Most of us know that laughter is good for us. It eases stress, strengthens relationships, lightens the workplace, and boosts our overall sense of wellbeing. Proverbs puts it plainly: “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” And honestly, who among us couldn’t use a refill.

But humor, like everything else, needs healthy boundaries. We don’t have to be standup comedians or laugh at every mishap. And “putdown humor”—the kind that gets a chuckle by bruising someone else—doesn’t heal anything. It just dries up the bones faster.

What we need is the kind of humor that grows out of a joyful, grounded way of seeing the world. And believe it or not, Jesus modeled that beautifully.

Jesus wasn’t the stonefaced figure we sometimes imagine. He used humor—sharp, surprising, and downright funny—to open people’s eyes. When he talked about someone obsessing over the speck in another person’s eye while ignoring the log in their own, that wasn’t just a teaching. That was comedy. Picture someone with a telephone pole sticking out of their face saying, “Hold still, I think you’ve got a little something right there.”

Or his line about straining out a gnat but swallowing a camel. That’s ancient satire. Jesus knew that sometimes the best way to expose our blind spots is to make us laugh at them.

And that’s the invitation for us today. We can choose joy over cynicism. We can practice humor that lifts people up instead of tearing them down. We can resist becoming a “Negative Nate”—the person who finds the downside of winning the lottery—and instead cultivate the kind of cheerful heart that heals.

Life is serious enough. Faith gives us permission to smile anyway. And the Great Physician still prescribes a good laugh.

Louisiana residents are once again battling their annual sworn enemy as a thick layer of pollen quietly takes over cars, porches, and anything that dares to exist outside. Visibility is fine, but everything now has a nice yellow finish—whether it asked for it or not. Officials have yet to confirm when it will end, but locals agree: the pollen is winning.

“It breaks my heart to think about children growing up with so much uncertainty because one parent isn’t paying what they should. When the support doesn’t come, it’s the kids and the custodial parent who carry the burden every single day — and no family should have to live that way.”

 See what Ida says 

Freshman Connection gives new students a clear path into college life, from class registration to campus relationships, before the semester begins.

By Cole Gentry, Chief Marketing Officer at Northwestern State University

The drive to campus often carries two things at once, excitement and uncertainty.

For many students, college begins before the first class ever meets. It starts in the quiet questions that build during the summer. Where do I go? Who do I ask? What will this place feel like once it becomes mine?

At Northwestern State University, Freshman Connection is designed to answer those questions early and well.

The program serves as NSU’s official orientation for new first-year students attending the Natchitoches, Alexandria, Leesville, and Shreveport campuses. It gives students an organized, welcoming introduction to campus life, academic expectations, and the people who will help shape their first year. Students meet in small groups led by current student Connectors, who guide conversations, share advice, and help make a university feel personal from the very beginning.

That matters, because the transition to college rarely feels small.

Students are stepping away from familiar routines and entering a new environment with new expectations. They are learning how to manage time, ask for help, build relationships, and take ownership of their education. Freshman Connection meets them in that moment. It does not overwhelm them with information and send them on their way. It introduces them to the rhythm of NSU, one conversation, one session, and one connection at a time.

During orientation, students learn about academic advising and register for fall classes. They are introduced to campus services and resources that support strong academic choices and healthy social decisions. They explore opportunities for involvement and begin to understand what responsibility looks like in a college setting. By the end, the university is no longer a collection of buildings and offices. It starts to feel familiar.

“We want you to leave orientation knowing exactly where you belong,” said Dr. Mary-Katherine Maggio, director of First Year Experience and Student Engagement. “You arrive as a visitor, and you leave as a Demon.”

That sense of belonging is one of the most important parts of the experience.

Freshman Connection is also built with families in mind. Parent Connection runs alongside the student program and gives parents and guardians a closer look at first-year transitions, student involvement, campus services, university procedures, and academic resources. NSU also offers Kid Konnection for siblings ages 5 to 12, creating a family-centered welcome that recognizes college is often a transition shared by more than one person.

