the three Spirits of Christmas, and musical adaptations by Alan Menken and lyrics by Lynee Ahres.
Lincoln Lights Up the Pines is a Ruston holiday staple and a can’t miss event. Pack up the whole family and come experience Ruston’s only drive-thru Christmas light display at the beautiful Lincoln Parish Park happening December 4-6 and 11-13. Enjoy twinkling lights, holiday scenes, and festive decor all from the warmth of your vehicle as you take in the glow of the season.
December 5-7 is a big weekend in Ruston, LA and full of holiday adventures. You can shop Big Creek Trade Days on December 5-7, where you’ll find handmade jewelry, accessories, furniture, antiques, outdoor items, and more to help you knock out your holiday shopping list. December 6, visit the OWL Center for their Christmas on the Farm. This holiday event brings you pony rides, a petting zoo, a bouncy house, crafts, pictures with Santa, rock wall, zip line, games, and so much more. Also on December 6, you can visit downtown Choudrant for Christmas in the Village featuring a parade, bounce houses, cookies with Santa, a movie in the park, and more.
On December 12, the Dixie Center for the Arts presents A Christmas Blues. This benefit concert is full of holiday spirit and down-home blues bringing together some of the area’s most gifted musicians for an unforgettable night of music.
Downtown Ruston hosts the Christmas Cookie Crawl on December 14. Satisfy your sweet tooth this holiday season and sign up to get a delicious holiday cookie at each participating local business all while you shop the local, holiday deals and specials. While you’re in town, step into the holiday spirit with Holiday Tour of Homes, sponsored by Pine Hills Children’s Advocacy Center happening December 14. Tour beautifully decorated homes and gather festive inspiration for your own holiday decor.
Ruston has it all – late night shopping, downtown deals, cookie crawls, parades, live music, light displays, and of course, the annual holiday5K race. On December 18 the Ruston Rudolph 5k Race will take place at the Ruston Sports Complex. Grab your holiday running gear, strap on your Santa Claus hat, and get ready for the most festive race of the year.
End the holiday season on a high note. The Ruston Sports Complex brings you Christmas at the Complex on December 20. Spend a festive day with friends and family and enjoy cookies, hot chocolate, take your picture with Santa, watch a Christmas movie, and go ice skating.
This is just a quick look at the holiday adventures you can go on this year in Ruston, LA. Recurring events throughout December include artificial ice skating at the Ruston Sports Complex and the Ruston Farmers Market happening every Saturday – perfect for finding your holiday gifts and festive flavors all while enjoying some live music.
Come experience the holidays in Ruston, LA, where small town charm and big holiday spirit bring you back to those nostalgic feelings of Christmas when you were a kid.
To learn more about the holidays in Ruston, visit rustonlincoln.com/events/holidays/.
Preachers read. I read because I’m not very smart—and because I’m terrified of being boring. Let’s be honest: some sermons are so dull they could be used as sleep aids. I’ve heard paint dry with more enthusiasm. Sorry, colleagues, but we might be the reason folks choose brunch over the Body of Christ. Jesus told stories that made people lean in, not nod off. So, I read, hunt, and scavenge for stories that make the Gospel feel like a live wire, not a library whisper.
The other day, I went trolling for a story in one of my Bible commentaries. I glanced at my shelf and noticed something odd. One of the volumes looked… moist. Not “anointed” moist. Just suspiciously soggy. The one next to it looked like it had been baptized by a leaky roof. I thought, “Well, that’s interesting. Maybe the Holy Spirit is hydrating my theology.”
I pulled the books down and—surprise!—termites. Not just a few. A full-blown theological buffet. These bugs had eaten the entire guts out of two volumes. I mean, they didn’t just nibble—they feasted. Paper to termites is what McDonald’s fries are to me: irresistible, regrettable, and always followed by a need for repentance.
My preacher friends had a field day. One said, “Well, at least they were feasting on the Word.” Another asked, “Were they Old Testament termites? Maybe they skipped the New Testament because they couldn’t handle grace.” Someone else suggested I start a new ministry: Exegesis for Insects. The exterminator came out, gave me a price, and looked at me like I was the weirdest theologian he’d ever met. I’ve got carpentry repairs to make, commentaries to replace, and a new sermon illustration that’s practically begging for a pulpit.