The 2026 schedule gives families several options. Natchitoches will host sessions May 20 to 21, May 27 to 28, June 17 to 18, and July 9. Additional one-day satellite events are scheduled for Alexandria on June 23, Leesville on June 24, and Shreveport on June 25, and these sessions are only for students attending those campuses. Registration opened Feb. 10 through the myStatus portal at www.nsu.la/mystatus, where students can also review admissions, financial aid, housing, and orientation information in one place.

That is why Freshman Connection matters. It gives students structure before the semester begins. It helps them move from uncertainty to clarity. It gives them names, faces, places, and next steps.

And for many, it marks the moment college stops feeling distant and starts feeling real.

At the end of Freshman Connection, students depart with direction. They know where to go, who to contact, and how to begin. They leave having already taken an important first step toward success at Northwestern State.

Explore Freshman Connection: www.nsu.la/fc
Apply to NSU: www.nsu.la/apply
Register for Freshman Connection: www.nsu.la/mystatus

Area residents and livestock enthusiasts are encouraged to mark their calendars for an upcoming regional agricultural event, as DeSoto Parish 4-H prepares to host its annual 4-H Legacy Livestock Sale over Memorial Day weekend.

Set for Saturday, May 23, 2026, the event will take place at the Dave Means 4-H Building in Grand Cane, offering a convenient “one-stop shop” for youth and families involved in 4-H livestock projects across North Louisiana, including neighboring Claiborne Parish.

According to event organizers, Louisiana breeders will be on-site with a wide selection of animals, including market goats, breeding goats, swine, and sheep, giving 4-H members the opportunity to purchase quality livestock for upcoming show seasons.

The event will begin with animal viewing at 10 a.m., followed by the sale starting at 1 p.m. Organizers say the sale is designed to support youth development in agriculture while connecting local families with reputable breeders.

The 4-H program, operated through the LSU AgCenter, plays a vital role in developing leadership, responsibility, and hands-on agricultural skills among young people throughout the state.

Community members from Claiborne Parish and surrounding areas are invited to attend, whether to support local youth, explore livestock opportunities, or learn more about involvement in 4-H programs.

Claiborne Parish Schools is actively seeking certified teachers to fill several positions across the district, offering competitive incentives and a flexible school calendar.

According to district officials, openings are currently available at multiple campuses, including Haynesville Elementary School (grades K–5) and Homer Elementary School (grades K–4). Additional teaching opportunities are available at Homer High School, where the district is looking to hire educators in Algebra I, Social Studies (grades 9–12), and English Language Arts (grades 9–12), as well as at Homer Junior High School (grades 5–8).

The district is highlighting several benefits for prospective employees, including a 4-day school calendar, performance-based pay, and a sign-on bonus, making the positions especially appealing for educators seeking both flexibility and financial incentives.

School leaders say the hiring initiative is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen classroom instruction and support student success across Claiborne Parish. The district continues to emphasize its mission to “Activate, Elevate, Celebrate” both students and staff.

Those interested in applying or learning more about available positions are encouraged to visit the district’s website and navigate to the Human Resources section to submit an application.
Claiborne Parish Schools invites qualified educators to join its team and make a meaningful impact in the lives of local students.

We’ve all heard the words, “You need to stop and smell the roses.” That actually means we need to take the time to enjoy the moment. We need to be mentally present. Some of the best times in our lives are not always moments of fireworks going off.

Sometimes it’s those less important events that provide just as much joy. Today, I’ll go over a few events in my life that I truly cherish, along with some I regret.

There was one moment of regret during my Little League days. Even though I played all sports, I was also a dedicated Boy Scout. Being a scout during the 1970s was very common for a young boy.

But the one regret I have is the fact that I was one project away from becoming an Eagle Scout and never completed it. This is the highest achievement a scout can earn. It means a lot to become an Eagle Scout and looks good on a job resume. It gets the attention of an employer looking to hire you as it shows your ability to commit to a task and follow through.

I’ll admit that my baseball career, which was more important to me at that time, got in the way of my accomplishing the goal of receiving an Eagle Scout badge.

One event that’s given me a lifetime of both pride and joy was being a member of the 1978 Class 3A Texas state baseball championship team. Any time you can share the experience of winning a state title, especially with your closest friends, it just means more.

I can remember our head coach giving us a post-game speech after winning the state title. He said that this victory would mean more to us later in life than it did that day. How right he was!

That Texas state title whet my appetite for another one the next year. But nothing is harder than defending a state championship and regretfully we came up one game short of a repeat trip to the state tournament.

Another joy also comes with some regret. The day I got drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1983 brought so much joy. But after two seasons of playing in their minor league system, it was very apparent I had zero chance to make it to the major league level with the Expos.

Montreal at the time had three Major League Baseball All-Stars in their outfield with Tim Rains, Andre Dawson and Warren Cromartie. It may have been the best outfield in the big leagues at that time. There was no room to move up in the organization unless one of these three got hurt or traded. My regret after leaving the Expos is turning down a Double A contract from the San Francisco Giants that would have extended my baseball career.

While sports have been a huge part of my life, nothing has given me as much competitive joy as bass fishing. As a kid growing up on a ranch, there was no shortage of stock ponds to fish. I basically learned on my own, along with reading Bassmaster Magazine stories on how to catch bass.

I have spent hundreds of days fishing the banks of five different stock ponds loaded with good bass. I was always so proud to bring a stringer full of bass back home for a good fish fry.

Tournament bass fishing has given me much joy over the past 36 years especially with all the friends I have met and shared so many good times while fishing tournament trails and fishing some of the best lakes in the country.

Another joy in my life has been the creation of the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show. This was a brainstorm of mine back in 2007 that I felt was much needed. Nineteen years later, the show is still going strong! Each week for 52 weeks out of the year I get to talk about issues related to God’s great outdoors. My relationship with my two other co-hosts, Gary McCoy and Mike Echols, makes doing the program so enjoyable.

But my greatest joy came the day I signed a scholarship to continue my athletic career/education to Northwestern State University where I met Sherrie, my wife of 44 years. We then celebrated the births of our three children Brittany, Meredith and Brandon.

To this day, raising of these three blessings has been my greatest accomplishment and one that has ZERO regrets!

Each of us has so many events or situations over the course of a lifetime that we can look back on with either joy or regret. As life continues to give us both good and bad times, just the fact that we are still waking up every day means we have so much joy to look forward to, and hopefully no regrets.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

April 8 has marked several significant turning points in global history, from groundbreaking scientific achievements to the loss of influential leaders whose legacies continue to shape modern society.

One of the most notable events tied to this date occurred in 1974, when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s long-standing home run record by hitting his 715th career home run. The moment was more than a sports milestone—it represented perseverance and dignity in the face of intense racial hostility. Aaron’s achievement became a defining moment in American sports history and a symbol of progress during a turbulent era.

April 8 is also remembered for the death of Margaret Thatcher in 2013, the United Kingdom’s first female prime minister. Known as the “Iron Lady,” Thatcher served from 1979 to 1990 and played a key role in reshaping British economic policy through deregulation and privatization. Her leadership remains a subject of debate, but her impact on global politics is undeniable.

In science and exploration, April 8, 1960, marked the introduction of the first weather satellite system capable of transmitting cloud images from space. This advancement revolutionized meteorology, providing forecasters with unprecedented tools to predict storms and monitor climate patterns. Today’s satellite technology traces its roots back to these early innovations.

April 8 also carries significance in civil rights history. In 1968, just days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King led a silent march in Memphis, continuing her husband’s work and demonstrating the enduring strength of the movement. The march drew thousands and reinforced calls for justice and equality.

From sports achievements to political leadership and scientific breakthroughs, April 8 stands as a date marked by resilience, innovation, and lasting influence across multiple fields.

In the 1930s, the Kutol Products soap company was dangerously close to going out of business. Cleo McVicker worked hard to get Kutol’s products into stores and ultimately in the hands of consumers. Kutol needed a new product, but what? At the time, many homes in America were heated with coal which left a sooty residue on everything in the home. Unlike regular household dust which could easily be swept or vacuumed up, coal dust was finer and more difficult to remove. Sweeping and vacuuming coal dust normally sent more of it back into the air than was collected. Coal dust also contained sulfur, nitrogen, silica, and heavy metals, which could be hazardous to health. In 1933, Cleo negotiated a deal with the purchasing agent for the Kroger grocery store chain to add a cleaner to their inventory which would remove coal dust from wallpaper. Coal dust was especially hard to remove from wallpaper because it was small enough to settle into the paper fibers of wallpaper. Cleo promised Kroger a product which did not exist.