But here’s the real question: Do you have termites? Not cellulose kind. I mean the soul-chewers. Anger, bitterness, jealousy, revenge, those little varmints that sneak in through the cracks of your spirit and start munching on your joy. They don’t knock. They just move in, set up a recliner in the lobby of your heart, and start gnawing away like it’s a buffet.
So, what’s the treatment? Grace. Not the kind you say before meals. The kind that fumigates your soul.
The kind that kicks out the termites and replaces them with peace, purpose, and maybe a little laughter. Go to church on Sunday. Your preacher’s been reading all week, dodging termites, and praying for a story that’ll wake you up, shake you up, and maybe even make you laugh while Jesus does His deep work.
In today’s saturated real estate market, your property listing can easily disappear into the digital noise. Between Zillow, Realtor.com, Facebook Marketplace, and countless other platforms, potential buyers are drowning in options—and your listing risks becoming just another scroll-by on someone’s smartphone.
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Why pay to market a Natchitoches property to someone in Seattle who has no interest in Louisiana? With The Parish Journals of Louisiana, you control exactly where your marketing dollars go.
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Real estate is about connecting the right property with the right buyer at the right time. The Parish Journals of Louisiana accelerates that connection by putting your listing in front of engaged local audiences who have the means, motivation, and genuine interest in acting.
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BY THE NUMBERS: 2024
In 2024, The Parish Journals of Louisiana saw over fourteen million articles read by over three million unique readers!
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The Parish Journals of Louisiana serves 17 parishes across Northwest and Central Louisiana with comprehensive coverage of local news, government, business, and community affairs. Our readers are your neighbors—and your next buyers.
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Students from across Claiborne Parish participated in AgMagic 2025, an interactive agricultural program themed “Get in the Game With Agriculture!”, gaining hands-on exposure to the many ways agriculture impacts daily life.
Groups from Haynesville Elementary, Claiborne Academy, and Summerfield School attended the event, exploring educational exhibits and activities designed to connect classroom learning with real-world agricultural science.
The program was supported by a dedicated team of 4-H junior leaders from MOCS, Summerfield, and Haynesville, who assisted with demonstrations and guided students through each station.
Organizers say the experience successfully showcased the importance of agriculture while engaging youth in a fun, discovery-based environment.
Have you ever been asked, “Can you keep a secret?” Sure, you have but there’s probably not another group of people on earth who have more secrets than tournament bass anglers. Secrets that they will take to their grave! Let’s dive into the secret world of tournament bass fishing and look at the mental side — how anglers think.
It’s absolutely amazing how anglers won’t ever give up any of their secret baits or locations where they catch bass. I don’t care how long you’ve been fishing, there are just certain bits of information a tournament bass angler will never reveal, not even to his best buddies.
This is why it’s hard for one angler to trust another! It’s like opening a closet door and revealing everything you never wanted anyone to find out. Every angler thinks they know something no one else does, but if the truth be told, there are no secret baits or secret locations any more on any body of water.
Anglers, as I have said so many times in the past, are a funny bunch. Every single tournament angler on the water is always looking for that ONE bait that no one else is throwing. That one bait that they have the utmost confidence which no matter the conditions, will catch fish. Anglers are always searching for anything that will give them a leg up on their competition.
This is where the mental side of tournament bass fishing comes into play. Bass fishing, as so many pro anglers will tell you, is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. This is actually what separates the average anglers from the great ones.
The greatest angler of all time, Kevin Van Dam, once told me that if you believe in the bait you’re throwing, you’ll fish that bait totally different than one you don’t believe in. Confidence in bass fishing goes a long way in catching bass!
That’s another key word in tournament bass fishing — confidence. It’s funny how this one word is crucial for anything we do in life. It’s a word that can make you average, or great.
Again, I reference a conversation I had with Kevin Van Dam when I asked if he believed in adding scent to the bait he’s fishing? His answer was not what I was expecting when he reversed the question and asked me if I believed in adding scent to my baits?
My answer was “yes.” I do think it makes a difference in the number of bites I get in a day. He then said, “That’s all that matters; if you believe in it, use it! Because the more you believe in what you’re doing, the better you ‘ll fish that bait! It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, it only matters what you think.”