Cleo immediately contacted his brother Noah, Kutol’s main product developer, and the two began the rigorous research and development process. After countless failures, they came up with the formula for a compound which easily removed coal dust from wallpaper. Unlike liquid cleaners which required the user to apply the liquid to a cloth and swipe away the coal dust which usually made a bigger mess, Kutol wallpaper cleaner, was non-toxic, non-staining, and made no mess at all. The user simply pressed the compound onto the wall and the coal dust stuck to it. Once the compound became saturated with coal dust, the consumer threw it away and bought another can for five cents. Because it was a replenishable product, the Kutol company was saved one nickel at a time.

For 20 years, Kutol wallpaper cleaner kept the company afloat and successful. Following World War II, many people converted their homes from being heated by coal to natural gas. No longer did homeowners have the hassle of purchasing, handling, and storing a skuttle of dusty coal. Natural gas burned cleanly and was piped directly into the home. Around the same time, manufacturers began making wallpaper out of vinyl rather than paper which made it much easier to clean. By the early 1950s, sales of Kutol wallpaper cleaner began to decline quickly. The company was once again on the brink of failure.

In 1955, Joe McVicker, Cleo’s son, was searching for a way to keep Kutol from going bankrupt when Kay Zufall, his sister-in-law and schoolteacher, convinced him that Kutol wallpaper cleaner could be used for something more fun than cleaning. Joe ran with the idea. In 1956, Kutol established the Rainbow Crafts Company Inc. and repackaged the wallpaper cleaner, but Kutol was so near bankruptcy that they had no advertising budget. That could have been the end, but Joe demonstrated his product to Bob Keeshan, better known to the world as Captain Kangaroo. Bob liked the product so much that he agreed to use it in his television show at least once a week. From 1955 until 1984, Captain Kangaroo was one of the most popular children’s shows on television. Before Captain Kangaroo, Kutol struggled to sell their rebranded product. Because of Captain Kangaroo, Kutol struggled to keep up with demand. Since its introduction on Captain Kangaroo, billions of cans of rebranded Kutol wallpaper cleaner have been sold. It has become one of history’s most iconic toys and it remains popular to this day. We have all played with Kuto wallpaper cleaner, but we know it as Play-Doh.

Sources:

1. The Cincinnati Enquirer, April 19, 1936, p.25.

2. The Akron Beacon Journal, April 18, 1938, p.19.

3. David Kindy, “The Accidental Invention of Play-Doh,” Smithsonian magazine, November 12, 2019, accessed March 29, 2026, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/accidental-invention-play-doh-180973527/.

4. “The History of Play-Doh: Good, Clean Fun!” The Strong National Museum of Play, accessed March 29, 2026, https://www.museumofplay.org/blog/the-history-of-play-doh-good-clean-fun/.

Denise Dalton Woloch
May 19, 1953 — April 3, 2026
Not available

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

CLAIBORNE PARISH — The Louisiana Department of Education has named Macy Garner of Haynesville Jr./Sr. High School as a semifinalist for Louisiana Teacher of the Year.

The recognition is part of the state’s annual program honoring outstanding educators who make significant impacts on student achievement and learning environments.

The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office recently recognized two dedicated public servants for their decades of service to Claiborne Parish during a special retirement celebration held at the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Sam Dowies, alongside deputies and invited guests, honored Civil Deputy Gwen Willis and Communications Supervisor Walter Johnson for their long-standing commitment to the community.

Deputy Willis served the parish for 20 years, while Johnson dedicated 23 years to the sheriff’s office, playing a vital role in communications and public safety operations.
Sheriff Dowies praised both retirees for their loyalty, professionalism, and the positive impact they made on both the department and the citizens they served.

During the ceremony, Dowies emphasized that public service requires significant personal sacrifice and unwavering dedication—qualities both Willis and Johnson demonstrated throughout their careers.
Officials noted that each excelled in their respective roles, contributing to the efficiency and effectiveness of the department. Their absence, the sheriff said, will be deeply felt within the agency.

The sheriff’s office is encouraging friends, colleagues, and community members to congratulate Willis and Johnson and thank them for their years of service.

As they step into retirement, both Willis and Johnson leave behind a legacy of commitment and professionalism that has helped shape public safety efforts in Claiborne Parish.

Officials say they wish both retirees the very best as they begin this well-earned next chapter.

By Tiffany Flournoy

HOMER, La. — A Homer police officer has been arrested following an investigation into allegations that he made an arrest outside his jurisdiction and without proper legal authority, officials said in a news release Monday.

The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office said it opened a criminal investigation March 20, 2026, after receiving a complaint accusing Officer William Fitzpatrick of conducting an arrest outside the Homer city limits.

Investigators determined that Fitzpatrick did not properly obtain an arrest warrant for the individual he detained, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities also found that he did not secure a search warrant before entering the residence where the individual was taken into custody and failed to book the person into the Claiborne Parish Detention Center as required by law.

The sheriff’s office later obtained an arrest warrant for Fitzpatrick through Louisiana’s Second Judicial District Court. He was charged with simple kidnapping, false imprisonment and unauthorized entry into an inhabited dwelling.

Fitzpatrick surrendered to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center on March 28 and was booked before posting an $85,000 bond. 

Claiborne Parish Sheriff Sam Dowies said he is committed to enforcing the law and holding individuals accountable.

“All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” the sheriff’s office said.

Claiborne Parish, LA — A changing spring weather pattern will bring a mix of warm temperatures, gusty winds, and increasing storm chances to Claiborne Parish through the upcoming weekend.

Wednesday: Warm and Breezy

Partly sunny skies will dominate Wednesday, with afternoon highs reaching near 86°F. Winds from the south at 5 to 10 mph could gust up to 20 mph, adding a breezy feel to the warm conditions.

Wednesday night turns mostly cloudy, with a mild low around 65°F and lighter winds.

Thursday: Storm Chances on the Rise

Rain chances increase Thursday, with a 60% likelihood of showers and thunderstorms—especially after 1 p.m. Skies remain mostly cloudy, and temperatures will be slightly cooler with highs near 80°F. A few showers may linger into Thursday night, with a 30% chance and lows around 64°F.

Friday: Spotty Afternoon Storms

Friday brings another opportunity for scattered storms, mainly after 1 p.m., with a 40% chance of precipitation. Expect partly sunny skies and a return to warmer temperatures near 86°F. A slight chance of storms continues into Friday night.

Weekend: Unsettled Then Cooler

Saturday remains active, with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms under mostly cloudy skies and a high near 81°F. Storm chances persist into Saturday night, accompanied by a notable drop in temperatures to around 49°F.

Sunday introduces cooler air, with highs only reaching the upper 60s and a 30% chance of lingering showers and thunderstorms. Overnight lows will dip into the mid-40s as rain chances begin to taper off.

Monday: Clearing Skies

By Monday, conditions improve with mostly sunny skies and a comfortable high near 70°F—marking a return to more stable weather.

Bottom Line:

Claiborne Parish will experience a typical springtime pattern—warm and breezy conditions early, followed by increasing storm chances late in the week, and a cooler, drier air mass arriving by the end of the weekend. Residents should stay weather-aware, especially during afternoon and evening hours when storms are most likely.

Warm-Season Vegetable Gardening

By John Monzingo, Assistant County Agent

As daylight hours increase and temperatures begin to rise, many people are inspired to spend
more time outdoors. Vegetable gardeners are no exception. This time of year, they begin
preparing for the season by collecting soil samples, determining nutrient needs, and monitoring
weather conditions to identify the optimal planting window for their crops.