So, I guess you could say that the best-kept secret of any angler is not a certain bait or location on any body of water, but it’s the confidence they have in what they’re doing!
Ethan Zuckerman is a name you are probably unfamiliar with, but there is little doubt that you have interacted with his invention. Almost everyone on the planet has had to deal with Ethan’s invention. Let me explain.
In 1993, Ethan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. In 1994, Ethan dropped out of graduate school and focused on what was the newest technological craze, the World Wide Web. These days, we call it the internet. Until mid-1993, there were only about 50 websites in existence, but it snowballed shortly thereafter. Within a year, the number of websites grew into the thousands. (In October 2025, there were over 1.2 billion websites worldwide, and a new website was built about every three seconds.)
In the first year of the internet boom, Ethan and a couple of his friends in Williamstown began building an internet-based company called Tripod. Their intention was to provide content and services for graduates, what Ethan described as “tools for life.” The website was popular, but it was not making enough money to cover expenses. At its peak in the mid-1990s, about 15 million people visited their website daily. Although the number of visitors was certainly impressive, few people bought anything from the company. Ethan and his partners switched from trying to sell products to trying to get customers to pay for a subscription to gain access to their content. It was not successful. They tried to sell content in an online magazine format, but that failed too. As a last resort, they turned to advertisers, just as many other popular websites had done. Finally, they were making a hefty profit.
Then, a problem arose. A major car company which he refused to name purchased an ad that was placed on numerous websites indiscriminately. Executives at the car company were surprised and angered when their company’s ad appeared at the top of a popular pornographic website. They feared that the public would think that they were promoting pornography which could have destroyed the company’s reputation. Ethan began working to find a way to continue to have advertisements for websites but in a way that they seemed somewhat disconnected from the content on the website. After a period of trial and error, Ethan invented something the world had never seen before. Within a short time, his invention became almost inescapable. It also became one of the most hated inventions in history. In 1999, Ethan and his partners sold their company, and Ethan began to regret his invention. In August 2014, Ethan apologized to the world by saying, “I’m sorry. Our intentions were good.” Once opened, Pandora’s box is not easily closed. Ethan’s invention still pops up on computer screens across the world. You see, Ethan was the inventor of pop-up ads.
At dawn on November 19, 1942, the frozen plains of southern Russia erupted in artillery fire. Soviet forces launched Operation Uranus, a massive counteroffensive that surrounded German troops at Stalingrad and shifted the course of World War II.
For months, Nazi forces had besieged the city bearing Joseph Stalin’s name, determined to seize control of the Volga River and cripple Soviet industry. But by late fall, the German Sixth Army was exhausted, its supply lines stretched thin.
Commanded by General Georgy Zhukov, Soviet troops struck from the north and south, encircling more than 300,000 Axis soldiers. Within days, the hunters had become the hunted. By February 1943, the trapped German army surrendered, delivering Adolf Hitler one of his greatest defeats.
The Battle of Stalingrad cost an estimated two million lives, military and civilian. Yet its outcome marked the beginning of Germany’s retreat across Eastern Europe and solidified Soviet resolve.
For the Allies, the victory on November 19 signaled a turning tide. It demonstrated that the German war machine could be beaten and gave new momentum to resistance across occupied Europe.
Today, historians regard the Soviet counterattack at Stalingrad as the pivotal moment of the Second World War — a triumph of endurance and sacrifice that turned a river city into a symbol of resilience.
Harold Epps July 3, 1965 – November 16, 2025 Visitation: Friday, November 21 from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home Services: Saturday, November 22 from 2:30 PM at First Baptist Church
Michael Wayne Allen February 7, 1956 – November 11, 2025 Visitation: Friday, November 21 at Memorial Funeral Home Services: Saturday, November 22 at 2:30 PM at Memorial Funeral Home
Mary Lee Jenkins October 25, 1954 – November 12, 2025 Visitation: Friday, November 21 at 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home Services:Saturday, November 22 at 10:30 AM at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church
James Allen Norton June 27, 1943 – November 13, 2025 Visitation: Saturday, November 22 from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home Services: Sunday, November 23 at 2:00 PM at Salem CME Church
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