Below are examples of warm-season vegetables commonly grown in Louisiana during the spring
and summer months:

Plant Planting Dates How to Plant Spacing Days to Harvest

Snap Beans 3/15–5/15 Plant seeds ½ inch deep 2–3 inches 48–55 days

Sweet Corn 3/1–5/15 Plant seeds ½ inch deep 10–12 inches 69–92 days

Watermelons 3/15–6/30 Plant seeds ½ inch deep 36–60 inches 90–110 days

Tomatoes 3/20–6/30 Transplants 1 inch deep 18–24 inches 60–75 days

Celery 3/1–4/15 Transplants 1 inch deep 18–24 inches 60–120 days

Peas 4/15–7/31 Plant seeds ½ inch deep 4–6 inches 70–80 days

Hot Peppers 4/1–6/15 Transplants 1 inch deep 12–18 inches 70–80 days

Bell Peppers 4/1–5/30 Transplants 1 inch deep 12–18 inches 70–80 days

Pumpkin 6/15–7/10 Plant seeds ½ inch deep 36–60 inches 60–120 days

Squash 4/1–8/31 Transplants 1 inch deep 24–36 inches 50–90 days

If you are concerned about not having enough room for a traditional in-ground garden, there
are easy alternatives. Raised beds, window boxes, and even 5gallon buckets offer excellent
options for growing many of the warm-season crops listed above. Numerous vegetable
varieties perform well in container systems, making gardening accessible even in limited spaces.

This list is not exhaustive—these are simply a few of my personal favorites to grow each year.

For additional recommendations on warm-season vegetables or variety selection, please
contact John Monzingo at 3189273110 or 3183711371.

Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service Disclaimer

It is the policy of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that no person shall be subject to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability.

Students from Haynesville Jr Sr High School showcased their talents and leadership skills at the recent FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) State Leadership Conference, bringing home top honors and earning recognition at both state and national levels.

Two students earned second-place finishes in the Exploring Customer Service category:

Bree Bailey – 2nd Place
Jurnee Manning – 2nd Place

Additionally, two students secured third-place finishes in their respective events:

Kylee Johnson – Career Exploration

Cassady Hope Rogers – Advanced Accounting

These top performances qualify the students to advance to the national competition, highlighting the strength of Haynesville Jr./Sr. High’s FBLA program.

Beyond the national qualifiers, ten other students achieved finalist placements at the state level, including:

Kylee Johnson – Exploring Leadership (5th)

Ja’zae Lane – Career Exploration (6th)

Max Pratt – Exploring Agribusiness (7th)

Jaxson Sanders – Exploring Computer Science (7th)

Ariel Shelton – Interpersonal Communication (6th)

Thaddeus Williams – Exploring Technology (6th)

Khandence Woods – Exploring Professionalism (7th)

Madden Edwards – Intro to Parliamentary Procedures (7th)

Macie Brooks – Business Ethics (9th)

Aaliyah Abney, Alyssia Ziegler, Dakota Davis – Banking and Financial Systems (8th)

The school celebrated the students’ hard work, dedication, and commitment to leadership, professionalism, and academic excellence. Administrators praised the FBLA program for providing hands-on experiences that prepare students for future success in business and leadership roles.

With several students advancing to national competition, Haynesville Jr Sr High School continues to demonstrate a strong culture of student achievement and leadership development, marking what the school calls its “Golden Year.”

The community is encouraged to congratulate these students for their accomplishments and wish them success at the national level.

Claiborne Parish 4H recently hosted Camp Clover, a day camp designed for second- and thirdgrade 4-H Cloverbud members. The camp offered youth a fun, handson learning experience focused on exploration, creativity, and discovery.

Participants rotated through interactive sessions covering wildlife and fisheries, wetlands, Louisiana history, SeaPerch underwater robotics, crawfish house construction, and a set of fun outdoor activities. Each activity encouraged teamwork, problemsolving, and curiosity while introducing campers to new skills and careers.

Camp Clover is part of the LSU AgCenter 4H Youth Development program, which helps
youth build confidence, leadership, and life skills through experiential learning.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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

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

“Five minutes.”

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

“Nothing.”

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

The sigh.

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

“Go ahead.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sources:

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

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

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

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

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